Frauds like con games, home repair, phone, and internet scams can happen to older people. Even "trusted" family members or friends have been known to steal from an older person. These suggestions might help:
Don't be afraid to hang up on people who call you to sell things. No, you're not being rude. You're looking after yourself. Don't forget that you can turn down any offer.
If you didn't make the phone call, don't give out any personal information, like your credit card number or bank account number, over the phone.
Don't do what a stranger tells you to do and take money out of your bank account. In a common scam, a thief pretends to be a bank worker and asks you to take money out of the bank to "test" a teller. This is not how banks check on their staff.
Don't let deals that seem too good to be true trick you. They often cheat people. Be wary of deals that ask for a lot of money up front and promise more money later. Check with your local Better Business Bureau to find out more about a company's track record before you do business with it.
Do be careful about hiring people who come to your door offering to fix things. They might not know how to do the job, and they might charge you too much. Try to check out their references. Write down everything you want done and how you want it done. Don't pay for the whole job before it's done.
Identity theft is bad.
How could someone take your name? Identity theft is when someone else uses your name, Social Security number, or credit card without your permission. This is a very bad crime. Make sure to take care of yourself:
Don't let people know about your checking account. Put your new and used checks in a safe place, report any checks that are stolen right away, and look over your monthly bank account statement carefully.
Do throw away anything that has your personal information on it.
When you buy things online, you should be very careful. Your credit card or bank account information might not be safe on sites that don't have security. Before you buy something online, look for information that says the site has a secure server.
Do check with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to learn how to avoid common online scams that try to get you to give out your personal or financial information.
