Scams & Fraud

With another tax season wrapped up, it’s a great time to streamline your household filing system by safely purging documents with personal information.

The number of Washington households with access to the internet is growing, but new users may not be ready for the Wild West that is the World Wide Web.

AARP Washington State's podcast on health, wealth and self, living your best life after age 50. We focus on life transitions and new ways to be happy & healthy. Hosted by Bruce Carlson.

U.S. veterans are disproportionately targeted by scam artists, with 35 percent of veterans losing money to fraud compared with 25 percent of civilians, according to a 2021 AARP survey.

Think you’re savvy enough to avoid being ripped off? Think again. Last year, Washington consumers lost more than $135 million to fraud,  according to the Federal Trade Commission. That’s nearly double the amount lost in 2020. 

Would you like to learn more about how to protect yourself from online scammers and criminals? Could you use answers to your questions on personal Internet security? How do I keep my bank account safe? How can I recognize scam email or text? These are the types of questions we answer on AARP Washington’s Fraud Watch Fridays.

To help those 50-plus stay vigilant in the fight against scammers, AARP Washington is hosting two online events each month.

For anybody aggravated by incessant calls from scammers trying to separate them from their money, AARP Washington has a suggestion: Listen in.

AARP Washington is offering Tip-Offs to Rip-Offs, interactive events that will feature resources from AARP, Nomorobo and local law enforcement agencies on robocall scams in cities across the state, including Bellingham, Olympia, Seattle, Spokane and Wenatchee.

AARP is committed to keeping your finances safe from fraud this tax season. Before filing your tax returns, take a look at some tips and tricks to avoid scammers and keep your personal information protected: