AARP Fraud Watch Network

05/27/2026

We just launched a new series on trending scams.
Take a minute to learn how they work and how to help protect yourself and your loved ones.

Older adults face rising fraud losses. Discover today’s most common scams, how they operate, and practical ways to avoid becoming a victim.

05/24/2026

NEW PODCAST EPISODE 🎙️: After switching to a new electricity supplier, a Boston man becomes entangled in an elaborate scam. Impostors pose as representatives from the two companies, pretending to work against each other.

A sophisticated scam targets consumers switching electric providers in the Boston area.

05/22/2026

Displaced by the Palisades fire and grieving the loss of her husband to cancer, Ellen is caught off guard when scammers reach out posing as PayPal. Soon, the insurance money meant to fix her home is gone.

Hear her story on this episode of The Perfect Scam podcast. ⬇️

A PayPal impostor scam targets a survivor of the Palisades fire.

05/21/2026

AARP’s scam-tracking map acts like a GPS for fraud. See the scams reported near you to help stay safe: http://spr.ly/6186B8Dbwa

05/18/2026

Home repairs are inevitable. But when you’re looking for help, the wrong contractor can make matters worse. Here are some warning signs of home-repair scams and tips to help find a reliable contractor.

How to tell if a contractor might be a scammer: Use these handy tips to hire without headaches.

05/15/2026

05/13/2026

Mark Fetterhoff joins us to chat about the latest scams being reported to the Helpline this month, including home improvement scams and traffic violation scams.

05/10/2026

A request for an unusual form of payment can be one of the clearest signs of a potential fraud attempt. Scammers often try to get money through methods that are fast, hard to reverse and difficult to track. They may ask for gift cards, cryptocurrency, gold bars or payment through peer-to-peer apps like Zelle and Venmo. Be wary of unusual payment requests like these and save this post to refer to later.

05/08/2026

In this episode, hear how volunteer Fraud Fighters partner with law enforcement in their Nebraska community to ensure crypto kiosks display scam warning stickers.

Nebraska fraud fighters work to ensure that crypto kiosks display a scam-warning sticker.

05/05/2026

The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline is seeing a surge in reports about parking violation scams.

Here's how it works: Scammers leave or send official‑looking notices claiming you owe a parking fine. The notice includes a QR code that leads to a payment site, often requesting $6. Because the amount is small, many people pay without questioning it, only to find out the ticket was never real.

⚠️What to Watch Out For
• Unexpected parking violation notices with QR codes
• Requests for payment through links or QR codes
• Pressure to pay quickly to avoid penalties

✅What to Do
• Don’t scan the QR code or click any links.
• Check parking violations only through your city or county’s official website.
• When in doubt, contact the local courthouse or parking authority directly.

If you’re unsure or think you may have paid a scammer, call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877‑908‑3360.