May 15 marks National Senior Fraud Awareness Day—a day dedicated to raising awareness about scams targeting older adults. If you have an elderly loved one or are concerned about fraud affecting seniors, it’s crucial to stay informed. While scams are ever-evolving, knowledge remains one of our best defenses.

Tech Support Scams

These scammers impersonate tech companies and claim there’s a problem with the victim’s device, urging them to allow remote access. If even someone you trust asks for such access, verify their identity through independent channels before taking any action.

Government Impersonation Scams

Scammers pose as officials, often threatening legal action to extract personal data. Genuine government agencies will never threaten you over the phone. Always verify suspicious calls by contacting the agency directly through official lines.

Grandparent Scams

Fraudsters pretend to be a grandchild in trouble to create urgency and convince seniors to wire money. Always verify by calling the family member directly before responding to such requests.

Romance Scams

Scammers build fake online relationships to gain the trust of seniors, eventually requesting money. Encourage loved ones to be cautious with their personal information and finances in new online relationships.

Medicare Scams

These scams involve fraudsters posing as Medicare representatives offering fake services to collect sensitive information. Remind your loved ones that Medicare will not call to solicit information or offer services for sale.

Sweepstakes Scams

Victims are told they've won a prize but must pay an up-front fee—a clear scam indicator. Emphasize that legitimate sweepstakes don’t require fees for prizes.

Discuss these scams with friends and family to spread awareness. Staying informed is the key to protecting our seniors. Encourage them to report any suspicious activities to the US government's fraud-reporting resources or call 1-800-FRAUD-11.