SCAMS
Vulnerability, Outrage, and the Emotional Cost of Exploitation
Scams don’t just steal money—they erode trust, dignity, and emotional safety. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how aging increases vulnerability, why systemic protections fall short, and how outrage can fuel advocacy and healing.
What is it about aging that makes one such a lovely target for scammers? What is it about our government that tolerates these invasions? Our government knows where most of these originate. They probably have eyes on the call centers themselves and surely the technology to block these ugly scams.
Scammers target the older population with great frequency. One of my relatives had her bank account wiped out. I recently almost fell into the whole myself when a potential “client” wanted to send me a hefty sum for treatment in advance, if I would only give them my bank account number and routing number. Who do you know who has been fooled by the “grandson in trouble” call?
Why do we have to put up with these evils? I know we have “do not call lists,” but honestly, we have been on that list for decades, and the number of calls flowing into the house has not decreased. We can build telescopes that circle the globe for decades. We can send people to the moon. We can support a space station for over a quarter of a century. Don’t tell me that we cannot protect our aging population from these predators.
The Federal Trade Commission statistics from 2024 state that Americans lost 12.5 billion dollars to scammers in 2024. They say this is a 25% increase over last year. Really! Last year!
We can develop weapons that wipe out populations in an instant. We can circle space until we are blue in the face. We cannot protect our population from idiots. What are we thinking? Why are we spending money on protective military domes when we cannot protect our hard-working citizens from being impoverished in a second by a scammer?
Who is working on stopping the travesty? Why should our elderly, who have worked and saved and contributed to our well-being, end up in this position of vulnerability?
You know, many people like to play tricks on their peers. Who hasn’t experienced being short-sheeted in an overnight or camping experience? Why do they still sell so many “whoopee cushions”? Who hasn’t seen the explosive Mentos and Diet Coke gag? We love to play pranks on each other.
Why are we tolerating the systematic destruction of security established by hard-working citizens who built the country that we enjoy? Why is my government more interested in an invisible dome than the security blanket we have worked hard for?
Want to explore how scams affect emotional health and why older adults are targeted? Visit Verywell Mind’s guide to emotional recovery after scams, AARP’s reflections on mental health and fraud, and BeScamAware’s support for scam victims.
If you’re reflecting on vulnerability, outrage, or emotional recovery, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support healing, resilience, and advocacy.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst
