60-second script

For community radio, a church bulletin recording, a facility voicemail greeting, or a newsletter insert. Roughly 150 words. Read slowly.

Last year, Americans over sixty reported losing seven point seven billion dollars to scams. That's not because they were careless. It's because the people doing this are professionals.

So here's a rule that works even against a professional.

Before any money moves, three steps.

One. Break the contact. Hang up. Nobody real tells you to stay on the line and tell nobody.

Two. Use a path they did not choose. The number on your own card or statement, not the one they gave you.

Three. Take all the time you can get. A day if you can, ten minutes if you can't. And the money doesn't move today.

You don't have to get suspicious of everybody. You just add one step.

And if something already happened, call eight-three-three, three-seven-two, eight-three-one-one. That's the National Elder Fraud Hotline. It's free, and nobody there will judge you.

30-second version

Before you move any money, three steps.

Break the contact. Hang up.

Use a path they did not choose: the number on your own card or statement.

Take all the time you can get. Money doesn't move today.

You don't have to get suspicious of everybody. You just add one step.

15-second version

If somebody calls you about money, hang up, and call back on the number from your own card. That one habit stops almost every scam there is.