For 2020, cybercrimes against adults age 60 and older (in the U.S. alone) resulted in approximately $1 billion in losses — a 30 percent increase over losses reported for the previous year. Of the almost 800,000 complaints of cybercrime reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2020, more than 200,000 victims were over the age of 60.
Seniors are often targeted because they tend to be trusting and polite. They also usually have financial savings, own a home, and have good credit, which makes them attractive to scammers.
Chances are good that someone you know has been scammed. They may not talk about it, but the statistics are clear. Sharing what you know can help protect someone you know from a scam.
To protect yourself or a loved one from a targeted attack, share these cybersafe tips:
n Know the signs. if anyone contacts you and insists on payment by a wire transfer or gift card, it’s likely a scam. End the conversation immediately.
n Share with care. Be cautious about providing too much personal information on social networking sites.
n Get USPIS® tips. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service offers tips on elder safety online, mail fraud, and other topics. Visit uspis.gov/older-americans for more information.
n Report scams. if you believe you or someone you know may have been a victim of elder fraud, contact your local FBI field office or submit a tip online. You can also file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
By sharing these tips with coworkers and loved ones, you can help further our mission to defend USPS® from cyberthreats, while protecting your family from scammers.
For more information about senior scams, visit the CyberSafe at USPS® pages on Blue (blue.usps.gov/cyber) and LiteBlue (liteblue.usps.gov/cyber).
— Corporate Information Security Office,
Chief Information Security Officer
and Digital Solutions, 11-4-21
