Identity Theft Alert: 10 Rules You Must Follow to Protect Yourself from America’s #1 Crime

Identity Theft and the Elderly

The elderly are often specifically targeted for identity theft. Identity theft and fraud against the elderly is a particularly insidious problem because in many instances, after seniors realize that they have been scammed or made the victim of identity theft, they are often hesitant to report the crime out of embarrassment or shame and the belief that it is just another example of their losing their mental acuity. In fact, anyone can be scammed or become a victim of identity theft. Very intelligent people were scammed, for instance, by Bernie Madoff. A recent study by MetLife has shown a dramatic increase in scams perpetrated against people over the age of 60 in the past few years, and the problem is getting worse. ...