Did you know that during April in the U.S., 3.4 billion robocalls were placed?! That breaks down to each person receiving 10 calls per month. At the very least, these calls are a nuisance, but for some they become a costly financial nightmare. The most recent robocall scam is called neighbor number spoofing. That means that the area code and …
Virtual kidnapping is where the caller states that the grandchild has been taken and you need to pay ransom for them to be released. In this situation, no one has actually been kidnapped. The scammer is attempting to use fear and deception to elicit a quick response before the scam falls apart. The FBI has issued a warning that they …
Tips to Avoid Charity Scams As people all over the world try to help survivors of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma with donations of food and water, clothes, shelter and money, we want to remind you to be aware of charity scams. Scammers will use any method to manipulate your generosity. Here are a few tips to keep in mind in the …
Developed by the Council on Aging of Middle Tennessee, the scam prevention brochure (pdf) offer a series of common scams that older adults should be aware of, and how to safeguard their money and identity. DOWNLOAD BROCHURE (pdf)
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued a warning to those receiving benefits. Scammers are calling from a 232 area code, claiming to be employees of the SSA. The con artists are telling the intended victims that they qualify for an increase in their Social Security benefits. At that point, the caller is asking for personal information like date of …
Debit/credit card skimming is on the rise because it is easy for scammers. It is difficult to detect because the criminals place a skimming device over existing card reader slots. Once, you slide your card, the device captures your account information. Some also have a tiny camera to see your PIN as you enter it. Once they obtain your card …
DO NOT respond instead hang up the phone. This is a new scam circling the country, one that only requires you to say “YES.” The FCC has warned that if you receive a call with this question, disconnect the call immediately. Your response is recorded and later used as a voice signature to make charges to your credit card or …
Spring is the season for home repair and home improvement. Some older homeowners may have a hard time physically and/or financially maintaining their homes. It is because of this that they are targeted by scammers. Most contractors are honest and hardworking but how can you tell? Here are five ways to identify if a contractor is trying to defraud you. …
Common Medicare Scams and How to Protect Yourself It’s important to know what to watch for during open enrollment, when the nation’s 55 million Medicare recipients have the opportunity to change their Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. In addition to the challenge of going through the many plan options, experts say Medicare open enrollment is prime time for scam artists. …
Scam of the Month: Online Shopping Safety Tips Scam of the Month – Council on Aging: COVID-19 Scams Scam of the Month: Medicare Enrollment (October 2019) Scam of the Month: SSA Impostor Calls (May 2019) Scam of the Month: Contractor Scam (April 2019) Scam of the Month: Federal Trade Commission Scam Warning (February 2019) Scam of the Month (September 2018) …