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Be alert to scams--romance scams and investment scams.

Senior communities are targets of scams.

If your banker says something is a scam listen to your banker.
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Reply to brandee
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Make an in-person visit to your bank and ask to discuss this with a banker.
They can provide some real solutions and advise you on ways to protect yourself financially.
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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DC2468 appears to be another of those people who post, but never reply to anyone.
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Reply to michelle7728
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dc2468: Retain an attorney or pose your questions to your financial advisor.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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POA carries no weight with the Social Security office. If someone files to become your rep payee, SSA will send a form to your doctor to determine whether you are capable of managing your benefits. If incapable, SSA sends a letter to you at the address on record to propose that so-and-so becomes your rep payee. You have 15 days from the day of the letter to dispute this person from becoming your payee.
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Reply to SSAretired
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Take out identity theft insurance where they will reimburse you up to one million dollars with Life Lock or Discover Card . It’s very difficult to avoid scams and identity theft ever since computers came out. Before computers there was no identity theft or scams
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Reply to Spivak1954
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jemfleming Dec 22, 2025
You do not need to pay one of those credit protection companies in the hopes they will help you AFTER you get scammed. Credit protection companies are a gimmick just like extended warranties and time shares. Instead of wasting your money spend some time to read about scams and how to protect yourself. Do not trust any texts, emails, phone calls or letters when it comes to your bank and other financial information. Never give out sensitive information without first verifying it is legitimate by personally contacting your bank representative by an in-person visit or calling a number you know is legitimate by personally- not supplied by potential scammers. Review your bank and credit card statements frequently and report problems immediately. Do not trust ANY unsolicited calls or messages.
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It's absolutely good to protect them, but consider what will happen if you develop cognitive issues or incapacitating health issues (stroke, coma) and need someone to handle your finances either temporarily or permanently.
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Reply to MG8522
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Are you afraid someone could become a payee to your SS? This is a question for Social Security and your Bank.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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AlvaDeer Dec 11, 2025
Oh, I think you got what I missed, JoAnn. I think our OP may b worried about appointing a POA, afraid that this person would apply to be also the Representative Payee, and the only one to manage accounts in the event of mental incapacity of the OP. I think key here is to know that while mentally competent no one can do this without authorization, and going through legal hoops with medical proof of incompetency. I do understand the worry, but it is also so crucial that if/when we cannot safely act for ourselves, someone else protects us, because otherwise the whole WORLD may have our accounts and our Social Security.
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Geaton's advice is spot-on. You can use your computer to search "Keeping Social Security access safe" and come up with other suggestions. The world now is so full of scams, and it has become a billion-dollar industry at this point. You are right to be concerned, but knowing it CAN happen puts you ahead of the scheme.
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