Being over 50 does not mean you cannot spot the scammer. There are certain things to look for that will help you avoid being taken advantage of, losing money, and giving all of your personal information away.
- Unsolicited Contact: If you are contacted out of the blue (randomly) by phone, email, social media, or messaging apps, be cautious. Scammers often inititiate contact without any prior interaction.
- Too Good to Be True: Scammers often promise unrealistically high returns, free gifts and other benefits to lure you in. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
- Urgency and Pressure: This is a VERY important one. Scammers frequently use tactics like creating a sense of urgency or pressuring you to act quickly. They will claim you have a limited time to respond or that you’ll miss out on a great opportunity if you delay. They will use fear tactics to pressure you. The grandparents scam will make seniors believe their grandchildren are in trouble. Sometimes being told that they will be killed, kidnapped or go to jail if the victim does not act promptly.
- Requests for Personal Information: Be very wary of anyone asking for your personal or financial information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or Social Security numbers, especially if it’s unsolicited. Never give out passwords. Credit Cards and Social Security Numbers over the phone.
- Poor Grammar and Spelling: Many scam emails and messages contain grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, or awkward language. Legitimate businesses usually take more care with their communication. Always check to see where the email is coming from. The email may look like a legit email but usually, the email is not affiliated with the information they are requesting. For example: An Amazon email should not come from a personal gmail or yahoo address.
- Unusual Payment Methods: If someone asks you to pay using unconventional methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, it is always a red flag. These payment methods are difficult to trace and offer little to no recourse if something goes wrong. If you are asked to go to the store and purchase gift cards to send photos showing numbers of the card, it’s a scam.
- Unsolicited Remote Access: I cannot stress this one enough. Never allow someone you don’t know or completely trust to remotely access your computer or device. Scammers will claim to be tech support or a service provider and request access to fix a non-existent problem.
- Refusal to Provide Information: Legitimate businesses and organizations are usually transparent about who they are and what they’re offering. If someone refuses to provide details or avoids your questions, it’s a warning sign. Also, if they stammer around the questions you ask, it’s usually because they are making up the information as they go.
- Inconsistencies in Story: Pay attention to inconsistencies in the information provided by the person contacting you. Scammers often trip up when questioned further about their supposed offer or identity.
- Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off or too good to be true, trust your instincts and do not proceed. It’s better to be safe than sorry. People do not always necessarily know about technology or the ins and outs of it. However, you have been given an internal radar. If it doesn’t feel right, IT’S NOT.
If you encounter someone who exhibits several of these traits, they’re likely attempting to scam you. In such cases, it’s best to cease communication and report them to the relevant authorities if necessary.
