Ways to avoid scams
We have been hearing it quite often these days – a scammer calls someone claiming that they owe back taxes to the IRS, coupled with a threat of arrest if payment isn’t sent immediately. News reports document millions of dollars have been bilked from unsuspecting citizens in this scam. The targets of these scammers are usually the elderly and the poor who can ill-afford to lose anything through deceptions.
Kind citizens, friends, neighbors and family members who abhor any type of theft should consider the following countermeasures in an attempt to neutralize these scams:
• A direct warning to anyone who could be a victim needs to be issued in a friendly way. Engage elderly neighbors, disabled persons, friends or relatives with explicit information on how to stop the deceit before it goes too far. If necessary, write down some clear notes that would serve as a reminder on what to do if they are contacted by a scammer.
• Advise them to talk to their relatives, neighbors and friends before they make any ill-advised payments.
The good citizens of our country need to vigorously combat these scams with the clear and simple advice to just hang up the phone.
Ronald J. Yamka
Canonsburg