We should all be aware of scams

We should all beware of scams, especially older adults who are often the target of scams. Scammers are savvy and convincing – they try to catch people off guard.

Common scams targeting older adults include:

• Government impersonator scams, such as someone posing as a Medicare representative asking for account information,
• Fake prize, sweepstakes and lottery scams in which you are asked to pay money or provide account information to claim winnings,
• Computer tech support scams, in which a scammer tells you that your computer has a problem and wants you to pay for support services to fix it,
• The grandparent scam, in which a caller pretends to be a grandchild or other relative in distress.

If you or someone in your life has been the target of a scam, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311. You can also contact your local police department or your state’s attorney general, and you can report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission.

Click for the Federal Trade Commission Report to Help Fight Fraud website.

Click to visit the NIA website for more information on these types of scams as well as steps you can take to help protect yourself and loved ones from scammers.