Scams & Fraud

The holiday season creates new ways for scammers to victimize consumers. Especially with many consumers turning to online shopping it is even more important to remain vigilant. Here are a few steps you can take to help make this holiday shopping season safe:

Impostor government grant offers have become more prevalent than even in recent years. Even though collecting cash sounds nice, anytime you receive an offer for “free money” that seems “too good to be true” you should go with your instinct and ignore it. Imposter grant offers are scams designed to steal your money and collect personal information. Here are some tips to avoid government grant scams:

If you have any questions about a scam or potential scam that involves cryptocurrency, call AARP ElderWatch to speak with a trained specialist who can help

With more people shopping from home than ever before, many consumers rely on delivery services like Amazon for some of the products they used to buy at store. Reports of scammers posing as the Amazon customer support have increased significantly over the past few years. Here are some tips for avoiding Amazon impostor scams:

Social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and any app that lets you connect (chat) with people can provide a convenient way to interact with others. It is important to remember that scammers also commonly use these platforms to find victims. Scammers often create fake profiles and pretend to either be someone you know, someone you want to know or an entity you trust. Because there are fake profiles it is difficult to know who you can trust on social media sites. The following are some red flags that you might be targeted by a scammer on Facebook or another social media platform:

In 2021, fraud-related losses totaled over $5.9 billion in the United States. Identity theft has sat at the top of the list of consumer complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for the past two years. Accessing and checking your free annual credit report is key to recognizing signs that your identity may be compromised.

Scammers commonly use the names of well-known and reputable computer companies, online retailers, money transfer services and virus protection software companies to try and trick their victims. These business imposter and computer support scams often claim to be with companies like Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Norton, McAfee, PayPal and eBay, just to name a few. It is important to remember that computer scams can occur on any device that can access the internet including a smartphone and tablet. The following are some red flags to look out for to help debunk some of the most reported computer-related scams:

Especially in the past few years, online dating and social media sites have become one of the most popular ways for people of all ages to connect with new friends and potential lovers. While many people have good intentions when meeting others online, scammers also increasingly use these sites and apps (ex. Facebook, Instagram, Words with Friends, etc.) to obtain money, gifts or personal information.

The start of a new year often means creating resolutions. Why not make your resolution to stay scam free this year? While scams can take various forms, there are often “red flags” that are common to many scams. Recognizing red flags will help you avoid new and old scams alike. The following are some common red flags that are indicative of many current scams out there today:

Before you donate to charities between now and the end of the year, do your research to make sure your hard-earned money is going to the intended cause. A 2021 AARP survey found that 38% of US adults say they have received a charity request that seemed fraudulent. The following are a few tips to help make sure that your donation is benefitting the intended cause: