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In 2024, the FTC documented over 6 million fraud and consumer complaints across the United States, with Americans losing a record $15.9 billion to fraud in 2025—a 25% increase from the prior year. Florida, Georgia, and Delaware reported the highest fraud rates per capita, while South Dakota and North Dakota had the lowest, with imposter scams being the most commonly reported fraud type nationwide, accounting for over $3.5 billion in losses. Younger adults report more frequent fraud victimization, though older adults typically lose larger amounts per incident as scammers target their retirement savings.

A Lead, South Dakota woman was targeted by scammers impersonating Walmart, Social Security Administration officials, and the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office who attempted to convince her that her identity had been compromised and fraudulently used for criminal activity. The scammers instructed her to withdraw money and move it to a "secure" location, but she became suspicious and ended the call without providing financial information. Police warn residents that scammers use fake badges, manipulated phone numbers, and threats to pressure victims into sending money, and advise people to hang up on unexpected calls, verify caller identity independently, and report incidents to law enforcement.

Credit unions and legislators are partnering to educate seniors about common scams, including romance schemes and AI-powered voice-cloning fraud. Representatives in Nevada, New York, and South Dakota are meeting with credit union leaders to discuss financial services priorities and consumer protection issues. Seniors should be cautious of romantic advances from unknown individuals online and be skeptical of unexpected calls claiming to be from trusted contacts, as scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence to impersonate voices.

Cryptocurrency kiosk scams have become a widespread problem targeting vulnerable people, particularly seniors, with criminals using spoofed phone numbers and directing victims to deposit cash into crypto machines where the money becomes untraceable and unrecoverable. South Dakota lawmakers are addressing the issue through Senate Bill 98, which would require crypto kiosk operators to be licensed, provide receipts, limit daily transactions to $1,000, and offer refunds to fraud victims. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited calls claiming to be from law enforcement directing you to use cryptocurrency machines, and remember that legitimate transactions should always come with receipts and safeguards.

Scammers are increasingly targeting South Dakota residents, particularly elderly people, by posing as government officials or businesses and directing victims to deposit money into cryptocurrency terminals where the funds disappear. A state senator and AARP are now pushing legislation that would require cryptocurrency kiosk operators to be licensed, implement daily and monthly transaction limits, and be responsible for refunding missing money. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited contacts claiming financial emergencies and never move money into cryptocurrency based on such requests.

Scammers used a fake email address to trick a Tripp County, South Dakota employee into transferring over $826,000 in taxpayer funds to fraudsters in October, prompting a joint investigation by state and federal authorities. The incident affected the entire county and its residents whose tax dollars were stolen through what's known as a "spoofed" email—a fraudulent message designed to appear as though it came from a trusted vendor. To protect themselves, individuals and organizations should verify any payment requests through independent contact with the vendor, implement multi-step approval processes for large transfers, and provide staff training on recognizing phishing and spoofing attempts.

Court scams involve fraudsters impersonating judicial officials or law enforcement via phone calls, texts, or emails to demand money or personal information by threatening arrest for missed jury duty, court appearances, or unpaid traffic tickets. Courts and law enforcement never demand immediate payment via cryptocurrency or apps, threaten people over the phone, or request sensitive information through electronic communication. Victims should refuse requests, avoid engaging with scammers, verify claims directly with local court offices, and report incidents to local law enforcement, the South Dakota Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, or the Federal Trade Commission.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for South Dakota designated June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month to highlight the widespread impact of elder fraud and abuse, which affects millions of seniors annually by compromising their finances, security, and dignity. Warning signs of elder fraud include unexplained bank withdrawals, suspicious signatures on financial documents, abrupt changes to wills, and unpaid bills despite adequate funds, while common scams involve impersonation (kidnapping/arrest claims), romance fraud, and gift card schemes. The Justice Department provides resources including Senior Scam Alerts and a dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-FRAUD-11) for reporting and assistance.

The Better Business Bureau is warning of a surge in identity and information scams, with federal agencies logging over three million cases in the past year. BBB South Dakota recommends freezing credit with major reporting agencies to prevent scammers from opening accounts or taking loans in victims' names.

This summary does not belong in the Elderus elder fraud database. The case involves child sexual exploitation and abuse, not elder fraud or elder abuse. Elderus focuses on scams and fraud targeting older adults.

This article discusses elder abuse protections across the United States, highlighting that the elderly population is projected to nearly double from 49 million to 95 million by 2060, making protective measures increasingly urgent. States like Wisconsin, Vermont, and Massachusetts rank highest in elder abuse prevention due to strong funding and robust regulations, while rural states such as South Carolina, Utah, and South Dakota lag significantly due to policy gaps and insufficient resources. Financial fraud is identified as a prevalent form of elder abuse affecting elderly individuals, with states offering stronger safeguards—such as ombudsman services and elder care organizations—demonstrating lower average financial losses per fraud case.

Cryptocurrency scams are increasingly common and take multiple forms, including romance scams where perpetrators build relationships then direct victims to fraudulent investment sites, tech support scams with fake pop-ups, and schemes impersonating authorities demanding payment in cryptocurrency. According to South Dakota's Attorney General and digital forensics experts, consumers should only use reputable cryptocurrency platforms independently, never send cryptocurrency or payment information to unsolicited requestors, and report suspected scams to protect others and aid law enforcement investigation.

Dwayne Anderson, a 35-year-old Jamaican national, was extradited to South Dakota and appeared in court facing eight counts of wire fraud for operating a sweepstakes scam that defrauded a California woman over seven years (2010-2017). Using multiple aliases, Anderson convinced the victim she had won money and collected thousands in fraudulent fees and taxes, even persuading her to travel to Jamaica in 2017 where an additional $1,600 was collected, though she never received any winnings. Anderson faces up to 20 years per count, and the case highlights international law enforcement cooperation in prosecuting transnational elder fraud schemes.

This letter warns seniors about a phone scam targeting Medicare beneficiaries, in which callers falsely claim to verify information about new plastic Medicare cards and request personal details over the phone. The author received such a call from South Dakota and refused to provide information, noting that plastic Medicare cards do not exist. The warning highlights the importance of not sharing personal information with unsolicited callers claiming to represent Medicare.

On June 15, 2024, the U.S. District of South Dakota joined national leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, emphasizing that one in ten older Americans are victims of elder abuse annually. The District highlighted ongoing efforts through initiatives like the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force and Money Mule Initiative to combat common schemes targeting seniors, including romance scams, tech support fraud, Social Security impostor scams, lottery scams, and IRS impersonation scams.

The South Dakota Better Business Bureau has created a Scam Survival Toolkit to help fraud victims recover emotionally and practically after being scammed. The toolkit emphasizes that victims should overcome shame, seek help, and report incidents to the BBB's Scam Tracker or the state Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division to raise awareness and protect others. South Dakotans can report scams via email, phone, or online, and sign up for consumer protection alerts.

The City of Spearfish issued warnings about door-to-door construction scams, which typically increase during summer months when vendors solicit home repair work. The city advised residents to verify contractors' peddlers permits, request written price quotes in advance, require building permits for work, check references, verify business legitimacy and insurance coverage, and avoid paying bills upfront—recommendations aligned with the South Dakota Attorney General's office guidance.

Two suspects were arrested in Moorpark, California on March 7, 2024, for identity theft and conspiracy charges after intercepting packages containing significant sums of cash mailed by elderly victims from Texas, South Dakota, and Florida who had fallen victim to scams. Detectives identified the scheme after the first victim's adult child reported their elderly mother had mailed currency to the suspects' address, leading investigators to surveil and apprehend the two men when they arrived to retrieve a third package from a Florida victim. The suspects face multiple felony charges including grand theft, conspiracy, theft by false pretenses, and identity theft from an elder or dependent adult.

During National Consumer Protection Week 2024, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley highlighted that the Consumer Protection Division received over 64,000 scam complaints in 2023, noting that scammers increasingly use social media to manipulate consumers of all ages into divulging personal information. Key protective measures include resisting high-pressure sales tactics, rejecting unsolicited items, obtaining written contracts for services, hanging up on robocalls, being skeptical of free trials, and consulting trusted contacts before sharing money or personal information. Consumers suspecting scam victimization can report to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986 or via https://

A Sioux Falls retiree nearly fell victim to a "secret shopper" scam after responding to an online job ad and receiving a FedEx package with fraudulent checks and instructions to deposit them and purchase money orders totaling $985. The victim avoided losing money by consulting his banker, who confirmed the checks were counterfeit and could have allowed scammers to drain his entire account. The South Dakota Attorney General's Office warns residents to verify any offers involving money transfers and to contact Consumer Protection if unsure about a job opportunity's legitimacy.

The Better Business Bureau warned South Dakotans about online used car scams after Sioux Falls resident Mike Henriksen nearly fell victim to fraudsters on social media who offered vehicles at suspiciously low prices with fake eBay payment links, claiming to be selling due to divorces or relocations. The BBB helped Henriksen identify the red flags and avoid losing thousands of dollars, advising consumers that unusually good deals on online car sales are typically fraudulent.

During tax season in South Dakota, scammers increased phone calls claiming recipients owed back taxes, using different voices, company names, and phone numbers with each message. The Better Business Bureau warned that the IRS never initiates contact via phone, email, or text demanding immediate payment—legitimate IRS contact comes first by mail—and requests for payment via gift cards, prepaid debit cards, or cash apps are definite indicators of fraud.