Senior Scam Prevention and Fraud Resources in West Virginia
West Virginia seniors reported $19 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 931 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides West Virginia-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: West Virginia’s Senior Population and Key Cities
As of 2024, West Virginia has a population of approximately 1.75 million, with over 360,000 residents aged 65 and older , accounting for roughly 20.6% of the population. This ranks West Virginia among the top five states with the highest percentage of older adults.
Due to the state’s largely rural makeup, seniors in West Virginia face heightened vulnerability to online fraud. In 2025, investment scams were by far the biggest threat, accounting for $6.3 million — a staggering 818% increase from 2024. Romance scams ($4.0 million) and tech support fraud ($3.3 million) rounded out the top three. Limited digital literacy and geographic isolation can make older adults especially vulnerable, but awareness, connection, and reporting can stop the cycle.
The top three cities where elder-focused scam reports are most common include:
- Charleston (approx. 48,000 people)
- Huntington (approx. 46,000 people)
- Morgantown (approx. 31,000 people)
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted West Virginia’s Seniors
In 2025, West Virginia had 931 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $18,953,441 — up 57% in victims and 227% in losses compared to 2024 (593 victims / $6M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $6,270,768 | $683,320 | +818% |
| Tech Support | $3,271,772 | $770,600 | +325% |
| Romance | $3,969,190 | $1,336,635 | +197% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $327,425 | $29,140 | +1,024% |
| Extortion | $100,205 | $18,270 | +448% |
| Government Impersonation | $1,189,120 | $804,125 | +48% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — West Virginia
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — West Virginia (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 335 | $2,577,741 | — | #50 |
| 2022 | 340 | $4,460,124 | +73% | #49 |
| 2023 | 387 | $11,829,114 | +165% | #39 |
| 2024 | 593 | $5,790,439 | -51% | #50 |
| 2025 | 931 | $18,953,441 | +227% | #44 |
| 5-Year Total | 2,586 | $43,610,859 | +635% (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 West Virginia Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Investment | 41 | $6,270,768 | $9,367,720 | +2,785% |
| Romance | 101 | $3,969,190 | $12,669,019 | +278% |
| Tech Support | 129 | $3,271,772 | $6,726,550 | +601% |
| Gov. Impersonation | 59 | $1,189,120 | $2,349,070 | +118,812% |
| Personal Data Breach | 50 | $419,474 | $904,053 | +6,454% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | 35 | $327,425 | $1,055,314 | +229% |
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: West Virginia saw one of the sharpest year-over-year increases in the country — total losses surged 227%, from $5.8 million in 2024 to nearly $19 million in 2025. Every single crime category increased. Investment fraud exploded by 818%, rising from $683,000 to $6.3 million and now accounting for one-third of all losses in the state. Romance scams nearly tripled. Statewide, that comes to roughly one senior victim for every 1,901 West Virginia residents.
National context: West Virginia ranks #44 out of 52 states and territories by total loss, reflecting its smaller population. However, the 227% year-over-year increase is among the highest in the nation, suggesting that scammers are increasingly targeting rural and smaller states where victims may have fewer resources and support networks. For comparison, the national average increase was 57%. West Virginia’s growth rate was four times the national average.
For the full national picture, including how West Virginia 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. Charleston Police Department – Investigations Division
- Phone: (304) 348-6400 (non-emergency)
- Website: charlestonwv.gov
- Contact for scam, identity theft, or elder financial fraud reports.
2. Huntington Police Department – Financial Crimes
- Phone: (304) 696-4470 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.cityofhuntington.com
- Ask for financial crimes or fraud reporting support.
3. Morgantown Police Department – General Inquiries
- Phone: (304) 284-7522 (non-emergency)
- Website: morgantownwv.gov
- Report scams, phishing attempts, or elder abuse.
FBI and Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Pittsburgh Field Office (serving West Virginia)
- Phone: (412) 432-4000
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/pittsburgh
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use to report phishing, online scams, and digital fraud targeting older adults.
West Virginia Attorney General – Elder Fraud and Consumer Protection
Office of the West Virginia Attorney General – Consumer Protection Division
- Consumer Protection Hotline: (800) 368-8808
- Website: ago.wv.gov
- Provides assistance for scam victims, elder fraud reporting, and complaint resolution.
Statewide Elder Services and Medicare Fraud Support
West Virginia Adult Protective Services (APS)
- APS Hotline: (800) 352-6513
- Website: dhhr.wv.gov
- Investigates elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.
West Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (855) 254-1720
- Website: www.wvship.org
- Supports seniors in identifying and reporting Medicare billing fraud and ID theft.
West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services
- General Info Line: (877) 987-3646
- Website: www.wvseniorservices.gov
- Offers legal assistance, caregiver support, fraud education, and elder rights advocacy.
Act Early. Protect Yourself and Others.
- West Virginia seniors lose millions of dollars each year to scams , but early reporting can stop the harm.
- Save these contacts, share them with others, and don’t hesitate to ask for help.
- Visit our Education Center for practical tools, scam red flags, and how to respond safely.
- If in doubt, slow down and verify. Never share personal information with someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
Recent West Virginia scam news
Recent news coverage of scams affecting West Virginia seniors, updated from our alerts desk. Each item links to the original outlet; victims and defendants are kept anonymous.
West Virginia deputies warn that scammers may record a senior's voice to fake calls to family and banks
Law enforcement officials in Taylor County, West Virginia visited a local senior center this week to warn residents about a rise in scams, including romance schemes, government impersonation, and tech support cons. Officials said scammers now use spoofing apps to mirror real phone numbers and names, and warned that if a scammer keeps someone on the phone long enough, they may record the person's voice and later use AI to imitate them in calls to family members or a bank. The advice: never share personal or financial information on an unexpected call, keep any conversation with a suspected scammer short, and slow down to verify by calling the agency or family member back using a number you look up yourself.
Read at WV News (Mountain Statesman) →WV officials warn of new cybersecurity threat
West Virginia officials warn that fake government websites are being used to steal logins, with seniors at high risk.
Read at WVNS →Elder scams on the rise; Beckley police share how not to fall victim
Police in Beckley, West Virginia warn that elder scams are rising and offer tips to help seniors avoid them.
Read at WOAY-TV →New federal bill would let banks hold transactions up to 90 days to stop wire fraud against seniors
A member of Congress has introduced the Protecting Elders from Wire Fraud Act, which would let banks place a hold of up to 90 days on a transaction leaving a senior's account when financial exploitation is suspected, giving time to determine whether the transaction is legitimate. The bill would also require financial institutions to notify a trusted contact associated with the account when a hold is placed, and it would give banks safe harbor from liability when they act in good faith to prevent a suspected scam. Supporters point to FTC data showing $334 million lost to wire fraud in 2025. The bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process, with no funding details, effective date, or committee action yet reported. The takeaway for families: ask your own bank whether it already offers a trusted-contact option or a hold policy for suspicious transactions, since these tools are becoming more common even before any new federal law passes.
Read at Antelope Valley Press →IRS warns of rising senior scams ahead of National Grandparents Day
Ahead of National Grandparents Day, the IRS and federal investigators are warning that scams targeting older adults keep evolving. In "grandparent scams," callers pose as a grandchild claiming to be hospitalized, in an accident, or under arrest, demanding money right away and pressuring the victim not to contact police or other family members to check the story. In a newer twist on romance scams, criminals target widows and widowers on dating sites, build a relationship over time, then claim an overseas emergency, sometimes using AI to alter their voice or appearance on video calls; victims never meet them in person and only ever send money. Common warning signs across both: contact you did not initiate, requests for personal or financial information, and pressure to act immediately. If you get a call or message like this, slow down, hang up, call the family member directly using a number you already have, and never send money or personal information based on an unverified emergency claim. Report suspected fraud to the National Elder Fraud Hotline, the FBI's IC3.gov, or the DOJ's Elder Justice Initiative.
Read at KATV →Seven Medicare fraud red flags to watch for after CMS blocked $1.6 billion in improper payments
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says enforcement actions have stopped more than $1.6 billion in potentially improper Medicare laboratory payments, part of a broader crackdown on Medicare billing fraud. Consumer red flags to watch for include: someone asking for your Medicare number in exchange for a "free" test or product, a lab test or medical equipment showing up that you never ordered, a caller claiming Medicare "wants" you to get something, anyone offering cash, gift cards, or other perks for your Medicare information, a statement listing a diagnosis or service that doesn't make sense, or pressure to ask your doctor for something you don't need. The advice: compare your Medicare claims against your own appointment calendar and receipts, review your Medicare Summary Notice regularly, check your claims through your secure Medicare account online, and report anything suspicious to 1-800-MEDICARE or your state's Senior Medicare Patrol.
Read at Saving Advice →IV. Learn More: West Virginia Scam Prevention Guides
Explore West Virginia-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in West Virginia — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in West Virginia — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in West Virginia — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in West Virginia — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in West Virginia — 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 West Virginia compares. Curious where West Virginia 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.