Idaho Reported Nearly $89 Million in Fraud Losses Last Year; Governor Forms Financial Fraud Working Group to Meet First on November 17
Boise, Ada County, Idaho — Governor Brad Little announced on October 26 the formation of a statewide financial fraud working group, which will meet for the first time on November 17 to discuss how to better protect Idaho residents, especially seniors, from financial fraud. Citing FBI figures, the announcement said Idahoans reported nearly $89 million in fraud losses last year, up 75% from 2023, with residents aged 60 and older accounting for more than $37 million of the losses. Idaho currently has no centralized system for reporting fraud and no dedicated statewide financial crime investigation unit.
The working group will be led by Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke, U.S. Attorney John Shirts and Idaho Department of Finance Director Salvador Cruz. It will explore ways to improve reporting, investigations and prosecutions, and aims to deliver recommendations ahead of the 2027 legislative session. The governor's office said the focus is to make reporting smoother for victims and investigations stronger for law enforcement, with specific recommendations to be announced by the working group.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：博伊西市爱达荷州议会大厦（资料图）。Indies1 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons / Photo: The Idaho State Capitol in Boise (file photo). By Indies1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
