Here are the steps experts agree will help protect you and your aging loved ones.

• When a person is still mentally sharp, help him or her make a plan that designates power of attorney and health care directives. 
• Stay connected with older loved ones through regular phone calls, visits or emails.
• Develop a relationship with your parent’s caregiver. They may be less likely to financially exploit someone because they know you’re paying attention.
• Become a “trusted contact” to monitor bank account and brokerage activity.
• Sign up for a service such as EverSafe to track financial activity and notify an advocate of unusual withdrawals or spending.
• Set up direct deposit for checks so others don’t have to cash them.
• Do not sign any documents that you don’t understand.

Changes in Checking and/or Credit/Debit Spending and Transaction Patterns

• A set of “out-of-sync” check numbers.
• A sudden flurry of “bounced” checks and overdraft fees.
• Transaction review shows multiple small dollar checks posting to the senior’s account in the same month. This could be indicative of telemarketing or charity scams.
• Large withdrawals from a previously inactive checking or credit account or a new joint account.
• Account use shortly after the addition of a new authorized signer.
• Abrupt increases in credit or debit card activity.
• Sudden appearance of credit card balances or ATM/debit card purchases or withdrawals with no prior history of such previous use.
• Withdrawals or purchases using ATM or debit cards that are repetitive over a short period of time.
• Withdrawals or purchases using ATM or debit cards that are inconsistent with prior usage patterns or times (e.g., late night or very early morning withdrawals by elderly customers, withdrawals at ATMs in distant parts of town by customers who don’t drive or are house bound).
• Withdrawals or purchases using ATM or debit cards that are used shortly after the addition of a new authorized signer.
• Unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions, such as safety deposit box items.
• Vulnerable adult appears confused about the account balance or transactions on his or her account.
• A caregiver appears to be getting paid too much or too often.
• Significant increases in monthly expenses paid which may indicate that expenses for persons other than the customers are being paid.
• Sudden changes in accounts or practices, such as unexplained withdrawals of large sums of money, particularly with a vulnerable adult who is escorted by another (e.g., caregiver, family member, “friend”) who appears to be directing the changing activity patterns.

Changes to Accounts and/or Documentation

• Recent changes or additions of authorized signers on a vulnerable adult’s financial institution signature card.
• Statements are sent to an address other than the vulnerable adult’s home.
• Vulnerable adult has no knowledge of a newly- issued ATM, debit or credit card.
• Abrupt changes to, or confusion regarding changes in, financial documents such as Power of Attorney, account beneficiaries, wills and trusts, property titles, deeds and other ownership documents.
• Sudden unexplained transfers of assets, particularly real property.
• Sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming their rights to a vulnerable adult’s affairs and possessions.
• Discovery of a vulnerable adult’s signature being forged for financial transactions or for the titles of his or her possessions.
• Refinance of the vulnerable adult’s property, particularly with significant cash out or with the addition of new owners on the deed and, most particularly, without the new owners shown as co-borrowers on the loan.

Changes in Appearance or Demeanor

• Vulnerable adult has a companion who seems to be “calling the shots”.
• Change in the vulnerable adult’s physical or mental appearance. For example, the customer may appear uncharacteristically disheveled, confused or forgetful. These signs could indicate self neglect or early dementia and leave the vulnerable adult open for financial exploitation.
• Vulnerable adult acknowledges providing personal and account information to a solicitor via the phone or email.
• Excitement about winning a sweepstakes or lottery.
• Allegations from a vulnerable adult or relative regarding missing funds or physical or mental abuse.

• ATM Card 419 Scam: The ATM Card Payment Scam is used in conjunction with other scams, such as a fake Lottery Scam, Unpaid Contractor Scam or similar exploits. The victim is promised an ATM card with which the victim can withdraw millions dollars (up to a large limit per day) at any location that accepts ATM cards. However like all Advance Fee Frauds, the victim must pay a fee to receive the card. If it ever is received, it will not work. A "Replacement card" will be offered, again for a fee. 
• Auction 419 Scam: The scammer "wins" an auction on eBay or another auction site, then "overpays" for the item with a check or money order. The scammer then asks the target to send him the overage and the scam segues into Cashier's Check 419.
• Black Currency 419 Scam: The scammer has a large amount of currency available to share with the target, but the currency has been defaced. However, the currency can be cleaned if the target will purchase enough of the correct cleaning solution (this type of 419 is also called "wash wash"). Black Currency 419 "tales" and techniques are commonly used in many other types of 419 operations.
• Cashier's Check 419 Scam: The scammer has Cashier's Checks or money orders he/she needs cashed, and the target can keep a percentage of the check for cashing it and forwarding the proceeds net his commission to the scammer. Then the original check or money order sent to the target eventually bounces, and the target is out the money advanced to the scammer. The target also is cash out to his bank for any problems with his account caused by the bouncing of the original check as he must make up any overdrafts and pay any relevant fees etc. Many other types of 419 are in actuality variants of Cashier's Check 419.
• Charitable Organization 419 Scam: The scammer approaches a charitable organization with a request for help, usually about getting a large sum of money transferred out of a country in which the charitable organization's brethren can claim to be persecuted. A percentage of the proceeds is often offered to the charitable organization for their assistance. The scammer needs monies for fees in order to get the monies freed up.
• Chat Room 419 Scam: The 419 meets the target online in a chat room etc. or through a dating or instant messenger online service, befriends the target, and gets the target to advance him/her monies for various reasons. Often segues into Romance 419 or Cashier's Check 419.
• Classic 419 Scam: The scammer has or can gain access to a large sum of money by some means and he/she needs the financial and personal help of the target, in return for a percentage of the funds, to get the necessary transactions processed and get monies out of the country. Many other types of 419 are in actuality variants of Classic 419. Also, Classic 419 often segues into Black Currency 419.
• Classified Ad 419 Scam: The scammer buys something from a classified ad and then pays with a bad check or segues into Cashier's Check 419.
• Disaster 419 Scam: The scammer says someone has been killed in a plane crash, earthquake, tsunami, or other disaster, leaving a large sum of money behind which can be claimed by the target or split between the target and the scammer if the scammer can be advanced the monies necessary to process the transaction. Often segues into Black Currency 419.
• Employment 419 Scam: The scammer "employs" the target to process financial transactions for a commission and has the target advance the net proceeds of these transactions to the scammer before the checks sent to the target bounce (segues into Cashier's Check 419). Also, another form, where the scammer offers a lucrative job to the target but certain fees must be paid up front by the target to get the job.
• Extortion 419 Scam: The scammer says that if the target does not send him money the scammer will hurt or kill the target and/or his family.
• Goods and Services 419 Scam: The scammer orders goods or services advanced to him on credit and then does not pay or pays with a bad check, often segues into Cashier's Check 419.
• Next of Kin / Inheritance 419 Scam: The scammer informs the target that someone has died with no relatives to claim the large cash bequest left by the deceased. Often, the scammer says that if someone does not claim the money it will revert to the Government and no-one will get it. The target is asked to "stand in" as a relative to claim the money, with the scammer taking care of all the details, and then split the proceeds with the scammer. The scammer needs monies for fees to get the target declared the rightful inheritor.
• Lottery 419 Scam: The scammer says the target has won a lottery, but fees and taxes etc.must be paid before the proceeds can be released.
• Oil Scam 419 Scam: The scammer has secured a large amount of oil at below market prices, and the target can get in on the deal for a fee.
• Real Estate 419 Scam: The scammer wants to buy real estate, but cannot free up his monies just now to do it, so he asks the target to advance him/her all or some of the funds for the purchase in return for partial ownership of the real estate or a large future fee to be paid to the target.
• Recovery 419 Scam: The scammer claims he/she can recover monies lost by the target in a previous 419 operation, but fees must be paid in advance to accomplish this.
• Reload 419 Scam: The scammer approaches a target who has already been scammed by a 419 fraud and offers the target another type of 419 deal to enable the target to "replace" his/her lost monies or the scammer claims has can bring the previous deal to fruition, if necessary fees are paid by the target.
• Reshipper 419 Scam: The scammer will attempt to obtain stolen merchandise for personal use or to sell. Because many companies will not send merchandise to Nigeria or Eastern Europe due to warnings about stolen credit card purchases, the scammer must find an in-country person to receive then reship the goods. 
• Romance (Love or Dating) 419 Scam: The scammer is in love with the target, but needs money to clear up various problems the scammer is having before he/she can be with the target, often segues into Cashier's Check 419.
• Unpaid Contractor 419 Scam: In this variant of the Classic 419 Scam Advance Fee Fraud, the scammer will claim to be with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) or some government ministry. The name of CBN president Charles Soludo is often used in this scam. The victim is told to pose as a contractor who has not yet been paid by the Nigerian government from a "completed project". The money is to be split between victim and the scammer. Payments from the victim will be required to participate in this crime.
• War Booty 419 Scam: The scammer says he is a trooper who has stumbled across a large sum of war booty and will pay the target a percentage if the target helps him/her personally and financially to get it out of the country. Often segues into Black Currency 419.
• Will Scam 419 Scam: The scammer informs the target that a distant relative has died leaving a large sum of money which the target can inherit if the proper fees are paid.

According to the authorities, dating and romance scams are one of the fastest-growing areas of fraud online.  The FBI issued an official  warning this year, saying that women over 40 were particularly at risk.

Here’s how the FBI says the romance scam usually works.

You’re contacted online by someone who appears interested in you. He or she may have a profile you can read or a picture that is emailed to you. For weeks, even months, you may chat back and forth with one another, forming a connection. You may even be sent flowers or other gifts. But ultimately, it’s going to happen; your new-found “friend” is going to ask you for money.

Be aware of the following common techniques used by romance scammers:

• Immediate requests to talk or chat on an email or messaging service outside of the dating site.
• Claims that your introduction was “destiny” or “fate,” especially early in communication.
• Claims to be from the U.S. but is currently living, working, or traveling abroad.
• Asks for money, goods, or any similar type of financial assistance, especially if you have never met in person.
• Asks for assistance with personal transactions (opening new bank accounts, depositing or transferring funds, shipping merchandise, etc.).
• Reports a sudden personal crisis and pressures you to provide financial assistance. Be especially wary if the demands become increasingly aggressive.
• Tells inconsistent or grandiose stories.
• Gives vague answers to specific questions.
• Claims to be recently widowed or claims to be a U.S. service member serving overseas.
• Disappears suddenly from the site then reappears under a different name using the same profile information.

Don’t be a victim, check out these tips and take them to heart:

• If you’re suspicious, Google the message text he/she sends you.   Unlike spam, dating scams require a fair amount of work from the criminals – so they tend to cut corners. Often, the ‘romantic’ message you receive has been sent to dozens of other people. Put quotes around it and Google it: if it brings up results from former victims, you should start to worry. If the messages are in broken English, but your lover claims to be American, it’s another good reason to be cautious. Ask advice from a site administrator, or a friend.
• Don’t be ashamed to ‘play detective’.  Millions of people use dating sites, but they DO carry risks that normal dating does not. You don’t know whether the person you are speaking to is real, where they’re from, or whether the photos are them, or someone different. In the old days, you would often meet people via friends of friends–but you don’t have this reassurance online. So play detective.  If they won’t tell you where they work, worry. Likewise, if they keep asking questions about you, but never answer any about themselves, worry. Search for them on LinkedIn, or just via Google – it’s almost impossible NOT to leave traces online these days. If someone has not, they probably are not real.
• Scammers posing as women will often claim that they are hard-working but in a lower paying profession. Scammers posing as males will often profess to be independently wealthy, the owners of a lucrative business, or in an occupation such as the military.
• Male scammers often claim to be widowers with one or more young children to look after. They may claim that their partner died after a tragic accident or illness leaving them unexpectedly as single fathers.
• If their photos are really glossy, be afraid.  Oddly, one of the giveaways that your lover may not be who they seem is that they look too good–as in, the photographs are professional. Few normal people would make this much effort–but for a cybercriminal, the easiest way to create a fake profile is to use glamorous pictures from the web, shot by professional photographers.
  
  Most cyber criminals do not use their own photographs; they use an image from another social media account as their own. A reverse image search can determine if a profile picture is being used elsewhere on the internet, and on which websites it was used. A search sometimes provides information that links the image with other scams or victims.To perform a reverse image search on profile photos:

Right click on the image and select “Search for image.”Right click again and select “Save image as” to save the photo to your device. Using a search engine, choose the small camera icon to upload the saved image into the search engine.

• Don’t hand over information bit by bit. Dating sites are a huge growth area for cybercrime, and scams vary from simple cons, where people are asked for money for visas, to classic phishing. The problem is that handing over information is a normal part of romance–but perfect for identity thieves. Until you have verified that the person is genuine, do not give out your address, ever, and if possible limit other details such as workplaces and contact details. 
• Don’t share ‘racy’ photos with people you have not met.  One variation of today’s dating scams is a simple one – blackmail. Do not hand over pictures you would be embarrassed to see published online–otherwise, you’re at risk from blackmailers. Even racy messages can be a tool for criminals – particularly if you’re attached. Keep things clean until you know your ‘romance’ is real. Allowing someone to see you via webcam, or to, for instance, undress on webcam, is particularly risky.
• If your ‘lover’ sends you a photo which you need to click on, worry.  Keep antivirus software running and be wary of profiles without images in the first place. If they have an image, ask them to add it to their profile.
• Long-distance love DOES happen – but be wary.  Profiles without pictures, details and interests are a clear warning of a fake profile. US law enforcement say that common signs are people who claim to be American but say they are working abroad, then suddenly need plane fare home.
• Stick to reputable sites.  Match.com and other ‘major’ sites such as eHarmony have a reputation to protect so their systems will help to keep you safe (accusations of fake profiles notwithstanding). On Match, for instance, you can instantly flag any email or message as suspicious, and flag any profile you think isn’t quite right. Match will investigate rapidly. Other large, reputable sites have similar systems. Smaller, specialist sites–particularly those focused on short-term relationships–won’t offer the same peace of mind. However, sites which cater to a particular cultural group may achieve higher levels of trust if they fly under the radar of cyber criminals. Expect ‘Free’ sites to be the most dangerous the barrier to entry is low for enterprising cybercriminals.
• Don’t be persuaded to switch to another social network, email or IM.  Millions of people use dating sites, and the ‘big’ sites are facing epidemic levels of fake profiles, phishing and other scams, so cybercriminals will often persuade victims to switch to another site,  either a social site, or simply email. This way, they can continue the fraud in private.
• If you think, “It’s all happening so fast!” It’s time to worry.  Dating scams are one of the few areas of cybercrime where gangs play a ‘long game’ – sometimes stringing victims along for weeks or months. But most are impatient to be paid - so any online ‘lover’ who declares undying love in the space of a few emails should be regarded with extreme suspicion.
• Consistently poor spelling or grammar indicates that the language they are using may be the person’s second language even though they claim to be a born and bred resident of your country.
• If the person claims he or she is from your area, but states they are unable to meet you in person within the first few weeks of contacting you online, for whatever reason, be very cautious about revealing any personal details to them.
• If the other person is sharing information about themselves, be aware if details in their stories change. Did they call you by the wrong name, or suddenly refer to themselves by a different name?  Often scammers are operating under multiple false aliases and are using a script to communicate with people, so they can inadvertently use the wrong names and details when communicating with you.  If they do make such mistakes, the scammers will quickly come up with a story to explain the inconsistencies. But such errors should certainly be a warning flag.
• NEVER agree if the person asks you to use your own bank account to process checks or electronic money transfers for what ever reason. This may well be an attempt to launder the proceeds of crime. 
• Be aware that scammers will ask lots of questions about what you believe to be your ideal relationship and then present themselves in that way to you.
• If friends or family express concern about the relationship, it is wise to heed their warnings. Often, others who are not so emotionally involved, are able to see indications that things are not as they seem and become rightfully suspicious of your online “friend’s” motives.
• NEVER purchase an airline ticket and fly to a foreign country to meet someone who has requested money from you.  Victims who have taken such actions have been kidnapped and even murdered.
• Always tell family or friends if you are going to meet someone from a dating site and always meet first in a public place.  Never meet at first in a private home or hotel where help is not close at hand should things go wrong.
• Do not send money, ever.  The ‘red flag’ moment comes when your ‘lover’ asks for money. Do not send it–whether it’s for flights, or for life-saving surgery. Even if the story is so tragic you feel you HAVE to help. If the subject of money comes up early in a relationship, be wary. If someone asks outright for a Western Union payment or bank wire transfer, you may well be dealing with a criminal. Speak to a site administrator if possible. Talk to a friend – or ask advice from an independent agency, or local law enforcement. 
  
  If you do not send them money as requested, the requests will increase in urgency and the pressure they put on you will escalate accordingly. If this pressure does not work, they may change tack somewhat by asking for a much smaller amount than they originally requested. For example, they may claim that they have managed to source most of the money from elsewhere. 

Never send money to someone you meet online, especially by wire transfer. Never provide credit card numbers or bank account information without verifying the recipient’s identity. Never share your Social Security number or other personally identifiable information that can be used to access your accounts with someone who does not need to know this information.

When you send money to people you do not know personally or give personal or financial information to unknown callers, you increase your chances of becoming a victim of telemarketing fraud.  To protect yourself from the damage of identity theft and fraud, exercise caution using the tips below.

Government

• The IRS - Tax scams persist year-round, threatening people with jail time or prosecution if they don’t pay debts to the Internal Revenue Service.  Given that fake IRS phone calls continue to plague consumers, the IRS itself has repeatedly published a list of things you will not experience with a legitimate IRS representative, including phone calls demanding payment, threatening arrest and asking for specific payment methods like a prepaid debit card.

Rewards & Prizes

• Lottery scan or advance fee fraud “419” frauds. Named after the relevant section of the Nigerian Criminal Code, this fraud is a popular crime with West African organized criminal networks. There are a myriad of schemes and scams – mail, email, fax and telephone promises are designed to entice victims to send money, ostensibly to bribe government officials involved in the illegal conveyance of millions outside the country. Victims are to receive a percentage for their assistance.
  
  There are many variations of phishing and 419 schemes, but they all have the same goal: to steal the victims’ money or personal and account information.
• Investment Scams - Salesperson convinces a senior that an unusual asset, like a horse farm, is worth significant investment.
• Charitable donations - Unscrupulous charities take advantage of generosity and memory loss to request donations repeatedly.
• Grant fraud scam - Perpetrator poses as a representative of a government agency or some other organization with an official sounding name. He or she contacts older adult notifying him or her that they’ve been selected to receive a grant and requests the older adult’s checking account number in order to deposit grant the funds into the account.
• Sweepstakes - 'Contest' claims a senior won a prize and needs to send in money to collect winnings.

Money & Finance

• Money transfer scams - Often part of an Advance Fraud Scheme, a perpetrator convinces an older adult to send funds via Western Union or other money transfer services, using a number of elaborate schemes.
• Mystery shopper - Perpetrator enlists older adult to become a "mystery shopper" for them and sends older adult a counterfeit cashier’s check. They are instructed to cash the check, wire a portion back to the perpetrator and keep the remaining amount (appeals to those on a fixed or limited income).
• Misappropriation of income or assets – A perpetrator obtains access to a vulnerable adult’s Social Security checks, pension payments, checking or savings account, credit or ATM cards, and withholds portions of checks cashed for themselves.
• Charity scams – The victim is persuaded to buy a valueless or nonexistent product, donate to a bogus charity, or invest in a fictitious enterprise. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to this type of fraud because they are often at home during the work day to answer the phone. Social isolation is also a factor where fraudsters prey on lonely seniors anxious for someone to talk to. They devise schemes that require multiple phone calls and development of a trusting relationship. 
• A payday lender - “Congratulations, you’ve been approved for a payday loan!” This is a variation on the sweepstakes scam and the call from “your credit card company” offering you lower interest rates. A good rule of thumb: If you didn’t apply for a loan, ask for a rate adjustment or enter a sweepstakes, it’s probably a scam.
• Reverse mortgage scams - Reverse mortgage scams are engineered by unscrupulous professionals in a multitude of real estate, financial services, and related companies to steal the equity from the property of unsuspecting senior citizens or to use these seniors to unwittingly aid the fraudsters in stealing equity from a flipped property.
• Obituary scam - Using obituaries to target recent widows, scammers attempt to collect false debts of the deceased.
• Magazine subscriptions - Company sends free magazines and convinces a senior he owes money for the subscription.

Family & Friends

• Yourself - If your own phone number ever pops up on your phone screen, don’t answer. It may seem harmless in the moment, but this scam reportedly collects and classifies numbers of people who answer the phone as good numbers to target with other scams. It may be tempting to see who’s on the other end of the line — since it clearly isn’t you — but you may be signing yourself up for many more unwanted phone calls.
• Identity theft – Using one or more pieces of the victim’s personal identifying information (including, but not limited to, name, address, driver’s license, date of birth, Social Security number, account information, account login credentials, or family identifiers), a perpetrator establishes or takes over a credit, deposit or other financial account in the victim’s name.  Fraudsters gather victim’s information through various means; however, senior citizens are often susceptible to social engineering techniques that fraudsters use, such as “phishing” to entice victims to supply personal information such as account numbers, login IDs, passwords, and other verifiable information that can then be exploited for fraudulent purposes. Phishing is most often perpetrated through mass emails and spoofed websites, but it can also occur through old fashioned methods such as the phone, fax and mail.
• Fake accident ploy - Similar to the Grandparent scam, here a perpetrator convinces an older adult that the older adult’s child has been seriously injured or is in jail and needs money for medical treatment or bail.
• Fictitious relative – The perpetrator calls the victim pretending to be a relative in distress and in need of cash, and asks that money be wired or transferred either into a financial institution account.
• Online Dating and Romance / Sweetheart scams – The perpetrator enters the victim’s life as a romantic interest in order to gain influence and eventual financial control. This type of scam often goes unreported due to the embarrassment and emotional impact on the victim. At times the victim knows they are being duped but they simply don’t want to be alone.

Conclusion:  All of these tactics can put you at risk for identity theft, fraud or financial losses that could damage your credit or financial stability. If you receive a suspicious phone call, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission, and as a fraud-monitoring precaution, it’s a good idea to regularly review your credit scores and reports for signs of abuse.

6 Warning signs that its a phone scam:

If you hear these--or similar--"lines" from a telephone salesperson, just say "no thank you," and hang up the phone.

1. "You must act 'now' or the offer won't be good."
2. "You've won a 'free' gift, vacation, or prize." But you have to pay for "postage and handling" or other charges.
3. "You must send money, give a credit card or bank account number, or have a check picked up by courier." You may hear this before you have had a chance to consider the offer carefully.
4. "You don't need to check out the company with anyone." The callers say you do not need to speak to anyone including your family, lawyer, accountant, local Better Business Bureau, or consumer protection agency.
5. "You don't need any written information about their company or their references."
6. "You can't afford to miss this 'high-profit, no-risk' offer." 

9 Tips to Avoid Telemarketing Fraud:

1. Don't buy from an unfamiliar company. Legitimate businesses understand that you want more information about their company and are happy to comply.  It's never rude to wait and think about an offer. Be sure to talk over big investments offered by telephone salespeople with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor.  Always take your time making a decision. Legitimate companies won't pressure you to make a snap decision.
2. Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity. If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose financial advice you trust to review them. But, unfortunately, beware -- not everything written down is true.
3. Do your research.  Always check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, state Attorney General, the National Fraud Information Center, or other watchdog groups. Unfortunately, not all bad businesses can be identified through these organizations.
4. Ask for information.  Obtain a salesperson's name, business identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address, and business license number before you transact business. Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses, and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items.
5. Sending money.  Before you give money to a charity or make an investment, find out what percentage of the money is paid in commissions and what percentage actually goes to the charity or investment. Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or social security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.
6. You must not be asked to pay in advance for services. Pay services only after they are delivered.  Some con artists will send a messenger to your home to pick up money, claiming it is part of their service to you. In reality, they are taking your money without leaving any trace of who they are or where they can be reached.
7. Don't pay for a "free prize." If a caller tells you the payment is for taxes, he or she is violating federal law.
8. Before you receive your next sales pitch, decide what your limits are -- the kinds of financial information you will and won't give out on the telephone.
9. Never respond to an offer you don't understand thoroughly.   Before you send money, ask yourself a simple question. "What guarantee do I really have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?"  

A grandparent / trusted relative scam is a form of telephone fraud. The scammer phones a grandparent or relative and pretends to be in distress and asks that funds be wired to a specified location.

• How does the scammer choose a target?  No one knows for sure. Phone calls may be made at random until an elderly person answers, or scammers may be harvesting information from the Internet that enables them to choose targets. Some have suggested Facebook as a possible source of information.
• Why doesn't the target realize that the caller is not a grandchild?  If the target says that the caller does not sound like his or her grandchild, the scammers may blame a bad connection or a cold. Also, identifying voices over the phone is difficult for some senior citizens.
• Does the scammer know the grandchild's name?  It appears that sometimes the scammers have the correct names at their disposal. This is one reason some investigators think that scammers are gleaning information from the Internet. More often, however, the scammers may elicit the name of a grandchild from the target, who often does not even realize that he or she has supplied a name.
• What kind of stories do the grandparent scammers use?  The scammers often say that the grandchild needs money because of an accident, an injury, a theft or an arrest. Sometimes the "grandchild" pleads that other family members not be told because DUI or embarrassing circumstances are involved.
• Can victims of the grandparent scam recover their money?  Due to the nature of wire transfers and the fact that most cases involve U.S. citizens wiring money to other countries, recovery of funds is very difficult. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that grandparent type scam and other impostor scams cost Americans millions of dollars each year.
• What amounts of money are involved?  Amounts can vary widely, starting with less than $1000. Often scammers who are successful in persuading targets to wire money will immediately ask for a second transfer. 
• Are there other negative results from being scammed?  Yes. Those who are the victims of scams may lose faith in their own judgment, a doubt that family members may share. Sometimes the result is that an elderly person is prematurely stripped of control of his or her own money. Sometimes older persons become hesitant to answer their phones.
• What countries are implicated in these scams?  Most cases originate in Canada, but scammers in Puerto Rico, Haiti and China are joining the action.
• Why can't we catch the scammers?  The nature of international wire transfers makes it difficult to catch the perpetrators. Many times they use prepaid cell phones that cannot be traced. Some scammers have been caught and charged.
• Why would anyone fall for this scam?  The scammers can be very persuasive. In addition, the emotional distress caused by being told that a loved one is in trouble can make one abandon rational thought.
• What should be done if someone falls victim to this scam?  The victim should immediately notify the wire transfer company. In addition, the following entities should be notified:
  - Local police - State attorney general - The Federal Trade Commission - The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (if Canada is involved)
  
• What is being done to stop the grandparent scam?  Efforts so far have focused on educating the public, but it is a huge job to reach everyone and to keep the information fresh in people's minds. Recently some companies that handle wire transfers have begun training their employees to watch for red flags that might signal a grandparent scam, such an elderly person who appears distraught wanting to transfer fairly large sums of money.

How can one avoid being a victim?

• Never wire money to an unknown person. If you receive a call about a family member in distress in a foreign country, verify the information with family members. Another method is to have a family password, such as the name of a pet, which you can use for verification of the caller's identity.
• Build a wall around your computer. Use both antivirus and anti-spyware software to keep intruders from stealing personal information from your computer.
• Don't open file attachments in emails from strangers. These can contain programs that enable crooks to get into your computer remotely. Be cautious on social media. Anything you reveal about your family, travels or schedule can be easily picked up by bad guys.
• Ask lots of questions. If you get an impassioned call for money from a family member, take a deep breath and try not to get emotional. Instead, ask some questions that would be hard for an impostor to answer correctly. Examples are the name of the person's pet, his mother's birth date, or his boss's name.
• Slow the process down. Never say yes to a money transfer based on a single call. Always hang up and do some research, such as trying to contact the person directly on her cell or work phone, or talking with someone she is close with to corroborate the situation.
• Don't be embarrassed. If you fear that you have fallen prey to a scam, do not let pride get in the way of contacting authorities. And if you've wired money, immediately call the money transfer service to report the fraud. If the money hasn't been picked up yet, you can retrieve it.

Tech support fraud occurs when the subject claims to be associated with a computer software or security company, or even a cable or Internet company, offering technical support to the victim. Phony tech support companies utilize several different methods to contact or lure their victims. This list is not all inclusive, as the subjects are always varying their schemes.

• Cold call
• Pop-up or locked screen
• Search Engine Optimization: The subject pays to have their company websites appear in the top of search results when a victim searches for technical support.
• URL Hijacking / Typosquatting: The subject relies on mistakes made by the victim when entering a URL, which either causes an “error” or redirects to the subject’s website.

Once the phony tech support company or representative makes verbal contact with the victim, the subject tries to convince the victim to provide remote access to their device. Once the subject has control, additional criminal activity occurs. For example: The subject takes control of the victim’s device and/or bank account, and will not release control until the victim pays a ransom.

• The subject accesses computer files containing financial accounts, passwords, or personal data (health records, social security numbers, etc.).
• The subject intentionally installs viruses on the device.
• The subject threatens to destroy the victim’s computer or continues to call in a harassing manner.

Scammers have been peddling bogus security software for years. They set up fake websites, offer free “security” scans, and send alarming messages to try to convince you that your computer is infected. Then, they try to sell you software to fix the problem. At best, the software is worthless or available elsewhere for free. At worst, it could be malware — software designed to give criminals access to your computer and your personal information. The latest version of the scam begins with a phone call. Scammers can get your name and other basic information from public directories. They might even guess what computer software you’re using. Once they have you on the phone, they often try to gain your trust by pretending to be associated with well-known companies or confusing you with a barrage of technical terms. They may ask you to go to your computer and perform a series of complex tasks. Sometimes, they target legitimate computer files and claim that they are viruses. Their tactics are designed to scare you into believing they can help fix your “problem.”

Once they’ve gained your trust, they may:

• ask you to give them remote access to your computer and then make changes to your settings that could leave your computer vulnerable
• try to enroll you in a worthless computer maintenance or warranty program
• ask for credit card information so they can bill you for phony services — or services you could get elsewhere for free
• trick you into installing malware that could steal sensitive data, like user names and passwords
• direct you to websites and ask you to enter your credit card number and other personal information

Regardless of the tactics they use, they have one purpose: to make money. If you get a call from someone who claims to be a tech support person, hang up and call the company yourself on a phone number you know to be genuine. A caller who creates a sense of urgency or uses high-pressure tactics is probably a scam artist.

7 tips to avoid tech support scams:

1. Don’t give control of your computer to a third party who calls you out of the blue.
2. Do not rely on caller ID alone to authenticate a caller. Criminals spoof caller ID numbers. They may appear to be calling from a legitimate company or a local number, when they’re not even in the same country as you.
3. Online search results might not be the best way to find technical support or get a company’s contact information. Scammers sometimes place online ads to convince you to call them. They pay to boost their ranking in search results so their websites and phone numbers appear above those of legitimate companies. If you want tech support, look for a company’s contact information on their software package or on your receipt.
4. Never provide your credit card or financial information to someone who calls and claims to be from tech support.
5. If a caller pressures you to buy a computer security product or says there is a subscription fee associated with the call, hang up. If you’re concerned about your computer, call your security software company directly and ask for help.
6. Never give your password on the phone. No legitimate organization calls you and asks for your password.
7. Put your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, and then report illegal sales calls.

If You’ve Responded to a Scam

If you think you might have downloaded malware from a scam site or allowed a cyber criminal to access your computer, don’t panic. Instead:

• Get rid of malware. Update or download legitimate security software and scan your computer. Delete anything it identifies as a problem. 
• Change any passwords that you gave out. If you use these passwords for other accounts, change those accounts, too.
• If you paid for bogus services with a credit card, call your credit card provider and ask to reverse the charges. Check your statements for any other charges you didn’t make, and ask to reverse those, too.
• If you believe that someone may have accessed your personal or financial information, visit the FTC’s identity theft website. You can minimize your risk of further damage and repair any problems already in place.

How to Spot a Refund Scam

If you paid for tech support services, and you later get a call about a refund, don’t give out any personal information, like your credit card or bank account number. The call is almost certainly another trick to take your money.
The refund scam works like this:

• Several months after the purchase, someone might call to ask if you were happy with the service. When you say you weren’t, the scammer offers a refund.
• Or the caller may say that the company is going out of business and providing refunds for “warranties” and other services.

In either case, the scammers eventually ask for a bank or credit card account number. Or they ask you to create a Western Union account. They might even ask for remote access to your computer to help you fill out the necessary forms. But instead of putting money in your account, the scammers withdraw money from your account.
If you get a call like this, hang up.