NYC seniors getting armed with information to fight back against scams
Red flags for a potential email scam include a demand for urgent action, spelling/grammar mistakes, and suspicious attachments.
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Seniors in New York City can often find themselves as the target of fraud and scams, and now some seniors are getting the proper information to protect themselves.
An information session took place at the New Utrecht branch of the Brooklyn Public Library on Tuesday. Senior residents took part in crocheting, chatting, sipping coffee and tea, and most importantly speaking with the NYPD’s Crime Prevention Division.
Members of the division helped the seniors learn about what to watch for in the latest scams that may be targeting them.
Some common scams are jewelry scams, purse and wallet snatching, and ATM scams. Scams involving phones, emails and texts are evolving with technology every day, becoming harder to track.
"Technology is getting more advanced. There is going to be a new scam every day,” said Officer Osvaldo Marcillo of the Crime Prevention Division. “These crimes are financially hurting senior victims, their life savings. It's happening every day, it's happening all the time."
Red flags for a potential email scam include a demand for urgent action, spelling/grammar mistakes, and suspicious attachments.
Police say to watch out for callers posing as law enforcement, the IRS or other agencies. They say these scams will usually request money through apps, wire transfers and gift cards. Scammers can even manipulate caller ID.
If you think you’ve fallen victim to a scam, contact 311 for resources and next steps.
