Boston council committee hears city response to rising scams targeting older residents

The City Council Committee on Strong Women, Families, and Communities held a hearing on Feb. 13 to examine scams targeting older Boston residents and the city’s efforts to prevent and respond to them. Panelists from the Mayor’s Office of Consumer Affairs, the Age Strong Commission, the Boston Police Department and private partners including AT&T described outreach programs, law-enforcement analysis of trends and available resources for victims.

Boston police intelligence official Deputy Superintendent Gerald Cahill told the committee, “In 2024 alone, fraud reported by elders in Boston resulted in over $12,000,000 in loss to them.” The hearing brought officials together to explain how cases are reported and handled, to describe prevention work in neighborhood senior centers and to discuss new scams tied to cryptocurrencies and evolving technologies.

Committee Chair Councilor Murphy said the hearing was intended to raise awareness and make practical resources easier to find for older residents and their families. The discussion focused on four areas: how scams are reported and mediated, community education and language access, law-enforcement investigation and recovery, and private-sector prevention programs.

Sebastian LaChance, consumer advocate at the Mayor’s Office of Consumer Affairs, said the city’s office works with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and uses mediation to resolve many complaints. “We specifically work…