Seniors and
the “Unsafe to Drive” Scam
Older Americans are targeted for fraud because they
are the mostly likely demographic to have a “nest
egg”, own their home, and have excellent credit… all
of which a fraudster will attempt to take advantage
of. Also, seniors are less likely to report fraud.
A
recent Nevada scam directed at seniors involves con
artists stopping drivers to tell them their car is
showing signs of trouble. When the driver stops, the
swindler tells them the car is smoking or exhibiting
some other problem. The swindler offers to take a
look to see if they can help. Once the fictional
problem is identified, the scammer tells the driver
he works at a local dealership, and can perform the
repair at a much reduced price.
What can seniors do to protect themselves?
 |
If someone points
out a problem with your car, simply thank them
then take the vehicle to a reputable mechanic. |
|
If you are a victim
of this type of scam, be sure to report it to
the Nevada Consumer Affairs Division. |
Sources:
http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/17836469.html
and the Nevada
Consumer Affairs Division
