World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Protect Your Loved Ones from Crime and
Scammers
People over 60 lost nearly $1 billion in online
frauds and scams last year, according to a
report from the FBI’s Internet Crime
Complaint Center (IC3) released today.
The sudden need to shop online and the fear
of COVID-19 made older Americans even
more of a target for scammers and criminals
than they had been in the past.
For example, the pandemic required many
older people to shop online for the first time,
and non-delivery of goods was one of the
common fraud schemes that older victims
experienced, the report said.
“The combination of online shopping and
social media creates easy venues for
scammers to post false advertisements,” the
report said. “Many victims report ordering
items from links advertised on social media
and either receiving nothing at all or receiving
something completely unlike the advertised
item.”
The most common scams against seniors in
2020 were:
1. Extortion
2. Non-Payment/Non-Delivery
3. Tech Support Fraud
4. Identity Theft
Why Older Adults are Vulnerable
As a growing part of the U.S. population,
older people are an attractive target for
fraudsters and scammers.
This demographic tends to have more
financial stability, which makes them a target
for criminals looking to make quick profit.
Older Americans may be more easily
intimidated or lonely, making it harder for
them to get help.
Learn More and Protect Your Loved Ones
Older people may know to be wary of
physical crimes (like always locking their
doors). But they may not have the same level
of awareness to protect themselves against
scams. That’s why families and caregivers
should be aware of the risks and let people
know how to report suspected crimes.
The FBI and our partners work to investigate
many scams and crimes against older
people, but prevention and awareness are
critical. Whether it’s tricking someone into
becoming a money mule or trying to convince
them they won a non-existent “lottery,” savvy
criminals know how to prey on their victims.
On this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day ,
visit the FBI elder fraud page to learn about
common fraud schemes that target older
people as well as practical tips on how to
protect yourself or your loved ones from
scammers.