It’s estimated that over 234,000 seniors are victims of elder fraud annually, losing over $4 billion total, allowing fraudsters to make a business from taking advantage of older adults.
The increase in fraudulent behavior hasn’t just been directed towards the very old and those with Alzheimer’s or dementia – younger, more educated older adults are actually losing more money.
Did you know that the amount of junk mail your older adult loved one receives is an indicator of their fraud risk?
It means that their names are on numerous mailing lists that scammers can use to contact them.
There are 4 highly recommended precautions to take to get rid of your older adult’s junk mail, which can help reduce the risk of falling victim to fraud.
Getting rid of junk mail may seem like a time-consuming task, but it’s well worth it if it protects your older adult loved one from losing their life savings to fraud.
Reduce risk of fraud by getting rid of junk mail
In order to reduce your senior loved one’s risk of being scammed, it’s essential to put a stop to junk mail being sent to their home.
Putting a stop to junk mail also reduces the risk of an older adult with dementia repeatedly donating to multiple charities, signing up for several credit cards, or spending an extreme amount on catalog purchases.
4 ways of getting rid of junk mail
Below are 4 ways to get older adults off of direct marketing mailing lists.
Note: don’t be discouraged if the junk mail doesn’t stop right away. Many companies plan their mailings months in advance, so it can take about 3 months to see a reduction in the amount of junk mail received.
1. DMAChoice
DMAChoice is the most popular way to stop junk mail. Most people will only need to complete this form. Registering with DMAChoice stops mail from companies that your senior loved one has never purchased from or donated to.
You can use the regular form or the one created for caregivers.
2. National Do Not Mail List
This is another company you can use to stop receiving junk mail. It’s different than DMAChoice, so make sure to register with both organizations.
3. Opt-Out-Pre-Screen (1-888-5-OPT-OUT)
This company prevents credit card offers.
4. InfoCision
This is a telemarketing company, but they also oversee mailing lists for their clients.
Call (330) 668-1400 or email infocis@infocision.com to request removal from their lists.
Doing this can also help reduce the endless amount of telemarking phone calls.
Sources:
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/cfpb-report-financial-elder-abuse.html