Elderly people warned against fraud

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Heritage Area Agency on Aging is warning that some of the most common victims of scams are seniors and asking people to be wary of attempts made via phone or text message.

The National Council on Aging reported that people 60 and older lost $3.4 billion to online fraud in 2023, an 11% increase from 2022. Heritage saw 56 cases of financial abuse last year; more than a quarter of these were cases of elder abuse. be dependent on finances.

A more recent scam that Heritage has seen is linked to mail delivery. Typically, people may receive a message that appears to be from a mail carrier such as UPS, requesting payment to complete the delivery of a package.

Another common method is for the scammer to pose as a family member or friend in need.

”Someone reaches out saying, ‘Hey grandma, hey grandpa, I had an accident or I’m in jail right now.’ I want you to send me money so I can go out or fix my car,’” Heritage’s Harrison March said.

In these cases, March recommends reaching out to other family members to verify what the other person said on the phone. It’s also a good rule to be careful when someone asks for money or personal information over the phone.

Because AI technology allows people to digitally mimic someone else’s voice, some of these callers can actually sound like a loved one.

“AI is really impressive across age groups,” March said. “Older adults aren’t the only ones who can be deceived.”

March also says seniors are common targets because of their willingness to help others. This could be seen as the holidays are approaching as scammers pretend to be charities.

“It’s heartbreaking to hear that these people who are really just trying to be kind and help their loved ones or their community are being taken advantage of.
” said March.

Other scams where people pretend to be relatives or even romantic partners can take time.

“There are ‘long-term drawbacks,’ where someone develops a relationship for weeks, months, and maybe even years before trying to steal money or steal valuables,” March said.

The Heritage Site Agency on Aging says they have resources for people suffering. They should also contact local law enforcement if they believe they have been contacted by a scammer.

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