In 2023, Oregon’s elderly population fell victim to internet scams, losing over $44 million, as per the latest data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The FBI’s 2023 Elder Fraud Report revealed a concerning trend, with the number of fraud reports rising by 14% nationwide compared to the previous year, totaling 101,068 cases. Financial losses also increased by 11%, surpassing $3 billion.
However, it’s important to note that these figures may not fully capture the extent of internet scams targeting older individuals, as only half of the internet crime complaints include age-related information.
Despite this, data indicates that individuals over 60 were the primary targets of fraud, with the highest number of complaints and projected losses. Those aged 30 to 39 followed closely behind, with 88,138 complaints and over $1 billion in projected losses for 2023.
FBI Assistant Director Michael Nordwall emphasized the agency’s commitment to combating financial exploitation of the elderly, highlighting ongoing efforts to support victims and apprehend perpetrators.
In Oregon, there were 1,606 reported complaints, ranking the state 19th in terms of complaints filed and 21st in dollars lost. Meanwhile, in Washington, elderly residents filed 2,873 complaints and suffered losses of nearly $89 million due to scams.
Across the nation, the most prevalent scams included tech support schemes, personal data breaches, and confidence and romance scams, where victims are deceived into sending money to individuals posing as relatives, friends, or romantic partners.
