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Scams & Fraud
With more than 50 million Americans age 60 and older, seniors are prime targets for financial exploitation, both by people they know and trust and by strangers. Financial exploitation is believed to cost older adults over $3 billion annually. The following resources provide information about the various common types of fraud and financial scams and how you can protect yourself or a loved one.
Articles from the National Council on Aging: Avoiding Scams and Fraud for Older Adults
The following articles provide a wealth of unbiased information that you can trust to help protect your financial security:
Top 10 Financial Scams Targeting Seniors: Learn how to identify and stop the most prominent scams so you can protect yourself and your loved ones from financial fraud.
Sweetheart Scams - How to Avoid Being a Victim: A sweetheart scam is when a person uses a fake online profile to engage victims, stir up romantic feelings, and ask for money.
Protecting Yourself Against Tech Support Scams: Computer technical support scams involve unsolicited offers to fix a “problem” with your computer or software.
How to Prevent Phishing Scams: Phishing is a type of internet hoax in which scammers use email and other methods to steal personal information, such as financial details or account passwords.
How to Create Strong Passwords - A Simple Guide: Learn steps you can take to create and manage theft-proof passwords for the sites and applications you use every day.
Additional Reliable Resources to Help Avoid Scams
Home Improvement Scams: This online brochure provides you with information, tips and resources to help you avoid being the target of a home improvement scam. Information from the Administration on Aging.
Financial Abuse Roadmap: An interesting resource from the federal Department of Justice. Answer a few simple questions and be directed to resources to help you.
Scams and Safety - Elder Fraud: With the elderly population growing and seniors racking up more than $3 billion in losses annually, elder fraud is likely to be a growing problem. Information from the FBI.
Common Scams That Target the Elderly: There are plenty of ways to stay ahead of the fraudsters and avoid getting scammed. This guide from SeniorLiving.org, walks you through the most common scams that target older adults, so you know exactly what to look out for.
