Скачать или смотреть Watch out! Scam awareness for Seniors.

Scammers are getting smarter, and their tricks are getting trickier. But don’t worry—I’m here to give you the knowledge you need to outsmart them.
So, grab a cup of coffee or tea, get comfortable, and let’s talk about how to spot a scam before it happens.
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You might wonder, “Why me?” Well, scammers often target seniors because they assume we’ve saved money, we’re polite, and we may not be up to date with the latest tech. But guess what? Knowing that gives us the edge.
According to the FBI, scams against seniors cost over 40 billion dollars each year. But together, we can fight back—starting with awareness.
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Let’s go over a few scams that are making the rounds lately:

1. The Grandparent Scam
You get a call: “Grandma, it’s me… I’m in trouble and need money fast. Please don’t tell mom and dad.”
They prey on your emotions. But here’s the trick—they don’t use names unless you say one first.
Ed’s Tip: Always verify. Criminals use AI like everyone else only for the wrong reasons. And some AI uses voice recognition. Say something like, “Which grandchild is this?” or my best recommendation is to hang up and call the actual number you have for your grandchild.

2. Medicare or Health Insurance Scams
Someone claiming to be from Medicare may call, asking for your Medicare number to “issue a new card.” Don’t fall for it—Medicare will never call asking for that information.
Ed’s Tip: If it sounds urgent and unexpected, it’s probably a scam. If someone asks for your Social Security number, banking info, or says you owe the government money – don’t provide it! Hang up and or delete the message. Then talk to someone you trust before taking any actions. Watch emails too. I just received an email stating my SSA statement was ready, and it came from an email address in the British West Indies. Check the source.

3. Tech Support Scams
A pop-up on your computer says you have a virus—call this number! You call, and they ask for remote access. Boom. They’re in your computer and your wallet.
Ed’s Tip: Never give access to your computer unless you personally know and trust the technician.

4. Text & Email Scams
Don’t click on strange links or download attachments you weren’t expecting. Lately I’ve been getting texts just saying “hello” or “what are you doing today”. I ‘ve been deleting those and reporting as spam/junk. Also watch for bad grammar within any texts or emails. I get them every day and they don’t always get caught in a Spam filter.
• Another thing I have found is to look at the email address it’s coming from. Many criminals copy established companies offers and they might look very authentic. By looking at the website address it came from you can very often determine that this is not legitimate.
• Also be careful using public WIFI with names like Freeairport WIFI. Scammers set these sites up to get your personal information. They could be legit, but don’t provide any personal info if you feel you need to use them.


4. Romance Scams
Met someone online who seems perfect, but they always have a new reason they can’t meet—and suddenly they need money? That’s a red flag.
Ed’s Tip: Real love doesn’t come with a price tag.


5. Home Repair Scams A contractor goes door-to-door offering home repair services. They may claim to have noticed a problem with your roof or driveway and try to pressure you to pay upfront for work that is never completed or done poorly with substandard materials.
Eds Tip: Get several quotes, don’t pay upfront before vetting the contractor and talk with people you trust to get a second opinion.

6. Jugging. This one is also on the rise. Jugging is a term used to describe where criminals loiter around banks, ATM’s or other check cashing establishments where they observe customers withdrawing cash. I also just read that the FBI has received numerous complaints recently where scammers are calling saying they are bank fraud departments, help desks or credit card security teams. Once you are on the line they pressure for one time passcodes so they can get into your account. If you get a call like this hang up and contact your bank immediately and report this. No one including banks will be asking for one time pass codes.
Eds Tip: Be aware of your surroundings, hide your PIN numbers and avoid withdrawing large sums of money. Remain vigilant when transitioning to other locations as well. Some criminals will follow you to other locations if they don’t see an opportunity to get your cash. Also, don’t provide any personal information over the phone.