Anyone can be a victim of fraud, but older Americans continue to be a top target. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), individuals age 60 and older reported more than $7.7 billion in losses in 2025, with losses increasing significantly year over year.

These scams are becoming more sophisticated and often involve impersonation, fake investment opportunities, tech support schemes, or even building online relationships to gain trust before requesting money.

Common red flags to watch for:

• Urgent requests for payment or sensitive information
• Instructions to send money via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency
• Unsolicited calls or messages claiming to be from a trusted organization
• “Too good to be true” investment opportunities

How to protect yourself and your loved ones:

• Pause and verify before acting and use a trusted phone number
• Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person
• Talk through financial decisions with a trusted family member or advisor

Farm Credit Illinois is committed to helping protect our member-owners’ financial well-being. If you suspect fraud, visit FCI’s Fraud & Security resources, contact your local FCI office, and report it right away through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Sources:

https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/scammers-target-older-adult-victims

https://seniors.hcsk.org/elder-fraud-statistics-research/

aarp.org

elaca.org