FBI IC3 Elder Fraud Report 2024

Scams Targeting Seniors

In the United States in 2024, Americans aged 60 and older reported $4.88 billion in scam-related losses to the FBI — a 43% increase from 2023. The scams causing the most reported damage to seniors were investment fraud, tech support fraud, and romance scams.

Americans 60+ reported $4.9B in losses in 2024 — up 43% from 2023

Source: FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report

In 2024, seniors in California, Texas, and Florida reported the highest elder fraud losses in the United States, according to FBI IC3 data.

147 127

complaints reported (60+)

+46%

increase vs 2023

$83 000

avg reported loss per victim

7 500

reported victims losing $100K+

Top 3 Scams Targeting Seniors by Reported Loss (2024)

In 2024, the three scams causing the most reported financial damage to Americans 60 and older were:

1
Cryptocurrency Scams28% of category losses from 60+
$1.8B
2
Tech Support Scams67% of category losses from 60+
$982.4M
3
Romance Scams58% of category losses from 60+
$389.3M

Figures from FBI IC3 2024 and reflect reported complaints from victims who self-identified as age 60 or older.

⚠️ Why This Matters

Seniors are targeted because they often have retirement savings, home equity, and good credit. Scammers use fear (fake IRS calls), trust (romance scams), and confusion (tech support fraud) to extract money. Many victims report losing their entire retirement savings.

The FBI IC3 2024 report notes that 42 elder fraud victims were referred to suicide intervention services after devastating financial losses. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).

Scams Hitting Seniors Hardest

Ranked by reported losses among Americans 60+

₿

Cryptocurrency Scams

Fake crypto platforms, pig butchering, and Bitcoin payment demands.

$1.8B

9 448 reported complaints

28% of reported losses from 60+

💻

Tech Support Scams

Fake Microsoft, Norton, and Geek Squad support calls for remote access.

$982.4M

16 777 reported complaints

67% of reported losses from 60+

💔

Romance Scams

Fake online relationships designed to manipulate victims into sending money.

$389.3M

7 626 reported complaints

58% of reported losses from 60+

💳

Payment & BEC Scams

Business Email Compromise, Zelle, Venmo, gift cards, wire transfers, and fake checks.

$385.0M

3 300 reported complaints

14% of reported losses from 60+

🔓

Personal Data Breach

Your personal data leaked or stolen, leading to identity theft and financial loss.

$254.2M

9 827 reported complaints

17% of reported losses from 60+

🏛️

Government Impersonation

Criminals posing as IRS, Social Security, or law enforcement.

$208.1M

4 521 reported complaints

51% of reported losses from 60+

🏧

Crypto ATM & Kiosk Scams

Scammers direct victims to Bitcoin ATMs to make untraceable payments.

$107.2M

2 674 reported complaints

43% of reported losses from 60+

🛒

Online Purchase Scams

Fake online stores, non-delivery fraud, and counterfeit goods.

$76.8M

7 646 reported complaints

10% of reported losses from 60+

🏠

Rental Scams

Fake apartment listings and vacation rental fraud stealing deposits.

$76.3M

1 765 reported complaints

44% of reported losses from 60+

🎰

Prize & Lottery Scams

Fake lottery winnings requiring fees to claim non-existent prizes.

$75.9M

1 711 reported complaints

74% of reported losses from 60+

🏦

Financial Service Scams

Student loan forgiveness fraud, debt relief scams, fake financial services.

$41.6M

1 897 reported complaints

41% of reported losses from 60+

💼

Job & Employment Scams

Fake job offers, check scams, task fraud, and money mule recruitment.

$37.9M

1 928 reported complaints

14% of reported losses from 60+

🏢

Corporate Data Breach

Business systems compromised, exposing customer and employee data.

$28.5M

300 reported complaints

8% of reported losses from 60+

🪪

Identity Theft

Someone uses your personal information to commit fraud in your name.

$28.5M

4 064 reported complaints

16% of reported losses from 60+

🔒

Extortion & Blackmail

Sextortion emails and fake blackmail threats demanding payment.

$24.9M

12 618 reported complaints

17% of reported losses from 60+

🎣

Phishing & Smishing

Fake texts and emails to steal login credentials and payment info.

$20.2M

23 252 reported complaints

29% of reported losses from 60+

🛡️ How to Protect Elderly Loved Ones

✓Talk openly about scams — share examples without judgment
✓Create a family code word for emergency verification calls — defeats AI voice cloning
✓Freeze credit at all 3 bureaus (free and prevents new account fraud)
✓Set up call blocking on their phone to reduce robocalls
✓Encourage the "hang up and call back" rule — always verify through known numbers
✓Set up trusted contact alerts with their bank so you're notified of large or unusual transactions
✓Remind them it's okay to say no and check with family first — shame and secrecy are the scammer's tools, not yours

States With the Highest Reported Elder Fraud Losses

The three states with the most reported elder fraud losses in 2024, according to FBI IC3:

California

$832.0M

reported elder losses (60+)

$2.5B total reported state losses

96 265 total reported complaints

Ranked #1 in total complaints and total losses nationally

Texas

$489.0M

reported elder losses (60+)

$1.4B total reported state losses

Seniors 60+ suffered the second-highest losses of any state

Florida

$388.0M

reported elder losses (60+)

Ranked #3 nationally for elder fraud reported losses

State-level elder fraud figures from FBI IC3 2024 report. These reflect reported complaints only — many elder fraud victims never file a report, particularly in cases involving shame or family dynamics.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What scams target seniors the most?▼

Tech support scams hit seniors hardest by reported losses — Americans 60+ reported $982 million in tech support fraud losses in 2024, representing 67% of all reported tech support losses (IC3). Investment fraud, romance scams, and government impersonation also disproportionately affect seniors in reported complaints.

How much do seniors lose to scams each year?▼

Americans 60 and older reported $4.88 billion in losses to scams in 2024, a 43% increase from 2023 (FBI IC3). Over 7,500 seniors reported losing more than $100,000 each, with an average reported loss of $83,000 per victim. Actual losses are likely significantly higher due to underreporting.

Why are seniors targeted by scammers?▼

Seniors often have retirement savings, own homes, and have good credit. They may be less familiar with modern scam tactics, more trusting, and less likely to report fraud due to embarrassment. Isolation also makes them vulnerable to romance and companionship scams that can last months before any financial request.

How do I protect my elderly parents from scams?▼

Have open conversations about common scams. Establish a family code word for emergency verification calls. Freeze their credit at all three bureaus. Set up call blocking to reduce robocalls. Encourage the "hang up and call back on a known number" rule. Remind them it's okay to say no and to check with family before sending money.

What should I do if my parent was scammed?▼

Act quickly: contact their bank to freeze accounts, report to FBI IC3 (ic3.gov) and FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov), file a police report, and check for identity theft. Don't blame them — scammers are sophisticated and anyone can be victimized. Support and speed are what matter most for recovery.

How are these elder fraud figures calculated?▼

Elder fraud statistics come from the FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report and reflect complaints filed by victims who self-identified as age 60 or older. They represent reported incidents only and do not capture unreported fraud. Many seniors never file a report, so actual losses are estimated to be significantly higher.

Which states have the highest elder fraud losses?▼

In 2024, California reported the highest elder fraud losses at $832 million, followed by Texas at $489 million and Florida at $388 million (FBI IC3). These three states also led in total complaint volume nationally. State-level figures reflect reported complaints only.

Explore Scam Data

💰 See all scam types ranked by total reported financial loss in 2024 — investment fraud tops the list at $6.57B reported.

📊 Volume doesn't always match damage. See the most commonly reported scam types by complaint count — phishing leads at 193K reports.

🔥 Check which scam types are growing fastest by year-over-year rate — employment fraud and crypto ATM scams surged in 2024.

💻 Tech support fraud is the #1 elder scam by targeting ratio. See tech support scam patterns and red flags.

🔍 Not sure about a message? Use our free scam checker to verify if a message is a scam — with a pro-grade verification guide.

$4.88B reported losses (60+)(FBI IC3, 2024)

147,127 elder complaints reported(FBI IC3, 2024)

+43% loss increase vs 2023(FBI IC3, 2024)

Methodology

This ranking is based on reported loss totals by fraud category for complainants who self-identified as age 60 or older, as published in the FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report. Categories reflect the IC3 classification taxonomy. The "% of losses from 60+" metric shows the proportion of each category's total reported losses that came from the 60+ age group.

All figures represent self-reported data from complaints submitted to IC3 and do not capture unreported incidents. The IC3 received 147,127 complaints from the 60+ age group in 2024. Many elder fraud victims never file a report, so actual losses are estimated to be significantly higher.

This page compiles official FBI IC3 2024 elder fraud data into a structured category ranking for public reference. For the original data, see the FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report.