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foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Elderly Americans relocating face elevated fraud risk, as more than 3 million seniors move annually and scammers exploit exposed personal data from real estate listings, moving companies, and address changes published by data brokers. One woman's elderly mother fell victim to two consecutive scams immediately after moving to assisted living, illustrating how criminals target seniors during transitions. The article identifies common scams targeting downsizing seniors including identity theft, cash-rich fraud schemes, phishing, and harassment, and recommends protective measures such as using data removal services, official USPS address change forms, and limiting information exposure online.
mlive.com
· 2025-12-07
Apple warned iPhone users about ongoing "smishing" scams—fraudulent text messages falsely claiming unpaid tolls, undelivered packages, or traffic violations—that aim to trick users into clicking malicious links to steal sensitive financial information. An upcoming iOS 26 update will add protective features including spam and unknown sender filters that prevent users from immediately clicking links in suspicious messages, though Apple advises users to avoid sharing personal information, clicking unverified links, and to enable multi-factor authentication as additional safeguards.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-07
A sophisticated phishing email impersonates PayPal using a spoofed sender address and targets users with claims of a $910.45 unauthorized charge at Kraken.com, urging them to click a link within 24 hours. The scam uses multiple deceptive tactics including suspicious recipient addresses, generic greetings, artificial urgency, and a fake link that actually directs victims to PayPal's legitimate site but initiates adding a secondary user to their account—allowing scammers to issue payments from the victim's account.
al.com
· 2025-12-07
Cyber criminals increasingly use phishing text messages ("smishing") to steal personal information, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting $470 million lost to text-based scams in 2023. Apple's new iOS 26 Messages app features improved protections including disabled links and reply restrictions on spam messages. The FTC advises users to delete unsolicited messages, never click suspicious links, and verify requests directly with companies using known contact information.
wlrn.org
· 2025-12-07
Palm Beach County officials held a community meeting in Delray Beach to alert residents about rising scams targeting seniors, including fake SunPass charges, Bitcoin ATM schemes, and identity theft via suspicious texts. State Attorney Alexcia Cox announced that her office has created specialized prosecution units for elder abuse, cybercrime, and property deed fraud, while noting that AI technology and overseas offenders have complicated fraud prosecution efforts. According to FBI data, cybercrimes cost Americans over $16 billion in 2024, representing a 33% increase from the previous year.
mysuncoast.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly Bradenton woman who feared she was being scammed after receiving solicitations about unclaimed funds contacted local police and was assisted by Detective Jim Curulla of the senior fraud division. Curulla verified the funds were legitimate through the Florida Department of Financial Services database and helped the woman recover over $100,000 in unclaimed property, then accompanied her to deposit the check.
abc10.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers increasingly target seniors through digital platforms, with California consumers reporting over $1.7 billion in fraud losses in 2024, particularly involving identity theft and smartphone scams. Seniors are vulnerable because they are more likely to respond to unsolicited calls and urgent emails, and common tactics include impersonating government agencies or family members to pressure victims into quick payments via gift cards. Experts recommend that seniors never give personal information over the phone, keep antivirus software updated, verify website legitimacy before transactions, and immediately notify law enforcement and financial institutions if targeted, while family and friends can support prevention through regular check-ins and open conversations about fraud.
nbcwashington.com
· 2025-12-07
I appreciate you providing this content, but this appears to be just the navigation menu and header structure of an NBC4 Washington webpage, not an actual article about elder fraud or scams.
To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the actual article text with:
- A headline describing the fraud/scam incident
- The body content explaining what occurred
- Details about victims, amounts, and outcomes
Could you please share the actual article content you'd like summarized?
wcnc.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2023, older Americans lost over $3.4 billion to scams, with the problem escalating in 2024 when individuals over 60 represented the largest group of cybercrime victims in the U.S., losing more than $1 billion since the start of the year through increasingly sophisticated schemes including tech support fraud, romance scams, investment fraud, and government impersonation. Experts recommend seniors protect themselves by never sharing personal information unsolicited, using strong passwords with two-factor authentication, consulting family before financial decisions, and recognizing red flags such as urgent requests for money via gift cards or wire transfers, pressure to act quickly, and threats from callers.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-07
A scammer impersonated a pastor at NorthRidge Church in northeast Kansas by sending emails to church members requesting gift card purchases with claims of urgency, though no one fell for the scam due to misspellings in the fraudulent email. The Seneca Police Department warns of this impersonation tactic, noting that Americans lost $1.1 billion to impersonation scams in 2023, with gift card scams being a common method where scammers pose as government officials, tech support, family members, or other trusted sources.
valdostatoday.com
· 2025-12-07
A Florida man, Charles Henry Williams, was arrested following a 5-month multi-state cyber investigation for running an online timeshare scam that defrauded an elderly Georgia couple of over $1 million across four years, with additional victims identified during the investigation. Williams was charged with Theft by Deception and Exploitation of an Elder Person and arrested on August 29, 2025, to face charges in Coweta County. The investigation involved coordination between the GBI, Georgia Attorney General's Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and Florida law enforcement agencies.
thesun.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Cecilie Fjellhoy met Simon Leviev (real name Shimon Hayut) on Tinder in 2018, who posed as a wealthy diamond company CEO and convinced her to lend him money for travel expenses over 13 weeks, ultimately stealing £200,000 from her credit card. Leviev defrauded an estimated £7.4 million from numerous women using the same romance scam tactics before being arrested in Greece in 2019 on unrelated charges; he was never prosecuted for the Tinder scheme. Fjellhoy, who experienced severe psychological trauma and required psychiatric care and therapy, has since released a Netflix documentary called "
countryherald.com
· 2025-12-07
Impersonation scams targeting older adults in Illinois and nationwide have increased more than fourfold since 2020, with losses exceeding $100,000 skyrocketing from $55 million in 2020 to $445 million in 2024, according to FTC data. Scammers impersonate trusted entities like government agencies, banks, and businesses through urgent calls, texts, or emails, pressuring victims to transfer money, move funds to cryptocurrency, or hand over cash by falsely claiming account compromises, criminal ties to Social Security numbers, or hacked computers. The FTC advises consumers to never send money in response to unsolicited communications, verify contacts through
recordcourier.com
· 2025-12-07
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is hosting a free Senior Scam Seminar on September 18 at the Kahle Community Center in Stateline, designed to educate residents about identifying and preventing fraud targeting seniors. The one-hour session will cover common scam tactics including phone, email, and in-person schemes, warning signs to recognize, and available resources, with Sheriff Dan Coverley noting that fraudulent schemes affecting seniors are on the rise and education is a key defense against fraud.
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-07
A 75-year-old South Korean woman nearly lost her life savings of 100 million won (approximately $92,500) to a voice phishing scam in which a fraudster impersonated a Financial Supervisory Service official and convinced her to withdraw funds and convert them to gold. A taxi driver became suspicious after overhearing her phone conversation with the scammer, noticing a male voice despite her claim she was speaking to her daughter, and alerted police who intercepted the vehicle and prevented the handover of the gold.
bitdefender.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational piece highlights the rising threat of sophisticated online scams targeting seniors, noting that FTC data shows reports of victims aged 60+ losing $10,000 or more quadrupled between 2020 and 2024. Scammers use impostor schemes impersonating businesses or government agencies, increasingly leveraging AI-generated deepfakes and voice technology, with a notable 2024 case involving 16 defendants charged in a grandparent scam ring that defrauded victims of over $55 million. The article recommends verification through trusted channels, raising awareness of scam tactics, and implementing cybersecurity tools as key defenses against elder fraud.
wifr.com
· 2025-12-07
The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers are increasingly using AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate grandchildren and other loved ones, convincing seniors to send money by claiming emergencies such as accidents, arrests, or medical crises. These "grandparent scams" are becoming more realistic by incorporating personal details gleaned from social media, and scammers can now replicate voices with just seconds of audio. The BBB recommends families establish code words for verification, limit personal information on social media, avoid sending money through untraceable methods like gift cards or payment apps, and contact police if suspicious requests occur or money has already been sent.
clickondetroit.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers have been contacting Michigan residents by phone and email, impersonating Consumers Energy representatives and threatening service disconnection unless immediate payment is made via prepaid debit cards or gift cards. Consumers Energy clarified that it never demands specific payment methods or requests credit card information over the phone, and customers should hang up and call the official number (800-477-5050) to verify any such contact. Those who suspect they were scammed should report the incident to Consumers Energy or local police depending on whether payment was made.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-07
AARP is hosting a free telephone town hall on September 4 featuring fraud prevention experts Liz Buser and Staff Sergeant Tara Hardin to educate older adults and caregivers about evolving scam tactics, how to identify red flags, and reporting procedures. The event will cover current fraud trends targeting seniors, response strategies for suspicious communications, available support resources, and practical protection tools from AARP and law enforcement.
mcguirewoods.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers fraudulently use the McGuireWoords law firm name and lawyers' names in phishing emails and texts to solicit banking information and money, including fake "Roundup Lawsuit Claim" solicitations. Recipients should not click links, open attachments, provide personal information, or send money in response to suspicious emails claiming to be from McGuireWoods, and should instead report such messages to government authorities like the FTC.
today.com
· 2025-12-07
I cannot provide a summary of the Charles Shay article as requested, since the text provided does not contain the actual article content—only a headline and a list of unrelated news segments. However, I can summarize the one fraud-related segment included: NBC's Brian Cheung discusses rising scam emails, texts, and calls, offering protection strategies and scenarios to identify phishing attempts (Sept. 5, 2025).
easttexasradio.com
· 2025-12-07
Federal authorities arrested 13 individuals involved in a transnational emergency/grandparent scam operation that defrauded over 400 victims of more than $5 million. The scammers impersonated distressed family members via calls, texts, or social media, claiming arrests, accidents, or emergencies to pressure victims into sending money via payment apps, sometimes even using fake mugshots or voice-cloning technology to enhance credibility. To protect themselves, people should verify urgent requests by contacting family members directly, avoid sending money through untraceable payment methods, and alert police if anyone offers to pick up cash in person.
wnegradio.com
· 2025-12-07
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts arrested 13 individuals involved in a transnational elder fraud scheme that targeted over 400 victims and resulted in more than $5 million in losses. Emergency scams—also called grandparent scams—use fake urgent situations (arrests, accidents, medical emergencies) to pressure victims into sending money via payment apps, often impersonating family members and using personal details found on social media or even voice cloning technology to appear credible. To avoid these scams, victims should resist acting immediately, verify stories by calling family members directly, avoid sending money through payment apps or gift cards without confirmation, and contact police if someone arrives to collect cash.
mitrade.com
· 2025-12-07
**Risk Factors and Prevention for Elder Fraud**
Research by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation identifies key risk factors that increase older adults' vulnerability to fraud, including exposure to unsolicited communications, loneliness, financial fragility, and preference for higher-risk investments. The article recommends protective strategies such as blocking unknown contacts, ignoring promises of guaranteed returns, researching sellers and products, combating loneliness through in-person connections, avoiding rushed financial decisions, building financial literacy, and staying informed about current scams through trusted organizations like AARP and the BBB.
cullmantribune.com
· 2025-12-07
The Cullman Police Department reported a sharp increase in scams and financial crimes targeting seniors, including sophisticated phone, online, and fraudulent banking schemes. In response, CPD has prioritized fraud awareness through community outreach to senior groups, participation in U.S. Secret Service financial crime meetings, and partnerships with local banks to educate residents on warning signs and protective measures. The department encourages residents to contact their banks immediately and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2025-12-07
Fulton County launched ACT (Avoid Cyber Threats), a free online cybersecurity training program for seniors, in response to alarming fraud statistics showing that seniors lost approximately $5 billion to internet crimes in 2024, with Georgia ranking 7th nationally for such losses. The program educates seniors on recognizing digital scams including AI voice cloning, government impersonation, and phishing schemes, with the county aiming to train 2,000 seniors and caregivers by year-end. One local resident shared how she fell victim to a scam that resulted in $2,000 being stolen from her account, though her bank helped her recover the funds.
cbs2iowa.com
· 2025-12-07
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-07
Phishing scams targeting cryptocurrency users cost over $12 million in August 2024, a 72% increase from July, impacting 15,230 victims with one user losing over $3 million, according to Web3 anti-scam service Scam Sniffer. A particularly dangerous variant exploiting EIP-7702 Ethereum signatures drained an additional $5.6 million across three attacks, highlighting the escalating sophistication of crypto fraud schemes that have stolen $163 million in total malicious activity during the month.
trmlabs.com
· 2025-12-07
This resource is a law enforcement guide for investigating cryptocurrency-enabled scams, which have caused at least $53 billion in losses since 2023, with figures likely underreported due to delayed victim reporting. The guide provides investigators with essential terminology, investigation methodologies, and blockchain forensics techniques to trace fraudulent cryptocurrency transactions and identify the real-world controllers behind pseudonymous addresses. It serves as a practical manual for police and law enforcement professionals to understand and combat crypto-related investment scams, phishing schemes, and other cryptocurrency fraud.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-07
PayPal users are being targeted by a phishing scam using spoofed emails claiming suspicious charges (often around $910) requiring urgent profile setup within 24 hours; clicking the malicious link allows scammers to add themselves as secondary account users and steal funds. Red flags include generic greetings, artificial urgency, and email address spoofing, while legitimate PayPal communications address users by name and users should verify suspicious activity directly on PayPal.com rather than clicking email links. The scam exploits billions lost annually to fraud, with Americans losing $8.8 billion in 2022 alone.
3bmedianews.com
· 2025-12-07
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office warned of romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly seniors and widowed persons, after a local man nearly lost money to a scammer posing as a woman on social media. The scammer built emotional trust over time before requesting money, and the sheriff's office reported that hundreds of victims in the area have lost thousands of dollars and compromised identities to similar schemes. The agency urges residents to pause before sending money or personal information to online contacts and to contact their Fraud Unit at (931) 484-6176 if they suspect scam involvement.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
World Liberty Financial's WLFI token, associated with the Trump family, launched on September 1st and experienced significant volatility, initially reaching $0.46 before plummeting to $0.16 within days amid accusations of being a "scam" from users, analysts, and Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok, with the project freezing 272 wallets including TRON founder Justin Sun's allegedly linked to phishing scams. Despite the controversy and lack of concrete evidence of insider fraud, WLFI has since recovered to trade at $0.238 with a $5.9 billion market cap, though it remains 48.5
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-07
Phishing scam texts are circulating that falsely claim recipients have received parking penalty charge notices (PCNs) and urge them to click a link to pay, with some messages threatening license suspension or court action. Councils across the UK, including Cheshire West and Chester, warn that genuine PCNs are only issued as physical tickets on windscreens or by post, never by text, and legitimate messages include specific details like vehicle registration, time, and location of the offense. To protect yourself, verify the sender through official channels, check for HTTPS URLs and proper spelling, and never click suspicious links or share financial information; if compromised, restart your device, change passwords, and report the
kfiz.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are conducting jury duty avoidance scams using fake government websites to steal personal information and money from targets. The scheme begins with a call or text impersonating law enforcement, directing victims to a fraudulent website that captures Social Security numbers and birthdates, then pressures them to pay via credit card or cryptocurrency ATMs. The article emphasizes that legitimate courts never demand immediate payment or sensitive personal information by phone, and advises victims to verify requests directly with official law enforcement contacts and avoid clicking unsolicited links.
coconutcreektalk.com
· 2025-12-07
Coconut Creek Police warned residents of a cryptocurrency scam targeting Bitcoin and Coinbase users after a local woman was deceived via text message into surrendering access to her Coinbase account when scammers falsely claimed her password had been changed. The incident is part of a broader trend where criminals contact victims through email, text, or phone calls using urgent language to extract sensitive information. Police advise residents to disregard suspicious messages and never share account details with unsolicited contacts claiming to represent financial or cryptocurrency institutions.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-07
North Yorkshire Police warned of a surge in social media job scams, receiving 40 reports over six months targeting young people as young as 15. The scams involve fraudsters posing as TikTok HR representatives offering payment for liking or sharing content, then directing victims to suspicious links and requesting money with promises of refunds that never materialize. Police cautioned that these schemes constitute money mule networks and criminal activity that can result in closed bank accounts.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-07
Singapore reported S$456 million in fraud losses during the first half of 2025, a decline from the previous year, though cryptocurrency scams remained a significant concern accounting for S$81.6 million (18% of total losses), with Tether, Bitcoin, and Ethereum being the primary targets. Victims were predominantly aged 30-49 and fell prey to investment scams, job fraud, and phishing schemes, while authorities recovered S$56.7 million in fraudulent funds and prevented S$179 million in potential losses through collaborative efforts.
marketing-interactive.com
· 2025-12-07
Hang Seng Bank launched a public awareness campaign from September to December featuring four Hong Kong actors known for villain roles who formed the "Hang Seng Anti-Fraud Band" to promote fraud prevention through a reimagined Cantonese song and music video highlighting common scams including phishing, investment fraud, online shopping scams, and virtual romance scams. The bank's integrated campaign included live performances, a traveling educational bus, and social media content, supported by technology measures that detected over 1,200 fraud cases in the first half of the year and protected approximately HK$200 million in customer funds.
clickorlando.com
· 2025-12-07
A 56-year-old Florida man, Cory Woodall, was arrested for organized fraud and grand theft after spending $30,000 from a romance scam victim, 70-year-old Carol West, who lost a total of $60,000 over six weeks to scammers impersonating a retired Army general on Facebook. Woodall admitted to spending the stolen money on a 2023 Hyundai Kona and other purchases, claiming he intended to "scam the scammer," though he denied being the person chatting with West online. According to the FTC, Florida residents reported nearly 3,400 romance scams last year, resulting in
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-07
A 63-year-old Florida man was arrested in August 2025 after a five-month investigation into a four-year timeshare resale scam that defrauded an elderly Georgia couple of over $1 million. Charles Henry Williams faced charges including Theft by Deception and Exploitation of an Elder Person, and authorities identified additional victims across multiple states, suggesting a broader fraud scheme. Law enforcement urges seniors and families to verify financial requests and remain vigilant against online fraud schemes targeting vulnerable elderly individuals.
geekspin.co
· 2025-12-07
A 63-year-old Florida man, Charles Henry Williams, was arrested in connection with a multi-year timeshare resale scam that defrauded an elderly Georgia couple of over $1 million. The scheme targeted vulnerable seniors across multiple states, with the primary victims deceived into making payments for fraudulent property transactions over four years before the fraud was discovered. Williams faces charges including Theft by Deception and Exploitation of an Elder Person, and law enforcement urges seniors and their families to verify financial requests and remain alert to similar schemes.
staysafeonline.org
· 2025-12-07
Social Security scams, among the most common frauds targeting Americans, involve criminals impersonating SSA, OIG, or DOJ officials through phone, email, text, or social media to steal money or personal information. Red flags include claims of suspicious activity or benefit increases, pressure to act immediately, and requests for payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers—methods the SSA will never use. Victims should hang up, avoid clicking links, never send money through untraceable methods, and report scams to SSA OIG, USA.gov, or the FBI's IC3 to protect themselves and others.
azcentral.com
· 2025-12-07
While Google's systems weren't directly breached, criminals obtained publicly available Gmail user data through a compromised Salesforce tool, giving scammers validated lists of names, emails, and phone numbers to craft more convincing phishing and vishing attacks. The article recommends several protective measures: use unique 16+ character passwords, enable passkeys where available, maintain two-step verification, review third-party app access, and remain skeptical of urgent messages claiming to be from Google or other organizations. Users should also monitor their accounts regularly and verify unexpected requests through trusted communication channels rather than clicking links in messages.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
Shengsheng He, a California man and co-owner of the Bahamas-based Axis Digital Limited, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for his role in an international digital asset investment scam that defrauded U.S. victims of more than $36.9 million. The conspiracy involved overseas scammers contacting victims through unsolicited social media and dating apps to solicit fraudulent digital asset investments, with stolen funds laundered through shell companies, international banks, and digital asset wallets connected to scam centers in Cambodia. He was ordered to pay $26,867,242.44 in restitution, and eight co-conspirators have ple
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-07
Scammers use unsolicited voicemail and phone calls claiming recipients are "prequalified" for loans (such as a $52,000 loan in this example) to pressure them into revealing personal information like Social Security numbers or bank account details. The scam employs pressure tactics including urgency, fake caller IDs, multiple calls from different numbers, and offers to remove recipients from call lists if they call back. The article advises never calling back, using call-blocking services, and reporting suspicious calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-07
A cryptocurrency user lost approximately $180,000 through a phishing scam, part of a broader August 2025 trend where phishing attacks cost crypto users over $12 million and affected 15,230 victims, with a particularly sophisticated variant called EIP-7702 signature scams responsible for $5.6 million in losses. Scammers used deceptive emails and communications mimicking legitimate services to trick victims into signing fraudulent transactions that drained their funds. Protection measures include verifying URLs, using two-factor authentication, never sharing seed phrases or passwords, and remaining vigilant about suspicious communications.
kristv.com
· 2025-12-07
Nueces County, Texas experienced five cyberattacks in July, with three resulting in approximately $2 million in losses, primarily through Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes where fraudsters impersonate vendors to redirect payments to their accounts. BEC scams are among the top three fraud schemes targeting organizations, along with bill pay fraud and phishing emails, and can be prevented by verifying payment requests through official contact information rather than using details provided in suspicious communications.
presspubs.com
· 2025-12-07
Internet scams targeting seniors and vulnerable populations are increasing, employing tactics such as impersonating government agencies via phone/email, compromising contacts through hacked accounts, creating deepfake audio/video, and romance scams on social media. Protection strategies include verifying contacts through known numbers, avoiding links and downloads from unknown sources, and reporting suspected scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP.
starlocalmedia.com
· 2025-12-07
Tejasvi Manoj, a 16-year-old from Frisco, was named TIME's 2025 Kid of the Year for creating Shield Seniors, a website and mobile app designed to educate seniors about online scams and fraud. After her grandfather was targeted by cybercriminals in February 2024, Manoj researched the prevalence of scams targeting older Americans and developed the platform to help users identify suspicious emails and messages, with links to report fraudulent communications.
cheapism.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams, with adults over 60 being frequent targets due to their savings, limited digital experience, and trust in official-sounding messages. Modern scammers employ sophisticated tactics like AI voice cloning and deepfake videos to impersonate loved ones and government agencies. The article provides ten practical tips for seniors to avoid scams, including not answering unknown numbers, never sharing personal information over the phone, recognizing pressure tactics, avoiding unusual payment methods, verifying identities through trusted sources, and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts.