Seniors have increasingly become the target for scammers in this time of COVID.
Remember these tips to protect yourself from scammers wanting to take advantage of you:
- Do not provide information over the phone. Scammers often ask leading questions to retrieve information from you. Often, you do not realize you are giving them valuable information.
- Scammers create a sense of urgency; they state that they are in distress and need money immediately. Slow down and ask the caller for detailed information and a contact number.
- Tell the caller you will call them back after you verify information.
- Attempt to verify the caller’s story by calling family and/or friends. Scammers will often tell the loved one not to tell anyone and provide a reason as to why the situation cannot or should not be discussed.
- Remember that scammers often use a technique called “spoofing.” Spoofing provides a fictitious number to a Caller ID display.
- Do not send money or provide someone with cash. The scammer might provide you with a tracking number or some other type of number to add legitimacy to their claim.
- Most importantly, contact police immediately if you believe you are a victim of a telephone scam. Call the non-emergency number for Montgomery County Police at 301-279-8000.
For more information about common scams, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/pol/seniors/fraud-and-scams.html.