I just read another article about Nigerian scams. We've all heard about lots of different scams. We've all gotten the phone calls and e-mails. We hear stories about friends, relatives and strangers who took the bait, in spite of the obvious (to us) red flags. It's easy to say the victims are just plain stupid.
But stupid people exist in all age groups. Why do seniors seem especially prone to being taken by these scams?
Let's leave out dementia for this discussion. I've heard so many victims described as without a trace of dementia but "just too trusting." I've also heard it said that "old people are more trusting."
People of my parents' generation survived a depression and a world war. They must have developed pretty good survival skills, and gathered a lot of experience. I doubt they were any more gullible or trusting than younger people are today.
So why do they start trusting Nigerian princes and door-to-door salesmen when they get old?
But stupid people exist in all age groups. Why do seniors seem especially prone to being taken by these scams?
Let's leave out dementia for this discussion. I've heard so many victims described as without a trace of dementia but "just too trusting." I've also heard it said that "old people are more trusting."
People of my parents' generation survived a depression and a world war. They must have developed pretty good survival skills, and gathered a lot of experience. I doubt they were any more gullible or trusting than younger people are today.
So why do they start trusting Nigerian princes and door-to-door salesmen when they get old?