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This educational article outlines scam prevention strategies for seniors based on a training session at the JCC Marlene Myerson Center in New York. Key scam types targeting older adults include romance scams (exemplified by a woman who sold her house after being deceived by a fake Amnesty International worker), postal fraud, charitable giving scams, and text message schemes originating from the Philippines. The training recommends three defense strategies: slowing down decision-making, consulting friends or neighbors before acting, and avoiding any response, payment, or personal information disclosure, as scammers rely on speed and isolation to succeed.

DMV text message scams, known as "smishing," are expanding across multiple states including Colorado, Indiana, Minnesota, California, Michigan, and North Carolina, with earlier warnings issued in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. These fraudulent texts falsely claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets or outstanding bills and threaten consequences like vehicle registration loss, driving privilege suspension, or credit score damage unless they click a link and pay. The Federal Trade Commission advises recipients not to click links or respond, instead contacting their state DMV directly through official channels and reporting the messages to their wireless provider, the FTC, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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An asylum seeker from Honduras was defrauded by scammers posing as immigration lawyers who conducted fake court hearings and ICE check-ins over six months, collecting $3,500 in fees while instructing him to avoid his real immigration court date. The elaborate scheme, which included deepfake-like video calls with fake judges and USCIS officers, resulted in N. being ordered deported in absentia after missing his actual hearing. Immigration-related scams targeting vulnerable immigrants on social media have surged 27% in New York City alone, with advocates noting the true number is likely much higher due to language barriers and underreporting.

State Departments of Transportation in Idaho, Iowa, and Wisconsin issued warnings about phishing text scams impersonating state agencies and demanding payment for unpaid tolls or traffic violations, with threats of legal action. The scams have already targeted Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York, and are becoming more sophisticated by using fear tactics to trick victims into clicking malicious links or sharing personal information. State agencies advise recipients to ignore urgency demands, avoid clicking links or sharing information, block senders, and report scams to the FTC or Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Forty-two state attorneys general, led by New York AG Letitia James, are calling on Meta to combat investment scams on Facebook that use fraudulent images of celebrities like Warren Buffett and Elon Musk to lure users into pump-and-dump schemes on WhatsApp, with thousands of users losing hundreds of millions of dollars. The attorneys general report that criminals are repeatedly evading Meta's review systems, and the scams persist months after being reported to the company. Meta responded by stating it is investing in technology, facial recognition, and cross-industry partnerships to combat scams, while the AGs urged the company to increase human review of ads or stop running investment ads altogether.

The NYPD warned New Yorkers about a lottery scam in which scammers convince strangers to cash winning lottery tickets in exchange for a share of the winnings. A 79-year-old woman lost approximately $27,500 in jewelry and cash after falling for the scheme, which escalated to threats and a home invasion. Authorities advise never cashing lottery tickets for unknown individuals and warn against paying fees to claim prizes or cashing checks from the lottery with processing fees listed.

Thousands of Minnesotans received fraudulent text messages impersonating the Department of Motor Vehicles, threatening legal consequences and demanding payment for fictitious traffic violations. This scam, which has also affected residents in Georgia, New York, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Colorado, puts victims at financial risk and creates anxiety about message authenticity. Senator Tina Smith is urging the Trump Administration to take action against the widespread scheme.

Senator Tina Smith is urging the Trump Administration to address a widespread text message scam targeting Minnesotans, in which fake DMV messages claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets and threaten arrest to coerce online payments. The scam has been reported across multiple states including Georgia, New York, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Colorado, and Smith has requested intervention from the Department of Justice to combat the scheme's scale and sophistication.

The Better Business Bureau is warning about a significant rise in text message job scams targeting young adults, with fraudsters using unsolicited texts and emails to advertise remote positions with high pay and flexible hours, often impersonating legitimate companies. Employment scams resulted in average losses of $1,500 per victim among ages 18-34 last year and ranked among the top three scams reported to the BBB, with scammers increasingly using AI to create convincing fake offers and sending fraudulent checks. The BBB recommends verifying the legitimacy of job offers, avoiding sending money to unknown contacts, and watching for red flags like unsolicited contact and pressure to act quickly.

aOK, a new identity-verified chat app, launched to address the growing threat of romance scams and catfishing in online dating. The app requires government-issued ID verification for all users and uses end-to-end encryption to create a secure messaging environment, addressing a critical gap where conversations typically move to less secure platforms like WhatsApp after initial dating app contact. Romance scams cost victims £94.7 million in the UK and $1.3 billion in the US in 2024, with individual losses averaging over £10,000, making robust identity verification tools increasingly urgent for dating safety.

Two men—Jinrong Shi, 28, of New York, and Jiyang Zhong, 27, a Chinese national—were indicted on federal charges for running "grandparent" and "tech support" scams targeting elderly victims in Northeast Ohio (Cleveland Heights, Willoughby, Canton, and Warren) in May and June 2024. The defendants, working with a network of co-conspirators using "fraud callers" and "fraud couriers," defrauded victims of over $201,000 by posing as law enforcement or tech support personnel and arranging cash pickups at victims' homes or directing victims to mail money. The laundered proceeds

This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It is a lifestyle piece about dating preferences among New Yorkers and Americans based on a survey, with no connection to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.

Two men, Jinrong Shi (28) and Jiyang Zhong (27), were indicted on 10 counts for defrauding elderly victims in Northeast Ohio through "grandparent" and "tech support" scams in May-June 2024, stealing over $201,000 from residents in Cleveland Heights, Willoughby, Canton, and Warren. The defendants worked with a criminal network of "fraud callers" and "fraud couriers" who convinced victims to withdraw cash and used passwords to gain trust, then laundered proceeds across state lines and through cryptocurrency accounts in China. Both men face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Pranav Patel, a 33-year-old Indian national, was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in federal prison for operating as a money collector in a $1.79 million government impersonation scam that targeted elderly Americans, with co-conspirators posing as government agents and threatening victims with arrest to extort cash and gold. Patel traveled along the East Coast collecting packages from vulnerable seniors, including one victim who was forced to sell his home after losing his life savings. Law enforcement recovered most of the funds after arresting Patel during a planned collection operation, though overseas call center operators remain under investigation.

Consumer fraud increased 25 percent in 2024, with Americans losing $12.5 billion total, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Common scams include robocalls, phishing emails (particularly fake job recruitment and toll collection schemes), and fraudulent websites mimicking legitimate retailers like Joann Fabrics. Experts recommend using call-blocking apps, verifying email addresses and website URLs, paying by credit card, and considering identity theft protection insurance to help prevent fraud.

While reported U.S. losses to online and phone scams reached over $50 billion in 2023, actual losses may exceed $100 billion when accounting for the 80-90% of incidents that go unreported. WhatSpam, an AI-powered app launched in 2025, aims to protect Americans by blocking spam and scam calls, texts, and emails before they reach users, using artificial intelligence to counter increasingly sophisticated AI-generated scams while maintaining user privacy by storing data locally on devices.

Doctor spoofing calls, where scammers manipulate caller ID to impersonate doctors' offices, Medicare, pharmacies, or hospitals, were named the New York StateWide Senior Action Council's Medicare Fraud of the Month for June 2025. Scammers use these spoofed calls to trick seniors into revealing personal information such as Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, and insurance details by claiming to need verification for medical services or test results. Seniors can protect themselves by hanging up and calling back using trusted phone numbers, never sharing personal information with unknown callers, avoiding "YES" or "NO" responses, and reporting suspected fraud to the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol Helpline at

State police in Jefferson and Lewis counties, New York are warning of scams targeting elderly residents, including impersonation schemes where scammers pose as law enforcement conducting financial investigations or lawyers claiming a grandchild needs money. These scams typically involve urgent requests for secrecy and use spoofed phone calls, text messaging apps, or pop-up messages to contact victims. Police advise that legitimate law enforcement and lawyers never request payment via gift cards or cash, and recommend verifying suspicious claims by calling law enforcement directly.

The Bonadio Group, a certified fraud examination firm, highlights the widespread problem of elder financial abuse, noting that only one in 44 cases are reported to authorities like Adult Protective Services. The article presents two case studies: one involving a childhood friend who exploited a widowed mother by taking her debit card, obtaining her home deed, and evicting her; and another where a caregiver stole over $200,000 from an elderly man over three years while subjecting him to severe neglect, ultimately forcing him into long-term care. Accountants and professionals are encouraged to report suspicious financial activity to Adult Protective Services and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to protect vulnerable seniors.

Michael Zidell lost $20 million in a "pig butchering" romance scam after being targeted on Facebook by a scammer posing as a woman named Carolyn Parker, who lured him into fraudulent NFT investments through fake account statements. Zidell sued Citibank for negligence, alleging the bank failed to detect and act on suspicious wire transfers—including twelve transactions totaling nearly $4 million to an account held by Guju Inc. that contradicted the account holder's declared business activity and violated Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering laws. Pig butchering scams resulted in $5.8 billion in investment fraud losses in 2024

The New York State Police warned residents of Jefferson and Lewis counties about scams targeting elderly people, including impersonation of law enforcement conducting financial investigations and grandparent scams where callers pose as lawyers demanding money for a grandchild's legal troubles. These scams commonly use spoofed phone numbers, text apps, pop-up messages, and create urgency while demanding secrecy, often requesting payment via gift cards or cash sent through the mail. Law enforcement reminded the public that legitimate officers and lawyers never request payment through gift cards or cash, and advised residents to verify suspicious contact through independent phone calls to known contacts.

Pradip Parikh, 67, and Alpesh Patel, 40, were convicted for operating an India-based call center scam that defrauded millions of Americans, predominantly elderly victims, by impersonating Social Security Administration officials and threatening arrest to pressure victims into transferring funds to bank accounts they controlled. Victims testified to losing significant sums, including a 70-year-old who transferred over $600,000 and a widowed mother of eight who lost more than $300,000, with the defendants retaining thousands for themselves before laundering the remaining funds. Both were convicted of money laundering and conspiracy charges, with Patel also convicted of wire fraud conspiracy

An 87-year-old Maryland woman lost tens of thousands of dollars in a tech support scam after receiving a fake pop-up warning that her bank accounts were compromised and demanding $18,000 to fix the issue. Two New York residents, Chongsong Chen (48) and Wei Hua Wang (71), were arrested and charged with theft and theft scheme after physically picking up cash from the victim's home, with authorities apprehending them during the handoff when the victim called the sheriff's office. The case prompted Harford County law enforcement to warn the public that elder fraud increased 14% nationally in 2023 and caused over $3.4 billion in losses

A group of scammers operating on Facebook defrauded a 31-year-old Honduran asylum seeker, N., by conducting fake immigration court hearings and ICE check-ins over six months, collecting $3,500 in fees while instructing him to skip his real court hearing, ultimately resulting in an in absentia deportation order. This case is part of a broader trend of immigration-related scams targeting vulnerable immigrants seeking legal assistance, with such scams increasing 27% in New York City alone in the past year, often using elaborate fake judicial settings and documents to appear legitimate.

Patricia Hutchins, 53, of Brockport, NY, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and making false statements after being caught operating multiple fraud schemes including elder fraud, PPP loan fraud, and unemployment insurance fraud. She was ordered to pay approximately $60,000 in restitution to victims, including $25,100 to an elderly person who was defrauded, but instead spent roughly $23,500 of her home sale proceeds on gift cards before her sentencing; she is scheduled for sentencing on October 7, 2025.

A trio of thieves stole at least $70,000 from at least nine elderly victims in New York City's Upper East Side between May and June through ATM scams, with the largest theft being $24,000 from an 86-year-old woman. The scammers, captured on surveillance cameras, used distraction tactics such as offering assistance or engaging victims in conversation to steal their ATM cards and subsequently make unauthorized withdrawals. Police are continuing their investigation, noting that additional suspects may be involved in the widespread scheme.

Pradip Parikh, 67, and Alpesh Patel, 40, were convicted for operating an India-based call center scam that defrauded millions of Americans, primarily elderly victims, by impersonating Social Security Administration officials and claiming their Social Security numbers had been compromised. The defendants collected over $1 million from victims through controlled bank accounts, including $600,000 from a 70-year-old New Jersey resident and $300,000 from a recently widowed mother of eight, which they laundered and kept portions of for themselves. Parikh was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of money laundering, while Patel

A Connecticut couple received a $111.50 toll fine from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority for travel they never made in their 1966 Mustang, becoming victims of "ghost car fraud"—a scam where criminals steal or duplicate license plates and place them on different vehicles to evade tolls. The couple's appeal was initially denied despite photo evidence showing a modern vehicle (not their classic Mustang) bearing their plates, but the charges were ultimately dismissed after media intervention. This scam is affecting multiple drivers across New York and New Jersey, with victims like Joanne Barbara and Walter Gursky racking up hundreds of dollars in fraudulent tolls and fines.

NYPD is searching for two men and a woman who targeted senior citizens in Upper East Side bank lobbies, offering fake assistance at ATMs and switching their bank cards to steal funds. The scammers defrauded at least nine seniors of approximately $75,000 total, including 93-year-old Penny Zorn who lost $1,500 when her card was switched during a deposit transaction. No physical injuries were reported among the victims.

A trio of scammers targeted elderly customers at ATM locations for major U.S. banks (Chase, Bank of America, and Citibank) in New York between May and June, stealing a total of $70,000 by posing as helpful bystanders to distract victims while stealing their bank cards. The scheme resulted in at least nine confirmed incidents, with individual victims losing between $3,000 and $24,000, including a 90-year-old woman who lost $20,000 in a single hour on May 14th. Police have advised seniors to avoid engaging with strangers at ATMs and to remain vigilant about card security.

Between May and June, a trio of scammers (two men and a woman) targeted elderly customers at ATMs in New York, stealing at least $70,000 across nine incidents at Chase Bank, Bank of America, Capital One, and Citibank locations. The criminals used distraction tactics—posing as helpful bystanders or engaging victims in conversation—to steal bank cards and make unauthorized withdrawals, with individual thefts ranging from $3,000 to $24,000 from victims aged 71 to 90. The New York City Police Department issued a warning to senior citizens to remain vigilant against this scheme.

Michael Zidell lost $20 million in a pig butchering scam that began in January 2023 when a scammer impersonating businesswoman "Carolyn Parker" contacted him on Facebook and convinced him to invest in a fake NFT website over several months. Zidell has sued East West Bank, Cathay Bank, and Citibank for negligence, alleging the banks failed to detect or flag suspicious wire transfers totaling $20 million across multiple accounts and violated anti-money laundering regulations, with the lawsuits also alleging elder abuse under California law.

Pradip Parikh, 67, and Alpesh Patel, 40, were convicted of operating an India-based call center scam that defrauded elderly Americans out of millions of dollars by impersonating Social Security Administration officials and convincing victims their Social Security numbers had been compromised. Victims, including a 70-year-old who lost $600,000 and a widowed mother of eight who lost over $300,000, were directed to transfer funds to bank accounts controlled by the defendants, who then laundered the money. Parikh was convicted of money laundering conspiracy and two substantive money laundering counts, while Patel was convicted on all charges

Michael Zidell lost $20 million in a "pig butchering" romance scam that began in January 2023 when a fraudster posing as a businesswoman named Carolyn Parker on Facebook convinced him to invest in a fake NFT website over months of WeChat communications. Zidell has filed lawsuits against East West Bank, Cathay Bank, and Citibank, alleging the financial institutions failed to detect and prevent suspicious transactions totaling $7 million, $9.7 million, and $4 million respectively, despite the transfers being unusually large and violating anti-money laundering compliance requirements. The lawsuits seek compensatory damages and suggest potential

Financial scams targeting seniors are rising and stealing billions of dollars, with scammers using impersonation, urgency tactics, and AI-generated voice cloning to manipulate victims into revealing personal information or transferring money through digital payment services. Elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable targets because they are often more trusting, less tech-savvy, and less likely to report fraud, while also possessing strong credit and substantial savings. The FBI recommends protecting yourself by refusing to share sensitive information with suspicious callers, verifying contact information through official company websites, and immediately ceasing communication if a scam is identified.

Job scams promising easy online work have surged dramatically, with reported losses exceeding $220 million in the first half of 2024—more than triple the 2020 total—according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers typically contact victims via text or WhatsApp, build trust, and eventually ask for cryptocurrency deposits to complete fake "tasks" like rating videos or liking products, after which victims lose their real money while the promised earnings never materialize. The scams primarily target vulnerable populations including new job-seekers, people re-entering the workforce, and immigrants, and the FTC advises ignoring unsolicited job messages and never paying money upfront to secure employment.

New York state senators postponed a hearing on the $9 billion Medicaid-funded CDPAP home care program to August 21 to ensure Health Department testimony regarding concerns over bid-rigging and payment errors involving PPL, the sole company now managing the program. Advocates allege the transition has left thousands without services and that PPL is ignoring nonprofit partners designed to support disabled users, with critics arguing the reforms prioritize profit over care despite officials' claims the changes will save millions.

Job scams promising easy online work have surged dramatically, with reported losses exceeding $220 million in the first half of 2024—more than triple the 2020 amount. Scammers use personalized texts or WhatsApp messages to build trust with job-seekers before directing them to fake platforms where they display fake earnings and demand deposits in cryptocurrency to withdraw non-existent pay. Vulnerable targets include new job-seekers, people re-entering the workforce, and immigrants, and the FTC advises ignoring unsolicited job offers, never paying to get paid, and being skeptical of positions that promise payment for rating or liking content online.

A 79-year-old woman from Massapequa, New York, lost over $250,000 in a romance/refund scam between May 1-30 when scammers impersonating PayPal tricked her into downloading a malicious app, then repeatedly convinced her to purchase gold coins under the false pretense of returning overpaid funds. Siarhei Radyna, 49, of Staten Island, was arrested and charged with second-degree grand larceny after investigators traced the scheme in which he and accomplices picked up coins from the victim's home on multiple occasions.

Job scams have surged dramatically, with reported losses exceeding $220 million in the first half of 2024—more than triple the losses from 2020. These scams typically begin with personalized texts or WhatsApp messages offering easy remote work (such as liking videos or rating products), display fake earnings on platforms, and ultimately ask victims to deposit their own money in cryptocurrency before disappearing with the funds. Job-seekers new to the workforce, career re-entrants, and immigrants are particularly vulnerable, and experts advise rejecting unsolicited job offers, never paying upfront fees, and being skeptical of positions requiring online ratings without legitimate product use.

Licensed NYC pedicab drivers report that illegal operators—many migrants from countries including Turkey and Tajikistan—have decimated their business by approximately 60% since the pandemic, with rogue drivers charging tourists exorbitant fares (up to $1,000 per ride) and engaging in price-gouging schemes. The New York Pedicab Alliance, representing over 200 licensed drivers, is demanding stricter city enforcement, legalization of electric-assist technology, and regulation of insurance costs, while the NYPD reports issuing 1,851 summonses and seizing 165 illegal pedicabs in Midtown this year.

Job scams targeting work-seekers have surged dramatically, with reported losses exceeding $220 million in the first half of 2024—more than triple the losses from 2020—according to the FTC. These scams typically begin with personalized text or WhatsApp messages from fake recruiters offering easy online tasks (like liking videos or rating images) that promise commissions; victims are shown fake earnings tallies before being asked to deposit their own money in cryptocurrency to withdraw their nonexistent pay. The scammers disproportionately target vulnerable populations including new job-seekers, people re-entering the workforce, and immigrants, exploiting economic uncertainty and the appeal of remote work

The New York StateWide Senior Action Council identified Medicare fraud in nursing homes as its "Fraud of the Month for July," highlighting that while Medicare typically does not cover long-term nursing home care, it does cover medically necessary short-term skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, making SNFs frequent targets for fraud and abuse. The council recommends seniors review their Medicare Summary Notices and Explanations of Benefits for duplicate or unauthorized charges, avoid signing unfamiliar forms, verify services were actually received, refuse gifts for facility selection, and report concerns to the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-333-4374 or via www.nysenior.org.

Tucoemas Federal Credit Union partnered with Carefull, an AI-powered financial safety platform, to protect its older members and their families from fraud and scams through real-time transaction monitoring, credit activity alerts, and suspicious message analysis, backed by $1M in identity theft insurance. The partnership complements Tucoemas' existing PrimeTimers program for older adults and reflects the credit union's commitment to serving its growing population of members over 65 in California.

ICE arrested Chinese national Jian Chen in New York on grand larceny charges, marking the second arrest of a Chinese national for similar fraud in the state within three months. Chen is part of a larger fraud ring that defrauded approximately 300 victims across 37 states, stealing over $5 million with suspected fraudulent funds totaling more than $16 million; two other members, Rihui Yan and Hui Chen, were arrested on related charges for targeting elderly individuals, including an attempt to defraud an elderly couple of $20,000 and another elderly resident of $40,000.

Two Chinese nationals, Jian Chen and Rihui Yan, were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for defrauding elderly Americans; Chen conned a 63-year-old woman out of $42,000 and attempted to obtain nearly $100,000 more in New York, while Yan targeted a Wyoming County couple attempting to steal their $20,000 life savings. Both suspects are being held without bond pending removal, and a third Chinese national was previously arrested on similar fraud charges in October 2024.

A 44-year-old man from Brooklyn was charged with theft, impersonation of a federal employee, and conspiracy after stealing over $555,000 in gold bars from an elderly Lancaster County woman in April. The scammers accessed her computer, convinced her to convert investments to gold, then posed as federal employees to collect the bars under the guise of securing them in a Philadelphia Federal Reserve vault. This case reflects a national trend of gold bar scams targeting seniors, which cost Americans $219 million in 2024, with authorities advising victims to hang up immediately on any requests to buy gold or withdraw money and to verify claims directly with official sources.

PPL, the company managing New York's Medicaid homecare program (CDPAP), experienced multiple security and operational failures including phishing scams affecting fewer than 100 of 225,000 caregivers, fraudulent bank account redirections by a terminated staffing agency employee, and failure to pay promised $100 bonuses to many transitioning caregivers. Affected caregivers like Lisa Robinson had personal information exposed and wages diverted, though PPL committed to full reimbursement and additional security training. The program's troubled rollout prompted the state to establish a separate help line and triggered the resignation of PPL's president.