Scams

On March 28, the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a “scam alert” regarding criminals who are impersonating SSA OIG agents and requesting that their targets meet them in person to hand off cash. SSA OIG reports that this recent method of handing cash directly to a phony agent is a dangerous twist on a known scam tactic that pressures individuals to pay in a specific way by using cash or gift cards. SSA OIG and official government agencies do not conduct business in this manner. SSA OIG reminds individuals that if they think they have been scammed to notify financial institutions to safeguard their accounts and file a police report...

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has issued a fraud alert regarding an increase in scam calls targeting older adults. The alert highlights that scammers may pose as organizations like "Eldercare," "Eldercare Locator," "Social Security," or "Medicare" and may request personal information or payment while threatening jail time or fines. The ACL advises individuals to be cautious, hang up on suspicious calls, verify an organization's contact information independently, and avoid sharing personal information or making payments to unknown callers...

This resource provides a summary of the ten most-reported scams the Senate Aging Committee's toll-free Fraud Hotline (1-855-303-9470) in 2019. Common instances reported include IRS impersonation scams, sweepstakes scams, and computer tech support scams. This report also summarizes common scams by state and provides tips for avoiding scams.

Older adults are often targeted by scammers. This new fact sheet from the Better Business Bureau highlights factors that can make individuals resilient to scams. Important protective factors include asking for input from others, knowing about the scam ahead of time, and having higher financial literacy.

This resource provides a summary of the ten most-reported scams the Senate Aging Committee's toll-free Fraud Hotline (1-855-303-9470) in 2018. Common instances reported include IRS impersonation scams, sweepstakes scams, and computer tech support scams. This report also summarizes common scams by state and provides tips for avoiding scams.