Protecting America’s Seniors from Online Scams – 2025

Each year, tens of thousands of older Americans fall victim to online scams, losing billions of dollars in hard-earned savings and retirement funds. In 2024 alone, more than 147,000 seniors reported losing approximately $4.9 billion to cybercriminals, according to data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). That means, tragically, every four minutes, another older American’s financial security, dignity, and independence are severely compromised.

Online scammers deliberately target older adults, exploiting their trust, isolation, and sometimes limited experience with technology. The consequences extend far beyond financial losses, causing severe emotional distress, family turmoil, and lasting damage to health and independence. It is crucial, therefore, to understand the types of scams most commonly faced by American seniors and how best to prevent them.

Common Elder Scams in the United States

Among the various frauds that seniors face, certain types occur with troubling frequency. Investment scams are a leading threat, where criminals offer fake or misleading opportunities promising high returns with little or no risk. Often, these scams begin subtly on social media or dating platforms before escalating into cryptocurrency schemes or complex pyramid structures.

Tech support scams are another major threat. Criminals pose as representatives from trusted companies like Microsoft, Apple, or internet service providers, falsely claiming a senior’s computer or personal data is compromised. They pressure their victims to provide remote access to their devices, eventually stealing financial information or charging exorbitant fees for fake services.

Romance scams tragically exploit emotional vulnerability, loneliness, and isolation. Scammers establish seemingly genuine relationships online, quickly expressing strong feelings of love or friendship. Once trust is established, these scammers fabricate emergencies or urgent needs, convincing victims to send money, often repeatedly and in large amounts.

Government impersonation scams are particularly malicious, as fraudsters pretend to be officials from respected agencies like the IRS, Medicare, Social Security Administration, or even law enforcement. They threaten seniors with arrests, suspended benefits, or fines, creating panic and pressuring immediate payment through untraceable methods, such as wire transfers or gift cards.

Heat Map – Elder Fraud Victims Per State

Elder Fraud Victims per State (2024)

Rank	State / Territory	Total Loss
1	California	$832,710,048
2	Texas	$489,790,386
3	Florida	$388,436,198
4	New York	$257,658,301
5	District of Columbia	$251,454,544
6	Arizona	$190,686,835
7	Georgia	$174,744,201
8	Pennsylvania	$151,096,514
9	Illinois	$133,794,241
10	New Jersey	$133,397,512
11	Washington	$107,052,160
12	Virginia	$106,575,141
13	Massachusetts	$99,804,762
14	Ohio	$95,441,773
15	Michigan	$92,378,793
16	North Carolina	$87,449,567
17	Nevada	$81,400,930
18	Maryland	$80,128,654
19	Colorado	$74,760,501
20	Missouri	$63,530,750
21	Tennessee	$61,882,884
22	South Carolina	$58,581,997
23	Minnesota	$52,262,721
24	Wisconsin	$50,525,457
25	Oklahoma	$50,203,394
26	Oregon	$48,116,839
27	Utah	$44,155,961
28	Louisiana	$37,512,993
29	Indiana	$37,209,947
30	Iowa	$34,991,114
31	Alabama	$33,200,314
32	Connecticut	$30,918,559
33	New Mexico	$30,034,919
34	Mississippi	$28,870,444
35	Arkansas	$27,253,501
36	Kentucky	$26,139,251
37	Kansas	$23,511,153
38	Nebraska	$21,414,248
39	Puerto Rico	$20,183,422
40	Hawaii	$18,851,052
41	Idaho	$18,663,392
42	New Hampshire	$15,840,854
43	Maine	$12,980,616
44	Delaware	$12,293,619
45	Montana	$12,056,193
46	South Dakota	$8,975,829
47	Wyoming	$8,648,675
48	Alaska	$8,173,395
49	Rhode Island	$6,309,411
50	West Virginia	$5,790,489
51	North Dakota	$5,781,845
52	Vermont	$4,177,269

Heat Map – Elder Fraud Victims Rate Per State

Elder Fraud Victims Rate – Per 100,000 Population (2024)

Based on Official U.S. Census Bureau July 1, 2024 Population Estimates

Rank	State	Victim Count	2024 Population	Victims per 100k
1	Arizona	6,683	7,582,384	88.14
2	Indiana	5,324	6,924,275	76.91
3	Nevada	2,299	3,267,467	70.36
4	Alaska	466	740,133	62.96
5	New Mexico	1,150	2,130,256	53.99
6	Oregon	2,288	4,272,371	53.53
7	Colorado	3,128	5,957,493	52.50
8	Maryland	3,231	6,263,220	51.59
9	Florida	11,902	23,372,215	50.93
10	Utah	1,762	3,503,613	50.26
11	Delaware	514	1,051,917	48.86
12	Pennsylvania	6,353	13,078,751	48.57
13	Illinois	6,064	12,710,158	47.71
14	Washington	3,692	7,958,180	46.40
15	California	18,091	39,431,263	45.87
16	Wyoming	267	587,618	45.44
17	Oklahoma	1,858	4,095,393	45.36
18	Massachusetts	3,224	7,136,171	45.17
19	North Carolina	5,031	11,046,024	45.54
20	Ohio	5,388	11,883,304	45.34
21	New Hampshire	633	1,409,032	44.92
22	Hawaii	647	1,446,146	44.74
23	Virginia	3,841	8,811,195	43.60
24	Maine	608	1,405,012	43.27
25	South Carolina	2,293	5,478,831	41.86
26	Montana	438	1,137,233	38.51
27	Idaho	775	2,001,619	38.72
28	Kansas	1,129	2,970,606	38.01
29	District of Columbia	267	702,250	38.01
30	Vermont	243	648,493	37.47
31	Missouri	2,199	6,245,466	35.20
32	Tennessee	2,543	7,227,750	35.18
33	Arkansas	1,063	3,088,354	34.42
34	West Virginia	594	1,769,979	33.56
35	Connecticut	1,209	3,675,069	32.90
36	Georgia	3,622	11,180,878	32.40
37	Minnesota	1,836	5,793,151	31.69
38	New York	6,225	19,867,248	31.33
39	Michigan	3,148	10,140,459	31.04
40	New Jersey	2,918	9,500,851	30.71
41	Alabama	1,567	5,157,699	30.38
42	Texas	9,473	31,290,831	30.28
43	Wisconsin	1,785	5,960,975	29.94
44	Louisiana	1,372	4,597,740	29.84
45	Rhode Island	324	1,112,308	29.13
46	Kentucky	1,336	4,588,372	29.11
47	South Dakota	259	924,669	28.01
48	Nebraska	551	2,005,465	27.48
49	Iowa	803	3,241,488	24.77
50	North Dakota	174	796,568	21.84
51	Mississippi	604	2,943,045	20.52

Recognizing the Warning Signs

Though scams vary widely, certain consistent warning signs can help seniors and their families identify potential threats. Offers or demands that seem unusually urgent, requests for secrecy, or promises of guaranteed returns are common indicators of fraud. Legitimate organizations will never insist on payments via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrencies. Likewise, official agencies will not threaten arrest or legal action over unsolicited phone calls, texts, or emails.

A sudden, unexpected outreach from anyone demanding personal information or payment should always be viewed with suspicion. Seniors should always take their time, consult a trusted family member or advisor, and independently verify the identity of the person or organization contacting them.

What to Do if Targeted by a Scam

If you or someone you care about suspects a scam, immediate steps are critical. First, pause and refrain from engaging further with the scammer—never provide financial details, send money, or allow remote computer access. Save any available evidence, such as emails, text messages, or voicemails, to aid authorities in investigating the scam.

It’s vital to inform someone you trust immediately. Speaking openly about the incident can not only help you avoid becoming a victim but can also help stop others from falling prey to similar schemes.

Reporting a Scam: Key Resources and Agencies

Reporting fraud promptly is essential in combating these crimes and preventing future victimization. To report online fraud or scams, you can contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) through their official website, ic3.gov. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also offers a straightforward reporting mechanism at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If a scam involves government impersonation, particularly related to Social Security, reports can be made directly to the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov.

In cases involving financial loss, always notify your bank or financial institution immediately. They may be able to halt fraudulent transactions or help recover lost funds.

Empowering Families: The 15-Minute Conversation

Protecting seniors from scams is not only an individual responsibility but also a family and community effort. Families can greatly reduce risk by having open, compassionate conversations about online safety. Taking just 15 minutes during family gatherings or holidays to discuss a simple fraud prevention protocol can significantly increase resilience against these threats.

Consider establishing family rules: for example, agreeing on a secret family code word to verify identity in case of emergencies, promising to discuss unexpected financial requests with another family member, or committing to always independently verify unsolicited calls or messages before responding.

Staying Safe, Staying Informed

Education and awareness are your best defenses against scammers. Take advantage of free, reputable resources provided by organizations such as the FBI, FTC, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. These organizations offer detailed guides, instructional videos, printable checklists, and other tools specifically designed to help seniors and families remain informed, vigilant, and protected against fraud.

Scam patterns evolve constantly, making it essential to stay updated on emerging threats. Regularly checking trusted sources or subscribing to fraud alerts can make a significant difference in recognizing and preventing scams.

Together, through awareness, vigilance, and proactive communication, we can protect America’s seniors, ensuring that the dignity and financial security they’ve worked so hard to build remain safeguarded against criminals who seek to exploit them.

Get Help, Find Your State

This national resource provides critical guidance to protect American seniors, but help is also available closer to home. Each state has specific resources and contacts for local assistance. As you explore our site further, you’ll find dedicated pages for each state, containing local contact information, reporting procedures, and support networks designed specifically for residents in your area.

If you’ve been targeted by scammers, don’t hesitate to reach out, you’re not alone. Let’s build safer communities together, one family at a time.

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