California among riskiest states for senior scams

THOUSAND PALMS, CA (KESQ) - Seniors are increasingly being targeted by phishing, spoofing and other scams, with criminals using sophisticated tactics — including artificial intelligence.

The FBI recorded nearly 50,000 scam reports involving Americans 60 and older in 2025, with about $80 million in reported losses.

A new report ranks California as the fourth-riskiest state for senior scams, driven by the number of reports and significant financial losses.

Retirement Living says one of the biggest threats in California is business impersonation, where scammers pose as legitimate companies to steal money or personal information.

Jailyn Rodriguez, a Media Relations Specialist with Retirement Living, says unfamiliar calls or emails should immediately raise a red flag.

“If you aren't familiar with the contact... that should be a little red flag to you. You should hesitate.”

California also has the second-highest rate of elder fraud losses, with about $160,000 lost for every 1,000 seniors.

Experts recommend slowing down, verifying unexpected requests and never providing personal or financial information to unfamiliar contacts.