Resource Directory

Part I — Taking Action

When fraud has already occurred — or you suspect it’s happening — these are the first resources to reach for.

Section 1: Reporting Fraud & Getting Help

These are action resources — hotlines, complaint portals, and victim assistance programs. When someone has been defrauded or is at risk, start here.

Hotlines & Victim Assistance

National Elder Fraud Hotline | 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311)

Operated by the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime. Free service connecting elder fraud victims with trained case managers who help navigate recovery, coordinate with law enforcement, and connect to local support. Available M–F, 10am–6pm ET.

National Elder Fraud Hotline — OVC (DOJ)

ACL Eldercare Locator | 1-800-677-1116  [NEW]

Operated by the U.S. Administration for Community Living. Connects seniors and families to local aging services, adult protective services, and support networks. Particularly valuable when a senior needs in-person support following exploitation.

Eldercare Locator — ACL

Online Fraud Reporting Portals

IC3 — FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

The primary destination for reporting internet-based fraud. All consumer fraud reports are shared with law enforcement. The 2025 Elder Fraud Annual Report (released April 2026) documents $7.748B in losses from 201,266 complaints — a 59% single-year increase.

›  File a Complaint — IC3.gov

›  Elder Fraud Outreach & Brochures

›  Annual Reports Archive (2018–2024)

FTC — Federal Trade Commission | ReportFraud.ftc.gov

The FTC’s ReportFraud.ftc.gov is the primary consumer fraud reporting portal. Reports feed the Consumer Sentinel Network, shared with 3,000+ law enforcement agencies. The annual data book provides demographic breakdowns of all fraud types.

›  ReportFraud.ftc.gov — Primary Portal

›  FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024

›  False Alarm, Real Scam: FTC Spotlight on Elder Fraud

Adult Protective Services (APS) | NAPSA

The national network of state and local Adult Protective Services programs. When elder financial exploitation is suspected, APS can investigate and intervene. NAPSA’s site provides the pathway to connect with APS in any state.

NAPSA — Adult Protective Services Resources

Section 2: Verifying Advisors & Investments

Before trusting anyone with money — verify them. These free tools allow anyone to check whether a financial professional or investment firm is legitimately registered and whether complaints or disciplinary actions exist.

FINRA BrokerCheck — Verify Any Broker or Advisor

The single most important verification tool in the financial world. Instantly check the registration, employment history, and disciplinary record of any broker or investment advisor. Free and publicly accessible.

›  BrokerCheck — Free Verification Tool

›  FINRA Investor Education Foundation

›  FINRA Senior Investor Protection Resources

SEC Investor.gov — Verify Investment Firms

The SEC’s investor.gov provides tools to verify registered investment advisers (RIAs) and spot common investment scams. The Office of the Investor Advocate helps investors who believe they’ve been mistreated by a financial firm.

›  SEC EDGAR Investment Adviser Search

›  SEC Office of the Investor Advocate

NASAA SmartCheck — State Securities Regulator Verification  [NEW]

The North American Securities Administrators Association coordinates state-level securities regulators. SmartCheck allows verification of investment firms and advisors at the state level — catching unlicensed individuals who may not appear in federal systems. NASAA also publishes an annual ‘Top Investor Threats’ list — an excellent newsletter source.

NASAA — North American Securities Administrators Association

Part II — The Regulatory Landscape

Who oversees what — a complete map of federal and state agencies involved in elder fraud investigation, enforcement, and prevention.

Section 3: Federal Law Enforcement

FBI — Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI is the lead federal law enforcement agency for elder fraud. Their IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) is the authoritative source for annual data. The 2025 report (released April 2026) documents $7.748B in losses and 201,266 complaints — a 59% year-over-year loss increase and the largest single-year jump on record. Investment fraud among seniors rose 79% and AI-assisted fraud cost older adults $352M in 2025.

›  Elder Fraud — FBI Main Resource Page

›  Common Frauds and Scams Directory

›  IC3 2025 Annual Report (PDF) — Released April 2026

›  IC3 2024 Elder Fraud Annual Report (PDF) — Historical Reference

›  FBI Elder Fraud PSA — William Webster (‘If It Can Happen to Me’)

Department of Justice — DOJ Elder Justice Initiative

The DOJ coordinates elder fraud prosecution across all U.S. Attorneys’ offices. The 2025 Annual Report to Congress documented 280+ enforcement actions against 600+ defendants responsible for $2B in losses to 1M+ older adults.

›  Elder Justice Initiative — Main Hub

›  Financial Exploitation — EJI

›  DOJ 2025 Annual Report to Congress on Elder Fraud

Federal Trade Commission — Consumer Protection & Fraud Enforcement

The FTC is the primary consumer protection agency, operating ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the Consumer Sentinel Network. Their Protecting Older Consumers annual report is a key data source for elder fraud statistics and trend analysis.

›  FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024

›  Protecting Older Consumers Report 2024–2025

›  How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams

Section 4: Investment & Securities Fraud Oversight

SEC — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

The primary federal regulator for investment advisers and securities. Investor.gov provides resources on common investment scams, how to verify advisers, and what to do if you believe you’ve been defrauded. The Office of the Investor Advocate handles complaints about financial firms.

SEC — Common Scams & Investor Protection

FINRA — Financial Industry Regulatory Authority

FINRA regulates broker-dealers and their representatives. BrokerCheck is free and public. FINRA Rule 2165 governs how firms must handle suspected senior financial exploitation — making FINRA resources particularly relevant for financial institutions.

›  FINRA BrokerCheck — Verify Any Broker

›  FINRA Investor Education Foundation

›  Senior Investor Protection Resources

›  Exposed to Scams: Real Investor Stories

NASAA — North American Securities Administrators Association  [NEW]

The association of state-level securities regulators across the U.S. and Canada. NASAA’s annual ‘Top Investor Threats’ list identifies the most prevalent investment fraud schemes each year — an excellent source for newsletter content. Their SmartCheck tool verifies investment professionals at the state level.

NASAA — Investor Protection

CFTC — Commodity Futures Trading Commission  [NEW]

The CFTC regulates commodity markets, options, and cryptocurrency derivatives. With the explosion of crypto fraud targeting seniors, the CFTC has become a critical resource. Pig butchering, Bitcoin ATM, and fake crypto investment fraud falls under CFTC jurisdiction.

CFTC — Learn & Protect Resource Center

Section 5: Banking & Credit Union Oversight

CFPB — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

The CFPB has a dedicated Office for Older Americans focused specifically on elder financial exploitation. Their resources cover bank account fraud, financial exploitation by caregivers, and exploitation by financial professionals.

›  Fraud and Scams — Consumer Hub

›  Protecting Older Adults from Fraud & Exploitation

›  Resources for Educators Working with Older Adults

FDIC — Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

The FDIC’s ‘Money Smart for Older Adults’ is a free, instructor-led financial education program specifically designed to help seniors prevent elder financial exploitation. Available in English and Spanish — excellent for community outreach programs and financial institution use.

›  Money Smart for Older Adults — Free Training Program

›  Scams Targeting Older Adults

NCUA — National Credit Union Administration  [NEW]

The NCUA regulates and insures federally chartered credit unions. Publishes elder financial exploitation guidance specifically for credit union staff — highly relevant for the credit union consulting audience. Credit unions are often the first institution to observe signs of financial exploitation in senior members.

NCUA — Consumer Resources

OCC — Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

The OCC supervises national banks and federal savings associations. Their elder financial exploitation resources are designed for bank compliance and training programs — particularly relevant for bank CSR and teller training on identifying and reporting elder financial abuse.

OCC — Elder Financial Exploitation Resources

FinCEN — Financial Crimes Enforcement Network  [NEW]

FinCEN issues advisories to financial institutions on elder financial exploitation — guiding banks on detecting and reporting suspicious activity involving seniors. While primarily B2B/institutional, FinCEN publications are important for financial services consulting work and provide authoritative documentation of how exploitation schemes operate.

FinCEN — Elder Financial Exploitation Advisories

Section 6: Elder-Specific Federal Resources

SSA — Social Security Administration

SSA impersonation is one of the most common fraud types targeting seniors. Scammers call claiming your Social Security number has been suspended or is linked to a crime. This page from SSA.gov is the definitive resource on recognizing and reporting Social Security scams.

Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams — SSA

NIA — National Institute on Aging

Part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Provides medically-grounded, consumer-facing content on elder vulnerability, cognitive decline’s relationship to financial exploitation, and how to recognize scam targeting. Excellent source for health-angle content on elder fraud.

Beware of Scams Targeting Older Adults — NIA

ACL — Administration for Community Living | Eldercare Locator  [NEW]

The ACL is the federal agency for aging services. The Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) connects seniors and families to local services in all 50 states. The NCEA — housed under ACL — is the primary academic and research body for elder abuse statistics.

›  Eldercare Locator — Find Local Services

›  NCEA — National Center on Elder Abuse

NCEA — National Center on Elder Abuse  [NEW]

The federal research center on elder abuse. Publishes prevalence data, state-by-state statistics, and academic research on financial exploitation of older adults. A critical source for data-backed newsletter content — when you need a credible citation for elder abuse claims, NCEA is the academic standard.

NCEA — Research, Data & Resources

Section 7: Phone, Tech & Internet Fraud Resources

FCC — Federal Communications Commission  [NEW]

The FCC is the authoritative source on robocalls, phone spoofing, and caller ID manipulation — the core mechanism behind IRS impersonation, SSA impersonation, and grandparent scams. Scammers fake caller ID to appear as government agencies, banks, or family members.

›  Spoofing and Caller ID — Consumer Guide

›  Stop Unwanted Robocalls and Texts

IC3 — FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

All internet-based fraud should be reported to IC3. Reports from IC3 are shared with law enforcement at federal, state, and local levels. The annual reports provide the most authoritative data on internet crime trends including the escalation of elder fraud.

›  IC3.gov — File a Complaint

›  Elder Fraud Outreach Materials & Brochures

›  Annual Reports Archive (2018–2024)

National Consumer League — Fraud.org

A comprehensive, consumer-facing directory of fraud typologies with red flag checklists for each scam type. Covers phone fraud, internet fraud, and investment fraud — organized for easy public reference.

Common Scams Directory — Fraud.org

Section 8: State & Multistate Resources

NAAG — National Association of Attorneys General  [NEW]

Tracks multistate elder fraud enforcement actions coordinated across state attorneys general offices. State AGs often lead prosecutions against fraud operations that cross state lines. The ‘Consumer Protection’ section of NAAG.org covers multistate investigations and settlements.

NAAG — Elder Fraud & Consumer Protection

DOJ Elder Justice Initiative — State Resources

Beyond federal prosecution, the DOJ Elder Justice Initiative provides resources for state-level coordination and prosecution. Includes state-specific elder abuse statistics, state laws, and coordination with state AGs.

DOJ Elder Justice Initiative

California Department of Aging

California leads the nation in total elder fraud losses. The CA Dept of Aging provides state-specific fraud prevention resources, including printable awareness materials useful for community outreach.

Fraud Prevention Resources — CA Department of Aging

National Library Service — NLS

Specialized fraud awareness resources for older adults and people with disabilities — a population segment with elevated vulnerability to financial exploitation.

Fraud Awareness and Prevention — NLS

Part III — Education & Awareness Organizations

These organizations produce the highest-quality consumer-facing content on elder fraud. Many offer free resources, toolkits, newsletters, and alerts that can be leveraged for awareness content.

Section 9: Nonprofit & Advocacy Organizations

AARP Fraud Watch Network — Most Active Organization in the Field

AARP is the single most active non-governmental organization in the elder fraud space. Free fraud helpline: 877-908-3360. The Scam Tracking Map provides real-time reported scams by ZIP code. BankSafe trains bank employees to identify and intervene in elder exploitation.

›  AARP Fraud Watch Network — Main Hub

›  AARP Scam Tracking Map — Real-Time by Location

›  Latest Scam Alerts — Watchdog Alerts

›  AARP BankSafe — Financial Institution Training

›  AARP Research: Fraud and Financial Exploitation Reports

›  5 Biggest Scams to Watch for in 2026

Other Key Organizations

NCOA — National Council on Aging

Publishes the widely-referenced ‘Top 10 Scams Targeting Seniors’ list, updated annually. Consumer-facing, shareable awareness content. Also covers specific victim stories including the $20,000 tech support scam account.

Scam and Fraud Prevention for Older Adults — NCOA

Elder Justice Coalition

National advocacy organization pushing for stronger federal and state elder financial abuse legislation. Tracks legislative developments — valuable for policy angle content.

Elder Justice Coalition

NAPSA — National Adult Protective Services Association

The network of APS programs across all states. Critical for understanding the reporting and intervention ecosystem — what happens after a report is filed, who investigates, what interventions are available.

NAPSA — APS Resources

Alzheimer’s Association  [NEW]

Cognitive decline dramatically increases vulnerability to financial exploitation. The Alzheimer’s Association addresses this intersection directly — providing resources for families dealing with both dementia and scam risk. One of the most emotionally resonant angles for adult-children and caregiver audiences.

Fraud & Scam Protection — Alzheimer’s Association

FINRA Investor Education Foundation

The nonprofit arm of FINRA, focused on financial capability and fraud prevention. Produces research on investor fraud vulnerability and the ‘Exposed to Scams’ victim story series — excellent for investment fraud content.

FINRA Foundation — Investor Protection

USA.gov — Federal Fraud Hub  [NEW]

The U.S. federal government’s consumer-facing fraud hub, linking to every relevant agency. Useful as a ‘one-stop reference’ to cite in client communications and as a starting point for seniors or families who don’t know where to turn.

USA.gov — Scams and Fraud

Section 10: Statistics Reference Hub

This section consolidates all key elder fraud statistics in one place, organized by category, with source hyperlinks on every data point. Use these figures to anchor newsletter content, client presentations, and institutional reports.

Primary Data Sources

All statistics in this section trace back to one of these authoritative sources. Link to the original source whenever citing data in client-facing materials.

  • FBI / IC3 Elder Fraud Annual Report — Complaints, losses, scam types, state breakdowns — the field benchmark — Annual (spring) — ic3.gov/AnnualReport
  • FTC Consumer Sentinel Network — All fraud types, demographics, contact & payment methods — Annual — ftc.gov/reports/consumer-sentinel-network
  • FTC Protecting Older Consumers — Elder-specific fraud spotlight — trends, dollar amounts, contact methods — Annual — FTC Elder Fraud Spotlight
  • DOJ Elder Justice Annual Report — Federal enforcement actions, prosecutions, defendant counts — Annual — justice.gov/elderjustice
  • AARP Research — Fraud Reports — Consumer trends, vulnerability factors, fraud awareness data — Ongoing — aarp.org/research
  • NCEA — National Center on Elder Abuse — Elder abuse prevalence, state-level data, academic research — Ongoing — ncea.acl.gov

Financial Impact Statistics

All figures below are from 2025 data (FBI/IC3 2025 Annual Report, released April 2026) unless otherwise noted.

  • Total reported losses, Americans 60+ — $7.748 Billion — 59% increase from $4.885B in 2024 — the largest single-year increase on record — IC3 2025 Report
  • Total complaints filed with IC3 (60+) — 201,266 — 37% increase year over year — record high complaint volume — IC3 2025 Report
  • Average loss per senior victim — $38,500 — Over 12,400 older adults lost more than $100,000 each in 2025 — IC3 2025 Report
  • Victims losing $100,000+ — 12,400+ — Highest-loss victims typically targeted via investment and tech support fraud — IC3 2025 Report
  • Total consumer fraud losses (all ages) — $15.9 Billion — FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025 — up from $12.5B in 2024 — FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
  • Investment fraud losses (seniors, 2025) — $3.52 Billion — Investment fraud complaints among seniors rose 79% vs. 2024 — IC3 2025 Report
  • Tech support scam losses (seniors, 2025) — $1.04 Billion — Second costliest category — Phantom Hacker variant remains dominant — IC3 2025 Report
  • Romance/confidence scam losses (2025) — $584 Million — Often combined with investment fraud (pig butchering) in long-duration schemes — IC3 2025 Report
  • AI-assisted fraud losses (seniors, 2025) — $352 Million — Voice cloning, deepfakes, AI-generated content — first year fully tracked by IC3 — IC3 2025 Report (FBI)

Scam Type Breakdown — 2025 (FBI/IC3)

Ranked by total dollar losses to victims 60+ in 2025. Investment fraud has been the costliest category for four consecutive years and its lead widened sharply in 2025.

  • #1 — Investment Fraud (incl. Crypto / Pig Butchering) — $3.52 Billion — Senior investment fraud complaints rose 79% vs. 2024; crypto/pig butchering dominates — IC3 2025
  • #2 — Tech Support Scams (Phantom Hacker) — $1.04 Billion — 3-stage Phantom Hacker variant; often escalates to "government impersonation" stage — IC3 2025
  • #3 — Romance / Confidence Scams — $584 Million — Frequently combined with investment fraud in long-duration pig butchering schemes — IC3 2025
  • #4 — Government Impersonation — Significant / SSA-IRS-FBI focus — SSA, IRS, FBI, Medicare impersonation; often paired with courier cash pickup — IC3 2025
  • #5 — AI-Assisted Fraud (Voice Cloning / Deepfakes) — $352 Million (seniors) — First year fully tracked by IC3; $893M in AI fraud losses across all ages — IC3 2025 / FBI
  • #6 — Confidence / Personal Relationship Fraud — High / Not fully separated — Includes caregiver exploitation, friendship fraud, power of attorney abuse — IC3 2025

Victim Demographics

The Reporting & Detection Gap

Reported statistics dramatically undercount actual fraud. Understanding the gap is essential for presenting the true scope of the crisis.

  • Official reported losses (IC3 2025) — $7.748 Billion — Only captures what is actually reported to law enforcement — tip of the iceberg — IC3 2025 Report
  • Estimated total including unreported — $81.5 Billion+ — FTC estimate predating 2025 data — true total likely exceeds this figure significantly — FTC Consumer Sentinel
  • Estimated reporting rate for elder abuse — As low as 1 in 44 cases — Shame, fear of losing independence, and distrust prevent reporting — NCEA Research
  • Primary reasons for non-reporting — Shame, embarrassment, fear — Many victims also do not realize they have been defrauded — FTC / AARP Research

Year-Over-Year Trend Data

Emerging Threat Statistics

Where to Pull Current Statistics

These are the three URLs to check first whenever you need to update a figure or verify the most recent data before using it in a newsletter or presentation.

›  IC3 Annual Reports (check for 2025 release):  ic3.gov/AnnualReport

›  FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book:  ftc.gov/reports/consumer-sentinel-network

›  DOJ Elder Justice Annual Report to Congress:  justice.gov/elderjustice

True Link Financial — Elder Financial Abuse Report

Widely cited independent estimate. Note: The True Link report originated in 2015. The FTC’s $81.5B estimate (2024–2025) represents a more current and broadly sourced figure and is now the preferred citation for total losses including unreported cases.

True Link Financial Elder Financial Abuse Report

AARP Research — Fraud & Financial Exploitation Reports

Data-driven research reports on consumer fraud trends, elder vulnerability, and financial exploitation — excellent sourcing for newsletter statistics and trend analysis.

AARP Research — Fraud Reports

Part IV — Awareness Content for Communications & Education

Articles, victim stories, videos, and podcasts — source material for newsletters, presentations, and client education.

Section 11: Articles & Investigative Journalism

Major Media Investigations

Washington Post — ‘Scammed’ 7-Part Series

The definitive long-form elder fraud story of 2024–2025. Judith Boivin, a retired therapist, lost $600,000 believing she was helping the FBI catch drug traffickers. Seven installments deconstructing exactly how the manipulation worked. Pulitzer-caliber journalism.

She Believed She Was an FBI Asset — Full 7-Part Series

Wall Street Journal — Senior Financial Scams

Deep-dive consumer protection piece on senior-targeted financial scams. Covers the psychological mechanisms scammers use and protective strategies for families.

How to Protect Yourself from Financial Scams Targeting Older Adults — WSJ

WIRED — Scam Compound Investigation

Landmark investigative piece based on leaked internal communications from a scam compound. Exposes the industrial-scale organized crime operations behind pig butchering scams — human trafficking, crypto fraud, and forced labor in Myanmar. Essential background on the criminal infrastructure.

Leaked Chats Expose the Daily Life of a Scam Compound’s Enslaved Workforce — WIRED

Fortune — Romance Scam Investigation (2023)

In-depth reporting on the scale of romance-based financial fraud. Front-line reporting from both victims and investigators — strong narrative content for awareness materials.

Romance Scam from the Front Lines of the $16 Billion Fraud Crisis — Fortune

Fortune — Romance Scam Investigation (February 2026)  [NEW]

Updated Fortune investigation on the scale of romance and pig butchering fraud. More current reporting with fresh victim accounts and current investigator perspectives.

Romance Scam Victims, Billions Lost — Fortune (Feb 2026)

CNBC — Elder Fraud Series

Multi-part series on the economics and mechanics of elder-targeted fraud. Includes specific segments on AI voice cloning used in grandparent scams.

Inside the $1 Trillion Fraud Industry Targeting Older Americans — CNBC

Tech Policy Press — Deepfake Financial Fraud

Emerging technology angle — covers how AI voice cloning and deepfake video are being weaponized against seniors. Regulatory analysis of the policy response.

How to Regulate Deepfake Financial Fraud — Tech Policy Press

Journal of Accountancy — AI & Elder Fraud (April 2026)

Written by forensic CPAs. Covers AI voice cloning, deepfake video, predictive targeting, and AI-powered phishing — the cutting edge of fraud weaponization against seniors. Published April 2026.

Elder Fraud Rises as Scammers Use AI — Journal of Accountancy

Recent Stories — Published in the Last 12 Months

These stories are current, emotionally compelling, and ideal for timely newsletter content.

NOV 2025 — DOJ 2025 Annual Report — 280+ Actions, 600+ Defendants, $2B Stolen

DOJ enforcement data: 280 enforcement actions, 600+ defendants, $2B in losses to 1M+ older adults.

DEC 2025 — FTC Report: Seniors Lost Up to $81.5 Billion in 2024 — CNBC

FTC’s Protecting Older Consumers report. Social media now the #1 contact channel for scammers.

NOV 2025 — Maine Couple Loses $1.3M Retirement Savings to Bitcoin Scam

Larry and Barbara Cook fed their $1.3M life savings into bitcoin ATMs after a scam call at Walmart.

OCT 2025 — 89-Year-Old Loses $1.7M; Banks Blamed for Not Protecting Him

Ray Anholt of Victoria, Canada, lost $1.7M in six months. Institutional failure angle — why didn’t the banks stop it?

NOV 2025 — Connecticut Man Loses $228,000 Life Savings in Crypto Scam

Fake crypto platform ‘ZAP Solutions.’ Victim emptied 401K, IRA, and savings.

FEB 2025 — Kentucky Woman, 74, Falls Into Coma After $180,000 Gold Scam

Handed $180K in gold coins to a courier. Stress of the loss reportedly put her in the ICU.

FEB 2025 — Ohio Woman Loses Life Savings in Crypto Pig Butchering Scam

DOJ press release. 33 victims, $4.9M total losses. Scam initiated via ‘wrong number’ text.

APR 2025 — Judith Boivin: Retired Therapist Loses $600K to Fake FBI Agent

Broadcast companion to the WaPo ‘Scammed’ series. Lost $600K believing she was an FBI asset.

MAR 2026 — Florida Elder Fraud Cash Courier Network Pleads Guilty

Courier collected $95K from seniors across Florida in 8 days, including from assisted living facilities.

SEPT 2024 — Illinois Woman Loses $1M in Pig Butchering Scam, Forced to Sell Home

Erika DeMask lost nearly $1M. Now owes money to the bank after taking a home equity loan.

Section 12: Real Victim Stories & Case Studies

Real stories are the most powerful awareness tool available. The following section contains both verified source links and expanded narrative profiles for use in presentations, newsletters, and client education. Each case is drawn from credible, publicly documented sources.

William Webster, 94 — Former Director of the FBI and CIA

Even the man who once led America's premier intelligence agencies couldn't escape the reach of elder fraud.

In his mid-90s, former FBI and CIA Director William Webster was targeted by a Jamaican lottery scam. The scammer, Keniel Thomas, called repeatedly convincing Webster he had won a large cash prize but needed to pay processing fees to claim it. Webster's wife Joan became suspicious and alerted the FBI — the very agency her husband once led. Webster cooperated in the investigation that eventually led to Thomas’s conviction and imprisonment. The FBI released a PSA featuring Webster, with his message: "If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone." The case is one of the most powerful available illustrations that intelligence, experience, and wealth do not protect against elder fraud — in fact, high-asset seniors are often specifically targeted.

Source: FBI Elder Fraud PSA — William Webster (Video)

Judith Boivin, 82 — Retired Therapist | Loss: $600,000

A retired mental health therapist — someone trained to understand human psychology — was systematically manipulated out of her life savings over several months.

Judith Boivin’s ordeal began with a Microsoft security pop-up warning her computer had been compromised. That call was transferred to a "bank security officer," then to a "government agent" named Jake Meyers who told her she was the unwitting victim of a money laundering conspiracy — and the only way to protect her assets was to move them to a "government safe account." Over months, she was directed to withdraw cash, purchase gold, and deposit funds — all while being told to keep it strictly confidential from family and friends, as they might be "part of the investigation." She sent $600,000 in stages before her family intervened. The scam — a three-stage Phantom Hacker scheme (tech support → fake bank → fake government) — was documented in a landmark 7-part Washington Post investigative series. Boivin later shared her story publicly, emphasizing that her professional training gave her no protection: the manipulation was methodical, patient, and emotionally engineered.

Source: She Believed She Was an FBI Asset — Washington Post 7-Part Series

Larry & Barbara Cook, Retired Couple — Loss: $1,300,000

A Maine couple's entire retirement savings — $1.3 million accumulated over a lifetime — was extracted through repeated trips to Walmart Bitcoin ATMs.

The Cooks received a call warning that their Social Security numbers had been linked to drug trafficking and money laundering. The caller, posing as a government agent, told them their bank accounts were compromised and under investigation — and that the only way to protect their money was to convert it to cryptocurrency for safekeeping. Over several weeks, the couple made multiple trips to Walmart stores, withdrawing cash and feeding it into Bitcoin ATMs in the parking lots. Each transaction was accompanied by urgent instruction from the scammer on the phone, who kept them isolated from family and from seeking outside help. The $1.3 million represented the entirety of their retirement nest egg. The Bangor Daily News reported this case in November 2025 as part of broader coverage of the Bitcoin ATM epidemic. Law enforcement noted that Bitcoin ATMs have become a primary cash extraction tool because transactions are irreversible and difficult to trace.

Source: Maine Couple Loses $1.3M in Bitcoin Scam — Bangor Daily News (Nov 2025)

Stew Abrams — Retired Defense Attorney | AARP Fraud Wars

A man who spent his career defending clients against criminal charges — and understanding exactly how manipulation works — became a victim himself.

Stew Abrams’s case is perhaps the most disquieting illustration of how sophisticated modern fraud has become. A retired defense attorney — someone professionally trained to identify deception, evaluate evidence, and recognize psychological pressure tactics — was drawn into an investment scam that cost him a significant portion of his savings. Abrams, featured in AARP’s ‘Fraud Wars’ documentary series, speaks candidly about how the scammer’s approach was methodical and patient: building trust over time, creating urgency, and positioning the investment as an exclusive opportunity that he could lose if he hesitated. He notes that his legal background gave him confidence in his own judgment — and that confidence became a vulnerability. Scammers specifically exploit high-confidence, high-achieving individuals who believe themselves unlikely to be fooled. The Stew Abrams case is ideal for professional and institutional audiences who may dismiss elder fraud as something that only happens to the cognitively impaired or less educated.

Source: AARP Fraud Wars — Stew Abrams Episode

Erika DeMask — Illinois | Loss: ~$1,000,000 + Home Equity

A pig butchering scam that began as an online friendship stripped a woman of nearly $1 million — and forced her to sell her home to cover the debts she incurred trying to recover.

Erika DeMask’s experience illustrates the full destructive lifecycle of a pig butchering scam. The scammer — whom she knew online as “Bao” — established a warm, friendly relationship over social media before introducing a cryptocurrency investment platform. Initial small investments appeared to generate enormous returns, displayed on a convincing fake dashboard. When DeMask tried to withdraw her profits, she was told she needed to pay "taxes" first. To cover these fees, she took out a home equity loan and continued investing. By the time she realized the platform was fraudulent, she had lost nearly $1 million and was indebted to her bank. She was ultimately forced to sell her home. ABC7 reported her case in September 2024 as part of coverage of the pig butchering epidemic. DeMask now advocates publicly for stronger warnings about cryptocurrency investment fraud. Her case highlights a critical element of pig butchering: the fake dashboard showing fictional profits is specifically designed to keep victims investing longer.

Source: Illinois Woman Loses $1M in Pig Butchering Scam — ABC7 (Sept 2024)

Kentucky Woman, 74 — Loss: $180,000 in Gold Coins | Hospitalized

A 74-year-old woman handed her entire life savings — $180,000 in gold coins — to a courier who came to her front door. The stress of the loss put her in the hospital.

This case represents the gold coin courier variant of the government impersonation scam — one of the most viscerally disturbing delivery mechanisms in elder fraud. The victim was told by phone that her finances were under government investigation and that she needed to liquidate her savings into gold coins for “safekeeping” until the matter was resolved. She was directed to a coin dealer and instructed to hand the gold to a courier who came directly to her home. The gold — $180,000 worth, representing her life savings — disappeared immediately. Her grandson later told WKYT that the stress and trauma of the loss caused his grandmother to fall seriously ill and required hospitalization. The case was reported in February 2025. Gold coin and cash courier schemes are particularly insidious because they require the victim to physically hand over the asset in person — the final step is irreversible, and the emotional isolation the scammer has built means there is often no one in the room to intervene.

Source: Kentucky Woman’s Life Savings Wiped Out in Gold Scam — WKYT (Feb 2025)

Ray Anholt, 89 — Victoria, Canada | Loss: $1,700,000 in 6 Months

An 89-year-old man lost $1.7 million over six months while his banks processed 33 suspicious wire transfers — and failed to stop a single one.

Ray Anholt’s case is one of the most important institutional failure examples in recent elder fraud history. Over a six-month period, Anholt made 33 wire transfers totaling $1.7 million — most of his accumulated savings — to overseas accounts controlled by scammers. The CBC Go Public investigative team documented that Anholt’s banks were in a position to observe these transfers, many of which were irregular in size, frequency, and destination. None were stopped. Anholt’s family discovered the transfers only after the fact. The CBC investigation raised pointed questions about the obligations of financial institutions to protect elderly, cognitively vulnerable customers — and the legal and regulatory framework that does (and doesn’t) require them to intervene. Anholt’s case is particularly valuable for Brian’s audience because it illustrates the institutional angle: what banks and advisors should have caught, what FINRA Rule 2165 and similar regulations are designed to address, and why the failure of financial institutions to act is often as important as the scam itself.

Source: 89-Year-Old Loses $1.7M; Banks Blamed for Not Acting — CBC (Oct 2025)

Ohio Pig Butchering Ring — 33 Victims | Total Loss: $4,900,000

A single organized fraud operation initiated contact through a ‘wrong number’ text message and ultimately stole $4.9 million from 33 victims — mostly older adults.

This DOJ-documented case illustrates the organized, systematic nature of modern pig butchering operations. The scam began with a text message that appeared to be sent to the wrong person — a casual, friendly mistake. When victims responded to correct the error, the scammer pivoted to building a relationship, eventually introducing a cryptocurrency investment platform that appeared to generate spectacular returns. Victims included a primary target whose losses triggered the federal investigation, and 32 additional victims who had been similarly manipulated. Total losses: $4.9 million. The DOJ press release noted that the scam was operated by an organized overseas network and that victim recovery is extremely rare once funds are converted to cryptocurrency. The ‘wrong number’ initiation method is now one of the most common pig butchering entry points — appearing casual, non-threatening, and accidental. This case is ideal for content about how pig butchering scams begin and how to recognize the initiation pattern.

Source: Ohio Pig Butchering Ring — DOJ Press Release (Feb 2025)

FINRA Foundation Investor Stories

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation’s ‘Exposed to Scams’ series features investor-specific fraud victim accounts — particularly relevant for investment and securities fraud contexts.

›  Exposed to Scams: Real Investor Stories — FINRA Foundation

AARP Fraud Wars Documentary Series

AARP’s ‘Fraud Wars’ is among the best-produced elder fraud awareness content available. Professional documentary format, real victims, hosted by Kathy Stokes, Director of AARP Fraud Watch Network.

›  Jackie Crenshaw — Nearly $1M Stolen in Investment Scam

›  Judith Boivin — No One Is Immune

›  Stew Abrams — Retired Defense Attorney Falls for Scam

›  How Six Scammers Defrauded Older Americans — Six Case Studies

AARP The Perfect Scam — Selected Episodes

200+ episodes of real scam stories. Each episode is a complete, vetted account of how a specific fraud worked — ideal as content research or as supplemental links in newsletter issues.

›  Virtual Kidnapping — $11,000 Lost

›  COVID Widow Loses 401K to Romance Scammer

›  Gold Bar Scam — Entire Life Savings Handed to a Courier

›  Mary Ellen Strange — Retired Nurse Loses Life Savings to Fake Government Agent

›  The Money Doctor — $20M Texas Ponzi Scheme

FBI Published Victim Stories

FBI published stories are credible, documented, and carry law enforcement authority.

›  Romance Scam Victim Tells Her Story — Salt Lake City

›  The Phantom Hacker: Inside a Tech Support Scam

›  FBI/CIA Director William Webster Was Targeted — ‘If It Can Happen to Me…’

Media Investigations — Victim Accounts

60 Minutes / CBS News Investigations: Sharyn Alfonsi’s 2023 investigation interviewed multiple senior victims of grandparent scams, tech support scams, and AI voice cloning. The 2025 segment covers transnational criminal organizations targeting American seniors at scale.

›  Cyber Scammers Targeting Grandparents — Full Segment (May 2023)

›  How Con Artists Use AI and Apps to Steal — Transcript

›  Billions Lost to Foreign Fraud (May 2025)

Scamwatch — International Real Life Stories

Australia’s Scamwatch publishes real victim stories. Scam tactics are global — international stories resonate with American audiences because the fraud scripts are virtually identical worldwide.

Scam Victims Tell Their Stories — Scamwatch (Australia)

NCOA — Tech Support Scam Victim Story

How a tech support scam stole $20,000 from one older adult — Phyllis Weisberg’s first-person account.

How a Tech Support Scam Stole $20,000 — NCOA

McAfee — Real Scam Stories  [NEW]

McAfee’s curated collection of real consumer scam accounts. Covers a range of fraud types including romance scams, tech support, and phishing. Useful for illustrating how scams work from the victim’s perspective with accessible, consumer-friendly language.

Real Scam Stories — McAfee

Section 13: Videos & Documentary Content

YouTube Channels — Must-Follow

Jim Browning — The Godfather of Scambusting

4M+ subscribers. Software engineer who infiltrates scam call centers, records scammers in real time, and saves victims. BBC Panorama featured him in 2020. The most important YouTube channel in the elder fraud space.

Jim Browning YouTube Channel

Kitboga / Scammer Payback / Pleasant Green — Scam Baiting Channels

Collectively 10M+ subscribers across channels. Entertainment-forward but educational — each exposes specific scam operations in real time. Kitboga focuses on tech support and IRS scams; Pleasant Green on romance scams.

›  Kitboga YouTube Channel

›  Scammer Payback — Pierogi

›  Pleasant Green — Romance Scam Investigations

FBI & Government Video Resources

William Webster, 98 — former Director of both the FBI and CIA — was targeted by a lottery scam. His message: ‘If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.’ Arguably the most powerful single elder fraud awareness asset available.

›  FBI Elder Fraud PSA — ‘If It Can Happen to Me’ (William Webster)

›  FBI Elder Fraud PSA — ‘How Quickly It Can Happen’ (2023)

›  FBI Inside the FBI Podcast — Phantom Hacker Scam Episode

›  FBI Inside the FBI Podcast — Romance Scam Episode

60 Minutes Investigations

The 2023 segment is landmark: AI voice cloning demonstrated live, grandparent scam re-creation, and three senior victim interviews. The ethical hacker segment shows exactly how easy it is to be phished — powerful proof of concept.

›  Cyber Scammers Targeting Grandparents (May 2023)

›  Ethical Hacker Demonstrates Phishing Live On-Air

›  Billions Lost to Foreign Fraud (May 2025)

AARP Video Content

The actual recorded grandparent scam call is uniquely powerful — hearing what the scam sounds like in real time is the most effective awareness tool for family members.

›  AARP Fraud Wars Documentary Series — All Episodes

›  AARP Grandparent Scam Audio Demonstration (Actual Recorded Call)

›  AARP Fraud Watch Network YouTube Channel

Documentaries

The BBC Panorama documentary features Jim Browning’s real-time infiltration of a major Indian call center. The Tinder Swindler is the most-watched fraud documentary ever — directly applicable to romance scam content.

›  BBC Panorama: The Scam — Jim Browning Investigation (2020)

›  The Tinder Swindler — Netflix (2022)

›  WIRED — Scam Compounds: Slavery and Fraud on the Myanmar Border

Section 14: Podcasts — Ongoing Research Sources

AARP The Perfect Scam — The Gold Standard

200+ episodes. Award-winning. One real scam story per week, told in depth, from victim perspective. The single best ongoing source for newsletter story ideas and consumer-facing fraud education. Monitor weekly.

AARP The Perfect Scam — Weekly Podcast

Fraud Insights Podcast — ACFE

Produced by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Professional audience — excellent for the financial institution and organizational consulting angle on elder fraud. Covers fraud detection, forensic accounting, and institutional response.

Fraud Insights — Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Darknet Diaries — Cybercrime Stories

Jack Rhysider investigates cybercrime including fraud operations. Sophisticated, well-produced. Provides deep background on how organized fraud groups operate — useful for technical credibility in presentations.

Darknet Diaries — Cybercrime Investigations

American Scandal — Wondery

Long-form narrative podcast covering major financial fraud cases including Ponzi schemes and investment scams. Useful for historical context on how financial fraud has evolved — and for sourcing story content on major cases.

American Scandal — Wondery

Part V — Quick Reference Guide

Section 15: Scam Type Reference Guide

Use this section to quickly look up how a specific scam type works. Each category maps to content, education, and regulatory resources elsewhere in this document.

Technology-Based Scams

  • Tech Support Scams — Fake Microsoft/Apple/Norton agents; multi-stage ‘Phantom Hacker’ variant (three phases: fake tech support → fake bank → fake government agent)
  • Phishing / Smishing / Vishing — Credential theft via email, text (smishing), or voice (vishing); often spoofed sender identities
  • AI Voice Cloning — Grandparent scam using cloned family member voice generated from social media audio; calls claiming emergency
  • Deepfake Video Fraud — Fake FaceTime or Zoom calls impersonating officials, celebrities, or family members using generative AI
  • Online Romance / Pig Butchering — Long-term relationship (weeks to months) built to introduce fake investment platform; crypto focus
  • Crypto ATM Scams — Directing seniors to deposit cash into cryptocurrency ATMs after establishing false urgency
  • Check Washing — Intercepting mailed checks; chemically altering payee name and/or amount

Government & Authority Impersonation

  • IRS Impersonation — Threats of immediate arrest for unpaid taxes; demands gift card payment
  • Social Security Administration Scams — Fake suspension or investigation of Social Security number or benefits
  • Medicare / Medicaid Fraud — Fake billing for services not rendered; identity theft for prescription fraud
  • FBI / Law Enforcement Impersonation — ‘Your account is involved in drug trafficking / money laundering’
  • Jury Duty Scams — Threatening arrest for failing to appear; demand immediate payment to avoid arrest
  • Fake Government Grant Scams — ‘You’ve been selected to receive a government grant — just pay the processing fee’

Investment & Financial Fraud

  • Ponzi Schemes — Fake returns paid with new investor funds; often affinity-based (targeting religious/ethnic communities)
  • Pyramid Schemes — Recruitment-dependent fraudulent structures; disguised as multi-level marketing
  • Advance Fee Fraud (419 Scams) — Upfront payment required to release promised funds; often posed as inheritance or prize
  • Unregistered Securities — Fake investment products sold by unlicensed individuals outside regulatory oversight
  • Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud — Fake exchanges, wallets, and platforms; often combined with romance scam (pig butchering)
  • Real Estate Investment Fraud — Fake syndications, inflated appraisals, flipping schemes targeting seniors with home equity
  • Mortgage Relief / Foreclosure Rescue Scams — Targeting seniors underwater on mortgages

Relationship & Social Exploitation

  • Romance Scams — Fake online partners (often posing as military, doctors, or engineers overseas) extracting money over months or years
  • Grandparent Scams — Impersonating grandchild in distress (or their ‘lawyer’ or ‘doctor’); demands immediate cash or gift cards
  • Lottery / Prize / Sweepstakes Scams — ‘You’ve won — just pay the fee to claim your winnings’
  • Charity Fraud — Fake organizations soliciting donations, especially following natural disasters or current events
  • Caregiver / Family Member Financial Exploitation — Trusted individuals draining accounts through access or coercion
  • Power of Attorney Abuse — Forged or coerced POA documents used to access and drain accounts
  • Friendship / Companion Fraud — Building genuine-seeming friendship over time before financial requests begin

Product & Service Fraud

  • Home Repair / Contractor Scams — Unsolicited contractors charging for unnecessary, incomplete, or fake work
  • Medical / Prescription Fraud — Counterfeit medications, unapproved supplements, fake clinical trials
  • Anti-Aging / Health Product Scams — Miracle cures targeting health anxiety; subscription traps
  • Funeral / Cemetery Fraud — Overcharging grieving families; upselling unnecessary services
  • Reverse Mortgage Fraud — Fraudulent equity extraction; misrepresented terms or unauthorized changes
  • Gold and Precious Metals Scams — Fake or overpriced metals sold as ‘safe havens’; often government-impersonation adjacent

This is a living resource. Update regularly as new data, stories, and regulatory developments emerge.

Compiled for newsletter content, educational presentations, and senior financial wellness research.  |  Last updated April 2026

*Senior Financial Vulnerability & Elder Fraud Prevention  |  For internal use and professional education only  |  April 20