Affluent Senior Citizens and Telemarketing Fraud

Abstract

Telemarketing fraud reports have profliferated to a rate never previously expected. In the age of information and technology, both profit and victims find themselves at a convenient intersection, with the industry amassing as much as $10 billion with their financiers clueless about their impact (Siesmaszko, 2018, Aziz, Bolick, Klienman, & Shadel, 2008). This paper aims to explore the most vulnerable population to these calls--senior citizens--and how they fare and choose to live post-scam. Through a methodology of both narrative interviews and thematic analysis, I sought to synthesize similarities in approaches to recuperation, if any, and allow for interviewees to tell their experiences to maximize on context and personal impact. My results shows a much more revealing truth that studies are remiss to acknowledge; those affected by fraud continue to be victims, regardless of the initial impact, and regardless of the caution now surrounding the issue; equally as important, those severely impacted never quite recover. This study affirms the necessity and importance of more protective measures desired to prevent scammers from successfully frauding their victims and to guide the less cognizant. The findings strongly recommend that doctors receive help to discern whether one of their patients holds the distinguishable characterisitcs that fraud victims possess, that legislators craft effective legislation, and that banks and credit card companies be more vigilant in their detection of exploitation.