The Office of the Attorney General in Oklahoma City has introduced an online senior fraud complaint form, available on its website. This development comes as a response to the increasing incidents of fraud targeting older Oklahomans.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond expressed his concern over these cases, stating, “Older Oklahomans deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and yet far too often they are targeted by unscrupulous actors.” He further described these cases as "particularly egregious and a form of senior abuse, plain and simple."
The Consumer Protection Unit of the Attorney General’s Office is committed to thoroughly investigating such complaints. They urge Oklahomans to remain vigilant for signs of elder exploitation.
Seniors often fall prey to various confidence schemes ranging from fake lotteries to tech support scams. These can also include correspondence from individuals posing as a grandchild, a government official or an interested romantic partner.
While reporting suspected senior fraud through the form is encouraged, Oklahomans are also urged to take certain precautions against such scams. These include not giving out personal information over the phone or in response to an email or other message; being wary of individuals who demand upfront payment or payment in a certain format; checking incoming bills for unauthorized charges; and rejecting high-pressure approaches from unknown individuals.
According to a report by the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, financial scams reported by individuals over age 60 reached $3.4 billion last year. This represents a nearly 11 percent increase over 2022.
The senior fraud complaint form can be accessed on oag.ok.gov by clicking on the "Complaints & Tiplines" tab at the top of the page.