AI Scammers Target Elderly Americans with Fraud Schemes

Artificial intelligence is accelerating elder fraud schemes across the U.S., focusing on older Americans who hold a significant share of household wealth. Matt Sanner, founder of ScamSkeptic, explains how fraudsters use AI to mimic voices and create deepfakes. Sanner offers strategies for families to identify these scams and protect their loved ones.

Have you tried removing your personal information from data broker sites? You might have Googled your name, disliked the results, and spent time filling out opt-out forms on sites like Spokeo, Whitepages, and BeenVerified. While this takes effort, it doesn’t guarantee your information stays private due to data brokers’ operations. Their practices can be confusing, leaving people vulnerable without realizing it. For retirees, decades of public records and family connections provide scammers with plenty of information.

Even after opting out, your personal details might still be online. Hundreds of data brokers operate in the U.S. When you opt out from one, such as Spokeo, others may still have your data, and the site you opted out from could eventually list your information again. Public records change and reappear on people-search websites, meaning one round of opt-outs might only provide temporary relief.

Misconceptions About Data Broker Opt-Outs

Misconception 1:

Your data isn’t gone after opting out. Hundreds of brokers mean others could still list your data. The Federal Trade Commission notes information can reappear when public records change.

Misconception 2:

Your family’s information doesn’t affect you. Data broker profiles often include relatives, so even if you remove your information, your data might appear in others’ listings. This can lead to scams like the grandparent scam. Fraudsters might use family info to make a convincing call, using AI to clone voices and asking for money.

In 2025, the FBI reported $7.7 billion in losses from complaints by those 60 and older. The average reported loss was about $38,500. A family code word and callback rule can help prevent these scams.

Misconception 3:

Thinking your information isn’t interesting attracts scammers. They might discover your address, relatives, past employment, and financial circumstances through data brokers.

Criminals can combine this data with other sources for a convincing profile, useful for impersonation. A 2025 analysis found personal information aided 72% of reported internet crimes against older Americans in 2024, showing the impact of exposed personal details in scams.

Misconception 4:

If you haven’t been targeted, it doesn’t mean you’re safe. You might have received suspicious emails or calls you ignored. Yet your data could still be online. Data brokers continually update databases, so previously removed information might reappear.

An example from 2024 involves former Epsilon employees sentenced for selling targeted consumer lists, which helped criminals defraud victims. This illustrates how personal information can be used in financial crimes.

Misconception 5:

Online privacy isn’t only a younger generation issue. Data brokers don’t rely on social media to collect your life’s information. Your public records contribute to data broker profiles, and retirees often have longer public histories. Collecting data from home purchases, divorce proceedings, and more enhances brokers’ databases.

Improving Data Broker Opt-Outs

Regular checks and repeated opt-out requests are effective. You can manually search data broker sites and submit opt-out forms yourself. The Federal Trade Commission states these opt-outs are free but time-consuming. With hundreds of brokers, tracking websites can be overwhelming.

Consider using a personal data removal service, which automates opt-out requests across multiple sites and continues checking if information reappears. Family plans help retirees connected to others. No service can remove everything, though. Public records and information outside participating databases remain accessible. The goal is to minimize personal information scammers can find.

Consistent removal efforts, manually or through services, help protect your privacy. Visit Cyberguy.com for top data removal services and free scans to check if your information is online.

Kurt’s Key Takeaways

Removing your personal information from data brokers requires effort, yet details may still appear online. Retirees especially need to protect personal records that scammers might exploit. Family information can also lead back to you. Ongoing data removal should be part of your privacy routine. Data removal services ease this process, though none guarantee complete removal. Keep checking, talk to your family about privacy protection, and beware that a scammer can know details about you without being familiar.

CyberGuy offers a newsletter with tech tips, security alerts, and exclusive deals. Visit Cyberguy.com for more ways to protect yourself from scams. Access the Ultimate Scam Survival Guide by joining the newsletter.