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foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Fake agent phone scams are sweeping across the United States, with scammers impersonating federal agencies like the FBI and US Marshals using caller ID spoofing to demand immediate payment via untraceable methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency, claiming victims have frozen Social Security numbers, jailed relatives, or missed jury duty summons. Victims across numerous states have lost thousands of dollars, with some scammers even appearing in person, and the threat is escalating as text-based "smishing" attacks surge and experts warn of potential AI voice cloning tactics. To protect yourself, hang up immediately on such calls, never pay via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and remember that legitimate government agencies never demand payment
stormlake.com
· 2025-12-08
The Department of Insurance and Financial Services and the American Association of Retired Persons conducted an educational program at King's Pointe to teach seniors how to recognize and avoid scams. The initiative focused on fraud prevention awareness for older adults in the community.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this article as requested because the transcript does not contain information about the scam mentioned in the title. The provided text is a news broadcast that covers weather, traffic, storms, flooding, and unrelated incidents, but does not include any content about the senior scam arrest referenced in the headline. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the actual article content about the $27,000 scam attempt.
oswegocountytoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Senators Gillibrand and Warren demanded that the Trump administration explain how federal budget cuts to agencies like the CFPB, FBI, FTC, and Federal Reserve will impact elder fraud protection, following a GAO report recommending enhanced inter-agency coordination against scams. American consumers lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, with older adults alone losing a record $4.8 billion, yet the administration fired approximately 1,500 CFPB employees (90% of staff) and reduced personnel at other protective agencies.
local21news.com
· 2025-12-08
A Cumberland County, Pennsylvania senior was nearly defrauded of $27,000 after receiving a phone call from someone impersonating an FBI agent who demanded cash payment to avoid arrest. The victim withdrew the money as instructed, but her son recognized the scam and alerted police, who arrested a 39-year-old man attempting to collect the payment and charged him with theft by deception and conspiracy. The FBI and ICE are investigating similar incidents in the area.
wdet.org
· 2025-12-08
Chase Bank partnered with the Detroit Police Department to conduct financial wellness workshops for metro Detroit seniors in summer 2025, addressing a significant fraud problem in the region. Michigan residents lost over $200 million to fraud in 2024, with adults 60 and older filing the most fraud complaints and averaging $83,000 in losses per victim; the most common scams impersonate government agencies like the IRS, Medicare, and Social Security. Chase's workshops aim to educate seniors on recognizing warning signs and provide resources for financial protection, while noting that over 40% of scammers targeting seniors are adult children or people known to the victims.
vestaviavoice.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens in Vestavia Hills are invited to an educational presentation on July 16 at the New Merkel House where Russell Lowe from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System will teach about common scams and fraud targeting older adults. The free presentation at 11 a.m. includes coffee beforehand and a $1.50 lunch afterward, designed to help seniors protect their finances.
mcknightsseniorliving.com
· 2025-12-08
Two U.S. senators requested a Government Accountability Office investigation into how federal job cuts will impact agencies protecting older adults from fraud, citing $12.5 billion in total consumer fraud losses and $2.3 billion specifically targeting seniors in 2024. The request follows an April GAO report recommending enhanced interagency coordination among the FBI, Treasury, FTC, Federal Reserve, and CFPB to combat scams, but comes as the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency pursues significant agency cuts, including nearly 90% staff reduction at the CFPB. The senators expressed concern that these cuts will undermine the federal government's ability to implement fraud protection recommendations and serve vulnerable older
wypr.org
· 2025-12-08
One in ten seniors experience elder abuse, and Baltimore County officials report growing concerns about artificial intelligence being weaponized against older adults through deepfakes, voice cloning, and AI-generated scams that are increasingly difficult to detect. While deceptive tactics existed before AI, the technology makes fraud faster, cheaper, and more convincing than ever before, with seniors urged to verify information through official sources, confirm callers' identities, and report suspicious messages. Resources like AARP's free hotline and educational classes are available to help seniors protect themselves from these evolving threats.
police.tas.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
Tasmania Police contacted 15 Tasmanians who lost a combined $2.5 million to scams involving cryptocurrency ATMs (CATMs), with approximately $900,000 deposited directly to these machines. Investigation found all top cryptocurrency ATM users in the state were involved in scams—primarily romance and investment fraud—where victims were directed to CATMs after banks blocked suspicious transfers. Police advise recognizing warning signs including pressure tactics, promises of high returns, and requests to deposit cash to CATMs from unknown individuals, and recommend reporting incidents to police and Scamwatch.
tribune.com.pk
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using AI-generated deepfakes and fabricated social media accounts to impersonate celebrities like Keanu Reeves and Kevin Costner in romance scams targeting vulnerable seniors. A 73-year-old victim named Margaret lost over $100,000 in bitcoin to a fake Kevin Costner impersonator before discovering the deception when she traveled to meet him. According to the FBI, Americans lost $672 million to such scams in 2024, with seniors as the primary victims, and experts note these psychologically manipulative schemes are increasingly "industrialized" with some perpetrators themselves being victims of human trafficking forced to work in cyber-fraud operations.
opentools.ai
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in China have launched AI voice cloning scams targeting elderly residents by mimicking the voices of relatives to request money over the phone. This emerging fraud trend uses sophisticated technology to create convincing impersonations, posing challenges for law enforcement and raising concerns for families globally.
sumnercountysource.com
· 2025-12-08
On July 10, 2025, Johnny Ray Jackson, 55, was sentenced to ten years (at 45%) plus nine years of supervised probation for impersonating a licensed professional and illegally selling insurance in Sumner County, Tennessee, despite having his license revoked in 1999 for prior fraudulent conduct. Jackson fraudulently transferred an elderly client's annuity funds without consent, netting himself over $3,000 in commissions while causing substantial financial harm to the victim. The court determined Jackson posed a continuing risk to the community and immediately remanded him into custody.
elmoreautauganews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Central Alabama Aging Consortium's Ombudsman Program held its annual Elder Justice Fraud and Caregiver Conference on July 17 to educate professionals and caregivers about identifying and preventing elder abuse and fraud. Over 1,200 Alabama seniors report being victims of elder fraud annually, resulting in losses exceeding $17 million per year, with 10% of seniors nationwide experiencing fraud victimization yearly. The conference featured experts in financial exploitation, elder law, and protective services who provided tools and resources for professionals to assist fraud victims and prevent future incidents.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Eight Chinese nationals were indicted for orchestrating a wide-scale computer pop-up scam targeting elderly victims from August 2023 to February 2024, falsely claiming their computers or bank accounts were compromised and then impersonating federal law enforcement to collect cash. The conspiracy defrauded more than 50 victims across 19 states of over $10 million. The defendants face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
consumerbankers.com
· 2025-12-08
Consumer Bankers Association Vice President Brian Fritzsche argues that while banks invest in fraud prevention technologies and coordinate with law enforcement, combating financial fraud and scams requires a broader, coordinated national response involving government agencies, telecommunications providers, social media platforms, and fintech companies. Fritzsche emphasizes that modern fraud schemes are sophisticated criminal enterprises using AI voice cloning, phishing emails, and social media manipulation that extend beyond traditional banking channels, affecting hundreds of thousands of Americans annually with significant financial and psychological impacts, including reported suicidal ideation among identity crime victims.
capeargus.co.za
· 2025-12-08
Two suspects, aged 26 and 22, were arrested in the Western Cape by the Hawks' 419 Scam Task Team in connection with a romance scam in which a middle-aged woman lost over R3.4 million after being deceived by an online fraudster posing as a white man named Mark Hermanus who claimed his son was sick. Five suspects total have been arrested in this case, with the arrested individuals facing charges of fraud and money laundering. The article also highlights similar romance scams targeting older and middle-aged individuals, including cases where victims lost R650,000 and R24 million respectively.
nzz.ch
· 2025-12-08
Professional scammers based in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, operate organized "pig butchering" romance scams that target lonely men on dating apps, using fake identities and fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes to steal entire savings. These industrial-scale fraud centers, which expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and often involve forced labor, emotionally manipulate victims by building trust through small early profits before extracting large sums. One victim, a 29-year-old Swiss man, lost all his savings within two weeks of matching with a fake profile, illustrating how the scheme exploits emotional vulnerability rather than outright naivety.
vocfm.co.za
· 2025-12-08
A University of the Western Cape research study on cybercrime against seniors emphasizes that older individuals are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, with isolation being a key risk factor for victimization. The university calls for increased awareness, clearer guidance, and stronger support systems to protect seniors from online threats, while stressing that scam victims should not blame themselves and are encouraged to report incidents to protect themselves and others.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In September 2023, scammers impersonating law enforcement and the FBI targeted 81-year-old Judith Boivin of Maryland by exploiting her well-researched background as a nurse, social worker, and humanitarian to convince her she needed to assist in an FBI operation against a Mexican cartel allegedly using her Social Security number for money laundering. Over three months of twice-daily contact with the fraudsters, who used authentic-sounding case numbers and FBI branding, Boivin transferred nearly $600,000 of her retirement savings before discovering the elaborate scheme was fraudulent.
orangecountytribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Garden Grove police issued a warning about a Medicare/Medi-Cal scam targeting senior citizens, in which fraudsters impersonate officials to solicit Social Security and Medicare numbers by exploiting concerns about recent congressional changes to these programs. Authorities emphasize that Medicare and Medi-Cal agencies never call unsolicited to request personal information and no new Medicare cards are being issued, and urge residents to report suspicious calls to Garden Grove Police or Medicare directly.
beingpatient.com
· 2025-12-08
A decade-long study of over 2,000 older adults found that those diagnosed with dementia often develop "financial anosognosia"—a loss of awareness about their declining ability to manage money—which significantly increases their vulnerability to fraud, while those with mild cognitive impairment or normal aging remain appropriately aware of their financial limitations. The research identifies a critical window of opportunity after initial cognitive decline begins when older adults can still take action to secure their finances and implement protective systems before losing insight into their own deficits. Future research will examine how online banking affects financial awareness and fraud risk in cognitively impaired older adults.
baltimorefishbowl.com
· 2025-12-08
One in ten seniors are victims of elder abuse, which encompasses physical, emotional, and financial forms. Baltimore County officials report increasing concern among seniors about artificial intelligence being weaponized for fraud and exploitation targeting older adults.
mcknightsseniorliving.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults lost nearly $5 billion to fraud and scams in 2024, with losses increasing 41% from $3.4 billion in 2023 and average individual losses reaching $83,000, according to a U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging report. The report highlights an alarming rise in AI-powered schemes and traditional fraud methods including imposter scams, investment fraud, healthcare scams, and gift card fraud, with cryptocurrency losses alone reaching nearly $3 billion. The number of older adults reporting fraud jumped 43% in 2024, prompting calls for increased federal protection and consumer education initiatives.
kdhlradio.com
· 2025-12-08
A gold investment scam has resurfaced in Platteville, Wisconsin, targeting elderly residents by impersonating government employees who claim victims have arrest warrants and can settle them by purchasing gold. At least two people have fallen victim to this scheme, which instructs targets to withdraw large sums of money, purchase gold from local dealers, and hand it over to a supposed intermediary who never returns. The Platteville Police Department warns residents to educate elderly family members about this fraud, as scammers use urgency and panic tactics to manipulate vulnerable populations.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is primarily an investment newsletter discussing financial literacy trends and opportunities rather than reporting on elder fraud cases. However, it notes that elder financial exploitation constitutes a $3 billion annual problem by 2025, prompting innovations like "trusted contact alerts" from the FDIC and CFPB that allow seniors to designate family members to verify suspicious transactions. The piece also warns that 40% of retail investors fell victim to AI-driven algorithmic scams in 2025, and recommends investors support fraud prevention technology and inclusive financial services to address these emerging risks.
cvillerightnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal Trade Commission data estimates fraud theft in the United States reached $158.3 billion in 2023, with imposter scams, romance scams, tech scams, and investment scams being the most common types, typically beginning with phishing attempts via email, text, phone, or QR codes. AARP Virginia warns that AI technology is making scams increasingly convincing, particularly grandparent scams using synthesized voice calls, and recommends victims and witnesses report fraud to local law enforcement or contact AARP's Fraud Watch Network at 1-877-908-3360.
citrusheightssentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
A Sacramento County Grand Jury report found that over 97 percent of elder financial abuse cases confirmed by Adult Protective Services since 2019 have not been adequately investigated by law enforcement, with only 99 of 1,678 referred cases resulting in charges filed. The Citrus Heights City Council approved a response letter acknowledging that the police department has prioritized violent crimes over financial elder abuse investigations due to limited resources, while also highlighting their data tracking systems and community outreach efforts on the issue.
sidneydailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial scams targeting elderly residents in Shelby County, Ohio have become increasingly sophisticated, with people age 60 and over losing a combined $3.4 billion to fraud worldwide in 2023 alone. Scammers employ methods including Social Security imposter scams, grandparent schemes (enhanced by AI-generated voices and videos), and fake law enforcement threats to extract personal information and money from victims. Elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable due to accumulated wealth, health-related sensory impairments, and reluctance to report fraud due to embarrassment or fear of losing independence.
wave3.com
· 2025-12-08
A 22-year-old caregiver employed by United Home Health in Memphis was arrested for stealing approximately $82,000 worth of jewelry from her elderly patients' home and pawning the items between June 9-30. Corine Mukes, who had been providing in-home care since June, was identified by the patients' spokesperson and apprehended after detectives obtained video footage and pawn shop records confirming the sales. She was charged with theft of property valued between $60,000-$250,000 and financial exploitation of the elderly.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Two suspects posing as Microsoft IT support representatives scammed an elderly Adams County, Pennsylvania resident out of $16,000 by manipulating them into making Bitcoin kiosk deposits and Walmart gift card purchases. Pennsylvania State Police are seeking the suspects, with one identified at a Sam's Club in Allentown where a stolen gift card was redeemed.
ewn.co.za
· 2025-12-08
A multi-university study led by Dr. Suleman Lazarus found that older adults are increasingly targeted by online scammers who exploit their perceived lack of technical knowledge. Researchers recommend that seniors protect themselves by questioning unsolicited requests, seeking advice from trusted family members, avoiding immediate action on financial requests, not clicking suspicious links, and never sharing banking details or passwords.
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting senior citizens with phishing emails and texts impersonating the Social Security Administration, using alarming language about suspected criminal activity to pressure victims into clicking malicious links or providing personal information. To protect themselves, seniors should verify sender contact information, avoid clicking unverified links, ignore requests for urgent action or gift cards, use separate email accounts for different purposes, and maintain strong, unique passwords across all accounts.
devdiscourse.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2025 study published in Security Journal reveals that cybercriminals strategically exploit ageism and socioeconomic vulnerabilities to defraud seniors, with the global population aged 65+ projected to reach 1.6 billion by 2050. The research identifies that older adults face increased risk due to cognitive decline, social isolation, financial insecurity, and high institutional trust, while cybercriminals target both wealthy and low-income seniors through tech support fraud, romance scams, and fake investment schemes. The authors recommend structural reforms including redesigned digital policy frameworks, tailored cybersecurity education, and adoption of classification systems that distinguish crimes by socioeconomic motivation to better protect an
observer.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Fraud has evolved from rare, high-profile crimes into a pervasive problem affecting all age groups, with the UK experiencing 4.1 million fraud incidents in the year ending 2024—a 33% increase from the previous year—and identity fraud alone costing the nation approximately £1.8 billion annually. Contrary to stereotypes, younger people (18-24) are slightly more vulnerable than seniors, likely due to greater online activity, though common fraud types now include identity theft, purchase scams, authorized push payments, and romance scams. Modern criminals exploit technological advantages including malware, cryptocurrencies, AI deepfakes, and organized "scam factories" operating
kfiz.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, military consumers filed over 200,000 scam reports with the FTC, with 31,833 reporting financial losses totaling $584 million (median loss of $700). Scammers target servicemembers, retirees, and their families through two main housing scams: home loan fraud (impersonating VA officials to demand immediate payment or property transfers) and rental housing fraud (advertising fake properties with military discounts to collect deposits before renters discover the fraud). Consumers are advised to verify all housing-related requests through official channels, avoid unrealistic discounts, tour properties in person, and use legitimate military housing resources like Military By Owner and Homes.mil.
news.inbox.lv
· 2025-12-08
A senior Trump administration official's voice was impersonated using artificial intelligence technology in a scam attempt. The article provides guidance on how to protect oneself from similar AI-based voice impersonation fraud.
livebitcoinnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Indian police arrested 26-year-old Harshik Mukeshbhai Patel from Gujarat for operating a fake cryptocurrency website that defrauded traders of approximately Rs. 1.5 crore ($180,000) in 2023. The fraudulent site cloned legitimate crypto exchanges and promised returns of 10-25% within days, causing multiple investors to lose their savings before money was funneled through various bank accounts. Investigators believe Patel is part of a larger organized scam network and are continuing to identify other members involved in similar cryptocurrency fraud schemes operating in India.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
Two senior executives of cryptocurrency company MoonPay—co-founder Ivan Soto-Wright and CFO Mouna Ammari Siala—were defrauded of $250,300 through a sophisticated email spoofing scheme in which scammers impersonated real estate developer Steve Witkoff using nearly-identical email addresses with typosquatted domains. The stolen cryptocurrency (USDT) was traced to a wallet associated with Nigerian citizen Ehiremen Aigbokhan in Lagos, with the US Department of Justice filing to recover the frozen funds. This incident demonstrates that even security-aware professionals and industry leaders remain vulnerable to social engineering tactics that exploit
euronews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers used AI voice cloning technology to impersonate U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in messages sent via Signal to foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress, with authorities investigating whether the fraudster sought to manipulate officials for access to information or accounts. Voice cloning fraud works by capturing a person's speech patterns, accent, and breathing from as little as three seconds of audio—often sourced from social media—to create realistic voice and text message replicas. Experts recommend verifying callers through independent contact methods, avoiding reliance on caller ID, checking for subtle alterations in names or URLs, and limiting personal information shared online to prevent becoming
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
Tasmanian Police uncovered a sophisticated cryptocurrency ATM scam targeting elderly residents, resulting in $1.6 million in losses ($592,000 through crypto ATMs). Scammers manipulated seniors through romance and investment schemes, convincing them to deposit cash into ATMs where it was converted to cryptocurrency and transferred to untraceable wallets. In response, authorities are implementing stricter regulatory measures on crypto ATMs and launching public awareness campaigns, while Detective Sergeant Paul Turner advises victims to verify identities through trusted sources before any financial transactions involving cryptocurrency.
kttc.com
· 2025-12-08
A 22-year-old caregiver in Memphis was arrested for stealing approximately $82,000 worth of jewelry from elderly patients she had been caring for since June through her employer, United Home Health. Investigators confirmed the theft by obtaining video footage and pawn shop records showing Mukes had sold the jewelry on multiple dates in June, leading to charges of theft and financial exploitation of the elderly.
mcknights.com
· 2025-12-08
Older Americans lost $4.8 billion to scams in 2024, a significant increase from $3.4 billion in 2023, with artificial intelligence-enabled fraud (voice cloning, deepfakes, impersonation) emerging as a major driver alongside cryptocurrency and peer-to-peer payment scams. Long-term care facilities face operational, financial, and regulatory risks when residents are targeted, including disrupted payments, resident distress, and family complaints. Facilities should implement scam prevention as part of resident safety by training staff to recognize red flags, keeping families informed about current threats, and updating abuse prevention and incident reporting protocols.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated fraudsters in Kerala are targeting elderly pensioners through phone scams impersonating government officials, using stolen personal data (pension details, Aadhaar numbers, nominee information) to build trust before requesting OTPs to access bank accounts. Kerala's Cyber Operations Division reports 2,000-2,500 daily fraud complaints with approximately 125 resulting in cases, causing an estimated loss of ₹1-1.5 crore daily, though 90% of losses are under ₹1 lakh per victim. The Pension Directorate has warned pensioners that legitimate government officials never contact them by phone or online to update life certificates, and victims should report frau
tnp.sg
· 2025-12-08
A 64-year-old Singaporean retiree discovered that $459 of his $800 in printed SG60 vouchers had been fraudulently used by an unknown person on July 3, 2024, one day after he collected them from a community club, with only $42 legitimately spent by him and his wife. Upon filing a police report and checking his Singpass account, Mr. Lee found that nearly half his vouchers had been redeemed without his knowledge despite the physical vouchers remaining in his possession. Police have warned the public to be vigilant against phishing scams related to SG60 voucher claims.
fox5vegas.com
· 2025-12-08
A Las Vegas senior named Joe Fitzpatrick created educational guides and community classes to help his neighbors at Solera at Stallion Mountain avoid cyber scams after witnessing an epidemic of fraud targeting residents. The guides cover various scam types including tech support, romance, Venmo, and the "grandparent" scam—where criminals use AI to impersonate relatives and request emergency money—with at least one local victim losing significant funds to this scheme. Fitzpatrick's primary advice is to treat online strangers with the same caution as in-person ones and encourages victims to share their experiences to help protect the community.
marinij.com
· 2025-12-08
A Fresno man named Jasvir Singh scammed a Sausalito elderly resident out of $25,000 and attempted to obtain another $25,000 through an impersonation scheme involving fake representatives from Apple, Wells Fargo, and federal agencies. The victim was deceived into believing her bank account was compromised and handed cash to a courier; she was arrested after attempting a second payment and alerting police. Singh was booked on suspicion of embezzlement from an elderly person and obtaining money by false pretenses, with bail set at $50,000.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
A 62-year-old retired professor in Mumbai lost ₹1.93 crore ($231,000 USD) in a two-stage romance scam involving cryptocurrency: first, a woman named "Ayesha" befriended him on Facebook, gained his trust, and convinced him to deposit funds into a Binance account she controlled before disappearing; then a second scammer named "Koyal" contacted him posing as a recovery agent and extracted additional payments with false promises of restitution. The Cyber West Division has registered a criminal case under India's Information Technology Act, which provides for 3-10 years imprisonment for crypto fraud convictions.
keyt.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old Massachusetts woman lost approximately $450,000 in a year-long romance scam in which perpetrators impersonated country music star Vince Gill and his daughter, fabricating an emotional story about a false rape accusation to solicit money. Despite warnings from banks, law enforcement, and family members, the victim sent wire transfers, cashier's checks, cash, and took out personal loans and credit card advances before her daughter discovered the fraud on Christmas morning. Authorities emphasize that romance scammers exploit emotional manipulation and social isolation, particularly targeting older adults who are widowed, divorced, or lonely, and recommend that concerned family members ask non-judgmental questions and contact