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in General Elder Fraud
democratandchronicle.com
· 2025-12-07
A national poll found that three in four adults ages 50-80 experienced scam attempts over the past two years, with approximately 30% of respondents falling victim and losing money to fraud. The article identifies common scams targeting seniors in Western New York that attempt to gain unauthorized access to their bank accounts. The data underscores the widespread nature of elder fraud affecting thousands of older adults in the region.
vice.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Sapporo, Japan, lost approximately 1 million yen ($6,750) to a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut in distress, claiming he needed money for oxygen while stranded in space. The scammer initiated contact via social media in July and gradually built trust before requesting funds, exploiting the victim's loneliness and the elderly population's particular vulnerability to fraud schemes. Japan's aging demographic makes it especially susceptible to various romance and impersonation scams, including fake celebrity suitors and fabricated emergency situations.
9news.com.au
· 2025-12-07
A 23-year-old aged care worker in Rothwell, Queensland was charged with 113 offences, including 110 counts of fraud, after allegedly stealing bank details from four elderly residents at her care facility and using them to make unauthorized personal purchases between October and June. The investigation revealed a pattern of online and in-person fraudulent transactions, and the suspect was scheduled to appear in Redcliffe Magistrates Court.
7news.com.au
· 2025-12-07
A 23-year-old aged care worker in Queensland was arrested for allegedly obtaining bank details from four elderly residents and using them to make unauthorized personal purchases between October 2024 and June 2025. The fraud was discovered when family members flagged suspicious transactions, leading to an investigation that uncovered a pattern of online and in-person purchases; the worker was charged with 110 counts of fraud along with related offenses. Queensland Police emphasized that exploitation of elderly community members will not be tolerated and urged other potential victims to report similar incidents.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
Julio Cesar Montero Pinzon, a senior leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), and his half-sister Griselda Margarita Arredondo Pinzon were indicted for operating an international fraud scheme targeting American timeshare owners in Mexico for over a decade, defrauding thousands of victims. The scheme involved false promises requiring upfront payments from timeshare owners who were told they could sell or rent their properties, with the proceeds used to fund the cartel's terrorist activities and drug trafficking operations. Both defendants are Mexican nationals and remain at large; they face charges including wire fraud conspiracy, money
nbcmiami.com
· 2025-12-07
Ammie Padilla, a 53-year-old accounting contractor working for Elder Solutions in Lauderhill, was arrested and faces 42 charges including exploitation of the elderly, fraud, forgery, and larceny after allegedly misappropriating over $100,000 from elderly clients whose finances she managed and for whom she held power of attorney. The judge set her bond at $210,000 with GPS monitoring and house arrest, and authorities are seeking additional victims to come forward.
masslive.com
· 2025-12-07
The FBI warns of a significant surge in gold bar and bulk cash courier scams targeting older adults, where fraudsters use grandparent, government impersonation, or tech support schemes to convince victims to hand over valuables to in-person couriers. From 2023 to 2025, FBI Boston documented 103 instances resulting in over $26 million in losses (98% of victims over age 60), while nationwide figures reached 1,737 cases with approximately $186 million in losses. The FBI advises the public never to purchase precious metals at a government's request, avoid posting personal information online, and refrain from allowing unknown individuals access to computers or personal data.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-07
During disasters, older adults are vulnerable to recovery scams, including government impersonators fraudulently offering assistance grants while requesting money or financial information. The article provides guidance on disaster preparedness, recommending that people use official resources like Ready.gov and DisasterAssistance.gov, avoid unsolicited government contacts asking for payment, and report suspected fraud to the FTC.
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-07
A 79-year-old Wilkes-Barre woman lost $25,000 after receiving a fake computer warning about a compromised bank account and being directed to transfer funds to a Bitcoin account controlled by an unidentified scammer. The victim called the provided phone number, followed the suspect's instructions to withdraw cash and use a Bitcoin ATM, and completed the transfer before realizing the fraud. The case remains under investigation, with law enforcement noting the difficulty in tracing cryptocurrency transactions.
kmvt.com
· 2025-12-07
This article does not contain information about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. It appears to be a local news digest covering voting information, retail updates, and a police incident. No summary for the Elderus database is applicable.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Two Athens residents fell victim to romance scams in August 2024, with a 69-year-old losing $294,000 and a 71-year-old losing $2,000 to women they met online, prompting Adult Protective Services investigations. The Athens Community Council on Aging responded by hosting a "Scam Jam" workshop on September 24, 2024, featuring experts in financial security and law enforcement to help seniors and families recognize romance fraud warning signs. Romance scams, where criminals create fake online identities to gain victims' trust and money, represent a growing threat to older adults nationwide, with elder Americans reporting over 3,318 sextortion complaints in
kmvt.com
· 2025-12-07
The Idaho Department of Finance held a free educational seminar on September 25 in Twin Falls to help seniors and their families recognize and protect themselves from scams. The presentation focused on current fraud schemes, particularly romance scams targeting seniors, which have resulted in losses ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 per victim, and provided information on resources available to those who have been defrauded.
onlineathens.com
· 2025-12-07
Two Athens residents fell victim to romance scams in August 2025, with a 69-year-old losing $294,000 and a 71-year-old losing $2,000 to individuals they believed were romantic partners. Adult Protective Services referred both cases for police investigation, prompting the Council on Aging to offer a workshop to help older adults recognize and avoid romance scam tactics.
wealthmanagement.com
· 2025-12-07
Since 2024, seniors in the United States have lost over $1 billion to increasingly sophisticated scams that employ technology, psychology, and artificial intelligence to target victims. Common schemes include tech support hoaxes, fake bank fraud calls, and government impersonations, now enhanced by AI tools such as voice cloning and personalized phishing that make fraudulent contact more convincing. The article recommends key defenses including verifying caller identity through independent phone numbers, never sharing sensitive information, remaining skeptical of urgent demands, and reporting suspicious activity to financial institutions and the Federal Trade Commission.
knue.com
· 2025-12-07
According to a Federal Trade Commission report, young adults aged 20-29 in Texas are losing more money to scams than seniors aged 70-79, contrary to common assumptions. Young Texans are frequently targeted by phishing scams, fake job listings, and rental scams, particularly when they are time-pressured while searching for employment or housing. The report recommends that all age groups avoid sharing personal information online and verify the legitimacy of requests before sending money.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
Shirley Waller, 43, of St. Louis County, Missouri, was sentenced to 93 months in prison (78 months for fraud crimes consecutive to 15 months for firearm possession) and ordered to repay $313,711 to victims. Waller acted as a "money mule" for overseas scammers, receiving over 193 packages of cash at her home from victims of online fraud schemes, including a 71-year-old woman who lost $35,000 in a romance scam, and she also committed pandemic loan fraud ($19,235) and mortgage fraud ($196,000). The government estimates the overseas fraud ring stole over $1
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-07
The FBI warned that scammers are creating fake websites that impersonate the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) to steal consumers' financial and personal information. The IC3 does not partner with law firms or cryptocurrency services to recover funds, and the FBI recommends consumers verify they are on the legitimate site by typing www.ic3.gov directly into their browser and checking for the ".gov" domain. Victims should report encounters with spoofed IC3 sites to their local FBI field office or through the official IC3 website.
wgnsradio.com
· 2025-12-07
A Nashville caregiver, Eric Scott, was arrested in May following a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult under his care. Scott allegedly used the victim's bank card and personal information between May 26-27 to make fraudulent withdrawals and purchases. He was charged with theft over $1,000, fraudulent use of a credit card over $1,000, identity theft, and financial exploitation of a vulnerable person over $1,000, with bond set at $17,500.
statehousenews.com
· 2025-12-07
Between 2023 and May 2025, the FBI's Boston Division documented 103 courier-based fraud schemes targeting elderly residents, resulting in over $26 million in losses, with 59 Massachusetts victims accounting for $18.6 million of that total. Nearly all victims were over 60 years old and were deceived through "grandparent," "government impersonation," or "tech support" scams that manipulated them into withdrawing cash or gold bars for a third-party courier to collect. The FBI reports this is part of a national trend affecting 1,737 victims with approximately $186.2 million in losses and urges the public to educate elderly relatives
wcvb.com
· 2025-12-07
Between 2023 and May 2025, the FBI's Boston Division documented 103 courier-based fraud schemes targeting elderly victims, resulting in over $26 million in losses, with 59 Massachusetts residents losing $18.6 million collectively. Nearly all victims (98%) were over 60 years old and were deceived through grandparent, government impersonation, or tech support scams that convinced them to hand over cash or gold bars to couriers posing as legitimate third parties. Nationally, the FBI documented at least 1,737 similar instances during this period with approximately $186.2 million in losses, and officials urge the public to educate elderly relatives about
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational article explains how fraudsters exploit social media platforms through fake accounts and purchased verification badges to deceive users. The piece outlines why social media is vulnerable to scams—including speed of information sharing, weakened verification systems, and users' tendency to lower their guard—and provides practical protective steps such as scrutinizing profiles before engagement, avoiding suspicious links, and using reverse image searches to verify authenticity.
cfax1070.com
· 2025-12-07
A 28-year-old Quebec man, Karim Haddouche, has been convicted of defrauding four Vancouver Island seniors of over $43,000 through a grandparent scam where accomplices posed as arrested family members and bail bondspersons to collect cash from victims' homes. Haddouche pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud over $5,000 in September 2024 and was ordered to repay victims in full, with restitution currently being processed. His accomplice, Kelyanne Gagne, faced similar charges and was scheduled for a court appearance on September 29.
berawangnews.com
· 2025-12-07
An 85-year-old woman from the South Shore lost over $10,000 in an "Apple Security" scam after receiving a phone call from someone impersonating an Apple representative who claimed suspicious activity on her account and pressured her to act quickly. The scam exploits elderly individuals' trust and unfamiliarity with technology through urgency tactics, requests for personal information, and follow-up calls. Police recommend preventive measures including education about common scams, verification techniques (such as hanging up and calling official company numbers), avoiding sharing personal information over the phone, and using only official channels to access accounts.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
On September 11, an alert bank teller in Richmond, B.C., contacted police when an elderly customer withdrew a large sum of cash, preventing a phone scam from succeeding. Richmond RCMP intercepted the victim before he could purchase gift cards and discovered scammers had already transferred $26,000 from his account; the bank quickly reversed the transaction, restoring the funds. The incident highlights how vigilant financial institution staff can interrupt fraud schemes targeting seniors.
winknews.com
· 2025-12-07
An 89-year-old Lee County woman, Eileen Brice, lost nearly $13,000 to a phone scam in which she was tricked into confirming her account information to someone posing as a Citibank representative. Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier urged seniors to verify requests by contacting their banks directly rather than responding to unsolicited calls or texts, and emphasized that law enforcement is actively prosecuting scammers targeting seniors. Citibank has twice denied Brice's fraud claim but stated they are reopening her case for investigation.
klewtv.com
· 2025-12-07
Idaho enacted the "Report and Hold" law to protect seniors from fraud by allowing financial institutions to place temporary holds on suspicious transactions without employee liability for reporting. The legislation aims to disrupt fraud attempts early by enlisting banks and other institutions to identify and prevent suspicious activity targeting senior citizens.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
Kimberly Stamps, owner of a mass-mailing prize notice fraud scheme, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud after defrauding thousands of elderly and vulnerable consumers of over $15 million between 2012 and 2018. The scheme involved sending millions of fraudulent notices claiming victims had won large cash prizes if they paid $20-$50 fees, then inundating responsive victims with additional fraudulent mailings while delivering only worthless trinkets or sweepstakes reports. Stamps has been sentenced as the third conspirator to plead guilty, and the Justice Department urges seniors to disregard unsolicited prize notifications and contact the National Elder Fraud Hot
gloucestertimes.com
· 2025-12-07
The FBI's Boston Division reported a significant surge in elder fraud scams between 2023 and May 2025, documenting 103 instances where fraudsters used couriers to collect cash or gold bars from victims. Nearly all victims (98%) were over 60 years old, with Massachusetts residents accounting for 59 victims who lost a combined $18.6 million out of the $26 million total loss across the region. The scams typically involved fraudsters convincing elderly victims they were helping a family member or paying a surprise government debt.
wmur.com
· 2025-12-07
The FBI identified 15 victims in New Hampshire who lost over $4 million to courier and gold bar scams between 2023 and 2025, with officials believing actual losses are significantly higher due to underreporting. Scammers employed multiple tactics including posing as distressed family members, law enforcement, or government officials to pressure victims into sending cash or purchasing gold bars. The FBI reports a 50% increase in scam complaints statewide, with over 400 complaints and $16 million in losses reported in the previous year alone.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-07
An Ohio nursing home resident lost between $40,000-$55,000 to a romance scam conducted on TikTok by someone posing as "Sydney," who made excuses to avoid meeting in person while requesting escalating cash transfers and eventually asking him to open joint accounts under false pretenses. The victim, who died in summer, is one of numerous seniors targeted by similar schemes, as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned of increasing romance scams targeting widowed and divorced seniors; nationally, romance scams resulted in nearly 70,000 reported victims and $1.3 billion in losses in 2022.
latimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Abigail Ruvalcaba sold her home after being romance scammed by someone impersonating actor Steve Burton, who used AI-generated videos and promises of love to exploit her. According to the FTC, nearly 65,000 people reported romance scams in 2023 with losses totaling $1.14 billion, with scammers increasingly using deepfakes and AI to impersonate celebrities like Taylor Swift, Brad Pitt, and Keanu Reeves to defraud victims seeking romantic connection. Lawmakers have introduced the NO FAKES Act to protect individuals' voices and likenesses from AI-generated impersonation.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A woman named Abigail Ruvalcaba was deceived by a scammer impersonating actor Steve Burton through Facebook messages and phone calls, eventually selling her home to send money to the fraudster. Romance scams using celebrity impersonation have become increasingly prevalent and profitable, with the FTC reporting nearly 65,000 victims losing $1.14 billion in 2023, and artificial intelligence now enabling scammers to create deepfakes and mimic celebrities like Taylor Swift, Brad Pitt, and Keanu Reeves. Lawmakers have responded by introducing the NO FAKES Act to protect individuals' likenesses from unauthorized AI-generated recreations used in fraud schemes
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-07
A Stark County man in his 70s lost $60,000 over five years in a romance scam after connecting with someone on TikTok who posed as a woman seeking a relationship, despite never meeting in person. The scammer sent gift cards totaling 200 units while making promises to move in together, with little hope of recovery since the money was likely already dispersed. Authorities note that older adults are particularly vulnerable to romance scams due to loneliness and trustworthiness, and victims often experience significant emotional trauma alongside financial losses.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-07
Two U.S. senators are demanding that Match Group, the parent company of Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid, provide records of fraudulent activities on its platforms and explain its fraud prevention measures, expressing concern that the apps' algorithms are vulnerable to romance scams. Romance scams on dating apps reached a record high in 2022, with 70,000 Americans reporting $1.3 billion in collective losses, averaging $4,400 per victim, with older adults particularly targeted. The senators cited multiple FTC complaints alleging the company enabled fraud through its business practices and algorithmic design.
blufftonicon.com
· 2025-12-07
Citizens National Bank and Allen County Crime Victim Services are hosting a free educational seminar on October 2, 2025, to raise awareness about elder financial abuse prevention, featuring speakers from Adult Protective Services and the bank's risk management team. The event aims to address the millions of dollars lost annually by older adults to scams, dishonest caregivers, and fraud from trusted individuals, with many cases going unreported.
idahobusinessreview.com
· 2025-12-07
Idaho enacted House Bill 182 (the "Report and Hold" law) to protect seniors aged 65+ and vulnerable adults from financial exploitation by authorizing financial institutions to place temporary holds on suspicious transactions and report suspected fraud to law enforcement without fear of liability. The law covers a broad range of financial entities and encourages staff to identify red flags such as large withdrawals, irregular account activity, or signs of undue influence, while facilitating information sharing among institutions and state agencies to strengthen investigations.
inforum.com
· 2025-12-07
AARP of North Dakota is conducting statewide educational events led by former prosecutor Paul Greenwood to help seniors recognize and avoid scams and fraud. The campaign addresses common threats including caregiver exploitation and impersonation scams, with a major forum scheduled for September 25 at the Fargodome expected to draw over 450 attendees.
einpresswire.com
· 2025-12-07
Kimberly Stamps, an Arizona woman, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for operating a mass-mailing prize notice scheme that defrauded thousands of elderly and vulnerable consumers of over $15 million between 2012 and 2018. The scheme involved sending fraudulent notices claiming victims had won cash prizes, requiring fees of $20-$50 to claim their winnings, with victims receiving only worthless trinkets or sweepstakes reports instead. Stamps, who violated a prior postal service cease-and-desist order, is the third and final defendant to plead guilty in the conspiracy.
vicnews.com
· 2025-12-07
I cannot provide a summary of this content. This appears to be a newspaper website's homepage or navigation menu listing various article headlines and sections, rather than a specific article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. To create a summary for the Elderus database, please provide the full text of an actual article related to elder fraud, scams, or abuse.
thesylvaherald.com
· 2025-12-07
Thirteen individuals were arrested in a transnational elder fraud scheme that affected over 400 victims and caused more than $5 million in losses. These "emergency" or "grandparent" scams manipulate elderly victims by impersonating family members claiming to be in distress and requesting urgent financial assistance via payment apps or wire transfers, with perpetrators using social media research and increasingly sophisticated voice cloning technology to make their deceptions credible. To protect against these scams, victims should resist immediate action, verify stories directly with the actual family member, avoid sending money to unfamiliar payment methods, and contact police if they suspect fraudulent activity.
bostonherald.com
· 2025-12-07
Between 2023 and May 2025, the FBI's Boston Division documented 103 courier-based fraud schemes targeting elderly victims, resulting in over $26 million in losses, with 59 Massachusetts residents losing $18.6 million. Nearly all victims (98%) were over 60 years old, and the scams typically involved perpetrators posing as distressed family members, government officials, or tech support to pressure victims into purchasing gold bars or withdrawing cash for pickup by couriers. The FBI advises that the government never requests precious metals purchases and recommends victims report incidents to ic3.gov or contact the DOJ Elder Justice hotline at 1-833-
bostonherald.com
· 2025-12-07
Between 2023 and May 2025, the FBI's Boston Division documented 103 courier-based fraud schemes targeting elderly residents, resulting in over $26 million in losses, with Massachusetts victims (59 people, mostly over age 60) accounting for $18.6 million of that total. The scams typically impersonated family members, government officials, or tech support, convincing victims to withdraw cash or purchase gold bars for courier pickup. The FBI advises that legitimate government agencies never request gold purchases or large cash withdrawals, and encourages victims to report incidents immediately to ic3.gov or the DOJ Elder Justice hotline.
franklinobserver.town.news
· 2025-12-07
Between 2023 and May 2025, the FBI's Boston Division documented 103 courier-based fraud schemes targeting elderly residents, resulting in over $26 million in losses, with Massachusetts victims accounting for $18.6 million of that total. The scams typically involved fraudsters impersonating family members, government officials, or tech support representatives who convinced victims (98% over age 60) to either transfer funds to fake accounts or hand cash and gold to couriers sent to their homes. Nationally, the same period saw at least 1,737 similar courier fraud cases with approximately $186.2 million in documented losses, though the actual total is believed to be significantly higher.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
Manitoba RCMP investigated four "grandparent scams" targeting older adults in the Flin Flon area, where callers impersonated family members or lawyers claiming victims needed to send money urgently for bail or fines. Two victims lost thousands of dollars, while a third potential loss was intercepted; police emphasized that this scam variation is relatively new to northern Manitoba and urged residents to hang up and contact police directly rather than send money.
ladysmithchronicle.com
· 2025-12-07
I cannot provide a summary of this content. What you've shared is a website navigation menu and homepage listing from a news publication, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse.
To create a summary for the Elderus database, please provide an actual article or transcript that discusses a specific fraud case, scam, or elder abuse incident.
yourpickenscounty.com
· 2025-12-07
This article discusses how seniors are vulnerable to scams on neighborhood social media chat groups, where scammers exploit the false sense of security people feel when communicating with perceived neighbors. The piece emphasizes that while fraud against seniors continues to evolve, social media platforms present a controllable risk area where seniors can protect themselves by being cautious about what information they share in these community groups.
observer-reporter.com
· 2025-12-07
This letter highlights telephone scams targeting seniors, particularly the "relative-in-jail" and "arrest for missed jury duty" schemes that demand payment via gift cards or bitcoin. The author advocates for community education, suggesting that churches and trusted individuals encourage seniors to verify suspicious requests with family, friends, or police before making any financial transactions.
wilx.com
· 2025-12-07
The Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office warned residents of a phone scam targeting seniors in which fraudsters impersonate Medicare, Social Security, or insurance providers and claim victims need to update records to receive new benefits or cards. The scammers request sensitive financial and banking information under false pretenses, which is then used for identity theft or unauthorized account withdrawals. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Social Security Administration do not call to request financial information for card issuance.
wral.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman near Wake Forest, North Carolina was scammed out of $200 by a man claiming to represent the NC Department of Transportation who offered to pour leftover concrete on her driveway for $500 total. The scammer took the $200 cash she had available, roped off the driveway with caution tape, and promised to return the next morning with workers to complete the job, but never returned. The Wake County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident, and NCDOT confirmed no legitimate work was occurring in the area and advised residents to verify any such offers through official NCDOT offices.
techlusive.in
· 2025-12-07
A 78-year-old retired banker in Delhi lost his life savings of Rs 23 crore (approximately $2.76 million USD) to a "digital arrest" fraud scheme that spanned over one month, beginning in August 2025 when scammers posing as mobile company and police officials falsely claimed his Aadhaar card was linked to terror funding. The fraudsters used fake RBI certificates and threats against his family to pressure the victim into liquidating his mutual funds and transferring funds through multiple transactions, though police have since frozen approximately Rs 2.67 crore and launched an investigation. This case highlights the growing threat of digital arrest scams targeting