AARP honors Indiana officer fighting fraud that targets older adults

• What You Need to Know: Fraud is a growing crisis that’s costing Americans billions each year with a disproportionate amount of the impact on older adults. Behind the statistics are real people and real losses. That’s why AARP is recognizing the leaders in law enforcement who are stepping up to stop it.

AARP recently honored the recipients of its inaugural Guardian Award at an event in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes law enforcement officers who have gone above and beyond to protect older Americans from fraud, scams, and financial exploitation. Among this year’s honorees was Sergeant Nathan VanCleave of the Evansville Police Department, recognized for his leadership in advancing groundbreaking anti-fraud protections in Indiana.

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From local concern to statewide change

As a financial crimes detective, Sgt. VanCleave began seeing an alarming trend with more and more scams ending at cryptocurrency kiosks. These machines were a favorite tool of criminals as they were a way for their victims to send money quickly and irreversibly, often wiping out thousands of dollars of Hoosiers’ hard-earned money. According to Sgt. VanCleave, the average loss per victim in Evansville was $11,000.

Sgt. VanCleave knew that action must be taken, so he teamed up with AARP Indiana to help pass an Evansville city ordinance that added some consumer protections. But he also knew that while local action mattered, it would take statewide action to truly protect Hoosiers.

As part of AARP Indiana’s efforts at the Statehouse, VanCleave traveled from Evansville to Indianapolis to testify before House and Senate committees where he answered questions from legislators. He was able to help explain complex scams in ways that were easy to understand, and he filmed educational videos explaining the growing crisis with the machines.

“He brought humanity to the issue,” said AARP Indiana Legislative Director Ambre Marr. “He could talk about people and put faces to the dollars lost. He has seen first-hand the heartbreak and what it means when someone nearing retirement loses everything in a matter of minutes. That kind of truth can change things.”

On March 9, 2026, Governor Mike Braun signed into law House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1116 – Virtual Currency Kiosks. Authored by Rep. Wendy McNamara and sponsored by Sen. Scott Baldwin, the landmark legislation made Indiana the first state in the nation to ban cryptocurrency kiosks.

What a Guardian looks like

Sgt. VanCleave’s work shows what can happen when experience is paired with action.

“He represents exactly what this award is meant to honor,” added Marr. “He protects people when they are vulnerable and pursues justice when others exploit trust. His work will help protect Hoosiers for years to come.”

Jared Soares for AARP