Scam types explained, in plain English

Every hub below covers one category of fraud aimed at retirees and the families who help them: how it works, the red flags, what to do in the first hour, and the official places to report it. Each page is reviewed against current FTC, FBI IC3, SSA, CISA, and Medicare advisories.

• Medicare scamsMedicare Scams: How They Work & How to Stop ThemHow Medicare scams target seniors in 2026, the calls Medicare never makes, the red flags in every fake plastic-card or DNA-kit pitch, and how to report fraud.Read the hub
• Social Security scamsSocial Security Scams: Calls, Texts & Fake LettersSocial Security scams threaten suspended numbers and frozen benefits. What SSA really does, the red flags, and the exact steps to take if you already paid or shared your SSN.Read the hub
• AI voice & deepfake scamsAI Voice Scams: Cloned Voices & Fake Family CallsAI voice cloning lets scammers copy a grandchild's voice from seconds of audio. How AI scams work in 2026, how seniors can identify them, and the safe word that stops them.Read the hub
• Phishing & email scamsPhishing Scams: Fake Emails, Texts & Renewal AlertsHow phishing emails and smishing texts target retirees, the six red flags in every fake renewal or delivery notice, and exactly what to do after clicking a bad link.Read the hub
• Phone scamsPhone Scams Targeting Seniors: Calls & SpoofingWhy retirees get so many scam calls, how caller ID spoofing works, the scripts used most in 2026, and how to block, verify, and report suspicious phone numbers.Read the hub
• Identity theftIdentity Theft in Retirement: Signs, Freezes & FixesThe warning signs of identity theft in retirement, how to freeze your credit free of charge, and the exact recovery sequence if your SSN or Medicare number is stolen.Read the hub
• Banking & investment fraudBanking & Investment Fraud: Zelle, Wires & CryptoHow bank impersonation, pig butchering, and fake investment platforms drain retirement savings — plus refund rules for Zelle, wires, and cards, and how to verify an advisor.Read the hub
• Romance scamsRomance Scams: Warning Signs & How to Help SomeoneHow romance scams target widowed and retired adults, the escalation pattern from first message to money, and how to help a parent who does not believe it is a scam.Read the hub
• Tech support scamsTech Support Scams: Fake Pop-Ups & Refund TrapsFake Microsoft and Apple pop-ups, remote access, and the refund-overpayment trick. How tech support scams work, how to close the pop-up safely, and how to recover.Read the hub
• Fraud recoveryFraud Recovery: What to Do in the First 72 HoursA step-by-step fraud recovery plan for retirees and families: who to call first, refund odds by payment method, reporting links, and how to avoid recovery scams.Read the hub