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katytimes.com
Members Choice Credit Union released awareness tips during Older Americans Month highlighting common scams targeting seniors, including grandparent scams, intimidation scams impersonating authorities, text message phishing, freebie schemes, and romance scams. The credit union recommends protective measures such as establishing family emergency passwords, verifying caller identities through separate communication channels, monitoring financial accounts for unusual activity, and utilizing resources like AARP's elder fraud guidelines.
therogersvillereview.com
Seniors are frequent targets of investment scams, including Ponzi schemes, fake bonds and certificates of deposit, charitable gift annuities, and prime bank scams, which typically promise unrealistic high returns with minimal risk. Red flags include pressure to invest quickly, unclear or unavailable information, and unsolicited offers via cold calls or email. To protect yourself, verify credentials with regulatory authorities, research opportunities thoroughly, diversify investments, consult a licensed financial advisor, and stay informed about common fraud tactics.
theoaklandpress.com
A 67-year-old Troy resident lost $800 to a scam in which someone impersonated Barbara Streisand via text, claiming she had won $10,000 as the entertainer's "biggest fan" and requesting payment in Apple gift cards to cover taxes. Police warned the public to be skeptical of unsolicited prize offers and to never send payment via gift cards in exchange for promised cash rewards.
ksdk.com
A reformed Nigerian scammer named Chris Maxwell, who previously defrauded women of over $70,000 through romance scams, now works for an identity verification company exposing fraud networks to authorities. Missouri experienced approximately 58,250 impersonation scams in the first three months of the year resulting in millions in losses, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence to impersonate family members and government officials, often targeting older adults who may lose their life savings after multiple transactions. Experts recommend establishing trusted family contacts for verification, using reverse image search tools, insisting on video meetings before sending money, and reporting suspected scams to local law enforcement and the Missouri Attorney General's Office.
abnnewswire.net
Refundaroo, a financial recovery organization founded in 2020, helps scam victims worldwide retrieve stolen funds using a team of lawyers, forensic accountants, and ex-military personnel. The company has recovered over $5 million in 2023 alone and reports that Australian scam losses reached $2.74 billion in 2023, with investment scams causing the most harm at $1.3 billion. Refundaroo offers an online case-tracking portal and maintains a database to help individuals verify company legitimacy and avoid fraudulent schemes.
katytimes.com
Members Choice Credit Union released awareness tips for Older Americans Month highlighting common scams targeting seniors, including grandparent scams, intimidation scams impersonating authorities, text message scams, freebie scams, and romance scams. The organization provided prevention strategies for each scam type and recommended that family members monitor elderly relatives' financial activity, set up fraud alerts, encourage password changes, and utilize resources like AARP's elder fraud guidelines.
azcentral.com
According to an FTC report, scammers most frequently impersonate Best Buy's Geek Squad (52,000 reports in 2023), followed by Amazon, PayPal, Microsoft, and Publishers Clearing House, using methods including fraudulent emails, phone calls, and social media to pressure victims into urgent action. Microsoft impersonators caused the highest financial losses, exemplified by a Mesa resident who lost nearly her entire life savings after being directed to a fake support line and tricked into depositing $25,000 in Bitcoin. Consumers can protect themselves by recognizing red flags such as demands for cryptocurrency payments, pressure to act immediately, and unsolicited contact, and should verify company ident
wbay.com
In 2023, scammers impersonated well-known companies in fraud schemes that cost consumers over $600 million, with Best Buy/Geek Squad being the most frequently impersonated company (52,000 reports, $15 million in losses) and Microsoft impersonation scams causing the largest financial impact ($60 million lost). The Federal Trade Commission finalized a new rule in April 2024 that strengthens enforcement tools against business impersonation scams, including the ability to file federal court cases to recover money for victims and impose civil penalties on violators.
tristatealert.com
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown warned consumers about the rising threat of imposter scams that use sophisticated technologies, including AI-generated voices, to impersonate trusted figures such as government officials, bank representatives, law enforcement, and family members in order to steal money or personal information. Common scam types include government imposters threatening fines or arrest, family/friend imposters claiming emergencies, and tech support scams demanding payment for unnecessary repairs. To protect yourself, verify callers' identities by contacting organizations directly using official numbers, establish code words with family members, avoid sharing personal information, and report suspected scams to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, FTC, or AARP Fraud Watch
riverreporter.com
**World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) highlights a critical public health issue affecting approximately five million older adults annually in the United States, with financial fraud being the most prevalent form, causing victims an estimated $30 billion in losses per year.** The article emphasizes that elder abuse—which includes physical, emotional, neglect, and financial mistreatment—requires community-wide prevention through awareness training, technology safeguards (bank alerts, secure document storage), and strong social networks. Older adults are advised to be cautious of unsolicited contact requesting personal information or urgent payment via unusual methods, and reporting mechanisms are available through multiple agencies with anonymity protections.
latfusa.com
California experienced over $624 million in losses to elderly fraud in 2022, affecting 11,517 victims aged 60 and over with an average loss of $54,225 per victim. Investment scams, business imposters, and romance scams were the most costly fraud types nationally, while seniors were particularly vulnerable to online fraud ($564 million in losses) and tech support scams (517% higher likelihood compared to the general population). Bank transfers and cryptocurrency were the primary payment methods exploited, accounting for $570 million and $288 million in losses respectively.
thewesterlysun.com
Elderly residents in Rhode Island are being targeted by scammers using phone calls, emails, and fake websites, with victims losing $2.24 million to cryptocurrency scams in 2023 alone. Scammers exploit the emotional vulnerability of seniors by impersonating authority figures or loved ones in distress, then directing victims to unregulated cryptocurrency ATMs with no transaction limits to convert cash into untraceable digital currency. Proposed legislation aims to protect residents by implementing daily transaction limits and mandatory warnings on crypto ATMs to prevent elderly victims from losing irretrievable funds to these increasingly sophisticated schemes.
wokv.com
In 2022, Florida's population aged 60 and over lost over $328 million to fraud, with 8,480 victims averaging $38,693 in losses per person—ranking the state ninth nationally. Investment scams were the most costly fraud type nationally ($400 million), followed by business impostor and romance scams, with online fraud and bank transfers being the primary methods used by scammers to target and steal from older adults.
oodaloop.com
Malachi Mullings, 31, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for laundering over $4.5 million through business email compromise and romance scams conducted between 2019 and June 2021. Mullings used 20 fraudulent bank accounts under the fake company name "The Mullings Group LLC" to process stolen funds from schemes targeting elderly individuals, healthcare benefit programs, and private companies.
ksat.com
Scammers impersonated major companies like Best Buy, Amazon, PayPal, and Microsoft to steal at least $660 million last year, with victims losing particularly large sums to Microsoft impersonators—including one couple who lost over $170,000 after being tricked into moving their savings. Common tactics include fraudulent emails and texts with legitimate-looking logos directing victims to fake customer service numbers, along with fake tech support pop-ups on frozen computer screens. The FTC advises consumers to never move money for "safe-keeping" at someone's request, avoid clicking links in suspicious messages, and independently verify unexpected business requests by contacting the company directly or consulting trusted contacts.
nbcwashington.com
Unpaid toll text message scams are rapidly increasing, targeting drivers across the country by falsely claiming outstanding toll balances and directing recipients to fraudulent websites designed to steal credit card and personal information. To protect themselves, recipients should avoid clicking suspicious links, verify toll accounts directly through official state websites, and freeze credit with all three bureaus if compromised. The Identity Theft Resource Center and FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center track these incidents, which can result in identity theft and financial fraud.
therogersvillereview.com
This educational article warns university students about common scams targeting their demographic, including scholarship/financial aid fraud, student loan debt relief schemes, fake rental listings, employment scams, misleading credit card offers, and social media phishing. The key advice is to verify the legitimacy of any organization before providing personal or financial information, never pay upfront fees for legitimate services (scholarships, loan forgiveness, jobs), and be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true. While not specific to elder fraud, the article emphasizes vigilance and verification as essential protections against financial exploitation.
therecord.media
Since January, cybercriminals have targeted college students and faculty with an advance fee scam offering free pianos, sending at least 125,000 messages claiming pianos were available due to circumstances like deaths in the family. When victims respond, scammers direct them to fake shipping company emails that request upfront payment via cryptocurrency or money transfer apps; once payment is sent, contact ceases. One Bitcoin wallet connected to the campaign contained over $900,000 in transactions, with researchers tracing at least one IP address to Nigeria.
autisticadvocacy.org
A scam using the Autism Society of America Network's (ASAN's) name and logo on a fraudulent Facebook account ("Madison Daniels") falsely recruits copywriters for a fake autism conference, sends counterfeit contracts, and then requests victims wire money to pay a supposed second contractor, promising overpayment via fake check. ASAN clarifies it has no upcoming conferences, does not recruit copywriters, and never asks contractors to pay other contractors; the organization has reported the account to Facebook and urges the public to verify any employment opportunities directly with ASAN.
nbcchicago.com
A woman's Facebook account was compromised, and the hacker used it to post fraudulent Taylor Swift ticket ads, defrauding a buyer out of $1,000 who then showed up at the victim's home seeking the tickets. After Facebook failed to assist and the victim's bank initially refused to help, NBC 5 Responds' intervention led Chase Bank to reopen the case and refund the scam victim, though the hacker continues posting from the compromised account. The article recommends using strong unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and updating security contact information to prevent similar social media hacks.
news-leader.com
Scammers are impersonating toll collection services with phishing text messages claiming recipients owe small amounts (typically $12) with threats of large late fees ($50), directing them to fake payment links to steal personal and financial information. The Better Business Bureau received multiple reports of this scam in spring 2024, including cases targeting travelers in Illinois and Missouri, where scammers falsely claimed to represent toll agencies in states without toll roads or services. Consumers should verify toll balances directly through official agency websites or phone numbers rather than clicking unsolicited text links, and should report suspicious messages to BBB Scam Tracker or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
wlos.com
This educational article addresses the rising trend of financial scams targeting elderly people and emphasizes that knowledge and community vigilance are key defenses. It recommends that seniors protect themselves by exercising caution with unsolicited communications, utilizing security software, maintaining strong passwords, monitoring financial statements regularly, and reporting suspected fraud to the FTC and local authorities. The article also encourages families and communities to stay informed about common scams through trusted resources like the FBI and National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-FRAUD-11).
actionnews5.com
The FTC reported over 330,000 impersonation scam complaints in 2023, with consumers losing $1.1 billion to fraudsters pretending to be businesses or government agencies. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to scrutinize email addresses for suspicious characteristics, verify suspicious communications directly with companies, and avoid providing payment information to unfamiliar entities, while encouraging reporting of suspicious emails and texts to the BBB Scam Tracker.
1011now.com
Two Lincoln businesses lost a combined $9,310 to phone scams targeting their employees: one employee purchased $6,000 in Sephora gift cards after communicating with a scammer via text, while another employee bought $3,310 in Bitcoin after receiving fraudulent calls and texts claiming to be from their supervisor. The Lincoln Police Department advises verifying caller identity by independently contacting the person they claim to be, and recommends filing a police report if scammed.
omaha.com
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au.finance.yahoo.com
An Australian businesswoman fell victim to a phishing text scam impersonating Coles supermarket, which lured her to a fake website by claiming her loyalty rewards points were expiring soon. The scam, which has been circulating for months and targeting multiple Australian loyalty programs (Coles, Qantas Frequent Flyer, and Telstra), is designed to steal personal information like passwords and banking details for fraudulent activities. Scamwatch received 209 reports of this scam in four months, with authorities warning Australians not to click links in unsolicited messages claiming to be from major retailers or loyalty programs.
menafn.com
A Dubai hotelier lost her entire life savings of nearly Dh66,000 to a fake task-completion job scam that operates via WhatsApp, promising easy money for rating restaurants and completing online shopping orders. The scam uses a "trust-building" model: victims complete initial low-value tasks that pay out, then are progressively asked to pay larger top-up fees to unlock higher commissions before finally being prevented from withdrawing their funds through invented tax demands or endless new task requirements. This particular scam has defrauded thousands globally of an estimated Dh400 million according to cybersecurity firms.
cgsentinel.com
Elder fraud complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center increased 14 percent in 2023, with victims aged 60 and over losing $3.4 billion total and an average of $33,915 per victim. Tech support scams were the most commonly reported type of elder fraud, while investment scams proved the costliest, exceeding $1.2 billion in losses, with over 12,000 victims also targeted through cryptocurrency schemes. Oregon specifically saw elderly residents lose $44 million in 2023, with scammers exploiting older Americans' relative lack of technological proficiency.
kfoxtv.com
El Paso police reported a rise in identity theft scams targeting elderly residents over the past two years, with victims particularly vulnerable to text and phone scams due to high trust levels and limited awareness of technology capabilities. Sgt. Cristina Mendoza of the Financial Crime Unit identified key warning signs including unsolicited contact, pressure to pay in specific ways, and inability to verify the other party's identity.
prweb.com
According to an FBI report, Americans over 60 experienced elder fraud crimes at record levels, with victims losing an estimated $3.4 billion in reported losses. Common scams targeting seniors include the grandparent scam (impersonating grandchildren claiming arrest), sweepstakes fraud requiring upfront payment, gift card serial number schemes, and government imposter fraud. Elderwerks, a Palatine, Illinois nonprofit, is hosting free educational presentations on scam prevention and identity theft protection to help seniors and caregivers recognize and avoid these crimes.
webcenterfairbanks.com
The FTC reported over 330,000 impersonation scam complaints in 2023, with consumers losing $1.1 billion as fraudsters impersonated businesses and government agencies to steal money and personal information. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to scrutinize email addresses for suspicious characteristics, verify questionable emails directly with companies, avoid providing payment information to unknown entities, and report suspicious communications to the BBB Scam Tracker.
freep.com
Based on 2023 FTC data, the five most-impersonated brands in scams are Best Buy's Geek Squad, Amazon, PayPal, Microsoft, and Publishers Clearing House, with Microsoft impersonation scams causing the highest financial losses at $60 million and Publishers Clearing House scams at $49 million. Common scams include fake tech support pop-ups claiming to be from Microsoft that trick victims into calling scammers, and fraudulent calls impersonating Publishers Clearing House claiming victims have won prizes and must pay upfront fees or taxes; some victims have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to these schemes.
techxplore.com
Researchers analyzed 67,991 SMS phishing messages collected over 396 days and identified 600 distinct phishing operations using 35,128 unique campaigns. The study found that SMS phishers operate using mainstream infrastructure and services rather than hidden networks, with bulk messaging services openly advertising on platforms like LinkedIn. The research provides law enforcement with new techniques to identify and track phishing operations, addressing a significant gap in data since telecommunications companies have been reluctant to share private message information.
dailypress.net
Online scammers increasingly use spoofing and phishing tactics to deceive victims by impersonating legitimate businesses through fraudulent emails and websites designed to steal personal and financial information. According to the FTC, social media scams caused the highest total losses at $1.4 billion in recent years, while phone-based scams resulted in the highest per-person losses averaging $1,480; notably, older adults who fell victim to scams lost significantly more money than younger adults. Law enforcement officials emphasize that these scams are preventable and encourage community members to monitor vulnerable elderly individuals.
kfvs12.com
The FTC reported over 330,000 impersonation scam complaints in 2023, with consumers losing more than $1.1 billion. Fraudsters impersonate legitimate businesses and government agencies to trick victims into providing money and personal information through fake emails and forms. The BBB recommends verifying suspicious emails by examining sender addresses carefully, contacting companies directly to confirm requests, avoiding payment to unknown entities, and reporting suspicious communications to the BBB Scam Tracker.
foxnews.com
A Privacy Journal study analyzing FBI, CDC, FTC, and Internet Crime Complaint Center data ranked U.S. states by danger levels for online dating users, identifying Nevada, Alaska, Georgia, Florida, and Arizona as the five most risky states. The analysis considered romance scams, identity theft, fraud, violent crime, STD rates, and registered sex offender concentrations, with Arizona having the highest romance scam rate (9.2 per 100,000), Nevada the second-highest (8.1 per 100,000), and Georgia leading in identity theft and fraud victimization rates. The findings highlight that geographic location can predict vulnerability to various threats when using dating apps.
thehackernews.com
Malachi Mullings, 31, of Georgia was sentenced to 10 years in prison for laundering over $4.5 million obtained through business email compromise (BEC) schemes targeting healthcare programs and companies, as well as romance scams targeting elderly victims, between 2019 and 2021. Mullings opened 20 fraudulent bank accounts under a fake company name to conceal the proceeds and used funds to purchase luxury items, including a Ferrari bought with $260,000 from a romance scam. The case highlights ongoing efforts to prosecute money launderers facilitating cyber fraud schemes.
richmondmagazine.com
Teens are the fastest-growing victims of online scams, with losses to those 20 and younger increasing from $8.2 million in 2017 to $210 million by 2022, according to the FBI. Common scams targeting teens include phishing emails, deceptive pop-up ads, direct message offers, and catfishing schemes on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Parents and educators can reduce risk by teaching teens to verify sources, recognize red flags like poor grammar and suspicious links, adjust privacy settings, and maintain open communication about online dangers.
herald-review.com
A Mount Zion woman was charged with stealing over $100,000 in cash and property from an elderly female victim between May 2022 and July 2023. Ali L. Fisher, 31, faces two counts including financial exploitation of an elderly person and obtaining control of property through deception, with the alleged theft totaling more than $40,000 in additional cash. Fisher was arrested on May 14 and released on pretrial release pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 24 in Macon County Circuit Court.
wgal.com
**Summary:**
Scammers are sending phishing emails and texts to streaming service subscribers claiming payment has been declined, with links directing users to lookalike websites designed to steal login credentials and install malware. Victims who enter their user ID and password on these fraudulent sites risk having their streaming accounts and payment information compromised. To protect yourself, verify you are on the official website by carefully checking the URL, and be skeptical of sponsored search results, as scammers use paid ads to make fake sites appear at the top of search results.
cbc.ca
A Fredericton woman nearly fell victim to a sophisticated Interac e-transfer scam after listing a table for sale on Facebook Marketplace; a scammer used a fake e-transfer interface to attempt stealing $3,000 from her bank account, but she escaped the fraud by exiting the loading page early and her bank caught the suspicious activity. According to a local cybersecurity expert, online organized crime is increasingly sophisticated, with $600 million in fraud reported to Canadian authorities last year (believed to represent only 10% of actual losses), and scammers are using stolen e-transfer email templates while actively harvesting credentials during fake transaction screens.
97x.com
Scammers in South Carolina are using AI-generated text messages designed to mimic legitimate bank communications to trick people into clicking malicious links that grant access to their bank accounts. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to be vigilant about unsolicited texts from unfamiliar numbers, suspicious URLs with extra characters, and to never click links in messages unless they can verify the source is their actual bank.
khaleejtimes.com
A WhatsApp-based fake job scam has defrauded an estimated Dh400 million from thousands of victims globally, according to cybersecurity firm CloudSEK. The scheme lures victims with promises of easy money for simple tasks like rating restaurants on Google Maps, then requires increasingly larger upfront payments to complete higher-paying tasks, ultimately preventing withdrawals through additional fees or endless new tasks. A Dubai hotelier lost nearly her entire life savings of Dh66,000 to the scam after paying Dh46,000 in deposits and an additional Dh20,000 in fraudulent "taxes."
groww.in
Lottery scams in India are targeting unsuspecting individuals who receive unsolicited messages claiming they have won prizes, then demanding advance payments for taxes and fees before releasing non-existent winnings. Recent cases include a 45-year-old Bengaluru woman who lost ₹18.4 lakh, a 50-year-old goldsmith defrauded of ₹74,000, and a Kerala woman who lost ₹1 crore after making 263 transfers. To protect yourself, ignore unsolicited lottery claims, never pay upfront fees, avoid sharing personal information, and report suspicious activity to authorities immediately.
choice.com.au
A CHOICE survey of 280 scam victims in Australia found that four out of five victims reported their banks failed to flag suspicious transactions before money was transferred to scammers, and about half received inadequate support afterward. Australians lost $2.7 billion to scams last year, with over half of initial contact occurring on websites or social media platforms, yet banks and tech companies face minimal consequences while victims often suffer shame and financial loss with little recourse for recovery.
washingtontimes.com
In 2023, scammers impersonating Best Buy and Geek Squad generated the most reports (52,000) targeting consumers with fake renewal payment prompts, resulting in $15 million in losses, while Microsoft impersonators caused the largest financial damage at $60 million across 7,000+ reports using fake security warnings. Amazon imposters ranked second with 34,000 reports and $19 million in losses, and Publishers Clearing House scammers collected $49 million by falsely claiming prize winnings, with email and phone calls serving as the primary contact methods for all impersonation scams.
cnbc.com
Deepfake scams utilizing generative AI have stolen millions from companies globally, with a Hong Kong finance worker defrauded of over $25 million after being deceived by digitally recreated colleagues on a video call. Cybersecurity experts warn that the accessibility of AI tools like ChatGPT has lowered barriers for criminals to execute increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, including voice spoofing, phishing, and impersonation of company executives to authorize fraudulent transfers. Beyond direct theft, deepfakes pose broader risks including stock price manipulation, brand defamation, and misinformation campaigns.
foxbusiness.com
The FTC released a report identifying the companies most commonly impersonated by scammers, with Best Buy's Geek Squad, Amazon, and PayPal being the most frequently mimicked brands, while Microsoft and Publishers Clearing House impersonation scams generate the highest financial losses. Scammers primarily use email and phone contact, though social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are increasingly being exploited, and emerging threats include text-message phishing ("smishing") targeting highway toll payment systems.
news.ncsu.edu
Researchers analyzed 67,991 SMS phishing messages collected over 396 days and identified 600 distinct phishing operations using 35,128 unique campaigns. The study found that scammers impersonate trusted entities like banks to trick people into sharing sensitive information via text, and surprisingly, many operations use mainstream infrastructure and openly advertise services on platforms like LinkedIn rather than hiding on the dark web. The findings highlight the scale of SMS phishing threats to consumer privacy and security, while identifying avenues for law enforcement to combat these operations.
fronterasdesk.org
The FBI is hosting an educational seminar in Tucson to help seniors recognize phone and internet scams, following reports that fraud targeting people 60 and older caused over $3 billion in losses nationwide last year—a 10% increase from 2022. Local church members prompted the event after experiencing spam calls and falling victim to increasingly sophisticated scams, including AI-generated voice impersonation and phishing emails. The free public seminar covers scam identification and prevention techniques.