Scams, frauds and exploitations – what you need to know

Scams, frauds and exploitations – what you need to know.

It happens every day, several times a day, to all of us, because no one is exempt from receiving alarming e-mails, phone calls or texts fraudulently soliciting money or personal information from those who falsely represent
themselves. It is important to NEVER give personal information to anyone in these situations. This is especially true if the caller or emailer contacts you first. For example, Medicare and the IRS do not call, or email people and they never ask for personal information such as identification numbers or Social Security numbers.

Also, beware of calls or emails which are supposedly “on behalf of a loved one in need.” Verify the legitimacy of such requests through your own known and safe contacts such as another family member. And never send money to someone you do not know, even if it sounds legitimate. Scammers often try to imitate someone you personally know. If you receive emails supposedly from a known person such as a priest, verify the email address before you respond. Remember, if a deal sounds too good to be true – it probably is.

Because this is such an ongoing problem in our community, we have invited a Cobb County detective to speak to us on this subject. Please consider joining us on Thursday, July 11 at 7pm in La Salette Hall to learn more about how we can protect ourselves. Or you may reach out to the Cobb Elder Abuse Task Force at 770-794-6990 for more information.