Scammers Still Prefer the Phone
For years, we’ve heard the government promise to stop robocalls. While some progress has been made, people are still receiving unwanted calls, texts, and emails. These are often the first steps in connecting scammers to unsuspecting victims.
Most scams start with a convincing message. Sometimes, it’s an email from your bank or what looks like a text message from your phone company. However, according to Amy Nofziger, Director of Fraud Victim Support with AARP, the tried-and-true method for most scammers is still the most popular: the phone call. “Certainly, anytime you receive a phone call from an unknown number, it might be a criminal trying to steal from you,” she said.
Nofziger explains that anyone can fall victim to these scams, but one group is targeted more than others. “Everyone has a target on their back, and we are all vulnerable to being victims of frauds and scams. But we know criminals go where the money is, and that’s with older adults.”
Recently, Stuart K-9 Officer Christopher Heitfeld received a call from a caregiver saying the man she was looking after had fallen for such a scam. “When I got that call, that’s the first thing I said; it's gone.” Heitfeld recalled...
Tags
#Robocalls
#Vishing
#Impersonation
