I know I might sound like a broken record talking every week about scams, but every week I literally hear from one or two of you who got tricked.
These scams are getting more sophisticated, and they prey especially hard on people in their 60s and 70s who are polite, trusting, and unfamiliar with how sneaky online criminals have become.
So instead of just listing a bunch of scam types, I want to tell you a few very short real-life stories that will help you recognize the red flags before it’s too late.
1. “Did You Order This?” – The Amazon Text Scam
Barbara, a retired teacher, got a text that said:
“Your recent Amazon purchase for $1,349 has shipped. If you did not make this purchase, call us immediately.”
She panicked, she didn’t order anything! She called the number in the text and was greeted by a friendly “Amazon rep” who walked her through downloading a remote support app onto her computer. Within 10 minutes, they had access to her screen, her passwords, and her bank account.
If you didn’t make a purchase, log into your real Amazon account directly; never call a number from a text. 2. “Hi Grandpa… I’m in Trouble." The Grandchild Scam (very common and sophisticated)
James, a widower in his 70s, got a call from his grandson crying:
“Grandpa… It’s me… I got into a car accident and I’m in jail… please don’t tell Mom and Dad… I need you to send bail money.”
In the panic, James wired $2,000. AI artificially created the voice to sound just like his grandson.
Always hang up and call your actual grandchild or their parent. Scammers play on urgency and emotion. This sounds ridiculous, but we are very close to a point in time where you will need a "code word"anytime you talk to anyone on the phone or even on a video call to make sure it is actually them. In my family, the word is "banana bread." 3. “We’re From Medicare” - The Insurance Scam
Sue, recently retired, got a call from someone saying:
“There’s been an issue with your Medicare card. Can you verify your number for us?”
It sounded official. But it wasn’t. And now someone out there has her Medicare ID and Social Security Number.
Medicare will never call you asking for your number. Ever. 4. “We Detected a Virus” - The Tech Support Scam
Bill got a pop-up on his screen that said:
“WARNING: Your computer has been infected. Call Microsoft Support immediately.”
He called, and they said they could fix it remotely, for a fee. He gave them access to his computer, and within minutes, they were siphoning his files.
If something pops up on your computer, don’t call any number it gives you. Close the browser or shut down your device, and ask someone you trust. 5. “We’re With the IRS” – The Tax Scam
Nancy got a call that she owed back taxes and would be arrested if she didn’t pay immediately. The caller had her name, address, and even part of her Social Security number.
She panicked and sent gift cards (yes, gift cards!) to “pay it off.”
The IRS never demands gift cards or payment over the phone. Hang up and report it. Scammers use gift cards as the number one way to get money from people. 6. “We Noticed Fraud on Your Bank Account”
Carol got a call from someone claiming to be from her bank’s fraud department.
“There have been suspicious charges on your debit card. To secure your account, we need you to transfer your funds to a protected holding account immediately.”
It sounded official; they even spoofed the bank’s phone number (the phone number showing on her phone was the same as her bank's). She moved $30,000 before realizing it wasn’t her bank at all.
Real banks never ask you to transfer money over the phone. Hang up and call the bank directly using the number on your card. 10. “Click Here for Your Package Delivery”
Eleanor got a text that looked like it was from FedEx:
“Your package is delayed. Click here to reschedule delivery.”
She clicked the link and entered her name, address, and credit card “for verification.” Days later, someone started making purchases using her card in another state.
Don’t click on random shipping texts. Go to the official site and enter your tracking number.
“You Missed a Toll” -The Toll Payment Scam
Tom and Linda got a very official-looking letter in the mail from “Florida Toll Services” (or sometimes it comes by text). It said:
“You failed to pay this toll. Your account is past due. If you don’t pay $13.42 within 7 days, you’ll be fined and your license may be suspended.”
The letter had a barcode, a seal, and the state name, but something felt off. They checked their SunPass account directly and saw no issues. It was a scam.
Some versions of this come by text or email, with links to a fake toll website that asks for your credit card info.
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