Senior Scam Prevention & Fraud Resources in California
California seniors reported $1.40 billion in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 22,157 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides California-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: California’s Elder Population and Key Cities
California is the most populous state in the United States, with an estimated population of 38.9 million as of 2024. Among these, approximately 6.6 million residents are aged 65 and older, representing around 17% of the total population. As the senior population grows rapidly due to demographic trends and longer lifespans, protecting older Californians from cybercrime and fraud becomes increasingly urgent.
The top three cities in California by population — and among the most affected by elder-targeted scams — are:
- Los Angeles (approx. 3.8 million people)
- San Diego (approx. 1.4 million people)
- San Jose (approx. 1.0 million people)
These urban centers not only have dense populations but also large communities of older adults, making them critical hubs for fraud prevention. In 2025, investment scams were the dominant threat, costing California seniors $679 million — nearly half of the state’s total losses. Tech support fraud ($170 million) and government impersonation ($119 million) followed, with every major crime category showing significant year-over-year growth.
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted California’s Seniors
In 2025, California had 22,157 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $1,403,975,911 — up 22% in victims and 69% in losses compared to 2024 (18,091 victims / $833M).
Source: FBI IC3 2025 Annual Report. California ranked #1 nationally for elder fraud losses with $1.4 billion — nearly double the #2 state (Florida, $710M). View national statistics.
Loss by Crime Type (2025 vs 2024)
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $678,989,713 | $350,458,561 | +94% |
| Tech Support | $169,531,132 | $191,067,028 | -11% |
| Government Impersonation | $118,886,430 | $43,867,529 | +171% |
| Confidence/Romance | $100,861,373 | $50,734,540 | +99% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $25,968,437 | $15,168,033 | +71% |
| Extortion | $7,345,315 | $1,865,664 | +294% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — California
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — California (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 10,913 | $319,971,186 | — | #1 |
| 2022 | 11,517 | $624,509,520 | +95% | #1 |
| 2023 | 11,620 | $644,353,620 | +3% | #1 |
| 2024 | 18,119 | $834,135,844 | +29% | #1 |
| 2025 | 22,157 | $1,403,975,911 | +68% | #1 |
| 5-Year Total | 74,326 | $3,826,946,081 | +339% (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 California Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Investment | 2,561 | $678,989,713 | $1,631,020,019 | +1,090% |
| Tech Support | 2,783 | $169,531,132 | $598,146,414 | +351% |
| BEC | 660 | $124,913,394 | $328,835,430 | New |
| Gov. Impersonation | 1,470 | $118,886,430 | $238,517,587 | +660% |
| Romance | 1,173 | $100,861,373 | $284,104,084 | New |
| Personal Data Breach | 1,496 | $50,590,818 | $170,697,596 | +100% |
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: California leads the nation in elder fraud losses by a wide margin — $1.4 billion in 2025, up 69% from $833 million in 2024. That is more than the next two states (Florida and Texas) combined. Over 22,000 California seniors were victimized, with investment scams alone accounting for $679 million. Approximately 1 in every 1,779 California residents aged 60+ reported being a victim.
National context: California ranks #1 in total losses but #28 out of 51 states in per-capita victim rate (56.19 per 100,000). This means that while California’s sheer size drives the highest dollar losses in the country, residents in states like Arizona, Nevada, and Alaska are actually more likely to be targeted on a per-person basis. California’s 69% year-over-year increase is above the national average of 57%.
For the full national picture, including how California compares to every other state, visit our national hub page with interactive data and rankings.
III. Emergency & Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud Contact Points
1. Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) – Elder Fraud Unit
- Phone: (877) 275-5273 (non-emergency, 24/7)
- Website: www.lapdonline.org
- Tip: Ask for the Financial Crimes Division or Elder Abuse Unit.
2. San Diego Police Department – Elder Abuse Unit
- Phone: (619) 531-2000 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.sandiego.gov/police
- Email: [email protected] (if available or confirmed)
3. San Jose Police Department – Financial Crimes Unit
- Phone: (408) 277-8900 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.sjpd.org
- Direct contact: Ask for “Elder Financial Abuse Investigator” through main line.
FBI & Federal Resources
FBI Los Angeles Field Office (for LA and surrounding areas)
- Phone: (310) 477-6565
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/losangeles
FBI San Diego Field Office
- Phone: (858) 320-1800
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/sandiego
Report Online Scams via IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Tip: File complaints on behalf of a loved one if needed.
State Attorney General – Elder Abuse & Fraud Protection
California Department of Justice – Elder Abuse & Fraud Division
- Consumer Protection Hotline: (800) 952-5225
- Website: www.oag.ca.gov/elder-abuse
This office offers:
- Legal guidance for financial abuse
- Investigative coordination with local law enforcement
- Victim support services for older adults
Other Useful Statewide Elder Assistance Lines
California Adult Protective Services (APS) 24/7 Hotline
- Phone: (833) 401-0832
- Prompt: Enter your ZIP code to be routed to local APS
Los Angeles County Elder Fraud Hotline (DA’s Office)
- Phone: (213) 257-2450
- Website: da.lacounty.gov
San Diego County Aging & Independence Services (AIS)
- Elder Abuse Reporting Line: (800) 510-2020
California Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) – Fraud Reporting
- Phone: (855) 613-7080
- Website: www.cahealthadvocates.org
What You Can Do
· Save these contacts somewhere safe.
· Call if you see any unusual financial activity, strange calls, or suspicious online behavior.
· Help a friend or family member report scams, action stops crime.
· Visit our Fraud Education Center for red flags, prevention tips, and reporting guides.
IV. Learn More: California Scam Prevention Guides
Explore California-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in California — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in California — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in California — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in California — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in California — 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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