Resources Against Senior Abuse & Fraud

Better Business Bureau
www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us External

Tracks illegal schemes and fraud. Searchable by fraud type and location.

Council of Better Business Bureaus
www.bbb.org/council/bbb-scam-stopper External

Provides information on existing scams and allows users to search for and report scams.

Better Business Bureau
www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us External

Tracks illegal schemes and fraud. Searchable by fraud type and location.

Federal Communications Bureau
https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/ External

Allows users to file a complaint, learn about consumer issues, and share your experience.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
www.consumerfinance.gov External

Describes the laws and regulations around scams and frauds and allows users to report a scam or seek assistance. Contact CFPB_Accessibility@cfpb.gov if there are accessibility problems with this website.

The National Center for Victims of Crime
https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw2018/info_flyers/fact_sheets/2018NCVRW_OlderAdults_508_QC.pdf [PDF, 395 KB / 2 p.] External

Gives current data on the victimization and abuse of older adults.

United States Department of Justice
www.justice.gov/elderjustice External

Provides information on elder abuse and how to get help if you or a loved one is a victim of elder abuse.

FBI Headquarters
www.ic3.gov/crimeschemes.aspx External

Provides information on current and ongoing Internet schemes and allows users to file a complaint.

Federal Trade Commission
www.ftc.gov External

Allows users to file a consumer complaint, report identity theft, set up scam alerts, and register a phone number on the national “do not call list.” Provides printable bookmarks that summarize information in an easy-to-access format for seniors as well as articles on current issues, a list of other useful websites, and fact sheets on the Elder Justice Act of 2003.

United States Postal Inspection Service
https://ehome.uspis.gov/fcsexternal/default.aspx External

How to file a mail fraud, mail theft, identity theft, or unsolicited sexually oriented advertising in the mail to the United States Postal Inspection Service.

United States Security and Exchange Commission
www.sec.gov/investor/seniors.shtml External

Provides information on investing wisely for seniors including information on avoiding investment fraud.

National Consumers League
www.fraud.org/fraud_older_adults External

Includes “My Do Not Call Registration Information: A Guide to Track Telemarketing Calls” and the publication “They Can’t Hang Up,” a guide to caregivers and families on how to protect seniors from telemarketing fraud. Provides information on recent fraudulent activity, an online incident report form, and directions on how to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

Federal Bureau of Investigation
www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud/seniors External

Lists common fraud schemes targeting older adults along with tips on how seniors can avoid them.

Internal Revenue Service
www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams External

Provides forms and directions for reporting tax-related identity theft. Offers articles on preventing tax-related identity theft.

United States Securities and Exchange Commission
www.investor.gov/seniors External

Gives information on “senior specialists,” investor alerts and bulletins, variable annuities, and how to protect yourself from investment fraud.

Office of the Inspector General, United States Department of Health and Human Services
https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/medical-id-theft/index.asp External

Watch public service videos about medical identity theft and seniors, read articles on medical identity theft, and report medical identity theft.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/olderadult.html External

Provides the materials for an instructor-led training developed jointly by the FDIC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau covering topics such as identity and medical theft, common types of elder financial exploitation, scams targeting veterans, and how to be financially prepared for disasters.

Money Smart for Older Adults: Prevent Financial Exploitation
https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201306_cfpb_msoa-participant-guide.pdf [PDF, 584 KB / 55 p.] External

Offers information and tips to prevent common frauds and other types of financial exploitation. Sections for cognitive impairment and for caregivers and family of the elderly.

National Adult Protective Services Association
www.napsa-now.org External

Provides information on a nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of services for victims of elder abuse and vulnerable adult mistreatment. Includes definitions of abuse and the history of adult protective services.

National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities
www.nasuad.org External

Supports state and territorial agencies in designing, improving, and sustaining systems to deliver home and community-based services for people who are older or have a disability and their caregivers. Allows you to search for state and local resources and free publications.

Administration on Aging, USC Keck School of Medicine, and UND Center for Rural Health
https://ncea.acl.gov/ External

Includes state-by-state elder abuse report phone numbers and local resources, compiled by a research-oriented organization directed by the United States Administration on Aging.

National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center
http://ltcombudsman.org External

Includes a state-by-state Ombudsman locator; a library of free material regarding the legal rights of nursing home residents, their families, and caregivers; and an “issues” link that allows you to browse the site using an alphabetical glossary.

Online Complaint Assistant
Federal Trade Commission
www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-1 External

Report someone falsely claiming to be from the government, business, or a family member.

Online Complaint System
Better Business Bureau
www.bbb.org/consumer-complaints/file-a-complaint/get-started External

Information on how to file complaints with the Better Business Bureau.

Online Romance Scam Information
U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command
www.cid.army.mil/romancescam.html External

Gives information on individuals online pretending to be United States service members on active duty overseas.

Report Phishing Sites
United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team
https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/avoiding-social-engineering-and-phishing-attacks

Defines what phishing is and how to report phishing.

Federal Bureau of Investigation
www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-fraud-schemes/telemarketing-fraud External

Provides information on how to avoid and report telemarketing fraud.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
www.consumerfinance.gov/practitioner-resources/resources-for-older-adults/financial-security-as-you-age/ External

Offers tools for financial security in later life.

United States Senate Special Committee on Aging
www.aging.senate.gov External

Includes information on current scams, financial fraud, deceptive marketing, and identity theft of adults who are older.

Administration on Community Living
https://acl.gov/programs/elder-justice/what-elder-abuse External

Summarizes the different kinds of elder abuse, describes warning signs, and suggests ways to get help.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
www.consumerfinance.gov/practitioner-resources/resources-for-older-adults/ External

Offers articles for professionals and family members managing the finances of older adults. Includes the Money Smart for Older Adults Resource Guide, the Toolkit for Later-Life Financial Security, and reports and advisories by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on elder financial exploration, planning for financial incapacity, and Social Security.