Criminals are looking to take advantage of people who may have lost income during the pandemic. They post legitimate sounding work at home opportunities on trusted job boards. The offer is typically for some basic accounting work. Once the target is “hired,” the “boss” sends money to their banking account. The boss explains that, once the check clears, the new hire needs to send that money using Venmo or CashApp to pay vendors. The new hire does as directed, and learns some days or weeks later that the check the “boss” sent was fake. The money sent to “vendors” was the target’s own money, and the “boss” disappears.

Look at all online employment opportunities with a healthy dose of skepticism. Find out all you can about the “employer.” If it doesn’t add up, move on to real opportunities.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

Visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360 to report a scam or get help if you’ve fallen victim.