We always want to trust the people in our lives. As you grow older you may rely on others to help with driving, shopping, cooking, cleaning and other tasks. Perhaps you want to try dating again, or you meet someone online who needs help. But people aren’t always what they appear to be. If someone new (or not so new) in your life is asking you for personal information or money, talk to others about it. If you are secretive about an online relationship, ask yourself why you are keeping it hidden. Is it the other person’s idea to keep the relationship concealed? That is an alert that something isn’t right. Be aware, be smart, be careful and prevent being one of the millions of seniors who are scammed every year. Start talking to your friends, family, and others. Additionally, background check can be used for a variety of reasons and is a useful tool to avoid being scammed. Don’t be afraid to use it.

Source: Senior Planet; Mass.gov; Trustify