Identity Theft Prevention for Seniors
There are thousands of scams targeting the elderly. They can be found on the internet, in the mail, or anywhere seniors are asked to provide personal information. 
While identity theft is a problem for all citizens, the elderly are particularly at risk, due to increased contact with health care providers and services offered to the aging.
Seniors are often targeted for identity theft in places where they frequently visit, such as medical offices, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other service providers. Some strategies to prevent or reduce access to personal information include limiting information on a need-to-know basis. For example, an automotive shop doesn’t need access to a person’s social security number, to provide repair services. If a credit or debit account is used to pay, the service provider should never need the social security number for payment processing.
Medical offices do not overtly take private information from elderly patients. But, office practices can put elderly patients at risk for fraud and identity theft. Medical records, including electronic records, should not be easily accessible to those other than office staff who manage records or patient care. Offices should not ask patients to sign in using both the first and last name. Reception desk workers should never shout or otherwise share any patient information that others in the waiting area can hear.
Patients should ask medical offices about their internet security protocols. Sometimes hackers with wireless devices can access electronic records systems. Those who may be particularly vulnerable are seniors and patients who speak their names and information at a reception desk. Seniors should request that office workers conduct conversations in private, if they have questions about personal information. Usually, when an office enters personal information for a new patient, it is never needed again. Office staff can ask elderly patients for other types of information, such as street name, last four digits of a phone number, or assign a personal pin, to keep information safeguarded.
Other scams that target seniors are offers for free products, free services, and financial services. Seniors can avoid personal information falling into the wrong hands, by asking any financial services representatives to visit in person or by offering to visit their offices. If a sales person is hesitant to meet in person, this is a good indication that the individual is not legitimate and could gain access to personal or bank account information, from the wrong reasons. Scams can come in the mail as easily as they can come in email.
There are steps seniors can take, to prevent incidents of identity theft or at least catch them right away. Avoiding the use of ATMs, particularly those not associated with the individual’s bank, is one way to protect information. Many scammers will slap false fronts onto machines and gain access to bank accounts that way. They may also access social security numbers in the same manner.
Checking bank statements often, for any mistakes or fraudulent charges, is another way to address identity theft or fraud. If errors or unidentifiable charges are addressed right away, banks and financial institutions are usually able to remove them and investigate. Checking credit reports periodically, but not so often as to affect the credit score, can be another way to spot fraudulent accounts or charges.
Elderly people who are active and carry their identification with them can protect themselves further. They can avoid keeping wallets and handbags in areas where others could quickly grab them or look inside. This can occur when an elderly person is consulting with a store sales clerk, for example. If it is not necessary to carry social security cards, they can be kept in a lock box at home. Most states don’t publish social security numbers on driver licenses, to avoid identity theft. Driver licenses are mandatory for anyone who drives. For seniors who no longer drive, a state identification card can be useful.
There are many ways seniors can be targeted by scams and identity thieves. Careful handling of sensitive documents and information, as well as requesting others handle private information carefully, can go a long way in avoiding financial ruin. Elderly people should not answer the door to people they don’t know and shouldn’t exchange emails or engage in phone calls for any service they don’t recognize.