This episode of Boomer Banter dives deep into the alarming rise of financial fraud targeting older adults. Join host Wendy Green and fraud expert Kathy Stokes from the AARP Fraud Watch Network as they unpack the sophisticated tactics scammers use, the emotional toll on victims, and essential steps for securing personal information.

Wendy Green begins the episode by sharing her own near-miss with a copyright infringement scam, underscoring the importance of being vigilant. Kathy Stokes delves into common scams such as tech support fraud, where scammers pose as legitimate tech support to gain access to financial information. The conversation highlights the use of heightened emotional states by scammers to manipulate victims, urging everyone to pause and assess suspicious messages logically.

Takeaways:

1. Use strong passwords and two factor authentication to access online accounts. Try a password manager to create and store your unique passwords.
2. Let calls from unknown callers go to voicemail. Criminals do not tend to leave messages.
3. Avoid using open Wi-Fi networks without a VPN and refrain from plugging into public USB ports
4. If you suspect you've been a victim of fraud, report it to the police and use AARP's helpline for support (877) 908-3360
5. We are not helpless! What we know inoculates us. What we share inoculates others.

Links:

Follow the AARP Fraud Watch Network on Facebook

Connect with the AARP Victim Support Network

Register for the Virtual Fraud Prevention Summer Series - July 8: 10:00-12:00ET

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This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy