In a society bombarded with images of the young and beautiful, it’s not surprising that some older people feel the need to conceal their age in order to participate more fully in social circles and the workplace. After all, 60 is the new 40, right?

It is in this spirit that many older Americans seek out new treatments and medications to maintain a youthful appearance, putting them at risk of scammers. Whether it’s fake Botox like the one in Arizona that netted its distributors (who were convicted and jailed in 2006) $1.5 million in barely a year, or completely bogus homeopathic remedies that do absolutely nothing, there is money in the anti-aging business.

Botox scams are particularly unsettling, as renegade labs creating versions of the real thing may still be working with the root ingredient, botulism neurotoxin, which is one of the most toxic substances known to science. A bad batch can have health consequences far beyond wrinkles or drooping neck muscles. (Source: NCOA)

The FBI warns about two types of funeral and cemetery fraud perpetrated on seniors.

In one approach, scammers read obituaries and call or attend the funeral service of a complete stranger to take advantage of the grieving widow or widower. Claiming the deceased had an outstanding debt with them, scammers will try to extort money from relatives to settle the fake debts.

Another tactic of disreputable funeral homes is to capitalize on family members’ unfamiliarity with the considerable cost of funeral services to add unnecessary charges to the bill. In one common scam of this type, funeral directors will insist that a casket, usually one of the most expensive parts of funeral services, is necessary even when performing a direct cremation, which can be accomplished with a cardboard casket rather than an expensive display or burial casket. (Source: NCOA)

Whether it’s an irate billing clerk or someone posing as a Medicare agent, senior citizens are easy targets for health care scams. The reasons are simple. First, once a citizen reaches the age of 65, Medicare is automatic; that means a scammer doesn’t have to phish around in the dark for an unwitting victim. Also, as a whole, elderly adults receive more frequent health care visits, meaning threatening callers posing as a billing clerk are more likely to be believable. Remember, your health care is a privacy issue. If anyone contacts you concerning an unpaid bill, asking for “verification” of your Medicare account, or any other health-related issue, refuse to comply. Contact your health care provider or the Medicare office directly if you have questions or concerns, and do not give out your personal data to someone who contacts you by phone. (Source: ITRC)

Scammers like to take advantage of the fact that many people above a certain age own their homes, a valuable asset that increases the potential dollar value of a certain scam.

A particularly elaborate property tax scam in San Diego saw fraudsters sending personalized letters to different properties apparently on behalf of the County Assessor’s Office. The letter, made to look official but displaying only public information, would identify the property’s assessed value and offer the homeowner, for a fee of course, to arrange for a reassessment of the property’s value and therefore the tax burden associated with it.

Closely related, there is the potential for a reverse mortgage borrower to be scammed. Scammers can take advantage of older adults who have recently unlocked equity in their homes.  Those considering reverse mortgages should be cognizant of people in their lives pressuring them to obtain a reverse mortgage, or those that stand to benefit from the borrower accessing equity, such as home repair companies who approach the older adult directly. (Source: NCOA)

Callers go after senior citizens with scams involving lotteries or sweepstakes largely because most seniors could stand to use a little extra money. Even with the most meticulous planning for retirement, there’s a prevalent concern about having enough money set aside to weather any illness or medical condition, to pay for supervised care should the need arise, or just to leave a little inheritance to loved ones. So scammers play off of those feelings by promising you instant wealth in exchange for paying the “taxes and fees.” Remember, you will never be called and told you’ve won some mysterious prize, especially one that you don’t remember entering. If you’re ever informed that you’ve won money and only need to pay some upfront fees to claim it, walk away immediately. (Source: ITRC)

Phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.

For more information about phishing, go to:

• Phishing and How it Works by Search Security

There’s an awful stereotype surrounding older adults—one of loneliness, coupled with an abundance of free time on their hands during the day—that makes them ripe for phone scams. Using basic robo-dial processes or lists of consumer information, scammers call and offer everything from free trial offers, account assistance, or even ominous threats from agencies like the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). By assuming the potential victims will be home to take the call and easily frightened into compliance, scammers are able to bilk older victims out of a lot of money. Even more alarming, many senior victims have admitted to not reporting the scam because they felt guilty for being so gullible, or were concerned about having their mental faculties called into question. (Source: ITRC)

A scammer posts a fake rental property on a classified ad website offering discounts for active duty military and veterans. You just need to wire transfer a security deposit to the landlord. Only there is no rental property and you just lost your security deposit.  (Source: AARP)

Imposters promise romance to users of online dating sites to trick them into sending money. Learn more about online romance imposter scams at https://www.ftc.gov/imposters (Source: FTC)

Seniors are often targeted by individuals who pose as representatives from a utility company, such as the phone, power, or gas companies. The reason is simple: with the threat of losing their service hanging over their heads, elderly residents are likely to pay up. If an agent calls to say that your gas bill is overdue and your heat is about to be cut off, or someone calls and states that your electricity is about to be suspended for non-payment, hang up immediately and call the utility company directly using a verified phone number. There’s an excellent chance it was the work of a random-dialer scam artist, but it will give you peace of mind to know that the matter is resolved. You’ll also be helping the utility companies remain aware of an active scammer in their area. (Source: ITRC)