Safety Tips

  1. Fraud & Scams
  2. Home Invasion
  3. Identity Theft
  4. Preventing Falls

Con Games & Scams


Con artists are rarely violent. Once the con artist has gained your confidence, he / she will use it to get your money.


Some examples of con games and scams:

  • Home repair - offers of free estimates and inspections
  • Debt consolidation - offers with high interest rates
  • Medical fraud - never buy “miracle cures”

If you feel uneasy about an offer or someone, trust your instincts. Check out the company or person by asking for references and ask to see their state licenses. Check with your local Better Business Bureau.


Signs of Fraud


  • A company refuses to give written information
  • Must decide now
  • Must pay to win or must pay now
  • Pressure you for a credit card number
  • Tell you that the initial investment will be worth it. A scanner might offer you a "risk-free" investment only to steal your money. All investments involve risk, so consult with trusted family members and friends before you invest.
  • They instruct you not to tell anyone
  • You're asked to send money via wire transfer
  • Your personal information is requested
  • You're asked to buy gift cards and provide them with the card numbers and code 

If an offer seems like it is “too good to be true,” it probably is.


Other Scams & Fraud


Examples of other scams or fraud include:

  • Phishing: Some scammers pretend to represent your bank or a government agency and ask for your bank account number, password, or Social Security number. Your bank will never request your personal information unexpectedly. Do not respond to such requests.
  • Grandparent scams: Watch for con artists posing as grandchildren. They may call and say, "Hi Grandma" or "Hi Grandpa," and report that they are stuck in another country and need you to send money via wire transfer. Of course, any money you send will go to the scammer, not to your real grandchild. When in doubt, hang up and call a trusted family member.
  • Reverse mortgage abuse: A reverse mortgage is not inherently a scam; It is a loan accruing interest that allows older consumers to convert home equity into cash. However, some unscrupulous salespeople might pressure you into taking out a reverse mortgage that has very high fees.

Jury Duty Scam Alert!


The phone rings, you pick it up, and the caller identifies themselves as an officer of the court. They tell you that you have failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant is out for your arrest. You say you never received a notice. To clear it up, the caller then says they’ll need some information for “verification purposes” - your birth date, social security number, maybe even a credit card number.


This is when you should hang up the phone, it's a scam.


The judicial system does not contact people by telephone and ask for personal information such as your date of birth, social security number, or credit card numbers. If you receive one of these phone calls, do not provide any personal or confidential information to these individuals