Older Austinites are taking the hardest hit from online romance and so-called confidence scams, with residents 50 and up reporting an estimated 19 to 20 million dollars in losses in the past year, according to new FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data. The warning lands right as dating apps heat up and Valentine's gifts start flying, a peak season for sweet talk that can quickly turn into a financial nightmare for older adults and their families.
As reported by KXAN, data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center show that people over 50 in the Austin metro area suffered the region’s largest reported losses tied to romance and confidence scams last year. KXAN reports that victims 50 and older in Austin lost about 19 million dollars, and that complaints connected to confidence scams from the Austin area totaled roughly 20 million dollars in 2025. The station also found that more than 60 percent of scam complaints from Austin came from that older age group.
National context
Those Austin numbers track with what is happening nationwide. AARP summarized FBI and Internet Crime Complaint Center data showing that people 60 and older reported nearly 4.8 to 4.9 billion dollars in losses in 2024. Advocates and investigators say the real total is likely higher because many victims never come forward, which is one reason law enforcement is pushing hard on public awareness as holidays roll around.
“They’ve invested their whole lives; they have access to their retirement accounts,” Supervisory Special Agent Valdez told KXAN, noting that some victims say they lost their entire life savings. The advisory comes from agents working out of the FBI San Antonio field office, which oversees cases from Austin and a stretch of territory from Waco down to Brownsville.
How the scams usually play out
According to investigators, scammers often strike up conversations on dating apps or social media, build trust over time, then move chats off the original platform. Once a rapport is established, they roll out a crisis or urgent situation that conveniently requires quick cash, usually through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The FTC warns that demands for secrecy, a refusal to do video calls, and pressure to send money fast are all classic red flags. Those payment methods are hard to trace and even harder to claw back, which leaves banks and law enforcement with limited options once the money is gone.
What to do if you or a loved one is targeted
If you suspect a romance or confidence scam, officials say speed matters. Contact your bank immediately, save every message and screenshot, and file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3. You can also reach the FBI San Antonio field office for local guidance, and organizations like AARP offer resources tailored to older adults and caregivers. The sooner someone speaks up, the better the odds that banks or investigators can freeze funds and secure whatever evidence still exists.
