Senior Scam Prevention and Fraud Resources in Vermont
Vermont seniors reported $9 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 436 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides Vermont-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: Vermont’s Senior Population and Key Cities
As of 2024, Vermont has a population of approximately 645,000, with about 137,000 residents aged 65 and older, representing 21.2% of the total population , one of the highest percentages of seniors in the United States. Many of these older adults live in rural towns or small cities, which can lead to greater isolation and vulnerability to fraud.
Vermont’s seniors face growing threats despite the state’s small size. In 2025, losses reached $8.5 million (+105%). Investment scams surged 441% from $496K to $2.7 million, and tech support more than doubled (+135%). Romance scams were a rare bright spot, declining 21%. Vermont ranks #16 in per-capita victim rate.
The largest cities and towns with higher concentrations of older adults and reported scams are:
- Burlington (approx. 45,000 people)
- South Burlington (approx. 20,000 people)
- Rutland (approx. 15,000 people)
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Vermont’s Seniors
In 2025, Vermont had 436 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $8,548,782 — up 79% in victims and 105% in losses compared to 2024 (243 victims / $4M).
Source: FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report. While Vermont has fewer victims due to its small population, the average loss per victim remains significant. View national statistics.
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $2,686,833 | $496,333 | +441% |
| Tech Support | $2,701,557 | $1,150,772 | +135% |
| Romance | $476,060 | $604,795 | -21% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $112,300 | $0 | New |
| Extortion | $72,050 | $1,750 | +4017% |
| Government Impersonation | $961,949 | $623,501 | +54% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — Vermont
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — Vermont (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 199 | $3,220,853 | — | #46 |
| 2022 | 188 | $5,663,838 | +76% | #45 |
| 2023 | 163 | $4,880,944 | -14% | #49 |
| 2024 | 243 | $4,177,269 | -14% | #52 |
| 2025 | 436 | $8,548,782 | +105% | #49 |
| 5-Year Total | 1,229 | $26,491,686 | +165% (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 Vermont Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Tech Support | 58 | $2,701,557 | $7,383,160 | +198% |
| Investment | 26 | $2,686,833 | $7,141,179 | +189% |
| Gov. Impersonation | 28 | $961,949 | $3,234,983 | +167% |
| Romance | 21 | $476,060 | $2,189,995 | New |
| BEC | 16 | $475,122 | $2,313,429 | New |
| Personal Data Breach | 12 | $403,154 | $1,146,085 | +363% |
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: Vermont’s elder fraud losses more than doubled to $8.5 million in 2025 (+105%), with 436 seniors victimized (+79%). Investment scams surged 441% from just $496K to $2.7 million, and tech support fraud more than doubled (+135%) to $2.7 million — the two categories are now virtually tied as the top threats. Romance scams decreased 21%, one of a few declining categories. Government impersonation rose 54%. Approximately 1 in every 1,487 Vermont residents aged 60+ reported being a victim.
National context: Vermont ranks #16 in per-capita victim rate (67.23 per 100,000), well above the national midpoint — despite ranking #49 in total losses. This is one of the widest gaps between total and per-capita rankings in the country. Vermont’s 105% loss growth rate is nearly double the national average of 57%. As the second-least-populous state, even a small number of high-value scams can dramatically move the percentages, but the per-capita rate shows the risk is real and above average.
For the full national picture, including how Vermont 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. Burlington Police Department – Investigative Services
- Phone: (802) 658-2704 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.burlingtonvt.gov/Police
- Handles reports of fraud, scams, and elder abuse.
2. South Burlington Police Department
- Phone: (802) 846-4111
- Website: www.sbpdvt.org
- Contact for identity theft, fraud, and suspicious financial activity.
3. Rutland City Police Department
- Phone: (802) 773-1816
- Website: www.rutlandcity.org
- Offers support for scam victims and elder safety education.
FBI and Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Albany Field Office (covers Vermont)
- Phone: (518) 465-7551
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/albany
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- For reporting online scams, phishing, cyber fraud, and elder financial abuse.
Vermont Attorney General – Consumer Assistance Program (CAP)
Office of the Attorney General – CAP Elder Protection Initiative
- CAP Hotline: (800) 649-2424 (in-state only)
- Website: ago.vermont.gov/cap
- Assists with fraud complaints, scam education, and dispute resolution.
Senior Services and Medicare Fraud Support
Vermont Adult Protective Services (APS)
- Report Line: (800) 564-1612
- Website: dail.vermont.gov
- Investigates financial exploitation, abuse, and neglect of vulnerable adults.
Vermont Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (888) 865-2683
- Website: vermontelders.org
- Provides education and support for identifying and reporting Medicare fraud.
Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL)
- General Info: (802) 241-2401
- Website: dail.vermont.gov
- Offers statewide resources for elder care, protection, and financial safety.
Take Action Early. Talk. Report. Share.
- Vermont seniors lose millions of dollars each year to avoidable scams.
- Be alert to red flags: urgent messages, unexpected requests for money or personal information, and unfamiliar callers.
- Visit our Education Center for prevention tools, sample call scripts, scam red flags, and step-by-step reporting guides.
- It’s never too early to ask questions. You are not alone. Help is available.
IV. Learn More: Vermont Scam Prevention Guides
Explore Vermont-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in Vermont — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in Vermont — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in Vermont — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in Vermont — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in Vermont — 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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