Let’s talk about scams this Older Americans Month

Older adults may come from different backgrounds, but one thing they have in common is wisdom gained from life experience. This Older Americans Month, whatever your age, the FTC encourages you to share your wisdom about avoiding scams and fraud with the older adults in your life.

Pass It On, the FTC’s fraud education campaign for older adults, has clear, direct advice about more than a dozen fraud topics. At ftc.gov/PassItOn, you can read articles online or download resources, like activity sheets and bookmarks, and watch videos about scams that target older adults. Thousands of community organizations have already shared these materials, helping protect people across the country. So, spread the word, guard yourself against fraud, and help others do the same in celebration of Older Americans Month.

Here are some ideas for starting conversations.

• If you’re interested in investing some of your hard-earned money, learn more about investment scams.
• If you’re worried about identity theft, start by reading about how identity theft works and what to do. Then watch the video 5 Ways to Help Protect Your Identity.
• If you get government benefits, be alert if you’re contacted by anyone who says they’re from Social Security, Medicare, or another government agency. It could be a government impersonator scam.

Be sure to subscribe to Consumer Alerts to keep up to date on the latest scams, and tell the FTC about any fraud you encounter at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Image