Elder Scam Prevention Campaign Materials
The District Attorney’s Office launched a large-scale outreach campaign aimed at educating seniors, their loved ones, caregivers, and the public about the types of scams currently targeting the elderly. Providing this information is more important than ever. San Diego County seniors were scammed out of more than $130 million during a one-year period in various online and phone scams.
Scammers are getting smarter, using everything from fake government calls to AI-generated voices that sound just like loved ones. Our campaign, “Stop. Hang Up. Tell Someone.”, delivers a simple, memorable message that helps older adults and caregivers pause, think, and protect themselves from costly scams.
The most common scams currently come in three common forms:
- “Someone is using your accounts.” They pose as your bank or PayPal, claiming they spotted suspicious activity or unauthorized transactions.
- “Your information is tied to a crime.” They impersonate law enforcement, warning that your Social Security number is linked to drug trafficking or money laundering.
- “Your computer has been hacked.” A fake security alert—appearing to be from Microsoft or Apple—directs you to call a number where scammers claim your accounts are compromised.
Other popular scams include romance scams. The internet makes it easy for romance scammers to hide their true identity and who you thought was an honest connection is actually an imposter operating on another continent, often in a scam labor camp.
When the conversation turns to loans, wiring money, sending cryptocurrency, or needing temporary cash advances because of a dire situation, that’s a red flag. When this happens, it’s your sign to shut down contact immediately.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of elder fraud, report it to local police and to the FBI at www.IC3.gov.
Download campaign materials below and share on social media and with your family and friends.
For more information about how to protect yourself and your loved ones from scams, click here.
