An expert says many phone and online scammers are targeting older Americans. Gary Crawford has this report. 

PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford and Barbara Stockebrand, Extension educator at Kansas State University.

Transcript

The COVID pandemic brought more than just sickness and a big change in lifestyles.

It brought a huge increase in phone and Internet scams.

Most everybody was stuck at home and the scammers were taking advantage.

In 2020, before COVID really got going, Americans lost just under $20 billion to scammers.

That was bad enough, but in 2021 the money lost shot up to about $30 billion.

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that last year, four out of five Americans lost money to scammers.

And unfortunately, older adults as a whole are a particularly favorite target.

They're more likely to listen, they are often more trusting, and they're more easily caught off guard.

That's Barbara Stockerbrand.

She's an Extension educator at Kansas State University.

But there's another reason that older folks are top targets.

It's because they tend to have more assets to steal.

That's why many young people report losing some money to phone and online scammers, but actual money lost much greater among Americans 65 and older.

But Barbara says it's hard to put a figure on that because older people are less likely to report being scammed, partly because they're embarrassed that they were taken in in the first place.

They fear they will be seen as not being able to handle their financial and banking processes anymore, possibly with a potential loss of control and independence.

Fear that their actions may isolate them even more from family or even their familiar environments, and maybe even fear that they may be placed in a nursing home.

And many of us older folks may not remember all of the details of what exactly happened and how they were scammed.

So rather than lose control over their affairs, older adults may hide this type of abuse.

And of course, the predators are counting on that, and they're counting on those older adults to remain silent.

And the scammers have several scenarios targeted to older potential victims.

For example, someone calling from Social Security, needing your personal information or confirming that, or the IRS with threats of arrest, possibly if outstanding taxes aren't paid.

There may be a call or an email, a friend or a grandchild is in trouble and in need of money immediately.

Yes, immediately.

That's one clue that it's a scam when they say you need to send money now.

Other warning signs of a scam, well, if it comes online or in an email.

It may include bad grammar or incorrect spelling, which is a good sign.

It may be coming from another country.

Even though the address or the caller ID will show a number with a familiar area code or zip code.

Also, the message may have a link or links for you to click on.

Don't do it.

Because those can install software where the scammer may be able to gain access to your computer and then maybe through your computer to other possible computers of friends and family.

For a lot more tips on scams, go online to federaltradecommission.gov.

Federaltradecommission.gov.

That's no scam.

This is Gary Crawford reporting for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.