In Indianapolis, IN, a 71-year-old man began what he thought was a meaningful relationship with a German woman who he met online. The two spoke often and over the course of nine months, he sent the woman numerous messages – and about $80,000.
The man, who declined to give his name in news reports, had fallen victim to what is known as a “romance scam”. It is one of many scams that target the uninformed, lonely, or generous, who often end up being senior citizens.
Even the smartest people can fall prey to online scams. It is estimated that 1 in 10 senior citizens who live independently will become victims of financial abuse. This means that roughly 2 to 3 million people are being scammed out of about $2.9 billion each year.
Continue reading “Avoiding Online Scams That Target Senior Citizens“
