Brains and Losses: The Bottom Line on Aging and Financial Vulnerability

(Rochester, NY) – Neuroscientists and gerontologists see evidence that people become more vulnerable to financial exploitation as they age. Con artists, fraudsters, even family, friends, and caregivers take money from seniors and abuse their trust. According to researchers, the shame of these crimes prevents victims from reporting or talking about them, creating a crucial public policy issue. Marketplace Morning Report host David Brancaccio presents immersive storytelling to explore the evidence for what doctors are calling "Age-Related Financial Vulnerability." Brains and Losses: The Bottom Line on Aging and Financial Vulnerability airs on Sunday, May 26, 2019 at 9 p.m. on AM 1370.

The Marketplace team presents stories of fraud victims and their families from across the U.S., including a 78-year-old substitute school nurse, who lost more than $230,000 in what started as a computer support scam, and mushroomed into a blizzard of gift card purchases and a bank transfer to Nepal.

This special repeats Monday, May 27 at 12 p.m. and again at 9 p.m. on AM 1370.

Photo: Host David Brancaccio
Credit: Marketplace