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cointelegraph.com
Michael Zidell filed a lawsuit against Citibank in Manhattan federal court, alleging the bank ignored red flags and failed to monitor suspicious transactions that allowed romance scammers to steal $20 million from him—including nearly $4 million routed through Citibank accounts belonging to a company called Guju Inc. The scam began in early 2023 when Zidell was contacted by a fake persona on Facebook posing as a business owner named Carolyn Parker, who convinced him to invest in NFTs through a fraudulent trading platform that ultimately disappeared with his funds. Zidell claims Citibank processed 12 suspicious transfers totaling around $4
kvoa.com
Jamaican man Sherwayne Benjamin Bellinfantie was extradited to Tucson to face federal charges for orchestrating a romance and sweepstakes scam targeting an 85-year-old Vail woman from 2015 to 2019. The victim lost $400,000 after being deceived into believing she was in a romantic relationship and had won a lottery; she has since passed away. This case reflects the FBI's growing concern over romance and lottery scams in Arizona, which saw a 400 percent increase in lottery scams between 2023 and 2024.
wired-gov.net
Ahmed Ali Suleman, 63, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for laundering over £1.9 million gained from a romance fraud operation between 2015 and 2017. Using his textile business as a front, Suleman processed fraudulent payments from 77 vulnerable victims—many elderly, lonely, or widowed—who were deceived by West African-based scammers posing as romantic partners on dating websites. The case demonstrates how money launderers enable romance fraud by providing the financial infrastructure that makes such schemes profitable and sustainable.
crypto.news
Michael Zidell lost $20 million in a "pig butchering" romance scam after being targeted on Facebook by a scammer posing as a woman named Carolyn Parker, who lured him into fraudulent NFT investments through fake account statements. Zidell sued Citibank for negligence, alleging the bank failed to detect and act on suspicious wire transfers—including twelve transactions totaling nearly $4 million to an account held by Guju Inc. that contradicted the account holder's declared business activity and violated Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering laws. Pig butchering scams resulted in $5.8 billion in investment fraud losses in 2024
stocktitan.net
**Summary:**
Trend Micro launched Scam Radar, a new feature in its ScamCheck app that provides real-time detection of coordinated scam tactics across SMS, websites, and messaging apps. According to Trend Micro's study of 6,632 consumers across six countries, 30% had been scam victims, with common fraud types including online shopping scams (27%) and investment fraud (22%), often with victims not realizing they were targeted until significant financial loss occurred.
trendmicro.com
This article is a product description and educational piece about Trend Micro ScamCheck, an AI-powered anti-scam tool designed to protect users from modern identity theft and fraud. The tool offers features including scam call/text blocking, deepfake detection, suspicious content analysis, and real-time alerts to help users identify and avoid scams across multiple platforms (SMS, email, social media, video calls, and websites). The piece emphasizes that scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics and that anyone can be targeted, making dedicated anti-scam protection necessary alongside traditional antivirus software.
justice.gov
This educational resource defines elder fraud as the exploitation of adults age 60+ for monetary gain through tactics like impersonation, romance scams, and fake investment schemes, with seniors losing over $5.9 billion annually. Common scammer tactics include using fear, false hope, romance, pressure, isolation, and threats, while phishing emails often urge account verification or threaten account closure. Protection strategies include never responding to unsolicited requests for personal information, verifying website security, avoiding suspicious links, maintaining updated security software, and consulting trusted family members before sending money.
fox23maine.com
A new report from the Identity Theft Resource Center reveals that AI-powered scams are becoming more sophisticated and costly, with cybercriminals using AI to create convincing fake websites, emails, and deepfakes to impersonate trusted brands and financial institutions. While the number of identity crime reports declined, victims lost significantly more money per incident, with impersonation scams rising 148% year-over-year and nearly 1 in 4 victims targeted multiple times. The report shows a positive trend: more people are seeking prevention advice, indicating growing awareness of these threats, and individuals are encouraged to use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and verify caller identity before sharing personal information.
cmadocs.org
CMS issued a warning about fraudulent fax requests falsely claiming to be Medicare audits, in which scammers impersonate CMS to trick healthcare providers into releasing medical records. CMS clarified that it does not initiate audits via fax and advised providers to verify all audit requests through Noridian and report suspicious communications to CMS.
dfpi.ca.gov
Scammers increasingly target older adults by impersonating legitimate organizations or trusted contacts and directing victims to deposit cash into crypto ATMs, where funds are transferred irreversibly to the scammers' digital wallets. The fraudsters create artificial urgency through claims of emergencies or frozen accounts, often remaining on the phone to guide victims through transactions and directing them via QR codes to scan at the machines. Victims can protect themselves by verifying requests through official channels, resisting urgency, and remembering that no legitimate organization requests crypto ATM deposits.
mansfieldnewsjournal.com
Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber warns that phishing scams and other internet fraud schemes continue to cost Ohio taxpayers significant amounts, with fraudsters constantly developing new tactics to steal personal information. The auditor emphasizes that these scams are widespread and nearly unavoidable in modern life, urging residents not to fall victim to these evolving schemes.
aba.com
I cannot provide a summary of this content. What you've shared appears to be a navigation menu or table of contents from a banking industry website (likely the American Bankers Association), not an article or transcript about elder fraud, scams, or abuse.
To help with the Elderus database, please provide:
- An actual article or news story about a scam or fraud incident
- A transcript of an interview or account about elder abuse
- An educational piece on fraud prevention or awareness
Once you share relevant content, I'll provide a concise 2-3 sentence summary focused on what happened, who was affected, the scam type, and outcomes.
theunion.com
On June 20, 2025, Rushabh Rajesh Desai, 35, of San Jose, was arrested by Nevada County Sheriff's Office deputies after attempting to scam a 75-year-old woman out of $30,000 through a phone scam; a vigilant friend called 911 while the scam was in progress, allowing deputies to intercept Desai's vehicle near the victim's residence. Desai was charged with conspiracy to commit crime, attempting to obtain money by false pretense, and elder theft. The sheriff's office emphasized that scams targeting elderly individuals are common and often go unreported due to victim shame, and recommends immediate action including
azag.gov
Arizona's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit received the Inspector General's Award for Fighting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2025, marking the second time in five years the office earned this honor. In fiscal year 2024, the unit achieved 91 indictments, 41 convictions, and recovered over $74 million, with joint investigations yielding an additional $140 million in recoveries through cases involving drug diversion, patient abuse, unnecessary surgeries, and fraudulent billing schemes across 44 provider types.
khou.com
Darlington Akporugo, 47, and Jasmin Sood, 37, from Fulshear, Texas, were sentenced to 188 and 121 months in federal prison, respectively, for operating a romance scam that defrauded over 25 elderly victims out of $3.1 million between 2015 and 2022. The couple used fake social media profiles and online dating sites to pose as widowers and military personnel, gaining victims' trust before coercing them to send money for fake business investments or personal expenses, while using the funds for luxury vehicles and mansions. Both defendants must pay full restitution and serve three years of
okcfox.com
I don't see a full article text in your submission—only a title and a news section header. To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the actual content of the "How to avoid romance scams, on Playing It Safe" article.
Could you please provide the complete article text so I can summarize the key advice or findings about romance scam prevention?
familywealthreport.com
Romance fraud—emotional manipulation by scammers to extract money or personal information—has surged significantly in the UK, with over 8,500 reports totaling £92 million in 2024 alone. Elderly and vulnerable individuals are particularly at risk due to isolation, cognitive decline, and limited digital literacy, leaving victims financially depleted and emotionally traumatized. The article recommends practical protective measures including maintaining open family communication, encouraging digital literacy training, monitoring unusual financial behavior, implementing account controls, and leveraging legal tools like Lasting Powers of Attorney to safeguard vulnerable relatives.
cps.gov.uk
Ahmed Ali Suleman, 63, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for laundering over £1.9 million for international romance scammers operating between January 2015 and November 2017. Using his textile export business as a front, Suleman processed fraudulent payments from 77 vulnerable victims—many elderly, lonely, or widowed—who had been manipulated into transferring money through fake dating profiles by West African-based criminals. His conviction demonstrates law enforcement's commitment to targeting money launderers who enable romance fraud networks and facilitate the exploitation of vulnerable people.
newsfilecorp.com
Senior Scam Alerts, a new free weekly newsletter launched in June 2025, aims to educate older Americans about fraud prevention through coverage of scam types, detection methods, and reporting procedures. According to FBI data, seniors aged 60+ lost nearly $4.9 billion to scams in 2024—a 43% increase from the previous year with an average loss of $83,000 per victim—prompting this educational initiative drawing from trusted sources like the FBI and Department of Justice.
theglobeandmail.com
Senior Scam Alerts, a free weekly newsletter, launched in June 2025 to educate older Americans about fraud prevention following a crisis year in which Americans aged 60+ lost nearly $4.9 billion to scams in 2024—a 43% increase from the prior year with average losses exceeding $83,000 per victim. The newsletter covers various scam types including health insurance fraud, pig butchering, smishing, and grandparent scams, providing prevention tips, real-life case studies, and reporting resources drawn from trusted sources like the FBI and Department of Justice.
aol.com
This educational article identifies five red flags that warn seniors they may be targeted for scams, emphasizing that older adults lose nearly $5 billion annually and are targeted because they hold roughly half of U.S. wealth. The first two red flags discussed are feeling panicked (as in grandparent scams demanding immediate bail) and pressure to make fast decisions (such as investment opportunities or fake retail websites), with experts advising victims to slow down, create mental space, and independently verify claims rather than acting immediately.
wyff4.com
The city of Inman, South Carolina fell victim to a payment fraud scam in which officials mistakenly paid an unknown party instead of a legitimate contractor owed money. The incident was reported to the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office on Friday, June 20, 2025, and the sheriff's office has launched an investigation with assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the FBI.
yahoo.com
Seniors lost nearly $5 billion to scams last year and remain prime targets due to their concentrated wealth, according to the FBI. The article identifies five red flags indicating a potential scam: feeling panicked, pressure to make fast decisions, unsolicited contact, requests for personal information, and reluctance to verify claims—noting that scammers rely on emotional manipulation and time pressure to override victims' judgment. Experts advise pausing to think critically when experiencing these warning signs, as scammers count on immediate reactions rather than careful consideration.
local.aarp.org
Over 180 Utahns attended a Scam Jam event presented by AARP Utah and the FBI to learn fraud prevention strategies, as Utah residents had lost more than $15.4 million to fraud in 2025, with $12 million of that from people aged 50 and older. The event featured FBI officials, state consumer protection leaders, and media experts who shared real victim stories, including a text scam and a romance scam that cost one woman $90,000, while emphasizing prevention tactics such as scrutinizing email addresses for typos and reporting fraud quickly to authorities.
abc.net.au
The Gold Coast Marathon's rapid sell-out (half marathon in 4 hours, full marathon in 4 days) created high demand that scammers exploited by flooding social media with fake ticket offers. A 36-year-old runner lost money when she purchased a non-existent ticket from a scammer posing as a legitimate runner on Facebook, though she recognized the fraud when additional fees were requested. Marathon organizers have implemented security measures requiring ticket transfers through an official registration portal only, while cybersecurity experts warn that modern AI-assisted scams are increasingly difficult to detect and that social media platforms should do more to prevent fraudulent accounts from operating.
amac.us
This educational resource presents a chart detailing common scams targeting consumers, including AI scams (deepfake impersonations), bank text scams (phishing for account information), billing/invoice scams (fake invoices demanding payment), brushing scams (unsolicited items to boost reviews), and charity scams. The guide identifies shared scammer tactics such as impersonation, creating urgency, and pressuring victims to share personal information, while offering specific identification and prevention strategies for each scam type. The material encourages sharing this information with friends and family as a primary defense against fraud.
huffpost.com
According to the FBI's annual internet crime report, seniors lost nearly $5 billion to scams last year and are disproportionately targeted by scammers who view them as wealthy, not feeble-minded. The article identifies two major red flags for potential scams: feeling panicked and experiencing pressure to make fast decisions, and recommends that seniors slow down, create mental space to think, and independently verify claims before acting. Various protective services and apps have been developed to help seniors guard against financial exploitation.
finance.yahoo.com
Doctor spoofing calls, where scammers manipulate caller ID to impersonate doctors' offices, Medicare, pharmacies, or hospitals, were named the New York StateWide Senior Action Council's Medicare Fraud of the Month for June 2025. Scammers use these spoofed calls to trick seniors into revealing personal information such as Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, and insurance details by claiming to need verification for medical services or test results. Seniors can protect themselves by hanging up and calling back using trusted phone numbers, never sharing personal information with unknown callers, avoiding "YES" or "NO" responses, and reporting suspected fraud to the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol Helpline at
pa.gov
Pennsylvania state agencies warned residents about a fake inheritance scam targeting older adults, in which scammers impersonated Commonwealth employees via spoofed emails claiming a distant relative had left money and demanding hundreds of thousands of dollars in upfront fees to release the funds. Officials stressed that legitimate Pennsylvania agencies use @pa.gov email addresses, will not demand quick action or secrecy, and urged residents to verify requests with trusted contacts before responding.
kcbx.org
State Senator Monique Limón is hosting a free Senior Scam Prevention Seminar in Goleta on June 27 to educate older adults about protecting themselves from fraud, following warnings from law enforcement in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties about recent scam calls impersonating officers. Experts from the California Department of Insurance, Consumer Affairs, and Department of Justice will present information on common scam tactics including fake tech support, grandparent scams, fake lottery winnings, and phony home repair offers that frequently target seniors.
theguardian.com
A Chinese student in London was sentenced to over a year in prison for using a portable "SMS blaster" device to send fraudulent text messages to tens of thousands of people between March 22-27, 2025. The device tricks mobile phones into connecting to a fake 2G network, allowing criminals to bypass anti-spam measures and send convincing phishing messages impersonating legitimate organizations like HMRC. Security experts recommend disabling 2G on Android devices and filtering unknown contacts on iPhones, while users can report suspicious texts to 7726 for investigation.
infosecurity-magazine.com
Impersonation scams surged 148% year-over-year from April 2024 to March 2025, now accounting for 34% of all identity crimes reported to the Identity Theft Resource Center, with businesses (51%) and financial institutions (21%) as primary targets. AI tools are enabling cybercriminals to scale campaigns more effectively through fake websites, phishing emails, and fraudulent ads, though the ITRC notes that overall reported identity crimes declined 31% while the percentage of victims reporting multiple incidents increased from 15% to 24%. The organization warns that fewer reports likely reflect underreporting rather than fewer actual crimes, and that criminals are increasingly using AI to democratize
wgme.com
AI-powered scams are increasing in sophistication and financial impact, with the Identity Theft Resource Center reporting fewer overall identity crime reports but significantly higher losses per victim. Impersonation scams rose 148% year-over-year, with criminals using AI to create convincing fake websites, emails, and messages impersonating banks and businesses, while also targeting victims through employment fraud and Google Voice scams. The positive trend is growing public awareness, with more people seeking prevention advice before becoming victims.
shreveportbossieradvocate.com
Louisiana residents lose millions annually to identity theft, with the state ranking eighth nationally at 350 cases per 100,000 residents, costing nearly $47 million in fraud losses in 2023. Common methods include database breaches, phishing, malware, and dumpster diving, though experts recommend setting up fraud alerts, credit freezes, and responding quickly to suspicious activity to prevent theft, particularly during peak spending seasons like summer travel. AARP Louisiana and Georges Media Group are partnering on a June 26 town hall to educate residents about local scams and fraud prevention strategies.
tcsheriff.org
Travis County Sheriff's Office warns residents about phone scams impersonating law enforcement and financial institutions to demand immediate payment via untraceable methods like cryptocurrency, wire transfers, and gift cards. Common scams include jury duty fines, grandchild-in-jail schemes, and fake bank fraud alerts that trick victims into withdrawing money or providing personal information. Residents should never send money over the phone to unknown callers and should independently verify requests by contacting official agencies directly rather than calling back spoofed numbers.
justice.gov
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada and FBI Las Vegas Division are reinforcing efforts to combat elder fraud during World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, noting that such schemes cost billions annually and affect over 100,000 elder Americans each year. The office charged Aurora Phelps with 21 counts including wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft for allegedly defrauding older men she met through online dating services; Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico. The Justice Department provides a National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-FRAUD-11) offering personalized support to victims age 60 and older, with case managers helping victims report fraud an
myfox28columbus.com
This educational piece highlights that approximately 1 in 10 seniors experiences elder abuse, with Ohio alone receiving over 40,000 abuse referrals in the past year. The Franklin County Office of Aging director emphasizes the importance of recognizing warning signs to protect vulnerable seniors during World Elder Abuse Awareness Month.
yubanet.com
On June 20, 2025, Rushabh Rajesh Desai, 35, of San Jose, was arrested by Nevada County Sheriff's Office deputies after attempting to scam a 75-year-old woman out of $30,000 through a phone scam; a concerned friend called 911 during the scam in progress, and deputies located Desai's vehicle near the victim's residence before the money could be handed over. Desai was charged with conspiracy to commit crime, attempting to obtain money by false pretense, and elder theft. The incident highlights the importance of contacting law enforcement or a trusted person immediately when suspicious contact occurs, as this quick action prevented the
aol.com
A Philadelphia man lost over $1 million in two consecutive scams orchestrated by a fraudster posing as "Daisy" from Apple customer support. The scam began when he called a fake Apple support number, and evolved from a customer service fraud (where he was tricked into buying gift cards) into a romance scam that built trust over months of daily communication, ultimately resulting in him handing over $780,000 in precious metals to a money mule. The article warns consumers to watch for red flags including fake customer support numbers, lookalike websites, unsolicited contact, and suspicious requests for money or assets.
valadao.house.gov
The House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 2481, the Romance Scam Prevention Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman David Valadao that requires dating apps to notify users who have interacted with accounts removed for fraudulent activity. According to the FTC, romance scams cost Americans over $1.1 billion in 2023, disproportionately affecting seniors who are often conned out of their life savings by scammers using fake profiles.
bisinfotech.com
AI-powered romance scams have become increasingly sophisticated, using deepfake videos, voice cloning, and emotionally intelligent chatbots to create convincing fake identities that exploit victims' psychological need for connection. India has experienced a 300% rise in online romance scams between 2022 and 2024, with victims losing an estimated ₹270 crore in 2024 alone, predominantly affecting educated urban professionals aged 25-40. These scams are particularly effective because the AI technology is now scalable, automated, and difficult to distinguish from genuine interactions, making even tech-savvy users vulnerable to emotional and financial exploitation.
hindustantimes.com
This educational article identifies eight prevalent online scams in 2025, including phishing, verification malware, impersonation, fake job offers, holiday delivery fraud, donation scams, romance scams, and fake police calls. The article advises readers to watch for red flags such as urgency in messaging, requests for sensitive information (OTPs, passwords), unsolicited job offers asking for upfront payment, suspicious links, and emotional manipulation tactics. Key protection strategies include verifying sender identity through official channels, avoiding clicking links in unsolicited messages, never running commands from unknown websites, and being skeptical of legitimate-seeming requests from companies or government agencies.
3newsnow.com
Reports of AI-enabled scams surged 456 percent between May 2024 and April 2025, with predicted generative AI-driven fraud losses in the US potentially exceeding $40 billion by 2027. Dr. Victor Winter, a computer science expert at the University of Nebraska Omaha, explains that AI now enables attackers to conduct sophisticated, personalized phishing attacks at scale—including voice duplication and deepfake videos—making scams harder to detect. Key protective measures include never clicking links or responding to calls without independently confirming the sender's identity, and using "safe words" or personal information that AI cannot access to verify legitimate contacts.
sg.finance.yahoo.com
While reported U.S. losses to online and phone scams reached over $50 billion in 2023, actual losses may exceed $100 billion when accounting for the 80-90% of incidents that go unreported. WhatSpam, an AI-powered app launched in 2025, aims to protect Americans by blocking spam and scam calls, texts, and emails before they reach users, using artificial intelligence to counter increasingly sophisticated AI-generated scams while maintaining user privacy by storing data locally on devices.
clickorlando.com
Cindy Burns of Winter Springs, Florida, lost $15,000 to scammers who impersonated bank and Apple employees through a text message phishing scheme, ultimately convincing her to convert the money to Bitcoin. The Federal Trade Commission reported Americans lost $12.8 billion to fraud last year, with imposter scams ranking third; experts emphasize that social engineering exploits trust and manipulation to compromise personal information. To protect yourself, independently verify suspicious account alerts by calling official numbers directly, never provide information to unsolicited callers, and immediately recognize cryptocurrency conversion requests as likely scams.
techradar.com
In 2025, scammers are expected to leverage AI-driven tactics to conduct increasingly sophisticated fraud, building on the $1.03 trillion stolen in 2024. The article identifies five emerging scams including AI-powered robocalls with cloned voices, SIM swap attacks targeting two-factor authentication weaknesses, and OTP bot attacks, while noting common warning signs such as unsolicited urgent communications, requests for money transfers or app downloads, and suspicious video or audio inconsistencies. Consumers are advised to recognize these red flags and use enhanced security tools to protect themselves against evolving fraud schemes.
techradar.com
Scam robocalls have declined 75% since fall 2021, but financial losses have increased significantly—rising from $692 million in 2021 to $948 million in 2024, with median losses per victim climbing from $1,200 to $1,500. Scammers have become far more efficient by using curated victim lists obtained from data breaches and the dark web, targeting specific customers with convincing impersonation rather than making indiscriminate calls. The article advises individuals to assume their personal information is already exposed and practice skepticism toward unexpected calls by using call-blocking technology and verifying callers through legitimate institutional contact numbers.
wnegradio.com
The U.S. Justice Department announced increased prosecution efforts against elder fraud schemes, which cost victims billions of dollars annually and often deplete life savings. The Northern District of Georgia has prosecuted multiple cases including an Indian call center scam where perpetrators impersonated government officials to fraudulently obtain funds, resulting in convictions and money laundering charges against Pradip Parikh, Alpesh Patel, and others. The Justice Department employs a two-pronged approach combining criminal prosecution with community outreach and education about common elder fraud schemes including romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams.
yahoo.com
San Diego seniors lost $108 million to scams in 2024, with at least 1,300 residents aged 60 and older averaging $80,000 in losses each, though the actual figure is likely higher due to underreporting. Scammers are becoming increasingly brazen, with a common scheme involving fake tech support or overpayment notifications followed by couriers being sent to victims' homes to collect cash in person. The FBI has established the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force to combat elder fraud, which has already recovered $7.5 million for victims, and notes that fraud targets intelligent professionals including doctors, lawyers, and judges.
ohioattorneygeneral.gov
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost convened a sold-out World Elder Abuse Awareness Month conference at Ohio State University to address emerging threats to older adults, including cryptocurrency scams, modern financial fraud, and AI-enabled schemes in the digital era. Yost announced a new partnership with the Ohio Pharmacists Association to train pharmacists in recognizing abuse warning signs and promoting the Elder Abuse Hotline (1-855-OHIO-APS), leveraging pharmacists' regular contact with seniors over 60. The state's Elder Justice Unit and newly expanded Electronic Fraud Investigations unit work to identify criminal operations targeting older adults, recover stolen funds, and support victims across all demographic backgrounds