Even our nation’s top law enforcement officials can be the targets of elder fraud.

In 2021 alone, more than 92,000 seniors were victims of elder fraud. And one scammer picked an unfortunate target: the former director of the FBI and his wife. Watch below to see how former FBI Director William Webster and his wife Lynda handled a scammer who took it a step further by threatening violence.

While not every senior has the same connections as former members of the FBI, everyone can learn from how he and his wife handled this situation. They shut down the scammer and reached out for help right away.

Lynda advocates for a community approach to end elder fraud. “The younger people have to keep an eye on mom or dad or an elderly neighbor,” CBS News quotes her as saying. Checking in on elderly friends or neighbors can help protect them from scams.

Never give out personal information, no matter how benign it may seem. Even something as seemingly innocuous as your birthday can be used to scam you. Be especially wary of anyone who contacts you out of the blue, whether it’s by phone, text, email, or in person.

If you think you’ve been the victim of elder fraud, reach out to your local law enforcement or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The Seniors Center is committed to helping seniors stay safe from elder fraud. Keep up with our latest updates by following us on Twitter and Facebook today!