World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 is a reminder of how important it is to learn how to spot and stop scams. Everyone can learn how to prevent becoming a victim of a scam or help someone else.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have spent less time with family and friends and normal routines changed. This created more opportunities for scammers. Here are some simple ways to spot scams:
Protect your personal information
• Scammers often pose as bank staff, health care providers, government officials or a person from a trusted organization. They then ask for personal or financial information.
• Anytime you get asked for private information, be careful. Be especially cautious if you didn’t expect the request.
• Only communicate with people you know on the phone, by email, on social media or a text message.
• Be sure you know who you are talking to, before sharing information.
Take your time
• Don’t let anyone pressure you to act fast. Scammers often claim if you don’t respond right away, you’ll get in trouble or you’ll lose out on something.
• People and organizations you can trust won’t pressure you.
• Be cautious about special offers
• If a person offers you a cure or treatment, prize, loan, deal or an investment that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Don’t sign documents that you don’t understand. A person may ask you to wire money or buy pre-paid debit cards or gift cards. This is the…
