Seniors are often prime targets for scammers because they are generally homeowners with savings in the bank and are in regular contact with institutions such as Medicare, health insurance providers, and banks. Accustomed to polite phone calls and more available than working adults, they are more likely to answer the phone, even without recognizing the number.
Florida, which has a large senior population, is therefore a particularly prime target for these scammers.
Different Types of Scams
One of the most emotionally manipulative scams involves an urgent call from a family member claiming to be in a serious situation (an accident, an arrest abroad, or an urgent need for money). These days, scammers can use AI to mimic the voice of a loved one and try to panic their victim. To avoid falling for this, hang up and then call the person back using a number you know to verify the situation.
Healthcare- and banking-related scams are very common, with scammers attempting to obtain personal information and money. Keep in mind that an official agency will never urgently request personal information or money over the phone. Also be wary of investment promises offering astronomical returns—they’re too good to be true.
Scammers may also impersonate law enforcement officials. I’d like to share a personal experience here: A few years ago, an “FBI representative” from New Mexico called me on my cell phone from a number that looked official and asked me to check the FBI’s website (it was the same number and name as a department head). He then told me that my identity had been stolen and that my bank accounts were being used by drug traffickers.
After an hour of verification and the creation of a so-called case file with a reference number, I was transferred to another department, which told me that, to prove my identity, I had to give them access to my bank accounts (which I refused) or log into my bank accounts myself and make an immediate transfer to the FBI. A police officer was going to show up at my house within the next hour, and so on. The situation was very distressing, but I remained suspicious and told them I would not make the transfer, that I was going to hang up and go to a police station to verify this story and identify myself in person. Strangely, the scammer objected to this and, above all, didn’t want me to hang up the phone. That’s a strong clue: a scammer never wants you to hang up the phone.
As a result, I ended up hanging up despite his threats (legal action, etc.). I then called the real FBI office, which simply told me they’d received many calls similar to mine, that they were aware of this type of scam, and that I shouldn’t answer any more—they were handling it. I never heard anything more about it. We’re all vulnerable to scammers. Since then, for my part, I never answer the phone if I don’t recognize the number. If it’s important, the caller will leave a voicemail.
Another common type of fraud is romance scams. It’s easy to obtain personal information about potential victims: official obituaries and social media make it possible to find out who is a widow or widower, as well as people’s hobbies and interests; and, of course, data breaches make the scammers’ job even easier. For example, this summer, the French government reported that millions of data records were stolen from the French tax agency’s website (my account was among them). It’s easy for hackers to resell this information to scammers on the “dark web,” including, in this case, the total value of your assets as reported to the tax authorities. Fraudsters then simply target potential victims among the wealthiest individuals. Direct contact can thus be highly personalized, and fraudsters know exactly who to target.
The warning signs to watch for during these interactions are as follows: the person you’re talking to avoids video calls or in-person meetings; he or she repeatedly shares dramatic emergencies; asks for financial help, gift cards, or money transfers; and quickly expresses a strong emotional attachment.
A few years ago, a somewhat lonely elderly man from Jacksonville was scammed by a “woman” who contacted him via WhatsApp. He quickly fell deeply in love and sent her money for a plane ticket so she could join him. Of course,
she was unable to come. Then, one thing leading to another, in less than four days, the man sent her nearly $450,000 to various accounts. When his family intervened, he was about to make another transfer of $200,000. This man, who was very angry at his family for meddling in his love life, took a very long time to accept the reality of the situation. He didn’t see himself as a victim. The investigation revealed that his “lover” was actually a Chinese man working out of a scam call center.
Finally, other common scams involve home improvement and repair work, particularly following storm damage. Common tactics include going door-to-door to offer inspections or repairs, or making direct calls to residents after a storm. You should always get at least a second estimate and request written documentation, particularly a Florida professional license, which is easy to verify on the Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) website, www.myfloridalicense.com.
What protections are available?
Since June 2025, a Florida law known as the “Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults” Act has been in effect: it allows an attorney seeking an injunction to block a wire transfer to serve the proceedings on an “unidentifiable” party (the alleged scammer) using the same means of communication used by the scammer, such as WhatsApp. This makes it possible to stop the bleeding quickly, even if the funds already sent are permanently lost.
Complaints of fraud targeting seniors increased by 59% in 2025, with losses (reported and known) reaching $7.7 billion, although in many cases, out of embarrassment, losses are never reported. Seniors in Florida accounted for 709.8 million of this total (9.2%).
In response to this surge, Florida launched Operation Senior Shield in November 2025. The program offers free, real-time alerts about scams circulating in Florida, as well as a specialized task force bringing together cybersecurity experts, law enforcement, government agencies, and senior advocates. It also provides interactive educational tools. For more information and to sign up for free alerts: www.opseniorshieldfl.com.
Have you been a victim?
Scams can be reported to the FBI office nearest you www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices (there are three in Florida: Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville); to the Federal Trade Commission if the scam involves home improvement work or services (www.reportfraud.ftc.gov); to the Internet Crime Complaint Center if it involves an online scam (www.ic3.gov); or directly to the Florida Attorney General’s Office, which has a team dedicated to protecting seniors, reachable at (866) 966-7226 and via the website: www.myfloridalegal.com/consumer-protection/senior-protection.