Staying Safe From Common Phone, Text and Email Scams
Saturday, March 14th, 2026
Sue Liberman, President, welcomed everyone and introduced the SSV Board…as well as founder Gene Ecton Davis. VA Senior Medicare Patrol State Director, Shawn Smith, provided an eye-opening and thought-provoking program to SSV. The Senior Medicare Patrol is hosted by the VA Area Agency on Aging in Virginia, through the US Department of Health and Human Services grant funding. Shawn noted that he has several programs available at no charge to any group, anywhere. Call 800-938 -8885 if you are interested in having a program for your group or organization!
Shawn’s topic was “Everyday Scams to Avoid: Protecting Yourself from Common Phone, Email, Text and AI (Artificial Intelligence) Scams”. MEDICARE STATEMENTS – if something looks different or unusual or concerning on your Medicare statement, call 800 938 8885. TEXTING ABOUT MEDICARE- if you receive a text about urgent action, or concern about Medicare or told to click on a link, do not do it and …..call 800 938 8885. Current PHONE SCAMS – your bank calls about fraud on account. Hang up and call your bank on a number you know if your bank. Do not share banking transactions, do not provide any codes.
#2 Don’t hand your phone to strangers to take photos or enter their phone numbers. VENMO/ZELLE/CASH APP SCAMS – if you receive an unexpected amount of money in any of these accounts, do respond to request to return a mistaken transfer. Call your bank. CREDIT CARD SCAMS – skimmers on top of credit card machines. Pull on the machine before you use it. Or, fake QR code stickers pasted on top of real ones. If code looks odd, question it.
QR SCAMS – be careful when using QR codes as a bogus one can introduce malware into your phone.
USB FLASH DRIVES and USB CHARGING STATIONS – bogus ones can also introduce malware. Don’t use unknown flash drives. In addition, use electric plug chargers rather than USB chargers (for example, at airport cell/computer charging stations).
For details….and MUCH More…visit Home – Senior Medicare Patrol
For more information: centerforpolitics.org
We look forward to seeing you at upcoming events!
April 8 th – Legal Aspects of War: Ret. Major General Charles J. Dunlap, Director of International Law at
Duke University
May 13 th – Virginia Assembly Update: Senator Creigh Deeds, Delegate Katrina Callsen, and Delegate
Amy Laufer
June 10 th – Charlottesville Area Alliance on Age-Friendly Community