June 22, 2026, 4:31 p.m. ET
- An elderly Florida couple lost over $141,000 and their home to a sweepstakes scam.
- Florida ranks second in the nation for elder fraud, with over $293 million in losses reported in 2023.
- Scammers often use urgency, fear tactics, and requests for payment via gift cards or wire transfers.
- Authorities advise verifying any unsolicited contact and never sharing personal information over the phone or email.
An elderly Martin County couple lost their home, car and life savings after falling victim to a scam — a growing problem that affects over 88,000 elderly victims annually, according to the Florida Sheriffs Association.
Merdine James, 74, and her husband Fritz, 87, who is bedridden and has dementia, were the targets of a years-long sweepstakes scam that cost them their house, their car, their relationships with family and over $141,000. The couple was already living under financial constraints and declining health when they were cast into homelessness in July 2025.
The number of older adults scammed out of $10,000 or more in the United States has more than quadrupled since 2020, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Florida consistently ranks among the top states for elder fraud
Florida consistently ranks among the top states for elder fraud, says the Florida Sheriffs Association, with its abundant aging population of senior citizens and retirees making it a prime target for scammers.
About $3.4 billion in losses by those over the age of 60 were reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2023, an 11 percent increase in losses and an uptick of 14 percent in complaints from the previous year.
Florida ranked second in the nation in the FBI’s 2023 Elder Fraud Report, with 8,138 complaints and over $293 million in total losses.
Watch for common red flags in elder scams
Knowing these common red flags outlined by the Florida Sheriffs Association can help protect yourself or a loved one from scams:
- Unsolicited Contact: Be suspicious of unexpected calls, emails or messages requesting personal information or payments.
- Urgency and Fear Tactics: Scammers often claim there’s an emergency or deadline to pressure quick action.
- Requests for Money: If someone asks for payment via gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency, it’s likely a scam.
- Too Good to Be True: Large prize winnings, inheritances from unknown relatives or guaranteed investment returns are major red flags.
- Requests for Personal Information: Legitimate organizations won’t ask for sensitive details (Social Security numbers, bank info, passwords) or personal information over the phone or email.
Tips to protect yourself, loved ones from senior scams
The FSA also highlighted tips to verify sources and protect your personal information from scams:
- Always verify the source or any phone call or request by doing the following:
- Hang Up and Call Back: If contacted by a company or government agency, look up its official number and call directly.
- Check Email Addresses: Scammers often use email addresses that resemble legitimate ones but have slight misspellings.
- Ask a Trusted Person: Before making any kind of commitment or decision, consult a family member or friend about suspicious messages or requests.
- Protect your personal information:
- Never Share Sensitive Details: Banks, government agencies and reputable companies will not ask for personal details over email or phone.
- Use Strong Passwords & Multi-Factor Authentication: Secure online accounts with unique passwords and two-step verification which provides an extra layer of security.
- Shred Sensitive Documents: Prevent identity theft by destroying bank statements, medical records and financial documents before disposing of them.
- Be Cautious Online: Avoid clicking unknown links, use secure websites (before entering payment details, ensure the website starts with “https://” and has a padlock symbol) and limit social media sharing.
Who can I call if I know an elderly person being scammed?
If you or someone you know have fallen victim to scams or fraud, you should contact local law enforcement to report the crime, says the Florida Sheriffs Association.
Consumer protection agencies or fraud hotlines can also provide further guidance and support. If you suspect fraud, the following are state and federal agencies to contact:
- The Florida Attorney General’s Office of Citizen Services operates the Attorney General’s Fraud Hotline at (850) 414-3990 or toll-free within Florida (866) 966-7226.
- The Florida Department of Elder Affairs’ Elder Helpline Information and Assistance provides service within each Florida County at 1-800-963-5337.
- The Florida Senior Legal Helpline is a free and confidential statewide telephone advice and referral service available toll-free within Florida at (888) 895-7873 or online at https://bals.org/senior-legal-helpline.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- The National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
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