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fortune.com
Zelle, the payment app owned by major U.S. banks including JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo, faces a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau investigation over fraud vulnerabilities, with Zelle's chief fraud risk manager arguing the app has adequate safeguards while placing responsibility on users, lawmakers, and law enforcement to combat scammers. Between 2019 and 2023, the percentage of reimbursed Zelle fraud claims declined from 62% to 38%, according to Senator Richard Blumenthal, though Zelle reports a 50% decrease in fraud reports from 2022 to 2023 and attributes this partly to its anti
npr.org
Criminal syndicates operating in Southeast Asia (particularly Cambodia and Myanmar) traffic and enslave people to conduct "pig butchering" scams—a fraud scheme where scammers build trust with victims to convince them to invest money before disappearing with their funds. Victims like Billy, a 41-year-old Ethiopian man, are deceived into traveling for fake jobs, then held captive in compounds, beaten, and forced to send scam texts impersonating wealthy individuals to defraud hundreds of people. This multi-billion-dollar cyber fraud industry involves systematic human trafficking, torture, and labor exploitation by organized criminal networks targeting both the scam victims and the enslaved workers forced to perpet
justice.gov
Hector Claveria, 51, of Queens, New York, pleaded guilty to international money laundering after acting as a money mule for elder fraud and computer fraud schemes in 2020. He collected cash proceeds from these schemes and wired $20,000 to a foreign bank account in June 2020, knowing the funds originated from fraudulent activities that deceived elderly victims into sending payments based on false claims of debt to government agencies or computer service companies. Claveria faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, with sentencing scheduled for December 19, 2024.
zimlive.com
Sherlyn Sims was convicted of conspiring to launder and laundering over $1.2 million in proceeds from romance fraud scams and business email compromise schemes that targeted vulnerable elderly victims between December 2019 and August 2020. Sims registered sham businesses, opened bank accounts in their names, and quickly transferred the stolen funds internationally, to China, and through cash withdrawals, while evading detection by opening new accounts when banks closed existing ones. One romance fraud victim lost nearly $100,000 after being deceived online, and another lost their home earnest money deposit to Sims's accounts.
bulawayo24.com
Sherlyn Sims, a Zimbabwean national operating in Georgia, was convicted of money laundering from multiple scams including romance fraud schemes where she solicited victims to send money under false pretenses (such as claiming to need tax payments to visit the US), then transferred the funds to third-party countries like China to cash out. Prosecutors documented that Sims diverted approximately $1.2 million through various bank accounts from her scams, including fraudulently obtained COVID relief loans, with one victim losing $100,000. She is scheduled for sentencing in November 2024.
chicagotribune.com
**Event Type:** Scam Awareness Educational Initiative
The Palos Park Police Department held a National Night Out event to educate residents about elder fraud, highlighting that seniors in their predominantly elderly, affluent community are particularly vulnerable targets. Key scams discussed included door-to-door service schemes and "grandparent scams," with the FBI reporting that elder fraud caused $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 (up 11% from 2022), averaging $33,915 per victim, though many cases go unreported due to victim embarrassment and fear. Police advised residents to verify caller identities, trust their instincts when something feels off, and be
lawfaremedia.org
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun Rao discusses the Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Branch work, which addresses the growing scale and sophistication of consumer fraud schemes, including elder fraud, that have been enabled by technological advances such as robocalls, texts, emails, and social media. The Consumer Protection Branch brings together criminal and civil cases across federal courts nationwide with nearly 250 staff members and over 100 trial attorneys, partnering with agencies like the FTC, FDA, and CPSC to protect consumer health, safety, economic security, and privacy.
yahoo.com
Terrance Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer, Alabama, was charged with wire fraud for executing a Power of Attorney over an elderly family member without their knowledge or consent in late 2023. Pruitt allegedly became a joint account holder on the victim's bank accounts by manipulating payable-on-death beneficiaries and transferred over $500,000 from the victim's accounts to his own personal accounts. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
stripes.com
Three Oklahoma men—Christopher Parks, his son Christopher Noah Parks, and nephew Stephen Miller—who operated Assured Collections (later renamed Assured Financial) defrauded military personnel, veterans, and seniors by sending thousands of fraudulent debt collection letters demanding payments for medical debts that often did not exist, with demands sometimes reaching thousands of dollars per victim. The elder Parks, while serving time for a health care kickback scheme, directed the scam from prison using misappropriated medical billing data. A federal court in Tulsa issued a permanent injunction permanently banning all three men and their company from further billing operations.
wkok.com
A 49-year-old home health aide in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania was charged with stealing over $1,600 from an elderly woman she was caring for Monday through Friday. Helen Reaser was identified through ATM surveillance footage showing her withdrawing cash from the victim's account without authorization and faces 12 misdemeanor counts including access device fraud, theft, and financial exploitation of an older adult.
aol.com
TRICARE beneficiaries in the Augusta area are being targeted by phishing scams via text messages claiming to come from Wisconsin Physicians Service (the TRICARE For Life contractor) and threatening coverage expiration due to nonpayment. TRICARE reminded beneficiaries that the agency never contacts them by phone or text requesting payment or personal information, and advised them to report suspicious messages to their TRICARE contractor or the Defense Health Agency's Office of the Inspector General.
spotonalabama.com
A 47-year-old Bessemer man, Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, was indicted on two counts of wire fraud for allegedly stealing over $500,000 from elderly victims. The indictment targets his fraudulent scheme that exploited elder individuals through wire fraud methods.
jocoreport.com
A 70-year-old Johnston County resident lost $1,000 in gift cards after being contacted on social media by someone impersonating "General Douglas" with the United Nations Peace Corps who claimed to be interested in a romantic relationship. The scammer is part of a broader pattern of fraud schemes that falsely claim UN affiliation to obtain money or personal information through romance, employment, and confidence scams via multiple channels including social media, email, and phone calls.
thehackernews.com
A Singapore-based commodity firm lost $42.3 million in a business email compromise (BEC) scam in July 2024 when fraudsters impersonated a supplier and redirected a payment to a fake bank account in Timor-Leste; using INTERPOL's Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP) mechanism, authorities recovered $39 million and froze the fraudulent account within one day, with seven suspects arrested and an additional $2 million recovered. The article also covers law enforcement's seizure of the Cryptonator cryptocurrency exchange, which facilitated over 4 million transactions worth $1.4 billion and allegedly enabled money laun
wsbtv.com
Sherlyn Sims, a Zimbabwe national, was found guilty of laundering over $1.2 million obtained through romance fraud and business email compromise schemes, using fake Georgia-registered businesses to collect victim funds before transferring money internationally and to personal accounts. Multiple elderly victims were defrauded through fake online romantic relationships, with one victim sending nearly $100,000 after being deceived, and another losing money intended for a home purchase. Sims faces sentencing in November, while her co-conspirators received prison sentences ranging from five years to later sentencing dates.
justice.gov
Sherlyn Sims was convicted of money laundering and conspiracy related to romance scams and business email compromise schemes that defrauded dozens of victims of over $1.2 million between December 2019 and August 2020. Sims registered sham businesses, including Grace Trading LLC, to open bank accounts where she deposited stolen funds, then quickly transferred the money to foreign countries, withdrew cash, or spent it; victims included elderly individuals and others who lost significant sums, with one romance fraud victim depleting her life savings of nearly $100,000 after being tricked by an online scammer posing as her boyfriend. Sims was sentenced to be determined at a November 2024
cbc.ca
Online fraud reports in Greater Sudbury increased from 381 to 405 cases per 100,000 people between 2022 and 2023, with police warning residents to never share personal information or allow remote computer access to strangers. Fraud and extortion account for approximately 60 percent of criminal internet activity nationwide, with victims often experiencing significant financial and emotional distress and reluctance to report crimes. Police recommend contacting the communications branch to report incidents, though investigations are complicated by perpetrators frequently operating internationally.
wbrc.com
Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer, Alabama, was indicted on two counts of wire fraud for defrauding an elderly family member between September and December 2023. Pruitt fraudulently obtained Power of Attorney over the victim without consent, became a joint account holder on the victim's bank accounts, altered payable-on-death beneficiaries, and transferred over $500,000 from the victim's accounts to his own personal accounts. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
abc3340.com
**Elder Financial Abuse Surge in Alabama**
Alabama has experienced a dramatic increase in elder financial abuse cases since 2016, with reports growing from 23 cases that year to 243 cases nine months into the current fiscal year, according to the Alabama Securities Commission. Recent convictions include Gina Cook Gilbert ($2.5 million stolen from her elderly mother), Nicholas Houston Allen ($370,000 in ordered restitution), and James Langford III (accused of taking $200,000-$600,000 from an elderly woman's account as trustee). The exploitation typically exploits relationships of trust, often involving family members or caregivers targeting victims between
abc3340.com
A 47-year-old Bessemer man, Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, was indicted on two counts of wire fraud for stealing over $500,000 from an elderly family member between September and December 2023. Pruitt obtained a Power of Attorney without the victim's knowledge, became a joint account holder, manipulated beneficiary designations, and transferred the funds to his personal accounts. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
justice.gov
Christopher Parks, Christopher Noah Parks, and Stephen Miller operated a fraudulent medical debt collection scheme through companies Assured Collections LLC and Assured Financial LLC, sending thousands of false debt collection notices nationwide to veterans and older Americans demanding payment for medical devices they either did not owe or had never received. The scheme, which Parks directed while incarcerated for prior healthcare fraud charges, caused consumers to pay debts that were largely illusory, leading a federal court in Oklahoma to issue permanent injunctions on August 2 barring the defendants from engaging in any future billing or debt collection activities.
justice.gov
Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer, Alabama, was charged with wire fraud for executing a Power of Attorney over an elderly family member without permission and fraudulently transferring over $500,000 from the victim's bank accounts to his own between September and December 2023. Pruitt also became a joint account holder and altered payable-on-death beneficiaries on the victim's accounts. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
oig.ssa.gov
Three Dominican nationals were extradited to face charges in a "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans across multiple states out of millions of dollars. The defendants operated call centers in the Dominican Republic where they impersonated grandchildren in distress, then had "closers" pose as lawyers or police to convince victims to send thousands in cash via couriers or mail. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines if convicted on charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy.
nj1015.com
Three Dominican Republic nationals were extradited to the U.S. and charged in a multi-state "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly victims across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts out of millions of dollars. The defendants operated call centers that impersonated family members claiming relatives needed bail money for vehicle accidents, with scammers posing as attorneys and police to pressure victims into sending thousands of dollars via courier or mail. The three men face charges including mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering as part of an 11-person indictment involving a long-running operation targeting vulnerable seniors.
popculture.com
**Summary:**
YouTuber Fuslie fell victim to a "smishing" scam impersonating USPS, clicking a malicious link in a text message and entering her credit card information multiple times before realizing the website was fraudulent. She subsequently canceled all her cards to prevent unauthorized charges. The incident highlights the prevalence of these phishing scams, which attempt to steal personal and financial information by posing as legitimate government agencies or companies.
kare11.com
The City of Blaine, Minnesota lost $1.57 million to an international wire fraud scam in August 2023 when fraudsters used a fake email address mimicking a legitimate contractor (New Look Contracting) to intercept a payment meant for a construction project. The scam was discovered when the real contractor inquired about their overdue payment, prompting Blaine to issue a duplicate payment; federal authorities later indicted a Maryland-based network that used confusingly similar company names and shell companies to steal and launder funds. The city did not publicly disclose the fraud for nearly a year, and it remains under federal investigation.
news.airbnb.com
Airbnb partnered with the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI) to combat travel scams as consumer research revealed that 47% of Americans have fallen for scams, losing an average of $2,697 per victim. The partnership provides safety guidance for online travel bookings, noting that scammers exploit deal-seeking behavior and use sophisticated tactics including fake websites, emails, and AI-generated content to trick travelers. Airbnb reported detecting and mitigating nearly 2,500 phishing domains globally in 12 months and recommends users only communicate, book, and pay directly through legitimate platforms.
interpol.int
A Singapore commodity firm transferred USD 42.3 million to fraudsters in a business email compromise scam after receiving a spoofed email from what appeared to be a supplier requesting payment to a new bank account in Timor Leste. Acting swiftly through INTERPOL's Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP) mechanism, Singapore and Timor Leste authorities recovered USD 39 million from the fake account, arrested seven suspects, and recovered an additional USD 2 million through follow-up investigations. This represented Singapore's largest-ever recovery of funds lost to business email compromise fraud.
forbes.com
A Schwab Bank customer received a text message impersonating the bank's fraud department asking about a suspicious $2,500 transfer; after replying "No," scammers called and tricked the victim into authorizing two wire transfers of approximately $5,500 each, claiming the transfers would return funds to the account. The client's advisor successfully helped cancel the second transfer with Schwab, preventing total loss, though the scam demonstrates how fraudsters use legitimate account holder names and mass messaging to impersonate trusted financial institutions.
timesgazette.com
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a national program that educates Medicare beneficiaries and their families about detecting and reporting healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse, with particular focus on medical identity theft—when fraudsters use personal information like Medicare numbers to bill for unauthorized services. In 2023, the SMP program reached 1.2 million people through outreach events, assisted over 270,000 beneficiaries with fraud complaints, identified 26 emerging fraud schemes, and helped Medicare recover more than $111 million in fraudulent billings. The Ohio SMP, operated by Pro Seniors Inc., encourages beneficiaries to report suspicious activity and offers resources to protect Medicare information.
highlandcountypress.com
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program empowers Medicare beneficiaries to prevent and report healthcare fraud, particularly medical identity theft where fraudsters use personal information to bill for unauthorized services. In 2023, the nationwide SMP program reached 1.2 million people through outreach events, assisted over 270,000 beneficiaries with fraud-related issues, and helped Medicare recoup more than $111 million in fraudulent billings while identifying 26 emerging fraud schemes.
aol.com
Major General Vladimir Shesterov and Patriot Park director Vyacheslav Akhmedov were detained in Russia on suspicion of embezzling over 40 million roubles ($470,000) in budget funds allocated to the military theme park near Moscow, with investigations examining evidence dating back to 2021. The arrests are part of a broader corruption crackdown in Russia's defence ministry that has involved at least a dozen officials and businessmen since April, signaling efforts by the Kremlin to eliminate waste and graft in military spending.
crypto.news
The Australian Federal Police partnered with Chainalysis and major cryptocurrency exchanges to identify over 2,000 compromised crypto wallets belonging to Australians as part of "Operation Spincaster," targeting criminals using "approval phishing"—a fraud tactic where scammers trick victims into authorizing transactions that grant wallet control. Since May 2021, bad actors have stolen more than $4 billion in cryptocurrency through approval phishing attacks, often deployed in investment and romance scams, with the collaboration helping prevent further losses among identified victims.
wibx950.com
**Police Impersonation Scam - Central New York**
Scammers are impersonating Oneida County Sheriff's deputies and calling residents claiming they have outstanding court proceedings and demanding payment, threatening arrest if victims don't comply. The Oneida County Sheriff's Office warns residents never to provide personal information (SSN, birthday, bank details, etc.) over the phone to unidentified callers and advises hanging up and calling the Sheriff's Office directly to verify any such claims.
northjersey.com
Three Dominican men were extradited to New Jersey to face federal charges in a "grandparents' scam" that defrauded elderly Americans across the Northeast of millions of dollars. The defendants allegedly impersonated distressed grandchildren claiming arrest or emergency situations, convincing victims to send cash for bail or legal fees. The case involves 19 counts against 16 individuals total, with convictions carrying maximum sentences of 20 years per count plus fines.
capecodtimes.com
A 25-year-old New York man was charged with larceny after allegedly stealing $100,000 from an Osterville resident through a business email compromise scam in November. Khaseem Allah of Albany redirected a $100,000 payment intended for a legitimate business transaction to an unauthorized account after the victim received a fraudulent email from a compromised business account. The theft was traced to a New York bank account through a joint investigation by Barnstable Police and the U.S. Secret Service, leading to Allah's arrest and arraignment with $50,000 bail.
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Three major criminals were among those jailed in the UK in July: a romance scammer who defrauded women of over £210,000, a former high school headteacher (Neil Foden) convicted of sexually abusing four girls over four years and sentenced to 17 years, and a man who murdered two former partners. The article highlights these and other serious offenders sentenced that month, including a drink-driver who killed a baby and a TikTok terrorist who celebrated 9/11 attacks.
goldrushcam.com
**Summary:**
Since May 2024, Monterey County Sheriff's Office received reports of a phone and online fraud scheme targeting senior citizens, resulting in $97,000 in losses across four incidents. Suspects impersonated FTC or bank employees, instructing victims to withdraw cash ($10,000–$40,000) from multiple bank branches and hand it over to couriers who arrived at their homes; on July 16, 2024, 34-year-old Yang Liu of Alhambra, California was arrested when apprehended collecting money from a victim. Authorities advise seniors to hang up on callers claiming to be from financial institutions or law enforcement, verify contact information through official
freepressjournal.in
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Trinamool Congress leader Anisur Rahman and his brother Alif Noor in connection with a multi-crore ration distribution scam in West Bengal, following the earlier arrest of former state food minister Jyotipriya Mullick in the same case. During raids on their properties, investigators recovered documents linking the brothers to the public distribution fraud and seized ₹40 lakh in cash from an associate's residence. Political opposition figures have alleged the scam is larger than currently acknowledged and called for investigation into higher-level officials.
wrat.com
This educational article from the Federal Trade Commission outlines common online scams and fraud schemes affecting consumers. Key scams discussed include spoofing (falsifying caller ID to impersonate legitimate organizations), the 809 scam (international callback schemes with high rates), catfishing (creating fake online identities for romance or exploitation scams), cramming (unauthorized small charges on bills), and family emergency scams (targeting grandparents with urgent requests for money). The article advises consumers to hang up on unsolicited callers, verify numbers independently, never share personal information with unknown callers, and be cautious of suspicious requests—noting that while younger adults report romance scams more frequently, older consumers typically lose
straitstimes.com
More countries are establishing dedicated anti-scam centres to combat fraud through international collaboration, with Singapore's police urging every nation to create a direct point of contact for cross-border cooperation. Global scam losses reached an estimated US$1.02 trillion in the latest period, and successful fund recoveries—including a US$40 million business email compromise case and a $370,000 technical support scam recovery—demonstrate the effectiveness of rapid information-sharing and coordinated action among law enforcement agencies. Anti-scam centres enable swift fund tracing, account freezing, and sharing of emerging scam trends to prevent losses before stolen money reaches criminal syndicates.
dailyrepublic.com
**Summary:**
Ronnie Curtis Baker, 58, of Fairfield and Kimberly Mallory, 52, of Napa were charged in July with a $900,000 mortgage fraud scheme targeting an elderly Marin resident. Baker falsely posed as a licensed contractor in 2022 while Mallory, a notary public, aided the crimes, resulting in multiple felony charges including elder abuse, theft, forgery, and money laundering. Baker faces up to 23 years in prison and Mallory up to 9 years, with both subject to fines equal to double the victim's losses.
christianpost.com
**Summary:**
Elder Zhang Chunlei, a Christian house church leader in China, was sentenced to five years in prison in July 2024 on charges of "subversion of state power" and "fraud" after being detained since March 2021 for inquiring about arrested fellow church members. The court ordered him to pay approximately $2,700 in restitution and fines, though human rights groups assert the charges are unfounded and note his deteriorating health condition (liver cirrhosis) poses a survival risk while imprisoned.
startribune.com
A federal jury convicted two Minnesota residents, Tashena Laverna Crump and Ballam Hazeakiah Dudley, for their roles in a $300 million telemarketing fraud scheme that operated from at least 2000 to 2020 and victimized over 150,000 elderly people nationwide. The scheme involved fraudsters calling victims with existing magazine subscriptions, falsely claiming to renew them at discounts, while actually enrolling victims in unwanted new subscriptions that resulted in charges exceeding $1,000 per month; Crump served as a call center manager overseeing fraudulent sales operations. This is one of the largest elder frau
cubaheadlines.com
67-year-old Ana María Núñez was arrested by Miami police for a fraudulent investment scheme that defrauded a barber shop owner of $105,000 between April and May 2022. Núñez posed as an investment opportunity broker, claiming a fake company called ATP Expediter and Investment would sell satellites to China with promised returns of 100-400%, but never delivered on the promises and ceased contact. Núñez has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1996, including a 2022 case where she and her son stole $437,107 from a cancer patient, and she currently faces charges of first-degree grand theft and organized fraud.
cnn.com
Consumers lost $210 million to payment app fraud in 2023, with losses on bank transfer services reaching $1.9 billion, as scammers increasingly target platforms like Zelle to impersonate legitimate services. Banks rarely reimburse victims, as existing law does not explicitly require reimbursement for authorized transactions induced by fraud, leaving consumers with little recourse. Congressional Democrats introduced legislation to close this loophole and protect consumers defrauded on peer-to-peer payment platforms, though passage faces industry opposition and uncertain prospects in the Republican-controlled House.
cbc.ca
Toronto police arrested 10 people in a year-long investigation into a "SIM swap" fraud scheme that compromised over 1,500 cellular accounts across Canada, resulting in losses exceeding $1 million to victims, telecommunications companies, and financial institutions. The criminals used fraudulent identification and phishing techniques to take over victims' phone numbers, then exploited two-step authentication processes to access banking, email, and social media accounts. Police recommend protecting against SIM swaps by using authentication apps instead of phone-based verification, monitoring for loss of cell service, and limiting personal information shared online.
ksbw.com
Since May 2024, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office has documented four fraud schemes targeting senior citizens, resulting in total losses of $97,000, with the most recent victim losing $40,000. Scammers impersonated FTC employees or bank representatives via phone or online, instructing victims to withdraw money from multiple bank branches and hand it over to couriers who arrived at their homes; one suspect, 34-year-old Yang Liu, was arrested in July. Authorities advise seniors to hang up on callers demanding money withdrawals, verify bank or law enforcement contact through official published numbers, and immediately report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
news3lv.com
Five Chinese nationals, including Henderson resident Zao Wang, were charged as part of a multinational fraud ring that defrauded over 2,000 senior citizens out of $27 million between 2021 and 2023. The scheme operated through pop-up ads, emails, and phone calls to lure victims into contacting scam call centers, where conspirators gained remote access to their computers, built trust, and directed them to send money via wire transfers or mail, which was then laundered through cryptocurrency. All five defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering, with potential sentences of decades in prison if convicted.
eastcountymagazine.org
Five Chinese nationals were arrested in connection with a multinational fraud ring that defrauded over 2,000 seniors of more than $27 million between 2021 and June 2024. The defendants and their co-conspirators contacted elderly victims through pop-up ads, emails, and phone calls, posing as technical support, government, and bank workers to trick them into installing remote desktop software and sending money via wire transfers and express mail packages to Southern California and Nevada addresses. The defendants collected packages from retail locations using fake identities and laundered money for Indian-based scam call centers as part of an organized conspiracy involving mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.