Scams & Fraud

Chicago, IL. – With Americans losing tens of billions of dollars annually to investment fraud schemes, what mindsets and behaviors are common among those who fall victim? A new survey by the AARP Fraud Watch Network finds that the most susceptible typically exhibit an unusually high degree of confidence in unregulated investments and tend to trade more actively than the general investor population. More of the investment scam victims also reported that they value wealth accumulation as a significant measure of success in life and acknowledged being open to unsolicited telephone and email sales pitches.

AARP State Director Bob Gallo was a guest on WCIU's YOU AND ME IN THE MORNING discussing our Fraud Watch Network and providing tips to combat scams and fraud this holiday season.

AARP Chicago recently hosted a free fraud awareness and shredding event on October 4th that was open to the public where people from the community, particularly Chicago's South Side, could securely destroy confidential documents and records. More than 175 vehicles brought financial documents and personal information to be properly disposed and participate in fraud watch awareness seminar.

AARP Chicago is hosting a free fraud awareness and shredding event open to the public where people from the community, particularly the Chicago South Side, can securely destroy confidential documents and records.

Scammers are constantly and creatively finding ways to get people to part with their hard-earned money. The latest scam is an effort to get people to pay back taxes by purchasing iTunes gift cards and sharing the code on the back of the card. AARP Fraud Watch Network is alerting consumers about this new scam and providing useful tips to help consumers protect themselves and their money against fraudsters.