Your Anti-Fraud Checklist

🔇 Ignore:

• Ignore unsolicited calls, emails, texts, and social media messages.
• Respond only to known contacts. If unsure, always verify!

🛑 Stop:

• Do not click on pop-ups, links, or attachments from unknown sources.
• Do not contact numbers provided in unsolicited messages.
• Do not give control of your computer to unknown individuals.
• Do not share personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call to a verified number.

🔌 Disconnect:

• End communication with suspected scammers.
• Disconnect from the internet and shut down your device if you see suspicious pop-ups or locked screens.
• Avoid opening email attachments from unknown senders.

⏳ Wait:

• Resist pressure to act quickly; take your time to verify the situation.
• Wait for checks to clear before acting on them to avoid overpayment scams.

✔️ Verify:

• Independently verify the identity of contacts by looking up their official contact information.
• Only download apps and software from verified, trusted sources.

👥 Consult:

• Discuss unusual communications with trusted friends or advisors.
• Research online for reports of similar scams.

📈 Monitor:

• Set up alert notifications for transactions and changes in your online accounts.
• Verify alerts for any transactions you make.

🔒 Protect:

• Use strong, unique passwords for each account.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Keep software and systems updated.
• Use secure Wi-Fi and ensure your home Wi-Fi has a strong password.
• Use reputable anti-virus software and firewalls.
• Enable pop-up blockers.
• Use a credit monitoring service and place credit freezes/locks.

🛡️ Privacy:

• Adjust privacy settings on devices and online accounts to limit data sharing.
• Properly dispose of personal documents.
• Be cautious about sharing personal information; use fake details for non-essential services.
• Pre-authorize who can access your personal health information.

📚 Educate:

• Stay informed about new scams by subscribing to newsletters from AARP, FTC, NCOA, CFPB, and Fraud.org.
   

Actions to Take if You Believe You Are Actively Being Frauded

🔌 Disconnect:

• Immediately cease all communication with the scammer.
• Disconnect from the internet and shut down your device if necessary.

✔️ Verify:

• Independently verify any suspicious communications by contacting the institution directly using verified contact information.

📢 Report:

• Report the incident to your local FBI field office and the FBI IC3 at www.ic3.gov.
• Notify your financial institutions and credit agencies.
• Report the fraud to local law enforcement.

📈 Monitor and Protect:

• Check for unauthorized transactions and changes in your accounts.
• Change passwords and enable MFA on affected accounts.
• Place fraud alerts with credit agencies.
   

Actions to Reduce Fraud Impact

🔐 Account Protection:

• Ensure recovery options are enabled for important accounts (iCloud, Google, financial institutions).
• Regularly update passwords.
• Set up alert notifications for account activities.

📑 Document Security:

• Memorize key contact information.
• Keep photocopies of important documents (credit cards, passports, insurance cards) in a secure place.
• Share access to devices with a trusted person in case of an emergency.

📱 Device Security:

• Use strong passcodes and biometric authentication on your smartphone.
• Enable ‘Find My’ services to locate or remotely erase your device if lost or stolen.
• Use a password manager and automatic security updates.
• Back up data to the cloud regularly.

☁️ Cloud Account Protection:

• Remove unused devices from your account.
• Validate and update recovery information, including email addresses and phone numbers.
• Create a recovery key and keep it safe.
• Update security questions and answers.

📞 Phone Number Security:

• Set up a PIN or password with your carrier to prevent unauthorized transfers.
• Enable alert notifications for changes to your account.

📚 Education and Awareness:

• Stay informed about new scams and fraud prevention tips through reputable sources.
• Regularly review and adjust privacy settings on devices and accounts.
• Shred and dispose of personal documents properly.

Download the PDF for Detailed Explanations 
of the Fraud Prevention and Preparation Checklist

FREE to Distribute to Family and Friends

Additional Resources:

• FBI Elder Fraud
• FBI Field Offices
• FBI - submit a tip online
• Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov
• IC3 Elder Fraud Page
• IC3 2022 Elder Fraud Report
• Victim Support: Older Adult Financial Exploitation Brochure (pdf)
• Department of Justice: Elder Justice Initiative
• Elder Fraud Prevention Network Development Guide
• Form to advise Medicare of person(s) to access your personal health information
• IC3 Public Service Announcement on "Phantom Hacker" Scams - https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2023/PSA230929  
• IC3 Public Service Announcement for Older Americans (Video) - https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/video/ic3-public-service-announcement-older-americans  
• IC3 2021 Elder Fraud Report - https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2021_IC3ElderFraudReport.pdf  
• IC3: A Warning About Technical and Customer Support Fraud - https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2022/PSA220316  
• IC3: FBI Warns of a Grandparent Fraud Scheme Using Couriers - https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2021/PSA210729  
• IC3: Perpetrators Use Various Methods to Deceive and Defraud Elderly Victims for Financial Gain - https://www.ic3.gov/media/2019/190919.aspx  
• 6 Scams Targeting Seniors - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_Y-kN7uO0w  
• Online Scams Against The Elderly - Stay Safe Online - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSL-nEClLRk&t=0s  
• Top 5 Tips to Avoid Senior Scams - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muHXmMclyog  
• Here are the top scams targeting older adults - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30KgBgzqEIQ  
• What is Elder Fraud? How To Prevent  Senior Citizen Scams | Aura - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu15WGh9jXg  
• Avoiding Scams and Fraud for Older Adults - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar2MOvn2aDc  
• Senior Scams and Frauds - protection and prevention - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JCpkP7JVJ4  
• What is Elderly Exploitation | Financial Exploitation of the Elderly | Elderly Abuse | Prevention - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbDJYiUVR3E  
• How To Avoid Becoming A Victim Of Scams That Target Older Adults - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIYQQoj5IPE  
• Webinar: New resources for Elder Fraud Prevention and Response Networks — consumerfinance.gov - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2zVsouBznI  
• Webinar: Free elder fraud prevention tools for financial institutions — consumerfinance.gov - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-MJNZxNvTU  
• Chase bank blames woman for not protecting her account after scammers stole $160,000 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt6UDAYrf9I  
• Scams Targeting Seniors - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQQvGCQJupY  
• Fraud and Scams Prevention - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iFzn8OI6ds  
• Elder Abuse Prevention Frauds & Scams - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkaryj-ook8  
• UPSTATE ELDER ABUSE CENTER AT LIFESPAN ON FRAUD PREVENTION - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBKy5ZPlFeQ  
• Webinar: Promising practices from Elder Fraud Prevention Networks Part 1 — consumerfinance.gov - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TIy2pIKy10  
• How Seniors Can Prevent Scams and Financial Exploitation | JPMorgan Chase & Co. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpktlUgfy4k  
• New Scams to Watch Out For (2023) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxTsI5XvM-c  
• Financial Elder Abuse - Detection, Intervention & Prevention - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBAg37jxyK0  
• Elder Fraud - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyjyypBtWeA   
• The Fraud Investigation Process - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0LUyg20MgE  
• The Guide to Elder Financial Abuse | RMO Lawyers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbuSHUPsAXU