May 22 Telephone Townhall on Fraud to feature guest from the Texas Office of the Attorney General

Scams and fraud have reached a crisis level. Too many people, especially older adults, are victimized by criminals manipulating their targets.

A new AARP report has found that a stunning 42 percent of American adults have had a personal experience with fraud. The astonishing statistic brings urgency to the work of AARP Texas in helping educate older Texans and their families about fraud and how to fight it.

Learning about how to detect, prevent and report different types of scams can be a method of beating fraudsters at their game.

At 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, AARP Texas will conduct a Telephone Townhall on fraud that will feature expert advice from Assistant Attorney General Karyn Meinke of the Texas Office of the Attorney General.

You can join the call — and ask questions live — by phoning 1-833-380-0647 at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 22. The conversation will share tips, resources and answers about current scams in the state, including imposter scams and the prevalence of identity theft.

Scammers have become more adept at impersonating legitimate institutions, such as healthcare providers, businesses, and government entities. Criminals are also taking advantage of technological innovations, such as artificial intelligence (AI). And they're growing more skilled at psychological manipulations.

• Have you ever been asked to pay a stranger by gift card?
• Did you pay a contractor who never showed up?
• Have you taken a call from someone pretending to be a close family member or friend?

These are just a few clues of some of the most common scams, but there are many other schemes that occur. Learn more by joining the AARP Texas Telephone Townhall on Fraud with the Texas Office of the Attorney General at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, by phoning 1-833-380-0647.