Senior Scam Prevention & Fraud Resources in Florida

I. Overview: Florida’s Senior Population & Key Cities

State of Florida

Florida has long been recognized as a retirement destination — and the numbers reflect it. As of 2024, Florida’s population is approximately 23.1 million, and more than 4.9 million residents are aged 65 and older, making up 21.2% of the state’s population — the highest percentage of seniors in the U.S.

This concentration of older adults makes Florida a prime target for scammers and cybercriminals who exploit trust, loneliness, and unfamiliarity with digital threats. Awareness and prevention are crucial across the state, especially in major population centers:

  • Jacksonville (approx. 1.0 million people)
  • Miami (approx. 450,000 city population; over 6 million in the metro area)
  • Tampa (approx. 400,000 city population; 3 million in metro area)

These cities are home to large numbers of seniors and frequent fraud activity, including tech support scams, investment fraud, romance scams, and Medicare phishing attempts.

II. 2024 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Florida’s Seniors

In 2024, Florida had 11,902 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $388,436,198.

Loss by Crime Type

Crime TypeLoss Amount
Investment$153,438,979
Tech Support$73,817,666
Government Impersonation$8,230,216
Romance$36,522,146

III. Emergency & Official Contacts

 Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud Units

1. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office – Economic Crimes Unit

  • Phone: (904) 630-0500 (non-emergency)
  • Website: www.jaxsheriff.org
  • Tip: Request Economic Crimes Unit for elder financial fraud reporting.

2. Miami Police Department – Fraud Division

  • Phone: (305) 603-6640 (non-emergency)
  • Website: www.miami-police.org
  • Tip: Ask for assistance with elder scams or cyber fraud.

3. Tampa Police Department – Economic Crimes Section

  • Phone: (813) 276-3200 (non-emergency)
  • Website: www.tampa.gov/police
  • Ask to be connected to the fraud investigations team.

 FBI & Federal Support

FBI Miami Field Office

  • Phone: (754) 703-2000
  • Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/miami

FBI Tampa Field Office

  • Phone: (813) 253-1000
  • Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/tampa

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

  • Website: www.ic3.gov
  • Use for online scam reporting by seniors or family members.

Florida Attorney General – Elder Fraud & Abuse Division

Office of the Florida Attorney General – Senior Protection Team

  • Fraud Hotline: (866) 966-7226
  • Website: www.myfloridalegal.com/elder

This dedicated team works on:

  • Investigating scams targeting seniors
  • Coordinating with local and federal agencies
  • Consumer education and outreach

 Additional Elder Assistance & Reporting Contacts

Florida Adult Protective Services (APS) – 24/7 Elder Abuse Hotline

Miami-Dade Elder Fraud Hotline (State Attorney’s Office)

Florida Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)

Elder Helpline – Area Agencies on Aging

  • Phone: (800) 96-ELDER (800-963-5337)
  • Helps locate local services and legal support across all counties.

 Be Informed, Be Ready

  • Keep these numbers posted near your phone or saved on your mobile device.
  • Never be afraid to report suspicious emails, calls, texts, or money requests.
  • Florida seniors lose hundreds of millions of dollars annually to scams, but many frauds are stopped early thanks to you reporting them.
  • Visit our Education Hub to learn how scams work and how to fight back.
Florida Seal

 Share Your Story

Have you or a loved one experienced a scam, or stopped one just in time? Your story could help protect someone else.

Share Your Story