Special agents from the IRS Criminal Investigation are warning older adults of rising financial crimes following World Elder Abuse Awareness Day last month.

A report from the Internet Crime Complaint Center shows seniors lost $7.75 billion to scammers in 2025. That total marks a 59% increase from the previous year, which is why the Atlanta Field Office for IRS Criminal Investigation wants to bring attention to these financial crimes.

"Protecting seniors from financial fraud is one of our highest priorities," Demetrius Hardeman, a special agent with the IRS-CI Atlanta Field Office, said in a recent press release.

Agents use education and partnerships in an effort to prevent constantly evolving threats, such as cryptocurrency schemes and romance scams.

Kelly Childress, the coordinator for Baldwin County's Council on Aging, said financial fraud can be especially devastating for older adults because many live alone and lack someone they trust to consult before making financial decisions, often dealing with their life savings as they are retired or receiving a set amount of Medicaid or Medicare support. Their isolation can make them more vulnerable to scammers who exploit their loneliness and willingness to engage in conversation.

Investigators noted that tactics shift quickly, with fraudsters typically posing as government officials to try and trick victims into giving out their personal information. Other common ploys include "grandparent scams," where criminals act as a relative (like a grandchild) in distress, and tech support scams that involve fake computer repairs.

To combat loneliness and isolation, Childress mentioned the local You Matter program, which provides seniors with in-home visits every two weeks for two hours, offering companionship and support.

In addition, she emphasized that older adults should never share personal or financial information with anyone before consulting someone from the agency or another trusted adult who can help determine whether a request is legitimate or part of a scam.

In the current fiscal year, IRS-CI has opened 64 new elder fraud cases. From 2021 to 2026, almost 97% of prosecuted elder fraud cases led to convictions.

To protect against these crimes, authorities advise the public to safeguard Social Security numbers and never pay bills using gift cards, wire transfers or prepaid debit cards.

Suspicious activity should be reported at IRS.gov or by emailing atlantafieldoffice@ci.irs.gov.