NASAA tallies 1,650 senior-abuse probes as deepfake scams rise

State and provincial securities regulators opened more than 1,650 investigations into senior financial abuse in 2024, according to the North American Securities Administrators Association. The association published the total on June 15, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, citing its 2025 Enforcement Report.

NASAA President Marni Gibson framed the numbers as evidence of a shift in technique. Financial exploitation, she said, is moving from cold calls and poorly written emails toward personalized, AI-enabled deception. "These scams aren't just stealing money; they are stealing the dignity and independence of older investors."

The association urged families to take three concrete steps today, and reminded them that state and provincial regulators are the primary "cops on the beat" for Main Street investors. Those regulators, the release argues, identify emerging fraud trends faster than any federal agency.

For an RIA principal, the release is a ready-made lesson plan. A client who hears "more than 1,650 investigations last year" understands the threat has a size. The conversation moves from whether fraud is real to how the family defends against it.

Deepfake voices and videos give the warning an edge. A plausible voice on a call is no longer proof that a family member is on the line. Gibson's own line — "prevention starts at the dinner table" — applies just as well at the advisor's desk.

The release points older investors and their families to NASAA.org/Senior-Investor-Resource-Center for help and to report suspicious activity. That page is also a handout an advisor can leave behind.