Scams & Fraud

With today’s tight real estate market there is often pressure to act quickly when you find that perfect place. Scammers know this and are waiting to pounce. Here are three things to be aware of when shopping for a home.

Earlier this year AARP joined White House officials and industry leaders in a meeting aimed at helping the federal government fight back against the use of artificial intelligence–enabled voice cloning to commit fraud. A virtual White House conference followed in June, with AARP again at the table. With fraud already at an epidemic level, the addition of AI powered scams is alarming, which is why AARP is focused on advocating for a strong legislative response to this threat.

Criminals love to impersonate big businesses and the bigger the better. One of the largest targets of impostor scams last year was Amazon. According to the Federal Trade Commission, 44,000 reports about scammers using Amazon's name were filed last year, with $19 million reported lost. Here are two of the latest versions of an Amazon impostor scam to be on the lookout for.

Summer is officially here, which means door-to-door sales crews are too. But buyer beware because what they’re selling isn’t always legit.

Harrisburg, PA – Today, AARP Pennsylvania recognized the Commonwealth’s Attorney General Michelle Henry as a Community Fraud Fighter of distinction. This distinction honors the dedication of individuals who are actively working to combat the scourge of scams and fraud targeting Pennsylvanians of all ages.

With the arrival of travel season, AARP Pennsylvania reminds travelers to remain vigilant against scams that could turn dream vacations into disappointing ordeals. Travelers looking forward to relaxing and exploring new destinations should be cautious of too-good-to-be-true deals on vacation rentals and car hires.

One of the most popular ways for criminals to steal money and sensitive information is by impersonating a trusted source — often a government agency. According to the Federal Trade Commission, victims of government impostor scams reported theft of nearly $617 million in 2023.

Tax season isn't just about filing returns; it's also prime time for IRS impostor scams. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported theft of $5.8 million via these scams in 2023 alone. Here is what you need to know about IRS impostors so you can stay one step ahead of these crooks.

AARP Pennsylvania emphasizes the importance of education on the risks and prevention methods of Social Security fraud. With identity theft at the forefront of digital crimes, understanding how to protect one's Social Security number has never been more crucial.

Many of us have used a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment app to split a bill or send money to a friend, and some people even use them for traditional shopping. However, there are inherent risks that exist on these payment apps that everyone should know about.