[Travelinglady]

Seniors are a big target by scammers. Here's a place where we can address this issue.

Types of Texts You Should Delete Immediately | Reader's Digest

[Nammu]

I delete everything I don’t recognize. I get lots of spam from both the left and the right. I don’t click on either of them.

[Travelinglady]

Good idea, Nammu.

Hubby and I have caller ID on our landline phone. It even identifies robo calls and scam calls. That helps a lot. And I don't answer calls from people I don't recognize or from 800 numbers. We also can block calls and we use the "do not call" procedure, I am also very careful about who I give my cell phone number to--only friends and relatives--not even doctors' offices. All that sure helps.

I even limit my facebook page viewing and never accept friendships on there from people I don't know personally.

[Travelinglady]

Times You Shouldn’t Use a Debit Card for Payment | Reader's Digest

[Travelinglady]

Beware COVID-related vaccine emails. They'''re probably fake

Watch what we click on!

[Travelinglady]

If You Hear This Phrase on the Phone, It's Definitely a Phone Scam | Reader's Digest

[Que Sera Sera]

im in the middle of a huge fiasco dealing with repair businesses over a plumbing issue i have.
the majority of them seem to view "senior widow lady" as a windfall of as much free cash in their pocket as they can bs you into handing over to them.
i keep thinking i need to grab a man to come & be there with me so they straighten their act up and treat my job in a professional manner like they should do it.
all of my suposed bad traits of doubtfullness, cynicysim, lack of trusting people, skeptisysm.. have all played to my favor and i believe i kept myself from being taking advantage of by any of them.
it pays to learn about things for your own knowledge of what is what, do all types of investigating the companies before you use their services.. ask as many people as possible for any 1st hand insight they might have to offer up.
if the people doing the job tell you something that makes you question it , stop everything right there and seek advice from a trusted source on what to do from there.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Que Sera Sera

im in the middle of a huge fiasco dealing with repair businesses over a plumbing issue i have.
the majority of them seem to view "senior widow lady" as a windfall of as much free cash in their pocket as they can bs you into handing over to them.
i keep thinking i need to grab a man to come & be there with me so they straighten their act up and treat my job in a professional manner like they should do it.
all of my suposed bad traits of doubtfullness, cynicysim, lack of trusting people, skeptisysm.. have all played to my favor and i believe i kept myself from being taking advantage of by any of them.
it pays to learn about things for your own knowledge of what is what, do all types of investigating the companies before you use their services.. ask as many people as possible for any 1st hand insight they might have to offer up.
if the people doing the job tell you something that makes you question it , stop everything right there and seek advice from a trusted source on what to do from there.

I'm so sorry you're being targeted in such a rotten way. Thank you, though, for the advice!

[Travelinglady]

It does seem the seniors are a target for scammers. Are we more trusting or do they think we have become senile and more likely to fall for things?

[poshgirl]

I was scammed December 2020 and still waiting for it to be resolved. Case now with Financial Ombudsman.

Scammers becoming more and more sophisticated, posing as bank employees and using official bank documents. Bank treating me like a naughty child and withholding some of the money taken. Also granted a loan to someone pretending to be me without actually checking with me first. It was done online and guess what, "they don't check online applications that way". Really! So, their security systems are questionable too.

My Amazon account comes "under attack" regularly. I'm sent a link supposedly to verify who I am. When copying it into search engine, comes up with totally different and insecure website. Leave it a few days, then I can log in as normal; very strange

A friend's sister and late mother were also scammed and in both cases it took about 18 months to get all of the money back.

Stay alert everyone, you just never know. I suspect it's a dodgy ex or current bank employee.

[Travelinglady]

Things That Make Your House a Target for Burglars | Reader's Digest

[Que Sera Sera]

this is a good example of what i was getting at ..
two of the companies that were here were gonna charge me around $2400 to fix what was wrong with my plumbing.
hmmm ...the placed that actually did the work and got it fixed for me ... they charged me $128. ... sooo kinda wonder what that $2272 extra charge was for....

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

Things That Make Your House a Target for Burglars | Reader's Digest

Yikes, that's some scary stuff. It's good to be aware - some of the tips surprised me.

[Travelinglady]

Yeah, I have lots of flowers in my yard--but a great guard dog!

[Travelinglady]

90-year-old Hong Kong woman loses $32 million in phone scam

How sad!

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

It does seem the seniors are a target for scammers. Are we more trusting or do they think we have become senile and more likely to fall for things?

Sadly, seniors are more frequently targeted by scammers because so many seniors are terribly lonely. They will talk with anyone who listens.

[Travelinglady]

Clear Signs You're About to Be Hacked | Reader's Digest

[Travelinglady]

The CDC Is Warning You Not to Eat Anything Made by This Company

[Travelinglady]

If You Take This Medication, Call Your Doctor Now, FDA Warns

Check your thyroid med.

[Travelinglady]

If You Have This Frozen Food at Home, Throw It Away Now, USDA Says

[Travelinglady]

In latest phone scam, a fake DEA agent tries to steal your money using gift cards

SIgh. More scams.

Not related to scamming, but we put in a house security system this week. Break-ins have been happening in our area. Plus I watch all those shows about seniors being killed in their own homes.

[Travelinglady]

4 common misconceptions about Social Security that can cost thousands

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

Good idea, Nammu.

Hubby and I have caller ID on our landline phone. It even identifies robo calls and scam calls. That helps a lot. And I don't answer calls from people I don't recognize or from 800 numbers. We also can block calls and we use the "do not call" procedure, I am also very careful about who I give my cell phone number to--only friends and relatives--not even doctors' offices. All that sure helps.

I even limit my facebook page viewing and never accept friendships on there from people I don't know personally.

My landline has Caller ID too, but I never pick up if I don't recognize the name or number. Sometimes I get stuff like 530-XXXXXXXXXXX as the "number". Never pick up "Unknown Caller" with no number, but "Private Number" is just a blocked number that could be someone I want to talk to. (One time it just was my dentist calling from home to cancel our appointment at the last minute) In that case, I let the machine pick up. No legit company would have a non-working number on your ID. It would at least show the number they are calling from, and usually their company name too.

Landline can block up to 10 numbers so every now & then, I have to delete the list and start over. For awhile, I was getting calls from a Seattle based number that would ring 3 times and stop. I was able to block it even though phone manual says it won't work on out of area calls. But it seems to.

I don't give out my cell number to many either, even though it's smarter than landline in recognizing a scam or telemarketer number. Main reason is I don't usually have it ON most of the time. But my landline is always "on"and I'm way more accessible on it. I tell people to call THAT number but some still insist on calling cell.

Landlines are more durable. Mine has never been out of order. Always works, and no need to worry about signal or battery left or reception. Yet people prefer cell phones for everything. Cell calls will also suddenly cut off. No such thing with landline. Mine works even during a storm.

[Travelinglady]

Yeah, I want to keep my landline. I've lost several cell phones and smart phones, and at least I can keep up with my landline phone--at least most of the time. At least I know it's somewhere in the house!

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

Yeah, I want to keep my landline. I've lost several cell phones and smart phones, and at least I can keep up with my landline phone--at least most of the time. At least I know it's somewhere in the house!

Yeah it's quite visible connected to the wall, huh?