Laura Polacheck

There is good news for those of you on Medicare--new cards will be issued on April 1 that don't have your Social Security number on them, which in the past has exposed beneficiaries to possible identity theft. The bad news? Scammers will take advantage of this fact to pose as Medicare employees, calling you and claiming that you need to pay for a new temporary card--sometimes stating that this new card will cost $50. To "process" it, they'll ask for your personal financial information, such as your bank account or credit card information and use this precious data to steal your identity.

by Micah Festerly, Management and Program Analyst in Taxpayer Outreach, Partnership and Education with the IRS

As we enter the holiday season, it pays to be vigilant to avoid scams or slip-ups that could put a damper on your celebrations. Here are some ways to keep your holidays happy.

AARP Utah Executive Council member Amanda Lambert is a geriatric care manager and owner of Lambert Care Management, LLC; after her years of experience working with older adults and seeing families struggle to find and afford care for elders, she approached her colleague and friend Leslie Eckford about writing a book on the subject. Given the huge growth in the number of older people that is coming both in Utah and the country, as a whole, this book is well-timed to help families cope with caregiving responsibilities, and will prove to be an indispensable tool to in the entire decision-making process for how best to provide care.

An 84-year-old widow called the AARP Fraud Watch Network after accepting a free trial offer for skin cream she had seen a famous personality touting on television. She had no idea she needed to cancel after receiving the free trial. She was sent more product at a cost of $200 and is fighting to return the product and get her money back.

As we honor those who have served our country this Veterans Day, know that scammers go to great lengths to target their money, their benefits, and their commitment to current and former soldiers.

Free public Wi-Fi, available at places like airports and coffee shops, are convenient, but can be risky.

Tax season is over, and AARP Tax-Aide in Utah did another outstanding job helping low-to-moderate income taxpayers in the state file their taxes at no charge and on time! This year, over 6700 returns were completed at 32 sites around the state by 106 volunteer preparers.

from Kristen Keckeisen of the AARP Fraud Watch Network

It's the season of giving but con artists are taking--here are some tips from the AARP Fraud Watch Network on how to protect yourself from holiday scams: