Fighting Back against Scams

In 2022, the top scam types reported to the Committee shared many similarities to those reported by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): imposter scams and prizes, sweepstakes, and lottery scams are both cited as some of the top reported categories. Though many of the same types of scams present themselves year after year, the methods through which scammers contact victims have diversified-Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media now play a prominent role. Scammers are also using new payment methods, making losses difficult to trace. Gift cards are the main payment method used by scammers to request and steal money from older adults. In 2021, 27 percent of adults 60 and older who lost money paid a scammer using a gift card or a reloadable card. Peer-to-peer payment apps, like Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, and PayPal, are also increasingly used by scammers.