Scams

[Zoo_View]

I dealt with the same from my late mother. It's horrible. Krafty gave some solid advice. Get a PoA and get your names on her bank account ASAP and have a really tough heart to heart with your mom. I have to ask this question and don't mean any offense behind it because of what I saw with my own mom: is she experiencing any short term memory loss? I can tell you that when my own mom's mind started slipping, that was when the scamming issue REALLY started in earnest because she couldn't remember any of the conversations. For example, I walked in her house one day and she was on the phone. I mouthed "who are you talking to?" She mouthed back "I've won the publishers clearing house." I grabbed the phone and started demanding information and got a quick "click" of a hang up. Hate you're having to go through this - hang in there!

We’ve been fortunate. My mother paid all the bills and did all the bookkeeping throughout their marriage.

We had a few scares with scammers and thieves. Fortunately, they didn’t hit until Mom’s vision (macular degeneration) deteriorated and her cognitive decline was such that she was easily confused and couldn’t see well.

By that point, my Dad and I were already handling the banking and paying the bills. But, a few scary things happened - fortunately, Mom’s Apple laptop was so old the thief couldn’t navigate it.

I was named POA 4-6 years ago.

The best time to talk with your parents about END-OF-LIFE is in their 40’s and 50’s…….not their 70’s and ‘80’s.

That said, unless you sequester them, con artists might reach them at any point.

 

[gregh1]

I wonder if there is anything we can do to keep from falling into this when we get old.

Right now is seems so obvious that these are scams but maybe our degraded brains won't see it.

I figure short of full on dementia we will retain some skepticism and be able to spot the patterns that we are familiar with.

We're not far from generative AI being able to call your mom with your voice. One day it will be holograms with your voice using stories or phrases that involve things from your online history.

 

[Kraftyheel89]

I wonder if there is anything we can do to keep from falling into this when we get old.

Right now is seems so obvious that these are scams but maybe our degraded brains won't see it.

I figure short of full on dementia we will retain some skepticism and be able to spot the patterns that we are familiar with.

If you have children or a close nephew/niece, you could have a conversation in advance. Plan that at a certain age, you put all non retirement accounts into a joint account with them. On IRA accounts, only you can be the owner (for IRS required minumum distribution or RMD rules, as well as inheritance RMD rules). However, a simple form can be signed to copy all your statements to same person. This will show activity in the account including all distributions.

Obviously, this would need to be someone you trust completely. The Executor/Executrix of your estate (in will) would be preferable.

 

[Kraftyheel89]

I read an article before the election that stated that maga cultist were more likely to be targeted because the scammers knew they were easy.

This is common knowledge. If you ever listen to religious right wing radio (diffiCULT I know), you will notice an obvious pattern of advertisers. They are full of bunker and end of times bunkering food rations and supplies. Gold and gold coins are very popular with the conspiracy theorists. And there are plenty of garbage investment commercials, legal but garbage and fear mongering.

They clearly know the suckers target market and listeners.

 

[dcphx]

Im not sure you can put apps on landlines.

A what?

 

[mpaer]

A what?

The discussion was about apps on the phone to screen out spammers Farce aws saying he did not think such apps are avaiable on land lines-the preferred phone of the very old