Author Archives: virginiasmp

Don’t be fooled by “free” gas and grocery card postcards

With the cost of groceries and fuel continuing to strain many household budgets, it’s no surprise that consumers are eager to take advantage of legitimate savings opportunities. Unfortunately, scammers know this too, and they’re increasingly using the U.S. mail to lure people with promises of free gas and grocery gift cards. (Read More)

How to Avoid Online Romance Scams!

Read the wedding announcements in any newspaper, and there’s sure to be at least one couple who describes how they met through a dating site. Countless people have found love online, but meeting people virtually comes with risks: Scammers can easily use the anonymity of the internet to create fake personas and deceive people looking for romance.Continue reading “How to Avoid Online Romance Scams!”

Identity Theft and Fraud Can Be Devastating. Here’s How to Avoid It

A federal judge called the case “Kafkaesque.” In January 2025, Matthew David Keirans, 59, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on federal charges of aggravated identity theft and making false statements. But this was no ordinary identity theft case: Keirans had so thoroughly assumed the identity of his victim, William Woods, whom he’d metContinue reading “Identity Theft and Fraud Can Be Devastating. Here’s How to Avoid It”

The National Veterans Golden Age Games are free, no matter what scammers say

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hosts free events like the National Veterans Golden Age Games to encourage older adults in the veteran community to get active for better health and wellness. But veterans are reporting finding websites or pages on social media that charge a fee to register for the games. These are fakes. Whether you’reContinue reading “The National Veterans Golden Age Games are free, no matter what scammers say”