THE Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or IC3 has released a 2021 Elder Fraud Report that included statistics for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
In the NMI, the FBI reported that there were four victims over 60 years old who lost $3,000 to internet fraud. On Guam, there were 16 victims over 60 years old with total losses of $1.58 million.
In 2020, the FBI reported that in the NMI, there were five over 60-year-old victims who lost $66,000 to internet fraud. On Guam, there were 18 victims with $55,428 in losses.
According to the FBI, the number of elderly victims across the nation has risen at an alarming rate, while the loss amounts are even more staggering.
The FBI stated that the total number of complaints received in 2021 was 92,371 with total losses of $1.7 billion.
Over 60 victims experienced 24% of the total loss of all IC3 complaints received in 2021, and 3,133 victims lost more than $100,000. The average loss per victim was $18,246.
This represents a 74% increase in losses over losses reported in 2020, the FBI said.
It said it has published the 2021 IC3 Elder Fraud Annual Report, which is a companion report to the 2021 IC3 Annual Report, to educate, warn, and protect potential victims of all ages. (See https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2020_IC3ElderFraudReport.pdf)
“Highlighting the crimes specifically affecting seniors will it be possible to ensure the necessary emphasis and resources are allocated to address this problem,” the FBI said.
“For those who unfortunately fall victim to these criminal tactics, please know the information you provide to the FBI is vital in bringing the criminals responsible to justice,” the FBI added.
For more information, go to www.ic3.gov
