Brains and Losses
David Brancaccio explores new research on how the aging brain may become more susceptible to financial scams.
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Brains and Losses
Age of fraud: Are seniors more vulnerable to financial scams?
Changes to the brain make seniors prime targets for financial fraud.

From This Collection
How to protect yourself from scams ... according to a former scammer
by
David Brancaccio
, Rose Conlon
and Daniel Shin
Sep 4, 2019
Author Frank Abagnale, a former con man and subject of the 2002 Steven Spielberg movie "Catch Me If You Can," explains there are a few common red flags to help you determine if the person calling you is a scammer.
Brains and Losses: Part VI
by
David Brancaccio
, Sasa Woodruff
, Eliza Mills
and Daniel Shin
May 24, 2019
Scammers are not always a faceless voice on the phone.
Brains and Losses: Part V
by
David Brancaccio
, Sasa Woodruff
, Eliza Mills
and Daniel Shin
May 23, 2019
Suspicious or unusual bank activity can often signal a scam; but should a teller be able to monitor a long-time account holder’s ledger activity to flag a possible scam?
Brains and Losses: Part IV
by
David Brancaccio
, Sasa Woodruff
, Eliza Mills
and Daniel Shin
May 22, 2019
Financial scammers are part of coordinated efforts to target victims. The Federal Trade Commission took in more than a half a million complaints of imposter scams alone in 2018. But finding and convicting perpetrators is rare. Marketplace Morning Report’s David Brancaccio looks at what federal regulators are doing to target scammers. Brains and Losses: […]
Brains and Losses: Part III
by
David Brancaccio
, Sasa Woodruff
, Eliza Mills
and Daniel Shin
May 21, 2019
What changes to the brain might make a person more vulnerable to financial scams?
Brains and Losses: Part II
by
David Brancaccio
, Sasa Woodruff
, Eliza Mills
and Daniel Shin
May 20, 2019
What happens when you're scammed out of almost $200,000?
Where to find more information on elder financial vulnerability
by
Eliza Mills
and Sasa Woodruff
May 17, 2019
Here are some reputable sources for preventing and reporting scams.
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Brains and Losses: Part I
by
David Brancaccio
, Sasa Woodruff
, Eliza Mills
and Daniel Shin
May 17, 2019
Experts say it’s time for a national conversation about protecting seniors from scams.
The top financial scams of 2018
May 16, 2019
Billions of dollars are lost every year. Here’s what to look out for.
Scammers target seniors—here’s how to talk about it
by
Eliza Mills
May 16, 2019
Four questions to help you start the conversation.