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cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scammers are exploiting increased holiday online shopping with fake delivery text scams (smishing), claiming package delivery problems to trick victims into clicking malicious links or sharing personal and financial information. According to a CNET survey, 66% of US adults fear falling for holiday scams, with these nondelivery package scams topping the list. To protect yourself, verify delivery notifications directly through official websites rather than clicking links, watch for red flags like typos and urgent language, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages.
nbcdfw.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI and Better Business Bureau warn of a surge in holiday season scams targeting consumers during Christmas shopping. Common scams include misleading social media ads leading to counterfeit products, illegal pyramid schemes disguised as gift exchanges (like "Secret Sister"), fake toll collection texts, phishing emails offering free gift cards, and fraudulent seasonal job postings that exploit personal information. Consumers are advised to research businesses on BBB.org, verify offers directly with official sources, review app privacy policies, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Gift card scams occur when scammers tamper with cards in store displays by removing protective stickers or scratching off the back to steal card numbers and PINs, then wait for purchasers to load money onto the cards before draining the funds. To protect yourself when buying gift cards, check for signs of tampering and report suspicious cards to store staff, pay with a credit card for chargeback protection, and keep copies of the gift card and receipt to report fraud quickly to the gift card company or FTC if problems arise.
wusa9.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service warned of a "smishing" scam in which fraudsters send text messages impersonating USPS, claiming packages cannot be delivered and directing recipients to click malicious links (such as https://usps.com-packagesue.net) to confirm address information. The scam aims to steal financial account information, compromise credit reports, and obtain personal data for identity theft or resale. The FCC recommends never clicking suspicious links, deleting fraudulent texts, keeping devices updated with security software, enabling multi-factor authentication, and contacting USPS directly through their official website to verify package status.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Google has warned of a surge in phishing and scam emails targeting its 2.5 billion Gmail users, particularly as a second wave of attacks is expected following the holiday season. Three prevalent scams are currently in heavy use: extortion scams threatening physical harm or blackmail using victims' home addresses, fake invoice scams designed to trick users into calling fraudulent numbers to dispute charges, and celebrity impersonation scams. While Google reports blocking over 99.9% of spam and phishing attempts through new AI technology, the company urges users to remain vigilant as attackers intensify their efforts during this period of increased email traffic.
wgxa.tv
· 2025-12-08
During the holiday season, scammers exploit charitable giving through phone solicitations impersonating legitimate charities or operating as fraudulent organizations. Experts advise verifying any charity through CharityNavigator.org before donating and choosing to donate online directly through the charity's official website using a credit card rather than responding to unsolicited phone calls, which cannot be verified as legitimate.
fox29.com
· 2025-12-08
Medford Lakes Police warned residents of a "brushing scam" in which unsolicited gifts (rings, necklaces, Bluetooth speakers) arrive in the mail with QR codes designed to trick recipients into scanning them. While scanning the QR code itself causes no direct harm, it may direct users to malicious websites or prompt them to download dangerous apps and enter personal information. The Better Business Bureau recommends consumers avoid scanning QR codes from unknown sources, monitor their accounts for suspicious activity, contact the retailer, and regularly change passwords.
fox2detroit.com
· 2025-12-08
A "brushing scam" is targeting victims across multiple states, including Michigan, involving unsolicited Amazon packages sent to recipients' addresses. The packages contain QR codes that, when scanned, direct victims to malicious websites designed to steal personal information; police advise recipients to safely discard such packages without scanning any codes.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Two care homes in Suffolk and Norfolk—Haughgate House Nursing Home and Shipdham Manor—were defrauded by a scam company offering "Polar Express" Christmas experiences for residents. The fraudulent operator disappeared after collecting payments (£400 and £100 respectively), with their website shutting down and phone lines becoming inactive when the homes attempted to verify event details. The incidents have been reported to police and local trading standards, with the care providers warning other facilities to be alert to this scam.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired submarine commander lost $3.6 million to scammers despite his banks' concerns, prompting Virginia to propose "Larry's Law"—legislation requiring banks to report suspected fraud to police. However, industry lobbyists successfully removed the mandatory reporting clause before the bill passed, and similar elder fraud protection measures in California and Pennsylvania have also been blocked or weakened by banking industry opposition, even as elderly Americans lose an estimated $28 billion annually to fraud. Banks argue that consumer education and voluntary reporting to adult protective services are sufficient, but enforcement of existing reporting requirements remains lax across states.
luxtimes.lu
· 2025-12-08
An international police operation in late 2022/early 2023 raided three call centres in Poland and arrested 20 suspects involved in grandparent scams targeting elderly Luxembourgers. The organized fraud gangs impersonated police or justice officials claiming a family member caused a fatal accident in Germany, demanding cash or valuables as bail; one victim lost €100,000-€120,000 in jewellery and nearly fell for a €50,000 additional demand before her real son uncovered the scheme. The scammers operated with clear task divisions, made mass calls to targeted areas, and changed phone numbers frequently to avoid detection, though some attempts failed when victims contacte
newswire.ca
· 2025-12-08
Techie Nesters, an advocacy organization for older adults, is calling on Canadian banks to strengthen fraud prevention measures at bank counters, where seniors are often exploited in the final stages of scams. The organization highlights missed intervention opportunities such as inadequate signage addressing common scams like Bitcoin fraud, failure to question unusual withdrawal patterns, and lack of teller training to identify at-risk customers. Additionally, Techie Nesters advocates for banks to waive fees imposed on fraud victims' accounts and provide specialized support for recovery, citing cases like Mary's, who lost $3,000 to a Bitcoin scam after her bank failed to question a large cash withdrawal despite her six decades of banking history with
healthday.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2024 study analyzing over 35,000 survey responses from England and Wales found that while young adults report cybercrimes more frequently, seniors aged 75 and older are over four times more likely to lose money to cybercriminals and twice as likely to be repeatedly victimized. Adults 55 and older in the region lost more than $5 million to fraud and hacking-related cybercrimes, with increased vulnerability linked to physical, mental, or cognitive health impairments.
jocoreport.com
· 2025-12-08
A Johnston County senior citizen lost $35,000 after accidentally visiting a fake Amazon website while checking on a delayed shoe order. Scammers convinced her that she had fraudulent dark web activity and instructed her to withdraw all her savings ($22,000) and maximum credit card amount ($13,000), then purchase Bitcoin to "fix" the problem. The victim did not report the fraud to law enforcement until four months after the incident.
krcrtv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Redding woman discovered gift card scams after purchasing a $50 Olive Garden card at Walmart and a $40 In-N-Out Burger card at Walgreens, both of which failed to activate or were empty when used. According to the Better Business Bureau, scammers tamper with gift cards in-store to obtain card information, then clone the numbers and divert funds to counterfeit cards, leaving buyers with unusable cards. Both retailers stated they have anti-tampering measures and fraud prevention training in place for employees.
presidentialprayerteam.org
· 2025-12-08
Reports of job fraud, particularly "task scams," quadrupled in 2024, with the FTC recording 20,000 reports in the first half of the year compared to zero in 2020. Victims are lured with unsolicited job offers, paid small amounts for initial tasks to build trust, then pressured to invest their own money before losing funds entirely, with cryptocurrency being the preferred payment method. Task scams accounted for nearly 40 percent of job scam complaints in 2024 and contributed to $220 million in reported job scam losses during the first six months of the year.
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau identifies 12 holiday-season scams targeting consumers, including misleading social media ads, fake charities, puppy scams, and employment fraud schemes that exploit seasonal shopping and giving. Experts advise consumers to avoid wire transfers, gift card payments, and unsolicited links; research businesses and organizations before engaging; and report scams to law enforcement even if embarrassed, as scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
wave3.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau identifies twelve common holiday scams that increase during the festive season, including advent calendar fraud, fake charities, imposter emails/texts mimicking legitimate companies, fake shipping notifications, misleading social media ads, gift exchange schemes, puppy scams, and fake toll collection texts. The BBB advises consumers to verify charities through official evaluators, avoid unsolicited links and texts, use credit cards for social media purchases for protection, and contact companies directly through official channels if suspicious activity occurs. These scams particularly harm consumers with tight budgets who are trying to purchase gifts and prepare holiday meals.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
A lawsuit filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau alleges that Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Zelle operator Early Warning Services failed to adequately protect consumers from fraud on the Zelle payment platform, resulting in approximately $870 million in losses over several years. The regulators claim the banks prioritized rapid deployment of the service over consumer safeguards, allowing fraudsters and con artists to exploit the system. The suit seeks to hold these institutions accountable for their negligence in implementing fraud prevention measures.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed suit against Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo, alleging they rushed the Zelle peer-to-peer payment network to market without adequate fraud protections, resulting in over $870 million in customer losses across seven years of operation. According to the complaint, hundreds of thousands of customers filed fraud complaints and were denied assistance, with JPMorgan Chase alone receiving 420,000 complaints involving $360 million in losses. The banks and Zelle disputed the allegations, with the companies claiming the CFPB's figures are misleading and that they maintain strong fraud prevention measures.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
On December 16, 2024, Nigerian authorities arrested 792 suspects involved in romance scam syndicates, including 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, and other foreign nationals along with Nigerian accomplices operating from a Lagos building. The foreign scammers paid their Nigerian recruits between N300,000 monthly and N80,000 weekly to conduct fraud activities on rotating shifts, with some workers earning N100,000 for just 10 days of work plus accommodation. The EFCC conducted a massive raid using over 30 buses and blocking all building exits, resulting in the arrest of the operation's core network engaged in online fraud schemes.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Cyberabad police constable lost 2.27 lakh rupees to an online furniture scam after a fraudster impersonating a cupboard supplier contacted him via WhatsApp and requested advance payment for an order. The constable was unable to reach the fraudster after transferring the funds and subsequently filed a complaint with police.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
**Source:** AARP Hearing Center – AARP Texas 2025 Legislative Agenda
AARP Texas has announced its 2025 legislative priorities, which include preventing elder fraud and exploitation through enhanced consumer protections for solar contracts and cryptocurrency transactions, as well as addressing common scams like identity theft, spoofing, and deed theft. The organization will also advocate for improved emergency preparedness for vulnerable older adults, healthcare access and affordability, and financial security measures including affordable housing and utilities. These initiatives aim to protect older Texans during the 89th regular session of the Texas Legislature.
lakeonews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams targeting adults aged 60 and older caused over $3.4 billion in losses during 2023, with fraud incidents typically increasing during the holiday season when older adults engage in more online shopping and charitable giving. The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida launched the "Home for the Holidays" campaign to educate seniors, caregivers, and families about common scams and prevention strategies, particularly targeting isolated or lonely seniors who face heightened vulnerability.
wcnc.com
· 2025-12-08
The CFPB filed a lawsuit against Early Warning Services (Zelle's operator) and three major banks—Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo—alleging they failed to protect consumers from fraud on the Zelle payment network, resulting in over $870 million in losses over seven years. The banks allegedly rushed Zelle to market to compete with apps like Venmo and CashApp without implementing adequate safeguards, leading to hundreds of thousands of fraud complaints, with many victims denied reimbursement or instructed to contact fraudsters directly. The lawsuit claims critical failures including inadequate identity verification, slow response to account fraud, and failure to share fraud information
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
**Tech Support Scam with Banking Resolution**
John Beagle lost approximately $9,506 after falling victim to a fake Microsoft tech support pop-up scam that convinced him to transfer funds to trap the scammer. When his bank provided poor customer service during the fraud investigation, Beagle escalated his complaint to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, which intervened and prompted the bank to reimburse 50 percent of his losses based on his 80-year customer relationship. The article provides guidance on steps scam victims should take, including contacting their bank immediately, reporting to relevant agencies like ReportCyber and Scamwatch, and accessing support services
safetydetectives.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC warned of a new scam targeting elderly people in which fraudsters pose as legitimate services, offering free perks like cooking or cleaning in exchange for Medicare information, then fraudulently enroll victims in expensive hospice care without proper medical justification. The scammers contact victims through calls, texts, emails, flyers, advertisements, and door-to-door visits, potentially leading to devastating financial consequences, disrupted Medicare coverage, and identity theft. The FTC emphasizes that Medicare never initiates home visits for service enrollment and advises elderly people to verify any coverage questions directly with healthcare professionals.
deseret.com
· 2025-12-08
Holiday shopping scams cost Americans over $309 million in non-payment and non-delivery fraud last year, with nearly 80% of consumers falling victim to scams—a 10% increase from the prior year. The FBI warned consumers against unrealistic deals during peak shopping periods, as scammers exploit holiday distractions and increased transaction volumes through tactics including counterfeit in-demand items, fake charities (affecting nearly 1 in 3 people), phishing emails and texts, fraudulent gift card offers, and fake employment opportunities. Common advice includes avoiding unsolicited links, verifying charity legitimacy, and purchasing only from authorized retailers.
12newsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
This article outlines common holiday scams targeting consumers during the Christmas season, including gift card fraud (via tampered barcodes), fake package delivery notifications that trick users into clicking malicious links, dangerous "free" Santa tracker apps containing malware, and fraudulent charity websites. The Better Business Bureau and FBI advise consumers to inspect gift cards for tampering, verify package tracking directly through official carrier websites rather than clicking text links, avoid free Santa tracker apps, and research charities before donating. Victims should report suspected scams to the BBB Scam Tracker.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Brushing scams involve third-party sellers sending unsolicited packages to consumers' doorsteps to create fake positive reviews and artificially boost their ratings on platforms like Amazon. While recipients often keep inexpensive items like ping pong balls or flashlights without direct financial loss, the scams can be harmful if scammers have created accounts in the recipient's name or compromised their personal information, particularly if packages include malicious QR codes leading to phishing sites or malware. Consumers should verify unexpected packages with the retailer, check their accounts for unauthorized activity, change passwords, and report suspicious packages to the FTC and Better Business Bureau.
lowenstein.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Task scams—sophisticated schemes where scammers pose as legitimate companies and lure job seekers to perform simple fake tasks with promises of payment—caused victims to lose over $220 million in the first half of 2024 alone. Scammers typically send unsolicited job offers, request deposits or fees to access supposed earnings, and often use cryptocurrency to make recovery impossible. Businesses face significant risks including reputation damage, legal liability, and hiring disruption when their brands are impersonated in these schemes.
wbng.com
· 2025-12-08
The New York State Police issued a warning about phone scams in which perpetrators falsely claim money has been mistakenly deposited in victims' accounts or unauthorized charges have been made, often sending malicious links to gain computer access and steal funds. The scammers may also trick victims into withdrawing cash to hand over directly; authorities advise never withdrawing money on a caller's behalf and to immediately contact State Police if contacted with such requests.
southernstar.ie
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide defines scams as illegal schemes designed to steal money or personal information, and describes current fraud methods including "quishing" (fake QR codes at parking meters), fraudulent text messages impersonating government energy credit schemes, and spoofed business emails requesting payment. The article provides protective measures such as avoiding QR code payments, using multi-factor authentication, verifying websites through cybersecurity tools, recognizing warning signs (unsolicited contacts, pressure to act quickly, grammatical errors), and safeguarding personal information by only sharing details in initiated communications and checking website security features.
wdef.com
· 2025-12-08
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit against Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Zelle's parent company Early Warning Services, alleging they rushed to launch the peer-to-peer payment network without adequate fraud protections, resulting in over $870 million in losses to customers since 2017. According to the suit, the three banks received hundreds of thousands of fraud complaints totaling more than $870 million collectively and often denied assistance to victims, while Zelle has been slow to implement anti-fraud measures and close fraudulent accounts. The lawsuit claims the banks prioritized competing with rival payment apps like Venmo and CashApp over customer safety.
grandrapidsmn.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines how digital scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread across all age groups. Key tactics include phishing emails and texts impersonating banks or employers, phone scams posing as government agencies or tech support, and online shopping fraud, all enabled by advances in technology like AI-generated messages and deepfakes. The article emphasizes that staying informed about these evolving fraud methods is essential for protecting personal finances and information in an increasingly digital world.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content because what you've shared is a navigation menu or website sitemap from AARP.org, not an article about a specific scam, fraud incident, or elder abuse case.
To create a summary for the Elderus database, please provide the actual article text or transcript that discusses a specific fraud case, scam scheme, or elder abuse incident.
news.abplive.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old retired lecturer in Scotland was defrauded of £17,000 (approximately Rs 18 lakh) by a romance scammer who used AI-generated deepfake videos, fake documents, and impersonation to pose as a woman named "Alla Morgan." The scammer exploited the victim's loneliness following personal losses and gradually extracted money through various pretexts, including gift cards and a fake helicopter fare, before the victim's bank detected the fraud and alerted her. Scotland Police is investigating the case, and the scammer has reportedly continued attempting contact by sending false claims that the impersonated woman is imprisoned and needs money.
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Eyeyah!, a Singapore-based educational platform, partnered with Meta, Singapore Police Force, and other agencies to create a 44-page illustrated magazine teaching students to recognize and resist scams through interactive activities like spotting fake websites and deepfakes. The initiative, which has reached 35 primary schools and multiple secondary institutions, uses art and animation to encourage students to slow down and think critically rather than panic, countering the artificial urgency that scammers create. Singapore's scam cases surged to 26,587 in the first half of 2024 with losses reaching $385.6 million, making such educational efforts increasingly important for protecting young people.
bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Bengaluru experienced severe cybercrime losses in 2024, with criminals stealing an average of ₹5.4 crore daily through digital arrest scams, fake investment schemes, and part-time job frauds, totaling ₹1,806 crore through November with individual losses ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹9 crore. The city recorded 16,357 cybercrime cases by year-end, with police successfully freezing ₹611.29 crore in fraudulent transactions and recovering ₹122.87 crore for victims. Authorities emphasize the critical "golden hour" immediately after fraud is reporte
midfloridanewspapers.com
· 2025-12-08
A man in assisted living was nearly victimized by a deceptive Medicare plan advertisement that would have eliminated crucial health services from his existing coverage, though the policy was reversed within the enrollment window after intervention by a Medicare specialist. The article highlights that seniors lose approximately $2.9 billion annually to scams, with particular vulnerability among those with memory loss who may not remember fraudulent transactions or donations, and emphasizes that awareness, research through the FTC, and proactive caregiver intervention—such as limiting access to financial information—are essential protective measures.
amny.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Secret Service and NYPD's Cyber Fraud Task Force are warning New York consumers about holiday season scams, which cost millions of dollars annually and continue to evolve. Common schemes include email account hacking leading to gift card requests mimicked from loved ones, fake donation links, and phishing texts about package deliveries. The agencies advise consumers to use strong passwords, shop only with trusted retailers, verify charitable organizations through Charity Navigator, trust their instincts when requests seem suspicious, and report fraud to local authorities without shame.
fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
**Scam Type:** Peer-to-peer payment fraud
**What Happened:** A Connecticut woman lost money after sending payment through a peer-to-peer app to a scammer posing as a legitimate business. When she disputed the charge, the scammer manipulated her into closing the dispute by falsely claiming they couldn't refund money while it was under dispute—making recovery impossible once closed.
**Prevention Advice:** Research sellers before transacting, check for red flags (generic email domains, spelling errors, short social media history), verify refund policies, and never close payment disputes until funds are confirmed in your account. Peer-to-peer services do not guarantee
unfilteredwithkiran.com
· 2025-12-08
The USPS warned consumers during the holiday season about fraudulent text messages impersonating the postal service, requesting personal information or payment to resolve fake delivery issues such as invalid zip codes. USPS clarified it does not request personal information or payment through unsolicited messages and advised customers to verify suspicious messages directly through usps.com or the official app, avoid clicking links, watch for red flags like poor grammar and urgent demands, and report scams to 7726 (SPAM).
fox43.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending fake shipping notification texts (commonly impersonating USPS or FedEx) during the holiday season to trick consumers into clicking malicious links and compromising personal information. The scam exploits the difficulty of tracking multiple online orders by claiming packages cannot be delivered due to issues like invalid zip codes. To avoid falling victim, consumers should maintain a list of their actual orders and verify tracking numbers directly through legitimate retailer websites rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages.
kstp.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides guidance on avoiding holiday shopping scams, which commonly originate overseas and target major luxury and retail brands through fake shipping notifications, misleading social media ads, and phishing emails/texts. Experts recommend purchasing directly from trusted retailers, ignoring urgency-driven offers (like limited-time deals or gift card scams), verifying suspicious messages by visiting official websites directly rather than clicking links, and keeping security software updated. If scammed, victims should immediately change passwords and report the incident to the impersonated company and the Better Business Bureau.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
The social media platform Bluesky, which has grown to nearly 25 million users as an alternative to Twitter/X, is experiencing a rapid increase in scam activity including romance and "pig butchering" scams that use deceptive tactics to bilk victims of money. The platform's unique domain-based account verification system, while allowing users to self-verify, has created challenges in preventing fraud and may be too technically complex for average users. Though Bluesky reports aggressive efforts to shut down fraudulent accounts and claims scam issues remain below the scale seen on larger platforms, the trend reflects a broader 2024 landscape where scams have become the leading form of fraud affecting financial institutions.
aba.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary for 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 a specific scam, fraud case, or elder abuse incident.
To help you, please provide:
- An actual article or news story about a scam/fraud case
- A transcript of an interview or account of fraudulent activity
- An educational piece about fraud prevention tactics
Once you share the relevant content, I'll be happy to create a concise summary for the Elderus database.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides six free strategies for protecting finances from fraud, particularly during high-risk periods like the holiday season. The recommended safeguards include staying informed about trending scams (adoption, romance, grandparent, and elder fraud), freezing credit with major bureaus when not applying for loans, enabling multi-factor authentication on accounts, using password managers to create strong unique passwords, avoiding clicking links or calling numbers in unsolicited communications, and monitoring accounts regularly for suspicious activity. These preventive measures require no financial investment but can significantly reduce vulnerability to identity theft and fraud year-round.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old woman lost her entire life savings to an elaborate scam involving impersonation, psychological manipulation, and coercion that drove her to withdraw funds via Bitcoin and max out credit cards, after which scammers posed as FBI agents claiming to "protect" her and later extracted an additional $20,000. The article outlines common elder fraud tactics—including impersonation, prize scams, tech support fraud, romance scams, and emergency schemes—and provides red flags such as unsolicited requests for sensitive information, urgent payment demands, and requests for untraceable payment methods like cryptocurrency or gift cards.