Criminal Exploitation of the Aging: An Examination of How “Con-Artists” Take Advantage of the Elderly

• In Event: White Collar Victimization: Fraud, Identity Theft and Exploitation

Abstract

This presentation focuses on findings from a study of criminal cases of fraud against the elderly, how failing cognitive skills are exploited by fraudsters, the types of frauds committed and the use of social engineering methods by con artists to commit their crimes. The study (funded by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service) is an analysis of the USPIS national database of frauds against the elderly. Over 200 closed criminal cases (affecting over 75,000 victims) were analyzed. The presentation covers the quantitative distribution of cases (e.g., gender, geographic location) and qualitative dimensions of offense methods. Methods of social engineering are examined to highlight how offenders exploited their victims. Special consideration is given to variations of “affinity fraud” used by offenders to draw in their victims. Recommendations are offered on how the study results can be valuable to the development of effective awareness programs and prevent “re-victimization.”

Author

• Donald Rebovich, Utica College