Remember: If It Sounds Too Good to Be True…

08 Oct Remember: If It Sounds Too Good to Be True…

It happens like this: Someone calls, emails or notifies you by mail and tells you that all you need to do is mail or wire a small amount for taxes and fees to claim your prize.

It’s a fact that is worth repeating: older Americans are often targeted by scammers. Your Dad’s old adage that “if it sounds to good to be true, it is!” is still very solid advice.

Here are some fraud-prevention tips that were compiled by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement and security arm of the U. S. Postal Service in partnership with AARP:

Just hang up the phone or ignore the email.

Never wire or send money to anyone, anywhere, who says you’ve won a prize.

Avoid pressures to act ‘right away’

Then:

• Report the crime – contact local police and the Federal Trade Commission.
• Notify each involved business
• Manage your online identities
• Contact the Social Security Administration
• Close financial accounts
• Check credit reports often

If you want to learn more about foreign lottery scams, please visit:
www.aarp.org/protectyourfinances
www.DeliveringTrust.com