Scammers may use phone calls, text messages, emails and fake websites to steal your identity or access your accounts. Never share sensitive information with someone who contacts you unexpectedly. This includes your Social Security number, date of birth, home address, account balances, credit card numbers, bank account and routing numbers, security question answers, or one-time verification codes.
Be cautious of messages claiming to be a final notice, warning of suspicious bank activity, questioning your account details, or demanding payment for supposed IRS taxes. Other common scams include fake vacation prizes and requests to confirm your identity. Never provide personal information or verification codes to an unverified caller, and do not rely on a simple “yes” or “I confirm” response to establish legitimacy. If you are unsure, hang up and contact the organization using its official phone number or website.
Older adults are frequently targeted by scammers who use fear, urgency or emotional manipulation to pressure people into sending money or revealing personal information. Scammers may pretend to be government officials, bank representatives, technology support staff, or even family members in an emergency. They may claim that an account is compromised, a payment is invalid, or immediate action is required to avoid serious consequences.
Take your time and verify before you act. Legitimate organizations will not require you to pay unexpected debts with gift cards or cryptocurrency. Be suspicious of requests to purchase reloadable gift cards, wire money through Western Union or MoneyGram, send cryptocurrency, or pay through apps such as Venmo, Cash App or Apple Pay. Never deposit a check and wire money back to the sender. If a caller claims to be a relative in trouble, contact that person directly using a trusted phone number. When in doubt, speak with a trusted family member or your bank before sending money.
Scammers often demand payment through methods that are difficult to reverse or offer little protection once money is sent. Be suspicious if someone pressures you to pay immediately using any of the following methods:
Remember: If someone pressures you to pay immediately, demands an unusual payment method or tells you to keep the transaction secret, stop and verify the request independently. Never send money to someone you do not trust.
If you believe you have been scammed, act quickly. Contact your bank, credit card company or payment service to report the transaction and ask whether it can be stopped or reversed. Change passwords for any affected accounts, enable multifactor authentication and contact the relevant financial institutions if you shared account credentials or verification codes. Consider placing a credit freeze with all three major credit bureaus if your Social Security number or other identifying information was exposed.
Report the incident to local law enforcement as soon as possible. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center accepts online reports at IC3.gov. You can also report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-382-4357. Save receipts, messages, phone numbers, email addresses and transaction records that may help with an investigation. Do not send additional money to anyone promising to recover your lost funds for a fee. Acting promptly can help limit financial losses and protect you from further fraud.