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in General Elder Fraud
tribtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
SCOPE (Senior Citizens Opportunity for Personal Endeavor) in Trumbull County created a vetted business list to protect seniors from scams and unreputable service providers. The list includes contractors, home health services, transportation, and other vendors that undergo thorough vetting including insurance, bonding, and background checks. The initiative began after seniors at local centers and a 4,000-member Facebook group were being targeted by questionable businesses, and it now helps seniors safely hire services while providing legitimate businesses access to this demographic.
tribtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly targeting senior citizens with evolving schemes involving cryptocurrency, gift cards, and virtual currencies, often using urgent or threatening language about fines, arrests, or family emergencies to pressure victims into immediate payment. Ohio reported 16,741 financial exploitation referrals of older residents between July 2024 and June 2025, demonstrating the widespread impact of these frauds. Key prevention measures include avoiding sharing personal or financial information with unsolicited contacts, verifying requests through official phone numbers, researching businesses before sending money, and trusting instincts when offers seem suspicious.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
A 49-year-old Mumbai Police constable lost Rs 8.13 lakh after downloading a malicious application disguised as "RTO Chalan.apk" from a WhatsApp group link in July 2025. The fraudsters used his compromised account to obtain an unauthorized loan and conduct 17 unauthorized transactions on the same day; the crime was discovered in August when the victim checked his account balance and filed an FIR with Tardeo Police.
upnorthvoice.com
· 2025-12-08
Prosecutor LaDonna Schulz presented to 50 seniors in Ogemaw County, Michigan, on June 18 about financial elder abuse, explaining that seniors are targeted because they typically have substantial assets and are reluctant to report scams due to embarrassment or fear of losing financial independence. The FBI reported 101,068 fraud complaints from people over 60 in 2023 resulting in $3.4 billion in losses, compared to $360 million lost by people aged 20-29, with common scams including romance fraud, phishing, fake charities, and toll/traffic ticket schemes. Schulz recommended protective measures such as placing credit freezes, setting up
newsandsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Perry Forensic, a division of Perry & Associates CPAs, hired three experienced forensic professionals: Steven A. Bodge (certified fraud examiner with 30+ years of insurance fraud investigation experience), David A. Tracewell (retired IRS forensic accountant with 30 years of federal tax examination expertise), and Jeff Harper (CPA with 40+ years in financial management and consulting). Bodge will also provide free elder fraud prevention seminars in the Mid-Ohio Valley region, addressing a significant problem that cost Americans over 60 more than $4.8 billion in 2024.
trak.in
· 2025-12-08
OneCard issued an advisory about WhatsApp Screen Mirroring Fraud, where scammers impersonate bank officials and trick users into enabling screen-sharing to steal OTPs, banking credentials, and UPI PINs for unauthorized transactions and identity theft. To prevent this scam, users should verify caller identity through official channels, avoid screen-sharing with untrusted parties, never share banking details under pressure, and report suspicious activity to authorities. The scam particularly targets vulnerable populations including senior citizens unfamiliar with digital tools.
bucks.crimewatchpa.com
· 2025-12-08
This article announces a free fraud prevention workshop hosted by Representative Tina Davis on September 5th at the Bristol Township Senior Center, designed to educate residents about common scams including phishing emails, family emergency schemes, and fake bank communications. The interactive event features experts from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office, AARP, and local police who will provide guidance on avoiding identity theft, freezing credit reports, recognizing scams, and reporting fraud to authorities.
securityboulevard.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Rep. David Schweikert proposed the Scam Farms Marque and Reprisal Authorization Act in 2025, which would authorize the president to issue letters of marque to private "cyber privateers" to combat foreign cybercriminal organizations running romance scams, pig-butchering schemes, and ransomware attacks. The proposal targets Southeast Asian cyberscam farms (particularly in Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia) that generate an estimated $40 billion annually and hold hundreds of thousands of enslaved workers, following reports that U.S. citizens lost $16 billion to scams in 2024, with seniors over 60 losing nearly
townhall.com
· 2025-12-08
Jiaci Liu, a Chinese national, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for operating a tech support scam targeting seniors across Southern California and Arizona. Liu and his co-conspirators used pop-up windows to trick elderly victims into believing they had computer viruses, then impersonated bank representatives and government officials to convince victims to withdraw cash, stealing over $202,000 in just one week in June 2023 from victims in their 70s and 80s. One Poway, California victim lost $28,000 before becoming suspicious and alerting authorities, leading to Liu's arrest when he arrived at the victim's home to collect the money.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article from FODMAP Everyday® identifies 12 items people over 50 should remove from their wallets to protect against identity theft and fraud. The piece emphasizes that elder fraud is a critical threat, citing FBI data showing scams targeting people over 60 caused $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 (averaging $33,915 per victim), with total fraud losses reaching $12.5 billion in 2024—a 25% increase year-over-year. Key recommendations include removing Social Security cards, excessive credit cards, and debit cards, as thieves can use these items to commit identity theft, credit card fraud, and drain
inkl.com
· 2025-12-08
Regulatory authorities are increasingly scrutinizing senior investment clubs due to a surge in fraudulent schemes, including pump-and-dump stock scams that specifically target vulnerable older adults through social media and messaging platforms. These clubs exploit seniors' trust in established networks (friends, church members, veterans) and lack of external oversight, leaving participants exposed to significant financial losses. Regulators emphasize that while investment clubs aren't inherently illegal, seniors should demand transparency, verify credentials, and seek outside perspectives before joining to protect their retirement savings.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
This article covers multiple bank fraud cases prosecuted in 2025. Former Cathay Bank manager Weixin "Tony" Chen was indicted on charges of siphoning funds from customers' home equity lines and deposit accounts across Southern California branches, facing up to 30 years per count. The article also highlights the case of Jiaci Liu, a Chinese national sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for a sophisticated elder fraud scheme where he impersonated technical support and law enforcement to extract over $202,000 from elderly victims in Southern California and Arizona, including one victim who withdrew $28,000 after believing his computer was compromised.
jcpost.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an obituary for David Raymond Brockish, an 80-year-old Air Force veteran from Kansas who passed away on August 9, 2025. While not itself a scam or fraud incident, the obituary notably directs memorial contributions to "End Elder Fraud," suggesting the family's commitment to combating elder fraud awareness and prevention.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
**Bank Spoofing Scam – Texas Woman Convicted**
Audrey Michelle Townsend was convicted of spoofing JPMorgan Chase and fraudulently transferring $49,000 from a Georgia elderly couple's account in February 2024. The victim, Gloria Moss, received a fake text appearing to be from the bank, called the provided number, and unknowingly shared account verification codes with the scammer, enabling the unauthorized transfer to Townsend's Texas bank account. JPMorgan Chase initially refused reimbursement but reversed course after media attention and law enforcement investigation, ultimately refunding the full amount; Townsend received a
hayspost.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers posing as banks, government agencies, and businesses are increasingly targeting retirees by creating fake crises around account fraud, identity theft, or computer security to pressure victims into transferring money. According to a new FTC report, reported losses from business and government impostor scams among adults 60+ have surged dramatically, with losses exceeding $100,000 increasing nearly sevenfold between 2020 and 2024, with many victims losing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The FTC advises never transferring money in response to unsolicited calls or messages, verifying requests through independently confirmed contact information, and remembering that legitimate government agencies never demand immediate money transfers
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 22-year-old woman from Frisco was arrested after scamming an 80-year-old man and his 77-year-old wife out of more than $25,000 by posing as an FBI agent and bank representative in a phone scam. The suspect, Jessica Bahu, manipulated the couple into withdrawing cash and meeting her in person to hand over the money before they realized the fraud and reported it to police. Bahu was charged with exploitation of the elderly, a third-degree felony, and detectives are investigating possible federal charges and involvement of other suspects.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A Pew Research Center survey of over 9,000 U.S. adults found that approximately 73% experienced at least one online scam or attack, with credit card fraud, shopping scams, and ransomware being most common; notably, adults aged 18-59 were 34% more likely than those 60+ to report losing money to fraud. Cybersecurity experts warn of emerging threats including unsolicited calendar invites containing phishing links or malware, and multi-factor authentication app attacks designed to wear down users into revealing personal information. Protection measures include adjusting calendar settings to prevent automatic invite updates, verifying suspicious invitations through direct contact with trusted sources, and ign
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Phantom Hacker Scam has cost Americans over $1 billion since 2024 by targeting seniors through a three-phase operation: tech support impostor gains remote computer access, financial institution impostor convinces victims to move funds to a "safe" account via wire transfer or cryptocurrency, and government impostor directs further transfers to "alias" accounts. Cybersecurity experts warn the scam is "devastating" for seniors as victims rarely recover their funds, with recovery rates in single-digit percentages only if reported immediately, and criminals increasingly use AI to personalize attacks based on social media profiles.
rappler.com
· 2025-12-08
Rappler is hosting "Lolo at Lola Laban Sa Scam," a free all-day educational event on September 16, 2025, in Manila to help elderly citizens and families protect themselves against digital scams through workshops and expert panels. The event addresses a growing threat: the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center received over 10,000 scam complaints in 2024 (triple the 2023 number), with older adults particularly vulnerable to emotionally manipulative fraud schemes. Participants will learn how to document scams, verify information, and improve digital safety through hands-on workshops led by government officials and fact-checking experts.
baynews9.com
· 2025-12-08
The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas launched a fraud alert through its Senior Medicare Patrol Program to educate seniors about Medicare scams, which cost the program $60-$100 billion annually. Common scams include unsolicited shipments of medical braces and kits billed to Medicare, as well as phone calls attempting to steal personal information. The program helps seniors identify fraud, report scams, and seek restitution, serving over 4,600 seniors in the region in 2024.
newschannel5.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly couple in Hopkinsville, Kentucky was victimized by an asphalt paving scam in June when an unsolicited contractor approached them offering to patch their driveway at a low cost. After the mother signed a mostly blank invoice, the scammers filled in details and paved the entire driveway, charging $64,000 (totaling $79,000 with a duplicate charge), which the parents charged to multiple credit cards before their son stopped payment on three of the four cards. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to avoid unsolicited door-to-door home improvement offers that use urgency tactics and to verify quotes before signing any documents.
yourvalley.net
· 2025-12-08
On August 20, Neighborcare representatives Dan Pressler and Linda Evans presented fraud protection information at Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church, educating the community about tactics used to defraud seniors. Pressler emphasized that while scams are difficult to avoid, community vigilance and neighbors supporting each other is essential to reducing victimization among seniors.
pennlive.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cybersecurity Association of Pennsylvania warns of a surge in sophisticated "Phantom Hacker" scams targeting seniors, with nearly half of victims over 60 and Americans losing over $1 billion nationwide to this multi-phase fraud. The scam typically involves criminals posing sequentially as tech support, bank representatives, and government officials to gain remote computer access and fraudulently transfer victims' funds to fake "safe" accounts, sometimes using AI to enhance credibility. PennCyber urges families to educate seniors on red flags—such as demands for wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or prepaid cards—and report suspicious contacts to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
krdo.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly couple in Hopkinsville, Kentucky was charged $64,000 (totaling $79,000 with a duplicate charge) in an asphalt paving scam after an unsolicited worker approached their home claiming to have extra asphalt materials available. The scammers had the homeowner sign a mostly blank invoice, then filled in details afterward to make it appear the couple had approved full driveway paving work, and demanded immediate payment via multiple credit cards. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to watch for common scam patterns including unsolicited door visits, pressure tactics creating urgency, and incomplete contracts, and advises victims to dispute charges and contact authorities immediately.
brooklynda.org
· 2025-12-08
Two New Jersey brothers, Abhishek Barvalia (31) and Tushar Barvalia (32), were indicted in Brooklyn for allegedly defrauding four seniors aged 76 to 90 of approximately $400,000 between June 2023 and January 2024. The defendants posed as FBI agents, Microsoft representatives, and government officials, convincing victims their bank accounts were compromised and directing them to withdraw funds and transfer money to accounts the defendants controlled, while instructing victims to maintain secrecy. The defendants were charged with second-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud, and fourth-degree conspiracy.
fox32chicago.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI has warned seniors about the Phantom Hacker Scam, which has cost Americans over $1 billion since at least 2024 by draining life savings and retirement accounts. The scam operates in three phases—a tech support impostor gains remote computer access, a financial institution impostor convinces victims to transfer funds to a "safe" account via wire transfer or cryptocurrency, and potentially a government impostor prompts further transfers to "alias" accounts. Security experts emphasize that victims rarely recover their money unless they report the theft immediately, and scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence to target seniors based on their personal interests and social media profiles.
ktlo.com
· 2025-12-08
Baxter County, Arkansas is experiencing a rise in scams targeting residents, prompting local law enforcement to host a public call-in program with Sheriff John Montgomery to educate citizens on fraud prevention. The initiative follows recent arrests of three men accused of acting as "money mules" for overseas scam operations; common schemes affecting residents include government impersonation, tech support fraud, fake sweepstakes, romance scams, and home repair fraud using phishing emails, robocalls, and spoofed numbers.
inkl.com
· 2025-12-08
Phone-based elder scams remain prevalent in 2024, with fraudsters using evolving tactics that exploit trust and urgency to target older adults. Common scams include Medicare impersonation, fake tech support, grandparent emergency schemes, lottery/prize offers, utility company threats, and government agency impersonation—each designed to steal personal information, drain bank accounts, or install malware. The key protection strategy is to never share personal information over unsolicited calls, verify requests independently by contacting official sources directly, and ask verification questions that only legitimate contacts would know.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
Andrea Estell Cochran, a 51-year-old from Houston, was arrested and charged with federal bank fraud after using fake passports to impersonate account holders and withdraw approximately $11,000 from multiple Washington state banks in 2024, with similar attempts in Maine; she faces up to 30 years in prison and state charges across multiple Washington counties. Additionally, a VPNPro study reveals that seniors aged 60 and over across all U.S. states lost substantial sums to fraud in 2022, with per-victim losses ranging from $13,118 to $30,150 depending on the state, highlighting seniors as prime targets for scammers
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old Texas woman, Audrey Michelle Townsend, was sentenced to 20 years (5 in prison, 15 on probation) after pleading guilty to theft and four counts of elder abuse for orchestrating a phishing scheme that defrauded an elderly couple of $49,000 in February 2024. Townsend impersonated a Chase Bank representative via text, tricking Gloria Moss into providing account verification information, which enabled the unauthorized transfer of funds to an account in Townsend's name; Chase ultimately reimbursed the victims after media attention and intervention by the district attorney's office.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
Andrea Estell Cochran, a 51-year-old from Houston, was arrested and charged with federal bank fraud after using forged passports to impersonate account holders and withdraw approximately $11,000 from multiple banks across Washington state and Maine in 2024. She faces up to 30 years in federal prison plus additional state charges, with a plea deal hearing scheduled for August 28, 2025.
A separate study by VPNPro found that seniors aged 60 and older across all U.S. states lost significant sums to fraud in 2022, with losses ranging from approximately $3 million to $31 million per state, highlighting the widesprea
kpq.com
· 2025-12-08
Andrea Estell Cochran, a 51-year-old from Houston, accepted a plea deal for a multi-state bank fraud scheme in which she used fake passports to impersonate account holders and withdraw thousands of dollars from banks across Washington and Maine between May and August 2024. She faces federal charges including bank fraud, identity theft, and false use of a passport, with potential sentences up to 30 years, plus additional state charges in multiple Washington counties. Her plea hearing is scheduled for August 28, with specific agreement details pending release.
viconsortium.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old woman, Andrea Hull-King, was extradited to the U.S. Virgin Islands to face charges after defrauding an elderly relative of $26,730 between October 2021 and January 2022. Hull-King unlawfully registered the victim's Banco Popular account for online access and transferred funds to her personal account using her relative's credentials. She was apprehended in Massachusetts in August 2025 on an outstanding warrant and charged with multiple offenses including grand larceny, identity theft, and financial exploitation of an elderly person.
theberkshireedge.com
· 2025-12-08
Adams Community Bank announced a partnership with Carefull, a financial safety platform, to offer free fraud and scam protection to its account holders, making ACB the first bank in Western Massachusetts to provide this service. The Carefull platform monitors accounts for unusual activity, detects romance scams and other financial exploitation, analyzes suspicious communications, and provides secure storage for important documents and records with $1 million identity theft insurance. This initiative reflects ACB's commitment to protecting seniors and their families as elder fraud cases continue to rise.
krtv.com
· 2025-12-08
"Gas station gold" scams are increasing in Montana, where con artists approach customers in parking lots and gas stations claiming financial hardship while selling fake jewelry marked as "18K" gold that is actually brass or copper. The scammers, who frequently travel between states and increasingly target elderly people, use deceptive pricing and counterfeit markings to deceive unsuspecting buyers. Experts advise consumers to be skeptical of deals offering gold significantly below market value and to have purchases verified by legitimate jewelers before completing transactions.
masslive.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned about a recovery scam targeting previous fraud victims, particularly older adults, wherein scammers impersonate lawyers or government officials claiming they can recover lost money through fake legal channels or cryptocurrency recovery firms. Scammers use red flags such as requesting cryptocurrency or gift card payments, referencing fraudulent government agencies, requesting secrecy through messaging apps, and refusing to provide credentials or video verification. Residents should employ a "Zero Trust" model, verify credentials independently, request notarized proof of identity, and report suspicious activity to their local FBI field office or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
fox4news.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned about the "Phantom Hacker Scam," which has cost Americans over $1 billion since 2024 by targeting seniors' life savings and retirement accounts. The three-phase scam involves a tech support impostor gaining remote computer access, a financial institution impostor convincing victims to transfer funds to a "safe" account, and a government impostor directing further transfers to "alias" accounts. Victims rarely recover their funds, with recovery rates in single-digit percentages even when reported immediately, making this scam particularly devastating for seniors.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
A 40-year-old Queens resident, Abba Cohen, was arrested for defrauding a Bergen County senior of $25,800 in a home improvement scam that occurred in January 2024. Cohen, who had prior similar charges, was apprehended by New York City Police in August and remains in custody awaiting extradition to New Jersey on charges of conspiracy to commit theft by deception and receiving stolen property.
roanoke.com
· 2025-12-08
Gareth West, alleged leader of a grandparent scam network operating out of Montreal, was arrested in Quebec for defrauding American seniors of approximately $30 million through a complex scheme employing dozens of people. The article also documents a specific case in which Roanoke residents Ewell and Louise Beirne lost $75,000 after clicking on a fraudulent pop-up warning about their bank account, and provides ten key fraud prevention tips including refusing urgency, verifying through official channels, avoiding irreversible payment methods, and resisting pressure to keep transactions secret.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old man in Noida lost Rs 3.14 crore in a "digital arrest" scam where criminals impersonating TRAI, police, CBI, and Supreme Court officials trapped him in fake video calls for 15 days, threatening him with money-laundering charges and forcing him to transfer funds to a fake "Secret Supervision Account." Cybercrimes against seniors have surged 86 percent between 2020 and 2022, with common scams including digital arrest, investment fraud, deepfakes, and government impersonation—schemes that exploit seniors' trust and vulnerability to urgency-based tactics through means they struggle to recognize
suggest.com
· 2025-12-08
A 66-year-old California woman lost her home and life savings after falling victim to an AI deepfake romance scam in October 2024. The scammer used artificial intelligence to create realistic video impersonations of soap opera actor Steve Burton and convinced Abigail Ruvalcaba they were in a romantic relationship, ultimately extracting over $81,000 in cash and checks, then pressuring her to sell her condo for $350,000 and surrender $70,000 of those proceeds. After the house-flipping company that purchased her home below market value refused to reverse the sale despite pleas from her family and attorneys, Abigail now faces eviction an
time.com
· 2025-12-08
In February 2024, cybercriminals attempted to scam Tejasvi Manoj's 85-year-old grandfather through a fake email impersonating a relative requesting $2,000, but the scam was prevented when the family verified the request directly. Inspired by this near-miss and discovering that seniors lost nearly $5 billion to fraud in 2024 (a 32% increase from the prior year), the then-16-year-old Tejasvi developed Shield Seniors, a website educating adults over 60 about online scams, analyzing suspicious communications, and providing reporting resources. Her efforts earned her TIME's Kid of the Year 2025
facebook.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide an accurate summary of this content. The text appears to be a fragmentary social media comment that lacks specific details about what scam or fraud actually occurred, the dollar amount involved, or concrete information about the incident. To create a useful database entry, I would need the actual article or news story being referenced, which should include details about the type of fraud, how it happened, and documented outcomes.
If you have the full article or news story, please share that and I'll be happy to summarize it for the Elderus database.
northeastbylines.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
The Financial Conduct Authority published guidance on common banking scams including vishing, phishing, card fraud, and bank impersonation, advising consumers to verify suspicious calls by hanging up and redialing using official numbers or the anti-fraud hotline 159. The article also highlights that the e-money provider Revolut received the highest number of fraud complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service, surpassing major banks, and warns of "Termination Experts," a subscription cancellation service that charges fees for services customers did not authorize, recommending victims verify claims directly with companies and utilize cooling-off periods for online purchases.
keyt.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly couple in Hopkinsville, Kentucky was charged $64,000 (totaling $79,000 with a duplicate charge) after signing a blank invoice for asphalt driveway patching work in June. A man solicited the work unsolicited, claiming his crew had extra asphalt available, but after obtaining the wife's signature on a mostly blank invoice, the scammers completed a full driveway paving job and demanded immediate payment on multiple credit cards. The Better Business Bureau warns this is part of a pattern of door-to-door asphalt scams where fraudsters create urgency, use high-pressure tactics, and exploit blank or misleading invoices to
bradfordera.com
· 2025-12-08
A cybersecurity group called the Cybersecurity Association of Pennsylvania (PennCyber) has issued a warning about "Phantom Hacker" scams that specifically target senior citizens, urging increased vigilance in the community. The article appears to be a public awareness alert, though specific details about how the scam operates or reported cases are not included in the provided excerpt.
noozhawk.com
· 2025-12-08
Jonathan Tudor, a 64-year-old West Hollywood man, was arrested in July and is facing 78 criminal charges including elder theft, securities fraud, grand theft, money laundering, and forgery after defrauding 38 victims out of approximately $500,000. Tudor posed as a BMW luxury car executive and investment advisor, promising high-end vehicles and doubled investment returns that never materialized; detectives recovered over $250,000 in luxury goods from his home and found no evidence the vehicles existed. The scam victimized people across California, New York, and Washington dating back to 2023, with Tudor allegedly using funds from new victims to pay smaller returns to earlier victims in
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A federal jury in Puerto Rico convicted Oluwasegun Baiyewu and four co-conspirators of money laundering involving proceeds from romance scams, pandemic relief fraud, unemployment insurance fraud, and business email compromise schemes that primarily targeted elderly and vulnerable Americans. The defendants laundered stolen funds through hundreds of transactions in 2020-2021, including purchasing used cars shipped overseas to Nigeria, with the conspiracy affecting victims across multiple states and Puerto Rico.
myfoxzone.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly San Angelo resident lost nearly $900,000 in gold after being targeted by a sophisticated computer scam in which suspects impersonated government officials and instructed him to purchase gold bars. The arrest of suspect Muthukrishnan Palraj in August led authorities to link him to a multi-county fraud scheme totaling over $51 million in losses across Texas, with state and federal prosecutions now underway and potential deportation following any prison sentence.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI is warning the public about recovery scams that target previous fraud victims by falsely promising to help them reclaim lost money, often impersonating lawyers or government agencies to exploit emotional distress. Scammers typically request payment via cryptocurrency or gift cards, reference fake regulatory entities, and use secrecy tactics like WhatsApp group chats while claiming insider knowledge of victims' previous losses. The FBI recommends using a "Zero Trust" model, verifying credentials through video calls and license checks, and reporting suspicious activity to local FBI field offices or the Internet Crime Complaint Center.