The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is promoting a campaign
to encourage all of us to pass knowledge about scam prevention to friends,
family and neighbors.
All of us, as consumers, are targets of scams. An emphasis
for the FTC, however, is toward older adults who often suffer more severe
financial consequences and who may not have a way to recover from their losses.
Called “Pass It On,” the FTC provides materials that you can
use to inform your social network about scams such as Identity Theft, Imposter
Scams, Charity Fraud, Health Care Scams and “You’ve Won” Scams. According to
Carolyn Shanoff, associate director, FTC’s Division of Consumer and Business
Education, “Older people not only have a lot of experience and expertise to
share, but they’re also trusted and respected sources of information within
their social networks. Pass It On is based on the concept that older people are
part of the solution to the problem, not just the victims of scammers.”
Note: Many efforts for consumer education on scams, fraud
and cyber security focus on senior citizens. AARP’s Fraud Watch Network is a
prime example of this strategy. While senior citizens might be considered a
vulnerable, other vulnerable populations can include recent immigrants who are
not familiar with U.S. customs and laws.
The FTC’s “Pass It On” strategy follows a long Neighborhood
Watch tradition of informing your neighbor about criminal threats and
prevention techniques. Take some time to review the FTC materials and discuss
them with your friends, family and neighbors. You might save them from becoming
victimized by a fraudster.
Federal Trade Commission:
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