
A Senior Fraud Protection Kit can help family caregivers protect seniors by informing them of the latest scams being perpetrated on older adults and offering a variety of resources and tools to help their seniors avoid becoming a victim of these scams.
Contact local law enforcement if you think someone has scammed your senior or might be trying to do so. Learn more about whether your older adult may be vulnerable to fraud by completing the Criminal Target Scale, which is part of the kit.
Download the full Senior Fraud Protection Kit PDF:
- U.S. Senior Fraud Protection Kit (PDF 3.5Mb)
- Canadian Senior Fraud Protection Kit (PDF 3.5Mb)
Fraud Articles
Financial Abuse Tactics Article
Crimes against older adults aren't always acts of blatant theft. They can be subtle, like the retailer who over-charges an uninformed older adult or an individual who bills for a service he or she did not provide. Check out the varied ways seniors are being scammed.
- U.S. Financial Abuse Tactics (PDF 420k)
- Canadian Financial Abuse Tactics (PDF 420k)
Top Senior Scams Article
North American security experts have identified the top six senior scams currently putting older adults at risk. Learn more about these growing threats.
- U.S. Top Senior Scams Article (PDF 421k)
- Canadian Top Senior Scams Article (PDF 421k)
Top 5 Reasons Why Seniors are Targets Article
The characteristics of many seniors' lifestyles make them sitting ducks for clever con artists. Help protect seniors by learning what may make them vulnerable.
- U.S. Top 5 Reasons Why Seniors are Targets (PDF 340k)
- Canadian Top 5 Reasons Why Seniors are Targets (PDF 340k)
Impact of Crime on Elderly Article
Seniors who have been scammed risk more than losing their finances. Fraud can have far-reaching consequences.
- U.S. Impact of Crime on Elderly Article (PDF 380k)
- Canadian Impact of Crime on Elderly Article (PDF 380k)
Fraud Target Tools
Senior Fraud Triggers and Targets
Help protect your senior by understanding what external and internal household indicators may prompt a con artist to take special note of your loved one's home.
- U.S. Senior Fraud Triggers and Targets (PDF 1.3Mb)
- Canadian Senior Fraud Triggers and Targets (PDF 1.3Mb)
Crime Target Scale
The prospect of an older loved one falling prey to a scammer can send fear through the hearts of any family caregiver. That's why the Home Instead Senior Care network, along with North American security experts, have developed this Criminal Target Scale, which can help families assess the vulnerability of a senior loved one.
- U.S. Crime Target Scale (PDF 330k)
- Canadian Crime Target Scale (PDF 330k)
Fraud Proctection Checklists
Scam Proof Your Senior Checklist
Help safeguard a senior by shredding documents that can be of use to criminals and checking out suspicious organizations with the Better Business Bureau. This handy checklist can help.
- U.S. Scam Proof Your Senior Checklist (PDF 350k)
- Canadian Scam Proof Your Senior Checklist (PDF 350k)
Anatomy of a Scam Checklists
Keep these handy checklists by a senior's mail, telephone, and computer. Each checklist contains a list of do's and don'ts that can help protect him or her from scammers.
- Anatomy of a Scam Mail Checklist
- U.S. Anatomy of a Scam Mail Checklist (PDF 500k)
- Canadian Anatomy of a Scam Mail Checklist (PDF 500k)
- Anatomy of a Scam Telephone Checklist
- U.S. Anatomy of a Scam Telephone Checklist (PDF 500k)
- Canadian Anatomy of a Scam Telephone Checklist (PDF 500k)
- Anatomy of a Scam Computer Checklist
- U.S. Anatomy of a Scam Computer Checklist (PDF 500k)
- Canadian Anatomy of a Scam Computer Checklist (PDF 500k)
National Do-Not-Call Registry
Scammers are targeting older adults by creating elaborate telephone fraud strategies. Protect your senior from these scams by registering their number on a National Do-Not-Call Registry.
- U.S. National Do-Not-Call Registry (PDF 350k)
- Canadian National Do-Not-Call Registry (PDF 350k)
What to Do If Your Senior Has Been Scammed
Your loved one has fallen victim to a senior fraud. Find out who to contact to report this crime and what steps to follow to prevent further damage.
- U.S. What to Do If Your Senior Has Been Scammed (PDF 220k)
- Canadian Who to Talk to If you Think Your Senior Has Been Scammed (PDF 220k)
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April 4, 2016 at 3:48 pm | Posted by Dorothy Payette
Thank you for such informative documents. It is amazing how many devious people are finding ways to scam the elderly people, but thanks to you, we can be steps ahead and be aware of when scams come our way.
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September 15, 2015 at 8:52 am | Posted by v. blocker
Thanks for this helpful information
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March 8, 2015 at 4:45 pm | Posted by Joan Goble
Hello, I am looking for pamphlets or booklets or handouts to give out at our next local Indiana Retired Teachers meeting. Do you have anything to hand out? Thank you. Joan Goble [email protected]
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September 25, 2012 at 5:39 pm | Posted by Irma Martin
This is excellent material. I am co-chairman of Jackson County, Mississippi TRIAD and will certainly be using it to conduct local workshops. Thank you.
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August 17, 2012 at 3:21 pm | Posted by Marilyn McCuaig
I tried to download the Canadian Senior Fraud Protection Kit because of my concerns for both my Mother and my Mother-in-law being susceptible to fraud. However Internet Exporoer opened the page but with a message on top that said: Debug Error Program: C\ProgramFiles\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe abnormal program termination (Press Retry to debug the application) ABORT RETRY IGNORE The IGNORE button is always highlighted. But no matter which button I press, that Internet Explorer Tab closes and reopens with the same message still there. Can you help me figure out if there is a problem in the program or if it is something to do with my computer? Thank you very much Marilyn
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August 17, 2012 at 3:50 pm | Posted by Cat Koehler
I'm sorry to hear that, Marilyn. I wasn't able to duplicate the issue you were having, but I will email you to see if I can get you the Senior Fraud Protection Kit another way. Cat Koehler Social Media Advocate Home Instead Senior Care
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August 16, 2012 at 5:13 pm | Posted by [email protected]
Saw this article in our local newspaper, to get a kit.
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