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in Scam Awareness
mynorthwest.com
· 2025-12-08
Irish brothers Patrick and Matthew McDonagh were sentenced to 18 months in prison for defrauding elderly homeowners across the country of over $400,000 through a roofing and foundation repair scam. The pair traveled nationally approaching elderly homeowners, falsely claiming urgent repairs were needed, then pressured victims into writing multiple checks for unnecessary or fake work; in one Shoreline case, they stole $435,000 from a single homeowner before the scheme was uncovered. The defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to pay over $1 million in restitution to victims in Washington, Oregon, and Illinois.
theitem.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI is investigating an advanced multi-layered tech support scam targeting elderly South Carolinians, where scammers pose as tech support and government officials to convince victims their devices and financial accounts have been compromised, then instruct them to liquidate assets and purchase gold bars for courier pickup. South Carolina seniors aged 60 and older reported losses exceeding $9 million to tech support scams from January through November, with similar cases occurring nationwide. The schemes involve coordinated networks of criminals using fake documents, routing calls between accomplices, and can persist for weeks or months before victims discover their accounts have been depleted.
mountaineagle.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting older adults by offering free in-home services like cooking and cleaning in exchange for Medicare numbers, then fraudulently enrolling them in hospice care to bill Medicare. Hospice care is a specialized service for terminally ill patients (certified by doctors only), and unauthorized enrollment can negatively impact future Medicare coverage. To protect yourself, never share your Medicare number for "free" services, refuse to enroll in hospice for gifts or money, and report suspicious activity to 1-800-MEDICARE.
k99.com
· 2025-12-08
Colorado residents face an emerging threat from AI-powered deepfake scams expected to surge in 2025, including deepfake audio and video that impersonate loved ones or celebrities to manipulate victims into sending money. These scams exploit emotional connections by creating convincing fake videos of people the victim knows requesting financial assistance or using fake celebrity identities to build relationships before requesting money. The article advises all Colorado residents to learn to recognize scam warning signs and stay informed about these evolving tactics to protect themselves from financial loss.
uppermichiganssource.com
· 2025-12-08
Banking experts and law enforcement officials offer holiday fraud prevention advice, noting that U.S. consumers lost $10 billion to scams in 2023. Key recommendations include guarding personal information and never sharing it via phone or email, verifying website legitimacy before online purchases, avoiding responding to text message scams, using credit cards instead of debit cards for added protection, and setting up bank account notifications to monitor transactions closely.
wifr.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old California woman was scammed out of thousands of dollars by someone posing as MSNBC host Ari Melber on a fake Facebook profile over a four-month period. The scammer manipulated the victim by initially requesting money for his "sick dog," then claiming to be in love with her and promising marriage, and eventually sending an AI-generated voice message impersonating Melber before the victim attempted to fly to New York to meet him—an intervention by family members prevented the trip. The incident highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals to romance and impersonation scams, with the FBI reporting over 101,000 people aged 60+ reporting fraud in the prior year.
wbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Burke County Sheriff's Office warned of two recent phone scams in which callers impersonated law enforcement officers demanding immediate payment via prepaid debit cards—one claiming the victim missed federal court with an arrest warrant, and another claiming compromising content existed on the victim's device. The sheriff's office emphasized that legitimate law enforcement will never request money, gift cards, or unusual payment methods, and advised people to hang up on suspicious callers and contact local law enforcement directly to verify claims.
ktar.com
· 2025-12-08
**"Scam-yourself" attacks** have surged 614% in Q3 2024, with hackers tricking users into unknowingly installing malware by posing as legitimate tech support tutorials, fake CAPTCHAs, YouTube videos, and software updates. These attacks exploit users' natural instinct to quickly fix computer problems by making them feel in control while actually compromising their devices with malware like Lumma Stealer, which steals banking information and browser data. Protection requires verifying URLs and sources, avoiding downloads from suspicious tutorials, never copying commands from unknown sources, and using official channels for updates; if compromised, users should run antivirus
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old Bengaluru resident lost ₹1.94 crore from his fixed deposit after falling victim to a "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonating Mumbai crime branch officers accused him of money laundering and held him under fake digital arrest for seven days. The scammers contacted him via WhatsApp video call on November 30, claimed his ATM card was seized in connection with Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, and coerced him into transferring funds in multiple installments while threatening him to remain silent. He discovered the fraud only when he confided in his daughter on December 7, who helped him file a police complaint with the southeast
twistedsifter.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman selling her car on Facebook Marketplace fell victim to a scam where a buyer claimed he had paid her bank directly and pressured her to hand over the vehicle by involving his wife in the negotiation, making the seller feel responsible for ruining a surprise gift. The scammer's tactic involved emotional manipulation—having his wife "freak out" and demand refunds—to pressure the seller into releasing the car before verifying the bank payment was actually received. The incident highlights how scammers use social pressure and guilt to override victims' better judgment in online marketplace transactions.
deccanherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Bengaluru experienced a significant decline in phishing and one-time password (OTP) scams, with cases dropping 52% from 1,860 incidents in 2022 to 893 in 2024. The decrease reflects evolving cybercrime tactics, as scammers shift strategies away from these traditionally common fraud methods.
vietnamnet.vn
· 2025-12-08
Online scams caused Vietnamese citizens an estimated VND 18.9 trillion in losses during 2024, affecting approximately 0.45% of smartphone users (one in 220 people), according to the National Cybersecurity Association's survey of 60,000 participants. The three most common scam types were fake investment schemes promising high returns (70.72% of respondents), impersonation of organizations or government agencies (62.08%), and deceptive prize-winning or promotional messages (60.01%), with fraudsters increasingly using deepfake technology and automated tools. The report emphasizes that only 45.69% of victims reported scams to authorities, and recommends users
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigeria's anti-graft agency arrested 792 suspects, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals, in a December 10 raid on a Lagos call center that orchestrated romance scams and fake cryptocurrency investment schemes targeting victims in the Americas and Europe. The operation involved Nigerian accomplices recruiting victims online through social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram, then handing them off to foreign scammers who pressured them to transfer money for nonexistent investments. Authorities seized computers, phones, and vehicles, and indicated they are investigating potential links to organized crime networks.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
AI-enabled scams are projected to cause $40 billion in losses by 2027, up from $12.3 billion in 2023, as fraudsters increasingly adopt deepfake technology, voice cloning, and AI chatbots for romance scams and business email compromise attacks. Criminal activity on fraud-focused channels surged 644% between 2023 and 2024, with scammers now offering "fraud-as-a-service" tools and recruiting workers to create deepfake content. The FBI and fraud experts warn that 2025 will see AI scams become mainstream, particularly in targeted business fraud (like the $30 million Hong Kong Zoom imperson
theintelligencer.net
· 2025-12-08
Gift card scams are increasingly popular during the holiday season, with American consumers losing nearly $217 million to these scams last year, according to FTC data. Scammers pose as legitimate businesses or government agencies to pressure victims into making payments via gift cards, using tactics such as false tax claims, fake tech support, romance schemes, and prize scams. To protect themselves, consumers should only purchase gift cards from reputable sources, inspect cards before buying, avoid third-party sellers, keep receipts, and remember that legitimate businesses and government agencies never demand payment via gift cards.
prunderground.com
· 2025-12-08
"Senior Savvy: A Comprehensive Guide to Avoiding Scams" is an educational resource released by financial expert Andy LaPointe that teaches seniors to recognize and prevent fraud across multiple platforms, including phishing emails, social media scams, cryptocurrency schemes, romance scams, and door-to-door deception. The guide provides step-by-step explanations, real-world examples, and actionable strategies for responding to scams, with particular emphasis on protecting seniors during high-risk periods like the holiday season when scammer activity increases.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using sophisticated emotional manipulation tactics—such as texts about sick puppies—to engage potential victims, with experts predicting this trend will accelerate in 2025 due to improved AI and deepfake technology. The article highlights that older Americans are frequent targets, losing over $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023 with an 11% year-over-year increase in reported losses among those over 60. Key scams to watch include employment fraud, cryptocurrency schemes, and impersonation scams that exploit emotional triggers and misuse of company names and hiring manager identities.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-08
Task scams (or "gamified job scams") targeting job seekers surged 400% year-over-year, with the FTC reporting 5,000 cases in 2023 and 20,000 in the first half of 2024. Scammers lure victims through unsolicited messages offering simple online tasks like liking videos or rating images, initially displaying fake earnings to build trust before demanding deposits in cryptocurrency to access funds or complete higher-paying tasks. To avoid these scams, job seekers should reject unsolicited offers via text or messaging apps, never pay upfront to work, verify employers through official channels, and remember that legitimate employers never charge employees to
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
AI-enabled voice cloning tools are increasingly used in "grandparent scams" to impersonate loved ones and pressure victims, particularly seniors, into sending money quickly; in 2023 alone, senior citizens lost approximately $3.4 billion to financial crimes according to FBI data. Cybersecurity experts recommend families establish a unique "safe word" or phrase (at least four words, not easily researched online) and require callers requesting money to verify their identity using this phrase before any funds are transferred. The strategy exploits fear-based emotional responses that impair judgment, but can be effectively countered through proper family communication about the safe word protocol.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
During the holiday season, scammers exploit shoppers' stress and excitement through various schemes, including package delivery scams that use fake links mimicking legitimate carriers (like "uspsts.top" instead of "usps.com") to steal personal information or payment, and charity scams where fraudsters impersonate legitimate organizations to solicit donations. The article advises consumers to verify packages through original shipping confirmations, independently research charities before donating, maintain antivirus software, and watch for red flags like poor grammar and suspicious links.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP's Hearing Center offers expert guidance on avoiding phone scams and fraud, with a November Rural America Live show featuring an anti-fraud specialist who recommends not answering calls from unknown numbers as a key prevention strategy. The resource provides additional materials covering holiday scams, charity fraud detection, and other common scam types to help consumers protect themselves.
snopes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Brushing scams—where scammers mail unsolicited items to recipients with QR codes to generate fake positive reviews—are real threats, but viral Facebook warnings from police departments exaggerated the danger of scanning QR codes. While scanning a QR code alone does not automatically compromise a phone or drain bank accounts, scammers using QR code phishing (Quishing) require victims to take additional steps, such as entering login credentials on malicious websites mimicking legitimate services.
ksat.com
· 2025-12-08
The Department of Homeland Security Investigations issued a holiday season warning about phone scams targeting seniors and vulnerable populations, including grandparent scams, charity scams, tech support scams, banking scams, and government impersonation scams. The agency recommends protecting yourself by avoiding sharing personal information, verifying caller identity, being skeptical of urgent requests, staying alert online, and reporting suspicious activity to HSI or local authorities.
claconnect.com
· 2025-12-08
In December 2024, FinCEN and five federal financial regulatory agencies issued interagency guidance to help financial institutions combat elder financial abuse, which resulted in approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity reports over a one-year period ending in June 2023. The guidance recommends key practices including employee training to recognize exploitation, transaction holds and disbursement delays, trusted contact designations, timely reporting to authorities, and consumer outreach programs. Financial institutions are encouraged to implement robust governance policies and collaborate with elder fraud prevention networks to protect older adults from both stranger scams and abuse by trusted individuals such as family members and caregivers.
postandcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI issued a public warning about an advanced tech support scam targeting South Carolina seniors, where scammers pose as tech support and instruct victims to liquidate assets and purchase gold bars for courier pickup to resolve fabricated device or financial account issues. South Carolina residents aged 60 and older reported losses exceeding $9 million from January through November, with similar cases occurring nationwide, and the multi-layered scheme often involves networks of criminals working together over weeks or months. The FBI advises seniors to avoid clicking unsolicited links, never provide computer access to unknown individuals, and verify suspicious claims by visiting financial institutions in person rather than contacting provided phone numbers.
wbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old California woman was defrauded of thousands of dollars over four months by a scammer who impersonated MSNBC host Ari Melber on a fake Facebook profile, initially requesting money for a supposed sick dog and later claiming romantic interest and plans to marry her. The scammer used an AI-generated voice message to strengthen the deception and nearly convinced the victim to travel to New York City to meet in person, though a family member intercepted her during a layover and brought her home. The FBI reports that such scams targeting older adults are increasingly common, with over 101,000 people age 60 and older reporting fraud in the previous year.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The New York StateWide Senior Action Council identified Durable Medical Equipment (DME) fraud as its December fraud alert, warning seniors about scammers offering unsolicited calls or ads for free or low-cost braces and other unnecessary medical equipment to steal Medicare information and submit fraudulent claims. The organization advises seniors to guard their Medicare numbers like credit card numbers, avoid responding to unsolicited offers, ensure a doctor has personally assessed their condition before receiving equipment, and report suspicious activity to the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-333-4374.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Durable Medical Equipment (DME) fraud, identified as December's Medicare fraud concern by the New York StateWide Senior Action Council, involves scammers making unsolicited calls to Medicare beneficiaries offering free or discounted braces and other unnecessary medical equipment to fraudulently bill Medicare. Seniors are advised to guard their Medicare numbers, avoid responding to unsolicited offers, ensure a doctor has personally assessed their condition before obtaining equipment, and report suspicious charges to the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-333-4374, as such fraud costs taxpayers an estimated $60 billion nationally per year.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
This curated cybercrime report documents multiple fraud cases across India and internationally. Notable incidents include an Indore resident losing Rs 2.45 lakh to an AnyDesk remote access scam, a Rs 71 lakh online stock market fraud in Pune involving a Russian national, and a Chennai shopkeeper arrested for defrauding over Rs 1 crore through fake goods and job offer scams on social media. The report also highlights international cases including the extradition of a Nigerian cybercriminal to the US for wire fraud and romance scams, cryptocurrency scams targeting Jersey residents, and emphasizes that global scams cost $1.026 trillion annually
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams targeting work-from-home seekers surged during the 2024 holiday season, with "gamified job scams" causing over $220 million in losses in the first half of 2024 according to the FTC. Red flags include job offers requiring no résumé, immediate hiring, and unrealistic terms; job seekers should verify company legitimacy through direct website research and Google searches before applying or sharing personal information. If scammed, victims should immediately contact their bank or credit card company, though recovering lost money is difficult.
presidentialprayerteam.org
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission updated its Telemarketing Sales Rule to include inbound calls for technical support services, targeting a major fraud scheme where consumers are tricked into paying for unnecessary tech support through misleading ads and pop-ups. Older adults aged 60 and above lost over $175 million to these scams in 2023, making them disproportionately vulnerable to this type of fraud. The regulatory expansion aims to hold businesses accountable and recover funds for victims of tech support scams.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old retired government employee in Panchkula lost Rs 4.36 lakh to a social media romance scam perpetrated by two women, Anita Pandey and Sweety Chandrakar, who posed as business associates online. The article also highlights two related elder fraud trends: a 60-year-old engineer losing Rs 68 lakh through a fraudulent share trading app, and a spike in "digital arrest" scams targeting seniors in Kolkata, with one victim losing over Rs 66 lakh.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides prevention strategies against financial exploitation, citing FTC data showing $10 billion in consumer fraud losses in 2023 (a 14% increase from 2022), with investment scams accounting for nearly half of all losses. The article recommends three protective measures: enrolling in USPS Informed Delivery to monitor incoming mail, setting up transaction alerts with banks and credit card companies, and designating a trusted "watchdog" to provide input on financial decisions. These preventive approaches aim to help individuals detect and prevent exploitation early.
afro.com
· 2025-12-08
Task scams—fraudulent online job schemes initiated through unsolicited texts and WhatsApp messages—surged dramatically in 2024, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all job scam reports and causing losses exceeding $220 million in the first half of the year alone. These scams typically lure victims with vague work opportunities like "app optimization," provide small initial payouts to build trust, then demand upfront investments for promised larger commissions that never materialize, with cryptocurrency serving as the primary payment method. The FTC warns consumers to ignore unsolicited job messages, never pay money upfront for employment, and recognize that any promised earnings from "gamified tasks" are fraudulent.
india.com
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old senior citizen in Bengaluru lost Rs 1.94 crore (approximately $233,000 USD) in a "digital arrest" scam that occurred on November 30. The victim received a WhatsApp video call from a scammer posing as a Mumbai police officer who accused him of involvement in a money laundering case, then coerced him into transferring funds over seven days under the guise of a fake "digital arrest" investigation. The fraud was discovered when the victim's daughter learned of the scheme and reported it to police.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Between January and September 2024, merchandise scams on platforms like Facebook Marketplace cost Canadians $7.1 million, with Ontario accounting for $2.6 million of losses. A Ontario woman lost $50 after a seller on Facebook Marketplace took her e-transfer payment for cast iron planters that were never delivered, and police note common red flags include sellers being overly eager, offering full price without negotiation, or requesting payment through third-party links. Authorities advise online buyers and sellers to question suspicious offers, verify addresses, and report fraud to help combat these scams that often involve money laundering schemes.
daily-journal.com
· 2025-12-08
This article does not contain information relevant to the Elderus database. It describes a charitable running event (Jingle Bell Run) that raised funds for the Arthritis Foundation, but does not involve scams, fraud, elder abuse, or related elder safety concerns.
cbs7.com
· 2025-12-08
During the 2023-2024 holiday season, scammers exploited increased online shopping and gift-giving through phishing emails impersonating trusted companies (like Amazon and PayPal), fake social media advertisements using urgency tactics, and fraudulent charities requesting gift card donations. From November 2023 to January 2024, Texas alone reported over 1,400 scams resulting in $1.12 million in losses, while the U.S. reported over 21,000 scams totaling $94 million in losses. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to use only trusted websites, be skeptical of time-limited offers and gift card donation requests, and report
taipeitimes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Type:** Educational/Prevention Advice
An expert psychiatrist in Taiwan recommends three preventive measures to protect elderly people from fraud: regular cognitive function assessments to detect early impairment, reducing alone time through social engagement and community activities, and holding major assets in trusts or guardianship arrangements. The advice comes amid rising elderly fraud cases in Taiwan, including a retired physician who lost over NT$10 million and actress Tan Ai-chen who lost over NT$1 million, with scammers typically targeting seniors during daytime hours when family members are at work.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida real estate agent, Jason Valiant, was arrested for allegedly defrauding an elderly Ormond Beach couple of $1.6 million in properties and depleted bank accounts by forging power of attorney and healthcare surrogate documents while they were hospitalized. Valiant used the fraudulent authority to transfer the couple's home and two other properties to himself, drain their accounts, and use their credit cards for personal expenses; authorities also allege he signed a Do Not Resuscitate order for one victim, resulting in their removal from life support. Valiant faces charges including organized scheme to defraud, exploitation of an elderly adult, and identity theft.
timesrepublican.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Iowa volunteers with the Central Iowa Retired Senior Volunteer Program presented a fraud prevention program highlighting major scams targeting seniors, including a Fort Dodge victim who lost over $500,000 to scammers and a Marion woman who lost $30,000. Common schemes discussed included grandchild impersonation scams, fraudulent Medicare reimbursement demands, and affinity fraud targeting religious or ethnic groups, with the volunteers providing prevention strategies such as not answering unknown callers, verifying urgent requests by calling relatives directly, and avoiding upfront payments to strangers.
english.gujaratsamachar.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old senior citizen in Ahmedabad lost ₹1.84 crore in a stock market investment scam orchestrated through a WhatsApp group called "VIP A8 Jeevan Team," where fraudsters posed as stock experts and convinced him to download a fake trading app and invest in fabricated IPOs and block deals. The victim discovered the fraud when scammers demanded ₹39 lakh as a "processing fee" to withdraw his purported profits, revealing that all displayed gains were fake and his money had been siphoned to multiple bank accounts. Cyber Crime Police have registered a case and are investigating the fraudsters' network while tracking
dailyexcelsior.com
· 2025-12-08
Digital arrest scams are a sophisticated cyber fraud where perpetrators impersonate law enforcement officials to extort money or personal information from victims through false accusations of crimes like money laundering or identity theft. Multiple victims in India lost significant sums—ranging from 46 lakhs to 5.9 crore—after being intimidated by scammers using phone spoofing, deepfake technology, and legal jargon to create urgency and fear. These scams leverage psychological manipulation, phishing portals, and demands for untraceable payments via cryptocurrency or gift cards to exploit victims who are prevented from verifying the legitimacy of communications.
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2021, gift cards were the top payment method used by scammers, resulting in $148 million in stolen funds from consumers. Scammers tamper with physical gift cards on store display racks by removing protective film, recording card and PIN numbers, and covering their tracks, then use computer programs to drain funds when victims activate the cards. Unlike credit and debit cards, gift cards lack protections under the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, making it difficult for consumers to recover fraudulently used funds, and experts recommend buying cards from the back of display racks, under cashier supervision, online from reputable retailers, or giving cash instead.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals have used fake job advertisements to scam thousands of internet users in 2024, with over 20,000 fraudulent postings reported in just six months compared to 5,000 in all of 2023. The scams typically involve unsolicited text messages promising work completing "app optimization" or "product boosting" tasks, followed by requests to purchase equipment (often an Apple computer) that will supposedly be reimbursed—with victims losing an average of $2,000, including a college student who lost her entire $2,230 savings via Venmo. The FTC reports $41 million in cryptocurrency losses to job scams in the first half
king5.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old Marysville, Washington woman lost at least $20,000 to a romance scam involving an imposter posing as MSNBC anchor Ari Melber on a fake Facebook profile. Over four months, the scammer convinced Patricia that they were in love and would marry, sent her a counterfeit ring, and manipulated her into sending money by claiming his dog was dying and he lacked access to funds; the situation escalated when she boarded a plane to New York to meet him, prompting her family to intercept her during a layover. The case highlights a broader problem: the FBI reported over 101,000 people aged
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple residents at NYC Housing Authority's New Lane complex in Staten Island have fallen victim to scams targeting electronic benefit transfer (EBT) accounts, with scammers exploiting seniors' difficulty navigating smartphone EBT apps. Local officials held a press conference to raise awareness and call for stronger law enforcement action, noting that underreporting is common because victims can recoup funds through a lengthy process, and state legislators indicated they would pursue harsher penalties for crimes targeting seniors. Victims are urged to file police reports and contact the relevant scam hotline for assistance.
kgw.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old Marysville, Washington grandmother was defrauded of at least $20,000 by a scammer impersonating MSNBC anchor Ari Melber through a fake Facebook profile, who convinced her to send money for his sick dog and later claimed to be in love with her, even sending a fake engagement ring and AI-generated voice messages. The scammer had manipulated Patricia over four months and nearly convinced her to travel to New York to meet him in person before her family intercepted her during a layover in Portland. The case reflects a broader trend, with the FBI reporting over 101,000 people age 60 and older fell victim
vancouver.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Vancouver Police reported a scam targeting seniors in December 2024 in which fraudsters impersonated bank representatives via phone calls, claiming irregular account activity and convincing victims to surrender personal information and bank cards to couriers. Two seniors lost approximately $40,000 combined—a 72-year-old lost $30,000 and an 81-year-old lost $6,500—after being manipulated into providing passwords, PINs, and home addresses. Police advised the public that legitimate financial institutions never send couriers to collect bank cards and recommend hanging up on such calls and verifying directly with their bank.