The Brian Lehrer Show Protecting Aging Relatives from Scams
Mar 19, 2026
Paulette Perhach, freelance writer and writing coach who reported for the New York Times on elder fraud prevention. She discusses why older adults are targeted and how AI deepfakes and impersonation make scams more convincing. Practical topics include check-fraud, QR and traffic-ticket cons, grandchild impostor scams, family verification codes, and resources like the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
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AI Breaks Trust In Familiar Faces
- AI and deepfakes are eroding transferred trust in familiar voices and faces.
- Paulette Perhach warns that seeing Anderson Cooper or a loved one in a video no longer guarantees authenticity.
Check Fraud Scam Where Victim Forwards Money
- A woman brought her daughter a legitimate-looking check and was told to deposit it then send a smaller money order to a third party.
- Perhach describes this common check fraud scam that instructs victims to forward funds after deposit.
Grandchild In Trouble Scam Uses Repeated Lawyer Story
- Callers described the classic “grandchild in trouble” scam where a supposed grandson needs bail money and mentions a recurring lawyer named Mr. Green.
- Listener Jay in Yonkers recounted repeated calls using the same lawyer name to pressure elders.