50PlusHub
How-To Videos › Money › 3 Scams Targeting People Over 50 (and How to Spot Them)

3 Scams Targeting People Over 50 (and How to Spot Them)

Watch for government impersonators demanding payment, the grandchild-in-trouble call, and the fake tech support pop-up. Learn the warning signs so you can hang up and protect your money. This is general information, not financial advice.

What you'll learn

  1. The fake agency. One. The government impersonator. Someone calls claiming to be from Social Security, Medicare, or the I-R-S, says there is a problem, and demands money now. Real agencies do not call to threaten you or ask for gift cards. Hang up, and call the agency yourself using a number you look up.
  2. The grandchild call. Two. The grandchild in trouble. A caller pretends to be a grandchild in an accident or jail, begging for money and secrecy. Scammers now copy voices with computers. Slow down, hang up, and call your family member directly to check before you send anything.
  3. The computer popup. Three. The tech support pop-up. A warning fills your screen saying your computer is infected, with a number to call. That number reaches a scammer who wants remote access to your accounts. Never call it. Shut down the computer and restart it instead.

Full transcript

One, the government impersonator. Someone calls claiming to be from social security, Medicare, or the IRS says there is a problem and demands money now. Real agencies do not call to threaten you or ask for gift cards. Hang up and call the agency yourself using a number you look up. Two, the grandchild in trouble. A caller pretends to be a grandchild in an accident or jail, begging for money and secrecy. Scammers now copy voices with computers, slow down, hang up, and call your family member directly to check before you send anything. Three, the tech support pop up. A warning fills your screen saying your computer is infected with a number to call. That number reaches a scammer who wants remote access to your accounts. Never call it. Shut down the computer and restart it instead.

More Money How-To Videos