Senior Scam Prevention & Fraud Resources in Florida
Florida seniors reported $710 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 17,147 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides Florida-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: Florida’s Senior Population & Key Cities
Florida has long been recognized as a retirement destination — and the numbers reflect it. As of 2024, Florida’s population is approximately 23.1 million, and more than 4.9 million residents are aged 65 and older, making up 21.2% of the state’s population — the highest percentage of seniors in the U.S.
This concentration of older adults makes Florida a prime target for scammers. In 2025, Florida seniors lost $710 million to fraud — an 83% increase from 2024. Investment scams led at $322 million (+110%), followed by tech support fraud ($122 million) and romance scams ($52 million). Government impersonation tripled to $25 million. Awareness and prevention are crucial across the state, especially in major population centers.
- Jacksonville (approx. 1.0 million people)
- Miami (approx. 450,000 city population; over 6 million in the metro area)
- Tampa (approx. 400,000 city population; 3 million in metro area)
These cities are home to large numbers of seniors and frequent fraud activity, including tech support scams, investment fraud, romance scams, and Medicare phishing attempts.
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Florida’s Seniors
In 2025, Florida had 17,147 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $709,823,172 — up 44% in victims and 83% in losses compared to 2024 (11,903 victims / $388M).
Source: FBI IC3 2025 Annual Report. Florida ranked #2 nationally for elder fraud losses. View national statistics.
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $322,464,043 | $153,438,979 | +110% |
| Tech Support | $122,218,354 | $73,817,666 | +66% |
| Romance | $52,066,239 | $36,522,146 | +43% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $10,252,156 | $5,234,531 | +96% |
| Extortion | $1,544,963 | $1,652,720 | -7% |
| Government Impersonation | $24,984,669 | $8,230,216 | +204% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — Florida
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — Florida (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 8,136 | $168,233,094 | — | #2 |
| 2022 | 8,480 | $327,414,114 | +95% | #2 |
| 2023 | 8,141 | $293,878,430 | -10% | #2 |
| 2024 | 11,903 | $388,462,628 | +32% | #3 |
| 2025 | 17,147 | $709,823,172 | +83% | #2 |
| 5-Year Total | 53,807 | $1,887,811,438 | +322% (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 Florida Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Investment | 1,750 | $322,464,043 | $706,674,641 | +1,196% |
| Tech Support | 2,062 | $122,218,354 | $329,026,720 | +435% |
| Romance | 1,019 | $52,066,239 | $215,320,761 | +10% |
| Personal Data Breach | 1,294 | $48,776,244 | $126,573,981 | +217% |
| BEC | 444 | $46,715,688 | $188,980,831 | +47% |
| Gov. Impersonation | 1,016 | $24,984,669 | $63,061,255 | +740% |
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: Florida ranks #2 nationally in total elder fraud losses at $710 million, up 83% from $388 million in 2024. Over 17,100 seniors were victimized — more than any state except California. Investment fraud more than doubled (+110%), and government impersonation surged 204%. Notably, lottery and sweepstakes scams nearly doubled as well, rising 96%. Statewide, that comes to roughly one senior victim for every 1,363 Florida residents.
National context: Florida ranks #7 in per-capita victim rate (73.36 per 100,000) — significantly above the national average. With nearly 5 million residents over 65 and its reputation as a retirement destination, Florida remains one of the most heavily targeted states. The 83% year-over-year loss increase well exceeds the national average of 57%.
For the full national picture, including how Florida compares to every other state, visit our national hub page with interactive data and rankings.
III. Emergency & Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud Units
1. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office – Economic Crimes Unit
- Phone: (904) 630-0500 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.jaxsheriff.org
- Tip: Request Economic Crimes Unit for elder financial fraud reporting.
2. Miami Police Department – Fraud Division
- Phone: (305) 603-6640 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.miami-police.org
- Tip: Ask for assistance with elder scams or cyber fraud.
3. Tampa Police Department – Economic Crimes Section
- Phone: (813) 276-3200 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.tampa.gov/police
- Ask to be connected to the fraud investigations team.
FBI & Federal Support
FBI Miami Field Office
- Phone: (754) 703-2000
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/miami
FBI Tampa Field Office
- Phone: (813) 253-1000
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/tampa
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use for online scam reporting by seniors or family members.
Florida Attorney General – Elder Fraud & Abuse Division
Office of the Florida Attorney General – Senior Protection Team
- Fraud Hotline: (866) 966-7226
- Website: www.myfloridalegal.com/consumer-protection/senior-protection
This dedicated team works on:
- Investigating scams targeting seniors
- Coordinating with local and federal agencies
- Consumer education and outreach
Additional Elder Assistance & Reporting Contacts
Stop Elderly Scams
Email: [email protected]
Website: stopelderlyscams.com
Florida Adult Protective Services (APS) – 24/7 Elder Abuse Hotline
- Phone: (800) 962-2873
- Website: www.myflfamilies.com
Miami-Dade Elder Fraud Hotline (State Attorney’s Office)
- Phone: (305) 324-2962
- Website: www.miamisao.com
Florida Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (800) 963-5337
- Website: www.floridashine.org
Elder Helpline – Area Agencies on Aging
- Phone: (800) 96-ELDER (800-963-5337)
- Helps locate local services and legal support across all counties.
Be Informed, Be Ready
- Keep these numbers posted near your phone or saved on your mobile device.
- Never be afraid to report suspicious emails, calls, texts, or money requests.
- Florida seniors lose hundreds of millions of dollars annually to scams, but many frauds are stopped early thanks to you reporting them.
- Visit our Education Hub to learn how scams work and how to fight back.
Recent Florida scam news
Recent news coverage of scams affecting Florida seniors, updated from our alerts desk. Each item links to the original outlet; victims and defendants are kept anonymous.
Bradenton, Florida police break down the 'Five P's of Fraud' seniors should know
Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit, a specialized team formed in early 2024 that focuses only on financial crimes against residents 60 and older, is teaching Suncoast seniors to recognize the 'Five P's of Fraud': scammers Pretend to be a trusted organization, claim a Problem exists, dangle a Prize, apply Pressure to act immediately, and specify how to Pay. The unit has investigated cases totaling more than $11.4 million in losses to Bradenton seniors in 2024 and 2025, and says cryptocurrency scams are a growing threat because that money can be difficult or impossible to recover. The department has put together a free, large-print resource guide available at bradentonpd.com. If any of the Five P's shows up in a call, text, or visit, slow down and verify before doing anything.
Read at WWSB / MySuncoast →Florida warning: fake bank employees are visiting homes to 'collect' debit cards
In Palm Beach County, Florida, an older woman got a call from someone claiming to be with her bank, who said a representative would come to her home because of suspected fraud on her account. A man in business attire arrived, said he needed to collect her debit card to protect it, cut it up in front of her, and had her sign an envelope, but nearly $2,400 had already been withdrawn from her account by the time she checked with her actual bank branch. A real bank will never send someone to your home to collect a card, so if you get a call like this, hang up and go to your bank in person or call a number you look up yourself. Scammers may already know details about you or your family to sound convincing, so treat any unexpected, urgent request as a red flag and check it with someone you trust before acting.
Read at WPBF →Florida elder-law and aging advocates share eight ways seniors can guard their savings
Southwest Florida elder-law attorneys and aging-services advocates are sharing practical ways older adults can protect their retirement savings, prompted in part by a case in which a woman was deceived by someone posing as a well-known TV actor in a romance scam. Their advice includes pausing to verify before sending money, watching bank and property records for unauthorized activity, staying socially connected since isolation increases vulnerability, having a trusted person review any contract before signing, and setting up powers of attorney and other legal protections early. Free help is available through legal aid and local Area Agency on Aging offices for anyone who wants a second opinion before signing something or sending money.
Read at Florida Weekly →Alachua County, Florida sheriff warns of rising scams using AI voices and fake photos
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office in Florida is warning residents, more than half of local scam victims are 60 or older, about callers who impersonate law enforcement, courts, or the IRS and use AI-generated photos or manipulated audio to sound more convincing. These callers pressure people to pay in cash, gold, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to avoid a supposed arrest or fine. Real law enforcement will show up in person for legal matters and never asks for payment that way, so the safe move is to slow down, hang up, and verify by calling the sheriff's office back on a number you look up yourself.
Read at Mainstreet Daily News →Scammers took $300,000 from a Florida woman, then called back for another $30,000
Scammers stole $300,000 from a Florida woman by phone, then called back demanding another $30,000 from the same victim.
Read at MSN →Florida deputies: cash 'couriers' helped scammers drain $3.5 million from 40-plus older victims
Manatee County investigators say scammers posed as FBI or FTC agents, told older residents they faced an emergency, and sent couriers to collect cash and gold from their homes, taking more than $3.5 million from over 40 victims across Florida. Real agencies never demand cash or send someone to pick it up; slow down and verify using a phone number you look up yourself.
Read at AOL →IV. Learn More: Florida Scam Prevention Guides
Explore Florida-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in Florida — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in Florida — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in Florida — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in Florida — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in Florida — 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 Florida compares. Curious where Florida 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.