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in Grandparent Scam
news.uthsc.edu
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common red flags across multiple scam types—including romance, delivery, grandparent, and tech support scams—and provides prevention strategies. Key advice includes not responding to unexpected texts, hanging up and calling back through verified numbers, establishing family safe words, refusing suspicious payment methods (gift cards, crypto, wire transfers), and being cautious on social media and dating apps. The article recommends victims stop payment immediately, take screenshots for evidence, and report incidents to their bank, local police, or relevant authorities.
wkzo.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple financial scams targeting older adults in Portage, Michigan involved callers impersonating family members claiming distress, posing as tech support or bank representatives, and using couriers to collect cash payments. The Portage Department of Public Safety is investigating the incidents and asking anyone with information to contact local authorities.
cbs6albany.com
· 2025-12-08
A 27-year-old man from Flushing, NY was arrested after defrauding a Montgomery County senior of over $40,000 through a fake cryptocurrency scam involving fraudulent emails and threatening phone calls. The suspect, Zixiong Wang, was apprehended during an arranged money exchange in Amsterdam and was also found to be wanted in Delaware for similar crimes against an elderly victim. Wang was remanded to jail without bail, with authorities noting additional suspects may be involved in the ongoing investigation.
outlooknewspapers.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines why seniors are targeted by financial scammers—they typically have substantial liquid assets, low credit card debt, and high credit scores that fraudsters exploit to open unauthorized accounts. The piece identifies common scam types (impersonation, grandparent scams, health fraud, disaster relief scams, and delivery scams) and warning signs (demands for untraceable payments via gift cards or wire transfers, urgent threats, and requests for personal information), then provides protective measures including never sharing login credentials, avoiding suspicious links, using strong passwords, and being cautious about unsolicited calls and messages.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers target older adults year-round through various schemes including grandchild impersonation, charity fraud, and gift card scams, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting a median loss of $800 for people aged 70-79 and AARP data showing seniors over 50 account for more than half of fraud victims, losing billions annually. The Alzheimer's Association recommends protective strategies such as setting up a "slush fund" of $200-300 for vulnerable seniors (who lose an average of $39,000 per scam victim aged 80+) and establishing bank account alerts to monitor for fraudulent activity.
applevalleynewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers target seniors year-round, with people over 50 accounting for more than half of fraud victims and those 80+ losing an average of $39,000 per incident. Common scams include charity calls, grandchild impersonation schemes, and gift card fraud, with the FTC reporting a median loss of $800 for people aged 70-79. The Alzheimer's Association recommends protective measures such as creating separate "slush fund" accounts with limited funds, setting up bank account alerts, and providing fraud awareness education to seniors and caregiving staff.
timesrepublican.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Iowa volunteers with the Central Iowa Retired Senior Volunteer Program presented a fraud prevention program highlighting major scams targeting seniors, including a Fort Dodge victim who lost over $500,000 to scammers and a Marion woman who lost $30,000. Common schemes discussed included grandchild impersonation scams, fraudulent Medicare reimbursement demands, and affinity fraud targeting religious or ethnic groups, with the volunteers providing prevention strategies such as not answering unknown callers, verifying urgent requests by calling relatives directly, and avoiding upfront payments to strangers.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Matthew Ramos-Soto, 27, from Connecticut, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his role in a grandparent scheme wire fraud network that targeted elderly victims across the United States. Operating as a courier posing as a bail bondsman, Ramos-Soto collected over $250,000 from victims in Wisconsin alone between October 2022 and October 2023, with the broader scheme involving coconspirators who called elderly victims claiming their relatives needed bail money for serious accidents or crimes. Judge Peterson described the crime as "cruel and devastating" and emphasized the significant financial and emotional harm inflicted on victims.
ksat.com
· 2025-12-08
The Department of Homeland Security Investigations issued a holiday season warning about phone scams targeting seniors and vulnerable populations, including grandparent scams, charity scams, tech support scams, banking scams, and government impersonation scams. The agency recommends protecting yourself by avoiding sharing personal information, verifying caller identity, being skeptical of urgent requests, staying alert online, and reporting suspicious activity to HSI or local authorities.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
AI-enabled voice cloning tools are increasingly used in "grandparent scams" to impersonate loved ones and pressure victims, particularly seniors, into sending money quickly; in 2023 alone, senior citizens lost approximately $3.4 billion to financial crimes according to FBI data. Cybersecurity experts recommend families establish a unique "safe word" or phrase (at least four words, not easily researched online) and require callers requesting money to verify their identity using this phrase before any funds are transferred. The strategy exploits fear-based emotional responses that impair judgment, but can be effectively countered through proper family communication about the safe word protocol.
fox43.com
· 2025-12-08
This article warns about gift card scams, where fraudsters impersonate legitimate retailers like Kohl's and Target to trick consumers into clicking suspicious emails or completing surveys that harvest personal data. The Federal Trade Commission reported a significant rise in gift card scams, with Target gift cards alone accounting for over $35 million in losses during the first nine months of 2021. Consumers are advised to verify the sender's email address and be skeptical of unsolicited offers for free gift cards, as they typically represent phishing schemes or data theft operations.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens are increasingly targeted by AI-enabled scams during the holiday season, with voice cloning technology allowing criminals to impersonate loved ones and convincingly request urgent financial assistance. In 2023, scams targeting seniors resulted in nearly $3.5 billion in losses, and the FBI has specifically warned about "grandparent scams" that use cloned voices of family members to deceive victims. As AI tools become more accessible and voice samples are readily available through social media, experts warn that these scams will likely continue to proliferate.
greenwichfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
Matthew Ramos-Soto, 27, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his role as a courier in a grandparent scam wire fraud scheme targeting elderly victims across the United States. Between October 2022 and June 2023, Ramos-Soto and co-conspirators picked up over $250,000 in cash from victims by posing as bail bondsmen, claiming their relatives had been arrested in accidents; he personally collected money from victims at 18 different locations before his arrest in Michigan in June 2023. The case resulted in federal charges filed across multiple districts, with authorities encouraging victims and witnesses to report fraud to the National Elder
decorahnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This does not appear to be an article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse. The text is a generic system notification message about email verification and session expiration—typical website or application functionality. It contains no information about fraudulent activity, elder abuse, or scam incidents suitable for the Elderus database.
kcrg.com
· 2025-12-08
A senior couple in Winneshiek County, Iowa lost $15,000 to the "Grandparent Scam" on Tuesday after scammers posed as their grandchild, law enforcement, and attorneys, claiming the grandchild was jailed for texting while driving and needed bond money urgently. The scammers emphasized a gag order to prevent the victims from discussing the situation, then sent a courier to collect $15,000 in cash from the couple's home. The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office warns that while other residents reported the same scam and avoided losing money, they suspect additional unreported victims exist.
kttc.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly couple in Winneshiek County, Iowa lost $15,000 in a "grandparent scam" when fraudsters posing as a courier appeared at their door on Tuesday. The scam typically involves callers claiming a grandchild has been arrested for a vehicle accident and needs bail money urgently, with perpetrators often impersonating attorneys or the grandchild themselves and threatening victims with gag orders. The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office suspects additional unreported victims and urges anyone targeted by such scams to contact local law enforcement immediately.
amsterdamnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Victor Anthony Valdez, a Bronx-based Social Security Administration employee, pleaded guilty in December for his role in a "grandparent scam" targeting elderly New Yorkers and New Jerseyans, in which he collected cash payments from victims who had been deceived by Dominican Republic-based call centers posing as distressed grandchildren or their representatives. The scheme defrauded vulnerable seniors of thousands of dollars each through false claims of arrest or legal troubles. Authorities recommend that older adults verify caller identities through personal questions, keep social media private, avoid transferring money or buying gift cards, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or the National Elder Fraud Hotline at
nhregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Matthew Ramos-Soto, a 27-year-old Hartford man, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for participating in a wire fraud scheme targeting elderly victims nationwide. Operating as a fake bail bondsman between October 2022 and June 2023, Ramos-Soto and his network collected over $250,000 from victims in Wisconsin alone by posing as relatives or attorneys and claiming arrestees needed bail money; he picked up funds from victims at 18 locations across the country before his arrest in Michigan. The scheme involved international scammers calling elderly targets with false arrest scenarios while Ramos-Soto and other couriers collected the money in person, an
kaaltv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office in Iowa warned about "Grandparent Scams" where fraudsters posing as law enforcement contact elderly residents, claiming their grandchild is in jail, then another scammer poses as the grandchild requesting bond money. An elderly couple lost $15,000 in cash to this scam, and the sheriff suspects multiple unreported victims in the area.
dailytimes.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. The text you've provided is simply a list of country names and their official designations—it contains no article, transcript, news story, or information about scams, fraud, or elder abuse.
To help you create a summary for the Elderus database, please provide an actual article or transcript about elder fraud, scams, or abuse.
luxtimes.lu
· 2025-12-08
An international police operation in late 2022/early 2023 raided three call centres in Poland and arrested 20 suspects involved in grandparent scams targeting elderly Luxembourgers. The organized fraud gangs impersonated police or justice officials claiming a family member caused a fatal accident in Germany, demanding cash or valuables as bail; one victim lost €100,000-€120,000 in jewellery and nearly fell for a €50,000 additional demand before her real son uncovered the scheme. The scammers operated with clear task divisions, made mass calls to targeted areas, and changed phone numbers frequently to avoid detection, though some attempts failed when victims contacte
fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
Matthew Ramos-Soto, 27, from Hartford, Wisconsin, was sentenced to three years and five months for his role in a grandparent scam network that defrauded elderly victims nationwide. Between October 2022 and June 2023, Ramos-Soto and other conspirators posed as bail bondsmen collecting over $250,000 from victims in at least 18 U.S. locations by falsely claiming their relatives had been arrested in serious accidents. The sentencing judge described the scheme as "cruel and devastating," emphasizing the severe financial and emotional trauma inflicted on elderly victims.
waylandstudentpress.com
· 2025-12-08
The Wayland Police Department issued a holiday season warning about rising scam activity, identifying the "Grandparent" scam—where perpetrators impersonate family members in distress requiring bail money—as particularly prevalent among elderly residents. Common scam tactics include impersonation of police or family members via phone, text, email, or social media, with scammers using personal background information to create urgency and fear; police also flagged pet scams, noting one family lost $3,600 before discovering a fake Corgi listing was fraudulent. Chief Edward Burman recommends residents immediately report suspected scams to police if personal information or money has been exchanged, and advises that
tpr.org
· 2025-12-08
This appears to be a compilation of NPR's most-read stories from 2024 rather than a single article about scams or fraud. The only elder fraud-related content is a brief mention of Kitboga, a person who baits online scammers using improv and voice-changing technology to protect people like grandmothers from being conned, turning anti-scam work into a paying job. The piece also references "zombie 2nd mortgages," where a Massachusetts nurse discovered her house was being auctioned due to old mortgage liens, with NPR's investigation revealing thousands of similar cases.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides six free strategies for protecting finances from fraud, particularly during high-risk periods like the holiday season. The recommended safeguards include staying informed about trending scams (adoption, romance, grandparent, and elder fraud), freezing credit with major bureaus when not applying for loans, enabling multi-factor authentication on accounts, using password managers to create strong unique passwords, avoiding clicking links or calling numbers in unsolicited communications, and monitoring accounts regularly for suspicious activity. These preventive measures require no financial investment but can significantly reduce vulnerability to identity theft and fraud year-round.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old woman lost her entire life savings to an elaborate scam involving impersonation, psychological manipulation, and coercion that drove her to withdraw funds via Bitcoin and max out credit cards, after which scammers posed as FBI agents claiming to "protect" her and later extracted an additional $20,000. The article outlines common elder fraud tactics—including impersonation, prize scams, tech support fraud, romance scams, and emergency schemes—and provides red flags such as unsolicited requests for sensitive information, urgent payment demands, and requests for untraceable payment methods like cryptocurrency or gift cards.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
An elder woman successfully identified and thwarted two "grandparent scam" calls by asking the caller which grandchild they were pretending to be, causing them to hang up. The article emphasizes that while older adults are often targeted by such scams, younger generations (Gen X, millennials, Gen Z) actually lose money to fraud at 34% higher rates than those over 60, typically through online shopping, investment, and job scams. The piece advises families to discuss financial safety during holiday gatherings and recommends being caller-aware, questioning suspicious calls, and verifying directly with the person or institution allegedly contacting you.
courant.com
· 2025-12-08
Matthew Ramos-Soto, a 27-year-old from Connecticut, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his role in a multi-state grandparent scam targeting elderly victims. Operating as a courier posing as a bail bondsman, Ramos-Soto collected over $250,000 from victims across the United States between October 2022 and June 2023, as part of a larger fraud network that contacted elderly people claiming their relatives had been arrested and needed bail money. The scheme, which operated across multiple states including Wisconsin, Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, and California, resulted in restitution being ordered and prompted federal authorities to emphasize the importance of
radio.wpsu.org
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns that criminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools to create more sophisticated and convincing scams, particularly phishing attacks and voice-cloning schemes that target victims during the holiday season. Key vulnerabilities include AI-generated emails and texts that mimic legitimate communications, deepfake voice calls impersonating loved ones (especially "grandparent scams"), and fraudulent websites that appear authentic. Experts recommend creating family code words, securing social media accounts, carefully verifying web addresses and email domains, and screening unfamiliar calls to protect against these evolving AI-enabled frauds.
mshale.com
· 2025-12-08
The Minnesota Department of Commerce is urging residents to become "scam spotters" in 2025 as the state reports an increase in fraudsters tricking people into sharing financial information and losing money. The department provides key prevention tips including verifying requests directly with the source, resisting emotional manipulation and urgency tactics, avoiding upfront payment demands, and not clicking suspicious links—and offers resources for reporting scams and checking business licenses.
npr.org
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are using artificial intelligence tools to create increasingly convincing scams during the holiday season, with phishing attacks being the most common threat. To protect yourself, experts recommend: verifying suspicious emails for subtle red flags (misspellings in domain names, logo variations), establishing secret code words with family members to verify identity during emergency calls, securing social media accounts by setting them to private and limiting personal information, and carefully checking website URLs and encryption before entering sensitive information, as scammers can use AI to create fraudulent websites that appear legitimate.
leadertelegram.com
· 2025-12-08
This overview article describes prevalent scams targeting individuals across Wisconsin and the region, including impersonation scams (fake DSPS, IRS, and Microsoft representatives), grandparent scams, and romance scams that exploit personal information and emotional manipulation to extract money from victims. Between January 2022 and June 2024, approximately $3.54 million in scam losses were reported to Wisconsin's Department of Financial Institutions, though law enforcement suspects the actual total is significantly higher due to underreporting. Scammers commonly target lonely individuals and elderly people, particularly widowed men, using emotional manipulation, personal details from public sources, and fabricated scenarios to convince victims to send money or gift cards
commercialappeal.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults reported $1.9 billion in fraud losses to the FTC in 2023-2024, with actual losses potentially reaching $61.5 billion, and they suffer significantly higher median losses ($1,450 for those 80+) compared to younger people ($480 for ages 20-29). Older adults are particularly vulnerable to investment scams ($538 million in losses), tech support scams (5 times more likely than younger people), and romance/impersonation scams, with payment methods ranging from gift cards to cryptocurrency and bank transfers. The FTC and Better Business Bureau are working to combat these scams through enforcement actions and prevention messaging, though challenges remain including
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A cybersecurity expert warned of three common holiday scams targeting consumers during the Christmas season: fake sales on social media platforms (where scammers pose as sellers and demand gift card payments before disappearing), impersonation scams (where criminals hijack accounts to pose as family members requesting money or information, increasingly using AI voice cloning and deepfakes), and fake prize giveaways (which collect personal information or processing fees). These schemes exploit the holiday shopping rush and emotional vulnerabilities to quickly extract financial information and money from victims.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity experts warn that scammers intensify efforts during the Christmas holiday season, exploiting festive shopping and emotional vulnerability. Three prevalent scams include: fake sales where fraudsters pose as sellers on social media and demand gift card payments before disappearing; family impersonation scams that hijack accounts or use social engineering to extract money or sensitive information; and fake prize giveaways that collect personal data or processing fees. Defense strategies include maintaining skepticism toward unusual requests, verifying unexpected communications through alternative contact methods, and remembering that legitimate contests never require upfront payment.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters increasingly use AI-generated deepfakes and voice cloning to impersonate family members in scams demanding urgent money for emergencies like kidnappings or accidents. The FBI and banks now recommend families create secret passphrases to verify identity during suspicious calls or messages, using unique phrases unrelated to publicly available personal information and kept strictly private. While family passphrases offer a useful defense layer, experts caution that victims in genuine emergencies may struggle to remember them due to panic or adrenaline.
messengernews.net
· 2025-12-08
Multiple sheriff's departments in north central Iowa are warning residents of a "grandparent scam" in which callers impersonate family members claiming to be arrested and needing bail money, resulting in victims losing tens of thousands of dollars. Scammers coach victims to lie to banks about withdrawal reasons and arrange for accomplices to collect the cash in person. Law enforcement urges residents to warn elderly and vulnerable family members about this predatory scheme.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two people in Perth County, Ontario lost over $10,000 total in a grandparent scam in which they received phone calls claiming a family member was in jail and needed bail money, then an imposter posing as a bondsperson visited their homes to collect cash ($5,000 and $5,500 respectively). Police warn that scammers may claim the "grandchild" has a broken nose to explain voice differences, and advise people to hang up on unsolicited calls requesting personal information or payments via gift cards and cryptocurrency.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two people in Perth County, Ontario lost over $10,000 in a grandparent scam where they were called by someone posing as a lawyer claiming a family member was in jail and needed bail money, then a person posing as a bondsperson collected $5,000 and $5,500 in cash from their homes. Police warn that scammers may claim a voice sounds different due to a broken nose, and remind people not to provide personal information or make payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency to unsolicited callers.
outlookbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Artificial intelligence has become a powerful tool for fraudsters in India, with 64% of respondents reporting increased fraud and 67% struggling to keep pace with evolving threats. Scammers use AI techniques including voice cloning, deepfakes, synthetic identity creation, and personalized phishing to impersonate trusted figures and extract money from victims across all demographics, though senior citizens are particularly vulnerable; notably, 83% of voice scam victims in India have lost money to cloned voice fraud. Financial institutions and individuals must implement more sophisticated detection systems, as the combination of AI with social engineering and offline techniques proves especially dangerous by exploiting human psychology and bypassing traditional security measures.
abc11.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2025, scammers are expected to escalate their targeting of consumers' money and identities, with the Global Anti-Scam Alliance reporting over $1 trillion in losses during 2024. Key emerging threats include AI-generated scams creating increasingly realistic fake websites and impersonation content, cryptocurrency investment scams using manipulated websites to simulate earnings, and text-based impersonation scams posing as job recruiters, banks, or family members—all made harder to detect as AI improves grammar and personalization. The FBI advises consumers to avoid quick reactions, scrutinize images for imperfections, and never send money via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or cash apps, as
co.lincoln.or.us
· 2025-12-08
This educational tip sheet warns that scams increase at the start of the year through emails, texts, and phone calls, often impersonating legitimate agencies and threatening immediate payment via gift cards, Bitcoin, or money orders. The advice emphasizes verifying agency legitimacy through independent contact information lookup, bookmarking official websites, avoiding suspicious links, and remembering that legitimate agencies will not request passwords or demand payment through non-traditional methods. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office specifically clarifies it does not contact people about jury duty or solicit payments by phone or unconventional payment types.
rotary.org
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost a record $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with impostor scams and email impersonations being increasingly common threats to individuals and organizations like Rotary clubs. Scammers are leveraging artificial intelligence tools and multiple communication channels (text, email, social media) to impersonate trusted contacts and request money, making fraud harder to detect and investigate. To protect yourself and your network, verify suspicious requests through alternative contact methods, report fraud promptly, and share alerts with your community, as most fraud goes unpunished and victims rarely recover their money.
10news.com
· 2025-12-08
A San Diego family's two-year effort to pass legislation protecting elderly victims of financial scams ended when Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill in 2024, citing concerns about mandatory transaction holds potentially delaying legitimate transactions. The family's push was motivated by William Bortz, an 80-year-old who lost nearly $700,000 in a fake Amazon purchase scheme, with his bank failing to question the suspicious wire transfers despite decades of patronage. Despite the veto, the family and former state senator Bill Dodd plan to reintroduce similar legislation to address the growing threat of financial elder abuse.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued consumer alerts on travel club and health club memberships as part of her 2024 holiday scam campaign, warning consumers to carefully review contracts before signing, understand cancellation and refund policies, and avoid long-term prepaid agreements that may result in financial loss. The guidance recommends consumers budget carefully, inquire about additional fees, request month-to-month payment options when possible, and review all contract terms including fine print before committing to memberships.
dps.iowa.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Grandparent Scam Warning - Iowa (January 3, 2025)**
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued a warning about a resurgence of grandparent scams targeting older Iowans, in which fraudsters impersonate grandchildren in distress (claiming accidents, hospitalization, or jail) and request money sent via wire transfer, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrency. The scammers often use social media information to build credibility and may pose as supporting figures like attorneys or police officers, with money typically transferred abroad and difficult to recover. Authorities recommend verifying caller identity through trusted family contacts, resisting pressure to act quickly, and reporting suspicious calls
westerniowatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The Iowa Attorney General's Office and Department of Public Safety issued a warning about a resurgent wave of "grandparent scams" targeting older Iowans throughout the state. In these scams, criminals pose as grandchildren claiming to be in accidents, jailed, or stranded abroad, then request money that is wired abroad and rarely recovered. Authorities recommend verifying caller identity through independent contact with family members, resisting pressure to act quickly, and reporting suspicious calls to local law enforcement and the Iowa Attorney General's Office at 1.888.777.4590.
webwire.com
· 2025-12-08
Barclays' 2024 research found that one in five British consumers fell victim to a scam in the past year, with 93 percent occurring online, while investment scams generated the highest financial losses (averaging £15,564 per claim and representing one-third of total claim value) despite being only 4 percent of reported incidents. Purchase scams were most common by volume (74 percent of claims), with fake delivery, HMRC, and "Hello Mum" WhatsApp scams ranking as the top three most encountered scams. The research indicates that 52 percent of Britons feel overwhelmed by evolving scam tactics, with 75 percent
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio highlighted its 2024 elder fraud prosecutions as part of the Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiatives, noting that senior citizens lose billions annually to schemes exploiting their trust. Notable cases included a caregiver who forged power of attorney documents and stole $46,064 from a nursing home resident, a Ponzi scheme that defrauded 72 investors of $8.5 million, and various impersonation and money-mule schemes targeting elderly victims, with sentences ranging from 16 months to 37 months in prison and restitution orders totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
desmoinesregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Iowa is experiencing a wave of "grandparent scams" targeting elderly residents, in which scammers impersonate grandchildren claiming to be in accidents, hospitalized, arrested, or stranded abroad to pressure grandparents into sending money. The scammers use social media information and may impersonate police, attorneys, or doctors to add credibility, with funds typically transferred abroad making them nearly impossible to trace. Iowa's Attorney General recommends victims hang up and verify claims with trusted family members, avoid acting quickly or in secret, and never wire money or provide banking information over the phone.