Insights from The Orlando Senior Help Desk: The Top Six senior scams

Scammers are always looking for new ways to target seniors. Here are six of the most common scams to watch out for:

1. Check Tampering: Scammers intercept paper checks from mailboxes, erase the ink, and rewrite the amount and payee information. They also digitally alter stolen checks to appear genuine, often using voice recordings to authenticate phone transactions.

2. Voice Printing: Fraudsters record seniors’ voices and use software to create convincing imitations, enabling them to impersonate victims and access sensitive accounts like insurance or financial institutions.

3. Celebrity Impersonation: Con artists pose as celebrities on social media, engaging with seniors and then directing them to private accounts to solicit money.

4. Grandparent Scams: Imposters claim to be grandchildren in distress, urgently requesting money for supposed emergencies like bail or car repairs.

5. Sweepstakes Deception: Scammers operate call centers, deceiving seniors with promises of sweepstakes winnings, providing fake case numbers to delay action.

6. Good Samaritan Scams: Hackers compromise email accounts, posing as stranded individuals in need of financial assistance, typically requesting gift cards or Venmo deposits.

The Orlando Senior Help Desk is a great way to vet communication with seniors to spot scams quickly and accurately. Seniors or their family members can reach the Help Desk by calling 407-678-9363 or visiting OrlandoSeniorHelpDesk.org.

The Orlando Senior Help Desk is a resource of Jewish Pavilion Senior Services (JPSS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that plays a crucial role in supporting seniors by providing room visits, holiday celebrations, and fostering inclusion for 450 Jewish residents across 50 senior-living facilities in Central Florida. JPSS ensures that seniors of all faiths feel welcome. For more information, visit JewishPavilion.org.