Older Adults Are More Vulnerable to Scams: How to Protect Yourself

A few months ago I saw an infomercial for a cleaning product that looked great. Thinking I might order it, I did a quick Internet search for reviews of the product. I was amazed to find several sites dedicated to consumer complaints about this product.

From now on, before I buy anything--even from a reputable store or Internet retailer--I'll do my homework first. It's easy to search the Interet for product reviews, and people are usually very willing to say what they like and don't like. By checking for products reviews and scam alerts, you too can avoid products and sellers that don't deliver what they promise.

Other kids of scams--such as Nigerian advance payments, and "phishing" (using e-mail or faked Web sites to trick people into revealing personal information for the purpose of stealing their identities)--have caused victims to lose a lot of money, and in some cases, their life savings.

While people of any age can fall for a scam, researchers have discovered that a combination of memory problems--and pride--make older adults especially vulnerable to scams and scam artists. If you're worried that you or someone you know could be vulnerable to scams, you might check out these tips to avoid scams and protect yourself from losing money.
_{Photo by Kjetil Valen}