Don’t Be Fooled by IRS E-mail Scam

The e-mail looked so official.  A message from the IRS about underreported income and fraud. An IRS return e-mail address, the email with the IRS’s logo. My heart skips a beat – What did I forget to do?

 Then, common sense takes over. No way the IRS would have this e-mail address.  And wouldn’t they mail me such information – not use email?

 So, I went one of my favorite sites about phishing and scams www.snopes.com, typed in the subject of the email and sure enough – a scam it was.  

Snopes.com said it was a mass e-mailing.  Click on the link to “tax statements” it leads to an .EXE file that was likely a carrier of some form of malware.  Disaster averted.  But, a good reminder to always check before clicking.  Just type the subject line into Google and it will help you identify whether it is a scam or try a site like snopes.com. 

Pass this on to others, especially older adults, who are more trusting about emails they receive—especially if they appear to be from the government or a financial institution.

Here’s what the IRS says about how it communicates with taxpayers:

The IRS does not initiate taxpayer communications through e-mail.

• The IRS does not request detailed personal information through e-mail.
• The IRS does not send e-mail requesting your PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.
• Report suspicious e-mails and bogus IRS Web sites to phishing@irs.gov.

If you receive an e-mail from someone claiming to be the IRS or directing you to an IRS site,

• Do not reply.
• Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain malicious code that will infect your computer.
• Do not click on any links. If you clicked on links in a suspicious e-mail or phishing Web site and entered confidential information, visit the IRS Identity Theft page.

• Use the following steps to report the e-mail or bogus Web site to the IRS.

How to report phishing, e-mail scams and bogus IRS Web sites
If you receive an e-mail or find a Web site you think is pretending to be the IRS,

• Forward the e-mail or Web site URL to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
• You can forward the message as received or provide the Internet header of the e-mail. The Internet header has additional information to help the IRS  locate the sender.
• After you forward the e-mail or header information to the IRS, delete the message

FDA Warning on Lifeline Emergency Alert Pendants

Emergency alert pendants that hang from the neck could pose a deathly choking hazard, the FDA warned this week.  The FDA said it is aware of at least six reports between 1998 and 2009 of serious injury or death, including three deaths in the United States and one in Canada, from choking after the cord on the Philips Lifeline Personal Help Button became entangled on other objects worn around the neck .

There are more than 750,000 users of this advice known as the Philips Lifeline Personal Help Button, the FDA said. 

Philips Lifeline is currently sending letters to its 750,000 customers and has changed the labeling of this product to include a warning against the potential choking hazard.

The FDA recommends that users consult their health care providers to determine which style of emergency button, including those that are worn on the wrist, is most beneficial for them.

These widely used devices provide critical and immediate access to emergency care for those at risk of falls or who may be more likely to need outside assistance. FDA said that while the number of adverse events reported is small compared to the number of people who use this device, the severity of these events is of concern. It remains important that users, along with their health care providers, assess the options provided by each style of button, and choose the option that best fits their condition.

While the numbers aren’t big, this is just the type of service many of us in the middle count on for peace of mind for aging parents.  So if you have an aging  parent or loved one who uses this pendant, check out alternative styles that might be just as effective and provide peace of mind.

Jitterbug Cell Phone For Seniors Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall on Jitterbug cell phones – the popular for senior, easy to use cell phone.  The problem has to do with access to 911 service in some areas and there is a quick software fix. The recalled cell phones that are in a no-service area and display an “out of range, try again later” message could fail to connect to emergency 911. If you are one of the 160,000 consumers impacted and have not been contacted, contact Samsung toll-free at (866) 304-4980 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, and on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.samsung.com.

 This cell phone is an example of the new kinds of technology being created to serve the senior market.  It’s a simple phone that doesn’t have all the fancy features most cell phones do.  It just makes calls, and includes a service that connects the caller to an operator who can make calls for them.  

 It can be a great solution for those who want access and safety/peace of mind that comes with having a cell phone, but a lower cost and ease of use.  It is targeted to people who will use it for a limited period of time (30-60 minutes per month).  It can be a smart buy for the right situation.

 Here’s a link to the Consumer Product Safety recall notice.

 Here’s a place to buy the Jitterbug phone.

Caregiving Strains Marriage and Money

Get Help with Caregiving Stress

Caregiving is taking its toll on marriages, draining  bank accounts and increasing sibling squabbles as one-in-two baby boomers face taking care of an aging parent.  the poor economy and fear of job loss add to caregiving stress.

 

 According to new research from Caring.com, eighty percent (80%) of baby boomers caring for an aging parent say that it has put a strain on their marriage.   “The time spent caring for an aging parent can take a serious toll on the caregiver’s relationship with their spouse,” said Andy Cohen, COO of Caring.com, a website for caregivers (www.caring.com).  “Time that is traditionally spent with one another once the kids have left home is becoming more and more time when children start to play the role of caregiver to an aging parent.”

 

The financial strain is increasing, as caregivers find themselves without jobs, or working more to make sure they keep the job they have.  The emotional strain on the caregiver and family relationships is increasingly evident. There has been an increase of 62% in the numbers of parents age 65 and older living with their adult children, according to the Census Bureau.

 

“We find more people seeking professional help with managing care of an aging parent.  Sibling disagreements are increasing about not only what the right care is but who is going to shoulder the burden of care, said Dr. Dan Tobin, CEO of Your Support Nurse, (www.yoursupportnurse.com).  “We help them identify local care solutions and work together as a family to solve their problems.”

 

Unfortunately, technologies that can help older persons age at home are often overlooked or undiscovered.  Laurie Orlov, Founder of Aging in Place Technology Watch (www.ageinplacetech.com), a research firm, cites a Clarity 2007 study in which 51% of baby boomers believe that technology can help their parents, but only 14% have looked for any – perhaps because marketers have yet to clearly target them.

 

Can baby boomers afford to pay to help parents age in place? “According to research from AARP, boomer caregivers do express willingness to pay less than $50/month for technologies to assist in their parents’ care,” Orlov says, “But interestingly, they typically pay more than $300/month for tech-related services for themselves.

 

Orlov recommends that instead of waiting until someone falls in their home or is admitted to the hospital for failing to take medication — boomers should act now. PERS (personal emergency response system) devices, medication reminders, and sensor-based home monitoring tech — all can make a huge difference.

A care manager can be a big help if you are in the midst of a caregiver meltdown or the tension between siblings about the ‘right course” is mounting.  As a long-distance caregiver, I found that a professional care manager could step in and help us see past the emotions to the needs.  It also brought an objective voice to sibling disagreements over the right next step. They  knew the local area (my parents were in Arizona where I had never lived and new nothing about local resources).  And, maybe most importantly, they can get you to your options more quickly — reducing stress and strain on you and your family.

If you are doing it yourself,  www.eldercarelocator.org can help you identify options. A Council on Aging in your area may be able to provide guidance and resources.   A professional care manager can help you manage the situation (for a fee which is usually $300-$500 for  a few hours of consultation and recommendations.) www.yoursupportnurse.com is a national service that provides local nurses –especially helpful for long-distance caregivers.  You can also find more about care managers at their professional association  www.caremanager.org.