By: Michael Piper
Posted: April 27, 2026
Scams Are Everywhere — And Our Community Is a Target
Chances are, someone you know has been hit by a scam. I was saddened to learn recently that two of my loved ones lost significant sums to fraudsters. One was entangled in a year-long “pig butchering” scheme — a slow-burn romance and cryptocurrency investment fraud — that netted the scammers a six-figure profit. Another relative lost a five-figure amount to an identity-theft scam. And recently, my faith community fell victim to a phishing attack (a fraudulent email designed to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information).
These experiences are far from unique. A recent FreakonomicsRadio podcast opened with sobering numbers: the government estimates that scammers in Southeast Asia alone stole $10 billion from Americans in 2024. Overall U.S. fraud losses that year may have reached $196 billion — a 25 percent increase over the year before. And those figures likely understate the problem. Because of embarrassment or stigma, some victims never report what happened.
Why older adults are especially vulnerable
Researchers note that most of us receive scam texts, emails, or calls on a near-daily basis. Marti DeLiema, a University of Minnesota gerontologist who studies fraud against older adults, puts it bluntly: “Give me a day that you haven’t received a bogus text message, a phone call, a scam email.” Does that sound familiar? I know many of us now avoid answering calls or texts from unrecognized numbers.
We often assume scams primarily target the elderly. In reality, middle-aged adults are victimized more frequently. But when older adults are victimized, they lose roughly three times as much money on average. And artificial intelligence is making this worse: voice cloning, AI-generated personas, and months-long relationship scams are now standard tools of organized criminal enterprises. At the same time, officials are using AI to fight back, with phone-screening assistants and automated decoys designed to waste scammers’ time. The arms race is on — and our demographic is in the thick of it.
You weren’t foolish — you were trusting
Before turning to practical advice, it’s worth noting that people who respond to scammers are not necessarily naive. They are often susceptible because they are good — generous, trusting, and responsive to a call for help. Scammers don’t always exploit a weakness; they exploit a virtue. That distinction matters, both for those who have been victimized and for those who love them.
Practical steps to protect yourself
- Use robust, unique passwords for every account. Built-in password tools make this easier than ever: Apple devices include Keychain, Windows offers Microsoft Password Manager, and Android integrates Google Password Manager — all of which can generate strong passwords and store them securely. If you’re wary of cloud-based password managers after high-profile breaches at companies like LastPass, a password-protected spreadsheet kept on your local device is a reasonable alternative. Just be sure to hang on to the password!
- Never reuse the same password across multiple accounts. If one account is compromised, unique passwords keep the damage contained.
- Change passwords when you learn your information has been exposed in a data breach. The 2017 Equifax breach affected more than 140 million people and resulted in a $425 million settlement; a TransUnion breach followed in 2025. These incidents are now routine, which means staying alert is essential.
- Enable multi-factor authentication wherever it’s offered, especially on financial accounts. Many institutions now also offer passkeys — an even more secure alternative to passwords. If your financial institution offers this feature, use it.
Remember: scams may be everywhere. But so are opportunities to protect one another — starting with a simple conversation.
If the worst happens
Fraud carries an undeserved stigma that keeps many victims from reporting or seeking help. Please know that resources exist specifically for our age group, staffed by people who understand what you’ve been through. Here are some of the most useful:
- AARP Fraud Watch Network — aarp.org/money/scams-fraud | 1-877-908-3360. Designed specifically for older adults, with a free helpline, real-time scam alerts, and trained counselors who also provide emotional support. AARP also offers a podcast about scams and how to avoid them.
- Arizona Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Unit https://www.azag.gov/consumer/about | 602-542-5763 (Phoenix)
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — reportfraud.ftc.gov |1-877-382-4357. The central hub for fraud prevention and reporting. Filing a report here helps the FTC track nationwide scam trends and build cases against organized fraudsters.
- National Council on Aging (NCOA) — ncoa.org | 1-571-527-3900. Focuses on scams targeting older adults and offers prevention checklists and educational resources.
- Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) — idtheftcenter.org| 1-888-400-5530. Free one-on-one support for identity theft victims, including step-by-step recovery plans.
- Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker —bbb.org/scamtracker | 1-703-276-0100. A real-time, searchable map of reported scams by location and type — useful both for staying alert and for reporting what you’ve encountered.
- National Elder Fraud Hotline — (U.S. Dept. of Justice) https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/stop-elder-fraud/providing-help-restoring-hope |1-833-372-8311. A free DOJ hotline for fraud victims age 60 and older. A case manager will help you report the fraud and connect you with additional resources.
Sidebar
Pause before you click — practical scam-prevention tips:
- Slow down. Urgency is a red flag.
- Verify independently — never use contact information provided in a suspicious message.
- Treat unsolicited contact as suspicious.
- Never send money or sensitive information on demand.
- Watch for red flags such as secrecy, pressure, or demands for gift cards or other unusual payment methods.
- Be cautious of “too good” or “too scary.”
- Use a second pair of eyes. Anyone can be fooled — ask a friend before acting.
- Use technology protections such as spam filters and blocking tools.
- Report scams to reportfraud.ftc.gov.
RESOUCES:
About the Author:
Michael Piper is a retired librarian in Phoenix. He is a frequent participant in OLLI activities, including the Girton School, class of 2025.
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