Senior Scam Prevention & Fraud Resources in Massachusetts
I. Overview: Massachusetts’ Senior Population & Key Cities
Massachusetts has an estimated population of 7 million as of 2024, with over 1.3 million residents aged 65 and older, representing 18.5% of the total population. As one of the oldest and most urbanized states in the U.S., Massachusetts faces a rising wave of cyber fraud cases targeting older adults — especially via phishing, romance scams, Medicare fraud, and fake tech support calls.
The top cities where seniors are most concentrated — and where elder fraud reports are most active — include:
- Boston (approx. 680,000 people)
- Worcester (approx. 210,000 people)
- Springfield (approx. 155,000 people)
These urban areas have strong services for aging populations, but they are also hotspots for online scams and financial exploitation schemes targeting older adults. Public awareness, fast reporting, and trusted contacts are essential to prevention.
II. 2024 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Massachusetts’ Seniors
In 2024, Massachusetts had 3,224 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $99,804,762.
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | Loss Amount |
| Investment | $41,398,272 |
| Tech Support | $28,665,238 |
| Government Impersonation | $2,833,571 |
| Romance | $6,756,955 |
III. Emergency & Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Financial & Elder Crimes
1. Boston Police Department – Fraud & Cybercrime Division
- Phone: (617) 343-4200 (non-emergency)
- Website: bpdnews.com
- Tip: Request Economic Crimes Unit or Elder Fraud reporting assistance.
2. Worcester Police Department – Investigative Division
- Phone: (508) 799-8600 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.worcesterma.gov/police
- Ask for help reporting elder exploitation or suspicious financial activity.
3. Springfield Police Department – Senior Services Liaison
- Phone: (413) 787-6302 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.springfield-ma.gov
- Request referral to elder safety or fraud investigation team.
FBI & Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Boston Field Office
- Phone: (857) 386-2000
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/boston
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use to report online scams, phishing, tech support fraud, or identity theft.
Massachusetts Attorney General – Elder Fraud Division
Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General – Elder Hotline
- Elder Abuse Hotline: (888) 243-5337
- General Consumer Help: (617) 727-8400
- Website: www.mass.gov/ago
- Handles fraud complaints, scam alerts, and referrals for elder exploitation cases.
Statewide Elder Protection Services
Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs
- Elder Abuse 24/7 Hotline: (800) 922-2275
- Website: www.mass.gov/elders
- Connects seniors and families with local protective services and elder support.
Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (800) 892-0890
- Website: www.masmp.org
- Provides Medicare fraud prevention and scam reporting services.
MassOptions – Statewide Aging Support Network
- Phone: (844) 422-6277
- Website: www.massoptions.org
- Connects older adults to legal help, benefits, and protective services across all counties.
Report Fast. Protect Yourself & Others.
- Massachusetts seniors lose millions of dollars annually to online and phone scams — many could be prevented with quick action.
- Save these phone numbers in your mobile device or post them on the fridge.
- Visit our Education Center to see scam examples, prevention tips, and what to do if you or a loved one is targeted.
- Don’t stay silent. One call can stop a scam in its tracks.
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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