The Smart Senior Scam Defense Guide

How to Spot the Trick Before You Click, Pay, or Answer

By Bruce Goldwell

Scams are becoming more convincing every day. A caller may sound like your bank. A frightened voice may sound like someone you love. An online friend may seem completely trustworthy. Tomorrow, the story may be completely different.

This book teaches a simple defense designed to work even when you've never heard of the scam before.

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What Makes This Book Different?

Most scam-prevention guides tell you about individual scams. The problem is that scammers keep changing their stories.

The Smart Senior Scam Defense Guide takes a different approach. Instead of asking you to memorize hundreds of scams, Bruce Goldwell teaches you to recognize the behaviors and warning signs scammers use again and again.

Fear. Urgency. Authority. Secrecy. Verification codes. Unusual payment requests. Remote computer access. Instructions to move your money. These warning signs can appear in many different scams even when the story surrounding them changes.

Goldwell also writes from personal experience. He was scammed himself. That experience led to one of the most important ideas in this book: you don't always need to recognize the scam. You need to recognize the moment when you should stop.

“The story may change. Your defense doesn't have to.”

STOP. CHECK. VERIFY.

At the center of the book is a simple three-step habit you can remember when an unexpected call, message, email or request puts you under pressure.

STOP.

Don't click. Don't pay. Don't give out information. Give yourself time before doing anything.

CHECK.

Who contacted whom? What do they want? Are they creating fear, excitement, urgency or secrecy?

VERIFY.

End their contact and independently contact the bank, company, agency, family member or organization yourself.

Simple Rules That Can Protect You

They contacted you? STOP.

Never move money to “protect” your money.

Never give a verification code to someone who contacted you.

Urgency means slow down.

Secrecy means tell someone.

End their contact. Start your own.

A legitimate problem will still exist after you hang up. You can then contact the organization independently using a phone number, website or app you already know and trust.

For Seniors — and the Families Who Care About Them

This isn't a book about treating seniors as though they cannot make their own decisions. Scam protection should add another layer of defense without taking away someone's independence.

The book shows seniors how to recognize pressure before acting and also gives adult children, spouses, caregivers and families practical ways to create a scam-defense plan together.

You'll also learn what to do if you've already sent money, shared a password or verification code, allowed remote access to your computer, or provided personal information.

Most importantly, there is no shame attached to being fooled. Modern scams are deliberately designed to manipulate normal human emotions such as fear, trust, love, hope and urgency. The important thing is knowing what to do next.

Free Printable STOP. CHECK. VERIFY. Card

Keep this simple scam-defense reminder near your phone or computer. You may print a copy for yourself and share copies with family members for personal, noncommercial use.

STOP CHECK VERIFY printable scam defense card

Open Printable Card

Click the card or button above to open the full-size image. You can then print it or save it to your device.

About Bruce Goldwell

Bruce Goldwell is an author, entrepreneur, songwriter and U.S. Army Vietnam veteran whose books span practical guides, personal development, technology, finance, travel and fiction.

Goldwell believes useful books often begin with a simple question: What problem is someone trying to solve right now? The Smart Senior Scam Defense Guide grew partly from his own experience of being scammed and his determination to turn that experience into something that might help someone else avoid the same mistake.

He is also the author of books for seniors including The Smart Senior Travel Guide, The Smart Senior Benefits Guide and ASK BEFORE YOU PAY.

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You Don't Have to Memorize Every Scam.

You just need to recognize the moment when it's time to stop.

STOP. CHECK. VERIFY.

Get The Smart Senior Scam Defense Guide