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the420.in
A senior tech executive from Thrissur, Kerala, Dhanya Mohan, was arrested for embezzling Rs 20 crores from her employer Manappuram Comptech & Consultants Ltd by exploiting her access to the company's personal loan app to create fake accounts and transfer funds to personal bank accounts while deleting digital records to avoid detection. The fraud was discovered on July 23 when an Rs 80 lakh transaction was flagged, prompting Dhanya to flee; she was eventually tracked down and apprehended after police found evidence including deleted server records and bank statements. Her husband received Rs 40 lakhs in transferred funds, though his involvement in the
wusa9.com
A 52-year-old Maryland man, Vipul Thakkar, was arrested and charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from at least a 74-year-old victim since March by impersonating a government official and convincing them to convert savings into gold bars for "safekeeping." At least 20 similar victims have been identified across Montgomery County, and authorities are investigating potential connections, noting that recovery of the gold is extremely difficult once transferred.
taipeitimes.com
Taichung police issued a warning about a sextortion scam targeting young people on dating and video chat sites, where victims are persuaded to strip naked on camera and then blackmailed for money with threats to distribute the footage. Since the start of the year, police handled 718 cases of online sexual exploitation and blackmail, with male victims comprising over half, predominantly young adults and teenagers; in one case, a high school student was threatened for NT$60,000. Police urge victims to report incidents immediately, preserve evidence, and strengthen privacy settings, emphasizing that some victims have tragically taken their own lives due to pressure from repeated blackmail.
picketfencemedia.com
Assemblymember Laurie Davies hosted two senior scam awareness seminars in Oceanside and Vista that drew over 300 participants, highlighting that seniors in San Diego County lost $97.3 million to scams in 2023. The article outlines six common elder fraud schemes—including tech support, romance, grandparent, government impersonation, sweepstakes, and home repair scams—and advises seniors to verify suspicious calls directly with institutions, never share financial information over the phone, and report scams to local police to increase recovery chances and help law enforcement stop fraudsters.
glasgowtimes.co.uk
Scammers in East Dunbartonshire impersonated police officers and defrauded multiple older residents of four and five-figure sums by calling them at home, claiming concerns about fraudulent bank card use, and convincing victims to withdraw cash or provide bank details. The criminals would then collect the money in person while posing as plain-clothed officers. Police Scotland issued an urgent warning that legitimate officers and banks will never phone to request money transfers, withdrawals, or personal financial information, and advised residents to hang up on such calls and contact police on 101 if unsure.
wtop.com
Gold bar scams have defrauded more than a dozen victims in Montgomery County, Maryland alone, with losses exceeding $1 million in individual cases, targeting primarily elderly individuals by convincing them to convert their savings into gold bars under false promises of safekeeping in government vaults. Scammers exploit economic anxiety and victims' unfamiliarity with gold purchasing by posing as financial advisors, directing victims to purchase gold through legitimate retailers before criminals take possession of the assets, which are then difficult to recover or trace once melted down. Montgomery County police have identified at least 17 victims of these schemes in the county, with the State's Attorney noting millions lost in total across the region.
thewhistler.ng
A Nigerian man, Obinna Ezenwa, accused an American woman, Kymberly Stalvey Ann Shepard, of deception after they met on a dating app in 2018 and married in Nigeria in 2019, only to discover she was already legally married to multiple men and had concealed this fact. After she returned to the US and refused to file immigration paperwork for him as promised, claiming she had reached her sponsorship limit, their relationship deteriorated, leading to a defamation lawsuit filed by Ezenwa in 2022 and his being declared wanted by Nigeria's EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) in April 2024
openaccessgovernment.org
During the COVID-19 pandemic, cybercriminals exploited vulnerable populations through phishing emails (up 220%), fake vaccine offers, and impersonation scams, with older adults particularly targeted due to limited digital literacy and social isolation. Impersonation scam cases doubled to 39,394 in 2020, romance scams increased 38%, and investment scams rose 32%, resulting in £479 million in Authorized Push Payment fraud losses in the UK with victims recovering only £206.9 million. Financial services firms are urged to implement continuous fraud awareness campaigns and change communication practices to avoid inadvertently training customers to fall victim to scams.
punchng.com
Nigerian internet fraudster Marcel, a 26-year-old "Yahoo boy" based in Abuja, destroyed evidence by hiding his phone in a toilet pipe when Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials raided his apartment building in May following a tip-off about suspected cybercriminals in the area. Though officers searched his room and discovered his phone charger, they did not locate the hidden device, and Marcel was not arrested during the raid, though he admitted to using the phone for "bombing and grinding" (finding and defrauding online victims) for over two years.
latintimes.com
Two Dominican nationals, Rafael Ambiorix Rodríguez Guzmán and Félix Samuel Reynoso Ventura, were extradited to the United States and charged as part of an 11-person indictment involving a large-scale elder fraud scheme that defrauded hundreds of American seniors of millions of dollars. Operating from call centers in the Dominican Republic, the conspirators used spoofed U.S. phone numbers to impersonate grandchildren claiming to need emergency money, then posed as attorneys and officials to convince victims to wire or mail thousands in cash to couriers. Both defendants face up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines if convicted on fraud and money laundering
inkl.com
Meta removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts based in Nigeria that were conducting sextortion scams, primarily targeting adult men in the US and some minors, with threats to expose private sexual content unless financial demands were met. The takedown included a network of 2,500 accounts managed by roughly 20 individuals, with most sextortion attempts being unsuccessful, though cases targeting minors were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Meta's crackdown follows multiple tragic incidents where sextortion victims died by suicide, and the company has since developed AI-powered protection tools and automated systems to identify and block sextortion accounts.
newsday.com
Two unlicensed contractors, John Francis McDonough (31) from Philadelphia and James Anthony Eugene Ward (25), were charged with operating a home improvement scam targeting elderly and vulnerable Long Island homeowners under the business name "Top Line Masonry." The men would deliberately damage properties and falsely report existing damage to solicit repair work, with Nassau County police reporting 31 home improvement scams this year—22 involving elderly victims—including one case where a homeowner was defrauded of $239,000. Both men face multiple felony charges including first-degree scheme to defraud, and investigators are still determining the total number of victims and amount defrauded by this pair.
states.aarp.org
Idaho's Department of Finance and Commission on Aging have established a joint Senior Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention Working Group (SFFEP) comprising financial and senior protection experts to develop policies and solutions protecting seniors from financial crime. With seniors losing an estimated $36.5 billion annually to scams and cybercrime losses reaching $3.4 billion in 2023 alone, the working group aims to improve fraud prevention, identification, enforcement, public education, and reporting mechanisms for Idaho's senior community.
disb.dc.gov
This educational resource from DISB (District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking) provides information on common scam types to help consumers protect themselves during financial transactions. The tracker includes detailed examples of advance fee scams, affinity scams by licensed professionals, and credit card phishing scams, with specific case narratives and protective strategies such as verifying information directly with legitimate agencies and being cautious of unsolicited financial offers.
wbrc.com
Amazon is warning consumers about imposter scams targeting Prime members, where scammers send fake emails, calls, or texts claiming unauthorized charges or membership expiration to trick victims into revealing personal and payment information. To protect yourself, verify communications through Amazon's Message Center or Your Account section on Amazon.com, and report suspicious messages at amazon.com/reportascam.
illawarramercury.com.au
A former police officer turned private investigator in Australia estimates that romantic scams are significantly under-reported due to victims' shame and embarrassment, with her agency having contacted 25-30 victims who never reported losses through official channels. Her clients have lost between $100,000 and $500,000 each to romance scammers, with one 86-year-old man losing $200,000 in savings, while reported romance scam losses in Australia total approximately $200 million. She advises the public to watch for red flags including poor grammar, premature declarations of love, scripted conversations, and requests to keep the relationship secret—and to walk away if the person cannot meet in person
tribtoday.com
The Warren-Trumbull County Public Library hosted an FBI presentation on elder fraud on August 1, covering current scam schemes, victim support resources, and prevention strategies. The free program was presented in partnership with Trumbull 100 to educate the community on protecting seniors from fraud.
sandiegouniontribune.com
At a California senior scam awareness seminar, officials warned that seniors remain the primary target for financial fraud due to their assets, with losses exceeding $3.4 billion reported to the FBI in 2023 alone. Common scams targeting older adults include online romance fraud (median loss over $9,000 for those 70+), annuity schemes, imposter calls impersonating government agencies and companies, tech support scams, and home remodeling fraud. Experts advised seniors to verify caller information independently, recognize high-pressure sales tactics and false urgency, and remember that government agencies do not initiate contact by phone.
readthereporter.com
American Senior Communities is hosting a free educational session in partnership with the Indiana Attorney General and U.S. Department of Justice to teach seniors how to recognize and avoid scams and fraud. The session covers common elder fraud tactics, including grandparent scams, romance scams, and fake investment schemes, which collectively cost seniors over $5.9 billion annually. The event takes place July 25 from 2-4 p.m. at Allisonville Meadows in Fishers, Indiana.
wxii12.com
Fraud investigators in Guilford County are warning senior citizens about a court-related scam in which callers falsely claim victims missed jury duty or failed to appear in court, demanding payment of fines to resolve the alleged offense. Detective Chris Malloy emphasized that law enforcement does not collect money over the phone and advised potential victims to recognize this as a fear-based scam; scammers accept payment through gift cards, cash, cryptocurrency, and gold, and are difficult to prosecute, especially when operating from overseas. The Guilford County Sheriff's Office offers a senior academy program to help residents protect themselves against fraud.
jcsentinel.com
In 2023, elder fraud reports to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center rose 14 percent, with over 101,000 victims aged 60 and older losing more than $3.4 billion—an average of $33,915 per victim. The most common scams included tech support fraud, investment schemes (costing $1.2 billion alone), government impersonation, romance scams, and cryptocurrency fraud, with scammers often using spoofed caller IDs and posing as agencies like the IRS and Social Security Administration. TARCOG hosted a Fraud & Scam Summit in Alabama to educate the community about these schemes and provide resources to
cbc.ca
Ahmad Ebadi, a 26-year-old from Quebec, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud for his role as a "bagman" collecting money in a grandparent scam targeting Saskatoon seniors in December 2023. The scam involved criminals posing as grandchildren and lawyers claiming family members were in legal trouble and needed bail money, with Ebadi collecting the funds in person; one couple nearly lost $9,000 before police intervened with a sting operation. Both the prosecution and defense recommended a sentence of 1.5 to 2 years, with the judge to rule later in the summer on whether Ebadi serves time in jail or in the community.
sandiegouniontribune.com
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day highlights the widespread problem of elder abuse, with approximately 5 million older adults abused annually in the United States, though only 1 in 14 cases are reported. Financial fraud is the most common form of elder abuse, with victims losing roughly $30 billion yearly, and can be prevented through awareness of common scams (lottery schemes, identity theft, phishing), use of technology safeguards (bank alerts, account monitoring), and maintaining social connections. Older adults and their supporters are encouraged to report suspected abuse to Adult Protective Services, local law enforcement, or resources like the National Center on Elder Abuse and the Eldercare Locator (1-800
cubaheadlines.com
An 87-year-old and 82-year-old couple in Miami lost $18,500 in a grandparent scam where a caller impersonated their grandson claiming to be arrested, directing them to send bail money via a Lyft driver who delivered it to the perpetrator. Agustín García Marsán, 38, was arrested and faces multiple charges including elder theft and organized fraud after being linked to similar scams across Florida and North Carolina using fake identities and ride-sharing services to collect money from elderly victims.
justice.gov
A Louisiana physician, Adrian Dexter Talbot, was convicted of illegally distributing over 1.8 million doses of Schedule II opioids and defrauding health care programs of more than $5.4 million. Talbot operated a clinic that dispensed prescriptions for cash without proper patient examinations, pre-signed prescriptions while working elsewhere, falsified patient records, and allowed individuals to bill Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield for prescriptions written without medical necessity. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each count and sentencing is scheduled for October 23.
kttn.com
Zella Rives, 57, of St. Louis County, Missouri, was sentenced to 18 months of house arrest and five years of probation and ordered to repay $131,155 for fraudulently obtaining Social Security disability benefits for her son over 13 years by concealing he was not disabled and falsely reporting his employment and resources. Her son, Gino Rives, was separately sentenced to 87 months in prison for the disability fraud and additional charges involving the financial exploitation of two elderly women, from whom he fraudulently obtained over $855,000 and a house.
justice.gov
David Murar, a 73-year-old Missouri defense contractor, was sentenced to five years probation and fined $50,000 for fraudulently obtaining at least $333,465 in government contracts by sourcing restricted military parts from China and other foreign countries while concealing their origin and falsely claiming one of his companies was woman-owned. Murar violated export control laws by sharing protected military technical data with foreign entities and repackaged parts to hide their overseas origin, creating potential national security risks to U.S. Armed Forces weapon systems. He has already repaid $166,710 and was banned from future government contracting.
mypunepulse.com
A 77-year-old woman in Bengaluru was defrauded of Rs 1.2 crore by scammers posing as government officials who fabricated accusations of illegal SIM card purchase and money laundering, then coerced her into transferring funds by threatening arrest with forged documents. The victim realized she had been scammed only after attempting to contact the fraudsters once the supposed investigation concluded. Key prevention measures include independently verifying caller identities, being skeptical of threats demanding immediate payment, protecting personal financial information, and verifying claims through official channels.
kemmerergazette.com
Banking and law enforcement officials in Evanston, Wyoming warn that fraud is increasingly common and takes multiple forms, including wire fraud, romance scams, impersonation of lawyers and law enforcement via spoofed caller IDs, and AI-generated voice cloning. Elderly residents are particularly targeted through calls falsely claiming relatives are in jail or in trouble, with scammers using pressure and urgency to manipulate victims into sending money via wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Law enforcement advises residents to verify calls by manually dialing official numbers, never provide personal information over the phone, and recognize that legitimate deputies will never collect money by phone.
aol.com
This educational article describes 12 common scams targeting seniors, including government impersonation (IRS, Medicare, Social Security), fake charity donations, lottery/sweepstakes schemes, phishing emails, voice recording scams, grandchild emergency requests, computer repair scams, and romance scams. The article advises seniors to verify requests independently, never provide personal information to unsolicited callers, hang up without responding to suspicious calls, and confirm the identity of family members before sending money.
indiatoday.in
Online scammers in India are increasingly targeting elderly individuals through sophisticated fraud schemes, including impersonation of government officials and threats of arrest. Notable cases include a 77-year-old woman in Bengaluru who lost Rs 1.28 crore after scammers posing as telecom and police officials coerced her into sharing bank details, and a Chandigarh woman defrauded of Rs 72 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam. Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to limited digital literacy, natural trust in authority figures, and financial stability, making awareness, verification of unsolicited contacts, and updated device security essential protective measures.
wyomingnews.com
Banking and law enforcement officials in Wyoming warn that fraud is increasingly common and takes multiple forms, including wire fraud, romance scams, and schemes targeting the elderly by impersonating lawyers or law enforcement officers claiming a family member is in trouble. Scammers use spoofed caller IDs, AI voice cloning, and legitimate-looking websites to exploit trusting people, with victims often embarrassed to report incidents and arrests remaining rare since perpetrators frequently operate outside jurisdiction. Authorities advise residents to verify caller information independently, never provide personal details over the phone, and recognize that legitimate law enforcement will not demand payment or bonds via phone calls.
golocalprov.com
Alfred Appiah, a 35-year-old employee at an international renewable energy company in Rhode Island, was sentenced to seven months in federal prison for defrauding his employer of $158,000 through over 600 unauthorized purchases on a company credit card between June 2021 and December 2021. Appiah pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and was ordered to pay full restitution of $158,850.43; his fraudulent purchases included personal expenses such as travel, clothing, entertainment, and various services.
oig.ssa.gov
Two Dominican nationals, Rafael Ambiorix Rodriguez Guzman and Felix Samuel Reynoso Ventura, were extradited to the United States and charged in connection with a "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans across multiple states out of millions of dollars. Operating from call centers in the Dominican Republic, the defendants allegedly impersonated attorneys, police officers, and court personnel, convincing elderly victims that their grandchildren needed emergency bail money or legal fees following arrests or accidents. Both men face charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy, with potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison per count.
oig.hhs.gov
Dr. Magaly Mercedes Velasquez, her spouse Maria Jose Talavera, and billing manager Jessica Monique Perez were sentenced in Riverside County for operating a fraudulent billing scheme that defrauded California's Medi-Cal program of nearly $800,000. Velasquez and Talavera each received 364 days in jail and were ordered to pay $770,238 in restitution to Medi-Cal, while Perez received two years of probation. The case was prosecuted by the California Department of Justice's Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse.
justice.gov
Jose Alejandro Zuñiga Cano, a Peruvian call center operator, pleaded guilty to his role in a $15 million transnational mail and wire fraud scheme that targeted over 30,000 Spanish-speaking U.S. residents, including elderly people and recent immigrants. Zuñiga's operation made unsolicited calls falsely claiming victims had won prizes or qualified for free English courses, then impersonated lawyers and court officials to threaten victims with arrest and immigration consequences unless they paid. He was the 12th defendant convicted in the scheme, which also included a restitution scam targeting previous victims.
tech.hindustantimes.com
A 77-year-old woman in Bengaluru lost ₹1.2 crore after fraudsters impersonated telecom and Mumbai crime branch officials, claiming she was involved in illegal activities and money laundering, then pressured her to transfer funds by presenting forged documents including a fake FIR and arrest warrant. The victim transferred the money believing it would be returned after an investigation, but the scammers became unreachable. The article recommends protective measures including verifying requests through official channels, avoiding unsolicited contact, using strong passwords with two-factor authentication, and monitoring bank accounts for suspicious activity.
justice.gov
Six Nigerian nationals were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 82 to 128 months for operating an international inheritance fraud scheme that targeted elderly U.S. victims through personalized letters claiming they were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased relatives. Victims were deceived into sending money for alleged delivery fees and taxes, with proceeds routed through a complex network of U.S.-based accomplices; the defendants defrauded over 400 victims and were ordered to pay more than $6 million in restitution.
oag.ca.gov
Dr. Magaly Mercedes Velasquez and two employees of her Riverside County dental practice were sentenced for fraudulently billing California's Medi-Cal program approximately $800,000 between 2017 and 2019. Velasquez and her spouse Maria Jose Talavera each received 364 days in jail and were ordered to pay $770,238 in restitution, while billing manager Jessica Monique Perez received two years of probation. The scheme involved falsely splitting dental services across multiple days to maximize reimbursements from Medi-Cal, which should have reimbursed only for actual services provided rather than per-day billing.
ajc.com
Dorothy and George Williams, an elderly Atlanta couple, were scammed by contractor Steven Chastain in early 2022 when he took $60,000 in advance payments for home repairs totaling $147,000, then abandoned the project leaving their house uninhabitable for years. After an Atlanta Journal-Constitution story about their plight reached Tyler Perry, the media mogul contacted the couple and committed to covering all remaining repairs and their $100,000-plus loan, with construction expected to be completed within months. Chastain has a documented pattern of defrauding homeowners and was convicted in 2024 of theft-related charges for stealing insurance funds from another family.
wvnews.com
Elder fraud complaints to the FBI increased 14% last year, with over 100,000 people aged 60+ reporting scam victimization in 2023, compared to only 18,000 people under age 20. West Virginia is particularly vulnerable due to its aging population and residents' trusting nature. Common scams include malware schemes that lead to fake law enforcement calls demanding payment via wire transfer or gift cards, romance/online dating fraud, and insider schemes perpetrated by family members or caregivers, with law enforcement and community outreach efforts ongoing to raise awareness and prevention strategies.
247ureports.com
Mr. Obinna Ezenwa was defrauded and emotionally manipulated by American woman Kymberly Stalvey Ann Shepard, whom he met on a dating app in October 2018 and married in January 2019 after she visited Nigeria. Shepard deceived Ezenwa about her ability to sponsor his US immigration, later revealing she was already legally married to three other men and had reached the immigration sponsorship limit; when he could not obtain a visa independently, she allegedly stalked and harassed him on social media, falsely accused him of extortion leading to his arrest in February 2021, and blocked all communication. This case involves romance frau
celebratingthesoaps.com
Priscilla Presley filed a lawsuit against four former business associates, including memorabilia auctioneer Brigitte Kruse, alleging financial elder abuse and fraud. According to the complaint, the defendants deceived Presley into signing away 80 percent of her income, defrauded her of over $1 million, and forced her into indentured servitude by isolating her from family and gaining her trust. Presley is seeking $1 million in damages plus legal fees and aims to block the defendants from accessing her financial records.
nypost.com
A California mother lost $900 and had her Carnival cruise canceled just days before departure after a scammer posing as a company representative called her, convinced her to pay a fake "deck fee," obtained her booking number, and then logged into her account to cancel the trip. Although the charge was initially disputed and refunded by her bank, Carnival's cancellation policy meant she lost the full cabin cost until NBC 4 LA's intervention led to a refund. The incident highlights the growing sophistication of travel scams targeting cruise passengers, with similar cases reported involving booking numbers being compromised through social media posts and fraudulent account access.
bbc.com
Scammers are sending fraudulent links to grieving families claiming to offer livestreams of funeral services, initially charging £15 but potentially using the transactions to clone credit cards and drain bank accounts. The fraudsters use public records to identify the bereaved, create fake profiles with authentic details and photos of the deceased, and trick mourners into clicking malicious links that appear legitimate. Authorities advise verifying any funeral livestream links directly with funeral directors or crematoriums, as genuine services never require payment and links come only from official providers.
hindustantimes.com
Fourteen Indian nationals were rescued from Cambodia after being trafficked under false job promises and forced to work as "cyber slaves" in online scam call centers with their passports confiscated. The Indian embassy, working with Cambodian authorities, facilitated their rescue and is coordinating their safe return to India, having previously helped repatriate over 650 victims of similar scams. The scam was uncovered when a central government employee in India reported being defrauded of ₹67 lakh, leading to eight arrests for trafficking Indians to Cambodia.
daytonatimes.com
Elder fraud is rising nationwide, costing seniors $3.4 billion annually, with Volusia County reporting $4.6 million in losses over the past year as scammers target older adults through imposter calls, investment fraud, and tech scams. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office created a three-person financial fraud unit and used a screening of the movie "Thelma"—which depicts a grandmother falling victim to an imposter scam—to educate 140+ seniors on fraud awareness and prevention. A 90-year-old attendee avoided a fake son/lawyer scam demanding $10,000 by verifying her son's location, exemplifying the importance of
express.co.uk
This article provides awareness and prevention tips for common tourist scams across Europe, including pickpocketing in crowded areas, inflated bar bills in Budapest, fake police officers posing as authorities to steal money or valuables, and street vendors offering unsolicited items like bracelets or flowers. The piece advises travelers to stay alert, use anti-theft bags, avoid dingy bars with unclear pricing, insist on going to police stations if approached by officers, and trust their instincts when meeting strangers.
aol.com
Elder scams cost banks over $27 billion in 2023, with victims losing an average of $33,000 per case, increasingly facilitated by AI-enabled voice cloning and impersonation fraud. Common scams targeting older adults employ two main tactics: creating urgency (tech support, government imposter, grandparent scams) or offering too-good-to-be-true opportunities (investment, romance, lottery scams). The most effective prevention involves pausing when pressured, verifying identities through independent channels, and consulting trusted third parties before making financial decisions or sharing personal information.
justice.gov
Jeffrey Paul Vappie II, a former New Orleans Police Department officer assigned to the Mayor's Executive Protection Unit, was federally indicted on seven counts of wire fraud and one count of making false statements for submitting false timecards while conducting a personal romantic relationship with a city official between November 2021 and June 2024. Vappie disguised personal activities—including spending time in a city-owned apartment, sharing meals, traveling on city-funded trips, and exchanging encrypted romantic messages—as official duties while claiming to be working and receiving payment from NOPD. He faces up to 20 years in prison per wire fraud count and up to 5 years for false statements after lying