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bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters in Bengaluru are circulating fake links to a counterfeit PM Kisan Yojana app on social media platforms, targeting vulnerable farmers and others who download the malicious APK file, which grants hackers unauthorized access to phones and sensitive financial data. While APK and OTP-related cybercrimes declined from 1,860 cases in 2022 to 893 in 2024, police warn of this resurgent threat, citing a case where a traveler lost ₹87,125 after being tricked into downloading an APK and granting screen mirroring access. Authorities urge citizens to verify app authenticity through official
news4jax.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2024 study by NumberBarn found that Americans lost over $1 billion to robocalls and scam texts, with Jacksonville ranking 4th nationally for complaints (6,305 cases) and Florida 12th overall (160,000 cases). Seniors aged 60 and older were disproportionately affected, losing $405 million to phone scams and $130 million to text scams. Experts recommend avoiding unsolicited calls and texts requesting sensitive information, staying silent if answering suspicious calls, and reporting incidents to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Katherine Goodson, a 67-year-old California woman, lost tens of thousands of dollars over two years to a romance scammer impersonating actor Keanu Reeves, sending money via bitcoin, gift cards, and wire transfers, and is now living in her car. Romance scams are prevalent online, with Americans losing over $650 million to such scams in 2023, with adults over 60 suffering the largest losses at $3.4 billion collectively. Red flags include refusal to meet in person, requests for money, and pressure to use unconventional payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers.
floridabar.org
· 2025-12-08
Southwest Florida lawmakers are sponsoring legislation that would allow vulnerable seniors or their representatives to obtain court injunctions against unknown scammers without requiring an attorney or filing fees, enabling them to freeze bank transactions initiated through untraceable technology like WhatsApp or dating apps. The proposed bill builds on Florida's 2018 Exploitation Injunction law by using substitute service methods to target unidentifiable scammers, addressing the challenge that victims under a scammer's influence may authorize transfers faster than emergency guardianship or other legal interventions can be obtained.
dig.watch
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old woman lost her life savings to scammers impersonating the FBI who used intimidation, isolation tactics, and false recovery promises to exploit her, ultimately extracting over $20,000 including funds withdrawn via Bitcoin. The article highlights that elderly individuals are increasingly targeted for sophisticated fraud schemes and recommends verification of requests, limited information sharing, strong security measures, and reporting suspicious activity as protective measures.
shreveporttimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message scams are increasing drastically, with common types including fake shipping notifications (claiming failed package deliveries), fraudulent banking alerts, prize/sweepstakes offers, impersonated government agency messages, and fake fraud alerts designed to trick recipients into clicking links or providing personal information. To protect yourself, never respond to or click links in suspicious texts, avoid calling numbers in the messages, and instead contact companies directly through official websites; suspicious texts can be reported to the FCC at SPAM (7726) or the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
paymentsjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Pig butchering scams—where criminals gradually manipulate victims into investing in fake cryptocurrency schemes—resulted in $3.6 billion in stolen assets from crypto investors in 2024, with ethereum being the primary target due to its irreversible smart contracts. The scams, often initiated through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, affected victims across all financial literacy levels, including a Kansas bank CEO who lost $47 million and "Shark Tank" star Mark Cuban who lost $870,000.
mlive.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Postal Service is warning about "smishing"—a scam where criminals send unsolicited text messages claiming a package cannot be delivered, then direct victims to click malicious links to steal personally identifiable information like Social Security numbers, passwords, and card details. The USPS advises recipients not to click links in unsolicited texts, as the Postal Service only sends text updates to customers who have specifically opted in; suspected smishing messages should be reported to the Postal Inspection Service.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message scams are increasing in volume, with common schemes including fake shipping notifications claiming failed deliveries, fraudulent banking alerts about locked accounts, prize/sweepstakes offers, impersonated IRS/government agency demands for taxes, and fake fraud alerts. To protect yourself, never respond to, call numbers in, or click links from suspicious texts; instead, contact companies directly through official channels, and report scams to the FCC (7726) or FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
belfasttelegraph.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between November 2023 and October 2024, the PSNI received over 5,200 fraud reports totaling £19 million in losses across Northern Ireland, including a £50,000 romance scam where a victim was deceived into transferring money for a fake business opportunity and a £100,000+ bank impersonation scam. Common fraud methods involved investment scams, ticket scams, and impersonation schemes conducted via phone, social media, email, and text, with criminals targeting individuals through sophisticated tactics to steal personal and financial information.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Over a 12-month period ending October 2024, scammers defrauded Northern Ireland victims of approximately £19 million across more than 5,200 reported fraud cases, with notable incidents including a victim losing over £100,000 to an impersonation scam and another losing over £50,000 to a romance scam. The Police Service of Northern Ireland warned the public that fraud causes both financial and severe emotional distress to victims and urged reporting of all scams to prevent further losses.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
A 67-year-old California woman lost tens of thousands of dollars to a romance scammer impersonating actor Keanu Reeves, sending money via bitcoin, gift cards, and wire transfers over two years and eventually becoming homeless. Romance scams are among the most common online frauds, with Americans losing over $650 million to such scams in 2023, and adults over 60 experiencing the largest financial losses at $3.4 billion collectively. Red flags for romance scams include refusal to meet in person, requests for money, and pressure to use unconventional payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 30-year-old IT professional and a civil services candidate in India fell victim to romance scams on dating apps, losing Rs 55,000 and over one lakh rupees respectively. The first victim was lured to an expensive restaurant where his date disappeared after a inflated bill, while the second was manipulated by a fake suitor who promised government job assistance before requesting money under false pretexts. According to a McAfee study, 39% of Indians surveyed reported experiencing online dating scams, which exploit emotional vulnerability through fake personas and social engineering tactics targeting younger people, professionals, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Young Cambodian women from underprivileged backgrounds are being targeted by online romance scammers posing as foreign men seeking marriage partners, resulting in significant financial and emotional harm. The scam typically begins with romantic messaging and promises of inheritance or gifts, escalating to demands for shipping fees or customs payments that victims must pay upfront. One victim, Sreyrath, lost over $900 in savings and borrowed funds after being manipulated into paying multiple "shipping fees" for gifts that never arrived.
thinkstewartville.com
· 2025-12-08
In December 2023, several families in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France were defrauded by a local merchant who sold them fake Disneyland Paris trip packages at suspiciously low prices (40 euros per person), with losses reaching up to 600 euros per family. After a mother named Charlotte shared her story on French television, an anonymous viewer was moved to donate a complete weekend trip to Disneyland Paris to her family as a Christmas gift, turning their scam-induced disappointment into a joyful holiday experience.
enewscourier.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this article because the content provided is only a website homepage/navigation structure showing article headlines and dates, not the actual article text. To write an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the full article content. Please provide the complete text of the article you'd like summarized.
thecsruniverse.com
· 2025-12-08
HelpAge India conducts digital literacy workshops and awareness campaigns to help senior citizens navigate technology safely and combat cyber fraud. The organization partners with communities, law enforcement, and volunteers to teach practical skills like online banking and mobile use, while addressing misconceptions about reporting mechanisms and fraud prevention through hands-on training and intergenerational learning programs.
ktvu.com
· 2025-12-08
An 84-year-old Santa Rosa woman lost over $600,000 to cyber fraudsters who impersonated the Department of Treasury and Wells Fargo, claiming her devices were hacked and threatening her with arrest if she didn't comply with their instructions. Over six weeks, she withdrew large sums from her bank account, purchased gold bars at a local rare coins shop, and unwittingly acted as a mule to transport additional gold purchased by another victim in Pennsylvania. The scheme relied on fear and isolation—she told no one about the "investigation"—and while bank employees and the coin shop flagged concerns, the transactions proceeded, ultimately depleting her accounts and financial security.
cbs8.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending text messages to people across multiple states, including California, demanding payment for toll road fees and threatening legal action, with links that can compromise personal information if clicked. The Identity Theft Resource Center reports these toll road scams are rapidly increasing, and California's Attorney General recommends victims delete suspicious messages, file complaints, verify accounts directly through official channels, and secure their financial information.
makeuseof.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies six prevalent scams to watch for in 2025: IRS impersonation scams using phishing emails and calls; credit card fraud through skimmers and data breaches; cryptocurrency scams exploiting market hype and fake giveaways; employment scams (which surged 118% in 2023) targeting job seekers; post-holiday prize draw scams requesting payment or personal information; and package delivery scams using phishing links. The article recommends monitoring financial statements, verifying message sources, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and learning to identify fraudulent communications to protect yourself against these evolving threats.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides an overview of the spam and scam call problem affecting US consumers and discusses potential solutions. According to 2023 data, American consumers received an average of eight spam calls per week, with victims losing an average of $2,257 per scam—a 527% increase from the previous year. While the FCC has implemented technologies like Stir/Shaken and passed regulations to reduce unwanted calls, experts indicate these measures are inadequate, and the article advises consumers to employ defensive strategies such as not answering calls asking for confirmation or using call-blocking services.
lbwatchdog.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending text messages to Southern California FasTrak users demanding payment for toll lane usage, threatening excessive late fees and legal action to pressure victims into clicking malicious links. Metro officials confirmed the ExpressLanes system was not hacked and customers will never be contacted via text for payment, urging residents to ignore phishing attempts and report suspicious messages. The California Attorney General's office advises residents to verify toll charges through official websites or phone numbers, use their phone's spam reporting feature, and share warnings with others to prevent victimization.
latimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers sent phishing text messages to Southern California Metro ExpressLanes users and non-users, threatening legal action and excessive late fees to coerce payment of fake FasTrak tolls through malicious links. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority confirmed no customer data was compromised and warned the public never to respond to, click links in, or use contact information from such messages. Similar phishing campaigns targeting FasTrak users have been reported across California since at least March.
mb.com.ph
· 2025-12-08
RCBC Executive Vice President Lito Villanueva highlighted the bank's use of artificial intelligence and public-private partnerships to combat rising fraud in the Philippines, where 29 percent of consumers have experienced financial crimes and deepfake cases surged 4,500 percent. AI-powered fraud detection tools have achieved up to 85 percent accuracy in identifying anomalies and suspicious behavior, while RCBC is upskilling senior officers in AI and collaborating with government and industry through initiatives like the "#WagMagpaLokoMagingScamAlerto" campaign to promote financial literacy and fraud awareness. The discussion underscored the importance of technological innovation and multi-sector cooperation in
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 67-year-old widow in San Diego lost over $60,000 in savings to a romance scam involving an impersonator claiming to be actor Keanu Reeves over a two-year period, ultimately leaving her homeless and living in her car. The scammer gained her trust by claiming to be the "real" Reeves after she initially blocked a fake account, then repeatedly made excuses to avoid meeting in person while soliciting money, gift cards, and Bitcoin. Romance scams like this cost Americans $1.1 billion in 2023, and the victim is now speaking publicly to raise awareness about the targeting of elderly and lonely individuals.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Wisconsin residents shared their experiences with tech support scams. Charlotte Siverling of Cadott received a fake warning claiming her computer was hacked and was pressured to withdraw $8,300 from Walmart after being falsely accused of possessing child pornography, but avoided losing money by calling her son who confirmed it was a scam. Nancy Wheeler of Ladysmith nearly fell victim to a similar scheme where a scammer gained remote access to her computer, manipulated her bank balance to appear as $3,000 owed, and pressured her to buy gift cards, though she ultimately hung up and avoided financial loss but had to replace her compromised bank account.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Katherine Goodson, a 67-year-old California woman, lost tens of thousands of dollars over two years to a romance scam in which a fraudster impersonated actor Keanu Reeves, resulting in her becoming homeless. In 2023, romance scams caused over $650 million in losses nationwide, with adults over 60 suffering $3.4 billion in total losses. The FTC advises recognizing red flags such as refusal to meet in person or requests for unconventional payments like gift cards, and recommends ceasing communication immediately if a scam is suspected.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A 67-year-old San Diego widow lost over $60,000 in savings to a romance scam involving an impersonator claiming to be actor Keanu Reeves, who convinced her to send money and cryptocurrency over two years by promising marriage despite never meeting in person. After the money ran out in August, the scammer became hostile, leaving Goodson homeless and living in her car; she went public to raise awareness about celebrity romance scams targeting seniors, as romance fraud cost Americans $1.1 billion in 2023.
macaubusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Five Macau residents fell victim to human trafficking orchestrated by criminal groups who lured them with fake job advertisements and promises of high salaries to Taiwan and Cambodia; four victims were forced into telecommunications and Internet fraud operations before being detained, while the fifth, a 38-year-old woman, escaped from Cambodia. The trafficking occurred as part of a larger regional scheme where hundreds of thousands of people, primarily Chinese nationals, are trafficked to Southeast Asia to conduct online fraud against compatriots, with at least 120,000 trafficked to Myanmar and 100,000 to Cambodia. Macau experienced a significant surge in telecom and Internet scams in 2023, with 1,306
colitco.com
· 2025-12-08
Sarah and Laine Robinson lost $250,000 of their home deposit in a spear phishing scam when fraudsters impersonated their conveyancer via a fake email address (missing ".au" at the end) and redirected their funds to a scam account. Although their bank ANZ recovered $82,000, the couple faced devastating financial and emotional consequences as they prepared to purchase their dream home on the Gold Coast. The case highlights the growing sophistication of targeted phishing attacks, which leverage personalized details and AI technology to deceive victims during high-value transactions.
midfloridanewspapers.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this material. This appears to be a list of countries and territories rather than an article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse.
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cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
St. Clair County authorities warned residents of a scam involving unsolicited Amazon packages containing QR codes that install malware designed to steal personal and financial information when scanned. The scheme used fake diamond ring shipments to trick residents into scanning the malicious QR code. Authorities recommend contacting local police upon receiving suspicious packages.
whio.com
· 2025-12-08
Miami County residents received fraudulent calls from scammers impersonating sheriff's office employees, claiming missed court dates and demanding payment to avoid legal trouble. The Miami County Sheriff's Office clarified that they do not solicit payments or personal information by phone and recommends verifying any such calls through their official numbers at (937)440-6085 or (937)440-9911.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly man in his 80s lost £7,450 on Christmas Eve after a fraudster posing as a police officer convinced him to withdraw the money as part of a bogus "undercover operation" targeting bank employees, which he then handed to a courier. South Yorkshire Police reported five similar scams in the preceding week and warned that this type of fraud, which typically involves impersonating police or bank officials and requesting cash for supposed investigations, disproportionately targets vulnerable and elderly individuals. Police advised victims to hang up suspicious calls, verify numbers independently using trusted sources, and never hand over bank cards to strangers.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
"Brushing" scams are targeting Australians who receive unsolicited packages containing worthless items like ripped fabrics, socks with holes, or stuffed animals, often originating from a PO Box in Dingley Village, Victoria. Scammers use these packages for two purposes: to trick recipients into scanning QR codes that lead to fake delivery websites, or to fraudulently boost their own business ratings by using the recipient's name to post fake reviews. The ACCC advises consumers to never click delivery links in unsolicited messages and instead verify packages independently through official Australia Post or courier websites.
mediaindia.eu
· 2025-12-08
Online dating and matrimonial scams in India resulted in over INR 2 billion in financial losses in 2023, with 1,556,218 complaints registered that year, representing a 24% surge from 2022. Scammers use fake profiles and emotional manipulation to build trust with victims before requesting money for fabricated emergencies; one victim, a 29-year-old IT professional, lost INR 540,000 to a man posing as an army officer abroad. These scams cause both severe financial devastation and lasting emotional trauma to victims who feel betrayed by the manufactured relationships.
asiaone.com
· 2025-12-08
Veteran singer Wu Gang, 76, lost nearly $300,000 in two separate online investment scams in 2024. The first scam involved a fake financial management course that lured him into investing approximately $200,000 on a fraudulent platform that showed only paper profits and prevented withdrawals; the second occurred months later through a fake wholesale trading platform recommended via Facebook that similarly trapped him with fabricated earnings and required constant cash top-ups to maintain account points. Wu Gang reported both incidents to police and warned the public to avoid clicking on social media advertisements promoting investment and financial opportunities.
en.cibercuba.com
· 2025-12-08
Two young Cuban women (ages 20 and 23) fell victim to a "ring scam" in Guantánamo when strangers approached them claiming to have found a 14k gold ring and offered to trade it for their gold chains; the victims later discovered the ring was made of cheap gold-like metal rather than genuine gold. The article also documents a broader rise in fraud cases across Cuba, including dollar-trading scams, impersonation schemes, and the spread of false information via social media about such incidents.
mlive.com
· 2025-12-08
A 30-year-old man was arrested in Canton, Michigan in December after attempting to defraud an 84-year-old woman through an impersonation scam. The suspect posed as a bank fraud officer and convinced the elderly victim to withdraw between $20,000-$50,000 over four days for two pickups, but was caught during a third attempted pickup after the victim's family discovered the suspicious activity. He was charged with fraudulent false pretenses and assaulting a police officer, with bond set at $100,000 cash.
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides holiday fraud awareness and prevention tips, noting that 82% of U.S. consumers have experienced or been targeted by at least one form of holiday fraud according to a 2024 AARP report. Key protective measures include shopping only with trusted vendors, monitoring credit reports regularly at creditreport.com, and avoiding deals that seem too good to be true, with the FBI reporting that scams targeting individuals aged 60 and older totaled over $3.4 billion in 2023. Victims of identity theft are advised to seek professional credit repair help rather than attempting to negotiate settlements directly, and can report fraud to their credit bureau, the FTC, or the Consumer Response Center at
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
The Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office issued a warning about two types of email scams designed to trick recipients into clicking malicious links that could introduce malware into computers. The first scam impersonates a bank and claims unauthorized funds were deducted, prompting victims to click a "Refund your money" button, while the second falsely claims a subscription (Paramount Plus) has expired and urges clicking an "Extend for Free" button—both tactics commonly used to harvest personal information or deploy malware.
marbleheadcurrent.org
· 2025-12-08
Two elder fraud attempts were reported in Marblehead during December 5-17, 2024. On December 5, a resident received a fraudulent DocuSign/Norton Antivirus email and granted scammers remote computer access; they fabricated fake subscription charges ($299.99 and $399.99) and a false $3,999.99 credit to pressure the victim into buying CVS gift cards, but the resident recognized the scam before losing money. On December 13, another resident fell victim to a fraudulent travel documentation scheme via a fake "UK-ETA.com" website, submitting passport information before realizing the site was fraudulent; the victim pro
wgem.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the Better Business Bureau, online purchase scams represent nearly one-third of all reported scams since 2019 and remain the most common fraud reported. Scammers increasingly use cell phones and digital communications—including emails, texts, and phone calls—to target victims. The BBB regional director advised consumers in 2025 to think critically about unfamiliar online messages and help one another identify scams to reduce fraud success.
paymentsjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2025 Javelin Strategy & Research report examines the TikTok-fueled check fraud scheme—where individuals deposited fraudulent checks and withdrew funds before verification—within the broader context of "friendly fraud" (first-party fraud), where consumers dispute legitimate charges to obtain refunds. The study emphasizes that many perpetrators, particularly younger consumers, don't perceive their actions as crimes and recommends that financial institutions use clear, appropriately-toned communications (tailored by age group and delivery method) and improved transaction descriptions to educate consumers about fraud while avoiding making victims feel accused.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two people in Perth County, Ontario lost over $10,000 total in a grandparent scam in which they received phone calls claiming a family member was in jail and needed bail money, then an imposter posing as a bondsperson visited their homes to collect cash ($5,000 and $5,500 respectively). Police warn that scammers may claim the "grandchild" has a broken nose to explain voice differences, and advise people to hang up on unsolicited calls requesting personal information or payments via gift cards and cryptocurrency.
digit.in
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A 61-year-old retired senior bank manager from Canara Bank lost Rs 20 lakh to fraudsters posing as stock market experts who contacted him via WhatsApp in September 2024. The scammers, operating under names Kruti, Ravi Agarwal, and Namit, built trust by promising high investment returns and extracted Rs 13 lakh between October-November 2024, then an additional Rs 7 lakh through a second investment group before disappearing when the victim demanded his money back. The article advises verifying investment sources, being skeptical of unrealistic returns, researching investments thoroughly, protecting personal financial information, an
presstelegram.com
· 2025-12-08
Bank insiders, particularly lower-paid employees, are leaking sensitive customer account information to scammers, creating a significant vulnerability in financial institutions' security controls. This internal data breach has emerged as a critical risk factor enabling sophisticated scams that target Americans' life savings and poses substantial security gaps in the banking industry.
hometownsource.com
· 2025-12-08
The Senior LinkAge Line is offering a free virtual educational presentation on January 8 covering health care fraud, waste, and abuse prevention, with instruction on detecting and reporting scams that increasingly target older adults. The presentation, delivered via Microsoft Teams in partnership with the Senior Medicare Patrol, requires pre-registration through Eventbrite or by calling 800-333-2433, and accommodations are available upon request.
wcbi.com
· 2025-12-08
The Lee County Sheriff's Office warned the public about scams targeting seniors in which scammers contact victims via unsolicited emails, texts, or phone calls directing them to fake websites resembling legitimate financial institutions. The scammers falsely claim account issues and pressure victims to withdraw cash and deposit it into Bitcoin or ATMs, threatening financial or criminal consequences if they refuse. The sheriff's department advised residents to ignore unsolicited communications, never send funds to unknown recipients, and verify any account concerns directly with their bank through official channels.