Helping Seniors Avoid Scams

The registration deadline is Friday, August 23 at 5 pm. 

Sweetheart Scams on Seniors: A Growing Concern

Sweetheart scams, also known as romance scams, are particularly dangerous when predators target seniors. Often, fraudsters initiate romantic interests to emotionally and financially exploit vulnerable seniors. The impact of sweetheart scams on seniors is profound, often leading to significant financial loss and emotional trauma that can have lasting effects on their well-being.

Here is a real-file case to illustrate the importance of sweetheart scams. In 2023, a woman, who lives in Des Plaines, Ill., was on Facebook by someone claiming to be a retired MLB player. He started sending her flowers and signed memorabilia from his baseball career. During a three-month period, he sent her a check for $45,000, asking her to cash the check and return to him the money through a Bitcoin ATM. This woman agreed to do so and completed several transactions, which ultimately totaled $95,000. She was unable to recuperate any of her loss of the $95,000.