Law enforcement in Orange County says they've seen an increase in elder abuse scam crimes throughout Central Florida over the past few years.
- Elder abuse, scam crimes on the rise in Central Florida
- DCF says they've already handled 434 elderly scam cases
- Vist resources below to protect yourself against scams, abuses
“We have to learn that we can’t trust like we did before,” said Senior Specialist with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Laura Lang.
But she said it's a tough lesson for seniors. That's why she believes seniors in our area are targeted by scammers calling your phone or even heading to your home, knocking on your door in hopes of tricking you into getting your information and money.
These crimes not uncommon in Orange County or Central Florida.
“In 20 years of doing this position, I have seen the same type of scam with a different little twist to them, but the scams are still all the same,” Lang said.
Over the past few years, Lang said she’s noticed an increase in the amount of elderly scam and abuse cases.
Already this year the Department of Children and Families handled 434 cases of elderly scams and 332 cases of mental injury.
People Spectrum News 13 spoke with during InFocus even say the issue can impact just about anyone in the community.
Although DCF numbers also show the number of reported abuse and scams to their agency decreased from 2,549 in 2016 to 2,358 in 2017, Lang says the scammers aren’t going away, and the best defense is to educate yourself on what scams could be out there.
“The best thing you can do is protect yourself because this is what is going on in 2018." Lang said.
For more information on how to protect yourself against scams and abuses targeting the elderly, visit these sites: