Seniors can submit fraud complaints on OK A.G.'s website

The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office is looking to protect older Oklahomans from fraud.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office is looking to protect older Oklahomans from fraud.

According to the A.G.'s Office, there is an online form available for seniors to report suspected incidents of fraud.

“Older Oklahomans deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and yet far too often they are targeted by unscrupulous actors,” said Attorney General Gentner Drummond. “These cases are particularly egregious and a form of senior abuse, plain and simple. The Consumer Protection Unit of the Attorney General’s Office thoroughly investigates such complaints and urges Oklahomans to keep a watchful eye for signs of elder exploitation.”

Officials say plenty of schemes prey on seniors in a variety of scenarios like fake lotteries, tech support scams, correspondence from people pretending to be a grandchild, a government official, or a potential romantic partner.

While suspected fraud should be reported through the form, the A.G.'s Office is urging Oklahomans to be careful and take precautions to avoid these scams:

• Don’t give out personal information over the phone or in response to an email or other message.
• Never click on emailed links or attachments, even if the email appears to be sent by someone you know, unless you first verify that the email was in fact sent by that person. Email messages that appear to be from known contacts can be phishing attempts to gain your personal information.
• Be wary of individuals who demand payment upfront or in a certain format (e.g. wire, Venmo/CashApp/Zelle, gift cards, cryptocurrency).
• Check incoming bills for charges that you did not authorize.
• Take your time and reject high-pressure approaches from individuals you do not know.

According to a report from the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, financial scams reported by people over the age of 60 reached $3.4 billion in 2023, a nearly 11 percent increase from 2022.

The senior fraud complaint form can be found on oag.ok.gov, under "Complaints & Tiplines" at the top of the page.