Technology has brought us great progress. Unfortunately, it has also brought significant risks. Criminals can now victimize people from across the world. They can also reach our vulnerable friends and family in
the privacy of their own homes. The FBI reports that “[a]ccording to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint
Center (IC3) data, in 2024 there was a total of $4.885 billion in losses from 147,127 complaints [of
financial scams targeting seniors]. This is a 46% increase in complaints from 2023 . . . .”
Scams often focus on seniors who are dealing with the loneliness, despondency, diminishing faculties, or other frailties of age. A scam that may be obvious to you and me, and would have been obvious to your loved one, only recently may now be a serious risk.
I recall reading on CNN.com about an elderly man diagnosed with early onset dementia. In most aspects of his life, he was still fully functional.
Unfortunately, he gave a few hundred dollars to what turned out to be a scam promising him money. This unleashed a torrent of aggressive tactics hounding him for more money. Eventually, this man took his own life to get away from the harassment. However, he left a note explaining what he wanted done with the money he still believed would arrive the next day. Even when a scam does not have such tragic results, too often a lifetime of savings has vanished.
No doubt the best solution is to avoid the scam in the first place. However, it can be difficult for vulnerable individuals to be constantly diligent in the face of repeated and insidious requests, whether blatantly aggressive or deceptively subtle. However, there are steps that can be taken to ensure a weak moment does not turn into a drained bank account.
*Steve Wright is an Idaho licensed attorney. This column is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice, which requires a specific discussion of specific circumstances.
© 2026 Steven J Wright