Pasadena Senior Center Warns Older Adults About Coronavirus-Related Scams

Scams related to the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis are reaching older adults at a record pace.

In this time of international crisis, it is hard to believe there are people who are doing outrageous things to prey on vulnerable older adults. Their moral compass seems to have gone missing,” said Akila Gibbs, executive director of the Pasadena Senior Center. “Older adults and/or anyone with a compromised immune system are in the highest risk group for contracting the virus and possibly dying as a result, so these scams are particularly unconscionable.”

Gibbs cautions all older adults – and people of all ages – to be wary of anything that seems too good to be true.

• Anyone who asks for money for coronavirus victims and/or related research, especially if they ask for credit card and bank information or for prepaid debit cards or gift cards to be sent to them or dropped off at a certain location.
• Scammers who arrive at people’s doors claiming they have an official order to test for coronavirus at that location for a fee.
• Offers for coronavirus vaccines or cures in exchange for personal information or money in any form.
• Phone calls, text messages or emails from strangers urging older adults to invest in hot new coronavirus stocks related to vaccines and cures.
• Emails with “Immediate Action” in the subject line or the body.
• Web links, videos or downloadable files included with unsolicited emails, text messages or social media messaging, even if it looks like the message is from a company or person an older adult recognizes (never click on these kinds of links, videos and files).

Report these and other scams to the nearest law enforcement agency.

Accurate, up-to-date information about COVID-19 coronavirus can be found on trusted websites at the federal, state, county and local level: www.cdc.gov, www.ca.gov, lacounty.gov and www.cityofpasadena.net.

Dr. Laura Mosqueda, dean of the USC Keck School of Medicine and director of the National Center for Elder Abuse, is a consultant to the Pasadena Senior Center.

“It’s not that older adults aren’t intelligent,” Mosqueda said. “At a time like this, when so many people are self-quarantined by state mandate, many older adults feel lonesome for any form of human contact, especially if they live alone, and are particularly vulnerable to fall for scams.”

The Pasadena Senior Center remains open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday because it has been deemed an essential service provider for older adults.

For more information visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call (626) 795-4331. A hotline for older adults – (626) 685-6725 – in need of emergency food or health and hygiene products has been established for hours when the center is closed. Calls will be returned within 24 hours.

Now in its 60th year of providing programs and services to the greater Pasadena community, the Pasadena Senior Center is an independent, donor-supported nonprofit organization that does not receive funding from any government agency.