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unionleader.com
· 2025-12-08
More than 100,000 Americans fell victim to scams in the past year, with two-thirds being seniors; in New Hampshire alone, over 400 residents aged 60+ lost more than $11 million to scams in 2023. Seniors are targeted because they are often polite, trusting, financially stable, and own homes, making them attractive to scammers who use impersonation tactics (posing as bankers, government agents, IT experts, romantic partners, and relatives) and increasingly sophisticated online methods like phishing and email scams. Tech support scams were the most common type nationally, while romance and confidence scams caused the highest losses in New Hampshire
indeonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Jury duty scams remain persistent threats that use spoofed caller ID, personal information verification, and intimidating claims of missed court dates or arrest warrants to pressure victims into paying thousands of dollars via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Scammers may also use variations involving malware-infected email attachments or identity theft, with one recent victim losing $1,000 before recognizing the fraud. To protect themselves, people should verify court summons through official postal mail only, independently confirm any judicial claims by contacting official court numbers, ignore urgent pressure tactics, avoid untraceable payment methods, and consult trusted contacts before responding to suspicious communications.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns that children are increasingly vulnerable to online scams due to their inexperience and trust, with more than half of American children under 11 now owning smartphones. Common scams targeting kids include social media contests requesting personal information, deceptive free ringtone offers with hidden subscription fees, malware-infected video games, and webcam security breaches. The BBB recommends parents educate children about scams, establish internet safety rules, monitor downloads, use security software, and report suspected fraud to the BBB Scam Tracker or FTC.
kktv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Colorado woman lost over $19,000 to scammers who impersonated Best Buy's Geek Squad support services via a fraudulent email claiming her subscription was expiring. The victim followed the scammers' instructions across multiple calls, ultimately transferring the funds before realizing she had been defrauded. Authorities recommend verifying suspicious communications by contacting companies directly using official numbers found on their legitimate websites, rather than using contact information provided in the suspicious message.
seattlemag.com
· 2025-12-08
A Seattle magazine intern nearly fell victim to a phishing scam when she received a spoofed email from her CEO's address requesting she purchase $600 in Apple gift cards for employee appreciation; she was stopped from completing the purchase only after calling her mother. The article highlights that phishing attacks are increasingly sophisticated and widespread, with over 500 million attacks reported in 2022 resulting in more than $52 million in losses across 300,000+ victims, and advises readers to be skeptical of unexpected requests, especially those involving urgent financial transactions.
longisland.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
An 18-year-old Deer Park teenager fell victim to a car wrap scam in which he deposited a fake $3,900 check from scammers impersonating NOS Energy drink, resulting in his bank account being closed and his name placed on a five-year blacklist preventing him from opening accounts at any financial institution. Employment scams like this, which have increased 54% between 2022 and 2023, trick victims into depositing counterfeit checks and sending money to fraudsters; the typical victim loses around $2,000. After a news investigation contacted Bank of America, the bank determined he was a victim rather than a perpetrator and removed him from the black
ifamagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Research from LV= found that young adults aged 18-34 reported more scam victimization than older adults, with 3.8 million UK victims losing money to purchase fraud last year; young adults experienced higher rates across all scam types (phishing, trusted organization impersonation, refund, befriending, and investment scams) compared to those 65 and over, possibly due to greater daily online time averaging 4 hours 35 minutes. The findings highlight that despite increased financial scams over three years, many consumers lack knowledge about reporting mechanisms and that those with financial advisers were more likely to take appropriate action and understand relevant regulatory bodies like the FCA
gainesvilleregister.com
· 2025-12-08
The Social Security Administration sent legitimate emails last month notifying recipients about updates to their online "My Social Security" accounts to align with federal authentication standards and improve security. The article warns seniors to verify any Social Security-related emails by checking the official SSA website (www.ssa.gov) rather than clicking links in emails, as scammers create fraudulent websites mimicking the agency's format to steal personal information.
wilx.com
· 2025-12-08
Smishing scams use text messages to trick people into clicking malicious links or calling scammer numbers, often impersonating delivery services or well-known companies to steal login credentials and personal data. These scams can result in identity theft, financial loss, and malware installation on devices. To protect yourself, avoid clicking unknown links, enable two-factor authentication, contact companies directly using verified numbers, and report suspicious texts to the FTC by forwarding to 7726.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a privacy notice from Yahoo explaining their cookie and data collection practices. There is no summary relevant to the Elderus elder fraud research database.
mugglehead.com
· 2025-12-08
Visa Inc. is using artificial intelligence and machine learning to combat fraud, preventing $40 billion in fraudulent activity from October 2022 to September 2023 by analyzing over 500 transaction attributes in real-time to detect enumeration attacks that cost the industry $1.1 billion annually. Simultaneously, cybercriminals are increasingly leveraging generative AI, voice cloning, and deepfakes to execute romance scams, investment scams, and pig butchering schemes that are more convincing than ever, with scammers able to clone voices from less than three seconds of audio to deceive victims and banking employees.
taipeitimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Taichung police issued a warning about a sextortion scam targeting young people on dating and video chat sites, where victims are persuaded to strip naked on camera and then blackmailed for money with threats to distribute the footage. Since the start of the year, police handled 718 cases of online sexual exploitation and blackmail, with male victims comprising over half, predominantly young adults and teenagers; in one case, a high school student was threatened for NT$60,000. Police urge victims to report incidents immediately, preserve evidence, and strengthen privacy settings, emphasizing that some victims have tragically taken their own lives due to pressure from repeated blackmail.
headtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
Eight major digital tech companies (Google, Meta, Yahoo, X, Snap, TikTok, Discord, and Twitch) have voluntarily adopted an Australian Online Scams Code to combat fraud while the government develops mandatory legislation, committing to verify advertisers, screen for suspicious content, and increase intelligence sharing with regulators. The code addresses growing scam losses, particularly social media scams which reached $95 million in reported losses in 2023—a 250% increase since 2020—with most fraud originating from WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and online dating platforms.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
An 86-year-old Winnipeg senior was charged $146,000 for a water bill through an automated payment system—approximately 1,237 times her typical $118 bill—after submitting an incorrect meter reading; her son successfully had the charge reversed but the city still plans to charge an NSF fee. The incident highlights the lack of fraud detection safeguards in automated billing systems and has prompted calls for consumer protection legislation requiring human oversight when charges significantly exceed historical usage patterns.
newstalkkzrg.com
· 2025-12-08
Utility impostor scams involve fraudsters posing as electric, water, or gas company representatives via phone, email, or in-person visits, claiming customers have overdue bills requiring immediate payment or claiming they need home access for "repairs" or "energy audits." These scams are particularly common during extreme weather when people rely on utilities and are especially dangerous because scammers pressure victims to pay via untraceable methods like prepaid cards or wire transfers, or gain entry to homes to steal valuables and personal information. The BBB advises verifying requests by calling the utility company directly using a number from an actual bill, refusing unsolicited entry to your home, and remembering that legitimate utilities request payment
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating Amazon through text messages, emails, and calls claiming account or payment issues to trick consumers into clicking malicious links or providing personal information. Criminals use AI-driven content creation and multi-channel attacks impersonating major brands like Amazon, Bank of America, and federal agencies, with over two-thirds of Amazon scams reported globally in 2023 involving fake billing or account access claims. To protect themselves, consumers should verify sender email addresses, avoid clicking links or attachments, and hover over URLs to confirm legitimacy before engaging.
clarkecountydemocrat.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines three common scam types targeting consumers: investment scams that promise guaranteed returns through fake platforms, employment scams offering easy work-from-home opportunities with little effort, and impersonation scams where fraudsters pose as legitimate businesses or government agencies. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, including researching companies before committing funds, verifying job opportunities through direct company contact, and calling verified phone numbers to confirm requests for money or personal information.
kpcw.org
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers use multiple tactics to target unsuspecting victims, including fake merchandise ads, phishing texts and emails, fraudulent job postings, and deceptive streaming links on social media. Common scams include job offers asking people to advertise on their vehicles and fake streaming links for events. The BBB advises consumers to never click links or call numbers from unsolicited messages and to verify phone numbers independently before responding.
khak.com
· 2025-12-08
Amazon warned customers about membership scams involving impersonators who contact users via calls, texts, and emails claiming there are issues with Prime accounts, unauthorized charges, or expiration notices, then request personal or financial information or prompt clicking suspicious links. Amazon advises users to verify account status directly through the official Amazon app or website rather than calling provided numbers or clicking links, and to watch for spelling errors. Users who suspect they've been scammed should report it to Amazon at Amazon.com/ReportAScam.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
Smishing scams use text messages to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or calling scammer-operated numbers, often impersonating legitimate delivery services or popular companies to steal login credentials and personal information. These scams are cheap and effective for criminals, potentially leading to identity theft, financial loss, and malware installation on victims' devices. To protect yourself, avoid clicking unknown links, enable two-factor authentication, contact companies directly using verified numbers, and report suspicious texts to the FTC by forwarding to 7726.
khmoradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Illinois women are being targeted by two prevalent text message scams: a fake banking alert claiming unauthorized charges and requesting account verification information, and a "wrong number" romance scam where perpetrators build emotional relationships before stealing victims' money. The state is also warning of an additional tollway-related texting scam specific to Illinois, emphasizing that victims should not respond to or provide personal information in response to unsolicited messages.
openaccessgovernment.org
· 2025-12-08
During the COVID-19 pandemic, cybercriminals exploited vulnerable populations through phishing emails (up 220%), fake vaccine offers, and impersonation scams, with older adults particularly targeted due to limited digital literacy and social isolation. Impersonation scam cases doubled to 39,394 in 2020, romance scams increased 38%, and investment scams rose 32%, resulting in £479 million in Authorized Push Payment fraud losses in the UK with victims recovering only £206.9 million. Financial services firms are urged to implement continuous fraud awareness campaigns and change communication practices to avoid inadvertently training customers to fall victim to scams.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian internet fraudster Marcel, a 26-year-old "Yahoo boy" based in Abuja, destroyed evidence by hiding his phone in a toilet pipe when Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials raided his apartment building in May following a tip-off about suspected cybercriminals in the area. Though officers searched his room and discovered his phone charger, they did not locate the hidden device, and Marcel was not arrested during the raid, though he admitted to using the phone for "bombing and grinding" (finding and defrauding online victims) for over two years.
connecticut.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
An 18-year-old Deer Park entrepreneur fell victim to a car wrap scam after receiving a fraudulent email posing as NOS Energy drink offering him $750 weekly to wrap his car. When he deposited a fake $3,900 check, Bank of America closed his account and blacklisted him from all financial institutions for five years, mistakenly treating him as a perpetrator rather than a victim. After news investigation intervention, the bank reversed the blacklist decision and reinstated his account once they confirmed he was scammed.
inkl.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts based in Nigeria that were conducting sextortion scams, primarily targeting adult men in the US and some minors, with threats to expose private sexual content unless financial demands were met. The takedown included a network of 2,500 accounts managed by roughly 20 individuals, with most sextortion attempts being unsuccessful, though cases targeting minors were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Meta's crackdown follows multiple tragic incidents where sextortion victims died by suicide, and the company has since developed AI-powered protection tools and automated systems to identify and block sextortion accounts.
disb.dc.gov
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource from DISB (District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking) provides information on common scam types to help consumers protect themselves during financial transactions. The tracker includes detailed examples of advance fee scams, affinity scams by licensed professionals, and credit card phishing scams, with specific case narratives and protective strategies such as verifying information directly with legitimate agencies and being cautious of unsolicited financial offers.
wbrc.com
· 2025-12-08
Amazon is warning consumers about imposter scams targeting Prime members, where scammers send fake emails, calls, or texts claiming unauthorized charges or membership expiration to trick victims into revealing personal and payment information. To protect yourself, verify communications through Amazon's Message Center or Your Account section on Amazon.com, and report suspicious messages at amazon.com/reportascam.
securityboulevard.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines three common cyber travel scams: clone websites that mimic legitimate travel companies to steal financial and personal information, brand impersonation through fake social media accounts and promotional giveaways, and fraudulent customer service accounts that exploit frustrated customers. The article advises travelers to verify website domains carefully, avoid booking through social media messages or unsolicited offers, and contact companies directly through official channels rather than responding to suspicious accounts.
democratandchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
A scam targeting senior citizens nationwide has reached the Rochester area, with reported losses exceeding $55 million in the second half of 2023. Scammers pose as tech support, finance, or government officials to convince victims their accounts are at risk, then persuade them to liquidate assets into cash, gold, or other valuables before taking control of the converted assets, sometimes using couriers. The FBI advises seniors not to convert assets based on unsolicited calls, avoid meeting unknown couriers, prevent unauthorized computer access, and report suspicious contacts immediately to ic3.gov or the Elder Justice Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11.
gazettejournal.net
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors, in which fraudsters pose as government officials via phone calls, emails, and text messages to steal personal information and money. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel emphasized that combating these scams requires coordination between federal agencies and the tax community to reach and protect vulnerable seniors and taxpayers.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
**Scam Type:** Asset liquidation scam (posing as tech support, finance, or government officials)
**What Happened:** Scammers called senior citizens claiming their financial accounts were hacked or at risk, then convinced victims to convert assets into cash, gold, or silver, which the scammers then collected via courier or took control of remotely. The FBI reported over $55 million in losses nationwide from this scam in the second half of the previous year, with recent activity reported in the Rochester area.
**Key Prevention Tips:** Legitimate government agencies and businesses never ask you to convert assets to cash or valuables; avoid disclosing home addresses to unknown cal
today.rtl.lu
· 2025-12-08
A middle-aged Luxembourg resident lost €30,000 in a "spoofing" scam in which criminals using spoofed Luxembourgish phone numbers impersonated Luxtrust and Payconiq employees, manipulating him into surrendering his bank cards and security codes through a two-hour call. The scammers exploited the victim's compliance after a fake Payconiq message about an expired certificate, then convinced him fraudulent charges had been made and instructed him to enter credentials on a fake Luxtrust page. Despite filing a complaint, recovery is unlikely as the perpetrators operate from abroad and the transferred funds (€10,000 withdrawn from ATM, €
cryptotimes.io
· 2025-12-08
On July 24, 2024, decentralized exchange MonoSwap advised users to withdraw all funds immediately after discovering a security breach where hackers compromised a developer's machine through a phishing scam posing as venture capitalists, resulting in theft of the platform's staked liquidity. The incident occurred after a developer accidentally installed malware during a call with fraudsters, giving attackers access to MonoSwap's wallets and contracts. This breach is part of a broader wave of cryptocurrency platform hacks, including WazirX's $235 million loss and Compound Finance's phishing attack, highlighting escalating security vulnerabilities in the crypto industry.
colorado.edu
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides international students—particularly those seeking employment through OPT programs—with guidance on identifying and avoiding common scams including threatening calls impersonating government officials, employment scams, phishing, spoofing, and gift card payment requests. The article advises students to report any scams to local police and federal agencies such as the FTC and ICE, and to immediately contact their financial institutions if they've already sent money to attempt reversal of fraudulent transactions.
wilx.com
· 2025-12-08
Summer fraud incidents surge during peak travel season, with consumers losing over $10 billion to fraud annually, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Common scams include fake vacation rentals, phony hotel payment decline calls, counterfeit concert tickets, fraudulent cruise offers, and smishing texts about unpaid tolls—with the FBI reporting over 2,000 complaints related to toll collection scams. Experts advise using reputable booking sites, calling businesses directly to verify suspicious communications, purchasing tickets from official venues, and monitoring bank and credit accounts regularly for signs of identity theft.
sandiegouniontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
At a California senior scam awareness seminar, officials warned that seniors remain the primary target for financial fraud due to their assets, with losses exceeding $3.4 billion reported to the FBI in 2023 alone. Common scams targeting older adults include online romance fraud (median loss over $9,000 for those 70+), annuity schemes, imposter calls impersonating government agencies and companies, tech support scams, and home remodeling fraud. Experts advised seniors to verify caller information independently, recognize high-pressure sales tactics and false urgency, and remember that government agencies do not initiate contact by phone.
wxii12.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud investigators in Guilford County are warning senior citizens about a court-related scam in which callers falsely claim victims missed jury duty or failed to appear in court, demanding payment of fines to resolve the alleged offense. Detective Chris Malloy emphasized that law enforcement does not collect money over the phone and advised potential victims to recognize this as a fear-based scam; scammers accept payment through gift cards, cash, cryptocurrency, and gold, and are difficult to prosecute, especially when operating from overseas. The Guilford County Sheriff's Office offers a senior academy program to help residents protect themselves against fraud.
jcsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elder fraud reports to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center rose 14 percent, with over 101,000 victims aged 60 and older losing more than $3.4 billion—an average of $33,915 per victim. The most common scams included tech support fraud, investment schemes (costing $1.2 billion alone), government impersonation, romance scams, and cryptocurrency fraud, with scammers often using spoofed caller IDs and posing as agencies like the IRS and Social Security Administration. TARCOG hosted a Fraud & Scam Summit in Alabama to educate the community about these schemes and provide resources to
sandiegouniontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day highlights the widespread problem of elder abuse, with approximately 5 million older adults abused annually in the United States, though only 1 in 14 cases are reported. Financial fraud is the most common form of elder abuse, with victims losing roughly $30 billion yearly, and can be prevented through awareness of common scams (lottery schemes, identity theft, phishing), use of technology safeguards (bank alerts, account monitoring), and maintaining social connections. Older adults and their supporters are encouraged to report suspected abuse to Adult Protective Services, local law enforcement, or resources like the National Center on Elder Abuse and the Eldercare Locator (1-800
cubaheadlines.com
· 2025-12-08
An 87-year-old and 82-year-old couple in Miami lost $18,500 in a grandparent scam where a caller impersonated their grandson claiming to be arrested, directing them to send bail money via a Lyft driver who delivered it to the perpetrator. Agustín García Marsán, 38, was arrested and faces multiple charges including elder theft and organized fraud after being linked to similar scams across Florida and North Carolina using fake identities and ride-sharing services to collect money from elderly victims.
wbznewsradio.iheart.com
· 2025-12-08
Malden High School alerted families to a phishing scam in which criminals impersonated school administrators and emailed students fake job opportunities to steal personal and bank information. The scammers also made threats of physical violence and displayed gun images to coerce compliance, though authorities determined the threats lacked credibility. At least one student, senior Samara, nearly fell victim after clicking a fraudulent link but avoided submitting her information.
indeonline.com
· 2025-12-08
The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission warns of ongoing "smishing" scams where fraudsters send text messages impersonating toll authorities to trick drivers into paying fake tolls or surrendering personal information. As of April 2024, the FBI received over 2,000 reports of such attempts across at least three states, with scam texts typically claiming unpaid toll balances and directing victims to fraudulent websites. To protect themselves, consumers should avoid clicking links or responding to unsolicited text messages, verify toll information through official websites only, and report suspicious messages to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
bgindependentmedia.org
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages to Ohio Turnpike E-ZPass customers claiming unpaid tolls and directing them to fake payment websites. The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission clarifies that it never requests payments via text and that only ezpassoh.com and ohioturnpike.org are legitimate links for account inquiries.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article describes 12 common scams targeting seniors, including government impersonation (IRS, Medicare, Social Security), fake charity donations, lottery/sweepstakes schemes, phishing emails, voice recording scams, grandchild emergency requests, computer repair scams, and romance scams. The article advises seniors to verify requests independently, never provide personal information to unsolicited callers, hang up without responding to suspicious calls, and confirm the identity of family members before sending money.
desertnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Boron Seniors Center hosted a fraud prevention seminar in July presented by Alta One Federal Credit Union's branch manager Carol Hooks, who emphasized that seniors are disproportionately targeted by scammers despite fraud affecting all age groups. Hooks advised community members to trust their instincts when suspicious communications seem illegitimate, avoid following scammer instructions, and contact their financial institution or local police if they suspect fraud. The credit union has conducted multiple educational seminars across locations after members fell victim to fraud, recognizing that financial institutions cannot stop scams once they are underway and prevention through awareness is essential.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens lose approximately $3 billion annually to elder fraud, with scammers increasingly targeting seniors due to their financial security and trusting nature. The article identifies eight common scams affecting elderly individuals, including tech support/home repair fraud, grandchild impersonation schemes, government agency impersonation, fake sweepstakes, phishing emails (particularly fake Geek Squad invoices), overpayment scams, and unsubscribe email phishing attempts. Key prevention strategies include verifying caller identities independently, confirming stories with family members before sending money, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and researching companies before making purchases.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Three businesses in Guernsey fell victim to a sophisticated vishing scam in which fraudsters posing as NatWest International representatives called them and persuaded them to download malicious software that gave hackers complete control of their computers. The Office of the Data Protection Authority warned islanders to exercise extreme caution with unexpected calls, verify callers through independent means, and be particularly wary of scammers exploiting the recent worldwide IT outage as cover; fortunately, none of the targeted businesses suffered financial losses in this incident.
ifamagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Research from LV= found that 3.8 million UK adults lost money to purchase scams last year, with young adults aged 18-34 reporting higher victimization rates across all scam types (phishing, trusted organization impersonation, refund scams, and others) compared to those aged 65 and over. The disparity is attributed partly to younger adults spending significantly more time online (averaging 4 hours 35 minutes daily), making them more exposed to fraudulent schemes.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
This article educates military families and job seekers on recognizing online job scams, warning that legitimate employers never ask applicants to pay for positions or send checks to be partially returned. Red flags include unsolicited job offers, fake testimonials, unverifiable companies, and requests to communicate through unusual platforms like Microsoft Teams, with scammers targeting vulnerable individuals through job sites, social media, and email.