Protecting California Seniors from Government Impersonation Scams
Government impersonation scams are surging nationwide, and California seniors are not immune. In 2025, 1,470 older adults in California reported government impersonation fraud to the FBI. Scammers pose as officials from the IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare, or law enforcement to frighten seniors into sending money or revealing personal information.
Why California Seniors Are Targeted
California’s population and culture create specific vulnerabilities that government impersonation scammers exploit:
- Largest senior population: California has over 6 million residents aged 65+, giving scammers the largest target pool in the nation
- Extreme wealth concentration: Silicon Valley, Hollywood, and coastal real estate create high-value retirees who are prime targets for investment and tech support scams
- Diverse immigrant communities: California’s large immigrant senior population faces language barriers and is targeted with scams in Mandarin, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Korean
- Wildfire and disaster vulnerability: Seniors in fire-prone areas are targeted by scammers posing as FEMA, insurance adjusters, and disaster relief organizations
- Tech industry false confidence: Proximity to Silicon Valley gives some seniors overconfidence in their tech savvy, making them less cautious with suspicious links and popups
5-Year Trend: Government Impersonation Scam Losses in California (2021–2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Losses | YoY Change |
| 2021 | 370 | $15.6M | — |
| 2022 | 378 | $14.2M | -9% |
| 2023 | 513 | $46.0M | +225% |
| 2024 | 707 | $43.9M | -5% |
| 2025 | 1,470 | $118.9M | +171% |
| 5-Year Total | 3,438 | $238.5M | +660% |
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Annual Reports, 2021–2025. Victims and losses for California residents aged 60 and older.
California ranks #1 nationally in government impersonation scam losses targeting seniors, with $118.9 million lost in 2025 across 1,470 reported victims. That represents 27.8% of all U.S. government impersonation scam losses against older adults. Year over year, losses surged +171% — significantly faster than the national average of +95%. Over the full five-year period, government impersonation scam losses in California grew +660%.
Complete guide: For detailed warning signs, protection strategies, and what to do if you’ve been targeted, read our comprehensive Government Impersonation Scam Prevention Guide. You can also take our free Online Training courses to test your knowledge.
Report Government Impersonation Scams in California
- Office of the California Attorney General: (916) 445-9555 | oag.ca.gov
- Social Security OIG: oig.ssa.gov
- IRS: irs.gov/report-phishing
- FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- FBI IC3: ic3.gov
- California Adult Protective Services: (833) 401-0832
Free Training Available
Take our free online course to learn more about protecting yourself from government impersonation scams:
→ Start Government Impersonation Scam Awareness Training (Module 5)