AG Platkin: “Everyone is at risk” of fraud

With criminals constantly inventing new and more sophisticated schemes to steal money, everyone is at risk of fraud, says New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin (D). The Bulletin spoke with Platkin ahead of AARP New Jersey’s annual fraud summit—to be held on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

Platkin, 37, is working with AARP New Jersey to raise awareness about scams. New Jersey consumers lost $263 million to fraud in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission. This transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Who is at risk of being targeted by scammers?

Frankly, everyone is at risk.... According to the FTC, in 2023 adults that were aged 20 [through] 29 reported losing money to fraud more often than older adults.... For adults 70 and older, they’re less likely to report fraud, and their frauds tend to incur larger losses than younger victims. So it’s really important that people of all age groups ... understand the risks.

Have you or a family member ever been targeted by a scam?

I’ve certainly been targeted many times. There was one case maybe a year or so ago, where even I was wondering, Was this my financial institution reaching out to me? ... They had information about me that made it seem like it was legitimate.... But fortunately, I knew what to do, which is report the [incident].

Do we know why older adults tend to be targeted?

Several reasons. First, they tend to have more substantial assets, whether it be their nest egg or their homes.... And as I mentioned, they’re less likely to report being scammed, often for fear of losing independence or being embarrassed. But there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We all fall victim to these scams at times, and it’s really important to report them.

What are some of the big scams in New Jersey that target older adults?

There are so many.... There’s a so-called grandparent scam, where scammers reach out claiming to be a family member, usually a grandchild. And they state that they’re in immediate financial need.... There are also tech-support scams. This is when scammers will act as an IT representative.... They might ask you to call up a phony support number or a pop-up [window] might appear on your computer which contains malware....

Another common scam is the lottery fraud. Scammers will often tell you that you won a foreign lottery or sweepstakes, which you can only collect after you pay certain fees or taxes.... There are romance scams, when scammers take advantage of people through dating websites or social media. [They claim] they have really strong feelings for you, and then they’ll ask you for money or gifts or personal information.

What are some new types of scams to be aware of?

Artificial intelligence is a big emerging threat in the scam context. You only need about three seconds of someone’s voice to create a fake audio recording from someone ... whether it be pretending to be a victim’s friend, or a family member, asking for money in their own voice. You see deep fakes of celebrities trying to trick victims into the idea that they’re investing in a credible product or good company.

What are some ways your office is fighting fraud?

We seek to ensure that those who commit fraud are held accountable, and that they can’t keep the profits from those frauds. Instead we can provide those funds back to our victims.... We recently obtained a six-year state prison sentence for a resident of Camden County who was convicted in a transnational fraud that used multiple schemes to defraud three individuals of $1.5 million. One woman, tragically, a California woman, drained her entire retirement savings and investment account to support a fraudulent long-distance romantic relationship with a person that didn’t exist. The perpetrator of that has now been caught and held accountable. ...

Our Division of Consumer Affairs has made educating [the public] against scams a primary goal, and we do this through literally hundreds of community outreach programs each year as well through online educational materials and fraud alerts.

How is AARP helping in your efforts to fight fraud?

The best defense against scams is knowing how to recognize and stop them and how to report them.... And I would argue that nobody has a broader reach into this community than AARP does.... Helping to inform our residents about the latest frauds and scams is really critical. And so I’m very grateful for the partnership.

What advice or tips can you share with older adults to avoid fraud/scams?

If you see something that says you must act right away, or ... that somebody immediately needs help, that’s a red flag. Because that’s not typically how [legitimate] requests would come to you. Similarly, when you’re visiting websites, check that they’re legitimate. Make sure the names are spelled properly in the URL and that they’re not are fake websites.

A lot of the scams include fake charities, so make sure you investigate before you donate.... You can check our website to learn about whether a specific charity is registered.... You can call our hotline at 973-504-6215.

Learn more about fraud:

• AARP’s New Jersey annual fraud summit: In-person event on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at the Pines Manor in Edison, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The summit will include panels with law enforcement officials and a keynote address by AARP Director of Fraud Prevention Kathy Stokes. For details and to register, see states.aarp.org/new-jersey/events-nj.
• AARP New Jersey fraud webinars: Join on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at noon and 7 p.m. to learn about imposter scams, or Wednesday, Nov. 13, at noon and 7 p.m. to learn about identity theft. Find more at states.aarp.org/new-jersey/events-nj.
• AARP Fraud Watch Network: Learn how to spot scams and get tips to protect yourself at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or speak to a fraud specialist at 1-877-908-3360.

How to report fraud
If you or a family member has been a victim of fraud, call the police. You may also call:

• The New Jersey Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs: njconsumeraffairs.gov or 1-800-242-5846.
• The Federal Trade Commission: reportfraud.ftc.gov or 877-382-4357

Michelle Crouch is a North Carolina- based journalist who covers health care and consumer issues. She has written for the Bulletin for 10 years.

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