AARP Asking Rural America To Watch for Elder Fraud

AARP and the Department of Justice recently teamed up with The Oak Ridge Boys to raise the awareness of the dangers of elder fraud.  The AARP’s Sean Voskuhl says the partnership is important to rural Americans.

“Prevention is key. Fraudsters are targeting and stealing billions of dollars from unsuspecting Americans every year, especially in rural areas. We hope this partnership will help Americans be more aware and better able to identify scams, but most importantly, help combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud.”

According to the Federal Trade Commission, 16.7 million people from across the nation lost nearly $17 billion to identity fraud alone in the past year.  And, alleged DNA fraud accounts for $2.1 billion in losses.  DNA fraud occurs when Medicare is billed for a test or screening that is not medically necessary or not ordered by a physician.

“Scammers are calling folks and claiming to offer free genetic or cancer screenings. But, in doing so, they ask for sensitive personal information, like Medicare numbers," Voskuhl said.  "It’s important to safeguard your personal information, and never give it to a stranger.”

For tips on spotting of staving off elder abuse, visit AARP's Website.

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