Avoiding Scams
Aimed At
Older Adults
When it comes to making a quick buck, scammers don’t care who they victimize. Here are two common scams that target older adults and tips to help avoid them. Premium theft scam: Some dishonest insurance agents will ask you to pay them directly and then keep your money. Sometimes they’ll make a payment to the insurance company so you’ll get a policy in the mail. Then they’ll stop sending your payments to the company, and the company will cancel your policy. You might not find out until you need to file a claim. How to avoid it: Always pay the company, not the agent. Don’t pay with cash. You can trace and verify check and credit card payments, but not cash. If you must pay with cash, get a receipt. If you get a cancellation notice in the mail, call the company – not the agent – to ask why. Savings theft scam: Some people buy annuities to create retirement income. If you buy an annuity, be careful when moving your money around. A dishonest agent could set up a bank account and ask you to deposit money into it. But then they don’t move your money into the annuity. How to avoid it: Understand that annuities aren’t right for everyone. Consider your needs carefully and talk to a financial adviser before you buy one. Take someone you trust with you when you meet with an agent to buy an annuity. After you buy an annuity, you have 20 days to cancel if you decide it won’t work for you. Other tips to avoid scams •Beware unexpected calls. If you didn’t call them first, the salesperson probably found your information on a mailing list. •Don’t buy over the phone. The risk of fraud is greater if you buy insurance over the phone or online. •Don’t be rushed. Be wary of offers for a “lastchance deal" or other appeals to make a quick
decision. Take your time. It's also a good idea to talk to your family or a financial adviser before you buy. •Watch for scam artists. Be wary of people who say they are from Medicare, Social Security, or any government agency. Medicare does not make sales calls. •Keep all documents and take notes. Keep any paperwork you get from the insurance company. Write down the names of people you talk to and details of conversations you have. (TDI.gov)
Yard
Equipment Shopping Tips
Warm weather is here, and you are ready to get outside and make your yard both beautiful and functional. Maybe you’re aiming to have the best yard on the block, want to install an outdoor family room or outdoor office, or want to expand your space for entertaining. Perhaps your kids or pets could use a better space for play. Regardless of the need, now is the time to get “backyard ready” for outdoor living this spring and summer. What tools do you need? “Completing big outdoor jobs is always easier with help from outdoor power equipment,” said Kris Kiser, President, and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). “The right mowers, trimmers, edgers, blowers, pruners, chainsaws, and more can help you get the work done faster, and can help you safely maintain your yard.” Here are some tips from Kiser to help you select the machinery you need to get the job done. Plan your needs. Draw a sketch of your yard. Include any major features such as trees, bushes, an herb or vegetable garden, flower beds, lawn furniture, play or sports equipment, an outdoor patio, or bird bath. Note where maintenance may be required. Will bushes
need to be trimmed back from your home or garage? Do you want to put in some flowering bushes or a tree? Are you planning to install a fence and more grass? Consider equipment needed. Visit your garage or shed and find your lawn and garden tools and equipment. Get out your mower and other equipment. Look them over and make a list of what is needed or could be upgraded. Repair anything that needs attention or identify where a newer or better machine is required. If you have a large vegetable garden, you may need a cultivator or tiller. If you have a large lawn, an upgrade to a zero-turn mower might make managing grass easier. A string trimmer might make caring for bushes or trimming grass near a fence line easier. A pole pruner can help trim back limbs that are too high to reach safely with a saw, and a leaf blower can clear leaves faster than a rake. Chain saws make quick work of tree work and more. Research equipment online before you buy. Think about efficiencies of scale. The right equipment can mean more time for other activities and make doing yard work more enjoyable, too. Doing online research in advance will help you pick the right type and size of equipment needed for the job. Outdoor power equipment can be gas, solar, propane, electric or batterypowered and technology is rapidly impacting product design. Today, there are even robotic lawn mowers available. Ask questions. Talk with the staff at the store or ask online about the equipment. In the store, ask to pick up and hold equipment to determine its “fit” for you. Discuss safety features and ask about manufacturer fueling and care instructions. Find out how often equipment may need to be serviced. Make a plan for storage and maintenance. Store your equipment in a cool and dry place. It also should typically be serviced at the end of the fall and the beginning of the spring. Put service dates on your calendar with a reminder. Find or download the owner’s manual to have on hand, as well. For more information, go to www.opei. org. (NAPSI)
June
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