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highlandcountypress.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Ohio residents lost over $150 million to financial scams, with those age 60 and older accounting for $3.4 billion in losses nationally according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. The Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Securities highlights rising threats including romance scams, cryptocurrency schemes, and precious metals fraud, advising consumers to investigate investment opportunities thoroughly, verify credentials through third-party sources, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement and the SEC.
money.com
· 2025-12-08
Young job seekers, particularly students seeking remote work, are being targeted in "money mule" scams where fraudsters trick them into transferring stolen money through their bank accounts, digital wallets, or cryptocurrency accounts. These scams often originate from lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams, and unwitting participants can face identity theft and potential criminal charges for money laundering. The Justice Department took action against over 3,000 money mules in the past year, with criminal charges brought against more than 20 serious offenders, including a case involving three people charged for recruiting college students to launder approximately $7 million from elderly tech fraud victims over three years.
lfpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams involve fraudsters posing as romantic interests online to manipulate victims into sending money, personal information, or cryptocurrency, often citing emergencies or investment opportunities. Recent cases in Ontario have resulted in significant losses, including one victim losing over $2 million and a Toronto woman losing $450,000; nationally, nearly 800 Canadians lost almost $42 million to romance scams in 2023, with one in four victims in their 60s. Protection strategies include avoiding sharing personal or banking information with online strangers, refusing to invest in unfamiliar platforms, and being wary of people who confess love quickly or consistently make excuses to avoid meeting in person.
khou.com
· 2025-12-08
A 92-year-old World War II veteran in Houston lost over $300,000 to a fraudulent investment scheme operated by Ternion Group International LLC, a fake "Christian" company that promised high returns on construction and job training projects but never delivered any funds. Five defendants from Florida and Alabama were arrested and charged with wire fraud and conspiracy, with one defendant allegedly manipulating the victim into changing his will and granting power of attorney. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elderly Americans lost over $3.4 billion to fraud, with the FBI reporting an 11% increase in elder fraud losses compared to 2022, and the DOJ charging 16 defendants in April 2024 connected to a scam defrauding hundreds of seniors. Common schemes include tech support fraud, government impersonation, and "grandparent scams" where perpetrators use spoofed phone numbers to impersonate distressed relatives or officials, convincing victims to wire money. To mitigate losses, experts recommend regular elder check-ins with financial account monitoring, restricting wire transfers by amount or location, and implementing verbal verification protocols before funds are transferre
collins.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Kyrsten Sinema introduced a bipartisan resolution that unanimously passed the Senate to designate May 15, 2024, as "National Senior Fraud Awareness Day." According to FBI data, seniors lost over $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023—an 11% increase from 2022—through various schemes including tech support, romance, and cryptocurrency scams. The resolution aims to raise awareness and help protect seniors' savings from increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 37-year-old pregnant woman in Navi Mumbai, India lost over Rs 54 lakh (approximately $65,000 USD) in a work-from-home scam between May 7-10, after fraudsters promised payment for rating companies and restaurants but disappeared after she made multiple advance payments. The Navi Mumbai cyber police registered a case against four unidentified individuals under the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act, and the incident highlights the dangers of online scams targeting those seeking remote income opportunities. The article advises verifying company legitimacy through research, avoiding unsolicited work-from-home offers on social media, never paying upfront fees, and being skeptical of
tech.hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 37-year-old woman in Navi Mumbai lost ₹54 lakh in an online investment scam between May 7-10, after being lured with promises of freelance work rating restaurants and subsequently coerced into transferring funds with false assurances of high returns. The victim reported the fraud to cyber police, and a case was registered against four unidentified perpetrators. The incident highlights the importance of verifying job opportunities through established platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed, avoiding unfamiliar links, and refraining from sharing sensitive information with unknown online contacts.
floridatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida opinion piece highlights the prevalence of elder fraud targeting Space Coast seniors, featuring the case of 80-year-old Judy Kirk who nearly fell victim to a tech support scam demanding $25,000. According to FBI data, seniors over 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, with Florida ranking second nationally; common scams affecting state residents include tech support, investment, romance, gift card, and roofing schemes. The article emphasizes that while Kirk avoided financial loss by sensing something wrong at the last moment, many of her peers were successfully scammed, underscoring the need for elder awareness and vigilance.
idahobusinessreview.com
· 2025-12-08
The Idaho Department of Finance warned the public about a sophisticated precious metals scam targeting primarily senior citizens, in which scammers convince victims their identity or finances have been compromised, then direct them to purchase gold or other precious metals and hand them over to couriers posing as government or financial officials. According to FBI data, victims lost over $55 million to this scam in the last eight months of 2023 alone. The department advises people to distrust requests to purchase physical precious metals for government or business purposes and to report suspected fraud to local authorities and the FBI.
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Houston Field Office reported a concerning 400% increase in elder scams since 2021, with victims losing $1.2 billion in 2023, including cases where elderly people lose life savings, retirement funds, and homes. Five individuals were arrested for defrauding a 92-year-old World War II veteran out of $300,000 through Ternion Group International LLC, a fraudulent investment scheme that promised $13 million returns and involved establishing power of attorney and creating legal documents to control the victim's assets. The FBI emphasizes that elder fraud involves grooming victims to build trust relationships and advises victims to contact their financial institutions and law enforcement immediately.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida announced a Money Mule Initiative in partnership with the FBI, Secret Service, and FDIC-OIG to identify, disrupt, and prosecute networks that facilitate fraud schemes targeting older Americans, including lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams. Money mules—individuals who receive and transfer stolen funds—are recruited either as unwitting victims of scams or through fake work-at-home job offers, and law enforcement is pursuing criminal prosecution against those knowingly assisting fraudsters, with recent cases involving defendants laundering between $1.5 million and $9.5 million in fraud proceeds.
secretservice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, in partnership with the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and FDIC Office of Inspector General, launched the Money Mule Initiative to identify and prosecute individuals who transfer stolen funds from fraud victims to international criminals. The initiative targets money mule networks that facilitate various scams affecting older Americans, including lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams, with some money mules unknowingly recruited as victims themselves or through fake work-at-home job offers. Law enforcement has brought criminal charges against multiple defendants, including cases involving multi-continent money laundering schemes and bank impersonation plots targeting small business owners.
tribtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scams targeting American seniors increased 11% with reported losses reaching $3.4 billion, according to the FBI's annual Elder Fraud Report. Tech-support scams were the most common type, while investment scams resulted in the largest financial losses; Ohio ranked eighth nationally in senior scam complaints with losses exceeding $64 million. The article recommends seniors educate themselves about common scams, verify suspicious requests with trusted contacts, and avoid high-pressure situations involving gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two Florida and Michigan residents were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an international fraud conspiracy that defrauded senior citizens of millions of dollars. The scheme involved fake tech support warnings that led victims to surrender cash, wire transfers, and gift cards through various ruses, including impersonation of federal agents and false claims of compromised bank accounts; White was sentenced to 97 months and ordered to pay $3.2 million in restitution, while McNamara received 51 months and must pay $693,073 in restitution. One West Michigan victim lost $398,000 to the conspiracy, which operated with scammers based in India and used U.S.-based oper
michigansthumb.com
· 2025-12-08
McKhaela McNamara (Flint, Michigan) and Jmyla White (Florida) were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an international wire fraud conspiracy targeting senior citizens across multiple states, with McNamara receiving 51 months and ordered to pay $693,073 in restitution, while White received 97 months and was ordered to pay $3.2 million. The scam began with fake virus warnings on victims' computers, prompting them to call numbers where perpetrators impersonated tech company representatives or federal agents, then convinced victims to withdraw cash, make wire transfers, or purchase gift cards through various ruses involving compromised bank accounts, infected computers, or criminal
vindy.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scams targeting American seniors increased 11% with reported losses reaching $3.4 billion, according to the FBI's Elder Fraud Report. Tech-support scams were the most common type, while investment scams resulted in the largest financial losses; Ohio ranked eighth nationally for senior scam complaints with residents losing over $64 million. The article advises seniors to educate themselves about scams, avoid high-pressure situations involving payments, and consult trusted family members before sending money.
news9live.com
· 2025-12-08
A 37-year-old woman from Navi Mumbai lost Rs 54 lakh in four days after being lured by a work-from-home scam promising payment for rating companies and restaurants; she transferred money to multiple accounts to secure the work before the fraudsters stopped responding. The article advises potential victims to research company credentials, avoid job offers on social media, never pay upfront fees for genuine job opportunities, and be skeptical of promises of high returns.
indicanews.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman of Indian origin was arrested on May 9 for her role in a multi-state gold bar fraud scheme that defrauded a Florida man of $1.5 million. The scam involved perpetrators posing as federal agents who convinced victims to purchase gold bullion and surrender it under the pretense of secure storage.
foxsanantonio.com
· 2025-12-08
Texas ranks third nationally for elder fraud, with 7,035 complaints from people over 60 resulting in losses exceeding $278 million in 2023, involving scams such as phishing, romance schemes, and cryptocurrency fraud. The article features Dennis and Joy Shockey, an elderly couple who lost nearly $170,000 to a pop-up computer scam and recovered only about one-third through crowdfunding, illustrating how swift action is critical for potential fund recovery. Experts note that elderly Texans are particularly vulnerable targets, with scammers often funneling stolen money through fake accounts near the Mexican border.
localnews8.com
· 2025-12-08
Idaho's Department of Finance is warning residents about an uptick in precious metals scams where fraudsters convince victims their identities or accounts have been compromised, then direct them to purchase gold or precious metals and hand them over to fake couriers posing as government officials or financial professionals. According to the FBI, victims lost over $55 million to these cash and precious metals courier scams during the last eight months of 2023, with seniors being disproportionately targeted. The advisory urges Idahoans to be skeptical of unsolicited requests to purchase precious metals for "protection" and to report suspected scams immediately to authorities.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are increasingly using AI technology to create audio deepfakes by cloning victims' voices from recorded phone calls and online sources, then using these replicas to impersonate the victims and extort money from their family members or conduct romance and investment scams. The sophistication of generative AI systems has made these voice cloning frauds difficult to distinguish from authentic communications, prompting warnings from major banks and government authorities. Experts advise people to be cautious when answering suspicious calls and sharing personal information online, as even brief voice samples can be used to train AI systems to replicate their voices convincingly.
ksal.com
· 2025-12-08
According to 2022 FBI and FTC data analyzed by VPNPro, Kansas experienced $24.4 million in losses to elderly fraud affecting an average of 68.6 victims per 100,000 residents aged 60 and over. Nationally, investment scams caused the largest losses ($404 million), followed by business imposters ($271 million) and romance scams ($240 million), with seniors being 517% more likely to fall victim to tech support scams than younger adults. Online fraud and bank transfers were the most common contact methods and payment methods respectively, resulting in $564 million and $570 million in losses to elderly victims in 2022.
cachevalleydaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers stole over $3.4 billion from Americans over 60 last year, with the FBI receiving more than 100,000 complaints and nearly 6,000 victims losing over $100,000 each. The most common schemes include tech support scams, romance fraud, investment fraud, and account-compromise scams where criminals impersonate officials and either pressure victims to transfer funds electronically or arrange in-person courier pickups of cash and precious metals. The FBI warns that families should conduct "tech check-ins" with elderly parents and implement preventive measures, as scammers increasingly use sophisticated and brazen tactics that can leave victims financially devastated.
kvnutalk.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scammers stole over $3.4 billion from older Americans through increasingly sophisticated schemes, with the FBI receiving more than 100,000 complaints from victims over 60, nearly 6,000 of whom lost over $100,000 each. Common tactics include tech support scams, romance fraud, investment schemes, and impersonation of officials who convince victims their accounts are compromised and direct them to move funds to secret accounts or arrange in-person courier pickups of cash or gold. The FBI warns that losses have risen sharply since the pandemic as organized criminal enterprises target vulnerable older adults, and recommends grown children conduct "tech check-ins" with aging parents to
news4sanantonio.com
· 2025-12-08
Texas ranks third in the nation for elder fraud, with 7,035 complaints from seniors over 60 resulting in losses exceeding $278 million in 2023, according to the FBI report. Scams include phishing, romance schemes, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency theft, with one couple in their 80s losing nearly $200,000 through a pop-up computer scam. Experts note that quick reporting is critical for potential fund recovery, though victims like the Shockeys have had limited success retrieving losses.
wxyz.com
· 2025-12-08
Two elderly Troy, Michigan residents lost over $1 million combined to online scams between October 2023 and February 2024—an 81-year-old man lost $460,000 to a fake gold investment scheme, and another senior lost $700,000 to a Publishers Clearing House tax scam. Police are investigating both cases and note these scams are becoming more frequent, with scammers using convincing tactics, urgency, and increasingly AI-generated voices to pressure victims into sending money or personal information. Experts recommend seniors verify requests with family members, be cautious of rushed decisions, and trust their instincts when something feels suspicious.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
New Zealand's retail banks are implementing a Confirmation of Payee (CoP) system to reduce fraud by requiring customers to verify that account names match account numbers before making payments online. The system will provide match, close-match, or no-match notifications at the point of payment and is set to roll out by end of year, though it has limitations and won't prevent romance, investment, or online shopping scams where fraudsters use social engineering tactics.
7news.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old Sydney woman named Monica discovered that her photos from her public Instagram account had been used to create a fake Tinder dating profile under the name "Tayla," which remained active for approximately six months and matched with multiple users. Monica reported the fraudulent account to Tinder and sought help from friends and online safety groups, though the fake profile persisted despite multiple removal requests, leaving her concerned about potential romance scams or real-life encounters with those who had matched with the imposter account. The incident highlights the risks of maintaining public social media profiles and demonstrates how easily personal images can be misappropriated for dating app fraud schemes.
thehackernews.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Department of Justice charged two Chinese nationals, Daren Li and Yicheng Zhang, with orchestrating a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scam that laundered at least $73 million through shell companies and international bank accounts. The victims were deceived into transferring millions to U.S. bank accounts, with funds then routed through the Bahamas and converted to cryptocurrency, and both defendants face up to 20 years in prison per count. Pig butchering scams typically exploit lonely or wealthy targets via social media and dating apps, with the scheme often operating from scam factories in Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar where victims are trafficked and coerced into participation
kunc.org
· 2025-12-08
Scammers across Colorado are using phone calls, texts, and emails impersonating law enforcement, the IRS, tech support, and other trusted entities to defraud victims of thousands of dollars. In 2023, Colorado reported $188 million in losses across 11,000+ victims, ranking 7th nationally per capita, with Summit County Sheriff's Office reporting 80 fraud cases so far this year totaling tens of thousands in losses. Authorities advise remaining skeptical of urgent requests, offers that seem too good to be true, and unsolicited contact, and recommend reporting suspicious activity to StopFraudColorado.gov or IC3.gov, noting that once funds are
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
**The Bre-X Minerals Gold Scam (1993-1997)**
Canadian mining company Bre-X Minerals perpetrated a massive fraud by falsely claiming to have discovered a huge gold deposit in the Indonesian jungle, eventually deceiving investors into pouring billions into the company. The stock price soared from C$0.20 to C$280, and the company was valued at C$6 billion, with many Canadian small-town residents investing their life savings before the fraud was exposed in 1997. Chief geologist Michael de Guzman died under mysterious circumstances in a 1997 helicopter crash shortly before the scheme's collapse, with official
gigazine.net
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
On May 17, 2024, U.S. authorities arrested two Chinese nationals—Darren Li and Yichen Zhang—for laundering approximately $73 million (11 billion yen) through shell companies connected to "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scams, a romance fraud scheme originating in China where perpetrators build trust with victims before directing them to fraudulent investments. The suspects operated an international syndicate that funneled victim funds through multiple bank accounts and crypto platforms, with cryptocurrency wallets in the scheme containing over $341 million; they face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on money laundering charges.
blockonomi.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. authorities arrested two Chinese nationals, Daren Li and Yicheng Zhang, for orchestrating a transnational money laundering scheme that funneled over $73 million from "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams through U.S. financial institutions and converted the funds into USDT (Tether) tokens. The defendants directed co-conspirators to establish shell company bank accounts where victims were deceived into depositing millions, which were then dispersed to accounts in the Bahamas and converted to cryptocurrency. If convicted on money laundering charges, each defendant faces up to 140 years in prison.
bibbvoice.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines six major types of financial fraud—check fraud, romance scams, job scams, utility bill scams, investment scams, and QR code scams—that target vulnerable individuals through increasingly sophisticated methods. First US Bank recommends protective measures including account monitoring, positive pay enrollment, social media caution, caller verification, and consulting with financial professionals to combat these threats. The bank emphasizes that victims should never send money to strangers online, verify job offers and investment opportunities, and always use official channels for payments.
winonapost.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** U.S. Department of Justice - Elder Fraud Overview
Millions of elderly Americans lose over $3 billion annually to financial fraud schemes including romance, tech support, grandparent, government impersonation, sweepstakes, home repair, and caregiver scams. Seniors are frequently targeted because they tend to be trusting, have savings and good credit, and are often reluctant to report fraud due to shame or concerns about losing independence. The DOJ recommends protection strategies including recognizing scam attempts, verifying contact information online, resisting pressure to act quickly, avoiding unsolicited offers, never sharing personal information with unverified sources, maintaining updated security
techcrunch.com
· 2025-12-08
On Tuesday, major tech companies including Match Group, Meta, and Coinbase launched "Tech Against Scams," a coalition aimed at combating online fraud across dating apps, social media, and cryptocurrency platforms. Romance scams cost users more than any other fraud type as of 2019, while social media scams caused $770 million in losses in 2021 and investment scams exceeded $3.8 billion in losses in 2022; the coalition plans to improve fraud detection, user education, and data-sharing between platforms to address these issues.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, UK consumers lost a record £85.9 million to purchase scams, with 156,000 cases recorded where victims paid for goods or services that never materialized, according to UK Finance. Purchase scams accounted for approximately two-thirds of the 232,429 authorized push payment (APP) fraud cases reported, with total APP losses reaching £459.7 million; romance scams also hit a record high at £36.5 million lost. UK Finance warned that scammers would likely target consumers seeking tickets to major 2023 events like the Olympics and Taylor Swift concerts, with Lloyds Bank estimating over £1 million already lost to frau
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Major technology companies including Meta, Coinbase, Match Group, Ripple, Kraken, and Gemini announced the formation of "Tech Against Scams," a coalition aimed at collaborating to prevent and disrupt online fraud schemes such as romance scams, crypto scams, and "pig butchering" scams. The coalition will share threat intelligence, best practices, and consumer education strategies to identify and combat evolving financial scams that target users across multiple platforms. This cross-industry effort addresses the challenge that scammers operate across multiple services, requiring coordinated action that no single company can achieve alone.
itechpost.com
· 2025-12-08
**Cryptocurrency scams targeting seniors have become a billion-dollar crisis, with victims over 60 losing $3.4 billion in 2023—including $1.6 billion specifically through cryptocurrency transactions—according to FBI data.** Common schemes include investment fraud, romance scams, and tech support impersonation, where scammers exploit older adults' unfamiliarity with digital assets to pressure them into sending money via crypto platforms. Companies like Lionsgate Network are developing blockchain forensics technology to trace and freeze stolen crypto assets and recover funds through legal channels.
noozhawk.com
· 2025-12-08
Brett Edward Lovett, a 53-year-old Camarillo man, was convicted in March 2018 of 29 felony counts including investment fraud, elder theft, grand theft, and money laundering for defrauding at least five victims of over $500,000 between 2010 and 2016. Lovett befriended vulnerable individuals, including elderly members of a Carpinteria church, and persuaded them to invest their money with false promises of high returns, leaving some victims homeless and destitute. He faced sentencing in June 2018 with prosecutors requesting over 28 years in prison, following a 15-month investigation by the California Department
dav.org
· 2025-12-08
U.S. veterans reported $350 million in fraud losses in 2023, representing a $60 million increase from 2022, with over 74,000 fraud reports and a median loss of $577 per victim according to FTC data. The Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) Act (H.R. 6452) was introduced to address this growing problem by establishing a dedicated scam and fraud evasion officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs to help veterans identify, report, and prevent fraud. Veterans are twice as likely as the general population to fall victim to scams including identity theft, loans, and investment fraud, making this centralize
gulflive.com
· 2025-12-08
Florida's seniors lost nearly $300 million to scams in 2023, with the state ranking second nationally for elder fraud complaints. Major schemes included investment fraud ($90 million), tech support scams ($51 million), and romance scams ($40 million), often resulting in devastating consequences such as foreclosed homes and emptied retirement accounts. Nationally, people over 60 lost approximately $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, representing an 11% increase from the previous year.
vanhollen.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Senators Van Hollen and Warnock introduced bipartisan legislation, the Empowering States to Protect Seniors from Bad Actors Act, to combat financial fraud targeting seniors, who lose approximately $28 billion annually to financial exploitation. The bill would establish a $10 million annual grant program administered by the SEC to fund state regulators' investigation, prosecution, technology, training, and public awareness efforts against senior financial fraud. The legislation is supported by numerous financial industry and consumer protection organizations.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
Online scams are rapidly increasing in India, with common types including phishing, fake investment schemes, social media fraud, and UPI payment fraud that trick victims into revealing personal information or transferring money. The article provides guidance for victims: immediately stop communicating with scammers, notify your bank or payment provider to block accounts, change passwords and enable two-factor authentication, and file a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell or National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal to maximize chances of money recovery.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Pamela Mangum and her husband lost $70,000 to an investment scam that began when Mangum clicked on a Bitcoin mining link posted by a family member (whose account had been hacked) and was contacted by a fraudster posing as an investment coach. Over six months, Mangum made deposits through Bitcoin ATMs and the scammers also created unauthorized Cash App accounts using her personal information obtained from an online investment profile, draining additional funds before she discovered the scheme when attempting to withdraw her purported $159,638 balance. The scammer, believed to be operating from Nigeria, exploited Mangum's information to fraudulently access her bank accounts, resulting in significant
itechpost.com
· 2025-12-08
**Cryptocurrency scams targeting seniors have become a billion-dollar problem, with victims over 60 losing $3.4 billion in 2023—including $1.6 billion specifically through cryptocurrency transactions like Bitcoin and Ethereum.** Common fraud schemes include investment scams and romance/tech support impersonation scams that exploit seniors' unfamiliarity with digital assets and manipulate them into sending money via crypto platforms. Companies like Lionsgate Network are working to combat the issue through blockchain forensics and asset recovery, while emphasizing that public awareness and education in senior communities are critical to prevention.
thecyberexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Malachi Mullings, 31, from Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering and conspiracy related to a fraud network that defrauded over $4.5 million from victims through business email compromise attacks, romance scams, and healthcare benefits fraud, including $310,000 diverted from a state Medicaid program and $260,000 from romance scam victims. Mullings was part of a 10-person conspiracy that caused more than $11.1 million in total losses by targeting Medicare, Medicaid programs, private health insurers, and vulnerable individuals. FBI data shows elder fraud complaints increased 14% in 2023
cbs12.com
· 2025-12-08
A Miami mother and daughter were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a $500,000 elder fraud scheme in which they stole personal information from elderly clients and used it to fraudulently purchase vehicles and obtain loans. Aisladys Diaz, a home health aide, obtained the identifiable information from two elderly residents under her care and shared it with her daughter Ailensy Buron Diaz and three accomplices, who then used the stolen information to buy over $500,000 in vehicles and apply for credit cards and pandemic relief loans. Aisladys Diaz received a sentence of four years and four months while her daughter received four years in prison, with both subject to three
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Major technology companies including Coinbase, Match Group, Meta, Ripple, and Gemini formed "Tech Against Scams," a coalition addressing the surge in romance scams and cryptocurrency investment fraud. Scammers use fake identities on dating apps and social media to build trust with victims before pressuring them into cryptocurrency investments and stealing their funds, with the Department of Justice recently uncovering a single romance scam involving over $73 million in laundered assets. The coalition will share threat intelligence, best practices, and consumer education to combat these increasingly prevalent scams across digital platforms.