Opinion: Fighting back against scams targeting our older adults

Imagine working your entire life, saving diligently, planning for a peaceful retirement only to have it all vanish with one phone call.

For many older adults in San Diego County, that nightmare is real. Older residents in our community lost more than $130 million to scams in one year. That’s not a typo. That’s money meant for food, health care, housing and legacy — gone, often in a matter of minutes.

This is not just a local issue. It’s a growing national public safety threat. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the number of adults over 60 who lost $10,000 or more to impersonation scams has quadrupled, and losses exceeding $100,000 per victim have surged eightfold since 2020.

My office has long been a national leader in protecting older adults from abuse through our specialized Elder Crimes Unit, which includes expert prosecutors, investigators and victim advocates. Yet, as financial scams targeting older adults have grown in scale and sophistication, robbing victims not only of their savings but also their peace of mind and health, we recognized the need for an even stronger response.

In 2020, we helped launch the Elder Justice Task Force — the first of its kind — led by the FBI and powered by a partnership between the District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Law Enforcement Coordination Center, local law enforcement agencies, and the County’s Aging and Independence Services. Together, we are taking the fight directly to the international and domestic criminal networks behind these scams.

Since its formation, the Task Force has identified more than 4,600 victims and uncovered over $325 million in losses suffered by San Diegans. These numbers underscore both the scale of the problem and the critical importance of this collaboration.

Enforcement and prosecution are not enough to protect our older adults. This month, I’ve launched a bold, countywide public awareness campaign aimed at stopping elder scams before they start. The effort is focused on older adults and their loved ones, caregivers and the broader public, because protecting older adults is a shared responsibility.

This campaign couldn’t have come at a more urgent time. Scammers are improving their ploys to be even more convincing.

The playbook of today’s fraudster is chillingly effective. They’re using AI-generated voices to mimic grandchildren begging for help. They’re spoofing caller IDs to appear as law enforcement. They’re weaving elaborate tales of unpaid taxes, frozen bank accounts, romantic love and fake tech support, all with one goal: to get money fast.

These criminals prey on trust, confusion and fear. And too often, they win.

That’s why our new campaign doesn’t just explain what scams look like. It tells you exactly what to do when faced with one.

At the heart of the effort is a simple message: “Stop. Hang Up. Tell Someone.”

It’s a powerful, three-step mantra designed to cut through panic in the heat of the moment. Because in scam situations, hesitation can be life changing. These words offer clarity. They empower older adults to pause, avoid rash decisions, and lean on someone they trust before it’s too late.

— “Stop” reminds the target to take a breath — don’t let urgency drive your response.

— “Hang Up” puts a decisive end to the scammer’s control.

— “Tell Someone” ensures that no one faces this alone and that the fraud can be reported and stopped.

This campaign is taking the message directly to where it’s needed most: senior centers, libraries, faith groups, caregiver organizations and online spaces where older adults and their families seek information.

What makes these crimes especially cruel is that they often go unreported. Victims feel embarrassed, ashamed or afraid to admit they were fooled. That silence fuels the next scam.

I want to end the stigma and encourage open conversations within families and communities. I’m asking anyone who loves a senior citizen to make sure they know what red flags to watch for and that it is always OK to speak up.

We all have a role to play, and this campaign gives us the tools to act.

In a time when technology allows deception to move faster than ever, knowledge is our best defense. For resources, educational materials, or to schedule a presentation, visit sandiegoda.com.

Let’s protect the people who helped build this community. Let’s make San Diego County the place where scammers fail and older adults thrive.

Stephan is San Diego County district attorney.