Scammers target seniors more than any other group. Recently, there has been a rise in senior fraud, targeting vulnerable older adults who may be more trusting or unfamiliar with the latest scams.

What is Senior Fraud?

Senior fraud encompasses a range of deceptive activities designed to exploit older adults for financial gain. Perpetrators are constantly finding new tactics to manipulate seniors into sharing personal information, giving access to their financial accounts, or making fraudulent investments. These scams can be carried out through phone calls, emails, text messages, or in-person encounters.

Types of Fraud

  1. Phone Scams: Fraudsters pose as legitimate organizations or government entities to trick seniors into revealing personal information or making monetary payments under false pretenses’
    Common Examples

    • “I’m calling from {computer company}, and it appears your computer has a virus….”
    • “You owe money and face serious consequences.”
    • “You’ve won a foreign lottery; you just need to send us some information to claim your winnings.
  2. Online and Email Scams: Seniors are often targeted through phishing emails, fraudulent websites, or social media platforms, luring them into providing sensitive data or falling victim to identity theft.
  3. Sweepstakes and Lottery Scams: Scammers inform seniors that they have won a significant sum of money but require upfront payment for taxes or processing fees before releasing the funds. Unfortunately, the promised winnings never materialize.
  4. Medicare Scams: A fraudster claims to represent Medicare and asks for the victim’s sensitive information. They then use it to bill Medicare for services never provided.
  5. Grandparent Scams: The victim receives a call, email, or message on social media impersonating a grandchild or loved one, claiming they are in trouble and asking for money.

Preventative Tips

  1. Education and Awareness: Raising awareness about senior fraud is crucial. Seniors should be educated about the common tactics scammers use and advised on how to spot potential scams. Regularly updating them on new scams will help keep them vigilant.
  2. Sign up for the “Do Not Call” list: This is an easy step to help start filtering out calls they will receive on their phones.
  3. Use Technology Safely: Teach seniors about online safety practices, such as avoiding suspicious emails, not sharing personal information with unknown sources, and verifying the authenticity of websites before making online transactions.
  4. Utilize Privacy Settings: Help seniors configure their privacy settings on social media platforms and encourage them to limit the personal information they share online.
  5. Check Credit Reports: Routinely monitor credit reports to detect unauthorized activities or accounts opened in their name.

By staying informed, educating our elderly loved ones, and implementing preventive measures, we can help minimize the risk of senior fraud and create a safer environment for our seniors to have peace of mind.

For more information and resources, visit https://mn.gov/commerce/money/fraud/senior-fraud/.