My mom almost became a victim of a con artist recently. A man who called had her so convinced that she had won $185,000 that she was about to wire him $200 to claim her prize -- until I intervened.
My mother, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, called my uncle to help her wire the money. My uncle called me, and I went to her house immediately to explain to her what really was going on. While I was there, the con artist called again. This time I answered the phone and told him not to call back.
I dialed *69 to get his number. I then called the phone company to have a block placed on calls from that number. And I called the Federal Trade Commission to report the fraudulent call.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Still, the man called back again that evening and the next morning -- from a different phone line. So I got my mom a phone that displays the number and name of the caller and told her not to answer if it was someone she didn't know. So far, that has been working.
Seniors are easy targets for people running scams. Luckily, I was able to help my mom avoid becoming a victim. To protect your parents -- and yourself -- learn more about con artists’ favorite senior-directed scams in Watch Out for Scams That Target Seniors.
And watch out for H1N1 flu-related scams. According to the January issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, con artists are hawking bogus versions of Tamiflu, the medication used to treat H1N1, as well as special shampoos, hand sprays and "photobiotic" gizmos. The Food and Drug Administation Web site has a list of fraudulent products.
-
Think You Know How to Be Happy in Retirement? These 9 Stats May Surprise YouWhen it comes to your retirement happiness, don't believe everything you hear. We've turned to solid research for the facts on finding your bliss in retirement.
-
If You're Retired or Soon to Be, Don't Miss These Tax BreaksThe OBBB offers some tax advantages that are particularly beneficial for retirees and near-retirees. But they're available for only a limited time.
-
Waiting to Retire to Give to Charity? 3 Reasons to Do It NowYou could wait until retirement, but making charitable giving part of your financial plan now could be far more beneficial for you and the causes you support.
-
Seven Things You Should Do Now if You Think Your Identity Was StolenIf you suspect your identity was stolen, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself, but make sure you take action fast.
-
The 8 Financial Documents You Should Always ShredIdentity Theft The financial documents piling up at home put you at risk of fraud. Learn the eight types of financial documents you should always shred to protect yourself.
-
How to Guard Against the New Generation of Fraud and Identity TheftIdentity Theft Fraud and identity theft are getting more sophisticated and harder to spot. Stay ahead of the scammers with our advice.
-
12 Ways to Protect Yourself From Fraud and ScamsIdentity Theft Think you can spot the telltale signs of frauds and scams? Follow these 12 tips to stay safe from evolving threats and prevent others from falling victim.
-
Watch Out for These Travel Scams This SummerIdentity Theft These travel scams are easy to fall for and could wreck your summer. Take a moment to read up on the warning signs and simple ways to protect yourself.
-
How to Guard Against Identity Theft in 2025Scammers are getting better at impersonating legitimate businesses.
-
Social Media Scams Cost Consumers $2.7B, Study ShowsScams related to online shopping, investment schemes and romance top the FTC's social media list this year.
-
Five Ways to Save on Vacation Rental PropertiesTravel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
