Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
Acting U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik has highlighted the issue of scams targeting senior citizens as part of Elder Abuse Awareness Month in June. This initiative aims to raise awareness about various types of abuse affecting vulnerable members of the community, particularly focusing on financial schemes.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio is actively working to combat fraud, especially those targeting older individuals. "Seniors are frequently targets of financial exploitation," Skutnik stated, explaining that scammers use unsolicited communication methods like text messages, emails, and robocalls to deceive seniors out of their savings.
Skutnik noted that fraudsters often impersonate government officials to scare seniors into giving away money through fabricated stories and tactics. She emphasized that some victims have lost their entire life savings due to such scams. The U.S. Attorney's Office collaborates with state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute these crimes.
Several common scams targeting seniors were outlined by Skutnik:
- Cryptocurrency scams promise large returns on investments.
- Lottery scams involve callers convincing seniors they’ve won money but require a fee or tax payment first.
- Grandparent scams involve scammers claiming a grandchild needs bail money.
- Romance or friendship scams persuade victims to send money for various reasons.
- Government agent schemes trick victims into paying fake IRS agents or Social Security employees.
- Money Mule scams recruit seniors to handle money transfers or packages.
- Tech support scams prompt victims to pay for assistance after receiving fake malware alerts.
Other fraud cases affecting older adults in Northern Ohio include sports betting, gold bar investing, wine and whiskey investments, and theft from caretakers.
To report elder financial abuse, individuals can visit tips.fbi.gov/home or justice.gov/elderjustice/financial-exploitation.
