Avoiding New Year’s Resolution Scams and Frauds – AARP Ever... Scams & Fraud

Swear Off Scammers

Don t let crooks ruin New Year s pledges

Marcela Barsse/Getty Images Scammers are always trying to hook us with new tricks. Going after our New Year's resolutions is their latest ploy. Aiming for a better you in 2014? Don't let these lead you to benefit scammers instead. Lose weight. A thinner wallet is all you'll get with products "guaranteeing" results or making specific claims ("lose 30 pounds in a month"). Add fake customer testimonials and "free trials" that end before you even get the product and you've got the top category of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission. And some of the products can actually damage your health. Better: in a safe and realistic one pound-per-week loss program. Get started at MyPlate.gov. Help others. Good intentions are great for , and schemes bilking the most from older donors involve fake help for police and fire organizations, children, veterans and victims of whatever disaster you've been hearing about in the news. Before donating, ask for authenticating paperwork and check the group's legitimacy at give.org, guidestar.org or charitynavigator.org. Beware of soundalike names of well-known groups and requests for personal information or credit card numbers over the phone. (Also, don't trust what you see on Caller ID — scammers can manipulate it.) Assume that email solicitations are scams unless you previously provided your address to the group. When donating online, type in the address of the organization's website yourself, rather than relying on links promising to guide you there. Get a better job. It's tough these days, but working from home or quick hiring for "previously undisclosed government jobs." Other : email offers with a noncorporate email account or online postings requesting upfront personal info such as Social Security and financial account numbers. Likewise, beware requests for money to conduct "background checks" or buy "supplies." Watch out also for jobs in which you receive payments and then forward a portion. And, of course, be wary of positions that offer to pay far better than the realistic ranges that you can find at salary.com and glassdoor.com. Speak Out: You're more likely to advance through education, networking and help from a reputable employment agency. As for government jobs, apply for free at usajobs.gov. Make new friends. , where bogus romances cost victims $56 million last year; women 50 and older were the group duped most often by money-requesting cyber sweethearts. Turn away from friendly folks on the phone who say you've won a lottery. And watch out for smooth talkers at "free lunch" seminars touting no-loss investments or no-charge help with paperwork related to benefits and pensions. The best protection? Make friends the old-fashioned way at face-to-face social gatherings. author of Scam-Proof Your Life, writes about consumer and health issues for AARP Media.

Also of Interest

— Receive access to exclusive information, benefits and discounts Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.