COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The 3-C Area Agency on Aging has joined a national campaign called “Home for the Holidays” which is designed to prevent older adults, caregivers and families from becoming the victims of financial scams and fraud.
The campaign is led by the Eldercare Locator and USAging.
Scams targeting people aged 60 and older resulted in over $3-point-4 billion in losses in 2023 alone, according to the FBI.
Scams usually increase around the holiday season due to more online shopping or donations. Older adults, especially those who are isolated or lonely, are particularly vulnerable.
A new Home for the Holidays brochure, Protect Your Wallet: A Guide to Avoiding Financial Scams, highlights common scams that target older adults, tips for avoiding scams and resources for reporting them.
Residents can access the brochure on the website at www.bhsj.org/aaa or by calling the office at (517) 278-2538.
Area Agency on Aging (IIIC) Director Laura Sutter says, “We encourage individuals to reach out to law enforcement or our agency’s victim assistance program, if you have been scammed. Scam artists are very clever and victims should not be embarrassed to ask for help. We want to educate the community to the commonly seen scams in the hope that they can identify a scammer before sensitive information or financial exploitation occurs.”
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