Fraud Tricks and Rip-Offs Revealed in Online Series

Think you’re savvy enough to avoid being ripped off? Think again. Last year, Washington consumers lost more than $135 million to fraud,  according to the Federal Trade Commission. That’s nearly double the amount lost in 2020. 

AARP Washington is teaming up with the state attorney general’s office, credit union BECU and the call-blocking service Nomorobo to help people avoid scams that begin as robocalls or other phone solicitations. Join the Tip-Offs to Rip-Offs free online event, Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 7:00 - 8:30pm. 

Scammers are masterful at manipulating emotions and creating a sense of urgency. The more you know about how they work, the easier it will be to see through their ruse. In the session, you’ll get a rare look at the inside workings of a boiler room where scam calls are made.

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) will share the fraud tactics his investigators are seeing and how to avoid them. And you’ll learn more about robocalls targeting your area, through AARP’s work with Nomorobo. 

Tip-Offs to Rip-Offs is an interactive event, so participants will have a chance to ask questions of the consumer fraud experts. Registration is required, at aarp.org/WashingtonTipOffs. 

—Chris Thomas