R.O.S.E., Resources/Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly
Today is National Scam Awareness Day! That’s right. Today. The day you are reading this. And in fact, every day of every year (at least in our mind) is National Scam Awareness Day.
OK. To be fair, National Consumer Protection Week takes place from March 2-8, 2025, and March 6 is tabbed as being National Scam Awareness Day, but we at Resources/Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly (R.O.S.E.) believe that you need to be “scam-aware” every day.
Scammers never take a day off. They don’t care about holidays or weekends. They don’t care about National Days of Observance. They work around the clock. Seven days a week. Three hundred and sixty-five (or 365) days per year targeting you and your hard-earned savings.
As consumers, we need to be right 100% of the time when it comes to scams, whereas the scammers only need to be right once. So, you can never let your guard down.
Why Scam Awareness Matters
At R.O.S.E., we believe that awareness is the best prevention. And education is critical to being scam-aware. Scams are constantly evolving, targeting individuals through phone calls, emails, text messages, and social media. Common scams include phishing attacks, fake investment opportunities, lottery frauds, and identity theft. Scammers prey on emotions like fear and urgency, making it critical for individuals to recognize red flags and avoid falling victim.
How to Protect Yourself
Similar to the age-old adage of “trust, but verify,” we prefer to say, “verify before you trust.” Always confirm the legitimacy of emails, phone calls, or messages before sharing personal information. Most scams start with unsolicited messages.
Instead of clicking, stay skeptical. Another saying is that if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Regularly check your bank statements and credit reports for suspicious activity. In fact, put a “credit freeze” in place with the credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Always use strong and unique passwords. You can protect online accounts with unique, complex passwords and by enabling two-factor authentication. Consider a Password Manager to help manage these complexities.
Spreading Awareness
Talk to your friends and neighbors about scams. If you’ve seen a suspicious email or text, chances are others have received the same message. Helping them to be “scam-aware” will stop the effectiveness of the scammers.
By staying informed, cautious, and vigilant, individuals can outsmart scammers and reduce the impact of fraud in their communities.
R.O.S.E. seeks to create change by educating and providing awareness of financial scams that typically target the older adult population, with a focus on those age 60 and over. For more information and resources, visit roseadvocacy.org, email us at [email protected], or call us at 602-445-7673.