In an era dominated by digital connectivity, cybercrimes represent an escalated threat to individuals across all age groups, with older adults particularly vulnerable to their nefarious effects. According to recent data from the FBI, older adults are increasingly falling victim to a wide array of cybercrimes, ranging from online scams to identity theft and financial fraud. As seniors embrace the convenience of digital platforms for communication, financial transactions, and social interaction, they inadvertently expose themselves to sophisticated schemes orchestrated by cyber criminals. These crimes not only jeopardize the financial security of older adults but also compromise their personal information and erode their sense of trust in online interactions.

Here's a high-level look at the numbers and how they affected people over the age of sixty (60), according to the report:

• There were over 88,000 victims over the age of 60
• Those victims had a total loss in U.S. dollars of $3.1 billion dollars
• The average dollar loss per victim was a whopping $35,101
• There were over 5,400 victims who lost more than $100k each
• This accounted for an 84% increase in losses over the previous year (2021)

While the top-performing cybercrime was Tech Support scams. These can appear as pop-ups on your computer or tablet screen, prompting you to click on a scan of your computer or call a number to talk to a person who is supposedly there to help you. Once they have you on the phone, they can lure you into paying them into a problem that you don't really have or even have them scare you that your bank account has been taken over (since they have planted something on your computer to see all the files and can now most likely read statements and account numbers or emails from your institution back to you). Fearing the worst, many individuals immediately follow the instructions given to them only to realize later that they have been scammed out of their hard-earned dollars.

Below is a list of the top 5 cybercrime types that were performed on the report by volume:

• Tech Support
• Non-payment / Non-Delivery
• Personal Data Breach
• Confidence / Romance
• Credit Card / Check Fraud

But just because those crimes received the most volume doesn't mean they netted the most profits. The top-profiting Cybercrime was convincing people to invest. This is where you are convinced to invest your money into what the person or company recommends—real estate, cryptocurrency, stocks, bonds, or even commodities.

Below is a list of the top 5 cybercrime types that were performed on the report by dollar amount:

• Investment
• Tech Support
• Business Email Compromise (BEC)
• Confidence / Romance
• Government Impersonation

NOTE: Subscribers to Safe Secure Seniors can find tips on how to avoid online scams.