Category Archives: Uncategorized

Scammers want payments that are quick, anonymous, and tough to reverse. In other words, scammers are asking for wire transfers. That’s why money transfer businesses like Walmart need to warn people about fraud risks and train employees to spot scams. And that’s why the FTC is suing Walmart in federal court. (Read More)

Even if high gas prices are draining your budget, don’t fall for this scam. Scammers are tempting drivers with phony gas station gift cards. It’s really a way to get your credit card details and other personal information.   (Read More)

We’ve covered the dangers and necessary defenses against various scams, including romance scams, supply chain scams, financial scams, lottery scams, and vishing scams, but now we turn our attention to what could be the most personal and invasive of scams – the medical scam. But wait, you might think, wouldn’t ROMANCE scams be the most personal and invasive? To that, we would beg toContinue reading “Medical Scams: Educate Yourself and Your Loved Ones”

In their never-ending pursuit of your money and identity, criminals are constantly coming up with new cons. Here’s a closer look at eight relatively new types of scams that are becoming more common, along with expert advice on avoiding them. Check out the list of today’s hottest emerging frauds. (Read More)

Last year, the FTC got almost a million reports about impersonation scammers — fake government agents, pretend grandkids, bogus sweethearts, and others who took almost $2.3 billion from people across the country. So far this year, impersonation scams are still the most-reported fraud. Scammers keep changing their stories to catch you off-guard. Some scams even ask you forContinue reading “Protect your Medicare Number, Your Other Info, and Your Money”

When criminals steal from you, the pain is raw, immediate and personal. But in arguably the costliest fraud in America, crooks use you merely as a tool for getting to a bigger target — your tax dollars that fund the federal government’s health care programs. In any given year, an estimated 5 to 10 percentContinue reading “Criminals Target Medicare Benefits to Reap Millions”

Scammers and others blanket Americans with billions of illegal robocalls annually, many of which originate overseas. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted new rules to help block these automated calls, which have become increasingly vexing for consumers. (Read More)

By impersonating law enforcement, scammers intimidate victims into giving up money or personal information. But once a scam becomes widely reported, con artists need to change up their tricks. Watch out for this new twist: scammers using official-looking credentials to gain trust. (Read More)

In any given year, an estimated five to 10% of the entire budget for Medicare is lost to fraudulent billing – often seeking reimbursement for services never provided. These schemes succeed by manipulating Medicare members or stealing and misusing private information. For example, prosecutors say a marketing company used social media and sales calls toContinue reading “Criminals Use You to Steal from Health Care Programs”

Here are seven actual scam phone pitches we’ve logged recently at the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline, with names and details changed to protect individuals’ privacy. Can you detect the signs that they are fraudulent? Remember: Impostor fraud, in which criminals pretend to be law enforcement, government officials or other authorities, is now the number 1 type ofContinue reading “7 Scams Reported on AARP’s Fraud Watch Network Helpline”