Protecting California Seniors from Investment Scams
Investment fraud is the costliest scam type targeting American seniors, and California is no exception. In 2025, 2,561 California seniors aged 60 and older reported investment scam complaints to the FBI. With total elder fraud losses in the state reaching $1.4 billion, protecting retirement savings has never been more critical.
Why California Seniors Are Especially Vulnerable
Several factors unique to California put seniors at heightened risk for investment fraud:
- 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: Investment Scam Losses in California (2021–2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Losses | YoY Change |
| 2021 | 375 | $57.1M | — |
| 2022 | 871 | $252.7M | +343% |
| 2023 | 1,164 | $291.8M | +16% |
| 2024 | 1,640 | $350.5M | +20% |
| 2025 | 2,561 | $679.0M | +94% |
| 5-Year Total | 6,611 | $1631.0M | +1090% |
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 investment scam losses targeting seniors, with $679.0 million lost in 2025 across 2,561 reported victims. That represents 19.9% of all U.S. investment scam losses against older adults. Year over year, losses surged +94% — significantly faster than the national average of +83%. Over the full five-year period, investment scam losses in California grew +1090%.
Complete guide: For detailed warning signs, protection strategies, and what to do if you’ve been targeted, read our comprehensive Investment Scam Prevention Guide. You can also take our free Online Training courses to test your knowledge.
Report Investment Fraud in California
- Office of the California Attorney General: (916) 445-9555 | oag.ca.gov
- SEC: sec.gov/tcr
- FINRA: (844) 574-3577 | brokercheck.finra.org
- FBI IC3: ic3.gov
Free Training Available
Take our free online course to learn more about protecting yourself from investment scams:
→ Start Investment Scam Awareness Training (Module 3)