Senior Scam Prevention & Fraud Resources in Virginia
I. Overview: Virginia’s Senior Population & Key Cities
Virginia’s population is estimated at 8.8 million as of 2024, with approximately 1.6 million residents aged 65 and older, making up around 18.2% of the total population. As one of the oldest and wealthiest populations in the southeastern U.S., Virginia’s seniors are increasingly targeted by cyber-enabled scams, including phishing, fake tech support, online romance schemes, and Medicare fraud.
Older adults are highly concentrated in Virginia’s three largest cities:
- Virginia Beach (approx. 460,000 people)
- Chesapeake (approx. 260,000 people)
- Arlington (approx. 240,000 people – county-level, urbanized)
Each of these cities has a large and growing senior population and has seen a steady increase in fraud complaints and financial exploitation reports involving older victims.
II. 2024 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Virginia’s Seniors
In 2024, Virginia had 3,841 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $106,575,141.
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | Loss Amount |
| Investment | $41,242,306 |
| Tech Support | $20,506,407 |
| Government Impersonation | $6,754,487 |
| Romance | $13,762,434 |
III. Emergency & Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud & Financial Crimes
1. Virginia Beach Police Department – Economic Crimes Unit
- Phone: (757) 385-5000 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.vbgov.com
- Tip: Ask for Economic Crimes or Financial Exploitation reporting.
2. Chesapeake Police Department – Fraud Investigations
- Phone: (757) 382-6161 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.cityofchesapeake.net
3. Arlington County Police Department – Financial Crimes Unit
- Phone: (703) 558-2222 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.arlingtonva.us
FBI & Federal Reporting Tools
FBI Richmond Field Office
- Phone: (804) 261-1044
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/richmond
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use to report cyber scams targeting older adults, including identity theft, fraud, and tech support cons.
Virginia Attorney General – Elder Protection & Fraud
Virginia Attorney General – Consumer Protection Section
- Elder Fraud Hotline: (800) 552-9963
- Website: www.oag.state.va.us
- Assists with scam reporting, consumer rights for older adults, and statewide fraud alerts.
Statewide Elder Services & Protective Contacts
Virginia Adult Protective Services (APS)
- 24/7 Hotline: (888) 832-3858
- Website: www.dss.virginia.gov
- Report suspected elder abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect.
Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) / SMP
- Phone: (800) 552-3402
- Website: www.vda.virginia.gov
- Helps report Medicare fraud, scams, and overbilling through the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP).
Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
- Toll-Free Info Line: (800) 552-5019
- Website: www.vda.virginia.gov
- Offers protective services, public education, and connections to local Area Agencies on Aging.
Know the Signs. Make the Call.
- Virginia seniors are losing millions of dollars every year to online scams — but awareness and fast reporting can prevent more harm.
- Save these contact numbers in your phone or print them out.
- Visit our Education Center to explore real examples, warning signs, and recovery tips.
- If it feels wrong, report it — trust your instincts.
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