Senior Scam Prevention & Fraud Resources in Tennessee
I. Overview: Tennessee’s Senior Population & Key Cities
Tennessee has a population of approximately 7.1 million as of 2024, with over 1.3 million residents aged 65 and older — making up about 18.3% of the total population. Seniors in Tennessee are increasingly targeted by a wide range of fraud schemes, including phishing, tech support scams, government impersonation, and health-related fraud.
The top three cities in Tennessee — each with large senior populations and elevated reports of fraud — are:
- Nashville (approx. 720,000 people)
- Memphis (approx. 620,000 people)
- Knoxville (approx. 195,000 people)
Scams in these cities often originate online or via robocalls, exploiting emotional trust, medical confusion, or financial vulnerability. State and federal agencies provide resources to help older Tennesseans stay protected and respond swiftly.
II. 2024 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Tennessee’s Seniors
In 2024, Tennessee had 2,543 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $61,882,884.
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | Loss Amount |
| Investment | $17,127,985 |
| Tech Support | $8,070,194 |
| Government Impersonation | $7,733,586 |
| Romance | $10,992,966 |
III. Emergency & Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud & Financial Crimes
1. Metro Nashville Police Department – Fraud Unit
- Phone: (615) 862-8600 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.nashville.gov
- Tip: Ask for Economic or Financial Crimes Division when reporting elder fraud.
2. Memphis Police Department – Economic Crimes Bureau
- Phone: (901) 545-2677 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.memphispolice.org
- Report financial scams or elder exploitation to fraud investigators.
3. Knoxville Police Department – Investigations Division
- Phone: (865) 215-7000 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.knoxvilletn.gov
- Request to file a report for elder scams or suspicious financial activity.
FBI & Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Memphis Field Office (covers all of Tennessee)
- Phone: (901) 747-4300
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/memphis
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- File complaints related to online scams, phishing, identity theft, and tech support fraud.
Tennessee Attorney General – Elder Protection & Fraud
Tennessee Attorney General – Consumer Affairs Division
- Consumer Protection Hotline: (615) 741-4737
- Toll-Free: (800) 342-8385
- Website: www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral
- Handles complaints related to scams, deceptive business practices, and elder fraud.
Statewide Elder Assistance & Medicare Fraud Contacts
Tennessee Adult Protective Services (APS)
- APS Referral Hotline: (888) 277-8366 (24/7)
- Website: www.tn.gov/humanservices
- Investigates reports of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.
Tennessee Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (866) 836-7677
- Website: www.tnmedicarehelp.com
- Educates and assists in detecting and reporting Medicare fraud and billing scams.
Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD)
- Aging Information Line: (866) 836-6678
- Website: www.tn.gov/aging
- Connects seniors and caregivers to elder rights services, legal aid, and fraud prevention programs.
Stay Alert. Speak Up. Protect Others.
- Tennessee seniors report millions in annual losses from scams — but most frauds can be stopped early.
- Save and share these contacts with your loved ones, faith groups, and senior centers.
- Visit our Education Center to learn how scams work and what to do if you’re targeted.
- When in doubt, report it. Your voice can stop the next scam.
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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