Can I respectfully, and tentatively, suggest a topic of conversation over the Thanksgiving dinner table that doesn’t involve Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Joe Biden, the midterms, abortion, taxes or immigration—and which, furthermore, might actually be useful?
Naturally this topic can’t replace the really important topics, such as football, but it could usefully replace all the contentious dross that comes up and that can lead to discord over the mashed potatoes.
The topic: The way scam artists are now having a field day fleecing senior citizens, often by mobile phone or “social” media. And the reason to bring it up is that Thanksgiving is a great chance — it may even be a rare chance, depending on circumstances — to catch up with elderly relatives.
Financial fraud against senior citizens is persistent, rising, and may well come after your own family in the months or years ahead. The costs can be devastating—and not just the financial costs. People who lose even small amounts of money are apt to feel mortified and embarrassed.
Scam artists target older people, and not just because they hope they are suffering from “mild cognitive impairment.” Older people, especially retirees, are at or near their peak of lifetime wealth accumulation. They may live alone and be isolated. And if they’ve been out of an…
