Scams that target retirees

8 scams to know

• The unpaid toll text scamThe unpaid toll text scam is a text message claiming you owe a small toll balance and must pay through a link today to avoid a late fee; the link leads to a fake toll-agency page that takes your card number and personal details.
• The package delivery text scamThe package delivery text scam is a text claiming a package could not be delivered because of a missing address detail or a small redelivery fee, with a link to a fake carrier page that collects your card number and personal details.
• The bank fraud department scamThe bank fraud department scam is a call or text that appears to come from your bank's fraud team, warning of a suspicious charge and then walking you through "securing" your money by reading them a code, moving funds to a "safe account," or sending yourself a Zelle payment that actually goes to the scammer.
• The tech support scamThe tech support scam is a pop-up, call or email claiming your computer is infected or a subscription is about to renew, which leads to a "technician" taking remote control of your computer and either charging for fake repairs or using the access to get into your bank.
• The Amazon impersonation scamThe Amazon impersonation scam is a call, text or email about a large order you did not place, a locked account or a Prime renewal, designed to get you to call a number or click a link where a fake agent takes your login, your card, or remote control of your device.
• The IRS impersonation scamThe IRS impersonation scam is a call, text or email from someone claiming to be the IRS, demanding immediate payment of back taxes by gift card, wire or crypto under threat of arrest, or offering a refund you can claim by clicking a link and entering your Social Security number and bank details.
• The grandparent scamThe grandparent scam is a phone call in which someone pretends to be a grandchild (or a lawyer or officer calling about one) who is in jail, in a hospital or in an accident and needs money immediately, sent by gift card, cash courier or wire, and kept secret from the rest of the family.
• The recovery scamThe recovery scam targets people who were already scammed, with a call or message from a "lawyer," "recovery agency" or "government investigator" offering to get the lost money back for an upfront fee, which is itself the scam.