Scams Targeting Elderly Surge Nationwide, Costing Millions

Recent reports highlight a significant rise in scams targeting older adults, particularly involving Medicare fraud and telemarketing schemes for durable medical equipment (DME). The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers often badger Medicare recipients into accepting 'free' medical equipment, which they then fraudulently bill to Medicare, urging consumers to refuse and report such offers to avoid future coverage denials. In Graves County, Kentucky, elderly residents have lost approximately $320,000 through wire transfer scams, emphasizing the need for families to discuss scam prevention with seniors. A 2023 FBI report detailed that Americans aged 60 and older lost $3.4 billion to scams nationwide, including romance, cryptocurrency, and impostor scams, with Virginia ranking ninth in fraud losses. Experts advise verifying all communications independently and educating seniors on scam types to protect personal and financial information. The surge in these scams underscores the ongoing vulnerability of older adults and the importance of awareness and proactive measures.