Elder fraud has surged recently, with an 84% increase in the amount lost from 2021-2022, according to an FBI report. Last year, more than 88,000 Americans over age 60 lost a combined $3.1 billion to fraud. Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com During a two-hour seminar at the Lou Walker Senior Center…

In March, a judge sentenced Monty Matthews to almost five years in federal prison after he was convicted of scamming two victims over 60 out of $1 million. “The victims were left with virtually no retirement savings,” federal prosecutors said in announcing the sentence. Matthews, 52, of Baton Rouge, told victims…

Elder fraud can take many forms and is a growing problem in Canada and worldwide. With a general rise in online scams — and seniors’ increased adoption of smartphones and the internet — cyber crimes against Canada’s older population are resulting in staggering financial losses. Why are seniors targets for…

Illicit actors are increasingly zeroing in on senior citizens to victimize them in a wide variety of tailor-made scams and fraudulent activities Senior citizens — any individual 60 years old or older — are increasingly targeted because scammers perceive them to be less tech-savvy and more financially stable. It’s important…

A 92-year-old man from Sun City Center, Florida, is out $800,000 after getting caught up in a romance and bank scam allegedly coordinated by a 37-year-old man who is now behind bars. “This was an individual who was lonely,” Amanda Granit, a spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, said…

As my father approached his 90s, the daily stack in his mailbox grew—a dozen appeals for donations some days. He was impossibly frugal with himself: frayed canvas shoes and a tattered windbreaker for all seasons. He abhorred wastefulness. He would put down the phone when solicitors called. But the entreaties…

HOUSTON – A 39-year-old man who lived in Richmond and Houston will serve five years in federal prison for his involvement in a romance scam. Kenneth Anim pleaded guilty on April 27 and was sentenced this week. Anim holds dual citizenship in the United States and Ghana. A romance scam…

Grandparents Day is just around the corner, so if you’re looking for a way to celebrate and honor the loving and kind individuals who make our lives better, think about how you can protect them from unscrupulous cybercriminals who increasingly target seniors. Elder fraud cost Americans over the age of…

Protecting older adults is one of the FTC’s top priorities, and a new report to Congress tells how the agency tackled fraud, scams, and other issues affecting older adults over the last year. It’s been a busy year at the FTC, so what are some of the highlights? One of…