Scams & Fraud

Staying a step ahead of the criminal scammers is like playing a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. But if you know about a specific scam, research shows you are 80% less likely to engage with it. But how can you stay up to speed? One great tool is the AARP Fraud Watch Network’s Watchdog Alerts.

Even though so much crime today is happening online, there’s one real-world crime that will never go away – pickpocketing. In the event it happens to you, make sure a stolen wallet doesn’t lead to an even bigger loss.

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.

As the peak summer vacation season approaches, AARP Pennsylvania is warning travelers to be on the lookout for online vacation rental scams. Popular online vacation platforms offer a convenient and affordable way to find vacation rentals, but scammers are using them to take advantage of unsuspecting travelers.

Let’s be honest, most of us have done it: taking one of those viral social media quizzes or threads that seem so fun and innocent. Post a picture of your first car. What cartoon princess are you? What record was number one the year you graduated high school?

Summer has finally arrived, but the beginning of beach season inevitably brings weight loss scams with it. Criminals take advantage of the season to offer bogus solutions for losing weight or getting in shape. Here’s how these scams generally work.

More than 369,000 incidents of financial abuse targeting older adults are reported to authorities in the U.S. each year, causing an estimated $4.8 billion in losses. And those numbers likely understate the problem considerably. However, as we approach World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, it’s good to remember that there are things we can do to stop elder financial exploitation. 

Scammers are adept at manipulating the latest technological advances to commit their crimes. These days it’s happening in the world of artificial intelligence – commonly known as AI.

In collaboration with our Consumer Issues Task Force (CITF) - led by Chairperson Mary Bach and supported by Associate State Director of Community Outreach David Kalinoski - AARP Pennsylvania has a long and respected history of advocating to spread information and knowledge about frauds and scams.

Criminals have so many ways to getting in touch with us these days. According to new data from the Federal Trade Commission, the winning entry path in 2022 was the internet.