Elderly people are advised to have their cognitive function evaluated regularly, reduce their alone time and hold assets in trust to pre-empt being defrauded, an expert said yesterday.
There has been an increase in reports of elderly people falling victim to fraud, including veteran actress Tan Ai-chen (譚艾珍), who earlier this week said she lost more than NT$1 million (US$30,762), and a retired physician who was scammed out of more than NT$10 million, losing almost all her savings.
Taiwan is to become a “super-aged society” next year and retired elderly people with financial freedom have become targets of fraudsters, said Lee Chun-hung (李俊宏) yesterday, director of Taiwan Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, and deputy superintendent of the Taoyuan Psychiatric Center.
Photo: CNA
Scammers usually call after 9am, when adult children have gone to work and the elderly are alone, he added.
Lee suggested three ways to prevent elderly people from getting scammed.
First, he advised that the elderly undergo periodic cognitive function assessments so they can receive early treatment if there is any cognitive impairment. Detailed cognitive function evaluation is necessary for people of an aged society, but it is done less often than regular health examinations, he said.
Second, elderly people’s alone time should be reduced by keeping them company or encouraging them to take part in activities in their community, local governments’ elder colleges or day care service centers, he said. Elderly people who have company and are busy with activities are less vulnerable to fraud, as those around them could help identify and interrupt scam calls, Lee said.
Third, he suggested that elderly people keep big assets in a self-benefit trust, or to apply for commencement of guardianship or assistance.
The retired physician who lost more than NT$10 million did not have a plan for managing her assets, and her spouse had passed away and her children were abroad, Lee said, adding that proper asset management could reduce the risk of fraud.
Elderly people who were scammed usually doubt and blame themselves; they could even become suicidal if the financial loss is tremendous, he said.
Family should stay with them and tackle the problem together, he added.
They are more likely to calm down if someone can patiently explain the possibility of retrieving their money, Lee said.
Elderly fraud victims should receive psychological counseling if they lose control of their emotions, he said.
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