Active Lifestyle Magazine - Winter 2020 - Premiere Issue

A mericans over 60 lose $650M a year to online hacks and scams. These scams should be reported to government agencies like the FBI and FTC, but many don't know that reporting is important. Those who do often cannot complete the reports they start. Chronic under-reporting means that U.S. intelligence and law enforcement lack information about online scams. Making online reporting forms easier for older adults to complete would make the problem more visible and help law enforcement cut down on crime. Report online scams to: https://fenses.org/ic3-form/ Improving Online Scam Reporting For Older Adults A

SHORTS

PAINKILLERS AFTER DENTAL WORK

(HealthDay News) -- Seniors who take depression and anxiety drugs shouldn't be prescribed opioid painkillers by their dentist because it puts them at increased risk for problems, researchers warn. They analyzed 2011-15 dental and medical data for 40,800 patients aged 65 and older across the United States. There were 947 emergency room visits and hospitalizations in the 30 days after a dental visit. One in 10 of those who were prescribed opioids were also using medications that shouldn't be taken with them. These patients were 23% more likely to visit the ER or require hospitalization within a month of the dental visit where they received the opioid prescription, the study found. SOURCE: Oregon State University, news release, Sept. 21, 2020

AS AMERICANS CONTINUE LIVING LONGER, SOCIETY MUST REDEFINE WHAT IT MEANS TO GET OLDER.

50% of U.S. Adults Are Concerned About Medical Bankruptcy

Cryptocurrency Blackmail Scam Alert CRISTINA MIRANDA Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Gallup and West Health recently released survey results on medical bankruptcy concerns among U.S. adults. Here are some key findings from the report:

The email suddenly appears in your inbox. Someone is writing to say that they have access to your cell phone or your computer. And they're about to make your sensitive videos, pictures, or compromising information public. Pay them money (a ransom), they say, using a cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, and they won't expose the truth. Have you gotten one of these emails? If so, you're not alone. The email is a part of a cryptocurrency blackmail scam that's been popping up for a while. But last month, the FTC saw another uptick in the number of reports of this scam. We've said it before, but it's always worth repeating. The person behind these emails is a scammer. Don't pay him. He's using threats, intimidation, and high pressure tactics to trick you out of your money. And while the scammer may say that he knows about an alleged affair, a video, or something else that could embarrass you if it was made public, it's all fake. In fact, it's also a criminal extortion attempt. Which is why it's really important that you report this type of scam to the FBI, right away. And once you do, remember to tell the FTC, too, at ftc.gov/complaint .

• Half of U.S. adults are concerned that a household health event could lead to bankruptcy. • This percentage has risen from 45% of adults measured in early 2019. • The percentage of non-White adults who harbor this concern has risen from 52% to 64%. • Medical bankruptcy concerns have increased 12 percentage points among adults aged 18-29. • Among adults aged 30-49, medical bankruptcy concerns increased 9 percentage points. Source: Gallup

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