Identity Theft of the Elderly

April 8th, 2009 0 Comments

elderlyIdentity theft is always wrong. The effects can be devastating and long lasting. But when the thief takes advantage of extremely vulnerable individuals, like senior citizens, its inexcusable.

Many senior citizens today do not live close to family. They are often alone during a time in their lives when they probably need a little extra attention. Their vision, hearing, and mental capacities may be declining. Giving up driving privileges and bad health usually isolates individuals even more. They are prime targets for unscrupulous individuals looking to make a quick buck.

This age group did not grow up with computers and many of them do not have a computer at home. They are more likely to be taken advantage of by phone or by someone knocking on their front door. Because they are often lonely they don’t always hang up when a stranger calls. They need attention and someone to acknowledge them. The smart criminal knows this and quickly puts the person at ease with smooth talking and compliments.

The elderly are also taken advantage of by individuals coming into their home. Sometimes it’s the thief breaking in who steals their credit cards and personal information. Other times its a repairman promising to perform a service but instead steals from them. There are many honest custodial care providers who work hard daily and genuinely care for those they attend to. But occasionally a dishonest worker steals money and credit cards from the unsuspecting senior citizen.

Individuals who can no longer write, handle their bank accounts or pay their bills are always vulnerable. For some caretakers, exposed to this opportunity, the temptation to steal is greater than they can resist.

Often when a senior citizen reaches this point they are no longer capable of using common sense. Its difficult to protect themselves or their personal information. If they recognize a problem they are probably embarrassed to ask for help. Sometimes they do turn to family and sometimes it’s family that’s taking advantage of them. As a society its up to us to be more aware of whats happening around us. Don’t be afraid to get involved or ask questions if you suspect there’s a problem.

This age group tends to have the same habits and patterns. Drastic changes could be a red flag. New friends, especially isolating and controlling behavior, might be a problem.

Identity theft affects all of us with higher interest rates. Companies are often unable to collect money stolen or get reimbursed for fraudulent credit card charges. This weakens their financial position which means more service charges and higher interest rates for us. Everyone benefits when we look out for the individuals who can no longer look out for themselves.

Margaret Norton, a Personal Life Coach/Writer/Speaker, resides in St. Peters, MO.

(photo credit: RebelBlueAngel)

April 8th, 2009 by admin | Posted in Legal Rights | Comments (0)

What to do if you are a Victim of Identity Theft

April 7th, 2009 0 Comments

id-theifYou’ve been careful with your personal information, you’ve followed the advice of experts, and you’ve even purchased credit alert protection but, in spite of thi,s someone stole your identity.

The first thing to do is remain calm. Gather all the facts while making a plan of action. Depending upon the circumstances, identity theft can be solved quickly or it may take years of aggravating, hard work.

Consumers today are flooded, on line and in their mail boxes, with offers to protect their credit. Most of these are legitimate but some are not. Often the first warning that someone has used your identity is when a company reports a new account has been opened or a new purchase has been made. Waiting until the bill arrives could take weeks - giving the thief more opportunities to make fraudulent purchases.

If you’re thinking about purchasing identity theft protection, shop the various plans, compare the price and benefits, then decide which product best meets your needs.

Individuals with credit protection plans usually have to make only one phone call, to the company providing the coverage. That company notifies the credit bureaus and creditors involved. After the initial calls are made, you have to sign statements/forms regarding what happened. Most companies turn fraudulent charges over to investigative personnel. Depending upon the amount, you might have to appear in court to testify, or even file formal charges with the proper authorities.

Individuals not having credit protection do the initial leg work. It’s essential that you contact the three major credit bureaus. They will put a statement on your credit report notifying others that you are the victim of identity theft. Any new creditors are required by law to contact you before extending new credit. Once this is done, you need to contact the companies involved asking them to cancel the credit card, stop the service, or do whatever is necessary to recover the goods and collect payment from the perpetrator. The important thing is to follow their instructions. Usually you will not be responsible for payment but you have to sometimes prove your own identity as well as complete all paperwork/steps required by the companies involved.

If there’s a lot of money stolen you might have to contact an attorney. Individuals tend to get angry when asked to spend their money and time defending fraudulent charges. But in the long run this can make your life easier while helping you reclaim or restore your identity. Sometimes drastic measures are required such as getting a post office box, new drivers license and new credit cards. If the theft was on line it is more difficult to trace. You’d want to cancel all existing credit card numbers, create new usernames and passwords, and close any suspicious on line accounts.

It’s never fun or easy when you’re the victim of identity theft. But you can’t sit back and just let it happen. It’s your identity, do all you can to protect it.

Margaret Norton, a Personal Life Coach/Writer/Speaker, resides in St. Peters, MO.

(photo credit: angelinawb)

April 7th, 2009 by admin | Posted in Legal Rights | Comments (0)