(Boise Police Department)–As you get together with friends and family this week, make sure to have “The Talk” about scams. No one wants a holiday ruined by a manipulative scammer. Every year millions of Americans fall victim to scams and billions of dollars are lost. While the numbers we have are high, we know that we are only hearing about a fraction of it. Online shopping, texting, and digital communication are more popular than ever and scammers are taking advantage of that.
There is a scam for every age and demographic but the senior population is a prime target for most scams. That’s why we want you to sit down with the whole family and spark up this conversation. The more people who have “The Scam Talk” the more victims we can prevent.
Scams are complex and we know this topic can be difficult to explain. That’s why we’ve created a guide with short informational videos to help you navigate the conversation: https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/police/crime-prevention-and-safety/scam-prevention/
“It’s truly heartbreaking when I talk to a family after a grandparent has lost their retirement to a scam,” said BPD Financial Crimes Detective Brad Thorne. “In the digital age, scams are constant and evolving, so we think it’s important that scam prevention becomes part of your regular communication with family. You can help us stop scammers and protect your loved ones.”
