Date: June 15, 2026
Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov
Washington – Protecting older Americans remains a top priority for IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and within the last two years, the agency has seen an increase in fraudulent activity targeting the elderly. In fiscal year (FY) 2025 alone, IRS?CI initiated 97 new elder fraud investigations, and halfway into the current fiscal year, investigators have opened an additional 64 cases. From FY2021 through FY2026, the agency launched 255 elder fraud investigations with alleged fraud totaling $885.86 million. $736.82 million in alleged fraud is tied to cases initiated within the last two years. Nearly 97% of IRS-CI’s prosecuted cases resulted in convictions, with defendants receiving federal prison sentences averaging almost four years.
Common elder fraud schemes
Criminals continue to use deceptive tactics to steal money and personal…
Investment fraud targets the human desire for financial growth by promising high returns with “low to no risk.”
- Ponzi Schemes: Named after Charles Ponzi, these schemes pay “returns” to earlier investors using the capital brought in by newer investors. There is no actual underlying business; the system collapses when new recruitment slows down.
- Pyramid Schemes: Similar to Ponzi schemes, but participants are usually required to sell a product or service. The primary “profit” comes from the recruitment fees of new members rather than actual product sales.
- Pump and Dump: Fraudsters spread false, positive rumors about a cheap stock (the “pump”) to drive up the price. Once the price peaks, they sell their shares (the “dump”), leaving other investors with worthless stock.