Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 22,013 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
8,448 results
in Robocalls / Phone Scams
delawarelive.com
· 2025-12-08
Delaware's elderly population lost over $14 million to fraud in 2022, with 305 victims aged 60 and over suffering average losses of $45,977 each, according to FBI data analyzed by cybersecurity experts. The state recorded 106.6 fraud victims per 100,000 elderly residents, with investment scams, business impostor schemes, and romance scams being the most costly types nationally, while those aged 60 and over were 517% more likely to fall victim to tech support scams than younger adults.
newlinesmag.com
· 2025-12-08
A 36-year-old Indian woman named Jhumpa Biswas was targeted by a romance scammer posing as "Mark Anthony," a Scottish cosmetic surgeon who initiated contact via Instagram with flattering messages. Over weeks of increasingly intimate communication across social media and WhatsApp, the scammer built emotional trust through romantic gestures, personal attention, and carefully crafted backstory, exploiting Biswas's limited romantic experience and emotional vulnerability. The article details how the scammer's grooming tactics—including flattery, validation, and demonstrations of care—set the stage for financial exploitation that would follow.
miaminewtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, romance scams resulted in over 64,000 reports and $1.1 billion in losses, predominantly affecting elderly victims who were deceived by scammers posing as romantic partners on dating apps and social media. Cristine Petitfrere, a 30-year-old from Florida, was arrested and sentenced to 30 months in prison for laundering nearly $3 million from romance scams by funneling money to Ghana; she personally facilitated transfers from three elderly victims in their 60s-70s who lost over $158,000 combined. Federal law enforcement has intensified prosecution efforts against romance scam networks, with romance fraud losses increasing
wmdt.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, Maryland residents age 60 and older lost $63.6 million to fraud, with online scams being the most common method. Common schemes targeting older adults include grandparent scams (requesting emergency money), romance and investment scams, and impersonation of law enforcement, often facilitated through information gathered on social media. Red flags to watch for include unexpected emails or calls with misspellings, suspicious URLs, and unsolicited requests for money or personal information; protective measures include enabling multi-factor authentication on accounts, verifying caller identity through official channels, and reporting suspected fraud to local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.
pressconnects.com
· 2025-12-08
The Broome County District Attorney's Office is warning residents, particularly seniors, about a telephone scam where callers impersonate Publishers Clearing House representatives and claim victims have won a prize, then request upfront fees and taxes to claim the award. Legitimate sweepstakes never require prepayment, and residents should never provide personal or financial information over the phone and should report suspected fraud to local law enforcement, the state Attorney General's Consumer Frauds Bureau (800-771-7755), or the Federal Trade Commission.
mininggazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Little Brothers — Friends of the Elderly (LBFE) warned the public of a texting scam in which fraudsters impersonated the organization to solicit donations, falsely claiming to represent the group's services. The organization emphasized that all its programs are free and advised residents never to provide personal or financial information via unsolicited calls, texts, or emails, noting that scammers use "spoofing" techniques to appear as trusted sources.
fox9.com
· 2025-12-08
Phone scammers in Minnesota are impersonating major banks like Wells Fargo through spoofed caller IDs to convince victims to send money via Zelle transfers, claiming urgent fraud prevention is needed. The scam uses social engineering and artificial urgency to manipulate people into sending funds to fraudulent "cancellation numbers" rather than stealing banking credentials directly. Experts recommend hanging up and calling the bank directly using the number on your card or statement to verify any fraud claims.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
A joint investigation uncovered at least sixty scam operators on TikTok impersonating pharmacies and medical professionals to defraud Americans seeking Ozempic and other weight loss drugs, collecting hundreds of dollars per victim before failing to deliver the products. The scammers exploit TikTok's algorithms, which recommend weight loss drug sellers to users and facilitate connections between bad actors and vulnerable consumers, using payment apps like Zelle and Venmo to make refunds difficult. The investigation also found that nearly half of Americans using these drugs acquired them without prescriptions, highlighting both the prevalence of scams and the broader problem of illegal drug distribution on social media platforms.
natlawreview.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice charged 16 defendants in April 2024 for a scam that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans out of millions of dollars using impersonation tactics. In 2023, individuals over 60 reported losses exceeding $3.4 billion from elder fraud—an 11% increase from 2022—with common scams involving investment fraud, tech support impersonation, and government impersonation. To prevent losses, experts recommend regular financial account monitoring, setting wire transfer restrictions, and establishing verbal verification processes before sending money.
retro1025.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article highlights five emerging scams targeting Colorado seniors and emphasizes the importance of awareness to prevent fraud. The piece stresses that as technology evolves, criminals are developing increasingly sophisticated methods to target older adults, and encourages seniors and their families to stay informed rather than avoid technology entirely. The article references AARP resources as a valuable tool for seniors to learn about current scams and protect themselves.
floridadaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Florida state officials have prioritized combating fraud after FBI data showed seniors lost over $300 million to scams in 2023, the second-highest rate nationally. Governor Ron DeSantis signed new legislation protecting residents who sign up for fraud notification services and allowing deed fraud alerts to combat property theft schemes. State officials warn against common scams including deed fraud, jury duty impersonation, roof scams, and cryptocurrency transfers, urging residents never to respond to unrecognized emails or send money through unsecured methods.
fox13news.com
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old Bradenton veteran was defrauded of $1.5 million in a multi-state gold bar scheme in which scammers impersonated federal agents, gained his trust over weeks, and manipulated his military patriotism to convince him to transfer his retirement funds. Swetaben Patel, 42, was arrested as an alleged "mule" in the operation, which involved multiple perpetrators across several states and coordinated drop-off locations. The Bradenton Police Department reports that elder fraud cases in their jurisdiction have increased 50% this year, with the FBI noting that Americans 60 and older lost over $3.4 billion to
mlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Kari Melissa Morales, a 51-year-old Michigan woman, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud for her role in an IRS/FBI impersonation scam targeting at least one victim. Morales and co-conspirators attempted to extort $60,000 by presenting fake FBI arrest warrants and IRS receipts, with Morales carrying a loaded firearm and fraudulent badge during the money exchange; the scheme was discovered when a text meant for the victim was accidentally sent to a Kent County officer. If convicted, Morales faces up to 20 years in prison.
1011now.com
· 2025-12-08
A Stanton County, Nebraska couple lost $100,000 after falling victim to a tech support scam that began with a pop-up warning about illegal material on their computer; they were instructed to withdraw cash, purchase gold coins, and deliver them to scammers while being warned not to contact family or law enforcement. The couple, described as educated and retired, believed the threat of jail time and only reported the fraud after disclosing it to family members. The Stanton County Sheriff's Office and Nebraska Attorney General's office are investigating, and authorities warn that legitimate agencies never demand money under threat of jail or require secrecy.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
An AARP article details election-related scams targeting voters, using a real incident where a fraud expert was approached by a scammer posing as a voter registration volunteer at a Christmas tree lot in Austin, Texas. The article explains that scammers use fake voter registration forms via phishing links, malicious apps, and in-person deception to steal personal data such as Social Security numbers, passwords, and payment information. The piece advises voters to register only through official government channels (online at government websites, by mail, or in person at election offices) and to avoid clicking unsolicited links or downloading apps from unofficial sources.
knopnews2.com
· 2025-12-08
A Stanton County, Nebraska couple lost $100,000 after a pop-up warning appeared on their computer claiming illegal content was present; they were instructed to withdraw the money in gold coins and deliver it to unknown individuals while being told not to contact family or law enforcement. The scam exploited the couple's fear of jail time and relied on social engineering tactics to prevent them from seeking help. The case is being investigated by the Stanton County Sheriff's Office, Nebraska Attorney General's office, and FBI.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Google announced upcoming AI-powered scam-detection tools for Android phones that use its Gemini AI to alert users in real-time when a phone conversation contains suspicious wording commonly used by scammers, with alerts displaying on-screen and an audio notification to warn users. The feature, still in testing with no official release date, processes audio analysis locally on the device to maintain privacy, and comes as Microsoft announced a similar competing feature, while scammers increasingly use AI-generated voice impersonations of celebrities and public figures to deceive victims. On average, phone users receive approximately 14 spam calls per month, prompting regulators like the FCC to declare AI-generated impersonation calls illegal in an effort to
kgw.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers sent fraudulent text messages impersonating Cheng Saephan, an Oregon resident who won a $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot, claiming to offer recipients a share of his winnings in exchange for personal information or payment. The Oregon Lottery confirmed these texts are fake phishing scams and warned the public that lottery winnings are never distributed this way. Victims should not respond to such messages and can report suspicious texts to the FBI, their cellphone provider (via SPAM/7726), or the FTC.
chicagotribune.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, older adults reported losing over $1.6 billion to fraud, with the FTC estimating actual losses may reach $48 billion due to underreporting; investment scams, business impersonation, and tech support scams saw significant year-over-year increases, some exceeding 100%. U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and colleagues introduced the bipartisan Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act, which would require the FTC to create a searchable regional scam database with law enforcement contacts and work with media to distribute fraud information to seniors and caregivers. Senior advocates stress that increasing awareness and understanding sophisticated scam tactics is critical, as isolation and lon
audacy.com
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparents scam" is evolving as criminals use artificial intelligence to create convincing fake voices impersonating grandchildren in distress, targeting seniors with urgent requests for money. Multiple seniors at a senior center received such calls claiming their grandchildren were in accidents or emergencies abroad. Experts recommend families establish a secret code word to verify the identity of callers as a protection against this increasingly sophisticated fraud.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida community has experienced over $2 million in fraud losses in the past year, with one veteran losing $1.5 million in a gold bars scam where criminals impersonated federal agents and convinced him to purchase gold bars as "bait" to solve alleged social security fraud. Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan created a special task force to investigate these crimes and educate seniors, noting that older Americans are disproportionately targeted due to lower tech literacy and that recovery of stolen funds is rarely possible. The FBI reports that in 2023, seniors over 60 accounted for over 101,000 reported scam victims and losses exceeding $3.4
publicnewsservice.org
· 2025-12-08
A California man was sentenced to four years in prison for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded two elderly Arizona women of hundreds of thousands of dollars. AARP Arizona warns that romance scammers exploit desires for companionship through dating apps and other platforms, with warning signs including premature declarations of love, requests for money, and broken promises to meet in person. Victims should avoid sending money to online contacts, be aware that advancing AI technology makes scams more convincing, and contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network (1-877-908-3360 or AARP.org/fraudwatchnetwork) for free assistance.
kiowacountypress.net
· 2025-12-08
A California man was recently sentenced to four years in prison for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded two elderly Arizona women of hundreds of thousands of dollars. AARP Arizona warns that romance scammers exploit victims' desire for companionship by professing love early, requesting money for emergencies, and using increasingly sophisticated AI-generated photos and videos, with scams often escalating to fraudulent bank account access. AARP recommends never sending money to online contacts and offers free resources through their Fraud Watch Network (1-877-908-3360 or AARP.org/fraudwatchnetwork) to help people identify and report suspected scams.
manchesterjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece explains how romance and relationship scams differ from other crimes and why victims often experience shame rather than sympathy. Scammers target lonely or grieving individuals through social media, slowly building trust over time before repeatedly requesting money for fabricated emergencies or personal crises—making these scams more psychologically damaging than single-incident crimes like robbery. The article advises early intervention by trusted third parties and provides resources including the AARP Consumer Hotline (877-908-3360) for victims seeking help.
kpcw.org
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are posting fake images of injured children and lost pets in Facebook community groups to generate engagement through likes and shares, then redirecting traffic to malicious websites or soliciting money. Summit County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Kacey Bates advises residents to join only verified groups, research the poster before engaging, and watch for warning signs such as accounts posting multiple types of scams, repeated photos, and disabled comments sections. Education and awareness are emphasized as the most effective defense against these fraudulent schemes.
mymotherlode.com
· 2025-12-08
Canada experiences significant fraud across multiple schemes, including identity theft, phone scams impersonating government officials, and mortgage fraud, with Canadian authorities estimating over $30 million lost since 2014 from RCMP impersonation and tech support scams combined. A survey found 34 percent of Canadians have experienced at least one type of fraud, with experts recommending protective measures such as creating unique passwords, screening calls, shredding personal documents, and using licensed professionals for financial transactions. Mortgage fraud has risen dramatically in Canada due to vulnerabilities in the borrowing process that rely heavily on borrower-provided information, making it easy for fraudsters to submit false details about income, employment, or
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 92-year-old South Carolina woman combated relentless scam callers by responding to their pitches with absurd nonsense—including claims she would be "raptured" and requests for senior discounts—which repeatedly frustrated the scammers into hanging up. Her granddaughter documented these interactions in videos, showcasing how humor and distraction can be an effective defense against fraud attempts, though the article notes that elderly people remain particularly vulnerable to scams, with nearly 70,000 people losing $1.3 billion to romance scams alone in 2022.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers used deepfake technology to target Mark Read, CEO of WPP, creating voice clones and fake accounts using publicly available photos and YouTube footage to impersonate him in Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp communications with senior executives. The fraudsters aimed to extract personal details and money by posing as Read and requesting the setup of a new business, but the attack was unsuccessful due to employee vigilance. Read warned colleagues of increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks targeting senior leaders that employ psychological manipulation tactics tailored beyond typical scams targeting vulnerable populations.
au.lifestyle.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
AI technology is making romance scams increasingly common and harder to detect in online dating, with artificial intelligence enabling scammers to impersonate real people more convincingly through chatbots and deepfakes. Australians lost over $5.8 million to dating and romance scams in the first three months of 2024, with 27% of dating app users targeted and nearly 40% of those becoming victims. Experts advise vigilance for warning signs including avoidance of video calls, sparse profile images, and rapid relationship progression to protect against these AI-enhanced scams.
walb.com
· 2025-12-08
The Tifton Police Department warned residents about a phone scam in which callers falsely claim victims have outstanding warrants and demand payment to resolve them, using phone spoofing techniques to appear as legitimate numbers and sometimes impersonating real officers. Residents were advised not to return calls or send money and to report such calls to police. This warning followed another cyber scam that cost the city of Tifton nearly $50,000 just days earlier.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are exploiting Instacart's system by posing as customers or hacking legitimate accounts to request that shoppers purchase high-value gift cards (often $100+) and share the codes before checkout, allowing fraudsters to spend the money while leaving shoppers and customers liable for the charges. Affected parties include Instacart delivery workers who risk account deactivation for violating company policy, legitimate customers whose accounts are hacked, and Instacart itself facing chargebacks, despite having an explicit policy prohibiting gift card purchases.
royalexaminer.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security scams caused approximately $3 billion in losses to beneficiaries in 2022, representing an 84% increase from the previous year, according to the FBI. Common schemes include impersonation calls from fake SSA employees, demands for immediate payment under false pretenses, and claims that Social Security numbers have been suspended. The SSA advises people to hang up on suspicious callers, verify claims through official channels, and report fraudulent activity to the SSA fraud hotline at 800-269-0271.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong authorities warned of a scam by groups calling themselves Quantum AI or AI Quantum, which used deepfake videos of Elon Musk to fraudulently promote a fake cryptocurrency trading service across three websites and two Facebook pages. The scammers leveraged AI-generated deepfake technology to convince victims that Musk had developed the service, even conducting video calls with manipulated facial features to impersonate him and enhance credibility. Hong Kong police shut down the operation, though this represents an ongoing trend of deepfake-based fraud; a South Korean woman previously lost $50,000 in a similar Musk deepfake scam in April.
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparent scam" targets seniors by impersonating grandchildren in emergencies, typically claiming they need bail money after an arrest, with the FBI charging 16 defendants in 2024 for a scheme that defrauded hundreds of older Americans across the Northeast out of millions of dollars. Scammers use personal information found online and increasingly employ AI voice cloning to make calls convincing, but experts recommend victims focus on what is being asked rather than voice recognition, verify bail payment procedures, and question requests to keep secrets from family members.
ahwatukee.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau identified the top scams affecting Metro Phoenix residents in March: employment scams where fake employers send fraudulent checks (one victim lost $5,000), online shopping scams featuring artificially low prices and payment app requests (one person lost $1,770 attempting to buy designer bags), and romance scams involving cryptocurrency that have resulted in significant losses (one victim lost $20,000). The article provides warning signs for each scam type and recommends verifying information, using credit cards for online purchases, and consulting trusted contacts before sending money or making investments.
africa.businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong authorities warned of a deepfake scam in which a group calling itself Quantum AI or AI Quantum used fabricated videos of Elon Musk to convince investors that he developed their AI-powered cryptocurrency trading service, which was actually a front for virtual asset fraud operated through three websites and two Facebook pages. This is part of a growing trend of scammers using deepfake technology to impersonate celebrities and high-profile figures; a South Korean woman previously lost $50,000 to a similar Musk deepfake scam in April. Hong Kong police shut down the group's online presence after the warning was issued.
weareiowa.com
· 2025-12-08
A mother in Des Moines, Iowa discovered her adult son with intellectual and developmental disabilities had fallen victim to a romance scam after a woman he met on Facebook built rapport with him over a week and convinced him to cash a check, purchase $1,500 in Apple gift cards, and send her the card numbers before the scheme was discovered when the check bounced. Law enforcement officials emphasize that people with disabilities are frequent targets of online and phone scams, and recommend caregivers maintain open communication about their loved one's online contacts, utilize parental controls, and educate them about red flags such as requests for gift cards, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrency.
dailydot.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman lost $25,000 from her small business account in a Wells Fargo impersonation scam where a fraudster posing as a bank employee convinced her she was canceling unauthorized wire transfers while actually authorizing them to be sent. Despite contacting Wells Fargo's fraud department within five minutes of discovering the scam, the bank provided minimal assistance and the woman reported receiving only vague updates about an ongoing investigation with no resolution. The incident has drawn over 574,000 views on TikTok and sparked reports of similar scams affecting other Wells Fargo customers.
news18.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired engineer in Mangaluru, Karnataka lost Rs 1.6 crore between May 2-6 when scammers impersonating international courier service employees claimed his package contained incriminating documents and drugs, demanding "caution money" to avoid investigation. The article also highlights a separate case where a woman doctor in Noida lost Rs 45 lakh to fraudsters posing as Mumbai crime branch officers via video call, and notes that India experienced Rs 7,488.6 crore in cybercrime losses in the previous year.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
Dolapo Lawal of Baltimore pleaded guilty to access device fraud and aggravated identity theft for operating a stolen identity tax refund scheme that defrauded elderly victims of over $3 million. Lawal obtained fraudulent tax refunds using victims' identities, loaded them onto debit cards opened in the victims' names, and withdrew the funds in cash for personal use; law enforcement recovered 24 fraudulent debit cards and over $80,000 in cash from his vehicle in April 2022, and found over 300 additional debit cards during a June 2023 search warrant of his home. Lawal faces a maximum of 10 years in
bhpioneer.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. What you've shared appears to be a country list or dropdown menu rather than an article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse.
Please provide the actual article or transcript you'd like me to summarize for the Elderus database, and I'll be happy to create a concise 2-3 sentence summary focused on the scam details, affected parties, and outcomes.
ktvq.com
· 2025-12-08
Montanans lost $21.1 million to fraud in 2023, a 24% increase from 2022, with impostor scams and identity theft being the primary culprits. A new jury duty scam variant is proliferating in Montana, where scammers impersonate sheriff's deputies demanding $3,000 for missed jury duty, then direct victims to Coinstar machines to transfer funds; victims range from their 20s to 80s, though younger people are increasingly targeted due to their responsiveness to phone-based communications and social media. Experts advise ignoring suspicious calls, texts, and emails, as scammers continuously evolve their
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Colorado homebuyer lost nearly $100,000 in down payment savings to a wire transfer scam after receiving a realistic-looking email that appeared to be from his bank requesting the transfer to complete his home purchase; the scammers had gained access to his emails and included accurate account information to make the request seem legitimate. The FBI received over 2,000 wire fraud complaints daily in 2023, with Americans losing $311 million total to wire transfer scams according to the FTC. To protect themselves, homebuyers should verify wire transfer requests by calling their bank directly using a number they find themselves, use secure portals through title companies, and never send funds without direct verbal confirmation from the intende
onlineathens.com
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old Athens woman lost over $150,000 after responding to a fake Microsoft pop-up warning that her IP address was compromised. Over approximately one week, scammers convinced her that her account contained charges related to child pornography, instructed her to withdraw $50,000 in cash to give to a courier posing as a federal agent, and later directed her to send an additional $35,000 via Bitcoin; the scam also resulted in at least $35,000 being stolen from her 87-year-old mother's connected bank account. The woman reported the fraud to Athens-Clarke police after realizing she had been deceived.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office and Department of Justice announced completion of the Money Mule Initiative, a campaign that disrupted transnational fraud networks by taking action against over 3,000 money mules who facilitate scams targeting Americans, particularly elderly victims of lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams. More than 20 individuals were criminally charged, including cases involving $4.5 million laundered from romance scams targeting elderly victims, a grandparent scam operation using couriers to collect cash from seniors, and a tech support fraud scheme that collected approximately $7 million from elderly victims. The initiative combined criminal prosecutions, warning letters to unknowing participants,
wecb.fm
· 2025-12-08
McKala, a woman from Kentucky, was victimized by a romance scam over one year in which a scammer posing as actor Dacre Montgomery convinced her to send approximately 10,000 euros in gift cards while claiming to be in a secret relationship with her. The scammer manipulated McKala emotionally by confessing unhappiness in his own relationship and professing love, eventually convincing her to leave her husband, though they never met in person or spoke by phone. After investigators from the YouTube channel Catfished exposed the deception—including fake checks and stolen photos—McKala shared her story publicly to warn others about the dangers of online romance scams.
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal law enforcement agencies completed the Money Mule Initiative, an annual campaign that resulted in criminal charges against over 20 individuals and warning letters to approximately 2,970 money mules involved in facilitating fraud schemes. The initiative targeted networks that transmit stolen funds from fraud victims to international fraudsters, with cases including two men accused of laundering $4.5 million from romance scams and business email compromises targeting elderly victims, and five defendants who acted as couriers collecting cash from grandparent scam victims. The agencies emphasized the importance of public education to prevent unknowing individuals from becoming money mules, as many are initially victimized by romance or lottery scams before being manipulated into ass
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece highlights common scams targeting elderly Americans during Older Americans Month. Key prevention advice includes: never sending money based on urgent requests, hanging up on suspicious callers, ignoring unsolicited service offers (such as fake contractors), and reporting all suspected scams to law enforcement. Authorities emphasize that legitimate law enforcement will never demand phone payment or refuse direct communication, and stress that reporting attempts helps protect other potential victims.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Following devastating Oklahoma tornadoes, MoneyGram warned consumers about fraudulent charity scams where victims average losses of $824 by sending money transfers to fake organizations with names similar to legitimate charities. The company identified five red flags including high-pressure tactics, wire-transfer-only payment demands, and lack of organizational information, and advised consumers to recognize, react to, and report suspected scams to authorities.
marketplace.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational episode of "Marketplace Tech" examines how financial scams work and how to identify them, featuring the experience of Shannon from Minnesota who lost over $80,000 to an impersonation scam. A scammer posing as a sheriff's deputy falsely claimed Shannon missed a federal court appearance and threatened jail time, extracting multiple "bail bond" payments totaling $80,000 through threats and false legal information. The episode explains that scammers use phone number spoofing technology to impersonate legitimate officials and conduct research on targets to create convincing scripts that lend authenticity to their schemes.