AARP Virgin Islands Ramps Up Anti-Fraud Campaign to Protect Older Adults

At recent fraud prevention events put on by AARP Virgin Islands, Deanna E. Rogers has heard about various ways scammers are targeting the territory’s residents. Phone calls supposedly from Medicare or Social Security demanding payments. Romance scams and financial betrayals by family members or caregivers.

“Many of them told us that they are more likely to be more trusting as they age, making them especially vulnerable to scams,” says Rogers, an AARP volunteer who helps with fraud prevention programming.

As fraud losses continue to devastate older adults, AARP is ramping up its efforts to educate residents and push for stronger laws to protect them.

The “alarming statistics” on fraud and how often residents are targeted “underscore the urgent need for robust anti-fraud initiatives,” says AARP Virgin Islands State Director Troy A. de Chabert-Schuster.

To combat fraud, AARP Virgin Islands is urging lawmakers to take action to protect residents from scams and exploitation. (As part of the effort, the organization is asking residents to sign an online petition at states.aarp.org/virgin-islands/fraud-petition.)

AARP Virgin Islands also supports an elder abuse amendment being considered by lawmakers. The proposal would create the territory’s first adult-abuse registry, mandate fraud prevention training for law enforcement and establish a multidisciplinary protection team to share best practices.

Beyond that, AARP Virgin Islands frequently hosts free in-person and virtual fraud prevention workshops. The sessions provide practical tips and tools to detect and prevent scams, safeguard personal information and protect financial assets. Pam Toussaint, AARP Virgin Islands associate state director for advocacy and community outreach, says the organization is partnering with local financial institutions on outreach initiatives and to educate their staff and customers about scams and fraud.

Several events on fraud topics are scheduled for this year, including an anti-elder abuse summit in June, a talk on disaster fraud in July and a session on inheritance fraud in October. Check aarp.org/vi for dates and locations.

The rise in fraud targeting older adults has accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic, says Kathy Stokes, director of AARP’s national fraud prevention programs. As people moved online to shop, work and socialize, scammers followed. Now, thanks to artificial intelligence, criminals can deploy even more sophisticated tactics — mimicking voices, crafting convincing emails, and creating fake online personas.

“We’ve got to help people understand that this is a crisis and we have to be acting as a whole of society to respond to it,” Stokes says.

AARP provides free resources through its Fraud Watch Network. Anyone who suspects they may be a victim of fraud or the target of a scam can also call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. The service is available to people of any age.

Stacey Shepard, a California-based journalist, writes about health care, the environment and other issues.

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