PREYING ON SENIORS: 5 COMMON PHONE SCAMS
How to spot them and avoid
them
Grandchild calls
saying “it’s me.”
Is out of town and
needs money
because of accident,
theft, etc.
Asks you not to
discuss with
his/her parents.
Wants money to
be wired.
THE GRANDPARENT
What it Sounds Like Red Flags
HOW TO AVOID
Hang up and
immediately call the
number you have for
that grandchild or
his/her parents. They
will be able to
independently confirm
if there is a real
problem.
Caller identifies self as
officer of the court.
Claims that you missed jury
duty and owe a fine that. If
not paid, the police will
come to your house and
arrest you.
Asks money to
be wired via
Green Dot,
Western Union,
or MoneyGram
JURY DUTY SCAM
What it Sounds Like Red Flags
HOW TO AVOID
• If you haven’t received
notice via mail, simply
hang up.
• If you still aren’t sure,
hang up and call your
local municipality to
confirm absence from
jury duty.
Caller says you won
foreign lottery.
Asks you to send money
to cover fees and taxes
from your winnings.
Asks for your
checking/savings
routing and account
number for “direct
deposit” of
winnings.
LOTTERY SCAM
What it Sounds Like Red Flags
HOW TO AVOID
You are almost always
best off just hanging
up and forgetting all
about someone
claiming you’ve won a
foreign lottery.
Caller identifies self as IRS agent,
and has telephone number that
will display the call is coming
from the “Internal Revenue
Service”.
Says a tax balance is past due,
and victim will be arrested that
day if it is not paid.
Asks money to
be wired via
Green Dot,
Western Union,
or MoneyGram
IRS SCAM
What it Sounds Like Red Flags
HOW TO AVOID
• Hang up
immediately and
call the real IRS
general inquiries
phone number:
1-800-829-1040.
Caller identifies self as
employee of your local
utility.
Claims that you missed
payment and that service
will be terminated without
immediate payment.
May have your actual
account number!
Asks money to
be wired via
Green Dot,
Western Union,
or MoneyGram
UTILITY SCAM
What it Sounds Like Red Flags
HOW TO AVOID
• Hang up once you hear
that the money needs to
be wired via one of
these three services.
• Look up and call your
utility provider if you
are legitimately
concerned about a late
payment.
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