Ask Anti-Fraud Experts How to Protect Older Adults from Scams. Here's What Works

Older adults remain prime targets of online scams, and experts outline practical protections. AARP data show nine of ten Americans over 50 use social media, while texting is the dominant communication form for that group, making them vulnerable. Al Pascual, CEO of Scamnetic, explains that affordable AI tools let scammers automate engagement, with romance and investment scams topping the list and increasingly targeting crypto and foreign exchanges. Jessica Johnston, of the National Council on Aging, adds six actionable steps: listen and build trust, avoid rush responses, gather evidence, involve loved ones, report incidents, and use protective software. Annual losses exceed $28 billion.