Senior Scam Prevention and Fraud Resources in Arkansas
Arkansas seniors reported $37 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 1,658 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides Arkansas-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: Arkansas’s Senior Population & Key Cities
As of 2024, Arkansas has a population of approximately 3.05 million, with over 540,000 residents aged 65 and older — making up around 17.7% of the state’s total population. Arkansas’s older adults are common targets for Medicare fraud, sweepstakes scams, romance hoaxes, imposter calls, and tech support schemes.
Many scammers target rural and suburban seniors in Arkansas. In 2025, losses reached $37 million. Investment scams led at $14 million (+87%), and tech support fraud more than doubled (+114%). Romance scams rose 28% and government impersonation grew a modest 16%. Lottery/sweepstakes declined 51%. Awareness and access to trustworthy resources can prevent significant losses.
The state’s top three cities by size and elder scam reporting activity include:
- Little Rock (approx. 200,000 people)
- Fort Smith (approx. 90,000 people)
- Fayetteville (approx. 100,000 people)
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Arkansas Seniors
In 2025, Arkansas had 1,658 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $36,958,369 — up 56% in victims and 36% in losses compared to 2024 (1,063 victims / $27M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $13,838,274 | $7,394,303 | +87% |
| Tech Support | $4,284,179 | $2,001,623 | +114% |
| Romance | $4,336,885 | $3,393,690 | +28% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $329,884 | $679,000 | -51% |
| Extortion | $23,650 | $350 | +6657% |
| Government Impersonation | $1,215,374 | $1,047,559 | +16% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — Arkansas
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — Arkansas (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 604 | $4,276,168 | — | #42 |
| 2022 | 649 | $24,314,902 | +469% | #30 |
| 2023 | 665 | $14,696,548 | -40% | #36 |
| 2024 | 1,063 | $27,253,501 | +85% | #35 |
| 2025 | 1,658 | $36,958,369 | +36% | #36 |
| 5-Year Total | 4,639 | $107,499,488 | +764% (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: $1.6B (2021), $3.0B (2022), $3.3B (2023), $4.7B (2024), $7.4B (2025) — $20.1 billion stolen from American seniors over five years.
Top Crime Types Targeting Arkansas Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Investment | 113 | $13,838,274 | $27,101,901 | +3,293% |
| BEC | 36 | $6,052,822 | $24,957,867 | New |
| Romance | 139 | $4,336,885 | $11,435,351 | New |
| Tech Support | 217 | $4,284,179 | $11,531,144 | +581% |
| Personal Data Breach | 143 | $1,447,379 | $14,010,591 | +532% |
| Gov. Impersonation | 130 | $1,215,374 | $2,489,638 | +923% |
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: Arkansas’s elder fraud losses reached $37 million in 2025, with 1,658 seniors victimized. Investment scams grew 87% to $14 million, and tech support fraud more than doubled (+114%) to $4.3 million. Romance scams rose 28% and government impersonation grew a modest 16%. Lottery/sweepstakes declined 51%, one of several states seeing this category drop. Approximately 1 in every 1,862 Arkansas residents aged 60+ reported being a victim.
National context: Arkansas ranks #36 in total losses and #32 in per-capita victim rate (53.69 per 100,000), near the national midpoint. The investment and tech support surges follow the national pattern, while the modest government impersonation growth (+16%) is well below the national average for this category. Arkansas’s rural character and lower broadband adoption may make phone-based scams a particular risk for isolated seniors.
For the full national picture, including how Arkansas 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. Little Rock Police Department – Fraud Division
- Phone: (501) 371-4605 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.littlerock.gov
- Ask for Financial Crimes or report elder-targeted scams.
2. Fort Smith Police Department – Criminal Investigations Division
- Phone: (479) 709-5100 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.fortsmithpd.org
- Request assistance for financial fraud or suspected scam activity.
3. Fayetteville Police Department – Fraud Reporting
- Phone: (479) 587-3555 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.fayetteville-ar.gov
- Contact for fraud or identity theft reports involving seniors.
FBI & Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Little Rock Field Office
- Phone: (501) 221-9100
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/littlerock
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use to report phishing, tech support scams, and financial fraud online.
Arkansas Attorney General – Elder Fraud & Consumer Protection
Office of the Arkansas Attorney General – Public Protection Department
- Consumer Protection Hotline: (800) 482-8982
- Website: arkansasag.gov
- Provides scam alerts, complaint forms, and elder-focused fraud support.
Statewide Elder Services & Medicare Fraud Support
Arkansas Adult Protective Services (APS)
- To report elder abuse or financial exploitation:
Hotline: (800) 482-8049 - Website: humanservices.arkansas.gov
Arkansas Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (866) 726-2916
- Website: www.arlegalservices.org/smp
- Assists with Medicare fraud, deceptive medical billing, and ID theft.
Arkansas Division of Aging, Adult & Behavioral Health Services (DAABHS)
- Info Line: (501) 686-9164
- Website: humanservices.arkansas.gov
- Offers legal assistance, benefits guidance, caregiver support, and fraud prevention education.
Don’t Fall for Fear. Pause and Verify.
- Arkansas seniors lose millions of dollars every year to preventable scams, many go unreported due to shame or confusion.
- Save and share these contacts with loved ones, caregivers, and local senior centers.
- Visit our Education Center for common scam examples, red flags, and safe reporting instructions.
- If it feels suspicious, stop and call someone you trust before you give information or money.
IV. Learn More: Arkansas Scam Prevention Guides
Explore Arkansas-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in Arkansas — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in Arkansas — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in Arkansas — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in Arkansas — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in Arkansas — 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.
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.
Share Your Story