Senior Scam Prevention & Fraud Resources in Maryland

I. Overview: Maryland’s Senior Population & Key Cities

State of Maryland

Maryland has an estimated population of 6.2 million as of 2024, with approximately 1.1 million residents aged 65 and older, making up about 17.7% of the state’s population. With its mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas, Maryland’s seniors face a variety of scams ranging from digital fraud and robocalls to government impersonation and health-related scams.

The state’s largest cities, with high concentrations of older adults and consistent reports of elder fraud, include:

  • Baltimore (approx. 570,000 people)
  • Columbia (approx. 105,000 people)
  • Germantown (approx. 91,000 people)

These areas are common targets for financial exploitation, especially online scams that prey on seniors’ trust and technology gaps. Maryland’s government agencies have strong programs in place to support prevention and reporting.

II. 2024 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Maryland’s Seniors

In 2024, Maryland had 3,231 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $80,128,654.

Loss by Crime Type

Crime TypeLoss Amount
Investment$37,370,364
Tech Support$12,682,941
Government Impersonation$3,148,819
Romance$4,424,939

III. Emergency & Official Contacts

Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud & Financial Crimes

1. Baltimore Police Department – Financial & Cyber Crimes Unit

  • Phone: (410) 396-2525 (non-emergency)
  • Website: www.baltimorepolice.org
  • Tip: Ask for Economic Crimes or Fraud Unit for elder-targeted scams.

2. Howard County Police Department (Columbia)

  • Phone: (410) 313-2200 (non-emergency)
  • Website: www.howardcountymd.gov/police
  • Request connection to Financial Crimes or Community Outreach.

3. Montgomery County Police Department (Germantown)

  • Phone: (301) 279-8000 (non-emergency)
  • Website: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/pol
  • Ask for financial fraud or elder abuse reporting channels.

 FBI & Federal Reporting Tools

FBI Baltimore Field Office

  • Phone: (410) 265-8080
  • Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/baltimore

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

  • Website: www.ic3.gov
  • File reports of online scams, financial fraud, impersonation, or elder-targeted cybercrime.

 Maryland Attorney General – Elder Fraud & Abuse

Maryland Attorney General’s Office – Consumer Protection Division

  • Senior Fraud Helpline: (410) 576-6500
  • Toll-Free Consumer Hotline: (888) 743-0023
  • Website: www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov
  • Provides investigation, complaint handling, and education on scams and elder abuse.

 Statewide Elder Support & Medicare Fraud Resources

Maryland Adult Protective Services (APS)

  • To report elder abuse, exploitation, or neglect:
    Contact your local Department of Social Services, or
  • Statewide Info: dhs.maryland.gov/adult-services

Maryland Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)

  • Phone: (800) 243-3425
  • Website: www.marylandsmp.org
  • Helps seniors identify and report Medicare fraud, billing scams, and healthcare deception.

Maryland Department of Aging – Information & Assistance

  • Senior Help Line: (844) 627-5465
  • Website: aging.maryland.gov
  • Connects older adults to support services, protection programs, and benefits counseling.

 Stay Informed. Stay Safe.

  • Maryland seniors are losing millions of dollars annually to online and phone scams, but you can help stop it.
  • Save and share these official contacts with friends, caregivers, and loved ones.
  • Visit our Education Center to learn how to detect scams early and respond with confidence.
  • If something feels wrong, speak up. Reporting protects you and others.
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