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My goal with this newsletter is to:
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1
Keep You Informed
I will be sharing current articles about the changes in Medicare.
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2
Answer Your Questions
I'm available to answer issues specific to you.
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3
Stay Connected
I want to make Medicare coverage as simple as possible.
(858) 935-9120
Referrals
- Craig F referred Carol F
- RJK referred Jeff D
- Paul W referred Sue W
- Paul D referred Paul G
- Peter A referred Cindy S
- Andrew G referred Cheryl M
- Dave S referred Michele S
- Diane L referred Rick C
- Mark B referred Jane B & Brad C
- Darla G referred Pat O
We try hard to recognize every referral but if we missed anyone, please let us know.
Just send us a quick email so that we can acknowledge you. We want all of you to know that it is our privilege to serve you.
The greatest compliment you pay us is the referral of your family and friends. Thank you!!!
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IMPORTANT - Please scan this QR code (using the camera on your cell phone) for additional
important information from Jim.
SCAM ALERT!!
Occasionally, we revisit this topic, because in this ever-changing world the scammers, hackers and thieves are just getting bolder and more creative. Add AI (Artificial Intelligence) to the mix and it can be a pretty awful scene. To help you be aware of the new and devious scams that are trending right now, here are the top 4 scams.
1.Government impersonation scams
In government impersonation scams (also known as government imposter scams), scammers call unsuspecting older adults and pretend to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Social Security Administration, or Medicare. They may say the person has unpaid taxes and threaten arrest or deportation if they don't pay up immediately. Or they may say Social Security or Medicare benefits will be cut off if the person doesn't provide personal identifying information. This information can then be used to commit identity theft. According to a recent study, people aged 60 and older lost more than $724 million to government impersonation scams and tech support scams originating from call centers in 2022. This is more losses than all the other age groups combined. Government imposters may demand specific forms of payment, such as a prepaid debit card, cash, or wire transfer. Using special technology, they often "spoof" the actual phone number of a government agency or call from the same ZIP code (202 for Washington, D.C., for example). This can trick some people into thinking the caller is from a valid source.
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2. The "Grandparent" scam
The grandparent scam is so simple and so devious because it uses one of older adults' most reliable assets, their hearts. Scammers call a would-be grandparent and say something along the lines of: "Hi, Grandma, do you know who this is?" When the unaware grandparent guesses the name of the grandchild the scammer most sounds like, the scammer is able to instantly secure their trust. The fake grandchild then asks for money to solve some urgent financial problem (such as overdue rent, car repairs, or jail bond). They may beg the grandparents not to tell anyone. Since fraudsters often ask to be paid via gift cards or money transfer, which don't always require identification to collect, the older adult may have no way of ever recovering their money. In other versions of this scam, the caller claims to be an arresting police officer, doctor, or lawyer trying to help the grandchild. They then use high pressure tactics that play on the emotions of the person they've called to get them to send cash as quickly as possible. There are even reports of scammers showing up at older adults' homes, posing as a "courier" to pick up the money.
3. Robocalls and phone scams
Robocalls take advantage of sophisticated, automated phone technology to dial large numbers of households from anywhere in the world. While there are legal uses for this technology, robocalls can also be used to carry out a variety of scams on trusting older adults who answer the phone. Some robocalls may claim that a warranty is expiring on the person's car or electronic device, and payment is needed to renew it. Like with government impersonation calls, scammers often spoof the number from which they're calling to make it appear as if the call is from a reputed organization. One common robocall is the "Can you hear me?" call. When the older person says "yes," the scammer records their voice and hangs up. The criminal then has a voice signature to authorize unwanted charges on items like stolen credit cards. Yet another popular phone scam is the "impending lawsuit" scam. In this case, someone receives an urgent, frightening call from someone claiming to be from a government or law enforcement agency (like the police). They are told if they don't pay a fine by a certain deadline, they will be sued or arrested for some made-up offense.
4. Computer tech support scams
Technical support scams prey on older people's lack of knowledge about computers and cybersecurity. A pop-up message or blank screen usually appears on a computer or phone, telling the user their device is damaged and needs fixing. When they call the support number for help, the scammer may either request remote access to the older person's computer and/or demand they pay a fee to have it repaired. Tech support fraud is increasingly common and targets some of the most vulnerable individuals. Above all, remember that whether it's a phone call or a website, legitimate tech support won't ever proactively seek you out to fix an issue. Behind the numbers are real people who have endured devastating losses at the hands of cybercriminals. In 2021, a man from Illinois lost his life savings to scammers pretending to be an employee of a known antivirus company. Under the guise of giving the man a refund for unused software, these scam artists gained remote access to his bank account and home equity line of credit. They ultimately made away with nearly $200,000—money that was never recovered.
Personal Note
I hope that Spring has sprung where you live!! Thank you for being a valued client!!
Listen to Jim on The Word on Wealth KCBQ AM 1170
at 10:00am every 1st and 3rd Saturday
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