{"id":203456,"date":"2026-03-05T21:47:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T02:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=203456"},"modified":"2026-03-05T21:47:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T02:47:59","slug":"guest-column-seniors-and-scammers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2026\/03\/05\/guest-column-seniors-and-scammers\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest column: seniors and scammers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Jamie Crawford<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

COLUMBUS — The number of Ohioans approaching the age of retirement is as high as ever before. According to the\u00a0U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 18.8 percent of the state\u2019s population, or 2.21 million Ohioans, are aged 65 years or older. That is up significantly from 13.3 percent in 2000. Nationwide, the United States is currently in a \u201cpeak 65\u201d period, with approximately 11,200 baby boomers set to turn 65 every day through 2027, which is\u00a0up<\/a>\u00a0from 10,000 roughly a decade ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the wealth that many retirees have accumulated throughout their lives and an increased risk posed by bad actors, the\u00a0Ohio Department of Commerce\u00a0Division of Securities\u00a0is using\u00a0National Consumer Protection Week\u00a0to call attention to the threat that retirees \u2013 and their nest egg \u2013 face from scammers who target older individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the FBI\u2019s\u00a0Internet Crime Complaint Center, Americans aged 60 and older reported more than 140,000 complaints and nearly $5 billion in losses to scams in 2024. In addition,\u00a0Ohio ranked eighth\u00a0in the nation for the total number of complaints filed by this age group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Older adults are often singled out\u00a0because they typically have more savings, might be less familiar with fast-changing technology, and can be hesitant to report fraud to authorities. Scammers attempt to exploit these vulnerabilities with convincing stories designed to create fear and urgency, making victims sometimes believe they\u2019re fixing a problem rather than sending money to criminals who will disappear overnight. Losses among older adults are staggering. According to the Federal Trade Commission, reports of scams costing $10,000 or\u00a0more have quadrupled since 2020, while cases involving losses of $100,000 or more have increased nearly sevenfold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery day, more Ohioans retire to enjoy the resources they spent their lives building,\u201d said Ohio Securities Commissioner Andrea Seidt. \u201cUnfortunately, scammers see those resources as an opportunity. The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to protect your hard-earned savings and ensure your golden years aren\u2019t tarnished by fraud.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Scams Targeting Retirees<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n