The FBI investigates financial scams targeting seniors, including investment scams, technical/customer support schemes, money mules and romance scams. Image by Filmbetrachter from Pixabay

 

SACRAMENTO REGION, (MPG) - The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sacramento Field Office is reminding elderly Americans and their loved ones about elder fraud.

This type of fraud takes many forms as criminals seek to take advantage of this vulnerable and growing population.

The FBI is committed to educating the public about these scams and investigating financial fraud schemes against seniors. Not only are there devastating financial consequences but these victims and their loved ones can suffer great emotional and mental effects because of these scams.  

The FBI investigates financial scams targeting seniors, including investment scams, technical/customer support schemes, money mules and romance scams.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) data, there was a total of $4.885 billion in losses from 147,127 complaints in 2024. This is a 46% increase in complaints from 2023, as well as a 43% increase in losses. In California, total losses were $832,710,048 in 2024. The FBI continues to work with its local and federal partners to tackle elder fraud and stop those who attempt to harm the elderly.

“I urge every senior and their families to have open conversations about these scams and to scrutinize unsolicited mail, calls, emails and text messages. Criminals are actively and aggressively targeting seniors, preying upon their trust to drain their life savings,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in charge Sid Patel. “If you or someone you care about is a victim, report the crime to law enforcement. There is no shame in seeking help when you have been harmed and your information may prevent someone else from becoming a victim.”

Seniors are frequently targeted by criminal actors, as they are often perceived to be more polite and trusting. These actors might also assume that seniors are more financially stable, own real estate, spend a great deal of time alone and are less likely to report fraud if they feel ashamed or are unfamiliar with reporting channels such as the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov).

Fraud can happen to anyone, and small steps can be taken to protect yourself and your information. 

Search online for the contact information (name, phone number, email, addresses) of any unknown source which reaches out to you, as well as the proposed offer. Verify the legitimacy of businesses on websites such as Better Business Bureau. Other individuals have likely posted information online about businesses and individuals attempting to run scams.

Resist the pressure to act quickly. Scammers create a sense of urgency to lure victims into immediate action, typically by instilling trust and inducing empathy, fear, the promise of monetary gains, companionship or employment opportunities.  

Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings and door-to-door service offers.

Never give or send to unverified people or businesses any personally identifiable information, money, checks, gift cards or wire information.

Take precautionary measures to protect your identity in case a criminal gains access to your device or account.

Immediately contact your financial institutions to place protections on your accounts and monitor for suspicious activity. 

If you believe you are a victim of fraud or know a senior who might be, regardless of financial loss, immediately report the incident to a local FBI field office or other law enforcement agency.

Crimes can also be reported by calling 1-800-CALL FBI, online at https://tips.fbi.gov or at the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

Some resources available to the public are the IC3 2024 Report and Elder Fraud Report, the FBI: Elder Fraud Resource Page and the Department of Justice: Neighborhood Resources.

The FBI Sacramento Field Office proudly serves the 34 California counties that comprise the Eastern District of California.