Senior News Line: Scams on your phone

No, the Internal Revenue Service isn’t going to send you a text message asking you to pay with a gift card. No, your water company isn’t going to send a message to your phone demanding that you immediately pay the next year’s usage in advance because of “a new state law.”

And, no, you can’t be sure the voice on the panic phone call you receive about needing money is really your grandchild.

Don’t get taken in by a scam. The IRS doesn’t want gift cards. They want real money. And they’ll let you know via letter, not on your phone.

The water company’s demand for a year’s payment in advance because of a state law you’ve never heard of? Fake!

And that pitiful voice on the phone that you believe is your grandchild asking for money, not so fast. One of the worst steps artificial intelligence has taken lately is the ability to mimic voices.

Some basic rules for this brave, new world:

• Don’t be so quick to hand out your cell phone number to just anyone who asks for it. Once it’s out there, you have no control over how far — and to whom it will go. Pause before you give the number out. Feel free to lie: “I don’t have a cell phone.” Or, even just say, “I don’t give that number out.”

• Create a family code word and use it to ensure who’s really on the other end of the phone asking for money.

If you’ve had your phone for a long time, you have your work cut out for you to battle against those who would try to scam you using that number. Be on guard each time the phone rings or a text message comes through.

Remember: Don’t click links!