Hi All,


AARP Fraud Watch
A Look Back at 2016

Dear Ben,

Scam artists have been out in full force in 2016, relying on tried and true 
scams to bilk billions from unsuspecting victims. Here are some of the most 
frequently reported scams to the Fraud Watch Network hotline:

    Tech support scam – You get a call from Microsoft (or another tech
company) 
saying your computer has a virus that can be fixed for a fee. Don’t pull out 
your credit card – simply hang up. Microsoft doesn’t make tech support calls.

    IRS imposter scam – An official-looking letter from the IRS informs you of 
taxes you owe related to the Affordable Care Act. The letter instructs you to 
write a check payable to “IRS” and send it to an address in Austin, TX. The
red 
flag is how the letter instructs you to write out the check – it would be to 
the U.S. Treasury if the letter were real.

    Sweepstakes scam – You get a personalized letter that tells you you’ve won 
a million dollar prize, but you need to pay a fee or a tax in advance to 
receive the funds. Legitimate sweepstakes will never require upfront payments.

    Grandparent scam – You get a frantic call in the middle of the night from 
someone claiming to be your grandchild, saying he’s in a bind and needs money 
right away. He asks you to send money by wire transfer – the payment form of 
choice for scam artists.

    Fake charity scams – A scammer impersonating a real charity contacts you
to 
ask for a donation. This happens a lot around the holidays and following 
natural disasters.

As always at this time of year, holiday scams abound. Here are some tips and a 
video on what to watch out for.

As we enter 2017, we’ll continue to alert you to the latest scams and frauds, 
in the hope that we can all avoid falling victim to these tactics. All the
best 
to you and yours for a scam-free New Year!


Sincerely,

Kristin Keckeisen
Fraud Watch Network

P.S. Spotted a scam?  Tell us about it.  Our scam-tracking map gives you 
information about the latest scams targeting people in your state.  You’ll
also 
find first-hand accounts from scam-spotters who are sharing their experiences 
so you know how to protect yourself and your family.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network connects you to the latest information about ID 
theft and fraud so you can safeguard your personal information and your 
pocketbook.

AARP
601 E Street NW
Washington, DC 20049

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