Identity Theft Victims
By Rick Hazeltine
Staff Editorial Writer
There are many issues with elderly parents that cause worry, such as their health and care. Having them become identity theft victims is rarely at the top of the list.
Although evidence suggests the elderly are not necessarily targeted, they are still caught up in the identity theft epidemic. The elderly are among the most vulnerable in our society, which makes them susceptible to becoming identity theft victims.
Recently, a woman in Lynchburg, Va., pleaded guilty to stealing identities of elderly people in her care at an assisted living facility. The woman took personal information from nine residents and used it to open accounts for credit cards, department store cards and cell phones.
Although this crime was committed by an employee of an assisted living facility, the elderly often become identity theft victims at the hands of family or friends. This can take the form of using the elderly person's existing credit cards or withdrawing money from their bank accounts. Or it can be stealing the person's Social Security number and using it to open new credit card accounts or apply for loans.
The elderly are targeted because they usually don't have much debt and are more likely to have clean credit reports. Also, as we age, our memory lapses so the elderly are often told to keep important documents, such as Social Security numbers, bank account and credit card information and Medicare information in a single, obvious place so it can be easily found in case of an emergency.
This makes it more likely that the elderly person will become an identity theft victim. Even when elderly family members are in a care facility, they are susceptible to identity theft because many hospitals and nursing homes use patients' SSN as identification, even printing them on wristbands. Also, Medicare cards include the person's SSN.
For those who have elderly family members who are in full care, assisted living or with an in-home caregiver, it's important to take precautions so they don't become an identity theft victim.
If you have a loved one in a care facility, with a full- or part-time in-home caregiver or who lives by themselves, consider having them periodically get a credit report. This allows you to monitor their credit to make sure there is no fraudulent activity, which otherwise could take years to uncover.
