Don’t get scammed

The email said her friend needed a  $300 gift card for an emergency and would pay her back.  The email was a scam and took advantage of her trust and willingness to help others.  Senior scams target older adults to steal money, personal information, and identities. 

Image by StartupStockPhotos from Pixabay

.

Common Scams

1.      Family/friend scams.  Scammers email or call and pretend to be a loved one who needs immediate financial help (e.g., in jail, in the hospital).  With AI technology, they may even be able to sound like this person. 

2.       Tech support scams.  These scams suggest you have a computer virus and trick you into giving scammers control over your computer.  Ignore pop ups and emails warning you that you have a virus.  

3.      Home repair scams.  Fake or fraudulent contractors demand a prepayment before starting work and then never show up or don’t finish the job.    

Tips to Protect Yourself from Scams  

•   Never give your social security number, bank information, or other personal information to unexpected callers. 

• Distrust callers or email from unexpected sources.  Do not engage with them.  Delete email and hang up on callers. 

• Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

• Slow down.  Do not be fooled or pressed to act when a scammer says that urgent attention is required. 

• Install a reputable anti-virus software on your computer. Don’t get scammed by urgent pop up screens claiming you have been hacked.

• Verify the identity of a caller.  When they call, hang up and contact the source directly.      

• Adopt a skeptical attitude. 

Protect yourself from scammers who will prey on your trust and kindness.