LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) field office is issuing a warning for people over the age of 60 in Kentucky.
As much as we try to avoid suspicious calls and texts, scammers are getting smarter and the department is noticing who they are mainly targeting.
The elderly are some of the most vulnerable when it comes to financial scams. In 2023, the FBI reported $12.8 million in losses. As we reach the halfway point in 2024, they are already reporting $12.7 million in losses.
The FBI said scammers go as far as impersonating bankers, grandchildren, or even government agents. Other tactics they use include creating a romantic relationship on dating websites to build relationships with a victim and then ask for money.
"It's really truly heart wrenching to be talking to the victims and learn how it's impacted their daily life," Kirstin Passmore, the supervisory special agent at the department, said. "Many of these victims are losing their entire life savings to someone that they thought they were in love with and thought they knew who the person was. The fraudsters know that they are financially stable and that they own their homes, that they have assets that can be exploited."
Last year, the department's Internet Crimes Complaint Center reported $3.4 billion in losses across the country for this demographic.
"We work with our local police departments, state, local, federal departments are all working together to make the elderly community more safe," Passmore said. "The DOJ has started an initiative called the Elder Justice Initiative specifically to coordinate law enforcement efforts on fraudsters who are targeting the elderly."
The department said many scams go unreported because victims feel embarrassed. But they want the public know it's important to make a report by calling your local police department or FBI office. The department said reporting a scam helps them navigate where the money went and can potentially lead to an arrest of several people.
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