Respite Now's Senior Scam Alert presentation

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SENIORS SCAM ALERTS

BY

THANK YOU

POLICEPHONE: 000 

Julie Cocks AVEO ROSEVILLE

CORPORATE PARTNERSRespite Now were recently invited

to participate in the Victorian Seniors Card program. Card program. We offer 12% discount.

Peak national organisation representing the rights,

needs and interests of older Australians.

Founded in 1851, Victoria's most influential employer group.

Servicing more than 15,000 businesses each year. VECCI is an independent, non-government body.

SCAMMERS, SCAMMING YOU

HOW TO

STOP

Who can tell me what these words mean?

SCAMMER or

SCAM

DO WE UNDERSTAND THESE WORDS?

SCAMS BY AGE GROUP• Scams toward 18 – 35 year olds have declined

• Scams toward 36 – 54 and 65+ have increased

SCAMS ON OLDER PEOPLE ARE INCREASING

HOW MANY SCAMS CAN WE THINK OF?

• Phone scams• Door knocking scams• Internet scams• Dating & romance scams• Mobile phone & text message scams• Letter in the mail scam• Approached by a stranger at the

shops or inn your car, while at the traffic lights

THERE ARE MANY SCAMS

1/ Most seniors grew up in an era where people knew their neighbours and the sort of things occurring in this day and age weren’t even heard of.

2/ Seniors are often more trusting.

3/ Some seniors have reduced faculties and these frailties (people’s weak spots) are what scammers rely on when they strike.

4/ Seniors may have a nest egg tucked away somewhere or even fortnightly pension, this is the actual target of the scammers.

5/ Older people care about and feel strongly about others. Eg. Their grandchildren etc ( ‘Grand parent scam’).

6/ Many seniors live alone and are easier targets

WHY ARE SENIOR SCAMS SO POPULAR?

SENIOR SCAMS

LOOK LIKE

WHAT DO

THE 3 MAIN WAYS OF SCAMMING ARE…

1 They knock at your door

2 They ring on your phone

3 They email you on your computer

{ }1BEWARE THE KNOCK ON THE DOOR

Some examples of door knockers

Hi, we’re here to make sure your phone and data points are NBN ready!

SCAMMERS USE CURRENT NEWS TO GAIN YOUR TRUST

• With all due respect to the church, not everyone is as honest as they appear and aren’t always who they say the are.

• Keep this image in your mind when a stranger next knocks

DECEPTION IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

Do you remember what they wanted?

Did you trust them?

Why or why not?

HAS ANYONE HAD A STRANGER KNOCK AT THE DOOR?

{ }2BEWARE THE UNEXPECTED PHONE CALL

Some examples of phone calls

Scammers often call and attempt to get personal information

Scammers often try to get your bank account details

Scammers often have good news for you

If it’s too good to be true - it probably is

Not everyone is fortunate to live with others or have a carer 24/7If someone was taking your money, nobody would be telling you about it.

Hi, you’ve won $10,000Really, how much do I have to pay to claim it?

This is the Australian TaxOffice & you owe $2,500You can pay now or we send the police to arrestyou.

SOMEBODY’S TRYING TO TAKE YOUR MONEY

Do you remember what they wanted?

Did you trust them?

Why or why not?

HAS ANYONE HERE HAD A SCAM PHONE CALL?

{ }3BEWARE THE EMAIL OR TEXT MESSAGE

Some examples of email/text messages

I just checked in my ‘JUNK’ folder on my email and I have dozens of emails like this.

Probably coming from overseas, they use common English sounding / family names (Anthony Morrison) and they bait me trying to get me to click on the highlighted linkIf I did click on it, malicious software would download and either infect my computer or worse, give them access to my personal information, passwords and banking details.

Delete them immediately

TRYING TO GET YOU TO CLICK

EMAILS: THE SIMPLEST RULE IS JUST DON’T CLICK

Do you remember what it said?

Did you trust it?

Why or why not?

What did you do with it?

HAS ANYONE RECEIVED AN EMAIL OR TEXT LIKE THIS?

Your Personal

Informationis Confidential

IS IT THE RIGHT WEBSITE?

PADLOCK http S

CHECK THE WE ADDRESS IS CORRECT

LOOK FOR THE S in the WEB ADDRESS

https://www.scamwatch.gov.au

(note the ‘S’ in https)

IF IN DOUBT, ALWAYS PULL/LOG OUT

SLOW DOWN, THINK & BE CAREFUL

Scammers pretend to be from reputable organisations: • the Australian Government • the Office of Fair Trading • the fictitious ‘Australian Government Reclaim Department’ or ‘Australian Council’ • the Australian Taxation Office • Centrelink • Consumer Affairs Victoria • various birth, death and marriage registries. Scammers even masqueraded as the ACCC’s SCAMwatch service. Scammers also posed as representatives from private companies including: • banks • computer companies • telecommunications services • postal and logistics services • solar panel installers.

SOME ORGANISATION NAMES SCAMMERS USE

1/ Calls or approaches are unsolicited

2/ Very often have a foreign accent Indian, Phillipino, African

3/ They will seem overly familiar with you, pretending they are a friend

4/ They often talk very fast & don’t clarify things

5/ The subject becomes very urgent and they will put pressure on you to provide information or make a payment

6/ They ask you questions which you would normally not tell a stranger; personal information such as bank details, date of birth etc

HOW TO SPOT A SCAM

• Scammers don’t care about their victims

• Scammers don’t play by the rules

• Scam techniques are changing everyday

• Be Cautious

• If you feel under pressure, this should ring alarm bells

CLOSING POINTS

“All scammers are heartless”• Avoid arrangements with strangers

• Never send money or personal information

• Keep your computer security & anti-virus up to date

• Be wary of emails or phone calls out of the blue

• Carefully check the web sites you visit and/or buy from before you pay

IF IN DOUBT, PULL OUT

PLEASE REMEMBER

If you ever receive a phone call, an email, text message or a knock at the door

If you are ever approached by a stranger at the shops

If someone asks you to pull over when you are at the traffic lights

If someone tells you that you’ve won a grand prize or a lotto

Don’t be embarrassed, it doesn’t mean you are dumb or gullible or greedy, it means you’re human and humans sometimes believe the wrong people at the wrong time. Hang up, close the door, don’t click on it, say no

Tell a friend or family member, that’s the best way to deal with any of the above

CALL RESPITE NOW, we’ll report it 1300 791 562

OR CALL your local police station 8841 3999

OR ACCC on 1300 302 502

TELL FAMILY OR A FRIEND

THE AUTHOR OF THIS PRESENTATION

Greg Millard is the Customer Care & Workforce Director at Respite Now. Greg and his wife Jane Millard started Respite Now by combining their talents after being disappointed at the quality of care Jane’s mother was receiving when she needed support after suffering a stroke. Combining their skills and backgrounds after returning from living and working overseas, Respite Now was started to help remedy the shortage of quality personal care solutions in Melbourne.

Having a stranger knocking on her mother’s door saying, “hi, I’m hear to care for you” wasn’t the type of support Jane had planned for or thought was going to help her mum get back on her feet.

Respite Now’s ClientCarerMatchmaker is the only values, interests & preferences based care plan model in Melbourne. Being able to meet your carer prior to enlisting our services means you never have to let a stranger in to your house again, especially someone who is going to be caring for a loved one says Greg.

CONTACT RESPITE NOWServicing greater Melbourne with personal and home care

Email: info@respitenow.com.auPhone: 1300 791 56224/7 direct: 0403 577 827www.respitenow.com.au

“The things we do for others become our legacy”

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