10/21/2026
🚨 Prevention begins with knowledge: 𝐁𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐬!
Chances are, you or someone you know has been contacted by a scammer. Scams can take many forms, but knowing some common tactics can help you recognize the warning signs.
Here are a few to watch for:
👵 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐦: A scammer pretends to be your grandchild or another loved one and claims they’re in an emergency and need money right away. They may ask you to send money through a wire transfer, gift card, payment app, or another method that can be difficult to reverse.
🏥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐦: Scammers pose as health insurance representatives and try to convince you to share personal or insurance information, such as your Medicare number or other identifying details.
💻 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐦: You may see a pop-up claiming your device has a virus or another serious problem and urging you to call a phone number. The person on the other end may try to convince you to give them remote access to your device or pay for unnecessary “repairs.” Don’t call the number on a suspicious pop-up.
💰 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐦: These scams can come through a phone call, text message, or email. A scammer may pretend to be from your bank, mortgage company, debt collector, or another financial institution. They might claim your account has been compromised, demand immediate payment, or pressure you to provide personal or financial information. If the message includes a link, they may try to get you to click it and visit a fraudulent website or download something harmful.
❤️ 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐦: Scammers build a relationship with someone through dating sites, social media, or other online platforms. Once trust is established, they may ask for money, often claiming they need help with a medical emergency, travel expenses, or another urgent situation.
𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫: If someone contacts you unexpectedly asking for money or personal information—or threatens you with arrest or other consequences if you don't act immediately—slow down.
If something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts. Hang up, don't click any links, and contact the organization, business, or person directly using a phone number or website you know is legitimate—not information provided by the person who contacted you.
Taking a few extra minutes to verify a request could save you from a costly scam. 💛
Want to learn more? The National Council on Aging has information about common scams targeting older adults: https://www.ncoa.org/article/top-5-financial-scams-targeting-older-adults/
