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Scams targeting adults over 60 continue to increase according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who estimate that these frauds reach up to $33,000 in losses per event.
In addition to financial losses, victims of scams can lose their independence, see their quality of life reduced and suffer health problems, experts warned. during a briefing held by Ethnic Media Services.
Within the framework of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which is commemorated on June 15, the speakers detailed that work is being done to protect this sector of the population through information and understanding.
Every year, a coalition of organizations, including the Adult Protective Services unit of the San Francisco Department of Aging and Disability Services, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, the San Francisco Police Department, and community providers, organize training courses to provide older adults with the latest information on how to protect themselves in various areas.
Robert K. Tripp, special agent in charge of the San Francisco Field Office of the FBI, commented that he had a case where an adult man wanted to enter a lottery game, putting all his money at risk, he felt very excited and in the end It ended up being a scam.
The agent commented that 3.4 billion dollars is the estimated amount that people over 60 years of age have lost money through a scam, while 101 thousand is the number of victims who have filed a report nationwide.
At the national level, California is the state with the highest number of victims and loss of money due to scams, said the criminal investigation specialist.
Tripp pointed out that investment scams are the most present in California, while investing in cryptocurrencies has become very common, and love scams through a fake romance.
He added that, in the event of any type of scam, it is very important to file a report, since in this way they contribute to sharing their experiences to keep the appropriate record. The report can be carried out by contacting the 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324).
Tony Flores, sergeant-inspector of the Special Victims Unit of the San Francisco Police Department, explained that many people feel that they are hypnotized by others when they are scammed, but he does not refer to some trick or magic, but rather that it is the situation in which they are presented is so real that it seems reliable, so they cannot differentiate.
In that sense, he commented that older adults must be very cautious and cautious because, once they spend money, there is no turning back; It is very difficult to recover it and even more so if it is cash, hence the insistence on being informed.
"Because the more educated we are and the information is disseminated, then it can be prevented," said Sergeant Flores.
Ali Chiu from the Elder Abuse Prevention program at the Institute on Aging, commented that scammers are a grouped organization where there are many barriers that prevent them from asking for help due to the fear that is implanted in them.
He assured that, in cases of scams among older adults, many do not say anything for fear of being judged and scolded, which causes them a feeling of shame, but they also face the problem of language that makes them feel misunderstood by not having someone to express themselves. their concerns and problems.
Jaynry Mak, a lawyer representing victims of a $39 million scam targeting Chinatown residents, explained that an adult couple was scammed by a supposed friend who was asking them to borrow money, when the scammer saw that he was going to When her husband died, she decided to borrow more money from him. The supposed friend attended the funeral as if nothing had happened and even offered to help with some paperwork, the lawyer said.
The surprising thing about this case is that the scammer had been a friend of the family for 30 years, which did not generate any suspicion and when they began the investigation, they found that it was not the only case.
Anni Chung, president and CEO of Self Help for the Elderly, explained that approximately 67,000 cases are reported to the police and half of those are investigated by the police department and passed on to the prosecutor's office, so Of them, 42 percent are from the Asian community.
Chung commented that he expressed concern about the increase in these scams that target older adults, so more work must be done to protect them and provide them with the understanding and confidence they need to report.
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