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consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating state DMVs via text messages, claiming recipients have overdue traffic tickets and threatening to suspend licenses, report them to violation databases, and impose additional fees unless they pay immediately. The scam aims to extract money and personal information from victims through urgent, threatening language and fraudulent links. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in unexpected texts, verify claims directly with your DMV using official contact information, report suspicious messages to your carrier, and report scams to the FTC.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
Nineteen Korean members of an international romance scam operation were arrested in Pattaya, Thailand on the 21st following a joint raid by Korean and Thai police at a pool villa complex. The organized crime ring operated from the villa using dozens of computers to execute romance scams and voice phishing schemes, with members assigned specific roles in the fraud operation. Korean authorities dispatched an investigation team to analyze the electronic devices and evidence on-site, and are coordinating with Thai officials to repatriate the suspects and develop joint countermeasures against Southeast Asia-based international organized crime.
wrdw.com
· 2025-12-08
Military families lost $584 million to scams in 2024, a $100 million increase from 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with scammers targeting service members and veterans for their stable pensions and financial assets. Common schemes include the "update your file" scam (requesting personal information via calls, texts, or emails), PCS rental fraud (fake military housing listings demanding upfront deposits), and predatory lending offers targeting military members with unusually favorable terms that hide high interest rates and fees. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service partnered with AARP to launch Operation Protect Veterans, a crime prevention program providing education on recognizing and avoiding these scams.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams exploit emotional vulnerability and trust, with the FTC reporting at least 70,000 cases annually resulting in approximately $1.3 billion in losses. Common tactics include catfishing (using fake profiles and personas), military impersonation scams, oil rig worker schemes, and sugar daddy/mama cons—all designed to build trust before requesting money or sensitive information from victims. The article provides educational guidance on recognizing these scam variations to help people protect themselves when online dating.
moneycontrol.com
· 2025-12-08
This content is not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a website footer/consent notice for Moneycontrol, a financial news and information platform, describing cookie policies, privacy agreements, and user consent options. It does not contain relevant material for the Elderus fraud research database.
fox16.com
· 2025-12-08
Arkansas is experiencing a rise in SNAP card fraud, with thieves primarily using skimmers at retail card readers to steal benefits from accounts. The state's SNAP cards lack embedded security chips—a feature that has reduced fraud by 76% in credit and debit cards—though the Arkansas Department of Human Services is working with its card issuer to enhance security measures. Attorney General Tim Griffin noted that even with improved card security, scammers will continue using impersonation and phishing tactics to compromise cardholders' information.
pennlive.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational/advocacy piece rather than a news report of a specific scam. The Pennsylvania Shapiro Administration highlights rising financial fraud threats including email, text, phone, and AI-generated deepfake scams targeting Pennsylvanians, and details new protections including criminal penalties for AI-generated fraud schemes and virtual currency transfer regulations. In 2024, state agencies processed 27,000 complaints and returned over $22 million to consumers, with resources available through 1-866-PACOMPLAINT or pa.gov/consumer.
amac.us
· 2025-12-08
Seniors are frequent targets of relay attacks and phishing scams, particularly those impersonating Google/Gmail. Scammers send sophisticated fake emails appearing to be from Google, using stolen logos and bypassing spam filters to trick users into clicking malicious links and entering login credentials, thereby gaining unauthorized access to Gmail accounts, Google Drive, and connected apps. To protect themselves, seniors should verify sender email addresses, avoid clicking unfamiliar links, watch for misspellings or unusual characters, independently authenticate requests for personal information, and remember that legitimate companies like Google never ask users to provide sensitive account details via email.
californiaglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, seniors lost an average of $33,000 each to online scams as part of a $159 billion total theft from Americans, with highly coordinated criminal networks—often operating from Southeast Asia—using tactics like romance scams, phishing, and imposter calls to manipulate older adults. The Golden Years Policy Council argues this represents a public safety and national security crisis requiring coordinated government response, including establishment of an interagency taskforce, increased law enforcement funding and tools to dismantle scam networks, and a centralized victim reporting system to track the problem's true scale.
wctv.tv
· 2025-12-08
The City of Tallahassee paid over $1 million to a scammer posing as a city vendor in a fraud incident that remains unsolved despite an ongoing investigation by Tallahassee Police and the U.S. Secret Service. Calls for an independent investigation are growing from citizens groups and a mayoral candidate, citing concerns about accountability, lack of employee discipline, and alleged lack of transparency from city leadership. Former Mayor Dot Inman-Johnson and others suspect a "cover-up," particularly noting that the city's Inspector General inappropriately referred public inquiries about the scam to the city manager rather than conducting independent oversight.
jocoreport.com
· 2025-12-08
A 67-year-old Johnston County woman lost $40,000 in a phishing scam after receiving a fraudulent PayPal email directing her to call a number. The scammer, claiming to be "Mike Allen," convinced her to transfer funds via Bitcoin to "protect" her account from being hacked. The victim later discovered the money had been stolen by the fraudsters.
blog.knowbe4.com
· 2025-12-08
A Resume.org report found that 14% of people targeted by job scams via text fell victim, with younger demographics—particularly Gen Z and millennial men (20-31% victimization rates)—significantly more vulnerable than older adults (4% for Baby Boomers). Victims lost between $100-$500 in most cases, with 48% sharing personal information and 84% paying upfront fees; younger workers' financial pressures and lack of experience recognizing red flags make them susceptible to these fraudulent job offers.
bcdi2030.ca
· 2025-12-08
This educational article warns that fraudsters use fake scholarship offers to target potential victims and provides prevention guidance using an "ABC" framework: (A) recognize red flags such as unsolicited contact, upfront payment requests, and suspicious websites; (B) be skeptical of offers claiming guaranteed scholarships without application or creating false urgency; and (C) verify authenticity directly through official channels like BCDI2030.ca before responding.
12news.com
· 2025-12-08
A man in Peoria was defrauded of his life savings ($27,000) after receiving a fraudulent text claiming to be from Bank of America, which prompted him to call a scammer posing as bank security. The scammer instructed him to withdraw cash and deposit it through a fraudulent Apple Wallet card linked to an ATM, exploiting a novel social engineering technique. Detective Michael Finney of the Peoria Police Department's financial crimes unit recovered approximately 90% of the funds within five months through swift action, taking advantage of the critical 72-hour window for fund recovery in fraud cases.
capecodtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A texting scam impersonating the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles has resurfaced with an updated message, asking recipients for payments or personal information. The scam, known as "smishing," originally began in early June across multiple states and was updated again in mid-July 2025. Massachusetts officials are warning residents to be cautious of unsolicited RMV text messages requesting money or personal data.
extension.msstate.edu
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide identifies five common warning signs of scams that target people across all age groups through various channels including email, phone calls, texts, social media, and mail. Key red flags include: scammers impersonating trusted figures or organizations (using spoofed caller ID and AI voice cloning), creating false problems or urgent situations, requesting account access or passwords, demanding immediate action under threat, and insisting on specific payment methods like wire transfers or gift cards. The article emphasizes that anyone can be victimized by increasingly sophisticated scams and recommends consulting the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for additional protection resources.
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
· 2025-12-08
Police in Thailand arrested 19 Korean nationals operating a romance scam ring from a villa in Pattaya on June 21, 2025, discovering dozens of electronic devices and materials used to conduct scams and voice phishing operations. The suspects had developed criminal scripts with assigned roles and Korean-language scam materials, and attempted to flee when officers raided the compound but were apprehended at the scene. South Korean and Thai authorities plan to repatriate the suspects and are analyzing confiscated devices to identify additional offenses and accomplices while coordinating a joint strategy against cross-border criminal organizations in Southeast Asia.
adf-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Africa faces a surge in cybercrime including fake investment scams, ransomware, business email compromise, and digital sextortion, with suspected scam notifications rising 3,000% in some countries according to Interpol's 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report. South Africa and Egypt experienced the highest ransomware detections (17,849 and 12,281 respectively), while critical infrastructure and government databases across Nigeria and Kenya were breached, with digital sextortion cases rising sharply across 60% of African member countries. Experts attribute the vulnerability to rising digital dependency combined with severe cybersecurity capacity gaps, though some African nations have made progress through strengthened legal
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
Voice phishing and its variants—including investment fraud, romance scams, smishing (text fraud), and fake reservation scams—have become increasingly sophisticated over the past 20 years, with the "five major phishing crimes" causing 1.687 trillion won in damages last year, 3.4 times more than robbery and theft combined. Victims of phishing crimes suffer average losses of 48.75 million won per case with less than 3% recovery rates, yet many phishing variants lack legal classification as telecommunications fraud and fall outside the official response system, leaving victims without integrated support channels or adequate online resources for assistance.
kesq.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams exploit victims' emotional vulnerability, with the FTC reporting at least 70,000 cases annually resulting in approximately $1.3 billion in losses. Common types include catfishing schemes using fake profiles, military impersonation scams that justify avoiding in-person meetings, oil rig worker scams that request money for travel or medical expenses, and sugar daddy/mama schemes that solicit intimate photos for blackmail purposes. The article advises potential online daters to conduct background checks and remain vigilant about suspicious requests for money or personal information from new romantic contacts.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old California man lost $3,300 to a fake FasTrak toll text scam that deceived him into providing his debit card information; the scammer subsequently used his information to make an eBay purchase. The scam has affected thousands nationwide, with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center receiving over 2,000 complaints about road toll collection service scams, prompting warnings from AARP and the FCC that legitimate toll services never request payment via text links and often use threatening language to pressure quick action.
kesq.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams targeting older adults are increasing in sophistication and frequency, with criminals using fake phone calls, deceptive emails, and online schemes to defraud seniors. Assemblyman Greg Wallis is hosting a free "senior scam awareness seminar" on August 13 in Palm Desert to educate older adults on protection strategies, with state agencies presenting current information on evolving scam tactics, particularly those enhanced by AI technology.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Personal information is the top target for elder fraud, with 72% of cases involving exposed data, making privacy protection critical for older adults who have fixed addresses, long-time phone numbers, and savings accounts. The article recommends enlisting a trusted, tech-savvy family member or friend as a "privacy partner" to help spot phishing scams, adjust security settings, and remove personal information from the web, while cautioning that nearly 58% of financial exploitation of older adults is perpetrated by family members, so trustworthiness must be carefully evaluated. A practical checklist covering phone numbers, addresses, email accounts, bank accounts, medical portals, social media, and shopping accounts helps older adults identify which
rstreet.org
· 2025-12-08
The GUARD Act is a proposed federal rule that would authorize law enforcement agencies at all levels to use existing Department of Justice grant funds to investigate elder financial fraud and scams like pig butchering schemes, with support for emerging technologies, real-time intelligence sharing, and interagency coordination. The legislation addresses a critical need, as FBI data shows fraud complaints from adults over 60 increased 46 percent in 2024 to 147,127 cases, yet 78 percent of fraud victims do not report incidents to law enforcement due to shame and jurisdictional challenges that make prosecution difficult. The bill aims to combat transnational organized crime targeting elderly Americans, who face vulnerabilities including diminished digital literacy
moodys.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides an overview of the evolving fraud landscape, noting that the United States experienced over 59,000 fraud risk events in 2024—a 12,500 event increase over five years—while globally, an estimated $1.03 trillion is lost annually to fraud schemes including credit card fraud, romance scams, phishing, and identity theft. Businesses are implementing comprehensive fraud prevention strategies, including ongoing screening and monitoring, third-party risk management, and compliance with new regulations like the UK's "failure to prevent" fraud offence that requires senior managers to allocate reasonable budgets for fraud prevention technology and training. The article emphasizes that effective fraud prevention requires collaboration among financial institutions, adverse
greenwichsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
At a July 2 Retired Men's Association meeting, computer expert Aaron Woodin presented "Don't Fall for It! Recognizing and Avoiding Scams," detailing how scammers exploit trust through tactics like false urgency, emotional manipulation, and enforced isolation. He identified common digital threats including fake event invitations and invoices, scam pop-ups, social media impersonations, phone-based impersonations of tech companies and government agencies, grandparent/romance scams, and SIM Swap attacks. Woodin advised victims to verify contact information independently, shut down suspicious screens, avoid calling numbers on suspicious invoices, add cyber fraud insurance riders, and contact mobile
whec.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scammers impersonated Geek Squad (Best Buy's tech support subsidiary) more than any other company, with the FTC receiving 52,000 reports; the scam typically begins with fake invoices via email or text claiming unauthorized charges, then directs victims to remote access software (anydesk.com) to steal banking credentials and drain accounts. Red flags include non-official phone numbers, Gmail addresses, and pressure tactics claiming auto-renewal charges, and victims should report such scams to the FTC and Internet Crime Complaint Center.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
A Wichita woman was scammed out of thousands of dollars by Frank Annin, whom she met on the dating app eHarmony in June 2022; Annin used classic romance scam tactics including "love bombing," moving communication off the app, and feigning wealth before disappearing with the money. During trial testimony, a psychologist specializing in geriatrics explained how scammers manipulate victims by creating emotional dependency and how victims may continue believing the relationship is real even after recognizing financial fraud. This marks the first romance scam prosecution in Sedgwick County.
da.sonomacounty.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. The text you've provided is only a language selection menu from a website—it contains no article, transcript, or substantive information about scams, fraud, or elder abuse.
Please provide the actual article or transcript you'd like me to summarize, and I'll be happy to create a concise 2-3 sentence summary following the Elderus database guidelines.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Prime customers are being targeted by phishers impersonating Amazon to steal personal information such as social security numbers, bank details, and account credentials through fake emails, calls, and texts. In 2024, Amazon removed over 55,000 phishing websites and 12,000 fraudulent phone numbers, with scammers commonly claiming false purchase or account issues requiring verification, or threatening automatic subscription renewals at unexpected prices. Amazon recommends verifying purchases through official channels, using secure email verification features, and contacting the company directly if unsure about communications.
floridarealtors.org
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary as the article content is no longer available. The page shows only an expiration notice from the Florida Realtors website without any information about a scam, fraud, or elder abuse incident.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A scammer hijacked a woman's Facebook account and impersonated her to target her friends with a fake $150,000 government grant scheme, nearly deceiving a retired tech worker into sending $2,500 in upfront fees. The scam involved the imposter posing as a "Global Empowerment" agent who requested personal information and payment for "approval and shipping," even fabricating photos of cash-filled FedEx boxes. The potential victim avoided financial loss by recognizing inconsistencies in the pitch and continuing the conversation to expose the scam tactics.
wfmz.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania State Police investigated a $20,000 fraud case in North Whitehall Township where elderly victims received phishing emails falsely claiming fraudulent Apple charges, then were manipulated by a scammer posing as "Thomas" into downloading remote access software and withdrawing cash that was handed to a courier using the code word "purple." The scam occurred on June 6, and police are seeking information about the unknown male courier who collected the money.
tampafp.com
· 2025-12-08
A multi-state fraud operation that stole $8.8 million from 235 predominantly elderly victims was dismantled, resulting in eight arrests in Polk County, Florida. The scheme involved three M&T Bank employees in Maryland who sold stolen customer data via Telegram to fraudsters, who then used the credentials to drain bank accounts and purchase luxury items. The perpetrators, including bank insiders Antonio Penn, Roshado Durrant, and others, face racketeering and related felony charges with bonds exceeding $1 million.
wfmz.com
· 2025-12-08
A senior couple in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania was scammed out of $20,000 through a phishing email scheme in which scammers impersonated Apple Customer Support, claimed fraudulent charges had occurred, and eventually sent someone to their home to collect cash in person. The scammers contacted the couple over 20 times via email, directing them to a fake help-line and falsely telling them Apple had accidentally deposited $20,000 into their account that needed to be repaid. Financial exploitation through such scams is now the leading form of elder abuse reported in Pennsylvania, with an estimated $2 billion annually stolen from older adults in the state.
floridadaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Eight people have been charged in a sophisticated $8.8 million bank fraud operation that victimized over 230 people, many of them seniors, after three Maryland bank employees allegedly used their access to steal customer information including Social Security numbers and account details, which co-conspirators then used to open fraudulent accounts and transfer funds. The defendants, arrested across multiple states, face charges including racketeering, conspiracy, identity fraud, and unauthorized computer access, with bonds ranging from $10,000 to $1,020,000. Authorities recovered some stolen funds that were spent on personal purchases including vehicles, and the case involved coordination between Florida, Maryland, Virginia, and Missouri law enforcement agencies.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams targeting older adults in the Palm Desert, California area are increasing in sophistication and frequency, utilizing fake phone calls, deceptive emails, and online schemes with tactics enhanced by artificial intelligence. In response, Assemblymember Greg Wallis partnered with the Desert Recreation District to host a free senior scam awareness seminar on August 13, 2025, featuring state agencies and representatives providing current information to help older adults protect themselves before falling victim to fraud.
travelandtourworld.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly travelers are increasingly targeted by AI-generated deepfake scams that create convincing fraudulent videos of non-existent vacation destinations, causing significant financial losses to seniors who book trips based on the fabricated content. Scammers use advanced AI technology to produce hyper-realistic videos, fake testimonials, and manipulated voices to lure victims into bookings, exploiting older adults' lower digital literacy and trusting nature. As deepfake technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated, authorities warn that awareness, careful verification of travel offers, and digital literacy education are essential to protect vulnerable seniors from this growing fraud threat.
reviewjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
A hospice agent conducted door-to-door solicitation in Texas claiming to represent Medicare and offer free hospice services, a newly identified scam targeting Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare officials warn that legitimate Medicare will never solicit services via unsolicited calls or home visits, and recipients should never share personal information with unknown callers; those suspecting fraud should contact the Medicare fraud hotline at 800-633-4227 or Senior Medicare Patrol at 877-808-2468.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2025 bipartisan report highlights that fraud and scams cost seniors $4.8 billion in 2024, with investment, cryptocurrency, and romance scams posing the greatest risks to older adults who are often targeted due to politeness, trust, and unfamiliarity with digital technologies. Common scams include Medicare fraud ($80.5 million in losses), imposter scams ($789 million in losses), phishing, and deepfakes, which cause not only financial devastation but also significant emotional and physical health impacts on victims.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
North Branford police conducted an elder fraud awareness presentation at Evergreen Woods Community to educate seniors on prevention strategies. The presentation highlighted that seniors lose more than $3 billion annually to various fraud schemes including romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, and government impersonation scams, with tips provided on how to recognize and protect against these threats.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Amazon sent warning emails to hundreds of millions of customers alerting them to phishing scams that use fake renewal notices and fake login pages to steal account credentials and personal information. Scammers use scare tactics and real personal details from previous data breaches to make the emails appear legitimate, then harvest login credentials, credit card information, and other data that can be used for unauthorized purchases or sold to other criminals. Amazon has shut down tens of thousands of phishing websites and phone numbers, and recommends customers verify account status directly through Amazon's website or app, enable two-factor authentication, use unique passwords, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails.
wlwt.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating the Department of Motor Vehicles in text messages claiming recipients owe money for overdue traffic tickets, threatening license suspension, prosecution, and credit damage to pressure victims into clicking malicious links that steal money and personal information. The Federal Trade Commission advises recipients to delete such messages, report them as spam, and contact their state DMV directly using official contact information rather than links in unsolicited texts.
app.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam impersonating the New Jersey DMV has circulated since at least May, sending text messages threatening vehicle suspension, credit score damage, and prosecution for alleged unpaid traffic tickets to pressure recipients into clicking malicious links and providing personal financial information. The NJMVC clarified it only sends text messages for appointment reminders and never requests services or payments via unsolicited communications. Victims should verify claims directly with official websites and report such SMiShing attempts to the FTC and FBI.
dailyamerican.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers employ constantly evolving tactics including fake emails, texts, and social media profiles to deceive victims, with Pennsylvanians losing approximately $400 million through text messaging scams alone. To avoid becoming victims, consumers should guard credit and debit cards, avoid clicking links from unknown senders, verify company contact information independently, refrain from posting vacation photos on social media, and be cautious during high-risk periods like summer travel and back-to-school shopping when scams increase. Victims can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission or FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
fox23maine.com
· 2025-12-08
A text message scam claiming to be from Maine's Department of Motor Vehicles has resurfaced, falsely threatening to suspend recipients' licenses over unpaid traffic citations and urging them to click a link for payment. Nearly a dozen Maine residents reported receiving the deceptive messages, which include a fake state seal and can be identified as fraudulent by red flags such as Maine not having a DMV (the correct agency name is Bureau of Motor Vehicles) and the state never collecting payments via text. Officials advise recipients not to click links, to delete the message immediately, and to report any financial losses to their bank, while acknowledging that tracking the scammers' source is difficult due to identity-shielding technology.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending text messages impersonating Amazon, claiming items failed quality inspection or were recalled and offering refunds via suspicious links—a phishing scheme designed to steal personal information and money. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts, verify any concerns by logging directly into your Amazon account through official channels, and report suspicious messages to 7726 (SPAM) or your carrier's junk reporting feature.
westernunion.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a navigation page and "About Us" header for a money transfer service's fraud awareness section, not a specific article about a scam or fraud incident. The page displays menu options and links to educational fraud prevention resources covering topics like puppy scams, identity theft, military scams, romance scams, and telemarketing scams, but contains no actual content, case study, or data to summarize.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
A surge in SMS phishing scams impersonating Amazon has increased more than 5,000% since July 8, with attackers sending millions of text messages claiming refunds or delivery issues to lure users to fake Amazon websites designed to steal login credentials. The scam targets Amazon users indiscriminately based on the high likelihood that recipients have made recent purchases, with organized criminal gangs operating at industrial scale from beyond U.S. law enforcement reach. Amazon advises recipients to delete suspicious texts immediately, verify accounts through official channels, and enable two-factor authentication, while the company reported taking down over 55,000 phishing websites and 12,000 phone numbers used in impersonation schemes
ama-assn.org
· 2025-12-08
Two federal agencies—the DEA and CMS—issued warnings about scams targeting physicians that impersonate government officials to fraudulently obtain medical records, personal information, or payments. The DEA alerts physicians to impersonation schemes claiming to investigate their practices via phone or letter, while CMS warns of fraudulent requests for medical records or alleged Medicare debt payments. Both agencies emphasize that their personnel do not initiate contact via unsolicited calls, emails, or faxes demanding information or payment, and recommend reporting suspicious incidents to the FBI or Federal Trade Commission.