Protecting Yourself from Senior Financial Scams
Every year, older adults lose billions of dollars to fraudsters who specifically target seniors. These criminals are sophisticated, patient, and expert at exploiting trust — and they know that many older adults have accumulated savings, own their homes, and may be less familiar with the digital landscape where many scams operate. solo aging can make you an even more appealing target because there is no one else at home to question a suspicious call or email. The good news is that knowledge is your best defense, and by understanding how these scams work, you can protect yourself and your hard-earned money.
每年，老年人因专门针对长者的诈骗而损失数十亿美元。这些犯罪分子老练、耐心、擅长利用信任——他们知道许多老年人有积蓄、有房产，且可能对诈骗运作的数字环境不太熟悉。独居会让您成为更有吸引力的目标，因为家里没有别人可以对可疑来电或邮件提出质疑。好消息是，知识是您最好的防线，了解这些骗局的运作方式，您就能保护自己和辛苦挣来的钱。
Recognize the Most Common Scams Targeting Seniors / 识别针对长者的最常见骗局
The grandparent scam remains one of the most emotionally manipulative frauds: a caller pretending to be a grandchild in trouble, urgently needing money for bail, medical bills, or car repairs. Medicare and health insurance scams involve callers claiming to be from government agencies, asking for your Medicare number to “verify” or “update” your records. Romance scams have exploded online, with fraudsters building emotional relationships over weeks or months before asking for money. Tech support scams involve pop-up warnings or cold calls claiming your computer has a virus that needs immediate paid repair. Knowing these patterns makes you far less likely to fall for them.
祖父母骗局仍然是最具情感操纵性的诈骗之一：来电者假装是陷入困境的孙辈，急需支付保释金、医疗费或修车费。医保诈骗涉及来电者自称来自政府机构，要求提供医保号码以”验证”或”更新”记录。网恋骗局在网上大量涌现，诈骗者在索要钱财之前花数周或数月建立情感关系。技术支持骗局通过弹出警告或陌生来电声称您的电脑有病毒，需要立即付费修复。了解这些模式能让您大大降低上当的可能性。
Adopt Ironclad Rules for Phone and Email Safety / 严格执行电话和电子邮件安全规则
Never give personal information — your Social Security number, Medicare number, bank account details, or credit card numbers — to anyone who contacts you first, no matter how official they sound. Legitimate government agencies, banks, and tech companies will never call you out of the blue and demand personal information or immediate payment. If you receive an alarming call, hang up, look up the organization’s official phone number yourself, and call them back directly. Do not use any phone number the caller provides. For emails, never click on links or open attachments from unknown senders, and be suspicious of any message that creates a false sense of urgency.
永远不要把个人信息——社保号、医保号、银行账户详情或信用卡号——给任何主动联系您的人，无论对方听起来多正式。合法的政府机构、银行和科技公司绝不会突然打电话要求您提供个人信息或立即付款。如果接到令人惊恐的电话，挂断，自己查找该机构的官方电话号码，然后直接回拨。不要使用来电者提供的任何号码。对于电子邮件，永远不要点击不明发件人的链接或打开附件，对那些制造虚假紧迫感的任何信息保持警惕。
Protect Your Digital Life with Strong Passwords and Habits / 用强密码和良好习惯保护数字生活
Use unique, strong passwords for every important account — especially your email, banking, and investment accounts. A strong password is at least twelve characters long and combines uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Consider using a reputable password manager to generate and store complex passwords securely. Enable two-factor authentication wherever it is offered, which adds a second verification step beyond just your password. Be cautious on social media — scammers mine public profiles for personal details they can use to sound convincing when they call you.
为每个重要账户——特别是电子邮件、银行和投资账户——使用唯一且复杂的密码。强密码至少包含十二个字符，结合大小写字母、数字和符号。考虑使用信誉良好的密码管理器来安全地生成和存储复杂密码。在提供双重验证的地方都开启此功能，它在密码之外增加了第二层验证。在社交媒体上保持谨慎——诈骗者会从公开资料中挖掘个人信息，用于打电话时显得令人信服。
Set Up Financial Safeguards and Monitoring / 建立财务防护和监控机制
Set up automatic alerts on all your bank and credit card accounts so you receive an immediate text or email notification for any transaction above a certain amount. Review your bank and credit card statements carefully every single month, looking for any charges you do not recognize, even small ones — scammers often test with tiny amounts first. Consider freezing your credit with all three major credit bureaus, which prevents anyone from opening new accounts in your name. It is free and can be temporarily lifted when you legitimately need to apply for credit.
在所有银行和信用卡账户上设置自动提醒，这样每当有任何超过一定金额的交易，您都会立即收到短信或邮件通知。每个月仔细检查银行和信用卡对账单，寻找任何您不认识的消费，即使金额很小——诈骗者经常先用小额测试。考虑在三大信用机构冻结您的信用记录，这样任何人都无法以您的名义开新账户。这是免费的，在您确实需要申请信用时可以暂时解除。
Know What to Do If You Suspect You Have Been Scammed / 如果怀疑被骗，知道该怎么做
If you have given out financial information or sent money to a scammer, act immediately — do not let embarrassment or shame cause you to delay. Contact your bank or credit card company right away to freeze accounts and dispute fraudulent charges. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your local police department. If you gave out your Social Security number, contact the Social Security Administration and the three credit bureaus. Remember that you are the victim of a crime, not someone who made a foolish mistake. Reporting helps protect others and may help authorities catch the criminals.
如果您已经把财务信息给了诈骗者或汇了钱，请立即行动——不要让尴尬或羞愧导致您拖延。马上联系银行或信用卡公司冻结账户并对欺诈性收费提出异议。向联邦贸易委员会（ReportFraud.ftc.gov）和当地警方报案。如果您泄露了社保号，联系社会保障局和三家信用机构。请记住，您是犯罪的受害者，而不是犯了愚蠢错误的人。举报有助于保护他人，也可能帮助执法部门抓获犯罪分子。
