R.O.S.E., Resources/Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly
Scammers don’t need to be smart—they just need to be good at manipulating emotions. Whether it’s fear, greed, loneliness, or even compassion, fraudsters are experts at pressing the right emotional buttons to override logic and rush victims into poor decisions. Older adults are often prime targets.
These scams are rarely random. Many begin with uninitiated contact—a phone call, text, email, or even a social media message. The tone is often urgent: “Your grandson is in jail and needs bail money!” or “Act now to claim your $10,000 prize!” More recently, the AZ Toll Road Scam has been making the rounds. Scammers depend on emotions like fear or excitement to short-circuit critical thinking. And once you’re emotionally invested, you’re more likely to provide personal information, send money, or click on malicious links.
Common Emotional Manipulations
* Fear: “You owe the IRS and will be arrested.”
* Greed: “You’ve won a sweepstakes—just pay a small fee to claim it.”
* Love or Loneliness: “I’m a soldier overseas and need money to come home.”
* Empathy: “Donate now to help disaster victims—time is running out!”
The goal is always the same: create urgency so you don’t stop to verify.
Tips to Outsmart Scammers
1. Pause and breathe. Scammers want you to act fast. Always take a moment to think, especially if the message stirs strong emotion.
2. Never trust caller ID. Scammers can spoof legitimate numbers—including banks, the IRS, or even family members.
3. Don’t click links or open attachments from unfamiliar or unexpected messages. Even if the message looks official, we like to say, verify before trusting.
4. Use the callback rule. If a company or government agency contacts you, hang up and call back using the number from their official website.
5. Talk it out. Ask a friend or family member before taking action. A second opinion can stop a scam in its tracks.
6. Stay informed. Follow R.O.S.E. for alerts about common scams.
Final Thought
Scammers are professional manipulators, not masterminds. You don’t need technical knowledge to beat them—just awareness, skepticism, and a cool head. If something feels off, trust your gut and verify before acting. Emotional triggers are powerful, but they don’t have to control your decisions.
R.O.S.E. seeks to create change by educating and providing awareness of financial scams that typically target the older adult population, with a focus on those age 60 and over. For more information and resources, visit roseadvocacy.org, email us at info@roseadvocacy.org, or call us at 602-445-7673.