Preying on Seniors: 5 Common Phone Scams
How to spot them and avoid them!
The grandparent
• Grandchild calls saying “it’s me.”
• Is out of town and needs money
because of accident, theft,
etc.
• Asks you not to discuss with his/her parents.
• Wants money to be wired.
What it Sounds Like Red Flags
How to Avoid
Hang up and immediately call the number you have for that grandchild or his/her parents. They will be able to independently confirm if there is a real problem.
Jury Duty Scam
• Caller identifies self as officer of the court.• Claims that you missed jury duty and owe a fine for that. If not paid, the police will come to your
house and arrest you.
• Asks money to be wired via Green Dot, Western Union, or MoneyGram
What it Sounds Like Red Flags
How to Avoid
• If you haven’t received notice via mail, simply hang
up.• If you still aren’t
sure, hang up and call your local
municipality to confirm absence from jury duty.
Lottery Scam
• Caller says you won foreign lottery.
• Asks you to send money to cover
fees and taxes from your winnings.
• Asks for your checking/savings routing and account number for “direct deposit” of winnings.
What it Sounds Like Red Flags
How to Avoid
You are almost always best off just
hanging up and forgetting all about someone claiming
you’ve won a foreign lottery.
IRS Scam
• Caller identifies self as IRS agent, and has
telephone number that will display the call is
coming from the “Internal Revenue
Service”.• Says a tax balance is past
due, and victim will be arrested that day if it is
not paid.
• Asks money to be wired via Green Dot, Western Union, or MoneyGram
What it Sounds Like Red Flags
How to Avoid
• Hang up immediately
and call the real IRS general
inquiries phone number: 1-800-
829-1040.
Utility Scam
• Caller identifies self as employee of your local
utility.• Claims that you missed
payment and that service will be
terminated without immediate payment.
• May have your actual account number!
• Asks money to be wired via Green Dot, Western Union, or MoneyGram
What it Sounds Like Red Flags
How to Avoid
• Hang up once you hear that the
money needs to be wired via one of
these three services.
• Look up and call your utility
provider if you are legitimately
concerned about a late payment
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