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Whether it’s fake online shopping sites, identity theft or scam artists using phone or email, fraud is on the rise, with a record 1.3 million cases in the first nine months of 2020, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Although anyone can become a victim,
FTC data show that consumers age 80 and older are far more likely to be scammed by phone and lose the most money, a median of $1,250. “Even if you do everything perfectly, you can still be susceptible to fraud,” says Shameka Walker, a fraud and identity theft program manager for the FTC.
By now, you probably know not to give out sensitive information to anyone contacting you and that credit cards offer more protection against fraud than debit cards. With a credit card, the most you’ll be responsible for is $50.