New Hanover County officials warn seniors of rising holiday online scams
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) – With increased shopping during the holiday season, local law enforcement is advising seniors to be aware of a surge in online scams.
The city of Wilmington hosted a senior scam prevention workshop today at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center.
The District Attorney offices of New Hanover and Pender Counties provided information on how to recognize and report scams.
Jason Smith, New Hanover County district attorney said after someone has fallen victim to a scam it is difficult to get their money back.
“Please, please don’t give your information to people who don’t need it,” Smith said. “Don’t give your money to people you really don’t trust and even if you do trust them don’t trust them with all your money.”
Law enforcement encourages seniors to avoid offers that sound too good to be true, be weary of purchases on social media sites and research unfamiliar sellers.
Officials stress that anyone can get scammed, and the most important thing to remember is to never share personal information such as your social security number over the phone to an unknown number.
