5. Utility Bill Scams
The caller or, better said the scammer is calling up utility customers saying that they will cut off water, electricity, or gas services if her/his past-due bills aren’t paid right now. In most cases, phone scammers ask their victims to make the payment over the phone by credit card.
The Federal Trade Commission adds that scammers also demand payment by gift cards, cryptocurrencies, or reloadable cash cards. Just remember that no utility company will call you threatening to cut off their services if you don’t pay immediately.
If you do have some issues paying your utility bills, the utility company will warn you by sending several letters. Thankfully, this type of scam can be easily avoided by setting up an online account to check balances in an instant and see if you really have past-due bills.
2 thoughts on “11 Common Scams Targeting the Elderly”
One very good wasy to get rid of the grandchild call is to ask for his or her middle name. They will immediately hang up.
Another scam is a call telling you your computer has a virus and they can get rid of it for you when indeed they are putting the virus in and charging you big bucks to get rid of it, then later calling you telling you they can’t fix it and is going to return your money. Instead they wind up taking more money.