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cp24.com
Canadians lost $638 million to scams last year, with seniors disproportionately affected across multiple fraud types including romance scams, grandparent scams, investment fraud, and door-to-door scams, with individual losses ranging from $8,000 to $750,000. Experts attribute seniors' vulnerability to their trusting nature and oversharing of personal information online, and recommend that seniors adopt protective measures such as using strong passwords, being assertive in declining requests, and consulting trusted family members before making financial decisions.
foxnews.com
Pamela nearly fell victim to a tech support scam after receiving a pop-up warning claiming her computer was locked and her IP was being used on pornographic sites. The scammer impersonated both a Microsoft employee and an FTC official, using fake credentials and pressure tactics to try to extract her full credit card numbers, but Pamela avoided the fraud by verifying the FTC official's identity and refusing to share sensitive information. The article warns against pop-up scams impersonating legitimate companies or government agencies and recommends contacting organizations directly through official channels, using strong unique passwords, and enabling two-factor authentication to protect against such schemes.
dayakdaily.com
A man identified as "Kenny" rejected an online loan scam offer via WhatsApp in early June, but the scammer subsequently obtained his contact list and harassed Kenny, his wife, parents, in-laws, and siblings using multiple phone numbers, while also posting his identity card on Facebook pages with false accusations. Kenny reported the incident to police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), suspecting his phone may have been hacked during the initial scam communication.
bangkokpost.com
A 25-year-old Hong Kong man lost HK$4,900 (approximately 20,000 baht) to an online scam when he purchased fake Blackpink concert tickets through Threads and Instagram, transferring money for a fraudulent e-ticket QR code. Hong Kong police reported receiving 200 online shopping scam complaints in one week totaling HK$5.5 million in losses, with 14 cases involving Threads and 10 related to concert tickets. Police advised online shoppers to verify seller credentials, check account creation dates and reviews, meet in person when possible, and abandon transactions if suspicious.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A 57-year-old man from Poojappura lost Rs 19.90 lakh in an investment scam after being contacted by fraudsters posing as stock market experts from "Institution Buyers," a fake government-approved agency. The scammers added him to a WhatsApp group featuring fabricated success stories and convinced him to make 10 transfers over 20 days before he discovered the fraud. The case was reported to city cyber police for investigation.
newstalkkgvo.com
A Montana woman named Rita lost over $90,000 in an online romance scam where the perpetrator refused to meet in person and exploited her vulnerability during her divorce. According to FBI data, Montana residents reported 44 romance scam cases resulting in $2.2 million in losses during 2024, with common red flags including rushed declarations of love, isolation from friends and family, excuses to avoid meeting, and requests for money before an in-person meeting.
newstalkkgvo.com
A Montana woman named Rita lost over $90,000 in an online romance scam where the perpetrator refused to meet in person, taking advantage of her vulnerability during a divorce. According to the FBI, Montana alone saw 44 romance scam victims report losses exceeding $2.2 million in 2024, making these scams particularly costly for seniors. Red flags include rushing declarations of love, isolation from family and friends, claims of inability to meet in person, and requests for money before any face-to-face meeting.
justice.gov
The U.S. Department of Justice announced a reinvigorated effort to combat transnational elder fraud schemes that cost billions of dollars annually, with several recent prosecutions targeting romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. Key cases included Troy Murray, who pleaded guilty to selling a database of over 7 million elderly Americans' personal information to Jamaican lottery scammers, and his son Cutter Murray, who pleaded guilty to money laundering $1.6 million in fraudulent proceeds; other defendants were charged for operating Jamaica-based lottery fraud schemes that defrauded seniors across the country, with one victim losing over $400,
lompocrecord.com
On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15), the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office warned that seniors in the community face increasingly deceptive financial exploitation and scams, emphasizing that this is both a national and local threat. The office provides educational outreach to senior centers and community organizations, and encourages immediate reporting of suspected fraud to local law enforcement or their fraud hotline at 805-568-2442. Chief Investigator Kristina Perkins also hosts a weekly podcast called Scam Squad that educates the public about common and emerging scams and offers protective strategies.
cbsnews.com
Maryland officials, the FBI, and AARP launched "Protect Week" to educate seniors and families about avoiding scams, following reports that more than 3,200 Marylanders over age 60 lost a combined $80 million to fraud in 2024. The statewide initiative highlighted common scam tactics including urgency, emotional manipulation, and impersonation, with officials advising seniors to verify sources before sending money and to report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
nypost.com
The FBI warned approximately 150 million iPhone and Android users about a surge in text message scams impersonating state DMVs, which increased over 700% in a single month. The fraudulent messages falsely claim unpaid tolls or fines and direct recipients to click links that install malware or redirect to phishing sites designed to steal credit card and personal information. The FBI urged users to delete these messages immediately without clicking links and report them to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
irishexaminer.com
This educational article outlines common scams affecting Irish people and warning signs to watch for, including phishing scams (fake bank alerts and delivery notifications), fake competition wins, malicious pop-ups, counterfeit online shopping sites, emotional manipulation scams (including deepfakes and voice cloning), hacked social media accounts, and high-pressure tactics. The piece advises always verifying suspicious messages by contacting organizations directly, checking for personalization in legitimate communications, ignoring unsolicited alerts, and reporting confirmed scams to local authorities with documentation of emails and account details.
stories.td.com
**Smishing Scams Surge as Mobile Fraud Rises**
Online scams generated $16 billion in 2024, a 33% increase from 2023, with smishing (fraudulent text messages impersonating banks, government agencies, and delivery services) emerging as a prevalent threat. To protect against smishing, individuals should verify sender IDs, never share personal information via text, avoid clicking unsolicited links, enable spam filtering, and take time to pause before responding to urgent requests. Victims should immediately stop communicating with scammers, report the message to their bank and carrier, monitor accounts for unauthorized activity, change passwords, and watch their credit reports for
jacksonville.com
The U.S. Postal Service and Postal Inspection Service warned of rising phishing, smishing, and brushing scams, noting that USPS will never text customers requesting addresses for package delivery. Florida residents lost over $1 billion to internet scams in 2024, and the agencies advise against clicking links in unsolicited messages and recommend reporting suspicious communications to combat mail-related fraud.
13newsnow.com
Virginia ranked 11th nationally for elder abuse financial losses in 2024, with approximately 3,800 complaints filed with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center as part of a broader national trend showing $4.85 billion in losses from over 140,000 elder fraud complaints—a 43% increase from 2023. The FBI recommends protecting yourself by verifying the identity of unfamiliar contacts through independent research, resisting urgency tactics used by scammers, and avoiding sharing personal information or sending money to unverified individuals. Victims should immediately contact financial institutions and report suspected fraud to their local FBI field office or the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
wbiw.com
Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 to encourage vigilance against elder financial abuse, exploitation, and scams targeting vulnerable seniors. The Indiana Securities Division provides ongoing education through events at churches, retirement homes, and civic organizations, offering prevention strategies such as naming trusted contacts on accounts, shredding personal documents, and recognizing common scam tactics like threats of arrest or demands for payment via wire transfer, cryptocurrency ATMs, or gift cards. The state partners with IN-CASE (Indiana Council Against Senior Exploitation) and encourages organizations to request fraud prevention presentations by calling 317-232-6681.
ca.finance.yahoo.com
In 2023, Canada reported over $50 million lost to romance scams, though actual losses are likely higher due to underreporting driven by victim embarrassment. One retired woman lost $270,000 to a romance scammer and did not report it to authorities, compounding her financial crisis with an additional $40,000 in credit card debt and forcing her to sell her home during a divorce. Recovery steps include securing remaining accounts, blocking the scammer, and filing a police report to potentially recover lost funds.
express.co.uk
UK victims lost over £106 million to romance fraud in the 2024/25 financial year, with 9,449 reported cases representing a 9% increase, according to City of London Police data. The average loss per victim was £11,222, with the 50-59 age group suffering the highest financial impact (£22.1 million total), though male victims slightly outnumbered female victims for the second consecutive year. Police believe the actual figure is significantly higher due to underreporting caused by victim shame and embarrassment, and they have launched a public awareness campaign to educate people about the emotional manipulation and financial exploitation tactics used by romance scammers.
wbhm.org
On World Elder Abuse Day, officials warned that seniors lost $4.8 billion to financial scams in 2024, with common schemes including romance scams, sweepstakes fraud, impersonation of government agencies and tech support, and family emergency requests. The FBI and IRS recommend seniors avoid sending money to strangers, sharing personal financial information online, and responding to pressure to act quickly or sign unfamiliar documents. Suspected fraud can be reported to the IRS Atlanta Field Office at 470-639-2228 or via email.
futurecio.tech
A LexisNexis Risk Solutions study found that the Asia Pacific region is experiencing a surge in fraud, with human-initiated attacks rising 61% year-on-year, while countries like Japan and Hong Kong face significant losses from romance scams, investment fraud, and authorized push payment (APP) fraud. To combat these evolving threats, financial institutions in APAC are increasingly adopting AI-powered fraud detection systems that analyze user behavior and intent rather than relying solely on traditional anomaly detection, alongside explainable AI (XAI) approaches that provide transparent reasoning for flagged transactions to build customer trust and meet regulatory requirements.
thebulletintime.com
Heather Rovet, a Toronto real estate broker, discovered that her live-in handyman "Jace" (Jason Porter) was running a romance fraud scheme targeting multiple women, resulting in over C$200,000 in stolen valuables and cash from her family over three years. After gathering evidence and reporting Porter to police in 2021, Rovet became a leading advocate against romance fraud, helping secure charges against him and warning other victims through a Prime Video docuseries that premiered in June 2025. She now mentors survivors, speaks publicly on fraud prevention, and works to raise awareness about online dating scams and intimate partner violence.
theguardian.com
A social media engagement scam targets job seekers, particularly students aged 16-25, through unsolicited texts and calls offering remote work earning up to £800 per day by liking and sharing TikTok content. Victims are initially sent small fraudulent payments, then asked to pay fees for "training" to unlock higher earnings; typical losses range from hundreds to thousands of pounds, with cases escalating from initial contact to confirmed fraud within days. The scammers use victims' banking details for money laundering and may recruit them as "money mules," and the scam's rapid cycle and high volume pose a significant threat despite individual loss amounts being lower than traditional investment fraud.
irishexaminer.com
This educational article identifies common scams affecting Irish people and provides warning signs to recognize them. Key scam types include phishing through fake bank alerts, fake competition wins, malicious pop-ups, counterfeit online shopping sites, emotional manipulation scams (including voice cloning and deepfakes), hacked social media accounts, and pressure tactics using urgency. The article advises verifying suspicious messages by contacting organizations directly, checking for personalization in communications, avoiding clicking unfamiliar links, and reporting confirmed scams to local gardaí with supporting documentation.
indeonline.com
Scammers are impersonating process servers in phishing calls, claiming victims have non-existent court cases, liens on their homes, or unpaid debts, and threatening immediate legal consequences or arrest. The callers use intimidation tactics and secrecy about details to pressure victims into quick action, often to unknown or blocked numbers. To protect yourself, verify any legal claims directly with courts or official agencies rather than responding to unsolicited calls.
news4jax.com
In 2024, Americans over 60 lost nearly $5 billion to elder fraud schemes in a 43% increase from the previous year, with approximately 150,000 complaints reported to the FBI. Common scams targeting seniors include tech support fraud, romance schemes, investment fraud, and government impersonation, increasingly enhanced by artificial intelligence technology that can mimic voices and create more convincing deceptions. The FBI recommends seniors protect themselves by avoiding sharing personal information with unverified contacts, researching unsolicited communications, resisting pressure for quick financial decisions, and reporting suspected fraud to law enforcement or the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
tamaractalk.com
The Broward Sheriff's Office hosted a free Senior Safety Summit on June 21 in Tamarac, Florida, designed to educate seniors about prevalent scams and fraud threats. The event covered the latest scams targeting seniors, practical recognition and avoidance strategies, and steps for victims to take if defrauded.
the420.in
Elderly adults worldwide are increasingly targeted by sophisticated digital scams using AI, voice cloning, and psychological manipulation, with Americans over 60 losing $4.8 billion in 2024 and India projecting ₹1.2 lakh crore in losses for 2025. Scammers exploit cognitive vulnerabilities, cultural conditioning, and loneliness among seniors—exemplified by cases like a Delhi woman losing ₹5 lakh to an impersonated telecom provider and a 72-year-old Ohio man defrauded in a romance scam. Experts call for urgent systemic interventions including tailored security measures, platform accountability, digital literacy programs
northcentralpa.com
The FBI Philadelphia marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) to highlight the growing crisis of elder fraud, reporting that Americans over 60 filed over 147,000 complaints in 2024 with losses totaling approximately $4.8 billion nationally, while Pennsylvanians over 60 alone reported 6,300 complaints resulting in $151 million in losses. The FBI emphasizes that elder abuse takes multiple forms and urges the public to recognize scam attempts, resist pressure to act quickly, protect personal information, and report suspected fraud to law enforcement. Education, community outreach, and victim support services are identified as critical tools in protecting vulnerable seniors from exploitation.
abstractaf.in
A two-part documentary titled "RomCon: Who the F**k is Jason Porter?" exposes romance scammer Jason Porter, who used aliases like "Jace" and "Don" to manipulate multiple women on dating apps, establishing long-term relationships while stealing from them and dating others behind their backs. Toronto real estate broker Heather Rovet, who dated Porter for three years before discovering his criminal past and infidelity, leads the documentary by sharing her experience and detailing her effort to gather evidence and pursue legal action for fraud and theft. The documentary highlights that romance scams cost Canada an estimated $59 million annually in reported cases alone, serving as a cautionary tale about recogn
chicago.suntimes.com
A Chicago resident was targeted by scammers posing as AT&T who used social engineering to obtain two-factor authentication codes, gaining access to his account and compromising his sister's phone line within 24 hours. Two-factor authentication scams are increasingly common nationwide, with criminals obtaining victim information through data breaches and phishing, then manipulating the security codes to control accounts and devices. The key defense is to hang up on unsolicited calls claiming account problems and instead contact your bank, carrier, or company directly using known phone numbers, as legitimate companies won't pressure you to provide security codes over the phone.
cleveland.com
In 2024, Americans lost over $4.8 billion to financial scams across 147,127 reported complaints—a 46% increase in complaints and 43% increase in losses compared to 2023, according to FBI data released ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Massachusetts was particularly hard hit, with over 3,200 victims losing nearly $100 million, while the broader Boston Division reported $135 million in losses. Scammers exploit trust, loneliness, and fear by posing as romantic partners, tech support agents, government officials, or advisors, pressuring victims to send money through untraceable methods like wire transfers or gift cards.
10news.com
An 11-year-old boy in Oceanside, California received a $100 gift card for his birthday that had been tampered with by scammers who replaced the barcode with a sticker and scratched off the last four digits, allowing them to drain the funds when the card was activated. The incident reflects a broader trend of gift card fraud linked to organized crime, with authorities conducting Operation Red Hook to crack down on schemes involving Chinese crime syndicates. The mother is advising consumers to inspect gift cards carefully for tampering signs, retain receipts, and watch for visible damage to packaging before purchase.
cbs19news.com
Senior citizens and vulnerable adults across the United States are being targeted at increasing rates by scammers using phone calls, emails, text messages, and artificial intelligence; in 2024, seniors lost nearly $4.9 billion across 147,000 complaints nationally, with Virginia seniors (age 60+) losing over $106.5 million in more than 3,800 reported incidents. Common scams targeting elders include the "Grandparent scam" using AI voice impersonation, text message schemes regarding undelivered packages and unpaid tolls, and cryptocurrency investment fraud. Officials recommend verifying contact information independently, resisting pressure to act quickly, and avoiding payment methods like gift cards
noozhawk.com
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) by warning the community about the escalating threat of financial exploitation and scams targeting seniors locally and nationally. The office offers educational presentations to community groups, hosts a weekly "Scam Squad" podcast with practical fraud prevention tips, and encourages residents to report suspected scams to local law enforcement or their office's fraud hotline at 805-568-2442.
actionnewsjax.com
Senior citizens in Baker County, Florida are being targeted by two related scams: one where fraudsters impersonate bank fraud department staff to convince victims to withdraw cash and deposit it into other accounts, and another where callers pose as sheriff's deputies claiming arrest warrants exist and demanding phone payment to avoid arrest. The Baker County Sheriff's Office warns that they never request payment over the phone and urges anyone affected to contact Detective Lieutenant David Mancini.
deccanherald.com
A 72-year-old Ohio surgeon lost $1 billion to a romance scam involving a fake Ukrainian model within one month of his wife's death, while in New Delhi, a woman lost Rs 5 lakh ($6,000) when scammers impersonated her phone service provider during a family medical crisis. Globally, seniors lost $4.8 billion to cyber fraud in 2024 (US), with India projected to lose Rs 1.2 lakh crore ($14.4 billion) in 2025, driven by psychological manipulation that exploits neurobiological changes in aging brains, cultural conditioning toward authority and politeness, and widesprea
finance.yahoo.com
CIRO issued a warning on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day noting that scams targeting seniors are rising, with approximately 30% of CIRO enforcement cases involving seniors and one in five Canadians approached with possible investment fraud, primarily through unsolicited emails, texts, calls, and social media messages. The organization provided protective measures including being cautious with unsolicited communications, safeguarding personal information, obtaining legal advice before signing major documents, establishing a Power of Attorney, and naming a trusted contact person with financial advisors, while emphasizing that victims should report suspected fraud immediately to avoid secondary "recovery scams."
vancouver.citynews.ca
Ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2025, authorities warned that while technology and AI have improved seniors' quality of life, these same advances are increasingly being used to defraud them—with financial abuse being the most common form of elder abuse in Canada. Seniors are targeted because they have accumulated wealth, and fraudsters exploit AI and online platforms to conduct scams largely outside regulatory jurisdiction. The BC Securities Commission created "Scamtones"—specialty ringtones in various musical genres—to remind seniors to be cautious of suspicious phone calls and spark conversations with family members about investment fraud prevention.
wsfa.com
The Alabama Securities Commission reported a record 200 elder fraud cases since January, with women aged 71-90 being disproportionately affected, and identified social isolation as a key vulnerability factor that scammers exploit during periods of grief or health crises. Fraudsters use social media information and infiltrate senior groups to build trust, with exploitation ranging from online romance scams to financial abuse by family members and caregivers. The ASC recommends maintaining regular contact with seniors, adding "trusted contacts" to financial accounts, and sharing fraud awareness information to reduce vulnerability to these increasingly sophisticated schemes.
wndu.com
Mishawaka Utilities warned residents of a phone scam in which callers impersonating utility company representatives threaten immediate service disconnection and direct victims to call a 1-800 number to make emergency payments. The utility company clarified that it does not conduct business through unsolicited calls demanding immediate payment via specific phone numbers to avoid service shutoff.
menafn.com
A 53-year-old Michigan administrative assistant lost $26,000 to a romance scam involving a man posing as a French project manager named "Richard" who used deepfake videos during Skype calls to appear authentic. Over several months, the scammer emotionally manipulated the victim into taking out loans under the pretense of needing legal and translation help in Qatar, then disappeared when confronted. The case highlights the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes in romance scams, with projections estimating eight million deepfakes will be shared worldwide in 2025, approximately one-fifth of which involve romantic fraud schemes.
forbes.com
Investment scams cost Americans over $6.5 billion in 2024, with phishing emails and tech support scams adding another $4.1 billion in losses, according to FBI data. This article provides ten expert strategies for protecting investments, including verifying platform legitimacy, recognizing phishing and impersonation tactics, avoiding Ponzi schemes, being cautious of social media/romance scams, conducting thorough research, and identifying fake tech support and recovery scams. The advice emphasizes that as digital fraud becomes increasingly sophisticated, investors must stay vigilant by checking security certifications, verifying credentials directly, and remaining skeptical of unsolicited investment offers promising guaranteed high returns.
cbsnews.com
A woman named Brittany received a spoofed call appearing to be from her sister, in which a man claimed to be holding her hostage and demanded $750 via digital payment apps, threatening violence while playing audio of screaming in the background. When Brittany attempted to send $200 through Cash App, the app's fraud detection flagged the transaction as a scam and automatically refunded it, prompting her to verify her sister's safety and confirm the call was fraudulent. Authorities recommend using code words with family members, avoiding clicking suspicious links that enable account hacking and call spoofing, and reporting such scams to law enforcement.
landline.media
Jefferson County, Tennessee authorities warned of two recent scams: truck drivers were targeted at a Love's Travel Stop on Interstate 40 on June 11, where suspects lured victims into betting games and stole money and jewelry; additionally, a phishing scam involving text messages falsely claiming to be from the Tennessee Department of Vehicles threatened recipients with fines and legal action for unpaid traffic tickets and included malicious links. The scam is part of a multi-state pattern targeting residents in at least 10 states with fraudulent DMV messages demanding payment for unpaid tolls or traffic violations.
aarp.org
AARP's Fraud Watch Network developed a universal fraud prevention framework called "Pause. Reflect. Protect." to help consumers recognize scams across all types. The campaign identifies three common triggers present in most fraud attempts—unexpected contact, emotional surge, and sense of urgency—and teaches an "active pause" response where people step back to reflect on the situation before taking action, similar to how "Stop, Drop and Roll" reduced fire injuries.
kunr.org
Text message scams impersonating government agencies, particularly DMVs claiming unpaid traffic tickets or tolls, are surging across the Mountain West. Scammers use threatening language and urgency to pressure victims into clicking malicious links, with the FTC reporting $470 million in losses from these scams last year. Consumers are advised to recognize that government agencies don't typically communicate via text, to watch for suspicious website addresses and threatening language, and to avoid clicking links or providing payment information.
paymentsjournal.com
Nacha has released new tools to help banks and financial institutions identify and support victims of elder financial abuse, coinciding with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Adults over 60 in the U.S. lose an estimated $38.5 billion annually to elder financial abuse, with an average loss of $83,000 per victim, often perpetrated by trusted individuals rather than strangers. The guidance emphasizes establishing clear escalation protocols and training staff to recognize fraud, as 92% of older adults want financial institution employees trained to prevent exploitation.
nwahomepage.com
**Elder Fraud on Rise in Arkansas and Nationally**
The FBI reported that seniors over 60 lost $4.885 billion nationally in 2024 across 147,127 fraud complaints—a 46% increase from 2023—with Arkansas seniors alone losing $27.3 million to investment scams, technical support scams, money mule schemes, and romance fraud. Seniors are targeted because they tend to be trusting and may be unfamiliar with reporting channels like IC3.gov. The FBI recommends verifying unknown contacts through legitimate sources, resisting pressure to act quickly, avoiding unsolicited communications, never sharing personal information with unverified parties
wvnews.com
**Summary:**
The FBI Pittsburgh warned that elder fraud complaints reached 147,127 in 2024, resulting in $4.885 billion in losses—a 46% increase in complaints and 43% surge in losses year-over-year, with West Virginia victims reporting $5.7 million in losses. Common schemes targeting seniors include romance scams, investment fraud, tech support scams, and money mule schemes, with fraudsters exploiting seniors' perceived trustworthiness, isolation, and financial stability. The FBI recommends verifying unknown contacts, avoiding pressure-based decisions, protecting personal information, and reporting suspected fraud through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) to help law enforcement
yahoo.com
Arkansas seniors suffered $27.25 million in fraud losses during 2024, part of a national epidemic where those over 60 lost $4.885 billion to scams—a 46% increase from 2023. Common schemes targeting older adults include investment fraud, tech support scams, romance scams, and money mule schemes, which succeed because seniors tend to be trusting and may be unfamiliar with reporting mechanisms. The FBI recommends seniors verify unknown contacts through reputable sources, resist pressure to act quickly, avoid unsolicited contact, never share personal information with unverified parties, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or IC3.gov.