Ohio Steps Up to Combat Romance Scams Targeting Seniors

Romance scams are among the most heartbreaking forms of financial exploitation facing older adults. Scammers create fake online relationships, build emotional trust over weeks or months, and then extract money, often under the guise of a crisis, medical emergency, or travel need. The damage is both financial and deeply personal.  According to the FBI, Americans age 60 and older reported losing $584 million to romance scams in 2025 alone, a 50% increase from the prior year. Experts believe the true figure is significantly higher because many victims are too embarrassed to report the crime.

Ohio’s ResponseOhio is taking this threat seriously. In June 2026, Attorney General Andy Wilson announced the Romance Impostor Scams Forensic Initiative during the state’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference. The initiative formally launched on July 23, 2026.This effort is part of the broader work of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Ohio Elder Abuse Commission to protect seniors from abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Key components include:

• A dedicated hotline — 1-855-961-SCAM — for victims and concerned family members to report suspected romance scams
• Enhanced digital forensics support through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)
• Improved information sharing across jurisdictions to identify patterns and networks of scammers
• Educational resources and guidance for victims and their families to help stop further losses

The Attorney General’s Office has also published practical materials, including flyers and palm cards that help seniors and their families recognize the warning signs of a romance scam and know when to act immediately.

Protecting Trust and Dignity

Romance scams exploit loneliness and the natural human desire for connection. They are particularly devastating because they attack both a person’s finances and their dignity. By creating a specialized forensic initiative, a clear reporting channel, and public education tools, Ohio is sending a strong message: these crimes will not be ignored, and seniors and their families will not be left to face them alone.

We commend the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for prioritizing this issue and for equipping older Ohioans and their loved ones with concrete tools to recognize and report these schemes. Education and early intervention remain among the most effective defenses.  

If you or someone you care about may be involved in a suspicious online relationship that has turned to requests for money, do not wait. Call the Ohio hotline at 1-855-961-SCAM or visit the Attorney General’s romance scam resource page for guidance.  Protecting the ability of older adults to age in place safely includes protecting them from those who would exploit their trust. Ohio’s new initiative is a meaningful step in that direction.