ID THEFT FOR ELDERLY

Why an old man retired from employment was not spared from ID scam? The old man had only little asset of his own, no more job at the moment, no regular bank account.

The answer was his social security number where he received pension every month. A scam artist has no pity even to the old man as long as he can be a victim, they are very happy doing what is not right.

He become the ideal target of his little knowledge about what's happening in the internet. He easily gives information to those who asked him. Most of the communication he received from the web through an e-mail came from the social security system office. His regular mail in the post office contains information related to his income tax and health care. Post office is his regular channel for all his mails. A snail mail that takes longer to receive is the reason for an easy target for paper theft. The crooks will get his mail by devising a way to intercept it through the help of an inside man in the receiving and mailing section.

The old man was wondering what happened to his monthly mails when it no longer arrive to him on time. The inside man in the post office hold the mail for the crooks in exchange for reasonable amount to be given to him in his cooperation in the act of dishonesty. The old man was already identified by the scam artist that he has regular mails, it is easy for them to do their dirty work.

The old man is not very fond of monitoring his transaction every month. He only knew these several weeks later or may be a month's time that there's something wrong with his mails. The old man may lost three things:

-The paper documents indicating all his personal information/communication on health care, tax-related information or monthly statement of the check he will receive and to acknowledge.

-Due to the information on health care. It is a form of insurance for medical expenses that cover large range of services. There had been many incidents of major treatment and surgeries indicated in the health care statement of the old man even if he did not undergo any treatment or major hospitalization during the month when the incident took place.

-Another reason is employment fraud. Many elderly were no longer working. It is easy for the scam artist to apply for a job using elderly identity to get an employment known as multiple job using the elderly SSS number not only for the purpose of employment but also to harvest all government benefits to be given to the elderly.

It is a fact that senior citizens has an account in the bank because of his pension. He put it in his saving account where his monitoring is less frequent during the month. Seniors has lack of concern in the status of his bank account. This is the hole where crooks do their thing by stealing his identity to wipe out all the money in his bank account. It cannot be known immediately. He only know these during his withdrawal where it was already divested completely with his money.