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waff.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reports that seniors over 60 are prime targets for fraud, with Alabama residents in this age group losing over $33 million to scams. Elder fraud complaints increased 14% in 2023, with tech scams, personal data breaches, and romance scams—particularly the "grandparent scam"—leading the way, as scammers increasingly use urgency and fear tactics to pressure victims into sending money or revealing sensitive information. Experts recommend that seniors and their family members hang up immediately when pressured for banking information, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, as these are hallmarks of fraud.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial exploitation of elders increased 14% over the past year according to the FBI, with tech support scams, data breaches, romance scams, and investment fraud being the most commonly reported types among those over 60. While public education programs have long warned seniors about these risks, the article argues that awareness campaigns targeting elders alone are insufficient, as early-stage cognitive decline—particularly loss of financial judgment—often goes unrecognized by the affected individuals themselves. The authors recommend that families take a more active role in monitoring aging relatives' finances and spending, especially for those spending significant time online, rather than relying solely on elder-directed fraud prevention education.
consumerfinancemonitor.com
· 2025-12-08
FinCEN's 2023 Financial Trend Analysis examined 155,415 Bank Secrecy Act filings reporting approximately $27 billion in elder financial exploitation (EFE) between June 2022 and June 2023, with scams accounting for 80% of reports and theft for 20%, where family members—particularly children—perpetrated 40% of theft cases. The analysis found that perpetrators primarily use unsophisticated methods avoiding direct contact with financial institutions, such as account takeover (22% of scams), tech support scams (10%), and romance scams (9%), with funds typically transferred via checks, wires, and online transfers, averaging
wlos.com
· 2025-12-08
According to an FBI report, elder fraud complaints increased 14% in 2023, with victims aged 60 and over reporting over 101,000 incidents and suffering approximately $3.4 billion in total losses (averaging $33,915 per victim). Tech support scams were the most common type, while investment scams proved costliest at over $1.2 billion, with criminals increasingly using cryptocurrency to facilitate fraud. Local authorities emphasize that victims should verify payment requests directly with companies before sending money to prevent falling victim to these scams.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational overview of online fraud tactics, particularly on social media platforms. In 2024, 70% of authorized push payment (APP) fraud originated online, with criminals impersonating legitimate businesses, charities, or loved ones to manipulate victims into sending money through fake profiles and targeted ads. The UK introduced new consumer protections in October 2024, including up to £85,000 reimbursement coverage and a five-day claims process, as social media's anonymity, ease of account creation, and access to personal information make it an ideal environment for fraudsters to operate at scale.
wthr.com
· 2025-12-08
An FBI report found that scammers stole $3.4 billion from people over 60 in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year, with tech scams, data breach scams, and romance/confidence scams being the most common. Key prevention strategies include ignoring suspicious fraud alerts and calling card numbers directly, verifying data breach notifications through official mail channels, freezing credit with major bureaus, and being alert to scams that create urgency or demand immediate action. Educating older adults about these tactics is critical to preventing them from losing retirement savings or Social Security benefits.
nbcwashington.com
· 2025-12-08
A man posing as a federal agent was arrested in Montgomery County after attempting to con a senior citizen into converting approximately $230,000 in retirement savings into gold bars; the scam was thwarted when a friend intervened and convinced the victim to contact police before the handover. The suspect, identified as Ravinkle Mathon, was apprehended during a staged pickup where he received a decoy box filled with tools instead of gold bars. Authorities report this con has victimized over a dozen Montgomery County seniors in the past year and warn that legitimate law enforcement will never request cash-to-gold conversions.
indystar.com
· 2025-12-08
Indiana seniors over 60 reported $26.5 million in financial losses across approximately 1,170 fraud cases in 2023, driven primarily by investment schemes ($12 million), tech support fraud ($8.9 million), and romance scams. Nationally, seniors suffered over $3.4 billion in losses—an 11% increase from 2022—with tech support fraud being the most commonly reported crime type and investment scams proving the costliest. The FBI released this data to educate the public and prevent further victimization, noting that some victims have taken extreme measures such as remortgaging homes and depleting retirement accounts to cover losses.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Tennesseans over age 60 lost $43 million to scams in 2023, representing an 18% increase from 2022, with tech support fraud being the most common scheme and investment scams causing the largest financial losses at nearly $15 million. Nationally, elderly victims reported over $3.4 billion in losses across 101,068 complaints, reflecting a 14% increase in elder fraud, with romance scams and data breaches also significantly affecting seniors in Tennessee.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A romance scam targeting women used stolen photos of Sigi Fink, an Austrian weatherman, to impersonate an attractive man on Instagram; the actual scammer admitted to being a 26-year-old Nigerian using the stolen images to prey on women. Additionally, Loblaw reported $13.58 billion in Q1 revenue with a 9.8% profit increase, prompting a consumer boycott on Reddit over high grocery prices, with the retailer responding that it is working to combat inflation.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Rental fraud has surged nationwide since the pandemic, with 93% of major apartment owners and managers reporting fraud in the past year, often involving individuals using false identities for criminal purposes such as drug dealing, property destruction, or sex trafficking. These fraudulent activities drive up rents for honest tenants, reduce affordable housing stock, and create safety concerns for residents and staff; small landlords are particularly vulnerable to losses they cannot absorb. The epidemic is partly attributed to pandemic-era eviction moratoriums that emboldened fraudsters, with fraudulent applications doubling from 15% to 29% between February and August 2020.
mainepublic.org
· 2025-12-08
According to the FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report, losses reported by victims over age 60 reached $3.4 billion (up 11% from 2022), with Maine alone reporting nearly 400 complaints totaling over $7 million. The most common scams targeting seniors involve home construction, impersonation of family or government, and appliance or auto sales, with victims targeted for their savings, good credit, and trusting nature. Maine's Attorney General recommends protecting oneself by researching contractors, limiting personal information on social media, freezing credit reports with all three agencies, and promptly reporting scams to law enforcement and banks to prevent fund transfers.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns that tech support fraud is the most commonly reported scam targeting seniors nationwide, where scammers pose as tech representatives to access sensitive information, though investment scams caused the greatest financial harm with over $50 million in reported losses last year. To protect themselves, seniors should avoid unsolicited contacts, never open attachments from unknown sources, resist pressure to act quickly, and never share personal information or money with unverified people.
crosstimbersgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $10 billion to scams and fraud in 2023, with the FTC receiving 2.6 million fraud reports including 1 million identity theft cases. Common scam types include gift card fraud, romance scams, and phishing attacks, with losses occurring primarily through bank transfers and cryptocurrency, often initiated via email, phone, or social media. The article recommends monitoring financial accounts regularly, never allowing remote computer access to unvetted parties, and immediately contacting your bank if suspicious charges appear.
westerniowatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
An FBI report found that over 100,000 Americans aged 60 and older lost an average of $34,000 each to computer money scams in 2023, totaling more than $3.4 billion—an 11% increase from the previous year. Tech support scams were the most common fraud type, followed by data breaches, romance scams, non-payment schemes, and investment fraud, with over 12,000 victims reporting cryptocurrency was used to facilitate their scams.
levittownnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Bucks County authorities held an educational event for Bristol Township seniors to address rising scam and fraud targeting the community. Officials warned about common schemes including mailbox theft, check washing, tech support scams, and fraudulent text messages impersonating the IRS or retailers, with victims in the area losing up to $250,000; they recommended using credit cards over debit cards, gel pens for checks, and prompt reporting of suspicious activity to law enforcement.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational piece about common banking scams in 2024, reporting that consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023. It describes seven prevalent scams—including fake bank websites, malicious apps, phishing communications, check washing, check overpayment schemes, money transfer fraud, and account takeover attacks—and provides protective measures for each, such as verifying bank legitimacy through official channels, downloading only reputable apps, and monitoring bank statements regularly.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
A Fremont man, Ronald Anthony Silveria, was convicted in 2024 of robbing and assaulting a victim he met on the Grindr dating app in September 2022. Silveria lured the victim to a San Francisco motel, where he pulled a gun, restrained the victim, demanded passwords and $400 at gunpoint, then abandoned him in Emeryville with all his belongings (phone, iPad, wallet) stolen. Silveria faces 12 years in state prison following his conviction on charges including first-degree robbery, identity theft, and assault.
spectrumnews1.com
· 2025-12-08
Following the March 14 tornadoes that affected 11 Ohio counties and killed three people, FEMA warned disaster victims to be vigilant against post-disaster scams, particularly fraudulent applications where scammers pose as FEMA inspectors or request personal financial information. FEMA emphasized that legitimate federal disaster workers never request money or banking details, and victims should verify worker identification, avoid providing personal information to unverified callers, and report suspected fraud to local authorities or FEMA's fraud hotline (866-223-0814).
marcumllp.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's 2023 IC3 Elder Fraud Annual Report shows that fraud targeting individuals over age 60 is increasing significantly, with this age group reporting $3.4 billion in losses—an 11% increase from 2022 and more than all other age groups combined. The 101,068 complaints filed by seniors represented a 14% year-over-year increase, with tech support fraud, personal data breaches, and romance scams being the most common crimes, while investment fraud produced the highest individual losses and increased over 400% in two years. The report emphasizes that actual fraud figures are likely higher than reported, as many elderly victims fail to report crimes due to embarrass
readthereporter.com
· 2025-12-08
American Senior Communities and the Indiana Attorney General's Office are hosting free educational sessions to help seniors recognize and avoid scams, with a session scheduled for May 9 in Indianapolis. The presentation will cover common fraud tactics (such as grandparent scams, romance fraud, and fake investment schemes) that cost seniors over $5.9 billion annually, and will provide guidance on identifying scams, recovery steps, and how to report fraud.
themonroetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
First National Bank and Trust is alerting the public to a growing Bank Imposter Scam in which fraudsters send fake text messages mimicking the bank, then call victims impersonating bank employees to trick them into revealing banking information or transferring money. The bank emphasizes that legitimate banks never request passwords, PINs, or ask customers to transfer money for "protection," and is hosting fraud prevention seminars at senior centers in Beloit and Janesville to educate the public on identifying and combating fraud.
mariettatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
The Marietta Police Department and Washington County Sheriff's Office warned residents of impostor scams in which callers falsely claimed to be officers from these agencies, using spoofed phone numbers and real officers' names. The scammers told victims they had warrants or legal matters (such as identity theft or drug-related charges) and requested financial information or money over the phone. Law enforcement officials emphasized that legitimate agencies never request money, financial details, or conduct official business by phone, and advised residents to hang up and call their local department directly to verify any caller's authenticity.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
More than 800,000 people across Europe and the US were defrauded by a sophisticated network of approximately 76,000 fake online designer shops operated from China, with victims sharing credit card details, security codes, and personal information while attempting to purchase discounted goods from brands like Dior, Nike, and Prada. The organized operation, which began in 2015 and processed over 1 million orders in the past three years, attempted to collect as much as €50 million, though most consumers received no items; approximately 22,500 shops remain active. Security experts warn that the harvested personal data could be used for future phishing attacks, identity theft, and potentially
securitymagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
"Selfie spoofing" scams, in which fraudsters use victims' social media photos to authenticate stolen identities and open fraudulent accounts, accounted for 20% of identification document fraud in 2023 and are rapidly increasing. Senior citizens aged 50 and above are disproportionately targeted, comprising approximately 49% of victims and being four times more likely to experience such fraud, due to factors including greater accumulated assets and lower technological literacy.
theamericangenius.com
· 2025-12-08
**Title:** Elder Fraud Report 2023: FBI Data on Senior Scams
The FBI's Elder Fraud Report 2023 documents $3.43 billion in losses from 101,068 seniors over 60, averaging $33,915 per victim with an 11% increase from 2022—though actual figures likely exceed these numbers due to underreporting. Tech and customer support scams were most common, while investment scams caused the largest losses at $1.2 billion, with romance, identity theft, and personal data breach scams also prevalent in the top five. Protection strategies include avoiding suspicious links and ads, using only legitimate company websites for contact information
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple Facebook users had their accounts hacked and exploited to post fake Taylor Swift ticket scams, defrauding friends of hundreds of pounds each; Lloyds Bank estimated British fans lost £1 million in ticket scams, with 90% originating on Facebook. Users reported that Facebook failed to respond to numerous reports of the hacks and scam posts, leaving victims feeling powerless, though the platform eventually removed accounts after BBC contact. The scammers used sophisticated tactics including AI-generated posts and blocked warning comments from legitimate account holders.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
In May 2024, Dolapo Lawal, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to access device fraud and aggravated identity theft for orchestrating a stolen identity tax refund scheme targeting elderly victims. Lawal fraudulently obtained over $3 million in tax refunds using elderly victims' identities, loaded the funds onto debit cards opened in their names, and withdrew more than $80,000 in cash at ATMs for personal use, including payments on his Mercedes and credit card debt. Law enforcement recovered approximately 24 fraudulent debit cards with $200,000 in stolen refunds during an April 2022 traffic stop, and later discovere
thecyberwire.com
· 2025-12-08
This podcast episode discusses job board scams and social engineering tactics targeting job seekers. The hosts highlight techniques scammers use to impersonate legitimate companies and government agencies, including spoofed phone numbers and vague claims about background investigations, and emphasize the importance of verifying caller information independently rather than calling back suspicious numbers directly.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a BuzzFeed Community call for submissions from people who have experienced various types of scams, including Facebook ticket fraud, romance scams, sextortion, and impersonation schemes where scammers pose as friends or use fake identities to extract money or personal information. The article aims to collect real-life scam stories to raise awareness and help others avoid similar situations.
bobsullivan.net
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are sending fraudulent text messages to drivers claiming unpaid tolls (typically $12-$13) and threatening $50 late fees, directing victims to fake toll authority websites to steal personal and financial information. The FBI received 2,000 complaints from three states by April, expanding to 12 states by May, with Florida authorities issuing a crackdown due to the state's 700 miles of toll roads. Authorities advise recipients to independently verify toll claims through official channels rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages.
marketplace.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational episode of "Marketplace Tech" examines how financial scams work and how to identify them, featuring the experience of Shannon from Minnesota who lost over $80,000 to an impersonation scam. A scammer posing as a sheriff's deputy falsely claimed Shannon missed a federal court appearance and threatened jail time, extracting multiple "bail bond" payments totaling $80,000 through threats and false legal information. The episode explains that scammers use phone number spoofing technology to impersonate legitimate officials and conduct research on targets to create convincing scripts that lend authenticity to their schemes.
ktvq.com
· 2025-12-08
Montanans lost $21.1 million to fraud in 2023, a 24% increase from 2022, with impostor scams and identity theft being the primary culprits. A new jury duty scam variant is proliferating in Montana, where scammers impersonate sheriff's deputies demanding $3,000 for missed jury duty, then direct victims to Coinstar machines to transfer funds; victims range from their 20s to 80s, though younger people are increasingly targeted due to their responsiveness to phone-based communications and social media. Experts advise ignoring suspicious calls, texts, and emails, as scammers continuously evolve their
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
Dolapo Lawal of Baltimore pleaded guilty to access device fraud and aggravated identity theft for operating a stolen identity tax refund scheme that defrauded elderly victims of over $3 million. Lawal obtained fraudulent tax refunds using victims' identities, loaded them onto debit cards opened in the victims' names, and withdrew the funds in cash for personal use; law enforcement recovered 24 fraudulent debit cards and over $80,000 in cash from his vehicle in April 2022, and found over 300 additional debit cards during a June 2023 search warrant of his home. Lawal faces a maximum of 10 years in
royalexaminer.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security scams caused approximately $3 billion in losses to beneficiaries in 2022, representing an 84% increase from the previous year, according to the FBI. Common schemes include impersonation calls from fake SSA employees, demands for immediate payment under false pretenses, and claims that Social Security numbers have been suspended. The SSA advises people to hang up on suspicious callers, verify claims through official channels, and report fraudulent activity to the SSA fraud hotline at 800-269-0271.
mymotherlode.com
· 2025-12-08
Canada experiences significant fraud across multiple schemes, including identity theft, phone scams impersonating government officials, and mortgage fraud, with Canadian authorities estimating over $30 million lost since 2014 from RCMP impersonation and tech support scams combined. A survey found 34 percent of Canadians have experienced at least one type of fraud, with experts recommending protective measures such as creating unique passwords, screening calls, shredding personal documents, and using licensed professionals for financial transactions. Mortgage fraud has risen dramatically in Canada due to vulnerabilities in the borrowing process that rely heavily on borrower-provided information, making it easy for fraudsters to submit false details about income, employment, or
manchesterjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece explains how romance and relationship scams differ from other crimes and why victims often experience shame rather than sympathy. Scammers target lonely or grieving individuals through social media, slowly building trust over time before repeatedly requesting money for fabricated emergencies or personal crises—making these scams more psychologically damaging than single-incident crimes like robbery. The article advises early intervention by trusted third parties and provides resources including the AARP Consumer Hotline (877-908-3360) for victims seeking help.
cybersecuritynews.com
· 2025-12-08
AhnLab's Mobile Analysis Team uncovered sophisticated romance scams that manipulate victims into investing in cryptocurrency through fake exchanges like "CoinB," which fraudsters falsely associate with legitimate platforms like Coinbase. Scammers use social media to build trust with victims over time, then direct them to fake cryptocurrency apps designed to steal financial information and enable identity theft. The scams exploit language barriers and global reach through translation features in messaging apps, making prevention dependent on verifying exchange legitimacy, avoiding pressure to invest quickly, and maintaining skepticism of unsolicited investment opportunities.
publicnewsservice.org
· 2025-12-08
A California man was sentenced to four years in prison for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded two elderly Arizona women of hundreds of thousands of dollars. AARP Arizona warns that romance scammers exploit desires for companionship through dating apps and other platforms, with warning signs including premature declarations of love, requests for money, and broken promises to meet in person. Victims should avoid sending money to online contacts, be aware that advancing AI technology makes scams more convincing, and contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network (1-877-908-3360 or AARP.org/fraudwatchnetwork) for free assistance.
highlandcountypress.com
· 2025-12-08
Brenda Cowden, 55, a senior service provider employee in Hamilton County, was indicted on 10 felony charges for allegedly defrauding a 79-year-old isolated victim by befriending her, obtaining a fraudulent Power of Attorney, and stealing $13,600 while gaining control over $1 million of the victim's assets through unauthorized account modifications. The fraud was discovered when credit union investigators froze the accounts, preventing Cowden from inheriting the victim's entire estate upon her death. Cowden faces up to 61 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 45-year-old woman in Bengaluru lost Rs 18 lakh after receiving a fraudulent scratch card posing as a Meesho e-commerce promotion, which claimed she had won Rs 15.51 lakh. The scammers then convinced her to pay 30% in taxes via multiple RTGS transfers between February and May 2024, exploiting her trust before ceasing communication. The victim filed a police complaint, and a case was registered under IT Act and IPC sections for identity theft and cheating by personation.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
An AARP article details election-related scams targeting voters, using a real incident where a fraud expert was approached by a scammer posing as a voter registration volunteer at a Christmas tree lot in Austin, Texas. The article explains that scammers use fake voter registration forms via phishing links, malicious apps, and in-person deception to steal personal data such as Social Security numbers, passwords, and payment information. The piece advises voters to register only through official government channels (online at government websites, by mail, or in person at election offices) and to avoid clicking unsolicited links or downloading apps from unofficial sources.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
The Narragansett Police Department is hosting a free public seminar on scam awareness and prevention, scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library. The seminar will cover common scam types including grandparent, tech support, and romance scams, along with local case studies, prevention tips, and reporting procedures for residents of all ages.
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Work-from-home job scams have surged over 500 percent, with scammers increasingly using AI technology to create convincing fake job postings and impersonate legitimate companies on platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Jessica Brown nearly fell victim to a scam impersonating medical consulting firm Synterex, which offered her a $30/hour remote position but required her to cash a $5,000 check for office equipment; the Identity Theft Resource Center reported a 545 percent increase in AI-generated scam reports in one month, noting that AI has made fraudulent documents and profiles significantly harder to distinguish from legitimate ones. The FTC recommends verifying job opportunities by
wmdt.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, Maryland residents age 60 and older lost $63.6 million to fraud, with online scams being the most common method. Common schemes targeting older adults include grandparent scams (requesting emergency money), romance and investment scams, and impersonation of law enforcement, often facilitated through information gathered on social media. Red flags to watch for include unexpected emails or calls with misspellings, suspicious URLs, and unsolicited requests for money or personal information; protective measures include enabling multi-factor authentication on accounts, verifying caller identity through official channels, and reporting suspected fraud to local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.
wtsp.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida woman received an unsolicited genetic testing kit with her Medicare information and was contacted by someone claiming to represent the lab offering "free" testing covered by Medicare—a common healthcare fraud scheme. Scammers target seniors at public venues and through mail to obtain Medicare numbers for identity theft and fraudulent billing, with false claims sometimes reaching thousands of dollars; Medicare only covers genetic testing when ordered by a patient's physician and deemed medically necessary. Victims are protected from liability if investigations confirm their non-participation, with the burden shifting to the fraudulent provider instead.
wetaskiwintimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Wetaskiwin RCMP warned the public of an active grandparent scam in the community where victims have lost six-figure amounts of money. Scammers impersonate judges, lawyers, or police officers claiming a family member is incarcerated and needs bail money, sometimes using AI-generated voice replications of victims' loved ones. Police emphasized that bail is never paid by phone, courts and police will not request payments or personal information by phone, and victims should verify claims by contacting the relevant agency directly.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
A brushing scam occurs when scammers purchase items from sites like Amazon or eBay and send them to unsolicited recipients to create fake positive reviews and artificially boost product popularity. While recipients may view the unexpected packages as free gifts, the real danger lies in the exposure of personal information (such as addresses) that scammers obtained from data breaches and now have circulating on the internet. Victims should report incidents to the Better Business Bureau and take protective measures by changing passwords and updating security settings on all retail accounts.
money.com
· 2025-12-08
Young job seekers, particularly students seeking remote work, are being targeted in "money mule" scams where fraudsters trick them into transferring stolen money through their bank accounts, digital wallets, or cryptocurrency accounts. These scams often originate from lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams, and unwitting participants can face identity theft and potential criminal charges for money laundering. The Justice Department took action against over 3,000 money mules in the past year, with criminal charges brought against more than 20 serious offenders, including a case involving three people charged for recruiting college students to launder approximately $7 million from elderly tech fraud victims over three years.
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Losses from scams targeting adults age 60 and older reached $3.4 billion last year—an 11% increase from the prior year—with an average loss of $33,915 per victim, according to FBI data. Older adults are frequently targeted through tech support scams, personal data breaches, and romance scams because they often have substantial assets and may be more trusting and less likely to report fraud. Experts recommend protective measures including strong data hygiene practices, using credit cards for online purchases, verifying unsolicited communications directly with trusted sources, establishing account oversight with multiple trusted contacts, and fostering open conversations about scams to reduce shame and encourage reporting.