These under-the-radar risk factors may explain why some older people are more vulnerable to scams

These under-the-radar risk factors may explain why some older people are more vulnerable to scams These under-the-radar risk factors may explain why some older people are more vulnerable to scams Criminals use sophisticated techniques to form deep emotional attachments to their victims Our everyday health can make us more or less vulnerable to scams. /iStock You’ve probably heard that scammers target older people. That’s where the money is. Their bulging portfolios aren’t the only attraction.

Many seniors experience loneliness and cognitive decline. As their social network shrinks, they may have fewer friends around to help them ward off criminals. Copyright ©2026 MarketWatch, Inc.

All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8 From $6 eggs to $50,000 cars, these charts show how inflation has defined the past 5 years Trump’s ban on Canadian alcohol starts Tuesday, but these well-known brands will avoid it Tesla’s stock falls as launch of Semi truck fails to excite investors What's next for SpaceX as more shares enter the market and capex jumps I’m 77, pay rent and live off Social Security, but I help homeless people. Why are so many people going hungry? Morey Stettner is a personal-finance columnist for MarketWatch.

He is the author of "Skills for New Managers” (McGraw-Hill) and other books. Intraday Data provided by FACTSET and subject to terms of use. Historical and current end-of-day data provided by FACTSET.

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