Scams & Fraud

This April, Medicare will begin to issue new Medicare cards to all beneficiaries. To help protect your identity, these new cards will no longer contain your Social Security number. Instead, Medicare will assign you a unique number that will be used for doctor visits and medical claims. As new cards start to get sent out, scammers might try to take advantage of this transition. The following is some information to help you from getting caught up in a Medicare card scam:

Online dating has become one of the most popular ways for people of all ages to meet friends, significant others and spouses. While most people have good intentions when using online dating websites, scammers also use the same sites to obtain money, gifts or personal information.

Nearly four in ten (39 percent) Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) age 50 and older report that they or their family members have experienced fraud schemes, according to the recent fraud survey from AARP. Additionally, one-third (33 percent) of victims lost $15,000 on average. Non-financial costs are even more widespread, with most fraud victims (72 percent) experiencing some sort of emotional, physical or mental health impact, including anger, stress and anxiety, difficulty sleeping and shame.

Friday, February 23, 2018 from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. at the Fort Collins Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Drive

Are you looking to escape the cold and hit the beach this winter? On a snowy day, soaking up some sun in a tropical location sounds pretty nice!

‘Tis the season for excessive shopping and since many people will purchase their holiday gifts online, this is a good time to brush up on some internet safety tips. Here are a few reminders for protecting your personal and financial information while shopping online:

In recent years, we have dealt with major data breaches at hospitals, retail stores and government offices. In September, we learned Equifax’s data was breached, potentially affecting millions of people. While these breaches are alarming, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are a victim of identity theft. It does mean that you should take precautionary measures to protect your identity. The following are some steps to consider taking:

The ElderWatch Helpline has been fielding lots of calls about the “Say Yes” scam. Many news reports have warned that a scammer will call and ask a question to get the victim to say “Yes.” Then, reportedly, the scammer records that “Yes” to use it to authorize unwanted charges to a phone bill, utility bill or a credit card.

Scammers posing as IRS agents or Treasury Department officials are continuing their deceptive ways. First and foremost, it is important to remember the IRS will first contact you through the mail. If you receive a phone call or suspicious email or text from the IRS, chances are it’s a scammer posing as an IRS agent. Are you still unsure? Here are some red flags that the call, email or text you received is not really the IRS:

The internet is a wonderful place to stay in touch with friends, conduct business and get information. Scammers also really like the internet because it gives them access to the billions of people who are online every day. When you are online make sure to take proper precautions to keep your personal and financial information safe and avoid these common scams: