Tag: scam

Scammers posing as government agencies or well-known businesses are increasingly going after retirees’ life savings. They weave a web of lies about some bogus crisis. Then they trick older adults into giving them tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Are you looking to get or switch your health insurance? Know that some dishonest marketers might lie about what your plan would cover, make it seem like they’re selling health insurance when you’re really just getting a discount plan, or try to sell you something else entirely.

You get an unexpected message on WhatsApp, Telegram, text, or social media. The person says you can make quick money online doing tasks. It sounds simple, and the message says you’ll get paid right away. But this could be a scam. Read on to find out how to spot and avoid them.

Having a lot of debt can be stressful at any age. But if you’re retired or about to live on a fixed income, paying off debt can sometimes be more challenging. As you explore your options, know that scammers might promise to take away your debt — for a fee. If you pay them before they help you, you’ll likely lose money instead of getting a fresh start. So, what’s the best way to pay down debt while avoiding scams?

Scammers are always “hiring” but don’t actually want to employ you. Instead, they want your money, personal information, or both. Here’s how to spot and avoid a job scam.

Scammers know natural disasters create opportunities to take advantage of people. One way they do that is by impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials to steal people’s money and personal information. FEMA impersonators often show up, call, or text people after a weather emergency and offer services like disaster grants or home inspections for a fee, usually cash up front. But these are scams: FEMA doesn’t charge people for disaster assistance.

You might get an email or text that seems to come from Apple, Microsoft, or Google, saying you’re out of storage. The message looks legit, and you might think there’s a chance you need more cloud space, but your scam-radar is going off. How can you be sure the link to upgrade isn’t a scam?

“You’ve won!” are two words likely to get your attention – but sometimes it’s a scammer delivering the news. (Spoiler: you didn’t win anything.) Here’s how to spot and avoid prize scams.

Scammers know that many people want to make money working from home. So they send emails, texts, or advertise jobs that claim you can make thousands of dollars a month working from home with little time and effort. What do they really want? Your money or personal information.

Paying off student loan debt takes time. That’s why getting a call from someone who says they can help you get your loans forgiven now (for a fee) might sound appealing. Is it really relief or just a scam?