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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
wgrv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Greeneville man lost $9,000 in a warrant scam after receiving a call from someone impersonating a Sevier County Sheriff's Office lieutenant claiming he had an outstanding warrant. The victim withdrew cash and converted it to Bitcoin before realizing the fraud. Law enforcement officials remind the public that legitimate authorities never contact people by phone about warrants or request payments over the phone.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Edward Rosario-Canela, 48, of the Bronx, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for his role as a "money-mule" in a grandparents scam that defrauded elderly victims of over $655,000. The scheme involved fraudsters posing as distressed grandchildren over the phone to convince elderly victims to send money, which Rosario then collected and transferred to coconspirators in the Dominican Republic. He was ordered to pay full restitution of $655,683 for his participation in the fraud.
dcsheriff.net
· 2025-12-08
The Publisher's Clearing House scam targets older adults through unsolicited phone calls, texts, or emails falsely claiming they have won millions of dollars and requesting thousands of dollars in "taxes" or "processing fees" via wire transfer, gift cards, or digital payment methods. The article advises that legitimate winnings never require upfront payment, and victims should verify claims with trusted sources and hang up if scammers pressure them to pay immediately.
jewishaz.com
· 2025-12-08
The National Council on Aging identifies five major scams responsible for over 65% of reported incidents targeting seniors, including government impersonation, sweepstakes/lottery schemes, robocalls, grandparent scams, and romance scams—with emerging threats like deepfake technology and pandemic-related fraud. Protection strategies include verifying caller identity, avoiding personal information sharing, and staying informed through resources like the FTC's "Pass It On" campaign and AARP Fraud Watch Network, while community education and family communication serve as the most effective defenses.
masslive.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS is warning taxpayers about a scam involving unscrupulous tax return preparers who misrepresent rules for claiming clean energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, falsely claiming credits for taxpayers who do not qualify. Taxpayers who claim these inappropriate credits are responsible for repaying the inflated amount plus interest and penalties, and the IRS urges individuals to consult reputable tax professionals before claiming complex credits.
fcpdnews.wordpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Law enforcement impersonation scams involve fraudsters contacting victims by phone or email, claiming to be police officers and demanding immediate payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers to resolve fictitious legal obligations, using threats of arrest to coerce compliance. Fairfax County Police advise verifying caller identity independently, never providing payment or personal information to unsolicited callers, and remembering that legitimate law enforcement never demands immediate payment through alternative financial methods. Victims should report suspected scams to the Fairfax County Police Financial Crimes Unit's online portal or non-emergency line at 703-691-2131.
walb.com
· 2025-12-08
Summer is peak season for fraud, with consumers reporting over $10 billion in losses to scams annually. The FTC warns of common summer schemes including fake vacation rentals, hotel payment scams, counterfeit concert tickets, fraudulent cruise offers, and smishing texts about unpaid tolls—all designed to steal money and personal information from travelers. Consumers should use reputable booking sites, verify listings, call businesses directly rather than responding to unsolicited contacts, and monitor financial accounts regularly for signs of identity theft.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
The IRS and Security Summit partners launched their annual "Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself" awareness campaign warning tax professionals about evolving scams targeting their businesses and client data. Identity thieves are using multiple schemes including posing as new clients, phishing emails requesting Central Authorization File information, and phone/text campaigns to trick tax professionals into revealing sensitive information that could be used to file fraudulent tax returns. Tax professionals are advised to remain vigilant year-round against these threats, with the IRS offering educational forums and resources to help the tax professional community strengthen their security defenses.
effinghamradio.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, U.S. consumers lost over $1 billion to romance scams, with a median loss of $2,000 per victim, according to the Federal Trade Commission. About 40 percent of romance scam contacts originated on social media, and nearly three-quarters of victims were men. Romance scams involve criminals building trust with victims to gain access to their accounts or money, and suspected cases can be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or to the FBI.
engadget.com
· 2025-12-08
Bumble added a reporting option for AI-generated photos and videos to combat fake profiles and catfishing on its dating platform. The move responds to user concerns, with 71% of Gen Z and Millennial users viewing AI-generated content as deceptive and wanting limits on its use, particularly given that romance scams resulted in $1.3 billion in losses to nearly 70,000 victims in 2022.
krfofm.com
· 2025-12-08
A resident received a phishing text message impersonating the Illinois Tollway, claiming an unpaid toll of $7.59 with threatened additional charges of $75.90, and nearly fell for the scam before realizing it was fraudulent. The Illinois Tollway warns I-PASS customers to disregard such texts and instead verify account status directly through their website or customer service line at 1-800-UC-IPASS.
knoe.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating Feeding America and other legitimate senior food assistance programs through phishing calls and texts, claiming to offer free food to seniors. The Better Business Bureau warns recipients to verify that calls are from credited organizations before providing personal information. Legitimate senior food programs include Commodity Supplemental Food Programs, senior food box programs, and SNAP; anyone who suspects they've been scammed should contact the BBB at (318)-387-4600.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scam reports surged 118% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center, with artificial intelligence enabling scammers to create increasingly convincing fake job postings, profiles, and company websites. Victims were typically lured through legitimate job platforms, moved to private communication channels, and then asked to provide sensitive personal information like driver's licenses and Social Security numbers under the guise of standard onboarding procedures. The ITRC recommends directly contacting companies by phone using verified contact information to confirm job opportunities and protect against these AI-enhanced scams.
wvua23.com
· 2025-12-08
Online vehicle purchase scams are increasing, where fraudsters post fake listings with photos and addresses to trick buyers into wiring deposits for vehicles that don't exist or are never delivered. Recent victims in Alabama, Utah, and Missouri lost between $25,000 and $36,000 each after transferring funds based on fraudulent contracts and dealer credentials. To protect themselves, buyers should verify the vehicle's VIN through services like CarFax, inspect the car in person, and avoid electronic transfers in favor of cashier's checks.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old retired man lost approximately $256,470 to an investment scam after being referred by a friend to what appeared to be a legitimate financial company; the scammers posed as investment professionals, encouraged him to take out lines of credit and invest in bitcoin, and charged steep commissions before he discovered forged emails and other red flags. Despite enlisting a lawyer and private investigator (who traced scammers to Bulgaria and the US), Bank of America cleared fraudulent checks despite being alerted to the fraud, leaving him with only $20,000 remaining after legal fees. The victim emphasizes that the lack of government oversight and institutional safeguards—noting his local police department ha
kpq.com
· 2025-12-08
Remote job scams are targeting college students through fake job postings on legitimate sites and email, where scammers send fraudulent checks as "advance payments" and instruct victims to wire portions of the funds to other accounts. When the checks bounce days later, victims are held liable for the full amount by their banks while the money sent to scammers becomes unrecoverable, leaving students with significant financial losses.
12news.com
· 2025-12-08
Arizona ranked fifth nationally for online romance scams in 2023, with more than 800 victims losing over $22 million, averaging $27,000 per victim—significantly higher than the national average of $2,000. The most dangerous emerging scams involve deepfake video calls, cryptocurrency investment schemes, and fake celebrity profiles using artificial intelligence technology. To protect themselves, potential victims should verify identities through reverse image searches, watch for signs of deepfakes like unnatural blinking and mismatched mouth movements, and never send money or cryptocurrency to unknown online contacts.
complex.com
· 2025-12-08
Two women, Rosanna Lisa Stanley (48) and Gina Guy (37), were charged with defrauding 16 elderly men out of $7 million through a romance scam spanning from 2009 to 2024. The suspects used fake romantic relationships and personal connections to gain victims' trust before persuading them to send money for fabricated reasons including business deals and medical procedures. Both face multiple federal charges including wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering, each carrying up to 20 years in prison.
newsandsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, with the crime wave projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology make fraud easier to perpetrate and harder to prosecute. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and underfunded to handle the exponential growth of scams—including romance, grandparent, and technical support fraud—with victims rarely recovering their stolen money and perpetrators rarely facing consequences. A notable case involved an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being defrauded by scammers attempting to extract $12,000, highlighting how these crimes can have devastating downstream effects even as the perpetrators remain
jamaica-star.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans, with losses to adults over 60 ranging from $3.4 billion to $137 billion depending on the source, as law enforcement agencies lack resources to investigate the exponentially growing crime wave. Common schemes include romance scams, grandparent scams, pig butchering, and technical support fraud, with victims rarely recovering their money and often reluctant to report due to shame and self-blame. The problem is expected to worsen as the U.S. population ages and criminals increasingly use AI and cryptocurrency to evade detection, requiring coordinated action from technology, banking, retail, and telecommunications sectors to make fraud harder to execute
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Amazon impostor scams resulted in 44,000 reports and $19 million in losses to consumers last year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Criminals employ two primary tactics: complex multi-layered scams involving fake Amazon, bank, and law enforcement personas to increase perceived legitimacy, and fraudulent membership renewal messages with counterfeit websites designed to collect payment information. Consumers should verify transactions directly through official websites and customer service lines rather than clicking links or calling numbers from unsolicited emails or texts.
itechpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud in the U.S. is surging exponentially, driven by advancing AI technology and the technological gap exploiting older adults, with common schemes including romance scams and technical support fraud that often result in victims losing their life savings. Law enforcement faces significant challenges investigating these crimes—particularly when perpetrators operate overseas and convert funds to cryptocurrency—and many cases go unreported because victims hesitate to come forward or police dismiss financial fraud as consensual transactions. The FBI recorded a 14% increase in elder fraud cases in 2023, prompting experts to declare the situation a "crisis level" problem in society.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 23-year-old man in Hyderabad lost ₹12 lakh after receiving a spoofed call claiming to be from FedEx stating his Aadhaar was being misused for illegal courier shipments; the scammers then impersonated Mumbai Cyber Crime officials and coerced him into transferring funds under the guise of an "investigation" via Skype video call. A case has been registered with Hyderabad Cyber Crimes police, and FedEx issued a warning that they never request personal information through unsolicited calls or emails.
fortune.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with relatively few perpetrators caught or convicted, according to AARP's Fraud Watch Network director. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed by the exponential growth of scams targeting older adults, who rarely recover lost funds from romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, while victims are often discouraged from reporting due to misconceptions that voluntary money transfers constitute consensual transactions. The challenge is compounded by the use of cryptocurrency and foreign bank accounts, low federal prosecution thresholds, and the ease with which criminals operate with minimal consequences, with one Ohio case illustrating how fraud can
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams and online fraud operations, predominantly run by Chinese criminal organizations based in Southeast Asia (particularly Myanmar and Cambodia), have caused an estimated $1.26 trillion in global damage annually through impersonation schemes, investment fraud, and phishing. Approximately 220,000 people are mobilized across Myanmar and Cambodia for these crimes, with victims including those abducted from 35 countries who are coerced to impersonate others via social media, email, and phone calls. In response, China has blocked over $157 billion in fraudulent transactions since 2021, and Myanmar authorities rescued 19 kidnapped South Koreans in the previous year as international law enforcement intensifies crack
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and phone fraud, with the crime wave expected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology create easier opportunities for perpetrators while law enforcement struggles to investigate and prosecute due to limited resources and cases originating overseas. Victims, particularly older adults targeted by romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, rarely recover their money, and many cases go unreported as victims feel discouraged by police who often mischaracterize fraud as "consensual transactions" and prioritize cases with higher dollar amounts or multiple victims.
ibj.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with relatively few perpetrators caught or convicted, according to AARP's Fraud Watch Network director. Victims—particularly older adults targeted by romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud—rarely recover their money, and law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and under-resourced to investigate cases, especially those involving cryptocurrency or foreign bank accounts. The article illustrates the crisis through an Ohio case where an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer into believing she was involved in a $12,000 bond fraud, while the actual
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
Smishing attacks in South Korea have surged dramatically, with scammers impersonating financial institutions, investment firms, and government agencies through fake promotional text messages containing malicious URLs. These sophisticated schemes trick victims into visiting counterfeit websites or downloading malware-laden apps that steal personal information, enable remote device control, or lock data with ransomware demands; spam texts increased nearly 10-fold from 31.12 million in 2019 to over 168 million cases by mid-2023, with projections exceeding 400 million annually. The attacks exploit improved spam reporting visibility, regulatory changes affecting investment advisory services, and compromised text reseller companies to distribute fraudulent messages imp
nbcnewyork.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with relatively few perpetrators caught or convicted despite the exponential growth of such crimes. Victims—particularly older adults targeted by romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud—rarely recover their money, and law enforcement agencies lack sufficient resources to investigate cases, especially those involving cryptocurrency or foreign bank accounts. The article highlights a tragic Ohio case where an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after being defrauded of $12,000, illustrating how scams can escalate to violence while the original scammers remain at large.
apnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated international scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans, with law enforcement catching and convicting relatively few perpetrators due to resource limitations and investigation challenges, particularly for overseas crimes involving cryptocurrency and foreign accounts. Older Americans are especially vulnerable to romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, rarely recovering lost funds including life savings, while some police departments deprioritize financial fraud cases and victims often remain unreported. As the U.S. population ages and AI technology advances, experts warn the crime wave is projected to worsen, with scammers facing minimal consequences for crimes that are increasingly easy to commit and difficult to prosecute.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from elderly Americans through internet and telephone fraud schemes including romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, with perpetrators rarely caught or convicted due to law enforcement resource limitations and overseas origins making investigations difficult. The crime wave is projected to worsen as the population ages and AI technology advances, while victims—who rarely recover lost funds—are often discouraged from reporting due to police skepticism about voluntarily-sent money and the vast majority of cases going unreported.
mb.com.ph
· 2025-12-08
Scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with sophisticated overseas criminals exploiting an aging population and increasingly using AI to evade detection and prosecution. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed by the exponential growth in scams, with most perpetrators escaping capture and victims rarely recovering their money, while some police departments treat financial fraud as lower priority than other crimes. The article illustrates the crisis through cases including an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being targeted by a bond scam, and highlights how stolen funds are quickly converted to cryptocurrency or moved to foreign accounts, making recovery and investigation nearly impossible.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with projections worsening as the population ages and AI technology advances fraud capabilities. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and underfunded to investigate these crimes, resulting in few convictions and minimal recovery of stolen funds, while victims—particularly older adults—lose life savings to romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud. A tragic Ohio case illustrates the crisis: an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after a scammer manipulated him into believing she was involved in a $12,000 bond extraction scheme, while the actual perpetrator remains
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with the vast majority of perpetrators escaping prosecution as law enforcement agencies become overwhelmed by the exponential growth in cases. Victims, particularly older adults targeted by romance, grandparent, and technical support scams, rarely recover their losses, and some cases result in tragic secondary consequences when victims become desperate or violent. The combination of low investigation priority at local police departments, difficulty tracking funds moved to cryptocurrency or foreign accounts, and federal prosecution thresholds means that scammers operate with minimal risk of being caught or held accountable.
nowhabersham.com
· 2025-12-08
Sheriff's offices in Hart and Stephens counties warned residents of two resurgent scams: a fake warrant telephone scheme where callers impersonate deputies and demand cryptocurrency payments for arrest warrants, and a door-to-door asphalt sealing scam targeting homeowners with artificially low prices. Authorities emphasized that legitimate law enforcement never solicits payment by phone and advised residents to hang up on suspicious calls, refuse door-to-door service offers, and contact local reputable contractors for actual home services.
indeonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating U.S. passport renewal websites to trick consumers into paying fees to fill out forms that are actually free downloads on the government website, then requesting additional payment for the actual renewal. Victims unknowingly provide personal information like Social Security numbers and payment details to fraudsters, with reported losses of at least $68 per incident. To avoid these scams, consumers should verify they are on the official state.gov website (not .com or similar variants), allow sufficient time for legitimate renewal processes, and confirm websites are secure before entering sensitive information.
montgomeryadvertiser.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security scammers commonly impersonate federal agents and law enforcement officials, threatening arrest or benefit suspension to coerce victims into providing personal information or payments. To protect yourself, hang up immediately on suspicious calls, never share personal information or make payments, and report scams to the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov. The SSA will never threaten legal action, demand payment via gift cards or wire transfers, require secrecy, or send official documents with personal information via email.
greenwichfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
Utility scammers impersonate water, electric, and gas company representatives via phone, text, or in-person visits, threatening immediate service disconnection unless customers pay outstanding bills urgently, often demanding payment through prepaid debit cards, gift cards, or wire transfers. The scams may also involve fake meter replacement offers, unauthorized home entry for "repairs" or "energy audits" to steal valuables or personal information, or promises of energy discounts to capture account details. To avoid these scams, consumers should hang up and call the utility company directly using a number from their official bill, never allow unscheduled entry into their home, request proper identification from utility workers,
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
AI-enabled scam software available for as little as $5 online is being used to defraud people through voice cloning and impersonation tactics. Scammers extract personal information and voice samples from public social media accounts to create convincing AI clones that impersonate victims to their friends and family, requesting emergency wire transfers for fabricated jail, medical, or business crises. To protect against these scams, individuals should keep social media accounts private and verify emergency requests directly with contacts before sending money.
koaa.com
· 2025-12-08
A scam impersonating law enforcement officers from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office is defrauding dozens of people daily, with scammers claiming victims missed court appearances and demanding payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency to clear fake warrants. Detective Marissa Williams advises victims to request specific details from callers, independently verify identity by calling the agency directly, and report incidents to law enforcement, noting that many victims don't report due to embarrassment or believing nothing can be done.
fox5atlanta.com
· 2025-12-08
A Georgia couple lost $49,000 in lifetime savings after receiving fraudulent text messages posing as Chase Bank fraud alerts; though the couple did not authorize the transaction and provided no passwords, Chase Bank initially denied reimbursement and closed their case four times. Following the couple's persistence in seeking a subpoena through the court system, Gwinnett County police investigated and issued an arrest warrant in May for 25-year-old Audrey Michelle Townsend from Texas, who confessed to receiving and distributing the stolen funds as part of a larger scam operation, though Chase Bank has still not reopened the case for reimbursement.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Researchers at Macquarie University have developed Apate, a system of conversational AI chatbots designed to intercept and waste the time of phone scammers by engaging them in prolonged conversations. The bots, which mimic elderly people with various accents and personalities, are deployed by telecommunications companies when they detect incoming scam calls, and simultaneously collect intelligence on scamming tactics, call patterns, and criminal networks to help disrupt the multi-billion dollar scamming industry. The initiative, funded with $720,000 from Australia's Office of National Intelligence, aims to protect vulnerable people from losing their life savings to telephone fraud schemes.
mychesco.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP Pennsylvania has warned of an increase in utility scams targeting older adults during summer months when energy usage and bills peak, with fraudsters posing as utility company representatives and using threats of service disconnection or offers of discounts to obtain personal information or payments. A recent AARP poll found that 62% of Pennsylvania voters aged 50 and older expressed concern about fraud and scams including robo-calls and phishing emails. AARP advises residents to verify any unsolicited utility claims by contacting their utility company directly using the number on their bill, noting that legitimate companies send multiple notices before disconnection and never demand immediate payment over the phone.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
A 93-year-old grandmother (the real-life inspiration for the movie "Thelma") nearly fell victim to a grandparent scam in which a caller impersonating her grandson claimed he was in jail and needed $10,000, though her family stopped her before she sent money. Imposter fraud caused $2.7 billion in losses in the prior year, with scammers increasingly using AI-generated voice deepfakes to exploit victims through fear and urgency tactics, affecting an estimated 25% of adults according to a 2023 survey.
nwitimes.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this document. This appears to be a dropdown list or database of country names and their formal designations, not an article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse.
To assist you, please provide an actual news article or transcript related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse that you'd like summarized for the Elderus database.
aldailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Alabama's Department of Human Resources warned SNAP recipients of over 100 phone scams in which fraudsters impersonated DHR or EBT Customer Service representatives to steal EBT card numbers and PINs; the department could not quantify total losses but noted most scams go unreported. Additionally, Alabama's Board of Pharmacy alerted pharmacists to a spoofing scam where callers falsely claim to represent the board and demand payment to resolve fabricated license sanctions.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are sending text messages impersonating highway toll authorities and transponder companies like E-ZPass, requesting payment for small unpaid tolls (typically $11-$13) to avoid larger late fees, with links that expose victims to malware and identity theft. The scam, which began in spring and has accelerated in recent months, is tailored to specific states with URLs mimicking legitimate toll services, and has prompted warnings from the FBI, state transportation departments, and the Federal Trade Commission.
wsiu.org
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns of "grandparent scams" where fraudsters impersonate family members using phone calls, texts, or AI-generated voices to create false emergencies and extract money from vulnerable people. In a Hazelwood, Missouri case, a scammer posing as a grandson requesting bail money was stopped when a caretaker verified the grandson's safety; the BBB documented nearly 200 instances of this scam in 2023 with a median loss of $850 per victim. To protect yourself, verify caller identity through independent contact, question callers on personal details, avoid untraceable payment methods, and contact police if someone demands in-person money collection.
crozetgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Patsy Froehlich fell victim to a remote access scam when a fake PayPal representative tricked her into allowing screen-sharing access to her computer, manipulating her into attempting a $20,000 bank transfer she believed was a refund correction; her bank caught the suspicious transfer and prevented the loss. The article also describes a separate Publisher's Clearinghouse prize scam targeting Andrew Taylor, who was asked to purchase gift cards as a supposed legal requirement to claim a $5.1 million prize, and notes that scammers increasingly use urgency, emotional manipulation, and emerging technologies like AI to defraud victims.