Senior Scam Prevention & Fraud Resources in Wisconsin
Wisconsin seniors reported $92 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 3,014 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides Wisconsin-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: Wisconsin’s Senior Population & Key Cities
As of 2024, Wisconsin has an estimated population of 5.9 million, with over 1.2 million residents aged 65 and older, accounting for approximately 20.3% of the total population. The state’s rapidly aging population makes older Wisconsinites increasingly vulnerable to scams involving Medicare fraud, phishing, fake tech support, grandparent schemes, and financial exploitation.
The top three cities in Wisconsin — where a large number of seniors live and report scams — are:
- Milwaukee (approx. 570,000 people)
- Madison (approx. 280,000 people)
- Green Bay (approx. 110,000 people)
These cities see growing elder fraud losses. In 2025, Wisconsin seniors lost $92 million to fraud. Investment scams nearly tripled to $44 million (+175%), and lottery/sweepstakes surged 702% from $165K to $1.3 million. Tech support fraud held nearly flat (+8%), while romance scams rose 45%. Awareness, prevention, and trusted reporting tools are critical to protecting older residents.
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Wisconsin’s Seniors
In 2025, Wisconsin had 3,014 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $92,041,492 — up 69% in victims and 82% in losses compared to 2024 (1,785 victims / $51M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $43,608,456 | $15,857,817 | +175% |
| Tech Support | $12,868,541 | $11,955,199 | +8% |
| Romance | $7,010,110 | $4,834,426 | +45% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $1,319,729 | $164,532 | +702% |
| Extortion | $49,362 | $5,400 | +814% |
| Government Impersonation | $4,426,146 | $3,500,307 | +26% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — Wisconsin
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — Wisconsin (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 1,129 | $17,844,973 | — | #20 |
| 2022 | 1,029 | $31,024,115 | +74% | #25 |
| 2023 | 1,118 | $26,069,500 | -16% | #30 |
| 2024 | 1,785 | $50,525,457 | +94% | #24 |
| 2025 | 3,014 | $92,041,492 | +82% | #22 |
| 5-Year Total | 8,075 | $217,505,537 | +416% (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 Wisconsin Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Investment | 221 | $43,608,456 | $76,330,063 | +3,413% |
| Tech Support | 351 | $12,868,541 | $37,994,169 | +604% |
| Romance | 189 | $7,010,110 | $25,975,616 | New |
| BEC | 53 | $6,085,811 | $16,787,996 | New |
| Gov. Impersonation | 166 | $4,426,146 | $11,321,344 | +99% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | 51 | $1,319,729 | $7,053,733 | -10% |
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: Wisconsin’s elder fraud losses reached $92 million in 2025, with 3,014 seniors victimized. Investment scams nearly tripled to $44 million (+175%), now accounting for 47% of all losses. Lottery/sweepstakes surged 702% from $165K to $1.3 million, signaling a new and growing threat. Tech support fraud was notably stable at +8% — one of the lowest growth rates for this category nationally. Approximately 1 in every 1,977 Wisconsin residents aged 60+ reported being a victim.
National context: Wisconsin ranks #22 in total losses and #37 in per-capita victim rate (50.56 per 100,000), below the national midpoint. The near-flat tech support growth (+8%) is encouraging and stands out nationally. However, the 175% investment scam surge and 702% lottery increase show that new fraud vectors are aggressively targeting Wisconsin’s seniors.
For the full national picture, including how Wisconsin compares to every other state, visit our national hub page with interactive data and rankings.
III. Emergency & Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Financial Crimes & Elder Support
1. Milwaukee Police Department – Sensitive Crimes Division
- Phone: (414) 933-4444 (non-emergency)
- Website: city.milwaukee.gov/police
- Ask to report financial fraud or elder exploitation through the Sensitive Crimes Unit.
2. Madison Police Department – Investigative Services
- Phone: (608) 255-2345 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.cityofmadison.com/police
- Request assistance from the Financial Crimes or Community Policing Division.
3. Green Bay Police Department – Financial Crimes
- Phone: (920) 448-3200 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.gbpolice.org
- Ask for help with elder fraud, identity theft, or scam investigations.
FBI & Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Milwaukee Field Office
- Phone: (414) 276-4684
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/milwaukee
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use to report phishing, tech support scams, government impersonation, and other online frauds.
Wisconsin Attorney General – Elder Fraud & Protection
Wisconsin Department of Justice – Consumer Protection Unit
- Consumer Hotline: (800) 422-7128
- Website: www.doj.state.wi.us
- Provides resources, complaint forms, and fraud alerts tailored for senior residents.
Statewide Elder Services & Medicare Fraud Reporting
Wisconsin Adult Protective Services (APS)
- To report abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation:
Call your local county APS office (found via DHS) or statewide helpline. - Website: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/aps
Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (888) 818-2611
- Website: www.wisconsinsmp.org
- Assists with reporting Medicare billing fraud and medical identity theft.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services – Aging & Disability Resource Centers (ADRC)
- Statewide ADRC Helpline: (608) 266-2536
- Website: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/adrc
- Offers elder abuse resources, legal help, and financial safety education.
Be Smart. Be Skeptical. Be Safe.
- Wisconsin seniors lose millions of dollars annually to preventable scams — often due to urgency, fear, or confusion.
- Save these numbers and share them with family, friends, and community leaders.
- Visit our Education Center to explore scam prevention guides, real examples, and response steps.
- If something feels wrong, trust your instinct. Stop and report. You are not alone.
IV. Learn More: Wisconsin Scam Prevention Guides
Explore Wisconsin-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in Wisconsin — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in Wisconsin — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in Wisconsin — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in Wisconsin — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in Wisconsin — 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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