a Focus on financial exploitation

In this Morningstar video, Adam Zoll interviews Doug Shadel who provides a detailed outline of common scams and tactics con men use. Shadel is a leading expert on how to detect and prevent financial exploitation, having co-authored a number of books and studies on the topic. He is a former fraud investigator and AARP State Director in Washington. (PLEASE NOTE: While this interview is dated Feb. 2013, it contains factual information on the topic, which continues to be relevant today.)

Articles

Scammed

In “Scammed,” a seven-part series published in the Washington Post, personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary deconstructs how one woman lost her life’s savings to a government impersonation scam. Singletary spent months interviewing fraud victims, law enforcement, policymakers and victim advocates, and reviewing scores of emails, texts and financial documents to show how scammers exploit human nature and technology to manipulate their victims. Click HERE to access the seven-part series. Click HERE to watch a virtual panel discussion about the series.

Pew Research

Online Scams and Attacks in America Today

Pew Research reports that online scams and other internet crimes are skyrocketing, with a record $16.6 billion in losses reported to the FBI in 2024. The federal government, banks and companies are all sounding alarms. Nearly all Americans view online scams and attacks as a national problem.

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AARP

Confessions of a Con Artist

My name is Jim, and I have spent most of my adult life swindling people out of money — big money. I worked in 30 fraudulent business operations over a 10-year period, pitching everything from gold coins to time-shares to oil and gas leases and other business opportunities . . .

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The Phone Scam

Who is really calling?

- Don't answer unknown calls. -Don't share personal or financial information . . .

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National Center on Elder Abuse

Adult Protective Services: What You Must Know

Adult Protective Services (APS) programs promote the safety, independence, and quality-of-life for vulnerable adults who are, or are in danger of, being abused, unable to care for themselves, neglected by others, or financially exploited, and who are unable to protect themselves . . .

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American Bankers Association Foundation

State ‘Hold’ Laws and Elder Financial Exploitation Prevention

To better understand how banks are utilizing "Hold" laws, the ABA Foundation conducted a national survey from Sept. 9 – Oct. 8, 2024. Here are the findings . . .

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