Preying on Seniors: 5 Common Phone Scams

How to spot them and avoid them!

The grandparent

• Grandchild calls saying “it’s me.”

• Is out of town and needs money

because of accident, theft,

etc.

• Asks you not to discuss with his/her parents.

• Wants money to be wired.

What it Sounds Like Red Flags

How to Avoid

Hang up and immediately call the number you have for that grandchild or his/her parents. They will be able to independently confirm if there is a real problem.

Jury Duty Scam

• Caller identifies self as officer of the court.• Claims that you missed jury duty and owe a fine for that. If not paid, the police will come to your

house and arrest you.

• Asks money to be wired via Green Dot, Western Union, or MoneyGram

What it Sounds Like Red Flags

How to Avoid

• If you haven’t received notice via mail, simply hang

up.• If you still aren’t

sure, hang up and call your local

municipality to confirm absence from jury duty.

Lottery Scam

• Caller says you won foreign lottery.

• Asks you to send money to cover

fees and taxes from your winnings.

• Asks for your checking/savings routing and account number for “direct deposit” of winnings.

What it Sounds Like Red Flags

How to Avoid

You are almost always best off just

hanging up and forgetting all about someone claiming

you’ve won a foreign lottery.

IRS Scam

• Caller identifies self as IRS agent, and has

telephone number that will display the call is

coming from the “Internal Revenue

Service”.• Says a tax balance is past

due, and victim will be arrested that day if it is

not paid.

• Asks money to be wired via Green Dot, Western Union, or MoneyGram

What it Sounds Like Red Flags

How to Avoid

• Hang up immediately

and call the real IRS general

inquiries phone number: 1-800-

829-1040.

Utility Scam

• Caller identifies self as employee of your local

utility.• Claims that you missed

payment and that service will be

terminated without immediate payment.

• May have your actual account number!

• Asks money to be wired via Green Dot, Western Union, or MoneyGram

What it Sounds Like Red Flags

How to Avoid

• Hang up once you hear that the

money needs to be wired via one of

these three services.

• Look up and call your utility

provider if you are legitimately

concerned about a late payment

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