Millions of older Americans are targeted by financial scams each year. One analysis published by the U.S. Department of the Treasury found $27 billion in suspected elder financial exploitation in just a 12-month period. As digital banking, payments and communication become more common, scammers have more ways to reach victims and impersonate trusted institutions. Phishing scams, including business imposter and government imposter fraud, are among the most common methods used to target older Americans.
SmartAsset analyzed fraud reports filed with the Federal Trade Commission by state and age group to determine which areas show the highest rate of reported scams involving residents aged 60 and older. The analysis also identified the most common scam type targeting older Americans in each state.
Key Findings
This popular retirement state recorded the highest rate of reported scams involving older Americans. Arizona led the analysis with seven reports involving residents aged 60 and older per 1,000 people in that age group. Delaware and Colorado followed in the rankings.
North Dakota recorded the lowest rate of reported scams involving older Americans. With just three reports involving residents age 60 and older for every 1,000 people in that age group, North Dakota had the fewest reported incidents in the analysis.
Business imposter scams were the most commonly reported scam type involving older Americans in most states. Among the 10 most common scam types, older Americans most often reported business imposter scams in every state except Alaska, Iowa, Maryland, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia. In those states, residents most often reported government imposter scams.
Older Americans report job fraud and online shopping fraud less often than younger groups. Nationwide, reports involving older Americans were less likely than those involving younger age groups to cite either scam type.
SmartAsset
States Where Older Americans are Targeted for Financial Fraud
Arizona Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 7 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 12% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Delaware Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 6.9 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 10% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Colorado Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 6.8 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 13% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Washington Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 6.4 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 14% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
New Mexico Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 6.3 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 16% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Alaska Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 6.1 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 13% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Government imposters
Maryland Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 5.9 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 8% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Government imposters
Nevada Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 5.8 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 8% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Oregon Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 5.7 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 14% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Vermont Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 5.5 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 20% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Government imposters
Utah Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 5.4 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 12% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Florida Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 5.2 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 7% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Hawai‘i Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 5.1 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 14% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
New Hampshire Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 5.1 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 15% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
South Carolina Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 5.1 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 9% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Virginia Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 5.1 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 9% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Montana Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.9 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 17% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Wyoming Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.9 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 14% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
California Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.8 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 9% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Georgia Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.8 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 5% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Idaho Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.8 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 14% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Alabama Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.6 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 8% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Nebraska Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.6 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 13% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Connecticut Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.5 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 9% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Maine Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.5 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 16% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
North Carolina Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.5 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 8% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Rhode Island Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.5 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 11% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Indiana Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.4 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 10% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Minnesota Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.4 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 13% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Kansas Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.3 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 13% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Massachusetts Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.3 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 10% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
New Jersey Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.3 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 7% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Texas Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.3 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 6% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Missouri Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.2 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 9% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Tennessee Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.2 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 9% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Wisconsin Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.2 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 13% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Illinois Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.1 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 7% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Michigan Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.1 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 9% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Ohio Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.1 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 10% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Pennsylvania Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4.1 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 8% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Arkansas Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 10% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
New York Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 7% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Oklahoma Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 4 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 11% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Kentucky Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 3.9 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 12% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
South Dakota Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 3.8 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 14% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Government imposters
Mississippi Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 3.7 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 7% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Louisiana Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 3.6 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 6% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Iowa Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 3.5 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 13% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Government imposters
West Virginia Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 3.1 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 13% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Government imposters
North Dakota Fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older per 1,000: 3 Share of all fraud reports involving victims ages 60 and older: 10% Top scam type affecting victims ages 60 and older: Business imposters
Methodology
This analysis examined fraud reports submitted to the Federal Trade Commission in 2024, the most recent year for which data was available. To evaluate where older Americans may be most frequently targeted, the number of fraud reports involving victims aged 60 and older per 1,000 residents in that age group in each of the 50 states was calculated. Population estimates for residents ages 60 and older were drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 state population estimates. In addition to this primary rate, the share of all fraud reports in each state involving victims aged 60 and older was calculated to provide additional context. States were ranked based on the rate of reports per 1,000 residents age 60 and older, and the most commonly reported scam type affecting that age group in each state was identified using FTC complaint categorization data. Because FTC data reflects reported incidents rather than all instances of fraud, actual fraud levels may be higher than reported totals, and differences in reporting behavior may influence comparisons. Source data providers are not affiliated with, and do not endorse or sponsor, this study or its findings.
