80.3 F
The Villages
Thursday, June 8, 2023

Officials demand answers on protecting senior citizen from AI scams

Last week, Senator Rick Scott joined all members of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, in sending a letter to the Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan requesting information on the FTC’s efforts and strategies to protect older Americans from increasing threats posed by artificial intelligence (AI) related frauds and scams.

There has been an increase in cases of scammers utilizing AI to impersonate loved ones to scam people, often the elderly, out of money.

The senators wrote, “Combatting frauds and scams has been a longstanding priority for the Committee across annual hearings, the Committee’s fraud hotline, and its fraud book. You recently noted how ‘generative AI risks turbocharging fraud.’  While AI contains significant promise as an innovative technology, it can also be manipulated by malicious actors targeting vulnerable populations, particularly older Americans.”

The senators also ask the following questions:

  1. What is the FTC’s understanding of recent developments in AI-related scams?
  2. What information and data does the FTC have on the prevalence of AI-related scams and accompanying risks?
  3. What steps is the FTC taking or preparing to protect older Americans from AI-related scams?
  4. Is the FTC preparing to update its counter-scam educational and awareness materials, including the “Pass It On” campaign’s materials directly intended for older Americans, to account for the rising risks of AI-related scams? 

 Read the full letter here.

Let the Andersons keep their cross

In a Letter to the Editor, a Village of Belvedere resident contends a couple in The Villages should be allowed to keep their little white cross.

Did local media overlook the anniversary of D-Day?

A Village of Hawkins resident, in a Letter to the Editor, chides local media which did not properly mark the D-Day anniversary.

Little white cross is yard art

A Sharon Villas resident contends the little white crosses are yard art. Read his Letter to the Editor.

We moved to a retirement community not a timeshare community

In a Letter to the Editor, a Village of DeLuna resident says she moved to a retirement community, not a timeshare community.

They just want to break the rules

A Villa Berea resident, in a Letter to the Editor, contends the Villagers fighting to keep their little white cross simply want to break the rules.