AARP Pennsylvania is alerting consumers to be vigilant against increasingly sophisticated phishing scams that aim to steal personal and financial information.

According to the FBI's latest Internet Crimes Report, phishing was the most commonly reported cybercrime in 2023, with nearly 300,000 complaints and losses exceeding $18.7 million — a figure experts believe is significantly underreported.

"Phishing scams have been around for decades, but they are more deceptive than ever," said Mary Bach, chair of AARP Pennsylvania's Consumer Issues Task Force. "Scammers pose as trusted businesses or government agencies to trick you into giving up sensitive information."

These fraudulent communications often arrive as emails, text messages, phone calls or fake websites claiming account problems, failed deliveries or pending legal actions. Modern scammers frequently manipulate caller ID information to appear legitimate.

AARP Pennsylvania recommends several protective measures: carefully verifying sender information, avoiding suspicious links and attachments, using strong passwords with multi-factor authentication, and reporting suspicious messages to the Federal Trade Commission at reportphishing@apwg.org.

"By staying informed and taking a few simple precautions, consumers can greatly reduce their risk," said David Kalinoski, AARP Pennsylvania associate state director.

Individuals who encounter scams should report them to local law enforcement and can seek assistance through AARP's fraud helpline at 1-877-908-3360 or visit aarp.org/pafraud.