Colorado is estimated to be the state with the highest rate of elder fraud in the United States, according to a study conducted by Comparitech.
Nationally, Comparitech “ estimates 7.86 million cases of elder fraud occur in the US annually resulting in $148 billion in losses,” according to the website.
In Colorado, the site estimates that 272,900 older adults fall victim to elder fraud each year, resulting in an estimated $2.75 billion lost.
Fraud among older adults can come from a variety of places including strangers and family.
“In 51 percent of cases, strangers were identified as responsible for the exploitation. About 14 percent of the reports didn't specify who was responsible for the suspected fraud. In 36 percent of cases, the victims knew the bad actors, be they a fiduciary or a family member,” according to the AARP, or the American Association of Retired Persons.
Wealthy and low-income seniors are at risk for financial scams. These scams “considered a “low-risk” crime because they often go unreported or are difficult to prosecute,” according to a Weld County Area Agency on Aging newsletter.
Below is a list of scams aimed at older adults.
Government impostor scams
Government impostors call unsuspecting victims and pretend to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Social Security Administration, or Medicare. They may say you have unpaid taxes and threaten arrest or deportation if you don’t pay up immediately. Or they may say your Social Security or Medicare benefits are in danger of being cut off if you don’t provide personal identifying information (that can then be used to commit fraud). Government impersonators often “spoof” the actual phone numbers of the government agency, or call from the same zip code.
The grandparent scam
Scammers will place a call to an older person and say something along the lines of: “Hi Grandma, do you know who this is?” When the unsuspecting grandparent guesses the name of the grandchild the scammer most sounds like, the scammer has established a fake identity without having done any background research. Once “in,” the fake grandchild will ask for money to solve some unexpected financial problem (overdue rent, car repairs, jail bond) and will beg the grandparent not to tell anyone. Because scammers ask to be paid via gift cards or money transfer, which don’t always require identification to collect, the senior may have no way of seeing that money ever again.
Medicare/health insurance scams
Every U.S. citizen or permanent resident over age 65 qualifies for Medicare, so there is rarely any need for a scam artist to research what private health insurance company older people have in order to scam them out of money. In these types of scams, perpetrators may pose as a Medicare representative to get older people to give them their personal information, or they will provide bogus services for elderly people at makeshift mobile clinics, then bill Medicare and pocket the money. Medicare scams often follow the latest trends in medical research, such as genetic testing fraud and COVID-19 vaccines.
Computer tech support scams
Computer technical support scams prey on people’s lack of knowledge about computers and cybersecurity. A pop-up message or blank screen usually appears on a computer or phone, telling you that your device is compromised and needs fixing. When you call the support number for help, the scammer may either request remote access to your computer and/or that you pay a fee to have it repaired. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that seniors who fell for this scam lost an average of $500 each to computer tech support scams in 2018.
Sweepstakes & lottery scams
Here, scammers inform their mark that they have won a lottery or sweepstakes of some kind and need to make some sort of payment to unlock the supposed prize. Often, seniors will be sent a check that they can deposit in their bank account, knowing that while it shows up in their account immediately, it will take a few days before the (fake) check is rejected. During that time, the criminals will quickly collect money for supposed fees or taxes on the prize, which they pocket while the victim has the “prize money” removed from his or her account as soon as the check bounces.
Robocalls/phone scams
Robocalls take advantage of sophisticated phone technology to dial large numbers of households from anywhere in the world. Robocallers use a variety of tactics to cheat their victims. Some may claim that a warranty is expiring on their car/electronic product and payment is needed to renew it. One popular robocall is the “Can you hear me?” call, where when the senior says yes, the scammer hangs up after recording their voice, thus obtaining a voice signature to authorize unwanted charges on items like stolen credit cards.
Romance scams
As more people use the Internet for dating, con artists see an opportunity to find their next victim. Romance scammers create elaborate fake profiles, often on social media, and exploit seniors’ loneliness for money. In some cases, romance scammers may (or pretend to) be overseas, and request money to pay for visas, medical emergencies, and travel expenses to come visit the U.S. Because they drag on for a long time, romance scammers can get a lot of money from a senior—the FTC found that in 2019 alone, seniors lost nearly $84 million to romance scams.
Internet and email fraud
While using the Internet is a great skill at any age, the slower speed of adoption among some older people makes them easier targets for automated Internet scams that are ubiquitous on the web and email programs. Pop-up browser windows simulating virus-scanning software will fool victims into either downloading a fake anti-virus program (at a substantial cost) or an actual virus that will open whatever information is 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) make seniors especially susceptible to such traps. Phishing emails and text messages may look like they’re from a company you know or trust. They may look like statements from a bank, a credit card company, or an online store. Phishing emails request your personal information, such as a log-in or Social Security number to verify your account or ask that you update your credit card payment. Then they use that information to steal your personal and financial information.
Elder financial abuse
Unlike many of the other scams, elder financial abuse is carried out by someone a senior knows. This can be a family member, friend, power of attorney, or caregiver. These trusted individuals try and gain control of a senior’s money, assets, and credit. They also may withhold needed care to retain control over the person and their assets. Seniors who have a disability or cognitive impairment (such as dementia) may be at particular risk.
Charity scams
Charity scams rely on seniors’ goodwill to pocket money they claim they’re raising for a good cause. Some scammers may use a name like a legitimate charity. They often capitalize on current events, such as natural disasters, and may set up a fundraising page, which don’t always have the means to investigate fraud. Charity scammers may insist you donate immediately, sometimes with a payment method that should be a red flag—e.g., gift cards or money transfer.
The FBI suggests the following to help individuals protect themselves and their loved ones from scams:
- End communication with the perpetrator as soon as you identify it is a scam.
- Search the internet for the contact information and proposed offer. Others on the internet have likely posted information on the scam.
- There is no need to act quickly despite the urgency placed by the caller. If you feel you or your loved one is in danger, call the police.
- Never send or give personal information, money, jewelry, gift cards, checks or wire information to people or businesses you are unable to verify.
- Update and keep current all anti-virus and security software and malware protections on your computer.
- Be careful what you download and do not open attachments from people you do not know.
- Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity and report anything suspicious immediately.
To report a situation to Adult Protective Services call 303-441-1309 for Boulder County and 970-346-7676 for Weld County.
