AARP, Senate Leaders Urge Stronger Fraud Protections for Older Americans

With financial scams on the rise, AARP Florida’s state director says addressing fraud demands a ‘whole-of-society’ approach

Molly Snow,

AARP

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Published August 07, 2025

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AARP (Getty Images)

From fake tech-support calls to bogus job postings, older adults today are navigating a minefield of increasingly sophisticated scams, each one threatening the savings they worked a lifetime to build.

In 2023, an estimated $158 billion was stolen through scams and fraud, with losses for older adults reaching nearly $62 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

For older adults, becoming a target means losing more than their savings. It can cost them their homes, their independence and even their health.

Cybercriminals stole more than $400,000 from one Florida resident in his 60s — the entire proceeds of his home’s sale. In a matter of seconds, he was facing homelessness.

In another instance, a scammer stole more than $650,000 from an older man he befriended in an exercise class.

Jeff Johnson, state director of AARP Florida, shared these and other devastating stories reported to the AARP’s Fraud Watch Network, a nationwide program that educates older adults on fraud risks and helps victims in their journey to recover. In 2024 alone, the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline fielded more than 100,000 calls from scam targets and victims, Johnson testified during an Aug. 7 hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Aging convened by Chairman Rick Scott, R-Fla.

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“Transnational organized crime groups are operating openly abroad, siphoning hard-earned money out of our local communities and economies,” said Johnson. “This is money that older adults had saved for their retirement — to spend on their hobbies, on travel, on their grandchildren — and instead it is lining the pockets of criminals abroad.”

The financial cost is just part of the damage these crimes cause.

“Research shows nearly 2 in 3 victims suffer a significant health or emotional impact,” Johnson said. “This is only worsened by the stigma and victim-blaming associated with fraud.”

Scams have also become “harder to detect and more convincing” with the advent of artificial intelligence, deep fakes, cryptocurrency and social media, said Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., in a statement on the committee’s 2025 fraud report.

That’s why AARP has urged lawmakers to strengthen fraud prevention through legislation targeting real estate and romance scams, cryptocurrency kiosk fraud, suspicious financial transactions and gift card theft.

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With AARP’s support, several states, including Florida, have taken action drafting or passing laws that:

Prohibit real estate agreements that brokers use to mislead homeowners into signing away the rights sell their homes
Regulate crypto ATMs
Close loopholes in “report and hold” laws that empower securities and investment firms to delay suspicious transactions
Require fraud notices posted in stores where gift cards are sold and steeper penalties for criminals who perpetuate gift card theft

The bipartisan GUARD Act, which AARP has endorsed, would provide federal grants for hiring investigators, training officers and equipping local law enforcement with sophisticated tools to trace transactions.

AARP awareness campaigns and digital literacy training are also a critical tool for prevention, Johnson said.

Local efforts from coast to coast have brought together law enforcement, attorneys general, regulatory agencies, bank tellers and more than 800 AARP volunteers who deliver fraud education in their communities and work directly with victims.

Looking for more support?

Get help with online support sessions for further emotional support.
See or report scams in your area with AARP’s Scam-Tracking Map.
Find out if your financial organization has received the AARP BankSafe training to fight financial exploitation at aarp.org/banksafe.

Panelists also called for reauthorizing the Older Americans Act to sustain vital community programs that offer regular check-ins and connect older adults to trusted information.

These programs, such as meal delivery, transportation and day services, not only support daily needs but also help providers identify signs of abuse or neglect.

“Just being present allows us to hear something and say, ‘Wait. Time out. That doesn’t quite sound right,’” Rosie Cordero-Stutz, sheriff of Miami-Dade County, said at the hearing.

When scams do happen, older adults must feel they can report the incident without retribution or fear of judgment by their caregivers and loved ones.

“One of the things we really have to battle is the culture of silence around frauds and scams,” Johnson said. “We have got to be able to help create a culture in which it’s OK to say, ‘There’s something suspicious going on, ... and I need your help.’”

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Molly Snow is a writer for AARP covering advocacy issues and state news. She also writes AARP's Today's Tips podcast. She previously worked at other news outlets, including Federal Times, McClatchy and Gannett.

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