Senator Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Chairman

Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Ranking Member

United States Senate

Special Committee on Aging

Fighting Fraud:

Senate Aging Committee Identifies 

Top 10 Scams Targeting Our Nation’s Seniors
Tips from the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging for

Avoiding Scams

• Con artists force you to make decisions fast and may threaten you.

• Con artists disguise their real numbers, using fake caller IDs.

• Con artists sometimes pretend to be the government (e.g. IRS).

• Con artists try to get you to provide them personal information like 

your Social Security number or account numbers. 

• Before giving out your credit card number or money, please ask a 

friend or family member about it.

• Beware of offers of free travel!

If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and please call the U.S. Senate 

Special Committee on Aging’s Fraud Hotline at 1-855-303-9470

Note: This document has been printed for information purposes. It does not represent 

either findings or recommendations formally adopted by the Committee.
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

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Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Table of Contents

Dear Friends.........................................................................................................................................................3

Top 10 Most-Reported Scams.............................................................................................................................4

Origin of Fraudulent Calls ..................................................................................................................................5

State Attorneys General.......................................................................................................................................7

Fraud Resources...................................................................................................................................................8

Top Ten Types of Scams Reported to the Fraud Hotline

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam...................................................................................................12

2. Robocalls and Unsolicited Phone Calls..............................................................................................14

3. Sweepstakes Scams...............................................................................................................................16

4. Romance Scams ...................................................................................................................................18

5. Computer Tech Support Scams.......................................................................................................... 20

6. Grandparent Scams............................................................................................................................. 22

7. IRS Impersonation Scam.................................................................................................................... 24

8. Identity Theft...................................................................................................................................... 26

9. Debt Scams...........................................................................................................................................28

10. Elder Financial Abuse........................................................................................................................30

Top Scams by State ............................................................................................................................................32

Appendix: 2019 Complete Fraud Hotline Statistics ........................................................................................36

References...........................................................................................................................................................39

Removable Poster with Tips on Avoiding Phone Scams..................................................................................41
2 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Senate Special Committee on Aging

SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine

TIM SCOTT, South Carolina

RICHARD BURR, North Carolina

MARTHA McSALLY, Arizona

MARCO RUBIO, Florida

JOSH HAWLEY, Missouri

MIKE BRAUN, Indiana

RICK SCOTT, Florida

ROBERT P. CASEY, JR., Pennsylvania

KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, New York

RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut

ELIZABETH WARREN, Massachusetts

DOUG JONES, Alabama

KYRSTEN SINEMA, Arizona

JACKY ROSEN, Nevada
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

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Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Dear Friends,

It is estimated that older Americans lose a staggering $2.9 billion a year to an ever-growing array of financial 

exploitation schemes and scams. They are being targeted by criminals who want to rob them of their hardearned retirement savings. They are being exploited by strangers over the telephone, through the mail, and 

online. Worse yet, far too many seniors may also be targeted by family members or by other people who they 

trust. 

The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging is committed to protecting older Americans against fraud and 

to bringing greater awareness of this pervasive problem. The Committee maintains a toll-free Fraud Hotline: 

1-855-303-9470. By serving as a resource for seniors and others affected by scams, the Hotline has helped 

increase reporting and awareness of consumer fraud. Additionally, Committee staff and investigators who 

operate the Fraud Hotline can provide callers with important information to help reduce the likelihood that 

they will become a victim.

Over the past year, more than 1,300 individuals all across the country contacted the Fraud Hotline. Since 

the Fraud Hotline’s inception in 2013, more than 9,500 individuals from all 50 states have contacted the 

Committee’s Fraud Hotline to report a possible scam. The Committee would like to thank the many 

consumer advocacy organizations, community centers, and local law enforcement officials that have provided 

invaluable assistance by encouraging consumers to call the Fraud Hotline to document scams. We look 

forward to building upon our successful efforts to investigate and stop scams aimed our nation’s seniors, and 

to ensure that federal agencies are aggressively pursuing the criminals who commit these frauds. 

Sincerely,

Susan M. Collins

Chairman

Robert P. Casey, Jr.

Ranking Member
4 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Top 10 Most-Reported Scams

From January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, the Senate Aging Committee’s Fraud Hotline 

received a total of 1,341 complaints from residents all across the country. Calls pertaining to the 

top 10 scams featured in this report account for more than 70 percent of the complaints.

Rank Type of Scam # of Complaints

1 Social Security Impersonation Scam 371

2 Robocalls / Unsolicited Phone Calls 123

3 Sweepstakes Scam / Jamaican Lottery Scam 107

4 Romance Scams 99

5 Computer Tech Support Scams 93

6 Grandparent Scams 51

7 IRS Impersonation Scam 34

8 Identity Theft 27

9 Debt Scams 21

10 Elder Financial Abuse 18
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

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Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Origin of Calls Received by the 

Aging Committee Fraud Hotline

4

76

25

5

4

52

15

5

6

10

2

1

2

1

1

3

8

6

6

8

2 11 14

83

6

15 11

8

23

13

110

5

13

12

8 25

9 22

111

45

2

20

7

4

14 4 0

79

367

2
6 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Adult Protective Services APS

Better Business Bureau BBB

Department of Homeland Security DHS

Department of Justice DOJ

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) FBI

Federal Communications Commission FCC

Federal Trade Commission FTC

Government Accountability Office GAO

Health Insurance Claim Number HICN

Internal Revenue Service IRS

Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3

Legal Services for the Elderly LSE

Personally Identifiable Information PII

Social Security Administration SSA

Social Security Number SSN

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration TIGTA

Voice over Internet Protocol VoIP

Abbreviations
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

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Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Alabama

(334) 242-7300

Alaska

(907) 269-5100

Arizona

(602) 542-5025

Arkansas

(800) 482-8982

California

(916) 445-9555

Colorado

(720) 508-6022

Connecticut

(860) 808-5400

Delaware

(302) 577-8600

District of Columbia

(202) 442-9828

Florida

(850) 414-3300

Georgia

(404) 656-3300

Hawaii

(808) 586-1500

Idaho

(208) 334-2400

Illinois

(312) 814-3000

Indiana

(317) 232-6330

Iowa

(515) 281-5044

Kansas

(785) 296-3751

Kentucky

(502) 696-5300

Louisiana

(225) 326-6465

Maine

(207) 626-8800

Maryland

(410) 576-6300

Massachusetts

(617) 727-2200

Michigan

(517) 335-7622

Minnesota

(651) 296-3353

Mississippi

(601) 359-3680

Missouri

(573) 751-3321

Montana

(406) 444-2026

Nebraska

(402) 471-2682

Nevada

(702) 486-3132

New Hampshire

(603) 271-3658

New Jersey

(609) 292-8740

New Mexico

(505) 490-4060

New York

(518) 776-2000

North Carolina

(919) 716-6400

North Dakota

(701) 328-2210

Ohio

(614) 466-4986

Oklahoma

(405) 521-3921

Oregon

(503) 378-4400

Pennsylvania

(717) 787-3391

Rhode Island

(401) 274-4400

South Carolina

(803) 734-3970

South Dakota

(605) 773-3215

Tennessee

(615) 741-3491

Texas

(512) 463-2100

Utah

(800) 244-4636

Vermont

(802) 828-3173

Virginia

(804) 786-2071

Washington

(360) 753-6200

West Virginia

(304) 558-2021

Wisconsin

(608) 266-1221

Wyoming

(307) 777-7841

Puerto Rico

(787) 721-2900

US Virgin Islands

(340) 774-5666

State Attorneys General

If you think you have been defrauded by a business or had assets stolen by someone you trusted, call your 

state, district, or territory Attorney General’s office.
8 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Fraud Resources 

Identity Theft

If you or someone you know have been the victim of Identity Theft, call one of the three national credit 

bureaus to place a scam alert.

• Equifax: 1-800-685-1111 (Fraud Hotline: 1-888-766-0008)

• Experian: 1-888-397-3742 (Fraud Hotline: 1-888-397-3742)

• TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800 (Fraud Hotline: 1-800-680-7289)

General Consumer Complaints

Agency Website / Phone Number

Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org

Use zip code to find caller’s local BBB

National Do-Not-Call Registry www.donotcall.org

1-888-382-1222

USA.gov for Seniors http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors.shtml

1-800-333-4636

AARP Fraud Watch Network www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork

1-800-646-2283

FTC Sentinel Network http://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/consumer-sentinel-network

1-877-701-9595

FTC Consumer Response Center http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/

1-877-382-4357

DOJ Elder Justice Initiative www.justice.gov/elderjustice/

1-202-514-2000 (DOJ Main Switchboard)

Area Agency on Aging http://www.n4a.org/

IRS Scam Reporting Hotline https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml

1-800-366-4484

National Center for Victims of 

Crime

https://www.victimsofcrime.org/

1-855-484-2846

FINRA Securities Helpline for 

Seniors 

http://www.finra.org/investors/finra-securities-helpline-seniors

1-844-574-3577

Center for Elder Rights Advocacy http://www.legalhotlines.org/legal-assistance-resources.html 
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

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Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Executive Summary

U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate 

Special Committee on Aging, are leading efforts to fight fraud targeting older Americans. This fraud book 

reports annually on the top frauds affecting seniors, and provides tips for older Americans, families, and 

communities to stay safe. In addition to this ongoing work, the Committee has held 24 hearings over the 

past seven years focused on financial fraud and scams, examining many of the frauds featured in this book. 

Senators Collins and Casey have also championed bills to protect seniors from scams and exploitation. 

The Senior$afe Act, a 2018 law championed by Senators Collins and Casey, helps protect older adults 

from financial exploitation. Also, in February 2019, the Chairman and Ranking Member reintroduced the 

Guardianship Accountability Act, which would promote guardianship oversight, while also encouraging 

information sharing among state and federal government entities and other relevant organizations. Further, 

at the urging of the Committee, the Federal Communications Commission finalized new rules between 2015 

and 2019 to help put an end to illegal robocalls. 

The Senate Special Committee on Aging’s Fraud Hotline is a hallmark resource that is available to seniors 

across the country to fight fraud. The Hotline provides free support to help older adults and their families 

prevent frauds and scams, or report them, and work towards justice in cases when they do occur. From 

January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, the Senate Special Committee on Aging’s Fraud Hotline 

received a total of 1,341 reports from callers throughout the United States. Calls pertaining to the top 10 

scams featured in this Fraud Book accounted for 70 percent of complaints.

The Scams

1. This year, a significant change occurred in the most common phone scam plaguing seniors. Since 

the Committee set up the Fraud Hotline in 2013, the IRS Impersonation Scam has been the most 

frequent complaint. However, in 2019, the Hotline saw a marked decline in reports of the IRS scam 

and a large increase in reports of the Social Security Impersonation Scam. This scam, which was 

the top complaint and the focus of more than twice as many calls as any other scam, involves scammers 

posing as employees of the Social Security Administration in order to fraudulently take money or 

obtain personally identifiable information (PII) from victims. In one common version of this scam, 

victims are told that their Social Security number has been linked to a crime and the situation can only 

be resolved by sending payment or PII. 

2. As in 2018, the second most common scam reported to the Fraud Hotline this year involved robocalls 

or unsolicited telephone calls. Illegal robocalls, which often originate overseas, have become an 

increasing nuisance to consumers due to advances in technology. Additionally, con artists often 

“spoof” their number to make it appear that they are calling from a government agency or legitimate 

business.

3. Sweepstakes Scams, such as the Publishers Clearing House Scam, remain a problem for seniors, 

placing third on the list again this year. Perpetrators of this scam aim to convince victims that they 

have won a large sum of money through the lottery, but must make up front payments for taxes and 

fees before collecting their prize. The con artists often collect large sums of money, sometimes tens or 

hundreds of thousands of dollars, over an extended period of time while the “winnings” never come. 
10 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

4. Romance Scams also saw a significant increase in complaints from previous years and was the fourth 

most-reported complaint. Americans are often turning to online dating to find love, and scammers have 

taken advantage of this opportunity by creating fake online profiles to attract victims. Once a scammer 

has gained a victim’s trust over weeks, months, or even years, the scammer requests money to pay for an 

unexpected bill, an emergency, or another alleged expense. 

5. The fifth most-reported scam was Computer Scams. Although there are many variations of computer 

scams, fraudsters typically claim to represent a well-known technology company in an attempt to 

convince victims to provide them with access to their computers. Scammers often demand that victims 

pay for bogus technical support services through a wire transfer or obtain victims’ passwords and gain 

access to financial accounts.

6. Grandparent Scams placed sixth on the list. In these scams, fraudsters call a senior pretending to be 

a family member, often a grandchild, and claim to be in urgent need of money to cover an emergency. 

Scammers increasingly work in pairs with one briefly imitating the grandchild before quickly handing 

the phone off to another scammer that impersonates an authority figure, such as a police officer 

pretending to confirm the story or defense attorney to make the request for money.

7. Falling from number one for the first time since the Fraud Hotline was established, the IRS 

Impersonation Scam ranked seventh on the list. In this scam, IRS impersonators often accuse victims 

of owing back taxes that must be paid immediately. After an initial “payment” is made, con artists often 

convince victims to make additional payments to prevent arrest or other adverse actions.

8. Identity Theft was the eighth most reported consumer complaint to the Fraud Hotline in 2019. This 

wide-ranging category includes calls about actual theft of a wallet or mail, online impersonation, or other 

illegal efforts to obtain a person’s identifiable information. Perpetrators of identity theft can disrupt 

a senior’s life by draining their bank accounts, making unauthorized credit card charges, or stealing 

government benefits, such as Medicare or Medicaid services.

9. Debt Scams made the top 10 for the first time in 2019. While there are multiple variations on this 

theme, reports to the Fraud Hotline generally took one of two approaches. In the first approach, the 

scammer would claim that the victim owed money on their credit card and should make a payment 

immediately. In the second, the scammer offered to help with debt consolidation and requested the 

victim’s personal information, which was likely used to steal the victim’s identity or take money directly 

from their bank account. 

10. Elder Financial Abuse placed tenth on the list this year. Reports to the Fraud Hotline focused on the 

illegal or improper use of an older adult’s funds, property, or assets. Perpetrators can include those with 

close contact with the victim, such as family or paid homecare workers, or strangers. 

In addition to these ten most-common scams, the Fraud Hotline also received many reports of deceptive and 

underhanded business practices. These consumer complaints took different forms and involved businesses in a 

variety of industries. Consumers should be wary of any offer that sounds too good to be true and carefully read 

any contract, or consult with others, before agreeing to sign. Questionable practices can be reported to state 

attorneys general, consumer protection agencies, and the Better Business Bureau. 
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

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Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

How to Protect Yourself

There are several steps every senior can take to help avoid falling victim to a scam, which are outlined in this 

book. In summary, it is imperative that seniors stay vigilant and watch out for any efforts to steal their money. 

Since most scams originate with a phone call, it is important to remain aware when taking phone calls and 

hang up immediately if the caller sounds suspicious, makes threats, or makes an offer that sounds too good 

to be true but requires something from you. Additionally, it is necessary to keep personally identifiable 

information (PII), such as a Social Security number or bank account number, private and secure. If ever you 

are in doubt about an offer, call, or transaction, call the Fraud Hotline at (855) 303-9470.
12 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

In 2019, for the first time since the inception of the 

Fraud Hotline in 2013, the most-reported scam 

was the Social Security Impersonation Scam. While 

the Fraud Hotline has received reports of this con 

for several years, it jumped from the seventh mostreported scam of 2018 to the most-reported of 

2019. In the first half of 2019, the FTC received 

almost double the number of Social Security Scam 

complaints than it received in all of 2018, with total 

reported losses of just under $17 million.1

Top Ten Types of Scams

Reported to the Fraud Hotline

The Social Security Impersonation Scam involves 

consumers receiving calls from individuals claiming 

to represent the Social Security Administration 

(SSA). The scammers often “spoof” the SSA’s 

public numbers to make it appear as if the 

fraudulent call is actually coming from the SSA. 

While there are several variations to this scam, the 

general theme involves the scammers calling victims 

to fraudulently take money from them or obtain 

their personally identifiable information. In one 

1 Social Security 

Impersonation Scam

Source: Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

13

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

common iteration of the scam, the fraudsters will 

attempt to scare consumers by claiming that their 

Social Security number has been suspended due 

to suspicious activity or has been used in a crime. 

The scammers will say the 

situation can only be resolved 

by providing sensitive personal 

information over the phone 

or by paying a sum of money 

using a particular means of 

payment, such as gift cards. 

These tactics aim to panic 

the consumer by creating a 

false sense of urgency, and 

many individuals do indeed 

panic and give away their 

information and hard-earned 

money.

It is important to note that 

SSA employees occasionally 

reach out by telephone for 

customer-service purposes.2

In only a few special situations, usually already 

known to the individual by previous direct contact 

with the agency, an SSA employee may request 

the confirmation of personal information over 

the phone. SSA warns that legitimate SSA callers 

will provide a telephone number and extension.3

If you are ever confused or unsure whether you 

are speaking with a real SSA 

employee, you may request 

that they call you back later, 

after you have verified that 

they are legitimate by calling 

the SSA Inspector General’s 

toll-free number (1-800-772-

1213).

In addition to phone calls, 

some people have reported 

getting emails claiming to 

be from SSA. According 

to SSA’s website, “Social 

Security will not send you an 

email asking you to give us 

your personal information, 

such as your Social Security 

number, date of birth, or 

other private information. If someone saying they 

are from Social Security does email you requesting 

information, don’t respond to the message.”4

Fraud Case #1:

“Laura” from Texas called the Fraud 

Hotline to report receiving two calls from 

two scammers, one posing as her county 

sheriff and the other as a local police 

officer. They told her the same story: that 

there was evidence her Social Security 

number had been used in a complicated 

criminal conspiracy, and that the only way 

to clear her name would be to pay a fee 

of $20,000. The scammers instructed her 

to buy gift cards from Target and Macy’s 

and read the gift card numbers over the 

phone. Laura complied, buying the cards 

and reading the numbers to the scammers. 

A fraud hotline investigator reported the 

call to the FTC for further action.

Tips to Help Avoid the Social Security Impersonation Scam:

• Never give out personal information over the phone to someone you do not know.

• SSA will never tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended.

• SSA will not call demanding an immediate payment or ask for your credit or debit card number over the 

phone.

• SSA will not require a specific means of payment, such as a prepaid debit card, retail gift card, or cash.

• Don’t be afraid to call SSA’s Inspector General at their toll free number (1-800-772-1213) to verify the 

caller/request.

• If you believe you have been a victim of this scam, you can report it to the SSA’s Office of Inspector 

General online at https://secure.ssa.gov/ipff/home or on the phone 1-800-269-0271. You can also call the 

Aging Committee’s Fraud Hotline at 1-855-303-9470

Sources: https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2019/#11-2019-2; https://oig.ssa.gov/newsroom/scam-awareness
14 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

In 2003, Congress passed legislation creating 

the national Do-Not-Call registry with the goal 

of stopping telemarketers from interrupting 

Americans at all hours of the day with unwanted 

calls.5 Unfortunately, 16 years after the registry was 

implemented, Americans are still being disturbed 

by telemarketers and scammers who ignore the 

Do-Not-Call registry and increasingly use robocall 

technology. The Federal Communications 

Commission (FCC) highlights private analyses 

which estimate that there were nearly 4 billion 

robocalls made every month to U.S. consumers 

in 2018.6 Illegal robocalls are not just annoying; 

scammers use them to find potential victims. 

Robodialers can be used to distribute pre-recorded 

messages or to connect the person who answers 

the call with a live person. Robocalls often 

originate overseas. Con artists usually spoof the 

number from which they are calling to either 

mask their true identity or to take on a new one. 

As described in the chapter on Social Security 

Impersonation Scams, fraudsters spoof their 

numbers to make victims believe they are calling 

from the government or another legitimate entity. 

In addition, scammers are increasingly spoofing 

numbers to appear as if they are calling from the 

victims’ home states or local area codes. Some 

spoofing technology even makes it appear as 

though the call is coming from the victim’s own 

phone number.

Robocalls have become an increasing nuisance to 

consumers. Phone calls used to be routed through 

equipment that was costly, and calling from 

international locations used to be difficult and 

expensive. Today, phone calls can be digitized and 

routed from anywhere in the world at virtually 

no cost. This is done using Voice over Internet 

Protocol (VoIP) technology, which sends voice 

communications over the Internet. Robocalling 

allows scammers to place thousands of calls a day at 

very little cost. Behind these calls are organized and 

sophisticated criminal enterprises, overseeing boiler 

room operations abroad, often in Jamaica and, 

increasingly, in India.7

2 Robocalls and Unsolicited 

Phone Calls

Robocalling is the process of using 

equipment to mechanically, as opposed to 

manually, dial phone numbers in sequence.

Fraud Case #2:

“Bill” from Maine called the Fraud Hotline to 

report receiving a large number of unsolicited, 

spoofed robocalls. Bill explained how the callers 

claimed to be reaching out about an expired 

warranty on his truck and wanted his credit 

card information to renew the warranty. A Fraud 

Hotline investigator advised Bill to list his number 

on the national Do-Not-Call registry, and to 

contact his local telephone company and inquire 

about call-blocking features.
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

15

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Many companies also offer third-party spoofing 

and robodialing services. Third-party spoofing 

companies provide an easy-to-use computer 

interface or cell phone application that allows calls 

to be spoofed at a negligible cost. 

Experts have made it clear that it is possible to 

fight technology with technology. To this end, 

the FCC partnered with industry to accelerate 

the development and adoption of new tools to 

combat robocalls. At Senators Collins and Casey’s 

urging, the FCC also issued rules allowing phone 

companies to take more aggressive actions to block 

unwanted robocalls before they reach consumers. 8

For example, these rules allow telecommunications 

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has published the following 

tips for consumers to avoid being deceived by caller-ID spoofing:

• Never give out – or confirm – personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, 

mothers’ maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or 

if you are at all suspicious.

• If you get an inquiry from someone who says they represent a government agency, hang up and call the 

phone number on the government agency’s website, or in the phone book, to verify the authenticity of 

the request.

• Use caution if you are being pressured to quickly divulge information – this is a sure sign of a scam.

• Never send money using a reloadable card or gift card.

Source: https://www.fcc.gov/fcc-alerts-consumers-about-spoofing-1-888-call-fcc-phone-number

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a 

technology that allows a caller to make voice 

calls using a broadband Internet connection 

instead of a traditional (or analog) phone 

connection. Some VoIP services may only 

allow a user to call other people using the 

same service, but others may allow users to 

call anyone who has a telephone number, 

including local, long distance, mobile, and 

international numbers.

providers to block numbers that are not valid or 

that are valid but are not currently in use. Providers 

may also automatically block robocalls that appear 

to be illegal before they reach consumers, and they 

may offer consumers the option to block all calls 

from numbers not included on a pre-specified list. 9

To take these efforts a step further, in December 

2019, Congress passed and the President signed 

into law the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall 

Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence 

(TRACED) Act. This law contains a number of 

provisions aimed at stemming the tide of illegal 

robocalls, including a provision that requires 

phone companies to implement technologies 

that verify caller-ID information in order to help 

consumers identify legitimate calls.

Caller-ID Spoofing is a tactic used by 

scammers to disguise their true telephone 

numbers and/or names on the victims’ 

caller-ID displays to conceal their identity 

and convince the victims that they are 

calling from a certain organization or entity.
16 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Sweepstakes scams continue to claim senior victims 

who believe they have won a lottery and only need 

to take a few actions to obtain their winnings. In 

this scam, fraudsters generally contact victims by 

phone or through the mail to tell them that they 

have won or have been entered to win a prize. 

Scammers then require the victims to pay a fee to 

either collect their supposed winnings or improve 

their odds of winning the prize.10 According to the 

Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the prevalence 

of sweepstakes scams increased by 35 percent 

between 2013 and 2018.11,12 One example of such 

a scheme was reported in Pennsylvania by the

Lebanon Daily News, which told of an 82-year-old 

man who lost $30,000 after paying “taxes” on $10.5 

million in Publishers Clearing House “winnings.”13

Sweepstakes scams start with a simple phone call, 

sometimes from a number beginning with “876,” 

an area code from Jamaica. At first glance, this 

country code looks similar to a call coming from a 

toll-free American number. As with other types of 

scams, these scammers use “lead lists” to identify 

potential victims.

Scammers tell victims that they have won the 

lottery or a brand new car, and that in order for 

their winnings to be delivered they must first wire 

a few hundred dollars to cover processing fees and 

taxes. The criminals will often instruct their victims 

not to share the good news with anyone so that it 

3 Sweepstakes Scams

Lead Lists are lists of victims and potential 

victims. Scammers buy and sell these lists 

and use them to target consumers in future 

scams.

Fraud Case #3:

“Michelle” called the Fraud Hotline to report that 

her parents, who live in Alabama, had lost $400,000 

to the Jamaican Lottery Scam. They were told 

they had won hundreds of millions of dollars, but 

needed to send money to claim the “winnings.” 

Over several months, the criminals convinced the 

couple to liquidate their assets, sell their house, and 

mail the money to the scammers. A Fraud Hotline 

investigator filed a report with the FTC and U.S. 

Postal Inspection Service.

will be a “surprise” when their families find out. 

Scammers tell victims to send money in a variety of 

ways, including gift cards, electronic wire transfers, 

money orders, and even cold hard cash.

The con artists adopt a variety of identities to keep 

the money coming in ever-increasing amounts 

and convince the victim that their winnings will 
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

17

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Fraud Case #4:

In July 2019, Angela Stancik, from Texas, testified at an Aging 

Committee hearing on phone scams. Angela explained how her 

grandmother, Marjorie, committed suicide after losing her life 

savings in a sweepstakes scam. Marjorie was promised a large 

cash prize by scammers operating in Costa Rica if she would pay 

a series of taxes and fees on her winnings. Unbeknownst to her 

family, Marjorie gradually gave away all of her retirement savings 

and took out a reverse mortgage on her home. Angela realized 

that her grandmother was being scammed during their last phone 

conversation, in which Marjorie asked Angela for $6,000 to pay the 

“last” fee. When Angela refused to send the money until she had 

looked into the “sweepstakes,” Marjorie called her son (Angela’s 

father) and secured the money from him instead. Less than one week 

later, Marjorie died with $69 in her bank account. The Department 

of Justice and Postal Inspection Service successfully traced the 

scam ring to their call center in Costa Rica and their headquarters 

in Jamaica. The scammers responsible were extradited to the U.S., 

tried, and sentenced to Federal Prison.

come soon if they continue to send money. Some 

scammers spend hours on the phone to develop 

a relationship with the victims and convince the 

victims that they care deeply for them. Victims 

who resist their entreaties begin receiving calls 

from scammers posing as American government 

officials, including local law enforcement, the 

Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Social Security 

Administration, and the Department of Homeland 

Security, asking for personal data and bank account 

numbers so they can “solve” the crime.

In this scam, no winnings are ever delivered, and 

the “winners” get nothing but more scam calls, 

which some victims have reported to be up to 100 

calls per day, from scammers demanding additional 

money. 

Since the Committee began investigating this issue, 

the Jamaican government passed new laws enabling 

extradition of the criminals to the United States 

for trial, leading to the extradition of one scammer 

for prosecution in the United States.14 Several 

convictions have been obtained in connection with 

this scam.15
18 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

As Americans often turn to online dating to find 

love, con artists are following suit, not for love but 

for money. Typically, scammers contact victims 

online either through a chatroom, dating site, 

social media site, or email. Con artists have been 

known to create elaborate profile pages, giving 

their fabricated story more credibility. Con artists 

often call on the phone to prove that they are real. 

These conversations can take place over weeks and 

even months as the con artists build trust with 

their victims. In some instances, con artists have 

even promised to marry their victims.

Inevitably, con artists in these scams will ask 

their victims for money for things such as travel 

expenses, surgery or medical expenses, or gambling 

debts.16 Despite initially telling their victims 

they will never ask for any more money, romance 

scammers typically continue to request additional 

funds.

Con artists may send checks for victims to cash 

under the pretense that they are outside the 

country and cannot cash the checks themselves, 

or they may ask victims to forward them a 

package. The FBI warns that, in addition to losing 

money to these con artists, victims may also have 

unknowingly taken part in money laundering 

schemes or shipped stolen merchandise.17

4 Romance Scams

In 2019, Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer 

Sentinel had more than 25,000 reports about 

romance scams.18

Fraud Case #5:

“Gail” from Tennessee called the Fraud Hotline to 

report that she was the victim of a romance scam. A 

man contacted her via the online game, “Words with 

Friends,” and they developed a romantic relationship. 

The man told her that he had $12 million in gold and 

worked on an oil rig in Nigeria, but needed her help 

to access it. Gail had sent the man $500,000 and 

depleted her retirement account before she realized 

that this was a scam. A Fraud Hotline investigator 

filed a report with the FTC and the Internet Crime 

Complaint Center (IC3) on her behalf.
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

19

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

The FBI has recommended consumers be aware of common 

techniques used by romance scammers, which include:

• Claiming to be from the U.S. but currently living, working, or traveling abroad.

• Claiming the romance was “destiny” or “fate,” especially in early correspondence.

• Asking for money, goods, or similar types of financial assistance, especially if you have never met in 

person.

• Asking for assistance with personal transactions (opening a new bank account, depositing or transferring 

funds, shipping merchandise, etc.).

Source: https://www.ic3.gov/media/2019/190805.aspx
20 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Computer-based scams involve con artists trying 

to gain the victims’ trust by pretending to be 

associated with a well-known technology company, 

such as Microsoft, Apple, or Dell. They falsely 

claim that the victims’ computer has been infected 

with a virus. Con artists convince victims to give 

them remote access to their computers, personal 

information, or credit card and bank account 

numbers so that victims can be “billed” for 

fraudulent services to fix the virus. 

In a related scam, individuals searching the internet 

may see a pop-up window on their computer 

instructing them to contact a tech-support agent. 

Scammers sometimes use the pop-up window to 

hack into victims’ computers, lock them out, and 

force victims to pay a ransom to regain control of 

their computers.

5 Computer Tech 

Support Scams

Fraud Case #6:

“Eileen” from Massachusetts called the Fraud Hotline 

to report that she had lost $400,000 over the course 

of two years to a tech support scam. She said her 

computer screen froze and displayed a message 

offering to fix the problem and protect her computer 

for $300. After paying, she was contacted and told 

that since she didn’t use the service her $300 would 

be refunded, but only after she sent them $700 more 

because they could not send a check for less than 

$1,000. More requests for money followed, and she 

paid them all via gift card. Eileen eventually called 

the Fraud Hotline for advice, and an investigator 

reported the scammer to the FTC and the FBI’s 

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). She was also 

eventually able to get the malware removed by the 

computer retailer.

Below are several of the most common variations 

of this scam:

• Scammers Contact Victims. In the most 

prevalent variation of this scam, con artists 

randomly call potential victims and offer 

to clean their computers and/or sell them a 

long-term or technical support “service.” The 

con artists also spread viruses that cause the 

victims’ computers to display error messages 

that instruct them to call a number to fix 

the problem. Scammers generally charge 

victims hundreds of dollars and may install 

free programs or trial versions of anti-virus 

programs to give the illusion that they are 

repairing victims’ computers. If victims 

express concern about the price, the con 

artists will often entice victims to pay by 

offering a “senior citizen discount.”
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

21

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

• Victims Unknowingly Contact Scammers.

Some victims unknowingly call a fraudulent 

tech support number after viewing the phone 

number online. Victims who search for 

tech support online may see the number for 

the scammer at the top of their “sponsored 

results.” Some key search terms include: “virus 

removal,” “how to get rid of a computer 

virus,” “McAfee Customer Support,” and 

“Norton Support.” These search terms are 

cleverly chosen to confuse the consumer into 

thinking the fraudsters are associated with 

well-known companies. Other fraudsters use 

pop-up messages on consumers’ computer 

screens that direct potential victims to call 

them.

• Fraudulent Refund. Scammers contact 

victims stating that they are owed a refund 

for prior services. The scammers generally 

convince victims to provide them with access 

to their computers to process an online wire 

transfer. Instead of refunding the money, 

however, the fraudsters use the victims’ 

Tips from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help consumers 

avoid becoming a victim of a computer-based scam:

• Do not give control of your computer to a third party that calls you out of the blue.

• Do not rely on caller-ID to authenticate a caller. Criminals spoof caller-ID numbers. They may appear to 

be calling from a legitimate company or a local number when they are not even in the same country as 

you.

• If you want to contact tech support, look for a company’s contact information on its software package or 

on your receipt. Never provide your credit card or financial information to someone who calls and claims 

to be from tech support.

• If a caller pressures you to buy a computer security product or says there is a subscription fee associated 

with the call, hang up.

• If you’re concerned about your computer, call your security software company directly and ask for help.

• Make sure you have updated all of your computer’s anti-virus software, firewalls, and popup blockers.

Source: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0346-tech-support-scams

account information to steal their savings or 

commit identity theft.

• Ransomware. Scammers use malware or 

spyware to infect victims’ computers with a 

virus or encrypt the computers so they cannot 

be used until a fee is paid. If victims refuse 

to pay, scammers will render the computer 

useless, prompting the appearance of a blue 

screen that can only be removed with a 

password known by the scammers. The Fraud 

Hotline has received reports that scammers 

sometimes admit to victims that it is a scam 

and refuse to unlock the victims’ computers 

unless a “ransom” payment is made.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the 

Department of Justice (DOJ) have responded 

to computer-based scams through investigative 

and enforcement actions. For example, in March 

2019, the DOJ, FTC, and several state Attorneys 

General announced the takedown of multiple tech 

support schemes that collectively defrauded tens of 

thousands of victims in the United States.19
22 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

A common scam used to target older Americans 

is the “grandparent scam.” In this scam, imposters 

either pretend to be the victim’s grandchild or 

a law enforcement officer detaining the victim’s 

grandchild. The fraudsters claim that the 

grandchild is in trouble and needs money to help 

with an emergency, such as getting out of jail, 

paying a hospital bill, or leaving a foreign country. 

Scammers play on victims’ emotions and trick 

the concerned grandparents into wiring money 

to them. For example, in a January 2019 Aging 

Committee hearing, Erika Flavin of Pennsylvania 

shared the story of her parents losing over $80,000 

to a scammer who convinced them that their 

grandson had been arrested and jailed.20

The Fraud Hotline has received frequent reports 

of con artists telling victims their family member 

was pulled over by the police and arrested after 

drugs were found in the car. The scammer who 

is pretending to be the victim’s grandchild will 

often tell the victim to refrain from alerting the 

grandchild’s parents. Recently, the Fraud Hotline 

has received reports of imposter grandchildren 

claiming to have broken their noses in car 

accidents to explain why their voices sound 

differently. The scammer then asks the victim to 

help by sending money in the fastest way possible. 

This typically requires the victim to go to a local 

retailer and send an electric wire transfer of several 

thousand dollars, but other methods like gift cards 

and cash are also used.

6 Grandparent Scams

Fraud Case #7:

“Timothy” from Pennsylvania called to report losing 

$40,000 in a Grandparent Scam. He was called by 

someone impersonating his grandson who asked 

for money to help with repairs to his car after 

an accident. This went on for a month, with the 

“grandson” calling and continually asking for help 

with legal fees and repairs, until Timothy had lost 

$40,000 and realized that this was a scam. A Fraud 

Hotline investigator filed a report with the FTC on 

his behalf.

If you are contacted by a family 

member who claims to be in 

trouble with the law or in need 

of other financial assistance, 

call their number or check with 

other family members before 

sending money to help.

After payment has been made, the fraudster will 

likely call the victim back, claiming that there was 

another legal fee of which they were not initially 

aware. In 2018 and 2019, for example, the Fraud 

Hotline received multiple reports of scammers 

initially claiming to have been in a car accident and 

requesting bail, then calling back and claiming that 

a pregnant woman was in the other car and suffered 
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

23

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

a miscarriage as a result of the accident. They then 

begged for thousands of dollars to retain a lawyer 

or pay the woman off so they could avoid going to 

court. The second call is typically what alerts the 

victims that they have been scammed.

In another version of the scam, instead of the 

“grandchild” making the phone call, the con 

artist pretends to be an arresting police officer, a 

lawyer, or a doctor. It is also common for the con 

artist impersonating the victim’s grandchild to 

talk briefly with the victims and then hand the 

phone over to an accomplice impersonating an 

authority figure. This gives the scammers’ stories 

more credibility and reduces the chance the victim 

will recognize that the voice on the phone does not 

belong to his or her grandchild.

The Department of Justice has prosecuted cases 

against grandparent scammers, including a case 

where six defendants were sentenced to prison 

terms ranging from 8 months to 33 months and 

ordered to pay restitution for defrauding more 

than 250 victims of more than $750,000.21

Fraud Case #8:

In March 2018, Stephen and Rita Shiman, from Maine, testified at an Aging Committee hearing 

on phone scams. Stephen and Rita were called in May 2015 by someone who said he was their 

grandson, Kabo. Rita said the caller’s voice sounded just like that of her grandson. He claimed 

that he was being held in a county jail in Georgia. When Rita asked why he was in Georgia and 

not home in Maryland, he answered that a classmate from college had died and he drove with 

several friends for the funeral. “Kabo” made Rita promise not to tell his parents (the Shimans’ 

son and his wife) about this and told her a public defender would be calling soon to arrange bail. 

A man calling himself George Diaz called soon after and told them that he was meeting with 

the judge shortly and needed them to send $1,230 as quickly as they could to secure Kabo’s 

release. He said the transaction would have to be in cash sent via Western Union to his contact 

in the Dominican Republic. Stephen and Rita described feeling so panicked by the situation 

that they did not think twice about the strange instructions. He said that Western Union had 

no legal right to question the transaction and advised them not to answer any questions if an 

employee did so. Only after sending the money and returning home did Stephen and Rita begin 

to realize that the instructions were quite suspicious. After they received a second call from the 

scammer telling them the first amount of money was not sufficient, they called their son’s home 

phone number in Maryland and Kabo picked up. They realized they had been scammed.
24 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

While there are multiple variations of the Internal 

Revenue Service (IRS) impersonation scams, 

criminals generally accuse victims of owing back 

taxes and penalties. They then threaten retaliation, 

such as home foreclosure, arrest, and deportation if 

immediate payment is not made by certified check, 

electronic wire transfer, or gift card.

Once victims make an initial payment, they will 

often be told that further review of their tax 

records has identified another discrepancy and 

that they must pay an additional sum of money to 

resolve that difference or else face arrest or other 

adverse action. Scammers will often take victims 

through this process multiple times. As long as the 

victim remains hooked, the scammers will tell them 

they owe more money.

The IRS impersonation scam calls, like others, 

often involve a disguised, or “spoofed,” caller 

identification (caller-ID) number to make the 

victim believe that the call is coming from the 

“202” area code, the area code for Washington, 

D.C., where the IRS is headquartered. Scammers 

7 IRS Impersonation Scam

have also “spoofed” their phone numbers to make 

it appear as though they are calling from a local 

law enforcement agency when the unsuspecting 

victims see the “Internal Revenue Service” or 

the name of the local police department appear 

on their caller-IDs, they are understandably 

concerned and often willing to follow the supposed 

government official’s instructions in order to 

resolve the alleged tax issue. 

To address this scam, the U.S. Treasury Inspector 

General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and 

Department of Justice (DOJ) launched a joint 

investigation to identify the scam’s perpetrators 

and bring them to justice. The largest enforcement 

action came on October 27, 2016, when TIGTA 

and DOJ announced that 20 individuals were 

arrested in the United States and 32 individuals 

and five call centers in India were charged for their 

alleged involvement in the scam.22 Between 2012 

and 2016, these scammers successfully targeted 

15,000 victims and made hundreds of millions of 

dollars by posing as IRS agents.

Fraud Case #9:

“Ellen” from California contacted the Fraud Hotline 

to report that her mother in-law had been the victim 

of the IRS scam multiple times. Her mother believed 

the scammers’ threats that FBI and IRS investigators 

would soon arrest her if she did not pay back taxes 

that she in fact did not owe. She wired over $100,000 

dollars to overseas addresses before Ellen realized 

what was going on. A Fraud Hotline investigator 

filed a report with TIGTA and the FTC.

Fraud Case #10:

“Scott” from Connecticut called the Fraud Hotline 

to report that his mother lost $120,000 to the IRS 

impersonation scam. Scott said someone claiming to 

work for the IRS called his mother and told her that 

her recently deceased father owed a large debt to 

the IRS. The caller repeatedly demanded payments 

over the course of six months via electronic money 

transfers until the “debt” was paid. A Fraud Hotline 

investigator filed a report with TIGTA and the FTC.
25

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

In addition to pursuing the scam’s perpetrators, 

TIGTA has partnered with industry to disrupt 

scam attempts. Specifically, TIGTA worked 

with telecommunications companies to prevent 

scammers from spoofing the IRS’ numbers and 

with gift card retailers to post warning signs near 

gift cards to alert potential scam victims of the 

scam before purchasing gift cards.

The IRS released the following tips to help taxpayers identify suspicious 

calls that may be associated with the IRS Impersonation Scam:

• The IRS will never call a taxpayer to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes 

owed without first having mailed a bill to the taxpayer.

• The IRS will never demand that a taxpayer pay taxes without giving him or her the opportunity to 

question or appeal the amount claimed to be owed.

• The IRS will never ask for a credit or debit card number over the phone.

• The IRS will never threaten to send local police or other law enforcement to have a taxpayer arrested.

• The IRS will never require a taxpayer to use a special payment method for taxes, such as a prepaid debit 

card or gift cards.

Source: https://www.irs.gov/uac/Five-Easy-Ways-to-Spot-a-Scam-Phone-Call

Although the IRS impersonation scam was the 

most frequent scam reported to the Committee’s 

Fraud Hotline between 2014 and 2018, TIGTA 

data suggests that scammers have switched tactics 

and reports of this particular scam decreased 

significantly in 2019. For example, in September 

2019, TIGTA identified a total of 11 victims, down 

from an average of 150 to 200 victims per week

during the scam’s peak. 23

Fraud Case #11:

“Randy” from Arizona called the Fraud Hotline to report that he 

had been contacted over the phone by a man claiming to work 

for the IRS. The caller alleged that Randy owed back taxes and 

would be arrested if he did not pay the IRS by the end of the day 

using gift cards. Fortunately, Randy did not believe the scammer 

and he refused to send money, at which point the scammer 

threatened to kill him and his children. Randy has no children, 

but was frightened by the threat. A Fraud Hotline investigator 

filed a report with TIGTA and the FTC.
26 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Identity theft is a wide-ranging category that 

includes calls about theft of a wallet or mail, online 

impersonation, or other illegal efforts to obtain a 

person’s identifiable information. Identity thieves 

not only disrupt the lives of individuals by draining 

bank accounts, making unauthorized credit card 

charges, and damaging credit reports, but often 

defraud the government and taxpayers by using 

stolen personal information to submit fraudulent 

billings to Medicare or Medicaid, or apply for and 

receive Social Security benefits to which they are 

not entitled. Fraudsters also use stolen personal 

information, including Social Security numbers 

(SSN), to commit tax fraud or to fraudulently 

apply for jobs and earn wages. 

The growing use of commercial tax filing 

software and online tax filing services has led 

to opportunities for thieves to commit fraud 

without stealing SSNs. In some cases, thieves can 

illegally access an existing customer’s account 

simply by entering that individual’s username 

or email address and correctly guessing their 

password. This is often referred to as an “account 

takeover.” Whether the thief uses this method to 

access an existing account or uses stolen personal 

information to create a new account, the end result 

is often the same: early in the tax filing season, the 

thief files a false tax return using a victim’s identity 

and directs the refund to his own mailing address 

or bank account. The victim only discovers this 

theft when they file their own return and the IRS 

refuses to accept it because a refund has already 

8 Identity Theft

1. Call the companies where you know the fraud 

occurred.

2. Place a fraud alert with a credit reporting agency and 

get your credit report from one of the three national 

credit bureaus. 

3. Report identity theft to the Federal Trade 

Commission. 

4. File a report with your local police department. 

1. Close new accounts opened 

in your name.

2. Remove bogus charges

from your accounts.

3. Correct your credit report.

4. Consider adding an 

extended fraud freeze.

What to Do Right Away: What to Do Next: 

What to Do if You Suspect You 

are a Victim of Identity Theft

Source: https://www.identitytheft.gov
27

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Fraud Case #12:

“Barbara” from Michigan called the Fraud Hotline 

to report that she tried to open a utility account 

and found that her credit score had precipitously 

declined. She then received a bill in the mail for 

insurance on a car she did not own. It seemed that 

someone had stolen her identity and opened a 

credit card in her name. A Fraud Hotline investigator 

referred her to IdentityTheft.gov and advised 

her on communicating with her bank, credit card 

companies, and credit rating agencies to secure her 

finances.

Tips to Help Secure Your Identity:

• Medicare and Social Security will not call you to ask for your bank information or SSN.

• There will never be a fee charged to obtain a Social Security or Medicare card.

• Never give out personal information over the phone.

• Sensitive personal and financial documents should be kept secure at all times.

• Review all medical bills to spot any services that you didn’t receive.

Fraud Case #13:

“James” from North Carolina called the Fraud 

Hotline to report identity theft of his mother, who 

passed away in January 2016. Since June of that 

year, someone had been using her identity on credit 

cards and car loans. James was not made aware of 

this until the credit card company contacted him in 

2017. The Fraud Hotline investigator sent him the 

identitytheft.gov link and encouraged him to work 

with the credit card company and credit reporting 

agencies.

been issued. In November 2015, the IRS reversed 

a long-standing policy and now provides victims 

with copies of the fake return upon written 

request.24 The documents provide victims with 

details to help them discover how much of their 

personal information was stolen. 

Medical identity theft occurs when someone steals 

personal information – an individual’s name, SSN, 

or health insurance claim number (HICN) – to 

obtain medical care, buy prescription drugs, or 

submit fake billings to Medicare. Medical identity 

theft can disrupt lives, damage credit ratings, 

and waste taxpayer dollars. For example, in June 

of 2019, the Fraud Hotline received reports of 

scam artists attending public events in Maine 

and offering seniors free cheek swabs for genetic 

testing. The scammers claimed these tests were 

covered by Medicare and collected Medicare and 

SSNs from their customers but in fact, Medicare 

did not cover these tests. While the Centers for 

Medicare & Medicaid Services were able to prevent 

the federal government from being defrauded by 

false claims from the scammers in this case, the 

victims’ personally identifiable information ended 

up in the hands of criminals that may attempt to 

impersonate them. 

The 2017 Equifax data breach may have exposed 

private information belonging to more than 145 

million people – nearly half the U.S. population.25

Scammers have capitalized on the breach through 

robocalls claiming to be calling from Equifax to 

verify account information.26 The scammers try to 

trick victims into sharing personally identifiable 

information, such as their SSNs.

United States Senate Special Committee on Aging
28 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Debt collection and credit card scams ranked in the 

Top 10 for the first time in 2019. These scams are a 

growing problem for consumers, including seniors. 

While there are multiple variations on this theme, 

reports to the Fraud Hotline generally took one of 

two approaches: claiming potential victims owe a 

credit card payment or offering to help with debt 

consolidation. 

Late Credit Card Payments

In the first approach, seniors reported scammers 

accusing them of owing payments on their credit 

cards. They then threatened retaliation (such 

as cancellation of the credit card, damage to 

the victim’s credit score, or arrest) if immediate 

payment was not made by certified check, 

electronic wire transfer, or gift card. Once victims 

made an initial payment, they were told that 

further review of their credit records had identified 

another discrepancy and that they must pay more 

money or else face arrest or other adverse action. 

Scammers often hooked victims through this 

process multiple times.

Debt Consolidation Offers

In the second approach, consumers reported that 

scammers offered to help them consolidate their 

debt and asked for personal information (such as 

the victim’s Social Security number, credit card 

number, or bank information). This information 

was likely used to steal the victim’s identity or steal 

directly from their bank account. In some cases, 

scammers claimed that they provided financial 

advice and the victim owed them a fee to justify 

charging the victim’s credit card or taking money 

from the victim’s account.

9 Debt Scams

Fraud Case #14:

“Amy” from Maryland called the Fraud Hotline to 

report that she received a call from a supposed 

financial advisor offering to consolidate her debt 

for a fee of $3,500. The “advisor” claimed to work 

for an investment coaching firm. Over the course 

of a long and rambling conversation, Amy revealed 

different segments of her credit card number. The 

scammer mailed her a contract, which she reviewed 

and decided not to sign. Despite not signing the 

contract, Amy found a $3,500 charge on her credit 

card. She realized that the caller had pieced together 

her credit card number from their conversation and 

called him back to demand a refund. They offered to 

pay back 35% of the “fee” if she would sign a liability 

waiver. A Fraud Hotline investigator filed a report 

with TIGTA and the FTC.
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

29

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

A Few Simple Steps to Stay Safe Financially:

• Never share your credit card or bank account information over the phone, especially if you did not 

initiate the call.

• You may request a free credit report each year. It is recommended that you do so.

• Protect personal data. Shred unneeded bank statements, canceled checks, and credit card applications.

• If traveling, request a vacation hold on your mail or ask a trusted neighbor to pick it up.

Source: U.S. Postal Inspection Service

The debt scam calls, like others discussed in 

this book, often use a disguised, or “spoofed,” 

caller identification (caller-ID) number to make 

the victim believe that the call is coming from 

a legitimate company. For example, in the late 

credit card payment iteration of this scam, 

scammers often spoof their number to make it 

appear that they are calling from a credit card 

company, such as Visa, Mastercard, or American 

Express. Scammers have also used this technique 

to make it appear as though they are calling 

from a local law enforcement agency. When the 

unsuspecting victims see the “Visa,” “Mastercard,” 

or the name of the local police department appear 

on their caller-IDs, they are often willing to follow 

the supposed debt collector’s instructions to 

resolve the alleged credit issue.
30 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Financial exploitation of older Americans is the 

illegal or improper use of an older adult’s funds, 

property, or assets. According to the Government 

Accountability Office (GAO), seniors lose an 

estimated $2.9 billion annually due to financial 

exploitation, although these 

numbers are likely too low 

as the crime is substantially 

underreported. 

The Fraud Hotline documents 

complaints of elder abuse and 

refers calls to the local Adult 

Protective Services (APS) agencies 

for further action. APS employees 

receive reports of alleged abuse, 

investigate these allegations, determine whether 

the alleged abuse can be substantiated, or arrange 

for services to ensure victims’ well-being.27 APS 

can also refer cases to law enforcement agencies 

or district attorneys for criminal investigation and 

prosecution.28

Older Americans are particularly vulnerable to 

financial exploitation because financial decisionmaking ability can decrease with age. Most victims 

are between the ages of 80 and 89, live alone, and 

require support with daily activities.29 Perpetrators 

may include family members, paid homecare 

workers, those with fiduciary responsibilities (such 

as financial advisors or legal guardians), or strangers 

who defraud older adults through mail, telephone, 

or Internet scams.30

Victims whose assets were taken by family 

members typically do not want their relatives to 

be criminally prosecuted, leaving civil actions as 

10Elder Financial 

Abuse

the only mechanism to recover stolen assets.31

Money that is stolen is rarely recovered, which can 

undermine victims’ ability to support or care for 

themselves. 

The Aging Committee has brought 

to light many schemes that have 

defrauded seniors out of their hardearned savings. It is deeply troubling 

when a senior falls victim to one of 

these schemes, but it is even more 

egregious when the perpetrator is a 

family member, caregiver, or trusted 

financial advisor.

Fraud Case #15:

“Emily” from Texas called the Fraud Hotline to report 

that her parents had been exploited by her nephew. 

Her nephew feigned affection for her parents, who 

were living with dementia, and convinced them 

to allow him access to their property and credit 

cards over the course of more than a year. Emily’s 

nephew proceeded to quickly drain their life savings 

by opening credit cards and maxing them out, as 

well as by selling their properties and belongings. 

Emily’s nephew then agreed to incrementally pay 

back what he had spent, but he tricked her parents 

and recorded them agreeing over the phone that 

he did not need to pay them back. A Fraud Hotline 

investigator advised Emily about legal action and 

other local resources to help with restitution.
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

31

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Other Activity to Watch Out For

In addition to these ten most-common scams, the 

Fraud Hotline also received reports of deceptive 

business practices. These consumer complaints 

took various forms and involved businesses in 

several different industries. 

Timeshare Resale Schemes

The most common consumer complaint involved 

companies selling timeshares, or vacation 

properties, to seniors. Fraud Hotline investigators 

received reports of timeshare companies holding 

“information sessions” at retirement communities 

and senior centers. Salespeople would aggressively 

pressure seniors to sign contracts locking them into 

timeshare agreements, telling them the agreements 

would be easy to exit if the consumer was not 

satisfied. In some cases, seniors were harassed as 

they attempted to leave the session and pressured 

to sign on their way out. Those who did sign the 

contracts soon discovered that the properties were 

not as advertised and were difficult to resell or even 

sell back to the company if they no longer wanted 

the property or could no longer afford to make 

payments. 

Charging a Fee for Free Services

Another variation on these complaints involved 

individuals pretending to provide a service or 

offering to help with accessing benefits for a fee. 

The Fraud Hotline received reports of salespeople 

going door-to-door in retirement communities 

and offering to help seniors apply for Medicare 

or other federal programs. The salespeople would 

offer to “help complete and submit” the application 

for them in exchange for a fee. After collecting the 

fee, however, these con artists would mail a blank 

application to the senior with the address to submit 

it to the appropriate agency, essentially charging a 

fee for printing and mailing a document available to 

seniors at no cost.

Sometimes these financial services or advice 

schemes are targeted particularly at Veterans. For 

example, some may try to convince older Veterans to 

restructure their assets to an annuity, trust, or other 

financial product in order to qualify for a homebased services benefit through the U.S. Department 

of Veterans Affairs, known as “Aid and Attendance.” 

Restructuring assets in this way may cause the 

Veteran to lose access to their invested funds for a 

significant period of time, perhaps beyond the life of 

the Veteran. It is also possible that the Veteran will 

not even qualify for the benefit after all. 

Consumers should be wary of any offer that sounds 

too good to be true and carefully read any contract 

before agreeing to sign. When in doubt, check 

with a family member or friend before accepting 

the offer or signing the contract. If a federal agency 

is involved, consumers can call the agency at their 

public phone number and check to see if a service is 

legitimate. Questionable practices can be reported 

to state attorneys general, consumer protection 

agencies, and the Better Business Bureau. Contact 

information for each State’s Attorney General can 

be found on Page 7 of this book.

Tips from the Federal Trade Commission to Help Avoid Timeshare Resale Schemes:

• Check out the reseller. Contact the State Attorney General and local consumer protection agencies in the 

state where the reseller is located to see if there are any complaints on file.

• Ask about fees. If the fees must be paid in advance, get all refund policies in writing.

• Get all details in writing. The contract should include all services the reseller will perform and any 

associated fees. If the deal isn’t what you wanted or expected, do not sign the contract.

Source: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/05/timeshare-resale-scheme-preyed-older-adults
32 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Alabama

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Romance Scams

3. Computer Tech Support Scams

4. Consumer-Related

5. Government Grant Scam

Alaska

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Sweepstakes Scams

Arizona

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Computer Tech Support Scams

3. Grandparent Scam

4. Romance Scams

5. Inheritance Scams 

Arkansas

1. Timeshare Scams

2. Computer Tech Support Scams

3. Sweepstakes Scams

4. Social Security Impersonation Scam

5. Unsolicited Phone Calls

California

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Romance Scams

3. Sweepstakes Scams

4. Bank Fraud

5. Identity Theft 

Colorado

1. Sweepstakes Scams

2. Social Security Impersonation Scam

3. Romance Scams

4. Bank Fraud 

5. Identity Theft

Connecticut

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Grandparent Scam

3. Robbery/Theft

Delaware

1. Payday Lending

2. Debt Collection

Florida

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Romance Scams

3. Sweepstakes Scams

4. Consumer-Related

5. Grandparent Scams

Georgia

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Romance Scams

3. Sweepstakes Scams

4. Inheritance Scams

5. Computer Tech Support Scams

Hawaii

1. Computer Tech Support Scams

2. Sweepstakes Scams

Idaho

1. Consumer-Related

2. Impending Lawsuit Scam

Top Scams by State

These scams are based on calls into the Aging Committee’s Fraud Hotline in 2019.
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

33

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Illinois

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Sweepstakes Scams

3. Legal Referrals

4. Romance Scams

5. Check Scams

Indiana

1. Romance Scams

2. Timeshare Scams

3. Social Security Impersonation Scam

4. Sweepstakes Scams

5. Robbery/Theft

Iowa

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Romance Scams

3. Grandparent Scams

4. Health-Related Scams

5. Mail Fraud

Kansas

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Romance Scams

3. Grandparent Scams

4. Sweepstakes Scams

5. Check Scams

Kentucky

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Romance Scams 

3. Inheritance Scam

4. Bank Fraud

5. Identity Theft

Louisiana

1. Sweepstakes Scams

2. Social Security Impersonation Scam

3. Inheritance Scams

4. Timeshare Scams

Maine

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Unsolicited Phone Calls

3. Sweepstakes Scams

4. Computer Tech Support Scams

5. Grandparent Scams

Maryland

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Unsolicited Phone Calls

3. Computer Tech Support Scams

4. Debt Collection Scams

5. IRS Impersonation Scam

Massachusetts

1. Unsolicited Phone Calls

2. Social Security Impersonation Scams

3. Sweepstakes Scams

4. Computer Tech Support Scams

5. Mail Fraud

Michigan

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Sweepstakes Scams

3. Grandparent Scam

4. Unsolicited Phone Calls 

5. Elder Abuse

Minnesota

1. Romance Scams

2. Sweepstakes Scams

3. Computer Tech Support Scams

Mississippi

1. Utility Scam

2. Romance Scams

Missouri

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Sweepstakes Scams

3. Consumer-Related

4. Inheritance Scam

5. Durable Medical Equipment

Montana

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam
34 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Nebraska

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Sweepstakes Scams

3. Computer Tech Supports Scams

Nevada

1. Romance Scams

2. Investment Fraud

3. Health-Related Scams

New Hampshire

1. Unsolicited Phone Calls

2. Consumer-Related

3. Romance Scams

4. Robbery/Theft

New Jersey

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Sweepstakes Scams

3. Romance Scams

4. Check Scams

5. Computer Tech Spport Scams

New Mexico

1. Sweepstakes Scams

2. Debt Collection Scams

3. Timeshare Scams

4. Romance Scams

New York

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Romance Scams

3. Sweepstakes Scam

4. Timeshare Scams

5. IRS Impersonation Scams

North Carolina

1. Sweepstakes Scams

2. Computer Tech Support Scams

3. Romance Scams

4. Grandparent Scams

5. Consumer-Related

North Dakota

1. Sweepstakes Scams

Ohio

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Unsolicited Phone Calls

3. Sweepstakes Scams

4. Durable Medical Equipment Scam

5. Grandparent Scams

Oklahoma

1. Bank Fraud

2. Legal Referrals

3. Romance Scams

4. Sweepstakes Scams

5. Elder Abuse

Oregon

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Identity Theft

3. Grandparent Scams

4. Elder Abuse

5. Timeshare Scams

Pennsylvania

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Computer Tech Support Scams

3. Unsolicited Phone Calls

4. Sweepstakes

5. Utility Scam

Top Scams by State (Cont.)

These scams are based on calls into the Aging Committee’s Fraud Hotline in 2019.
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

35

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Rhode Island

1. Inheritance Scam

2. Unsolicited Phone Calls

3. Debt Collection

4. Bank Fraud

South Carolina

1. Sweepstakes Scams

2. Social Security Impersonation Scam

3. Romance Scams

4. Computer Tech Support Scams

South Dakota

1. Consumer-Related

Tennessee

1. Unsolicited Phone Calls

2. Computer Tech Support Scams

3. Sweepstakes Scams

4. Robbery/Theft

5. Impending Lawsuit Scam

Texas

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Sweepstakes Scams 

3. Romance Scams

4. Computer Tech Support Scams

5. Unsolicited Phone Calls

Utah

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Sweepstakes Scams

3. Identity Theft

4. Elder Abuse

5. Romance Scams

Vermont

1. IRS Impersonation Scam

*Since the Fraud Hotline did not 

receive any calls from consumers in 

Vermont between 2018 and 2019, 

this list is based on call data from 

2016 and 2017.

Virginia

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Grandparent Scam

3. Romance Scams

4. IRS Impersonation Scam

5. Identity Theft

Washington

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Grandparent Scams

3. Romance Scams

4. Consumer-Related 

5. Unsolicited Phone Calls

West Virginia

1. Social Security Impersonation Scam

2. Romance Scams

3. Unsolicited Phone Calls

4. Sweepstakes Scams

Wisconsin

1. Romance Scams

2. Social Security Impersonation Scam

3. Computer Scams

4. Unsolicited Phone Calls

5. IRS Impersonation Scam

Wyoming

1. Sweepstakes Scams

2. Impending Lawsuits

Top Scams by State (Cont.)

These scams are based on calls into the Aging Committee’s Fraud Hotline in 2019.
36 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Appendix: 2019 Complete Aging Fraud Hotline Statistics

Scam Type Total

Social Security Scam 371

Unsolicited Phone Calls 123

Sweepstakes Scam 111

Romance Scam 99

Computer Scam 93

Grandparent Scam 51

Consumer related 37

IRS Scam 34

ID Theft 27

Timeshare Scam 27

Debt collection 21

Elder abuse 18

Bank fraud 18

Inheritance scam 17

Check scam 17

Health related scam 16

Mortgage Fraud 16

Impending Law Suits 15

Government Grant 12

Charity scam 11

DME Scam 11

Legal Referral 10

Robbery / theft 10

Utility scams 10

Investment fraud 7

Phishing scam 7

Home improvement scam 4

Payday lending 4

Can you hear me? 2

Long term care 2

Mail Scam 2

Grand jury impersonation 1

Western Union settlement claim 1

Miscellaneous** 32

TOTAL 1341

State Total State Total

Alabama 11 Montana 1

Alaska 5 Nebraska 3

Arizona 25 Nevada 4

Arkansas 8 New Hampshire 4

California 76 New Jersey 20

Colorado 15 New Mexico 4

Connecticut 7 New York 79

Delaware 2 North Carolina 15

Florida 83 North Dakota 1

Georgia 14 Ohio 25

Hawaii 2 Oklahoma 6

Idaho 2 Oregon 6

Illinois 23 Pennsylvania 111

Indiana 8 Rhode Island 4

Iowa 110 South Carolina 6

Kansas 8 South Dakota 1

Kentucky 8 Tennessee 11

Louisiana 6 Texas 52

Maine 367 Utah 5

Maryland 45 Virginia 22

Massachusetts 14 Washington 10

Michigan 12 West Virginia 9

Minnesota 5 Wisconsin 13

Mississippi 2 Wyoming 2

Missouri 13 Unknown 56
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

37

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

Please cut out these cards and place them by your phone. Give one to a friend, family member, 

or neighbor. We hope these cards may be a useful tool to help protect you against the deceptive 

means scammers use to try to get your money and personal information. 

Appendix: Cut out Scam Prevention Tip Cards
38 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

39

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

1 Hayashi, Yuka, “Social Security Adds to 

Capital One Hack Concern,” Wall Street Journal, 

July 31, 2019 (accessed December 4, 2019) at 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/social-security-scams-addto-capital-one-hack-concern-11564582509

2 Social Security Administration, “Social 

Security Administration and its Inspector General 

Announce New Online Reporting Form for 

Imposter Scam Calls,” press release, November 19, 

2019 (accessed December 4, 2019) at https://www.

ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2019/#11-2019-2

3 Is that Phone Call From Us? (2017, 

October 30). Retrieved January 8, 2020, from 

https://blog.ssa.gov/is-that-phone-call-from-us/

4 Social Security Administration, 

“Information About Scams,” SocialSecurity.gov, 

accessed December 4, 2019, at https://www.ssa.gov/

phila/scams.htm

5 “To ratify the authority of the Federal 

Trade Commission to establish a do-not-call 

registry.” Public Law 108-82. 108th Congress, 1st

sess.

6 FCC; Notice of Inquiry, FCC 17-89, July 

14, 2017 (accessed September 26, 2017), apps.fcc.

gov/edcos_public/attachmatch/FCC-17-89A1.pdf

7 Department of Homeland Security, 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations briefing to Aging 

Committee Staff (2020, January 21).

8 Federal Communications Commission, 

“FCC Affirms Robocall Blocking By Default To 

Help Protect Consumers,” June 6, 2019 (accessed 

October 30, 2019), https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-357852A1.pdf.

9 Federal Communications Commission, 

“FCC Adopts Rules to Help Block Illegal 

Robocalls,” November 16, 2017 (accessed February 

8, 2018), https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-adoptsrules-help-block-illegal-robocalls-0.

10 Federal Trade Commission; “Consumer 

Information: Prize Scams” (accessed January 18, 

2017), at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0199-

prize-scams. 

11 Federal Trade Commission; “Consumer 

Sentinel Network Data Book for JanuaryDecember 2015,” February 2016 (accessed 

November 20, 2019), p. 83, at https://www.ftc.gov/

system/files/documents/reports/consumer-sentinelnetwork-data-book-january-december-2015/160229csn2015databook.pdf. 

12 Federal Trade Commission; “Consumer 

Sentinel Network Data Book for January 

2018- February 2019,” February 2019 (accessed 

November 20, 2019), p. 7, at https://www.ftc.gov/

system/files/documents/reports/consumer-sentinelnetwork-data-book-2018/consumer_sentinel_network_

data_book_2018_0.pdf

13 Moyer, Marriell, “Lebanon County Elderly 

Being Victimized by Phone Scam,” Lebanon Daily 

News, July 13, 2017, at https://www.ldnews.com/story/

news/local/2017/07/13/lebanon-county-elderly-beingvictimized-phone-scams/471992001. 

14 U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 

“Jamaican man first to be extradited to face fraud 

charges in lottery scam,” press release, February 12, 

2015 (accessed January 22, 2017), https://www.ice.

gov/news/releases/jamaican-man-first-be-extradited-facefraud-charges-lottery-scam. 

15 United States Department of Justice, 

“Jamaican Citizen Admits to Participating in 

Lottery Scam Targeting Elderly Victims,” May 

25, 2017 (accessed November 20, 2019), https://

www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/jamaican-citizen-admitsparticipating-lottery-scam-targeting-elderly-victims

References
40 To report a suspicious call, please call 1-855-303-9470

Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud

16 Federal Trade Commission; “Consumer 

Information, Online Dating Scams,” accessed 

January 22, 2017, at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/

articles/0004-online-datingscams. 

17 Federal Bureau of Investigation, “Looking 

for Love? Beware of Online Dating Scams,” press 

release, February 14, 2013 (accessed January 22, 

2017), https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/sandiego/pressreleases/2013/looking-for-love-beware-of-online-datingscams. 

18 Justice Department Coordinates Largest-even Nationwide Elder Fraud Sweep (2019, 

March 7). Retrieved October 23, 2019, from 

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-coordinates-largest-ever-nationwide-elder-fraud-sweep-0.

19 U.S. Department of Justice, “Justice 

Department Coordinates Largest-even Nationwide 

Elder Fraud Sweep,” press releases, March 7, 2019 

(accessed December 4, 2019), at https://www.justice.

gov/opa/pr/justice-department-coordinates-largest-evernationwide-elder-fraud-sweep-0

20 U.S. Congress, Senate Special Committee 

on Aging, Fighting Elder Fraud: Progress Made, 

Work to be Done, hearings, 116th Cong., 1st sess., 

January 16, 2019 https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/

media/doc/SCA_Flavin_complete_01_16_19.pdf

21 Attorney General’s Annual Report to 

Congress on Department of Justice Activities to 

Combat Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation. 

October 18, 2018. Pg. 16-17. (accessed on 

December 15, 2018).

22 Department of Justice, “Dozens of 

Individuals Indicted in Multimillion-Dollar 

Indian Call Center Scam Targeting U.S. Victims,” 

October 27, 2016, at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/

dozens-individuals-indicted-multimillion-dollar-indian-callcenter-scam-targeting-us-victims.

23 TIGTA briefing with Aging Committee, 

November 1, 2019.

24 Marte, Jonnelle, “You can now request 

copies of the phony tax returns filed in your name,” 

Washington Post, November 10, 2015.

25 Hacket, Robert, “Equifax Underestimated 

by 2.5 Million the Number of Potential Breach of 

Victims,” Fortune, October 2, 2017 (accessed on 

February 26, 2018), http://fortune.com/2017/10/02/

equifax-credit-breach-total. 

26 Better Business Bureau, “Scam Alert: Con 

Artist Bank on Equifax Breach,” Better Business 

Bureau for Marketplace Trust, September 22, 2017 

(accessed on September 27, 2017), https://www.bbb.

org/council/news-events/bbb-scam-alerts/2017/09/scamalert-con-artists-bank-on-equifax-breach. 

27 Ibid., 14.

28 Ibid., 15.

29 Ibid, 15

30 Ibid., 10.

31 Culley, Denis and Martin, Jaye, No Higher 

Calling – Representing Victims of Fianacial 

Exploitation, Bifocal 34, no. 5 (May-June), p. 89.

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If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and please call 

the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging’s Fraud Hotline at

1-855-303-9470