With the economy as it is, we're all looking for ways to save money. Cutting coupons each week to save on groceries is a great means of cutting costs, but the Internet makes this seemingly harmless practice risky. According to a recent article posted by the AARP, a surge in counterfeit coupons can cost you more in the long run.
"As more cash-strapped consumers turn to the Internet for print-to-save offers, hackers have taken notice, creating a virtual explosion of online coupon scams." And what do these scammers stand to reap from this? Apparently, nothing. They don't profit from this practice; it is more like a game to them. So what can you do to protect yourself? The AARP goes on to describe the high costs of taking counterfeit coupons and how you can avoid this trouble all together. Click here for the full article.
So what can you do to prevent you or someone you know from falling victim? Pass this information along to people you know - friends, neighbors, family members. Have you or has someone you love been the victim of scammers taking advantage of seniors? Share your experiences with us!
The state of the economy and unemployment coupled with a growing number of people who are uninsured make a recipe for disaster for those who are most vulnerable to scams. Some sneaky scammers will use the name of senior care organizations and claim to offer secondary health insurance services, asking for credit card and other financial information. We've said it before, but we can't emphasize enough that you should be weary of distributing any financial information to somebody with whom you are not familiar. This is a scam, pure and simple.
So what can you do to prevent you or someone you know from falling victim? Pass this information along to people you know-friends, neighbors, family members. Have you or has someone you love been the victim of scammers taking advantage of seniors? Share your experiences with us!
Scammers prey on the most vulnerable and rough economic times have undoubtedly increased the prevalence of scamming, especially as it relates to money and finance. The scam experts at Scam Busters detail a direct mail scam out there is targeting seniors by distributing letters offering an extra Social Security Check in exchange for a filing fee. The letter asks for money, bank account information and/or the victim's Social Security number to "file the application." What are the people behind this letter really trying to do? Steal your money and, potentially, your identity by obtaining your personal information.
Take it from Scam Busters: "The Social Security Administration does not ask you to send them your Social Security number to get a check because they already know it." Please be sure to kindly pass this message along to your friends and family; protect them from falling prey to scammers.
Have you or has someone you love been the victim of scammers taking advantage of seniors? Share your experiences with us!
Scamming has become so prevalent in society that popular talk show hosts Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Phil have dedicated
entire segments to the topic! Scammers will stop at nothing to get what they want, and seniors and the disabled are common prey for scam artists. Arm yourself with one of the best tools to combat scammer: knowledge. Knowledge is power and one of the best ways to making yourself and your loved ones less vulnerable is learning about what's going on out there, being aware of your surroundings and knowing how to defend yourself. Let's check out the latest in senior scamming:
A popular scam affecting seniors nationwide is one in which the senior receives a call from someone claiming to be with their county's medical office and requesting credit card information to charge a certain amount of money to "ensure the continuation of medical coverage." There is no reason why you should be charged to continue your medical coverage. Furthermore, you should be weary of distributing any financial information to anybody, let alone somebody with whom you are not familiar.
According to Scam Busters, a non-profit dedicated to seeking justice against scammers, upcoming changes in Medicare prescription drug programs may increase the prevalence of senior medical scams, so this is something to be aware of! Have you or has someone you love been the victim of scammers taking advantage of seniors? The best thing we can do is come together and promote awareness to better protect those who are most vulnerable. Share your experiences with us!