Criminal schemes targeting U.S. seniors account for $3.4 billion in reported losses, FBI says
CBSN
Washington — Americans over 60 years of age fell victim to so-called elder fraud crimes more frequently last year than in any other year and accounted for an estimated $3.4 billion in total reported losses, according to a newly released FBI report.
Reports of criminal schemes targeting seniors in the U.S. increased by 14% between 2022 and 2022, federal investigators said, warning that investment scams are the costliest to the elderly. In all, over 101,000 complaints of fraud perpetrated against individuals over 60 years of age were filed to federal law enforcement last year, the most of any age group throughout the country.
There were 5,920 individuals over 60 who lost more than $100,000 as a result of criminal fraud and federal trends last year, demonstrating that seniors are increasingly being targeted and falling victim, the report said.