San Diego City Wire

The holiday season has become a prime time for scams, particularly targeting older adults in San Diego County. According to the FBI’s 2023 Elder Fraud Report, individuals over the age of 60 often fall victim to these scams, with an average loss exceeding $30,000. Unlike younger adults who have more time to recover financially, older adults may face significant challenges in regaining their life savings.

Historically, local law enforcement faced difficulties in investigating such cases due to limited resources and insufficient collaboration between agencies like the FBI and the County’s Adult Protective Services (APS). However, a legislative change in 2021 allowed these entities to share crucial information. Consequently, County Aging & Independence Services (AIS), the District Attorney’s Office, and regional law enforcement joined forces with the FBI to establish the Elder Justice Task Force. This initiative aims to investigate scams targeting older adults and prosecute offenders. To date, this task force has recovered $3.3 million and successfully prosecuted several criminals.

Experts highlight that scammers employ various tactics through phone calls, texts, emails, and pop-ups that appear legitimate but are designed to steal money. They emphasize that no government agency will demand immediate payment via wire transfer or unconventional methods like gold or gift cards.

Jessica Salazar from APS advises victims not to feel embarrassed if they fall prey to scams: “No one should be embarrassed if they fall victim to a scam; it can happen to anyone.” She recommends contacting financial institutions immediately upon realizing something is amiss as it is crucial for attempting recovery of funds.

Salazar's team actively investigates scam cases involving older adults and collaborates with other APS teams due to a steady influx of cases. Between July 2023 and June 2024, the County conducted 33 "Don’t Get Hooked" training sessions for over 700 residents across San Diego. These sessions aimed at educating older adults and their caregivers about common scams and protective measures.

Scott Pirrello from the District Attorney's office notes that daily more than a dozen seniors in San Diego may attempt withdrawing their life savings under false pretenses after being deceived by scammers: “Every day in San Diego more than a dozen seniors are likely walking into their banks after being traumatized by scammers.”

Victims or those suspecting elder financial abuse are encouraged to report incidents both locally and through federal channels such as www.IC3.gov or contact APS at 800-339-4661.