Be aware of scams aimed at our older loved ones
National Slam the Scam Day is designated by the Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General to raise awareness of government imposter scams, which continue to spread across the United States. Slam the Scam Day is Thursday, March 6, 2025, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, which takes place this year from March 2-8.
Click on the image below to learn more about Slam the Scam Day.
Scammers Don’t Let Up and Neither Should You!
From their pervasive imposter phone calls, texts, emails, social media, and even U.S. mail ploys, scammers are relentless in their efforts to gain access to your money or personal identifying information. Likewise, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) are unwavering in their pursuit to raise awareness. In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that consumers lost over $10 billion to scams; and of that $617.9 million to government imposter scams. SSA is still the top government agency targeted by scammers. As of November 2024, government imposter scam losses for 2024 exceeded $577 million, indicating that the scammers are still succeeding in their ruses.
Older adults are especially vulnerable to scammers. This may be due to one or several of the following: living alone, socially isolated, lonely, confused, trusting, uncomfortable with technology, memory loss, or no family support making them an easy target. Scams targeting people aged 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 alone, according to the FBI. Here are some of the most common types of scams and fraud, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB):
Common Scams Targeting Older Adults
- Charity: Scammer pretends to represent a real or made-up organization and asks for donations.
- Non-Delivery: A person buys something online but never receives the item.
- Grandparent: Scammer pretends to be a grandchild or relative in trouble and asks for money or gift cards.
- Tech Support: Scammer pretends to be a computer expert offering technical support to trick people into giving access to their computers and personal information.
- Romance: Scammer pretends to be romantically interested in someone, develops trust and then asks for money or a loan.
- Blackmail: Scammer threatens to release personal information unless the victim sends money using wire transfer or gift cards.
- Investment: Scammer pretends to be a financial professional with urgent investment opportunities that are fake, including offers to teach you how to invest in cryptocurrency.
10 Tips for Seniors to Avoid Scams
Here are some of the things you can do to prevent getting scammed or becoming a victim of financial fraud.
1. Be wary of someone offering you a “great deal” that seems too good to be true or pressuring you to act quickly.
2. Do not be afraid to say “no” or hang up if you feel uncomfortable or suspicious about a phone call solicitation or to ignore suspicious emails or text solicitations.
3. Never send money using a gift card or wire transfer directly to a seller or unknown person.
4. Do not click on suspicious links or attachments in text messages, emails, websites or social media.
5. Be suspicious of a company asking you by phone or email to update your password or account information. Look up the company’s phone number on your own and call the company to find out if the request is real.
6. Keep personal information in a safe and secure location that unauthorized individuals cannot access.
7. Do not share numbers or passwords for accounts, credit cards or Social Security.
8. Monitor your financial accounts by setting up alerts for unusual activity and reviewing statements more frequently during the holidays.
9. Build a strong support network and keep in touch with others to prevent social isolation. This can decrease the chances that you will experience financial exploitation and the likelihood that it goes unnoticed.
10. Stay informed about current scams and keep older family members up to date on official warnings about current scams or fraud.
DART | Deception Awareness and Resilience Training – For Savvy Seniors
Online deception disproportionately targets seniors to disastrous effect. The Deception Awareness and Resilience Training (DART) platform helps seniors recognize threats and protect themselves. A collaboration between researchers, game designers, and community organizations, DART is unique in tailoring its curriculum and using gamification to make training accessible and engaging for seniors.
Click on the image below to learn more about DART.
Check out the new DeepCover app where players solve a variety of fun and challenging puzzles to outsmart evildoers, prevent scams, and save the day. Playing as an undercover agent, players are awarded more intel at every level they complete, used to outsmart scammers and help protect potential victims. Players are also able to learn additional information about real-life online scams and their impacts.
Helpful links and resources:
https://oig.ssa.gov/scam-awareness/identify-the-scam/
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/how-caregivers-can-protect-loved-ones/
https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/Consumer-Resources/seniors/Pages/rxdiscount.aspx