States Where Seniors Are Most Vulnerable to Scams

The Five Riskiest States for Senior Scams

Cybercrime is especially frightening because it can take place anywhere in the world with internet access. Criminals target you through your phone number, email address, and account passwords—no need to know where you live or knock on your door. But some states report higher rates of fraud and more dollars lost to scammers every year. Where are they?

Check out the map below and keep reading to find out which states are the riskiest for senior scams. 

1. Arizona

Arizona tops our list as the riskiest state for senior scams, with the highest financial losses per 1,000 people age 60 and older, $175,311. Plus, the state had the second-highest rate of fraud reports in the nation, at 719 per 100,000 residents in the same age range.

One scam was so pervasive that in early 2026, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) made an official announcement in an attempt to combat the misinformation. The scam involved fake text messages that told targets they owed ADOT money from unpaid tolls—and provided an illegitimate link for immediate payment. The department stepped in to clarify: Arizona is a state with zero toll roads, so no resident or visitor will ever have to pay state toll fees.

2. Nevada

Nevada has the smallest senior population among our five riskiest states for senior scams, with only about 780,000 residents age 60 or older. But the Silver State proves that raw numbers aren’t everything: It has the highest rate of senior fraud reports of all 50 states, with 748 reports per 100,000 seniors.

The state isn’t ideal for seniors for a few other reasons. It was also named the riskiest state for seniors in terms of physical safety and one of the worst states for retirement, in part because of its high property crime and elder abuse rates, as well as the state’s extreme heat.

3. Colorado

Colorado didn’t make the top 15 worst states for senior scams in 2024. But that story changed dramatically: The raw amount lost to fraud for seniors in the state nearly doubled year over year. Plus, Coloradans lost $107,976 per 1,000 residents aged 60 and older in 2025.

This spike in scams caught the right people’s attention. In May 2026, the Colorado state legislature passed the Adults’ Security and Safeguards from Exploitation in Transactions (ASSET) Act, which requires banks and credit unions to pause large transactions and notify the local authorities if they suspect a customer may be the victim of a scam.

4. California

California has the largest senior population of the five top-ranking states on our list, with over 8.8 million residents age 60 or older. These residents reported 545 incidents of fraud per 100,000 in 2025, and lost $158,134 to fraud per 1,000 seniors.

In August 2026, the police department of Folsom, California, put out an official alert noting the rise of senior scam reports. Residents were advised to be on the lookout for scammers posing as bank representatives, members of law enforcement, or businesses.

5.  Maryland

Like Colorado, Maryland saw a huge spike in senior fraud losses from 2024 to 2025. Raw financial losses increased a whopping 120% year over year, with $116,163 lost per 1,000 residents aged 60-plus. 

Beginning in October 2026, Maryland’s new Vulnerable Adult Banking Protection Act will authorize banks and credit unions to pause large transactions if they suspect financial exploitation. It also allows financial institutions to alert trusted family members, caretakers, or local agencies of suspected attempts—making sure seniors don’t have to fight the fraudsters alone.

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Where Seniors Face the Lowest Scam Risk

So is anywhere in the country safe from senior scams? Experts stress that since most senior scams are concocted online, no geographic location can offer 100% protection. “Everyone is vulnerable to internet (and) social media scams no matter where they live,” explained Tara Trevorrow, Florida attorney and co-creator of Senior$mart$, a financial literacy program designed by the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar to combat senior scams. But she says “some areas of the country have more financial predators than others.”

Darius Kingsley, head of consumer fraud and scam prevention at JPMorganChase, agreed. “Scammers can target people anywhere through texts, phone calls, social media, and email, so no community is immune,” he said. But the trademarks of online criminals stay the same across geographic lines. “While certain scams may gain traction in specific regions, the tactics criminals use are relatively consistent: They create trust, manufacture urgency, and try to pressure victims into making quick decisions.” 

Though residents in every state are at risk, these 10 states have the lowest rates of senior scams in the country:

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How Senior Scam Risk Compares by State

Our research shows a few trends in senior scam risk across the country. Firstly, four of the five riskiest states are located in the West, meaning that seniors looking to retire there should prepare to defend themselves against cybercriminals. Secondly, both the rate of senior scams and financial losses are on the rise. The majority of states saw a year-over-year increase in reported senior fraud losses of over 50%, with some states facing increases of over 100% (and even 200% in some cases). It’s more important than ever to know where your state stands—and what resources your community offers for protection. 

We’ve covered the best and worst states for senior scams. But where do the rest stack up? Learn more—and see where your state lands—in the table below.

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How Seniors Can Protect Themselves from Scams

Reading the data on senior scams might seem overwhelming. With so many scammers out there—and so many seniors losing money to them—how can you avoid the same fate? Check out the tips below for a few simple ways to protect yourself and your family against scams. 

• Act slow, not fast: Scammers create a false sense of urgency so you don’t have time to second guess their motivations. If someone starts to sound like an infomercial (“Act fast! This deal won’t be here long!”), that’s your sign to pause. “The most important thing older consumers can do is slow down,” Kingsley advised. “When someone pressures you to act quickly, that’s your first warning sign.” 
• Channel your creativity: Reusing the same password across websites means that if just one website is hacked, all of your accounts are at risk. Instead, craft a unique password for each account. (Don’t worry about memorizing them all: You can use a password manager to keep them all straight.)
• Turn on 2FA: Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, requires anyone accessing your accounts to jump through an extra hoop of verification (like facial or fingerprint recognition, or a code sent to your phone). If your password is breached, 2FA can stop hackers who don’t have access to that private information. 
• Be a lifelong learner: Technology is constantly evolving—and bad actors are keeping up with the times. Learn how to spot AI-generated images and deepfakes, with signs like fuzzy video quality, unnatural movements, and people saying or doing things they usually wouldn’t.
• Help catch the crooks: Once you’ve spotted a scam, don’t keep it to yourself. Shut down scammers by reporting online fraud or hacking attempts to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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