INSURANCE

Q: I almost fell for a scam that attempted to get my Medicare account number. What are other new scams to watch out for?

A: Scammers, cheaters, and con men are working overtime and they have YOU in their sites. Older adults are often targeted because they tend to be trusting and polite. They also usually have financial savings, own a home, and have good credit – all of which make them attractive to scammers.

Scammers are like ‘shape-shifters’ in scary movies. They take on many different forms and may pretend to be from Medicare, the police, utility workers, lawyers, and even your

grandchildren. But don’t be fooled. Their only goal is to steal your money, your Medicare or Social Security number, your credit card info, or all of these.

Recently there have been growing reports of con men using money transfer apps such as Venmo, PayPal and Zelle in scams. Money transfer apps have grown in popularity as people found them to be a convenient alternative to using cash during the pandemic. And, while these services are safe as long as you take the proper precautions, they do have a downside. Unlike credit cards, which offer financial protection in the case of fraud or theft, digital payment services treat money more like cash. Once the money has been transferred to someone, it is almost impossible to reverse the transaction.

According to Venmo at www.help. venmo.com, “Outside of paying authorized merchants, Venmo is designed for payments between friends and people who trust each other. In short:

1. Be careful. Don’t use Venmo to join a pyramid, cash wheel, money circle or other get rich quick schemes

2. Don’t use Venmo to sell anything to strangers

3. Don’t use Venmo to buy anything from anyone you don’t know and trust.

4. Never click links or attachments from unknown sources.”

If you have the slightest inclination to take advantage of an unsolicited offer, please take five minutes to contact the company to verify its authenticity. Be suspicious if you feel rushed to act quickly or are asked to send gift cards as payment. Take your time and do your research before trusting any offers. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

If you have other questions concerning Life, Health, Medicare Advantage Plans or Medicare Supplements I can be reached at 440-255-5700 or email me at Lmutsko@mutskoinsurance.com. I look forward to helping you.

Laura Mutsko Mutsko Insurance Services, LLC 6982 Spinach Drive, Mentor, OH 44060 440-255-5700 www.mutskoinsurance.com