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They’re more common than you might think. Scams targeting victims over 60 totaled $3.1 billion in total losses in 2022 – an 84% spike in compared to 2021 – according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2022 Elder Fraud Report.
Utility imposter scammers are constantly creating new schemes to trick seniors out of money or into sharing private information. No one is immune to this endless barrage of scams – but thankfully, you can protect your aging parents by using these simple tips.
Raise the topic
Don’t assume your parents are familiar with how to spot scams. Share recent headlines, statistics and educational resources to initiate the conversation. Encourage them to scrutinize all unexpected, unsolicited communications from people claiming to be Entergy representatives. Offer yourself as a resource to vet suspicious phone calls or messages.
Encourage healthy skepticism
Remind your parents that we are our first lines of defense against scammers. Encourage healthy skepticism, which will increase their likelihood of catching Entergy imposters in their tracks. Remind them that they should never provide or confirm personal information – like their credit card or banking information, Entergy account number or residential address – to people they don’t know and trust.
Advise them not to engage
Encourage your parents to let unexpected, unsolicited phone calls go to voicemail and to always confirm unknown callers’ identities through independent verification. Advise them not click links within – or respond to – messages from people claiming to be Entergy representatives unless they know and trust the sender. This is the most effective way to evade text and email scams.
Continue the conversation
Scams are increasing in prevalence and sophistication, and new scams emerge every day. Continue to educate yourself about scam trends and share what you’ve learned with your parents. By initiating regular conversations about scam prevention, you can boost their defenses against scammers’ devious ploys.
Visit entergy.com/scams for additional resources about new and evolving scams.
