Protecting our seniors from scammers
- Senator Aric Nesbitt
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Every week, my office hears from families in Allegan, Berrien and Van Buren counties who have been targeted by scammers. Sometimes it's a phone call claiming a grandchild is in jail and needs bail money wired immediately. Sometimes it's a text about a package that never existed, or a caller posing as the IRS, Medicare, or a utility company threatening to shut off the power within the hour. These criminals are getting more sophisticated, and they deliberately prey on seniors who were raised to trust a voice on the other end of the line.
The tactics change, but the warning signs rarely do. Legitimate government agencies and utilities do not demand immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a smartphone payment app. They do not threaten arrest over the phone. They do not call out of the blue asking for your Social Security number, Medicare number, or bank account information. And they do not pressure you to keep the conversation secret from your family.
