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AGAINST
COMMON SCAMS
Protecting Yourself
NEW STORY!
1. Sign up for emergency alerts: Visit CalAlerts.org to sign up for alerts in your area. Consider signing up for alerts in an older loved one’s area too.
Scams are frequently in the news and might make you think, “I wouldn’t fall for that!” But scammers are becoming more sophisticated and using technology to make their scams more believable. Accurate information may be the best protection against fraud. Knowing the schemes that frequently target older adults can help you avoid them. You can empower yourself by watching out for the following scams, which are among the most prevalent today.
2. Make a disaster-ready plan: Create a list of contact information you may need; decide where to meet if you’re separated from loved ones; practice your plan.
3. Pack a go bag: To grab when you need to leave quickly, including important documents and items for each family member, keys, wallet, identification, phone and charger, and medication.
4. Pack a stay box: Include basic supplies for when you can’t leave home, such as food that won’t spoil, water, a flashlight, trash bags, and medication – enough for three days.
5. Help friends and neighbors: Exchange contact information with your neighbors and plan how you might work together in an emergency.
• Water
• Non-perishable food
• Medication, especially prescriptions
• list of prescriptions
• Eyeglasses
• Copies of important documents
• List of important phone numbers
• Cash
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• FIRST AID KIT
• WHISTLE, TO SIGNAL FOR HELP
• MOIST TOWELETTES, GARBAGE BAGS, AND PLASTIC
TIES FOR PERSONAL SANITATION
• PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS
• MANUAL CAN OPENER
• CELL PHONE CHARGER
• BACKUP BATTERY
What should older adults put in a
go bag?
Trusted connections with family, friends, caregivers, and healthcare providers are crucial to ensure older adults’ and adults with disabilities’ needs are met during emergencies. Important considerations include:
5 Readiness Actions
The FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are a one-stop service center for replacing lost documents and identification, registering for disaster assistance, connecting with state and local authorities, and more. FEMA provides a DRC Locator if you need help learning where to go.
The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and Independent Living Center (ILC) in your area are both service providers and your connections to local resources. Whether its learning about meal options or how you can receive services while you’re displaced, your AAA or ILC can help.
The Eldercare Locator from the Administration for Community Living can connect older adults and their families to resources. Out-of-town loved ones can also use this resource to help connect displaced family members with local assistance. Visit the Eldercare Locator online or call 800-677-1116.
• Emergency Preparedness Guide
• MyHazards
• CalAlerts
• Listos California
• Ready.gov
• Medicare: Care in an Emergency
Quick Links
An older adult receives a call from someone claiming to be a relative, like a grandchild, in distress at a hospital or in jail or needing immediate financial help. Fraudsters using artificial intelligence are getting better at making voices sound just like someone you know and love. Or a scammer may pretend to be someone involved in your loved one’s situation, such as a lawyer, law enforcement officer, or bail bond representative. The caller asks for money, perhaps in a direct wire or gift card, then disappears after you’ve sent it.
Remedy: Never send money to someone you don’t know. Take a beat when pressured to act. Before you act, ask other relatives to confirm the information is legitimate. Do not share personal or financial information over the phone.
Grandparent scams
Tech support fraud
WATER
NON-PERISHABLE FOOD
MEDICATION, ESPECIALLY PRESCRIPTIONS
LIST OF PRESCRIPTIONS
EYEGLASSES
COPIES OF IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
LIST OF IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
CASH
FLASHLIGHT AND EXTRA BATTERIES
FIRST AID KIT
WHISTLE, TO SIGNAL FOR HELP
MOIST TOWELETTES, GARBAGE BAGS, AND PLASTIC TIES FOR PERSONAL SANITATION
PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS
MANUAL CAN OPENER
CELL PHONE CHARGER
BACKUP BATTERY
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A message pops up saying your computer has a virus that can be cured by clicking a link or calling a support number. One wrong move — like clicking that link or calling that number — can result in your sensitive information being shared with scammers or your computer being infected with malware.
Remedy: Never share your password or give remote access to your computer to someone you don’t know. If the message won’t go away, restart your computer. Consider obtaining security software.
Crypto fraud
Romance scams
Over time, someone in social media, email, or on the telephone creates a feeling of friendship or a romantic relationship before leveraging your trust in a manipulative request for money. Variation: celebrity imposter scams, where a fraudster poses as a famous person pretending to care for you.
Remedy: Never share financial or personal information with someone you meet online.
A scammer invites you to invest in cryptocurrency assets such as digital currency, non-fungible tokens, stablecoin, or tokenized real estate — none of which are regulated to the same extent as banks, U.S. dollars, and traditional financial products. The pitch commonly includes a guaranteed return or high returns.
Remedy: Run any investment opportunity by someone you trust who understands it thoroughly, such as a financial professional or knowledgeable family member. Be cautious of guaranteed returns.
Someone posing as a repair person inspects an area of your home that often is hard to reach, making it difficult to verify problems yourself. The scammer shows evidence of a problem that doesn’t really exist or that they may have even caused, then takes your money after making — or not making — repairs.
Remedy: Be extra wary of unsolicited inspections. Get multiple estimates before agreeing to the work, and verify contractor licenses at cslb.ca.gov.
If you’re impacted by a scam, you can help bring the fraudsters to justice — and help prevent others from being ripped off — by reporting it to authorities.
Fraud Reporting Resources
Stay Vigilant
Home inspection scams
GRANDPARENT SCAMS
A scammer invites you to invest in cryptocurrency assets such as digital currency, non-fungible tokens, stablecoin, or tokenized real estate — none of which are regulated to the same extent as banks, U.S. dollars, and traditional financial products. The pitch commonly includes a guaranteed return or high returns.
Remedy: Run any investment opportunity by someone you trust who understands it thoroughly, such as a financial professional or knowledgeable family member. Be cautious of guaranteed returns.
ROMANCE SCAMS
Over time, someone in social media, email, or on the telephone creates a feeling of friendship or a romantic relationship before leveraging your trust in a manipulative request for money. Variation: celebrity imposter scams, where a fraudster poses as a famous person pretending to care for you.
Remedy: Never share financial or personal information with someone you meet online.
Someone posing as a repair person inspects an area of your home that often is hard to reach, making it difficult to verify problems yourself. The scammer shows evidence of a problem that doesn’t really exist or that they may have even caused, then takes your money after making — or not making — repairs.
Remedy: Be extra wary of unsolicited inspections. Get multiple estimates before agreeing to the work, and verify contractor licenses at cslb.ca.gov.
If you’re impacted by a scam, you can help bring the fraudsters to justice — and help prevent others from being ripped off — by reporting it to authorities.
HOME INSPECTION SCAMS
CRYPTO FRAUD
The Department of Financial Protection & Innovation investigates all claims of unlawful, unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices by financial service providers. Call 866-275-2677 or submit a complaint at dfpi.ca.gov.
Adult Protective Services in each county takes information on fraud. Find your local agency through the California Department of Social Services.
Fraud complaints may be reported to local law enforcement or to the California Office of the Attorney General’s hotline at 800-722-0432 or by filling out an online abuse complaint form.
As in many areas of life, knowledge is power. Learning what scams are widespread and how those scams are designed to take your money is a solid starting point in protecting yourself and your loved ones. It may also help your financial decision-making so you can protect the assets you worked so hard to earn.
Read more about scams and fraud involving older adults in the article “How to Protect Yourself from Scams and Fraud.”
FRAUD REPORTING RESOURCEs
The Department of Financial Protection & Innovation investigates all claims of unlawful, unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices by financial service providers. Call 866-275-2677 or submit a complaint at dfpi.ca.gov.
Adult Protective Services in each county takes information on fraud. Find your local agency through the California Department of Social Services.
Fraud complaints may be reported to local law enforcement or to the California Office of the Attorney General’s hotline at 800-722-0432 or by filling out an online abuse complaint form.
As in many areas of life, knowledge is power. Learning what scams are widespread and how those scams are designed to take your money is a solid starting point in protecting yourself and your loved ones. It may also help your financial decision-making so you can protect the assets you worked so hard to earn.
Read more about scams and fraud involving older adults in the article “How to Protect Yourself from Scams and Fraud.”
STAY VIGILANT
