Scams Targeting Seniors Valentine’s Day is a time to show love and appreciation to those who mean the most to us.

It’s an especially perfect time to reach out and connect with older adults, like grandparents or other beloved family members. Take this opportunity to call them and express your love, but also take the time to remind them of the dangers of scams targeting seniors.

Scams Targeting Seniors
Unfortunately, scammers often target seniors for their life savings. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), nearly 1 in 5 people aged 65+ have been victims of fraud. The FTC recommends that you talk with senior family members about common online and phone scams so they can be better prepared if they are targeted.

Common types of scams targeting seniors include fake lotteries, charity scams, tech support calls, and sweepstakes fraud. Remind your loved one that no legitimate business will ever call or email asking them for money or credit card information over the phone or through email. Be sure they know that if something feels suspicious it probably is!

It’s also important to caution your loved ones against wiring money and buying gift cards as payment methods because once money is wired, it can be almost impossible to get back – regardless of how much you plead your case with the wire service provider. In addition, warn them against giving out personal information like Social Security numbers or bank account numbers over the phone or online unless they have verified who they are speaking with first.

This Valentine’s Day season, tell those special people in your life how much you appreciate them – not just on February 14th but every day! And while you’re catching up on old times and celebrating this special occasion together, help protect your family from scams by reminding them about these tips for staying safe online and over the phone. This way you can make sure that your loved ones stay safe from scammers so that they can enjoy many more years ahead surrounded by love from their friends and family members!