Scams are becoming harder to detect as new technology develops, making elderly people increasingly vulnerable, according to officials with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging (ENOA).Advances in artificial intelligence are allowing scammers to use computer-generated voices that sound like real people, making it difficult to tell the difference during phone calls or messages.“AI is getting very creative about how they’re scamming people,” said Kailey Edelman of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.An FBI Elder Fraud Report shows scams resulting in financial losses increased 11% in 2023 when the victim was over the age of 60.“I’ve had people who said they’ve lost their life savings,” said Renee, an ENOA employee who wanted to keep her last name private.The agency has identified five major scams impacting older adults in 2025: Employment scamsCryptocurrency scamsTech support scamsCard-declined scamsCelebrity imposter scams.READ MORE: Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office says couple scammed out of quarter of a million dollarsEdelman said celebrity imposter scams often involve scammers pretending to be well-known figures and asking victims for money.“They’re contacting these older adults, saying, ‘Hey, I want to meet you. But if you could send me this amount of money so I can travel,’” Edelman said. Because it appears to be a favorite celebrity, she said, victims “might give in just a little bit more.”She said these scams can include phony product endorsements or attempts to convince victims they have a personal friendship with the celebrity.“These scammers are going towards the most vulnerable population,” Edelman said.Another scam on the rise is the “grandparent scam,” in which scammers pose as a grandchild in distress.“They’ll call acting as a grandchild and saying, ‘Hey, I’m in jail. I need you to bail me out,’” Edelman said. She added that the voice can sound exactly like the victim’s grandchild.Renee said family involvement is one of the best ways to help prevent financial loss.“Maybe the family member needs to get control of their finances so they’re not out buying gift cards or sending them money,” she said. She encouraged families to approach conversations carefully. “Don’t come out full force. Just sit down with them, encourage them.”Edelman said there are key questions people should ask when receiving suspicious messages, including grammar mistakes and whether the email address appears legitimate.“Looking at little things like that to really make sure that somebody is who they say they are,” she said.The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging directs scam claims to the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. That office has a Consumer Affairs Response Team that provides resources to help educate and protect seniors from scams.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Scams are becoming harder to detect as new technology develops, making elderly people increasingly vulnerable, according to officials with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging (ENOA).
Advances in artificial intelligence are allowing scammers to use computer-generated voices that sound like real people, making it difficult to tell the difference during phone calls or messages.
“AI is getting very creative about how they’re scamming people,” said Kailey Edelman of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.
An FBI Elder Fraud Report shows scams resulting in financial losses increased 11% in 2023 when the victim was over the age of 60.
“I’ve had people who said they’ve lost their life savings,” said Renee, an ENOA employee who wanted to keep her last name private.
The agency has identified five major scams impacting older adults in 2025:
- Employment scams
- Cryptocurrency scams
- Tech support scams
- Card-declined scams
- Celebrity imposter scams.
READ MORE: Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office says couple scammed out of quarter of a million dollars
Edelman said celebrity imposter scams often involve scammers pretending to be well-known figures and asking victims for money.
“They’re contacting these older adults, saying, ‘Hey, I want to meet you. But if you could send me this amount of money so I can travel,’” Edelman said. Because it appears to be a favorite celebrity, she said, victims “might give in just a little bit more.”
She said these scams can include phony product endorsements or attempts to convince victims they have a personal friendship with the celebrity.
“These scammers are going towards the most vulnerable population,” Edelman said.
Another scam on the rise is the “grandparent scam,” in which scammers pose as a grandchild in distress.
“They’ll call acting as a grandchild and saying, ‘Hey, I’m in jail. I need you to bail me out,’” Edelman said. She added that the voice can sound exactly like the victim’s grandchild.
Renee said family involvement is one of the best ways to help prevent financial loss.
“Maybe the family member needs to get control of their finances so they’re not out buying gift cards or sending them money,” she said. She encouraged families to approach conversations carefully. “Don’t come out full force. Just sit down with them, encourage them.”
Edelman said there are key questions people should ask when receiving suspicious messages, including grammar mistakes and whether the email address appears legitimate.
“Looking at little things like that to really make sure that somebody is who they say they are,” she said.
The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging directs scam claims to the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. That office has a Consumer Affairs Response Team that provides resources to help educate and protect seniors from scams.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Click Here For The Original Source.
