Elderly People Lose Savings in Black Widow Scams

Senior Citizens Can Easily Fall Victim to Classic Romance Fraud

Aug 16, 2009 Mary King

The population of elderly persons is on the rise. More than ever, older people are warned against con artists who make romantic advances in pursuit of bank savings.

Anyone can fall in love – and make a mistake. Single elderly citizens are urged to pay close attention and listen to loved ones if an opportunity for romance suddenly comes along. Caregivers are warned to be on guard for fast friendly relationships of any kind, especially if the senior family member is a widow or widower that has a bank account, credit cards, and/or assets.

Black Widow Scams are Common Among the Elderly

Black widow con artists target unsuspecting seniors, preying on those elderly persons who may be lonely, vulnerable, and who have money in the bank. The male or female con artist strikes up a friendly relationship (usually romantic) with the elderly victim and ultimately wins his confidence. The thief then convinces the senior that family caregivers are cheating the loved one out of his money and should be alienated.

Liz Pulliam Weston, contributing writer to the Web site, MSN Money, in the article, "How to Fight Off a Black Widow" (2009), explains how predators lurk where single seniors live in communities and retirement villages, pretending to want a relationship with an older attractive woman or distinguished gentleman. "But money is in fact the predator's real target. Known in retiree communities as "black widows" or "black widowers," after the mate-eating spiders, these malicious folks take control of retirees' finances or induce seniors to give them money and assets, sometimes leaving their victims penniless."

Weston goes on to report that in 2003, about 15% of the 192,243 cases of elder abuse reported in the U.S. involved financial exploitation, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse.

How Black Widow Scams Work

A black widow scam artist can be a stranger or he might even be a former acquaintance – an old classmate or colleague, for example. According to Weston's article, elder law experts say black widow thieves may take advantage of a single opportunity to get rich, or the con artist may be a repeat offender – a calculating criminal that is capable of doing anything to get the money he wants. Shown below is a general idea of how black widow thieves operate.

A stranger (or acquaintance from the past) grabs an opportunity and casually introduces himself to the elderly person. The thief might even pose as a widow or widower to hook the interest and compassion of the victim. A professional thief knows his victim's background, weaknesses, and medical ailments. He has already done his homework and he knows there is money to be had.
As the "relationship" builds, the thief offhandedly begins to ask personal questions – in a charming way, of course – about family, finances, and who manages the accounts. If there is a caregiver or family member keeping tabs on the finances, then the thief may gently suggest that it's not wise to allow someone else to be in control, and that the money is "not theirs."
The thief usually pretends to be in love. That much established, he'll do whatever it takes, claiming he has proof that the elderly person is being robbed by his/her family. He may even provide phony paperwork, fake bank statements, and he may present photos of the family shopping at the mall or supposedly spending (the victim's) money in some other lavish way.
The thief finally convinces the elderly person that he or she needs to cut ties with meddling family members. He suggests the two of them should live together as a couple.
Swayed by romance and convinced the new lover may be right, the elderly person complies. It's only a matter of time before the senior's savings and assets are depleted by the con artist. Once the money is gone, so is the thief.

When Caregivers or Family Members Suspect Elderly Exploitation or Black Widow Fraud

If exploitation is suspected, family members may consult the National Center on Elder Abuse for a listing of each state's abuse directories and hotline numbers. Provided by the NCEA Web site, information and referral is also available from the national Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging. Call toll-free 1-800-677-1116.

Romance has a way of clouding or distorting a person's judgment, no matter what the age. Family members and/or caregivers should be prepared for resistance from their aging loved one when suspicions or accusations of fraud and wrongdoing are put out in the open. If the elderly person stubbornly refuses to believe he or she is being victimized, then the family caregiver may have no recourse than to petition for conservatorship to protect the elderly loved one's money and assets. Unfortunately, this can be a rough undertaking and the court process is both lengthy and emotional.

Family members can fight back against black widows, but most are professionals at what they do. A black widow con artist may be very hard to expose until caught red-handed. Senior citizens, family, friends, and caregivers are urged to watch for clues that may point to a black widow scam and report concerns immediately before it's too late.

The copyright of the article Elderly People Lose Savings in Black Widow Scams in Caregiver Support is owned by Mary King. Permission to republish Elderly People Lose Savings in Black Widow Scams in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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