23 OP Fall Senior Newsletter

SENIOR SAFETY

HOLIDAY PHONE SCAMS ‘Tis the season of joy and peace, but

unfortunately, the holidays are also a prime time for financial scams. Some of the top scams target older adults who may be particularly vulnerable to the tricks and tactics used by today’s scammers. According to AARP, older adults lose billions of dollars each year to scammers, who ramp up their efforts to steal consumers’ money and personal information during the busy holiday season. Learning how to recognize the red flags of a scam will help protect you from becoming a victim. Watch out for these common holiday senior scams:

CHARITY SCAMS Many people enjoy donating to charities during the holidays. But all too often, scammers take advantage of your generosity to solicit donations on behalf of phony charities. Be on the lookout for scammers who contact you via mail, phone, email, social media, or door-to-door asking for donations. Always contact the charity directly to make a donation.

ONLINE SHOPPING SCAMS Shopping online is a quick and convenient way to order holiday gifts, but it also opens the door to the risk of fraud or identity theft. If you utilize online shopping, use a credit card instead of a debit card to deter fraud. Only shop from well-known and trusted online retailers, and avoid websites that look unprofessional or suspicious.

DELIVERY NOTIFICATIONS SCAMS In recent years, there has been an increase in fake shipping notification emails attempting to steal consumers’ personal information. Scammers may pose as legitimate businesses such as FedEx or UPS and send an email with a hyperlink. When clicked, the link could download malware or spyware to the computer and steal information and passwords. Avoid clicking links from unknown sources .

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