In short
- 712 defendants were named, with 96% of cases criminal and 45% involving international schemes.
- Victims of Crime Act funded organizations allocated $52 million to elder abuse victim services, and public awareness efforts reached over 95 million individuals.
What happened
The DOJ's Civil Division released its Annual Report to Congress, detailing efforts from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, to combat elder fraud and abuse. The Department pursued nearly 350 enforcement actions, naming 712 defendants accused of stealing or attempting to steal $4,841,305,931 from 711,353 older adult victims.
The DOJ also conducted nearly 1200 public awareness and training events, reaching over 62 million Americans, and participated in the Never Ever Campaign, which reached over 95 million individuals. Additionally, $52 million was allocated to elder abuse victim services, and millions were returned or frozen for victims.
These cases named 712 defendants charged with stealing or alleged to have stolen $4,841,305,931 from 711,353 victims.
In numbers
- $4,841,305,931 alleged stolen funds from elder fraud
- 711,353 elder fraud victims
- $52 million Victims of Crime Act funds for elder abuse victim services
Named in this item
Organization, regulator US — —
What compliance teams should check
- Review DOJ's Annual Report to Congress for typologies of elder fraud and abuse cases involving international schemes.
- Update internal monitoring to flag transactions and patterns matching the $4,841,305,931 in alleged elder fraud losses.
- Ensure staff are trained on the Never Ever Campaign and Toolkit for Law Enforcement and Emergency Medical Services When Called to a Long-Term Care Facility.
Why it matters
This report highlights the scale and complexity of elder fraud and abuse, with nearly 350 enforcement actions and over $4,841,305,931 in alleged losses affecting 711,353 victims. The high percentage of criminal and international cases underscores the need for robust AML/CFT controls targeting schemes that exploit older adults. Compliance officers must stay informed on emerging typologies, enhance transaction monitoring for elder-targeted fraud, and ensure staff are trained to recognize and report suspicious activity involving vulnerable populations.
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