In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, many older adults are more socially isolated than ever — and thus more vulnerable to being financially victimized. Elder financial exploitation extends far beyond random con artists bombarding older adults with robocalls and phishing emails. According to the National Adult Protective Services Association, the “vast majority” of cases reported to its member agencies involve peopleContinue reading “Spot the Red Flags of Elder Financial Abuse”
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Phone Calls for Donations to the Police Could be a Scam
“I’m calling on behalf of the National Save the Police Fund,”* the voice on the phone told me. “We support police officers who risk their lives daily protecting our communities. Can the police officers count on you?” Gotten calls like this? So have we all. At the end of 2021, robocalls raising money for policeContinue reading “Phone Calls for Donations to the Police Could be a Scam”
Facebook, Instagram Are Hotbeds for Scammers
Scams that started on Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites doubled year-over-year in 2021, leading to $770 million in consumer losses, a federal agency warns. Calling social media a “gold mine” for scammers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says these platforms were far more profitable than any other method of reaching consumers for scams.Continue reading “Facebook, Instagram Are Hotbeds for Scammers”
The Top Frauds of 2021
Every year, people report fraud, identity theft, and bad business practices to the FTC and its law enforcement partners. In 2021, 5.7 million people filed reports and described losing more than $5.8 billion to fraud — a $2.4 billion jump in losses in one year. You can learn about the types of fraud, identity theft,Continue reading “The Top Frauds of 2021”
Scammers Are Tricking More People Into Buying Gift Cards
According to the newest Data Spotlight, 40,000 people reported losing a whopping $148 million in gift cards to scammers during the first nine months of 2021. Those are staggering numbers which have increased each year for the past several years. Since 2018, gift cards have been the most frequently reported payment method for fraud. ButContinue reading “Scammers Are Tricking More People Into Buying Gift Cards”
Identity Theft Can Happen to Anyone
Many of us access our online accounts — credit cards, investments, insurance, or checking and savings accounts — nearly every day. In our digital world, bits of our personal information are everywhere. Identity thieves know this and look for ways — both high-tech, like lifting our passwords, or low-tech, like stealing our mail — toContinue reading “Identity Theft Can Happen to Anyone”
The Virginia SMP 