The FBI reports that seniors in Oklahoma lost approximately $50 million to scams in 2024, with common scams including tech support, investment, and romance schemes. PROTECT THE SENIORS IN YOUR LIFE. THE FBI RELEASING ALARMING DATA THIS WEEK.
SENIORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY LOSING $4.8 BILLION IN 2024 TO SCAMS. SENIORS ARE. TARGETED BY CRIMINALS, LIKELY BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD A LIFETIME TO WORK AND POTENTIALLY BUILD UP SOME SAVINGS OR SOME RESOURCES.
AND THEY’RE ALSO TRUSTING. SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE DOUG GOODWATER TELLS ME THE ISSUE IS ONLY GROWING. THE DOLLARS LOST TOWER OVER THE $22 MILLION SWIPED FROM OUR STATE’S SENIORS IN 2023, APPROXIMATELY 50 MILLION WAS LOST BY SENIORS IN OKLAHOMA IN 2024.
GOODWATER TELLS ME SOME OF THE MOST COMMON SCAMS SENIORS FACE CAN BE FOUND RIGHT ON A CELL PHONE. TECH SUPPORT SCAMS. INVESTMENT SCAMS, ROMANCE SCAMS, AND SPOOFING OR PHISHING.
WITH SCAMS CONTINUING TO LOOK MORE REALISTIC. IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE ON ALERT. THERE ARE WAYS YOU AND THE SENIORS IN YOUR LIFE CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES.
IF YOU ARE BEING PRESSURED TO CONDUCT ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT YOU SHOULD JUST STOP AND WALK AWAY. AND IT’S OKAY TO BE RUDE IN THAT SCENARIO, AND YOU SHOULD CONTACT A TRUSTED LOVED ONE OR THE INSTITUTION THAT THE INDIVIDUAL CLAIMED TO BE FROM THROUGH SEPARATE, INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED CHANNELS Advertisement Oklahoma seniors lost $50 million to scams in 2024, FBI says The FBI reports that seniors in Oklahoma lost approximately $50 million to scams in 2024, with common scams including tech support, investment, and romance schemes. Share Copy Link Copy The FBI has released alarming data showing that seniors across the country lost $4.8 billion to scams in 2024.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel"Seniors are targeted by criminals likely because they've had a lifetime to work and potentially build up some savings or some resources, and they're also trusting," said Doug Goodwater, special agent in charge at the FBI.Goodwater said the issue is only growing.
In 2023, Oklahoma seniors lost $22 million, but in 2024, that number soared to approximately $50 million.Goodwater told KOCO 5 that some of the most common scams seniors face can be found right on a cellphone. "Tech support scams, investment scams, romance scams, and spoofing or phishing," said Goodwater, listing some of the most common scams seniors face, often found right on their cellphones.With scams becoming increasingly realistic, Goodwater emphasized the importance of being on alert and offered advice on how to protect oneself and loved ones.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here. "If you are being pressured to conduct any sort of financial transaction, you should just stop and walk away," Goodwater said.
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