Human Services on March 9, 2026

The Boston City Council Committee on Human Services held a hearing on March 9, 2026, focused on elder scamming and fraud protection. The meeting featured testimony from city officials including representatives from the Boston Police Department, the Age Strong Commission, and the Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing. Discussions highlighted the increasing sophistication of scams targeting seniors, including home improvement fraud, cryptocurrency scams, and impersonation tactics. The panel emphasized the importance of education, community outreach, and inter-agency collaboration to prevent fraud and assist victims. Specific concerns were raised about language barriers in immigrant communities and scams targeting veterans. The meeting also addressed challenges in recovering lost funds and the evolving threat posed by AI-enabled fraud. Councilors underscored the need for continued resource allocation and legislative support to strengthen protections for older adults in Boston.