BOLO for Scams: August is Fraud Fighting Month

August is Fraud Fighting Month!
BOLO – Be On (the) Look Out for any number of scams - such as this one:
Do you have a sign for a home security system in your yard? Then be wary of this summer scam. Fraudsters will hire college students to troll through neighborhoods looking for houses with security system signs in their yards. The student will tell the homeowner the security company is going out of business, and the student’s “company” is taking over the account. The homeowner is told she has to buy new equipment and sign a new contract. Only the equipment is fake and the homeowner is paying for a service she isn’t receiving. If you get this kind of visit, check first with your home security company. Better yet, don’t do business with someone who comes unsolicited to your home.
To further educate yourself, check out Sid Kirchheimer’s blog. He is AARP’s “Scam Alert” expert who covers many topics. If you travelling and access Wi-Fi, check out his article to stay safe from scams: Wi-Fi Safety While Traveling: http://blog.aarp.org/2016/07/14/wi-fi-safety-when-traveling/.
Even after August is over, you’ll still need to keep abreast of frauds and scams, so join the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork. Anyone of any age can access:
• The latest scam alerts, delivered right to your inbox;
• A scam tracking map featuring warnings from local law enforcement and first-hand accounts of breaking scams from people in your state;
• The Con Artist Playbook – interviews with con artists who reveal how they steal your hard-earned money; and
• A fraud hotline you can call to talk to a trained volunteer for advice if you are worried you or a loved one has been scammed or if you suspect a scam in your community.
Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.