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In the last two decades, the over-65 population of the world has greatly increased, and so has the average life expectancy. In the same period, there have been dramatic advances in technology and a surge in the number of technological devices in most homes. A January 2022 Pew Research study found that 75% of adults over 65 in the United States use the internet regularly. Unfortunately, this increased use of technology brings a heightened risk of fraud for all Americans. In this article, we will address the most prevalent scams targeting our senior citizens and provide simple advice on protecting yourself and your elderly loved ones.
Why do Scammers target Older Americans?
Healthy and ailing seniors are equally targeted, as scammers repeatedly go after the life savings of the older generation. According to the Federal Reserve, at the end of Q1 of 2022, Americans aged 55 and up controlled 67.7% of all the wealth in the U.S. while representing only 21% of the population. Scammers take advantage of seniors’ lack of experience and knowledge about computers and cybersecurity.
Why Many Scams Against Seniors Go Unreported
Falling for a scam is often a source of embarrassment for older Americans as they and their loved ones may see this event as a sign of cognitive decline. But falling prey to these scams shouldn’t be a source of embarrassment, as the individuals committing these acts of fraud are highly trained experts. They successfully target people of all ages and economic and educational backgrounds. These professional criminals know what to say and how to sound incredibly convincing while adding a sense of urgency that the claim they are making must be handled immediately to avoid financial ruin. Even so, the elderly population falling victim to a scam is more likely to go unreported out of embarrassment, shame, fear, or simply not realizing that a crime has been committed. The real numbers are likely even higher because many of these thefts go unreported out of shame or lack of awareness that a crime has occurred. Unfortunately, the average amount people lose in a single scam increases with age but ranges from $600 to $1,600. This is only an average. Many higher-value scams have also been reported, upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Most Common Scams Targeting Seniors
According to a recent National Council on Aging (NCOA) report, scams targeting older adults are rising. In 2021, there were 92,371 older victims of fraud, resulting in $1.7 billion in losses. The five most common scams are summarized below, along with what to do to protect yourself and the seniors in your life.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a government agency, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Social Security Administration, or Medicare, be wary. Impersonators will attempt to convince you that they are acting on behalf of a legitimate agency. Never give out personal information on the phone or online when you receive a call. Hang up and call back at a published number for the agency, not a number provided to you by the caller. The impersonator may use intimidation tactics to scare you, such as saying that you owe taxes, threatening to seize your assets, or sending you to jail if you don’t act quickly. They may threaten to cut off your social security or medical benefits. Don’t be fooled. They are trying to get you to respond at the moment. A legitimate agency will never use these tactics. Remember, when in doubt… CHECK IT OUT. A legitimate government agency representative will understand if you state that you will call back to verify that this information is correct and not a fraud.
With the lure and excitement of winning something valuable, many victims willingly enter their bank account details to “validate their account” to receive the prize, only to find out later that funds have been removed from their account rather than added to it. Some scammers invoke the name of well-known prize organizations, like Publishers Clearing House, to instill trust, then ask for a credit card number or personal information, all intending to commit identity theft. Vacation scams might indicate a deep discount on a property that either doesn’t exist or isn’t owned by the person listing it. These offers will often stress the urgency of making a down payment immediately to lock in the discounted price. Once victims fall prey to the scam, they may receive multiple requests for information or money from the fraudsters over months or even years.
Robocalls take advantage of phone technology to simultaneously call thousands of phone numbers, hoping to find that one caller that will hold on the line long enough for a scammer to pick up the call. The robocall that everyone knows well is the expiring car warranty. These types of calls continue because they work based on the number of calls made across the country. If a person, in particular, an elder American, actually takes this call, they may purchase unwanted and unneeded items or worse. Criminals also use these robocalls to phish for personal information using a variety of pretenses. One very simple and dangerous technique used by scammers is the “Can you hear me?” scam. In this scam, the caller starts the conversation by saying, “Can you hear me?” They record the older person saying “yes.” The scammer convinces the elderly person to provide a credit card number, whether it’s a phony product or an intimidation scheme, claiming an “impending lawsuit” or fines from a government agency or police. If the senior objects to the charges, the scammer can use the recorded “yes” to state that the elder “consented” to the charges.
Whether a website pop-up, an email, or a phone call, Tech Support scams are an effective way to dupe unsuspecting people into providing confidential information, credit card information, and, worse, remote control to their computer. Older citizens who may lack knowledge about computers and cybersecurity are particularly vulnerable to this scam, which goes like this. A pop-up message or blank screen on a computer or phone telling the victim their device is damaged and needs an urgent fix or data, especially precious photos, could be lost forever. When the victim calls the provided support number for help, the scammer will try to gather as much information as they can, which will help them commit other forms of fraud or identity theft. The cybercriminal may also request remote access to the older person’s computer, allowing access to credit card and bank account information. The fraudster may claim a small fee for the service, not much so that it does not set off any alerts, but the real prize is the credit card number provided for the payment, which can be used for additional fraudulent transactions later. According to the FBI’s 2021 Elder Fraud Report, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) fielded 13,900 tech support fraud complaints from older victims who suffered nearly $238 million in losses.
Many Americans over the age of 55 have grandchildren. As a person approaches age 70 and up, those grandchildren may be teenagers or young adults. This is a predictable audience for perpetrators of The Grandparent Scam. A caller may start the call with an urgent or upset tone, saying, “Hi, Grandpa, do you know who this is?” This question instantly lowers defenses, implying that this must be someone you know. If an unaware grandparent says the name of a grandchild, the scammer will confirm, instantly securing their trust. “Is this Billy?” “Yes, it’s Billy, Grandpa. I’m in trouble.” The scammer will ask for money for urgent financial needs like a disabled vehicle, school loans, or jail bond. The criminal will ask that the grandparent pays via gift cards or money transfer so they can access the money and remain anonymous. In other versions of this scam, the caller may pretend that they are an arresting officer or lawyer, even going so far as pretending to be a courier hired by the grandchild and going to the home of the elder to pick up cash or cards.
While these five scams are the most prevalent, they are not the end of the line.
Other Scams to Watch Out For
How Can You Better Protect Yourself and Your Loved One? Follow these tips from the FBI.
How Can You Protect Your Loved Ones?
As mentioned, a primary or secondary motive in these scams is collecting personal information that the criminal or others later use to commit identity theft. If you feel that you or an elderly family member has fallen victim to identity theft, call us immediately to speak to one of our Identity Theft Recovery Advocates. Quickly recognizing and addressing the issue will minimize damage to your accounts and identity. In addition, Premier Checking Account holders have access to specialists around the clock who can answer your questions, address your concerns, and advise you on the best next steps to get back on track.
Unemployment Fraud: How it Works and How to Fight It.
Across the nation, identity thieves are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic by committing Unemployment Benefits Fraud, which is filing for and collecting unemployment benefits fraudulently by using the identity of someone still employed. This type of scam is very difficult to detect. Sometimes the employer is the first one to know that a scam has taken place by receiving a notice of an unemployment claim from employees who are still very much employed.
Let’s take a quick look at how this scam works. It is important to know how to react quickly to minimize the damage.
Fraudulent claims of unemployment are rampant. States’ unemployment offices across the nation have been targeted for fraudulent claims of unemployment even before the pandemic began, but the activity level has drastically increased over the last year to the point that it is the number one type of identity theft issue reported. Fraudsters are counting on the fact that the unemployment office is overwhelmed with claims, and the state is trying to minimize the financial impact of the pandemic on suffering citizens by processing the claims more readily than it might in the past. If criminals flood a particular state with bogus claims, pressure mounts to move documents through the process, and that just makes it easier for fraudulent attempts to get approved.
