Idaho Governor Launches Financial Fraud Working Group as Reported Losses Hit $88.7 Million in 2025
The Office of Idaho Governor Brad Little announced in Boise on October 21 that the governor has directed Idaho Department of Finance Director Salvador Cruz to convene a statewide financial fraud working group on November 17 to assess ways to strengthen the state's response to financial crime, as fraud losses reported to the FBI keep rising.
The Governor's Financial Fraud Working Group will be led by Lt. Governor Scott Bedke, U.S. Attorney John Shirts and Director Cruz, and will include law enforcement, prosecutors, banks and credit unions, senior advocates, state agencies and legislators. It will evaluate whether Idaho should adopt a more coordinated approach, including a statewide system for collecting fraud reports and a coordinated model for investigating and prosecuting cases.
According to the figures, Idahoans reported $88.7 million in fraud losses to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2025, up 75 percent from 2023. Losses reported by residents aged 60 and older more than doubled from 2024 to 2025, reaching $37.4 million; last year, older Idahoans accounted for 42 percent of reported fraud losses statewide.
Little said: "Financial fraud is a growing threat to Idaho families… we need to identify gaps in our current approach and determine what practical steps Idaho can take to better protect our citizens, and especially older Idahoans."
Idaho currently has no central repository for fraud reports and no statewide unit dedicated to financial crime. Victims may report to the FBI, local law enforcement, financial institutions, Adult Protective Services or other organizations; investigations and prosecutions are generally handled locally, with some handled by federal agencies.
The group will deliver its findings and recommendations to the Governor ahead of the start of the 2027 legislative session, covering options for a statewide fraud reporting system, coordinated investigation and prosecution models, and any needed changes in law or resources.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Phil White / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
