Scam Alert! From AARP FraudWatch Network:

War in Ukraine Spawns Charity Scams

Scammers follow the headlines and take advantage of them when they can. Public desire to support Ukraine in this critical time of need is no exception.

How It Works

· You receive a communication – by phone, email, text, on social media – even in person, soliciting donations for the people of Ukraine.

· The name of the charity sounds familiar.

· You may feel pressured to act quickly, and they may direct you to donate through a payment app, by text, or by purchasing gift cards and sharing the numbers off the back.

What You Should Know

• Bogus charities may use names similar to existing charities to legitimize themselves.

• The pressure to act quickly is a red flag; a real charity will take your donation when you are ready to provide it.

• Less common forms of payment are also a red flag, though criminals may seek checks, cash or credit card payments, as well. (Always opt for a credit card, which carries greater consumer protections than other payment forms.)

What You Should Do

· Legitimate charities – those whose fundraisers pass through most of the donations to the actual cause – need support. They, just like you, lose out when a criminal intervenes.

· Research charities before you donate. It's easy to do at sites like Give.org or Charity Watch. In addition, Charity Navigator has a page specifically dedicated to high-performing charities engaged in relief efforts in Ukraine.

Celebrity Impostor Scams

These days, celebrities share career news, personal views, even travel videos on social media and interact with fans in comment threads. But if you get a direct message out of the blue from a favorite musician, actor or athlete, don’t get starry-eyed, get skeptical — it’s almost certainly a scam. It’s also always a scam when they ask for money for charity or say that you’ve won a large cash prize but need to pay an entry or processing fee.

Sadly, the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline hears about these scams all the time. Stars like Bruce Springsteen, Trace Adkins and Oprah Winfrey are among thousands of celebrities whose personas have been used by scammers online to solicit money from fans.

Remember, never share your personal information with or send money to someone you don’t know and have only communicated with online, no matter how supposedly famous they are. Check that the social media account of your favorite celebrity is verified (look for the checkmark in a blue circle next to their name on Facebook and Twitter).

Visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or call the AARP Fraud Watch Helpline at 1-877-908-3360.

Social Media Scams

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has declared social media a “Gold Mine” for scammers after consumers reported losing $770 million in social media scams in 2021. That was double the amount of reported losses from 2020 – and we know fraud is severely under-reported, so the real losses are likely much higher.

The top three social media scams in 2021 were investment scams (many related to cryptocurrency), romance scams and shopping scams peddling counterfeit goods or not shipping anything at all.

According to the FTC, criminals are able to use the information we provide about ourselves on social media sites to target us with ads for fake products. The relatively low cost to advertise on these sites also makes it easier for crooks to cast a wider net.

To stay safe on social, make sure your privacy settings restrict who can see your personal information. Be wary of anyone you meet online who asks you to make an investment or help them out financially. Also, carefully research the company and product you might be interested in buying to make sure they are reputable.

Visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or call the AARP Fraud Watch Helpline at 1-877-908-3360.

AARP ReST: Emotional Support for Fraud Victims

For many fraud victims, the financial toll is only part of the story; nearly two in three victims suffer a significant health or emotional impact, according to research by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation.

To address this reality, the AARP Fraud Watch Network and Volunteers of America (VOA) developed a free program to provide emotional support for people affected by fraud. AARP VOA ReST, which stands for Resilience, Strength and Time, features small groups whose participants are led in discussion by one or more trained peer facilitators. These online, hour-long sessions help to re-establish trust, integrate your experience and build back your resilience despite a difficult and painful occurrence. Discussions are confidential and you are welcome to attend one session or several – it’s your choice.

Experiencing a scam can be devastating, but it doesn’t have to define you. Visit www.aarp.org/fraudsupport to learn more about the free program and register today. Remember, you are not alone.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

Disaster Repair Scams

Extreme weather season seems to be a misnomer, with catastrophic weather events happening throughout the year these days. Whenever weather events occur, shady contractors and outright impostors flock to neighborhoods in search of “work” that they may or may not even attempt to do. Many will specifically target older homeowners who they perceive as more trusting, more likely to have savings, and – they think – may be experiencing cognitive decline.

It’s safest to trust contractors that you proactively reach out to. Also, regardless of who you are talking to, get written estimates and compare bids from multiple contractors before starting any work. Finally, pay no more than a third of the total cost prior to the work beginning – and then only when materials arrive.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.