The Zelle Scam
Learn how Zelle scams work, why they're hard to reverse, and simple ways to protect yourself from fraudsters targeting your money.
Read the full alert →Pause. Verify. Call back.
from AMAC
Scam Watch
Fraud can happen to anyone. Outsmart the criminals.
Alert · Tuesday, October 13
This Week’s Watch
Situation report · FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2025
$7.75B
reported stolen from Americans 60-plus in 2025
That is the criminals’ annual revenue — and every report filed at IC3.gov shrinks it by feeding the FBI’s case map.
+59%
one-year rise in reported losses
The wave is accelerating — which is exactly why a new alert posts here every Tuesday.
$38,501
average reported loss
The three-second pause — hang up, look up the real number, call back — costs nothing.
Three plays that keep coming back
Know These Cold
- Text scam
“Confirm your order” texts
Fake Amazon and UPS texts ask you to “dispute” a purchase you never made.
Counter-moveNever tap the link — check the account from your own bookmark or app.
- Impostor
Gold and cash courier pickups
A “federal agent” says your savings are at risk and sends a courier to collect.
Counter-moveNo government agency sends couriers. Hang up and call 1-833-FRAUD-11.
- Medicare
Medicare “new card” calls
A caller needs your Medicare number to mail you an updated card.
Counter-moveReal cards arrive by mail without a phone call. When in doubt, call 1-800-MEDICARE.
The files · a new briefing every Tuesday
Know the Play Before the Phone Rings
Tech Support
Cybersecurity Month: Simple Actions for a Safe Digital Life
CISA says a few steady habits — software updates, strong passwords, careful clicking — stop most common attacks on the bank accounts and personal details you move online every day.
Read the briefing →
Home & Contractor Partner content · Incogni
Anyone Can Buy Your Home Address Right Now. Here's How to Take It Off the Market.
Over 4,000 companies sell your name, address, income, and health details to anyone with a credit card, including scammers running Medicare fraud schemes.
Read the partner piece →
Bank Account Fraud: Protect Your Money Before Fraud Happens
Learn how to protect your bank account from fraud with smart precautions, spot common scams, and safeguard your hard-earned money before criminals strike.
Read the briefing →How to Avoid Pet Adoption Scams
Learn how to spot and avoid pet adoption scams with practical tips to protect your money and find a trustworthy, loving companion safely.
Read the briefing → Home & Contractor
Cracking Down on Real Estate Rental Scams
Learn how real estate rental scams work and how to protect yourself with simple steps to verify listings and avoid fraud.
Read the briefing → Know their playbook
Browse by Scam
- Government impostors IRS, Social Security, “jury duty” calls Newest alert Important Resources to Help Seniors Avoid Imposter Scams
- Phone & AI voice Spoofed numbers, cloned family voices Newest alert That Voice Isn't Your Grandchild: One Family Password Beats the AI Clone Scam
- Investment & crypto Gold buybacks, fake trading platforms Newest alert Fake Gold, Fake Crypto: The $3.5 Billion Machine Aimed at Retirement Savings — and the 5-Minute Check That Stops It
- Romance & connection Long cons that start with friendship
- Tech support Pop-ups, fake refunds, remote access Newest alert Cybersecurity Month: Simple Actions for a Safe Digital Life
- Medicare & health Card “updates” and bogus billing Newest alert Patient Portal Phishing Scams: What You Should Urgently Know
Three common calls, and the counter-move
What a Good Pause Sounds Like
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The “grandson in jail” call
A crying voice and a “lawyer” on the line want bail money today. Hang up, call your grandchild on the number you already have, and the emergency evaporates.
-
The “new Medicare card” call
A caller needs your Medicare number to mail a new card. Real cards arrive by mail without a call. Say no, hang up, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
-
The cloned-voice call
It sounds exactly like family. Agree on a family password over dinner, ask for it on any panicked call, and a cloned voice has nothing to say.
Seen one? Warn the watch in the comments. Every report posted here reaches thousands of members before the phone rings.
Report what you’re seeing → The standing record
From the Archive
Sep 24, 2026 Scams Then and Now: Unsettling Tales of Deception, Lies, and Tricks Read → Sep 22, 2026 Scammed in a Scroll: News on Social Media Scams Read → Government Impostor Important Resources to Help Seniors Avoid Imposter Scams Read → Sep 15, 2026 Busting Open Six Common Scam Myths Read → Medicare & Health Patient Portal Phishing Scams: What You Should Urgently Know Read → Recovery / Re-scam Your Information Is Already Out There. Here’s What It Takes to Get It Back. Read → Sep 3, 2026 Scam-Proofing Seniors: Real Stories, Red Flags, and Practical Ways to Stay Safe Read → Aug 27, 2026 They Know You're Gone: How Burglars Research Your Home Before Making a Move Read →
Report It
Reporting protects the next family — it’s what the watch does. Even if no money moved, every report maps the industry for investigators.
- ReportFraud.ftc.govThe FTC’s national fraud file — about a minute online.
- IC3.govThe FBI — fast reports have frozen funds before they leave the country.
- 1-833-FRAUD-11National Elder Fraud Hotline (DOJ) — a case manager walks you through every step.
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