Fraud targeting seniors continues to rise each year, and scammers are becoming more sophisticated in how they reach their victims. They often prey on trust, fear, or confusion to trick individuals into sharing personal information or sending money. Understanding the most common scams (and how to protect yourself) is the first step toward staying safe.

Scams Targeting Seniors

Older adults are often targeted with scams designed to create urgency or emotional pressure, including:

Romance Scams

Romance scams happen when someone pretends to be interested in a romantic relationship, often through dating websites, social media, or even text messages. They take time to build trust, sending affectionate messages or sharing personal stories to seem genuine. Once they feel they’ve gained your confidence, they start asking for money. The reasons vary, but they might say they need funds for travel to visit you, medical emergencies, or sudden business problems. Victims are often too emotionally invested to question the request.

How to protect yourself: Never send money or share personal financial information with someone you haven’t met in person. Use caution when relationships move quickly or the person avoids video calls or in-person meetings.

“Grandparent” Scams

In this type of scam, a fraudster calls or messages pretending to be a grandchild or family member in distress, claiming they’ve been in an accident, arrested, or stranded somewhere. They may plead, “Please don’t tell mom or dad,” to keep the victim from verifying the story. Scammers often pressure the grandparent to send money immediately via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.

How to protect yourself: Always hang up and call your relative directly or check with another family member before sending money. Genuine emergencies can always wait for verification.

Government or Lottery Scams

Government and lottery scams rely on the promise of reward or fear of penalty. In lottery scams, the victim receives a message claiming they’ve won a sweepstake, grant, or prize, but they must first pay taxes or fees to claim it. In government scams, the impersonator claims to represent the IRS, Social Security Administration, or another agency, threatening arrest or fines unless payment is made immediately.

How to protect yourself: Real government agencies will never demand immediate payment or request money through gift cards or wire transfers. Legitimate lotteries never require winners to pay upfront to receive their prize.

Other Common Scams to Watch For

Tech Support Scams

A pop-up message or phone call might warn that your computer has a virus and urge you to contact “tech support” right away. These scammers will often request remote access to your device or payment for fake repairs.

How to protect yourself: Real tech companies won’t contact you this way. If you receive a suspicious message, don’t click any links or call the number listed. Simply close your browser and run a legitimate antivirus scan.

Phishing and QR Code Scams

Fraudsters use deceptive emails, text messages, and even QR codes to trick you into sharing personal information. A scam message may appear to come from your bank, your credit union, or a delivery company urging you to “verify” your information or click a link.

How to protect yourself: Never click on links or scan QR codes from unfamiliar or unexpected sources. If you’re unsure, contact the company directly using their official website or phone number.

Identity Theft and Smartphone Scams

Scammers are increasingly targeting mobile devices through a tactic called SIM swapping, where they transfer your phone number to a new SIM card and gain control of your calls, texts, and accounts. Once they have access, they can reset passwords and drain your financial accounts.

How to protect yourself: Contact your mobile provider to add a PIN or password to your account and use multi-factor authentication on all sensitive logins.

Protect Your Finances

• Be skeptical: If something sounds urgent or too good to be true, it probably is. Always verify before acting.
• Do not click on unknown links: Avoid clicking on links in emails, texts, or direct messages from unknown senders.
• Don’t respond to spam calls: If a call feels suspicious, hang up and block the number.
• Update your devices: Keeping your phone, tablet, and computer software up to date ensures you have the latest security protections.
• Use strong security: Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) and use complex passwords.
• Be wary of payment methods: Legitimate companies do not ask for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency as payment.

Members 1st Is Here to Help

If you believe you’ve been targeted by a scam or think your personal information may have been compromised, contact Members 1st Credit Union right away. Our team can help you secure your accounts and guide you on next steps to protect your finances.