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10/09/2025

10/09/2025

Account safety tips.

With financial scams on the rise across the industry, here are some tips to help keep your accounts safe:

Text message scams. Don’t tap on links or share info from unexpected texts, even if they look like they’re from a company you know. Always verify through the app.

Don’t trust unsolicited contact. If someone claiming to be a support representative reaches out, don’t give them access to your device, don’t download any software, and don’t send money or crypto.

Always go direct. Only contact the company through the app or website. Searching for support numbers online can lead to scams.

Verify messages. Log in to your account directly to confirm any suspicious communication.

Secure your credentials. Don’t reuse old passwords or share your verification code, password, or PIN with anyone.
Turn on notifications. Enable alerts so you’re notified if your account details or bank connections change.

Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics. Here’s what to look out for:

Phishing scams. Scammers may send fake texts or emails that look legit to steal your info. Don’t click suspicious links—always access directly through the app or website.

Impersonators. Don’t trust anyone who says they’re from a company you know and asks for access to your account or funds—especially if they create urgency.

09/27/2025

Got this from my doctor. Always do as they ask.

09/23/2025

Fake Security Alerts: Scammers are now using fake security alerts to trick people into giving up their life savings. The scam starts with a story designed to get your attention, such as a claim that your bank account is being used by criminals, your Social Security number is linked to a crime, or your computer has a security problem.

09/17/2025

Investment Scams: Scammers promise guaranteed high returns with little to no risk. They often pressure victims to act quickly and use unusual payment methods. Investment scams were the most costly type of fraud in 2024, with reported losses in the billions.

09/13/2025

Never ever say the word "yes" to anyone you don't know on the phone. They can record the word yes and use it to get into places and accounts that you don't want them in or setting up.

09/12/2025

How to Protect Yourself

Be Skeptical: If a call, email, or message seems suspicious or too good to be true, it probably is.

Never Send Money or Information: Do not send money, gift cards, or sensitive personal or financial information to someone you don't know or trust.

Verify Identity: If someone claims to be a government official or a relative in trouble, hang up and call them back on a known, trusted number.

Don't Click Links or Install Software: Avoid clicking on links in suspicious emails or pop-up ads on your computer, and never grant remote access to your device to someone who called you unexpectedly.

Report Scams: If you are a victim of a scam, report it to the authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the FBI.

https://www.ssa.gov/scam/resources.html

09/08/2025

Let's talk.

09/02/2025

DON'T GET SCAMMED

Grandparent Scam:

Criminals call, claiming to be a grandchild or relative in immediate financial trouble, creating a sense of urgency and pressure.

New versions involve providing fake case numbers and even sending "couriers" to pick up payments.

08/31/2025

"Victims often suffer the loss of entire banking, savings, retirement, or investment accounts under the guise of 'protecting' their assets," the FBI said in a news release.

08/29/2025

Celebrity impostor scams

The AARP Fraud Watch Network receives dozens of reports of celebrity impostor scams every month. Some involve phony product endorsements, such as fake video of Kelly Clarkson or Shark Tank judges promoting weight-loss gummies. But what most concerns Nofziger are scams where people believe they’ve entered a romance or friendship with a celebrity.

“These are the ones we see the most,” she says. The scammer hits the victim when they are emotionally vulnerable, she explains — when they might be feeling unworthy, lonely, or bored, or grieving the loss of a loved one. The supposed celebrity needs money, whether launching a new charity or putting down money on the house where you both will live.

How to stay safe: No legitimate celebrity will ever ask for money or personal information online. Most celebrities don’t manage their own social media accounts, so if you truly believe that you’re communicating with a star, go to the celebrity’s website and contact their management team to confirm, says Nofziger.

Before buying a product based on a celebrity recommendation, conduct an online search of the person and product, with words like “scam” or “fake,” the FTC suggests. When you see a celebrity promoting a product or making a political statement on a t-shirt, hat, flag — any surface with text — be suspicious. Those surfaces can be a canvas for false messages; it's become easy to alter photos (here's how to tell if a photo is fake).

The FTC is trying to fight these bogus endorsements. In August 2024, the agency announced a new rule that prohibits “fake or false consumer reviews, consumer testimonials, and celebrity testimonials” and allows it “to seek civil penalties against knowing violators.”