Holiday Scam and Fraud Prevention for Seniors in Merrick, NY

Holiday Scam Risks Facing Merrick Seniors and Families

On a December afternoon in Merrick, it is common to find packages stacked in apartment lobbies, charity bell-ringers outside neighborhood stores, and phones buzzing with holiday sales calls. This festive energy also brings a quieter threat: holiday scams aimed directly at older adults.

National consumer protection data show that older adults lose billions of dollars each year to fraud and scams, with spikes around the holidays when people are donating to charities, shopping online, and mailing gifts. In Merrick, where many seniors live independently in long-time family homes or condos near Merrick Road and Sunrise Highway, scammers see opportunity in busy schedules, loneliness, and the desire to be generous.

During December, the most common holiday scams targeting seniors in Merrick include:

• Fake charity appeals, often using the words "veterans," "police," "local" or "children" in Nassau County
• Package-delivery scams claiming a missed UPS, USPS, or FedEx delivery and demanding immediate payment
• Gift-card scams where someone posing as a grandchild, utility company, or tech support demands payment with gift cards
• Phishing emails and texts pretending to be from banks, Medicare, or popular stores
• Urgent phone calls claiming there is a problem with Social Security, taxes, or a loved one in trouble

For many families, balancing holiday plans, work, and caregiving can make it harder to keep an eye on every phone call or email. Consistent, trusted in-home senior care support can quietly reduce this risk by helping with mail, calls, and online tasks.

Dementia Vulnerability

Scammers often look for people who are polite, trusting, and less likely to challenge them. That describes many older adults in Merrick, especially those living with memory loss or early dementia.

According to Alzheimer's & Dementia Care - Merrick, NY, changes in memory and judgment can make it harder for a person to recognize when something is suspicious or to remember safety instructions from earlier in the day. When you add holiday distractions, travel, and extra phone calls, the risk goes up.

Practical ways to protect a loved one in Merrick who has dementia or cognitive changes include:

For some families, regular dementia-aware support from a Home Instead Care Professional makes it easier to protect a loved one with memory changes while preserving dignity and independence at home in Merrick.

Family Checklist

Many Merrick families only see each other in person a few times a year. Holiday visits are a perfect time to review scam safety together and quietly check for warning signs.

Use this simple, practical checklist as you visit a parent, grandparent, or older neighbor in Merrick during December:

• Phone and voicemail
  • Is their voicemail full of sales pitches, "urgent" messages about accounts, or repeated charity calls?
  • Do they keep written lists of "donations" or pledges near the phone?
• Mail and paperwork
  • Are there stacks of lottery letters, sweepstakes mailers, or "final notice" bills sitting out?
  • Do you see multiple versions of the same charity solicitation or bills marked "overdue" that do not match their usual expenses?
• Bank and credit card activity
  • Have there been new recurring charges or multiple small donations to unknown organizations?
  • Are there cash withdrawals or gift-card purchases that your loved one cannot clearly explain?
• Technology and passwords
  • Are there new icons, apps, or toolbars on their computer or phone they do not recognize?
  • Have they shared passwords, Medicare numbers, or banking details over the phone or in an email?

If you notice several of these signs, it may be time to step in, simplify finances, and consider more structured support such as 24-hour care or more frequent in-home visits.

Red Flags

Scams change their appearance every year, but the red flags are surprisingly consistent. Teaching your loved one a few "always" and "never" rules can make all the difference.

These red flags are especially relevant for Merrick seniors receiving lots of calls and deliveries during the holidays:

• Pressure to act immediately
  • "You must pay today or your account will be closed."
  • "Your grandson is in trouble and needs money right now—don’t tell anyone."
• Unusual payment methods
  • Requests for payment in gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash through the mail.
  • Delivery drivers asking for a credit card at the door for "fees" or "taxes" on a package.
• Requests for private information
  • Someone asking for full Social Security numbers, Medicare numbers, bank account details, or PINs over the phone or by text.
  • Emails that ask you to "confirm your information" by clicking a link.
• Caller or sender cannot be verified
  • The number on caller ID looks strange, or is "spoofed" to resemble a local 516 number.
  • Emails or texts with spelling errors, odd grammar, or generic greetings like "Dear customer" instead of the person’s name.

A simple family rule that works well: if a call, text, email, or knock on the door makes you feel rushed, nervous, or confused, hang up, close the door, or ignore the message—and call a trusted family member, friend, or Care Pro before doing anything else.

Charity Verification

The holidays bring a wave of charity requests, both real and fake. Many Merrick seniors have generous hearts and long histories of giving to churches, synagogues, local fire departments, and medical causes. Scammers know this and may use names that sound very similar to real organizations.

To protect a loved one while honoring their generosity, try these steps:

• Make a short, written "approved charities" list. Include local faith communities, the Merrick fire department, and national organizations your family trusts. Ask your loved one to stick to this list for all holiday giving.
• Verify before donating. Look up the charity’s official website by typing it in (not clicking a link) or call a published phone number. Confirm that any mailing address or donation instructions match what is on their official site.
• Centralize giving. Offer to manage donations from one account or checkbook, so you can keep a clean record and spot surprises quickly.
• Avoid doorstep and phone donations. Encourage seniors to say, "I don’t give over the phone, but I will look you up online if I’m interested." This shuts down pressure while staying polite.

Industry experts note that impostor charities often use words like "national," "federal," or "relief" to sound official. Slowing down and double-checking even a familiar-sounding name can prevent painful losses.

Fraud Response

Even careful, savvy seniors can get caught by a well-crafted scam, especially during the stress and emotion of the holidays. What you do in the hours and days after suspected fraud can limit the damage.

If you suspect a Merrick senior has been targeted or may have shared information:

• Stay calm and kind. Shame often keeps older adults silent about scams. Focus on safety, not blame. Say things like, "This happens to many people; we’ll handle it together."
• Secure bank and credit accounts immediately. Call the bank or card issuer using the number on the back of the card or on a statement (never a number provided by the scammer). Ask to freeze or monitor accounts and dispute unknown charges.
• Save evidence. Keep emails, texts, screenshots, or mail from the scammer. Write down dates, amounts, and what was said on the phone.
• Report to local and national authorities. Contact local law enforcement and relevant hotlines (such as state consumer protection offices or federal fraud reporting lines). Reporting helps protect others, even if the money cannot be fully recovered.

For seniors who live alone in Merrick, having someone regularly in the home to notice emotional changes, new bills, or unusual packages can mean a scam is caught days or weeks earlier.

Special Considerations for Seniors with Dementia

For Merrick families living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, the line between "a close call" and serious financial harm can be very thin. Once a scammer finds someone who will pick up the phone and talk, they often keep calling, texting, or sending mail.

The dementia-focused services described by Alzheimer's & Dementia Care - Merrick, NY emphasize consistent routines and gentle redirection—both essential for scam prevention. Dementia-aware strategies for the holidays include:

• Pre-screening all calls and visitors. Arrange for a family member or Care Pro to answer the phone whenever possible. Consider setting rules like, "If I don’t recognize the number, I let it go to voicemail."
• Using supportive language, not confrontation. Arguing about a scam, even when you are right, can backfire. Instead of "That’s fake," try "Let’s let me handle this one" or "This sounds like a business call; I’ll take care of it."
• Creating "safe" financial pathways. Provide a small spending account for personal items and outings, while keeping larger savings and retirement funds in accounts the person cannot access alone.
• Building a consistent support circle. Involving the same familiar Care Pros, family members, and health providers helps reduce confusion and gives your loved one predictable people to ask when they are unsure.

It may also be helpful to inform trusted neighbors in Merrick—especially in close-knit blocks—that a loved one has memory challenges, and to ask them to alert you if they see unfamiliar people going to the door or repeated deliveries.

Supporting Family Caregivers

During the holidays, Merrick caregivers often juggle work, school breaks, religious services, shopping, and out-of-town visitors—on top of caring for an older parent. That level of stress makes it easier to miss subtle signs of fraud or to delay difficult conversations about money and safety.

Signs that a caregiver may be stretched too thin to fully monitor scam risks include:

• Constantly "putting out fires"—lost bills, late payments, confusing calls from banks or utilities
• Feeling irritable or resentful about having to sort through mail, answer calls, or manage online accounts
• Skipping their own medical appointments or social time to deal with their loved one’s finances and paperwork
• Feeling dread when the phone rings from an unknown number

Local resources such as Nassau County — Alzheimer's and Dementia Support Groups can help caregivers share strategies and feel less alone. Hearing how other families in the area manage scam risks, guardianship, and financial oversight can be reassuring.

Respite is not a luxury—it is a safety measure. When caregivers are exhausted, scammers have an easier time slipping through. Partnering with in-home support for just a few hours a week, or scheduling extra help around the busiest holiday weeks, can lower anxiety and keep everyone more alert to red flags.

When to Seek Professional Help

Some families can manage scam prevention with simple rules and more communication. Others reach a point where the risks feel too high to manage alone. You do not have to wait for a major loss to seek extra help.

Consider bringing in professional support if you notice any of these warning signs in a Merrick senior:

• Repeatedly answering the same scam calls or responding to suspicious mail, even after coaching
• Increasing confusion about money, bills, or who to trust, especially in the evenings or on busy days
• Large unexplained withdrawals, new credit cards, or sudden "friends" who seem very interested in finances
• Safety issues beyond finances, such as forgetting to lock doors, wandering, or difficulty with personal care

At this stage, regular in-home support can protect both financial and physical safety. Options can include:

• 24-hour care for seniors who should not be left alone overnight or who are frequently targeted by scammers.
• Personal care support for bathing, dressing, and daily routines, which also gives Care Pros a chance to notice mail and phone patterns.
• Dementia Care tailored to seniors with cognitive changes who are especially vulnerable to exploitation.

How Home Instead in Merrick Can Help

Holiday scam prevention is not a one-time conversation—it is an ongoing part of keeping Merrick seniors safe and independent at home. Home Instead of Nassau County, based in Merrick, partners with families to quietly reduce risk while preserving dignity and choice.

Our Care Pros can help by:

• Answering or screening calls during visits and encouraging seniors to let unknown numbers go to voicemail
• Sorting and organizing mail, flagging anything that looks suspicious or confusing
• Supporting online tasks such as checking account balances, paying verified bills, or tracking legitimate package deliveries
• Offering gentle reminders about "never give money or information over the phone" rules
• Providing personal care, companionship, and rides to trusted local banks, post offices, and medical appointments
• Delivering specialized dementia care for seniors who need extra support with judgment, memory, and daily decisions

For families who feel stretched thin or live out of state, knowing there is a trained professional regularly checking in on a loved one in Merrick brings peace of mind—especially during the busy holiday season.

If you are concerned about holiday scams targeting a parent or grandparent in Merrick, you do not have to navigate it alone. A conversation with the Home Instead team can help you build a simple, realistic safety plan that fits your family, your budget, and your loved one’s wishes for staying at home.