Accumulated savings
Older adults are more likely to have retirement savings, property equity, or investments — making them higher-value targets for fraudsters.
About ScamFisher
We exist because scammers are relentless — and because a little knowledge is one of the most powerful protections there is.
About David Merkel
David holds a dual MBA/MPP from MIT Sloan and Harvard Kennedy School, where his capstone research examined financial scams targeting older Americans — and what actually works in helping people avoid them.
That research kept pointing to the same gap: the problem wasn't that older adults were careless. It was that the scams had become genuinely sophisticated, and the available education hadn't kept up. Most resources were either too technical, too generic, or too easy to ignore.
ScamFisher is his attempt to close that gap — practical, accessible sessions built around how scams actually work today, taught at your pace and without jargon.
Why older adults are targeted
Scammers are strategic. Understanding their reasoning takes away the shame and puts the focus where it belongs — on them.
Polite and trusting
Scammers exploit social norms. Many older adults were raised to be polite to strangers, making it harder to hang up on a seemingly distressed caller.
Less familiar with new tactics
Phishing emails, fake tech-support pop-ups, and AI-generated voice calls are relatively new. Scammers know who has had the least exposure to them.
AI and voice cloning
Scammers now use AI to clone the voices of family members or impersonate officials with unsettling accuracy. These tools have made fraud harder to detect — for anyone, regardless of age.
💙 We've all clicked on something we shouldn't have
These tactics work because they are designed by professionals to work. Our sessions build real defenses — no blame, no shame, just practical skills that make a difference.