What Works

Protecting Seniors’ Money and Identity
NCPC and GoDirect

What if someone stole the monthly check a senior citizen depends on? How would he or she survive?
 
Each month about 12 million Social Security and other federal benefit checks are mailed, many of them to senior citizens. Criminals know when these checks arrive in mailboxes. They also know that each month most seniors venture out to cash or deposit their checks.

But seniors can outsmart them.

“These days, it is imperative that seniors arm themselves with information and practical safeguards to keep themselves and their monthly income safe,” said Al Lenhardt, president and CEO of the National Crime Prevention Council, who is leading a senior fraud prevention effort.

What can seniors do to protect themselves against financial crimes? Often, it’s as simple as signing up for direct deposit. During National Safety Month in June and throughout the year, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the National Crime Prevention Council are urging people who receive Social Security and other federal benefits to sign up for direct deposit and avoid becoming a victim of identity theft, fraud, or robbery.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 25 million Americans (11.2 percent of the adult population) experience consumer fraud each year. Criminals and con artists often develop scams that target seniors, making them a vulnerable population.

“One individual was getting his check stolen several times, sometimes by his own family,” said Sgt. Vince Higgins, a public information officer with the Memphis Police Department who works closely with seniors. “Now that he’s signed up for direct deposit, he’s happy, he’s confident—he’s no longer worried about where his money is or who’s got his money. It’s safe in his bank account.”

Sgt. Higgins and hundreds of other trusted sources like him are partners in Go Direct, a campaign sponsored by the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Banks to motivate Americans who get Social Security and other federal benefits checks to switch to the safer, easier option of direct deposit.

Enrolling in direct deposit can offer much-needed peace of mind to seniors and people with disabilities and others who rely on Social Security. Direct deposit eliminates the risk of stolen checks and forgeries and helps protect people from identity theft. It also gives people more control over their money and allows immediate access to funds from virtually anywhere.

It’s easy for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income recipients to sign up for direct deposit. They can call the Go Direct toll-free helpline at 800-333-1795 or visit GoDirect.org to sign up online.

Did You Know? How It Happens
Identity theft occurs when someone’s personal information—name and Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account data—is stolen to commit fraud or other crimes. It’s a serious crime that can ruin a victim’s good name and destroy his or her credit. Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal personal information, including 

• Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with personal information on it.
  
• Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing one’s card.
  
• Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get people to reveal their personal information.
  
• Change of Address. They divert a person’s billing statements to another location by completing a “change of address” form.
  
• “Old-fashioned” Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records from their employers or bribe employees who have access. Some identity theft victims even report that their information has been stolen by someone they know.