Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
Promises of fast cash and low interest rates are a common tactic used in loan fraud. They post ads, or reach out to you directly, promising loan approvals with low rates and no credit checks. They may spoof their phone numbers to appear as legitimate lenders. To get the loan, they say you need to pay upfront for expenses like “processing,” “insurance,” or “application fees.” When they receive the payment, they disappear.
Legitimate lenders don’t charge upfront fees to secure a loan. Your best bet is to ignore unsolicited loan offers.
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
As food and product recalls continue to make headlines, criminals are following suit. They send texts, emails, or other messages claiming that a product you purchased has been recalled and that you’re entitled to a refund or free replacement.
The message may look legitimate, appearing to come from a retailer or manufacturer you trust. It urges you to act quickly and click a link to claim a refund or verify your account. But in reality, the link takes you to a fake website designed to steal your login credentials and personal or financial information.
If you receive a message like this, don’t click. Instead, go directly to the company’s official website or app to verify the recall and check your account. You can also confirm recalls through the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which maintain lists of recalled products at fda.gov/safety/recalls and cpsc.gov/recalls.
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
The aftermath of natural disasters is stressful, overwhelming, and anxiety-provoking. These emotions are what fraud criminals thrive on. They may show up in your neighborhood with a work truck and claim they can help with your damage and ask for payment upfront, only to never return. They may seek to impersonate utility companies, offering quick reconnection for an upfront fee. Or they impersonate FEMA or an insurance adjustor. The common denominator involves paying for something on the spot.
FEMA agents never seek payment when providing post-disaster support. As tempting as it may be to cut to the front of the line on getting your electricity back or make a deal with a construction company right away, give yourself time to pause and think about the scenario before committing.
East Madison Grange #228 Food Project giveaway day will be Friday, August 28, 2026, from 10 am-11:30 am at the East Madison Grange. One box per family. Come early, as supplies are limited.
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
Having money stolen from you in a scam can be devastating. Unfortunately, scammers know that victims are often eager to recover their money, and they use that hope to strike again.
In what’s known as a recovery scam, criminals pose as government officials, private investigators, or “recovery experts” who claim they can help get your money back. They may contact you through emails, texts, social media, or websites that look legitimate. But instead of helping, they’re trying to steal more of your money or personal information. Experts believe this could become the most common scam of the year.
You may wonder how victims are targeted following a fraud experience. Sometimes, it’s the same organized crime ring coming back to steal more under a different set of lies. We also know that criminals create and sell lead lists among each other, and that victims show up on those lists as hot targets for revictimizing. Protecting yourself after a fraud experience requires extra caution. Ignore any unsolicited offers to get your money back, as much as you want to believe it’s possible
This article was written by Paula Roberts for The Lincoln County News and is used with permission.
Willow Grange president Sharon Morton presents Jefferson’s Spirit of America Award to Lindsey Jones. (Paula Roberts photo)
The Town of Jefferson’s Spirit of America was presented to Lindsey Jones at Willow Grange on Thursday, July 23. Grange president Sharon Morton presented the award.
Jones has been a Girl Scout leader for five years. She started Troop 1336 in Jefferson in 2021. She is also a member of the Midcoast Service Unit, through which she has taken leadership in organizing Girl Scout camping events at Wavus and Kieve. Ther Service Unit also organizes events such as the annual cookie rallies.
She has been on the Jefferson PTA for 15 years, serving as president for the past five years. Previously she served as secretary for five years. She plays a big hand in organizing Jefferson Village School’s annual Jubilee, a fundraiser for student programs.
She has been active in Jefferson Sports Association, where she coached both soccer and basketball when her children were younger.
She is an 18-year member of Whitefield Lions Club and is active in working at their food booth at Windsor Fair.
Several Girl Scouts were in attendance and recited the Girl Scout Promise and Law which echo many of the characteristics of a volunteer.
Lindsey Jones (center in back) poses with area Girl Scouts after receiving Jefferson’s Spirit of America Award at Willow Grange on July 23. (Paula Roberts photo)
Two members of Willow Grange were recognized for their years of service to the Grange, Sandee Gordon – 65 years and Bob Clark – 75 years. Neither were able to be present.
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
Receiving a panicked call that a grandchild is in danger triggers immediate fear and an overwhelming emotional panic, which is exactly what criminals exploit to override our logical thinking.
Scammers contact targets feigning to be their grandchild who is in trouble and needs urgent financial help. Oftentimes, they request money through unconventional payment methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency.
If you receive an unexpected call that your grandchild is in jail or a hospital, take an active pause and reflect on the call – does it make sense? Have you heard about a scam like this? Then, hang up and contact your grandchild directly or call another relative to confirm they are okay. Then contact your phone provider to see if they offer spam and scam call blocking
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
A new surge of tech support scams is threatening consumers. Criminals use scary warning pop-up messages, or cold calls pretending to be a major software company to gain access to your device.
Many modern tech support alerts closely resemble real system warnings, making them difficult to detect at first glance. Vulnerable targets include standalone home computers, tablets used for online banking, and personal laptops used in busy public Wi-Fi areas.
If your screen freezes or a strange alert pops up, pause before reacting. Reflect on what you might have heard (or read) about scams that start out like this. To clear the warnings, you may have to shut down your device to get rid of them.
To help stay safe, keep your operating system and antivirus software up to date. If you are concerned that your device may be compromised, get it checked out at a repair shop you trust.
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
Scammers often use fear and intimidation to convince people of their scheme. In jury duty scams, criminals call or message posing as court officials, US marshals, or sheriff’s deputies. They falsely claim that you missed a jury summons and threaten you with immediate arrest unless you pay right away.
To heighten the panic, criminals often spoof caller ID screens to display a local courthouse or police department number. They aggressively demand that you stay on the phone while you purchase gift cards, send a wire transfer, or deposit money into a cryptocurrency account. In other instances, they may ask for your Social Security number under the guise of checking records.
Real courts will never contact you out of the blue to demand immediate payment or sensitive information over the phone, nor do they threaten jail time for a missed jury summons. Official court business regarding jury service is managed exclusively through the mail. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately and verify the claim by calling your local courthouse directly.
Learn how to spot and avoid scams with AARP Fraud Watch Network™. Suspect a scam? Call our free helpline at 877-908-3360 and talk to one of our fraud specialists about what to do next.
Need a scam prevention speaker for your group? Click the link to fill out our online form or send an email to me@aarp.org.
