Fraud is no longer something that happens “to someone else.”

It is happening every day — to people of all ages, in every corner of Pennsylvania. And despite growing awareness, far too many of us remain at risk.

A new national AARP survey of nearly 1,700 adults confirms what many families already know firsthand: fraud affects millions of Americans. Nearly four in 10 report having money stolen or sensitive information misused. Concern about fraud is high, yet criminals are still finding ways to break through our defenses.

That reality matters deeply here at home. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center Pennsylvania ranks among the most impacted states in the nation: sixth for total fraud complaints and seventh for total financial losses. More than 31,000 fraud reports were filed by Pennsylvanians in 2025, with losses topping half a billion dollars. These are not just numbers. They represent stolen savings, damaged credit and broken trust.

April is Fraud Prevention Month. It’s a time to raise awareness and help people recognize scams, protect their personal information and report suspicious activity. While most adults can spot common red flags — like being asked to buy gift cards for an urgent payment — many still answer unknown calls, click unexpected links, accept friend requests from strangers, or download apps or take quizzes that put their personal information at risk.

One of the fastest-growing and most dangerous scams in Pennsylvania involves cryptocurrency kiosks, ATM-like machines found in grocery stores and gas stations. Criminals contact victims by phone, text or email and create a sense of fear, urgency or trust. They may claim to be law enforcement and threaten arrest if the victim doesn’t act immediately. Victims are told to withdraw large amounts of cash — sometimes their life savings — and deposit it into a cryptocurrency kiosk. Once that cash is converted to cryptocurrency and sent to a criminal’s digital wallet, it is nearly impossible to recover.

The good news is that Pennsylvania is taking this threat seriously. Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Senate Communications & Technology and the Senate Banking & Insurance Committees held a joint hearing focused on cryptocurrency kiosks. Both AARP Pennsylvania and the Office of Attorney General testified about how these machines are being exploited to steal money and why breaking the silence around fraud is essential. These crimes thrive on secrecy and shame. Speaking up is one of the most powerful tools victims have.

Anyone who suspects a scam or has been victimized should report it to law enforcement. Prompt reporting can improve the chances of recovering funds and gives authorities information they need to pursue criminals and protect others.

Protecting Pennsylvanians means strengthening consumer safeguards and expanding education so people can spot scams before it’s too late. Fraudsters steal tens of millions of dollars from Pennsylvanians every year. During Fraud Prevention Month, let’s turn awareness into action and make Pennsylvania a harder target for criminals.

Consumers who feel they may have been involved in a scam are encouraged to contact the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling 800-441-2555 or emailing scams@attorney general.gov.