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Search across 26,669 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
cyberguy.com
· 2026-08-22
Scammers build target lists of older Americans during August and September—months before Medicare Open Enrollment begins in October—by purchasing consumer data from marketing companies that sell detailed demographic information filtered by age, income, and homeownership. A case involving Epsilon Data Management illustrated how this targeting works: two employees sold lists to fraudsters who defrauded over 218,000 victims of $23.7 million, leading to a $150 million settlement. Experts warn that by the time scam calls arrive in fall, criminals have already identified and researched their targets, making it crucial for seniors to protect their personal data during the summer months.
nbcsandiego.com
· 2026-08-22
Two Del Norte High School brothers founded StayCyberSafe, a workshop program that has expanded to approximately 20 chapters worldwide to educate senior citizens about recognizing and protecting themselves from scams. Seniors over age 50 lost $4.8 billion to cybercrime in 2024, highlighting the financial severity of the issue that the workshops address through teaching about social engineering tactics and other scam techniques. The initiative demonstrates the need for community-based fraud prevention efforts, as law enforcement alone cannot manage the thousands of daily scams targeting vulnerable populations.
tribuneindia.com
· 2026-08-22
Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, 21, an Indian national living in New Jersey, was arrested at Toronto Pearson International Airport after fleeing the US while on pretrial release for his alleged role in a $7.5 million elder fraud scheme. He acted as a "money mule," collecting cash and gold from elderly victims aged 59 to 87 across New York and New Jersey who were deceived into believing their bank accounts were compromised. Goswami faces charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
ncoa.org
· 2026-08-22
A Washington man received a 30-month federal prison sentence for stealing a Vietnam veteran's identity to fraudulently obtain VA benefits over decades, while a New Hampshire man was indicted for defrauding an older veteran of $225,000 through bank and mail fraud. According to the FTC, fraud reports from servicemembers, veterans, and their families totaled approximately $584 million in 2024, with scammers exploiting veterans' trust in VA institutions and their predictable benefit payments through schemes including disability benefit fraud, VA home loan scams, and job scams.
salon.com
· 2026-08-22
Columbia House, a mail-order music club that closed in 2024, operated a negative-option billing scam where customers agreed to buy products at full price after receiving 8-12 CDs for a penny, with automatic charges if they failed to return rejection forms each month. The company faced widespread complaints for allegedly ignoring payments, manipulating purchase thresholds, and making subscriptions difficult to cancel, while also underpaying artists through reduced royalties. Despite its unethical practices that made it notorious for customer service abuses, Columbia House attracted nostalgic social media tributes upon closure, with the scam now seeming quaint compared to modern fraud schemes.
wdam.com
· 2026-08-22
The Forrest County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about increasingly sophisticated phone scams where criminals impersonate deputies using real names, spoofed phone numbers, and personal information gathered from public sources like social media and the sheriff's office website. In one recent case, a scammer called a Hattiesburg coffee shop employee claiming to be a deputy and demonstrated knowledge of the employee's name, workplace details, address, and work schedule to appear credible. Law enforcement urges residents to hang up and independently verify calls by dialing the sheriff's office directly at 601-544-7800, emphasizing they will never call demanding money or personal information over the phone.
variety.com
· 2026-08-22
Scammers impersonated Sandra Bullock on social media to defraud her fans out of thousands of dollars, prompting the actress to join Instagram in April 2024 to combat the fraud after over a year of dealing with the issue. Bullock explained that the fake accounts caused significant harm to families who fell victim to the scams, and she was forced to establish an authentic presence to warn people and assist law enforcement in addressing the matter.
14news.com
· 2026-08-22
Scammers in Newburgh, Indiana are impersonating Federal Trade Commission representatives over the phone, claiming residents are under investigation or owe money to extort personal and financial information. The Newburgh Police Department advises residents not to provide personal details, send money, purchase gift cards, or share verification codes, and recommends hanging up and independently verifying any such claims.
freepressjournal.in
· 2026-08-22
Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, a 21-year-old Indian national, was arrested at Toronto Pearson International Airport after fleeing the United States while on pretrial release in a $7.5 million elder fraud case. Goswami allegedly acted as a "money mule" in a nationwide phone and internet scam that targeted elderly victims aged 59-87 in New York and New Jersey, frightening them into liquidating their assets and collecting approximately $7.6 million in cash and gold across at least nine instances. He faces charges including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering, with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
dallasexpress.com
· 2026-08-22
Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, a 21-year-old Indian national, was detained at Toronto Pearson International Airport while attempting to flee to Qatar after being released on pretrial conditions, following his arrest for serving as a courier in an elder fraud scheme. The scheme allegedly targeted nine victims aged 59-87 through fraudulent phone and internet calls impersonating law enforcement, pressuring them to convert assets to cash or gold, resulting in losses totaling approximately $7.56 million. Goswami faces charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, with each charge carrying a maximum 20-year prison sentence.
m.rediff.com
· 2026-08-22
A 21-year-old Indian national, Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, was arrested in Canada while attempting to flee to Qatar after being charged in the US for his role as a "money mule" in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme targeting elderly victims. Goswami allegedly collected cash and gold from at least nine victims aged 59 to 87 across New York and New Jersey, resulting in approximately $7.5 million in losses. He faces charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
mercurynews.com
· 2026-08-22
A 22-year-old Fresno man was arrested in Redwood City after attempting to defraud an elderly woman through a tech support scam where fake Apple and bank representatives convinced her to withdraw cash for a courier pickup. Police intervened before any money was handed over by coordinating communication with the suspects and tracking the suspect's vehicle to San Francisco using license plate reader technology. The suspect was arrested on charges including financial elder abuse, attempted grand theft, conspiracy, and fraud.
aol.com
· 2026-08-22
A 22-year-old Fresno man was arrested in San Francisco after targeting an elderly Redwood City resident in an AppleCare impersonation scam, where he posed as tech support and instructed her to withdraw cash for a courier to collect. Police prevented the fraud by coordinating with the victim and using license plate reader technology to locate the suspect's vehicle before any money was transferred. Sartaj Singh was booked on suspicion of financial elder abuse, attempted grand theft, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
tech.yahoo.com
· 2026-08-22
A study of 22 participants found that an AI chatbot was significantly more effective than human scammers at executing "pig butchering" scams—long-term cons involving emotional manipulation to lure victims into fraudulent investments—with 46% of participants installing a malicious app at the bot's request compared to 18% for human scammers. Participants reported trusting the chatbot more than human scammers, likely due to its ability to maintain consistent engagement, quickly recall personal details, and keep conversations flowing. The research highlights the potential danger of AI-assisted fraud becoming more scalable and widespread, as automation could enable scammers to target more victims cheaply while leaving fewer warning signs.
thecooldown.com
· 2026-08-22
A study comparing an AI chatbot to human scammers in simulated "pig butchering" fraud found the AI bot was significantly more effective, with 46% of participants installing a requested app versus only 18% for human scammers, largely because participants trusted the bot more and it maintained consistent engagement. Pig butchering scams involve fraudsters posing as friends or romantic partners over weeks or months before directing victims to questionable investments, and the research suggests AI automation could make such schemes more scalable, reaching more targets at lower cost with fewer warning signs. The findings highlight the need for stronger safeguards around AI impersonation and platform monitoring to detect and disrupt AI-enabled fraud earlier.
b2b-cyber-security.de
· 2026-08-22
According to Interpol's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026, AI now supports 55 percent of cybercrime cases across Africa, with financial losses more than doubling from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million. Criminals are using AI to automate phishing, create synthetic identities, generate deepfakes for extortion, and conduct targeted fraud campaigns including business email compromise scams and romance scams, with scam centers identified in 72 percent of surveyed African countries. The report highlights that African threat actors are increasingly targeting organizations in Europe and North America through cross-border operations, while also noting that around 600,000 digital sextortion cases were
nbclosangeles.com
· 2026-08-22
Scammers are calling Los Angeles County residents claiming they missed jury duty and have an arrest warrant, threatening legal consequences to pressure victims into providing personal and financial information. The LA County Superior Court confirmed it never calls, texts, or emails residents with arrest threats or requests for Social Security numbers, credit card details, or bank information, and advised residents to verify jury status through the court's website and report suspicious communications to local law enforcement or the FTC.
abc7.com
· 2026-08-22
Scammers in Los Angeles County are calling residents claiming they missed jury duty and face arrest warrants, threatening legal consequences to extort personal and financial information. The Los Angeles County Superior Court warned that it never initiates contact via phone, email, or text to threaten arrest or demand immediate payment, and residents should verify jury status directly through the court's website. Anyone receiving such suspicious communications should not provide personal information and should report the scam to local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.
military.com
· 2026-08-21
According to new research, 27% of veterans have lost money to cyber scams, with military members, veterans, and their families collectively losing $684 million to fraud in 2025. Scammers typically impersonate VA officials or military organizations using high-pressure tactics and military-related language to exploit veterans' trust, with schemes including fraudulent benefit offers, fake disability payment exchanges, and fraudulent charities claiming to support service members. The VA recommends veterans verify communications through official channels and report suspected fraud through VSAFE (1-833-38V-SAFE), the FTC, or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
novanews.co.za
· 2026-08-21
Port Alfred police hosted a fraud awareness campaign for over 70 senior citizens on August 19 to address a reported surge in sophisticated imposter scams targeting elderly residents' life savings. The event, conducted in collaboration with Absa bank, educated seniors on psychological tactics used by fraudsters and covered telephone scams, fraudulent messages, and online phishing. Police emphasized that criminals exploit seniors' politeness and courtesy, and stressed that legitimate banks never request PINs, passwords, or urgent fund transfers over the phone.
bhaskarenglish.in
· 2026-08-21
Uttar Pradesh faces a severe cyber fraud crisis, with over ₹100 crore lost monthly across more than 2.5 lakh complaints, though only 1,040 FIRs were registered in seven months. Four major scam types exploit fear, greed, romance, and sympathy: digital arrest scams (23% of losses), fake investment schemes (32% of cases), sextortion through nude video calls, and account impersonation, with victims ranging from educated young people to senior citizens losing a combined ₹720 crore, though timely intervention recovered ₹242 crore.
insidestory.org.au
· 2026-08-21
Journalist Carlos Barragan investigates Nigerian "Yahoo Boys" scammers after his own mother was defrauded by a man posing as an American soldier named Brian, who manipulated her into purchasing rings and romantic gifts. The book explores how these scammers exploit Western loneliness by creating fake identities on dating apps and social media, targeting isolated and emotionally vulnerable people seeking companionship rather than those seeking financial gain. Barragan's investigation reveals the intersection between widespread poverty in Nigeria and the emotional isolation of Western victims, portraying a morally complex landscape where desperation on both sides fuels the scam operations.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-08-21
Scammers are operating fraudulent sites like Poison Claude that offer AI tokens at 70-90% discounts by using stolen payment methods, exploiting free trials, and routing user prompts through unauthorized endpoints without proper security controls. These services have attracted hundreds of users and cost legitimate AI companies millions of dollars daily in losses, while also serving users in countries where U.S. AI models are restricted. Users accessing discounted tokens through these gray market resellers face serious legal and security risks, as the underlying transactions are illegal.
commbank.com.au
· 2026-08-21
Scammers impersonate banks to exploit people's emotional stress about money, making victims act before verifying the threat's authenticity. The "callback scam" is a common tactic where scammers send messages asking people to call a number, then use fake bank call center experiences and publicly available information (like the first six digits of card numbers) to establish false credibility before requesting personal information, passwords, or payment transfers. CommBank advises people to always stop, check, and reject unsolicited requests for information or payments, regardless of how legitimate they appear.
news4jax.com
· 2026-08-21
A Jacksonville woman lost over $5,000 in an impersonation scam when someone claiming to be "Captain Richardson" from the Duval County jail called her while she waited to pick up a friend, requesting release fees via Cash App. The scammer appeared credible by knowing personal details including her name, clothing, and her friend's probation officer's name, convincing her to pay $1,800 for an ankle monitor and $3,200 in additional court costs before the fraud was discovered. Authorities warn that legitimate jail and court officials never request payment through peer-to-peer apps like Cash App or Zelle, and advise callers to hang up and verify by contacting facilities directly using
ii.co.uk
· 2026-08-21
Investment fraud losses reached £879.8 million in 2025, with over 34,000 people reporting losses averaging £25,612 per victim—a 31% increase from the previous year. Scammers use social media, WhatsApp, deepfake endorsements, and cloned websites to impersonate celebrities, financial experts, and legitimate firms, promoting fake or overpriced investments with promises of quick profits and exclusive opportunities. Victims face additional risk from recovery scams, where fraudsters target them again with offers to recover their lost money.
gulfcoastnewsnow.com
· 2026-08-21
A Naples elderly resident lost $10,000 after being contacted by scammers impersonating government officials who convinced the victim to withdraw cash and ship it overnight to California. The Naples Police Department's Cyber Crimes Unit successfully intercepted the package in transit with assistance from UPS and California law enforcement, recovering the full amount before it reached its destination. The case highlights the importance of recognizing pressure tactics and government impersonation as red flags, as recovering funds after fraud is typically extremely difficult.
creators.yahoo.com
· 2026-08-21
A caller impersonating a sergeant from the Adams County Sheriff's Department attempted to defraud the author by claiming a legal matter required attention, but the scam was detected when the caller incorrectly referred to the agency as "Sheriff's Department" instead of "Sheriff's Office." The scammer, identifying himself as "Sgt. Don Davis," was part of a scheme warning potential victims of missed federal jury summons and demanding payment, though the sheriff's office confirmed no such sergeant exists and the agency does not contact people about legal proceedings in that manner.
radioiowa.com
· 2026-08-21
The Better Business Bureau warns Iowa residents who have previously fallen victim to scams to remain vigilant, as scammers often share victim lists and target the same people again with different fraud schemes. Common follow-up tactics include impersonating money recovery services, exploiting victims' shame or attempts to self-remediate. The BBB recommends reporting scams to trusted organizations like the Consumer Protection Division of the Iowa Attorney General's Office to create records and receive protection assistance.
cuinsight.com
· 2026-08-21
Arrowhead Credit Union hosted fraud and scam prevention education sessions at Congresswoman Linda Sánchez's 20th Annual Senior Fair in Rancho Cucamonga, reaching approximately 900 attendees with information on recognizing common scams targeting older adults. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, seniors ages 60+ reported over $7.7 billion in losses in 2025—a 37% increase from 2024, with the average loss exceeding $38,000 per victim. The presentations covered phishing tactics, impersonation scams, romance scams, and protective strategies including ID protection and digital banking safety.
talkandroid.com
· 2026-08-21
WhatsApp has launched Scam Alert, an AI-powered feature currently in beta that detects fraudulent messages from unknown contacts by analyzing message patterns locally on users' devices without sending content to external servers. The tool targets common scams including impersonation, fake job offers, investment schemes, and romance fraud, alerting only the recipient when suspicious messages are detected. The feature began rolling out in August 2026 and can be toggled off at any time, with users able to report suspected scams to WhatsApp for review if desired.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-20
A 31-year-old Miami woman was arrested in Martin County after posing as a bank representative to defraud an elderly victim in a classic bank imposter scam targeting seniors. Moniquie Love Turnbull was caught during a traffic stop with $3,200 in cash hidden on her body, and faces felony charges including scheme to defraud, fraudulent use of credit cards against a victim over 60, and contraband smuggling into jail. Investigators believe she may have targeted multiple victims and are investigating whether she was working as a courier for a larger fraud operation.
wa.gov.au
· 2026-08-20
Scammers are increasingly targeting older Western Australians through gift card fraud using romance scams, impersonation of government agencies and employers, and investment schemes. Victims have lost significant sums including $17,000, $77,000, and $50,000 after being tricked into purchasing gift cards via fake emails, calls, and online relationships. Retailers and government agencies recommend verifying requests in person, avoiding large gift card purchases when prompted by unexpected callers, and reporting suspicious activity to authorities.
straitstimes.com
· 2026-08-20
Nearly $2.2 million was lost to impersonation scams on Apple's iMessage in less than two months in Singapore, with fraudsters posing as courier companies like NinjaVan and SPX Express to trick victims into clicking malicious links. Over 30,000 iMessage accounts linked to the fraud campaign were identified, with victims deceived into providing credit card and banking credentials on fake websites resembling legitimate couriers and institutions. The scam surged 80% in one month, with losses increasing from $1.2 million reported in early August to $2.2 million by mid-August 2026.
theguardian.com
· 2026-08-20
Thousands of people trafficked into cyber-fraud compounds across Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar have escaped during regional military and police raids, but many remain stranded in Cambodia without passports, money, or means to return home. Survivors face mounting visa overstay fines reaching thousands of dollars, immigration detention, and homelessness, with aid organizations warning of a humanitarian crisis as governments treat escaped trafficking victims as perpetrators rather than victims. Some desperate survivors are reportedly returning to the scam compounds they escaped from due to lack of support and viable options to leave the region.
globalnews.ca
· 2026-08-20
Canadians are losing millions to a cell phone delivery scam where fraudsters impersonate telecom providers like Rogers, with over $17 million in reported losses in the first six months of 2026. A British Columbia resident, Jeannie Moss, fell victim to the scam and now owes Rogers over $4,000 after fraudsters convinced her to return devices and took out a $2,500 loan in her name through the Affirm company. The scammers used personal information including phone numbers and addresses to appear legitimate, sending multiple devices and prepaid shipping labels to trick victims into sending phones to non-Rogers addresses.
vindy.com
· 2026-08-20
Mahoning County Sheriff's Office issued a warning about telephone scams in which fraudsters spoof the sheriff's number, impersonate law enforcement, and demand victims transfer thousands of dollars via Bitcoin while claiming to have arrest warrants against them. Recent scams in the Boardman area have cost residents tens of thousands of dollars, with individual victims losing between $6,000 and $69,000 through various schemes including impersonation of banks, credit unions, Microsoft, and law enforcement. Authorities advise residents to hang up on unexpected calls demanding money, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and never send money via Bitcoin or gift cards to unknown persons.
news4jax.com
· 2026-08-20
A Jacksonville woman sued VyStar Credit Union for failing to investigate and reimburse approximately $42,000 stolen from her accounts after fraudsters impersonated bank representatives and obtained her debit card in November 2025. The complaint alleges that VyStar disabled security controls, failed to apply fraud alerts, and did not properly respond to the customer's error notices as required by federal law. The lawsuit seeks actual and statutory damages, attorneys' fees, and treble damages under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, with an ongoing criminal investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office into similar VyStar fraud cases.
kptv.com
· 2026-08-20
Scammers are impersonating FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) employees to target fraud victims a second time through phone calls, emails, fake websites, and deepfake videos, often claiming to have recovered lost funds and requesting payment to release the money. This scheme is particularly damaging because it exploits people who have already been victimized and undermines public trust in the legitimate IC3 reporting tool. The FBI advises victims to access IC3 only through www.ic3.gov directly and to remember that the federal government does not charge fees to recover stolen funds.
kotaradio.com
· 2026-08-20
Scammers exploit information shared in family group chats—combined with data available on public records sites—to impersonate relatives and conduct fraud against seniors, with criminals using personal details like travel plans, job information, and even voice clones created from family audio clips. In 2024, 72% of elder fraud cases totaling $4.2 billion in losses were enabled by victims' personal data being available online, with common scams including grandparent schemes where callers claim to be stranded relatives needing bail money or emergency assistance.
aol.com
· 2026-08-20
A viral video using artificial intelligence falsely claims that senior homeowners are entitled to a nonexistent federal "Senior Homeowner Tax Review Request" form and property tax relief program, prompting the Stark County Auditor's Office to receive multiple daily inquiries from elderly residents traveling to request the fake form. The scam targets older Ohio residents by exploiting concerns about rising property taxes, with officials warning that no such federal program exists and urging residents to verify information only through official government sources. Legitimate property tax relief programs like the Homestead Exemption do exist, and residents should contact their county auditor's office directly for accurate information rather than responding to unverified online content.
news24.com
· 2026-08-20
A consumer received a call impersonating her mobile provider's rewards department, claiming she won an iPhone, R30,000 in cash, and a R5,000 grocery voucher. The scammer used a spoofed Caller ID and sent a WhatsApp message with a malicious link designed to steal sensitive information or financial access, but the victim recognized the fraud and did not click the link. The scam exploited emotional excitement rather than panic, with the fraudster adding realistic details like store pickup options and voucher restrictions to appear legitimate.
iphoneincanada.ca
· 2026-08-20
A B.C. Rogers customer lost over $4,000 after scammers posing as Rogers representatives called her about a phone upgrade promotion, convinced her to accept delivery of iPhones ordered in her name, and then directed her to ship the devices to a third-party address. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported $17 million in losses from service fraud in the first six months of 2026, and similar scams are occurring across Canada where criminals impersonate telecom employees to commit fraud. The victim also had a $2,500 loan taken out in her name through Affirm, and while Rogers waived late fees as a goodwill gesture, she remains responsible for the fraudulent device
tovima.com
· 2026-08-20
An elderly woman in Pella, Greece was defrauded of €15,000 and three gold coins in a phone scam where perpetrators posed as a threatening criminal and a protective police officer. The scammers convinced the victim to hand over her money and valuables to an accomplice, though one suspect was arrested and police continue investigating other gang members. Greek authorities warn the public against trusting unknown callers claiming official roles and advise immediate reporting of such attempts.
wideopencountry.com
· 2026-08-20
A California woman was conned out of $300,000 by a scammer impersonating country singer Kenny Chesney and sued the artist, claiming he had a duty to warn fans about imposters; however, a California appeals court dismissed the case, ruling Chesney was not liable. In a separate incident, a Fresno news anchor lost $72,000 to a phishing scam when she called a fake number provided in a text claiming to be from the stock trading app Robinhood.
en.cibercuba.com
· 2026-08-20
A Cuban-American woman named Aniela lost $1,900 to scammers who hacked her friend's WhatsApp account and posed as her to request money for purchasing an electric bicycle and solar panel in Cuba. The criminals convinced Aniela to make two transfers ($1,400 and $500) from her Bank of America account before her husband called the friend directly and exposed the fraud. This scam follows a documented pattern where criminals trick WhatsApp users into sharing verification codes, then impersonate them to contacts abroad using items in high demand due to Cuba's energy crisis.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-20
A Louisville man lost over $1 million in a pig-butchering cryptocurrency investment scam that began with a pop-up ad and progressed through fake investment promises and fake profit displays. The scammers collected cash and physical gold across 14 in-person handoffs using couriers and demanded additional penalty payments before disappearing when the victim attempted to withdraw. The FBI reports that such schemes are increasingly using physical couriers to bypass bank fraud detection systems, with gold courier scams alone accounting for $219 million in losses nationally in 2024.
nbcchicago.com
· 2026-08-20
DeKalb County residents are being targeted by scammers impersonating police officers who spoof the Sheriff's Office phone number, claiming victims missed federal grand jury dates and threatening arrest to extort money. The callers, falsely identifying as Sergeant Eric Westfall, demand victims withdraw funds to avoid arrest, a tactic the Sheriff's Office confirmed they would never employ. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office urges residents to report these spoofing scams to the FCC.
cybersecurity-insiders.com
· 2026-08-19
This article explains how scams have evolved from random targeting to personalized, data-driven attacks that exploit personal information about victims, and emphasizes that reporting scams to authorities—despite confusion about where to report—feeds intelligence systems that help law enforcement shut down operations and protect others. The piece advises scam victims that their mistakes are not permanent and recommends taking action through reporting, blocking numbers, and using available tools to prevent ongoing harassment.
wpxi.com
· 2026-08-19
Scammers impersonating Allegheny County Sheriff's deputies are targeting residents in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, with calls claiming victims missed court dates and owe fines for identity theft cases. Victims are instructed to deposit money into kiosks and Bitcoin wallets, with one victim losing $32,000; scammers also use AI-generated fake arrest warrants to enhance the deception. Police warn that legitimate law enforcement never demand payment via cryptocurrency or kiosks, and urge residents to contact their local police department if they receive such calls.