A sad tale to be sure, but one that is repeated countless times every stinking day, by asshats who brag about not working, and work is for suckers and such $h!. Instead they prey on peoples good will.
I say any time you get out cash, or a credit card take just a second to run exactly what is happening through your mind, doing so will often set off a flare to beware.
Any time ANYONE calls you, you never called them, and asks for $$$$$$ or personal info, A big freaking light and a siren should go off in your head screaming SCAM. I suppose there are rare instances when it is legit, but stopping forward progress of what is happening won't spoil a legit, it will only delay it, till a time they better reach out to you. But for all the rest, they are just Aholes looking to rob you. All of them should be shot on sight. Honest companies will not ask for personal info, and if they do need it to determine you are actually you, there are safer ways they can approach you rather than a cold call, where you don't know if it is who they say they are...
I think Hospitals and medical institutions are the worst in this, and they blame it on HIPPA, which should be drastically modified. Also generally a larger part senior population, and often they don't know, but just immediately accept it is the Hospital calling, so it's OK to start rattling off personal info. Say, I don't know you, you'll need to do a better job of making me believe this is legit, and you are actually someone from the hospital. You should be able to call the hospitals real number, and track down whoever they say they are, if you can't you defeated the scum. At least in that round, but it's a daily occurrence, never ending.
Be ALERT America needs more lerts.