Most Common Scam Right Now
Romance scams cost Americans over 60 more than $389 million last year — and the real number is far higher. Criminals build trust over weeks or months, then manufacture emergencies that require money. The victims aren't foolish. They're human. And the scammers are professionals.
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Describe a suspicious call, text, or email. We'll help you figure out what's happening.
Common situations:
You don't need to be a tech expert. These three steps take less than an afternoon and protect you against the most common fraud tactics.
A credit freeze stops anyone from opening new accounts in your name. It's free, takes 15 minutes, and is the single most effective thing you can do to prevent identity theft.
Freeze at all three bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can temporarily lift it anytime you need to apply for credit.
Pick a word only your family knows. If anyone calls claiming to be a relative in trouble, ask for the word first. This simple step defeats grandparent scams and AI voice clones.
Choose something memorable but not guessable — not a pet's name or birthday. Share it at your next family dinner. No word, no wire.
Your email is the skeleton key to everything — bank resets, Social Security, medical records. Two-factor authentication means even if someone steals your password, they still can't get in.
Start with your email and your bank. Most have a "Security" or "Login" section in settings. It takes 5 minutes per account.
Scammers follow the calendar. Tax season, holidays, elections, natural disasters — they exploit whatever is in the news.
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You are smart. Criminals are professionals. The fact that you're here means you're already one step ahead.
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Your parents are not foolish. They were raised in a world built on trust — and criminals exploit that.
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Your residents are targets. A 52-week fraud education program can make your community the safest place to retire.
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$28.3 billion
Lost to elder fraud every year in America.
Only $3.1 billion gets reported. That's a 9x gap between what happens and what anyone hears about. Elderus exists to close that gap — with education, awareness, and tools that treat older Americans with the respect they deserve.
Built on analysis of 19,276 fraud-related articles from 30+ news sources across America.
See which scams are hitting your state hardest.
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