How Criminals Steal $37 Billion a Year from America’s Elderly
Telephone pitchers, online scammers and even
family members target the most vulnerable among
us. And it’s about to get worse.
family members target the most vulnerable among
us. And it’s about to get worse.
Marjorie Jones trusted the man who called to tell her she’d won a sweepstakes
prize, saying she could collect the winnings once she paid the taxes and fees.
After she wired the first payment, he and other callers kept adding conditions
to convince her to send more money.
prize, saying she could collect the winnings once she paid the taxes and fees.
After she wired the first payment, he and other callers kept adding conditions
to convince her to send more money.
As the scheme progressed, Jones, who was legally blind and lived alone in a
two-story house in Moss Bluff, Louisiana, depleted her savings, took out a
reverse mortgage and cashed in a life insurance policy. She didn’t tell her family,
not even the sister who lived next door. Scammers often push victims to keep
promised winnings a secret, says an investigator who helped unravel this sinister
effort to exploit an 82-year-old woman.
two-story house in Moss Bluff, Louisiana, depleted her savings, took out a
reverse mortgage and cashed in a life insurance policy. She didn’t tell her family,
not even the sister who lived next door. Scammers often push victims to keep
promised winnings a secret, says an investigator who helped unravel this sinister
effort to exploit an 82-year-old woman.
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