Senior Scam Prevention and Fraud Resources in South Dakota
South Dakota seniors reported $15 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 398 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides South 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: South Dakota’s Senior Population and Key Cities
As of 2024, South Dakota has a population of approximately 910,000, with over 180,000 residents aged 65 and older, making up around 19.8% of the state’s population. South Dakota’s aging population is distributed across small towns and rural communities, with many seniors living independently or on fixed incomes , which increases vulnerability to scams.
South Dakota seniors lost $14.7 million to fraud in 2025. The standout: romance scams surged 510% from $644K to $3.9 million, becoming the #1 crime type. Government impersonation exploded 688% to $2.1 million. Investment scams actually decreased 27%. Geographic isolation remains a key risk factor.
The largest cities with the highest rates of scam reports and elder population density are:
- Sioux Falls (approx. 210,000 people)
- Rapid City (approx. 80,000 people)
- Aberdeen (approx. 30,000 people)
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted South Dakota’s Seniors
In 2025, South Dakota had 398 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $14,708,875 — up 54% in victims and 64% in losses compared to 2024 (259 victims / $9M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $3,359,957 | $4,594,352 | -27% |
| Tech Support | $3,018,006 | $2,479,460 | +22% |
| Romance | $3,923,859 | $643,624 | +510% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $696,450 | $121,770 | +472% |
| Extortion | $47,055 | $115,180 | -59% |
| Government Impersonation | $2,082,172 | $264,301 | +688% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — South Dakota
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — South Dakota (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 183 | $4,821,701 | — | #39 |
| 2022 | 331 | $5,634,355 | +17% | #46 |
| 2023 | 369 | $3,804,551 | -32% | #51 |
| 2024 | 259 | $8,975,829 | +136% | #46 |
| 2025 | 398 | $14,708,875 | +64% | #47 |
| 5-Year Total | 1,540 | $37,945,311 | +205% (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 South Dakota Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Romance | 22 | $3,923,859 | $6,434,685 | +283% |
| Investment | 44 | $3,359,957 | $11,600,228 | +1,118% |
| Tech Support | 57 | $3,018,006 | $7,539,074 | +3,184% |
| Gov. Impersonation | 23 | $2,082,172 | $2,729,898 | +977% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | 21 | $696,450 | $3,379,305 | +38% |
| BEC | 9 | $557,351 | $784,824 | +517% |
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: South Dakota’s elder fraud losses reached $14.7 million in 2025, up 64% from $9 million in 2024, with 398 seniors victimized (+54%). The most dramatic finding: romance scams surged 510% from $644K to $3.9 million, becoming the largest single crime category — an unusual pattern, as investment scams lead in most states. Government impersonation exploded 688% from $264K to $2.1 million. Investment scams actually decreased 27%. Statewide, that comes to roughly one senior victim for every 2,323 South Dakota residents.
National context: South Dakota ranks #44 in per-capita victim rate (43.04 per 100,000), below the national midpoint. The 510% romance scam surge is among the steepest in the country and suggests scammers are aggressively targeting isolated rural seniors through online dating and social media. South Dakota is one of only a few states where romance scams outpace investment fraud — a pattern that calls for targeted awareness campaigns.
For the full national picture, including how South Dakota 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. Sioux Falls Police Department – Investigations Division
- Phone: (605) 367-7212 (non-emergency)
- Website: siouxfalls.gov/police
- Handles fraud, ID theft, and elder exploitation cases.
2. Rapid City Police Department – Financial Crimes Unit
- Phone: (605) 394-4131 (non-emergency)
- Website: rcgov.org
- Contact for reporting phone scams, online fraud, and financial abuse.
3. Aberdeen Police Department – General Inquiries
- Phone: (605) 626-7000
- Website: aberdeen.sd.us
- Provides support for elder fraud complaints and community safety.
FBI and Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Minneapolis Field Office (covers South Dakota)
- Phone: (763) 569-8000
- Website: fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/minneapolis
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- For reporting online scams, tech support hoaxes, phishing, and fraud.
South Dakota Attorney General – Consumer Protection Division
Office of the Attorney General – Consumer Protection
- Consumer Helpline: (800) 300-1986
- Website: atg.sd.gov
- Provides education and investigation for elder scams and deceptive business practices.
Statewide Elder Services and Medicare Fraud Support
South Dakota Adult Protective Services (APS)
- Central Intake: (833) 663-9673
- Website: dhs.sd.gov/en/ltss/dakota-at-home
- Handles elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation cases.
South Dakota Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (888) 854-5321
- Website: dhs.sd.gov/en/ltss/shiine
- Assists with Medicare billing scams, fraud prevention, and outreach.
South Dakota Department of Human Services – Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)
- Info Line: (833) 663-9673
- Website: dhs.sd.gov
- Offers elder care coordination, legal assistance, and scam education.
Protect Yourself, Protect Others
- South Dakota seniors lose millions of dollars annually to fraud, often from avoidable or repeatable scams.
- Be cautious of anyone asking for personal info, money transfers, or gift cards over the phone or online.
- Visit our Education Center for examples of scams, response scripts, and secure reporting tools.
- Stop. Think. Report. You are not alone , help is here.
Recent South Dakota scam news
Recent news coverage of scams affecting South Dakota seniors, updated from our alerts desk. Each item links to the original outlet; victims and defendants are kept anonymous.
Minnehaha County, South Dakota sheriff warns of a 'courier cash' scam targeting seniors
The Minnehaha County, South Dakota Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a scam that specifically targets older people: callers pressure victims to withdraw large amounts of cash, coach them to lie to bank staff about why they need the money, and then have someone collect or ship the cash to an address the caller provides. The sheriff's office says the safest response is to hang up immediately if anyone on the phone tells you to withdraw money, to be honest with your bank about what is happening rather than following a caller's script, and to never ship cash to anyone. Officials encourage residents to talk about this warning with elderly family members and neighbors before they get a call like this.
Read at Dakota News Now →Older South Dakota resident loses more than $200,000 to a fake 'fraud department' scam
A South Dakota resident who reported computer trouble was contacted by someone posing as a bank fraud department, then as an FDIC official, who directed a series of wire transfers totaling more than $200,000 over several weeks behind a false home-remodeling cover story. Real banks and the FDIC never ask you to move money to protect it, so treat any such call as a scam and verify through a number you look up yourself.
Read at AOL →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 →IV. Learn More: South Dakota Scam Prevention Guides
Explore South Dakota-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in South Dakota — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in South Dakota — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in South Dakota — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in South Dakota — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in South 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 South Dakota compares. Curious where South 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.