A free public service

Attribution: US ftc.gov

June 23, 2026

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). WEAAD gives all of us a chance to raise awareness about elder financial abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

An issue that continues to impact the wellbeing of people of all ages — including older adults — is scams. In 2025, elder people reported losing about $16 billion to scams, compared to $12.8 billion the previous year.

This year, the FTC is joining other government agencies, businesses, and organizations across the country to help raise awareness about the top reported scam: imposters. These scammers pretend to be someone they’re not — like someone from a government agency or well-known business — to trick you into giving them money or your personal information.

How can you help spread the word about imposters? Use the “Never Ever” campaign toolkit at ejcc.acl.gov, which has information and resources to help your friends, family, and community recognize, avoid, and report imposter scams. And know that:

• Never ever will someone from the government say: “Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it.” Only a scammer will.
• Never ever will someone from the government threaten to suspend your government benefits if you don’t pay immediately. Only a scammer will.
• Never ever will someone from the government demand that you pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gift cards.

Find more at ejcc.acl.gov. Use the campaign’s hashtags, #StopGovImposters and #StopBizImposters, to share what you know with others. And if you spot an imposter scam (or any other type of scam), report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. 

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A free public service

June 14, 2026

Attribution: US FTC.gov

SCAMS BULETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney ib San Mateo County, California, USA.

Scammers can be very convincing. They call, email, and send us text messages trying to get our money or sensitive personal information — like our Social Security or account numbers. And they’re good at what they do. Here’s what to do if you paid someone you think is a scammer or gave them your personal information or access to your computer or phone. If you paid a scammer, your money might be gone already. No matter how you paid, it’s always worth asking the company you used to send the money if there’s a way to get it back.

If You Paid a Scammer

Did you pay with a credit card or debit card?	Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Did a scammer make an unauthorized transfer from your bank account?	Contact your bank and tell them it was an unauthorized debit or withdrawal. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Did you pay with a gift card?	Contact the company that issued the gift card. Tell them it was used in a scam and ask them to refund your money. Keep the gift card itself, and the gift card receipt.
Did you send a wire transfer through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram?	Contact the wire transfer company. Tell them it was a fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.MoneyGram at 1-800-926-9400Western Union at 1-800-448-1492Ria (non-Walmart transfers) at 1-877-443-1399Ria (Walmart2Walmart and Walmart2World transfers) at 1-855-355-2144
Did you send a wire transfer through your bank?	Contact your bank and report the fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.
Did you send money through a money transfer app?	Report the fraudulent transaction to the company behind the money transfer app and ask them to reverse the payment. If you linked the app to a credit card or debit card, report the fraud to your credit card company or bank. Ask them to reverse the charge.
Did you pay with cryptocurrency?	Cryptocurrency payments typically are not reversible. Once you pay with cryptocurrency, you can only get your money back if the person you paid sends it back. But contact the company you used to send the money and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask them to reverse the transaction, if possible.
Did you send cash?	If you sent cash by U.S. mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 and ask them to intercept the package. To learn more about this process, visit USPS Package Intercept: The Basics.If you used another delivery service, contact them as soon as possible.

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A free public service

Attribution: US FTC.gov.

June 8, 2026

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

Medicare fraud, abuse, and unintentional errors can also contribute to medical identity theft, losing your benefits, and paying higher medical costs. So, what can you do to help fight Medicare fraud while protecting yourself and your community?

• Never share your Medicare number with someone who calls unexpectedly. Medicare won’t call or visit you at home to sell you anything. Medicare representatives will only ask for information if you contact them first.
• Review and report Medicare fraud and abuse. Spot mistakes or inconsistencies in your statements? Ask your medical provider or plan to explain. If you suspect fraud or abuse, call 1-877-808-2468 to reach your local Senior Medicare Patrol, or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE.
• Report medical identity theft. If someone uses your information to get medical care or services, notify your provider or plan. And report the theft to IdentityTheft.gov to get a personalized plan to help you recover.
• Learn more about protecting and recovering from medical identity theft. Join the FTC, the Identity Theft Resource Center, and the Senior Medicare Patrol Program on June 5, 2026 at 11am ET for a special Facebook Live during Medicare Fraud Prevention Week.

Tell the FTC if you spot any other scams, fraud, or bad business practices: ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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