The Scam Files is a weekly documentary series about the scams targeting older Americans right now – and the simple plan that stops each one.
Every episode is a “case file”. We reconstruct one scam step by step, slow it down, name each trick, and end with a short defense plan and the real phone numbers to call. Our promise: you’ll never be caught off guard.
Where our facts come from
Every statistic in an episode comes from an official source – the FTC, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the Social Security Office of the Inspector General, federal prosecutors, AARP – and the source is shown on screen and linked on each episode page.
How we make the episodes
We want you to recognize a scam the way it really arrives, so we show it. The characters (Eleanor, Walter, Chloe and others) are composite characters, and the scenes are dramatized reenactments created with AI video tools, based only on methods documented in real cases. Our host is an AI presenter, not a real investigator, and never claims credentials. Every video is labeled “Dramatization” and carries YouTube’s altered-content disclosure.
The Scam Files provides general safety education. It is not financial or legal advice. If you have lost money, contact your bank and the agencies listed on the free kit right away.