Older people are swindled out of more than $3 billion each year.
More than 3.5 million older adults are victims of financial exploitation each year.
Seniors targeted by fraudsters suffer an average loss of $34,200.
People of any age group can be targeted by scammers. However, those over the age of 60 are often more vulnerable, and victims over 80 report even higher financial losses.
In an effort to protect our elderly citizens, Commissioner Jesse Brewer and Commissioner Charlie Kenner announced a new Elderly Abuse Task Force to prevent these financial scams from swindling money from our most seasoned residents. In an article announcing the Boone County Elderly Abuse Task Force, Brewer stated, “In this day of growing cyber-crime and invasive technology, we need to go above and beyond in taking care of those who have taken care of us. Those preying on the elderly have always been out there, but at least they had to actually be in the community to commit a crime. Now, anyone with a computer from anywhere in the world can steal from those who are most vulnerable in our society.”