Commentary: Scammers and phishers prey upon seniors

As soon as I hear, “Congratulations, you have been selected,” or “You have won,” or “You have qualified for,” I hang up.

These old tricks apparently still work, despite the fact that we are expected to send big money (to some sleazebag) before we get the trip to Hawaii, or the car, or the big cash loan.

Every day, I hear about a new scam aimed at seniors. And almost as often, I hear about a friend or acquaintance who has fallen for a scam.

It’s hard to be skeptical of a grandson crying on the phone about a tragedy that has befallen him and, of course, he needs money now! Supposedly, your grandson has had a brush with the law — a DUI or an arrest for possession of a bit of marijuana. He promises to tell his parents as soon as he gets home, but please send him money for his bail so he isn’t kept in jail in Podunk!

No! This is not your grandson. It’s a scam artist.

Some recipients of calls like this are tipped off because their grandson doesn’t call them Grandma or Grandpa, but Mimi or Papa, or some other pet name.

Either hang up or ask an authenticating question like, “Did you ask your Uncle Herbert for the money?” (This only works if your grandson doesn’t have an Uncle Herbert.)

A phone scam I experienced again just recently is a call “from the U.S. Treasury,” saying this is the second time they have tried to contact me. I owe back taxes, and if I don’t call this number and pay up immediately, a warrant will be issued for my arrest.

I reported the phone number and the scam to the IRS again. Just Google IRS fraud, and you will find a direct link. It’s that common, folks.

Similar is the jury duty call, saying you have not appeared for jury duty, are in contempt of court and must pay your fine right this minute or a warrant will be issued.

I am told these phone scammers request reloadable debit cards as payment. With a reloadable debit card, the scammer can get more and more money from your bank account.

Another phone scam claims to be from Microsoft. A terrible virus has been detected within your computer. Just give the caller control of your computer, follow his instructions, and it will be fixed in no time.

Don’t do this!

Giving access to your computer to anyone you didn’t personally select enables that person to open all your files, access your Social Security number, passwords, bank accounts, etc., and thereby steal your identity.

Computer lovers like me must be particularly wary.

For example, we might be used to receiving emails from our bank. Beware. An illegitimate email can look legitimate.

I received an email from Chase Bank with the familiar Chase logo and a Chase email address, asking for my Social Security number. But my bank would already have my Social Security number. And, hmm, that letter looks grammatically slipshod.

What’s going on?

Never give your Social Security number to anyone who contacts you by email (or telephone). Contact the institution directly. The fraud department will reassure you that you were right not to respond.

One email was from “Wells Fargo.” I don’t even have a Wells Fargo account, and yet the message says my account has been hacked. Just click on this link.

Don’t click on the link!

You can place your mouse above the link, and the true sender will be revealed. In this case, it wasn’t Wells Fargo but an unrecognized URL. I forwarded the email to Wells Fargo, and then I deleted it.

Email scams are abundant. Practically everyone I know has received an email from a friend’s address saying they have been mugged in a foreign country, lost their passport and credit cards, and only you can help them — by sending them money, of course.

Occasionally, an email from a friend will say just, “Take a look at this website!”

Again, don’t click on the link. It won’t lead to some delightful family video.

Forward such emails to the address from which it came and tell your friend that her email has been compromised.

Faster than we can recognize one fraud, phishers and scammers and hackers can think up new ways to separate you from your money.

As we seniors always told our children: Be wary of strangers!

LIZ SWIERTZ NEWMAN lives in Corona del Mar.