ALPENA — The University of Michigan surveyed 551 Michiganders aged 50 to 80 and found that 69% of them experienced scam attempts online or via phone call, text, email, or mail within the past two years.

Thirty-one percent reported experiencing fraud within the past two years, which includes activities such as a credit card or bank account being compromised, other accounts being hacked, losing money, or having their identity stolen.

Jeffrey Kullgren, an associate professor at U-of-M’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation and director of both polls, found the poll results alarming.

“These findings about older Michiganders and scams, and our related national findings, suggest a real need for awareness and action by older adults, their loved ones, and policymakers,” Kullgren said.

According to the Michigan poll, older Michiganders with a health condition or disability that limits their activities were nearly three times more likely to say they had an account hacked by a scammer than those without those limitations.

In all, 62% of the older Michigan adults surveyed expressed uncertainty about their ability to spot scams.

The Michigan Attorney General’s Office provides consumer alerts to inform the public of any deceptive practices.

A page on that office’s website lists 42 different scams that consumers may see online, on the phone, or through mail.

“Phishing attempts happen both by email and text and target everyone,” the website says. “No one is immune. Even staff within the Department of Attorney General are regularly subjected to a variety of phishing email scams. Phishing emails and texts use believable stories or connections to engage the recipient and trigger a quick response. The goal is to obtain financial or personal information to commit fraud.”

The list goes through other scams such as fake checks, family emergencies, and more, along with instructions on what to do if anyone believes they have become a victim of a particular scam.

According to the U-of-M poll, Michiganders who said they were familiar with community resources for older adults were more likely to say they felt confident that they could identify a scam.

To find consumer alerts, visit michigan.gov/ag/consumer-protection/consumer-alerts.