Identity Theft and The Elderly

Article submitted by Angela Olea RN, Care-Manager, Executive Director CALL RN.
For more information, she can be reached at 480-807-4357.

Identity Theft is on the rise and Arizona has the highest rate in the nation. It has become a sad but true phenomenon that seniors are specifically targeted by identity thieves for many scams that depend on internet, mail and telephone contact.

Many times, the elderly are vulnerable because of loneliness, depression, isolation and/or confusion. The sad reality is the potential identify thief may be the only person who contacted your loved one that day. Eliciting information is the key and once revealed it can create financial devastation and humiliation for the elderly. Often, the family is the last to know that their loved one has been victimized.