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The most dangerous scam isn’t the one you’ve never heard of, it’s the one that feels urgent, secret, and strangely personal. Take It To The Board host Donna DiMaggio Berger sits down with Paul Greenwood, who led San Diego’s elder abuse prosecution unit for 22 years, to unpack how fraudsters weaponize emotion, AI, and routine technology to separate people from their savings. From “Granny, I’m in jail” calls to deepfake audio, from bogus jury-duty warrants to polished romance profiles, they trace the tactics that work across ages and communities—and show you how to avoid disaster.

Together, Donna and Paul explain why the core script rarely changes: act now, tell no one, pay in untraceable ways. He shares the S.C.A.M. method—Stop, Check, Ask, Mention—as a simple, repeatable defense that anyone can use before clicking a link or transferring funds. They dig into voice cloning, video generation, and how call centers in repurposed casinos run large-scale romance-investment schemes. You’ll hear why isolation is a critical red flag, how caregivers and even professionals can exploit access, and how a short letter to your parent’s bank can trigger real oversight. They also describe the first-hour playbook if you’ve been hit: contact your bank, file a police report, and submit to ic3.gov while reaching out to merchants or crypto kiosks to freeze wallets fast.

For condo and HOA leaders, this conversation doubles as a toolkit for community safety: host fraud-prevention workshops, use clear language in newsletters, and create a simple reporting pathway that protects privacy while mobilizing help. Paul’s courtroom stories reveal the true cost of fraud—lost homes, shattered health, and lingering shame—and why judges, banks, and families must treat it with the seriousness it deserves. You’ll leave with practical steps, tested scripts, and resources to share with parents, neighbors, and boards.

Conversation Highlights:

• A breakdown of the most common scams targeting consumers today
• The three red flags every listener should memorize before answering a call, opening an email, or clicking a link
• How victims can move past shame and take action—reporting scams and starting the recovery process
• Which scams are surging right now (romance, tech support, government impostors, investment and crypto) and what makes each one so convincing
• The one bank or retailer safeguard that could prevent a significant portion of scam losses if implemented tomorrow
• Debunking the myth that only older generations fall victim to scams—and how Millennials and Gen Z are targeted differently
• How HOAs and condo associations can play a meaningful role in fraud prevention, from newsletters and lobby screens to manager training
• Red flags that expose illegitimate door-to-door contractors after storms—and what associations should communicate to residents right away
• A one-minute checklist listeners can use to protect themselves and their families, covering phones, email, banking, passwords, and credit freezes
• The single scam line everyone should hang up on immediately

Related Links:

• Resource: Common Frauds and Scams
• Article: Government Issues Scam Alert for Corporate Transparency Act
• Resource: What are some common types of scams?