The U.S. Department of Justice’s 8th annual elder justice report shows federal prosecutors pursued nearly 350 criminal and civil enforcement actions involving fraud or abuse that targeted or disproportionately affected older adults.
The Justice Department’s Civil Division released its Annual Report to Congress on its efforts to combat elder fraud and abuse. The report covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
Those cases named 712 defendants charged with stealing, or alleged to have stolen, $4,841,305,931 from 711,353 victims. About 96% of the cases were criminal, and 45% involved international schemes.
During the same period, the department held nearly 1,200 public awareness and training events, reaching more than 62 million Americans. It also helped organize and took part in the Never Ever Campaign, a public-private consumer education effort about government and business imposter scams that reached more than 95 million people.
The department supported a new online training, Toolkit for Law Enforcement and Emergency Medical Services When Called to a Long-Term Care Facility. More than 700 professionals took the course in its first month.
Organizations funded through the Victims of Crime Act allocated $52 million to elder abuse victim services. The department said it also returned or froze millions of dollars for older victims through a variety of programs.
The Justice Department said it is committed to advancing elder justice through enforcement, public awareness, training for professionals and support for older victims and their families.
How to Report Elder Abuse in Arkansas
If you suspect an older or vulnerable adult in Arkansas is being abused, neglected or exploited, call the Arkansas Adult Maltreatment Hotline at 1-800-482-8049.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of elder fraud, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11, or 833-372-8311.
For more information on elder fraud and abuse, visit the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative website.
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