Senior Citizens Targeted By Scammers

The Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection for the State of Wisconsin says senior citizens are targeted by scammers because they have nest eggs. Michelle Reinen gives as examples the “Grandparents Scam” where grandchildren are supposedly in trouble and need financial help. There are also the technical support scams where a person’s computer is basically held for ransom. She says paying a fee to have someone you don’t know remove malware can lead to even bigger issues. The IRS scam persists where there are allegedly overdue taxes with a threat of prison hanging over the person’s head. The desire to leave something for kids and grandkids once they are gone also makes seniors more likely to fall for sweepstakes and lottery scams.