Phone scams are increasing.  They catch you off guard, vulnerable or not prepared for the call.  They will make it seem that there is "SENSE OF URGENCY" or a "CONSEQUENCE" if you "don't do this right now".  Something negative will happen as they are speaking with you. When you hear words like "Western Union", or "gift card", BE AWARE!  Please protect yourselves and loved ones from these scams.  Pennsylvania residents fall prey to "Grandparent Scams", "Online Romance Scams", "Tech Support Scams", "Fake IRS Scams", "Mortgage Modification Scams", and more.   Look for these clues when identifying a scammer:

1. If you can hear "tons" of people in the background…it’s most likely a fraud/scam!  SCAM call centers often have multiple people making scam calls in the same room together.
2. If you ask them for their name in the beginning… and half way through you ask them again, they sometimes change their name in the phone call. (Dave, Mike etc.)
3. They want important information – Bank information, Social Security number, Date of Birth, Address, Etc. ( The IRS, Social Security, get your relative out of jail or pay a hospital bill, they don’t work this way!) DO NOT GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION TO STRANGERS!
4. They ask you to buy a gift card (Apple, Target Credit Card, Walmart, etc.) No business works this way. Lotteries don't either.  No business gets paid by gift cards or money orders).  Lotteries, even foreign ones, do not require gift cards or "pre-payment" of taxes or profits.
5. Typical scammers will identify themselves as a legitimate service, Social Security, IRS, PP&L, Pay Pal, banks.  Never provide personal information to a caller.

Protect yourself by:

1. Hanging up the phone!!!
2. Don't pick up for unknown numbers, or
3. Hang up the phone!!! 
4. If you have doubts, ask for them to mail you (If they are a true business they have all your information already!) Don’t give them any information!
5. Some phones have the ability to "BLOCK UNKNOWN CALLERS" in the settings of the phone. Try this out, if will save you from unwanted telemarketers as well!

Find more information about these scams and more at the Office of the Attorney General's Office:  https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/?s=senior+scams