Senior Scam Prevention & Fraud Resources in Georgia
I. Overview: Georgia’s Senior Population & Key Cities
Georgia has an estimated population of 11 million as of 2024, with over 1.8 million residents aged 65 and older, representing approximately 16.4% of the state’s total population. Georgia’s rapidly growing retiree population makes it a major target for cybercrime, particularly scams that exploit trust, isolation, or confusion — such as phishing, fake tech support, lottery fraud, and Medicare-related scams.
Georgia’s top cities with large senior populations and high reported fraud activity are:
- Atlanta (approx. 510,000 people)
- Columbus (approx. 205,000 people)
- Augusta (approx. 200,000 people)
These urban centers see consistent reports of online fraud, robocalls, and financial exploitation, especially among older residents. Early awareness, family engagement, and access to official resources are key tools in prevention.
II. 2024 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Georgia’s Seniors
In 2024, Georgia had 3,622 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $174,744,201.
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | Loss Amount |
| Investment | $82,957,738 |
| Tech Support | $20,369,965 |
| Government Impersonation | $6,913,124 |
| Romance | $12,612,159 |
III. Emergency & Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud & Economic Crimes
1. Atlanta Police Department – Financial Crimes Unit
- Phone: (404) 614-6544 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.atlantapd.org
- Tip: Ask for the Fraud or Elder Exploitation Unit.
2. Columbus Police Department – Investigations Bureau
- Phone: (706) 653-3231 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.columbusga.gov/police
- Report suspected elder scams, identity theft, or financial abuse.
3. Augusta-Richmond County Sheriff’s Office – Financial Crimes
- Phone: (706) 821-1000 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.augustaga.gov
- Tip: Request fraud reporting or elder abuse investigation support.
FBI & Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Atlanta Field Office
- Phone: (770) 216-3000
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/atlanta
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use to report elder fraud including phishing, fake tech support, online romance scams, and investment fraud.
Georgia Attorney General – Consumer Protection & Elder Fraud
Office of the Georgia Attorney General – Consumer Protection Division
- Consumer Protection Hotline: (404) 651-8600
- Toll-Free for Georgia Residents: (800) 869-1123
- Website: www.consumer.ga.gov
- Offers a dedicated reporting system for elder scams and identity theft.
Statewide Elder Protection & Medicare Fraud Support
Georgia Adult Protective Services (APS)
- 24/7 Hotline: (866) 552-4464 (option 2)
- Website: aging.georgia.gov/aps
- For reporting abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of adults 65+ or disabled adults.
Georgia Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (866) 552-4464 (same as APS, select Medicare option)
- Website: aging.georgia.gov/smp
- Assists with identifying and reporting Medicare billing scams and fraud.
Georgia Division of Aging Services (DAS)
- Main Info Line: (866) 552-4464
- Website: aging.georgia.gov
- Connects seniors and caregivers with local services, education, and protection programs.
Atlanta Regional Commission – Aging & Independence Services
- Senior Support Line: (404) 463-3333
- Website: www.atlantaregional.org
Stay Smart. Speak Up. Stay Safe.
- Georgia seniors report millions in annual financial losses to scams, but many could be prevented with timely action.
- Save these contacts and discuss them with friends, family, and caregivers.
- Visit our Learning Center to learn how scams operate and how to defend against them.
- If something feels suspicious, don’t wait. Report it.
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.
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