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 (11,902 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 | $26,466,856 | -61% |
| Extortion | $1,544,963 | $397,232 | +289% |
| 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: $1.6B (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 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 | $168,154,076 | New |
| Personal Data Breach | 1,294 | $48,776,244 | $126,573,981 | +217% |
| BEC | 444 | $46,715,688 | $157,107,493 | New |
| 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/sweepstakes scams actually decreased 61%, one of the few bright spots. Approximately 1 in every 1,363 Florida residents aged 60+ reported being victimized.
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/elder
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: (786) 687-6550
- 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.
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.
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