Elder Fraud
Links & Resources
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This brochure provides vital information on recognizing, preventing, and reporting elder fraud. Developed in partnership with the FBI San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, the FBI San Diego Citizens Academy Alumni Association, and the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, it highlights common scams targeting seniors, offers practical safety tips, and shares resources for victims and caregivers. It also invites community organizations to host free one-hour Elder Fraud Prevention sessions to help protect seniors from financial exploitation.
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The brochure warns that elder fraud is a growing crime targeting older adults through scams like tech support, romance, government impersonation, and investment fraud, urging victims to stay cautious, protect personal information, and report incidents to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or the National Elder Fraud Hotline
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The document warns that elder fraud is a growing crime—costing victims over $4.9 billion in 2024—and urges seniors to stay vigilant against scams such as tech support, romance, government impersonation, and lottery schemes, while reporting incidents to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or the National Elder Fraud Hotline.
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The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) warns that if you’ve been asked by unknown individuals online to send money, invest in crypto, buy gold, gift cards, or transfer funds for emergencies or tech issues, you may be the target of a scam and should report it at www.ic3.gov or call (833) 372-8311 for elder fraud help
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The FBI warns that older adult financial exploitation—often committed by trusted individuals or scammers posing as officials, tech support, or romantic partners—involves stealing money or personal information from adults over 60, leading to severe financial and emotional harm, and urges victims to stay vigilant, protect their information, and report suspected abuse to authorities
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The FBI’s page warns that romance scams involve fraudsters creating fake online relationships to gain victims’ trust and eventually exploit them for money, and it offers tips on how to protect yourself and report the crime.
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The video describes how the “Phantom Hacker” scam uses a three-phase impersonation scheme — first pretending to be tech support, then a bank, and finally a government agency — to trick victims into giving up control of their finances and ultimately steal their money.
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The YouTube page for the Elder Justice Initiative features videos and webinars aimed at educating professionals and the public about detecting, preventing, investigating, and responding to elder abuse.
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The U.S. Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative works to prevent, investigate, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and financial fraud while providing resources, research, and support to protect older adults and assist victims nationwide.