NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s (TDCI) Consumer Affairs Division is warning senior adults and their families about avoiding scams, particularly those that lead to identity fraud.
Older adults are often targets of financial exploitation by caregivers, scam artists, financial advisers, home repair contractors, or fiduciaries (such as agents under power of attorney and guardians), and others.
For safety, tips include:
- Never buy from a stranger who calls or visits unannounced.
- Shred all paperwork containing identifying information, healthcare information, banking information, or passwords.
- Monitor bank and credit card statements.
- Monitor credit reports.
- Use direct deposit for benefit checks to prevent checks from being stolen.
- Never give your credit card, banking, Social Security number, Medicare, or other personal information over the phone, unless you initiated the call.
