10 Tips You Can Do Today to Be Safer Tomorrow

1. Prevent scammers from reaching you on your mobile phone. Start by going into your mobile phone’s contact list and adding all your family, friends, doctors, and other important numbers. Then:

• • If you use an iPhone, go into your phone’s settings and turn on the setting for “silence unknown callers.”

• • If you use an Android phone, open your phone application, which is used to make phone calls. Click on the three dots at the top right corner of the screen and then click on “settings.” Once in, click on the “Block numbers” tab and then click on the “Block calls from unknown numbers” tab.

• • IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE PHONE NUMBER CALLING, DO NOT ANSWER. If the call is important, they will leave a voicemail, and you can return the call if you determine it is safe.

2. Revise the passwords on your financial accounts every few months. Experts recommend using a passphrase. IL0v3my20c4ts! is much stronger than Kittycat68. Keep track of passwords in a highly secure password manager or write them down and store them safely.

3. Ensure you are signed out of any financial apps on your phone, including credit cards, financial institutions, and peer-to-peer apps such as Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, or Zelle. Also, ensure your account settings require security measures such as PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition. This ensures that if your phone is stolen, the thief will not have access to your money.

4. Audit your wallet or purse. This means removing any cards and information you don’t need to carry, such as your Social Security or Medicare cards. Make copies of the cards you do carry (front and back) and store them in a safe place at home.

5. Be skeptical. Many scammers use friendliness, compassion, and kindness as their persuasion method, rather than fear and intimidation. Likewise, scammers create a sense of urgency to get you to act out of emotion rather than logic. If you feel pressured or manipulated, walk away.

6. Learn how not to engage. In our modern times, you are under no obligation to respond to calls, emails, or texts from strangers, especially when so many of them are fraudulent.
   • Learn to say NO. Sometimes calls do get through. Get tough: Say, “I do not do business over the phone. Goodbye.” Then hang up without remorse.
   • Trust your instincts. If something does not sound right, consult someone you trust and take extra time to think about it.

7. Choose a caregiver with caution. Never assume that a caregiver has been through a criminal background check, even if hired through a reputable agency. Ask the agency directly or request that your caregiver submit to a background check.

8. Keep an inventory of all jewelry. Jewelry is the #1 item stolen from seniors. Keep jewelry in a locked drawer and have photographs of rare, valuable, or sentimental items in a separate location. In the event of theft, photo evidence will be useful in tracking down the missing items at a pawn shop.

9. Protect your incoming and outgoing mail and purchase a paper shredder. Never allow incoming or outgoing mail to sit in an unsecured mailbox where the public has access. If you cannot check your mail daily, consider forwarding important financial statements to a trusted family member or rent a post office box. Shred discarded mail or financial statements containing identifying information.

10. Don’t fall in love online without meeting someone face to face and never send money to a love interest you have not met in person. Romance scams are prolific and result in significant financial loss. It’s common for elderly victims to meet romantic interests online based on phony photos. The two will trade love letters via email and promise to meet. Eventually, the phony love interest will ask for money and describe an emergency situation. If you meet someone online, arrange a safe, public place to meet before becoming too invested in the relationship. Also, never send money.

11. Bonus Tip: Don’t assume the friendly handyman or car mechanic is licensed or qualified. Before committing to any work, always obtain multiple estimates in writing and check the contractor with the Better Business Bureau, the Contractors State Licensing Board, or the California Bureau of Automotive Repair. Never agree to car repairs from anyone who approaches you in a parking lot or to home repairs from a contractor who knocks on your door without talking to multiple vendors. NEVER pay more than 10% of the contract price upfront and don’t rely on promises that the construction costs will be covered by tax rebates or government programs such as PACE.

Seniors are encouraged to hire a qualified, experienced estate planning attorney to create an estate plan (i.e., Revocable Living Trust, Will, Durable Power of Attorney, Advanced Health Care Directive). This way, you can protect your assets from scammers.