Seniors are often targeted by scam artists because they are easy to reach by phone, are frequently home during the day, often live alone, and tend to be more willing to talk to strangers than others.
The scams directed toward older adults run the gamut. Some scammers promise outsize or significant returns on investment products. Others hawk anti-aging products that are never delivered or are worthless. And others dupe seniors into paying advance fees for sweepstakes or lottery winnings that never materialize.
The New York State Department of State Division of Consumer Protection has developed a resource to empower seniors with information to help them avoid falling victim to these and other scams. The Division also encourages seniors to notify authorities if they have been the victim of a scam.