Watch out for scammers in these crazy times Boys & Girls Club leader pens 267 letters to kids

It amazes me that although we are in an international pandemic crisis, we still have to contend with scammers focused on ripping off naïve and trusting people, many of them seniors, who, like all of us, never have experienced such an event before.

Because the virus itself is dynamic and with the rush to find and develop vaccines (and soon, I hope, a cure), the scams too are moving in new directions.

If you are on Medicare, be especially mindful of unsolicited requests for information. Along with your Social Security number and date of birth, fraudsters often are looking to acquire your Medicare number.

Here is where you need to be “politely skeptical” of people looking to acquire information from you:

--Never give your Medicare number to anyone other than a doctor, a health care provider, or a trusted representative. Treat it like a credit card. Those coming doorto-door offering free coronavirus testing, supplies or treatments probably are not legit. Don’t provide information to them and just for fun, call your local police department, so we can check them out.

Stay Safe

--Don’t click on internet links before you verify the source. Domain names can vary only slightly, a letter or number here and there, and still look legit when they aren’t. Put your glasses on and read the fine print closely before you click. On that note, make sure your antivirus program on your computer is up to date. Keep in mind that during epidemics and disasters, the number of fake charities and crowdfunding sites will increase. Don’t assume a fancy website is a legit one. Check it out.