Utah residents aged 60 and older reported nearly $66 million in fraud losses last year, a problem U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah Melissa Holyoak addressed Friday, June 26, during a fraud prevention presentation at the Grand Center in Moab.
Holyoak visited as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Fraud Prevention Initiative for Older Americans, a statewide outreach effort that brings fraud prevention presentations to senior and community centers across Utah. She said the goal is to give older adults practical tools to recognize scams before they become victims.
Utah residents of all ages reported more than $107 million in fraud losses in 2025. Holyoak said the toll is likely higher because many victims never report being scammed.
Grand Center Program Director Lorette “Yordy” Eastwood told The Times-Independent fraud targeting older adults is more common in Grand County than many people realize.
She said some older adults are reluctant to report scams because they’re embarrassed or worry others will think they can no longer manage on their own.
Holyoak said many fraud losses can be prevented if people recognize common warning signs before sending money or sharing personal information.
The most common scams her office sees are impostor scams, in which criminals pretend to be a trusted business, government agency or even a family member. They often claim there is an urgent problem — such as a compromised bank account, unpaid taxes, a missed jury summons or a family emergency — or promise an unexpected prize, then pressure victims to act before they have time to verify the request.
Holyoak reminded attendees that government agencies will not unexpectedly demand payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency or other unusual payment methods so those requests are among the clearest signs of a scam. She also cautioned people to be skeptical of anyone who insists they keep a request secret or act immediately.
Holyoak noted advances in artificial intelligence have made scams even more convincing by allowing fraudsters to spoof phone numbers, clone voices and create realistic emails, text messages and images.
She encouraged people to end the conversation, talk with someone they trust if something doesn’t seem right and independently verify the request by contacting the business or agency using a trusted phone number or official website.
“We don’t want to be talking to the ones that are initiating,” Holyoak said. “We want to be the ones initiating the call.”
She also urged people never to click unexpected links or provide personal or financial information in response to unsolicited phone calls, emails or text messages, even if the request appears to come from a trusted organization. Anyone who believes they are being scammed should immediately contact their bank, local law enforcement and report the crime to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov, Holyoak said.
Holyoak said those reports help investigators identify fraud trends and build cases against scammers.
Eastwood pointed to two recent local cases. In one, a Moab man lost his home, vehicle and savings after falling victim to a romance scam despite repeated efforts by family members, local businesses and law enforcement to intervene. In another, employees at Desert Rivers Credit Union recognized the warning signs and stopped a woman from emptying her savings account while she was on the phone with a scammer.
“I think we have that advantage that people know each other,” Eastwood said, noting local businesses, financial institutions and law enforcement often recognize suspicious situations and intervene before someone loses everything.
Eastwood said scammers often exploit concerns about Medicare, Social Security and banking information, while others prey on loneliness by building relationships over weeks or months before asking for money.
The Grand Center regularly helps seniors identify suspicious phone calls, letters and emails, answers questions about Medicare-related fraud and connects residents with agencies that can help investigate or report suspected scams, Eastwood said. She encouraged anyone who is unsure about a suspicious request to ask for help before responding.
“They can always come to us,” Eastwood said. “I may not know something, but I know who to call to get an answer.”
More information about recognizing elder fraud is available through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative. Suspected internet-enabled fraud can be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
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