Fraud victimization across the lifespan: evidence on repeat victimization using perpetrator data

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Criminology
• Sociology

Background:

• Older adults are often perceived as more vulnerable to scams.
• Underreporting limits understanding of age-related scam victimization.
• Scammer data offers a novel approach to studying victimization patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between chronological age and scam victimization.
• To examine the risk of repeat victimization across the life course.
• To analyze the likelihood of victimization by multiple scam types based on age.

Main Methods:

• Utilized four merged longitudinal databases of American adults (N=1.33 million).
• Analyzed data from individuals who paid money in response to mail scams over a 20-year period.
• Controlled for underreporting bias by using scammer-reported data.

Main Results:

• Victims in their 70s and 80s were 9% more likely to be repeat victims compared to those in their 50s.
• Young adults (18-29) were 24% less likely to experience repeat victimization.
• Older adults (60s and 70s) had higher odds of multiple scam victimization, while those 80+ had lower odds compared to those in their 50s.

Conclusions:

• Age is a significant factor in scam victimization, particularly repeat victimization.
• Fraud prevention strategies should be tailored to protect older adults at higher risk.
• Scammer data provides valuable insights into victimization trends and demographics.