AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Scammers are targeting shoppers during the holiday rush, with senior citizens facing the highest risk of falling victim to fraud schemes.
The Better Business Bureau says holiday scams both in person and online are more active as Christmas approaches. Russell Parham, manager for governance, risk and compliance for Augusta University, said the holiday season creates conditions that make people vulnerable.
“With the holiday season, a lot of people are shopping and they’ll get advertisements, emails for discounts, coupons, with a sense of urgency involved, last week, last day. So folks sometimes become complacent and are not thinking,” Parham said.
Senior citizens most vulnerable
The senior citizen population tends to be the most vulnerable to these schemes. Markesha Coleman, CSRA office manager for the Better Business Bureau, said technology gaps make older adults easier targets.
“Most of the older crowd is not learning the technology or being taught that technology. So it’s easier for them to become a victim of those AI scams,” Coleman said.
Kathleen Ernce, executive director with the Senior Citizens Council, said seniors often share too much personal information.
“We are more trusting. We give out too much information that’s not needed and information that can cause us more harm,” Ernce said.
Reporting scams helps community
Ernce encouraged victims to report scams despite any embarrassment they might feel.
“I know we don’t like to say I made a mistake. If you are a victim and you report it, that’s going to help you as well as your neighbor, your church friend, your whoever,” Ernce said.
Officials remind people that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The Better Business Bureau’s website provides more information on scams.
The Senior Citizens Council’s advocacy programs are available as a resource. The council lost funding earlier this year but had funding restored in October and is back up and running.
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