Holidays are a time of increased fraud, especially for elderly individuals. In 2021, there were over 92,300 older victims of fraud, resulting in $1.7 billion in losses. Crooks and scammers prey on older individuals, exploiting their vulnerabilities — hearing loss, health challenges or diminished mental capacity due to illness.
During the holiday season, fraud tends to peak with scams like fake shopping websites, gift card offers and charities trying to swindle funds. Do your clients know what to look for?
Fake URLs. As they click on a retailer’s ad to shop their website, your clients should doublecheck the URL to make sure it’s legit. For example, fraudsters may change a URL name slightly in an attempt to steal their information and funds — like using amaz0n.com or amazon.org instead of amazon.com.
Suspicious emails. Remind your clients to never open emails if they don't know the sender. And more importantly, they should never download an email attachment if they don’t know who it’s from and what it is.
Phone scams. No reputable organization will ever ask for money or personal information over the phone. Make sure your clients know to hang up if they’re ever on the line with a potential fraudster.
Fake charities. Scammers view the holiday season as an opportunity to take advantage of the giving spirit. If they’re donating to a well-known charity, they should verify its legitimacy via the website and never donate over the phone or via text. If they’re unsure if the charity is a scam, they should check with the National Association of State Charity Officials.
Remind your clients the importance of being vigilant this holiday season and beyond. And if they’re looking for ways to increase their financial peace of mind, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Account Executive to learn how RMF help.

This material has not been reviewed, approved or issued by HUD, FHA or any government agency. The company is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of or at the direction of HUD/FHA or any other government agency.
©2022 Reverse Mortgage Funding LLC, 1455 Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Bloomfield, NJ 07003, 1-888-494-0882. Company NMLS ID: #1019941. For licensing information, go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Arizona Mortgage Banker License #0927682; Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act; Loans made or arranged pursuant to a California Financing Law license; Georgia Mortgage Lender Licensee #36793; Massachusetts Mortgage Lender License #ML1019941; Licensed by the New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance; Licensed Mortgage Banker-NYS Department of Financial Services -in-state branch address 700 Corporate Blvd, Newburgh, NY 12550; Rhode Island Licensed Lender; For California consumers: For information about our privacy practices, please visit https://www.reversefunding.com/privacy. Not all products and options are available in all states. Terms subject to change without notice. Certain conditions and fees apply. This is not a loan commitment. All loans subject to approval. L4877_exp102023