Senior Scam Prevention & Fraud Resources in Minnesota
Minnesota seniors reported $111 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 2,550 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides Minnesota-specific scam prevention resources, official reporting contacts, and five years of FBI elder fraud data for the state.
Already been scammed? Read our First 24 Hours Emergency Guide for critical steps to take immediately.
I. Overview: Minnesota’s Senior Population & Key Cities
As of 2024, Minnesota has a population of approximately 5.8 million, with approximately 962,000 residents aged 65 and older, making up around 16.6% of the total population. With its aging population and rising digital engagement, Minnesota’s seniors are increasingly targeted by fraud schemes such as Medicare scams, phishing, tech support hoaxes, romance fraud, and government impersonation.
The top three cities in the state — where older adults are highly concentrated and scams are frequently reported — include:
- Minneapolis (approx. 425,000 people)
- St. Paul (approx. 310,000 people)
- Rochester (approx. 125,000 people)
Seniors in urban and rural areas alike face an evolving threat. In 2025, Minnesota seniors lost $111 million to fraud. The standout: tech support fraud nearly quadrupled to $35 million (+280%), overtaking investment scams ($31 million) as the #1 crime type. Lottery/sweepstakes rose 12%. Awareness, preparedness, and quick reporting are essential.
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Minnesota’s Seniors
In 2025, Minnesota had 2,550 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $111,387,313 — up 39% in victims and 113% in losses compared to 2024 (1,836 victims / $52M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $31,468,472 | $21,997,390 | +43% |
| Tech Support | $35,035,169 | $9,214,800 | +280% |
| Romance | $7,969,936 | $6,346,827 | +26% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $1,358,502 | $1,217,568 | +12% |
| Extortion | $374,189 | $109,262 | +242% |
| Government Impersonation | $2,509,444 | $1,700,339 | +48% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — Minnesota
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — Minnesota (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 1,228 | $17,157,693 | — | #21 |
| 2022 | 1,185 | $40,401,881 | +135% | #19 |
| 2023 | 1,230 | $54,886,221 | +36% | #17 |
| 2024 | 1,836 | $52,262,721 | -5% | #23 |
| 2025 | 2,550 | $111,387,313 | +113% | #19 |
| 5-Year Total | 8,029 | $276,095,829 | +549% (2021—2025) | — |
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Annual Reports, 2021—2025. Covers victims aged 60 and older. National rank is by total dollar loss among 52 states/territories. National totals: $1.7B (2021), $3.1B (2022), $3.4B (2023), $4.9B (2024), $7.7B (2025) — $20.8 billion stolen from American seniors over five years.
Top Crime Types Targeting Minnesota Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Tech Support | 348 | $35,035,169 | $68,216,878 | +688% |
| Investment | 195 | $31,468,472 | $87,534,213 | +13,319% |
| Personal Data Breach | 163 | $17,636,411 | $25,152,747 | +2,171% |
| Romance | 177 | $7,969,936 | $31,808,266 | +42% |
| BEC | 64 | $6,903,489 | $20,992,175 | +401% |
| Gov. Impersonation | 130 | $2,509,444 | $9,572,850 | +675% |
Top 6 crime types by 2025 losses. Growth calculated from 2021 to 2025. For national crime type trends, see our Crime Type Migration Analysis.
What the data reveals: Minnesota’s elder fraud losses reached $111 million in 2025, with 2,550 seniors victimized. The most striking finding: tech support fraud nearly quadrupled from $9.2 million to $35 million (+280%), making it the #1 crime in Minnesota — an unusual pattern, as investment scams lead in most states. Investment fraud grew a more modest 43% to $31 million. Romance scams rose 26% and lottery/sweepstakes rose 12%. Statewide, that comes to roughly one senior victim for every 2,272 Minnesota residents.
National context: Minnesota ranks #19 in total losses but only #41 in per-capita victim rate (44.02 per 100,000), well below the national midpoint. The tech support fraud explosion (+280%) is among the steepest increases in this category nationally, suggesting Minnesota seniors may be particularly targeted by fake tech support calls and pop-ups. Despite the high losses, the relatively low per-capita rate indicates that broader prevention awareness may be reaching many seniors.
For the full national picture, including how Minnesota compares to every other state, visit our national hub page with interactive data and rankings.
III. Emergency & Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud & Financial Crimes
1. Minneapolis Police Department – Financial Crimes Unit
- Phone: (612) 673-5701 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.minneapolismn.gov
- Ask for the Financial Crimes Division to report elder scams or identity theft.
2. St. Paul Police Department – Fraud Investigations
- Phone: (651) 291-1111 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.stpaul.gov
- Request assistance with financial fraud or elder abuse.
3. Rochester Police Department – Community Services Unit
- Phone: (507) 328-6800 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.rochestermn.gov
- Ask for help reporting elder-targeted scams or financial exploitation.
FBI & Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Minneapolis Field Office
- Phone: (763) 569-8000
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/minneapolis
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use to report online scams, phishing, fake tech support, and financial exploitation.
Minnesota Attorney General – Elder Fraud & Consumer Protection
Minnesota Attorney General’s Office – Consumer Services
- Consumer Assistance Line: (651) 296-3353 or (800) 657-3787
- Website: www.ag.state.mn.us
- Offers complaint forms, scam alerts, and resources specifically for elder fraud and abuse.
Statewide Elder Services & Medicare Fraud Reporting
Minnesota Adult Protective Services (APS)
- 24/7 Reporting Hotline: (844) 880-1574
- Website: mn.gov/dhs
- Investigates suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.
Minnesota Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (800) 333-2433
- Website: www.smpresource.org
- Helps detect and report Medicare billing fraud, healthcare scams, and identity theft.
Minnesota Board on Aging – Senior LinkAge Line
- Toll-Free Line: (800) 333-2433
- Website: mn.gov/board-on-aging
- Connects seniors to legal help, financial protection, benefits, and scam prevention programs.
Stay Aware. Act Quickly. Share Knowledge.
- Minnesota seniors lose millions each year to preventable scams.
- Save these contacts and share with loved ones, local organizations, or caregivers.
- Visit our Education Center for practical guides, red flags, and reporting tools.
- If something feels off — slow down, verify, and report. You’re not alone.
Recent Minnesota scam news
Recent news coverage of scams affecting Minnesota seniors, updated from our alerts desk. Each item links to the original outlet; victims and defendants are kept anonymous.
Minnesota bans cryptocurrency ATMs after seniors lost about $1 million to scams
Minnesota's new ban on cryptocurrency ATMs took effect August 1, 2026, and existing machines must be removed by the end of the year. State officials say elderly residents lost roughly $1 million to crypto-ATM scams since 2023, often after callers posing as law enforcement pressured them into using the machines to pay for a relative's supposed jail release. A Minnesota Department of Commerce investigator said crypto transactions cannot be reversed and are far harder to trace than a bank transfer once the money reaches a scammer's digital wallet. If anyone, especially a caller claiming to be law enforcement, ever directs you to a cryptocurrency ATM or kiosk, treat it as a scam: slow down, hang up, and verify with the actual agency using a number you look up yourself.
Read at Fox Business →After losing her retirement savings, Nevis woman, 73, warns of online fraud
A Minnesota woman, 73, lost her life savings to a scammer impersonating a payment company and now warns others.
Read at Park Rapids Enterprise →Preventing Fraud & Scams free online presentation Feb. 11
A free February online presentation will teach residents how to prevent fraud and scams.
Read at MessageMedia →New Minnesota law bolsters legal options when older adults are scammed
A new Minnesota law lets older adults more easily seek protection orders when they are scammed or financially exploited.
Read at KNSI Radio →Preparing the Northland against the upcoming scam season
A Duluth 'Scam Jam' taught seniors and caregivers how to spot holiday scams, including toll-road text traps.
Read at WDIO →IV. Learn More: Minnesota Scam Prevention Guides
Explore Minnesota-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in Minnesota — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in Minnesota — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in Minnesota — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in Minnesota — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in Minnesota — Step-by-step guide to reporting fraud and starting recovery.
For national-level data on each scam type, see our Investment, Tech Support, Romance, and Government Impersonation national guides.
See how Minnesota compares. Curious where Minnesota ranks in the national picture? Stolen Trust, our 2026 special study, ranks every state and territory using five years of FBI data and lays out one practical plan to fix elder fraud.