Scammers aren’t targeting our parents and grandparents because they’re naive. They’re targeting them because they’re trusting, polite, and often home to answer the phone. On this week’s episode of “Mastering The Art of Success,” we broke down how these schemes work and how to stop them cold.
Here’s what every family needs to know.
The Scams Showing up Most Often
- The grandparent scam. “Grandma, it’s me. I’m in trouble and need money. Please don’t tell Mom.” With AI voice cloning, that voice can now sound exactly like someone you love.
- The government impostor. A caller claims to be from Medicare, the IRS, or Social Security and says your benefits are frozen or you owe money today.
- The tech support pop-up. A screen warns your computer is infected and gives a number to call. The “technician” then asks for remote access to your device.
- The romance scam. A new online friend builds trust for weeks or months, then has a sudden emergency that only you can help with.
- The prize or lottery win. You’ve won! You just need to pay a small fee or taxes to collect.
The Red Flags Every Scam Shares
The stories change, but the playbook doesn’t. Watch for these four signals:
- Urgency. You must act right now, before you have time to think or call anyone.
- Secrecy. “Don’t tell your family” is the biggest warning sign of all.
- Unusual payment. Gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or a courier coming to your door for cash. Legitimate agencies never ask for these.
- Emotion over logic. Fear, excitement, or love is used to rush past your good judgment.
How to Protect Yourself and the People You Love
- Pause, hang up, and call back. Use a number you already know, not the one the caller gives you.
- Create a family safe word. If someone calls in a crisis, ask for it. A real grandchild will know it.
- Never give remote access to your computer or phone to anyone who contacted you first.
- Talk about it openly. Shame keeps victims quiet, and silence is exactly what scammers count on.
- Report it. Contact your bank right away, then file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or the FBI at ic3.gov.
Wisdom Is Your Superpower
Age is just an attitude, and so is awareness. The same life experience that makes you wise also makes you powerful, as long as you trust your instincts and slow down.
Share this with someone you love. One conversation could save them thousands and their peace of mind.
Listen to the full episode of “Mastering The Art of Success” on YouTube. www.DebbiPodcast.com
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements, and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media LLC (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses, or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability, or timeliness of any content submitted, inclusive of materials generated or composed through artificial intelligence (AI). All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party.
