Sophisticated overseas criminals are stealing tens of billions of dollars from Americans every year, a crime wave projected to get worse as the U.S. population ages and technology makes it easier to successfully perpetrate fraud.
William Bortz, left, stands alongside his daughter, Ave Williams, at his senior living center, Friday, May 17, 2024, in San Diego. Bortz said criminals stole his family’s nest egg of almost $700,000 in an elaborate scheme. Sophisticated overseas criminals are stealing tens of billions of dollars from Americans every year, a crime wave that’s projected to get worse as the U.S. population ages and technology like AI makes it easier than ever to perpetrate fraud and get away with it.
“We are at a crisis level in fraud in society,” Stokes said. “So many people have joined the fray because it is pretty easy to be a criminal. They don’t have to follow any rules. And you can make a lot of money, and then there’s very little chance that you’re going to get caught.” Some police departments don’t take financial scams as seriously as other crime and victims wind up discouraged and demoralized, according to Paul Greenwood, who spent 22 years prosecuting elder financial abuse cases in San Diego.
“These people are very good at what they do, and they’re very good at deceiving people and prying money out of them,” said Fairview Township, Ohio, police Sgt. Brandon McCroskey, who investigated the robbery. “I’ve seen people almost want to fist fight the police and bank tellers because they ... believe in their mind that they need to get this money out.”Older people hold more wealth as a group and present a ripe target for scammers.
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