From Medicare Cons to Phishing Texts - Don't Let Scammers Steal Your Retirement
- Diane Sacks
- Jul 25
- 3 min read
Adults aged 55 and older are often seen as attractive targets for identity fraud because they tend to have more established credit, retirement savings, and spend more time at home browsing the internet. Identity fraud can wreak havoc on your finances, health care, and peace of mind. But with the right knowledge and tools, you can protect yourself and those you care about.
BIGGEST SCAMS TARGETING THE 55+ COMMUNITY
Medicare and Health Insurance Scams: Scammers pose as Medicare representatives or health insurers to steal your personal information, then bill the government for services you never received.
Tech Support Scams: You receive a phone call or click a text, email or chat message warning of a bogus virus infection on your device. You are then prompted to pay for a nonexistent virus removal service (providing your credit card details in the process) or directed to download a "security update" that truly is a virus, and that crooks can use to steal personal data.
Government Impersonation Scams: Fraudsters impersonate the IRS, Social Security, or other agencies, threatening arrest or loss of benefits unless you "verify" your information or pay immediately. They tell victims they have unpaid bills or taxes or that government benefits were overpaid and must be paid back. Scammers may threaten arrest, deportation or loss of benefits unless the victim pays up immediately or provides a Social Security number or other credentials they can use to steal the victim's identity.
Grandparent Scams: Someone pretends to be your grandchild in an emergency, asking for urgent money without telling mom or dad.
Romance Scams: Seniors looking for romance are lured into phony relationships. A person you meet online or match with on a dating app wins your trust, claims a sudden financial crisis and accepts your offer of a loan or credit card—then vanishes. Heartbreak and humiliation can hinder reporting of these cases, but there's no shame in reporting shameless scammers.
Steps You Can Take to Stay Safe
Healthy skepticism and greater awareness can help older adults avoid becoming victims of identity theft. Here are some tips to better protect yourself or your loved ones.
Protect Your Personal Information
Never share your Social Security number or banking info over the phone unless you initiated the call.
Shred sensitive documents before discarding them.
Don’t carry your Medicare card or Social Security card in your wallet or purse.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Use a password manager to generate and store secure passwords.
Avoid reusing the same password across accounts.
Freeze Your Credit
A credit freeze makes it harder for criminals to open new accounts in your name.
It’s free and can be done through all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Stay Vigilant Online
Never click on links or attachments in unsolicited emails or texts.
Don't trust caller ID—it can be spoofed.
Use a VPN when using public Wi-Fi to keep your data secure.
Monitor Your Accounts
Check your bank and credit card statements regularly.
Set up alerts for financial transactions over a certain dollar amount.
Check Your Credit Reports
You’re entitled to a weekly free credit report from each bureau that can be obtained from Annual Credit Report dot Com.
Review them for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): Wherever possible, enable MFA on your online accounts to add an extra layer of security. This typically involves providing a password and a secondary form of verification, like a code sent to your phone.
Keep software updated: Regularly update your operating system, web browser, and other software to ensure you have the latest security patches.
Be cautious of public Wi-Fi: Avoid conducting sensitive online transactions, such as banking or shopping, when using public Wi-Fi networks, as they can be insecure.
Consider identity theft protection: Aura can monitor your credit reports and alert you to suspicious activity.
Freeze your credit: Consider placing a credit freeze with each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). This makes it significantly harder for criminals to open new accounts in your name.
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