The Columbia, South Carolina office of the Federal Bureau of Investigations is reaching out to seniors in the Palmetto State to beware of criminals committing financial fraud targeted at older people.
FBI Columbia's White Collar Crime division are hosting a series of presentations for senior residents, the office announced Jan. 13. Senior citizens are the most vulnerable population to becoming victims of financial scams, according to the FBI.
“There has been a sharp rise in this type of criminal activity since 2015,” Susan Ferensic, Special Agent in Charge, said in the statement. “South Carolinians are losing millions of dollars every year, and we have an opportunity to educate the public so that the can lessen the financial losses and help prevent our senior citizen population from becoming victims.”
FBI Columbia reports "romance scams" and "confidence frauds" are two of most prevalent types of senior financial fraud in South Carolina. The agency reports South Carolinians lost between $1.7 million and $4.4 million from 2015 to 2019 to these types of financial fraud. Residents older than 60 lost the most money, $2,5 million to $9.9 million, in all types of scams during that same period, according to the report.
FBI officials will present statistics and other information to help citizens recognize the signs of a scam as well as how to report possible scams at the presentations. The presentations will continue for several months, according to the announcement.
