How many times have you heard this story: an older person, usually cautious in life, has somehow been conned into sending money to some far-flung place. Maybe it’s even happened to you or your loved ones. How to explain this vulnerability to being scammed in otherwise smart, careful people? Well, a new study suggests that changes in the brain due to aging may be one factor. Research published in The Journals of Gerontology reveals that as we age, brain changes in the part of the brain that helps us determine whether to trust someone leave us less capable of discerning bad motives, even in people we know. Read more about this research Here.

And if that scam occurs? What’s the best way to respond? Over at Next Avenue, the advice is clear: Trust your instinct and if you feel something sinister is going on, get involved and report it. For example, the IRS has a website where you can report impersonation scams and there are evenservices now to help you avoid some of those unwanted robocalls. Finally, at Daily Caring, read about the top 3 frauds according to the FBI and what you can do to protect yourself. The bottom line? Since over 1/2 of US fraud victims are over 70, a large portion of the population is in the targeted demographic. So be aware and alert.