The Knowledge Needed to Avoid Being a Victim!

Scammers impersonating government officials from agencies like the IRS, FBI, FTC, or Social Security often contact seniors by phone, email, or even mail, claiming that the victim owes back taxes, is under investigation, or needs to pay a fine. The scammer threatens arrest, legal action, or loss of benefits unless immediate payment is made via wire transfer, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrency.

OTP scams involve scammers tricking seniors into sharing one-time passcodes used in two-factor authentication (2FA) for bank accounts or other secure transactions. The scammer pretends to be from a trusted company and asks the victim to read back a passcode sent to their phone or email. In reality, the scammer is using that code to access the victim’s accounts.

Romance scams involve fraudsters creating fake online personas, often using photos of attractive people or even stolen identities to woo lonely seniors. These scammers often pose as widowed or retired professionals, gaining trust through prolonged communication. Over time, they ask for money, claiming to need help with emergencies such as medical bills, travel expenses, or debts.

In these scams, seniors receive unsolicited calls or pop-up messages warning them that their computer has been infected with a virus or malware. The scammer then pressures the victim into paying for unnecessary tech support services or installing harmful software that gives the scammer remote access to sensitive information, like banking details.

Seniors are often told they've won a large sum of money in a sweepstakes or lottery but need to pay taxes, processing fees, or other costs upfront to claim the prize. Once the payment is made, no prize ever arrives, and the scammers disappear.

Cryptocurrency scams often involve fraudulent investment schemes where seniors are lured into buying cryptocurrency or investing in fake projects. Scammers promise massive returns with minimal risk, leveraging the complexity and volatility of crypto to confuse victims. A newer tactic involves liquidity pool scams, where scammers entice victims to contribute cryptocurrency to a liquidity pool, then drain the pool and disappear.

In this scam, fraudsters impersonate a grandchild or other relative, calling and claiming they are in trouble—such as being involved in an accident or legal situation. They request immediate financial help, often instructing the victim to send funds via wire transfer or prepaid cards and urging secrecy.

Seniors seeking to grow or protect their savings are often targeted with fraudulent investment opportunities. Scammers promise high returns with little risk, luring victims into Ponzi schemes, fake real estate ventures, or precious metals scams. Fraudsters may inflate the value of gold or silver or sell overpriced or non-existent products.

Scammers often spoof the phone numbers of government agencies, businesses, or even friends and family members, making it appear as if the call is coming from a trusted source. This tactic is used to support various types of scams, including government impersonation and tech support fraud.

Timeshare and real estate scams often target seniors by offering fraudulent opportunities to buy or sell vacation properties or promising investment returns in real estate ventures. These scams can involve con artists who claim to have eager buyers for your timeshare or real estate property, but before the sale can proceed, they ask for upfront fees to cover taxes, legal fees, or even foreign government levies. The scammer may use official-sounding documents or professional-looking websites to make the deal seem legitimate, but once the money is paid, the buyer or the sale never materializes.

Fraudsters posing as charitable organizations—especially after disasters—contact seniors asking for donations. These scammers often set up fake websites or social media pages that look legitimate, but the money goes directly to their pockets instead of helping those in need.

Celebrity impersonator scams are increasingly targeting seniors through social media or fan clubs. Fraudsters claim to be a famous celebrity asking for donations to charities, offering special fan access, or requesting personal favors. They may also create fake fan clubs requiring payment for exclusive content or events.