Beyond working as a math teacher at St. Raymond's High School in New York, Paul Gilvary has been involved in high school athletics since 2001 as chairman of soccer and basketball with the Catholic High School Athletic Association. In addition, Paul Gilvary holds membership with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
As the leading professional organization for individuals over the age of 50, AARP works to enact social change to better the lives of its members. It also provides its members with a variety of programs and resources, including tips on how to avoid being the victim of fraud. To that end, AARP operates a free helpline (877-908-3360) that members can call if they suspect themselves or a loved one has been targeted for a possible scam. Moreover, its website has a Fraud Resource Center with information on dozens of types of scams, including robocalls, medical identity theft, home improvement scams, vacation scams, and phishing.
The goal of a phishing scam for the perpetrator is to acquire valuable financial and personal data, which can then be leveraged to steal the victim's identity and/or money. Although mostly associated with email, phishing attempts can come via text message, phone, or pop-up website ads. Generally, phishers either promise free products or services or threaten legal or financial harm by referring to supposed unpaid bills.
One of the most obvious signs of a phishing scam, especially those attempted via email, is when the greeting says "dear customer" as opposed to the targeted victim's name. Other signs include vague language such as "payment issue," promises of cheap travel deals, and requests to click on a link or open an attachment.
To avoid phishing scams, always be sure to check the sender's email address, vary passwords for online accounts, and use anti-virus software and firewalls to block malicious files.
