Consumer Tips

Choose the Right Pet Costume

• Make sure that nothing is too tight, especially around the neck and never over the snout. You don’t want to create a choking hazard, or restrict breathing in any way. 
• Make sure the costume doesn’t interfere with your pet’s movement, and make sure that your pet can see clearly. 
• Don't force your pet to wear a costume. You should be able to tell when your pet is not happy or uncomfortable, so don't let the holiday spirit override the special ways your pet communicates with you. 

Take Your Pet Trick-or-Treating

• Make sure your pet is leashed at all times, with a collar and current identification. 
• As always, micro-chipping your pet is a good idea.
• Remember that you and your pet will be encountering some spooky sights and sounds, so be diligent in case your pet gets scared. 
• Keep an eye out for candy on the ground because your dog may want to gobble up candy that is not going to be safe for your pet to eat. 

Know Your Candy Safety

• Dogs and cats should never eat chocolate or raisins, and most candy has too much sugar for your pet to eat safely and could lead to an upset stomach. 
• Candy and candy wrappers can also pose choking hazards, so always keep an eye on your pet, especially if you have small children who may leave uneaten candy or wrappers out. 
• If you think your pet has eaten something toxic, call your veterinarian immediately for a consultation. Try to determine what was eaten, and the quantity to assist pet care professionals. 

Prepare Your Home For Trick-or-Treaters

• Make sure your pet is never alone outside, and is kept away from the doorway if your pet is easily spooked.
• Only you know how comfortable your pet is when visitors ring your doorbell, so take steps to keep your pet calm and limit stress. If your pet gets anxious when the doorbell rings, consider disconnecting the doorbell for Halloween or place a sign on the door asking trick-or-treaters to knock. 
• After the festivities are over, check to make sure any gates are closed before you let your pet out into your yard. You want to make sure that your last trick-or-treater did not leave the gate open, which could allow your pet to escape. 

Find Pet Friendly Events

• For some pets, Halloween is the perfect time to dress up and enjoy the festivities. Many neighborhoods have family events and often welcome pets. 
• There are also many Halloween pet parades and events especially for pets. For example, the Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York City attracts hundreds of dogs and thousands of spectators each year since 1990. 

Keep the Scary Out of Halloween 

• Keep in mind that Halloween can be extremely stressful for some pets because of so many strangers, in strange costumes, coming by your house.
• If you have Halloween decorations, make sure that they don’t pose any risk to your furry family members, especially curious pets who will want to investigate, smell, touch and possibly eat decorations. 

The holidays are always more enjoyable when the entire family can be together, and your pets are an important part of the family. With a few precautions, Halloween can be fun and safe, as well as create memories to cherish forever.

Learn How Union Plus Pet Insurance Can Help

The Union Plus Pet Insurance program is powered by Pets Best and offers plans to fit all budgets and coverage needs. Accident Only¹ coverage starting at $6/month for cats and $9/month for dogs can help you protect your pet and your pocket from Halloween mishaps.

If you have questions about whether your pet’s behavior is normal or whether their health is at risk, you have access to the 24/7 Pet Helpline powered by whiskerDocs. 

Join now and save up to 10%² off any Pets Best BestBenefit Pet Insurance Plan.

LEARN MORE 

When most people think of legal issues, they think of criminal matters. But did you know that 54% of people experienced a legal event over the course of a year? Considering that the hourly rate to see an attorney can cost upwards of $338 an hour, it can be very expensive to seek legal help when these issues occur.

That’s where a legal plan comes in. A legal plan provides access to attorneys for help with personal legal matters all for a low monthly cost. 

Ask yourself the following questions to learn more about whether a legal plan is right for you.

Do I Need a Legal Plan? 

Because legal matters often have a negative connotation to them, many people don’t think they have a need for legal help. But in reality, expected and unexpected legal issues happen every day. Do you plan to buy or sell a home? Expand your family? Is caring for aging parents in your future? If any of these issues are on the horizon for you, you will likely need the help of an attorney. Not to mention, all of the unexpected issues that can arise, from identity theft to tax audits or disputes with a neighbor or landlord. If you had to pay for an attorney out of pocket for help with these issues, could you afford it? 

How Do I Find an Attorney, and Can I Use Any Attorney I Want?

One of the biggest benefits of a legal plan is that it takes the work out of finding an attorney. With MetLaw, when you use our Attorney Locator to connect to an attorney in our network, you know that the attorney has been vetted. Attorneys in the MetLaw network are required to have at least eight years of experience in the practice of law, have graduated from an accredited law school and hold a valid state license as well as have experience in matters covered under our legal plans. You also always have the option to use an attorney outside of our network and be reimbursed for some of the costs if that is more convenient.

Are Services Fully Covered, or Just Discounted?

Although discounts are great, seeing an attorney is very expensive. To get the help you need for your legal matters, you should have access to fully covered services. You shouldn’t have to pay significant out-of-pocket costs to fight a traffic ticket or get help with a debt collection matter, those matters should be covered in full under your plan. With the MetLaw plan, services are fully covered for many common personal legal matters, meaning everything from the initial consultation to drafting and reviewing documents and representation in court, if necessary, is covered by your monthly fee. There are no co-pays or deductibles.

Do Legal Plans Cover Court Representation? 

The legal plan covers representation in court for many common personal legal matters. Attorneys can make appearances for traffic tickets, debt matters, or attend a tax audit or juvenile court hearing.

find out more about Union Plus prepaid
legal plan or enroll
 

Debt consolidation is a tool for helping reduce debt. But is this the right solution for you?

The Optimal Credit

In general, the optimal applicant has fair to good credit, and is looking to better manage and reduce their high interest debt. One of the most important factors in applying for a debt consolidation loan is your FICO® credit score. This implies your ability to manage your finances and is best seen above 600. Your FICO® Score is greatly impacted by your payment history (which accounts for 35% of your score) so it is best to ensure your current payments are being made on time. A new feature by Experian can help improve your score instantly - Experian Boost™ helps by giving you credit for the utility and mobile phone bills you're already paying. 

The Right Debt

Not all debt is able to be consolidated. Generally, any installment loans, credit cards, store-issued credit, medical bills, and payday loans are eligible for consolidation. Debt that is not excessive (ideally $5,000-$40,000) aligns with most debt consolidation lenders. The consolidation loan rolls these multiple debts into a single payment to help manage your debt. If your debt is too extreme, the consolidation lender may not be able to offer affordable payments, and you may want to explore alternatives, like debt settlement or credit counseling.

The Ultimate Goal

Ultimately, debt consolidation is part of a plan to become debt-free. For this reason, a debt consolidation loan works best if you are willing to stick to a budget and not build back up debt that was just paid off with the consolidation loan. This allows you to commit to the loan payment and achieve your goals. 

The Real Advantage

The most obvious advantage of a Debt Consolidation Loan is reducing debt. More specifically, though, debt consolidation loans create a single payment to pay off multiple creditors, which helps avoid missed payments and penalties. Credit card interest can range from 18-25%, and in most cases a debt consolidation loan can offer a lower interest rate, allowing the debt to be paid off quicker as a result of these interest savings. 

APPLY TODAY

Get it all with Collette Vacation Tours

Collette Vacation Tours offer you more for less (stress). Collette gives you more value for your money in every way, from devising your itinerary and trip logistics for you to having a highly trained tour manager at your service. With Collette, you're able to customize your adventure with all of the iconic must-sees and authentic cultural experiences you have on your bucket list! 

Expert Tour Guides
Collette’s team of experts have built relationships all over the world. Collette’s tour managers have their own rich backgrounds which are complemented with extensive training to enhance each journey. In addition to your tour manager, you’ll get in-depth insight from locally based guides. You can count on Collette's highly trained experts every step of the way for restaurant suggestions, historic information, and so much more.

Cultural Immersion
The cultural experiences you’ll find as part of each itinerary are travel moments which immerse you into the destination. Whether you're interested in preparing tea in Japan or learning how to play the bagpipes in Scotland, Collette has you covered. 

Options on Tour
Collette understands that every traveler is unique. Collette has itineraries with choices built in so that you can customize your own adventures. All of these choices are included with the price of your tour! Enhance your experience and make the most of your time in the world. 

BROWSE TOURS 
For reservations, call Collette at 844-868-2685 or contact your travel professional.

Use offer code UNIONSAVE.
Mention your union member benefit and save an additional $50 per person!^*

September is Pet Health Insurance Awareness Month. What is pet health insurance? Put simply, when you take your dog or cat to the veterinarian, pet insurance reimburses you on the veterinary bill for eligible expenses. Eligible expenses depend on the coverage of the plan you purchase. 

Your Pet Insurance Discount

As a union member, you’ll get up to a 10% exclusive discount on pet insurance plans offered by Pets Best. 

What Do Pet Health Insurance Plans Cover?

Accident and Illness Plans

Most pet owners purchase an Accident and Illness plan, which have the most comprehensive coverage. Accident examples include broken bones, lacerations, getting bitten by another animal, and more. Illness examples include cancer, ear infections, allergies, diabetes, and much more.

Routine Wellness Plans

Wellness plans can be added-on to the Accident-and-Illness plans. These plans reimburse on routine care items for pets, such as flea/tick preventatives, spay/neuter, and teeth cleaning.

Accident Only Plans

Accident Only plans are also available for pet owners who aren’t looking for illness coverage and they tend to be budget friendly.

Why Get Pet Health Insurance?

According to the American Pet Products Association, 1 in 3 pets will need emergency veterinary treatment every year. If you have a dog or cat, especially if they’ve had an unexpected accident or illness, you’ve seen how expensive veterinary care is. Veterinary care has significantly increased in cost and for good reason, the quality of care and treatment options they are able to offer has never been better.

Pet Heath Insurance Resources

As a union member we’ve already done the legwork for you. Union Plus chose Pets Best, a leading U.S. provider, to offer pet insurance plans to their members. You’ll even get up to a 10% discount.

LEARN MORE AND GET A QUOTE 

If you’re looking to learn more about pet health insurance in general, here are some great resources to check out:

• The North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). To help educate pet owners in researching pet health insurance options, they created a buying guide.
• The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has a list of nine things pet insurance should do/include.

If you’re about to go down the road of selling your home, you’ve probably heard that it’s not for the faint of heart. Especially in a buyer’s market or during the winter months — patience, creativity and persistence will be essential tools you’ll need in order to find the right buyer.

Avoid some common mistakes by checking out this list.

Know Your Market

If you decide to go “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) — you’ll need to educate yourself on your market. The best way to do this is to subscribe to sites like Trulia and Zillow by creating profiles and then saving a search for comparable homes for sale in your area. These sites will send you any new listings that become available in your area. You should also search for homes recently sold that are comparable to your home — this will help you to gauge where your home should be priced. Look at trend reports for your area to get a sense for your market — are homes selling? Where are they selling? When are they selling? And, at what price point? You’ll notice that in some areas certain neighborhoods, price points or types of homes might be selling quicker than others. Look for these trends so that you can better position your home when you list it.

Not Getting on the MLS

Whether you’re FSBO or using a realtor, getting your home on the MLS is extremely important. Adding your listing to ancillary sites like Zillow or Trulia is also a good idea — but, typically your real estate agent will manage this for you. If you are FSBO, be sure to look at MLS listing options that include other site listings in the purchase price. Once your listings are added — be sure you have ownership over it. Log into these accounts and update your listings to include as much media (pictures/videos) and information as you can. The more the better! And, if you decide to change your price, make sure to update all sites.

Not Even Considering a Real Estate Agent

If you’re looking at the dollars and cents, you might be apprehensive about hiring a real estate agent. But, before you make a final decision consider this:

• You will most likely have to pay for the buying agent out of pocket, so your listing agent would (typically) only be a 3% commission on the sales price.
• Calculate 3% of your home price and think about the hours it might take away from your work or home life to market and show your home.
• If you don’t have a real estate agent, you might need to pay for a lawyer to double check your contracts (which will cost some money).
• Agents have access to numerous marketing tools and sites, not available to the public

If you’re ready to sell or purchase a home, check out the Union Plus Real Estate Rewards program. You could get $500 for every $100,000 in home value if you use a real estate agent approved by SIRVA.*

Settling debts or declaring bankruptcy are two routes that some people choose to get out from overwhelming debt. Each offers its pros (and cons). But the goal is the same — get back on your financial feet.

How Does Debt Settlement Work?

If you’re already behind on your bills, you may be able to settle your debts with your creditors.

“In a debt settlement situation, the goal is to pay the creditor less than the entire amount and pay them over time interest-free,” says Leslie H. Tayne, Esq., a financial attorney and author of Life and Debt. “The debt settlement company or attorney is negotiating with them to settle the debt.” Alternatively, you may be able to negotiate your own settlements with your creditors.

A creditor may agree to take less than the full amount you owe because at least it’s getting something — particularly if you have an unsecured loan (such as credit card debt) and don’t owe so much that it’s worth the creditor’s time and money to sue you.

Generally, you’ll have to put money aside each month and build up a fund that you can use to settle your debts. You (or the company representing you) will then offer the creditor a lump-sum payment or a monthly payment plan that results in repaying less than what you currently owe.

How Does Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Work?

There are two common types of consumer bankruptcy, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy (i.e., liquidation) could immediately wipe out your debts. However, you’ll need to qualify based on your income, and you’ll be forced to sell your non-exempt property.

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be a better option (and potentially your only option) depending on your income. With a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you can:

Keep all your property
Catch up on payments and avoid foreclosure or repossessions
Make monthly payments for three to five years and then have your remaining debt discharged
There are still limitations on who can file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, though. “You don’t get the right to file bankruptcy, you have to qualify for a Chapter 13, which means your income has to meet the means tests,” says Tayne. “ Then, you have to provide a proposed plan on how you’re going to pay back your creditors.”

When Might Debt Settlement Be Best?

If you’re already behind on your bills (creditors are unlikely to accept less than the full amount owed if you’re current) and primarily have unsecured debts, then debt settlement might be a good option.

You could benefit by repaying less money and may be able to set up a monthly payment plan for the settled amount. Tayne also points out that when you apply for insurance or financial accounts in the future, “they may ask if you’ve filed bankruptcy. But they generally won’t ask if you’ve settled debts.”

Debt settlement can also be more flexible if your financial situation changes. “In a bankruptcy situation, you have to report the changes back to the trustee, and that could alter your plan,” Tayne says. But with a debt settlement, you can stick to the same plan even if your income increases.

The drawbacks to debt settlement include potentially more severe consequences for a missed payment. “If you miss a payment, the creditor may be able to get the full amount you owed minus the amount you already paid,” says Shawn M. Yesner, Esq., owner of Yesner Law, PL. Missing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan payment could lead to your case being dismissed, but you may have a chance to catch up on your payments first.

Additionally, even if you can settle some of your debts, other creditors might not agree to your debt settlement offers, which could leave you on the line for the full amount.

You’ll also need to watch out for debt settlement scams. You may be left with larger balances as your debts accrue interest and fees during the settlement “process,” if the company isn’t able (or, even worse, never tries) to settle the debts.

When Might Chapter 13 Be Best?

“The issue that I find when I’m doing a debt settlement is the borrower must have a lump sum of money to get rid of the creditor, or has to be able to afford a monthly plan,” says Yesner. “The debt settlement plan only works if you can settle with all of them. Otherwise, you may wind up in bankruptcy anyway.”

Additionally, settling with a few creditors can lead to issues if you wind up declaring bankruptcy later. “You’re not allowed to give preference to one creditor before filing bankruptcy,” says Yesner. If you’ve already settled debts, the bankruptcy trustee may raise your monthly payments and use the money to offset the earlier settlements. Or, it could clawback your settlement payments and spread out the money amongst your creditors.

“A lot of times, the Chapter 13 will be a more efficient use of your money,” says Yesner. This is because your Chapter 13 monthly payment amount may be lower than the combined monthly payments from debt settlements, and the remainder of your debt could be discharged after you complete the bankruptcy payment plan.

Chapter 13 may also be a better option if you’re dealing with a foreclosure or vehicle repossession. You may lose your home or car while pursuing a settlement, but could be given the opportunity to catch up with a Chapter 13.

However, Chapter 13 can result in repaying more overall than debt settlement. You also won’t be able to file for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy during the next six years, will be on a payment plan for three to five years, and all your disposable income will be tied up the payments.

The bankruptcy may also have a larger negative impact on your creditworthiness (although, both settlement and bankruptcy can hurt your scores) as the bankruptcy can live on your credit reports for up to seven years after you file.

A Third Option — a Debt Management Plan

Another option may be to work with a certified credit counselor to set up a debt management plan (DMP). With a DMP, you’ll make one monthly payment to the credit counseling organization, which will then distribute the money to your creditors.

Although you’ll wind up repaying the debt in full, the credit counselor will negotiate with your monthly payment by reducing your interest rate, waiving fees, or moving you to a different payment plan. If you’re primarily dealing with a lot of credit card debt, a DMP can be an affordable option with a more positive impact on your credit history than debt settlement or bankruptcy.
 

A new home for your growing family.  A three car garage. Downsizing. Whatever your reason for buying or refinancing your first or next home, the Union Plus^® Mortgage program with financing provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is ready to help. The program delivers special home financing benefits that union members, their spouse (or domestic partner), parents, and children can take advantage of. 

And when you choose Wells Fargo, there's a better way to get a mortgage. You've got a team and a guide, a home mortgage consultant, who will take you all the way to closing.

We even give you a simplified way to manage the process. yourLoanTracker^SM lets you upload documents, get status updates and receive and sign important disclosures ... all online¹. From any computer, smartphone, or tablet, you'll see what's going on with your loan in real time. It's available for most loans, and you'll get access through your home mortgage consultant if yours is eligible. That's how we make the home loan process easier, your team and yourLoanTracker.

There are 4 main steps in the mortgage process, and the first is to Complete Your Application.

Start by connecting with a home mortgage consultant, who will help you understand and compare your loan options. Wells Fargo's exclusive PriorityBuyer^® preapproval letter gives you an estimate of how much you can borrow and a price range you're comfortable with. When you've found the right house, your home mortgage consultant will help you finish your application.

YourLoanTracker makes the next part a breeze. You'll have disclosures in minutes instead of waiting days to get them by mail. Right away you'll be able to see the terms and fees of your loan. Plus, you can send us supporting documents electronically: pay stubs, W2s, bank statements. Simply upload or take a picture, and it's all secure.

This brings us to Step 2, the Financial and Property Review. Your home loan processor and the rest of your team will look over your supporting documents to verify your application. If we need anything else from you, we'll let you know right away. We'll also order an independent appraisal to make sure the property value backs up the purchase price. Then, we send everything to the home loan underwriter.

Use yourLoanTracker to stay plugged into the process or see if there's anything you need to follow up on.

When everything's complete and you're approved, you'll get your final commitment letter from us, and be ready for step 3: Preparing to Close.

You're almost there ... just a few more things to take care of.

You'll need homeowners insurance, so be sure to check with your insurance company. We'll review your property title to make sure it's correct and schedule your closing date. At least three days before you close, check yourLoanTracker for your closing disclosure. You'll sign this later, so look it over carefully. It will tell you things like your final interest rate, monthly payment, and how much money you may need to bring to your closing. Your home mortgage consultant is available to answer any questions.

Now you're ready for step 4: Closing!

There will be three main players at your closing: you, your settlement agent, and a whole lot of documents. No worries, though; you've seen some of these in yourLoanTracker. And your settlement agent is there to walk you through them. When all the paperwork is done and you've paid any closing costs, you'll get your keys.

And after closing on a loan through the Union Plus Mortgage program, you’ll be eligible for special benefits that include receiving a My Mortgage Gift^SM award from Wells Fargo - $500 for buying a home or $300 for refinancing your home – for use at participating retailers and access to mortgage assistance through Union Plus in times of hardship such as layoff, disability or strike.³ Additionally, qualifying union member veterans can also complete an application with Union Plus to receive a $1,000 Mortgage Veteran’s Grant⁴ within 90 days of closing on a new primary home purchase through the program.  Terms and restrictions may apply. 

Learn more about the Union Plus Mortgage program, talk to a Union Plus Mortgage Specialist at 866-802-7307 or request a personal consultation. 

Say goodbye to a much-loved home and settle in quickly to a new place with these tips for transitioning.

How to Say Goodbye to Your Old Home

Take photos of it. Before everything is swept up into moving boxes, take photos of your home. Document each room, so you can revisit it later. If you have children, snap pictures of them, too, enjoying the house as usual: drawing at the kitchen table, playing in the garden, chilling in front of the TV. 

Snap it messy! Take pictures of your home on a typical day, when it’s not clean and tidy. This will provide a more meaningful record of your house and how you used it. You could arrange all these images in an album, with the address and the dates you lived there on the front. 

Leave your mark. Why not leave a little something of yourself behind before you move out? No, that does not mean a sink full of unwashed coffee mugs! Try something subtler. You could go for the classic time capsule, hidden in the attic. Or write a letter to the new owners, welcoming them to the house and explaining what you loved about it. 

Hold a goodbye party. Celebrate your home and the life it has given you with a goodbye party. It doesn’t matter if you’ve already started to pack — your guests can happily negotiate a few boxes. String up some lights, play some music and enjoy the house with the family and friends you’ve shared it with over the years. Don’t forget to raise a glass to your new home.

How to Settle Into Your New Home

Clean up. When you arrive in a new home, nothing looks, feels or even smells the same way, which can be unsettling. So start by cleaning surfaces, floors and inside cupboards with some familiar, fresh-scented products to help make the place feel like yours.

Get fresh. Fling open the windows on the first day, too, to air out the rooms and freshen up the whole house. In the evening, light a few scented candles.

Grab a few goodies. Piles of moving boxes and empty rooms do not help a house feel like a home, so treat yourself and your new place to a few goodies that will make it feel special. Arrange some fresh flowers, bought at the store on the way to the house or picked from the garden, or buy quality hand soap or a few new towels. 

Don’t forget the pets! Dogs and cats may also take a while to settle into a new home, so try to ease the transition for them, too. When you arrive at your new home, shut the cat in a single room for safety, with water, the litter tray and its bed. You can let your cat out at the end of the day to explore, but confine it to a few rooms so it doesn’t feel overwhelmed. Cats should be kept inside the house for a week or so to prevent them from trying to return to your old home.

Do right by your dog. You should introduce your dog to the new house. Keep your dog on a leash and take it around the key rooms, one at a time, allowing it to sniff and explore, but under your supervision. Point out where its bed is and even keep upper floors out of bounds at first, so it doesn’t feel overwhelmed by its new territory.

Personalize the place. Paint a wall, hang photos or buy some new blinds. Even if the rest of the redecorating will take months, a few small tweaks can really help you start to stamp your personality on your new home.

Host a housewarming. Sharing your new home with family and friends can help you bond with it, so host a party — no gifts required. You might like to invite new neighbors, too, as a good chance to get to know them, or simply keep it small and intimate.

Ready to sell or buy a home? Check out the Union Plus Real Estate Rewards program. You could get $500 for every $100,000 in home value if you use a real estate agent approved by SIRVA to sell or buy a home.*

A sobering truth is that older adults are oftentimes the target of costly scams. It makes perfect sense: they tend to have a more robust nest egg. What’s more, they might not know how to go about reporting such a crime, or might be embarrassed to be the target of a fraudster. In turn, they aren’t as likely to report it.

Scams targeting the elderly are rampant and come in many shapes and sizes. Here are just a few of the most popular examples, with tips on how to avoid falling victim.

The “Help Your Friend in an Emergency” Scam

In this scam, also known as the grandparent scam, the con artist will pretend to be somebody you know. They’ll usually reach out to you by email or on social media asking for money, explains Justin Pritchard, a CFP® and founder of Approach Financial. “They might say they’re being held in jail without justification, that they just got robbed and need cash to continue with their trip, or that they need help with emergency expenses,” says Pritchard. Bottom line: They’re in a bind, and need money.

How to Prevent: It’s best to reach out to the person who the con artist claims to be directly, and through a different mode of communication, advises Pritchard. For example, if the scammer send you an email, try calling their phone even though they say they’re out of the country or in jail. “If they answer, you know it’s a scam,” says Pritchard.

If you can’t get a hold of the person, contact other friends and relatives to ask if the story sounds legitimate. Presumably, somebody close to them would know if the person is actually traveling. “If all else fails, start asking questions,” says Pritchard. “Either ask for details, or ask them to verify something that only the two of you know. Whatever you do, don’t offer to send them any money before you reach out to your grandchild, relative, or friend directly and verify their identity.”

IRS Phone Call

In this scam, you’ll get a call with urgent news that you owe taxes. The caller is oftentimes hostile and will toss a litany of threats: jail time or revoking your driver’s license, says AnnaMarie Mock, a CFP® of Highland Financial Advisors. “They might know the last four digits of your Social Security Number, and might even mimic the IRS toll free number on the caller ID,” says Mock.

How To Prevent: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will never initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text, phone, or social media, explains Mock. The IRS only sends written notifications through the mail and will never ask for credit card, debit card, or prepaid card information over the telephone. Mock suggests reporting the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800.366.4484 or through the IRS phishing reporting page.

You’ve Won the Lottery

You might receive false notification that you’ve won a lottery prize or sweepstakes. You might receive notice via email, text, or a phone call. You’ll be congratulated, but advised that in order to receive your prize, you’ll need to send money for taxes or a processing fee or taxes.

In some cases, the scam many even continue after you realize you’ve been taken. “Once the individual realizes there’s no reward, a cohort of the original scammer calls, pretending to be an attorney that requires an upfront fee.” In the end, you could possibly be victimized by the same scam twice.

How To Prevent: Don’t be duped. If you haven’t entered a sweepstakes, you probably haven’t won a sweepstakes. Unearned high value prizes are often a sign of a scam. Avoid the “pay to play” sweepstakes, says Mock. If it’s too good to be true, it’s probably not true.

Internet Fraud

Internet fraud is on the rise. In 2018, phishing scams accounted for almost 14 percent of all reported scams, followed by 11 percent from harassment and life threats.

“Phishing scams involve an authentic-looking email, text message, or website that will request financial information like account numbers or credit card numbers,” says Mock. “Scammers can design resources to appear like a legitimate business - or even an institution you have a relationship with already such as your banking institution.”

How to Prevent: Never email sensitive information as it’s not a secure method, advises Mock. And don’t open attachments or click links from unknown senders, as they can contain viruses or malware.

Phantom Debt

In this scenario, fraudsters will contact the victims about non-existent debt. The scammers will ask for a method of payment where they can remain anonymous, like prepaid debit cards or a wire transfer.

“The collectors might have some personal information that appears to be legitimate, but will refuse to answer specific questions related to the debt,” says Mock. “They’ll ask for sensitive personal information and will refuse to provide a phone number or mailing address of the agency.”

How to Prevent: Ask for the caller to verify their name, company, address, and phone number, recommends Mock. “You can even request a written explanation of the debt including all information about the amount, charges, and creditor,” she says. “If you cannot verify, do not provide them with any sensitive personal information.”

Report Financial Elder Abuse and Fraud

Unfortunately, financial elder abuse is widespread and the victims are often not in the best position to protect themselves or get the assistance they need. If you feel that an elderly friend or family member is being taken advantage of, report the situation to the Adult Protective Services agency in your area. You can use eldercare.acl.gov or call 800.677.1116 to connect with the appropriate resources in your community. If you suspect you’ve been a victim of identity theft, contact the local police department or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 877.438.4338.

If you're approaching or have previously entered retirement and need advice and solutions for debt and budgeting issues, Money Management International (MMI) is here to help. Our team of financial counselors can provide information and resources to help you make the most of your senior years..

Jackie Lam is an L.A.-based personal finance writer who is passionate about helping creatives with their finances. Her work has appeared in Forbes, Mental Floss, Business Insider, and GOOD. She blogs at heyfreelancer.com.