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mirror.co.uk
A 44-year-old disabled woman from Staffordshire lost £11,000 to a romance scammer who impersonated Australian TV vet Dr Chris Brown on Instagram, extracting money over 18 months through love bombing, fake proposals, and cryptocurrency transfers funded partly from her disability allowance. The scammer convinced her to send funds for flights and visas, with the largest single payment being £7,000, before she recognized red flags in January 2025 and reported the case to West Midlands Police and Action Fraud. Lisa Nock shared her story publicly to warn vulnerable people, noting she never received a phone or video call from the fraudster and had sacrificed social activities and lessons
dfpi.ca.gov
Mail fraud through the USPS takes several forms—imposter scams (posing as government agencies or banks), sweepstakes/lottery schemes (claiming unearned prizes), unsolicited offers (unusually low prices or phony inheritances), and mail theft—all using sophisticated tactics to extract money or personal information. Red flags include unsolicited contact, pressure to act quickly, requests for payment before receiving benefits, and offers that seem too good to be true. To protect yourself, verify communications directly with official sources, never send cash through mail, use tracking services like Informed Delivery, and report suspected mail fraud to the United States Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.
malwarebytes.com
The FBI warns of an ongoing malicious campaign using text and AI-generated voice messages to impersonate senior US officials, targeting government officials and their contacts with the goal of stealing login credentials and sensitive information through malicious links and vishing (voice phishing) attacks. To protect themselves, individuals should independently verify caller identity through alternative methods, examine message origins carefully, listen for voice inconsistencies, and report suspected incidents to the FBI or IC3. As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, staying vigilant and contacting security officials when in doubt is critical.
news5cleveland.com
The Cuyahoga County Scam Squad released a 23-page guide to help residents identify, prevent, and report scams by explaining how fraudsters manipulate emotions and what information they target. The guide includes an action plan section where people can pre-plan responses to suspicious calls, texts, emails, or letters—such as verifying bank contacts independently rather than following caller instructions. Paper copies are available at local libraries and online.
fingerlakes1.com
Scammers are increasingly targeting low-income renters across the U.S. with fraudulent Section 8 housing voucher schemes, using fake websites, phishing emails, social media ads, and "expedited processing" offers to steal personal information and application fees. Victims should only apply through official .gov websites verified through HUD's directory, never pay application fees, and report suspected scams to the FTC, HUD's Office of Inspector General, or local law enforcement.
koco.com
A scam expert discusses the rising threat of elder fraud, noting that nearly 4 million people have reported scams with average losses of $19,000, with criminals increasingly using AI and voice spoofing technology to impersonate grandchildren and celebrities. Key protective measures recommended include securing mailboxes, installing video doorbells, regularly monitoring financial statements, enabling two-factor verification on accounts, using biometric identification on smartphones, and establishing secret passcodes with family members to verify identities during unexpected calls.
wgmd.com
A 36-year-old Flushing, New York man pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for his role in an elder fraud scam that defrauded elderly victims of at least $2.15 million between May 2023 and May 2024. The scheme involved fraudsters posing as federal agents who convinced victims their identities had been compromised, then instructed them to liquidate life savings and convert funds to cash or gold bars, which couriers like the defendant collected from victims' homes. The defendant faces more than five years in federal prison at sentencing.
decorahnews.com
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mondaq.com
On May 12, 2025, the DOJ's Criminal Division announced a new white-collar corporate enforcement plan prioritizing ten "high-impact areas," including elder fraud schemes involving variable interest entities, investment fraud targeting individuals, and Ponzi schemes. The plan offers clearer incentives for companies to self-disclose misconduct and cooperate with investigators, with assurances that proper self-disclosures will result in criminal prosecution declinations. Elder fraud is explicitly listed as a priority area for DOJ investigation and prosecution.
oysterbaytown.com
Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly and Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino partnered to host an educational seminar on June 9th to help seniors and caregivers recognize and combat fraud schemes. The seminar covered common scam tactics, identification strategies, personal information protection, and fraud reporting resources, targeting seniors who face heightened vulnerability due to limited technology familiarity, loneliness, and other risk factors.
easyreadernews.com
**Scam Type:** Grandparent scam using AI voice mimicry and emergency impersonation
**What Happened:** Kayla Smith's grandmother lost $4,000 after receiving a call claiming her son was held hostage and demanding Target gift cards; the caller used AI or similar technology to mimic her son's voice, exploiting her maternal concern. Inspired by this incident and her grandparents' subsequent experiences with other scams, high school student Kayla Smith created SeniorSafe, an educational awareness program to help seniors recognize and avoid fraud targeting their population.
**Key Findings:** Seniors lost $4.9 billion to sc
connecticut.news12.com
Chase Bank, Eisenhower Senior Center, and Bridgeport police held an educational seminar to help seniors recognize and prevent scams and fraud, which disproportionately target older adults due to their age and assets. Key warning signs include unsolicited requests for sensitive information delivered urgently and scammers using emotional manipulation to create fear or excitement. Recommended protective measures include setting up credit monitoring and account alerts, verifying caller identity by contacting the organization directly, and reporting suspected fraud without shame.
thecut.com
An 82-year-old retired urban planner named Brian Ketcham lost significant money to romance scammers on the dating website Dream Singles, communicating with profiles of women (primarily one named "Vasilisa") who likely did not exist in real life. After his death in 2024, his children discovered hundreds of printed chat transcripts and documented evidence of the scheme, which required him to purchase credits for each message sent to the fake profiles. The article explores how his initial skepticism gradually eroded as the scammers built emotional connections with him, ultimately resulting in financial loss before his death.
fox5vegas.com
This FOX5 investigative piece provides guidance for identity theft victims, noting that an estimated 18 million Americans fell victim to identity theft last year. The article recommends immediate steps including reporting to the FTC and local police, contacting your bank to secure accounts, freezing credit reports, placing fraud alerts, and continuously monitoring accounts and credit reports for unauthorized activity.
kwch.com
Tom Grauburger of Lakin, Kansas lost $30,000 to a sophisticated tech support scam that used fear tactics and constant phone monitoring to manipulate him over three weeks. The scammers posed as Microsoft Defender and the FTC, falsely claiming illegal activity was occurring on his computer and demanding cash sent to Boston as "proof of assets," while threatening him with a fake non-disclosure agreement to prevent him from telling family members. His bank ultimately prevented a larger loss by flagging a $100,000+ wire transfer attempt to his retirement fund, but Grauburger and his family are still fighting to recover the initial $30,000.
theherald.co.za
**Summary:**
Police in Limpopo arrested a man who used a fake Facebook account under the name "Jeff Rals" to lure women with false promises of employment, then kidnapped and repeatedly raped a young woman from Pretoria after transporting her to his homestead in Limpopo. The victim was rescued within five hours when the suspect ran out of petrol at a filling station and could not afford fuel; he now faces charges of rape and kidnapping. Police warn online dating users to exercise caution with unknown contacts and recognize that scammers establish false trust before requesting meetings or money that can lead to kidnapping and assault.
sportskeeda.com
"Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" is a Hulu documentary series following three women from Connecticut, Ontario, and Frankfurt who were defrauded by the same anonymous romance scammer using stolen photos and multiple fake identities (Scott Donald Hall, James Richards, Michael Silver). The scammer exploited each woman's emotional vulnerability through social media and private messaging, eventually extracting thousands of dollars under false pretenses, with one victim losing over $30,000 and another compromising her Social Security information. Despite the victims' collaborative investigation, the scammer's true identity remains unknown, illustrating how AI technology and deepfakes enable modern romance fraud, which resulted in $16.6
wellingtonadvertiser.com
Between February and April 2025, a Guelph-Eramosa resident lost more than $80,000 in a romance scam after developing an online relationship with an unidentified individual who repeatedly requested money via e-transfers and cryptocurrency under false pretenses. The scammer used a fake profile with stolen photos and fabricated backstory to build trust, then exploited the victim's emotions to extract funds. Police warn residents to be alert to common romance scam indicators, including reluctance to meet in person and claims of fictitious emergencies requiring financial assistance.
droitwichstandard.co.uk
Between 2022/23 and 2024/25, dating scams cost UK residents over £271 million across 21,976 reported cases, with West Mercia residents losing a collective £3,857,217 (averaging £12,206 per victim). Reports to Action Fraud increased 17% in 2024/25 to 8,122 cases with £102.2 million in losses, with women and transgender victims experiencing disproportionately higher per-case losses (£16,370 and £27,234 respectively) despite fewer reports than men, and victims averaging 49 years old.
thesun.co.uk
Lisa Nock, a 44-year-old woman with autism from Staffordshire, was scammed out of £11,000 over 18 months by a romance fraudster posing as TV vet Dr Chris Brown on Instagram. The scammer used "love bombing" tactics, claiming to love her and proposing, then requesting money for flights, visas, and cryptocurrency payments, which Lisa transferred while sacrificing her own activities and disability allowance. The scam ended in December 2024 when Lisa could no longer afford to send money and the fraudster ceased contact.
mlive.com
The FBI warned of a sophisticated scam involving AI-generated text and voice messages impersonating senior U.S. government officials, targeting current and former federal and state officials and their contacts. Scammers use realistic voice cloning and malicious links designed to steal login credentials and personal information, which could then be used to impersonate victims and target other officials or their associates. The FBI advises verifying sender identity through independent contact, scrutinizing details for subtle alterations, and never clicking suspicious links or sharing sensitive information with unverified contacts.
media.srpnet.com
SRP (Salt River Project) and AARP issued a joint warning about utility scams targeting older adults, particularly around the Memorial Day weekend, noting that Arizona has the highest fraud rate against seniors in the country at 289 cases per 100,000. Common scams include fake payment websites, phishing texts/emails impersonating utility companies, and fraudsters posing as utility workers, all designed to create urgency and pressure immediate payment. Customers should protect themselves by calling SRP directly to verify account status, avoiding suspicious links and unusual payment methods (gift cards, cryptocurrency), and reporting suspected scams to law enforcement and the AARP Fraud Helpline at 877-908-3360
wkyc.com
Consumers reported losing $470 million last year to text message scams, according to FTC data. A viewer received fraudulent texts impersonating Facebook, claiming account suspension and requesting personal information to verify ownership—a common phishing tactic that uses urgency and threats to family members to manipulate victims. The Better Business Bureau advises ignoring unsolicited texts from unknown numbers and using reverse image searches to verify suspicious content before responding.
umassd.edu
Job scams targeting students and job seekers involve impersonation of real employers offering unrealistic pay, requiring upfront payments, and requesting sensitive personal information through unprofessional communication channels. Common scam types include fake check/money mule schemes, remote data entry tasks requiring software purchases, phishing, and company impersonation. Job seekers can protect themselves by researching companies on official sites, verifying recruiter identity through official phone numbers, never sharing SSN or financial information upfront, and requesting detailed written job descriptions and formal offers before proceeding.
wktn.com
One in four North American households are scammed annually, with Central Ohio consumers reporting $6,218 in losses to scams in June 2024, including nine cases involving fraudsters falsely claiming issues with Social Security Numbers. The Better Business Bureau advises residents to never provide personal information to unsolicited callers and to remember that the Social Security Administration will never contact you requesting your SSN, demanding payment, or threatening benefits, and that SSNs cannot be revoked or frozen. Residents are encouraged to report scam experiences to BBB's Scam Tracker to protect others.
consumer.ftc.gov
This educational piece advises borrowers on protecting themselves from student loan scams by using the official StudentAid.gov website to verify loan information and servicer details. Key warnings include never paying upfront fees for loan assistance, not sharing FSA IDs, and avoiding scammers who impersonate government agencies or promise special access, with instructions to report suspected fraud to the FTC.
thenews-gazette.com
Between May 1 and May 15, Lexington Police received reports of multiple scams including someone impersonating the Planning Commission chair, a fake lost cat emergency surgery scheme, a deputy sheriff impersonation demanding $400 in gift cards for jury duty non-appearance, an EBT card fraud, and a Publisher's Clearinghouse scam that defrauded a Rockbridge County resident of over $4,200. Police Chief Angela Greene advised residents not to provide personal or financial information to unsolicited contacts, never to purchase gift cards for fines or legal matters, and to independently verify emergency claims involving loved ones or pets.
newschannel5.com
AARP reports that $12.5 billion was lost to scams and fraud, with financial advisor David Globke providing guidance on identifying warning signs of fraudulent schemes. The segment offers practical tips for recognizing potential fraud before victims lose money.
turnto10.com
Artificial intelligence-powered voice-cloning technology is making grandparent scams increasingly convincing, allowing scammers to impersonate family members using just one minute of audio from social media. A Canadian call center operation arrested in 2024 stole $21 million from Americans over three years by using AI-cloned voices combined with phone spoofing and money mules to collect cash, claiming victims' relatives needed bail money. Experts recommend asking security questions only family members could answer and establishing family code words to protect against these evolving scams.
justice.gov
**Summary:**
Rakeshkumar Patel, a 36-year-old Indian national living illegally in the U.S., pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for his role in an elder fraud scheme that defrauded elderly victims of at least $2.15 million between May 2023 and May 2024. Patel and co-conspirators posed as federal agents over the phone, convincing victims their identities were compromised and their accounts under investigation, then instructed them to withdraw life savings and convert them to cash or gold bars, which Patel and other couriers collected in person. Patel faces more than five years in federal prison at sentencing.
sunburymacedonranges.starweekly.com.au
Australia's National Council on Aging reported that people aged over 60 lost $3.4 billion worldwide to financial elder abuse in 2023, with victims often unable to recoup their losses. To raise awareness on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15), Macedon Ranges Council and the Kindness to Elders Institute screened the film "Thelma"—about a grandmother scammed out of $10,000—followed by a discussion with actor Ian Rooney and finance expert Bob Nixon on protecting finances against fraud.
delawarebusinessnow.com
Rakeshkumar Patel, 36, of Flushing, NY, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for his role in an elder fraud scheme that defrauded elderly victims nationwide of at least $2.15 million between May 2023 and May 2024. Patel and co-conspirators impersonated federal agents over the phone, falsely claiming victims' identities were compromised and involved in federal investigations, then convinced them to liquidate savings and transfer cash or gold to couriers posing as agents. Patel faces more than five years in federal prison upon sentencing.
tmj4.com
Tony Lupo, an Oak Creek senior, fell victim to multiple scams including fake prize notifications and fraudulent calls claiming to involve his Social Security and Medicare benefits. Milwaukee County authorities report three prevalent phone scam tactics targeting residents: fake arrest warrants, missed jury duty claims, and Social Security impersonation scams. AARP hosted a community Scam Jam event featuring expert speakers and resources to educate residents on recognizing and reporting scams, with law enforcement emphasizing the importance of verifying suspicious calls through official agency contact numbers before providing any personal information.
gottheimer.house.gov
Four bipartisan bills led by U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer advanced from the House Financial Services Committee in May 2025, with a focus on protecting seniors and supporting small businesses. The Senior Security Act specifically aims to combat financial scams targeting seniors by establishing a federal Senior Investor Task Force within the SEC to strengthen investor protections. The other three bills address small business support and retirement plan access for nonprofit and education sector workers.
chadronradio.com
An 83-year-old Nebraska woman lost over $14,000 in a "smishing" (text message scam), exemplifying a growing crisis where Americans aged 60+ lost $4.9 billion to scams in 2024, averaging $83,000 per case. Social isolation significantly increases seniors' vulnerability to fraud, as those with limited in-person contact are more likely to conduct transactions online and engage with scammers. The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance recommends preventing financial exploitation through regular contact with older relatives, educating seniors about common fraud tactics, and reporting suspected fraud to authorities through their "Make Cents Make Sense" initiative.
news.yahoo.com
An 82-year-old Bedford resident fell victim to a computer fraud scam on May 9 after receiving a fake virus alert threatening legal consequences for alleged child pornography on their device, prompting them to mail $17,500 in cash to Pennsylvania. Quick action by Bedford police officers, who tracked the UPS package and coordinated with a Pennsylvania police department, allowed investigators to intercept the payment before delivery and return the full amount to the victim.
tmj4.com
Kenosha, Wisconsin residents are falling victim to a rising cryptocurrency ATM scam where scammers trick victims into depositing cash into bitcoin machines, with three victims losing a combined $60,000 in untraceable funds. Scammers pose as police, banks, or tech support and pressure victims with urgent demands for payment, sometimes instructing them to deposit specific amounts like $9,500 into crypto ATMs. The Kenosha Police Department advises residents to hang up on suspicious calls, refuse urgent money demands, never use crypto ATMs, and is calling for state regulations similar to Minnesota and North Dakota that limit daily crypto ATM deposits to $2,000.
yourharlow.com
Between April 2022 and March 2025, dating scams cost UK victims over £271 million across 21,976 reported cases, with Essex residents accounting for 549 reports and £5.5 million in losses at an average of £10,142 per victim. The scams showed a concerning 17% year-on-year increase in reports, with women and transgender victims suffering disproportionately higher average losses (£16,370 and £27,234 respectively) despite fewer reports than men, and some victims losing as much as £500,000 or more.
sowetanlive.co.za
A man in Limpopo was arrested after using a fake Facebook account under the name "Jeff Rals" to lure a young woman from Pretoria under false pretenses of employment, then kidnapped and repeatedly raped her. Police located the victim and suspect within five hours at a filling station in Giyani after a vigilant friend alerted authorities. The suspect faces charges of rape and kidnapping, and police warned online dating users to exercise caution with unfamiliar contacts and be wary of requests to meet in person.
en.cibercuba.com
A Cuban woman on TikTok exposed a common advance-fee scam where a fraudster posed as an art client offering to pay $1,000 for a portrait, with the victim expected to receive $300 and send back $700 for materials—a scheme designed to use bounced checks to defraud victims. The scammer operates multiple social media profiles and uses variations of this tactic for jobs, study materials, and vehicle sales; multiple other users reported falling victim or nearly falling victim to similar schemes, with losses ranging up to $8,000. The incident highlights the prevalence of social engineering fraud targeting Spanish-speaking communities across multiple platforms and countries.
vincennespbs.org
Following weekend storms in Indiana, officials warn residents to watch for contractor scams targeting disaster recovery, where fraudsters pose as repair or cleanup services, collect down payments, and either disappear or deliver poor work. The Indiana Attorney General advises verifying contractor credentials, avoiding upfront full payments or payment via gift cards and cryptocurrency, and being cautious of FEMA impersonators requesting fees and donation fraud schemes. Suspected scams can be reported to the Indiana Consumer Protection Division at indianaconsumer.com or 800-382-5516.
foxnews.com
SuperCard X is an Android malware distributed via fake bank text messages that uses NFC relay technology to remotely copy card data and conduct unauthorized contactless payments or ATM withdrawals without requiring the physical card or PIN. Victims are tricked into installing a fraudulent security app through social engineering, where attackers impersonate bank representatives and instruct them to tap their card against the infected phone. The malware operates as a Malware-as-a-Service model, targets any cardholder regardless of bank, and remains difficult to detect due to minimal permissions and stealthy design.
consumerfed.org
Americans lost over $16 billion to online scams in the past year, with seniors accounting for nearly $5 billion of that total, according to FBI statistics. Losses increased 33% from the previous year, driven by surges in tech support scams (58% increase), extortion (91% increase), phishing (273% increase), and identity theft (38% increase). The report found that generative AI tools—including text, image, voice, and video generation—are enabling scammers to create more convincing and personalized fraud schemes at scale, while underregulated data brokers, payment platforms, and communication tools continue to facilitate scams across multiple points in the fraud pipeline.
bridgemi.com
Michigan residents, particularly in the west, have received fraudulent text messages impersonating the Michigan Department of Transportation and toll companies like E-Z Pass, pressuring them to pay fake outstanding toll balances through malicious links to steal personal and financial information. The scam has spread nationwide with 60,000 complaints reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2024, originating from various area codes including overseas servers, making prosecution difficult. Residents should ignore these texts, never click embedded links, and verify toll obligations directly through official websites or by contacting MDOT at 517-241-2400, as legitimate toll bills in Michigan are sent by mail only.
wesh.com
Job scams targeting new graduates, particularly those seeking remote work, have increased significantly in recent years, with the Better Business Bureau ranking them as the most dangerous scam type for ages 18-34. Scammers use fake recruiter profiles on legitimate job sites like LinkedIn and Indeed, communicating via email, text, or social media with red flags including incomplete profiles, vague job descriptions, requests for upfront equipment payments, or use of personal email addresses. Legitimate job searches involve multiple interviews, resumes, and reference checks rather than text-based transactions, and victims should report suspected scams to the BBB or FTC.
governor.ny.gov
Governor Hochul issued a consumer alert warning NBA fans purchasing tickets to the New York Knicks' Eastern Conference Finals games at Madison Square Garden to avoid ticket scams, which surge during high-demand sporting events. The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection provided tips to prevent fraud, including purchasing only from official venues and trusted sources, avoiding online marketplaces and street scalpers, and verifying seller legitimacy before completing transactions.
pioneerpublishers.com
In 2023, Americans over age 60 reported billions in losses to four main types of elder fraud: tech support/government impersonation scams, investment fraud ($1.2 billion in reported losses), romance/confidence schemes ($357 million), and cryptocurrency scams ($1.1 billion). The article advises seniors to recognize these scams, consider having a trusted caregiver or companion to screen communications and spot red flags, and to report suspected fraud immediately to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and their bank.
justice.gov
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida hosted an elder fraud prevention forum on May 15, 2025, in partnership with AARP and multiple law enforcement agencies to educate seniors about common scams including investment fraud, lottery fraud, and inheritance schemes. The program featured local law enforcement examples and resources, with information available through the Justice Department's Elder Justice Initiative and multiple reporting channels including the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.
durbin.senate.gov
**Crypto ATM Fraud Targeting Seniors**
Senator Dick Durbin proposed an amendment to the GENIUS Act (cryptocurrency regulation legislation) aimed at preventing crypto ATM scams that disproportionately target elderly Americans. According to FTC data, consumer losses from crypto ATM fraud increased nearly tenfold from $12 million in 2020 to $114 million in 2023, with the FBI receiving nearly 2,700 complaints from individuals aged 60 and older in 2023 alone—more than all other age groups combined. Durbin's amendment seeks to add transaction protections and require greater transparency from crypto ATM operators, mirr