Advice on Phone / Internet Access

dsell95

Hi all. My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s over a year ago and has been getting worse. She’s unfortunately extremely vulnerable to scammers online and has fallen victim to gift card fraud scams to the tune of 13,000 dollars since last July. We’ve had to take away her devices to prevent further contact with them. She doesn’t seem to understand the situation, as we had many discussions around it before resorting to taking away her devices. We didn’t realize the extent of it until very recently. My stepdad and I are working on guardianship and conservatorship to protect her financially etc. but am hoping for some advice on how others have dealt with or navigated cell phone access for their loved ones with Alzheimer’s. Is there a way for her to have a device that’s locked down so she can’t access apps where she is vulnerable to scammers, where we can allow access only to certain websites and contact only with people in her address book? Verizon was telling us this is only possible for children and not for adults, but that doesn’t make sense to me if an adult is not capable of navigating the internet safely. She has been asking about her phone every day, but if she gets it back she will inevitably continue giving out personal and financial information and sending money to scammers.

terei

IMO the phone is gone for good. I would just keep saying it is broken + you are waiting for parts, but they are on back order. Repeat repeat repeat

H1235

Welcome! We gave my mom a phone that does not have internet access. She also has no access to credit cards, bank account numbers, SS number( she doesn’t have it mentioned), and no id card. Mom lives in Al so this information did not go with her. I can see how it would be difficult to restrict her access to this in her own home. I’m not sure how a phone company can tell you who can or cannot use a phone that you purchased. I just might be inclined to be dishonest with them and tell then she is 12. Changing phones may also create a problem. Learning how to use a new phone, even if it’s easier, many be difficult for her. Could you give her a device with games that is not connected to the internet? This is a great site for information and ideas, Im sure others will chime in. If you search the site I’m sure you will find many threads on this topic. There might be something in one of them that is helpful.

Phelser

I feel very bad for you! I went through a kind of similar situation . My mother was 85 alone and was scammed by several people over her landline phone which i had no idea of this until depleted her entire savings account. She moved in with me a couple of months after i discovered this . With the move she no longer has a land line and only a cell pbone with people she knows on favorites . I know this is impossible for you . I just wanted you to know others can sympathize with this . If there is anyway to intercept her mail do that . My mother was being targeted by “ non for profit” buisnesses and she gave a way a lot of money .

mandajean

Take the phone…tell her its broken, anything!!!! My Mom went through the exact same thing to the tune of her ENTIRE retirement!!!!! From writing checks to anyone who sent her something to email scams. ITS HORRIBLE!!! I have contacted so many agencies and there just is no help. I even contacted the companies directly and told them they should be ashamed…of course they had nothing to say.

If she has to have a phone Jitterbug has a flip phone….Nothing but text or phone calls. You can set up phone to block downloading any apps. Tell the carrier its a child phone…I know its stupid that you have to lie but these companies dont care they arnt in your situation.

I did get guardianship of my Mom. Let me tell you its more complicated than it seems you have to get permission for every dollar spent! And some times I wish I hadnt done it. But it does protect her from predators.

CaliforniaGirl-1

We went through something similar. After time after time of scamming, buying things and so forth, and my LO denying that they had engaged or given out any info. We got a call blocker for the landline and programmed in the numbers of friends and family. The message that played said that this number was only accepting calls from known numbers call the kids (us) if you received this message and wanted to get through and get your number added. . No one ever did.

I also went through the incoming calls list and manually blocked any numbers we didn't recognize.

Of course, it didn't stop outgoing calls, calling the numbers from ads on TV and buying and signing up for things. (Sigh). But it stopped the calls from scammers. My LO was ok with it because all the scam calls upset them.

There are landlines you can get for PWD that include a call blocker and a limit on outgoing calls and a blocker for slowing down the repeated calls to the same number with a short time. (You know, when your LO calls every 2 minutes for an hour). It plays a message saying that number is temporarily busy.

I would take away the internet. Your LO is vulnerable. Unless you can get a device that will allow you to program in allowed sites.