Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
10,158 results
in Scam Awareness
messengernewspapers.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Nationwide Building Society reported that romance scams involving men increased by 40% in 2023, with victims aged 50-70 representing 39% of male cases, though younger men (20-30) accounted for 20% of reports. Women victims lose significantly more money on average (£10,610 vs. £8,181 for men), with scammers building false trust relationships before requesting money through emotional manipulation. Nationwide advises keeping conversations on verified dating platforms, researching online contacts thoroughly, and consulting trusted friends and family before sending money or personal details to anyone not met in person.
news.caloes.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
California emergency officials warn that disaster survivors should remain vigilant against common post-disaster fraud schemes, including fake repair contractors, fraudulent aid offers, and price gouging on essential goods. Key protective measures include using only licensed contractors with written guarantees, never paying money to anyone claiming to offer federal or state disaster aid, and verifying charities before donating. Residents should report suspected fraud to local law enforcement, FEMA's fraud division, or the Department of Justice hotline.
wobm.com
· 2025-12-08
Howell Township Police issued a warning about rising phone scams targeting senior citizens in New Jersey, where scammers typically pose as government agencies (IRS, utilities) or claim relatives need bail or medical money. Police advise seniors never to pay via gift cards or allow strangers to pick up money, and urge victims to report incidents to local law enforcement to help track patterns.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In summer 2022, 80-year-old Alice Lin lost over $700,000 of her life savings to a "pig butchering" scam after a fraudster on WeChat convinced her to download a fake cryptocurrency trading app and wire money over a three-week period. Lin sued Chase Bank in January 2024, claiming the bank failed to flag suspicious transaction patterns (seven large wire transfers totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars) and protect vulnerable elderly customers, citing California law that holds institutions liable for assisting fraudulent transactions against seniors. Chase disputes the claim, stating employees asked probing questions and warned Lin of fraud risks before completing the transfers.
postindependent.com
· 2025-12-08
The Rifle Police Department held an educational session at the Rifle Senior Center on February 16, where Lt. Mike Kuper provided seniors with guidance on recognizing and avoiding common scams targeting elderly individuals. Key red flags Kuper highlighted include unsolicited calls from unknown numbers, high-pressure tactics creating urgency, requests for personal information, unrealistic offers, and unannounced visitors claiming to represent service providers or government agencies.
madisoncourier.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau of Greater Kentucky and South Central Indiana identified 10 prevalent scams in February, including romance scams, wage garnishment schemes, fake business listings, impersonation of law enforcement, fraudulent surveys, reshipping employment schemes, fake government benefits calls, Facebook account deactivation phishing, solar panel fraud, and government grant scams. The BBB advised consumers to verify companies before transactions, never pay with gift cards or wire transfers, avoid clicking unsolicited links, and refrain from providing personal information to unverified callers or unsolicited online contacts. Consumers are encouraged to check bbb.org before making purchases and to recognize that legitimate agencies never demand payment by phone.
oxfordmail.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Nationwide Building Society issued a warning after data revealed romance scams involving men increased 40% in 2023, with victims averaging £8,181 in losses compared to £10,610 for women. The scams involve criminals building false online relationships and using emotional manipulation to request money, with nearly two in five male victims aged 50-70, though one in five were aged 20-30. Nationwide recommends keeping conversations on secure dating platforms, researching online contacts, refusing money requests, and consulting trusted friends and family as key preventative measures.
asaaseradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian Instagram influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money for her role in laundering proceeds from romance scams targeting vulnerable older Americans between 2013 and 2019. She was extradited from the UK and admitted to receiving over $2.1 million stolen from victims through fake romantic relationships, and has agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41, facing up to five years in prison.
lrt.lt
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers in Lithuania defrauded hundreds of people of over 1 million euros in a coordinated scheme targeting lonely individuals, particularly elderly women, who believed they were communicating with military officers or sailors online. Banks recorded 350 confirmed cases last year, with victims losing significant amounts across multiple financial institutions (Swedbank: 300,000 euros from 148 customers; Luminor: 380,000 euros; SEB: 154,000 euros from 45 customers). Many victims delay reporting due to shame and embarrassment, allowing fraudsters to retain stolen funds, and banks emphasize that money requests from online romantic contacts should be treated as a major warning sign.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian social media influencer Mona Faiz Montrage pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive proceeds from romance scams targeting vulnerable older Americans between 2013 and 2019. Montrage, who operated the Instagram account "Hajia4Reall" with 3.4 million followers, received over $2 million in fraudulent funds through bank accounts used by a West African criminal enterprise that deceived victims into believing they were in romantic relationships and sending money under false pretenses. She agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of approximately $2.16 million and faces up to five years in prison at sentencing.
soaps.sheknows.com
· 2025-12-08
A Chicago woman lost over $80,000 to a romance scam in which a con artist impersonated actor Taylor Kinney from the TV show Chicago Fire. The scammer, whom the woman met on a fan website, gradually escalated requests for money over a year-long period, using manipulative emotional language and guilt to drain her savings, 401(k), and car equity. The case highlights a broader problem: the FTC reported 64,003 romance scam victims in 2023, with scammers commonly posing as celebrities or other figures to exploit victims' emotions and trust.
beincrypto.com
· 2025-12-08
A 57-year-old finance manager in Hong Kong lost over HK$17 million (~$2.1 million) to a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment scam after being contacted on Instagram by a scammer posing as a former business partner. Over several months, she made 45 transfers to 29 bank accounts based on false promises of profits from gold and crypto investments before discovering the fraudulent trading platform was inaccessible. The scam was part of a broader trend in crypto fraud, and police noted that nine of the accounts involved had been previously flagged for similar schemes.
skepchick.org
· 2025-12-08
Charlotte Cowles, a financial advice columnist for The Cut, lost $50,000 to a government impersonation scam in which she received a phone call spoofed to appear from Amazon, was transferred through fake FTC and CIA contacts, and was instructed to withdraw cash, place it in a shoebox, and hand it to an "undercover agent." The scam succeeded despite being transparently fraudulent—involving obvious red flags like being told not to inform her husband and to conduct the handoff immediately—partly due to Cowles' lack of financial literacy despite her advice columnist role and her apparent overconfidence that she was not a typical scam victim.
messengernews.net
· 2025-12-08
Iowans lost nearly $30 million to fraud in 2022, with older adults disproportionately targeted because they tend to have more assets, may be less tech-savvy, and are more trusting. People ages 70-79 lost an average of $43,000 per scam incident, though many cases go unreported due to victim embarrassment and fear. Common red flags include promises of something free, pressure to act quickly, requests for personal information or money transfers, vague details, and unsolicited contact.
tryondailybulletin.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old woman named Donna lost $34,000 in a romance scam after seven months of communication with someone she met on a dating site who promised to buy a house with her but disappeared after receiving her money. The article highlights that the FTC reported over $10 billion in losses from scams last year, with elderly individuals particularly vulnerable to sweetheart scams, fake prize winnings, grandparent scams, contractor fraud, and phishing emails. The article recommends protective measures including frequent password changes, two-factor authentication, monthly credit monitoring, antivirus software, limiting personal information on social media, and recognizing red flags like pressure to send money immediately.
citinewsroom.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage (known as Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money from romance scams targeting older Americans and agreed to pay over $4.3 million in total restitution and forfeiture ($2.16 million to victims and $2.16 million to U.S. authorities). Montrage was arrested abroad and knowingly laundered proceeds stolen from vulnerable elderly victims through fake romantic relationships, with sentencing to follow before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
tahawultech.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Romance scammers increasingly target online dating and social media users by creating fake profiles to build relationships and extract money through manipulation. In 2021 alone, approximately 24,000 Americans lost nearly $1 billion to romance fraud, while the UK reported £92 million in losses; scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics including deepfake technology and AI-generated content. Key warning signs include love bombing, persistent excuses to avoid in-person meetings, escalating money requests, and requests for explicit photos; individuals should verify contacts through reverse image searches, use privacy settings, and avoid sharing personal information or money with online contacts.
whio.com
· 2025-12-08
A Central Florida woman lost approximately $600,000 of her life savings to a romance scam in which a scammer impersonated Elon Musk, convincing her she was in a relationship and investing money with him through wire transfers, ATM withdrawals, and gift card purchases. The victim's daughter brought the story to light to raise awareness, noting that romance scams targeting older, divorced women are underreported; the FTC documented $1.3 billion in romance scam losses nationally in 2022, though experts believe actual losses are significantly higher. Victims are advised to report such scams immediately to the FBI, FTC, and the relevant social media platform.
observernews.net
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, Americans lost nearly $9 billion to scams and fraud, with seniors being particularly vulnerable targets, according to FTC reports. The Community Foundation Tampa Bay, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and Men's Club of Sun City Center partnered to present a free educational seminar on March 5 featuring speakers who covered common scams including charity fraud, lottery schemes, romance scams, and grandparent scams, while providing prevention strategies and resources to protect older adults from financial exploitation.
tamaractalk.com
· 2025-12-08
The Broward Sheriff's Office is hosting a Senior Safety Summit on March 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Tamarac Community Center to educate seniors about scams targeting their community. The event will cover prevalent senior scams, recognition and prevention strategies, and steps for victims to take if they have been defrauded.
steinbachonline.com
· 2025-12-08
A senior in Steinbach, Manitoba lost a substantial amount of money in a Grandparent Scam on Wednesday, where a fraudster called pretending to be a relative in jail and requesting bail money, then arranged in-person cash pickup at the victim's home. Police received two complaints that day and report fraudsters have obtained victims' addresses in the area; if successful, scammers typically call back demanding additional money. Authorities recommend seniors hang up on suspicious calls, verify with family members, establish a family safety word, and report all suspected fraud to police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
okcfox.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old Piedmont, Oklahoma woman lost approximately $52,000 in a phone scam where callers impersonated Social Security Administration officials and a local police officer, claiming her accounts were compromised and convincing her to withdraw cash for a man who collected it in person. The victim is now facing financial hardship including potential inability to pay rent and nursing home expenses for her husband, and authorities are investigating the case while she seeks public assistance through a GoFundMe page.
montrealgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
A Montreal woman lost $1,800 after being scammed by someone who had hacked her friend's Facebook account and posed as that person to sell fake Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets to her and her colleagues. The scammer, posing as the hacked account owner, initially sold four tickets at $400 each, then requested an additional $200 in "name change fees" before disappearing. Facebook had been notified of the hacked account approximately one week prior but refused to remove the fraudulent post, which remained active until after the Gazette flagged it as a scam.
wcnc.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting Hulu customers with phishing emails claiming expired memberships can be extended for free if users enter personal information. To avoid the scam, consumers should inspect sender email addresses for suspicious strings of characters, hover over links to verify their destination, and be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. If a user has already clicked a malicious link, Hulu recommends immediately updating passwords, logging out of all devices, and monitoring credit card and bank statements for fraudulent activity.
cavazossentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Military personnel, veterans, and their families can protect themselves from scams by using strong passwords, password managers, two-factor authentication, and separating work and personal accounts. The most rapidly growing scams targeting this population are confidence and romance scams, along with online impersonation accounts (often impersonating high-ranking officials), credit repair schemes, cryptocurrency fraud, social media account takeovers, and extortion attempts involving compromised photos. Awareness of common tactics—such as requests for gift cards or money from supposed military officials via text, fake investment opportunities posted from hacked accounts, and suspicious website URLs—can help individuals avoid becoming victims.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A major telemarketing scam targeting American timeshare owners, operated by Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has defrauded thousands of victims—many elderly—of hundreds of millions of dollars over the past decade. The scheme, which began in Puerto Vallarta and expanded to Cancún and other resort areas, uses fake offers to buy timeshares at inflated prices, then extracts fees for taxes and other costs that are never refunded; one victim lost nearly $1.8 million across multiple transactions. U.S. government officials believe the cartel now profits more from timeshare fraud than drug trafficking, though the operation remains difficult to prosecut
coshoctontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, consumers lost a record $10 billion to scams—$1 billion more than the previous year—with approximately 2.6 million reports filed to the FTC, including one in four people experiencing losses with a median of $500 each. The top three scam types were imposter scams ($2.7 billion in losses), investment scams (with median losses rising from $5,000 to $7,700), and social media scams ($1.4 billion total losses). Consumer protection agencies like the FTC and Ohio Attorney General's Office educate the public on recognizing scams targeting specific groups—such as older adults, college students, an
inews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Chris Pitt, head of First Direct bank, fell victim to fraud five years ago when £250 in unauthorized betting transactions appeared on his account, illustrating how fraud affects people across all backgrounds despite awareness. UK Finance data shows fraud remains prevalent with £580m stolen in the first half of 2023, while average losses per case have increased to £3,589 at HSBC, with romance scams averaging £69,164 and investment scams averaging £27,680. The article emphasizes common scam types (phone, online, mobile, APP fraud, and romance scams) and advises consumers to question uninvited contact, never share personal information or passwords, an
etnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 58-year-old man in Kolkata lost Rs 20 lakh in an online investment scam after responding to a Facebook advertisement for a free stock trading course, which led him through a WhatsApp group to a fraudulent trading platform called Zoksa. The article outlines common online investment fraud tactics including pump-and-dump schemes, phishing, Ponzi schemes, unlicensed platforms, and fraudulent robot trading software. Key protection measures include researching platforms thoroughly, using only licensed and regulated services, avoiding sharing personal information, and consulting certified financial advisors before making large investments.
travelpulse.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides consumer awareness advice on recognizing and avoiding travel scams. Travel industry expert Byrd Bergeron identifies six common warning signs including last-minute vacation deals, suspiciously cheap airline tickets, risky vacation rental listings (noting Airbnb removed 59,000 fraudulent listings), requests for personal documents or confidential information, and bogus fees. The article advises travelers to verify legitimacy before booking, guard personal information, and report any scams to authorities while documenting interactions.
dailyguidenetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Social media influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Reall) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money in connection with a $2 million romance scam targeting older, single Americans conducted by a criminal enterprise based in Ghana. She was extradited from the United Kingdom in May 2023 and agreed to forfeit $2,164,758.41 and make full restitution, with sentencing pending before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
georgeherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams exploit loneliness and love-induced emotional vulnerability to defraud victims of substantial sums. In 2023, the US reported over 70,000 romance scam cases, while South Africa reported 190 cases in 2020 but lost R178 million (averaging nearly R1 million per victim), with scammers using fabricated profiles, promises of visits and gifts, and escalating requests for money under various pretexts. Victims—often educated and otherwise financially prudent—include a divorced woman in her 40s and a 77-year-old widow from Mossel Bay who sent money and purchased expensive gifts despite red flags, as oxytoc
wsfa.com
· 2025-12-08
Funeral home scams are increasing across Alabama, with scammers spoofing local funeral home phone numbers to contact grieving families and demand additional payment for deceased relatives' services, requesting wire transfers via Zelle or Western Union. The Better Business Bureau reports the scams originated in north Alabama but are spreading rapidly throughout the state, targeting vulnerable families during their most emotional time. To protect against these scams, families should verify that funeral homes and morticians are licensed through the Alabama Board of Funeral Service website and consider pre-planning funeral arrangements before death occurs.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This article highlights that scammers are skilled manipulators targeting people of all ages, with 41% of 2023 FTC fraud reports coming from those under 30. AARP offers resources for fraud victims, including the Fraud Watch Network Helpline (1-877-908-3360) staffed by trained volunteers weekdays, and an online support program to address emotional trauma from victimization. The article advises victims to file police reports for documentation and encourages the public to report suspected scams.
valdostatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Georgia residents lost $234.3 million to fraud in 2023 across 65,825 reported incidents to the FTC, ranking the state 15th most defrauded nationally. The three most common scam types were Credit Bureaus/Information Furnishers (25% of reports), Identity Theft (23%), and Imposter Scams (9%), with victims advised to monitor credit reports, avoid sharing personal information unsolicited, and never send money to unknown parties.
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
The Brazos County Sheriff's Office and College Station Police Department warned residents about a rising trend in phone and internet scams, including impersonation calls falsely claiming to be from law enforcement and demanding payment via digital payment apps. Deputy Christopher Searles emphasized that legitimate law enforcement agencies will never call demanding money or request personal information like Social Security numbers or bank details over the phone, and advised residents to hang up on suspicious calls, verify sender identities by hovering over email addresses, and contact agencies directly if uncertain. Victims of scams are encouraged to report incidents to local law enforcement.
marketrealist.com
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old Taiwanese immigrant lost approximately $720,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam after being approached on WeChat by a scammer who built her trust and convinced her to invest her life savings and retirement funds into a fraudulent trading app. She subsequently sued Chase Bank, claiming the bank failed to alert her or her daughter (joint account owner) to the suspicious transactions that deviated from her normal spending patterns, though the bank disputed this account and stated it had provided warnings about fraud risks. The case highlights the vulnerability of seniors to investment scams, with Americans losing over $3 billion to such schemes in 2022 alone.
publicnewsservice.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP Connecticut is launching a new educational series to address the growing complexity of scams targeting older adults, with 400 different scam types reported in 2022. Seniors are frequently targeted because they tend to have more financial resources, and losses can range from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars, with emotional and psychological impacts extending beyond financial harm. The free online series will cover topics including artificial intelligence and voice cloning scams, with a Connecticut man recently indicted for defrauding Wisconsin seniors of $200,000 through grandparent impersonation scams.
midmichigannow.com
· 2025-12-08
State Representative Jasper R. Martus and Attorney General Dana Nessel will present "Senior Scams Awareness" at the Krapohl Senior Center in Mt. Morris Township to educate seniors about common scams targeting older adults, including grandparent scams, IRS scams, and sweepstakes scams, as well as prevention strategies. The presentation aims to teach seniors how to recognize these frauds and what steps to take if they encounter a scam.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office partnered with Winchester and Waltham Police Departments to host financial fraud awareness seminars for older adults, featuring presentations from federal prosecutors, the IRS, and U.S. Postal Service on common scams and protective measures. According to FBI data, victims over 60 experienced an 84% increase in losses from 2021 to 2022, totaling over $3 billion, with nearly 5,500 victims losing more than $100,000 each to schemes including tech support, romance, and sweepstakes scams.
wnem.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel conducted an educational outreach event at a senior center in Mt. Morris to teach seniors how to identify and avoid scams, emphasizing that while AI-generated deepfakes and voice-emulation scams are real threats, education is the best defense. Nessel stressed that seniors are disproportionately impacted by scams and advised vigilance against criminals posing as banks, government agencies, and other trusted entities through email and phone calls. She encouraged victims to report scams to local police.
punekarnews.in
· 2025-12-08
A couple in Pune's Wakad area lost Rs 35 lakhs 35 thousand between January 29 and February 17, 2024, after being lured through social media advertisements into a fake share market investment scheme. The fraudsters created a deceptive WhatsApp group and counterfeit mobile app to convince the victims to invest, then prevented them from withdrawing funds and refused to return their money or promised profits. Five individuals have been identified in the case, and Wakad Police are investigating the incident.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A YouTuber operating the "ScamSandwich" channel poses as an elderly widow to expose and disrupt online scammers, gaining over 90,000 subscribers since January 2023. By gaining remote access to scammers' computers, he reveals their locations (primarily in India and West Africa), deploys disruptive viruses, and publicly humiliates them on camera, sometimes prompting expressions of remorse and reports to authorities. While his videos provide entertainment and awareness, they highlight the serious problem of elder fraud, with Americans over 60 losing billions of dollars annually to scams.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 22-year-old man from Telangana, India was deceived by recruitment agents who promised him a job in Russia with a salary of 1.5 lakh rupees, but he was instead sent to serve in the Wagner private army near the Ukraine border. His family borrowed 300,000 rupees to pay the agent and has been unable to obtain assurances of his safe return, prompting them to seek intervention from India's Ministry of External Affairs. The scam has affected multiple Indian youths lured to Russia through false job promises, with some social media influencers promoting these dangerous recruitment schemes while others have warned against them.
marketplace.org
· 2025-12-08
Financial advice columnist Charlotte Cowles lost $50,000 to an elaborate scam in which fraudsters impersonated Federal Trade Commission and CIA officials; she withdrew the cash from her Bank of America account before realizing the scheme later that day. Banks have limited tools to prevent such scams, with policies varying by institution—some tellers may offer alternatives like cashier's checks or wire transfers, while others simply warn customers—and the FTC reported consumers lost $8.8 billion to scams in 2022, a 30% increase from the previous year.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reissued a tax identity theft alert in February 2024, urging residents to file taxes early to prevent criminals from using stolen personal information to claim fraudulent refunds. The alert provides guidance on protecting Social Security numbers, using secure filing methods, and recognizing IRS scams, while advising victims of tax-related identity theft to contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit and file an FTC complaint.
mercurynews.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a Q&A advisory piece rather than a news article about a completed scam. The questioner, an adult inheritor of multi-million-dollar Silicon Valley properties held in a special-needs trust, expressed concerns about pressure from a professional fiduciary and unresponsive attorney to sell the properties without full understanding. The response provides educational guidance on elder fraud awareness—citing AARP data that $28.3 billion is lost annually to elder fraud, with 72% perpetrated by known individuals—and directs the questioner to file complaints with California's Professional Fiduciaries Bureau and Santa Clara County Bar Association, contact Adult Protective Services, and hire specialized legal counsel before signing any documents.
siliconeer.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission held a February 2023 media briefing highlighting key findings on national scams and fraud trends, with experts emphasizing that consumer reporting, public education, and awareness are critical tools in combating fraudulent activities. FTC officials stressed the importance of a two-way communication approach where individuals must stay informed through reliable sources and report scams, while the FTC uses reported data to take enforcement action and raise public awareness. The agency outlined its commitment to reaching diverse and vulnerable communities through multilingual resources and ethnic media outreach to equip consumers with knowledge and tools to identify and report scams effectively.
citizensadvice.org.uk
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide describes common scams affecting people in Scotland, including phishing emails and texts impersonating TV Licensing, HMRC, PayPal, banks, and Ofcom, as well as dating and romance scams. The advice emphasizes verifying sender information, avoiding clicking suspicious links, never providing personal or financial details to unsolicited contacts, and immediately contacting your bank and police (101) if details have been compromised. Key prevention strategies include checking official websites for legitimate communication, using trusted contact methods, and consulting trusted friends or relatives when suspicious of a scam.
montereyherald.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational column outlines four prevalent scams targeting seniors: elder financial abuse (where trusted individuals gain unauthorized access to finances), romance scams (where online/phone relationships lead to requests for money), tech support scams (fraudulent calls claiming computer or banking problems), and bereavement scams (scammers targeting grieving family members by posing as funeral homes). The article estimates that over 10% of U.S. elderly are victimized annually and recommends protective measures including adding trusted contacts to financial accounts, establishing estate plans, verifying unexpected calls by contacting organizations directly, and reporting fraud to law enforcement.