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Trending scams
AI has created a new frontier of fraud, where criminals can impersonate banks, businesses, and even your loved ones via email, text, and voice. Scams are becoming more diverse and sophisticated. While we can't cover every scam here, these are the most common ones targeting older Americans:
Romance Scams
Fraudsters create fake online personas, sometimes impersonating celebrities, to build romantic relationships over weeks or months — then extract money or personal information. Read the full guide →
Grandparent / Family Emergency Scams
Scammers pose as a grandchild or family member, claiming to be in trouble, and urgently request money. AI can now clone voices from just a few seconds of audio. Read the full guide →
Government Impersonation
Criminals pretend to be from the IRS, Social Security Administration, or Medicare, demanding immediate payment or threatening arrest. Read the full guide →
Tech Support Scams
Scammers impersonate IT professionals from Microsoft, Apple, or Geek Squad, convincing victims their computer has issues, then charging for fake "repairs" or stealing personal information. Read the full guide →
Investment & Cryptocurrency Scams
Victims are lured into fake investment platforms promising high returns. These "pig butchering" scams build trust over months before stealing everything. Read the full guide →
While these aren't the only scams your loved ones may encounter, they serve as valuable starting points for your conversation and show how sophisticated and cruel these operations have become.