BROOKFIELD, Wis. — Whether by phone, mail or online, senior citizens can be especially vulnerable when it comes to falling for scams. It is a sad reality that takes a financial and emotional toll on victims.
One organization found a lighthearted way to educate seniors about this very serious issue.
The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Waukesha County, hosted a unique bingo game Thursday aimed at helping people spot the signs of a scam. Well-known songs were played and attendees had to search for them on their bingo card. Each song represented a safety tip about scams, followed by a brief lecture about how to avoid that particular scam.
“We are going to play [the Beatles song] "Can’t Buy Me Love," and we are going to use it to talk about romance scams,” said Mary Smith, ADRC of Waukesha County manager.
From Johnny Mathis’ "Chances Are" — used to warn of lottery scams — to Simon and Garfunkel’s "The Sound of Silence" — used to talk about robocalls — it was a unique way to teach about the risks of scams.
Debbie and Bill Rebernick attended the bingo game. They said they learned how to prevent falling victim before the phone ever rings or a suspicious email comes through.
“We have learned a lot about it. We are very careful with our wording when you pick up the telephone,” said Debbie Rebernick.
Smith said she hopes seniors who took part in the event will come away with a better understanding of just how serious scams are and just how easily anyone can fall for them.
Last year, Waukesha County residents were scammed out of more than $4 million dollars, according to the ADRC.
“My role is to try and keep people safe and so this is one of those areas that we have to count on everyone in our community and the individual themselves to keep themselves safe,” said Smith.
Smith said “grandparent scams” are among the most common scams,. This is when someone pretending to be a grandchild calls with a financial emergency. Other common scams include an urgent call from someone claiming to be from the the government or a utility company demanding payment immediately.
“If you get a phone call and you don’t recognize that number, don’t answer that phone. If it is someone important, they will leave a message,” said Smith. “On your internet, watch the URL. Who is sending you that email? Don’t click on links if you don’t know them.”
If you or someone you know has been scammed, contact local law enforcement.
To learn more about the most common scams impacting senior citizens, as well as ways to prevent them, visit the National Council on Aging’s website.