WHEREAS, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported that in 2023, over 101,000 Americans aged 60 and older were victims of scams, resulting in total losses exceeding $3.4 billion, an 11% increase from 2022. The average loss per victim was $33,915. The FBI warns that the true scope is likely underreported and that elder fraud remains a top enforcement priority.
WHEREAS, the AARP Fraud Watch Network continues to provide critical resources, including a Fraud Resource Center, Helpline (877-908-3360) and in-person and virtual education sessions. In 2024, AARP reported a sharp rise in scams using AI-generated voices and text phishing (smishing), which disproportionately affect older adults.
WHERAS, the NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA), New York City Police Department (NYPD) and NYC District Attorney’s Office continue to offer in-person presentations and community outreach to educate older adults about scams, including identity theft, romance scams, and tech support fraud.
WHEREAS, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) emphasizes that early intervention and financial caregiver education are critical to preventing elder fraud, especially as family and caregiver-related fraud is on the rise in 2024.
WHEREAS, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) reports that only 1 in 44 cases of elder financial abuse is ever reported, and that scams targeting seniors are growing in complexity and frequency; be it
RESOLVED, the UFT Retiree Committee will reach out to these agencies and schedule visits to our retiree meetings from one or more of these agencies to provide info sessions on how to keep our retirees and elders in their families safe from scams.