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abc7news.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI launched a new public awareness campaign called "Take a Beat" to educate the public about major fraud schemes, including impersonation scams (posing as banks or law enforcement), cryptocurrency investment fraud, grandparent scams using AI voice cloning, and recovery scams targeting previous fraud victims. One Bay Area victim lost $950 to a scammer impersonating a Citibank employee, illustrating how fraudsters exploit emotional urgency and personal information to manipulate victims into sending money or revealing passwords.
tnonline.com
· 2025-12-08
The Pennsylvania State Police warned the public about an active grandparent scam in which callers claim a family member has been arrested and demand cash payment for their release, often instructing victims to have couriers pick up money from their homes. The alert provided protective measures including advice to verify requests with family members, avoid sharing sensitive information over the phone, never use gift cards for payments, and to hang up on suspicious callers. Victims of such scams are urged to contact law enforcement for investigation.
abilene-rc.com
· 2025-12-08
Detective Kevin Landers of the Abilene Police Department outlines common scams targeting seniors, including romance, lottery, sweepstakes, and government impersonation schemes where callers demand payment via gift cards or bitcoin. Seniors are frequently targeted because they tend to be trusting, have savings, own homes, and maintain good credit, though scammers prey on people of all ages. Landers recommends protecting oneself by verifying unsolicited offers online, resisting pressure to act quickly, monitoring credit reports annually, and stopping communication with suspected scammers immediately.
wsaz.com
· 2025-12-08
This article does not contain information about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a compilation of local news updates covering library changes, restaurant features, a found urn, and general elder wellness check-in advice. As such, it is not suitable for summarization in the Elderus database.
floridatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors are frequently targeted by scammers who exploit their trust and financial stability, with elder fraud causing over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 and an average victim loss of $33,915. Common scams include fraudulent phone calls impersonating banks or family members, phishing emails and texts, fake charities, Medicare/insurance schemes, tech support scams, and romance scams (which resulted in $1.3 billion in losses in 2022). The article advises seniors to be skeptical of unsolicited contact, verify organizations directly before donating or sharing information, and report suspected scams to the FTC, Department of Justice, or AARP.
lawfaremedia.org
· 2025-12-08
National Public Data, a data broker, was hacked by a group calling itself "USDoD," resulting in the theft and public posting of 2.9 billion records containing names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, family member names, and phone numbers affecting hundreds of millions of people in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. The breach highlights four critical lessons: data brokers are incentivized to collect ever-expanding datasets for profit, large-scale data aggregation creates compounded privacy and national security risks, the data brokerage industry remains largely unregulated despite recent legislative discussions, and regulatory enforcement alone cannot adequately address the systemic problem of privacy-invasive
maryvilleforum.com
· 2025-12-08
Grandparent scams, which surge during the school year, involve scammers impersonating distressed family members to solicit emergency money from seniors, often using social media information and increasingly voice cloning technology. Law enforcement in Maryville, Missouri documented cases where seniors were deceived into sending bail money or visiting police stations, with the FBI reporting over 195 complaints and $1.9 million in losses from January to September of the previous year. Seniors are targeted because they are trusting, have financial resources, and are often reluctant to report fraud due to shame or fear of losing family confidence.
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
An 84-year-old woman fell victim to a sophisticated Publishers Clearing House scam where fraudsters impersonated company representatives and used forged logos from the FDIC, IRS, and Federal Reserve Bank to build credibility and gain access to her investment accounts. Financial experts recommend that advisors protect elderly clients through verification tactics such as calling banks back at official numbers, scrutinizing email sender addresses rather than clicking links, and using account controls like payment holds to prevent urgent transfer requests from succeeding.
hastingstribune.com
· 2025-12-08
In January, a California financial advisor was convicted and permanently barred from the industry after pleading guilty to operating a fraudulent Ponzi scheme called "Northstar" that defrauded over 300 clients—predominantly elderly—of more than $24 million between 2000 and 2020. Elder fraud is rising nationally, with FBI data showing a 14% increase in reports and 11% increase in losses in 2023, with scams ranging from fake prizes and government impersonation to investment schemes and AI-enabled romance scams costing seniors over $3 billion annually. To protect themselves, seniors should verify financial advisors using free tools like BrokerCheck and the
kpq.com
· 2025-12-08
Law enforcement in North Central Washington warns residents about three prevalent scams: prize-winner schemes where victims are told they've won prizes (like vehicles) and pressured to pay fees, grandparent scams involving fake emergencies claiming relatives need bail money, and jury duty scams threatening arrest for failing to appear unless fines are paid immediately. The article advises victims to hang up without engaging scammers, avoid sharing personal information or sending payments, and verify claims directly with official county offices rather than responding to unsolicited calls.
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies 10 common scams targeting seniors, who lose approximately $3 billion annually to fraud. The scams include romance scams, funeral fraud, grandparent impersonation schemes, phishing emails, Medicare fraud, fake tech support, and others that exploit seniors' trust, limited digital literacy, and valuable assets like homes and savings. The article provides protective advice such as setting social media accounts to private, verifying caller identities through stored contact numbers, and being skeptical of unsolicited requests for money or personal information.
southeastiowaunion.com
· 2025-12-08
Iowa County Sheriff Rob Rotter reports that scams are vastly underreported due to victim embarrassment, with an estimated 59 million people scammed annually and $50,000-$60,000 lost yearly in Iowa County alone. Rotter highlighted common scams including lottery/tax schemes (one couple lost $130,000 across multiple scams), robocalls targeting seniors with health insurance offers, and "grandparent scams" where callers impersonate grandchildren in distress, recommending victims report fraud to authorities and verify caller identity by hanging up and calling back known numbers.
morningstar.com
· 2025-12-08
Investment fraud targeting older adults is growing significantly, driven by emerging technologies like cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence that make scams increasingly sophisticated and convincing. According to Kathy Stokes, AARP's director of fraud prevention, Americans lost a record $10 billion to scams and fraud in 2023, with crypto-related schemes and AI-enabled fraud posing particular threats to financial security. Stokes emphasizes the importance of education and awareness as key protective measures for older adults vulnerable to these evolving fraud schemes.
philomathnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors lose approximately $3 billion annually to scams, making them prime targets due to their savings, home ownership, good credit, and often lower digital literacy. The article identifies 10 common scams targeting older adults, including romance scams (fraudsters posing as romantic interests), funeral scams (exploiting grief over deceased spouses), grandparent scams (impersonating grandchildren in emergencies), phishing (fake emails from financial institutions), Medicare fraud, and tech support scams, among others. Prevention strategies include securing social media accounts, verifying contact information through reverse searches, and calling family members directly to confirm emergencies.
morningstar.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational podcast features AARP's Kathy Stokes discussing how to protect oneself from investment fraud, with particular focus on growing threats from cryptocurrency-related scams and the use of artificial intelligence by fraudsters. The piece emphasizes identifying warning signs of investment fraud and provides resources including AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360) and guidance on recognizing common scam tactics targeting investors of all ages, though older adults face heightened risk.
shawlocal.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the National Council on Aging, financial scams targeting seniors cost approximately $3 billion annually, causing both monetary losses and significant emotional distress to victims who are often targeted for their perceived vulnerability and trust. Common schemes include Medicare/health insurance fraud, phishing scams, investment fraud, and grandparent scams, all of which rely on deception to steal sensitive information or money. Seniors can protect themselves through education and awareness, with resources available including a free community workshop offered by Home Instead on September 12, 2024, at the DeKalb Public Library covering fraud prevention strategies and protection techniques.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Police in southern Alberta arrested two men involved in an AI-enabled grandparent scam targeting seniors, where fraudsters used artificial intelligence to mimic victims' grandchildren's voices in emergency situations and convinced elderly residents to courier money to them. The scammers obtained voice samples from social media profiles, created AI mimics to call grandparents claiming urgent financial needs, and hired couriers (including the two arrested men) to collect cash. Authorities recommend seniors verify emergency calls with other family members before sending money.
bentonspiritnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines four emerging fraud schemes targeting seniors: check cooking (digitally altering stolen checks), voiceprinting (using deepfake voice technology to impersonate victims and access financial accounts), celebrity impersonation (scammers posing as celebrities or their agents on social media to solicit loans), and multistage grandparent scams (organized call centers with young operatives posing as grandchildren in distress). The article provides protective measures for each scam type, including using electronic bill payments, avoiding phone conversations with non-family members, being skeptical of celebrity direct messages, and verifying caller information through independent contact methods.
theweek.com
· 2025-12-08
UK fraud complaints reached a record high of 8,734 cases from April to June, with nearly half upheld by the Financial Ombudsman Service, representing a significant increase from 6,094 complaints in the same period the previous year. Authorised push payment (APP) fraud accounted for over half the complaints, resulting in £459.7 million in losses in 2023, with scammers using impersonation, fake goods sales, and romance scams as primary methods. While banks voluntarily reimburse some victims, mandatory refund schemes were scaled back to £85,000 per claim following pressure from financial industry lobbyists, leaving many fraud victims with limited recourse
noozhawk.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article examines how financial fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated through advanced tools like AI, with seniors (ages 60+) being particularly vulnerable targets due to larger savings and lower tech awareness. The piece details common fraud methods including phishing scams, tech support/customer service impersonations, social media investment schemes, and romance scams, noting that the FTC reported $8.8 billion in fraud losses in 2022, with seniors accounting for over $3 billion despite filing fewer reports than younger victims. The article emphasizes that anyone—regardless of age or financial literacy—can fall victim to these schemes and advises vigilance against unsolicited communications, suspicious links, and impersonations of
crosstimbersgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Bank of America outlines six common types of elder fraud targeting older Americans—including investment scams, unscrupulous billing practices, internet/phone fraud, high-pressure sales tactics, and fraudulent friendships—and notes that elder fraud remains vastly underreported due to victims' reluctance to admit they've been deceived. The article provides protective strategies for family members, such as verifying references, requiring written documentation, avoiding unsolicited financial transactions, and monitoring accounts for suspicious activity like unusual checks or ATM withdrawals. Bank of America recommends establishing open communication about finances and utilizing tools like designated trusted contact persons to help detect fraud early.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Penny Mashburn signed up for magazine subscriptions thinking she was supporting a school fundraiser, but the scam led to years of telemarketer harassment and charges that escalated from $39 to $199 per subscription across multiple companies, ultimately costing her much of her savings. Penny and her sister Nancy's investigation into the fraud helped expose a 20-year conspiracy that defrauded over 150,000 victims nationwide of millions of dollars, ultimately leading them to testify in federal court to help shut down the operation.
ketv.com
· 2025-12-08
**Type:** Publishers Clearing House Scam / Elder Fraud
**Victim:** Monty Thompson, Iowa resident
**Outcome:** Monty lost over $8,000 in two months and died by suicide on July 24th after being scammed.
Monty Thompson was targeted by offshore scammers claiming he had won millions of dollars and a Ford F-150 from Publishers Clearing House, but was required to pay taxes and fees upfront before receiving his prize. After losing over $8,000 and facing continued contact from the scammers (who called over 20 times), Monty took his own life. The Iowa Attorney
yubanet.com
· 2025-12-08
A 14-year-old Girl Scout created an awareness campaign for her Silver Award project after observing family members, friends, and community members fall victim to scams. She developed the SAVE tool (STOP, ASK, VERIFY, EXIT) to help people recognize and respond to scam attempts, along with educational materials like magnets, stickers, and a video demonstrating the technique.
missioncityrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. This appears to be a website homepage/navigation menu from a British Columbia news publication, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. To create a proper Elderus summary, please provide the actual text of an article related to fraud, scams, or elder abuse.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice distributed $18.5 million from forfeited Western Union funds to approximately 3,000 fraud victims, representing the sixth distribution under the Western Union Remission Fund. Through two phases, the fund has now distributed over $420 million to more than 175,000 victims who received full compensation for losses caused by fraud schemes that Western Union aided and abetted, including grandparent scams and lottery/sweepstakes schemes targeting seniors. Western Union agreed to forfeit $586 million total following a 2017 deferred prosecution agreement for violations including the Bank Secrecy Act and wire fraud facilitation.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Lethbridge, Alberta used AI voice-changing software to impersonate grandchildren in fraud calls, convincing victims to send money for emergencies; two men were arrested after allegedly collecting funds as local couriers for the scheme. The technology requires only a three-second audio clip from social media to recreate a victim's loved one's voice, making the scam more convincing and harder to detect than traditional grandparent schemes. Police note that organized criminals quickly adopt new technologies, and law enforcement struggles to keep pace with rapidly evolving cyber tools, though tracking financial transfers remains an effective investigative approach.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Approximately 3,000 international victims of fraud facilitated by Western Union will receive a second distribution of $18.5 million in reimbursements, bringing the total compensation to over $420 million for more than 175,000 victims since the fund's establishment. The frauds, stemming from a 2017 deferred prosecution agreement, involved grandparent scams, lottery/sweepstakes scams, and romance scams, with Western Union having agreed to forfeit $586 million total after acknowledging it aided and abetted these schemes through complicit employees who failed to prevent fraudster activity. The Justice Department anticipates additional distributions in the coming months as it works
propakistani.pk
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains how older adults are increasingly vulnerable to online scams due to limited digital literacy, despite the importance of staying connected. Key threats include phishing emails (targeting 42% of victims aged 69+), social media scams (27% of Gen X victims affected), and fake tech support schemes where scammers gain device access. The article emphasizes that building digital confidence and understanding common online risks is essential to empower seniors to protect themselves in an increasingly digital world.
bankrate.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers employ multiple tactics to steal credit card information, particularly capitalizing on economic changes like potential Federal Reserve rate cuts. Common scams include interest rate reduction schemes, student loan forgiveness offers, grandparent emergencies, and fake charity websites—all designed to pressure victims into providing payment information. To protect yourself, contact your lender or issuer directly rather than responding to unsolicited offers, verify website URLs carefully, and be skeptical of guaranteed results and limited-time offers.
miningjournal.net
· 2025-12-08
This article describes three common scams targeting elderly people: grandparent scams (where callers pose as distressed relatives or law enforcement to solicit wire transfers), IRS scams (where fraudsters impersonate tax agents to steal money or personal information), and sweepstakes scams (where victims are promised prizes to encourage purchases or payments). The article emphasizes that geographic location offers no protection against these schemes and advises seniors and their families to recognize warning signs such as urgent requests for wire transfers, threats of arrest, and demands for sensitive personal information.
1043wowcountry.com
· 2025-12-08
Law enforcement in North Central Washington is warning residents about three prevalent scams: fake prize claims (where a woman lost thousands after being told she won a truck), grandparent scams claiming a relative needs bail money, and jury duty scams threatening arrest for failure to report unless a fine is paid. Authorities advise victims to hang up immediately, avoid sharing personal information or sending money, and contact their local county court with any questions rather than engaging with callers.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Brandon Dean Guffey, 41, was convicted on four felony counts including elder abuse and theft for defrauding two Wichita residents in their 90s between 2020 and 2022 through a tree-trimming scam, stealing approximately $5,600 combined by altering checks and falsely claiming work remained unpaid. This is Guffey's second conviction for similar yard-work fraud targeting elderly victims with diminished cognitive capacity; he previously pleaded guilty to related crimes in 2014, including convincing an 86-year-old woman to pay $8,800 for a $400 job.
foxsportsradionewjersey.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman working in cybersecurity fell victim to an elaborate phone scam impersonating a Homeland Security officer who claimed she was involved in drug smuggling and threatened her with up to 9 years in prison, though she avoided revealing personal identifying information. The scammer obtained her phone number, home address, thirty-year address history, and banking information, leaving her vulnerable to follow-up fraud attempts; the article also warns that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and commonly target seniors and other vulnerable populations through impersonating government agencies like the IRS and Homeland Security.
keysnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A California financial advisor, Paul Horton Smith, was convicted in January for operating a $24 million Ponzi scheme called "Northstar" from 2000 to 2020, defrauding hundreds of elderly victims who believed they were investing in annuities or real estate. The case exemplifies a broader trend of rising elder fraud nationally, with FBI data showing a 14% increase in reported elder fraud cases in 2023 and losses exceeding $3 billion annually, exploited through scams ranging from fake prizes and romance schemes to AI-generated voice impersonations. Financial experts recommend victims verify advisor credentials through free tools like BrokerCheck and the IAPD
decripto.org
· 2025-12-08
Zikica Fiser, a 54-year-old man, was convicted of a sentimental scam targeting a 78-year-old dementia sufferer in Trieste, embezzling EUR 74,200 through false pretenses including impersonating a doctor and fabricating personal crises. The Court of Appeal upheld his sentence of two years and six months imprisonment and ordered him to pay EUR 106,000 in compensation, though no restitution has been made to date. The case was uncovered by the victim's niece and highlights the rising trend of romance scams in Italy, which increased 118% from 2020 and caused EUR 4
cantonrep.com
· 2025-12-08
Perry Township police held an educational session for approximately 80 seniors to warn about prevalent scams costing consumers over $10 billion annually in 2023. Detectives outlined multiple fraud schemes targeting seniors, including "pig butchering" (investment scams where one victim lost nearly $200,000), grandparent scams (one local case involved a $15,000 loss), AI voice cloning, Social Security benefit threats, and Facebook account hacking. Police emphasized warning signs such as pressure tactics, requests for non-credit card payments, and threats, while advising seniors to establish family passwords, verify callers independently, and never share personal information with unsolicited contacts.
the-review.com
· 2025-12-08
Perry Township police held an educational session for approximately 80 seniors to raise awareness about common scams targeting older adults, which cost consumers over $10 billion in 2023 according to the FTC. Police detectives outlined major fraud schemes including "pig butchering" (romance/investment scams where victims lose substantial sums), grandparent scams (fake bail requests), and Social Security benefit threats, with local examples showing losses ranging from $15,000 to nearly $200,000. The presentation covered warning signs of fraud and protective measures, such as establishing family passwords to combat AI voice impersonation and never sharing personal information with unsolicited callers.
pcpatriot.com
· 2025-12-08
Virginia State Police report an uptick in financial scams targeting older adults and vulnerable individuals, including anti-virus software scams (one victim lost $36,000), "grandparent scams" using AI voices to impersonate grandchildren in distress, and cryptocurrency fraud (one woman scammed out of $160,000 in Bitcoin). Police recommend independently verifying requests before responding, establishing a trusted "buddy system," and remembering that legitimate organizations never pressure payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
effinghamradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias issued a warning that scammers are using sophisticated AI technology, including voice cloning and deepfake videos, to fraudulently access personal information and financial accounts from Illinois residents. The alert highlights four prevalent scam types—deepfakes, romance scams, Ponzi schemes, and affinity scams—and recommends that prospective investors validate identities, verify licenses through BrokerCheck or Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, and avoid suspicious links and attachments.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
A grandmother received a deepfake voice call from a scammer impersonating her grandson claiming to be in jail and needing $10,000 for bail, but she verified the call was fake by contacting her grandson directly. The article outlines common scams targeting seniors—including grandparent scams, government impersonation, romance scams, and spoofing—and provides protective strategies such as verifying callers through known phone numbers, establishing family safe words, taking time to think despite pressure tactics, and using unique passwords with one-time passcodes.
whitehallledger.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes a voice-cloning scam where scammers impersonated a grandfather by mimicking his voice to request bank account information from family members, highlighting how scammers use increasingly sophisticated technology to target victims. The piece reports that Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023 and emphasizes that elderly people are frequently targeted, recommending protective measures such as slowing down before responding to urgent requests, being selective about who accesses financial information, and seeking help from certified financial planners to monitor accounts and recover from fraud.
farmers-exchange.net
· 2025-12-08
A 45-year law enforcement investigator specializing in financial crimes against seniors presented fraud prevention advice at an Elkhart County event, identifying seniors as prime targets due to their wealth ($35 trillion combined net worth for those 70+), isolation, and politeness. He outlined common scams including romance, grandparent impersonation, lottery fraud, and computer/payment account schemes, recommending seniors avoid clicking suspicious links, never trust unsolicited callers, watch for red flags like upfront payment demands, and verify references before hiring services. Dietz emphasized that billions of dollars are lost annually to scammers in the region, advising families to establish secret codes and remain vigilant against caller ID
liherald.com
· 2025-12-08
The Town of Oyster Bay partnered with the Nassau County District Attorney's office to combat scams targeting seniors, offering two educational seminars in September 2024 to teach residents about online threats and reporting procedures. According to the Federal Trade Commission, over $230 million was stolen from New Yorkers by scammers in 2024 alone, with seniors being particularly vulnerable to phone and email scams impersonating government agents, banks, or family members, as well as physical theft and technologically sophisticated attacks. The seminars address growing concerns about increasingly complex fraud schemes, including those using artificial intelligence to mimic voices, with some victims losing their entire life savings.
denver7.com
· 2025-12-08
The Wheat Ridge Police Department warned of a cryptocurrency extortion scam circulating through the community in which victims receive emails containing personal information (addresses, photos from Google Maps) and threats of blackmail involving fabricated malware and compromising videos, demanding cryptocurrency payment via Bitcoin QR code. None of the Wheat Ridge residents who received these emails fell victim to the scam, though police emphasized the importance of reporting such attempts to raise community awareness. The scam exploits urgency and fear through false claims, reflecting a broader national problem—Americans lost over $5.5 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, with Colorado reporting more than 1,300 fraud cases costing residents $81 million
courierpostonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Martins Inalegwu and Steincy Mathieu, a Burlington County couple, were sentenced to prison (80 months and 16 months respectively) for operating a romance scam that defrauded over 100 victims of approximately $4.5 million between 2016 and 2020. The scammers posed as romantic interests on dating websites, targeting vulnerable older adults and others, with one victim—a tourism board finance director—embezzling $2.8 million from her employer to send to the couple. Both defendants were ordered to pay millions in restitution and unpaid taxes.
knews.kathimerini.com.cy
· 2025-12-08
A criminal network of Roma individuals is defrauding elderly Greeks by impersonating utility company employees from DEI and OTE, often combining these scams with false claims that a family member has been in an accident to gain trust and steal money. A notable case involved a decorated police officer from Patras who stole €40,000 from an elderly victim, prompting Greek Police to launch a public awareness campaign warning seniors that utility workers do not enter homes beyond the meter and that unsolicited callers asking about household composition are likely scammers.
kaaltv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office warned of an increase in scams targeting senior citizens in North Iowa, where callers falsely claimed relatives had been arrested and needed bail money, then sent couriers to collect cash from victims' homes. A suspect was identified as a well-dressed Black male driving a dark-colored SUV with possible Minnesota plates, sometimes accompanied by an unknown female. Authorities advise seniors never to provide personal information or cash to unknown persons claiming to represent law enforcement.
kttc.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office warned of a "grandparent scam" targeting senior citizens in north Iowa, where scammers called victims claiming a relative had been arrested and needed cash for bail, then sent a courier to collect money from victims' homes. Authorities identified a suspect—a well-dressed Black man driving a black or dark-colored 4-door SUV with possible Minnesota plates, potentially accompanied by a woman—and urged seniors never to give cash or personal information to unknown persons and to report such contacts to law enforcement.
cadillacnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel met with over 70 senior citizens in Cadillac to educate them about emerging scams, including phishing, smishing, identity theft, grandparent scams, and "pig butchering" scams—a long-term fraud where perpetrators build false relationships with victims via social apps before stealing money or personal information. Nessel highlighted how artificial intelligence is increasingly being used by scammers to create personalized, convincing fraud schemes, including deepfake audio and video to impersonate family members, and directed residents to the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection website for scam information and alerts.