AI-driven fraud targets seniors and caregivers in the US

In 2025, Americans aged 60 and older reported nearly $8 billion in losses due to cybercrime and fraud to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Experts suggest these figures may be underreported, indicating a potentially higher financial toll.

Scammers are increasingly utilizing generative artificial intelligence to enhance their operations. AI has significantly reduced the time required to create convincing phishing emails, dropping from approximately 16 hours to just five minutes. Criminals use these tools to develop personalized scripts, generate deepfake audio and video, and conduct mass simultaneous calls. Some scammers even use AI to scour obituaries to identify vulnerable targets, such as widows.

While older adults are the primary victims of financial loss, the “sandwich generation”—caregivers aged 35 to 55 who are simultaneously supporting children and aging parents—is also highly susceptible to phishing and fake login pages. This creates a dual burden of financial and emotional stress for families attempting to protect their loved ones' assets.