A surge in sophisticated senior scams is prompting AARP to offer free fraud-awareness classes nationwide, as older Americans face rising financial losses from increasingly hard-to-detect fraudulent schemes.
Scam Losses Skyrocket for Older Adults
According to the Federal Trade Commission, scams involving losses over $10,000 have quadrupled in recent years. The FBI also reports that older adults filed the most scam complaints last year.
The average loss for older adults victimized by these crimes climbed to $83,000, which represents a 43% increase from the previous year. These schemes often involve criminals posing as government officials or family members in distress.
AARP Program Teaches Senior Scams Prevention
To combat this trend, the AARP Senior Planet program now offers free senior fraud prevention classes to Americans age 60 and older. The program teaches participants how to identify red flags and avoid sharing sensitive information.
Instructors emphasize the importance of slowing down, verifying information, and never feeling rushed into a decision. The classes focus on spotting fake communications, especially from those claiming to be from agencies like the IRS.
Personal Experience Drives Fraud Education
For instructor Rick Planos, the mission is personal after his mother lost more than $2,500 to a Grandparent phone scam. A scammer convinced her that her grandson had been arrested and needed money for bail.
“My mom was distraught,” Planos said. “First, she was distraught that one of her grandchildren was arrested – and then it turned out that wasn’t true. And then she was distraught that she got scammed.“
Planos now uses his family’s experience to help others avoid similar situations. “I took what happened to us and put it into some kind of positive energy to protect other people,” he explained.
More Than Just Fraud Awareness
While the program addresses serious threats, it also aims to empower older adults with technology. “It’s important to talk about where the risks and dangers are,” said Aaron Santis, program lead for Senior Planet Colorado. “But we’re also using technology as a tool to enrich people’s lives.“
Recent student Carolyn Gibson joined to better understand new technology. “I came over here to find out who is this AI, what is this AI,” Gibson said. “The people here, they’ve been very helpful.“
How to Avoid Government Imposter Scams
The FTC advises that government imposter scams are common, but real agencies will never call to demand money. If you receive a suspicious call, the recommendation is to hang up immediately.
Consumers should then visit the agency’s official website to verify any claims and report the attempted scam directly. The Senior Planet program is available online and holds in-person classes in states including Colorado, Texas, Maryland, and New York.
