Rising Senior Scams: AARP’s Senior Planet Program Helps Shield Older People

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DENVER – Scams concentrating on older People are surging, and federal officers are warning that the techniques have gotten more durable to detect.

The Federal Trade Commission says scammers are posing as IRS brokers, law enforcement officials, or different officers – usually over the telephone or on-line – to steal 1000's of {dollars} at a time.

The FTC says scams involving losses over $10,000 have quadrupled in recent times. The FBI studies that older adults filed essentially the most rip-off complaints final yr, with common losses climbing to $83,000 – up 43% from the yr earlier than.

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In response, AARP has launched Senior Planet, a nationwide program providing free fraud-awareness lessons to Americans age 60 and older . This system teaches individuals methods to establish pink flags, spot pretend communications, and keep away from sharing delicate info beneath strain.

<source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/10/931/523/screenshot-2025-10-13-at-2.50.22 pm-e1760388759430.png?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/10/1862/1046/screenshot-2025-10-13-at-2.50.22 pm-e1760388759430.png?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Lessons can be found in a number of different states, together with Texas, Maryland, and New York. (Kennedy Hayes/ FOX Information)

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Rick Planos, an teacher for Senior Planet in Illinois, says his involvement is private. His mom misplaced greater than $2,500 in present playing cards to a scammer who satisfied her that her grandson had been arrested.

"My mother was distraught," Planos stated. "First, she was distraught that one among her grandchildren was arrested – after which it turned out that wasn’t true. After which she was distraught that she obtained scammed."

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Now, Planos leads rip-off prevention lessons in his group.

"I spend numerous time instructing for AARP. I took what occurred to us and put it into some sort of constructive vitality to guard different individuals," Planos stated.

<source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/10/931/523/screenshot-2025-10-13-at-2.51.03 pm-e1760389002637.png?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/10/1862/1046/screenshot-2025-10-13-at-2.51.03 pm-e1760389002637.png?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> This system teaches individuals methods to establish pink flags, spot pretend communications, and keep away from sharing delicate info beneath strain. (Kennedy Hayes/FOX Information)

In Denver, Senior Planet hosts common in-person lessons, however this system can be out there on-line and in a number of different states, together with Texas, Maryland and New York.

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"It’s necessary to speak about the place the dangers and risks are," stated Aaron Santis, program lead for Senior Planet Colorado. "However we’re additionally utilizing know-how as a device to complement individuals’s lives."

Carolyn Gibson, a current scholar, stated she joined to study extra about new know-how comparable to artificial intelligence – and methods to shield herself from scams.

"I came to visit right here to seek out out who is that this AI, what is that this AI. The individuals right here, they’ve been very useful," Gibson stated.

The FTC reminds customers that authorities companies won't ever name to demand cash. (Kennedy Hayes/Fox Information)

Instructors encourage individuals to decelerate, confirm, and by no means really feel rushed into sharing info – particularly if contacted by somebody claiming to be from a authorities company. In response to the web site, Senior Planet helps seniors study new abilities, lower your expenses, get in form, and make new friends .

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The FTC reminds customers that authorities companies won't ever name to demand cash. If you happen to obtain a suspicious name, grasp up, go to the company’s official web site, and report the rip-off straight.