Scam Protection for People with Dementia

KEEP YOUR MONEY SAFE - VIDEO & ARTICLE:

We've all heard stories of crooks taking advantage of people with Alzheimer's. See how to protect people with dementia from scammers.

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People with Alzheimer’s may be victims of financial abuse or scams by dishonest

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people.

Guard Against Financial Abuse and Fraud 

Sometimes, the person behind the scam is a “friend” or family member. Telephone, e-mail, or in-person scams can take many forms, such as:

• Identity theft
• Get-rich-quick offers 
• Phony offers of prizes or home or auto repairs 
• Insurance scams 
• Health scams such as ads for unproven memory aids 
• Threats 

Warning Signs

Look for signs that the person with Alzheimer’s may be a victim of financial abuse or fraud:

1. Signatures on checks or other papers don’t look like the person’s signature. 
2. The person’s will has been changed without permission. 
3. The person’s home is sold, and he or she did not agree to sell it. 
4. The person has signed legal papers (such as a will, power of attorney, or joint deed to a house) without knowing what the papers mean. 
5. Things that belong to you or the person with Alzheimer’s, such as clothes or jewelry, are missing from the home. 

If you think a person with Alzheimer’s may be the victim of a scam, contact your local police department. You can also contact the State consumer protection office or Area Agency on Aging office.

SOURCE:

• The Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center - a service of the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health.