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markets.businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts filed a civil forfeiture action to return $2.3 million in cryptocurrency to 37 victims of online scams, including a "pig butchering" scam where one Massachusetts resident lost $400,000. The cryptocurrencies were seized from two Binance accounts in January following an investigation that traced funds from multiple victims to the same scammers. This action follows a similar recovery by the Chicago U.S. Attorney's Office, which seized $1.4 million in cryptocurrency tied to tech support scams targeting elderly victims.
longisland.com
· 2025-12-08
Elizabeth M. Motti, 55, of Farmingville, was indicted for Grand Larceny in the Second Degree for stealing approximately $440,000 from her elderly parents between April 2017 and November 2018, using their debit cards to make ATM withdrawals at Jake's 58 Casino and cash withdrawals from their bank accounts. Motti was serving as her parents' caretaker after her mother's surgery when she committed the thefts, which she used for gambling. She was arraigned in March 2024 and released on her own recognizance, with her next court date scheduled for April 2024.
bigcountrynewsconnection.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating Amazon through spoofed phone calls and text messages claiming suspicious account activity, then using fabricated identity theft threats to pressure victims into transferring money from their bank and retirement accounts. The scam relies on psychological manipulation—creating urgency through false arrest threats and claims that someone opened fraudulent accounts using the victim's Social Security number. Victims should verify account issues directly through Amazon's website or app, never call back suspicious numbers, check their credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com, and remember that legitimate organizations will never demand secrecy or immediate money transfers.
choice.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australians with disability are more than twice as likely to experience romance scams, with scammers exploiting limited romantic exposure and vulnerability. The article follows Chris, a 26-year-old man with disability in Adelaide, who encountered at least eight romance scammers on social media platforms like Snapchat in 2023, where scammers encouraged him to move conversations to encrypted apps (Telegram, WhatsApp) before requesting money or gift cards. Advocates and consumer organizations emphasize that people with disability face disproportionate risk and call for better protections from online dating platforms and related businesses.
hillsborofreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
The North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging and Kansas Legal Services launched the "Scam Scan" educational seminar series, offering free presentations to the public on recognizing and preventing common scams. Two seminars were held in Marion County on March 20, with managing attorney Corinne Petrik providing prevention tips and strategies to help older adults protect themselves, their money, and personal information from fraud.
winnipeg.ca
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparent scam" has significantly increased across Canada, with scammers impersonating grandchildren in distress to pressure seniors into sending money urgently, often through couriers. In 2022, Canadian seniors lost over $9.2 million to this scam, with Manitoba losses exceeding $313,000. Protection strategies include ignoring unknown callers, verifying requests by calling trusted family members, and remembering that police never demand money directly for bail.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
Two suspects were arrested in Moorpark, California on March 7, 2024, for identity theft and conspiracy charges after intercepting packages containing significant sums of cash mailed by elderly victims from Texas, South Dakota, and Florida who had fallen victim to scams. Detectives identified the scheme after the first victim's adult child reported their elderly mother had mailed currency to the suspects' address, leading investigators to surveil and apprehend the two men when they arrived to retrieve a third package from a Florida victim. The suspects face multiple felony charges including grand theft, conspiracy, theft by false pretenses, and identity theft from an elder or dependent adult.
altoonamirror.com
· 2025-12-08
Rep. Lou Schmitt, R-Blair, is partnering with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office to host a free Senior Scam Prevention Seminar on March 21 in Altoona, addressing the problem of scammers targeting senior citizens and stealing their money. The seminar will cover identity theft prevention, protecting personal information online, and recognizing identity theft scams, with attendees encouraged to RSVP by calling 814-946-7218 or visiting RepSchmitt.com/events.
peabodykansas.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud schemes targeting area seniors have included falsified claims for medical supplies, particularly urinary catheters that beneficiaries never received or needed; in one documented case, Medicare paid $14,613.80 to a fraudulent supplier (G&I Ortho Supply based in New York) for 2,000 catheters, leaving the senior responsible for $3,728 in out-of-pocket costs. Seniors are urged to carefully review their Medicare explanations of benefits and report suspicious claims to Medicare at (800) 633-4227 or to Senior Medicare Patrol in Kansas at (800) 432-3535, while also being warned about separate Social Security imposter
valleybreeze.com
· 2025-12-08
The Burrillville Police Department warned residents about the "grandparent scam," in which callers impersonate grandchildren in distress to convince seniors to withdraw and send money, often instructing victims not to tell bank tellers about the transfers. An elderly couple in Burrillville was recently targeted, and the FBI reports seniors lost over $3 billion to online scams in 2023. Police Chief Stephen Lynch recommends residents slow their response, verify claims with family members, and report suspicious calls to local authorities.
fox23maine.com
· 2025-12-08
Maine seniors lost $12.7 million to fraud in 2022, a dramatic increase from $2 million in 2021, with victims over 60 nationwide experiencing skyrocketing losses according to FBI data. One Maine senior fell victim to a tech support scam involving deceptive popups claiming she had a virus and requesting access to her savings account information. Experts emphasize that education and awareness are critical to protecting Maine's aging population, the oldest in the nation, from increasingly prevalent fraud schemes.
govexec.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece highlights warning signs of government imposter scams, particularly targeting Social Security beneficiaries and federal employees. The author shares a personal near-miss with a gift card scam impersonating a local NARFE president, then outlines four key red flags scammers use (impersonation, claiming problems/prizes, demanding immediate action, and requesting specific payment methods) and lists tactics Social Security will never employ, such as threatening arrest, demanding gift cards, or pressuring immediate payment. The article warns against a fraudulent phone number (888-353-9450) being used by scammers targeting federal employees and annuitants.
law360.com
· 2025-12-08
I don't have access to the full article content—only the header and subscription information is visible. To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the complete article text detailing the specifics of the case, including the scam methodology, number of victims affected, sentencing outcome, and other relevant details beyond what's shown in the title and subscription prompt.
Could you please provide the full article text?
fox23maine.com
· 2025-12-08
Maine seniors lost $12.7 million to fraud in 2022, a dramatic increase from $2 million in 2021, according to FBI data. One victim fell prey to a tech support scam involving fake virus warning popups that prompted her to call scammers who attempted to access her savings account information. Experts emphasize that education and community awareness are critical tools in combating fraud targeting Maine's elderly population, the oldest in the nation.
deccanherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal alleged that India's electoral bonds scheme constitutes a "big scam" involving illegal quid pro quo arrangements designed to enrich one political party at the expense of fair competition. Sibal, arguing the case against electoral bonds in the Supreme Court, called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the scheme's alleged irregularities and claimed it undermines democratic principles by creating unequal financial advantages among political parties.
localprofile.com
· 2025-12-08
Plano Police Detective Vidmar was honored for his role in recovering over $8 million in stolen funds from victims of sweetheart scams, business email compromises, and other fraudulent crimes through his work with the U.S. Secret Service North Texas Financial Crimes Task Force. Working with Judge Ben Smith, Vidmar secured nearly 70 expedited search and seizure warrants targeting fraudulent bank accounts in Plano, Texas, which allowed authorities to freeze assets before criminals could withdraw stolen money. The collaborative effort successfully returned 99.8% of the recovered funds to victims across the United States and Canada over a 3.5-year period.
12onyourside.com
· 2025-12-08
Virginia's House Bill 692, which awaits Governor Youngkin's signature, aims to combat elder financial fraud that costs seniors $3 billion annually by incentivizing banks and credit unions to train employees to identify and report financial exploitation of seniors. The bill was inspired by the case of Navy veteran Commander Larry Cook, who was scammed out of $3.6 million, and would allow at-risk seniors to maintain lists of trusted contacts at their banks while offering financial institutions liability protection if they disclose red flags of exploitation. If signed, the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions must establish bank training guidelines by January 2026.
wgme.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud losses among Maine seniors have surged dramatically, increasing from $2 million in 2021 to $12.7 million in 2022, with tech support scams being among the most common threats to the state's aging population. One Maine senior fell victim to a tech support imposter scam involving malicious popups claiming she had a virus, which prompted her to call a fraudulent number where scammers attempted to access her savings account information. Experts emphasize that education and awareness are critical to protecting Maine's elderly residents, who represent the nation's oldest state population and face heightened vulnerability to fraud schemes.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
State Representative Mike Cabell hosted an educational seminar at Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dallas, Pennsylvania, where approximately 50 seniors learned how to protect their personal information and identify identity theft scams. The seminar focused on online safety and everyday fraud prevention, with Cabell emphasizing that education is the key tool to combat scams targeting vulnerable seniors.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
International scammers drain hundreds of millions of dollars annually from New Zealand victims, with fraud cases nearly doubling between 2020-2022 and now representing the most common crime type in the country. Only 15 percent of victims recover their lost funds, and a significant majority of fraud occurs online or by phone, yet only 6.5 percent of fraud crimes are reported to police. The Independent Police Conduct Authority found major deficiencies in police responses to scam complaints, with authorities failing to prioritize fraud investigations and adequately support victims.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Brent Carey, CEO of New Zealand's Netsafe (which receives 15,000 scam reports annually with 25% year-over-year growth), discusses the expanding fraud landscape affecting victims across all demographics. Romance scams and sextortion are particularly devastating, with sextortion complaints up 88% and primarily targeting young males who are blackmailed after sending intimate images to fraudsters posing as young women. A Netsafe and Global Anti-Scam Alliance survey found New Zealanders lost over $2 billion to scams, with the average victim losing $3,165, contrary to the misconception that only elderly people are targeted.
fox56.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in Chapman Township, Clinton County lost $4,000 to a romance scam between January and February 2024, after an online scammer posing as an Army serviceman and romantic partner convinced her to send multiple payments for promised gifts that never arrived. The Renovo Police Department is warning residents to be cautious about sending money to unknown individuals and to be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true.
ntd.com
· 2025-12-08
Syretta Scherer, a 42-year-old Georgia woman, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison in March for her role in a romance scam conspiracy that defrauded at least 28 seniors across multiple states of $5.8 million between February 2018 and November 2019. The scheme involved cultivating fake online relationships through dating apps, then pressuring victims to send money for fabricated emergencies; Scherer laundered approximately $1.1 million through bank accounts created under a sham company called Precise Carriers. Multiple co-conspirators were also prosecuted, with one receiving 78 months in prison and ordered to pay over $
adirondackdailyenterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams targeting vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly, are rising statewide through phone calls, social media, and online channels. Common scams include Social Security imposter schemes (threatening suspended benefits or arrest), gift card fraud (posing as government agencies), fake rental listings, and warrant payment demands, with scammers using fear, fake documents, and fraudulent letterhead to coerce victims into providing personal information or money. Authorities recommend verifying caller identity by hanging up and calling agencies directly, never sending gift cards or money to unknown callers, and reporting scams to relevant agencies like the SSA's Office of the Inspector General.
ca.movies.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Estate planning scams target vulnerable elderly individuals and grieving heirs through questionable legal advice, unnecessary fees, and aggressive trust-selling schemes. Seniors with reduced capacity and no close relatives are especially at risk of being manipulated into signing over property or power of attorney documents. To protect yourself, work with qualified estate planning attorneys early, verify credentials, and be cautious of unsolicited high fees or pressure tactics from financial professionals.
ksby.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, PG&E customers reported a record-high 43,000 utility scams impersonating the company, resulting in nearly $900,000 in losses with an average loss of $785 per victim. Scammers typically targeted elderly and low-income customers by threatening immediate service disconnection and demanding urgent payment via prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, or payment apps. PG&E advises customers to hang up on suspicious calls, verify account details through official channels, and report suspected scams to 1-833-500-SCAM.
cp24.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is about Canadian political maneuvering regarding pipeline policy and does not contain information about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It cannot be summarized for the Elderus database as it falls outside the scope of elder fraud research.
newbritainherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Residents at Middlewoods of Newington attended a scam awareness presentation led by local police officers to learn fraud prevention strategies. The event, organized by Chris Pisani of Fore Senior Benefits, focused on scams currently targeting seniors and provided residents with protective measures and information.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
During October-December 2023, Australians aged 65 and over reported 16,901 scams totaling $20.49 million in losses, with investment and online dating scams being major contributors. Seniors represented 30 percent of all social media scam losses—a 57 percent increase from the previous quarter—primarily through WhatsApp (47 percent of losses), Facebook (20 percent), and online dating sites (9 percent). The report emphasizes verification of contact sources, checking business registration, and reporting scams to authorities or contacting IDCARE for support.
wxii12.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The Graham Police Department issued a warning about phone scams targeting seniors in their community, in which callers impersonate Federal Trade Commission or Department of Homeland Security agents to coerce victims into withdrawing large sums of cash from their bank accounts. The scammer has used various phone numbers, including spoofed numbers mimicking the police department's main line, with calls coming from the 336 area code. Police advised residents not to share personal or financial information over the phone, not to comply with demands to withdraw money, and to report suspicious calls to authorities or the FBI's Cybercrime Reporting Page at ic3.gov.
bristolpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Connecticut's Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz held a press conference on March 7 at the Newington Senior & Disabled Center to alert residents about potential scams during National "Slam the Scam" Day. The awareness event, part of National Consumer Protection Week, focused on government imposter scams—a widespread fraud scheme designated by Social Security's Office of the Inspector General as a particular threat to the public.
lokmattimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 48-year-old man in Navi Mumbai lost Rs 1.36 crore to a share trading scam between January and March 2024, after fraudsters lured him via WhatsApp with promises of high returns and instructed him to transfer money to various bank accounts. The Mumbai Police Cyber Cell registered a complaint under cheating and IT Act sections against two individuals and the organization "Angel One," though the investigation remains ongoing with no arrests made as of the report date.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 99-year-old man in Mumbai lost Rs2.78 lakhs to a utility bill scam after receiving a fraudulent text message claiming his electricity would be disconnected for an unpaid bill; he called the number provided and was tricked into sharing his credit card and PAN card details, enabling four unauthorized transactions. Police have frozen the account receiving the funds and are investigating the case, part of a larger pattern where over 160 light bill fraud cases registered between 2022-2024 have resulted in losses exceeding Rs2.5 crore with only three cases solved.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Justice Department and law enforcement officials attended the United Kingdom's first Global Fraud Summit in March, joining over 200 leaders from 11 countries and international organizations to address global fraud threats. The U.S. delegation participated in discussions on law enforcement collaboration, coordinated with international partners to enhance intelligence sharing and disrupt fraud networks at the source, and held bilateral meetings with Singapore and UK officials to strengthen transnational fraud-fighting efforts.
tribuneindia.com
· 2025-12-08
This article presents recommendations from Chandigarh Tricity residents and police officials on protecting elderly citizens from crime and fraud. Key proposals include: maintaining police databases of seniors living alone with regular contact, forming dedicated senior citizen cells, creating community WhatsApp groups, establishing toll-free helplines, increasing CCTV surveillance and police patrols, conducting tech-literacy workshops to prevent online scams, and streamlining crime reporting procedures. The Panchkula police department confirmed they have already implemented a senior citizen cell with designated officers maintaining regular contact with elderly residents in their jurisdictions.
qns.com
· 2025-12-08
A Flushing man, Fei Liang, 39, was charged with scamming more than $600,000 from seniors across the country by impersonating Social Security Administration officials and bank representatives, convincing victims to wire money to accounts he controlled for "safekeeping." Following the charges, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and elected officials held community presentations at senior centers to educate older adults about common scams including government impersonation, sweepstakes schemes, tech support fraud, and the grandparent scam, emphasizing the importance of never sharing personal information with strangers and contacting authorities if contacted by potential fraudsters.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old woman and her 91-year-old husband lost $1.46 million over six months in a sophisticated scam involving fraudsters impersonating a Wells Fargo representative and U.S. Marshal who claimed their accounts were compromised and placed them in a witness protection program. The scammers isolated the couple by threatening legal consequences if they contacted family, directing them to liquidate savings into Bitcoin and gold supposedly held in a Federal Reserve account; the couple realized the fraud in October 2023 after losing contact with the scammer, and one arrest has been made in connection with the crime.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Ijeoma Okoro, 33, from Aubrey, Texas, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution for operating romance scams targeting elderly victims through dating websites like Match.com and Zoosk. Okoro and her coconspirators posed as romantic interests, built trust with vulnerable victims (often divorced or widowed), then fabricated emergencies requiring financial assistance and requested money they promised to repay. Four additional codefendants received sentences ranging from 24 to 37 months for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in connection with the scheme.
fox5atlanta.com
· 2025-12-08
Johnna Hannah, a 28-year-old former business manager at Countryside Health Center in Buchanan, Georgia, faces 86 total felony charges (78 initial plus 8 additional) for embezzling over $60,000 from nearly 40 elderly patients over 18 months, including forging signatures and closing out bank accounts. The investigation, prompted by a forensic audit and subpoena of her personal bank records, revealed a pattern of financial exploitation of vulnerable residents, some of whom were deceased. The nursing home is working to repay victims' families as police indicate more charges are likely.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Wendy Renee Bunner, 48, of Florida pleaded guilty to money laundering for her role in defrauding a Berkeley County man with dementia alongside her husband Samuel, who previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Together, the couple stole over $2.1 million from the elderly victim, using the funds to purchase homes, vehicles, campers, and consumer goods for their personal use. Wendy Bunner faces up to 10 years in prison while Samuel faces up to 30 years, with sentencing hearings scheduled for later in 2024.
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Investment fraud, predominantly cryptocurrency scams, cost Americans $4.57 billion in reported losses—a 38 percent increase from the previous year and significantly more than ransomware losses. The FBI found that these scams often begin with social engineering tactics like romance or confidence cons that evolve into investment fraud, with vulnerable victims subsequently targeted by recovery scams. Victims over 60 were disproportionately affected, accounting for 40 percent of complaints and 58 percent of the $1.3 billion in losses from customer support and impersonation scams.
kmaland.com
· 2025-12-08
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird warned residents about increased imposter scams during tax season, particularly scammers impersonating the IRS who call to solicit personal information. Bird advised against answering unknown numbers, sending payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and recommended contacting local law enforcement or the attorney general's office if targeted by scams involving the IRS, UPS impersonation, or romance fraud.
ktul.com
· 2025-12-08
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond warned of rising Bitcoin ATM scams targeting elderly residents, where fraudsters convince victims their banks are failing and persuade them to withdraw cash and deposit it into cryptocurrency kiosks at retail locations, with funds then sent irreversibly to scammers' wallets. The advisory also outlined related crypto scams including romance scams, pig butchering, fake investment platforms, computer virus alerts, and impersonation of government agencies, urging Oklahomans never to pay anyone demanding cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers as advance payments.
eng.lsm.lv
· 2025-12-08
Financial Literacy Week in Latvia focuses on protecting people of all ages from financial fraud, with experts noting that middle-aged individuals and young adults (18-30) are particularly vulnerable to scams promising quick profits and money muling schemes. The Bank of Latvia and partner institutions are providing educational programs for schoolchildren and adults through e-learning courses covering money management, financial planning, taxes, and social insurance. Despite common misconceptions, Latvian seniors demonstrate solid financial planning skills and are not the primary fraud victims.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
A tourist was scammed out of a new DSLR camera valued at approximately $600 in Buenos Aires through the "bird poo scam," in which an elderly couple distracted her by dumping bird excrement on her, then used physical distraction and misdirection while an accomplice stole her camera. The victim's assumptions that the couple were harmless elderly tourists proved to be her downfall, as the coordinated scam involved at least three perpetrators working together to exploit her in a busy public area.
savings.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australians over 65 are the primary victims of scams according to federal ScamWatch data, leading in both total losses and report numbers in 2023. The article attributes this vulnerability partly to older Australians' lower adoption of digital banking (26% use mobile apps versus 81% using internet banking) due to cybersecurity concerns and difficulty navigating technology changes, combined with over 2,100 bank branch closures since 2017. While banks have implemented safeguards like biometric checks and new payee warnings through a 2023 Scam-Safe Accord, advocates argue critical gaps remain—including customer requests for transfer delays and stronger consumer protection legislation that would compensate
thewesternnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Investment scams cost U.S. consumers nearly $5 billion in 2023, prompting Montana's Commissioner of Securities and Insurance to host 16 educational events across western Montana in March to help seniors and adults recognize and prevent financial exploitation. The Montana Department of Revenue also warned of tax season scams, including fraudsters using fake 1-800 numbers mimicking the department's call center to solicit Social Security numbers and payments, along with common schemes involving fake refund fees, property seizure threats, and phishing emails.
ca.movies.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults in Modesto lost thousands of dollars to fraud in 2022, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting a 30% increase in fraud losses nationwide and 3,500 reported incidents in the county. Three prevalent scams targeting seniors locally are romance scams (exploiting social isolation), banking scams (where fraudsters pose as bank IT to gain phone access), and solar scams (linked to the unregulated PACE program). The average loss for victims age 80 and over is $1,500, more than six times the average loss for younger victims, with scammers specifically targeting vulnerable populations including the recently widowed, lonely, or isolated.
presidentialprayerteam.org
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission announced an online meeting of the Scams Against Older Adults Advisory Group scheduled for April 2, featuring reports from four committees focused on consumer education, industry training, scam detection methods, and research on effective prevention messaging. The advisory group, established under the Stop Senior Scams Act of 2022, comprises officials from government agencies (FTC, CFPB, FDIC, DOJ, HHS, Treasury) and representatives from advocacy groups and private industry working to address fraud targeting seniors. The public meeting will be hosted by Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levine on the FTC's website.