Local news- Press Release
Genesee County Michigan - Michigan Attorney General Stops in Genesee County to Speak on the Dangers of Senior Scams 06 April 2024 ( news )
Genesee County , state Michigan ( By Press Release office)
Apr 06,2024
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Genesee County , MI - - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel had a simple question for her audience on Tuesday afternoon at the Burton Senior Activity Center:
What are the scammers trying to get from you?
Almost reflexively , the responses came pouring out of the audience: money , information and social security numbers . Some of the responses came from people who had acknowledged that they had been victimized by a scammer in the past .
The reality of 2024 for senior citizens , who are targeted the most by scammers , is stark . There is now a cottage industry of impersonation scams , as one example , that costs Americans more than $1 billion each year ( based on figures from the Federal Trade Commission ) . To make matters worse , scammers now have a toolbox of technology that makes separating truth from fiction incredibly difficult , and not just for seniors .
( Nessel ' s name was actually used in
an email scam earlier this yearthat purported to help victims of , you guessed it , another scam . )
"The scams are changing all the time , " Nessel said . "They change with the season; they change with current events . Even though they change , the basic ingredients of a scam remain . "
Basic Ingredients of a Scam
An Urgent Request ( "I have to have the funds today" )
A Secret Request ( "This is a special offer , don ' t tell anyone" )
Believable Stories ( The
distressed loved - one tactic
, for example )
Unusual Payment Types ( scammers love untraceable means of payment like gift cards , crypto , etc . )
As we near the end of tax season , Nessel said everyone should be aware of tax rebate scams that pop up .
“Each year at tax time , bad actors appear out of the woodwork to scam hard - working consumers out of their tax refund , ” Nessel said . “Remember , government agencies rarely ask for personal information by phone or email . These calls and emails should be reported immediately . "
Fortunately , sometimes all it takes is the mention of the Attorney General ' s Office to make a phone scammer uneasy .
"Mention my office and normally you ' ll hear that click on the other end of the line , " Nessel said .
In her more than 90 - minute presentation , Nessel hit on numerous topics related to scams including phishing ( email ) , smishing ( text ) , artificial intelligence and impersonation . Her office fields more than 11 , 000 consumer complaints each year . If you think you are the victim of a scam , you can file a complaint on the AG ' s website
HERE
.
For more information ,
visit the main websiteof the Michigan Department of Attorney General .
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