CA Attorney General In Riverside, Warns Of Scams Targeting Seniors

RIVERSIDE, CA — California Attorney General Rob Bonta held a press conference Thursday in Riverside to warn Californians against common scams targeting senior citizens.

Held on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Bonta was joined by Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez, AARP Regional Director of Los Angeles Luis Campillo, and local representatives from the Department of Public Social Services at the noon event held at Dales Senior Center.

The types of shams hurting seniors seem "almost endless" now — and the financial toll inflicted on older residents is now in the billions of dollars, thanks in large part to an "explosion in technology" that makes it easier to target victims, according to the AG.

Bonta said his 85-year-old mother was the victim of two scams and she lost money as a result. One ruse involved a con artist posing as a tech support representative while the other fraudster claimed there were "embarrassing photos" of the elderly woman that she could pay for to make them go away, according to Bonta.

The AG shared he felt "anger" over the episodes and emphasized that everyone must help protect loved ones.

"I don't like it when people of power abuse vulnerable people," he said. "It's sickening and it's scary."

Many victims "often suffer in silence," too embarrassed to admit they were swindled, Bonta continued. "No one should be ashamed."

The AG said his office has investigated thousands of scam cases and convictions are mounting.

The Riverside police chief shared a personal story of a friend's elderly loved one who was bilked out of about $200,000. The victim believed she won a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes and a luxury vehicle, but she first had to pay "fees" in order to "collect" the prizes. It was all a ruse and police are now investigating the matter.

Ahead of Thursday's press conference, the AG's office put out a news release with a list of common scams to look out for. See below:

CALL CENTER FRAUD OR PHONE SCAMS

• Tech support scams, in which scammers pretend to be helpful tech support representatives claiming that your computer or device is facing a technical issue or is infected with malware.
• Government impersonation scams, in which scammers pretend to be representatives from trusted government agencies and trick you into providing personal information or making payments.
• Prize, lottery, or sweepstake scams, in which scammers contact you to tell you that you’ve won something exciting, and then ask you to pay a fee, taxes, or customs duties in order to receive your winnings.

How to protect yourself:

• If someone claims to represent a company or organization, independently verify their identity by contacting the official phone number or customer support line listed on their website.
• Be cautious with unsolicited calls and avoid sharing personal or financial information or making payments over the phone.
• Register your phone number on the national Do Not Call Registry (in countries where available) to reduce the number of unwanted telemarketing calls.

INVESTMENT SCAMS

These kinds of scams come in the form of investment opportunities that are sold as "too good to pass up," and include Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, pump-and-dump schemes, and offshore investment fraud. The scammers promise their victims high returns or guaranteed profits but leave them instead with significant financial losses.

How to protect yourself:

• Before investing, research the company or individual involved thoroughly. Talk to family and friends and trusted financial professionals.
• If an investment opportunity promises extremely high returns with little to no risk, be skeptical. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Do not let anyone pressure you into making rushed decisions. Take your time to evaluate the opportunity, consult with professionals, research the company and investment opportunity thoroughly, and make informed choices.
• Get everything in writing, including the investment terms, risks, and potential returns. Read and understand the documents before making any commitments.

FRIEND AND FAMILY IMPOSTOR SCAMS

In a "friend or family" scam, scammers pretend to be someone you know, like a grandchild or a friend, and tell you they are in urgent need of money — maybe to bail them out of jail, or because they’re stranded in a foreign country, or for a medical emergency. When a loved one is in trouble, it’s natural to want to jump to their aid, quickly and without questioning. That’s why these kinds of scams are easy to fall for.

These types of scammers can be very convincing, especially since scammers may use your social media information or hack into a loved one’s account to get personal details in order to convince them they are real. But remember, if the person is contacting you out of the blue and is trying to create a sense of urgency by playing on your emotions or using emergencies or other distressing situations, these are warning signs of a scam. Other warning signs include avoiding answering specific questions about personal details or shared experiences, or asking you to keep the situation a secret.

How to protect yourself:

• If you get a request like this, ask questions that only your real loved one would know, like personal details or shared memories.
• Contact your loved one directly using a known and trusted phone number or email address.
• Take your time. Scammers often try to rush you into making quick decisions. Take a step back, think carefully, and consult other family members or friends before sending money or sharing sensitive information — even if you’ve been asked to keep it a secret.

ROMANCE SCAMS

In romance scams, the scammer pretends to be interested in a romantic relationship to gain your trust and eventually steal your money. They use online dating platforms, social media, or email to initiate contact and develop a fake emotional connection. They may express deep love, sympathy, or vulnerability, making you believe that you have found a genuine connection with them. Then they’ll make a sudden request for money to deal with an emergency or to meet some other urgent need.

You may likely be dealing with a scammer if:

• Your romantic interest sends you photos that look too perfect to be real.
• They profess their love to you quickly.
• They lavish you with texts, emails and phone calls to draw you in.
• They repeatedly promise to meet in person but never follow through.
• They make a sudden request for money to deal with an emergency or great investment. Scammers like to create a sense of urgency.

How to protect yourself:

• Don’t send money or share your personal or financial information with someone you haven’t met in person.
• Use various search engines to look up a person’s photos and details to see if these have been used elsewhere.
• Trust your instincts: If something seems too good to be true, it most likely is.

Bonta said the best way to protect against scammers is to not fall victim in the first place, but if you believe you or a loved one have been the victim or target of a scam, immediately contact local law enforcement. You may also file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/report. If you know or suspect a case of elder abuse, you may report it to the Attorney General's Division of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse by calling this tollfree hotline, 800-722-0432, or submitting a complaint online at https://oag.ca.gov/dmfea/reporting.