1. PREYING ON SENIORS:
5 COMMON PHONE SCAMS
How to spot them and avoid them

2. 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.
THE GRANDPARENT
What it Sounds Like Red Flags

3. 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.

4.  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
JURY DUTY SCAM
What it Sounds Like Red Flags

5. 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.

6. 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.
LOTTERY SCAM
What it Sounds Like Red Flags

7. HOW TO AVOID
You are almost always best
off just hanging up and
forgetting all about someone
claiming you’ve won a
foreign lottery.

8.  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
IRS SCAM
What it Sounds Like Red Flags

9. HOW TO AVOID
• Hang up immediately
and call the real IRS
general inquiries
phone number: 1-
800-829-1040.

10.  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
UTILITY SCAM
What it Sounds Like Red Flags

11. 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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