Outsmart Scammers With These Essential Safety Tips

Fraud is epidemic today, fueled by international crime organizations, artificial intelligence, and sophisticated, targeted schemes. It’s crucial to be aware of the most common scams [LINK to SERIES 1], as well as to take practical steps to protect yourself.

Some are simple: Don’t answer calls from anyone outside your contact list (if they’re legitimate, they’ll leave a message), for example, and recognize red flags for scam attempts (including out-of-the-blue contact, a sense of urgency and an attempt to elicit anxiety or excitement). It’s also crucial to use complex unique passwords on all your accounts, check your credit report regularly, and avoid identity theft by keeping your personal information — including social media accounts — private.

You’ll find AARP’s most essential scam-prevention advice in this series.