A group of grandmothers formed a defense brigade to protect one of their friends, who had been a victim of fraud and scams and was stripped of her home.
Continuing with the goal of promoting more positive news, I was captivated by a local story that went viral about a group of grandmothers who had created a defense brigade to protect one of their friends who had been scammed and lost her home.
Their solidarity effort was so intense that they managed to draw the attention of authorities, and months later, the person responsible for the scam was convicted, and the victim recovered her home.
This positive story serves to draw attention to the recent reports of the increase in all types of fraud and scams nationwide.
As if the many surprising things happening weren’t enough—such as the suspension of many social services the state provided to some citizens, many of them seniors, who are now facing financial hardship—there are also opportunists who take advantage of the situation and the desperation of those affected to profit.
Every day, there are more reports of seniors being scammed and stripped of money, belongings, and property by people who, under the guise of caregivers or concerned neighbors, end up deceiving them and convincing them to sign property transfers, special powers of attorney, or documents that compromise their financial stability.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), last year, reported fraud losses in the country exceeded $12.5 billion—a figure that’s hard to say and even harder to imagine.
Scams have also diversified, with investment fraud being the most common and the most profitable for scammers, followed by fraud through transactions on platforms and social media.
The most alarming trend—and one to watch closely—is the significant increase in identity theft and scams carried out using artificial intelligence, which has become one of the biggest challenges in combating cybercrime.
It’s not about becoming paranoid, but neither is it about falling for strange calls, deals that sound too good to be true, or people offering to manage your accounts.
In this country, many seniors live alone or in special care homes, either because their families can’t care for them or because they have no close family.
This population is vulnerable and an easy target for scammers. There are laws and protective measures that can be applied and strengthened to prevent such crimes.
Try to create support groups like the brigade in the story we started with. Before leaving elderly family members in someone else’s care, make sure all their affairs are in order with proper legal advice. A toast to Ms. Miriam and her friends Silvia and Aimee.
oma66co@gmail.com
By Omaira Martínez Cardona – Colombian Journalist
