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The FBI is warning about a surge in "smishing" scams—fraudulent text messages impersonating toll authorities and package delivery services—with threat actors registering over 10,000 malicious domains targeting users in at least 10 U.S. states and Ontario, Canada. These scams direct victims to fake websites designed to steal personal data including credit card, bank, and Social Security information. The FTC advises users to avoid clicking unsolicited links, verify messages through official channels, and report suspicious texts, while the FBI recommends securing accounts and disputing unauthorized charges if compromised.

**Summary:** Oleg Beretsky was arrested and indicted in Brooklyn federal court for operating a healthcare fraud scheme from January 2017 to April 2024, in which he exploited elderly Medicare patients—particularly immigrants from the former Soviet Union—by referring them to doctors in exchange for kickbacks and bribes totaling over $12 million. Beretsky, owner of Obest, Inc., conspired with healthcare providers to bill Medicare for unnecessary or non-performed services while pocketing the proceeds through his fraudulent referral operation. He faces charges including healthcare fraud conspiracy, Anti-Kickback Statute violations, and money laundering conspiracy.

Scammers target Medicare beneficiaries by offering free genetic testing (for conditions like cancer, dementia, and autoimmune diseases) without doctor orders, then bill Medicare for unnecessary tests or use stolen Medicare information for medical identity theft. Seniors should verify any genetic testing with their primary care doctor before proceeding, review their Medicare Summary Notices and Explanations of Benefits for unauthorized charges, and report suspected fraud to the New York Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-333-4374, as these scams can result in costs of $9,000 to $11,000 per test.

In 2023, elder financial fraud cost New York State over $200 million, with 4,300 residents aged 60 and older losing an average of $47,000 each, ranking the state fourth nationally in such losses. Governor Hochul and AARP New York are urging state legislators to pass budget measures that would train bank employees to identify financial exploitation and allow financial institutions to place holds on suspicious transactions. The proposed legislation aims to empower the financial sector to prevent fraud and protect older New Yorkers' accumulated savings from scammers.

In 2023, over 4,300 New Yorkers age 60 and older lost more than $203 million to financial scams, averaging $47,000 per victim, prompting AARP New York and state legislators to call for enhanced consumer protections including bank teller training to identify exploitation signs. Common scams targeting seniors include the "grandparent scam," where fraudsters pose as relatives requesting emergency money via untraceable payment methods like cash or gift cards. Governor Hochul's proposed budget includes measures to equip financial institutions to recognize and prevent elder financial fraud through employee training and transaction monitoring.

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Patricia Hutchins, 53, of Brockport, NY, was charged with bank fraud and making false statements after being caught in multiple wire fraud schemes, including elder fraud totaling at least $25,100 to an elderly victim. After pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in May 2024 and facing sentencing, Hutchins claimed she gave her home sale proceeds to someone she believed was Kenny Chesney for investment purposes, then spent approximately $23,500 on gift cards instead of paying court-ordered restitution, leading to new charges in December 2024.

AARP New York is advocating for stronger anti-fraud protections after over 4,300 older New Yorkers lost more than $200 million to scams in 2023, making New York the fourth-highest state for elder fraud losses. Governor Hochul's executive budget proposes training bank employees to identify and halt suspicious transactions to combat this growing problem affecting seniors' quality of life.

Governor Hochul's budget proposal includes training for bank employees to detect and report financial scams targeting older New Yorkers, with State Police support citing $203 million in losses to seniors in 2023. The measure aims to enable early law enforcement intervention before scammers access victims' funds, though it was initially excluded from Senate and Assembly budgets, possibly due to financial industry concerns. Advocates stress the urgency given New York's growing senior population and increasing financial exploitation.

Phillip Priolo, a 61-year-old from Florida, was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and four counts of mail fraud for operating a mass mailing scheme from March 2015 to December 2016 that defrauded thousands of elderly victims. The scheme involved sending millions of personalized-appearing notices falsely claiming recipients had won a cash prize and requesting an upfront fee to collect it; victims who paid never received the promised prize. Priolo faces up to 20 years in prison per count, with sentencing to be scheduled later in 2022.

Senior citizens in the United States lost $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, representing a 10% increase from 2022, according to FBI data. Advocates are pushing for state budget inclusion of an initiative to train bank employees to recognize scam indicators, a proposal already included in Governor Hochul's budget. The New York State Office for the Aging recommends verifying contact independently before sharing personal information or money, and directs victims to report fraud through 911 or the NYS Office of Victim Services.

Scammers are sending fake text messages nationwide impersonating toll collection services like E-ZPass, PA Turnpike, and FasTrak, requesting payment or personal information from unsuspecting victims. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 2,000 complaints about these "smishing" scams, with New York State alone reporting 26,948 internet crime complaints totaling $750 million in losses in 2023, with seniors as the most targeted group. To protect themselves, consumers should never click links or reply to suspicious texts, keep devices updated with security software, and report suspected scams to law enforcement, the FCC, or Federal Trade Commission.

Older New Yorkers lost over $203 million to scams in 2023, with more than 4,300 victims age 60 and older experiencing an average loss of $47,000 each, prompting AARP New York and state legislators to call for consumer protection measures in the state budget. Governor Hochul's proposed safeguards include training bank employees to identify signs of financial exploitation and place holds on suspicious transactions, with the "grandparent scam" identified as one of the most common schemes targeting seniors. The coalition is urging financial institutions to work with state leadership to implement fraud prevention measures that would help protect older New Yorkers' retirement savings from increasingly sophisticated sc

A 76-year-old retired lawyer lost $740,000 in retirement savings to con artists who posed as federal investigators, convincing him he was helping with a fraud investigation. The article notes that retirees are frequent targets due to presumed savings, trust, cognitive vulnerabilities, and isolation, and outlines common scams including phishing emails, phone impersonations, and fake online sales, while recommending verification of unexpected requests, strong passwords, and reporting fraud rather than remaining silent due to embarrassment.

This educational article identifies New Jersey as the safest U.S. state for retirees based on FBI data analysis, citing low violent and property crime rates, minimal senior involvement in fatal accidents, and strong healthcare access. The article also lists nine additional safe states for retirement (New York, Mississippi, Louisiana, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, Alabama) and warns against five states with higher risks of elder fraud, property crime, and scams (Colorado, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico).

Tax season presents increased fraud risk as scammers use phishing emails, texts, phone calls, and social media to impersonate the IRS and steal personal information or money. Common tactics include creating false urgency, threatening arrest, promising inflated refunds through "ghost" preparers who file fraudulent returns, and exploiting uncertainty around recent IRS workforce cuts to appear more convincing. Experts recommend using only trusted tax professionals, avoiding suspicious links and unsolicited offers, and reporting scams to the IRS, as reduced agency staffing may slow response times to fraud complaints.

Tax season fraud is escalating, with scammers using common tactics like phishing emails, threatening calls impersonating the IRS, and fake tax preparers who file fraudulent returns with inflated deductions to steal refunds. This year, criminals are exploiting uncertainty from recent IRS workforce cuts—both to impersonate the agency with false filing claims and because reduced IRS staffing may slow response times to reported scams and takedown of malicious websites. Consumers are advised to watch for red flags including urgency, threats, suspicious links, and promises of large payouts, and to only use accredited tax professionals.

Tax season presents heightened fraud risks, with scammers using common tactics like phishing emails, threatening phone calls impersonating the IRS, and fake tax preparers who file fraudulent returns to steal refunds. Recent IRS workforce cuts may amplify these threats by creating uncertainty that scammers exploit and reducing the agency's capacity to respond to reported fraud. Experts recommend consumers watch for red flags such as urgency, threats, suspicious links, and promises of inflated refunds, while using only trusted tax professionals and reporting scams directly to the IRS.

A Cumberland, Maine woman lost $100,000 to a sophisticated scam that began with a phishing email giving scammers remote computer access, followed by an impersonator claiming to be a Microsoft employee who convinced her to convert her savings into gold bars that were later picked up by a fake courier. Police arrested 44-year-old Zhangqi Xie of New York and charged him with Theft by Deception, while warning the public never to exchange money for gold, bitcoin, or gift cards based on unsolicited communications and to avoid opening suspicious email attachments.

Tax season presents heightened fraud risks as scammers exploit uncertainty surrounding recent IRS workforce cuts to impersonate the agency and steal personal information and money through phishing emails, texts, fake refund promises, and fraudulent tax preparers. Common red flags include urgent language, threats, promises of large payoffs, and suspicious links; the IRS warns it never initiates contact via email or text and urges consumers to use only accredited tax professionals and report suspected scams. Experts caution that reduced IRS staffing could slow response times to fraud reports and allow malicious websites and predatory campaigns to remain active longer, creating an increased risk environment for taxpayers.

Tax season presents heightened fraud risks, with scammers using common tactics like phishing emails, threatening phone calls impersonating the IRS, and "ghost" tax preparers who file fraudulent returns with inflated deductions to steal refunds. Experts warn that recent IRS workforce cuts may make scammers' false claims about "new filing methods" more convincing while simultaneously reducing the agency's ability to quickly respond to and remove fraudulent websites or investigate scam reports. Key warning signs include urgency, threats, promises of large payouts, and suspicious links—and consumers should only contact the IRS through official channels and use accredited tax professionals.

A 23-year-old New York man was charged with extorting and defrauding a 72-year-old Newton woman out of approximately $480,000 through an elaborate scheme in which he impersonated a DEA agent and claimed she was implicated in money laundering involving narcotics traffickers. The perpetrator convinced the victim she needed to transfer her assets to the U.S. Treasury by purchasing gold bars and handing them to couriers; the scheme was uncovered when her family reported it and an undercover FBI agent was able to apprehend the suspect during a gold bar handoff.

Tax season presents heightened fraud risks, with scammers using impersonation emails, texts, calls, and social media offers to steal personal information and money. Experts warn that recent IRS workforce cuts may embolden fraudsters who exploit taxpayer uncertainty while potentially slowing the agency's ability to respond to reported scams, and recommend taxpayers use only accredited tax professionals, watch for pressure tactics and suspicious refund promises, and report suspected fraud to the IRS.

Katie Powell, a single mother from Portland, OR, lost $40,000 to a romance scam after meeting a con artist on Tinder who posed as a civil engineer working in Turkey and repeatedly requested money under false pretenses, including a fake hospital stay. The FTC reports that romance scams affected 70,000 people in 2022 with $1.3 billion in total losses, with a median loss of $4,400. Powell's case highlights the importance of never sending money to online matches and reporting suspected scams to the FTC immediately.

A Portland, Oregon single mother lost $40,000 to a romance scam after meeting a man on Tinder who posed as a civil engineer working in Turkey and used a fake hospital photo to guilt her into sending money over several months. The FTC reported that romance scams affected 70,000 people in 2022 with total losses of $1.3 billion, with a median loss of $4,400, and recommends victims never send money to online matches they haven't met, report scams to the FTC, and seek help from financial advisers to rebuild their finances.

Hector Claveria, 51, of New York, was sentenced to two years in federal prison in March 2025 for laundering $20,000 in proceeds from elder fraud and computer service scams that targeted victims nationwide. The schemes deceived elderly individuals and computer users into sending payments by falsely claiming they owed money to government agencies, businesses, or tech companies. Claveria served as a money mule, collecting cash from these frauds and transferring funds to foreign accounts to obscure their illegal origin, and was also ordered to forfeit $20,000 and serve three years of supervised release.

**Summary:** Hector Claveria, 51, of New York was sentenced to two years in prison in March 2025 for laundering proceeds from elder fraud and computer fraud schemes. Starting in early 2020, Claveria acted as a money mule by collecting cash packages and wiring $20,000 in June 2020 to a foreign account, knowing the funds came from scams targeting elderly victims with fake government/company debt claims and computer service fraud. He was also ordered to forfeit $20,000 and serve three years of supervised release.

In 2023, more than 4,300 New Yorkers age 60 and older lost $203.4 million to financial scams—an average of $47,000 per victim—prompting AARP New York and state legislators to urge inclusion of fraud prevention measures in the state budget. Key proposed protections include training bank employees to identify exploitation and temporarily hold suspicious transactions, with particular focus on common schemes like the "grandparent scam" where criminals pose as relatives requesting emergency funds via untraceable methods like cash or gift cards.

In 2023, over 4,300 New Yorkers age 60 and older lost $203.4 million to financial scams, averaging $47,000 per victim, with the "grandparent scam" being one of the most common schemes targeting seniors. AARP New York and a coalition of state officials are urging legislative leaders to include fraud prevention measures in the state budget, including training bank employees to recognize exploitation and authorize them to place holds on suspicious transactions. Governor Hochul's proposal aims to strengthen financial institutions' ability to detect and prevent scams while giving law enforcement better opportunity to intervene before funds are lost.

In 2023, older New Yorkers age 60 and older lost $203.4 million to financial scams—averaging $47,000 per victim—prompting AARP New York and state officials to urge legislators to include consumer protection measures in the state budget. The proposed legislation would train bank employees to recognize and halt suspicious transactions targeting seniors, with the "grandparent scam" being among the most common schemes used to defraud older adults. State and federal officials emphasized that financial institutions must play an active role in preventing these increasingly sophisticated crimes.

The New York StateWide Senior Action Council identified genetic testing scams as its March Fraud of the Month, in which scammers offer free cheek swabs to Medicare beneficiaries, then use their Medicare information to bill for unnecessary genetic tests or commit medical identity theft. Seniors are advised to consult their primary care doctor before agreeing to any screening, verify that tests were ordered by their physician, review Medicare statements for unauthorized charges (averaging $4,000-$11,000 per test), and report suspected fraud to the NY Senior Medicare Patrol. Medicare fraud costs taxpayers over $60 billion annually nationwide.

Seniors face disproportionate risk from digital scams and fraud, with older adults five times more likely to lose money in scams than younger people, particularly from AI deepfakes and phishing schemes. Experts recommend that seniors verify website authenticity, avoid clicking links from unknown sources, build relationships with trusted tech-savvy contacts for guidance, and apply common sense and critical thinking to online activities to navigate digital threats safely.

Hector Claveria, 51, of New York was sentenced to two years in federal prison for money laundering in March 2025 after wiring $20,000 overseas to conceal proceeds from fraudulent schemes targeting elderly and vulnerable victims. The laundered funds were connected to an elder fraud scheme where perpetrators deceived seniors into sending cash by falsely claiming they owed money to government agencies, as well as a computer fraud scheme involving fake tech service debt. Claveria, who acted as a money mule, was also ordered to forfeit $20,000 and complete three years of supervised release.

**Summary:** A national Facebook scam circulated posts claiming a police officer from the Batavia Police Department in New York was missing, with identical posts appearing across thousands of police departments nationwide. The scam was identified as fraudulent due to several red flags, including the use of a "Silver Alert" (only issued for missing seniors) and lack of identifying department information, prompting local police to warn the public about verifying information before sharing on social media.

New York State officials are warning residents about tax scams increasing around the April 15 tax deadline, which commonly include IRS impersonation, phishing emails, and fraudulent demand letters designed to steal personal and financial information. Scammers use fear tactics such as threats of arrest or deportation to pressure victims into making payments via untraceable methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency. Residents are advised to verify suspicious communications through official channels, never share personal information in response to unsolicited contact, and report suspected scams to authorities immediately.

Tony Bennett's daughters, Antonia and Johanna, filed a lawsuit against their brother Danny, who serves as executor of their late father's estate, alleging he exploited his position for personal gain and took advantage of Tony Bennett's declining Alzheimer's condition to broker deals including the sale of the musician's catalog and rights to a brand development firm. The sisters claim Danny prioritized his own financial interests over the family's and violated his fiduciary obligations as head of the family trust. This lawsuit followed an earlier June filing demanding a full accounting of their father's assets.

The U.S. Secret Service seized the web domain NFT-UNI.com, which was used in a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam that defrauded a Warren County victim of approximately $172,405.61 between November 2023 and March 2024, with total losses across all victims reaching approximately $4,564,936.47. In pig butchering schemes, scammers build trust with victims through dating apps, social media, or text messages before convincing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms, then disappearing with their funds. This is the second domain seizure by the Secret Service in Warren County related to this type of scheme, as part

Rep. David Valadao's Romance Scam Prevention Act advanced through the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, requiring dating apps to notify users who have interacted with accounts banned for fraudulent activity. The Federal Trade Commission reported romance scam victims lost over $1.1 billion in 2023, with fraudsters exploiting the 60 million users of online dating services by using fake identities to manipulate people for financial gain. The bill addresses a gap in current protections where scammers move conversations off dating platforms to avoid detection, though similar notification requirements already exist in Vermont, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New York.

Medical Identity Theft occurs when fraudsters use seniors' personal health information, such as names or Medicare numbers, to bill for medical services or supplies never received, potentially affecting both finances and health through inaccurate medical records. The New York StateWide Senior Action Council identifies warning signs including unexpected medical bills, insurance coverage denials for non-existent conditions, and debt collection contacts for unrecognized expenses. Seniors should protect themselves by keeping Medicare numbers confidential, avoiding unsolicited medical offers, regularly reviewing billing statements, and reporting suspected fraud to the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-333-4374.

**Summary:** Medical identity theft occurs when scammers use a senior's personal health information, such as their name or Medicare number, to fraudulently bill for medical services or supplies never received, potentially affecting both their finances and health through inaccurate medical records. Warning signs include unexpected bills for services not received, insurance coverage denials due to non-existent conditions, and debt collection agency contacts about unrecognized medical expenses. Seniors can protect themselves by safeguarding their Medicare numbers, avoiding unsolicited medical offers, purchasing supplies only from verified sources, and regularly reviewing their Medicare Summary Notices and Explanation of Benefits statements.

In 2023, older New Yorkers lost $203.4 million to financial scams—averaging $47,000 per victim—with the "grandparent scam" being among the most common schemes where fraudsters pose as relatives requesting emergency cash. AARP and state officials are advocating for legislation that would train bank employees to recognize and flag suspicious transactions, allowing law enforcement to intervene before funds are transferred via untraceable methods like gift cards or wire transfers.

Medical Identity Theft occurs when fraudsters use seniors' personal health information, such as their name or Medicare number, to bill for medical services or supplies never received, potentially affecting both their finances and health through inaccurate medical records. Warning signs include unexpected bills for services never performed, insurance denials due to non-existing conditions, and debt collection contacts for unrecognized expenses. The New York StateWide Senior Action Council advises seniors to protect themselves by safeguarding Medicare cards, avoiding "free" offers from unknown sources, monitoring Medicare statements regularly, and reporting suspected fraud to the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol helpline at 800-333-4374.

In 2023, over 4,300 older New Yorkers lost $203.4 million to financial scams, averaging $47,000 per victim—equating to $23,200 per hour lost to fraud. The "grandparent scam," where fraudsters pose as relatives requesting emergency funds via untraceable payment methods like cash or gift cards, is among the most common schemes targeting seniors. AARP and state officials are advocating for Governor Hochul's proposed legislation to require bank employees to identify and halt suspicious transactions, giving law enforcement time to investigate before stolen funds disappear.

NYC radio host and City Council candidate Frank Morano admitted he wrote a parole letter recommending the release of Robert Giuliano, 49, a convicted romance scam artist, after being manipulated through flattery by the ex-con. After Giuliano's June 2023 release, he immediately resumed his schemes—defrauding travelers with a fake concierge service and targeting women—before being arrested in Arizona in December 2023 and extradited to New York as a fugitive. Morano acknowledged being "duped" by a "professional con artist" and vowed never to help prisoners again, though he characterized the resurfaced story as a political smear attack

Weikai Zhang, 43, was arrested in New York and charged with running a computer pop-up scam that defrauded a Palm City senior citizen of $50,000, with additional victims losing $613,000 total while he was in Florida. Zhang, part of a larger criminal organization targeting elderly people, posed as tech support through fake Microsoft pop-ups, convincing victims their accounts were compromised and persuading them to withdraw cash and attempt Bitcoin conversions. He is being held on $700,000 bond and faces charges including organized fraud, exploitation of persons 65 and older, and conspiracy to commit grand theft.

The Better Business Bureau warned consumers about tax scams ahead of the April 18 filing deadline, noting that scammers frequently impersonate the IRS to steal personal information and money. The BBB emphasized that the actual IRS only initiates contact through mail, never via phone, email, or text, and recommended using only reputable tax preparers and reporting suspicious activity to the BBB or FTC.

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Fraud losses nationwide reached $12.5 billion in 2024, with New York State accounting for $534 million in losses across 118,933 reported cases; older adults were disproportionately affected, with those over 50 reporting 28,578 fraud cases totaling $159 million in losses. AARP New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and local officials launched "The Big Shred NY!" — a statewide initiative offering 27 free document shredding locations through May 10, 2025, to help residents safely dispose of personal documents containing sensitive information that could be used for identity theft.

Mohamed Khaled Sakr pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and collected over $250,000 from seniors across 16 addresses in the Northeast through grandparent scams, making Erie County, New York rank second highest for elder fraud losses statewide in 2022. Sakr, who acted as a money mule collecting funds from victims deceived by fake bail bond stories, was sentenced to three years in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo. The case highlights the sophistication of grandparent scams, which use emotional manipulation and AI-generated voices to convince seniors to wire money urgently.

AARP New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and city officials launched "The Big Shred NY!" initiative, offering 27 free document shredding locations across New York State through May 2025 to help residents safely dispose of personal documents and prevent identity theft. Fraud targeting Americans reached $12.5 billion in 2024—a 25% increase from 2023—with New York State accounting for $534 million in losses, and older adults particularly vulnerable with $159 million lost among those over 50. The program aims to combat the rising sophistication of scams targeting seniors through document destruction as a preventive measure against financial fraud.