Scammers stole more than RM16.2bil from older Americans last year, an FBI report says

Losses from scams reported by Americans over the age of 60 last year were up 11% over the year before, according to the FBI’s report. — Image by freepik

WASHINGTON: Scammers stole more than US$3.4bil (RM16.2bil) from older Americans last year, according to an FBI report released April 30 that shows a rise in losses through increasingly sophisticated criminal tactics to trick the vulnerable into giving up their life savings.

Losses from scams reported by Americans over the age of 60 last year were up 11% over the year before, according to the FBI’s report. Investigators are warning of a rise in brazen schemes to drain bank accounts that involve sending couriers in person to collect cash or gold from victims.