Tennessee is home to over 1.3 million adults aged 65 and older — and according to the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability, elder financial exploitation is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the state. Conservative estimates suggest Tennessee seniors lose over $87 million to fraud annually, though experts believe the true number is several times higher because most incidents go unreported.
Why older adults are targeted
Scammers target seniors for specific, calculated reasons — not because older adults are less intelligent, but because they are more likely to have accumulated savings, more likely to be home during the day to answer calls, more likely to be polite and engage with callers, and statistically less likely to report fraud due to shame or fear of losing independence.
- Medicare fraud — fake calls offering extra benefits in exchange for your Medicare number
- Grandparent scams — especially prevalent in rural West Tennessee communities
- Lottery and prize scams — "You've won $50,000 — just pay the processing fee"
- Romance scams — particularly targeting recently widowed seniors
- Tech support scams — fake Microsoft or Apple alerts on computers
- Social Security suspension calls — claiming benefits will stop without immediate action
The shame barrier
The biggest obstacle in fighting elder fraud in Tennessee is that most victims never tell anyone. A 2024 AARP survey found that only 1 in 44 elder fraud incidents are ever reported. Victims fear being seen as incompetent, worry their families will take away their independence, and often feel deep shame about having been deceived.
If someone you love has been scammed, the most important thing you can say is: "This happens to smart people every day. These criminals are professionals. You did nothing wrong."
What families can do
- Set up ProtectMyCircle on their phone or computer — one tool to check any suspicious message
- Register their phone number at donotcall.gov (reduces some telemarketing)
- Have an honest conversation using the approach in our guide: How to talk to a parent about scams
- Set up a family code word for emergencies (stops grandparent scams cold)
- Check in weekly — not just when there's a problem
Tennessee elder fraud resources
The Tennessee Adult Protective Services hotline is 1-888-277-8366. Adult Protective Services investigates financial exploitation of vulnerable adults and can intervene when a senior is being actively victimized. If you believe a Tennessee senior is being financially exploited, this is the right call to make.
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