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in General Elder Fraud
9news.com
· 2025-12-08
Diane Peltier fell victim to the phantom hacker scam when a pop-up falsely claiming her computer was hacked prompted her to call a fake Microsoft number; the scammer then posed as a bank fraud department employee and convinced her to withdraw money and deposit it into a cryptocurrency machine, resulting in total financial loss. The FBI reports this scam affected over 51,000 Americans and cost them more than $1.3 billion in 2023, with more than half of victims over age 60, including one victim in El Paso County who lost $99,000. The FBI recommends never clicking unsolicited pop-ups, downloading software from unknown contacts, or sending money via cryptocurrency or gift
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans aged 30-49 reported the most investment fraud complaints to the FBI in 2023, with over 13,000 cases, contradicting the assumption that older adults are most susceptible to investment scams. Total losses from investment fraud reached $4.57 billion in 2023—a 38% increase from the previous year—with cryptocurrency scams accounting for $3.94 billion of that total. Scammers typically lure victims through social media and online ads by promising high returns with minimal risk, using fake investment strategies, phony training products, and impersonation of public figures.
keyt.com
· 2025-12-08
**Jewelry Swap Scam in Placer County**
Seniors in Sun City Lincoln Hills neighborhood in Placer County, California are being targeted in a jewelry theft scam where perpetrators pose as tourists needing directions, then swap the victim's jewelry for a fake piece within seconds. Between July 2023 and March 2024, multiple thefts occurred, including one victim who lost a gold family heirloom necklace valued for its sentimental worth; Lincoln Police Department is investigating and believes a large organized group is responsible for the scams.
theprescotttimes.com
· 2025-12-08
The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office warned senior citizens that scammers use urgency tactics through calls, texts, emails, and social media to steal money, advising victims to "slow down" and verify requests independently. Recent local cases included a $12,000 grandparent scam using AI-generated voices and a $40,000 Bitcoin fraud, with law enforcement cautioning against clicking suspicious links, using untraceable payment methods, and trusting caller IDs, as scammers impersonate relatives, banks, and government agencies.
krdo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Scam Type:** Jewelry theft swap
**Location:** Sun City Lincoln Hills, Placer County, California
**Victims & Impact:** Multiple senior citizens targeted between July 2023 and March 2024; one victim (Ann) lost a sentimental gold family heirloom necklace valued for its heritage significance. The scam involves perpetrators posing as lost tourists from Dubai, offering victims a "gift" necklace while quickly swapping it for the victim's own jewelry in a matter of seconds, then fleeing the scene. Lincoln Police Department is actively investigating and believes a coordinated network of thieves is responsible for the thefts.
cbs19news.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses Virginia legislation (House Bill 692) designed to protect elderly and vulnerable adults from financial exploitation. The bill would allow seniors to register trusted contacts at their banks who can be alerted during financial emergencies, and requires bank staff training on identifying financial abuse. According to 2022 data, over 88,000 people aged 60+ reported losses totaling $3.1 billion to elder financial scams, with dementia patients particularly vulnerable.
midmichigannow.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan state health and insurance officials warned seniors about Medicare scams coinciding with the December 7 Open Enrollment deadline, where fraudsters impersonate Medicare representatives to steal personal information like Medicare ID numbers and Social Security numbers to make unauthorized plan changes. The agencies advised seniors never to share personal information with unsolicited callers, visitors, or online contacts, and to contact Medicare directly at 1-800-633-4227 or Medicare.gov for legitimate coverage questions, noting that Medicare never calls or visits homes requesting personal information.
gridinsoft.com
· 2025-12-08
**Phantom Hacker Scams Target Seniors**
Phantom hacker scams, a variant of tech support fraud, have increased 40% year-over-year and resulted in over $542 million in losses from nearly 19,000 victims during the first half of 2023, with seniors over 60 accounting for 66% of financial losses. Scammers use a three-stage social engineering approach: posing as tech support to claim malware threats, then impersonating financial institutions or government officials to convince victims to transfer funds to "safe accounts" that the criminals control. To protect against these scams, seniors should avoid unsolicited calls,
southcoasttoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparent scam" has stolen millions from elderly Americans by impersonating lawyers, bail bondsmen, or family members to claim a grandchild is in legal trouble or distress and urgently needs cash sent via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. The FBI reported over 92,000 older fraud victims lost $1.7 billion in 2021, with scammers exploiting psychological tactics—calling at odd hours and inducing fear—and now increasingly using AI voice cloning to impersonate relatives. Law enforcement recommends not answering unknown callers, hanging up on urgent money requests, and independently verifying any family emergency by calling the relative directly rather than engaging with the
elkhornmediagroup.com
· 2025-12-08
An uptick in phone and online scams targeting older adults in Eastern Oregon uses sophisticated impersonation tactics—including fraudulent claims from law enforcement, the IRS, banks, and retailers—to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information. According to Kai Nichols, an Older Adult Behavioral Specialist, scammers exploit elderly individuals' unfamiliarity with technology and bureaucracy by creating panic through threats of legal action or account compromise. Key protections include never trusting caller ID, refusing to be rushed, and remembering that legitimate law enforcement and the IRS do not demand phone payments or threaten immediate action.
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
On National Slam the Scam Day, Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon highlighted that scams remain a significant crime driver in the borough, with senior citizens losing over $2.6 million to fraud in 2023 alone. Common scams include impersonation schemes (government officials, police, IRS, family members), marketplace fraud, and payment requests via gift cards and digital platforms, with scammers using threats and pressure tactics to manipulate victims. McMahon emphasized that prevention and immediate reporting to the District Attorney's Scams Hotline (718-556-7226) are critical to investigating incidents and securing restitution for victims.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
The "courier scam" has affected at least 390 people in two months, with one Chennai businessman losing ₹6 crore after being threatened by fraudsters posing as police officers. Scammers contact victims claiming a parcel with drugs or contraband was found in their name, then connect them via video call to fake police officers who threaten legal action and coerce money transfers by promising account protection through a new Aadhaar card and KYC update.
thechronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz held a press conference at the Newington Senior & Disabled Center to alert residents about potential scams during National "Slam the Scam" Day. The awareness initiative, part of National Consumer Protection Week, is designated by Social Security's Office of the Inspector General to educate the public about government imposter scams prevalent across the United States.
sanbenito.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scammers impersonating PG&E targeted nearly 43,000 customers, resulting in approximately $875,000 in fraudulent losses (averaging $785 per victim), with over 103 cases reported in Gilroy alone. The scams typically involved threats of immediate service disconnection and requests for payment via prepaid cards, gift cards, or digital payment apps—methods PG&E never uses. PG&E advises customers to hang up on suspicious calls, verify account details directly through PGE.com or official customer service, and never purchase prepaid cards to avoid service shutoff.
ca.movies.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
An 81-year-old Alberta woman lost $250,000 over 10 months after receiving a sweepstakes letter claiming she'd won a Bank of America prize, then being asked to pay taxes to claim it. Her information was subsequently shared among multiple scammers, leading to additional fraud including a CRA phone scam, with weekly payments totaling far more than her savings. Police warn Albertans to avoid sharing personal information with unknown callers and to consult family or authorities before sending money, noting increased scam activity during tax season.
abc27.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the Better Business Bureau's 2023 Scam Tracker report, investment and cryptocurrency scams are the riskiest fraud type, with a median loss of $3,800, exploiting victims' lack of understanding about digital assets by promising unrealistic returns before demanding hidden fees to access nonexistent earnings. Employment scams and romance scams are also growing threats, targeting younger adults and those over 65 respectively, with victims losing not only money but also time and personal information. The BBB recommends avoiding quick financial decisions, being cautious with unknown contacts, and ignoring unsolicited links to protect against these increasingly sophisticated schemes.
chroniclet.com
· 2025-12-08
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cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
A 96-year-old California woman, Violet Evelyn Alberts, was murdered in May 2022 as part of an elaborate scheme involving reverse-mortgage fraud and murder-for-hire orchestrated by Pauline Macareno, who sought to illegally gain control of the victim's valuable Montecito home. Four individuals have been arrested: Macareno (sentenced to six years in prison for fraud in 2022 and now facing additional charges), Ricardo MartinDelCampo and Henry Rostomyan (charged with murder and conspiracy), and Harry Basmadjian (charged with conspiracy); investigators determined Alberts died by asphyx
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 96-year-old California woman, Violet Evelyn Alberts, was killed in May 2022 as part of an elaborate murder-for-hire and reverse-mortgage scam orchestrated by Pauline Macareno, who sought to gain control of Alberts' valuable Montecito home. Macareno forged documents and established fraudulent entities to illegally take over the property, then arranged for her murder when authorities determined Alberts' asphyxiation was a homicide; four people have been arrested, including Macareno (sentenced to six years in prison for fraud in 2022) and three men charged with murder and conspiracy.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania residents lost more than $158 million to scams in the first nine months of 2023, a 22% increase from the previous year, with over 126,000 fraud reports filed averaging $1,250 per incident. While people ages 30-39 reported the most fraud cases, those ages 60-69 lost the most money at $744 million, and one in seven fraud victims experienced losses exceeding $10,000. The FTC advises consumers to avoid unsolicited requests for personal information, resist pressure to act quickly, and be wary of scammers demanding cryptocurrency or gift card payments.
golocalprov.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men from Florida and New York—Jason Rhodes, 34, and Robert Munoz, 29—were arrested in Warwick, Rhode Island in connection with a "grandparent scam" targeting elderly residents in Warwick and Coventry after police executed a controlled money delivery on March 8, 2024. During a search of a hotel room, detectives seized evidence linking the suspects to multiple grandparent scams and a large sum of cash, with the investigation ongoing. Warwick Police are urging other potential victims throughout Rhode Island to report similar scams to their local police departments.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
A 64-year-old Georgia man was targeted by scammers impersonating police officers who demanded $5,000 in gift cards, claiming he owed a court fine. After purchasing $2,000 in cards at one Walmart location, a vigilant self-checkout worker at a second store overheard the ongoing scam call, took the phone, and refused to complete the transaction, preventing the victim from losing an additional $3,000.
nbcmontana.com
· 2025-12-08
Montana's Commissioner of Securities and Insurance is hosting 16 educational events across western Montana in March 2024 to help residents recognize and prevent investment scams. The initiative comes as consumers reported losses exceeding $4.6 billion to investment scams nationwide in 2023, making them the most commonly reported scam type in the United States. The free "Protecting the Big Sky" presentations target adults and seniors with information on detecting financial exploitation.
localnewsmatters.org
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in El Granada, California fell victim to a phishing scam in which she received a fraudulent email impersonating a money exchange company and was instructed to withdraw cash and meet a courier in person. She handed over an undisclosed amount of money to the courier, who then fled the area; the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is seeking the suspect and urging residents to avoid sharing banking information or sending money in response to unsolicited online or phone requests.
ottplay.com
· 2025-12-08
**"Bogus Phone Operators" Documentary**
A 44-minute documentary investigates call center scams operating from India (particularly Thane, Ahmedabad, and Gujarat) that target elderly people in the United States by impersonating government officials and IRS agents. In 2022 alone, these scams defrauded approximately 15,000 US citizens of $800 million, with perpetrators using various payment methods including cryptocurrency, gift cards, NFTs, and Hawala transfers to extract funds and inflict severe psychological harm on victims, including cases leading to suicide.
ottawa.ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
I'm unable to provide a summary of this article as the text provided does not contain the actual article content—only a title and a list of unrelated shopping and product recommendation articles. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, please provide the full article text about the Ottawa man intercepting a bitcoin scam targeting an elderly woman.
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Fei Liang was arraigned in Queens on charges related to a scheme that defrauded senior citizens across the United States of $628,278 through impersonation calls claiming to be from the Social Security Administration, banks, or vendors requesting fund transfers for "safekeeping." The 39-year-old Flushing resident faces multiple counts of criminal possession of stolen property and could receive up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
people.com
· 2025-12-08
In May 2022, 96-year-old Violet Alberts was found dead in her Montecito, California home and ruled a homicide by asphyxiation; authorities later determined her death was part of a murder-for-hire plot following financial fraud and elder abuse. Pauline Macareno was sentenced to six years in prison for forging documents and establishing fraudulent entities to gain control of Alberts' assets, while Henry Rostomyan and Ricardo Martin Del Campo were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the scheme.
pbn.com
· 2025-12-08
A Georgia woman, Syretta Scherer, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for her role in a romance scam that defrauded seniors across multiple states, including Rhode Island, of at least $5.8 million. Scherer laundered nearly $1.1 million of the stolen proceeds by creating a fake company called Precise Carriers and opening multiple bank accounts at different banks to receive victim funds, primarily from widows who were deceived into sending money for fabricated medical emergencies. Two co-conspirators, Sade Mills and Dominique Golden, also pleaded guilty or were sentenced in connection with the scheme.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Syretta Scherer, a 42-year-old Georgia woman, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison on March 7, 2024, for her role in a romance scam conspiracy that defrauded seniors across multiple states of at least $5.8 million. Scherer laundered approximately $1.1 million of the scheme's proceeds by creating a fake company called Precise Carriers, opening multiple bank accounts at different banks, and recruiting others to deposit victim funds that were primarily stolen from widows through online romance scams conducted via app-based communication platforms between February 2018 and November 2019.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The Lenawee Department on Aging and Lenawee County TRIAD are hosting a scam prevention workshop on March 14 at the Morenci Senior Center to educate older adults on protecting themselves from fraud in digital and real-world contexts. Led by Erica Lamley, the workshop will cover topics relevant to seniors' unique vulnerabilities, provide practical tools, and allow participants to share experiences and ask questions. Light refreshments will be served, and interested residents can contact the department at 517-264-5280 for more information.
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Syretta Scherer, 42, from Georgia was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for her role in a multi-state romance scam that defrauded seniors of approximately $5.8 million. Scherer laundered close to $1.1 million of the conspiracy's nearly $3 million in stolen funds by creating fake bank accounts under a fictitious company and directing victims—primarily widows—to send money via wire transfer or mail based on fabricated emergencies. Operating from February 2018 to November 2019, she used structured transactions across multiple banks and recruited accomplices to open additional accounts to evade detection.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
An Auckland man lost $569,000 in a romance scam after meeting a woman on Tinder who posed as a Singaporean investor and convinced him to send money to a Hong Kong bank account for a Bitcoin investment scheme. Despite the victim's complaints that Westpac should have flagged red flags before processing the large international transfer, the bank initially denied liability but later made a confidential "goodwill" settlement payment. The case highlights the challenge victims face when scammers operate offshore—police declined to investigate, the Banking Ombudsman refused involvement due to the amount exceeding their $350,000 threshold, and recovery proved impossible.
keysnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost a record $10 billion to scams and fraud in 2023, a 14% increase from 2022, with investment scams causing the largest losses at $4.6 billion followed by imposter scams at $2.7 billion, according to FTC data from 2.6 million consumer complaints. Fraudsters increasingly used cryptocurrency and bank transfers, while imposter schemes targeting vulnerable populations through government and business impersonation saw significant growth, with Florida ranking among the top states for per capita fraud complaints at 1,563 per 100,000 residents.
castlegarnews.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary as requested. The text provided is a navigation menu and homepage listing for a news website, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. It contains only section headers, links, and headlines from various news stories unrelated to elder fraud. Please provide the actual article content you would like summarized.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Syretta Scherer, 42, of Georgia was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for her role in a multi-state romance scam that defrauded seniors of at least $5.8 million. Scherer laundered approximately $1.1 million of the stolen funds by creating a fake company called Precise Carriers and opening multiple bank accounts to receive money that scammers had convinced victims to send under false pretenses such as medical emergencies. From February 2018 to November 2019, she structured deposits across multiple banks and recruited others to open accounts to further obscure the money trail.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
A Truecaller survey of 2,000 Americans found that Gen Z and millennials (ages 18-44) are three times more likely to fall victim to phone scams than Baby Boomers, with Americans losing $25 billion to phone scams in 2023 and scam victims losing an average of $450 each. Latino and Black Americans were twice as likely as white Americans to be scammed, and younger adults lost proportionally more money—three times the amount older adults lost—partly due to their higher risk-taking behavior with emerging technologies like cryptocurrency and their less developed skepticism about offers that seem too good to be true. Experts warn that advancing AI technology will enable
lenconnect.com
· 2025-12-08
The Lenawee Department on Aging is hosting a scam prevention workshop on March 14 at the Morenci Senior Center designed to educate older adults on protecting themselves from fraud and scams in both digital and real-world contexts. The free workshop, led by department staff and facilitated through a collaboration with local law enforcement and community organizations (Lenawee County TRIAD), will cover topics relevant to seniors' unique vulnerabilities and include opportunities for participants to share experiences and ask questions. Attendees will gain practical tools and heightened awareness to safeguard themselves against financial exploitation.
qns.com
· 2025-12-08
Fei Liang, 39, of Flushing, Queens, was arrested and charged with scamming over $628,000 from six seniors across the United States between October 2022 and March 2023. Working with a co-conspirator, Liang used spoofed calls impersonating Social Security Administration officials, banks, Microsoft, Amazon, and other entities to trick victims into wiring money to bogus corporate bank accounts he opened in Queens; the stolen funds were then transferred to accounts in Hong Kong and China, with some proceeds allegedly used for gambling. The victims ranged from Connecticut to California and lost between $48,000 and $190,000 each
fox13seattle.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old woman in Pierce County, Washington was targeted in a staged car accident scam where a man falsely claimed she hit his vehicle, showed her a fake mark on her bumper, and convinced her to let him inside her home. While the victim was distracted, the suspect stole $100 cash and her credit card from her purse, then attempted fraudulent purchases totaling at least $424. The Pierce County Sheriff's Office warns that this scam is becoming increasingly common and is deliberately targeting elderly victims.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Joseph Beach, a 54-year-old West Virginia man, pleaded guilty to wire fraud after stealing $253,867.12 from his elderly father while serving as his fiduciary, misappropriating veteran's disability, retirement, and social security benefits for personal use. The victim, who resides in a veterans' care facility, was defrauded by his own son over an extended period. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office and investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and the Social Security Administration.
levittownnow.com
· 2025-12-08
State Rep. Joe Hogan introduced House Bill 2064, which would authorize financial institutions and fiduciaries to voluntarily report suspected financial exploitation of seniors to state investigators, temporarily halt suspicious transactions, and share information with area agencies on aging. The legislation grants these entities civil and criminal liability protection when exercising these protections and has gained bipartisan support from fellow Bucks County representatives. The bill aims to address widespread senior financial exploitation through new institutional safeguards and better information-sharing among protective agencies.
clickorlando.com
· 2025-12-08
The Titusville Police Department held an educational scam seminar at the public library to warn seniors about common frauds including IRS scams, utility fraud, fake prizes, tech support scams, and impersonation schemes. The city's Criminal Investigations Division receives approximately 15 new fraud cases per week involving thousands of dollars, with seniors being the primary targets; police emphasized that scammers exploit vulnerabilities and continuously update their tactics, and advised seniors to safeguard personal information and verify callers' identities before engaging further.
winnipegfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparent scam" has significantly increased across Canada, targeting seniors through phone calls from scammers impersonating grandchildren in crisis situations (legal trouble, illness, etc.) to pressure victims into sending money urgently via courier or bank withdrawal. In 2022, this scam resulted in losses exceeding $9.2 million nationally, with Manitoba victims losing over $313,000. Protection strategies include not answering unknown numbers, calling trusted family members to verify urgent requests, and remembering that police never demand bail money directly.
marionrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud targeting area seniors involves billing schemes for medical items not received, particularly urinary catheters; in recent cases documented by county aging officials, one senior's fraudulent claim involved 2,000 catheters with Medicare paying $14,613.80 to a fraudulent supplier while the senior's out-of-pocket cost reached $3,728. Similar scams originating from companies in New York, Texas, and Illinois have also targeted seniors with false claims for back braces and other medical supplies. Authorities urge seniors to review Medicare correspondence carefully and report fraudulent activity to Medicare at (800) 633-4227 or Kansas Senior Medicare Patrol at (800) 432-
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A 79-year-old Manitoba senior lost $16,000 in a "grandparent scam" in which a caller impersonated her grandson, claiming he had been arrested after a car crash and needed bail money; a second caller posed as his lawyer, instructing her not to tell anyone and arranging courier pickup of cash from her home. Since the start of 2024, approximately 13 similar scams have been reported in southern Manitoba, resulting in roughly $70,000 in losses, with scammers increasingly targeting less tech-savvy victims by requesting in-person cash withdrawals rather than online transfers. A 32-year-old courier who was intercepting the final payment
newstalkkgvo.com
· 2025-12-08
Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Insurance Troy Downing is conducting statewide educational tours to help elderly residents and caregivers recognize and avoid financial scams, which account for 70-75 percent of fraud cases investigated by his office. The tours highlight common scams targeting seniors, including schemes that pressure victims to pay quickly using gift cards or cryptocurrency, and are being held across multiple Montana communities to reach elderly populations, families, caregivers, and law enforcement.
sentinelandenterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
Two bank branch managers in Massachusetts prevented an elderly couple in their mid-70s from losing $80,000 in March 2024 after scammers posed as law enforcement, claiming the couple needed to transfer funds due to alleged illegal images and money laundering on their computer. Branch Manager Kim Giammasi at Hanscom Federal Credit Union became suspicious and required the couple to complete the transfer in person, allowing her colleague Melody Anoli to contact Billerica police, who confirmed the scam and secured the couple's accounts. The article emphasizes the importance of bank employee vigilance and provides Federal Trade Commission guidance on avoiding such schemes, including never clicking unexpected links, refusing unsolicited payment requests
publicnewsservice.org
· 2025-12-08
According to a recent Federal Trade Commission report, older adults in North Carolina and across the country lost $1.6 billion to scammers in the past year, with nearly half of those losses attributable to bogus investment schemes. Common tactics include impersonation scams initiated through text messages and AI-based schemes, which scammers use to build false relationships before requesting money or investments. Experts recommend that seniors and their financial caregivers monitor accounts for suspicious activity, report suspected fraud to their financial institution and police, use strong password practices, and stay informed through resources like the FTC and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
brooklyn.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
New York City seniors attended an educational session at the Brooklyn Public Library where NYPD's Crime Prevention Division provided information on recognizing common scams targeting older adults, including jewelry scams, purse snatching, ATM fraud, and phone/email schemes that evolve with technology. Officers warned seniors to watch for red flags such as urgent demands, spelling errors, suspicious attachments in emails, and callers impersonating law enforcement or the IRS requesting payment via apps, wire transfers, or gift cards. The department emphasized that tech-enabled scams cause significant financial harm to seniors' life savings and recommended contacting 311 for assistance if victims suspect fraud.