National Senior Citizens Day

Senior citizens are too often the targets of consumer fraud scams. Scammers prey on older adults, who are viewed as vulnerable and lonely easy prey with readily available cash.  It’s important to familiarize yourself with this kind of fraudulent activity to protect against becoming a victim. Here are eight of the most common senior scams out there and some tips to help you stay safe.  

- Medical Device Scam
- Grandparent Scam
- Ghosting Scam
- Jury Duty Scam
- Funeral Notification Scam
- Sweepstakes Scam
- IRS Imposter Scam
- Free Grant Scam

Scam Prevention Tips

• Hang up without pressing a key if you receive an unsolicited phone call.  If you do take the call, be sure to identify the caller and the company represented. Also always get a phone number for the business.
• Never provide personal or financial information over the phone. This includes your name, date of birth, Social Security number, address, and Medicare number.
• Contact your telephone provider to block “robocall” numbers. Avoid paying for blocking services since robocall numbers displayed on caller IDs change frequently.
• Install a firewall and anti-virus/anti-spyware software to protect your email account from being used by scammers. Also keep all of your software updated.
• Do not open attachments from strangers or any emails that seem suspicious. Attachments sometimes contain programs that allow scammers to gain access to your computer.
• Avoid listing birth date, maiden name, or other personal identifiers of loved ones in obituaries as such information is useful to identity thieves.
• Do not click or open files in unfamiliar emails to avoid downloading unwanted malware.
• Do not respond to guaranteed sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a contribution.
• The IRS usually initiates first contact about unpaid taxes through U.S. mail, never by phone or email.
• The IRS never asks for payment using a wire transfer or a pre-paid debit card.
• Call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040 if you think that you may owe taxes.
• Protect your personal information by storing it in a safe and secure place. Do not keep important account numbers or data in purses, wallets, or smartphones.
• Remember that phone calls can be deceiving. Scammers now use sophisticated technology to manipulate their area code in caller ID systems.
• Do not pay money for a “free” government grant. Anytime you are asked to make a payment to receive a government grant, it is a scam.