(NAFB) Senior citizens, especially in rural areas, are some of the top targets for scammers. Michelle Reinen administrator of the Division of Trade and Consumer Protection at the Wisconsin Agriculture Department, says there are many reasons why.
Seniors make especially good targets as they’re often more isolated from other people.
That isolation can be even more of a factor for rural seniors.
Scammers are most often after money or personal information when they prey on seniors. One of the biggest scams used against seniors is called the “Grandparent Scam.” A scammer will claim a family member is in trouble and request money. The scammers often pretend to be a grandchild in need, a medical professional, or a law enforcement officer. The scammer will often ask the grandparent to send money through non-traditional methods like a wire transfer or prepaid gift card.
Reinen recommends that families create code words to use to figure out if that call is real or a scam.
