Seniors lose millions each year in “get rich” schemes that promise high returns with low or no risk. Many of these scams are perpetrated by people posing as licensed investment professionals, estate planners, prepaid funeral consultants or salespeople with an “incredible business opportunity.” unfortunately, many of these businesses are robbing seniors of their hard-earned retirement funds.
Look for the warning signs that may indicate a scam:
Seniors are one of the fastest growing groups of online users. Internet criminals use high tech scams, product offers or fear tactics to deceive consumers into disclosing credit card numbers, bank account information or social security numbers.
Recognize the signs that may indicate a scam:
You’re a grandparent, and you get a phone call or an e-mail from someone who identifies himself as your grandson. “I’ve been arrested in another country,” he says, “and need money wired quickly to pay my bail. And oh by the way, don’t tell my mom or dad because they’ll only get upset!”
This is an example of what’s come to be known as “the grandparent scam.”
Common scenarios include:
Some charities may sound legitimate, or have names very close to that of a well-known charity, but are nothing more than an organization of scam artists. They ask for donations to help those in need, but simply pocket the money instead.
Recognize the warning signs that may indicate a scam:
Endowment funds are governed in Nebraska by the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA), Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 58-610 et seq., and other applicable law.
Some scammers create fake personas to get you to believe that their story is legitimate. They might have an account on social media that’s just a bit too good to be true, claim to be part of a debt collection agency that doesn’t actually exist, or be a buyer of an online auction with a suspiciously short purchasing history. These scammers are attempting to get your money offered to them in the easiest way they know how.
As a parent, you have control over the personal information companies collect online from your kids under 13. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) gives you tools to do that. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the COPPA Rule. If a site or service is covered by COPPA, it has to get your consent before collecting personal information from your child and it has to honor your choices about how that information is used.
Frequent relocation, separation from family and friends, the stresses of deployment, and a steady paycheck from Uncle Sam can make military households an attractive target for scam artists. Ultimately, military service members and veterans deserve to be rewarded for their service, not disproportionately targeted for financial victimization.
