Scammers are targeting your phone. Here’s what to watch for

Thousands of people are bilked every year by criminals who enter the lives of their victims through their telephones. Not long ago, AARP found that about half of all mobile calls were fraudulent, and the problem was worsening. Fraudulent landline calls are declining as the technology fades, but scam calls to fixed lines still nab plenty of unsuspecting victims. And while seniors are often the target of scammers, anyone can be taken for a ride. Here’s everything you need to know about phone scams — including some that take advantage of evolving technology like QR codes, and others that use coronavirus fears to their advantage — and how to avoid becoming a victim.