LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — With National Grandparents Day arriving this Sunday, federal investigators in Little Rock are urging families to keep an extra-close eye on seniors’ finances- because the scams targeting them aren’t just common, they’re constantly evolving.
IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent John Siddons said scams that once tended to be more local and in-person, like someone showing up at the door claiming to fix windows or a roof, have shifted dramatically with technology. “With the implementation of advanced technology and the internet, people from all around the world now have the ability to make contact with anyone in the United States,” he said. That means seniors can be targeted by scammers “from any country” who try to take advantage of trust and gain access to “their computers, their phones, their bank accounts,” then get money transferred out.
No matter how the scam arrives, by email, phone call or even in person, Siddons said there are two big warning signs to watch for: whether someone is trying to get personal information, and whether they’re trying to get money…