It’s important for seniors to be aware of the many scams that exist. Unfortunately, scammers often target seniors because they may be seen as more vulnerable. These scams against seniors can take many forms, from email and phone scams to identity theft.

Common Scams Against Seniors

The Department of Justice has put together a guide to some of the most common scams that target seniors. These include:

Family Imposter scams: In this type of scam, a con artist pretends to be a family member or friend in need of money. They may even go so far as to create a fake email account or social media profile in the name of the person they’re pretending to be.

Romance scams: With this scam, the con artist creates a fake online dating profile and gains the trust of their victim. They may even send flowers or other gifts. Once they have gained the victim’s trust, they will ask for money.

Tech Support scams: In this scam, the scammer will call or email their victim pretending to be from a tech company like Microsoft. They will then claim that the victim’s computer has a virus and offer to fix it for a fee.

Knowing how to spot these scams is the first step in protecting yourself. If you are contacted by someone who you think may be a scammer, do not give them any personal information. Hang up the phone or delete the email. You can also contact your local law enforcement to report the scam.

The Seniors Center

The Seniors Center is here to help retirees stay safe. Keep up with our latest posts on elder abuse and fraud, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more updates.