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Boston council committee hears officials’ warnings on contractor, cryptocurrency and AI-driven scams targeting seniors
Summary
Boston City Council’s Committee on Human Services on March 9, 2026, heard from Age Strong, the Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing, and Boston Police about rising scams that target older residents — from contractor fraud to crypto ATM schemes and AI-enabled impersonation — and a victim’s account of $10,000 identity theft.
Boston City Council’s Committee on Human Services convened March 9, 2026, to examine elder scamming and fraud prevention, hearing testimony from Age Strong, the Mayor’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing, and the Boston Police Department about outreach, casework and emerging threats.
In opening remarks, Councilor Erin Murphy (chair) said the hearing was intended to “prevent, educate residents, and respond to these crimes,” and she asked city agencies about ways to strengthen coordination and outreach to protect older Bostonians.
Councilor Michael Flynn said the Boston Police issued a community alert in September 2025 about home-improvement fraud and that some seniors have paid “upwards of $20,000 to $30,000” for work that left them worse off. He cited a federal estimate of more than $3,000,000,000 in losses to seniors nationwide.
Emily Shea, commissioner of the Age Strong Commission, described education programs and partnerships the city uses to reach older residents: community…
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