Senior Scam Prevention and Fraud Resources in North Dakota
North Dakota seniors reported $5.9 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 251 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides North Dakota-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: North Dakota’s Senior Population and Key Cities
As of 2024, North Dakota has a population of approximately 797,000, with over 126,000 residents aged 65 and older, representing 15.8% of the total population. Many seniors in North Dakota live in small towns or rural areas, where limited internet access, geographic isolation, and unfamiliarity with digital tools can increase their exposure to fraud.
North Dakota has the lowest elder fraud losses and the lowest per-capita victim rate in the entire country. In 2025, losses totaled $5.9 million with 251 victims. Four crime categories decreased: investment fell 51%, government impersonation dropped 46%, lottery/sweepstakes slipped 8%, and romance dipped 5%. Tech support held nearly flat (+9%). These trends may signal effective awareness or reporting.
The cities with the highest concentrations of seniors and reported scam activity are:
- Fargo (approx. 135,000 people)
- Bismarck (approx. 75,000 people)
- Grand Forks (approx. 60,000 people)
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted North Dakota’s Seniors
In 2025, North Dakota had 251 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $5,895,155 — up 44% in victims and 2% in losses compared to 2024 (174 victims / $5.8M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $1,502,039 | $3,043,840 | -51% |
| Tech Support | $1,293,253 | $1,191,657 | +9% |
| Romance | $513,450 | $541,036 | -5% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $162,550 | $176,000 | -8% |
| Extortion | $9,450 | $1,000 | +845% |
| Government Impersonation | $32,800 | $61,000 | -46% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — North Dakota
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — North Dakota (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 132 | $2,782,675 | — | #48 |
| 2022 | 109 | $3,054,570 | +10% | #51 |
| 2023 | 127 | $4,405,702 | +44% | #50 |
| 2024 | 174 | $5,781,845 | +31% | #51 |
| 2025 | 251 | $5,895,155 | +2% | #52 |
| 5-Year Total | 793 | $21,919,947 | +112% (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 North Dakota Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Investment | 22 | $1,502,039 | $5,949,690 | +3,155% |
| Tech Support | 37 | $1,293,253 | $3,778,443 | +791% |
| BEC | 4 | $673,934 | $2,836,919 | -16% |
| Romance | 20 | $513,450 | $2,699,249 | +3% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | 6 | $162,550 | $963,755 | -64% |
| Gov. Impersonation | 8 | $32,800 | $1,197,780 | -81% |
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: North Dakota’s elder fraud losses totaled $5.9 million in 2025, essentially flat (+2%) from 2024, with 251 seniors victimized (+44%). The most notable pattern: four crime categories decreased — investment scams fell 51% (from $3 million to $1.5 million), government impersonation dropped 46%, lottery/sweepstakes slipped 8%, and romance scams dipped 5%. The two categories that rose were tech support (+9%) and extortion, which climbed from just $1,000 to $9,450. Statewide, that comes to roughly one senior victim for every 3,174 North Dakota residents.
National context: North Dakota ranks last in both total losses (#52) and per-capita victim rate (#51) at 31.51 per 100,000. An individual North Dakota senior is the least likely in the nation to report being victimized. The four declining categories are nearly unique nationally — most states saw broad increases. While the small population means these figures can shift dramatically, the overall pattern suggests North Dakota’s seniors are either less exposed, more aware, or both.
For the full national picture, including how North Dakota compares to every other state, visit our national hub page with interactive data and rankings.
III. Emergency & Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud and Financial Crimes
1. Fargo Police Department – Investigations Division
- Phone: (701) 235-4493 (non-emergency)
- Website: fargopolice.com
- Handles elder fraud, ID theft, and cybercrime reports.
2. Bismarck Police Department – Criminal Investigations
- Phone: (701) 223-1212
- Website: bismarcknd.gov
- Contact for scam complaints and financial exploitation investigations.
3. Grand Forks Police Department
- Phone: (701) 787-8000
- Website: grandforksgov.com
- Offers assistance for fraud victims and elder protection.
FBI and Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Minneapolis Field Office (covers North Dakota)
- Phone: (763) 569-8000
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/minneapolis
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Submit reports for phishing, romance fraud, identity theft, and tech support scams.
North Dakota Attorney General – Consumer Protection Division
Office of the Attorney General – Consumer Protection
- Consumer Hotline: (800) 472-2600
- Website: attorneygeneral.nd.gov
- Provides scam alerts, mediation services, and fraud education.
Elder Services and Medicare Fraud Support
North Dakota Adult Protective Services (APS)
- Reporting Line: (855) 462-5465, option 2
- Website: www.hhs.nd.gov/adults-and-aging/reporting
- Investigates elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.
North Dakota Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (800) 233-1737
- Website: ndcpd.org/smp
- Assists with Medicare billing fraud and teaches seniors to detect healthcare scams.
North Dakota Aging Services Division – Department of Human Services
- Info Line: (701) 328-4601
- Website: nd.gov/dhs/services/adultsaging
- Offers statewide elder care coordination, legal resources, and scam prevention support.
Stay Alert. Ask Questions. Report Quickly.
- Seniors in North Dakota lose millions annually to avoidable scams , but early detection can prevent further harm.
- Never share personal or financial information with unknown callers or messages.
- Visit our Education Center to access step-by-step scam prevention guides, warning signs, and reporting checklists.
- Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it probably is. Help is just a call away.
Recent North Dakota scam news
Recent news coverage of scams affecting North Dakota seniors, updated from our alerts desk. Each item links to the original outlet; victims and defendants are kept anonymous.
A physician explains why memory loss raises the risk of falling for a scam
A physician who also cared for her mother through Alzheimer's disease writes that memory loss and mild cognitive impairment are linked to a higher risk of falling for scams and financial exploitation. Part of the danger, she explains, is a condition called anosognosia, where a person with cognitive decline may not recognize that money is missing or that they were deceived. She recommends families start money conversations early, before decline sets in, treat scam awareness as a shared family responsibility rather than a private embarrassment, use phones that screen or block unknown callers, review accounts and credit reports together regularly, and consider a limited power of attorney while the person can still take part in that decision.
Read at Being Patient →Before the holidays, make a family plan to spot scams
With holiday calls and visits picking up, a fraud risk analyst is urging families to agree on a verification plan before a crisis call ever comes in, covering tactics like a caller claiming a grandchild has been arrested, a fake bank or government warning that an account is at risk, a tech support pop-up, or an online relationship that turns into a investment pitch. The core advice is to pause, verify, and talk: hang up, call the person or agency back using a number you already know, and loop in a trusted family member rather than acting alone. Suspicious contacts can be reported to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Agreeing on this plan now, before the holiday season's spike in calls and visits, gives families a calm playbook instead of a panicked decision.
Read at Philadelphia Today →Fake 'psychic' letters promising a windfall defrauded thousands of older Americans of millions
Federal prosecutors describe a mail fraud scheme that sent personalized letters made to look like they came from a psychic, telling recipients they were due a financial windfall that required a payment to 'unlock.' Thousands of people across the country, many of them elderly or otherwise vulnerable, sent checks that were deposited into accounts opened under the fake psychic names and then moved overseas, collecting more than 4 million dollars over several years. No real windfall, inheritance, or prize ever requires you to pay money up front to receive it. If a letter like this arrives, the safe move is to slow down, do not mail a check or payment, and talk it over with a family member or call the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov before responding.
Read at JNS →Medicare 'brace scam' case shows how to catch durable medical equipment fraud on your statement
A major federal case made news this week over a nationwide scheme that billed Medicare for back, knee, shoulder, and wrist braces that patients never needed. Fraud operators used offshore call centers and sham telemedicine visits to generate unnecessary prescriptions, then billed Medicare for the equipment. The scheme generated more than $365 million in fraudulent claims, with Medicare paying out roughly $199 million before it was caught. Beneficiaries can protect themselves by reviewing their Medicare Summary Notice for any brace or equipment charges they do not recognize, declining unsolicited calls offering a free brace, and contacting their local Senior Medicare Patrol program if something looks wrong.
Read at Medical Daily →DOJ's eighth annual elder fraud report tallies 350 enforcement actions in a year
The Department of Justice's eighth annual Elder Justice Report, covering July 2025 through June 2026, found the government pursued nearly 350 criminal and civil enforcement actions against 712 defendants linked to more than $4.8 billion stolen from more than 711,000 older victims. The cases spanned about 40 different scam types, from investment and tech support fraud to government impersonation, and nearly half involved schemes run from overseas. The department also pointed to $52 million in federal funding for elder abuse victim services working alongside its criminal cases. For families, the scale is a reminder to slow down before wiring money or sharing account access, and to verify any urgent financial request by calling the company or agency directly at a number you look up yourself.
Read at U.S. Department of Justice →What to do right away if a loved one has been scammed
A cybersecurity educator described helping a neighbor in her 70s after a scam that started with a locked bank account and what sounded like a tech support call, but was actually scammers. A fake warning claimed her computer had been hacked and told her to contact Microsoft, and the callers convinced her to move her savings into cryptocurrency to keep it safe, money that was then gone for good. The piece lays out concrete first steps for any family facing this: call the bank right away, save every text, email and transaction record, report the crime to local police and the FBI's IC3.gov (or identitytheft.gov if an identity was stolen), lock down every account with a new password and two-factor login, and stay alert because scammers sometimes target the same person again. The core message: slow down, and verify any urgent computer or bank warning by calling the real company yourself at a number you look up independently, never one given to you during the call.
Read at The Washington Post →IV. Learn More: North Dakota Scam Prevention Guides
Explore North Dakota-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in North Dakota — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in North Dakota — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in North Dakota — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in North Dakota — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in North Dakota — 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 North Dakota compares. Curious where North Dakota 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.