In Bettendorf’s public library, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird gave seniors information on how to recognize and stop scams.
BETTENDORF, Iowa — Scams can happen to anyone at any time, but older Americans are often targeted by fraudsters using increasingly creative and aggressive tactics.
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, recently joined a seniors scam awareness event in Bettendorf, where she encouraged older adults and their families to learn how to recognize the warning signs of fraud before it’s too late.
“Information is power” was one of the key messages at the event, especially when it comes to protecting yourself from scams.
“The number of individuals that are being scammed has increased,” Miller-Meeks said. “They’re much more aggressive. They’re reaching out in a variety of different methods.”
Those methods can sometimes make scams difficult to recognize, particularly when fraudsters impersonate trusted companies or institutions.
During the event, attendees heard examples of how scammers can use text messages and phone calls to try to obtain sensitive information.
One example involved a scammer asking for a verification code. The recipient noticed a warning from Wells Fargo stating that the bank would never call and ask for the code.
“I’m hanging up,” the recipient said.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird also highlighted several scams currently targeting consumers, including schemes involving cryptocurrency ATMs, Amazon impersonations and scams carried out through social media.
“We see scams that are being facilitated by crypto ATMs,” Bird said. “We also talked about some other scams that we’re seeing right now, whether it’s the Amazon scam or different types of impersonation or social media scams.”
Miller-Meeks said one of the biggest warning signs is when someone creates a sense of urgency and pressures you to provide personal or financial information.
“When you see a message, if it’s urgent, if it’s immediate, if it’s desperate, and they’re wanting you to send financial information and they’re pressuring you, red flag,” she said. “So check the number, call and verify.”
She also encouraged people to look out for family members, relatives and neighbors who may be particularly vulnerable to scams. That could be as simple as giving them a call, sending a text or sharing examples of common scams and warning signs.
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