- Alachua County reported $6.8 million lost to scams in 2025, with losses projected to rise to $8.6 million in 2026.
- Artificial intelligence helps scammers create convincing photos and audio, increasing scam credibility but not hindering investigations.
- Over 50% of scam victims in 2026 are aged 60 and older, as they are more vulnerable to phone and online scams.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASCO) is warning residents that scams continue to prey on locals, resulting in $6.8 million of lost money in 2025 and a projected increase to $8.6 million by the end of 2026.
By comparison, all non-fraud property crimes (theft, burglary, robbery, criminal mischief and items stolen from vehicles) reached $2.8 million of lost dollar value in 2025 but are projected to fall just short of $1 million this year.
ACSO Det. Travis Parsons, at Tuesday’s Scam Prevention Press Conference, said artificial intelligence has aided criminals in creating more convincing scams, with generated photos boosting credibility. In some places, scammers have used AI to manipulate audio found on social media or voicemails to mimic someone’s speech…