Scams targeting seniors are on the rise

Salisbury, Md. – Online scams have dramatically increased among older adults in the United States.

According to the FBI’s most recent Internet Crime Report, older Americans lost nearly $4.9 billion last year with an average loss of $83,000. Experts say that scammers commonly target older adults by asking for gift cards, faking charity appeals, or falsifying Medicare. Scammers also can utilize AI technology or social media to pretend to be grandchildren urgently asking for help.

“If there is a feeling that it’s very urgent or they want you to do anything secretly, that is something to look out for,” Nick Cranford said. Cranford is the community relations and development manager at a Maintaining Active Citizens (MAC) Inc. center in Salisbury.

He said that a good practice to keep is remaining skeptical.

“If it’s too good to be true, it probably is,” he said.

Cranford also recommended keeping a safe word or key phrase that only loved ones know so that people can verify it really is their friends and family members trying to contact them. He also said that if someone suspects they are being scammed on the phone to hang up, delete the email if communications are sent to someone’s inbox and call a trusted number.

Reports of fraud or scams can be sent to AARP or the Federal Communications Commission.