Romance scams

As more people turn to online dating, con artists are seizing the opportunity to deceive them. Romance scammers create elaborate fake profiles, often on social media, and exploit older adults’ loneliness to get money. In some cases, these scammers may be (or pretend to be) overseas. They may request money to pay for visas, medical emergencies, and travel expenses to come visit them. Since they tend to drag on for a long time, romance scams (also called sweetheart scams) can bilk an older person out of substantial funds.

Business imposter scams

This type of scam takes a heavy financial toll on consumers age 60 and older. Imposter scammers pretend to be from a business or a charity. Business imposters want you to trust them so they can steal your personal information and money.

Like government imposter scammers, business imposter scammers can use caller ID to trick someone into thinking they are getting an official business call. These fraudsters will try to convince someone to send money or a gift card or share personal information.

Internet and e-mail fraud

The slower rate of technology adoption among some older people makes them easier targets for Internet and e-mail scams. Pop-up browser windows that look like anti-virus software can fool users into either downloading a fake anti-virus programme (at a substantial cost) or an actual virus that exposes information on the user’s computer to scammers. Their unfamiliarity with the less-visible aspects of browsing the web (firewalls and built-in virus protection, for example) makes older adults especially vulnerable to such traps.

Phishing emails and text messages may appear to be from a well known bank, credit card company, or online store. They request an older adult’s personal data, such as a log-in number, to verify that person’s account; or they ask the older adult to update their credit card info. Then, they use that information to steal money or more personal information.

Source: US National Council on Aging