The ability of technology to connect us to family and friends is amazing.

Grandparents can talk online with their grandkids, high school friends can stay in touch from across the country and you can meet new people with similar interests every day.

However, the distance and remote nature of digital communications means you often don’t know exactly who you’re connecting to.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, scammers stole nearly half a billion dollars in 2018 by posing as someone else online.

These impostor scams take many forms. They can pretend to be government agencies, a burgeoning love interest or a long-lost friend.

However, they all have one thing in common: at some point, they will ask you for money. Here’s a rule to live by: if someone you’ve only met online and never in person asks you for money, assume it is a scam.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

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Visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network ataarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360 to report a scam or get help if you’ve fallen victim.