Scams & Fraud

Video to help people spot, prevent and report holiday and winter season scams

While this season is supposed to be filled with joy and cheer, it’s also, unfortunately, a season of holiday scams.

As online holiday shopping ramps up, so do scam attempts.

Concord Television's Senior Speak NH December 2024 edition, hosted by AARP NH volunteer Dan Wise, features AARP Fraud Fighter Marc Boyd with tips on spotting and stopping scams.

A new state law that took effect in September is aimed at educating Delaware consumers about gift card scams.

AARP Minnesota seeks volunteers to support its 2025 legislative priorities, including creating a Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund. Add your voice and make a difference.

The start of the online holiday shopping season means that online scams intensify with it.

Scams are epidemic these days as criminals use every conceivable avenue to separate consumers from their cash. It makes sense that they frequently pretend to be big companies or institutions affiliated with millions of people (potential victims, in their minds).

Dealing with Artificial Intelligence (AI) — especially involving scams — is a huge challenge for all of us. While I have been fascinated by AI, it is the ongoing changing algorithms that are hard to follow.

Across the country, someone’s identity is stolen every two seconds. Fraud is an escalating crisis, with losses far exceeding what is reported. While $9 billion in fraud losses were reported in 2022, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates the true financial impact at $137 billion due to underreporting. The impact on victims and their families can be financially and emotionally devastating, especially for older Americans.