Protecting Seniors From Online Scams
Every Senior Deserves Online Safety
— A NONPROFIT INITIATIVE —
2025 FBI IC3 Elder Fraud Report: American seniors lost $7.7 billion to online fraud in 2025 — up 59% from 2024. Over 200,000 seniors filed complaints. View the full 2025 data breakdown by state and crime type.
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Investment Scams
Investment scams are the #1 financial threat to seniors. In 2025, older adults lost $3.5 billion to investment fraud — up 75% from 2024. Criminals promise high, guaranteed returns on fake opportunities, often involving cryptocurrency.
Tech Support Scams
Tech support scams are the #2 costliest fraud against seniors, with $1.04 billion in losses in 2025 and over 21,000 victims — the highest victim count of any scam category. Criminals pose as tech support agents to steal money and data.
Government Impersonation Scams
Government impersonation losses nearly doubled in 2025 — seniors lost $413 million, up 93% from 2024. Criminals pose as officials from Social Security, the IRS, or Medicare to pressure seniors into sending money or sharing personal information.
Romance Scams
Romance scams cost seniors $584 million in 2025, up 48% from 2024. Over 10,000 seniors were victimized. Criminals create fake relationships online to gain trust, then exploit victims for money — increasingly using AI-generated photos and deepfake video.
Lottery, Sweepstakes & Inheritance Scams
Seniors lost $136 million to lottery, sweepstakes, and inheritance scams in 2025, with an average loss of $49,000 per victim. Criminals claim you’ve won a prize but must pay fees or taxes first — the prize never exists, and every dollar sent is stolen.
Extortion Scams
Seniors lost $54 million to extortion in 2025, with over 9,100 victims. Criminals threaten to expose private information or fabricated images unless the victim pays — increasingly powered by AI capable of generating fake images and cloning voices.
AI-Powered Scams — A Growing Threat
Artificial intelligence is making scams harder to detect than ever. Criminals now clone voices, create deepfake videos, and write flawless phishing messages that bypass every traditional warning sign. In 2025, AI-related fraud cost seniors $352 million. Learn how each technique works and how to protect yourself.
Latest Articles
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Protecting Seniors from Online Scams: How Cybersecurity Professionals Can Help
Featured by ISC2, the world’s leading member association for cybersecurity professionals.
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Boomers are getting scammed for billions online — here’s how to break the cycle
Featured by The Hill, a top U.S. nonpartisan political website. The Hill’s coverage includes the U.S. Congress, the presidency and executive branch, and election campaigns.
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State-by-State Reporting Resources
Scammers increasingly target older adults through fake calls, emails, tech support, and even AI.
Awareness and early action are key. Learn how to recognize, report, and resist scams, and help protect your community from this rising threat.