I’m quickly approaching what’s often called the “golden years”. But the view from where I’m standing seems anything but golden. Between the threats of a Social Security implosion and drastic health care cuts while the cost of health care skyrockets there’s the constant barrage of new and ingenious scams targeting seniors. The newest one involves callers posing as government officials attempting to collect your health information as part of the new Affordable Care Act. One victim of this scam was deceived when the caller, in an attempt to come across as legitimate, referenced the woman’s daughter, who, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, was easily traced through a public records search on the internet. Protect yourself and your friends and loved ones by being aware of the common red flags of scammers. If someone calls asking you to wire them money, rest assured it’s a scam. Also, scammers are nothing of not tenacious and pushy, but don’t be intimidated. Forget about being rude, it’s your phone, just hang up. And this cannot be emphasized enough, never ever give out personal details such as birth dates, license numbers, social security numbers, or account numbers over the phone. They may not necessarily be golden years, but they don’t have to be the tarnished years either.