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County outreach specialist urges Encinitas seniors to report scams, use local supports
Summary
An outreach specialist from San Diego County told the Encinitas Senior Citizens Commission that scammers increasingly use technology and teams to target older adults and urged reporting to local law enforcement, Adult Protective Services and the FBI’s IC3 portal; he also highlighted local resources including a free county Owner Alert title protection program and a county call center (1-800-339-4661).
Jonathan Tag, an outreach and education specialist with Aging and Independent Services for San Diego County, told the Encinitas Senior Citizens Commission that scams remain a significant threat to older residents and are growing more sophisticated.
"Scams and fraud and financial abuse is something that still... faces our San Diego community," Tag said, explaining that scammers exploit isolation, cognitive decline and trust among older adults and often operate in teams that separate grooming, executing and money collection.
Tag described common tactics — spoofed caller ID, online phishing, and personal-text schemes — and urged immediate reporting as the first line of defense. He advised residents to report suspected fraud to local law enforcement, Adult Protective Services (APS), financial institutions and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov. He also encouraged use of the county’s resources and partnerships, including Senior Tech Connect for no-cost tech help and a county call center for aging and disability services at 1-800-339-4661.
Tag highlighted the Elder Justice Task Force in San Diego County, which he said brings together Aging and Independent Services, Adult Protective Services, the FBI, the district attorney’s office and the U.S. attorney’s office to pursue recovery for elder-fraud victims and share case information.
During a commissioner question-and-answer period, Tag described a county Owner Alert Program run through the County Clerk/Assessor/Recorder that can notify homeowners by email if a document affecting their property record is filed; he said the service is free and can protect paid-off homeowners from title fraud. He also advised residents to keep devices updated, review privacy settings, and report suspicious contact so authorities can detect and deter repeat schemes.
The commission followed the presentation with questions about local tech-assistance partnerships and outreach ideas. Tag suggested community "scam jam" events and local partnerships (libraries, schools and volunteers) to offer hands-on help for seniors who need assistance updating devices or privacy settings.
The presentation closed with staff and commissioners noting resources they can share with residents and with a summary request for the county to provide flyers and contact information for local events and assistance.
