Over the past year, the average loss for those who fell prey to scammers’ schemes was $6,100. Additionally, various scammers have contacted over 700,000 people, according to AARP.

As the video explains, scammers often gain the trust of their victims by naming something familiar, frightening, or fortunate and exploiting their emotions. This sense of urgency may be preceded by threats of arrest or demands for various kinds of personal information. It is important to remain informed and vigilant. Never be afraid to ask more questions or even verify with the agency if a call, email, or text seems strange.

Senior Security Alliance is program of The Citizen’s Assembly, a nonprofit organization. We are dedicated to helping senior citizens’ financial security. To find out more about what we are doing to help, check out our bill here – The Senior Citizens Bill of Rights.