LAKE CITY — The internet is a vast, ever-changing landscape, and there are scammers hiding within its confines, looking to target vulnerable seniors.
Scammers typically use a fake social media profile or email to reach seniors on a personal level, or contact them under the guise of a familiar agency, like the Social Security Administration or Medicaid.
Though people often think, “it won’t happen to me,” local Commission/Council on Aging offices say scammers are taking money from seniors everywhere, even in Wexford and Missaukee counties.
Missaukee County COA Support Services Coordinator Shannon Scarbrough said her office has dealt with several lottery and sweepstakes scams. At a time when almost everyone is trying to pinch their pennies, she said these types of scams can be especially appealing.
In the cases of Scarbrough’s clients, scammers have been making initial contact through Facebook Messenger or email. They can take on the identity of a person who’s already on the senior’s friends list, which can be done by copying their name and profile photo, but other times they’ll remain a stranger.
From there, the scammer will send a link that redirects seniors to a website they’ve built specifically for their scam. Scarbrough said the scammer will sometimes start by sending seniors a small amount of money to show that…
