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The FBI issued a warning about online romance scams, reporting that in 2022 alone it received 19,000 complaints totaling $740 million in losses. Scammers troll social media and dating sites to build trust with victims before fabricating emergencies to solicit money, with seniors being of particular concern due to isolation and fixed incomes. The FBI recommends limiting personal information shared online, using established dating platforms, and being cautious of matches who avoid meeting in person or pressure you to communicate exclusively online.

A financial columnist for New York magazine fell victim to an elaborate multi-stage scam in which fraudsters impersonating Amazon, the Federal Trade Commission, and a CIA investigator convinced her to withdraw $50,000 and hand it to them in cash over the course of a five-hour phone call. The scammers exploited her vulnerability by threatening her family and creating a false sense of urgency, using isolation tactics to prevent her from seeking help or verification. She came forward with her story to highlight that scam victims span all demographics and professions, and that sophisticated scammers are skilled at identifying and exploiting individual vulnerabilities.

Charlotte Kohls, a financial advice columnist for New York Magazine, fell victim to an elaborate scam that began with a fake Amazon call claiming $8,000 in fraudulent charges on a non-existent business account. The scammer then posed as an FTC agent investigating her for money laundering and financial crimes, ultimately convincing her to withdraw and hand over $50,000 in cash to a stranger. Kohls's experience serves as a warning that even financially knowledgeable individuals are vulnerable to sophisticated social engineering scams.

A Glenwood, Illinois man named Elliot Lawson Henderson defrauded multiple people through discounted travel deals advertised on social media and a dedicated website. One victim, Pinky Jackson, paid Henderson for flights, a hotel room, and Broadway tickets for a New York City trip, but upon arrival discovered the hotel booking was never actually paid for, forcing her family to pay full price on the spot. Multiple individuals report that Henderson takes payment for travel packages and then fails to complete the bookings, leaving customers stranded without accommodations.

Officials in New York seized nearly two dozen web domains from IP addresses in China used to conduct "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, which operate across multiple states including California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Scammers use dating apps and group chats to build trust with victims before convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency schemes that appear to generate returns, then steal their money; reported losses include $16,000 and $118,000 from individual victims in Brooklyn.

An 83-year-old man in Great Neck was scammed out of tens of thousands of dollars after a pop-up appeared on his computer claiming it was locked and instructing him to call a number. The scammers impersonated authorities, falsely claiming he had unauthorized charges ($15,000 and $16,000) on his bank account related to illegal gun purchases and gambling, and pressured him to withdraw cash to "fix" the problem; they also intercepted his phone calls by rerouting them to their own personnel. Two suspects, Zen Shen Yu and Rong Chen, were arrested and pleaded not guilty to the fraud charges, with police capturing video of the pickup attempt.

This article is not relevant to elder fraud research. It is an educational piece about the FBI Police force—a few hundred sworn law enforcement officers established in the late 1980s who protect FBI personnel, facilities, and information across the Eastern seaboard, particularly in Washington D.C., New York, and West Virginia. The article, published in honor of National Police Week 2024, profiles FBI Police Chief David Sutton and Officer Briana Chapman, describing their training, authority, duties, and community engagement role.

Phishing scams are increasing dramatically in Western New York and nationwide, with Upstate New York experiencing a 140% increase in reports last year and nearly 10,000 reports nationally. Scammers are using new technology including AI to target victims via email, text message, and voicemail, crafting increasingly sophisticated messages designed to trick people into revealing personal information. Experts advise not clicking suspicious links or entering personal information online, as compromised data allows scammers to access victims' accounts and sensitive information.

Phishing scams are reaching record numbers, with reports doubling between 2022 and 2023, according to the Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York. Common scams include fraudulent text messages about unpaid tolls (the "Throughway text scam") that trick victims into providing credit card information, and extortion emails claiming to have compromising pictures and threatening to release them unless payment is made. Victims are advised to verify requests directly with official sources, never click links in unsolicited messages, and report suspicious communications to authorities.

The Niagara County Clerk's Office has issued alerts about phishing scams targeting residents through text messages that impersonate E-ZPass and toll service authorities. Scammers are sending texts claiming to collect tolls on behalf of New York or E-ZPass services, with links directing victims to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal information. The Thruway Authority emphasizes that it will never request sensitive personal information via unsolicited communications.

Lifespan of Greater Rochester held an educational presentation at Elmira Heights Village Hall to inform senior citizens about common scams and fraud schemes. According to Lifespan, New York State recorded over 260,000 fraud reports in 2023 with total losses of $4.9 million, with the top scams being foster scams, online shopping fraud, internet services scams, prize/sweepstakes schemes, and healthcare fraud. The organization distributes educational pamphlets and offers one-on-one assistance to fraud victims through their website and support team.

As fans rush to purchase tickets for the Pinstripe Bowl (Nebraska vs. Boston College on December 28th), the Better Business Bureau warns consumers to avoid ticket scams by purchasing directly from official sources rather than through social media advertisements. Recommended safeguards include buying from NATB (National Association of Ticket Brokers) member resale companies, verifying sellers on BBB.org or VerifyTicketSource.com, and using credit cards for payment protection.

Robert Giuliano, a multi-state romance scammer wanted out of New York for forgery, grand larceny, and identity theft, was arrested in Scottsdale but released on parole supervision by a Bronx Supreme Court Judge after extradition to New York. His victims expressed disappointment at his release, feeling "victimized twice," though legal experts note that judges often release defendants facing nonviolent crimes without substantial criminal histories pending trial.

New York State enacted legislation requiring dating apps to notify users when they interact with fake or scam accounts, following reports that approximately 7,000 Americans fell victim to romance scams in 2022. The law addresses concerns about the prevalence of fraudulent profiles on platforms like Tinder, with some users reporting that roughly one in five profiles may be fake or bot accounts designed to deceive online daters.

Scammers steal approximately $23,000 per hour from New Yorkers, with older adults over 60 losing more than $200 million annually to fraud schemes in New York alone. One victim, Torchy Massie, was convinced by an online acquaintance to invest all her savings into a fake investment opportunity. Advocacy groups are pushing for state funding to combat these increasingly sophisticated scams, while noting that many victims remain unreported due to embarrassment.

This article is about Peter Sichel, a German-American intelligence officer and winemaker, and does not contain information about scams, fraud, elder abuse, or related elder exploitation. It is a biographical piece about his World War II service, CIA career, and subsequent success in the wine business. This content falls outside the scope of the Elderus elder fraud research database.

A Long Island couple, Pat and Valerie Policcastro, lost $23,000 to Crafty Getaways Travel Agency after paying in full for a two-week European vacation in October that was never booked. When they returned to the travel agency's Miller Place office in February to check on their reservations, they found it abandoned with no way to contact the company. The New York Attorney General's office is investigating the travel scam, and the couple is among multiple victims who were defrauded.

Two New York City women paid $3,000 each in 2024 for a cosmetics training course offered by Florida-based influencer "Melanie" through her company The Luxury Inc. Show, but were subsequently ghosted with no course delivery, communication, or refunds. Both victims filed police reports in Miami after months of contact attempts went unanswered, losing a combined $6,000 to what appears to be a course scam promoted through the influencer's social media posts.

The House has approved a 3.5% tax on international money transfers sent by non-citizens to foreign countries as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, pending Senate action. The proposed tax raises concerns among low-income immigrant families, particularly those in New York sending remittances to Mexico and the Dominican Republic, as it would reduce the amount of money available to vulnerable relatives abroad.

Text message scams impersonating the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles are increasing, threatening recipients with driver's license revocation or prosecution unless they pay outstanding fees. Red flags include checking the sender's phone number country code (the example showed +63 from the Philippines, when legitimate DMV messages would come from domestic numbers) and avoiding clicking suspicious links that request payment or personal information. Recipients should delete such messages rather than engage with them, as the links may contain malware or be designed to steal credit card and personal data.

Federal authorities arrested 13 people involved in a transnational grandparent scam that defrauded at least 400 elderly victims nationwide of approximately $5 million, with funds funneled to the Dominican Republic. Scammers called victims from call centers in the Dominican Republic, impersonating grandchildren in distress and requesting urgent wire transfers, sometimes using ride-share drivers to collect cash in person. An elderly couple from Cayuga County, New York, was among the victims, losing nearly $25,000 to the scheme.

Money transfer apps like Zelle and Venmo lack fraud protections comparable to credit cards, leaving users vulnerable to scammers who have stolen over a billion dollars through these platforms. New York's Attorney General is suing Zelle, claiming inadequate consumer safeguards, while experts warn users to avoid unsolicited calls/emails from these apps, never search for help online (risking fake support scammers), and understand that funds sent to the wrong person are typically unrecoverable. To use these apps safely, only transfer money to trusted contacts you know.

The New York Attorney General warned seniors about the "Phantom Hacker" scam, a three-phase fraud in which victims receive unsolicited contact claiming their bank account has been hacked, are tricked into downloading remote-access software, and then receive follow-up calls from scammers posing as their bank or government officials to convince them their funds are compromised. Since last year, over $1 billion has been stolen nationwide from people near or in retirement through such schemes, and authorities advise seniors to avoid clicking unsolicited links, never grant remote computer access, and call their bank directly using a known number if they receive fraud alerts.

Eight suspects were charged federally for operating fraud schemes targeting over 139 senior citizens across Western New York, resulting in approximately $11 million in losses. The schemes employed multiple tactics including romance scams, account hacking, and identity theft, and were dismantled by a newly formed Department of Justice task force based in Rochester.

Thirty-five-year-old Esther Marie Jones of Rochester appeared in federal court as one of eight suspects accused of running fraud schemes targeting dozens of senior citizens in Western New York. According to the criminal complaint, Jones was found in possession of 31 fraudulent identification cards, 4 stolen social security cards, and 65 fraudulent bank cards, which she allegedly used to steal money from seniors and open businesses under their identities. A fraud prevention expert noted that elder fraud victims often suffer devastating consequences, as seniors who lose their life savings lack the financial resources to recover, unlike younger fraud victims.

The FBI and FTC reported that romance scams cost Americans $740 million to $1.3 billion in 2022, with 19,000 to 70,000 reported cases involving victims who were manipulated into sending money to online romantic partners they never met in person. Scammers use fake personas tailored to victims' preferences and employ various pretexts—including fake emergencies, investment opportunities, and shipping fees—to extract money, relying on anonymity and victims' emotional vulnerability to evade law enforcement. The FBI advises online daters to verify profiles, watch for isolation tactics and money requests, and cease communication immediately with suspicious contacts.

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Kate Kleinart, a 70-year-old victim, lost tens of thousands of dollars to a romance scam, reporting that the emotional loss of the fabricated relationship hurt more than the financial loss. The FTC received over 64,000 romance scam reports in the past year totaling $1.14 billion in losses, with scammers typically targeting lonely individuals by building false romantic connections before requesting money under false pretenses. Experts recommend protecting against these scams by: identifying red flags (exceptionally attractive profiles, quick romantic escalation, requests to use private messaging apps), using reverse image searches to verify photos, maintaining open family conversations about scams using an informative rather than authoritative

A financial advice columnist for New York Magazine was scammed out of $50,000 in October by a con artist posing as a CIA agent who claimed her identity had been stolen and she faced arrest warrants for money laundering and drug trafficking. The scammer, who obtained personal information including her Social Security number and family details, instructed her not to contact authorities and directed her to place $50,000 cash in a shoe box and hand it to a courier in a white Mercedes SUV. After the handoff, Cowles realized the scam when attempts to follow up on promised government checks and Social Security assistance went nowhere.

Financial columnist Charlotte Cowles lost $50,000 to an elaborate scam that began with a fake Amazon customer service call in October 2023, escalating through impersonation of FTC and CIA officials who convinced her that her identity had been stolen and she faced arrest warrants. The scammers persuaded her to withdraw cash from her savings account and hand it to an undercover "agent" by creating an increasingly elaborate false narrative with fabricated evidence. Cowles' experience serves as a cautionary tale that fraud targets people across all demographics and education levels, countering the stereotype that only vulnerable populations fall victim to such schemes.

In October, the author—a financially literate journalist and New York Times columnist—fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam that cost her $50,000 in savings. After an initial fraudulent Amazon customer service call, she was transferred to a scammer posing as a federal agent who claimed her identity had been compromised and her home was being monitored, pressuring her to withdraw cash and leave it on the street in a shoebox without telling anyone. The article challenges common stereotypes about scam victims, noting that younger adults are actually 34% more likely to report fraud losses than seniors, and that intelligence, education, and financial literacy provide no protection against sophisticated psychological manipulation tactics.

A New York State Supreme Court judge ruled that Donald Trump owes New York over $350 million in damages for decades of fraudulent business practices, including inflating asset values to obtain favorable loans from banks and insurers. Trump and his two sons Eric and Donald Jr. were also barred from serving as officers or directors of New York corporations for three and two years respectively, while former Trump associates Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney received permanent bans from financial control of New York businesses. The civil fraud case did not result in the dissolution of Trump's business empire, though any future restructuring will be subject to court-appointed oversight.

This article covers a civil fraud ruling against Donald Trump and his organization, not an elder fraud case. Eric Trump disputed a New York court's $355 million fraud judgment, claiming the case was politically motivated and that banks never reported losses from alleged property valuation misstatements. The ruling found Trump Organization liable for financial fraud in a civil suit brought by New York's Attorney General. **Note:** This does not involve elder fraud, elder abuse, or scams targeting seniors and falls outside Elderus's research scope.

A New York Magazine financial advice columnist lost $50,000 to a vishing scam in which a fraudster impersonated an FTC investigator, falsely claiming she was wanted for arrest and needed to pay cash to restore her identity. Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan used the incident to warn the public that Americans lost $2.7 billion last year to voice phishing scams, emphasizing that legitimate government officials never request personal information, badge numbers, or cash transfers via phone.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office warned residents about scammers impersonating the sheriff's department to sell T-shirts, clarifying that neither the Sheriff's Office nor its association conducts such sales or fundraising. Sheriff Paul Arteta advised the public to ignore unsolicited calls, emails, and requests for payment, emphasizing that legitimate communications arrive by mail or are pre-solicited, and recommended contacting local law enforcement if victimized. The office has established a white-collar task force and is conducting fraud awareness presentations at senior centers to prevent scams.

Imposter scams are rising sharply, with people losing $2.7 billion to this fraud type in 2022 (up 14% overall from the previous year), as exemplified by financial columnist Charlotte Cowles who was scammed out of $50,000 by imposters posing as Amazon and CIA officials. The FTC has proposed new protections against impersonation fraud and warned that AI-generated deepfakes are making these scams increasingly sophisticated and convincing. Consumers are advised to monitor accounts regularly, never confirm personal information over unsolicited calls, and report suspected scams to the FTC.

A New York Magazine personal finance writer fell victim to a phone scam in which she was deceived into believing she was speaking with the FBI and was a victim of identity fraud, ultimately withdrawing $50,000 in cash, placing it in a shoebox, and handing it to a stranger. The scam demonstrates how sophisticated fraud schemes can deceive even knowledgeable individuals about financial matters, and the incident generated significant social media discussion about the vulnerability of smart people to well-crafted scams.

Charlotte Cowles, a finance advice columnist at New York Magazine, fell victim to a $50,000 scam involving fraudsters impersonating Amazon, the Federal Trade Commission, and the CIA who convinced her to withdraw money for "safekeeping" due to alleged identity theft and fraudulent accounts. The article debunks the scammers' tactics by confirming that Amazon never transfers customers to the FTC, the FTC never provides badge numbers or asks for financial information, and the CIA does not conduct domestic fraud investigations. The piece serves as an educational guide highlighting red flags and advising consumers to hang up on suspicious calls and contact companies directly through official channels.

A New York nurse, Avalon Grimes, lost over $20,000 from her Chase bank account after receiving a call from someone impersonating the bank who claimed fraud had been detected on her account. The scammer used a spoofed phone number matching her Chase card and tricked Grimes into wiring money and revealing a security code sent to her phone. Chase is working to help recover the funds and has warned customers about increasingly sophisticated scams involving voice cloning technology and impersonation of banks and government agencies.

In October 2023, Charlotte Cowles, a New York Times financial columnist, was scammed out of $50,000 by perpetrators posing as Amazon customer service, FTC, and CIA officials who convinced her that her identity had been stolen and used to purchase vehicles and properties, with warrants allegedly issued for her arrest. The scammers used social engineering tactics including spoofed government phone numbers, fake badge numbers, and threats of home raids to build credibility and pressure her into withdrawing cash. Cowles ultimately handed over $50,000 in a shoe box to a stranger, despite her professional expertise in personal finance and skepticism about the claims.

Scammers have targeted Medicare's catheter benefit program in a massive fraud scheme, with beneficiary accounts billed for catheters rising ninefold from 50,000 to 450,000 in a single year, resulting in billions of dollars in fraudulent claims. Seniors reported being billed for catheters they never received or needed, yet despite complaints to Medicare from private entities, physicians, and state insurance offices dating back to July, the federal government failed to investigate or stop the fraud in a timely manner. The incident highlights systemic weaknesses in Medicare's fraud detection capabilities, particularly the program's reliance on private organizations to identify suspicious spending patterns rather than proactive government oversight.

A Brooklyn-based financial advice columnist for New York Magazine lost $50,000 to an elaborate phone scam in October in which fraudsters impersonated Amazon, the FTC, and a CIA agent over a five-hour call, ultimately convincing her to withdraw cash and hand it to a stranger. The scammers used personal details about her and her family to build credibility and pressure her into believing she faced arrest and identity fraud. According to the FTC, such government impersonation scams are widespread, with Americans losing $2.7 billion annually to these schemes.

Charlotte Cowles, a financial columnist for New York Magazine's The Cut, lost $50,000 in a sophisticated phone scam that began with a fraudulent Amazon customer service call on October 31, 2023. The scammers used personal details about her family and threats of surveillance to manipulate her over five hours, employing the tactic of "blocking the exits" to prevent her from reaching out to trusted contacts. Cowles publicly defended her story by emphasizing that scam victims come from all walks of life—including financial professionals, doctors, and lawyers—and advised others to identify trusted people to contact and create exit strategies when feeling pressured.

Charlotte Cowles, a New York financial columnist, lost $50,000 in an elaborate phone scam in October where scammers impersonated Amazon, the FTC, and a CIA agent, using fear tactics and personal information about her and her family to convince her that her identity had been compromised and a warrant was out for her arrest. The scammers kept her on the phone for five hours and instructed her to withdraw cash and hand it to a car that pulled up to her apartment building. According to the FTC, such government impersonation scams are increasingly common, with Americans losing $2.7 billion to these schemes in 2023.

Ghanaian social media influencer Mona Faiz Montrage pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive proceeds from romance scams targeting vulnerable older Americans between 2013 and 2019. Montrage, who operated the Instagram account "Hajia4Reall" with 3.4 million followers, received over $2 million in fraudulent funds through bank accounts used by a West African criminal enterprise that deceived victims into believing they were in romantic relationships and sending money under false pretenses. She agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of approximately $2.16 million and faces up to five years in prison at sentencing.

Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage (known as Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money from romance scams targeting older Americans and agreed to pay over $4.3 million in total restitution and forfeiture ($2.16 million to victims and $2.16 million to U.S. authorities). Montrage was arrested abroad and knowingly laundered proceeds stolen from vulnerable elderly victims through fake romantic relationships, with sentencing to follow before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.

Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money from romance scams targeting elderly Americans from 2013 onward. She agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces up to five years in prison, with sentencing scheduled before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.

Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection with romance scams targeting vulnerable elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She faces up to five years in prison and has agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41. The criminal conspiracy specifically targeted older Americans through fake online romantic relationships to steal their money.

Financial advice columnist Charlotte Cowles lost $50,000 to an elaborate scam in which fraudsters impersonated Federal Trade Commission and CIA officials; she withdrew the cash from her Bank of America account before realizing the scheme later that day. Banks have limited tools to prevent such scams, with policies varying by institution—some tellers may offer alternatives like cashier's checks or wire transfers, while others simply warn customers—and the FTC reported consumers lost $8.8 billion to scams in 2022, a 30% increase from the previous year.

Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy related to romance scams targeting elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She knowingly received stolen funds from vulnerable victims and was arrested abroad; she faces up to five years in prison and must forfeit and pay restitution of approximately $2.16 million.