Scams Against the Elderly on the Rise

May is National Elder Law Month! Planning for the future or even just the next few months can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Elder law attorneys help older adults and their families with important issues like estate planning, long-term care, and Medical Assistance. This month, talk to an Elder Law attorney at Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd. to learn how you can bring peace of mind to yourself and your loved ones. Be prepared by keeping yourself informed!

Scams Against the Elderly on the Rise

According to the federal government’s own crime complaint tracking, last year, people age 60 and older were targets of fraud and exploitation that led to nearly $8 billion in losses over the year. Not “thousands.” Not “millions.” That’s “BILLIONS.” This was an increase of 59% over a year ago where the fraud was estimated at a loss of around $5 billion. Not only does the amount of loss rise, but the number of seniors targeted also grows too, with around 200,000 victims in 2025. Keep in mind that these numbers are voluntarily reported and only cover federal government numbers. The number of victims and amount of loss from scams (financial or otherwise) is probably underreported nationwide. There are estimates that across the United States, the losses from fraud against seniors could reach nearly $ 200 billion. The sheer amount of losses are shocking but the widespread experience of seniors should also not be understated, with 4 in 10 adults age 50 or older stating that they have been victims to a scam or fraud. Beware of these popular scams by the bad guys!

Financial Grooming and Romance Scams

This is the classic scam that people think of when they think of elderly persons being taken advantage of. These scammers take advantage of an elderly person who is isolated or does not have nearby family they talk to regularly. They start talking to a senior adult and pretend to get to know them before asking for money or offering an “opportunity to invest.” The money was their goal the entire time and often a single scammer (or multiple working as a group) are communicating with multiple victims in order to maximize the money they can steal. However, from growing awareness and an increasing number of seniors living in communities of their peers for a sense of community and friendship, there are excellent ways of combating this particular type of scam.

Jury Duty or Court Hearing Scams

These scams have always existed, but they have become more sophisticated, often using specialized letterhead and official-looking insignia (which are easily counterfeited with the use of artificial intelligence). A letter or message will state that the target victim missed a jury duty or court date, often referencing a real (but unsearchable and confidential) court case number. It will then direct the addressee to call a number to clear everything up, usually by making a payment. If you ever receive documentation or a message from the court, make sure to look up the actual court contact information through other means, not simply relying on the contact information in the letter or message. Better yet, bring the communication to the attention of an Elder Law attorney who can help you discern whether it is genuine or fraudulent.

“Grandparent” or Distress Call Scams

This one is scary. Although it does not seem like it would be successful, scammers are pretending to be close friends or family of an elderly victim, then acting like they are in an emergency situation for which they need money immediately (e.g. for legal fees, medical bills, or vehicle tow and repairs). This scam may sound improbable, but with more people communicating through text or email, the malfeasor can “spoof” or fake the phone number/email they are messaging from and make it look like a trusted family member’s telephone number or email. Even worse, new technology allows people to “spoof” voices of loved ones, making it sound like a child, grandchild or close friend is on the phone in distress. Taking advantage of elderly people’s compassion for their families or friends allows these scammers to take money with only a single interaction. This scam is increasingly on the rise and hard to defend against in the moment. The best advice is to keep a cool head and call your loved ones back to confirm any prior request for money or to check whether there really is an emergency.

How Henningson & Snoxell Can Help

At Henningson & Snoxell, our Elder Law attorneys are aware of the legal dangers that our clients face every day. We hope that you are aware of the scams above to better protect yourselves or your loved ones. If you are ever wondering whether someone is trying to defraud you or not, we are here to help.