Safeguarding Seniors: How to Shield Against Fraud and Scams

Each year, millions of older Americans become victims of various fraudulent schemes and scams, resulting in over $3 billion in losses as reported by the FBI.

The California Department of Aging encourages older adults and their families to be vigilant for any warning signs they may encounter.

Following her retirement from her role as the Executive Director at the Valley Caregiver Resource Center, Michelle DiBuduo got numerous messages and phone calls commending her on her new venture into cryptocurrency.

Right then, she realized something was amiss. Therefore, she headed to her Facebook profile.

Someone posted something not authored by me, inviting folks to describe our connection with just one word," explained DiBuduo. "That single post garnered around 160 replies. Although I now have hundreds of friends on Facebook, I’ve never managed to elicit such a high number of reactions from any of my own posts.

The message stated "following many months of continuous study and preparation," she has become an accredited "Professional Cryptocurrency Dealer." The post also featured images of her certifications.

“I replied, stating at that moment, not as my true self, ‘This is false and does not represent me,’" explained DiBudeo.

It took some time for the post to be removed, yet she remains concerned about those who might have believed the false information.

“I’m not sure how many individuals reacted to the Facebook ad,” stated DiBudiao, “those who responded to these people, those hackers, ended up giving them money.”

Between January 2022 and February 2025, the California Department of Social Services documented over 190,000 allegations of suspected financial misconduct.

It has become quite common and there’s even been an increase, particularly in California," stated Hillaree Bennett, who serves as the Program Director at the Fresno-Madera Area Agency on Aging. "This trend is notably evident in Fresno and Madera, which fall within our service area for the Agency of Aging.

Specialists worry that many instances remain undocumented.

"That’s because victims, regardless of age—whether they are seniors or people in general—feel ashamed about falling prey to frauds or scams or losing significant amounts of money,” stated Kue Lee, who serves as the Director of Targeted Outreach at the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.

He points out that elderly individuals often exhibit greater trustfulness. As technology advances and artificial intelligence evolves, fraudulent schemes are growing increasingly sophisticated.

“Technology makes older people susceptible to exploitation,” Bennet stated.

However, there are measures we can implement to safeguard our senior citizens.

refrain from responding to any phone calls, texts, or emails from strangers," advised Lee. "Additionally, ensure you protect yourself further by conducting your own investigation and verifying their legitimacy.

It's crucial for individuals to inform the authorities about such frauds and scams. Additionally, educating our close relatives on adapting to new technologies and restricting personal data can help protect senior citizens.

To locate reliable sources for safeguarding yourself and your loved ones, check out the California Department of Aging website.

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