A total of $15.9 million has been lost to fraud schemes in Utah just this year, according to a report from the Federal Trade Commission’s Sentinel Network. Out of the top 10 report categories, imposter scams ranked the highest — with over 1,300 reports filed under losing money to those pretending to be someone else.
Utah’s elderly are the most susceptible to these scams, according to Douglas Crapo, director of the White Collar Commercial Enforcement for the Attorney General’s Office. In fact, in 2022, Adult Protective Services investigated more than 4,000 cases of vulnerable adults allegedly being abused, Gov. Spencer Cox noted in a video statement.
Many scams involve others sending suspicious links via text or email pretending to be a trusted company or person, Crapo added. Because Utah’s elderly have learned to trust those businesses, but not necessarily learn the rules of phishing or scamming, they may give away private information…
Due to Utah having large faith communities, elderly Utahns are also more likely to trust in friends’ and neighbors’ Ponzi schemes, Luke said.
“It’s often a no-brainer for (the elderly) to want to invest some of their money or, as they would look at it, help someone else,” Luke said. “We have several cases — and that is not to disparage faith nor this specific faith — but several cases where individuals have taken advantage of the elderly in this scenario because of either their position and/or placement in their church.”
Hart also noted how Utah elderly are particularly susceptible to door-to-door salesmen and false charities.
..family members and concerned elders to file fraud complaints with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection or to voice their concerns at the Elder Fraud Hotline.