How to Report Elder Financial Fraud: Every Agency, Phone Number, and Portal

Why the Reporting Order Matters

When your parent has been scammed, every agency you contact serves a different function. Some trigger investigations. Some create the paper trail banks need to process disputes. Others provide direct victim support. Filing with the wrong agency first — or skipping one entirely — can delay recovery by weeks.

Here's the order that gets results fastest, based on how each agency actually processes elder fraud cases.

Step 1: The Bank's Fraud Department (Immediately)

Before any government agency, call the bank. This isn't a report — it's damage containment.

Tell the fraud department exactly what happened: the scam type, the dates, the amounts, and whether your parent authorized the transactions (even under false pretenses). Ask specifically about:

• Wire recall if money was wired (the recall window is typically 24–72 hours, but start immediately)
• Provisional credit while the investigation runs (under US Regulation E, banks must resolve unauthorized electronic transfer disputes within 10 business days, or issue provisional credit and resolve within 45 days)
• Account freeze on any compromised accounts

In the UK, the APP fraud reimbursement scheme requires payment service providers to reimburse eligible victims within 5 business days, up to £85,000. The 13-month claim window gives you time, but file early so the provider can begin reviewing the claim and taking protective steps promptly.

Step 2: Local Police (Same Day)

File a police report, even if the scammer is overseas and local police can't investigate directly. The incident report number is important documentation for bank disputes; credit bureaus and insurers set their own documentation requirements.

When you call the non-emergency line:

• Ask for the economic crimes or elder abuse unit specifically
• Bring documentation: transaction records, screenshots of communications, the scammer's phone numbers or email addresses
• Request a copy of the incident report or the report number before you leave

If local police dismiss the case as a "civil matter" (this happens more than it should with voluntary wire transfers), escalate directly to the agencies below and note the police response in your federal filings.

Step 3: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

File at: ic3.gov

The IC3 is the FBI's central intake for cybercrime, and elder fraud is one of their priority categories. Adults over 60 lost $7.7 billion to reported cybercrime in a single recent year. File quickly; early notification can improve the chance of freezing or recovering funds.

When filing:

• Select the specific crime type (tech support fraud, romance scam, investment fraud, government impersonation, etc.)
• Include every financial detail: account numbers, routing numbers, wallet addresses, transaction IDs
• Note whether the victim has cognitive impairment as context for the report; do not assume it changes how IC3 handles the case

The IC3 doesn't investigate individual cases directly. It routes reports to the appropriate FBI field office and partner agencies based on dollar amount, location, and scam type.

Step 4: FTC ReportFraud

File at: ReportFraud.ftc.gov

The FTC uses individual reports to build pattern-detection databases that trigger enforcement actions against large-scale fraud operations. Your single report may not result in a callback, but it feeds the data that shuts down repeat offenders.

The FTC also operates IdentityTheft.gov, which generates a personalized recovery plan if your parent's identity was compromised. The plan includes pre-filled letters to send to banks, creditors, and the IRS.

Step 5: Adult Protective Services (If Cognitive Decline Is Involved)

Find your state's APS: Call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116

APS involvement is critical when the scam exploited cognitive vulnerability, or when the parent has been victimized repeatedly. APS can:

• Conduct a welfare check and risk assessment
• Connect your parent with a caseworker who monitors for repeat victimization
• Refer the case to appropriate legal or law-enforcement resources if a trusted person (not an outside scammer) is the source of financial exploitation

APS reporting requirements vary by state. Some states (like California and Florida) have centralized hotlines; others route through county offices. The Eldercare Locator will connect you to the right intake point regardless of where your parent lives.

Step 6: Specialized Agency Reports

Depending on the scam type, file with the relevant specialized agency:

Step 7: The National Elder Fraud Hotline

Call: 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311)

This is the Department of Justice's dedicated elder fraud hotline, staffed by case managers (not just intake operators) who speak multiple languages and can help coordinate across agencies. They'll walk your parent through the reporting process and connect them with local victim services.

The hotline is particularly useful when:

• You're overwhelmed and don't know where to start
• Your parent needs emotional support from someone outside the family
• The case spans multiple jurisdictions or scam types

Reporting in the UK and Canada

UK: Report to Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040 or online at reportfraud.police.uk. In Scotland, call Police Scotland at 101. For bank-specific fraud, call 159 to reach your bank's fraud team directly.

Canada: Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 or online at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. For provincial elder abuse, contact your local police and the provincial elder abuse prevention network.

Keeping Track of Everything

Every report generates a reference number, a case number, or a confirmation email. Keep all of them in one place — you'll need them for bank disputes, insurance claims, and any future legal proceedings.

The Scam and Fraud Shield for Aging Parents includes an agency communication log template designed specifically for tracking multi-agency fraud reports, along with the dispute timelines and follow-up schedules for each agency listed above.