The most likely explanation is cognitive decline. If you think your dad is "with it" then you should google all the scams aimed at seniors and review them with him. Or just show him the many posts on this forum under Abuse/Fraud. Have him agree to a single rule: never answer a call that has no ID (from his known people). An unknown caller will leave a message If it's important. But sometimes those scammers will also leave messages, so he needs to know that the government DOES NOT CALL people -- they send snail mail first. CC companies also do not call - they send emails or texts. Once you answer a scammer's call -- and even if you hang up -- they know they have a valid number with a potential victim. They will keep calling. They just need to get you engaged and then they work their very talented evil.
Also, you should attend a doc appointment with your dad and discretely request he be given a cognitive exam. They will do this. The reason you want to go with him is to make sure you know he went and what the result of the test was. Many seniors are fearful of others knowing, even close family, and have been known to lie about going or lie about the results.
This incident is a sign for you to help him secure all his sensitive information: passwords, banking, licenses, checkbooks, passport, etc. If you can convince him to set up online banking so that you can get the alerts, it will keep you in the loop if there's trouble. Credit protection is helpful, like LifeLock. Most of all it is critical he has all his legal ducks in a row: assigned a durable PoA, designated a Medical Representative, created a Living Will, and a Last Will. Much headache and heartache can be avoided by doing this. If he's resistant, show him some of the thousands of posts by dismayed and burnt out caregivers trying to help people they legally cannot help. And fights over estates. Yes, it happens in the "best" of families.
Read about gullibility and see if it helps. Loneliness might play a part as well. Today my husband was getting new tires on his car. He was waiting for a call that the car was ready. An unfamiliar number came on his phone, thinking it might be about his car, he answered. It was a call from Social Security telling him there was a problem with unauthorized use of his social security number and he was to hold for the investigating police officer. DH said the caller sounded so credible. But he knew that social security would never call, so he hung up. But he said, I could see where people would take that call. It was upsetting. The scammers are very intelligent. They look for people who will ignore the obvious tells that what they are selling is bogus. Does your dad agree he was scammed or does he defend his actions? If he acknowledges that he is an easy touch, you might be able to come up with some ground rules on how to handle calls from people he doesn’t know. He is definitely not alone.
Also, you should attend a doc appointment with your dad and discretely request he be given a cognitive exam. They will do this. The reason you want to go with him is to make sure you know he went and what the result of the test was. Many seniors are fearful of others knowing, even close family, and have been known to lie about going or lie about the results.
This incident is a sign for you to help him secure all his sensitive information: passwords, banking, licenses, checkbooks, passport, etc. If you can convince him to set up online banking so that you can get the alerts, it will keep you in the loop if there's trouble. Credit protection is helpful, like LifeLock. Most of all it is critical he has all his legal ducks in a row: assigned a durable PoA, designated a Medical Representative, created a Living Will, and a Last Will. Much headache and heartache can be avoided by doing this. If he's resistant, show him some of the thousands of posts by dismayed and burnt out caregivers trying to help people they legally cannot help. And fights over estates. Yes, it happens in the "best" of families.
Today my husband was getting new tires on his car. He was waiting for a call that the car was ready. An unfamiliar number came on his phone, thinking it might be about his car, he answered. It was a call from Social Security telling him there was a problem with unauthorized use of his social security number and he was to hold for the investigating police officer. DH said the caller sounded so credible. But he knew that social security would never call, so he hung up. But he said, I could see where people would take that call. It was upsetting. The scammers are very intelligent. They look for people who will ignore the obvious tells that what they are selling is bogus.
Does your dad agree he was scammed or does he defend his actions? If he acknowledges that he is an easy touch, you might be able to come up with some ground rules on how to handle calls from people he doesn’t know.
He is definitely not alone.
I had one of those from the IRS and the caller in a foreign accent told me that an FBI agent would be knocking on my door.
He got mad at me when I said to send him right over and that I would put on a pot of coffee for him! LOL
When you say "he is with it enough", what do you mean specifically? His memory is good? He can hold conversations well?
Hearing problems could be a contributing factor too?