Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

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Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

Tips for Older Americans to Protect Themselves Against Scams

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SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) Scammers are getting better at what they do all the time. According to the Data Book, Americans reported losing $10 billion to scams in 2023, a full $1 billion more than in 2022. While anyone can be a victim, elderly people are often targeted, as they are presumed to have more savings.

According to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals, you can help safeguard your financial future with these tips:

Slow Down

From romance scams to debt and IRS scams, many scammers use emotional appeals to scare or charm their victims into giving up personal information or their money. Before acting, take a deep breath and speak to a trusted friend or relative who may be able to help you spot a potential scam. Remember that the IRS initiates contact only through the U.S. mail, not via email, text or social media.

You can also do a bit of investigative work yourself. For example, if you receive an email claiming to be your bank or another institution asking you to click on a link, first make sure the request is legitimate. Do the return address and URL look right? Are there spelling errors? If you’re contacted by text or with a phone call, look up the number of the bank or company and call them back directly, not with the number provided.

Be Choosy

As you age, it’s common to enlist friends and family to help you make financial decisions and with everyday administrative tasks, like paying your taxes or your bills. Select who has access to your sensitive documents and online accounts carefully.

Also, never leave bills, statements and other identifying information lying around. You may want to invest in a paper shredder or a file cabinet with a lock so you can dispose of and store documents carefully. You should also ensure all your online accounts have strong passwords that are known only to you.

Finally, consider setting up automatic bill payments. This not only has the benefit of keeping you up-to-date on payments and helping you avoid late fees, it will also reduce the amount of sensitive paperwork you have in your home and receive by mail.

Seek Assistance

If you are the victim of identity theft or another scam, a CFP® professional can help you recover with a smart financial plan. They can also help you avoid becoming a victim in the first place by helping you monitor your accounts and by setting up notifications from your financial institutions when suspicious activity is detected. As a fiduciary, they have an ethical obligation to work in your best interests at all times and can be a valuable member of your money team. To find a CFP® professional near you, visit letsmakeaplan.org.

It’s easy to think identity fraud and other financial abuse is something that happens only to other people. But scam tactics are becoming more sophisticated, and anyone can be targeted. The best defense is staying abreast of the latest tactics and arming yourself with the assistance of trusted advocates.

Photo Credit: (c) PIKSEL / iStock via Getty Images Plus

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