Retirees lose millions to fake holiday charities as scammers exploit seasonal generosity

Here's what every retiree (and their loved ones) should know about holiday charity scams and how to protect their money, identity and peace of mind.

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Retirees often give more generously than other groups. Scammers know this, and they know how to tailor their pitch.

When you combine generosity with publicly available data, scammers see retirees as the "perfect donors."

Here's how to protect yourself while still supporting the causes that matter to you:

Even if the charity itself is real, you need to protect how you give:

Here's something most people don't realize: many charity scams start with data brokers. These companies collect your personal details, such as age, phone number, donation history and even religious or political leanings, and sell them to anyone who asks. That means fraudsters can buy a ready-made list of "generous retirees who donate to veterans' causes" and start calling immediately. The more information out there about you, the more personalized and convincing scam calls become. That's why removing your data from broker sites is one of the most powerful defenses available to you.

Manually contacting hundreds of data brokers is a never-ending task. Each one has its own forms, emails and hoops to jump through, and many will re-add you months later. That's where a data removal service comes in. They automatically reach out to data brokers on your behalf, demand the removal of your personal info and keep following up so it doesn't creep back online.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren't cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It's what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

Have you ever been contacted by a fake charity during the holidays? What tipped you off? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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