MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – The Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South reports an alarming increase in senior scams.
In fact, senior citizens are targeted by criminals, crooks and creeps more often than any other age group.
During the pandemic, the amount of money swindled from Mid-South seniors tripled.
With the help of the BBB’s Scam Tracker, we’re taking action to make sure your elders don’t get taken to the cleaners in 2022.
Retired school band director Ron Turner vividly remembers the day scammers called to tell his 82-year-old mother she’d won the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes.
”And all they needed was some credit card number from her for processing fees and they were in Millington ready to come give her a million dollars,” Turner said. “I overheard the conversation and got on the other line and told everybody that could hear me that I knew this was a scam. And I ordered my mom to hang up and we did.”
But the conman called back after Ron left for an appointment and convinced his mom the offer was legit.
”She called me when I was at the event and said they’re on their way from Millington with a million dollars. My first question was, did you give them money? And she said, well… just $400,” Turner said.
Daniel Irwin with the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South says when a senior falls for a scam it’s financially and emotionally devastating.
”A lot of scammers target seniors because a lot of them live alone. They’re isolated. They tend to…
