Scams, Fraud, and Financial Exploitation Are Rising. AARP Virgin Islands Is Bringing Experts Together to Fight Back

Fraud against older Americans has exploded into a national crisis. Adults age 60 and older reported a staggering $7.7 billion in losses in 2025, representing a nearly 60 percent increase over the previous year, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The FBI received more than 201,000 complaints from older adults, with victims reporting an average loss of more than $38,000 each. Experts caution that because fraud is significantly underreported, the true financial toll is likely far higher.

The threat extends beyond scams alone. According to the National Council on Aging, older Americans lose an estimated $28 billion annually to financial exploitation, fraud, and scams. Studies also suggest that only 1 in 24 cases of elder financial abuse is ever reported, allowing many perpetrators to continue targeting vulnerable adults unchecked.

More Ways to Benefit

View All

MEMBERS ONLY

View Benefit

MEMBERS ONLY

View Benefit

MEMBERS ONLY

View Benefit

MEMBERS ONLY

View Benefit

MEMBERS ONLY

View Benefit

Previous Next

1. Related Benefit 1
2. Related Benefit 2
3. Related Benefit 3
4. Related Benefit 4
5. Related Benefit 5

Now, AARP Virgin Islands is bringing the fight home.

Building on the momentum of a highly successful summit series, AARP Virgin Islands — in partnership with the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Human Services and the U.S. Virgin Islands Medicaid Fraud Control Unit — will convene leaders from government, law enforcement, financial institutions, legal services, consumer protection agencies, and community organizations for the Elder Justice Summit Part III: Elder Financial Exploitation & Fraud Prevention Forum on Tuesday, August 4, at the UVI Innovation Center, St. Thomas, and Thursday, August 6, at the UVI Great Hall, St. Croix, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

This professional forum is the culminating installment of the 2026 Elder Justice Summit Series — a three-part initiative intentionally designed to move from education to systems reform to long-term collaboration and action. Part III turns the spotlight on strengthening enforcement coordination, improving reporting systems, and building stronger institutional responses to the fraud and exploitation targeting older Virgin Islanders.

"Protecting older adults isn't just about responding after harm occurs. It's about working together to prevent that harm in the first place," said Troy De Chabert-Schuster, State Director of AARP Virgin Islands. "This forum brings together the people with the expertise and authority to recognize the warning signs, respond to concerns, and protect older adults before financial harm ever happens."

The forum will feature a keynote presentation by Kathy Stokes, Senior Director of Fraud Prevention Programs at AARP and head of the AARP Fraud Watch Network — a nationally recognized leader in fraud prevention. Stokes recently testified before the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee on the rising global scam economy, serves as Board Chair of the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center, and advises the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators and the North American Securities Administrators Association. She will share national perspectives on emerging fraud trends, consumer protection strategies, and best practices for preventing, identifying, and responding to financial exploitation.