BBB urges older adults to watch for common scams involving investments, home improvements, government impostors and requests for immediate payment. Photo courtesy of Better Business Bureau

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - Older adults face scams ranging from fraudulent investments and romance schemes to home improvement fraud and government impostors, prompting the Better Business Bureau to urge consumers to recognize common warning signs.

According to the BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report, investment and cryptocurrency scams remain among the riskiest for consumers 55 and older. Online purchase scams ranked second for those ages 55 to 64, while romance scams ranked second among consumers 65 and older. Home improvement scams ranked third for both groups.

BBB warns consumers to use caution when receiving unsolicited telephone calls, particularly from callers claiming to represent a government agency or financial institution.

Scammers may manipulate caller ID information to make calls appear legitimate. BBB recommends hanging up and contacting an agency, bank or other organization directly using a verified telephone number.

Consumers should also watch for offers that appear too good to be true, demands for immediate action and requests for payment through gift cards, prepaid debit cards or wire transfers.

Home improvement scams present another concern. BBB recommends against hiring contractors who unexpectedly arrive at a home offering repairs or inspections. Consumers should research contractors, verify required licenses and avoid paying the entire cost of a project upfront.

Emergency scams may involve callers posing as grandchildren or other relatives who claim they have been arrested, injured or stranded and urgently need money. Scammers may gather names, travel plans and other family information from social media to make their stories more convincing.

Government impostor scams use similar tactics. Callers may claim to represent agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration or Department of Veterans Affairs and threaten the loss of benefits or other consequences unless the consumer provides personal information or makes an immediate payment.

BBB also warns about unsolicited offers for medical equipment. Scammers may contact Medicare recipients offering supposedly free equipment, such as braces or walkers, and then bill Medicare.

Romance and investment scams can develop over longer periods as scammers work to gain a victim's trust before requesting money.

BBB recommends that consumers avoid providing personal or financial information to unsolicited callers, regularly review financial statements and discuss questionable offers with someone they trust before sending money.

Consumers can learn more at http://BBB.org/AvoidScams. Suspected scams can be reported through BBB Scam Tracker at http://BBB.org/ScamTracker.