Family Emergency Scams

How to Protect the Elderly from Scams: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission

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The FTC just sent a report to Congress called Protecting Older Consumers 2018-2019. The report suggests steps to take to help protect older consumers from fraud. But the evidence also shows a thing or two everyone else can learn from them. Check out the sometimes surprising findings in this year’s report. — This article is from the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Information blog.

Image from FTC video Hang up on fraudulent telemarketing https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/media/video-0036-hang-fraudulent-telemarketing

FTC: ID Thieves Promise Free DNA Testing Kit from Medicare in Exchange for Social Security #

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Here’s one that goes to show just how creative scammers can be. The FTC is getting reports that callers claiming to be from Medicare are asking people for their Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, and other personal information — in exchange for DNA testing kits. — Lisa Lake is a consumer education specialist with the Federal Trade Commission. This article originally appeared on the FTC website. The callers might say the test is a free way to get early diagnoses for diseases like cancer, or just that it’s a free test, so why not take it?