Dementia and Scammers – How to Protect Someone You Love

It is heartbreaking when you hear about a senior becoming a victim of a scammer. Unfortunately, this happens more than we like to think.

“A lot of us get Robocalls. We pick up the phone, it says, press one for more information, we press one. Do you know what that scammer does? They take that phone number because they’re trying to see if your phone number works. If your phone number does not work, then they know that nobody lives there. So, they take your phone number, they go to the internet, they research, and then they find out who you are. They find out your address, when you got married, birth certificate, they can find out all kinds of information on you.” Jennifer Salazar

Today Kim Hegwood will speak with Jennifer Salazar with the Texas Medicare Patrol to talk about Dementia and Scammers – How to Protect Someone You Love

1. What are the top 3 scams targeting seniors right now?

2. Why is someone with dementia more vulnerable to scams?

3. If you suspect someone may have dementia, what can you do to help protect them?

4. How can you protect someone with dementia from scammers?

5. If someone you love has been scammed what are the next steps you should take?

How to Contact Jennifer

Email: jsalazar@bbbhou.org

Phone: (713) 341-6184

Bio:

Jennifer Salazar is Executive Director of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Greater Houston’s Education Foundation, and Program Director of the Texas Senior Medicare Patrol. She has 14 years of experience in social services, preparing and monitoring government-funded contracts.

Jennifer is a native Southeast Texan who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Lamar University.  Upon graduation, she was accepted into the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Texas as the Lead Medicare Benefits Counselor and staff Nursing Home Ombudsman.  Jennifer later worked for a national corporate office in The Woodlands, Texas for five years, starting in Human Resources and working her way up to Information Technology Coordinator.  During this time, she was responsible for multi-million-dollar contracts and negotiations.

In 2016, she became the Texas Senior Medicare Patrol Program Director housed at the BBB Education Foundation. In 2021, Jennifer was promoted to Executive Director of the BBB Education Foundation.

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Contact Kim Hegwood- Elder Law Attorney

Website: https://hegwoodgroup.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HegwoodLaw

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/hegwoodlaw/

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-ZaoTAWChvaz-HEFQcdcbQ

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Kim Hegwood Attorney at Law, Podcaster

Kim Hegwood, born in Bay City, is an Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorney based in Houston, Texas. Kim has been a practicing Attorney since she graduated from South Texas College of Law in 1996. After watching her grandparents struggle to maintain their independence as they grew older, trying to navigate the challenges of aging, and deal with the legal, financial, and emotional challenges that our loved ones face in their golden years, Kim dedicated her career to helping families preserve their dignity and protect their assets.