Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
7,257 results
in General Elder Fraud
capeargus.co.za
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old Cape Town retiree lost R10.6 million (his life savings and pension investment) to a business email compromise and banking fraud scheme in November-December 2024. Fraudsters impersonated his financial planner via email, convincing him to transfer funds to fake FNB and Capitec accounts instead of the legitimate financial institution, with money ultimately distributed across multiple accounts. The Hawks and South African police are investigating the organized criminal network believed to be operating from other African countries.
ghanabusinessnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 36-year-old Ghanaian businessman, Raymond Ofomala, was arraigned in Accra Circuit Court accused of defrauding a Finnish retiree, Marianne Kertain Elisabet Westerholm, of GH¢204,115.21 between July and August 2024. Ofomala allegedly posed as a state prosecutor named Frank Owusu and falsely promised to recover money the victim had previously lost to a romance scam (totaling $102,500 from 2019-2022), but instead collected funds under false pretenses through mobile money accounts. He pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud by false pretenses and obtaining
recordcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Ming Long Chen, 46, pleaded guilty to exploiting a 93-year-old Minden resident of $90,375 by impersonating a law enforcement officer and faces up to 20 years in prison at his June 24 sentencing. Two women, Zhu Ping Ge and Cindy Yaohua Guo, are separately charged with attempting to defraud a Gardnerville Ranchos resident of $18,000 through a subscription scam that began with online contact. Local law enforcement is conducting senior fraud protection seminars to educate residents about these schemes.
levittownnow.com
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old Philadelphia woman nearly fell victim to a sophisticated tech support scam in which fraudsters impersonating Microsoft and her bank claimed she had been hacked and threatened arrest, attempting to manipulate her into withdrawing cash to purchase cryptocurrency. The scam exploited heightened emotions and urgency, tactics that have become more effective with AI advancement and access to personal data on the dark web. According to the FTC, Americans lost between $23.7 billion and $158.3 billion to financial scams in 2023-2024, with cryptocurrency transfers and digital payment methods making these crimes particularly difficult to trace and recover from.
sanduskyregister.com
· 2025-12-08
This appears to be a website notification or system message rather than an article about elder fraud or scams. It contains generic account management prompts (email verification, session renewal) and a promotional offer for retirement savings tips. There is no fraud, scam, or elder abuse content to summarize for the Elderus database.
gonorthumberland.ca
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old woman in Cobourg lost $300 to an email scam that falsely claimed a family member was hospitalized and needed urgent financial help, which she sent via Amazon gift cards. Cobourg Police Service warns residents to verify emergency messages by contacting family members directly through trusted channels and notes that legitimate organizations rarely request payment in gift cards, while scammers often use emotional language, urgency, poor grammar, and suspicious email addresses. Victims should report fraud to their email provider and law enforcement, or contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
agrinews-pubs.com
· 2025-12-08
The CAPTCHA scam exploits users' familiarity with legitimate verification tests by embedding malware into fake CAPTCHA prompts that install without the user's knowledge to steal personal information. Users can protect themselves by verifying websites use "https" encryption, avoiding unexpected CAPTCHA pop-ups, refusing downloads prompted by CAPTCHAs, and maintaining current antivirus protection.
mitrade.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans aged 60 and above lost $4.8 billion to cybercrime in 2024, a 43% increase year-over-year, with 7,500 seniors each losing $100,000 or more—more than any other age group according to the FBI's Internet Crime Report. Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to digital literacy gaps, isolation, financial assets, and trust in institutions that scammers impersonate, with cryptocurrency scams (especially "pig butchering" romance cons) and tech support fraud being especially profitable schemes. The article argues that current regulatory and institutional responses are fragmented and inadequate, placing fraud prevention burden on individuals rather than treating elder cybercrime
thegazette.com
· 2025-12-08
This article profiles Michael Wagler, the new Iowa state director for AARP, who brings over two decades of community development experience to the role. The article highlights AARP's 2025 priorities including financial security, noting that elderly Americans lose over $3 billion annually to fraud and scams, and details the "Stop the Scammers" tour—a partnership between AARP Iowa, the Iowa Attorney General's Office, and the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services to educate the public on avoiding fraud schemes. Research shows that people aware of fraud schemes are 80 percent less likely to become victims.
wcexaminer.com
· 2025-12-08
State Rep. Tina Pickett and Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters hosted a free educational seminar on May 9 in Tunkhannock to help residents recognize and avoid scams, particularly targeting seniors. The event featured Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities coordinator George Dillman, who presented information on common scams and included an interactive "Fraud Bingo" game to teach fraud prevention strategies. The seminar was part of an ongoing effort to educate the public as scammers become increasingly aggressive and deceptive.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
As gold prices reach record highs over $5,300 per ounce, the Perth Mint and WA Police have warned of a surge in counterfeit gold scams targeting online buyers on platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace. The schemes involve fake gold bars and coins plated with copper and zinc bearing fraudulent Perth Mint branding, as well as marketing schemes where buyers cannot retrieve their funds; authorities recommend purchasing gold only from the mint or reputable dealers to verify authenticity.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
The Huntington Public Library announced its May events calendar, which includes a "Senior Scams" educational session scheduled for Wednesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The informational presentation will cover common types of senior scams and protective safeguards to help prevent fraud victimization, recognizing that seniors are particularly vulnerable to emotional and financial hardships resulting from such schemes.
wtae.com
· 2025-12-08
Three individuals—Todd, Ty, and Laura Reppert—were charged with financial exploitation of an elderly woman named Donna Reppert after misappropriating approximately $500,000 between January 2019 and January 2023. Todd Reppert, who held power of attorney over Donna's finances, along with the two other defendants, diverted funds for personal expenses including bills, vehicle purchases, real estate acquisitions, and online gambling despite having no legal authorization to do so. The Pennsylvania State Police filed charges including financial exploitation of an elder, corrupt organizations, conspiracy, and multiple felony theft counts.
coingeek.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. House lawmakers introduced the bipartisan GUARD Act on April 21 to combat "pig butchering" scams and financial fraud targeting older Americans, particularly through online and investment schemes. The legislation would equip federal, state, and local law enforcement with blockchain technology tools to trace and prosecute scammers, addressing a crisis in which Americans reported over $12.5 billion in fraud losses in 2024 (a 25% increase year-over-year), with older adults suffering disproportionately higher losses—including pig butchering schemes that accounted for 33.2% of digital asset scam revenue in 2024.
wral.com
· 2025-12-08
Eight suspects were charged in a Chatham County fraud investigation for stealing approximately $40,000 from an elderly victim through identity theft and obtaining property by false pretense, with fraudulent charges beginning in April 2023. The investigation required multiple search warrants to track individual transactions, and was aided by the victim's daughter who held power of attorney and could access financial records. Law enforcement emphasized the importance of monitoring elderly relatives' bank accounts, researching caregivers, and recognizing urgency-based scams as red flags.
ktnv.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal Trade Commission data shows Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, with adults 70 and older reporting a median loss of $1,000. Seniors are increasingly targeted through phishing emails impersonating banks or the Social Security Administration to steal personal information and Social Security benefits, though many victims avoid reporting due to embarrassment. Officials recommend protecting yourself by monitoring bank statements, shredding documents with personal information, never sharing details via email or phone, and verifying any Social Security Administration communications directly.
fox9.com
· 2025-12-08
Texting scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with common schemes including fake unpaid toll notices, prize offers, student loan assistance, and AI-generated celebrity videos (such as Kevin Costner impersonations) that request money. Minnesota ranks 12th nationally for impostor scams with a median loss of $800 per victim, and experts advise recognizing red flags such as urgent requests, unknown senders, international numbers, and requests for gift cards or remote computer access, noting that legitimate government agencies and the FBI never ask for payment via gift cards.
yorkdispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
Brian and Ashlee Brady, a Hanover couple, were ordered to trial on charges of abusing Brady's elderly mother, misusing over $10,000 of her money for personal vacations and activities, and defrauding Medicaid through false caregiving claims. The abuse included confining the elderly woman to a basement corner behind a pet gate with minimal food and water while the couple traveled, and Ashlee Brady allegedly committed perjury and witness intimidation during the investigation. Both face multiple felonies including financial exploitation of a care-dependent person, with Brian additionally charged with submitting fraudulent medical assistance claims.
theapopkavoice.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elder fraud caused more than $3.4 billion in losses nationwide, with the average victim losing nearly $34,000 to scams including tech support schemes, phishing, and fake shopping websites. The Senior Resource Alliance is donating 5,000 downloads of the CyberFence cybersecurity app to Central Florida seniors in 2025 to help protect vulnerable older adults from digital threats while using online services like telehealth and virtual communication.
insurancenewsnet.com
· 2025-12-08
An Arkansas woman who worked as a customer service representative at a bank was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stealing from elderly customers. The defendant deliberately exploited her position of trust and targeted elderly account holders, particularly those unfamiliar with electronic banking.
timesofsandiego.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP California is launching the San Diego Scam Jam Tour with over 20 free fraud prevention events running May through July across San Diego County, offering education on recognizing common scams, cybersecurity workshops, and document shredding services. The initiative is a collaboration between AARP California, San Diego County, the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, and Senior Tech Connect, and comes as elder fraud victims in San Diego County lost approximately $100 million in 2023, with nationwide losses reaching $12.5 billion that year.
upi.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian national Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata was sentenced to 97 months in prison for an international inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly U.S. victims of more than $6 million. Ogbata and co-conspirators sent letters falsely claiming to represent a Spanish bank and offering victims inheritances from fictitious family members, then requesting upfront payments for delivery fees and taxes. The Justice Department emphasized the case as part of its commitment to prosecuting transnational criminals targeting vulnerable seniors and reminded elderly Americans to report fraud to the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11.
reviewjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old Las Vegas woman, Barbara Trickle, pleaded guilty to organizing a prize notice fraud scheme that defrauded thousands of consumers, predominantly elderly victims, by mailing millions of fraudulent notices claiming they had won cash prizes requiring $20-$50 fees to collect. Operating from 2012 to February 2018, Trickle used her printing and mailing business to produce the notices and stole over $15 million before the scheme was shut down by federal authorities.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, a Nigerian national, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for leading a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming victims had inherited money from deceased overseas relatives and requesting upfront payments for delivery fees and taxes before the funds could be released. The defendants used a network of U.S.-based money mules to collect victim payments, with no victim ever receiving any actual inheritance funds.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Barbara Trickle, 80, of Las Vegas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for operating a prize notice scam from 2012 to February 2018 that defrauded thousands of consumers, predominantly elderly, of over $15 million. Trickle and her co-conspirators mailed fraudulent notices claiming victims had won cash prizes and would receive them upon paying $20-$50 fees; victims instead received worthless reports or trinkets and were subsequently inundated with additional fraudulent mailings. The scheme was shut down following a U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigation and court order.
columbiamagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a meaningful summary of this content. The article appears to be a local community magazine webpage containing directory listings, advertisements, and a brief reader letter rather than a substantive news article about fraud. While reader Vicky Pike mentions receiving a scam text message and expresses concern about seniors being targeted, no specific details about the scam itself, affected individuals, dollar amounts, or outcomes are provided in the text presented.
click2houston.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud and theft targeting seniors in Houston is increasingly prevalent, with impersonation fraud being the most common method, often targeting those posing as bank or Medicare representatives. Key protective measures include setting up bank transaction alerts, avoiding checks, building relationships with bank staff for verification calls, placing fraud alerts with credit bureaus, and involving family members in financial monitoring. Seniors are advised to hang up on suspicious calls and independently verify claims by contacting their bank directly, and victims of identity theft can seek guidance through IdentityTheft.gov.
kesq.com
· 2025-12-08
The Palm Springs Police Department is warning seniors in the Coachella Valley about increasingly sophisticated online scams targeting older adults through phone calls, emails, text messages, and QR codes to steal personal and financial information. The Joslyn Center in Palm Desert is combating these scams by offering weekly "Teach Tech" classes that educate seniors on how to identify and avoid common fraud tactics, and is seeking volunteers to expand these educational programs to meet growing demand.
amac.us
· 2025-12-08
Diversion scams targeting seniors are on the rise, with a cluster of burglaries in Philadelphia where two perpetrators worked together—one posed as a worker (fence or electrician) to distract elderly victims while the other burglarized their homes, stealing over $250,000 in jewelry, cash, and valuables. Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to having financial savings, living alone, and often being trusting, making them attractive targets. Protection strategies include verifying unknown visitors' identities through official channels, maintaining home security (locked doors, peepholes, good lighting), never opening doors to strangers, and immediately reporting suspicious activity to police.
guardian.ng
· 2025-12-08
Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, a 36-year-old Nigerian man, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for operating an international inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly victims of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming to be from a Spanish bank offering inheritance money, then requiring victims to pay fees and taxes upfront before receiving funds that never materialized. The investigation involved international collaboration between U.S. law enforcement agencies and authorities from Portugal, the UK, Spain, and Europol.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP reports that fraud affecting U.S. citizens has grown significantly, with reported fraud victimization rising from 15% to 41% over the past seven to eight years, with older adults experiencing the greatest financial losses to their retirement security. The organization recommends key protective measures including using unique, strong passwords managed through a password manager and downloading apps only from official sources to avoid fraudulent alternatives. AARP emphasizes that fraud is a crime affecting people of all ages and technical skill levels, and victims should not be blamed for falling victim to these schemes.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Barbara Trickle, 80, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for operating a printing and mailing business that produced millions of fraudulent prize notices between 2012 and 2018. The scheme targeted thousands of Americans, particularly elderly and vulnerable victims, who were told they could claim large cash prizes by paying fees of $20-$50, resulting in approximately $15.5 million in total losses. Trickle faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a minimum fine of $250,000.
thenevadaglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old Las Vegas woman, Barbara Trickle, pleaded guilty to orchestrating a nationwide prize scam that defrauded over $15 million from victims between 2012 and 2018, primarily targeting senior citizens through fake lottery and sweepstakes notices requesting fees of $20-$50. No victims received promised prizes, and federal authorities shut down her printing and mailing business operation through multiple search warrants. The Department of Justice encourages seniors and fraud victims to report similar scams to the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11.
news3lv.com
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old Las Vegas woman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for operating a printing and mailing business that produced millions of fake prize notices between 2012 and 2018, defrauding victims of over $15 million. The scheme instructed recipients to pay $20-$50 fees to claim non-existent cash prizes, then either sent worthless items or inundated victims with additional fraudulent mailings. The defendant supervised the lasering, printing, and mailing of the notices targeting vulnerable community members.
boothbayregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office documented 29 fraud cases in 2024 with potential losses totaling $452,356 for local residents, with romance and family emergency scams causing the highest losses ($222,780), followed by technical support scams ($94,300) and cryptocurrency fraud ($55,000). The office is seeing a recent spike in grandparent and bail scams, including cases where scammers sent couriers to victims' homes to collect cash in person, with two separate victims losing $63,000 combined in the first quarter of 2025. Law enforcement advises victims to verify emergency claims by calling the person directly and to be aware that legitimate bail commissioners and law enforcement will never
wiscassetnewspaper.com
· 2025-12-08
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office documented 29 fraud cases in 2024 with potential losses of $452,356 to local residents, with romance and family emergency scams accounting for the highest losses at $222,780, followed by technical support scams at $94,300 and cryptocurrency fraud at $55,000. Detective Jared Mitkus reported a recent spike in grandparent/bail scams (March 2025), including two cases where victims lost $63,000 total to couriers collecting cash at their homes, and emphasized that legitimate bail commissioners and law enforcement never collect bail payments in person. Law enforcement advises victims to verify emergency calls by directly contacting the family member
lifehacker.com
· 2025-12-08
The "wrong number" text scam is increasingly prevalent, with approximately 25% of Americans receiving such messages, which criminals use to validate active phone numbers and build trust before conducting "pig butchering" schemes or stealing personal information. Text message scams caused consumers to lose $470 million in 2024, a five-fold increase from 2020, with scammers using AI to tailor believable messages and identify vulnerable targets through social media. To protect yourself, do not respond to unknown numbers, mark messages as spam using your phone's reporting features, and forward suspicious texts to 7726.
tmj4.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired woman in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin lost her entire savings of $24,000 to a cryptocurrency scam after scammers impersonated Microsoft and her bank, convincing her to transfer money to a Bitcoin ATM under the false pretense of protecting her account from fraud. Local police reported an alarming increase in similar crypto scams over the past year, with some departments posting warning signs at Bitcoin ATMs to alert residents to common scam tactics. Once the money was transferred to the ATM, it was lost and likely moved internationally.
thesuntimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old customer service representative at a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stealing $301,674.89 from at least 10 elderly customers using unauthorized access to their personal information and account details. Brown exploited her position of trust to transfer victim funds via wires, electronic debits, and Zelle, targeting elderly account holders she knew were unfamiliar with electronic banking.
wdef.com
· 2025-12-08
Vickie Long of Ringgold, Georgia pleaded guilty to exploiting her elderly mother through an elaborate scheme involving false cancer diagnoses and fake treatment costs, ultimately defrauding her mother of approximately $200,000. After Adult Protective Services intervened, Long escalated her crimes by stealing directly from her mother's checking and savings accounts, causing her victim to lose her home. Long received a 30-year sentence with 15 years to serve in jail, having spent most of the stolen funds on fentanyl.
regtechtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Barbara Trickle, an 80-year-old Las Vegas resident, pleaded guilty to operating a prize notice scam that defrauded over $15 million from thousands of elderly victims across the United States between 2012 and 2018. Using her printing and mailing company, Trickle designed and distributed millions of fraudulent letters claiming recipients had won cash prizes but needed to pay small upfront fees ($20-$50) to claim them; victims received only cheap trinkets or bogus reports and were repeatedly targeted with additional mailings. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service shut down the operation in February 2018, and authorities warn the public to avoid responding
mondaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal banking regulators issued guidance in late 2024 to help banks detect and prevent elder financial exploitation through an Interagency Statement outlining nine implementation areas. The statement emphasizes employee training to identify red flags, transaction holds and delays when fraud is suspected, and use of trusted contacts—designated third parties customers authorize banks to contact when exploitation is suspected—as key strategies for protecting older adults from scams. Banks are encouraged to review state laws on holding suspicious transactions and ensure frontline staff can recognize behavioral warning signs of elder fraud.
myfox28columbus.com
· 2025-12-08
Ohio state agencies warned seniors of escalating financial fraud threats during Older Ohioans Month, noting that Securities Division complaints rose 22% in 2024 to 302 cases, while national elder fraud losses reached $1.6 billion in the first five months of 2024. Officials highlighted increasingly sophisticated scams including AI voice cloning and cryptocurrency schemes, urging seniors to verify identities, resist pressure tactics, and monitor accounts closely.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported $9.3 billion in losses from cryptocurrency-related scams across 149,686 complaints, a 66% increase from the previous year and the highest figure in IC3 history. Individuals aged 60 and older were the most affected demographic, accounting for over 33,000 complaints and $2.8 billion in losses—nearly one-third of total losses—with younger age groups also significantly impacted. Scammers employed tactics including investment fraud, social engineering, phishing, and impersonation of legitimate platforms, with victims often manipulated via social media and dating apps into transferring funds
mondaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Online scams using remote access software (such as AnyDesk and TeamViewer) have become increasingly sophisticated, with fraudsters posing as financial advisers or IT technicians to trick victims into granting device access, allowing them to steal funds, personal data, and banking credentials. These scams cause significant financial losses and serious long-term psychological consequences, including damage to credit ratings and erosion of trust. Criminals typically initiate contact via phone, email, or social media, impersonate trusted institutions, and once granted access, transfer funds to untraceable accounts, purchase cryptocurrencies, or manipulate online banking systems.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This article describes an educational event held by AARP Virginia that presented information about six types of scams targeting older adults, paired with wine tastings. The scams covered included cryptocurrency fraud (where victims are tricked into depositing cash at crypto ATMs), jury duty scams (imposter calls claiming arrest is imminent unless fines are paid), and romance scams, with volunteers providing recognition strategies and prevention advice for each.
kgfw.com
· 2025-12-08
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers issued a consumer alert regarding a surge in romance scams and cryptocurrency investment fraud, with multiple victims losing six-figure sums after scammers used fake trading platforms and fabricated documents to convince them their investments were growing. Seniors have been particularly targeted, though victims span all age groups, with scammers often establishing fake romantic relationships before soliciting cryptocurrency investments. The alert advises avoiding unsolicited crypto investment offers, especially those promising high returns with minimal risk, and recommends reporting suspected scams to the FBI's IC3 or the Nebraska Attorney General's office.
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
· 2025-12-08
A criminal ring operating from Cambodia used deepfake technology to create fake personas of attractive women and men to conduct romance and investment scams, defrauding over 100 victims of approximately $8.39 million since March 2024. Police arrested 10 suspects and booked 35 others involved in the operation, which targeted vulnerable populations including people with disabilities, the elderly, and homemakers, with individual losses ranging from approximately $1,400 to $560,000. The scammers built elaborate fake identities with detailed backstories and video call capabilities to gain trust before requesting money for living expenses or directing victims to fraudulent investment platforms.
klin.com
· 2025-12-08
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers issued a consumer alert warning of a sharp rise in cryptocurrency investment scams, many beginning with online romance schemes that lure victims—particularly seniors—into fake crypto platforms where they invest six-figure sums based on fabricated documents showing high returns. Scammers typically start with small investments and emotional connections before pressuring victims to deposit more money, sometimes depleting entire retirement savings. The Attorney General advises avoiding crypto investments promising high returns with little risk, never sending money to people you haven't met in person, and reporting suspected scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
messagemedia.co
· 2025-12-08