Staying One Step Ahead: Scam Awareness for National Senior Fraud Awareness Day

As we approach National Senior Fraud Awareness Day on May 15, it’s a timely reminder that scams are becoming more sophisticated and more common. In a world where so much of our daily life happens online, staying informed is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Scammers often rely on familiar tactics designed to catch people off guard. Some of the most common schemes include tech support scams, where scammers pose as representatives claiming there’s an issue with your device. Others impersonate government agencies like Medicare or the Social Security Administration to request personal information or payments, which is something legitimate agencies will not do through unsolicited outreach.

More personal scams can be especially convincing. Family imposter scams involve someone pretending to be a loved one in distress, urging immediate financial help. Similarly, romance or investment scams build trust over time before exploiting it for financial gain. You may also encounter sweepstakes or prize scams, where you’re told you’ve won something but must pay a fee to claim it.

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Common scam types include:

• Tech Support Scams - Scammers impersonate reputable tech support representatives and claim there is a problem with a device. They seek remote access or a financial payment to “fix” issues that do not exist.
• Government or Medicare Impersonation - Scammers pose as representatives from Medicare, the Social Security Administration, or other government agencies to collect personal information or payments. Real agencies do not solicit such data by unsolicited calls, texts, or emails.
• Family Imposter Scams - Criminals pretend to be a loved one in distress and pressure the victim to send money immediately.
• Sweepstakes, Lottery, and Prize Scams - Victims are told they have won money but must pay fees to collect their “winnings.”
• Romance or Investment Scams - Scammers build emotional trust online, then exploit it for financial gain.

So how can you spot a scam? Watch for urgency, pressure, or threats. Be cautious of messages claiming to be from trusted organizations, especially if they include offers that seem too good to be true. Poor spelling, unusual email addresses, or suspicious links can also be red flags. When in doubt, pause and verify. Reach out directly to the person or organization using official contact information.

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How to spot a scam:

• Scammers will often try to create a sense of urgency in their messages, either by instructing you to act before a specific deadline or creating duress by implying that something bad will happen (like a loved one being harmed or losing money) if you do not act.
• They often pose as government officials or other trusted organizations to lend their message authority.
• They may include too-good-to-be-true deals or offers in their messages. This can look like offers of free money or services, or significant discounts on products not currently on sale
• The construction of a message can also indicate whether it is a scam. This includes: a suspicious email address (or a missing letter or rearranged spelling for a company email address), many spelling and grammatical errors, job links to “Under Construction” or “Coming Soon” websites, or faulty links that do not lead to any website.

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If you believe you’ve been targeted, you’re not alone and help is available. Resources like the Federal Trade Commission, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, IdentityTheft.gov, and the AARP Fraud Watch Network offer guidance and support.

What to do after a scam:

If you or a loved one believes that you have been scammed, it can feel incredibly stressful and overwhelming. The good news is that there are dedicated resources to help recover funds and stolen identities:

• The FTC’s fraud reporting site: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
• The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
• The U.S. Government’s official identity theft website: https://www.identitytheft.gov/
• AARP’s Fraud Watch Network site: https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/

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Awareness is a powerful defense. Taking a moment to pause, question, and verify can make all the difference.

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