If I were asked to choose the word of the year (even though it’s only the middle of March) I would choose SCAM. You can hardly read anything without stumbling over that word. It is ubiquitous in emails, texts, headlines, and alerts from AARP, your bank, the IRS, FTC, FDA, and an alphabet soup of other government and non-profit agencies. As older adults, we find ourselves the target of too many alerts and warnings to count. Unfortunately, the situation is getting worse. Professional scammers are clever, inventive, and amoral. We have two choices: (1) we can panic, or (2) we can do our homework and be able to recognize a scam when we see one. We are neither sitting ducks nor helpless in the face of this omnipresent crime. The more we know, the better able we will be to stop scammers in their tracks. What follows is a list of common scams that are aimed directly at our age group.

Scam: scam | scam | informal noun: a dishonest scheme to gain money or possessions from someone fraudulently, especially a complex or prolonged one

Common Scams

1. Technology-driven scams: Scammers use artificial intelligence for eerily realistic emails or voicemails. They appear to be from a legitimate source, like a bank, asking you to “confirm” personal details.

2. Heartless funeral scams: After losing a loved one, you may get calls about alleged debts left behind. Sometimes, scammers attend funerals to glean personal information.

3. The fake tech savior: You receive a call or email about a virus attacking your computer. The “tech support” offers to fix it remotely, gaining access to your data.

4. “It’s me, Grandma!” — The grandparent scam: A caller pretending to be a grandchild claims to be in urgent trouble (car accident, legal issue, etc.). They plead for quick cash.

5. Too-good-to-be-true online deals: Social media is a scammer’s playground. “Celebrity” endorsements for dubious products, fake charities, sob stories with donation requests — they’re all designed to pull at your heartstrings and empty your wallet.

6. “Guaranteed returns” investment scams: A smooth-talking “financial advisor” promises amazing returns on an obscure investment. They pressure you to act fast before the “opportunity” vanishes.

How to protect yourself

• Don’t rush: Scammers thrive on urgency. Take a breath before reacting to any dubious demand.
• Talk it out: Discuss suspicious situations with a family member, friend, or your bank. A fresh perspective helps spot red flags.
• “No” is powerful: Don’t feel ashamed to hang up on suspicious calls or refuse uninvited home visits.
• Pre-establish a secret code word with your family. If the caller doesn’t know it, they’re an impostor. Hang up; then call your grandchild directly.
• Never click on a suspect link or instantly respond to alarming messages. Contact the company directly using their official phone number or website.
• Ignore on-the-spot demands. Request written proof of any alleged debt. Don’t hesitate to involve other family members.
• Hang up! If concerned, contact your trusted computer technician, not a random caller. Be wary of unsolicited “help,” and report the scam attempt to the official bodies.
• Be skeptical. Research anything before you click. Donate only to recognized charities through their official channels.
• Consult a trusted, accredited financial planner. Legitimate investments rarely involve urgent, high-pressure tactics.

Social Security Scams

1. Benefit increase. A phony representative of the Social Security Administration calls to tell you there has been an increase in your benefits. Of course, there is a catch—you must either pay a fee or verify your name, date of birth, and Social Security number. This information is all the scammer needs to take over your account and, posing as you, do all sorts of damage, including rerouting your benefits to them.
2. Suspended Social Security number. A person posing as a representative of the SSA. Informs you that your Social Security number and benefits will be suspended unless you immediately pay a fee. Of course, there is a catch—They want the payment in the form of gift cards, a wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or through a payment app.
3. Your number was used in a crime. An impersonator claims that your Social Security number was used in a crime, and you will probably be arrested. But they can help you. Of course, there is a catch—the caller will spin a complicated story of the crime, and when you are suitably scared, they will tell you the only way to avoid arrest is to send money. (It’s hard to believe this scam works., but it does.)
4. Your bank account is in danger. The imitation representative informs you that your Social Security number has been stolen, which puts your bank accounts at risk. They offer to help. Of course, there is a catch—they will have to withdraw all of your money and put it in a safe account.

How to protect yourself

• Stay calm. Social Security impostors often want to elicit an emotional response, so you’ll be more vulnerable. Hang up the phone, and talk to someone you trust about the situation.
• Don’t call back. Don’t call a phone number the SSA supposedly left on your voicemail or listed in an email or text.
• Be careful with caller ID. Scammers use “spoofing” technology to trick caller ID, so don’t assume a call is legitimate because it appears to come from Social Security.
• Keep current on your Social Security information. Set up a My Social Security account online and check it monthly for signs of anything unusual, even if you have not started collecting benefits. You can call Social Security’s customer service line at 800-772-1213 to confirm whether a communication is real.
• Protect your personal information. There’s no reason to provide your Social Security number or other personal information to someone who contacts you by email. SSA never requests information that way.
• Don’t click links. Move your computer mouse over the link to reveal the actual destination address. The main part of the address should end with “.gov/” — including the forward slash. If there’s anything between .gov and the slash, it’s fake.

What to do if you are targeted

• Report scam attempts. If you get an impostor call, email or text report it to SSA using its detailed online form. You can also call Social Security’s fraud hotline at 800-269-0271.
• Report identity theft. If your Social Security number has been stolen, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) gov website, which can help you develop a recovery plan.
• Place alerts. You can take measures to prevent identity theft, such as freezing your credit, placing a fraud alert with the major credit recording agencies, and filing your taxes early before a scammer steals your refund.

Medicare Scams

With a Medicare scam, criminals pretending to be from Medicare or another known organization try to trick a beneficiary into sharing their Medicare or Social Security number.  This information is usually used to commit identity theft. Crooks submit bogus Medicare claims in the beneficiary’s name to obtain health care services, supplies, or even prescription drugs. Medicare scammers can sound very professional over the phone. They often use technology to create convincing websites, emails, and print materials that appear to be from a trustworthy organization.

1. Promises of free items or services: Be suspicious of any offers involving no-cost medical supplies, medical care, or prescription medications. Many scammers will offer older adults valuable medical equipment, persuade them to share their Medicare number, and then use that information to file high-cost Medicare claims in the beneficiary’s name. Also, beware of offers for free genetic testing or screenings that were not ordered by your physician.
2. Pressure to switch your Medicare plan: A scammer, often claiming to be from Medicare, may say you’re “pre-approved” for a new health care plan or drug plan with lower premiums or better benefits. They may tell you there’s a fee to enroll in this new plan.
3. Notices to renew or upgrade your Medicare card: A fraudster may call and say you need to activate, renew, or upgrade your Medicare card. They may ask for your Medicare number to “verify” your account, or they may request that you pay a processing fee.
4. Threats to cancel your coverage: You may receive a call stating there’s a problem with your Medicare account, such as fraudulent activity. The caller says your benefits will be canceled if you don’t immediately verify your personal information or join a new plan.
5. Claims you’re eligible for a refund: Another common Medicare scam tactic is telling older adults they qualify for a refund due to changes in their plan. The scammer may ask for your Medicare number—and even your bank account details.

How to protect yourself

• Avoid sharing your Medicare number with people who contact you out of the blue. Do not provide your Medicare card, Medicare number, Social Security card, or Social Security number to anyone but your doctor, pharmacy, or people who work with Medicare to assist beneficiaries. Medicare will not call you unless you’ve specifically asked for help. And if they do call you in response to a request, they will not need your information since they’ll already have it on file.
• Do not click on suspicious links. Criminals create fake email addresses to make it appear messages are coming directly from Medicare. These emails may send you to a website that looks authentic. Do not respond to unexpected emails or text messages or click on any links they contain—even if the communication looks real.
• Do not be afraid of threats to terminate benefits. If you qualify for Medicare, your benefits will not be taken away for reasons like not signing up for a certain plan.
• Do not speak to anyone who tries to persuade you to choose a certain plan. Ignore claims that any policy is “preferred by Medicare,” since Medicare does not endorse a specific plan.
• Destroy your old Medicare card. Some scammers may claim you need to return your old card; however, this is not true. Once you receive a new Medicare card, your old one is not needed. Destroy it with scissors or a shredder and start using the replacement immediately.
• Protect your medical records. Do not allow anyone but your doctor or other health care providers to review your personal medical information.
• Do not accept unauthorized genetic testing kits. If you receive a genetic testing kit in the mail that was not ordered by your doctor, refuse the delivery outright or return it to the sender.
• To update your information, log in to your Medicare account at medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or talk to a trusted advisor.

How to report Medicare scams

• Call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).
• Contact the Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Center at 1-877-808-2468 or use their online contact form.
• Submit a report online to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Government Imposter Scams

What to look for

• Establishing credibility. A caller may mention their “government ID number,” text you a photo of their “employee badge,” or use official-sounding terms like “bureau” or “agency” to prove that they’re legitimate. They’re not.
• Building rapport. An imposter may contact you repeatedly for days, slowly working to convince you who they are, where they work, and why you should comply with their request. None of it is true.
• Demanding payment. A scammer will say that you need to wire money, make a bank transfer, send gift cards, or provide your credit card number to avoid a scary consequence, such as going to jail. This is wrong.
• Threatening you. Criminals use intimidation to get what they want. They claim you will be arrested or lose your Social Security or Medicare benefits if you don’t immediately provide your personal information or pay money. Neither is true.
• They use software to spoof the phone numbers of government agencies, and they know how to forge email addresses, so the sender looks official.

How to protect yourself

• Maintain a healthy level of old-fashioned skepticism.
• Never trust the number on your caller ID or the email address in your inbox
• If someone you don’t know immediately starts pressuring you—on the phone, in a text, or another way—do one of the following:
• Hang up. Whether you recognize the number on the caller ID or not, immediately end any call from someone you don’t know.
• Even if the sender’s address appears to be from a government agency, don’t open it. Instead, send it directly to your trash folder.
• If you receive a text or direct message on social media from the IRS, SSA, Medicare, FTC, or other government account, don’t reply.
• Be proactive. Look up the agency’s contact information, and go to their official website.

If you are scammed by a government imposter

• First, take a deep breath.
• Realize that you are not alone, and this is not your fault.
• Report what happened. Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-831) or alert the FTC online or by phone at 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357).
• Finally, if criminals get their hands on your personal information, your money, or both, the FTC offers step-by-step advice on what to do.