Senior Scam Prevention and Fraud Resources in Wyoming
Wyoming seniors reported $6 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 397 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides Wyoming-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: Wyoming’s Senior Population and Key Cities
As of 2024, Wyoming has a population of approximately 580,000, with around 106,000 residents aged 65 and older, making up 18.3% of the state’s total population. Wyoming’s wide rural landscape, low population density, and high rate of seniors living alone or in remote areas can make older adults particularly vulnerable to scams , especially those using phone, mail, and internet deception.
Wyoming presents a mixed picture in 2025: total losses were $5.9 million (#51 nationally), yet the state has the #15 highest per-capita victim rate. Two major categories decreased: investment scams fell 55% and romance scams dropped 53%. Meanwhile, lottery/sweepstakes surged 647% and government impersonation rose 212%. Rural isolation can delay detection, making awareness crucial.
The largest cities where senior scams are most frequently reported include:
- Cheyenne (approx. 65,000 people)
- Casper (approx. 58,000 people)
- Laramie (approx. 32,000 people)
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Wyoming’s Seniors
In 2025, Wyoming had 397 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $5,923,260 — up 49% in victims but down 32% in losses compared to 2024 (267 victims / $8.6M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $2,072,493 | $4,609,991 | -55% |
| Tech Support | $1,030,220 | $799,175 | +29% |
| Romance | $334,294 | $708,915 | -53% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $664,010 | $88,900 | +647% |
| Extortion | $15,461 | $31,459 | -51% |
| Government Impersonation | $122,400 | $39,270 | +212% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — Wyoming
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — Wyoming (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 181 | $4,498,432 | — | #40 |
| 2022 | 209 | $5,265,283 | +17% | #48 |
| 2023 | 190 | $5,689,358 | +8% | #48 |
| 2024 | 267 | $8,648,675 | +52% | #47 |
| 2025 | 397 | $5,923,260 | -32% | #51 |
| 5-Year Total | 1,244 | $30,025,008 | +32% (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 Wyoming Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Investment | 22 | $2,072,493 | $12,539,312 | +43% |
| Tech Support | 54 | $1,030,220 | $4,326,155 | +697% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | 11 | $664,010 | $1,728,087 | +2,732% |
| Personal Data Breach | 31 | $593,812 | $697,033 | +4,433% |
| Romance | 26 | $334,294 | $2,958,728 | -78% |
| BEC | 10 | $294,011 | $2,443,141 | -72% |
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: Wyoming’s elder fraud losses totaled $5.9 million in 2025, with 397 victims — up 49% in victim count but down 32% in losses from 2024. Two major categories decreased: investment scams fell 55% (from $4.6 million to $2.1 million) and romance scams dropped 53%. Lottery/sweepstakes surged 647% from $88.9K to $664K, and government impersonation rose 212%. Statewide, that comes to roughly one senior victim for every 1,480 Wyoming residents.
National context: Wyoming ranks #51 in total losses — second to last — but #15 in per-capita victim rate (67.56 per 100,000). This is one of the starkest contrasts between total and per-capita rankings of any state: Wyoming’s small population means that even modest victim counts translate to a high per-person rate. The fact that losses actually decreased 32% while victims increased 49% suggests scammers are extracting less money per incident, possibly because awareness campaigns are helping victims recognize fraud sooner.
For the full national picture, including how Wyoming 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. Cheyenne Police Department – Investigations Division
- Phone: (307) 637-6525 (non-emergency)
- Website: cheyennepd.org
- Handles elder fraud, identity theft, and scam complaints.
2. Casper Police Department – Fraud Reporting
- Phone: (307) 235-8278 (non-emergency)
- Website: casperwy.gov
- Responds to local reports of scams and financial exploitation.
3. Laramie Police Department – General Inquiries
- Phone: (307) 721-2526
- Website: cityoflaramie.org
- Contact to report suspicious financial activity and elder abuse.
FBI and Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Denver Field Office (covers Wyoming)
- Phone: (303) 629-7171
- Website: fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/denver
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use for reporting phishing, tech scams, financial fraud, and online threats.
Wyoming Attorney General – Consumer Protection
Consumer Protection Unit – Wyoming Attorney General’s Office
- Consumer Hotline: (307) 777-6397
- Website: ag.wyo.gov/law-office-division/consumer-protection-and-antitrust-unit
- Provides investigation and support for senior fraud, deceptive business practices, and scam recovery.
Statewide Elder Services and Medicare Fraud Support
Wyoming Adult Protective Services (APS)
- Report Abuse: (800) 457-3659
- Website: health.wyo.gov
- Investigates elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation statewide.
Wyoming Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (800) 856-4398
- Website: wysmp.org
- Assists with Medicare billing scams, fraud alerts, and education.
Wyoming Department of Health – Aging Division
- General Info: (800) 442-2766
- Website: dfs.wyo.gov/services/elderly-and-disabled/adult-protection-servicesaging
- Offers elder rights advocacy, caregiver resources, legal support, and fraud prevention.
Know the Signs. Take Action. Help Others.
- Wyoming seniors lose millions annually to fraud schemes, many of which start with a simple phone call or email.
- Always verify requests for money, personal data, or urgent payments , and talk to someone you trust before acting.
- Visit our Education Center for scam alerts, step-by-step response guides, and printable resources.
- Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, report it right away. You’re not alone.
Recent Wyoming scam news
Recent news coverage of scams affecting Wyoming seniors, updated from our alerts desk. Each item links to the original outlet; victims and defendants are kept anonymous.
Email scam hits Johnson County organizations
A Wyoming senior center and other local groups were hit by a fake proposal email that spread to their contacts.
Read at Buffalo Bulletin →$43 million lost to scammers in Wyoming in 2024
New figures show Wyoming residents lost about $43 million to scams in 2024, with older adults among the hardest hit.
Read at Buffalo Bulletin →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 →Inside one senior center's fight against scams: 'Stop, Think, Verify'
The National Council on Aging profiles a Florida senior center's approach to fraud prevention, built around a simple habit: stop, think, verify before responding to any unexpected call, text, or email. Staff describe cases where an older adult lost nearly a lifetime of savings before family stepped in to help monitor the accounts, and use real examples to teach a short list of universal red flags: pressure to act immediately, a supposed relative in an emergency, a government agency demanding payment, a prize that requires a fee, requests for sensitive information, or threats of legal trouble. Their core message: a bank will never tell you to buy gift cards, and the IRS will never ask you to buy Apple gift cards to settle a debt. Other safeguards recommended include freezing your credit, setting up account alerts, and avoiding links or phone numbers you did not look up yourself.
Read at National Council on Aging →IV. Learn More: Wyoming Scam Prevention Guides
Explore Wyoming-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in Wyoming — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in Wyoming — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in Wyoming — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in Wyoming — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in Wyoming — 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 Wyoming compares. Curious where Wyoming 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.