Leah Miller

All charity scams are deplorable, but those pretending to raise funds to support our nation’s veterans are particularly shameful. Last week, the Federal Trade Commission, along with state charities regulators, announced a major takedown of fake veteran charities.

Communities across South Dakota are working each and every day to become more livable for residents of all ages.

In 2016, there were over 3,600 reported complaints of interstate moving fraud. The offenses include taking goods hostage, overcharges, loss and damage, and insurance issues. The average loss claim was a jaw-dropping $8,000.

There are plenty of reputable contests and sweepstakes out there (including some from AARP), and let’s be honest, winning feels great! But there are questionable characters out there too, who are trying to hook you on winning and reel in the profits for themselves.

Hail, wind, fire and tornadoes can make the summer months a dangerous time to live in South Dakota. Unfortunately for many of us, when it comes to natural disasters it may not be a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’.

With the tech support scam, you get an online popup or a call from a well-known tech company (like Microsoft or Apple) saying that a virus has been identified on your computer. The scammer convinces you that he can fix the problem for a fee. Victims who catch on and stop payment are now getting hit with an associated scam.

“If you want something done, ask a busy person!”

A law passed in 2015 requires Medicare to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards. Beneficiaries will begin to receive their new cards in May, and the rollout will continue into 2019. This is a good move, since Social Security numbers are the key to identity theft, and having them displayed on Medicare cards has long presented a risk. Unfortunately, scammers have come up with ways to take advantage of this change.

What’s the best way to protect yourself from con artists' latest tricks? Learn how a scam works. What's the best way to do that? Go to the source.

Every two seconds in the US, someone's identity is stolen, resulting in tens of billions of dollars landing in the pockets of con artists and other unsavory criminals. AARP South Dakota is warning our members to be extra vigilant as tax season comes to a close. South Dakotans filed more than 3,200 consumer complaints of fraud and identity theft last year, 33% of which were employment or tax-related.