R.O.S.E., Resources/Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly
Imagine waking up to hundreds of emails from companies you have never heard of. Newsletters, promotions, subscriptions, confirmations. Your inbox is suddenly overflowing with junk.
It may not be random.
“Email bombing,” sometimes called “subscription bombing,” is a tactic criminals can use to hide an important email from you. A fraudster may use your email address to sign you up for hundreds of mailing lists at once. In the middle of all that noise could be something much more important, such as a notification that a new credit card, bank account, or other financial account has been opened in your name.
The goal is simple: bury the warning so you don’t see it.
If your inbox suddenly becomes flooded with subscription emails, don’t simply delete them all and move on. Take a few minutes to look for messages from banks, credit card companies, financial institutions, or other businesses you recognize.
If you find an account-opening notification you don’t recognize, contact the company directly using a phone number or website you know is legitimate. Do not use the contact information from the email.
Now would also be a good time to make sure you have a credit freeze in place with each of the three credit bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.
And remember: a sudden flood of junk email can be a warning sign, not just an annoyance.
Pause. Look. Verify.
R.O.S.E. seeks to create change by educating and providing awareness of financial scams that typically target the older adult population, with a focus on those age 60 and over. For more information and resources, visit roseadvocacy.org, email us at info@roseadvocacy.org, or call us at
602-445-7673.