Fraudulent Facebook Ads Targeting Seniors
DEEP-FAKE VIDEOS OF CELEBRITIES SERVE AS CLICK-BAIT
Meta Platforms, Inc., owner of Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms, is facing scrutiny after a new report alleges that Facebook has enabled scam advertisers targeting seniors with fake Medicare-related offers to repeatedly run ads Man’s hands on a laptop that shows a screen of Facebookacross its platforms. The report, released earlier this month by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, found that 30 major scam advertiser accounts generated an estimated 215 million ad impressions over the past year. Roughly 73% of those impressions reportedly came from users over the age of 65. The fraudulent ads weaponize Meta’s sophisticated ad-targeting tools to isolate seniors with malicious offers. A number of the ads use AI-generated videos impersonating celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Donald Trump in fake endorsements. The report indicated that some of the unwitting victims have shared their Social Security numbers, financial data, or were illegally switched into inferior healthcare plans.
Scam Alert
INHERITANCE FROM UNKNOWN RELATIVES
If you receive a letter from a law firm or asset management firm about inheriting funds from someone who shares your last name, be very wary. If you answer, you’re likely to lose money, personal data – or both.
These letters are a type of inheritance scam and they are quite popular with fraudsters right now, according to news reports and the Federal Trade Commission. As with many scams, the targeted victims are induced to respond as quickly as possible and keep the transaction secret.
It might be tempting to reply, just to see if there is a chance you are truly eligible to get some of the money. But that’s where the scam kicks in. If you contact them, they’ll impersonate professionals in their attempt to get your personal and financial information, including your date of birth, Social Security or bank account numbers.
Suspicious letters and emails have reportedly been sent under the following firm names, many claiming a Brussels or wider Belgium address:
- Smitz Private Wealth Advisors (claimed address: Ave. des Arts 56, B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgium)
- Henri Goddard Consulting / Henri Godard Consulting (spellings vary; same pattern) Brussels, Belgium
- ALPMGT Portfolio Management (claimed Brussels location)
If you receive an email about an inheritance from one of these firms, you should be aware that their name frequently shows up in fraud and imposter scams investigated by consumer protection agencies. A website name may be associated with a polished-looking website that, on the surface, resembles a legitimate European wealth-management firm with client testimonials, advisor bios, mission statements, and more. This is part of what makes these letters so effective in fooling people. When a worried recipient Googles the firm to verify it, the website appears to confirm that it is a legitimate entity.
Real inheritance notifications should come from a legitimate law firms or a probate court. They will not ask you to keep it secret, pay upfront fees, or claim half the money. The FTC also suggests you alert friends and family, since they may not realize these types of letters are scams. According to a survey by Visa, about 15 percent of Americans have been targeted by inheritance scams.
Government / Legislative Update
FBI RECOGNIZES SENIOR FRAUD AWARENESS DAY
The FBI and its local field offices issued numerous alerts in May for National Senior Fraud Awareness Day, observed annually on May 15th. The agency highlighted research finding that older Americans lost more than $4.8 billion to fraud in 2024, specifically warning against tech support scams, romance scams, Elderly woman holding credit card with a cell phone to her earcryptocurrency investment fraud, and imposter scams. At EverSafe, we’ve received an uptick in spoof calls in which fraudsters are tricking customers into believing they’re getting a call from their financial institution and then convincing the customer to transfer funds in order to “protect” compromised accounts. In a recent case, fraudsters actually spoofed the telephone number on the back of the victim’s bank card to impersonate the bank fraud department. This is a common scam. In order to be on the lookout, do not rely on Caller ID when it appears that your bank or a government agency may be calling. You should call your bank or the agency at their official number if you suspect there may be an issue. If you have accepted a call and are being asked for personal or financial information, hang up. Understand that instructions to act “right now” to avoid a loss or requests for remote access to your devices are telltale signs of a scam. As always, you can contact EverSafe Support at 888-575-3837 if you have concerns about fraud.
Coffee and Dementia
CAFFEINE MAY LOWER YOUR RISK
A compelling study published earlier this year looked at whether there may be an association between caffeine intake – and the risk of dementia. In this prospective cohort study conducted at Harvard, 131,821 individuals from two cohorts were followed – with up to 43 years of follow-up. 11,033 dementia cases were identified and higher caffeinated coffee intake was significantly associated with lower risk of dementia. Interestingly, decaffeinated coffee didn’t seem to have a protective effect. The study found that greater consumption of caffeine, whether coffee or tea, was associated with lower risk of dementia and modestly better cognitive function.
Dancing Her Age
“HENNY THE GRANNY” WILL AMAZE YOU
It is now well-accepted by medical experts that dancing can significantly improve our well-being as we age. Major health organizations, including the CDC and the American Heart Association, recognize that dance improves physical as well as cognitive health. We can’t think of a better example of a senior demonstrating the joy of dance than a woman who calls herself “Henny the Granny.”
The 82-year-old dances to Michael Jackson, Meaghan Trainor – and other artists on Tik Tok, Instagram, and YouTube and she has tens of thousands of viewers. Check out Henny here – she just may have you rethinking what you can do in your 80s.
