Senior Scam Prevention & Fraud Resources in Kentucky
Kentucky seniors reported $64 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 2,127 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides Kentucky-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: Kentucky’s Senior Population & Key Cities
As of 2024, Kentucky has a population of approximately 4.5 million, with over 820,000 residents aged 65 and older, representing around 18.2% of the total population. As this number grows, so does the risk of scams targeting seniors, especially those involving Medicare fraud, romance scams, government impersonation, and tech support hoaxes.
The top three cities with significant senior populations and consistent scam reports are:
- Louisville (approx. 620,000 people)
- Lexington (approx. 325,000 people)
- Bowling Green (approx. 75,000 people)
Fraudsters are increasingly targeting Kentucky’s seniors. In 2025, losses reached $64 million. Investment scams nearly tripled to $31 million (+180%), and tech support fraud surged 148% to $15 million. Lottery/sweepstakes exploded 996% from $45K to $489K. Quick access to trusted authorities and consumer protection services is essential.
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Kentucky’s Seniors
In 2025, Kentucky had 2,127 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $64,441,069 — up 59% in victims and 147% in losses compared to 2024 (1,336 victims / $26M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $30,703,914 | $10,957,450 | +180% |
| Tech Support | $14,904,656 | $6,006,877 | +148% |
| Romance | $4,834,830 | $3,936,767 | +23% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $489,293 | $44,634 | +996% |
| Extortion | $90,776 | $34,684 | +162% |
| Government Impersonation | $2,545,860 | $2,248,787 | +13% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — Kentucky
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — Kentucky (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 838 | $11,373,359 | — | #30 |
| 2022 | 937 | $22,494,352 | +98% | #31 |
| 2023 | 908 | $12,769,949 | -43% | #38 |
| 2024 | 1,336 | $26,139,251 | +105% | #36 |
| 2025 | 2,127 | $64,441,069 | +147% | #28 |
| 5-Year Total | 6,146 | $137,217,980 | +467% (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 Kentucky Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Investment | 146 | $30,703,914 | $60,854,185 | +2,193% |
| Tech Support | 261 | $14,904,656 | $26,473,298 | +993% |
| Romance | 167 | $4,834,830 | $13,760,373 | New |
| Gov. Impersonation | 154 | $2,545,860 | $5,536,174 | +752% |
| BEC | 33 | $1,172,830 | $4,102,643 | New |
| Personal Data Breach | 130 | $1,153,499 | $2,837,268 | +267% |
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: Kentucky’s elder fraud losses reached $64 million in 2025, with 2,127 seniors victimized. Investment scams nearly tripled from $11 million to $31 million (+180%), now accounting for 48% of all losses. Tech support fraud surged 148% to $15 million. Lottery/sweepstakes exploded 996% from just $45K to $489K — signaling a rapidly emerging threat. Romance scams grew a modest 23% and government impersonation just 13%. Approximately 1 in every 2,157 Kentucky residents aged 60+ reported being a victim.
National context: Kentucky ranks #28 in total losses and #39 in per-capita victim rate (46.36 per 100,000), below the national midpoint. The 180% investment fraud surge and 148% tech support increase both exceed national averages by wide margins, indicating Kentucky may be a growing target for these specific scam types. The 996% lottery/sweepstakes spike, while from a small base, is among the largest nationally.
For the full national picture, including how Kentucky compares to every other state, visit our national hub page with interactive data and rankings.
III. Emergency & Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud & Financial Crimes
1. Louisville Metro Police Department – Financial Crimes Unit
- Phone: (502) 574-2111 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.louisville-police.org
- Ask to speak with Financial Crimes about suspected scams or elder exploitation.
2. Lexington Police Department – Investigations Bureau
- Phone: (859) 258-3600 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.lexingtonky.gov
- Request help for scam reporting or elder financial abuse cases.
3. Bowling Green Police Department – Community Services
- Phone: (270) 393-4244 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.bgky.org/police
- Contact for assistance with elder fraud or online scam incidents.
FBI & Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Louisville Field Office
- Phone: (502) 263-6000
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/louisville
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use to report cybercrime, phishing, tech support fraud, and impersonation scams.
Kentucky Attorney General – Elder Fraud & Consumer Protection
Office of the Kentucky Attorney General – Consumer Protection Division
- Consumer Protection Hotline: (888) 432-9257
- Website: www.ag.ky.gov
- Offers complaint forms, scam alerts, and elder-focused fraud resources.
Statewide Elder Services & Medicare Fraud Assistance
Kentucky Adult Protective Services (APS)
- Report elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation:
APS Intake Line: (877) 597-2331 - Website: chfs.ky.gov
Kentucky Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (877) 603-6558
- Website: chfs.ky.gov
- Helps detect and report Medicare fraud and healthcare billing scams.
Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL)
- Info Line: (502) 564-6930
- Website: chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dail
- Offers legal assistance, caregiver support, and fraud education for seniors.
Stay Informed. Trust Your Instincts. Report Early.
- Kentucky seniors lose millions of dollars every year to scams, often because they go unreported.
- Share these resources with family, caregivers, churches, and senior centers.
- Visit our Education Center to learn how scams work, what red flags to watch for, and how to report securely.
- If something feels off, stop and verify before you respond. You are not alone.
IV. Learn More: Kentucky Scam Prevention Guides
Explore Kentucky-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in Kentucky — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in Kentucky — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in Kentucky — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in Kentucky — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in Kentucky — 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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