We know that Scammers are getting smarter, the information more realistic and, well, downright scary. I know, I’ve almost been scammed myself! Here are some rules and reminders. It’s important to know the signs.
KEY WARNING SIGNS:
- High Urgency: Demanding immediate action without giving time to think or check facts.
- Unusual Payment: Requesting payment via gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or physical cash/gold.
- Unsolicited Contact: Inbound calls, texts, or pop-ups out of nowhere claiming to be official entities
From the NCOA: Top 5 Financial Scams Targeting Older Adults
- The person in need and grandparent scam. In this scam, fake grandchildren ask for help with car repairs, late rent, a medical emergency, or even to post bond. They pretend to be in distress. They may even beg the grandparent not to tell anyone.
- Financial Services scam. They may claim that a checking or savings account has been compromised and ask for personal information, such as a password or Social Security number, to “secure” it. They may promise better rates or terms on a home loan. Or they may threaten arrest for unpaid medical bills—which may or may not exist. Click here for AARP helpline.
- Tech support scams. These scams prey upon the doubts and discomforts that many people have around computers. In fact, when it comes to fraud committed against older adults, tech support scams nearly always top the list, or come close.1 How do they work? Typically, a person’s computer or phone screen will freeze or go blank. A pop-up message will appear with a phone number to dial for help. When the user calls it, the scammer on the other end will ask for permission to log on to the device remotely. This fake “tech support” representative also may demand a fee to repair the “issue.” Click here for more.
- Government impersonation scams. Veterans. The VA will never call and ask for your personal information. HANG UP and call your local VA official numbers for your area. For Veterans, ONLY use the official VA.gov website to edit, change or manage your benefits and claims. Monitor your benefits and finances.
- Romance Scams. Romance scammers create fake social media profiles and use them to gain trust and steal money. In some cases, these scammers may be (or pretend to be) overseas. They may ask their victims to pay for visas, medical emergencies, and travel expenses to come to the U.S. Romance scams (also called sweetheart scams) can drag out for a long time. As a result, victims often lose a lot of money. In one recent incident, a California widow lost $700,000 to a man who contacted her and cultivated what she believed to be a true friendship over the online app WeChat. Get tips for avoiding sweetheart scams.
IF IT FEELS WRONG, IT PROBABLY IS !!!!! PAUSE, VERIFY, REPORT
