04/08/2023
This Months Newsletter focuses on Fraud Prevention of our Elderly.
Incidences of fraud and scams are on the rise.
Feel free to share this information to protect your loved ones.
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Fraud prevention toolkit provides tips for combatting scammers
A recent FBI report (https://bit.ly/42RFBly) found that Americans lost $10.3 billion to various internet scams and that call center scams also are rampant. "Call centers overwhelmingly target the elderly, with devastating effect,” the FBI says. “Almost half the victims report to be over 60 (46%) and experience 69% of the losses (over $724 million).”
By familiarizing yourself with criminals’ tactics, you can better shield yourself.
The Canadian Bankers Association recently launched three fraud prevention toolkits to raise awareness about common scams. Though some information is specific to Canada, the bulk of the insight is also helpful to U.S. residents.
The kits focus on three audiences: older adults (https://bit.ly/40EoFNl), individuals (https://bit.ly/3KbOdvV), and small businesses (https://bit.ly/3FVOG2A).
The kit for older adults walks through some of the ways you're vulnerable to scammers, how to recognize fraud, and ways to shield yourself with things such as solid passwords and understanding common scams that target older adults. They include email fraud, the grandparent scam, tech support scams, and ransomware.
In addition, so you can better spot when someone is trying to victimize you, the toolkit discusses common techniques fraudsters use, including scaring and threatening you or making too-good-to-be-true offers.
But keep in mind that it’s not just strangers who commit financial abuse. Even trusted relatives and caretakers can take advantage of you by pressuring you to give or lend them money, forging your signature on checks, or suggesting changes to your Will, Power of Attorney, or property title.
Some basic steps to protect yourself include:
· Creating unique, strong passwords
· Not sharing personal information with random callers.
· Strengthening social media security and privacy settings on your accounts
· Immediately reporting lost or stolen credit and debit cards, your driver's license, social insurance number card, passports, and so forth.
· Being wary about downloading free apps, files, programs, or software
· Shredding papers with sensitive personal information
· Never providing your credit card number over the telephone or the Internet unless you’re sure about who you're giving it to
If you run a small business, the business toolkit addresses everything from identifying common scams and protecting customer information to setting up a virtual private network (VPN) and combatting ransomware attacks.
If you become a scam victim, you can report cybercrime to the Federal Trade Commission (https://bit.ly/40s4pyJ).
Deana Lindo, SRES
REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties
33 South Main Street, #201
Alpharetta, GA 30009
863.602.6218
[email protected]
Website: deanalindo.bhhsga.com
