While technology offers substantial advantages for older adults, it also brings the threat of scams. A recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report, Protecting Older Consumers 2024–2025, notes that older adults’ reported aggregate fraud losses jumped to $2.4 billion in 2024 from approximately $600 million in 2020.

Tech support scams disproportionately affect older adults, who are five times more likely (400%) than younger people to report losses from these cons. Older adults are also significantly more likely to report losing money to scams based on prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries, romance, and government impersonation.

Scams are often initiated electronically, which points to the need for increased education of older adults. Thankfully, aging services providers can turn to several resources to educate and guide the older adults in their care.

Report Findings

Social media scams initiated the highest number of FTC loss reports and aggregate losses ($561 million) among adults aged 60 and older, up 44% since 2023. Online shopping scams were the most common way for older adults to lose money via social media (31%), but the largest aggregate losses came through investment scams (51%) and romance scams (28%).

Older adults should view most electronic communications with a wary, educated eye. Next in line as scam conduits are websites and apps ($303 million total loss, up 45%), texts ($183 million, up 41%), online ads or popups ($147 million, up 24%), and email ($143 million, up 14%). Texts posing as popular businesses such as Amazon and banks, and sharing purchase alerts or noting suspicious activity on accounts, led to the most loss reports (28%) in this age group.

Online contact methods perpetrated the most fraud. However, people aged 80 and over were far more likely to be defrauded through a phone call, and these calls brought the highest median reported dollar losses ($2,210, compared to $650 for social media). Callers most often deceived older adults by impersonating businesses or governments and by offering prizes, sweepstakes, and lottery winnings.

Educational Resources

Aging services providers can address the uptick in fraud by providing education to the older adults in their care. Numerous resources can help prepare older adults to spot and avoid scams.

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The elder fraud page includes videos and other resources for older adults, plus the ability to report a fraud. The FBI also offers direct trainings for organizations. To request one, visit the FBI Field Offices directory, click the local FBI field office, and select the Community Outreach tab. Then submit a speaker request for elder fraud/scam prevention at least six to eight weeks in advance. Include the audience, location, preferred dates, expected attendance, and openness to a virtual option.
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC): A Money Smart for Older Adults program includes free online instructor guides on avoiding scams.
• FTC: An advisory group of government partners, consumer advocates, and industry representatives offers two resources for effective discussions: A Review of Scam Prevention Messaging Research: Takeaways and Recommendations and Guiding Principles: How to Help Older Adults Spot, Avoid, and Report Fraud.
• Cyber-Seniors: The Cybersecurity Center at this non-profit, which uses an intergenerational, volunteer model to train older adults in using technology safely, offers a train-the-trainer program, blog, and upcoming and recorded webinars.
• Senior Planet from AARP: Older adults can search for “fraud” to find the right online technology classes for their needs.
• Boise State University: Boise State University professor Margaret Sass has launched AI Scam Protection for Seniors, a free online course and companion book to help seniors recognize and avoid scams that use artificial intelligence.