5 scams that target seniors and how to avoid them

Incidents of elder fraud and senior identity theft are on the rise. The number of adults over 65 who experienced at least one incident of fraud increased to 78% in 2022 from 69% in 2021, according to AARP.

Although some types of scams target seniors by definition (those involving Social Security or Medicare, for example), the reality is that older adults can fall victim to any type of fraud. What makes seniors truly more vulnerable to elder fraud is that they have so much to lose: Years of savings, retirement funds, home equity, pensions, and more.