Indiana seniors robbed of $3.5 Million
Elderly Americans in Indiana aged 60 to 69 have lost a huge $3,578,669 to fraud this year so far – resulting in a per-person loss of $500.
Investment experts at cryptocurrency exchange ChicksX <http://chicksx.com> studied data from the Federal Trade Commission to reveal how many elderly residents (aged 60 to 69) have fallen victim to fraud in each state in 2025 so far.
Nationally, in Q1 of this year, there were 60,379 reports of all types of fraud among those aged 60 to 69, with 29% of these resulting in a financial loss. The stolen sum exceeded $354.9 million, equating to a median loss of $597 per report.
In Indiana, seniors see a per-report loss that’s 16.2% below the national average, but that’s still substantial, with 961 reports made by those aged 60-69.
The most prevalent scam in the state across the age group this year so far is business imposters. Many scammers target elderly people because they’re more likely to trust official-sounding calls and emails, and may be pressured to act quickly if they think the correspondence is coming from a reputable organization.
The top fraud subcategories for those aged 60-69 in Indiana Fraud Subcategory Number of Reports (60-69)
1 Business imposters: 266
2 Government imposters: 190
3 Online shopping: 93
4 Tech support scams: 41
5 Miscellaneous investments & investments advice: 31
Nationally, fraud risk drops slightly as age increases, but those who are affected still see substantial loss. Those aged 70 to 79 have seen 45,076 reports of fraud so far this year, with 26% resulting in stolen funds. Per consumer, this works out to $994.
All U.S. consumers aged 80 and over made 12,823 reports of fraud in the first quarter of 2025, with 23% seeing funds stolen. This equates to $1,900 per attack.
In Indiana, those aged 70 to 79 made 716 reports, with over one-quarter (29.1%) resulting in a financial impact. This worked out to a per-person loss of $968.
Those aged 80 and over made just 214 reports in 2025 so far, with 20.1% seeing some sort of financial loss. However, those who did lose money lost a notable amount, at a $1,200 median value.
Al Alof, CEO of ChicksX <http://chicksx.com> , issued a warning for elderly residents in the state:
“Fraudsters know that seniors may be more trusting, less familiar with online platforms or purchases, or unaware of how sophisticated modern scam attempts have become. It’s essential that families and communities talk openly about these risks and the warning signs to prevent vulnerable individuals from falling victim.
“Summer also carries an elevated risk, with Fourth of July sales and an uptick in travel and home improvement projects, especially among those who are retired. Scammers may impersonate well-known retailers and take advantage of elderly residents’ trusted family members being preoccupied with their own summer plans.
“We don’t want to take independence away from our elderly family members, but please encourage them to run any suspicious contact past you before responding. Just talking about the latest scam tactics or reviewing questionable emails/texts together can stop fraud before it happens.”
The expert shares three key tips to help the elderly avoid falling victim to fraud this summer:
1. Be suspicious of ‘too good to be true’ deals. Scammers may offer fake discounts or sweepstakes to elderly consumers. Always verify companies through the Better Business Bureau (BBB) before agreeing to anything.
2. Don’t answer unfamiliar robocalls. Elderly people are often targeted by phone scams pretending to be Social Security or Medicare. Use call-blocking apps to limit spam calls, and never share personal details over the phone.
3. Ask a trusted family member for help. Scammers ramp up phishing emails and fake charity requests in the summer. Check emails or messages with a trusted family member to double-check the authenticity before clicking anything.