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in Scam Awareness
columbusjewishnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This article does not contain information about scams, fraud, or elder abuse, so it falls outside the scope of Elderus database summaries. The content focuses on an FBI official's background in national security, community Chanukah celebrations, and an obituary notice.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A young mother of Indian origin lost $225,000 to a work-from-home job scam after being recruited through a Facebook messenger group to review hotels online; she was instructed to book hotels with her own money using a fake platform and make cryptocurrency payments that were never reimbursed despite promises of commission. Victoria police report dozens of similar victims have lost over $1 million in 2023, with people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities accounting for 12.7 percent of targeted scam losses, and authorities warn against any online arrangement requiring upfront payments in digital currency or via bank transfer.
gantnews.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in Henderson Township, Jefferson County, lost $5,000 in a phone scam on September 23. Pennsylvania State Police are seeking information about the incident, which occurred at a residence along Route 410 around 3:56 p.m.
cybersecurityconnect.com.au
· 2025-12-08
An Australian woman named Rebecca Jade Silk was identified as an alleged physical stand-in in a sophisticated romance scam operated from Ghana that defrauded a 75-year-old American radiologist of $700,000. Scam ring leader Alfred Kwame Ayivor posed online as an Australian woman named "Grace Erskine" to romance the victim, and hired Silk to impersonate Erskine during in-person meetings in the United States and Ghana, where she posed as someone offering him a stake in a gold mine. Ayivor died in custody before trial in 2019, while Silk was located in Australia in 2024 but refused to
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
This article warns consumers about solar panel installation scams where salespeople falsely claim government programs will cover all costs or promise free installations with no electricity bills. The FTC advises homeowners to research reputable licensed providers, avoid advance fees and high-pressure sales tactics, and carefully review contracts before signing, as dishonest companies often disappear after collecting upfront payments without completing work.
news.harvard.edu
· 2025-12-08
Online scams cost American consumers $12.5 billion last year, a 22 percent increase, with cybercriminals using sophisticated psychological tactics that can affect anyone regardless of age, intelligence, or education. According to cybersecurity expert Bruce Schneier, scammers' methods are fundamentally unchanged from historical cons, but technology has dramatically increased the scale and speed of attacks through fake social media ads, phishing emails, and AI-generated content. Cryptocurrency has made scams more profitable and harder to prevent because transactions cannot be reversed or monitored by traditional banking safeguards.
marketplace.org
· 2025-12-08
This podcast episode features threat researcher Selena Larson discussing common online scams targeting teenagers, including sextortion/blackmail, job and scholarship scams, malware-laden game advertisements, shopping imposter scams, phishing attacks, and payment app fraud. Larson explains that scammers use social engineering techniques to manipulate teens emotionally—posing as authority figures, attractive individuals, or legitimate businesses—to trick them into sending money, compromising photos, or sensitive information. Key red flags include unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true, requests for payment upfront, and pressure to act quickly.
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide explains romance scams, a type of fraud where criminals build fake romantic relationships to extract money from victims. The article outlines common tactics (including catfishing), warning signs, and vulnerable populations targeted by scammers, while noting that the FTC reported $304 million in losses from romance scams in 2020—a 50% increase from 2019. The guide provides advice on protecting oneself and recovering from romance fraud, emphasizing that victims should not be blamed for falling for such schemes.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned of a surge in online romance scams, reporting over 15,000 complaints last year with losses exceeding $210 million over three years. Debby Montgomery Johnson, a widow, lost more than $1 million to a scammer posing as a British businessman named Eric Cole over a two-year online relationship before discovering he was actually a young man in Nigeria. FBI officials note that romance scammers are skilled at exploiting emotionally vulnerable victims, often through establishing relationships and requesting money for fabricated emergencies or plans, and advise potential victims to report suspicious behavior to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
cyberdaily.au
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old American radiologist was defrauded of $700,000 in a romance scam orchestrated by Ghanaian scam boss Alfred Kwame Ayivor, who posed online as an Australian woman named Grace Erskine and eventually hired Australian national Rebecca Jade Silk to meet the victim in person and pose as Erskine. The scam involved the fake Erskine claiming she had inherited a Ghanaian gold mine and offering the victim a stake in it, with in-person meetings arranged in both the United States and Ghana to build credibility. Ayivor died in custody in 2019 before
ourvalleyvoice.com
· 2025-12-08
The House unanimously passed H.R. 6125, the Online Dating Safety Act on September 23, a bipartisan bill requiring dating apps to notify users if they have interacted with someone removed for fraudulent activity. Romance scams cost victims $1.3 billion in 2022, with seniors being the most vulnerable group, and the legislation aims to address the gap that occurs when scammers continue contact through other platforms after being banned from dating apps.
cftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
The CFTC charged individuals including Bai and Lan Bai and their entities Aipu and Fidefx with defrauding at least 32 customers, primarily Asian Americans, of at least $3.6 million through a fake commodity trading platform scheme operating from February 2023 onward. Solicitors contacted victims via social media platforms claiming insider knowledge to generate 10-30% profits per trade, but no actual trading occurred; instead, victims' funds were immediately transferred to offshore accounts. The CFTC is seeking restitution, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, civil penalties, trading bans, and a permanent injunction against the defendants.
timesofsandiego.com
· 2025-12-08
Bitcoin ATMs are increasingly exploited by fraudsters to steal money from victims, particularly seniors in San Diego County, where victims lost over $5 million in 2023. Scammers convince victims through tech support scams and other fraud schemes to withdraw cash and convert it to cryptocurrency at these machines, then transfer the funds to encrypted addresses; the stolen money can be moved globally within minutes, making recovery nearly impossible. Law enforcement and senators are calling for stronger safeguards at Bitcoin ATM operators to prevent victims from depositing funds in the first place, as the window for intervention is extremely narrow.
newportdispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
Martha's Vineyard Bank reported a series of scams targeting elderly customers in which fraudsters impersonated bank representatives and pressured victims to withdraw large sums of money while instructing them not to discuss the transactions with anyone, including bank staff. The scammers created false urgency by claiming customers' funds were in jeopardy, exploiting seniors' vulnerability to financial fraud. The bank coordinated with the Dukes County Sheriff's Office to alert the community and urged residents to report suspicious activity.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams are increasingly common and take multiple forms, including romance scams where perpetrators build relationships then direct victims to fraudulent investment sites, tech support scams with fake pop-ups, and schemes impersonating authorities demanding payment in cryptocurrency. According to South Dakota's Attorney General and digital forensics experts, consumers should only use reputable cryptocurrency platforms independently, never send cryptocurrency or payment information to unsolicited requestors, and report suspected scams to protect others and aid law enforcement investigation.
businesstoday.in
· 2025-12-08
India's digital transformation has increased online scam targeting, with cybercriminals particularly exploiting elderly pensioners through impersonation schemes. The Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) warned that fraudsters are impersonating government officials and contacting pensioners via WhatsApp, email, and SMS, falsely claiming pension payments will be stopped unless they complete forms and share personal information like PPO numbers and bank details. Authorities advise pensioners to verify communications directly with relevant agencies, resist artificial urgency tactics, and report suspicious activity to prevent financial fraud.
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, nearly 1,000 Oklahoma seniors fell victim to fraud schemes, losing over $22 million combined—representing a 15% increase in elder fraud cases in the state from 2022 to 2023, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Common scams targeting seniors include romance schemes conducted through social media and fake tech support pop-ups, with criminals exploiting seniors' accumulated wealth over their lifetimes. The FBI advises older adults and their families to recognize warning signs and immediately disengage from any interaction involving financial pressure by hanging up the phone or logging off.
paducahsun.com
· 2025-12-08
The Paducah McCracken County Senior Center held an emergency preparedness presentation led by Camp Graves, which included education on avoiding scams that target seniors after severe weather events. The program addressed multiple safety concerns for older adults, including financial protection and home security, as part of broader fraud prevention efforts.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
CBS News investigated romance scams originating from Ghana that have defrauded Americans of over $10 billion according to the Federal Trade Commission. The scammers operate from "boiler rooms" in Accra where young men pose as attractive women on dating apps to build trust with lonely victims, particularly older American men, before convincing them to send money; the scammers retain 40% of funds while their syndicate bosses take 60%. The operation has evolved from crude "Nigerian Prince" emails into a sophisticated, billion-dollar transnational criminal enterprise that exploits vulnerable Americans through emotional manipulation and identity deception.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned of a rising epidemic of online romance scams, reporting over 15,000 complaints last year with losses exceeding $210 million over three years. Debby Montgomery Johnson, a widow, lost over $1 million to a scammer posing as a British businessman named Eric Cole over a two-year online relationship, only to discover he was actually a young man in Nigeria. The FBI notes that romance scammers are sophisticated operators who target emotionally vulnerable victims, often well-educated individuals, and advises people to report suspicious online dating contacts to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
cincinnati.com
· 2025-12-08
The "brushing" scam has reached Ohio, involving unsolicited packages delivered to residents that contain inexpensive items like face masks or speakers and feature QR codes that, when scanned, expose personal and financial information to scammers. Scammers use this technique either to steal data or to create fake positive reviews for third-party sellers, and authorities warn residents never to scan QR codes on unexpected packages and instead report suspicious deliveries to Amazon or local law enforcement. Protection measures include avoiding randomly found QR codes, being wary of sites requesting passwords after scanning, and confirming the legitimacy of QR codes in emails or texts by calling the sender directly.
abc11.com
· 2025-12-08
Property theft scams have increased 500% in recent years, with scammers impersonating homeowners to sell properties they don't own by filing false deeds with county registers of deeds offices. Notable cases include a North Carolina woman who filed a fraudulent warranty deed on a $4 million Raleigh home and another incident where a woman's three-acre property was listed for sale without authorization; authorities recommend homeowners sign up for fraud alerts with their county register of deeds and emphasize the importance of thorough due diligence by buyers, real estate agents, and title companies.
wfsb.com
· 2025-12-08
The Durham Fair warned the public about fraudulent companies illegally selling concert tickets separately from fair admission in September 2024. Scammers were deceiving customers by claiming concert access required additional purchases, when in fact all concerts are included with the $20 fair admission ticket purchased through official channels. Fair organizers reported the scammers to authorities to prevent further incidents.
bankinfosecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
At least six U.S. states—Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Connecticut, Maine, and Delaware—are enacting legislation to empower banks to identify and block suspicious transactions targeting seniors, as cyber fraud against older adults rises with seniors losing $3.4 billion in 2023 alone, largely through impersonation scams. These state-level efforts aim to fill federal protection gaps, though they create varying liability standards for financial institutions and may complicate compliance across different jurisdictions. Florida has already signed nine bills into law effective January 2024, while Pennsylvania's House Bill 2064 and similar measures in other states would allow banks to delay or refuse fraudulent transactions and face reimbursement liability
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, nearly 1,000 Oklahomans age 60 and older lost more than $22 million to fraud, with complaints from this age group increasing 15% in Oklahoma between 2022 and 2023—higher than the national 11% increase. Tech support scams are the most common type targeting seniors, though lottery/sweepstakes scams also pose significant risks, as illustrated by an Oklahoma couple who nearly fell victim to a $500,000 prize scam. The FBI emphasizes that victims should report all scams and attempted scams without shame, as early reporting helps prevent fraud rather than merely respond to it after losses occur.
koco.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud in Oklahoma increased 15% from 2022 to 2023, with nearly 1,000 seniors over age 60 falling victim to scams and losing over $22 million in total. The most common fraud schemes targeting seniors are fake tech support and romance scams, with criminals exploiting seniors' accumulated wealth; the FBI advises victims and potential victims to hang up, log off, and walk away from any pressure to conduct financial transactions.
govinfosecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
At least six U.S. states (Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Connecticut, Maine, and Delaware) are enacting legislation to give banks new tools to identify and block suspicious transactions targeting seniors, as cyber fraud against older adults rises and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau remains inactive. In 2023, impersonation scams alone caused $1.3 billion in losses with nearly half of victims over 60, and seniors filed over 101,000 complaints totaling $3.4 billion in losses. The state bills vary in their approach and liability provisions for financial institutions, though all aim to empower banks to halt or delay transactions suspected of elder financial exploitation.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
California Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 278, which would have required banks to establish emergency contact programs for elderly accountholders and delay transactions over $5,000 for three days if fraud was suspected. The bill was introduced by State Senator Bill Dodd in response to Alice Lin, a Southern California widow who lost $200,000 in a cryptocurrency scam after her bank failed to stop seven wire transfers despite red flags. The banking industry initially opposed the measure over liability concerns but removed its opposition after amendments were made, though the bill's enforceability against federally chartered banks remained uncertain due to federal law preemption.
thecourierexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
More than 50 seniors attended a Scam Jam educational seminar in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, presented by state and local officials to teach fraud prevention and recognition of common scams targeting elders. Presenters highlighted increasingly sophisticated scams including voice cloning via AI, fake tech support calls requesting gift card payments, and impersonation schemes, emphasizing that victims should contact police immediately when suspicious and never provide personal information or payment via non-traditional means like gift cards. A recent local case was cited where timely police contact prevented a $30,000 loss to a potential victim.
wpsdlocal6.com
· 2025-12-08
Camp Graves presented emergency preparedness training at the Paducah McCracken County Senior Center, highlighting scams that occur after severe weather events. The presentation was prompted by lessons from the December 2021 tornadoes, when seniors faced post-disaster scams including identity theft, fraudulent insurance claims, and false home ownership claims. Key recommendations included keeping emergency document packets (proof of identity, residence, medications, and contacts) readily available, watching for storm warnings, and knowing emergency shelter locations.
massapequapost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Town of Oyster Bay partnered with the Nassau County District Attorney's office to combat an escalating wave of scams targeting seniors, with over $230 million stolen from New Yorkers in 2024 alone. Scammers exploit seniors through telephone and email schemes impersonating government agents, bank officials, or family members to gain access to retirement accounts and savings, while also using methods ranging from mailbox theft to sophisticated malware attacks. The partnership is hosting educational seminars to inform seniors and their families about recognizing and reporting these threats, which have grown increasingly sophisticated, including the use of AI voice-mimicking technology.
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide examines why scam victims face blame and shame, explaining that psychological biases—including the "just world" belief, hindsight bias, and defensive attribution—cause people to wrongly hold victims responsible for being scammed. The article emphasizes that victim blaming is harmful and counterproductive, noting that scams are increasingly common (the FTC reported $76 million lost to government impersonation scams in 2023, up 90% from 2022) and that anyone can fall victim regardless of intelligence or caution.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 46-year-old single mother from London was defrauded of £18,000 across two separate scams initiated through a dating app. She was first lured by a man using the fake name "Gabriel" on the app Happn into a fraudulent investment scheme where initial payments of £600 and £1,500 were promised substantial returns; when told she needed to pay additional fees and taxes to access her supposed £39,078 profit, she realized the scam but had already lost approximately £10,000. Desperate to recover her losses, she fell victim to a second scam involving fake online work tasks, ultimately borrowing £11,000 from friends and family
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational lesson for intermediate English learners about online scams and phishing, not a news report of fraud. The lesson teaches vocabulary and phrases related to scams (such as phishing emails and suspicious messages), demonstrates the passive voice construction in discussing being victimized, and provides a real-world example of someone nearly falling for a fake Australian Taxation Office phishing message before recognizing warning signs.
irishnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Veteran broadcaster Moira Stuart, 75, was nearly scammed in a phone call where a fraudster claimed money had been stolen from her account and instructed her to transfer funds, though a bank cashier intervened before any loss occurred. Research shows people aged 55-64 face the highest number of scams, with Age UK finding that 41% of people over 50 were scammed in the last five years, losing an average of £2,022, and experiencing significant psychological and social impacts beyond financial loss. Digital skills experts recommend older people verify sender details, confirm whether communications are expected, and be cautious of suspicious pop-ups to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scammers.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
The UK's Payment System Regulator (PSR) reduced the maximum reimbursement amount for victims of Authorized Push Payment (APP) scams from £415,000 to £85,000, effective October 7, with banks and building societies required to refund victims within five business days. The decision, based on analysis of 250,000 high-value scams, has drawn criticism from consumer groups like Which?, who argue the reduction incentivizes fraud and inadequately protects victims of a scam type that cost the UK nearly £460 million in losses last year.
10news.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers used caller ID spoofing to impersonate Christy Taylor's bank and convinced her to transfer nearly $10,000 onto a prepaid debit card by claiming fraudulent activity on her account; the funds were quickly depleted and the bank could not reverse the transfer since Taylor had withdrawn the money herself. Security experts advise never acting on unexpected bank calls or texts, and instead to independently verify alerts by calling your bank directly using the number on your debit card. These sophisticated scams are increasingly common and equally convincing as legitimate communications.
wvua23.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides guidance on avoiding ticket scams when purchasing sporting event tickets, particularly for University of Alabama games. The Better Business Bureau recommends using authorized ticket services like SeatGeek rather than peer-to-peer payment apps (Venmo, Cash App, PayPal), and emphasizes paying with a credit card rather than debit cards or digital payment apps, as credit cards offer fraud protection if tickets are fraudulent or never arrive.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
Pig butchering crypto scams involve fraudsters building trust with victims through fake identities and relationships on social media platforms like WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Instagram before directing them to fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platforms and stealing their money. The SEC filed its first enforcement actions against these scams in September 2024, charging eight defendants in connection with fake platforms NanoBit and CoinW6, while the CFTC and other federal agencies have partnered to distribute educational materials warning consumers that these scams cost Americans billions annually. Victims are advised to ignore unsolicited messages from strangers and report suspicious contacts to prevent becoming targets of this rapidly growing fraud scheme.
fox8live.com
· 2025-12-08
A Louisiana state judge ordered the seizure of a fraudulent website (geauxpass.info) operating from a Russian server that was phishing for credit card information through scam text messages. The texts falsely claimed recipients owed $3.75 in unpaid toll fees and directed them to the fake site, threatening a $30 fine for non-payment. Law enforcement including Kenner Police, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Intellectual Property Rights Center successfully identified and shut down the operation, which mimicked the legitimate GeauxPass toll payment website.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Jill Gogel, vice president of fraud services at Dupaco Community Credit Union in Iowa, has implemented a comprehensive fraud prevention program that requires all employees to receive annual training on spotting suspicious transactions and unusual withdrawal patterns among the credit union's 170,000 members. Since launching the initiative 10 years ago, Dupaco has increased its fraud prevention from $300,000 to an estimated $10 million in blocked losses annually, using proactive measures such as employee communication, customer outreach, and coordination with local law enforcement. The credit union's approach is being highlighted as a model that larger banking institutions should adopt, particularly given that victims over 60 lose $28.3 billion
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost thousands of Americans millions of dollars annually, with the FTC reporting 64,003 romance scam complaints in the previous year totaling $1.14 billion in losses (median $2,000 per victim). A Malwarebytes survey found that 66% of respondents were targeted by romance scammers, with 10% losing over $10,000 and 3% losing $100,000 or more, though 40% of victims never reported the fraud due to shame or lack of faith in law enforcement. Scammers typically build trust over weeks or months through online dating platforms and social media before requesting money or personal information, with 94%
wdsu.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are creating fake shopping websites that display "card declined" messages to trick customers into entering multiple payment methods, giving fraudsters access to their financial information. The Better Business Bureau has received reports of fraudulent charges following these incidents. To protect yourself, verify website URLs carefully, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and ensure you're shopping on legitimate sites.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Malwarebytes research reveals that romance scams affected over 66% of survey respondents, with 10% losing more than $10,000 and 3% losing $100,000 or more—yet 94% of victims recovered none of their money. The scams disproportionately target people over 55 (74% of victims), often through social media (38%) and dating platforms (31%), with 26% of victims engaged with scammers for extended periods, including 5% in year-long relationships. The study emphasizes the need for awareness, identity verification, and reporting to law enforcement, as stigma and shame prevent many victims from seeking
wlos.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder financial scams increased 14% in complaints and 11% in financial impact in 2023, with criminals targeting seniors through imposter scams (IRS/Social Security), shopping fraud, grandparent scams, tech support schemes, and sweepstakes fraud. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, emphasizing that seniors should never share personal information unsolicited, verify requests through independent contact with family or organizations, be skeptical of unusual payment methods, and report suspected fraud immediately.
koaa.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Colorado residents $10 million in 2023, with nationwide losses reaching $652 million that year, according to FBI data. Scammers create fake online dating profiles to build emotional relationships with victims before requesting money for fraudulent purposes. The FBI advises users to be cautious of anyone unwilling to meet in person and to avoid becoming emotionally invested in online conversations without verification.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Spanish police arrested five members of a criminal organization who operated a romance scam impersonating actor Brad Pitt, defrauding two Spanish women of over €350,000 by convincing them they were in a romantic relationship with the actor and requesting money for fake investment projects. The scammers targeted victims through a fan page, profiled them via social media to identify vulnerable individuals, and laundered funds through money mules in West African countries; authorities recovered €85,000 of the stolen amount. The case highlights the prevalence of romance scams, which caused over $50 million in reported losses across Canada alone in 2023.
afaqs.com
· 2025-12-08
A sting operation by India's Mid-Day newspaper in August 2024 exposed a dating app scam targeting male users across major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. Women match with men on apps like Tinder and Bumble, arrange dates at specific nightclubs, and then leave after the men accumulate large bills—with the women receiving 15-20% commissions from the establishments. Despite the scam's prevalence and complaints on social media, dating app platforms have largely remained silent and failed to launch awareness campaigns, with only Tinder responding that it enforces fraud detection measures and photo verification.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Texas seniors fell victim to sophisticated financial scams: 71-year-old Phyllis Lopez lost $3,500 after a caller impersonating a Chase Bank representative convinced her to wire her savings, and 77-year-old Shirley Ison-Newsome lost over $50,000 in a scam involving a fraudulent wire transfer to China. Texas's 2017 Protection of Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act allows banks to freeze accounts suspected of fraud, resulting in increased reporting to Adult Protective Services (from 3,600 to 6,400 reports between 2017-2023), though consumer advocates argue more protection is needed and lawmakers
clreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office reported an increase in grandparent scams targeting senior citizens in North Iowa, where callers falsely claim a relative has been arrested and demand cash for bail. Victims were duped into handing over cash to couriers who arrived at their homes, with suspects identified as a well-dressed Black male driving a dark SUV with possible Minnesota plates, sometimes accompanied by an unknown female. Law enforcement advises seniors never to provide personal information or cash to unknown callers and to report such incidents immediately.