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in General Elder Fraud
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Abdou Diallo, a 36-year-old Canadian man, pleaded guilty to operating a $30 million telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted over 20,000 elderly and vulnerable victims between 2011 and 2020. Diallo falsely posed as a magazine cancellation representative and convinced victims to pay large lump sums under the pretense of canceling unwanted subscriptions and paying off balances, despite having no actual ability or authority to do so. He was charged with two counts of wire fraud and faces sentencing in June 2024.
fox9.com
· 2025-12-08
Abdou Diallo, co-owner of Canadian company Readers Services, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for operating a "piggyback" magazine cancellation scheme that defrauded over 20,000 elderly and vulnerable victims of more than $30 million between 2011 and 2020. The scheme targeted people already victimized by fraudulent magazine companies, with Diallo falsely posing as a cancellation agent to collect lump-sum payments for non-existent outstanding balances and subscription cancellations he had no ability to provide.
english.khabarhub.com
· 2025-12-08
Three individuals were arrested in Kathmandu for impersonating a senior police official by fraudulently using his photo on WhatsApp to threaten victims and extort money. The scammers defrauded victims of 1.3 million rupees through this impersonation scheme, and authorities are investigating the full scope of the fraudulent operation.
observer-review.com
· 2025-12-08
Schuyler County declared the week of March 3-9 as National Consumer Protection Week, with the County Office for the Aging and County Attorney distributing educational materials about scams, fraud, and identity theft to vulnerable residents. County officials highlighted that seniors are especially susceptible to scams, with the FTC reporting 5.2 million fraud reports totaling $8.8 billion in losses in 2022, with investment scam losses doubling year-over-year to $3.8 billion.
newjerseyhills.com
· 2025-12-08
Thirty-five seniors attended a Roseland Senior Society meeting on February 23 where local police leadership provided an educational presentation on recognizing and avoiding scams. Detective Sergeant Jason Hiter and Police Director Livio Cioffi discussed what to do if someone suspects or has experienced fraud, as well as prevention strategies.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old physician lost approximately Rs 3 lakh in a fake electricity bill scam after receiving a threatening message claiming to be from his electricity provider (BSES) warning of service disconnection. The scammer coerced him into paying Rs 10 for an "upgrade," then directed him to click a malicious link where he disclosed his debit card details. The article advises consumers to verify urgent bills directly with official provider contact information, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and remember that legitimate providers provide advance notice before disconnection.
wdio.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the Federal Trade Commission, older adults are increasingly targeted with scam calls and texts, with those aged 70 and older experiencing significantly higher median losses compared to younger adults, despite young adults reporting fraud losses more frequently. Experts recommend that older adults protect themselves by recognizing emotional manipulation tactics in messages (such as urgent language or threats), verifying sender identities, and having conversations about financial management, as awareness of scams helps reduce vulnerability. The Senior Linkage Line is offering free online classes on detecting and reporting Medicare fraud and healthcare scams targeting seniors.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
A TD survey found that 41% of young adult Canadians (ages 18-34) are more likely to be targeted by fraudsters on social media than older adults, with nearly 30% having fallen victim to financial fraud or scams through various channels including social media (43%), online ads (29%), and job applications (25%). Young adults are most concerned about job scams (19%), investment scams (15%), and cheque scams (12%), with 62% feeling vulnerable to fraud despite 60% taking steps to educate themselves about warning signs. Experts recommend learning to identify red flags, reporting incidents to banks and police, opting for electronic payments over cheques, and being suspicious
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Actor Jamie Dornan recounted on a podcast that Warren Beatty fell for an email phishing scam in which scammers had hacked actor Eddie Redmayne's email account and sent messages requesting cash from his contacts. Beatty reportedly responded positively to the fraudulent request, though it remains unconfirmed whether he actually sent money. The article notes that email and phishing scams target people of all ages, not just seniors.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting people with elaborate fraud schemes involving fake claims of suspicious account activity, pressuring victims to transfer money to "protect" their savings and requesting verification codes—tactics that result in significant financial losses. Key protective measures include never transferring money based on unsolicited calls, never sharing verification codes, independently verifying caller identity using official account statements, and reporting incidents to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, as banks typically do not reimburse funds lost to these scams.
delawarepublic.org
· 2025-12-08
The Delaware Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Unit is conducting outreach to educate the public about prevalent scams, with imposter scams (over 2,000 reports) and auto scams (about 1,250 reports) leading the prior year. The unit advises consumers to obtain vehicle history reports and independent inspections for auto purchases, and is targeting vulnerable populations including college students and older adults through campus visits and community centers to provide fraud prevention resources and information.
newsismybusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Puerto Rico's Cossec (Cooperatives Supervision & Insurance Corp.) launched financial education initiatives to help elderly residents recognize and avoid financial exploitation, emphasizing preventive measures such as protecting personal information, monitoring account activity, and contacting credit unions directly about suspicious transactions. The organization highlighted that credit unions have protocols in place to assist vulnerable elderly populations and stressed the importance of institutions complying with Puerto Rico's 2010 regulation (amended in 2022) requiring detection and prevention procedures for elder financial abuse. Exploitation cases involving elderly adults—perpetrated by family members, caregivers, financial advisers, or scammers—can result in significant financial losses and are addressed through institution notification requirements and law enforcement
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Josiah DeJesus, a 22-year-old from the Bronx, was sentenced to 80 months in prison for serving as the lead courier in a "grandparents" fraud scheme operating from the Dominican Republic from June to October 2020. The scam targeted elderly Americans nationwide by using phone calls from overseas co-conspirators posing as grandchildren or attorneys to convince victims their grandchildren had been arrested and needed immediate bail money, with DeJesus and his recruits collecting thousands of dollars from UPS and FedEx packages across Pennsylvania. DeJesus was ordered to pay $366,303.28 in restitution to victims.
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
During National Consumer Protection Week, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office highlighted the widespread problem of scams targeting seniors in the region, with authorities noting that dozens out of every 100 residents are affected rather than isolated cases. The Cuyahoga County Scam Squad is actively working to educate the community and prevent victimization through public awareness efforts. Residents can report scams in Cuyahoga County by calling the Scam Squad at 216-443-SCAM.
westnewsmagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
National Consumer Protection Week highlights the growing threat of scams, with the FTC reporting record losses of $10 billion in 2023, with older adults suffering the greatest financial losses. Scammers increasingly use sophisticated tactics including AI-generated deepfake voices and imposter schemes targeting seniors through phone, email, and social media, exploiting vulnerabilities related to health issues, cognitive decline, and isolation. The FTC recommends prevention strategies including blocking unwanted calls, never providing personal information to unsolicited requests, resisting pressure to act immediately, consulting trusted contacts before sharing information, and avoiding untraceable payment methods like gift cards, wire transfers, and cryptocurrency.
abcactionnews.com
· 2025-12-08
SAGES Theater, a nonprofit organization, is touring the Tampa Bay area with a play called "Phoney Baloney" featuring senior actors over 50 who recreate real-life scams targeting elderly people to raise awareness. The production aims to help seniors recognize and avoid common fraud schemes, with law enforcement present at each performance to answer audience questions. The free performances address the widespread problem of seniors losing millions of dollars daily to scams across America.
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
During National Consumer Protection Week, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office highlighted the widespread problem of scams targeting seniors, with officials noting that dozens out of every hundred residents are affected rather than just isolated cases. The Cuyahoga County Scam Squad is actively working to educate communities and prevent victimization, with residents encouraged to report suspected scams to the hotline at 216-443-SCAM.
housingwire.com
· 2025-12-08
A survey by Ipsos and HomeEquity Bank found that baby boomers are no more likely than other generations to fall victim to online fraud and are actually more vigilant about online safety, yet two-thirds of Canadians incorrectly perceive seniors as most vulnerable to scams. FTC data on U.S. fraud reports shows that while younger adults (ages 20-29) report losing money more frequently, seniors aged 70 and older experience significantly higher median losses when victimized, with the 80-and-over group reporting the largest dollar amounts despite having the lowest reported fraud rate overall.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Susan Guthrie, a 76-year-old widow from Arizona, lost her entire life savings of $25,000 to a tech support scam in February when fraudsters posing as Microsoft employees convinced her that her computer had been hacked and instructed her to transfer money to them via Bitcoin ATM for safekeeping. Despite initial resistance to believing she'd been scammed, Guthrie was finally convinced of the fraud when her bank manager confirmed the funds were gone; however, authorities were unable to recover the money. A GoFundMe campaign subsequently raised over $27,700 for Guthrie, preventing her from financial destitution.
someecards.com
· 2025-12-08
This Reddit post describes a man's relationship crisis after his girlfriend lost $14,500 to a cryptocurrency giveaway scam on Twitter, with the funds coming from savings contributed by him and her parents. The girlfriend, who has a pattern of falling for fraudulent schemes including fake supplements and phishing sites, believed a 12-hour-old Twitter account would deliver 50 bitcoins and initially thought the transaction was on hold rather than recognizing the theft. The post sparked comments from others sharing similar experiences with vulnerable family members (a father who lost $34,000 to a romance/investment scam, an ex who provided banking and Social Security information to scammers), highlighting how susceptibility to fraud can
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworkel announced a proposed directive to examine AI's role in scam calls targeting elderly consumers, to be presented at the November 15 commission meeting. The proposal would research generative AI's strengths and weaknesses, its use in consumer scams, and its potential role in enforcing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. This initiative responds to significant increases in elder fraud losses, which grew from $343 million to $1.685 billion between 2017 and 2021, with experts warning that AI-generated voice scams pose an emerging threat requiring regulation, education, and enforcement efforts.
vancouver.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in Kelowna was targeted in a grandparent scam on February 9, 2024, when a caller impersonating "Sgt. Ashley Olsen" claimed her grandson had been arrested and demanded an immediate bond payment. The senior withdrew a large sum of money that was collected by a female suspect in her building's lobby, and received a follow-up call requesting additional funds, but a bank employee recognized the fraud and prevented further withdrawal. Police are seeking a woman described as 23-30 years old with long dark hair and specific clothing, and are reminding the public to verify such claims directly with family members.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
This educational overview describes the federal government's approach to addressing financial scams targeting older adults, including common fraud schemes, victim assistance programs, and collaborative enforcement efforts between federal and state agencies through task forces and working groups designed to combat these crimes.
wwmt.com
· 2025-12-08
West Michigan seniors attended a Better Business Bureau educational session at Portage Senior Center to learn fraud prevention tactics, including how to identify online shopping scams, identity theft schemes, and other common scams targeting older adults. The presentation included real-life examples and resources to help participants recognize and avoid scams, with one attendee noting she nearly fell victim to a scam requesting personal numbers before recognizing the warning signs.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
"Slam the Scam Day," designated by the Social Security Administration for March 7, aims to raise awareness among seniors and families about the wide variety of online frauds targeting older Americans, including romance, investment, phishing, and fake government agency scams. According to the FBI's Internet Elder Fraud Report, seniors lost over $3.1 billion to scammers in 2022—an 84 percent increase from 2021—though this represents only a fraction of actual losses since most victims do not report incidents. The article emphasizes that seniors are particularly vulnerable due to limited online literacy, social isolation, substantial savings, and good credit scores, and provides key warning signs and protective measures such
welivesecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, seniors over 60 reported $3.1 billion in cybercrime losses to the FBI across 88,262 incidents, representing an 82% year-on-year increase, though many cases remain unreported. Digital fraudsters increasingly target senior citizens, believing they have more savings but less digital awareness to recognize scams. Common schemes include phishing, romance scams ($734 million in 2022), Medicare impersonation, tech support fraud, online shopping scams, robocalls, government impersonation ($1 billion in combined losses in 2022), and lottery fraud.
boston.com
· 2025-12-08
Boston police warn of increased home improvement scams targeting residents as spring weather approaches, often perpetrated by international travelers offering cheap initial quotes before claiming additional damage requiring thousands in repairs. Massachusetts residents lost nearly $30,000 to these scams in 2021, with seniors particularly targeted; scammers typically use generic business names, lack proper licensing, and operate without city permits. Homeowners should obtain multiple estimates from verified contractors and report suspected scams to local police with detailed information about the perpetrators.
wbay.com
· 2025-12-08
According to a Better Business Bureau report on the riskiest scams, investment scams (including cryptocurrency schemes) and employment scams result in the largest monetary losses, with investment scams having a median loss of $3,800 and over 80% of victims experiencing financial loss, while employment scams averaged $1,995 in losses and saw a 54% increase in reports from 2022. Online scams account for 68% of all fraud reports and are more likely to result in monetary loss than in-person or phone scams, though online shopping scams have dropped from the top positions for the first time since 2019.
fcpdnews.wordpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Fairfax County police reported over a dozen cryptocurrency ATM scams since early 2024, with victims losing between $3,000 and $31,100 per incident. Scammers impersonated law enforcement, banks, and government agencies via phone calls to pressure victims into depositing money into Bitcoin ATMs or purchasing gift cards. The Fairfax County Police Department advises seniors to hang up on unsolicited calls, verify caller identities through official contact information, and consult trusted family members before making financial decisions involving unfamiliar technologies or large sums.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Fairfax County Police Department reported over a dozen cryptocurrency fraud cases since January totaling more than $150,000, with individual losses ranging from $3,000 to $31,100. Scammers impersonated law enforcement, banks, and government agencies via phone calls and emails to trick victims—often elderly—into depositing money into cryptocurrency ATMs. Police recommend verifying caller identity through official channels, consulting family before transferring large sums, and noting that legitimate law enforcement never requests payment by phone or crypto.
news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 96-year-old widow in Montecito, California was murdered in May 2022 as part of a murder-for-hire scheme orchestrated by Pauline Macareno, a real estate fraudster who had previously targeted the victim in a property title scheme involving her $5+ million home. Authorities arrested Macareno and three men—Henry Rostomyan, Ricardo Martin Del Campo, and Harry Basmadjian—who allegedly carried out the home invasion killing; Macareno, facing elder fraud charges, grew impatient waiting for the victim to die naturally and allegedly orchestrated the murder to accelerate her access to the victim's assets
webcenterfairbanks.com
· 2025-12-08
In February 2024, an Alaska Superior Court judge ordered a retrial in a 2022 felony fraud case against 66-year-old Vickie Moyle and her 47-year-old daughter Annie Williams, who were convicted of defrauding elderly Mae Jensen out of her home through a bad real estate deal in 2019. The retrial was granted because the court improperly allowed character testimony about the defendants' truthfulness despite the women never testifying, violating evidence rules. The original conviction involved charges of scheme to defraud and theft valued at $10,000 and $25,000 respectively, with the defendants accused of exploiting Jensen's lack of knowledge about unc
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI Cleveland are warning about a sophisticated scam targeting Northeast Ohio residents where fraudsters send fake court documents via email, mail, text, or pop-ups claiming victims are being investigated for PPP fraud and must pay cryptocurrency to lift an arrest warrant. The scam combines government impersonation with tech-support fraud tactics, with criminals also posing as law enforcement or federal agencies to pressure victims into sending money, and authorities urge the public to verify communications directly with official agency phone numbers and report suspected scams to the FBI at ic3.gov or the National Elder Fraud Hotline.
jewishlink.news
· 2025-12-08
Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey is hosting a "Senior Scam Prevention" educational program on March 20 at the Lavy House in Westfield, presented by Officer Victoria Smith of the Union County Sheriff's Office. The community event aims to educate attendees of all ages about scams targeting seniors, with light refreshments provided and free registration available by contacting the organization.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
National "Slam the Scam" Day highlights government imposter scams, the most prevalent consumer fraud type in 2023, which caused $2.7 billion in losses. Scammers impersonate Social Security officials via phone, text, and email to pressure victims into sending cash or gift cards by threatening arrest or promising benefit increases. Real government officials never threaten arrest for payment or request money transfers, and suspicious activity should be reported to the Social Security Administration or Federal Trade Commission.
nbcbayarea.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in El Granada, California was victimized by a phishing scam in which she received a fraudulent email impersonating a money exchange company, instructed her to withdraw cash, and met with a courier who took her money and fled. The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is seeking an Asian male suspect, approximately 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, last seen wearing a blue sweatshirt and dark pants, and urges the public to avoid sharing banking information with unsolicited online or phone contacts requesting money.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors in Sun City Lincoln Hills, Placer County, are being targeted in a jewelry theft scam where thieves posing as tourists request directions, then swap victims' jewelry for fake replacements in seconds. Between July 2023 and March 2024, multiple thefts occurred in the community, including one victim's gold family heirloom necklace; Lincoln Police Department is investigating what they believe is an organized network of thieves operating in the area.
elkhornmediagroup.com
· 2025-12-08
Eastern Oregon is experiencing an uptick in scams targeting older adults and tech-illiterate individuals, with scammers increasingly impersonating law enforcement, the IRS, banks, and retailers to create panic and pressure victims into sending money or revealing personal information. According to Kai Nichols, an Older Adult Behavioral Specialist, these scams are becoming more sophisticated and widespread, with common tactics including phone calls claiming legal action, account compromises, or utility shutoffs, as well as fraudulent links and voice-sampling schemes. Residents are advised never to rely on caller ID, to resist being rushed, and to remember that legitimate law enforcement and the IRS do not demand immediate payment over the phone
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cleveland FBI identified the "phantom hacker" scam as the top fraud targeting senior citizens in 2023, which operates in three phases: scammers contact victims claiming hackers have infiltrated their computers, trick them into installing remote access software, and then impersonate bank representatives to convince victims to transfer money to fake "secure" accounts. Federal authorities warn consumers never to share personal or financial information over phone or email and to report all scam attempts immediately, even if no money was lost, to help track perpetrators and recover funds.
ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission will hold an online meeting of the Scams Against Older Adults Advisory Group on April 2, 2024, to review progress from four committees focused on consumer education, industry training, scam detection technology, and effective messaging to prevent elder fraud. The advisory group, established under the Stop Senior Scams Act of 2022, comprises representatives from government agencies, advocacy organizations, and private industry working collaboratively to combat scams targeting older adults. The public webcast begins at 2 p.m. Eastern Time and will be available on ftc.gov without registration required.
abc15.com
· 2025-12-08
During National Consumer Protection Week, authorities highlighted impostor scams as one of the most prevalent fraud schemes affecting Americans, who lost $10 billion to scammers in 2023. Impostor scams take multiple forms—including fraudsters posing as law enforcement demanding payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency to avoid arrest, and romance scams that exploit emotional connections to persuade victims to invest in cryptocurrency, often resulting in losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Key prevention advice includes: never send money to unknown callers, hang up and verify identities independently, and avoid gift cards or cryptocurrency transfers, as legitimate agencies and organizations will never request payment through these non-traditional methods.
blog.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Social Security Administration and its Office of Inspector General held their fifth annual "Slam the Scam" Day on March 7 to raise awareness about Social Security imposter scams, which remain among the most commonly reported government fraud schemes. Scammers use sophisticated tactics including spoofed caller IDs, fake documents, and threats of arrest to trick victims into sending cash, gift cards, or wire transfers or disclosing personal information. The agencies emphasized that Social Security will never demand immediate payment, threaten arrest, or request credit card numbers, and urged the public to report scam attempts to oig.ssa.gov.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines major fraud trends affecting consumers in 2024, noting that fraud losses exceeded $10 billion in 2023 with a 14% increase year-over-year. It describes five prevalent scam types targeting older adults: grandparent scams (impersonating distressed relatives), romance scams (building false relationships to extract money), SIM swap scams (hijacking phone numbers to access financial accounts), investment scams (promoting unrealistic opportunities with high-pressure tactics), and mail theft scams (stealing personal information from physical mail). The article provides practical prevention strategies including using family code words, conducting background checks, enabling voice authentication with banks, avoiding unsolicite
english.kyodonews.net
· 2025-12-08
Investment and romance scams conducted via social media in Japan surged dramatically in 2023, with investment scam cases jumping from 204 in July 2023 to 369 by December, causing 27.79 billion yen ($187 million) in total damage. Romance scams nearly doubled throughout the year (88 cases in January to 170 in December), resulting in 17.73 billion yen in losses, with over 72 percent of romance scam victims being induced to invest money to maintain the relationship. Victims were predominantly men in their 50s-60s and women in their 40s-50s, with scammers
akron.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams targeting elders are at an all-time high, with victims losing $1.3 billion in 2022 alone—more than double the previous year. Scammers create fake profiles on dating and social media platforms to build trust with victims, then request money for emergencies or investments, often demanding untraceable payment methods like cryptocurrency or gift cards, and may also extort victims with intimate photos. The article recommends protecting oneself by consulting trusted friends before sending money, requesting video chats, using reverse image searches to verify identities, and reporting suspected fraud to the FTC and FBI.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparent scam" has stolen millions from elderly Americans by impersonating a grandchild's lawyer or bail bondsman, falsely claiming the grandchild is in legal trouble or an accident out of state and demanding urgent payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. In 2021, over 92,000 older fraud victims lost $1.7 billion, with scammers exploiting fear and urgency by calling at odd hours. Law enforcement recommends not answering calls from unknown numbers, hanging up without engaging, and calling family members directly to verify—while noting that emerging AI voice-cloning technology makes these scams increasingly difficult to detect.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michael Watts, a 68-year-old former registered broker, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for participating in a securities fraud and market manipulation scheme involving Hydrocarb Energy Corp. and other companies from 2014 to 2016. Operating from a boiler room in Melville, New York, Watts and his co-conspirators used high-pressure cold calls and lies to defraud vulnerable investors, particularly seniors on fixed incomes, inflating the stock price by over $147 million and personally dumping over $2 million in shares before the company's 2016 bankruptcy. The court ordered Watts to pay $560,000 in forfeiture and $4.
fcpdnews.wordpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Bank imposter scams, ranked by the FTC as the top scam of 2022, involve fraudsters posing as banks via unsolicited calls or texts to request personal and banking information, with a median reported loss of $3,000 from 2019-2022. The Fairfax County Police Department advises against sharing financial information with unsolicited callers, recommends independently verifying bank contact information through official channels, and warns that legitimate institutions never request payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or remote computer access.
sandiegomagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
This content is not relevant to the Elderus elder fraud database. The article is promotional material for San Diego Magazine about events and brand enhancement, containing no information about scams, fraud, elder abuse, or related safety concerns. No summary is applicable.
nbcmiami.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans aged 60 and older lost $3.1 billion to cyberfraud in 2022, with over 88,000 victims experiencing an average loss of $35,101 per person, according to FBI data. Elder fraud is escalating through sophisticated schemes including phishing and impersonation scams that exploit older adults' loneliness, social isolation, and cognitive decline, with women disproportionately affected due to demographic factors. Warning signs include suspicious emails with misspellings, vague signatures, urgent language, requests for personal information, and out-of-character behavior from purported family members.