Criminals often impersonate major brands with large audiences—and Amazon is one of them.
The impact of elder financial abuse is significant. While it can involve trusted individuals like caregivers or family members, scams by strangers are also a major threat. In 2024 alone, the Federal Trade Commission estimated that criminals stole as much as $81.5 billion from adults age 60 and over. With World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, it’s a reminder that small steps can help prevent financial exploitation.
Encourage older adults in your life to add a trusted contact to their financial accounts. This person can’t make transactions but can be alerted to suspicious activity or if the account holder can’t be reached.
Freezing credit can help prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in their name. You can also reduce exposure to phone-based scams by setting up robocall and text blockers through mobile carriers or trusted apps. Small actions like these can make a big difference in protecting financial well-being.
Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
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