AGs ring up seniors to alert them to 'imposter scams'
Looking to alert seniors before they fall victim to two particular "impostor scams," Attorney General Maura Healey and her counterparts from around the region made personal calls Thursday to residents as part of an outreach effort organized by AARP.
At the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, the attorneys general and senior advocate organization focused on scams involving purported calls from the Internal Revenue Service and computer manufacturer tech support.
According to AARP, with the IRS scam, a call is made ordering a person to pay back taxes or face arrest. In the tech support scam, a person is told their computer has a virus and that the only way to solve it is to obtain remote access to the unit.
Healey said that the IRS does not ask for personal information or attempt to collect payment via email or phone and computer manufacturers do not contact individuals about viruses.
"Perhaps the best advice that I could give – or we could give – is to encourage consumers to maintain a healthy dose of skepticism when someone they don't know is asking for money or personal information. Don't give it out." Healey said before joining attorneys generals from Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to make phone calls to residents.
Healey also said her office is currently monitoring several scams focused on organized trips to see Pope Francis during his multi-state visit to the United State next week.
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