Tag: Scam Alert

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.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

Share this news!

• Mail
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• Threads
• Print

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.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

Share this news!

• Mail
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• Threads
• Print

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

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

Share this news!

• Mail
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• Threads
• Print

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  

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

Share this news!

• Mail
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• Threads
• Print

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.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

Share this news!

• Mail
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• Threads
• Print

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.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

Share this news!

• Mail
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• Threads
• Print

QR codes have become a convenient part of our daily lives, from viewing restaurant menus to paying for parking meters. However, scammers are increasingly taking advantage of this technology to steal your personal information and money through a tactic known as “squishing.” By physically pasting fraudulent stickers over legitimate ones, or sending fake codes via email or text, criminals can redirect you to malicious websites meant to mimic trusted businesses.

 In public settings, you might unknowingly scan a tampered code on a flyer or parking meter, sending your payment directly into a scammer’s account.

Protecting yourself requires extra caution. When scanning a physical QR code, ensure it’s not a sticker layered over the original. When in doubt, avoid the QR code entirely, and use your phone’s web browser and type in the official web address yourself.  Additionally, keeping your devices’ operating systems updated and using antivirus protection can offer an important second line of defense.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

Share this news!

• Mail
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• Threads
• Print

As rising summer temperatures cause energy demands to increase, criminals exploit fears of losing power and air conditioning by posing as local utility companies.

Scammers place threatening phone calls, phishing emails, or urgent text messages aimed at convincing consumers to supply personal data or to click on unverified links to resolve a past-due balance. Oftentimes these schemes are accompanied by a push to receive instant payment through unconventional payment methods like gift cards, or cryptocurrency.  

If you receive an unexpected threat to terminate your service, take an active pause and contact the utility company’s customer service department using the number from your physical bill or the company’s website (don’t search – go directly to the site) to check your account status. Chances are it’s a scam.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

Share this news!

• Mail
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• Threads
• Print

With fuel pumps and ATM’s as frequent targets, a surge of skimming devices is threatening consumers. Criminals attach sophisticated skimmers directly over legitimate card slots or splice them into internal wiring to secretly record your financial data.

Many modern skimming devices closely resemble real hardware, making them difficult to detect at first glance. Vulnerable targets include standalone ATM’s, unattended retail checkout lines, and card terminals located in busy tourist areas.

The next time you fill your tank or use a card terminal, inspect the machine closely for loose, bent, crooked, or scratched components. Pull firmly on the card slot or wiggle the keypad before inserting your card. If anything feels loose or altered, do not use it and notify an employee immediately. To help stay safe, choose tap-to-pay options or digital wallets over physical insertion. Use credit cards for stronger fraud protections.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

Share this news!

• Mail
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• Threads
• Print