Investment Updates
Don't Be Victimized By These 10 Common Scams
Published Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at: 7:00 AM EST
Scams of all varieties continue to bilk unsuspecting victims out of billions of dollars each year. In particular, older Americans are being targeted, especially those who have been recently widowed. With that in mind, here are 10 scams to watch out for:
1. IRS imposters. This scam proliferates during tax-return season. A caller will say he or she is an IRS agent and claim you owe back taxes. Then the caller threatens you with stiff penalties or a lawsuit—and even arrest—if you don't wire the money immediately. But the IRS doesn't call debtors without sending a notice via U.S. mail first. To be on the safe side, if you get such a call, check with the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to check the caller's credentials.
2. Tech support. Typically, you receive a phone call purporting to be from Microsoft or another software company, and the caller says a virus has invaded your computer. Then you're asked to provide access to your computer and the hacker installs malware that steals personal information. These software companies don't make unsolicited phone calls, so hang up immediately.
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