Financial crime is the most common crime committee against our nation's seniors - including fraud, scams, identify theft and healthcare fraud. According to the FBI, each year, millions of elderly Americans fall victim to some type of financial fraud or confidence scheme, including romance, lottery, and sweepstakes scams. Criminals gain their targets’ trust and may communicate with them directly via computer, phone, and the mail; or indirectly through the TV and radio. With the elderly population growing and seniors reporting more than $3 billion in losses annually, elder fraud is likely to be a growing problem.
On Thursday August 26, Berkeley Heights Police Officer Pooja Patel led a discussion on "Fraud Prevention for Seniors," which included topics such as"
- types of fraud/crimes most committed against seniors
- why older residents are viewed as easy targets
- identify theft and how to prevent it
- what to do if you believe you are a victim of identity theft
- preventing other forms of financial crimes
Click here to view the presentation.
If you believe you or someone you know may have been a victim of elder fraud, contact your local FBI field office or submit a tip online. You can also file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Other Resources from the FBI