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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
O2, the UK's largest phone network, has issued a scam alert warning customers about fraudulent activity targeting both iPhone and Android users, particularly during the busy pre-Christmas tech launch season. The scams involve criminals posing as O2 representatives to steal personal data, passwords, and bank details by offering too-good-to-be-true deals like steep discounts or free devices, then using the stolen information to fraudulently order phones in victims' names. O2 advises customers to never share sensitive information over phone or text, avoid clicking suspicious links, and report unexpected package deliveries or account changes directly to O2 rather than engaging with the scammers.
fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
A 31-year-old New York man was arrested in Branford, Connecticut after operating as a courier in a text message scam scheme that initiates contact with unsuspecting victims through unsolicited "Hello" messages to build fake relationships and extract money. The suspect, Wenije He, was apprehended while attempting to collect a large cash sum believed destined for criminal enterprise and faces larceny and phone fraud charges with a $200,000 bond. Police warn residents to ignore unsolicited texts from unknown numbers, never send money or personal information to unknown contacts, and report suspicious activity to local authorities.
newstopicnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens are frequently targeted by scammers using untraceable payment methods like prepaid cards and wire transfers, with law enforcement noting these scams are largely preventable through awareness. Documented cases in Sanford included a 77-year-old man defrauded of $3,000 in iTunes cards by someone impersonating his granddaughter claiming to need bail money, and various lottery and inheritance scams sent to residents. Law enforcement agencies advise that any unsolicited request to pay money to receive money is a scam, recommend never sharing personal information over the phone, and note that legitimate government agencies would never demand payment via gift cards or money orders.
indeonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using fake "card declined" messages on fraudulent websites and in phishing emails to trick consumers into entering payment information and personal details, then charging their accounts without authorization. The BBB and AAA have received multiple reports of consumers being charged unexpectedly despite receiving error messages suggesting their transactions failed. To protect yourself, verify website URLs and security features, research businesses before purchasing, avoid unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true, use credit cards for added fraud protection, and monitor your accounts for unauthorized charges.
kchanews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Floyd County Sheriff's Office issued a scam alert regarding fraudulent calls targeting senior citizens, where scammers claim a family member has been arrested and demand cash bail to be picked up by a courier. The Sheriff's Office clarified that legitimate bail payments are only accepted in person at their office or jail, and urged victims or those receiving such calls to report them to local law enforcement and never provide personal information or money over the phone.
wgem.com
· 2025-12-08
First Baptist Church in Quincy held an educational seminar to help senior citizens recognize and avoid phone scams, particularly impersonation scams involving fake IRS calls. Guest speaker Don O'Brien from the Better Business Bureau advised attendees to question callers about details only legitimate government employees would know and to never share payment information or money with suspicious callers. Pastor Orville Jones emphasized that technology education is essential for seniors to protect themselves while remaining connected in modern society.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old woman from Chennai lost ₹1 crore in a FedEx scam involving impersonation by fraudsters posing as police/CBI officers who falsely accused her of illegal activities and instructed her to transfer funds for verification. Between January and August, Chennai's cybercrime unit registered over 250 cases including 45 FedEx scams and 80 online trading frauds, predominantly affecting high net-worth elderly individuals, prompting authorities to launch awareness campaigns through SMS, awareness camps, and partnerships with pensioners' and residents' associations.
siliconeer.com
· 2025-12-08
Imposter scams—where criminals impersonate trusted businesses or government agencies—are the most common type of fraud reported to the FTC, with 360,000 cases in the first half of 2024 alone resulting in $1.3 billion in losses (median $800 per victim). Losses from government and business impersonation scams have surged dramatically, from $370 million combined in 2020 to over $1.3 billion by 2023, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics including fake urgency, unusual payment methods like Bitcoin ATMs, and threats of arrest or deportation. The FTC's new Impersonation Rule
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
A West Orange, NJ resident lost nearly $400,000 to a "Norton Scam" that began with a fraudulent email claiming they owed money to Norton Antivirus. The scammers gained remote access to the victim's computer, manipulated the screen to change a $300 payment to $300,000, then directed them to call a fake bank number where additional funds were extracted through wire transfers and gold coin purchases. Detective Ryan Funk identified 33-year-old Jaynesh Patel as a suspect in the investigation.
bernama.com
· 2025-12-08
During the first eight months of 2024, 1,916 elderly individuals aged 61 and above in Malaysia fell victim to online scams, losing RM255.37 million (27.9% of total online fraud losses that year). Although elderly victims represent only 8.9% of online fraud cases, they suffer disproportionately large financial losses, making them prime targets for scammers using tactics such as impersonation of police officers and false claims of cybercrime involvement. Malaysian police officials emphasized the importance of awareness and vigilance, urging families to advise elderly relatives to verify suspicious calls through official channels rather than following unsolicited instructions.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old woman in Petaling Jaya lost approximately RM670,994 in cash, jewelry, and gold bars after scammers convinced her that her identity was involved in cybercrime and money laundering, then visited her home posing as police to collect her valuables. The scam occurred between September 20-27, 2024, and highlights a broader trend showing that senior citizens aged 61 and older accounted for 8.9% of online scam victims from January-August 2024, but suffered 27.9% of total losses (RM255,367,680). Police urge families to warn elderly relatives to be vigilant and avoid surren
kauainownews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Hawai'i's Department of Law Enforcement warns the public of scammers impersonating law enforcement officers who call victims claiming they face arrest for missed court appearances or jury duty, then demand payment for bail or civil fees. The scammers use spoofed phone numbers and often make geographic mistakes (mispronouncing Hawaiian street names or referencing non-existent offices) that reveal they are calling from outside Hawai'i. Legitimate law enforcement agencies never solicit payment by phone, and residents should not provide financial information to callers claiming to be officers.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article warns that cryptocurrency and investment scammers are increasingly sophisticated, with recent research showing $75.3 billion moved into suspicious exchange accounts including $15.2 billion from U.S. investors. Key warning signs include unsolicited contact via phone/email/social media, promises of unrealistic returns with little risk, pressure to act quickly, and overly complicated strategies that only the scammer can explain. The article advises verifying investment professionals' credentials through FINRA BrokerCheck or SEC databases and being skeptical of any opportunity that sounds too good to be true.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Broadcaster Moira Stuart nearly fell victim to an authorized push payment (APP) fraud scam when someone impersonating her bank convinced her to transfer money to a "safe" account, but bank staff intervened and stopped the transaction. APP fraud incidents exceeded 230,000 cases in the most recent year, resulting in £460 million in losses, with fraudsters increasingly using artificial intelligence and evolving tactics including purchase scams, investment schemes, romance scams, and impersonation fraud targeting energy suppliers and tax authorities. Banks are struggling to refund victims, and regulators have capped APP scam refunds at £85,000 starting October 7.
gmtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The Jackson Police Department warned of a court scam in which fraudsters use spoofed caller IDs to impersonate law enforcement and claim victims have missed court-ordered activities, threatening arrest. Scammers target individuals with public records (recent arrests, those on bond, sex offender registries) and falsely claim missed appointments such as DNA sample submissions, though no legitimate letter or appointment ever existed. To protect themselves, citizens can verify warrants through Wisconsin's online court records (wicourts.gov) and driving status through the Wisconsin DOT, and should remember that courts never accept payment via bitcoin, gift cards, or home pickup of bail money.
ksfr.org
· 2025-12-08
As the 2023-24 election cycle approaches record spending of over $10 billion, scammers are exploiting the climate to defraud citizens through various election-related schemes. Common scams include fraudulent Political Action Committees posing as candidate fundraisers, illegal robocalls using AI-generated voices, impersonation calls claiming to be from county clerk offices requesting personal information, and fake pollster calls offering payment in exchange for personal data. Experts advise verifying legitimacy through proper PAC procedures, refusing unsolicited calls requesting contributions, never providing personal information to unverified callers, and reporting suspicious election-related communications to authorities.
cbsaustin.com
· 2025-12-08
The Travis County Attorney's Office warned of a phone scam where callers impersonate office staff and claim victims have outstanding warrants or criminal charges, then request payment via QR codes or directing victims to ATM-like machines near gas stations. The Travis County Attorney's Office does not solicit payments by phone and urges residents to call (512) 854-9415 to verify any such calls before providing money.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Rancho Cordova woman lost $9,000 to a scam after being deceived by a fake bank alert on her computer directing her to call a fraudulent number; the scammers kept her on the phone while she withdrew cash and deposited it into a Bitcoin machine. A Call Kurtis volunteer discovered the woman's bank failed to follow its own fraud-prevention protocol of questioning customers before allowing such transactions, and the bank issued a full refund after this oversight was identified.
thestar.com
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto resident fell victim to a fake taxi scam where a driver with a taxi-style dome light used a rigged payment machine to steal the victim's debit card information and PIN, resulting in $1,471 in fraudulent charges. Toronto police report 493 similar taxi scam incidents in the year with total losses of $914,000, and the scam typically targets young people rather than seniors; detection methods include verifying taxi license plates and never relinquishing control of payment cards. Key prevention tips include checking that cabs have proper taxi identification and remaining vigilant about card security throughout transactions.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A young mother of Indian origin lost $225,000 to a work-from-home job scam after being recruited through a Facebook messenger group to review hotels online; she was instructed to book hotels with her own money using a fake platform and make cryptocurrency payments that were never reimbursed despite promises of commission. Victoria police report dozens of similar victims have lost over $1 million in 2023, with people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities accounting for 12.7 percent of targeted scam losses, and authorities warn against any online arrangement requiring upfront payments in digital currency or via bank transfer.
gantnews.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in Henderson Township, Jefferson County, lost $5,000 in a phone scam on September 23. Pennsylvania State Police are seeking information about the incident, which occurred at a residence along Route 410 around 3:56 p.m.
cybersecurityconnect.com.au
· 2025-12-08
An Australian woman named Rebecca Jade Silk was identified as an alleged physical stand-in in a sophisticated romance scam operated from Ghana that defrauded a 75-year-old American radiologist of $700,000. Scam ring leader Alfred Kwame Ayivor posed online as an Australian woman named "Grace Erskine" to romance the victim, and hired Silk to impersonate Erskine during in-person meetings in the United States and Ghana, where she posed as someone offering him a stake in a gold mine. Ayivor died in custody before trial in 2019, while Silk was located in Australia in 2024 but refused to
boomlive.in
· 2025-12-08
Following the crash of BookMyShow's website during ticket sales for Coldplay's January 2025 Mumbai concerts, scammers targeted desperate fans seeking tickets on social media platforms, with fraudsters posing as overseas residents and using fake purchase receipts from legitimate ticketing sites like Ticketmaster. One victim, Sonakshi, lost Rs 38,000 after a scammer named Sonia Bosco used convincing fake Gmail screenshots, WhatsApp numbers with U.S. area codes, and forged BookMyShow invoices to extract advance payments before disappearing; another potential victim, Rohan, avoided similar fraud through skepticism and PayPal's protective measures. The
news.harvard.edu
· 2025-12-08
Online scams cost American consumers $12.5 billion last year, a 22 percent increase, with cybercriminals using sophisticated psychological tactics that can affect anyone regardless of age, intelligence, or education. According to cybersecurity expert Bruce Schneier, scammers' methods are fundamentally unchanged from historical cons, but technology has dramatically increased the scale and speed of attacks through fake social media ads, phishing emails, and AI-generated content. Cryptocurrency has made scams more profitable and harder to prevent because transactions cannot be reversed or monitored by traditional banking safeguards.
eff.org
· 2025-12-08
This article addresses a widespread "sextortion" phishing scam in which recipients receive threatening emails claiming hackers have compromised their computers and possess embarrassing photos or browsing history, demanding payment in bitcoin to prevent the information from being shared with contacts. The scammers use publicly available personal information (names, addresses, house photos from Google Street View) obtained from data breaches to create a false appearance of authenticity, but they have not actually hacked the recipients. The article advises recipients not to pay the ransom and recommends changing passwords, freezing credit, and monitoring for identity theft to protect against future scams using leaked personal data.
marketplace.org
· 2025-12-08
This podcast episode features threat researcher Selena Larson discussing common online scams targeting teenagers, including sextortion/blackmail, job and scholarship scams, malware-laden game advertisements, shopping imposter scams, phishing attacks, and payment app fraud. Larson explains that scammers use social engineering techniques to manipulate teens emotionally—posing as authority figures, attractive individuals, or legitimate businesses—to trick them into sending money, compromising photos, or sensitive information. Key red flags include unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true, requests for payment upfront, and pressure to act quickly.
wkyc.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A phishing scam impersonated Spectrum, using a voicemail claiming to remove a 40% discount unless customers called back immediately using the caller ID number provided. Spectrum confirmed this is fraudulent and advised customers to call their service provider using the number on their official bill rather than numbers provided by unsolicited callers before sharing any personal information.
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide explains romance scams, a type of fraud where criminals build fake romantic relationships to extract money from victims. The article outlines common tactics (including catfishing), warning signs, and vulnerable populations targeted by scammers, while noting that the FTC reported $304 million in losses from romance scams in 2020—a 50% increase from 2019. The guide provides advice on protecting oneself and recovering from romance fraud, emphasizing that victims should not be blamed for falling for such schemes.
cyberdaily.au
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old American radiologist was defrauded of $700,000 in a romance scam orchestrated by Ghanaian scam boss Alfred Kwame Ayivor, who posed online as an Australian woman named Grace Erskine and eventually hired Australian national Rebecca Jade Silk to meet the victim in person and pose as Erskine. The scam involved the fake Erskine claiming she had inherited a Ghanaian gold mine and offering the victim a stake in it, with in-person meetings arranged in both the United States and Ghana to build credibility. Ayivor died in custody in 2019 before
bookriot.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a book review for "Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts, and Schemes" by comedian and podcaster Laci Mosley, which is an essay memoir exploring various types of scams including religious, housing, job, romance, and body scams through both her personal experiences and stories of other scammers. The review highlights Mosley's key insight that scammers succeed because people care about things, and recommends the audiobook format to best enjoy her comedic delivery. The article is promotional content for entertainment purposes rather than a report on specific fraud incidents or elder abuse cases.
newportdispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
Martha's Vineyard Bank reported a series of scams targeting elderly customers in which fraudsters impersonated bank representatives and pressured victims to withdraw large sums of money while instructing them not to discuss the transactions with anyone, including bank staff. The scammers created false urgency by claiming customers' funds were in jeopardy, exploiting seniors' vulnerability to financial fraud. The bank coordinated with the Dukes County Sheriff's Office to alert the community and urged residents to report suspicious activity.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams are increasingly common and take multiple forms, including romance scams where perpetrators build relationships then direct victims to fraudulent investment sites, tech support scams with fake pop-ups, and schemes impersonating authorities demanding payment in cryptocurrency. According to South Dakota's Attorney General and digital forensics experts, consumers should only use reputable cryptocurrency platforms independently, never send cryptocurrency or payment information to unsolicited requestors, and report suspected scams to protect others and aid law enforcement investigation.
businesstoday.in
· 2025-12-08
India's digital transformation has increased online scam targeting, with cybercriminals particularly exploiting elderly pensioners through impersonation schemes. The Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) warned that fraudsters are impersonating government officials and contacting pensioners via WhatsApp, email, and SMS, falsely claiming pension payments will be stopped unless they complete forms and share personal information like PPO numbers and bank details. Authorities advise pensioners to verify communications directly with relevant agencies, resist artificial urgency tactics, and report suspicious activity to prevent financial fraud.
heritagefl.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams targeting seniors have risen sharply, with fraudsters impersonating federal agents and falsely claiming victims' bank accounts are compromised, then pressuring them to deposit money into cryptocurrency ATMs for purported "government protection." The article provides four key preventative measures: verify communications through official government channels, educate yourself on common scammer tactics, use only reputable cryptocurrency exchanges with security features, and exercise caution with cryptocurrency ATMs. Resources like the Orlando Senior Help Desk (407-678-9363) are available to help seniors and families identify potential fraud.
cincinnati.com
· 2025-12-08
The "brushing" scam has reached Ohio, involving unsolicited packages delivered to residents that contain inexpensive items like face masks or speakers and feature QR codes that, when scanned, expose personal and financial information to scammers. Scammers use this technique either to steal data or to create fake positive reviews for third-party sellers, and authorities warn residents never to scan QR codes on unexpected packages and instead report suspicious deliveries to Amazon or local law enforcement. Protection measures include avoiding randomly found QR codes, being wary of sites requesting passwords after scanning, and confirming the legitimacy of QR codes in emails or texts by calling the sender directly.
wcvb.com
· 2025-12-08
A Massachusetts senior was defrauded of $120,000 after receiving a fake Microsoft notification directing her to call a number where scammers impersonated FDIC and FBI officials, convincing her to withdraw cash and wrap it in foil for "safekeeping." Two Brooklyn men, Shaoquin Liu and Shiwang Ning, were arrested after attempting to pick up the money and were charged with larceny and conspiracy. The scammers had gained computer access to create fraudulent correspondence from the victim's bank, SSA, and FDIC to support the scheme.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Laura Kankaala, head of threat intelligence at Finnish cybersecurity firm F-Secure, explains how online scams and ransomware attacks have evolved dramatically during her nearly 10-year career—from rare incidents to daily occurrences. Hackers increasingly use sophisticated tactics including fake profiles, phishing sites, and malware to steal data and money from victims, exploiting the expanded digital exposure created by smartphones, remote work, and social media. Cybercriminals monetize stolen data through ransomware attacks, account compromises, and data sales, with new scams emerging constantly as technology becomes more integrated into daily life.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers continue to impersonate Medicare representatives via unsolicited phone calls to steal Medicare account numbers, which they use to commit fraud such as ordering medical devices. Medicare never contacts beneficiaries by phone and is not issuing new cards, making these calls a reliable indicator of scam activity. Medicare fraud costs the government between $60 billion to $100 billion annually.
koco.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud in Oklahoma increased 15% from 2022 to 2023, with nearly 1,000 seniors over age 60 falling victim to scams and losing over $22 million in total. The most common fraud schemes targeting seniors are fake tech support and romance scams, with criminals exploiting seniors' accumulated wealth; the FBI advises victims and potential victims to hang up, log off, and walk away from any pressure to conduct financial transactions.
thecourierexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
More than 50 seniors attended a Scam Jam educational seminar in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, presented by state and local officials to teach fraud prevention and recognition of common scams targeting elders. Presenters highlighted increasingly sophisticated scams including voice cloning via AI, fake tech support calls requesting gift card payments, and impersonation schemes, emphasizing that victims should contact police immediately when suspicious and never provide personal information or payment via non-traditional means like gift cards. A recent local case was cited where timely police contact prevented a $30,000 loss to a potential victim.
boston.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Brooklyn men, Shaoquin Liu, 27, and Shiwang Ning, 33, were arrested in Quincy for allegedly stealing over $120,000 from a senior citizen through a tech support scam involving fake emails and calls impersonating the victim's banks and the FDIC. The suspects remotely accessed the victim's computer, obtained financial information, and convinced the victim to withdraw large cash amounts that were picked up from their home multiple times before the victim grew suspicious and contacted police. Both men were charged with one count of larceny and two counts of fraud.
massapequapost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Town of Oyster Bay partnered with the Nassau County District Attorney's office to combat an escalating wave of scams targeting seniors, with over $230 million stolen from New Yorkers in 2024 alone. Scammers exploit seniors through telephone and email schemes impersonating government agents, bank officials, or family members to gain access to retirement accounts and savings, while also using methods ranging from mailbox theft to sophisticated malware attacks. The partnership is hosting educational seminars to inform seniors and their families about recognizing and reporting these threats, which have grown increasingly sophisticated, including the use of AI voice-mimicking technology.
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide examines why scam victims face blame and shame, explaining that psychological biases—including the "just world" belief, hindsight bias, and defensive attribution—cause people to wrongly hold victims responsible for being scammed. The article emphasizes that victim blaming is harmful and counterproductive, noting that scams are increasingly common (the FTC reported $76 million lost to government impersonation scams in 2023, up 90% from 2022) and that anyone can fall victim regardless of intelligence or caution.
irishnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Veteran broadcaster Moira Stuart, 75, was nearly scammed in a phone call where a fraudster claimed money had been stolen from her account and instructed her to transfer funds, though a bank cashier intervened before any loss occurred. Research shows people aged 55-64 face the highest number of scams, with Age UK finding that 41% of people over 50 were scammed in the last five years, losing an average of £2,022, and experiencing significant psychological and social impacts beyond financial loss. Digital skills experts recommend older people verify sender details, confirm whether communications are expected, and be cautious of suspicious pop-ups to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scammers.
10news.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers used caller ID spoofing to impersonate Christy Taylor's bank and convinced her to transfer nearly $10,000 onto a prepaid debit card by claiming fraudulent activity on her account; the funds were quickly depleted and the bank could not reverse the transfer since Taylor had withdrawn the money herself. Security experts advise never acting on unexpected bank calls or texts, and instead to independently verify alerts by calling your bank directly using the number on your debit card. These sophisticated scams are increasingly common and equally convincing as legitimate communications.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
Pig butchering crypto scams involve fraudsters building trust with victims through fake identities and relationships on social media platforms like WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Instagram before directing them to fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platforms and stealing their money. The SEC filed its first enforcement actions against these scams in September 2024, charging eight defendants in connection with fake platforms NanoBit and CoinW6, while the CFTC and other federal agencies have partnered to distribute educational materials warning consumers that these scams cost Americans billions annually. Victims are advised to ignore unsolicited messages from strangers and report suspicious contacts to prevent becoming targets of this rapidly growing fraud scheme.
wlos.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder financial scams increased 14% in complaints and 11% in financial impact in 2023, with criminals targeting seniors through imposter scams (IRS/Social Security), shopping fraud, grandparent scams, tech support schemes, and sweepstakes fraud. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, emphasizing that seniors should never share personal information unsolicited, verify requests through independent contact with family or organizations, be skeptical of unusual payment methods, and report suspected fraud immediately.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Texas seniors fell victim to sophisticated financial scams: 71-year-old Phyllis Lopez lost $3,500 after a caller impersonating a Chase Bank representative convinced her to wire her savings, and 77-year-old Shirley Ison-Newsome lost over $50,000 in a scam involving a fraudulent wire transfer to China. Texas's 2017 Protection of Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act allows banks to freeze accounts suspected of fraud, resulting in increased reporting to Adult Protective Services (from 3,600 to 6,400 reports between 2017-2023), though consumer advocates argue more protection is needed and lawmakers
clreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office reported an increase in grandparent scams targeting senior citizens in North Iowa, where callers falsely claim a relative has been arrested and demand cash for bail. Victims were duped into handing over cash to couriers who arrived at their homes, with suspects identified as a well-dressed Black male driving a dark SUV with possible Minnesota plates, sometimes accompanied by an unknown female. Law enforcement advises seniors never to provide personal information or cash to unknown callers and to report such incidents immediately.
oaklandcounty115.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned seniors at a Southfield Senior Summit about "pig butchering" scams and other fraud targeting older adults. Pig butchering is a romance scam variant where criminals build trust with victims online over days or weeks before soliciting money for emergencies or investment opportunities, with victims sometimes losing their life savings. Nessel identified three common scam tactics: creating urgency, obtaining personal information, and requesting money, and advised seniors to verify the identity of callers and warn loved ones about suspicious online relationships with distant strangers.