Senior Scam Prevention & Fraud Resources in New Jersey
New Jersey seniors reported $250 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 4,111 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides New Jersey-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: New Jersey’s Senior Population & Key Cities
New Jersey has an estimated population of 9.3 million as of 2024, with approximately 1.6 million residents aged 65 and older, making up about 17.2% of the state’s total population. The state’s older adults are frequently targeted by increasingly sophisticated cyber scams — including phishing, Medicare fraud, impersonation calls, romance schemes, and tech support hoaxes.
New Jersey’s largest cities — all home to significant senior populations and frequent reports of elder fraud — include:
- Newark (approx. 310,000 people)
- Jersey City (approx. 295,000 people)
- Paterson (approx. 160,000 people)
These densely populated areas see persistent and growing scam activity. In 2025, New Jersey seniors lost $250 million to fraud, up 87% from 2024. Investment scams doubled to $134 million (+103%), romance scams nearly doubled (+97%), and government impersonation surged 160%. On the positive side, lottery/sweepstakes dropped 77% and extortion fell 72%.
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted New Jersey’s Seniors
In 2025, New Jersey had 4,111 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $249,808,786 — up 41% in victims and 87% in losses compared to 2024 (2,918 victims / $133M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $133,882,701 | $65,981,098 | +103% |
| Tech Support | $27,447,012 | $19,536,766 | +40% |
| Romance | $15,297,784 | $7,758,146 | +97% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $2,710,665 | $11,954,342 | -77% |
| Extortion | $183,201 | $656,040 | -72% |
| Government Impersonation | $10,153,588 | $3,899,187 | +160% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — New Jersey
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — New Jersey (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 2,270 | $62,733,009 | — | #5 |
| 2022 | 2,368 | $92,712,866 | +48% | #6 |
| 2023 | 2,048 | $104,057,085 | +12% | #8 |
| 2024 | 2,920 | $133,505,497 | +28% | #10 |
| 2025 | 4,111 | $249,808,786 | +87% | #6 |
| 5-Year Total | 13,717 | $642,817,243 | +298% (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 New Jersey Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Investment | 465 | $133,882,701 | $297,687,169 | +924% |
| BEC | 161 | $29,557,303 | $57,302,521 | New |
| Tech Support | 580 | $27,447,012 | $101,839,762 | +176% |
| Romance | 231 | $15,297,784 | $36,264,797 | New |
| Gov. Impersonation | 270 | $10,153,588 | $28,271,480 | +1,428% |
| Personal Data Breach | 308 | $9,997,089 | $25,340,585 | +84% |
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: New Jersey ranks #6 nationally in total elder fraud losses at $250 million, up 87% from $133 million in 2024, with 4,111 seniors victimized (+41%). Investment scams doubled to $134 million, now accounting for 54% of all losses. Government impersonation surged 160% to $10 million. Two categories saw significant decreases: lottery/sweepstakes dropped 77% (from $12 million to $2.7 million) and extortion fell 72% — a pattern seen in only a few states. Approximately 1 in every 2,312 New Jersey residents aged 60+ reported being a victim.
National context: New Jersey ranks #6 in total losses but only #43 in per-capita victim rate (43.27 per 100,000) — one of the widest gaps in the country. An individual New Jersey senior is less likely to be targeted than those in 42 other states, despite the state’s enormous total losses. The 77% lottery/sweepstakes decline suggests targeted enforcement or awareness efforts may be working. The 87% overall loss increase exceeds the national average of 57%.
For the full national picture, including how New Jersey compares to every other state, visit our national hub page with interactive data and rankings.
III. Emergency & Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Financial & Elder Crime Assistance
1. Newark Police Division – Economic Crimes Unit
- Phone: (973) 733-6000 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.newarkpublicsafety.org
- Tip: Ask for Financial Crimes or Fraud Investigations for elder scams.
2. Jersey City Police Department – Investigations Bureau
- Phone: (201) 547-5477 (non-emergency)
- Website: jerseycitynj.gov
- Request support for fraud or elder abuse complaints.
3. Paterson Police Department – Fraud Reporting
- Phone: (973) 321-1111 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.patersonnj.gov
- Ask for assistance reporting identity theft or elder-targeted financial crimes.
FBI & Federal Reporting Resources
FBI Newark Field Office
- Phone: (973) 792-3000
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/newark
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- File online reports for phishing, impersonation, investment scams, or romance fraud.
New Jersey Attorney General – Consumer & Elder Protection
Office of the New Jersey Attorney General – Division of Consumer Affairs
- Senior Fraud Hotline: (800) 242-5846
- General Consumer Help: (973) 504-6200
- Website: www.njconsumeraffairs.gov
- Offers complaint forms, scam alerts, and elder-focused protection resources.
Statewide Elder Protection & Medicare Fraud Services
New Jersey Adult Protective Services (APS)
- To report elder abuse or exploitation:
Call your local County Board of Social Services, or - State APS Info: www.nj.gov/humanservices/doas/services/aps
New Jersey Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (877) 767-4359
- Website: www.seniormedicarepatrolnj.org
- Supports seniors in recognizing and reporting Medicare fraud and billing scams.
NJ Department of Human Services – Division of Aging Services
- Aging and Disability Resource Line: (877) 222-3737
- Website: www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas
- Connects seniors and caregivers to local protective programs, legal aid, and scam prevention help.
Stay Safe with Knowledge and Action
- New Jersey seniors lose millions annually to scams — but early reporting stops fraud and protects others.
- Share these contacts with older loved ones, neighbors, or caregivers.
- Visit our Education Center to explore scam examples, red flags, and how to respond.
- Don’t ignore your instincts. When in doubt, report it.
IV. Learn More: New Jersey Scam Prevention Guides
Explore New Jersey-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in New Jersey — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in New Jersey — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in New Jersey — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in New Jersey — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in New Jersey — 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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