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 For this week’s Tuesday’s Tips, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is offering guidance to help raise awareness of scams that target older adults. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2023 Elder Fraud Report, scams targeting adults over the age of 60 caused over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, an increase of approximately 11% from the prior year. The average victim of elder fraud lost $33,915 due to these crimes.
Some of the most common older adult scams include:
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Medical Device Scam: Unsolicited prerecorded messages, known as “robocalls,” offering free medical alert devices by providing an address and credit card information.
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Grandparent Scam: Scammers call or email asking for money while impersonating a beloved grandchild who is in some kind of trouble.
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Sweepstakes Scam: Scammers entice consumers with various prize offers and then ask to share personal information or pay a fee to enter the sweepstakes.
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About the NYS Department of State Division of Consumer Protection
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides resources and educational materials to consumers and voluntary mediation services between consumers and businesses.
The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.
Follow the NYS Department of State Division of Consumer Protection on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for other consumer protection tips and consumer alerts.
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