There is no end to the number of scams being tried on seniors, particularly in the area of coronavirus. The isolation from COVID-19 has exacerbated the problem, and a new report from the Federal Trade Commission said that scammers initiated contact with older adults online more often than they did by phone for the first time ever in the second quarter of 2020. Adults 60+ were nearly 6x as likely as younger adults to lose money on tech support scams. Those in Carmel and Pebble Beach are targeted more than other areas because of the wealth in this area. If you think you have been scammed, call the National Elder Fraud hotline at 833-372-8311 and report it to the FTC by visiting the agency’s website or calling 877-382-4357. It also wouldn’t hurt to call Monterey County Adult Protective Services at 1-800-510-2020 if you think other local residents could be targeted.
