Senior Scam Prevention and Fraud Resources in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico seniors reported $8 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 351 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides Puerto Rico-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: Puerto Rico’s Senior Population and Key Cities
As of 2024, Puerto Rico has a population of approximately 3.2 million, with over 860,000 residents aged 65 and older , accounting for 26.9% of the total population. This makes Puerto Rico one of the oldest jurisdictions in the United States in terms of age distribution.
Puerto Rican seniors face unique challenges. In 2025, losses reached $8.2 million with 351 victims. Investment scams led at $4 million (+146%). Two categories saw dramatic decreases: tech support fell 52% and romance scams dropped 87%. Government impersonation surged 981% to $249K. Language barriers and limited broadband access remain challenges for prevention and reporting.
The areas with the largest senior populations and highest reported fraud activity are:
- San Juan (capital; approx. 320,000 people)
- Bayamón (approx. 160,000 people)
- Ponce (approx. 130,000 people)
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Puerto Rico’s Seniors
In 2025, Puerto Rico had 351 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $8,167,452 — up 23% in victims but down 60% in losses compared to 2024 (285 victims / $20M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $3,967,090 | $1,611,302 | +146% |
| Tech Support | $76,346 | $158,869 | -52% |
| Romance | $141,550 | $1,090,937 | -87% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $1,500 | $0 | New |
| Extortion | $19,420 | $0 | New |
| Government Impersonation | $248,519 | $23,000 | +981% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — Puerto Rico
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — Puerto Rico (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 195 | $3,575,884 | — | #45 |
| 2022 | 190 | $2,363,832 | -34% | #52 |
| 2023 | 215 | $2,845,110 | +20% | #52 |
| 2024 | 285 | $20,183,422 | +609% | #39 |
| 2025 | 351 | $8,167,452 | -60% | #50 |
| 5-Year Total | 1,236 | $37,135,700 | +128% (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 Puerto Rico Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Investment | 87 | $3,967,090 | $6,368,709 | +1,697% |
| BEC | 11 | $492,542 | $8,203,751 | New |
| Personal Data Breach | 23 | $373,098 | $7,000,005 | +12,560% |
| Gov. Impersonation | 20 | $248,519 | $476,974 | +14,020% |
| Romance | 22 | $141,550 | $1,747,543 | New |
| Tech Support | 25 | $76,346 | $1,529,594 | +103% |
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: Puerto Rico’s elder fraud losses totaled $8.2 million in 2025, with 351 seniors victimized. Investment scams grew 146% to $4 million, accounting for nearly half of all losses. The data shows a striking split: two categories saw dramatic decreases — tech support fell 52% and romance scams plunged 87% (from $1.1 million to just $142K) — while government impersonation surged 981% from $23K to $249K.
National context: Puerto Rico ranks #50 in total losses among all 52 states and territories. The 87% romance scam decline and 52% tech support drop are among the steepest decreases nationally in those categories — a potentially positive signal. However, the 981% government impersonation surge and rising investment fraud suggest scammers may be shifting to new tactics. Puerto Rico’s unique combination of Spanish-language targeting, rural isolation, and limited broadband creates distinct vulnerability patterns.
For the full national picture, including how Puerto Rico compares to every other state, visit our national hub page with interactive data and rankings.
III. Emergency and Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud and Financial Crimes
1. Puerto Rico Police Bureau – San Juan Command
- Phone: (787) 343-2020 (island-wide crime reporting line)
- Website: policia.pr.gov
- Contact to report elder scams, cyber fraud, or financial exploitation.
2. Bayamón Police Area Command
- Phone: (787) 269-2424
- Same island-wide resources apply; use 343-2020 or local station for elder fraud cases.
3. Ponce Police Area Command
- Phone: (787) 284-4040
- Also uses centralized reporting structure through 343-2020.
FBI and Federal Scam Reporting
FBI San Juan Field Office
- Phone: (787) 754-6000
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/sanjuan
- Handles high-level elder fraud, romance scams, cybercrime, and federal offenses.
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use to report phishing, tech support scams, crypto fraud, and online elder exploitation.
Puerto Rico Department of Justice – Consumer Protection
Departamento de Asuntos del Consumidor (DACO)
- Consumer Hotline: (787) 722-7555
- Website: www.daco.pr.gov
- Provides consumer fraud investigation and protection services, including for seniors.
Senior Protection Services and Medicare Fraud Support
Puerto Rico Adult Protective Services (Servicios de Protección para Adultos)
- Main Contact: (787) 625-4900 (Department of Family Affairs – ADSEF)
- Website: familia.pr.gov
- Investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and elder financial exploitation.
Puerto Rico Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (787) 722-1372
- Website: pradvocates.org
- Offers fraud prevention education and assistance with Medicare-related scams.
Oficina del Procurador de las Personas de Edad Avanzada (OPPEA)
- Phone: (787) 721-6121
- Website: oppea.pr.gov
- Provides legal advocacy, elder abuse reporting, and assistance to seniors and caregivers.
Proteja a sus seres queridos. Infórmese. Denuncie.
- Puerto Rican seniors lose millions of dollars annually to fraud and scams.
- Saving emergency numbers and reporting early can prevent further harm.
- Visit our Education Center for tools, red flags, and multilingual guides.
- Cuando tenga dudas, deténgase, verifique y hable con alguien de confianza.
IV. Learn More: Puerto Rico Scam Prevention Guides
Explore Puerto Rico-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in Puerto Rico — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in Puerto Rico — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in Puerto Rico — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in Puerto Rico — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in Puerto Rico — 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.
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