The Big Con: Outsmarting the 5 Sneakiest Financial Scams

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In this episode, we’re talking about the top scams you’re likely to see in retirement and how you can avoid them.

Did you know that more than $28 billion is stolen from those aged 60 and older each year?

So, how do you avoid becoming a depressing statistic if you’re in retirement or approaching retirement? Today, we will talk to an expert on banking for retirees. He’s seen it all, and he’s ready to talk to us about what you’re likely to see and how to avoid falling victim.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Our special guest is Tony Brancato, the head of product at Charlie, a company that focuses on 62+ banking.

Before we start, remember this isn’t financial advice. So make sure to do your research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here. Additionally, we need to acknowledge our advertising relationship with Charlie. Even though they are one of our partners, it doesn’t affect our opinions.

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Scams and fraud can be anywhere — what you need to know

Scams are plentiful and fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated. It’s important to be vigilant. Our guest talks about some of the most common scams and what you need to know about avoiding them. Plus, he’ll share some tools available for those over the age of 62 with the help of the banking product Charlie. In the meantime, check out our resources and further information about scams and frauds:

Money tips, tricks and resources for financial freedom

If you want non-scammy help with various aspects of your finances, we’ve got you covered. Check out our website for money tips and resources:

Meet this week’s guest, Tony Brancato

Tony Brancato
Courtesy of Tony Brancato / Money Talks News

Tony Brancato is the head of product at Charlie, the new standard for 62+ banking.

Tony has developed digital products in the healthcare, media, and fintech industries for over 20 years.

He held product leadership positions at several media companies, including Patch.com, Time Inc., and most recently, served as VP of product and audience development at The New York Times.

Tony also served in a senior product role at Amazon, as general manager for advertising at IMDB.com, chief product officer at Renew Health, and executive vice president for platform at Olive, the automation and intelligence company working to bridge the divide in healthcare.

Tony is the founder of The Influence Project, a data-driven cultural preservation initiative, and a lecturer at UCLA.

He is a graduate of Brown University.

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About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He’s a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She’s been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

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