Elderly Dementia Patients Targeted by Political Fundraisers, Donating Millions

Oct 22, 2024, 01:43 PM

A recent investigation has revealed that elderly dementia patients are being targeted by political fundraisers, resulting in millions of dollars in donations. Organizations like WinRed and ActBlue have been implicated in these practices, with some elderly individuals unwittingly giving away their life savings. One notable case involved an 82-year-old woman who donated over $350,000 to Republican campaigns while living in a modest Baltimore condo. CNN's investigation sampled 50 individuals who collectively donated $6 million. The exploitative tactics include auto-renew and elder fraud, with some elderly donors giving away six-figure sums. There are increasing calls for legislative reforms to address these practices, including making pre-checked recurring donation boxes illegal.