MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – The Fairhope Police Department recently arrested a man in connection with an online scam that targeted an elderly woman, resulting in a loss of over $100,000.
Police identified the suspect as 37-year-old Kamal Hussain from Clarkston, GA. He faces charges of financial exploitation of the elderly. Investigators reported that Hussain collected the woman’s personal banking information, installed software on her devices, and used fear tactics to pressure her into compliance.
Monde Donaldson, Vice President of the Educational Foundation at the Better Business Bureau, highlighted the risks of online scams, particularly for seniors. “Older people are not isolated from technology, so if they receive a suspicious text or email, or see a pop-up alerting them of an issue with their computer, they may panic and respond without thinking,” she explained.
Donaldson emphasized that the elderly are frequent targets for various scams, including Medicare schemes and identity theft, particularly during Medicare’s open enrollment period. “Seniors often receive numerous unsolicited communications from individuals claiming to represent legitimate companies, but many of them are scams,” she added.
To protect themselves, Donaldson advised seniors to verify the legitimacy of suspicious calls or emails. “You can contact the Senior Medicare Patrol for guidance or reach out to the Better Business Bureau to confirm whether a company is legitimate,” she said.
She also warned about another dangerous scam targeting the elderly, known as the “Grandparents Scam.” In this scheme, scammers impersonate a grandchild claiming to be in legal trouble, prompting the grandparent to send money without verifying the story. “Many fall victim because they don’t check with parents or the grandchild directly before acting,” she noted.