Scams against people aged 60 and older have increased as online methods of communication have increased. In fact, according to a report by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, there is an increase of 14% from 2023 in elder fraud complaints and the financial loss is $3.4 billion for those victims.
One solution to phone scams comes out of the personal experience of Gogie Padilla. When her mother was almost scammed using her landline, Gogie searched for something that would not allow the phone to ring unless the call was vetted. From this, Answer Sure was born.
Phone scams are the crime of the 21st century because they can be committed from anywhere in the world. In addition, the technology is now so sophisticated that scammers and robo calls can mimic a number that seems familiar by using your area code. The caller may use a familiar name and even say something like “Deb asked me to call you.”
Because landline and mobile phones are access points like a door or window from which a burglar enters, keeping scam calls from coming through is important. Giving out just one piece of information such as your address, credit card, bank information or social security number opens the door to a scam and identity theft.
So how does Answer Sure help? This phone scam prevention service serves as a barrier between invasive scams, robo calls and spam by preventing all phone calls from automatically getting through to your phone.
It works because when someone calls your older adult, they need to know a password or phrase in order for the call to be rung through. This unique process has a live person answering the phone with “Good afternoon, how can I direct your call?” When they ask to speak to your older adult, the response is, “I would love to put you through to Mrs. Smith, do you have her password? If not, I can leave a message for her to call you back.”
This interaction is done in real time and a call is either put through because the caller knows the password or phrase, or the name and number is sent to the client. Of course, the password or phrase must be shared with the people or organizations that you want to get through.
In addition to being a safety net, a constantly ringing phone with robo calls is very stressful, so for many older adults, filtering them out is a quality-of-life benefit. When the phone only rings when the caller has been vetted, there is peace of mind for everyone.
The Answer Sure service is available on landlines and mobile phones. It requires a secondary phone line along with a password or phrase that is unique to your person.
There is also an Answer Sure App for iOS and Android cell phones. The app works differently from the patent-pending landline service process however; the landline service can be placed on cell phones. The Answer Sure app uses a dynamic list of known scams, robo calls and spam phone numbers and does not allow those numbers to ring through to your cell phone.
Answer Sure, LLC two types of service plans:
Representative Plan – $49.95 a month, Automated (numeric) Plan – $39.95 a month and the App is $4.99 a month
The importance of this type of service can be found in the stories of Answer Sure clients, people who have lost $100,000 in a month and even $750,000 over several months. Because 9 out of 10 Answer Sure clients have been burned by a scam, Gogie’s mission is to make Answer Sure a proactive solution instead of a reactive solution.
To learn more about Answer Sure, https://answersure.com/.
Disclaimer: The material in this blog is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace, nor does it replace, consulting with a physician, lawyer, accountant, financial planner or other qualified professional.
Deb is the author of “Your Caregiver Relationship Contract and “A Relationship Contract for Dementia Caregivers.” Your Caregiver Relationship Contract is available in both English and Spanish. It explains how to have an intentional conversation and the how unspoken expectations can cause problems during caregiving. A Relationship Contract for Dementia Caregivers explains how important it is to learn how your person wants to live their life out and how you, the caregiver are the most important person in this relationship, giving you tips and tricks for this journey.
Click here to learn more about Your Caregiver Relationship Contract or here for the Spanish version: Su Contrato de relación como cuidador de un ser querido. Click here to learn more about A Relationship Contract for Dementia Caregivers.
Deb is available as a caregiver consultant. She will answer the question: “Where do I start?” and find the resources to alleviate your stress. If you would like to invest a half hour to learn how she can help you, please contact her at: Free 30 minute consulting call
