According to the Federal Trade Commission, impostor scams – scams where con artists pretend to be with a government agency, a business or have a personal relationship with a potential scam victim - were the most commonly reported type of scam in 2019.

A recent AARP survey confirms this data.

AARP spoke to adults age 18 and older and found 47 percent have been targeted by at least one impostor scam. Worse yet, 18 percent of U.S. adults targeted or victimized by a scam report experiencing health problems or emotional distress due to the experience.

The best way to avoid impostor scams is to know how they work. And despite the many ways scammers can do their bidding, they are most successful at finding victims by phone.

AARP offers the following strategies:

•Do not rely on caller ID. Screen calls through an answering machine or voicemail.

• Listen to voice messages and ask yourself if something seems suspicious.

• Call back on a number known to belong to whomever is calling.

Report scams to local law enforcement.

For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network website at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.