Watch CBS News

Seniors Learn How To Avoid Common Elderly Scams

MIAMI (CBS4) - The number of scams targeting the elderly is growing day by day. Miami Police Detective Teresita Lopez said South Florida ranks among the worst in the nation for fraud against our oldest residents.

The senior retirement industry association said 57 percent of fraud victims are over the age of 50.

It's an issue that Miriam Zatinsky, 84, learned about the hard way.

"I was caught in Medicare fraud and it took me months, months." she said. "I don't know how they got my number."

Zatinsky was one of dozens seniors at the Miami Jewish Health Systems senior center attending a lecture by Miami Police.

"The biggest thing is education, letting them know what to do when they are approached by somebody," said Detective Teresita Lopez of the Miami Police Economic Crimes Bureau. "Not to be afraid to be rude, sometimes you have to be rude because their key is to try to hammer you until they get you to say yes."

CBS4 News is highlighting the effort as part of Project Broken Window. It's an initiative to clean up crime in South Florida.

The seniors at Tuesday's seminar said they walked away feeling more confident and knowledgeable about the dangers that prey on them.

"Its just an awareness of what's going on in the real world around us and being conscious of things that can happen or do happen," said David Hipsman, 84.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.