Rising Senior Scams: AARP’s Senior Planet Program Helps Protect Older Americans

DENVER – Scams targeting older Americans are on the rise, and federal officials warn that these tactics are becoming increasingly difficult to detect.

The Federal Trade Commission says scammers pose as IRS agents, police officers or other officials (often over the phone or online) to steal thousands of dollars at a time.

The FTC says scams involving losses over $10,000 have quadrupled in recent years. The FBI reported that older adults were the ones who filed the most fraud complaints last year, with average losses rising 43% from the previous year to $83,000.

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In response, AARP launched Senior Planet, a national program that offers free scam awareness classes to Americans ages 60 and older. The program teaches participants how to spot red flags, spot fraudulent communications, and avoid sharing sensitive information under pressure.

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Rick Planos, a Senior Planet instructor in Illinois, says his involvement is personal. Her mother lost more than $2,500 in gift cards to a scammer who convinced her that her grandson had been arrested.

“My mother was devastated,” Planos said. “First he was devastated because one of his grandchildren was arrested, and then it turned out that wasn’t true. Then he was devastated because he was defrauded.”

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Planos now teaches fraud prevention classes in his community.

“I spend a lot of time teaching for AARP. I take what happened to us and turn it into some kind of positive energy to protect other people,” Planos said.

The program teaches participants how to spot red flags, spot fraudulent communications, and avoid sharing sensitive information under pressure. (Kennedy Hayes/FOX News)

Senior Planet hosts regular in-person classes in Denver, but the program is also available online and in many other states, including Texas, Maryland, and New York.

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“It’s important to talk about where the risks and dangers are,” said Aaron Santis, program leader for Senior Planet Colorado. “But we also use technology as a tool to enrich people’s lives.”

Carolyn Gibson, a new student, said she attended to learn more about new technologies such as artificial intelligence and how to protect herself from fraud.

“I came here to find out who this AI is, what this AI is. The people here have been very helpful,” Gibson said.

The FTC reminds consumers that government agencies will never call demanding money. (Kennedy Hayes/Fox News)

Instructors encourage participants to slow down, verify, and never feel rushed in sharing information, especially if contacted by someone claiming to be from a government agency. According to its website, Senior Planet helps seniors learn new skills, save money, get in shape and make new friends.

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The FTC reminds consumers that government agencies will never call demanding money. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up, visit the agency’s official website and report the scam directly.

Senior Planet helps seniors learn new skills, save money, get in shape and make new friends, according to their website