Don't Get Hooked: How to Spot Scams Before They Catch You

While Internet-based scams have been around for decades now, they are becoming more and more convincing – especially for older adults. Phone calls, emails, text messages, and social media direct messages can be designed to look urgent, fake letters in the mail with seals that are almost official and more, scammers rely on confusion, fear, and trust to trick you into giving away money and/or personal information. The good news is that there are several warning signs that can keep you safe and confident in avoiding scams.

An older man using a tablet while sitting on a white couch.

Urgency

One of the biggest warning signs of a scam is urgency. Scammers will often claim that they have a problem that must be solved immediately, like unpaid taxes, suspicious bank activity, or a family member who’s in some kind of trouble. Additionally, the scammers will often claim you are the only person who can fix the situation, when police, firefighters, or other emergency services may be more equipped to do so. Common scams that involve urgency could be a text message claiming you owe unpaid tolls or a call that your grandchild has been arrested and needs money for bail. Legitimate organizations will never demand immediate payments or threaten arrest over the phone or via email.

Requests for sensitive information

Another red flag is requesting information that’s personal or financial in nature. Be cautious when anyone asks for your Social Security number, bank account number(s), passwords, birthday, or credit card information, especially if they are calling or emailing you. Common scams that involve requests for information could be a fake call requesting your Medicare number to issue you an updated card or a text message asking for a one-time passcode or PIN to “confirm” your identity. Typically, government agencies, banks, and utility companies do not ask for sensitive information through unsolicited calls, texts, or emails.

Impersonation

A very common and crucial aspect of a scam is impersonation. Scammers pretend to be representatives from institutions you trust – like the government, technology support, companies whose services you use, and trusted people like your family, pastor, and friends. Unfortunately, caller IDs, email addresses, and logos can all be faked. A common scam involving impersonation is an email from your pastor requesting “help” with a task, and then they ask you to buy them a gift card or wire money. Almost always, you can identify an impersonator by looking at the email and phone number – often, it will be one digit or letter different. For example, a scammer could use G00gle.com, replacing the letter O with 0. If you suspect impersonation, contact the organization directly using a phone number or email that you know is legitimate.

Too good to be true

Another warning sign is an offer that sounds too good to be true. Lottery winnings, prizes for contests you didn’t enter, miracle cures, and guaranteed investment returns are all common scam hooks. These offers typically require upfront payment, wire transfers, and other methods that may be difficult to trace and nearly impossible to recover. A common scam involving this is a call offering you a free vacation – you just have to pay taxes and processing fees upfront. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is a scam.

How to avoid getting scammed?

Now that you know about and can recognize some of the most common tactics that scammers employ, you’re ready to learn about how we can combat them. One of the best ways to prevent scams is to pause and ask questions. Scammers often want you to be isolated and rushed, which makes it easier to get you to do what they want. But taking time to speak to a family member or trusted friend can quickly expose a scam. Additionally, asking questions about the details of the scam will often expose it as well.

It's also important to remember that scams can and do utilize text messaging and email. Scams aren’t just via the phone. Emails and texts from unknown senders that try to get you to click on links are using a practice called phishing. Their purpose is to get you to reveal personal information, like passwords and credit card information. Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from anyone you don’t know personally. When in doubt, delete the message.

Lastly, trust your instincts. If something feels suspicious, confusing, or too fast-paced, it’s okay to say no, walk away, or hang up. Staying informed, asking questions, and slowing down are your best defenses against getting scammed. Remember, there’s no shame in being a victim of a scam, because they are intentionally designed to deceive you, and many are very convincing. However, knowledge is powerful. By recognizing these warning signs and taking a cautious approach, you can protect your personal information, your finances, and your peace of mind.

If you’ve been the victim of a scam, act quickly and contact your bank, credit card company, or financial institution right away to report the incident. They will help you protect your accounts in any way they can. Change any passwords that have been shared and monitor your statements closely for unusual activity. It’s also important to report the scam to local authorities.