Senior Scam Prevention and Fraud Resources in Alaska
Alaska seniors reported $16 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 666 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides Alaska-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: Alaska’s Senior Population and Key Cities
As of 2024, Alaska has a population of approximately 733,000, with approximately 97,800 residents aged 65 and older, making up about 13.3% of the state’s population. While Alaska has one of the smallest total populations among U.S. states, its senior population is growing steadily , particularly in Anchorage and other urban centers.
Alaska has the #3 highest per-capita victim rate in the nation. In 2025, losses reached $16 million (+99%). Romance scams exploded 1,242% from $303K to $4.1 million. Investment scams surged 255% to $6 million. Two categories decreased: tech support fell 30% and government impersonation dropped 57%. Rural isolation and long travel distances make awareness and quick reporting vital.
The top three cities with significant senior populations and most scam reports are:
- Anchorage (approx. 287,000 people)
- Fairbanks (approx. 32,000 people)
- Juneau (approx. 32,000 people)
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Alaska Seniors
In 2025, Alaska had 666 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $16,252,410 — up 43% in victims and 99% in losses compared to 2024 (466 victims / $8M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $6,047,069 | $1,702,443 | +255% |
| Tech Support | $2,140,058 | $3,036,319 | -30% |
| Romance | $4,061,140 | $302,660 | +1,242% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $391,849 | $424,249 | -8% |
| Extortion | $27,200 | $39,629 | -31% |
| Government Impersonation | $320,657 | $748,439 | -57% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — Alaska
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — Alaska (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 468 | $4,232,381 | — | #43 |
| 2022 | 316 | $7,646,998 | +81% | #42 |
| 2023 | 297 | $8,732,051 | +14% | #44 |
| 2024 | 466 | $8,173,395 | -6% | #48 |
| 2025 | 666 | $16,252,410 | +99% | #45 |
| 5-Year Total | 2,213 | $45,037,235 | +284% (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 Alaska Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Investment | 44 | $6,047,069 | $12,351,716 | +335% |
| Romance | 63 | $4,061,140 | $8,662,794 | +153% |
| Tech Support | 55 | $2,140,058 | $9,947,746 | +368% |
| BEC | 14 | $606,280 | $5,011,138 | +181% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | 26 | $391,849 | $1,813,895 | +117% |
| Gov. Impersonation | 69 | $320,657 | $1,238,358 | +709% |
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: Alaska’s elder fraud losses nearly doubled to $16 million in 2025 (+99%), with 666 seniors victimized (+43%). The standout: romance scams exploded 1,242% from $303K to $4.1 million — one of the most extreme single-category increases in the country. Investment scams surged 255% to $6 million. Two categories decreased: tech support fell 30% and government impersonation dropped 57%. Statewide, that comes to roughly one senior victim for every 1,111 Alaska residents.
National context: Alaska ranks #3 in per-capita victim rate (89.98 per 100,000) — behind only Arizona and Nevada. Despite ranking #45 in total losses, Alaska’s seniors face among the highest targeting rates in the nation. The 1,242% romance scam explosion suggests scammers are aggressively targeting isolated rural seniors through online platforms and social media. Alaska’s vast geography and limited connectivity compound the challenge.
For the full national picture, including how Alaska compares to every other state, visit our national hub page with interactive data and rankings.
II. Emergency and Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud and Financial Crimes
1. Anchorage Police Department – Financial Crimes Unit
- Phone: (907) 786-8900 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.muni.org/Public_Safety/Pages/default.aspx
- Contact to report elder fraud, tech support scams, and suspicious financial activity.
2. Fairbanks Police Department – Investigations
- Phone: (907) 450-6500 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.fairbanksalaska.us/police
- Handles fraud reports and elder exploitation cases.
3. Juneau Police Department – Community Services
- Phone: (907) 586-0600 (non-emergency)
- Website: juneau.org/police
- For reports of identity theft, phone scams, or online fraud targeting seniors.
FBI and Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Anchorage Field Office
- Phone: (907) 276-4441
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use to report phishing, tech support scams, romance fraud, and online threats.
Alaska Attorney General – Consumer Protection and Elder Fraud
Alaska Department of Law – Consumer Protection Unit
- Consumer Hotline: (888) 576-2529
- Website: law.alaska.gov
- Investigates financial scams and elder-targeted fraud across the state.
Statewide Elder Services and Medicare Fraud Support
Alaska Adult Protective Services (APS)
- APS Hotline: (800) 478-9996 (24/7)
- Website: health.alaska.gov
- Investigates elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.
Alaska Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (800) 478-6065
- Website: health.alaska.gov/en/senior-and-disabilities-services/senior-medicare-patrol
- Helps detect and report Medicare fraud, billing scams, and identity theft.
Alaska Commission on Aging
- Phone: (907) 465-3250
- Website: health.alaska.gov/en/senior-and-disabilities-services/alaska-commission-on-aging
- Provides statewide leadership on elder rights, protections, and education.
Alaska Long-Term Care Ombudsman
- Phone: (800) 730-6393
- Website: ltcombudsman.org
- Offers advocacy and protection services for older adults in care facilities.
Stay Vigilant. Share and Report Early.
- Alaskan seniors lose millions of dollars each year to avoidable scams.
- Take time to verify unexpected calls, emails, or offers, especially those requesting money, gift cards, or personal information.
- Visit our Education Center for red flags, safe response tips, and downloadable resources.
- When in doubt, slow down and ask for help. You’re not alone , protection starts with connection.
Recent Alaska scam news
Recent news coverage of scams affecting Alaska seniors, updated from our alerts desk. Each item links to the original outlet; victims and defendants are kept anonymous.
Opinion: Alaska needs to curb crypto-kiosk scams
Callers posing as officials push Alaska seniors to Bitcoin kiosks; older adults bore a third of $26M in losses.
Read at Anchorage Daily News →Sitka Elder Loses $40K in Fraud Scam
An Alaska woman mailed $40,000 in cash to a caller posing as a bank fraud investigator.
Read at KCAW →New federal bill would let banks hold transactions up to 90 days to stop wire fraud against seniors
A member of Congress has introduced the Protecting Elders from Wire Fraud Act, which would let banks place a hold of up to 90 days on a transaction leaving a senior's account when financial exploitation is suspected, giving time to determine whether the transaction is legitimate. The bill would also require financial institutions to notify a trusted contact associated with the account when a hold is placed, and it would give banks safe harbor from liability when they act in good faith to prevent a suspected scam. Supporters point to FTC data showing $334 million lost to wire fraud in 2025. The bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process, with no funding details, effective date, or committee action yet reported. The takeaway for families: ask your own bank whether it already offers a trusted-contact option or a hold policy for suspicious transactions, since these tools are becoming more common even before any new federal law passes.
Read at Antelope Valley Press →IRS warns of rising senior scams ahead of National Grandparents Day
Ahead of National Grandparents Day, the IRS and federal investigators are warning that scams targeting older adults keep evolving. In "grandparent scams," callers pose as a grandchild claiming to be hospitalized, in an accident, or under arrest, demanding money right away and pressuring the victim not to contact police or other family members to check the story. In a newer twist on romance scams, criminals target widows and widowers on dating sites, build a relationship over time, then claim an overseas emergency, sometimes using AI to alter their voice or appearance on video calls; victims never meet them in person and only ever send money. Common warning signs across both: contact you did not initiate, requests for personal or financial information, and pressure to act immediately. If you get a call or message like this, slow down, hang up, call the family member directly using a number you already have, and never send money or personal information based on an unverified emergency claim. Report suspected fraud to the National Elder Fraud Hotline, the FBI's IC3.gov, or the DOJ's Elder Justice Initiative.
Read at KATV →Seven Medicare fraud red flags to watch for after CMS blocked $1.6 billion in improper payments
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says enforcement actions have stopped more than $1.6 billion in potentially improper Medicare laboratory payments, part of a broader crackdown on Medicare billing fraud. Consumer red flags to watch for include: someone asking for your Medicare number in exchange for a "free" test or product, a lab test or medical equipment showing up that you never ordered, a caller claiming Medicare "wants" you to get something, anyone offering cash, gift cards, or other perks for your Medicare information, a statement listing a diagnosis or service that doesn't make sense, or pressure to ask your doctor for something you don't need. The advice: compare your Medicare claims against your own appointment calendar and receipts, review your Medicare Summary Notice regularly, check your claims through your secure Medicare account online, and report anything suspicious to 1-800-MEDICARE or your state's Senior Medicare Patrol.
Read at Saving Advice →Inside one senior center's fight against scams: 'Stop, Think, Verify'
The National Council on Aging profiles a Florida senior center's approach to fraud prevention, built around a simple habit: stop, think, verify before responding to any unexpected call, text, or email. Staff describe cases where an older adult lost nearly a lifetime of savings before family stepped in to help monitor the accounts, and use real examples to teach a short list of universal red flags: pressure to act immediately, a supposed relative in an emergency, a government agency demanding payment, a prize that requires a fee, requests for sensitive information, or threats of legal trouble. Their core message: a bank will never tell you to buy gift cards, and the IRS will never ask you to buy Apple gift cards to settle a debt. Other safeguards recommended include freezing your credit, setting up account alerts, and avoiding links or phone numbers you did not look up yourself.
Read at National Council on Aging →IV. Learn More: Alaska Scam Prevention Guides
Explore Alaska-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in Alaska — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in Alaska — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in Alaska — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in Alaska — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in Alaska — 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 Alaska compares. Curious where Alaska 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.