Scams targeting seniors…
Know what to watch for!
Scams against seniors are constantly changing, scammers are constantly getting smarter and savvier, so what can you do to stay ahead?
Be skeptical!! If you get a fraudulent charge alert from your bank, call your bank or login on the website without clicking any links… go directly to the website or phone number on your own.
Avoid using checks! Scammers will take a check right out of your mailbox! Use credit cards or paypal when possible. If you have to mail a check, bring it to the post office yourself or drop it in your outgoing mail right before collection, don’t let it sit in the box!
Question everything! That email or phone call asking for a charitable donation? Tell them to mail you something! Only donate to reputable charities, research them on your own if you’ve never heard of them before.
Have a trusted contact on your accounts - a son or daughter, your POA, a daily money manager, anyone that can also see account alerts and watch for suspicious activity. Don’t feel bad if you think you are getting scammed, fraudsters are good at what they do! Better to ask for help before it gets too late!
Texts and calls from deliveries/packages/Amazon. No! Unless you have a hangtag on your door from UPS, it’s a fake! No one is texting you that they missed a delivery, Amazon is not calling you!
IRS refund scams. Again, ignore calls and texts, you want official letters from the IRS and you can always login or (I know, I know) call them yourself!
