This Thursday is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and AARP Maryland observes its annual PROTECT Week with a focus on elder financial abuse.

The FBI reported last year 88,000 people over age 60 were scammed out of more than $3 billion, an 84% increase over the prior year. More than 1,700 of the fraud victims were in Maryland.

Scams originating by email are common, and while people may be wary of an unsolicited email from a bank, they may drop their guard if they get a fake offer of a free gift from a business.

Karen Morgan, executive council member of AARP Maryland, said scammers often attempt to activate emotions.

"Scammers never appeal to your intellect," Morgan pointed out. "What they want to do is get you excited, and we call it putting people 'under the ether.' So, the idea is to get you really excited, really panicked, really upset, just really something, in some sort of heightened emotional state, so that you stop analyzing what's going on."

AARP Maryland will host a number of in-person and online events this week, including free document shredding at six locations around the state. Learn more online at AARP.org/MD.

AARP Maryland reminded people the source of financial abuse does not have to be a stranger. Loved ones or friends can take advantage of an older person as well.

Warning signs to look out for include caregivers or family members who ask for access to financial accounts, as well the appearance of new credit cards or unopened bank statements.

Morgan noted one scam becoming more common is known as "check washing," in which scammers use chemicals to erase the ink on a check and then change the amount or the payee.

"Lately, we've been hearing a lot about check washing, and why that's an issue for those of us who are older, is because we're more likely to use checks, and we rely on that as a way to do business," Morgan explained. "That's become more unreliable these days."

She added one way to reduce the likelihood of check washing is to use gel ink. The liquid ink soaks into the fibers of the check paper and is harder to remove.

Morgan added veterans, active-duty military and their family members need to be extra vigilant, as some crooks target them specifically.

"They're away, they're at remote locations, they're also moving around, which makes them somewhat more susceptible to fraud than the typical population," Morgan emphasized. "Because they're changing addresses, they're forwarding mail, they're getting information from maybe unknown sources that are presenting as federal or military."

The Social Security Administration is standing down on implementing a plan which would have dramatically affected how recipients can access critical benefits and receive information they need.

AARP Iowa has been pushing back on the plan, reminding lawmakers in Congress that thousands of Iowans rely on Social Security and need to be able to access their benefits and receive timely customer service.

Michael Wagler, AARP Iowa state director, said his organization is working to make sure older Iowans continue to get the information they need. He said while it is good news the agency has stopped the proposed changes, doing so adds to the uncertainty around restructuring plans including staff reductions, office closures and other changes.

"There was already a crisis of customer service happening related to long hold times, and low staffing, delayed call back systems, confused announcements offices closing different things that are happening at a pace we just can't prepare for," Wagler explained.

The proposed changes were scheduled to take effect in less than a week but the agency announced all claims will still be allowed to be processed over the phone, at least for now.

The latest data show more than 687,000 Iowans receive a total of $1.2 billion a year in Social Security benefits.

Beyond the logistic challenges, Wagler pointed out uncertainty and confusion also create opportunities for criminals.

"We are also concerned that the change to phone services and other changes that are also happening on a daily basis will lead to scammers using the confusion that the agency has created around this rollout to exploit and prey on Iowans," Wagler noted. "While this announcement's aim was the idea that it was to combat fraud, we are also concerned that this will have the opposite effect."

AARP said its members have sent more than 1 million emails and calls to Congress in recent weeks to push back on the proposed changes and their negative effects on customer service for the 69 million older Americans who rely on Social Security.

In less than a week, many Wisconsinites will be unable to apply for Social Security benefits over the phone, which could lead to potential disruptions and challenges for millions as the nationwide change takes effect.

Starting April 14, seniors applying for retirement benefits or making direct deposit changes must do so online or in-person at a Social Security Administration office as part of a new identity verification process. The change comes in haste from the White House amid massive federal budget cuts which have already trimmed staff and resources at the agency.

Jim Flaherty, communications director for AARP Wisconsin, said calls to AARP's national call center have more than doubled in the last two months.

"They're concerned, and they're confused," Flaherty observed. "It is up to our President and our Congress to work in a bipartisan manner; this is not a partisan issue. They need to work together to make sure that this program remains strong and solvent for current and future generations."

People can qualify for Social Security benefits through retirement, disability or as a family member of someone who is eligible. More than 1.3 million Wisconsinites receive Social Security benefits. For now, those applying for disability, SSI and Medicare can continue to do so by phone.

There is also confusion about Social Security Administration office closures, which the agency said have been falsely reported but cuts to resources and services disproportionately affect rural and tribal communities. About one in five Wisconsinites would have to drive at least 46 miles from their home to the nearest Social Security office, while nearly half would have to drive at least 23 miles, according to the Urban Institute.

Flaherty emphasized for some, it is more than an inconvenience.

"For a lot of folks, Social Security makes up the majority of their retirement income," Flaherty pointed out. "Cuts to the program and services could be devastating for them. These are folks who are struggling to just to pay their rent or mortgage and put food on the table."

While the Trump Administration has said it will protect Social Security and changes are meant to address fraud and increase efficiency, Flaherty added people are understandably anxious about what could happen next.

"This is a very tough and serious situation that we want folks to be aware of," Flaherty stressed. "This is the time to call your members of Congress and say, 'Hey, you've got to do something before this April 14th deadline to extend this,' because it would be devastating for so many folks."

A bill in the Maryland General Assembly would regulate cryptocurrency kiosks, the more than 700 ATM-like machines for virtual currencies around the state.

The FBI received more than 4,400 complaints about the kiosks in 2023, according to a report on cryptocurrency scams. Nearly 60% of complaints came from people over the age of 60.

The legislation would establish registration and operating requirements for the kiosks in the state, enforced by the Commissioner for Financial Regulation.

Tammy Bresnahan, senior director of advocacy for AARP Maryland, said crypto kiosks have become a new way for scammers to target people.

"These kiosks have become a haven for scammers to call people to say, 'There's a problem with your account. You need to take money -- $4,500 in cash -- and deposit it into this nearby cryptocurrency kiosk because your account has been compromised,'" Bresnahan explained.

The total losses from cryptocurrency kiosks in 2023 exceeded $150 million.

The FBI advised no legitimate law enforcement or government agency would call or message demanding payment with a cryptocurrency. Bresnahan pointed out one of the issues with kiosks is they are not required to provide a user a receipt for their transaction, making them hard to track.

"Operators must clearly disclose transaction fees and exchange rates," Bresnahan urged. "And there has to be some kind of receipt. It doesn't have to be a printed receipt, but it has to be some kind of detailed receipt, whether it's on the system or whether it comes out printed. Because, right now, when you put money in there, you don't get anything."

Other states, like Minnesota and Vermont, have already passed legislation regulating virtual currency kiosks.