Scammers stole more than $3.4 billion from older Americans last year, an FBI report says
WASHINGTON (AP) — Scammers stole more than $3.4 billion from older Americans last year, according to an FBI report released Tuesday that shows a rise in losses through increasingly sophisticated criminal tactics to trick the vulnerable into giving up their life savings.
Losses from scams reported by Americans over the age of 60 last year were up 11% over the year before, according to the FBI’s report. Investigators are warning of a rise in brazen schemes to drain bank accounts that involve sending couriers in person to collect cash or gold from victims.
“It can be a devastating impact to older Americans who lack the ability to go out and make money,” said Deputy Assistant Director James Barnacle of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “People lose all their money. Some people become destitute.”
The FBI received more than 100,000 complaints by victims of scams over the age of 60 last year, with nearly 6,000 people losing more than $100,000. It follows a sharp rise in reported losses by older Americans in the two years after the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, when people were stuck at home and easier for scammers to reach over the phone.
Related articles
UN Security Council rejects Russia
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States said Monday that Russia last week launched a satellite that2024-05-21How to be a 'Fall Guy': Stunt performers on their rough
NEW YORK (AP) — There are two things to keep in mind while being burned alive for a movie scene.The2024-05-21St. John's Chris Ledlum and Jordan Dingle suing NCAA for denying them 2024
NEW YORK (AP) — St. John’s basketball players Chris Ledlum and Jordan Dingle have filed a lawsuit ag2024-05-21King Charles marks return to public duties wearing his famed pink T
King Charles today marked his return to public duties wearing his famed pink and blue T-rex tie.His2024-05-21Kristin Cavallari, 37, ignores critics of her age
Kristin Cavallari is enjoying a romantic rendezvous with her much younger cowboy lover Mark Estes in2024-05-21Want to avoid Alzheimer's? What the experts do themselves to slash their risk of getting the memory
If you ask the average person what causes Alzheimer’s they’ll probably say ‘it’s in the genes’. But2024-05-21
atest comment