With the fear of COVID-19 taking up most of our attention, keep in-mind that criminals are using a wide range of coronavirus scams to take advantage of our elderly population.

The Federal Trade Commission is warning that scammers are offering to help with errands, and running off with your money. Be wary of someone you don't know offering to help as they may never come back with the groceries or money. It is much safer to find a trusted friend, neighbor or arrange a licensed caregiver agency to aid with procuring your goods.

Although this population loves landlines, Google has created an app that automatically blocks spam callers for smartphones. We are recommending that this generation moves away from traditional landlines and more toward smartphones for that reason!

​If you are helping to manage someone's money, check-in with that person to make sure they are coping with things and to let them know that they are on your mind. In all of this uncertainty, it is easy to forget that the best way of easing someone's mind is with constant communication.If you spot a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.