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in Crypto Investment Scam
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from elderly Americans through internet and telephone fraud schemes including romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, with perpetrators rarely caught or convicted due to law enforcement resource limitations and overseas origins making investigations difficult. The crime wave is projected to worsen as the population ages and AI technology advances, while victims—who rarely recover lost funds—are often discouraged from reporting due to police skepticism about voluntarily-sent money and the vast majority of cases going unreported.
apnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated international scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans, with law enforcement catching and convicting relatively few perpetrators due to resource limitations and investigation challenges, particularly for overseas crimes involving cryptocurrency and foreign accounts. Older Americans are especially vulnerable to romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, rarely recovering lost funds including life savings, while some police departments deprioritize financial fraud cases and victims often remain unreported. As the U.S. population ages and AI technology advances, experts warn the crime wave is projected to worsen, with scammers facing minimal consequences for crimes that are increasingly easy to commit and difficult to prosecute.
nbcnewyork.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with relatively few perpetrators caught or convicted despite the exponential growth of such crimes. Victims—particularly older adults targeted by romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud—rarely recover their money, and law enforcement agencies lack sufficient resources to investigate cases, especially those involving cryptocurrency or foreign bank accounts. The article highlights a tragic Ohio case where an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after being defrauded of $12,000, illustrating how scams can escalate to violence while the original scammers remain at large.
ibj.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with relatively few perpetrators caught or convicted, according to AARP's Fraud Watch Network director. Victims—particularly older adults targeted by romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud—rarely recover their money, and law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and under-resourced to investigate cases, especially those involving cryptocurrency or foreign bank accounts. The article illustrates the crisis through an Ohio case where an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer into believing she was involved in a $12,000 bond fraud, while the actual
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and phone fraud, with the crime wave expected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology create easier opportunities for perpetrators while law enforcement struggles to investigate and prosecute due to limited resources and cases originating overseas. Victims, particularly older adults targeted by romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, rarely recover their money, and many cases go unreported as victims feel discouraged by police who often mischaracterize fraud as "consensual transactions" and prioritize cases with higher dollar amounts or multiple victims.
fortune.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with relatively few perpetrators caught or convicted, according to AARP's Fraud Watch Network director. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed by the exponential growth of scams targeting older adults, who rarely recover lost funds from romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, while victims are often discouraged from reporting due to misconceptions that voluntary money transfers constitute consensual transactions. The challenge is compounded by the use of cryptocurrency and foreign bank accounts, low federal prosecution thresholds, and the ease with which criminals operate with minimal consequences, with one Ohio case illustrating how fraud can
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, 2.6 million Americans fell victim to fraud with reported losses of $9 billion, though the Justice Department estimates true losses could exceed $137 billion annually since only 15 percent of victims report crimes. The surge in fraud—particularly investment scams and cryptocurrency schemes like "Pig Butchering" which increased 2,000 percent from 2019 to 2022—is driven by enforcement gaps, with federal agencies typically only investigating cases exceeding $1 million, leaving devastating losses to seniors in the tens of thousands unaddressed. Experts argue that the U.S. needs a coordinated national anti-fraud strategy similar to the UK's approach
jamaica-star.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans, with losses to adults over 60 ranging from $3.4 billion to $137 billion depending on the source, as law enforcement agencies lack resources to investigate the exponentially growing crime wave. Common schemes include romance scams, grandparent scams, pig butchering, and technical support fraud, with victims rarely recovering their money and often reluctant to report due to shame and self-blame. The problem is expected to worsen as the U.S. population ages and criminals increasingly use AI and cryptocurrency to evade detection, requiring coordinated action from technology, banking, retail, and telecommunications sectors to make fraud harder to execute
newsandsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, with the crime wave projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology make fraud easier to perpetrate and harder to prosecute. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and underfunded to handle the exponential growth of scams—including romance, grandparent, and technical support fraud—with victims rarely recovering their stolen money and perpetrators rarely facing consequences. A notable case involved an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being defrauded by scammers attempting to extract $12,000, highlighting how these crimes can have devastating downstream effects even as the perpetrators remain
12news.com
· 2025-12-08
Arizona ranked fifth nationally for online romance scams in 2023, with more than 800 victims losing over $22 million, averaging $27,000 per victim—significantly higher than the national average of $2,000. The most dangerous emerging scams involve deepfake video calls, cryptocurrency investment schemes, and fake celebrity profiles using artificial intelligence technology. To protect themselves, potential victims should verify identities through reverse image searches, watch for signs of deepfakes like unnatural blinking and mismatched mouth movements, and never send money or cryptocurrency to unknown online contacts.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old retired man lost approximately $256,470 to an investment scam after being referred by a friend to what appeared to be a legitimate financial company; the scammers posed as investment professionals, encouraged him to take out lines of credit and invest in bitcoin, and charged steep commissions before he discovered forged emails and other red flags. Despite enlisting a lawyer and private investigator (who traced scammers to Bulgaria and the US), Bank of America cleared fraudulent checks despite being alerted to the fraud, leaving him with only $20,000 remaining after legal fees. The victim emphasizes that the lack of government oversight and institutional safeguards—noting his local police department ha
coinspeaker.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Pink Drainer, a cryptocurrency theft group that claimed to have stolen over $85 million before announcing retirement in May 2024, fell victim to an "address poisoning" scam in late June, losing 10 Ether (approximately $30,000) to a fraudulent wallet address. The incident highlights a broader surge in crypto theft, with hackers stealing over $1.38 billion in the first half of 2024—more than double the previous year—as criminal groups like Angel Drainer remain active despite some major operations shutting down.
icpen.org
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational resource page providing consumer information on avoiding internet scams and fraud. It defines internet scams as various types of fraud using technical tools or social engineering to compromise personal information for financial gain, and emphasizes the importance of making informed financial decisions when purchasing goods and services. The page provides links to government fraud reporting agencies across multiple countries including Australia, Canada, Europe, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Australian authorities warned that scammers are targeting previous scam victims with fraudulent recovery services, claiming to help retrieve lost funds in exchange for upfront fees or percentages of recovered money. These "recovery scams" exploit victim databases maintained by criminals and use impersonation tactics (posing as government agencies, lawyers, or fund recovery services) along with requests for personal information or device access; people over 65 have reported 158 incidents with combined losses exceeding AU$2.9 million. The ACCC notes that most scammers move funds offshore quickly, making recovery unlikely, and warned that victims may face multiple successive scams including identity theft.
coinfomania.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Coinbase users fell victim to a sophisticated impersonation scam in which fraudsters sent phishing emails posing as customer support representatives, directing victims to fake websites to steal their cryptocurrency seed phrases. One high-profile victim lost $1.7 million, and at least four users were targeted; the scammers likely exploited data from a 2022 CoinTracker breach. In the first half of 2024, crypto phishing attacks resulted in over $900 million in losses, with experts urging users to never share seed phrases or private keys regardless of who requests them.
dlnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Huione Guarantee, a Cambodian online marketplace, operates as a bazaar for crypto scam software, money laundering services, and tools for "pig butchering" romance scams affecting Southeast Asia, with crypto wallets associated with the platform receiving over $11 billion since 2021 according to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic. Hun To, cousin of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, serves as a director in one of the Huione Group units, implicating the prime minister's family in the crypto fraud scheme despite the government's stated commitment to stopping such scams. The platform facilitates transactions primarily in USDT stablecoin and acts as an esc
theitem.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with law enforcement agencies overwhelmed and catching few perpetrators due to limited resources and difficulties investigating crimes that originate overseas. The article highlights the growing crisis as the U.S. population ages and AI technology facilitates fraud, illustrated by cases including an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being targeted by a scammer demanding $12,000, and notes that victims rarely recover lost funds and often don't report crimes due to discouragement and shame.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
Artur Schaback, co-founder and former director of cryptocurrency marketplace Paxful, pleaded guilty to failing to implement required anti-money laundering and know-your-customer protocols from 2015-2019, which enabled the platform to be used for money laundering, sanctions violations, romance scams, extortion, and fraud. Schaback marketed Paxful as not requiring identity verification, presented fake AML policies to third parties, and failed to file any suspicious activity reports despite knowing users engaged in criminal activity. He faces up to five years in prison at sentencing on November 4th.
nippon.com
· 2025-12-08
Between January and April 2024, Japan's National Police Agency reported 2,508 incidents of social media investment fraud resulting in ¥33.4 billion in losses—over six times more incidents and eight times greater losses than the same period in 2023. Scammers used fake celebrity endorsements in social media advertisements to lure victims, then built trust through messaging apps like Line and Instagram before convincing them to invest in fraudulent schemes, with losses ranging from under ¥5 million to over ¥100 million per case. Victims were evenly split between men and women, with those in their sixties most vulnerable (26.9%), primarily transferring funds via
trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, cryptocurrency-related crimes evolved significantly, with ransomware attacks reaching a record $1 billion in extorted payments despite impacting fewer victims, while money laundering via crypto decreased 29.5% to $22.2 billion and stolen cryptocurrency funds fell 54.3% to $1.7 billion compared to 2022. The shifts reflect criminals adapting methods—increasingly using DeFi protocols and gambling services for laundering—even as crypto platforms and law enforcement improved security and recovery capabilities.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Money recovery scams are targeting previous fraud victims with offers to retrieve lost funds for upfront fees or percentages. Between December 2023 and May 2024, Australia's Scamwatch received 158 reports totaling over $2.9 million in losses, with adults aged 65 and older representing the largest victim group and suffering the highest average losses. Scammers impersonate government agencies, lawyers, and recovery services via multiple channels, requesting personal information and device access, while legitimate recovery is difficult since only law enforcement can seize criminal assets.
standard-freeholder.com
· 2025-12-08
This editorial discusses common online scams affecting people of all ages, including e-transfer fraud (where scammers gain access to bank accounts after sending overpayments), dating site romance scams (where scammers build false relationships to solicit money), credit card theft, cryptocurrency investment schemes, and Facebook account duplication scams. The author emphasizes the need for vigilance when conducting online transactions, dating, and financial dealings, recommending verification of identities, use of secure platforms, and skepticism toward offers that seem too good to be true.
elizabethton.com
· 2025-12-08
A 50-year-old man from Brooklyn seeking asylum in the U.S. was arrested and charged with fraud and financial exploitation of a Carter County woman in a tech support scam scheme. The victim was deceived by a fake virus notification that led her to withdraw $30,500 from her bank account and hand the cash to the suspect at her residence. The arrest was aided by photographs and identification information the victim provided to authorities, and investigators coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security after discovering the suspect's temporary visitor status and pending asylum application.
postandcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs warns consumers about four types of summer scams: fake toll charge texts claiming overdue payments, travel scams including fraudulent vacation offers and hijacked rental listings, disaster relief scams where imposters pose as repair workers or FEMA employees, and job scams requesting cryptocurrency payments or personal information. The agency advises consumers to verify contacts independently, never pay for free services or government relief, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and be wary of unannounced repair workers or unsolicited job offers.
nsjonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Overseas criminal networks are stealing tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through sophisticated internet and telephone scams, with losses to those over 60 estimated between $28.3 billion and $137 billion per year. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and under-resourced to investigate these crimes, particularly those originating overseas where stolen funds are quickly converted to cryptocurrency or transferred to foreign accounts, allowing perpetrators to escape prosecution. The problem is projected to worsen as the aging population increases and AI technology makes fraud easier to execute, while many victims remain unreported due to shame and police departments that fail to treat financial fraud with appropriate seriousness.
techbullion.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired engineer from Düsseldorf, Hans Müller, invested a substantial portion of his retirement savings in a fraudulent pig farming investment scheme that promised high returns but ultimately ceased all communications when he attempted to withdraw funds. With assistance from Midwessex Investigations, a private investigation firm specializing in fraud recovery, authorities conducted forensic analysis, cybersecurity tracking, and international law enforcement collaboration to identify the scammers and successfully recover Müller's financial losses.
heraldsheets.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, cryptocurrency users lost nearly $2 billion to rug pulls, scams, and hacks, with losses exceeding $1.4 billion in the first half of 2024. Common crypto scams include phishing attacks (fake websites and emails stealing login credentials), romance scams (emotional manipulation leading to fraudulent investment requests), impersonation and giveaway scams (fake celebrity endorsements and deepfakes), and investment scams (Ponzi schemes and pump-and-dump schemes). Users can protect themselves by understanding these scam types, remaining alert, and staying informed about threats in the cryptocurrency sector.
finextra.com
· 2025-12-08
The Payment Services Regulations are shifting fraud prevention responsibility to a 50:50 liability model, requiring banks to enhance detection of Authorized Push Payment (APP) fraud, where customers are tricked into authorizing payments to fraudsters. In 2023, APP fraud resulted in £459.7 million in losses across over 232,000 UK consumers through purchase, romance, investment, and impersonation scams. Banks must transition from monitoring outbound payments to focusing on inbound transaction processing, as receiving banks have better visibility into fraudsters' accounts and can more effectively block or freeze funds in real-time payment systems.
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
Tether froze $29.62 million in stablecoins connected to Huione Guarantee, a Cambodian online marketplace that facilitates cybercriminal operations including pig butchering scams, money laundering, and trafficking-related crimes across Southeast Asia. Researchers documented $11 billion in transactions on the platform over three years, with the freeze occurring at law enforcement's request following investigations linking the marketplace to fraudulent and transnational criminal operations. The action highlights how Tether stablecoins have become the preferred cryptocurrency for regional cybercrime due to their stability and anonymity.
securityboulevard.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains how artificial intelligence is being weaponized by scammers to create more sophisticated and convincing frauds. Scammers are using AI tools including deepfakes, voice cloning, and chatbots to personalize attacks, automate victim targeting, and make deceptive content more realistic and harder to detect. The article emphasizes that awareness of these emerging AI-powered scam tactics is essential for protecting oneself from increasingly advanced fraud schemes.
dlnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Blockchain analysts traced over $35 million stolen in a May 31 hack of Japanese cryptocurrency exchange DMM Bitcoin to Huione Guarantee, a Cambodian payments platform allegedly linked to North Korea's Lazarus Group and connected to Cambodia's ruling family. The hack, valued at $305 million total, employed sophisticated laundering techniques through mixers and multiple blockchain bridges, with on-chain analysis indicating that Huione Guarantee facilitates predominantly illicit activity including money laundering and scam operations. Tether subsequently froze $30 million in related cryptocurrency assets, and blockchain intelligence firms confirmed the attack bore hallmarks of a typical North Korean state-sponsored operation.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia filed a civil forfeiture action to recover approximately $2.5 million in USDT cryptocurrency seized by the FBI from a perpetrator in Thailand who operated "pig butchering" scams targeting U.S. citizens. Pig butchering schemes involve scammers building trust with victims through online communications before manipulating them into fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes, often extracting multiple payments before victims realize they have been defrauded. The forfeiture action demonstrates law enforcement's commitment to pursuing cryptocurrency-based fraud schemes across international borders and recovering assets to compensate victims.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
Tech entrepreneur Kingsley Inegbedion was arrested and charged by the FBI for orchestrating romance scams and business email compromise schemes between April 2020 and May 2023, working with accomplice Efemena Igbe (still at large) to defraud American citizens using fake corporate entities and laundering funds through multiple accounts. The FBI is seeking restitution of funds and forfeiture of property obtained through the scheme, which involved converting stolen money into cashier's checks and cash withdrawals. The article also highlights similar cases including Nigerian crypto executive Linus Williams arrested for fraud and terrorism funding allegations, and the convictions of scammers Hushpuppi (
nerdwallet.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines key strategies for avoiding financial scams, noting that 54% of Americans have experienced scam attempts in the past two years, with 18% losing money (median loss of $325, though 32% lost $1,000 or more). Experts recommend four main protective measures: hanging up and contacting companies directly using verified numbers, enabling multifactor authentication and monitoring accounts weekly, familiarizing yourself with common scam types, and recognizing that anyone—regardless of education or income level—can fall victim to fraud.
blocktelegraph.io
· 2025-12-08
Since 2020, cryptocurrency scams have caused billions in losses to elderly victims, with crypto investment schemes defrauding victims of over $2 billion in 2022 and $4.6 billion in 2023. Scammers increasingly use sophisticated tactics such as romance scams and impersonation schemes (posing as professors or financial advisors) to build trust before luring victims into fraudulent investments, often freezing accounts when victims attempt withdrawals. The complexity of cryptocurrency transactions and limited law enforcement resources have made fund recovery extremely difficult for victims.
asiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Chinese-led "pig butchering" romance scams have stolen billions of dollars from an estimated 300,000 American victims, causing severe financial devastation, emotional trauma, and in extreme cases suicide, according to a US Institute of Peace report. The scams operate from compounds in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos where scammers—many from developing countries—are allegedly imprisoned and tortured by Chinese-run gangs to force their participation in the fraud scheme. The report warns this criminal industry could soon rival fentanyl as a major threat to the United States.
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia has initiated civil forfeiture proceedings to recover $2.5 million in cryptocurrency seized from a Thailand-based perpetrator of a "pig-butchering" scam targeting American victims. Pig-butchering scams involve fraudsters establishing romantic relationships with victims to gain their trust, then pressuring them to invest in fake cryptocurrency opportunities before disappearing with the funds. U.S. authorities emphasize their commitment to holding scammers accountable and returning seized assets to victims.
levittownnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania House Bill 2064, sponsored by State Representative Joe Hogan, passed the House with bipartisan support (152-49 votes) and is headed to the Senate. The legislation aims to protect seniors from financial exploitation by requiring financial institutions and fiduciaries to report suspected abuse, temporarily halt suspicious transactions, and share information with area agencies on aging, while granting them immunity from liability. According to Hogan, tens of thousands of dollars are lost weekly to scams and fraud in Bucks County alone, making this decade-long legislative effort critical to safeguarding seniors' assets.
idahocountyfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, seniors lost $3.4 billion to scams—an 11% increase from 2022—with common schemes including romance fraud, fake tech support, cryptocurrency conversion, and investment scams. The Idaho Attorney General and FBI provide educational resources and warning signs (unexpected contact, pressure to act quickly, requests for untraceable payments, demands for secrecy, and too-good-to-be-true offers) to help seniors identify fraud. Victims are encouraged to report incidents to local police, the FTC, FBI's IC3, or U.S. Postal Inspection Service despite shame or embarrassment, as reporting is critical to combating senior fraud.
gritdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Two elderly men, Naum Lanstman (74) and Aleksey Madan (68), lost their retirement savings—$340,000 and $137,000 respectively—to a sophisticated cryptocurrency fraud scheme operated by "SpireBit." The article reports that over 101,000 U.S. seniors lost $3.4 billion to crypto-related scams in 2023, with loneliness, isolation, and lack of digital literacy making them vulnerable to grandparent fraud, romance scams, and confidence schemes. The piece emphasizes that prevention through education by family members and open communication about digital security is more effective than recovery efforts, as law enforcement and banks
cfpublic.org
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud is surging nationwide, costing seniors $3.4 billion annually, with investment scams and cryptocurrency schemes driving dramatic increases in losses. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office formed a dedicated financial fraud unit and launched awareness campaigns, including a screening of the movie "Thelma" that depicted a grandparent falling victim to an impersonation scam—a con that mirrors real schemes targeting seniors' trust and assets. In Volusia County alone, seniors lost approximately $4.6 million over the past year, with detectives recovering only $760,000 of the nearly 575 reported fraud cases.
wicz.com
· 2025-12-08
A Binghamton resident fell victim to a tech support scam after clicking a malicious pop-up claiming a virus was present on their computer; the scammer, posing as a Microsoft employee, gained remote access and over several months manipulated the victim into transferring a significant amount of money from investment accounts through cryptocurrency platforms. Binghamton Police are investigating and remind residents to contact authorities or their bank before transferring funds or granting computer access, as these scams often involve international networks and explicit instructions to keep transfers secret.
theturtleislandnews.com
· 2025-12-08
An individual in Brant County, Ontario fell victim to a romance scam that began on a dating application in April 2024, where a scammer built trust over several weeks before convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency. The victim made multiple transfers to a cryptocurrency account but was unable to recover any funds, as the scammer employed tactics such as changing phone numbers and creating new social media profiles to maintain the deception. The Brant County OPP is warning the public to exercise caution when meeting individuals online and to be skeptical of requests to switch communication platforms or invest in cryptocurrency.
ncoa.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains how online scams target older adults, using a real case example where 80-year-old Alice Lin lost over $700,000 to a cryptocurrency investment scam on WeChat. According to the FBI IC3, people over 60 reported $3.4 billion in fraud losses in 2023 (up 11% from 2022), with an average loss of nearly $34,000 per victim. The article details five psychological manipulation tactics scammers use against seniors—including targeting social isolation, impersonating authority figures, and exploiting trust—and provides specific protective measures such as consulting trusted contacts before responding to suspicious requests and verifying organizations through official channels.
coinspeaker.com
· 2025-12-08
Binance collaborated with the FBI in San Diego to investigate a "pig butchering" scam, resulting in the seizure of $2.5 million in cryptocurrency (2.5 million USDT) from accounts controlled by a perpetrator in Thailand. Pig butchering scams involve fraudsters building trust with victims through online communication before manipulating them into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, often by posing as romantic interests and allowing small initial withdrawals to build false confidence. The U.S. Attorney's Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover the seized funds, which may be used to compensate victims.
thespec.com
· 2025-12-08
A Brant County resident lost $34,500 to a romance scammer who initiated contact through a dating app, then moved conversations to another platform and persuaded the victim to invest in cryptocurrency. When the victim attempted to withdraw funds, they encountered additional fees with strict deadlines that resulted in further losses, and the money has not been recovered. Police advise caution when online contacts suggest changing communication platforms, request money, or show inconsistencies in their stories.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud complaints to the FBI increased 14% last year, with over 100,000 people aged 60 and older reporting scam victimization in 2023, compared to only 18,000 people under 20. West Virginia, having one of the nation's oldest populations, is particularly vulnerable to schemes including malware scams (where scammers pose as tech support or federal agents demanding payment), romance scams, and insider fraud perpetrated by family members or caregivers. Law enforcement officials recommend elders avoid clicking unknown links, recognize that legitimate agencies never demand phone payment or gift cards, and encourage younger family members to regularly check in about their online safety.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder scams cost banks over $27 billion in suspicious activity in 2023, with individual losses averaging more than $33,000 per case, increasingly enabled by AI-powered voice cloning and identity masking technology. Six common scam types target older adults through two main strategies: creating urgency (tech support, government imposter, and grandparent scams) or offering too-good-to-be-true opportunities (investment, romance, and lottery scams). Protective measures include pausing when rushed, verifying identities through independent channels before acting, avoiding nontraditional payment methods, and consulting trusted third parties when emotional decisions are involved.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office reports a sophisticated scam targeting older residents in which fraudsters send pop-up warnings claiming computers are compromised and direct victims to call a number for help. After gaining the victim's trust through multiple conversations and posing as bank fraud departments, the scammers arrange in-person cash pickups at victims' homes using fake "security codes" to appear legitimate. Victims have lost substantial sums, including cases exceeding $60,000 and $120,000, and authorities urge residents to report suspicious pop-ups or money-demanding calls and warn family members about this scheme.