The Holiday season is a time of joy for many of us, and people are often at their most generous this time of year. Unfortunately, the increase in generosity often means an increase in scams. Older adults, particularly those experiencing cognitive decline are at an increased risk of being scammed. According to the better business bureau, here are some of the most common scams to look out for this season.

• Social media scams
• Missed package scams
• Fake gift card scams
• Fake website scams
• New scams involving AI, where family members voices can be mimicked

In order to protect the older adults in your life from being scammed, share the following advice with them.

• Do not answer unknown phone numbers
• If someone calls and claims to be a family member, but sounds off, hang up and verify the call with another family member
• Limit personal information shared via social media
• Do not give out personal information over the phone, unless you are certain of the caller’s identity
• Don’t click links in emails, particularly those requesting banking information
• Verify the status of any non profit before making a donation.

If you assist the person you care for with their finances be sure to monitor their accounts for suspicious transactions. If the person you are caring for has cognitive decline, but is still responsible for some of their own transactions, limit the amount of funds they have access to at one time, this minimizes exposure if they do fall victim to a scam.

For more information on common scams and how to avoid them visit the AARP website. If you suspect you or a loved one has been the victim of a scam you can call the AARP helpline, 1-877-909-3360.