81-year-old man driven to death by phone scammers
1–10 of 146 posts
Re: 81-year-old man driven to death by phone scammers
#2[deleted]
Re: 81-year-old man driven to death by phone scammers
#3[deleted]
Yeah, all I can think of is why they didn't change their number? Or block that number from reaching their phone/alarming/whatever.
Secondly if the guy was so unstable that he kept sending money why didn't his family intervene by taking away his ability to send money (most likely by closing his credit card or putting very low limit on it). It also surprises me that a person with such sever Alzheimer's was still allowed to have access to firearms, sure people who are going to kill themselves will find a way, but that just seems irresponsible in many levels.
Re: 81-year-old man driven to death by phone scammers
#4[deleted]
Yeah, all I can think of is why they didn't change their number? Or block that number from reaching their phone/alarming/whatever. Secondly if the guy was so unstable that he kept sending money why didn't his family intervene by taking away his ability to send money (most likely by closing his credit card or putting very low limit on it). It also surprises me that a person with such sever Alzheimer's was still allowe…
Reducing access to means and methods of suicide is an important bit of suicide prevention. We should be careful not to dump extra responsibility onto carers[1]. Caring is already pretty horrendous. But clinicians should be including families in discussions about suicide risk, and access to methods.
We know that carers want this kind of involvement because carer's organisations say it. And when someone dies by suicide clinicians say that talking to the family would have reduced risk. (This is in the National Confidential Survey[2])
[1] carer refers to someone who provides care but is no paid to do so.
[2] http://www.bbmh.manchester.ac.uk/cmhs/research/centreforsuic...
Re: 81-year-old man driven to death by phone scammers
#5>"targets nearly 300,000 Americans a year, most of them elderly, and has enticed them to send an estimated $300 million annually"
In this case, the scammers took advantage of an elderly man, inflicted with Alzheimer's and diminishing mental capacity. Sad.
But that can't be the case for the majority. How on earth do "normal" people fall for this? I can see, maybe, when the internet was young and this was new. But it's a pop culture joke now. Those numbers are staggering.
Re: 81-year-old man driven to death by phone scammers
#6[deleted]
Yeah, all I can think of is why they didn't change their number? Or block that number from reaching their phone/alarming/whatever. Secondly if the guy was so unstable that he kept sending money why didn't his family intervene by taking away his ability to send money (most likely by closing his credit card or putting very low limit on it). It also surprises me that a person with such sever Alzheimer's was still allowe…
>Secondly if the guy was so unstable that he kept sending money why didn't his family intervene by taking away his ability to send money
One day you're going to be old, and we'll see how easily you give up certain perks of being an adult. And let's hope you have loved ones to "intervene" and care for you.
>such sever Alzheimer's
It doesn't sound like you know what severe Alzheimer's looks like.
Re: 81-year-old man driven to death by phone scammers
#7[deleted]
Yeah, all I can think of is why they didn't change their number? Or block that number from reaching their phone/alarming/whatever. Secondly if the guy was so unstable that he kept sending money why didn't his family intervene by taking away his ability to send money (most likely by closing his credit card or putting very low limit on it). It also surprises me that a person with such sever Alzheimer's was still allowe…
If that's all you can think of, think a bit harder.
I'm guessing you don't know anyone who's old or vulnerable, or not nearly as well as you do. You're just going to have to take it on trust that that a determined and skilful individual can get the upper hand over a vulnerable person.
Also, not everyone lives in an environment where people are caring for them or looking out for them.
Re: 81-year-old man driven to death by phone scammers
#8>" targets nearly 300,000 Americans a year, most of them elderly, and has enticed them to send an estimated $300 million annually " In this case, the scammers took advantage of an elderly man, inflicted with Alzheimer's and diminishing mental capacity. Sad. But that can't be the case for the majority. How on earth do "normal" people fall for this? I can see, maybe , when the internet was young and this was new. But i…
Different people are vulnerable to different things. There are different kinds of scams, targeting (among other things) desperation, greed, loneliness, insecurity, and even altruism. No one is 100% rational 100% of the time.
Re: 81-year-old man driven to death by phone scammers
#9>" targets nearly 300,000 Americans a year, most of them elderly, and has enticed them to send an estimated $300 million annually " In this case, the scammers took advantage of an elderly man, inflicted with Alzheimer's and diminishing mental capacity. Sad. But that can't be the case for the majority. How on earth do "normal" people fall for this? I can see, maybe , when the internet was young and this was new. But i…
It's a pop culture joke among those who are regular internet users. There are a whole bunch of people who use the internet infrequently and don't hear or know about these scams.
Re: 81-year-old man driven to death by phone scammers
#10>" targets nearly 300,000 Americans a year, most of them elderly, and has enticed them to send an estimated $300 million annually " In this case, the scammers took advantage of an elderly man, inflicted with Alzheimer's and diminishing mental capacity. Sad. But that can't be the case for the majority. How on earth do "normal" people fall for this? I can see, maybe , when the internet was young and this was new. But i…
Pop culture joke? Among the young, maybe. Perhaps not among the elderly.