5 Common Financial Scams Targeting Senior Citizens

Scores of Indian citizens are robbed of their money by scamsters every year. Senior citizens are more vulnerable due to their age, especially those who live alone or do not have a close support network, like family or friends. These groups of people are often on the watch of criminals who devise ingenious ways to cheat them. It could be a bogus scheme promising large returns, a lottery win, or a phishing trick to steal personal banking information to rob their money.

Some scamsters also pose as government officials representing departments like income tax, telecom, police, CBI, etc., to deceive. As such, it has become crucial for them to stay alert while communicating with unknown people soliciting information or asking for money as penalties, pending dues, taxes, etc., as they could be fraudsters disguised as genuine officials.

Here are some tricks scamsters use to scam people.

Impersonate As Government Officials

Scamsters commonly use this trick to scam people. They pretend to be an official from the income tax department, law enforcement agencies, or any other government offices to steal money or personal information. They show an urgency to force people to pay for bogus claims like tax dues or other outstanding payments, exploiting the trust in government institutions to scam people. This method is often used to steal money or personal information to commit fraud elsewhere.

Sweepstakes and Lottery Scams

Sweepstakes or lottery scams also target senior citizens. Fraudsters tell potential victims about their winning a large sum of money in a lottery draw and then ask for personal details like bank information. Some seniors fall in such traps lured by the promise of easy money but end up losing money or vital personal information. To protect themselves, seniors should be aware of such scams and stay alert. They should always verify claims through official sources, which empowers them to take control of their safety.

Robo-Call and Phone Scams

Robo-calls and phone scams are common in India. Scamsters pretending to be from legitimate organisations contact their victims via automated or direct calls. They pressurise their victims to divulge personal details or make immediate payments by cooking up a story that needs urgent action. The aim is to steal money or sensitive data. Seniors should be wary of unsolicited calls. They should verify the caller's identity and the organisation through official channels.

Tech Support Scam

Senior citizens are often targeted in the pretext of tech support. Fraudsters pretend to be from legitimate tech companies to dupe people. The scammers gain access to their computers and smartphones remotely by installing malicious software to steal banking details or force or mislead them to pay money by making up a bogus story like their computers may crash or hackers may get access to their devices if they repair them and pay for the services. This can lead to data theft, financial loss, or computer damage. Seniors should be cautious about such scams.

Grandparent Scam

Grandparent scams involve fraudsters pretending to be a grandchild or family member in distress and asking them to send money. They use emotional appeals and urgency to convince seniors to send funds. Seniors should be cautious of these calls and verify the situation by contacting family members. Avoid sending money based on unverified or urgent requests to prevent falling victim to these scams.