Scams & Fraud

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.

A new 2024 AARP Fraud Watch NetworkTM report highlights the ways criminals are targeting consumers this holiday season. The report shows four-in-five (82%) U.S. consumers have experienced some type of fraud this year – including gift card scams, counterfeit products, phishing attempts disguised as delivery notifications, and more. The research also shows many consumers are not aware of the types of fraud they may come across when shopping online.

New AARP Report Highlights Steady Increase in Consumer Fraud Year-Over-Year

Fraud cost veterans, service members, and their families $477 million in 2023, according to the latest Federal Trade Commission (FTC) data, and this only includes fraud that was reported. With over 85% of veterans having encountered service-related scams in the last 12 months, now is a great time to review some of the most prevalent scams targeting current and former service members.

Longtime Assistant Attorney General and Director of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division, earns award for his fraud fighting collaboration with AARP.

The sun might be shining on solar energy, but buyers beware – costly solar panel scams could leave you in the dark with massive loans and higher bills.

Resources, Helpful Tools and More for Volunteers

In early May, Susan noticed some unusual small charges from “Apple” on her Capital One credit card. Concerned, she called the number on the back of her card to dispute these charges, confident this was the best and safest step to protect her account. However, this call led her directly into the hands of scammers, who were somehow able to intercept what she believed was a trusted customer service line.

All members of winning team receive a $50 Visa Gift Card!

With the holidays upon us, online shopping ramps up and so do the tactics scammers use to steal your hard-earned money! Scammers steal billions of dollars from unsuspecting consumers every year. The impact on victims and their families can be financially and emotionally devastating, especially for older Americans.