[ENG] Scams That Might Target You

Why Are You Being Targeted?

• In 2022, New York was ranked 4th in the U.S. with over 4,200 victims of scams of those over 60 years old.
• In 2023, people older than 60 lost about $3.4 billion in total in the U.S. from scams.
• In 2023, residents in New York had lost about $400.9 million from financially targeted scam.

※Source: ABC7 and National Poll on Healthy Aging from University of Michigan

Prevention Tips

1. Don’t be pressured to act quickly, scammers will attempt to force you to rush
2. Never provide personal and financial information over the phone or through email
3. Do not open unfamiliar attachments or emails
4. Be wary of what you share on social media since scammers can learn personal information about you and others
5. Install and use antivirus or anti spyware software to protect your email account
6. Be wary of offers to send an “advance’ on “commission”
7. Always double check contact information or email addresses for any typos or misspellings
8. If you have not brought or bought a subscription, it might be a scam
9. Secure personal information with strong passwords
10. Do not respond to the emails that have “undisclosed recipients”, spelling errors, or awkward English 
11. Do not click on links where it can be suspicious websites

Identity Theft Scams

Scammers have the intention to steal personal information to access bank and credit accounts. Scammers can gain access to personal information through fake phone calls, anywhere that a credit card can be used, and through the internet. 

AI scam: it is a type of technology that can impersonate family and friends to ask for money or personal information from fake voice calls and fake videos. The best way to combat AI scams is to always be skeptical. 77% of AI scam victims have lost money

Voice cloning:

1. Can be contact randomly or out of the blue
2. Pressured to act immediately with no time to think
3. Told to keep caller’s call a secret

Deepfake:

1. Look for signs of altered video (unrealistic movements, shifts in lighting or skin tone, no blinking, shadows around eyes)
2. Listen for inconsistencies of language

Phishing scam: emails designed to trick people into sending money or providing personal information to commit identity theft. Scammers may claim to be government officials or government agencies to create a threat or demand from the government.

Social networking scam: fake social media profiles that send messages asking for personal information or to be friends

ATM skimmers: identity thieves install skimmers on ATM machines that can read card information

Imposter Scams

Imposter scams involve someone tricking you into sending money or personal information while claiming to be someone else like a family member, friend, government/law enforcement official, bank official, or potential lover

Grandparent scam: scammers tell false troubles or problems that occurred with your grandchildren. The threats or troubles stated may be imprisonment, detention in a foreign country, transportation to the hospital, etc. Scammers can claim to be police officers, doctors, and lawyers that may know personal information about your supposed grandchild. It can even be the supposed grandchild making the call

IRS phone scam:  these scams pretend to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). They either threaten that you owe money or you are entitled to a huge refund. Usually, IRS never calls or emails you for personal information.

Romance scam: a scammer will create a fake online identity to create a romantic or close relationship. Once the relationship is built, the scammer will steal personal information and money as quickly as possible. Be wary of online dating apps and social media. 1 in 7 dating profiles are likely to be fake, according to the FBI. 

Immigration assistance scam: pretends to be an attorney that is accredited

Services/Sales Scams

The main focus of these scams are to impersonate sales or services employees to sell products or services to benefit you. All the products and services try to make you pay over the phone or download software that can take your financial information. 

Technology/customer support scam: scammers take advantage of someone’s knowledge of technology to sell them products or services, inform you of supposed fraudulent activity, or a refund from a subscription service. They may claim they are from a legitimate company and state that money can only be sent to a specific link or download a software. Tech support calls are always to be expected. If a tech support call is unexpected or random, it is a scam. 

Healthcare scam: someone tries to sell you health insurance or drug prescriptions at a cheaper rate or price. Another way may be scammers will try to charge you fees related to the healthcare provider you have. With the rise of COVID-19 and the global pandemic, healthcare scam prevalence is increasing exponentially. Beware of any healthcare offers and services that are not endorsed by official and trusted healthcare companies

Quick Money Scams

These scams will target reasons for you to send money to them such as investing in a business or product, winning a random contest.

Investment scam: scammers will call to offer low or no risk investments with guaranteed returns, complex strategies, or overly consistent returns. Examples of this scam include Ponzi schemes and pyramid schemes. 

Sweepstakes scam:  you may receive a notification through phone call or email that you “won” a product like a new computer, money, or even a vacation or cruise. Scammers will try to request bank information or you to wire money to cover fees. Usually these scams will include a prize or giveaway. If you do not remember entering a giveaway or raffle, then it is most likely a scam.

Nigerian money offer scam: can be a letter or email that offers you an opportunity to share in a part of millions of dollars that the scammer is trying to transfer out of Nigeria or another country. However, the money doesn’t exist and you will losing money. “Reasons” may be payment of taxes or legal fees

Resources in New York and New Jersey

• NY:
  • NYPD Reporting Service
    • or 646-610-7226
  • Smart Seniors from Office of NY Attorney General
  • NYS Attorney General’s Consumer Frauds Bureau: 800-771-7755
  • Scam Prevention from NYS Department of State
• NJ:
  • NJ Division of Consumer Affairs
    • or 800-242-5846
  • American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
    • or 877-908-3360

Additional Resources

• IRS: 800-829-1040
• Social Security Administration Report System
  • or 800-269-0271
• U.S. Department of Justice: Criminal Division Report Fraud
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
• FBI Report Fraud
  • or 202-324-3000
• Do Not Call Registry
  • or  1-888-382-1222
• FTC Scam Report
  • or 1-877-382-4357
• US Department of Justice: Office of Victims
• National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-372-8311

All information, content, and materials made available herein are for general informational purposes only. The information provided herein does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to establish an attorney/client relationship. No reader of this booklet should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information contained herein without first seeking legal advice from counsel in the relevant jurisdiction(s).

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