Protecting Pennsylvania Seniors from Government Impersonation Scams
Government impersonation scams are surging nationwide, and Pennsylvania seniors are not immune. In 2025, 416 older adults in Pennsylvania reported government impersonation fraud to the FBI. Scammers pose as officials from the IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare, or law enforcement to frighten seniors into sending money or revealing personal information.
Why Pennsylvania Seniors Are Targeted
Pennsylvania’s population and culture create specific vulnerabilities that government impersonation scammers exploit:
- Large aging population: Pennsylvania has the 5th-largest 65+ population in the nation, with over 2.4 million seniors
- Steel and coal retirees: Pennsylvania’s legacy industrial workforce created a generation of retirees with pensions and 401(k)s that attract investment scammers
- Rural Appalachian isolation: Central and western Pennsylvania include remote Appalachian communities with limited broadband and few local fraud resources
- Cold winters: Long Pennsylvania winters keep seniors homebound for months, increasing exposure to phone calls, emails, and online scams
- Urban-rural divide: While Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have resources, most of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are rural with limited consumer protection access
5-Year Trend: Government Impersonation Scam Losses in Pennsylvania (2021–2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Losses | YoY Change |
| 2021 | 111 | $3.7M | — |
| 2022 | 172 | $6.8M | +84% |
| 2023 | 138 | $7.0M | +2% |
| 2024 | 303 | $8.7M | +26% |
| 2025 | 416 | $10.7M | +22% |
| 5-Year Total | 1,140 | $36.9M | +187% |
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Annual Reports, 2021–2025. Victims and losses for Pennsylvania residents aged 60 and older.
Pennsylvania ranks #11 nationally in government impersonation scam losses targeting seniors, with $10.7 million lost in 2025 across 416 reported victims. That represents 2.5% of all U.S. government impersonation scam losses against older adults. Year over year, losses changed +22%, outperforming the national average of +95%. Over the full five-year period, government impersonation scam losses in Pennsylvania grew +187%.
Complete guide: For detailed warning signs, protection strategies, and what to do if you’ve been targeted, read our comprehensive Government Impersonation Scam Prevention Guide. You can also take our free Online Training courses to test your knowledge.
Report Government Impersonation Scams in Pennsylvania
- Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General: (717) 787-3391 | attorneygeneral.gov
- Social Security OIG: oig.ssa.gov
- IRS: irs.gov/report-phishing
- FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- FBI IC3: ic3.gov
- Pennsylvania Adult Protective Services: (800) 490-8505
Free Training Available
Take our free online course to learn more about protecting yourself from government impersonation scams:
→ Start Government Impersonation Scam Awareness Training (Module 5)