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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
heraldguide.com
· 2025-12-08
The Sheriff's Office reports a surge in scams and identity theft cases involving cryptocurrency, romance schemes, impersonation of law enforcement and government agencies, and grandparent extortion. The office provided guidance on common red flags including unsolicited requests for gift cards, wire transfers, remote computer access, and personal financial information, emphasizing verification of caller identity and avoidance of pressure tactics promising prizes or threatening legal action.
myfloridalegal.com
· 2025-12-08
Florida's new state law protecting consumers from moving scams took effect July 1, requiring movers to register with the state, provide transparent contracts, and disclose registration status in advertising, with enhanced penalties including felony charges for refusing to return household goods. Attorney General Moody's office has taken action against over 18 movers and moving brokers, resulting in approximately $27 million in fines and restitution since 2019, and updated consumer guidance recommends verifying mover licensing, reviewing contracts carefully, and reporting suspected scams to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
cbs58.com
· 2025-12-08
The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau warned travelers ahead of July 4th of an increase in airfare scams targeting holiday travelers. Scammers were creating fake airline booking websites and customer service numbers, using fabricated flight cancellation notices to trick travelers into paying rescheduling fees or charging them for non-existent services. The BBB advised consumers to verify URLs and phone numbers, use secure websites, and contact airlines directly to confirm details before making payments.
candgnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido held an educational workshop in June to inform the public—particularly seniors—about common scams and fraud tactics, highlighting how personal information shared online is often sold to third parties and exploited by scammers. The workshop identified four key components scammers use (pretend, payment, prize/problem, and pressure) and covered various fraud methods including spoofing, phishing, vishing, and impersonation of authorities, banks, and tech support. Lucido recommended using "opt out" selections when filling out forms and published a 30-page guide called "S.C.A.M.S." to help prevent identity theft and financial fraud in
12news.com
· 2025-12-08
Arizona seniors have lost over $82 million to fraud, with tech support scams causing average losses of $23,000 per victim and affecting people 60+ at 500% higher rates than younger adults. The Peoria Police Department is actively combating the "Phantom Hacker Scam," where criminals use pop-ups to trick seniors into sending money via cryptocurrency ATMs while posing as fraud detectives, and authorities are installing warning signs at crypto machines and urging community members to educate elderly relatives about avoiding such scams.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Mona Faiz Montrage, a prominent Ghanaian Instagram influencer with 3.4 million followers, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison in June 2024 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money from romance scams. From 2013 to 2019, Montrage received over $2 million in fraudulent funds from approximately 40 vulnerable elderly victims who were deceived into sending money under false pretenses such as gold transport fees and fake FBI investigations. In addition to her prison sentence, she was ordered to forfeit $216,475 and pay restitution of $1,387,458.
wsoctv.com
· 2025-12-08
A former romance scammer named Christopher Maxwell, who operated from Nigeria and defrauded tens of thousands of dollars from North Carolina victims over years-long online relationships, revealed his tactics in an interview—including impersonating military personnel to explain why he couldn't video chat and requesting money for supposed deployment emergencies. Maxwell's guilt intensified after scamming an elderly woman out of $30,000, leading him to reform and work for Social Catfish, a company that verifies online identities, and he now warns victims to avoid anyone unwilling to show their face on video. The article also features a local victim, Lara Katherine Miller, who lost $50 to a similar scammer before recogn
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian actor Big Akwes warned that he would publicly name prominent musicians involved in romance scams if provoked, claiming they use their spouses to defraud foreigners. The warning came amid discussion of socialite Hajia4Real, who pleaded guilty in February 2024 to her role in a $2 million romance scam targeting older Americans and was extradited from the UK to the US; court documents suggest her ex-partner exploited her involvement in the scheme while she feared for her safety and her daughter's.
backendnews.net
· 2025-12-08
Online Alerto, a Facebook community page, serves as an educational resource to help users in Southeast Asia recognize and avoid romance scams through shared experiences and digital literacy guidance. The platform identifies common red flags in love scams—such as rapid declarations of love, requests for money, avoidance of in-person meetings, and attempts to isolate victims—along with manipulation tactics scammers use. Online Alerto recommends protective strategies including reverse image searches, video call verification, social media consistency checks, and use of dating app identity verification features to help users safely navigate online dating.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting summer travelers through online booking scams, with popular destinations like Fort Myers Beach, Sandusky, and Chicago being the most frequently exploited. Common scams include AI-generated fake accommodations, fraudulent booking websites, impersonation schemes, phishing emails, and public Wi-Fi data theft. According to McAfee research, 25% of Americans have lost over $1,000 to travel scams, 15% experienced fraudulent charges after using fake sites, and 13% arrived to find their booked accommodations didn't exist.
wyff4.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned the public about a sophisticated scam in which fraudsters contact victims by phone or email claiming they failed to report for jury duty and face federal arrest warrants, then demand payment via virtual currency to avoid jail time. The scammers enhance credibility by using actual names of North Carolina law enforcement officers, manipulating caller IDs to appear as government agencies, and sometimes claiming offices are closed due to COVID-19 to discourage in-person payment verification. The FBI emphasized that legitimate arrest warrants are never issued via email or text and never require immediate payment, and recommends victims verify any legal claims directly with law enforcement or courts rather than paying unsolicited demands.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**AI-Powered Scams and Protective Measures**
This educational piece identifies two primary AI-enabled scams targeting vulnerable individuals: voice cloning of family members to solicit emergency financial assistance, and personalized phishing emails using AI-generated text customized with stolen personal data to increase credibility. The article recommends verifying suspicious communications by contacting the person through normal channels, avoiding attempts to detect fake voices, treating unknown contacts as suspicious, and remaining skeptical of personalized messages that reference recent purchases or locations.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 37-year-old woman named Rashmi Kar was arrested in Navi Mumbai for defrauding her 34-year-old widow neighbor of approximately Rs 7 lakh (approximately $8,400 USD) using an AI voice-changing app to impersonate a male named "Abhimanyu Mehra." Kar, working with her husband Dipanjal Biswas, posed as a job recruiter, developed a romantic relationship with the victim over seven months, and convinced her to transfer money without ever meeting in person. The victim became suspicious when the impersonator avoided in-person meetings and reported the scam to police, leading to
english.jagran.com
· 2025-12-08
A civil service aspirant in New Delhi was defrauded of Rs 1,21,917.70 (approximately $1,465 USD) through an elaborate dating app scam orchestrated by Black Mirror Cafe owners and employees. The victim was lured to the cafe via a fake Tinder profile, abandoned by his date, and then threatened and coerced into paying a drastically inflated bill. Police arrested cafe owner Akshay Pahwa and accomplice Afsan Parveen after investigating the scheme, which involved fake female profiles created by "table managers" to lure men to the establishment, with profits divided among the conspirators; similar scams have been reporte
sandhillsexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers' office warned nonprofits about donation refund scams targeting charitable organizations, where fraudsters posing as donors submit large fraudulent checks (often five figures or more) and then request partial refunds, causing financial losses when the original checks bounce. Similar scams occur with stolen credit cards, where scammers request refunds to different cards and the nonprofit receives chargebacks. The Attorney General recommended nonprofits educate staff about fraud recognition, verify unusual donor requests directly, research unfamiliar donors before processing refunds, and issue card refunds only to the original card used.
cxotoday.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common financial fraud tactics and prevention strategies, noting that bank frauds in India exceeded 302.5 billion rupees in fiscal year 2023. Key warning signs include unsolicited contact, pressure to act quickly, requests for personal information, unrealistic investment promises, and demands for payment via unconventional methods. The article recommends staying informed about scams, verifying identities before sharing information, using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being cautious with app downloads to protect against fraud.
kiro7.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Aberdeen resident lost $12,000 in a jury duty scam on June 27, when a fraudster claimed he had missed court and owed a fine, then directed him to convert the money to Bitcoin via a Coinstar machine. The scammer used a fake website mimicking the Grays Harbor Sheriff's Office to appear legitimate, though the victim reported the incident to police within an hour. Aberdeen Police emphasized that law enforcement never requests payment by phone or Bitcoin and urged residents to share awareness of this scam with seniors.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 39-year-old Bronx man, Victor Anthony Valdez, was charged with wire fraud conspiracy for his role as a courier in an international "grandparent scam" that defrauded elderly residents of New York and New Jersey of tens of thousands of dollars between August 2020 and 2021. Scammers operating from call centers in the Dominican Republic posed as grandchildren or legal officials, convincing elderly victims their grandchildren had been arrested and needed bail money, then sent Valdez to collect cash from victims' homes. Valdez faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
wwnytv.com
· 2025-12-08
Four people were arrested in Oswego County, New York in June 2024 for attempting to defraud senior citizens through phone scams that would have resulted in $78,000 in losses. In the first incident, a 75-year-old woman received a call claiming she was accused of a crime and needed to pay money; she became suspicious and alerted police, who arrested two suspects from Ontario, Canada at her home. A week later, two Brooklyn residents were arrested after attempting to convince a 72-year-old man that his Cash App account was hacked and he needed to withdraw $38,000, but the victim contacted police before handing over the money.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned that timeshare fraud targeting senior Americans operates in three phases—fraudsters impersonating brokers demanding upfront payments, then posing as lawyers promising fund recovery for additional fees, and finally impersonating government officials using threats of legal consequences to extort money, with proceeds flowing to Mexican cartels. Seniors are advised to avoid unfamiliar callers, refuse upfront payments for timeshare services, and refrain from emailing legal documents, while financial firms should discuss these scams with clients.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with scammers increasingly using sophisticated tactics to steal banking information and money. The article outlines ten common banking scams—including check fraud, phishing, fake websites, automatic withdrawal schemes, and government imposter scams—and provides protective measures such as verifying URLs directly with banks, never clicking unsolicited links, and avoiding upfront fee requests. Knowing these common strategies helps consumers recognize and avoid fraudulent schemes before criminals can access their accounts and funds.
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
More than a dozen residents in Lorain County, Ohio fell victim to phone scammers who spoofed the sheriff's office number and impersonated Captain Robert Vansant, claiming victims had outstanding warrants and demanding bond payments of up to $3,500 via digital payment apps like Venmo or Zelle. The scammers used convincing tactics including legal jargon, gag order claims, and text messages to pressure victims into paying quickly; some victims lost up to $30,000, and even a corrections officer was temporarily deceived. Captain Vansant warned that the sheriff's office never calls to request money and advised residents to verify calls by contacting the office directly.
otcnet.org
· 2025-12-08
Unauthorized third-party companies are fraudulently contacting OTC event attendees and sponsors, falsely claiming to offer OTC's attendee list for sale or rent. OTC does not sell or share attendee information, and these companies have no affiliation with OTC; they are simply using publicly available attendee and exhibitor names to conduct mass spam campaigns with frequently changing email addresses to evade reporting.
liherald.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Elmont resident lost $47,000 after receiving a pop-up prompt directing him to call a number where someone impersonating a Federal Reserve employee instructed him to withdraw cash for an alleged investigation. Following follow-up calls requesting an additional $10,000, the victim reported the scam to police, leading to the arrest of Staten Island resident Lin Qiu, 46, who was charged with grand larceny and attempted grand larceny; two other individuals involved in the initial cash pickup remain unidentified.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Elmont man lost $47,000 after receiving a computer prompt directing him to call a number where someone impersonating a Federal Reserve official instructed him to withdraw all his cash, which two men subsequently picked up. The victim recognized the scam after receiving follow-up calls and an attempt to extort an additional $10,000, leading police to arrest 46-year-old Lin Qin of Staten Island on charges of third-degree attempted grand larceny and third-degree grand larceny.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams targeting seniors through online dating platforms resulted in approximately 6,000 reported cases and over $82 million in losses in the second half of one year, with Vermont victims individually losing between $40,000 to $100,000. These scams typically involve online communication and requests for money under false emergency pretenses, though actual losses are believed to be significantly higher due to underreporting stemming from victim shame and family stigma. Authorities generally do not pursue these cases, leaving victims with little recourse to recover funds, and experts recommend seniors increase vigilance as older adults demonstrate reduced ability to detect scams.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
A fraud ring used stolen funds from FBI impersonation and romance scams to purchase approximately $1.4 million in collectible stamps through an auction house, with three Indian buyers acquiring 149 lots using criminal proceeds. The scammers employed a multi-layered scheme where fake government agents convinced victims to send money for "safekeeping," often routing payments through romance fraud victims to obscure the trail before purchasing stamps as a money-laundering vehicle to legitimize the stolen funds. The FBI seized the stamps, though no charges have been filed to date.
techbullion.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS has issued a warning about escalating scams targeting seniors, who are particularly vulnerable to impersonation, phishing, spoofing, and lottery scams that exploit trust and create urgency. Common tactics include fraudsters posing as IRS agents via phone, email, or text to threaten legal action or extract personal information and money through gift cards or wire transfers. The IRS recommends seniors verify caller identity before sharing information, report suspicious activity to the IRS and FTC, and stay informed about scam tactics to protect themselves from financial exploitation.
amny.com
· 2025-12-08
An 87-year-old woman lost $16,900 in a grandparent scam on May 29 when a man posing as an attorney called claiming her grandson needed bail money for a DUI arrest; she withdrew the cash and handed it over at a street location before realizing the deception. The suspect, described as a light-complexioned male approximately 6 feet tall with a medium build, fled on foot and remains at large with no arrests made as of the article's publication.
rbcroyalbank.com
· 2025-12-08
**Grandparent/Emergency Scam**
In 2023, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported the grandparent scam caused $11.3 million in losses, making it one of the top 10 frauds by dollar loss, though actual losses are likely higher due to underreporting. The scam involves fraudsters impersonating a grandchild (often using voice-altering technology or spoofing caller IDs) claiming to be in an emergency—injured, arrested, or in trouble abroad—and urgently requesting money while instructing the senior not to tell anyone. To protect against this highly effective scam that exploits seniors' emotional vulnerability,
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
An 87-year-old woman in New York was scammed out of $16,900 in a bail bond scheme on Wednesday, when an impostor posing as an attorney claimed her grandson had been arrested for DUI and needed bail money. The suspect met the victim near Fifth Avenue and East 11th Street to collect the cash before fleeing on foot; the victim was unharmed and police are seeking a light-complexioned male suspect, approximately 6 feet tall and 230 lbs, last seen wearing a green baseball hat and white t-shirt.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Shoppers nationwide are encountering various scams at retail stores, including suspicious checkout charges and card-skimming attempts. One customer discovered a fraudulent $30.39 charge on her Walmart receipt for a non-existent item and received a refund after the barcode could not be matched to any product in the store; another shopper reported being approached by a man claiming to work for Walmart who asked to scan the card reader with his phone during self-checkout—a tactic identified by security experts as potentially involving card-skimming devices designed to steal payment information via Bluetooth.
dailyrecord.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh nearly fell victim to a phone scam in which a caller impersonated her bank representative and accurately cited her personal details, including her card's last four digits, to convince her of legitimacy. Singh became suspicious when the scammer insisted on handling the situation himself and ended the call, later confirming with her actual bank that it was indeed a scam. She publicly warned viewers that scammers are increasingly sophisticated and exploit people's natural politeness to extract information before suspicion takes hold.
valleytimes-news.com
· 2025-12-08
Police Chief Denise McCain and representatives from the FBI, Better Business Bureau, and other agencies presented at an East Alabama Regional Planning Commission Summit to educate seniors about fraud targeting older adults. The presentation covered common scams including jury duty imposters, tech support blackmail, grandparent scams using AI-generated voices, lottery scams, and IRS fraud, emphasizing that older adults with good savings and credit are lucrative targets who often delay reporting due to shame or uncertainty about where to report. Key prevention advice included never providing information over the phone, calling loved ones directly to verify requests, and immediately reporting blackmail to police.
wcpo.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults in Hamilton County, Ohio lost $4 million to scammers in the past year, with 75-year-old Carol Brown receiving up to 25 scam calls daily—a problem so widespread that some seniors avoid answering their phones and miss medical appointments. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost noted that only one in 44 financial crimes against older adults gets reported, often due to seniors' fear of being institutionalized or having their competence questioned, while FBI data shows people 60 and older lost $3.4 billion nationally to scams last year. Experts recommend connecting more with isolated seniors, using phone apps to filter scam calls, and following verification steps such
businessjournaldaily.com
· 2025-12-08
People over age 64 are increasingly targeted by financial scams through social media and other channels, with the most common scams involving investments, romance, and home improvement—including door-to-door home repair schemes following storms. According to AARP, about half of American adults report being victims or targets of financial fraud, and elder financial abuse costs older Americans at least $36.5 billion annually. Warning signs include pressure to act urgently, requests for unusual payment methods (Zelle, Venmo, debit cards), and claims of free or unrealistically cheap services; victims should contact their local police, financial institutions, and report scams to the BBB.
santaclaritamagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
AI-driven scams targeting seniors employ various deceptive tactics including robocalls impersonating banks, fake tech support claims, AI-generated personas, fraudulent websites, and healthcare fraud schemes that exploit older adults' unfamiliarity with technology. Protection strategies include verifying unsolicited calls through official channels, using only reputable tech support, avoiding sharing personal information online, shopping only from trusted sources, and establishing family passwords to verify the identity of callers claiming to need help.
bostonherald.com
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old Hingham woman lost $9,500 in a spoofed caller ID scam where a fraudster impersonated police, claimed she had failed to appear in court, and pressured her to immediately pay via Bitcoin or face arrest. The victim withdrew cash and used a Bitcoin ATM at a local grocery store to complete the transaction before realizing the scam when the caller demanded an additional $9,500. Police warn that caller IDs can be spoofed and that legitimate law enforcement will never call to threaten arrest or demand payment over the phone.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud losses in the Boston FBI Division (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island) totaled $89.6 million across 2,689 victims in 2023, with national losses reaching $1.6 billion from January to May 2024—a significant increase from the prior year. The most common scams targeting seniors include tech support, romance, investment, and government impersonation schemes, with investment scams involving cryptocurrency showing a particularly sharp rise of 419% in losses between 2021-2023. The FBI emphasizes that actual losses are likely higher due to underreporting and recommends elders be cautious of unsolicited contact, resist pressure
theintermountain.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS has issued a warning about impersonation scams increasingly targeting seniors, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) via phone calls, emails, and text messages to steal personal information and money. Scammers use pressure tactics, fake caller IDs, and demands for payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, often threatening arrest or deportation to coerce immediate compliance. The IRS advises seniors to hang up on unexpected calls claiming tax issues, verify communications directly at 800-829-1040, and never provide sensitive information or make payments without confirming legitimacy through official channels.
1011now.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Phishing—where scammers impersonate financial institutions via phone, text, or email to steal personal information—is the leading cause of data breaches. Financial coach Cherry Dale advises people to be suspicious of any unsolicited communication asking for account numbers or clicks on links, and to recognize that pressure to act quickly is a common scammer tactic. If uncertain about a caller's legitimacy, hang up and call the number on your debit or credit card directly, and report any confirmed scam attempts to your financial institution.
lowndessignal.com
· 2025-12-08
Internet-enabled scams like spoofing and phishing allow criminals to impersonate trusted sources and steal personal and financial information from victims. Law enforcement recommends three prevention strategies: never provide personal information or payment via gift cards to unsolicited callers, avoid engaging with unknown calls and suspicious links, and verify caller identity by independently contacting the organization through official channels. Victims can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or 877-382-4357, or to local law enforcement.
thecitizen.com
· 2025-12-08
Local police responded to a hostage situation call in a residential subdivision after receiving a frantic report that a relative was being held at gunpoint and money was demanded, only to confirm the call was a scam. The scammers used phone cloning technology to make the call appear to come from the victim's actual phone number, creating a convincing false emergency. Police are warning residents to research current scams and be prepared to recognize these threatening calls, which are becoming increasingly common across the region.
fedweek.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
In 2023, the FBI reported an 11 percent overall increase in fraud complaints, with a 14 percent surge in scams targeting adults 60 and older, who lost $3.4 billion of the $12.5 billion in total reported losses. Tech support fraud was the leading crime affecting seniors with nearly 18,000 complaints and $600 million in losses, while investment scams proved costliest at over $1.2 billion, and call center schemes disproportionately impacted older adults who lost almost $770 million—more than all other age groups combined, with some victims reportedly taking their own lives. The FBI recommends resisting pressure to
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
PAN card fraud—where scammers misuse individuals' Permanent Account Numbers to commit identity theft, open fraudulent accounts, secure unauthorized loans, or file fake tax returns—is rising in India, with recent high-profile victims including actor Rajkummar Rao and actress Nagma Morarji who lost Rs 1 lakh. To protect yourself, regularly monitor credit reports, bank statements, and tax filings for unauthorized activity, and report suspected misuse immediately to police (FIR), your bank, and the Income Tax Department through their e-filing portal or by contacting your Assessing Officer.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
WhatsApp has become a platform for investment scams in India, with victims losing lakhs of rupees to fraudulent schemes. Scammers use a multi-step method: contacting users with fake job or investment offers, adding them to groups posing as legitimate financial firms, directing them to fake websites showing false profits, and then blocking account access while demanding additional payments for withdrawals. Notable cases include a 60-year-old retired Mumbai resident who lost Rs 2.56 crore and a 35-year-old Coimbatore bank manager who lost Rs 48.57 lakhs.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams increased 118% in 2023, costing job-seekers over $70 million, with scammers using artificial intelligence and legitimate company names to create fake LinkedIn postings or pose as recruiters offering unrealistic salaries like $1,200 per day for remote work. These criminals attempt to extract personal information—including bank account details—by requesting more data than a typical job application requires. To protect yourself, verify the company independently, research any unsolicited job offer before engaging, and be skeptical of positions promising high pay for simple tasks or claiming to let you be your own boss.
wibx950.com
· 2025-12-08
Credit One Bank issued a public warning about imposter scams in which fraudsters contact victims via phone, text, or email while impersonating trusted individuals or company employees, using caller ID spoofing to appear legitimate, and requesting personal or financial information. The scams employ social engineering tactics such as building trust or using scare tactics to extract sensitive data like credit card numbers, expiration dates, and online banking credentials. Credit One advises customers to recognize that legitimate financial institutions never request such information and to verify any suspicious contact by calling the number on the back of their credit card.
texascooppower.com
· 2025-12-08
Utility scammers impersonate company representatives through phone calls, texts, emails, and in-person visits to pressure consumers into immediate payments under threat of service disconnection, often using spoofed caller IDs and fraudulent websites designed to steal money or personal information. Common tactics include demanding payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, claiming overpayment refunds, and using high-pressure language and poor grammar as red flags. Consumers should verify requests directly with their utility company by calling the official number, never provide personal or banking information over the phone, and report suspected scams to help protect their community.
fox23.com
· 2025-12-08
A romance scam targeting seniors is currently widespread, in which scammers build fake romantic relationships to convince victims to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. According to cybersecurity expert Zulfikar Ramzan, crimes targeting elders have increased 11% in the last year, resulting in $3.4 billion in losses with an average loss of $34,000 per victim. Ramzan advises seniors to verify anyone met online through video calls, conduct background research, and be wary when asked about investments, as scammers typically start with small requests that escalate to stealing entire life savings through fake investment statements.