Spotting scams that target seniors

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Scams that seek to take advantage of older Americans are nothing new, as Better Call 4 has warned you in the past about some of the most common tactics. But new data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center is calling attention to how much it’s happening.

According to the 2023 IC3 Elder Fraud Annual Report , adults over the age of 60 reported $3.4 billion in monetary losses to fraud and scams, an almost 11 percent increase from 2022.

Zooming in on Ohio, 3,299 senior Ohioans reported losses, totaling more than $64 million.

As for the types of scams that caused the biggest problems, tech support fraud was the top crime.

“Our elderly are becoming more tech-savvy,” Viktoria Jurkovic, consumer affairs manager with the Ohio Department of Commerce, said. “They’re owning cellphones, they’re using the computer more, and they don’t have guidance from their friends and family to kind of tell them, ‘Here’s some things you need to think about when you’re going to use the computer to shop.'”

Investment scams were the costliest at $1.2 billion. Also in the mix, according to the FBI, confidence scams, which include the classic grandparent scam.

“Grandparent scams are, a grandchild or a niece or nephew calls and they’re urgent to get you to send money to them,” Jurkovic said.

Knowing these scams continue to be a problem, local, state and national agencies said awareness, education and conversation are crucial to stopping them at the start.

“Never fall for that sense of urgency,” President of the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio Judy Dollison said. “In all scams, they’re trying to get you to act before you pick up the phone and call your grandchild. You know their number. Just find out for sure if they are really in trouble. So, in all situations, take a step back, talk to your loved ones.”

“The key is to always have an open dialogue with your elderly parent,” Jurkovic said. “Understanding what they’re doing, even having a day-to-day conversation with them as to when they’re going to the bank and why they’re going to the bank. Asking those questions and listening to what they have to say is key to really understanding if something’s happening that you’re not knowledgeable about.”

Also remember that if someone reaches out to you first — hang up — and call them back on your own. And, if you get an email or a message you weren’t expecting, ask someone you trust to take a look at it before you respond or click on any link.

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