Romance Scams: What you need to know

08/10/21 • 46 min

This Week on Sage Aging

Online dating has been a staple for a really long time, but it's become even more popular since COVID has put us in a position where we needed to stay home more. A lot of people have turned to the internet to the internet looking to meet some new people. I think that's something we can all relate to.

The pandemic magnified loneliness and isolation, especially for older adults and caregivers. It's a situation ripe for bad actors to build relationships online with unsuspecting people. We're in a situation that is ideal for romance scammers who want to take advantage of us. We all think romance scams and other fraudulent acts happen to someone else, but unfortunately, nobody is immune and we should all be on guard.

If you want to know what to look for, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you are a victim, this episode is for you.

My Guest

My guest for this episode is Kim Casci-Palangio. Kim is the Program Managing Director for the Cyber Crime Support Network. You might remember we had Kim's colleague Mark Batchelor with us back in episode 28 of season one. Cybercrime Support Network is definitely something you'll want to learn more about. So go back to that episode, if you haven't heard it or see the blog post here.

What We Covered

We covered sooo much in this episode. What do scammers look for? How do they identify and befriend targets? What are the red flags to look for in your loved one and what should you do if you or your loved one are victimized? Where can you find support for recovery? This episode is worth listening to!

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This Week on Sage Aging

If you want to know what to look for, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you are a victim, this episode is for you.

My Guest

What We Covered

Thanks for Listening!

Are You Receiving Our Weekly Newsletter?

Previous Episode

Let's Talk About Ageism

This week on Sage Aging

Ageism exists for people of all ages and the best way to combat it is to talk about it. Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten what you went in there for? Maybe you chalked it up to a "senior moment." Have you ever been to a restaurant where the server, who is much younger than you, speaks to you as if you are a young child and calls you sweetie or pumpkin? Similarly, perhaps you've told someone "you look good for your age."

All of these scenarios have one thing in common. They're all examples of ageism. Ageism is something most people experience at one point or another. As a matter of fact, if you take a close look at your own life, you've likely experienced ageism. You may have been guilty of ageist behaviors yourself.

Join me and Dr. Kathy Black as we talk about Ageism and how we can help combat it.

My Guest

Dr. Kathy Black joined me for this discussion about ageism. If you've been listening to the podcast from the beginning, that name should sound familiar. Kathy was the second-ever guest on the Sage Aging podcast (Here is our conversation about social isolation). Not only is Dr. Black someone I'm honored to call my friend, but she's an accomplished expert in the field of aging. As a Professor of Aging Studies and Social Work at the University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee campus, Kathy has led many a discussion about ageism.

Learn more about Dr. Kathy Black.

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Next Episode

Caregiver Grief & Loss

In This Episode

Caregiver grief and stress often manifest in ways that are mistaken for other things. What looks like a bad attitude, anger, or indifference could actually be unrecognized grief. We generally associate grief with death but any kind of loss, including the loss of life as you knew it and can trigger grief.

My Guest

My guest for this episode is Lisa Michelle Zega of LegitYou I invited her to join me for a conversation about grief because I relate to her unique perspective about it and I think you will too. I promise this conversation will make you think and it may even give you an "aha moment" or two.