In 2025, the Bureau of Consumer Protection received 4,000 complaints of fraud and financial exploitation. In many instances, however, the incidents are never reported, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General estimates that Pennsylvanians have lost triple that amount. Anyone can fall victim to fraud and financial exploitation. What’s the difference between fraud and financial exploitation?
Fraud is when a stranger takes advantage of or steals money from an individual.
Financial exploitation is when a family member, friend, or someone known to the victim steals money from the victim.
Financial Exploitation
The PA Office of Attorney General created the Elder Exploitation Section in October 2025. This is a new division dedicated to protecting older Pennsylvanians from financial crimes, deception, and theft. Financial exploitation is when a trusted individual with fiduciary responsibility steals money from the person they are caring for.
Often the individuals exploiting the older adult is doing so through Power of Attorney (POA) agreement. Under a POA, you are assigning an individual to always act on your behalf and in your best interest. Although this is a valuable tool for older adults to manage their affairs, if not customized to your situation or not assigned to a reliable candidate, it can lead to financial exploitation. The best candidate to be your POA is not necessarily the individual you love the most, but the person you trust the most. You have the right to revoke POA at any time for any reason or if a better candidate has been identified.
Seek proper legal advice before signing a POA. An elder law or estate attorney is best qualified to draft the appropriate POA for your situation and needs. Never use a standard POA found on the internet. They may not meet state requirements. A violation of POA can lead to serious consequences.
Scams
Anyone can fall victim to scams. Learning to recognize red flags and staying aware of common tactics are great ways to protect yourself.
Common Scams Used to Steal Your Money
Government imposter scams: They may pretend to be the IRS, Medicare, FBI, or Social Security Agency. Or there is a warrant for your arrest for missing jury duty. Government agencies do not call you on the phone for the first contact. Government agencies usually make primary contact through an official mailing and will never demand payment over the phone or through other means.
Loan modifications scams: Do not accept any financial advice or services over the phone from an entity that you have not researched or contacted first. Examples: reduce interest rate and payment, repair credit. Never pay a fee when there are government agencies and nonprofit organizations that offer the service for free.
Business scams: Scammers pretend to be local businesses or stores. Through emails or texts, they will contact you with a great discount or coupon from one of your favorite stores, such as “Click the link below for up to 75% off!” If the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. They create fake or cloned websites that look like the real thing. Once you enter your payment to make a purchase, they have your credit card information.
Tech support scams: This one works on people of all ages. Scammer creates a portal to communicate with you through a pop up on social media, on the Internet or through a phone call or text message. They use the names of trusted and respected businesses to lure you in… Apple, Google, and Microsoft. For example, “Your MacAfee Protection has expired! Click here to download the newest anti-virus software for free.” Always check the status of your anti-virus software before following a link to update or renew your service.
Romance scams: Scammers create a fake person and maintain a fake relationship for days, weeks, months, and years. At some point they ask for money or ask you to go into business with them. AI can text or message you automatically. AI can send a warm, passionate message automatically. Now scammers can create a videochat with an AI created image communicating live online.
Scammers use emotional triggers. Love! Urgency! Financial gain or loss. Panic or fear, like “your bill is overdue. We are shutting off your power.” Joy, such as “you’ve won a cruise!” They cause panic or excitement to cause you to react with urgency and not use caution. Stop. Pause. Think.
Tips to follow to safeguard yourself from scams
Don’t answer calls from unknown callers. Add trusted people (family members, bank, RX, doctor, friends) to your contacts and make them all favorites with a special ring tone. When you hear the special ringtone, you will know it is okay to answer. Assign all other contacts in your phone a separate ringtone, so now you have a ringtone for your favorites and another tone for your other contacts. This will help you to prioritize answering your calls. Select unknown calls to be silenced and moved to voicemail. If it is an important call from an unknown contact, they will leave a message that you can review.
Watch out for clickbait links – emails and text messages to click on a hyperlink (blue). Examples are your email is full, lose your emails, or click to get a free expansion of your mailbox. Make sure you verify the source before clicking.
Never provide information to someone calling you. Don’t answer questions from unknown callers.
Question uncommon payment methods.
Verify before you comply.
Check with trusted sources.
For calls about your utilities or other services, check your monthly bill or statement. Call the customer service listed on the statement and ask about them contacting you.
Local government office (legislator). Check with your local state representative or the Office of the Attorney General (AG) to get the correct number to verify the call your received. For example, did the caller say you are in trouble with the IRS? Call the AG to find out the correct number to call to speak to the IRS regarding the message you received.
Your own contacts in your phone. If you get a strange text message. Go into your contacts and call the number you have for that individual to verify they texted you. If it is a strange phone call, email your contact.
Local non-profit organizations have information and can assist you with incidents of potential fraud. AARP can answer questions about common scams and provide other resources.
PA Office of Attorney General is there to answer your questions. You can visit their website at www.attorneygeneral.gov.
Reporting
Report all incidents of fraud and scams, even if it was for $1. You can report to the following:
Your local police department
Pennsylvania State Police if you don’t have a local PD
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. Report Internet crimes on their website.
The Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.
To report scams and financial exploitation to the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General:
Call 1-800 441-2555
Email scams@attorneygeneral.gov
File a scam report online at www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/scams-complaint/
Sign up for scam alerts at www.attorneygeneral.gov/consumer-alerts/
Older (over 60) Pennsylvanians can contact the Senior Protection Unit at 866-631-6135 or at senior@attorneygeneral.gov.