‘Old, lonely and isolated’: Campaign ads pressured 52 seniors into donating over $6m to Republicans and Democrats. How to avoid becoming another easy target

“He was old, lonely and isolated,” Jason Benjamin said, pointing to reasons his father might have been swayed to donate beyond his means. According to CNN, political campaigns often use psychological tactics to engage vulnerable individuals, leading to a series of small donations that quickly add up to large sums.

The younger Benjamin said that his father was inundated with messages urging him to “Save America,” with assurances that the Mar-a-Lago invitation was a gesture of appreciation. These tactics, while easily ignored by most, can be persuasive to older adults who may be isolated or struggling with cognitive decline. Forensic geriatrician Kathryn Locatell told CNN that some individuals become almost addicted to the sense of purpose such communications provide.

Campaign fundraisers also use deceptive language in their messaging to trick the elderly into thinking they’re speaking with those campaigning. “He really, in his heart, believed that Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr. and other politicians were personally reaching out to him,” Jason Benjamin said.

Now in an assisted living facility, Richard Benjamin sometimes grows confused, once telling his son that Donald Trump Jr. had stopped returning his calls, despite the messages he’d previously received. His experience, however, is far from unique.

Senior donations expose larger problem

Richard Benjamin’s story highlights a broader trend affecting both Republican and Democratic donors, as revealed by CNN. The investigation documented 52 seniors who had donated large sums, totalling $6 million. Many of these donations were made while donors were experiencing cognitive decline, according to family members.

An 80-year-old retired communications engineer, known for his frugal lifestyle, donated $450,000 to Republican campaigns. When his son found out, he managed to recoup $151,000 after his father was diagnosed with dementia.

Other stories include a 78-year-old widow who unknowingly contributed $200,000 to Democratic campaigns, leaving herself with mounting financial burdens, and an 80-year-old Taiwanese immigrant who donated $180,000 to Trump’s campaign, passing away with only $250 in her bank account.

The mechanics of small donations

These substantial contributions often result from a series of small, automatic payments. Both Republican and Democratic donation forms typically default to a “weekly contribution” setting, which donors must actively deselect.

Once someone donates, their information may be shared with other fundraising campaigns, resulting in a relentless flow of requests. One message from Trump’s fundraising team read, “I truly mean this: you’re worth far more than hundreds of millions of dollars to me”.

Protecting seniors from over-donating

To help prevent unwanted recurring donations, check whether a campaign’s donation is set to one-time or ongoing. Setting up credit card alerts for each charge can also help monitor spending. For families caring for older adults, it’s worth having open discussions about finances, as many of them may be unaware of recurring deductions on their accounts.

Encourage your older family members to check their bank and credit card statements, and if they can’t, seek help if needed. Many of the victims in the CNN investigation had never been politically active before making large donations, underscoring that no one is immune to elder abuse.