Most scams targeting elders generally follow one or two main strategies: 1) elicit strong feelings and apply a sense of urgency to get someone to act quickly before thinking, and\/or 2) entice someone with an offer that seems too good to be true, yet too alluring to pass up. Here are some of the more common types of elder scams:<\/p>\n
Scams That Apply a Sense of Urgency:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tech Support.<\/strong> Someone will claim they need to remotely access the victim\u2019s computer to fix a software problem, then use that access to steal personal or financial information.<\/p>\n \u2022 Government Imposter.<\/strong> The fraudster may tell the victim they owe a debt that must be paid immediately or face arrest, asset seizure or termination of benefits.<\/p>\n \u2022 Grandparent.<\/strong> An elaborate story is given by phone and sometimes involves a voice print of an actual grandchild, claiming a loved one is in trouble and needs money to be protected.<\/p>\n Scams That Offer Something Too Good to Be True:<\/p>\n \u2022 Investment.<\/strong> The scammer makes claims of a high-return investment to trick the victim into giving them money, often asking to be paid in an unconventional way, like cryptocurrency, where there\u2019s little to no chance of recovering the funds.<\/p>\n \u2022 Romance.<\/strong> The scammer develops a fake identity and creates the illusion of a romantic relationship to manipulate or steal from the victim.<\/p>\n \u2022 Lottery\/Sweepstakes.<\/strong> Scammers make contact by phone or mail to tell the victim they\u2019ve won the lottery or a sweepstakes but claim the elder has to remit a processing fee before they can get their prize.<\/p>\n Take Protective Measures and Stay Alert<\/strong><\/p>\n The most effective way of preventing fraud is to pause when being rushed and take time to verify the legitimacy of both the person making contact and their claims. To reduce the odds of your voice being cloned, experts suggest exercising caution when speaking on the phone with strangers. If someone unfamiliar contacts you, disconnect from the original communication channel, verify their identity, then attempt to make contact through a different channel. For instance, hang up the phone, get a number for the company, government agency or family member from a trusted source (such as a company\u2019s official website) and use that to call back and verify.<\/p>\n When it comes to scammers that establish a relationship over time, verify legitimacy using third-party resources before investing. Be leery of anyone asking for nontraditional payment forms, and when logic may be clouded by romantic feelings, confide in someone you trust for an objective opinion.<\/p>\n To learn more about cyber fraud, visit PNC Bank\u2019s Security & Privacy Center<\/a> for educational resources.<\/p>\n
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