Crooks who prey on the elderly often use the telephone or internet to trick their victims with promises of prize money, companionship, or threats to scare them into sending money.

Here are some of the most common scams to trick senior citizens out of their savings:

• Medical-related scams are used to steal money or personal information. The crooks behind these scams tell their victims that they are collecting unpaid medical bills or that they need personal information such as Social Security or financial account numbers to process claims. They may also falsely claim that they can reduce prescription bills by hundreds or thousands of dollars.
• Computer-related scams can include unsolicited claims that your computer has problems, the spreading of malware via attachments or bad links, and phishing (the fraudulent practice of sending emails pretending to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information) for personal information such as account or card numbers.
• Prize or charity scams try to trick you out of money by telling you that you need to send money to claim a prize, or crooks pretend to represent charities that might be related to disasters in the news.
• Repairs that cost too much or don’t get made. Repair scammers will either charge too much for their services or they might start a job, require payment, and then leave without finishing.
• IRS or utility scams occur through a call or email threatening that unless you make immediate payments, you will be jailed or have a service cut off.
• Scams of the heart include things like the “Grandchild Scam” or “Sweetheart Scam.” These include someone portraying a family member who has fallen on hard times or a new romantic interest who need or want you to send them money.

What can you do to protect yourself from scammers?

It’s always best to be cautious when it comes to your money and who you can trust.

Here are a few tips to help protect yourself or someone you know:

• Hang up or close the email if someone threatens you or demands that you wire money or pay via a prepaid card. Most legitimate businesses or agencies will not do this.
• Never download attachments or click on links from unsolicited emails or texts unless you’re sure of the source.
• Don’t make rash decisions. Ask a trusted family member or friend for advice if you are uncertain about something.
• Always verify. If you are suspicious of a call or claim, hang up and call the business or agency’s official phone number and let them know why you’re calling.
• Call local law enforcement, adult services agency, or financial institution if you feel you’ve been the victim of a scam or if you are concerned about the safety of your accounts.