Safe Banking for Seniors

Senior Safety

Senior citizens are an important part of our community, and we pride ourselves on offering specialized products, services, and education that benefit our senior clients. Please familiarize yourself with the below information, so that you and your loved ones can remain free from financial exploitation. 

If you suspect a scam, please contact your local branch or call us at 877-222-6269. Also, contact us if you'd like to add a Trusted Contact to your account so that Amboy can have a secondary, authorized person to speak to if we suspect you are a victim.

Tips

• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true
• Keep personal information private
• Shred bank statements, old credit & debit cards, anything with personal information
• Check your credit report once a year
• Lock up your checkbook
• Establish a relationship with personnel at your bank
• Determine now who will handle your financial affairs when you need assistance
• Get a Power of Attorney naming a trusted friend, family member, or attorney
• A bank's Trust Department can be an unbiased party
• Have trusted individual check financial decisions
• Never pay large sums with cash. Use checks or credit cards to create a paper trail

Scams to Avoid

• Coronavirus Scams: Retirees especially should watch out for these. See also our tips below.
• Imposter Scam: Victims are told that in exchange for their personal information they can receive a free DNA test provided by Medicare.  Medicare does not provide such a service, and will rarely, if ever, initiate a phone call.  
• Lottery or Sweepstakes: Victims are told they have won the lottery, but will need to pay a fee to claim prizes. Or, someone approaches the victim claiming to have a winning lottery ticket, asking for money in exchange for the ticket
• IRS/Social Security Scam: Victims are told they owe money to the government. They are threatened by government impersonators with criminal charges if they do not wire balance owed within a very short amount of time—usually just a couple of hours
• Home Repair: Victims are required to pay, in advance, for unnecessary work and materials, or they are charged for work that didn’t take place. Often, if work is completed, victims are required to pay an unreasonable fee for services
• Charitable Giving: Victims are convinced to “gift” money to a non-existent charity
• Telemarketing Scams: Victims pay for a product or service that will never be delivered
• Utility/Alarm Service Person: Posing as trusted professionals, fraudsters gain entry to victim’s home. One fraudster distracts the victim, while the other steals valuables or financial documents.
• Grandparent Scam: Victim receives a call that a family member has been injured and needs money for medically necessary transport. Another variant of this scam includes claims that a younger family member has been arrested and will be held until money is wired to a specified location
• Investment Scams: Included in these scams are advanced fee schemes, offshore investment opportunities, Ponzi/pyramid schemes, prime bank scams and commodity scams.

Other Resources

• Red Flags for Senior Financial Abuse
• Don't Fall for Grandparents Scam
• Ways to Spot a Lottery Scam
• Tips to Choose a Caregiver
• Advice on Opening Joint Accounts
• Amboy's Security Center