According to recent data released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), it has been revealed that seniors in Georgia are falling victim to online scams and losing a significant amount of money. This trend indicates an alarming increase in the monetary losses experienced by elderly individuals in the state due to fraudulent activities on the internet.
With the rise of technology, criminals are finding new ways to infiltrate our lives through various means such as text messages, social media, and email.
In today’s digital age, it is crucial to exercise caution and mindfulness when it comes to clicking on online content.
The FBI has issued a warning about various forms of online fraud that are causing significant financial losses for individuals, according to Channel 2’s Linda Stouffer.
“I never thought it would happen to me, but I personally know individuals who have fallen victim to scams,” shared Kathie Lunsford during an interview with Channel 2 Action News.
In April, Lunsford’s story was highlighted by Channel 2 Action News, illustrating how easily it can happen. It all started with a fake number, which ultimately resulted in the sharing of pictures of badges and personal information.
Lunsford willingly provided her social security number, believing it to be a legitimate and authoritative request.
According to the latest report from the FBI, incidents of cyber crimes and fraud in the past year have increased by 18% in the state of Georgia.
Georgians were left in shock when they discovered that a whopping $92.4 million had been lost. Unfortunately, the FBI revealed that the majority of this money has been taken by criminals residing outside the country.
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Special Agent Aaron Seres, in an interview with Channel 2 Action News, warns about the dangers of crypto investment fraud. He emphasizes the importance of not sending money to individuals online whom you have not met in person. According to Seres, it is crucial to exercise caution and avoid any financial transactions with unknown individuals.
Investment fraud, tech support scams, and confidence or romance scams are the top crimes that have a significant impact on seniors in Georgia. These scams have resulted in losses of $32 million, $12 million, and at least $10 million respectively.
According to the FBI, elderly Americans lost a staggering $1.2 billion to investment scams nationwide.
According to a comprehensive report from the FBI, the number of complaints regarding elder fraud received by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) saw a notable increase of 14% in 2023. Additionally, associated losses also rose by approximately 11% on a national scale. The report further revealed that elderly individuals in the United States collectively suffered a staggering loss of $3.4 billion in 2023, with an average individual loss amounting to $33,915.
According to the FBI, more than 2,100 individuals fell victim to these types of crimes in Georgia in 2023.
In 2023, the FBI reported that tech support scams were the most commonly reported form of elder fraud. Seres mentioned that there are methods to prevent falling victim to various cybercrimes, including these scams.
According to Seres, if you encounter any issues with your computer, a good first step is to turn it off, restart it, and run a virus protection scan. If the problem persists, you can then reach out to a trusted vendor for assistance.
Sometimes, confidence and romance schemes can have bigger impacts than just losing money, he said.
“If you find yourself losing money and experiencing emotional stressors that may even lead to suicide, it is crucial to take action immediately. Reach out to your bank and trusted individuals for assistance,” advised Seres.
According to the FBI, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of communication regarding these matters. Engage in discussions with your loved ones and make sure to share the information with others, enabling a greater number of individuals to recognize the warning signs.
