Palos Park, IL – Police are warning seniors across the region to stay alert as scams targeting older adults continue to rise. The Palos Park Police Department shared a community alert Wednesday urging residents to protect themselves and loved ones from new forms of fraud circulating online and by phone.
According to police, scammers often impersonate officials from the IRS, Social Security, or Medicare, as well as local law enforcement or distressed family members. Others use romance schemes to build trust online before inventing emergencies to solicit money.
Tech support scams are also on the rise, with pop-up messages or callers falsely claiming a computer has a virus and demanding remote access or payment. Additionally, home repair and reverse mortgage scams have defrauded seniors through inflated charges and fake service offers.
Authorities advise residents never to share personal or financial information over the phone and to verify suspicious calls using trusted numbers. Police also stress that legitimate agencies will never request payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
The department encourages families to discuss fraud risks with older relatives and to report unusual financial activity immediately.
“This is about community protection,” the department said. “Together, we can stop scams before they start.”
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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