March holiday décor focuses on St. Patrick’s Day and lucky 4-leaf clovers, but don’t rely on this luck to keep you safe from scammers. The truth is that scammers are looking for victims throughout the year, so people of all ages must stay proactive about avoiding the most common scams.

Educating yourself and your loved ones is a great place to start. When you know the red flags, you can stay far from any potential scams. Here are some of the most common red flags that will help you recognize when a scammer is trying to take advantage of a situation.

1. Asking for Personal Information

When you have a conversation with a scammer, they often have one goal in mind: to get your personal information. The scammer wants access to your personal details, such as your social security number, bank account information, or credit card. If you are talking to someone and they immediately request this information, use caution before sharing anything.

2. Requesting a Money Transfer

The next warning sign is that you are being asked to transfer money in an unusual way. One common example is to wire money or send it through a payment app with a promise that you will be reimbursed for the cost. In this situation, scammers often promise that you will profit a little bit by facilitating the transfer. Then the victim loses all of the money that they transfer.

3. Pre-Paid Gift Cards or Debit Cards

Another way a scammer might steal money is by requesting prepaid cards. Any time someone asks you to buy a bunch of gift cards or pre-paid debit cards, it’s a red flag. Use caution, and don’t send the cards to anyone you don’t know.

4. It Sounds Too Good to Be True

No matter the topic of the conversation, if the situation sounds too good to be true, then it is! One common situation is that you are offered an investment opportunity from someone promising higher-than-normal returns. Watch out because it could be a scam!

Protecting Yourself and Your Loved Ones

Watch for these common red flags to avoid falling victim to a scam. Then, you can stop the situation before anything serious occurs.

Our team at Senior Safe and Sound is working hard to help you stay informed about common scams, elder abuse, and other situations that could put you or a loved one in danger. If you need support or would like to learn more, contact us at info@SeniorSafeAndSound.org.

This information is intended to inform the public at large about this important issue. It is not intended to serve as legal or medical advice.