MINOT, ND ( KXNET ) — Scams can happen to anyone at any time, and AARP was hosting a lunch and learn at the Sleep Inn and Suites in Minot.

Guest speaker, Tonya Hetzler, shared information on how to notice scams and prevent them.

She says a main tool is knowing the payment method — because scammers want your personal information or money.

Some tips include never wiring money and not buying gift cards — as scammers often request these as a form of payment.

Other scam methods include mailing money and even Bitcoin machines, which aren’t as secure as people believe.

They don’t have statistics on how many seniors get scammed each year, but they already have reports from this year.

“This year already, since January, we have 56 reports already at $1.2 million,” said Hetzler.

Hetzler says seniors are often targeted over other age groups because they generally have more money.

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