Unfortunately, Social Security beneficiaries are often targeted for elaborate, convincing scams. An article from ReadingEagle.com reported that the Social Security Administration reported over 718,000 complaints of telephone scams and a loss of $45 million stolen from victims across the country last year.

Luckily, we’ve previously noted some common things to be on the look out for. These include:

• Unsolicited calls, texts, or emails
• Offering protection from identity theft for transfer of money
• Asking individuals not to tell others about the message
• Demand for unique forms of payment like gift cards or cryptocurrency

Senior Security Alliance is working to protect seniors’ more financial security. Unfortunately, scammers are out there — and they are relentless. To protect yourself and your loved ones from becoming a victim of these scams, make sure to stay informed and remain vigilant. Anyone targeted should make sure to report the suspicious calls, emails, and/or messages to the appropriate agency.

Congress must pass The Senior Citizens Bill of Rights to guarantee seniors the respect and protection they earned.