SAFETY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH (NW) CORNER By Fay Wood, NW Chief Know the Current Scams As the holidays approach, the Lake Ashton Neighborhood Watch team reminds residents to stay alert to scams and fraud targeting older adults. Knowing the warning signs and asking the right questions can help protect you, your finances and your neighbors. Romance Scams: Fraudsters build online relationships before asking for money for medical emergencies, travel or other expenses. Consider: Have you ever met this person in person? Do their claims of being a celebrity or working overseas seem suspicious? Are you feeling pressured to send money? Try an image search to see if their photo appears elsewhere online. Tech Support and Phantom Hacker Scams: Scammers pose as technical support or law enforcement, claiming your device or accounts have been hacked. Consider: Did a pop-up warn you of a problem and offer help? Was access to your device or account requested? Have you consulted someone you trust before responding? Never move money to a socalled “safer” account, and verify any law enforcement officer’s identity independently. Grandparent Scams: Callers impersonate grandchildren in urgent trouble and may insist you keep the situation secret. Consider: Are you being pressured to act immediately? Have you verified the child's location with family? Is there a family safe word, or can you ask questions only your grandchild would know? Phishing Scams: Fake emails and texts may imitate banks or other legitimate businesses. Consider: Are you being asked to click a link or provide passwords or account information? Does the sender’s email domain match the company? Never use links in suspicious messages; contact the company using a verified phone number or website. Lottery and Government Grant Scams: Scammers claim you’ve won a prize but demand fees to collect it. Consider: Did you enter a contest? Is payment required to receive your prize? Are they rushing you to respond? Legitimate prizes do not require upfront payments to claim winnings. Government Impersonation: Fraudsters threaten arrest or legal action over supposed unpaid taxes or fines. Consider: Did you independently look up the agency’s number and call directly? Are they demanding payment through gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency? These are major warning signs. Remember to take a step back, verify identities, protect personal information, keep devices updated and hang up or log off if something feels wrong. If you see something, say something! Stickers listing local police and Sheriff’s Office telephone numbers are available at the Health & Fitness Center and Clubhouse desks. 20
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