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Medical / Medicare Scams
| How it works: | Scammers offer free medical equipment, genetic testing, Medicare cards, insurance benefits, or health products in exchange for personal or Medicare information. |
| The Hook: | The offer sounds like a benefit the person may be entitled to, and older adults are often targeted. |
| How to avoid it: | Do not give Medicare, Social Security, or insurance numbers to unsolicited callers. Contact Medicare or your insurer directly. |
Sextortion Scams
| How it works: | The scammer threatens to release private photos, videos, browsing history, or embarrassing information unless the victim pays. Sometimes they have images; sometimes they are bluffing. |
| The Hook: | Fear, shame, and panic make people pay quickly. |
| How to avoid it: | Do not send money. Save evidence, block the scammer, report it to the platform and law enforcement. If minors are involved, report immediately. |
Fake Friend / Hacked Account Scams
| How it works: | A scammer uses a hacked social media account or fake profile to message you. They may ask for money, promote an investment, send a suspicious link, or claim you qualify for a grant. |
| The Hook: | The message appears to come from someone you know. |
| How to avoid it: | Verify through another method before sending money or clicking links. Be suspicious if a friend suddenly promotes crypto, grants, giveaways, or urgent requests. |
Immigration Scams
| How it works: | Scammers pretend to be immigration consultants, attorneys, or government officials and charge for forms, fake legal help, or promises of faster processing. |
| The Hook: | Immigration issues are stressful, complicated, and high stakes. |
| How to avoid it: | Use official government sites or verified legal professionals. Be careful with guaranteed results or unusual payment methods. |