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.

ADD TO YOUR RETIREMENT SAVINGS

Instead of being fleeced, fight to make the most of

your retirement savings. Start by checking out our

new special free report:

Take Advantage of a

Little-Known IRS Rul

e