How to Spot and Avoid Phone Scams — Protect Yourself
Scammers often target seniors because they tend to be more trusting and polite. But knowledge is power! Once you know what to look for, these scams become easy to spot.
🚨 Red Flags — Warning Signs of a Scam
They create URGENCY
"You must act NOW or you'll be arrested!" Real companies and government agencies give you time to think and verify. Scammers rush you because they don't want you to think clearly.
They ask for UNUSUAL payment
Gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash are NEVER how real companies or the government collect payment. If someone asks for these, it's a scam. 100% of the time.
They claim to be from the IRS, Social Security, or "Microsoft"
The IRS will NEVER call and threaten to arrest you. Social Security won't call saying your number is "suspended." Microsoft won't call about viruses. These are all scams.
They ask you to keep it SECRET
"Don't tell your family about this." A real company would never say this. Scammers want to isolate you from people who might recognize the scam.
✅ What to Do If You Get a Suspicious Call
It's okay to hang up!
You don't owe anyone on the phone anything. If something feels wrong, just hang up. That's not rude — that's smart.
- Never give personal information — Social Security number, bank account, passwords
- Don't let anyone remote into your computer — Legitimate companies won't ask for this
- Call back using a number YOU look up — Not the number they give you
- Talk to family first — Get a second opinion before sending money or giving information
Common Scams to Know About
Grandchild in trouble: "Hi Grandma, it's me, I'm in jail and need bail money." Scammers use AI to clone voices now. Always verify by calling your grandchild's real number.
Computer virus warnings: Pop-ups saying "Your computer is infected! Call this number!" Real security software doesn't do this. Close the window and ignore it.
Prize winnings: "You've won a prize! Just pay the taxes to collect." If you didn't enter a contest, you didn't win. And real prizes don't require payment.
Romance scams: Someone online who falls in love quickly and then asks for money. Real love doesn't ask for wire transfers.
What If You Already Gave Information?
- Don't feel embarrassed — scammers are professionals
- Contact your bank immediately
- Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Tell family members so they can help watch for problems
Not Sure If Something Is a Scam?
Call us! We'll help you figure it out — no judgment