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pressherald.com
Senators Collins and Sinema introduced a bipartisan resolution designating May 15 as "National Senior Fraud Awareness Day," which passed unanimously, highlighting that seniors lost over $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023—an 11% increase from 2022. A new phone scam targeting Maine residents involves fraudsters impersonating U.S. Marshals through spoofed phone numbers, demanding immediate payment of fines or promising money transfers, using publicly available personal information to appear credible. Federal officials advise seniors never to provide financial information to unknown callers and to report suspected scams to the FBI and FTC.
witl.com
In 2022, Michigan seniors aged 60 and older lost $52.5 million to fraud, with 2,243 victims averaging $23,416 in losses per person—a rate of 87.2 victims per 100,000 residents. Tech support scams disproportionately affected seniors, who are 517% more likely to fall victim to these schemes than younger people. Online scams were the primary method of fraud targeting Michigan's elderly, with investment scams, business impostor schemes, and romance scams representing the largest fraud categories nationally.
m.independent.ie
Fraudsters are impersonating Neil Whoriskey, a senior official at Ireland's Central Bank, in an email phishing scam requesting money under the pretense of releasing an inheritance, using spoofed email addresses resembling the bank's official domain. This marks the second impersonation of a Central Bank staff member in recent months, following a similar scam in March using the name of the bank's chief information officer. The Central Bank warned the public via social media that the scam is in circulation, though it did not disclose the number of victims or confirm whether authorities have been notified.
thesenior.com.au
This educational article explains that modern scams are sophisticated operations run by international fraud gangs targeting victims across all ages and education levels, with common types including investment, romance, banking, cryptocurrency, and identity theft scams. The Australian Financial Complaints Authority recommends the "Stop, Think, Check" approach to protect yourself, advising people to question suspicious messages, think critically, and act quickly if something feels wrong. AFCA, along with other organizations, offers resources and free webinars to help consumers understand scams and learn protective measures.
justice.gov
Malachi Mullings was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for laundering over $4.5 million obtained through romance fraud scams and business email compromise schemes that targeted elderly victims and companies from 2019 to July 2021. Operating under the fake company name "The Mullings Group LLC," Mullings opened 20 bank accounts to conceal fraud proceeds, including $310,000 diverted from a state Medicaid program and $260,000 obtained from an elderly romance scam victim, which he used to purchase luxury items including a Ferrari. The case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice's Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force and involved investigation by
therecord.media
Malachi Mullings, a 31-year-old Georgia man, received a 10-year prison sentence for stealing over $3.8 million from a state Medicaid program through business email compromise (BEC) scams, where he impersonated trusted business associates to redirect payments to accounts he controlled, and an additional $260,000 from romance scams. This conviction is part of a broader federal crackdown on BEC schemes, with multiple recent prosecutions securing convictions for laundering millions in stolen funds, as BEC fraud caused nearly $3 billion in reported losses in 2023 alone.
yahoo.com
Major tech companies including Meta, Match Group, Coinbase, Kraken, Ripple, and Gemini launched the coalition "Tech Against Scams" to combat online fraud across dating apps, social media, and cryptocurrency platforms. Romance scams, social media fraud ($770 million in losses in 2021), investment scams ($3.8 billion in losses in 2022), and "pig butchering" crypto scams have cost consumers billions, prompting these companies to share data and collaborate on detection methods and consumer education to disrupt scammers' activities across multiple platforms.
theregister.com
Georgia resident Malachi Mullings received a 10-year prison sentence for laundering $4.5 million in proceeds from business email compromise (BEC) attacks targeting healthcare providers and romance scams targeting individuals, including numerous elderly victims, between 2019 and July 2021. Mullings used multiple bank accounts under his company name to conceal the fraud, purchasing luxury items including a Ferrari with stolen funds; one romance scam victim alone lost $260,000. He pleaded guilty to eight charges including money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of a larger scheme involving nine other suspects across Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia that defrauded state Medicaid programs
freep.com
Job scams targeting college students and recent graduates are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers impersonating professors and university staff through spoofed emails to pitch fake internships or remote work opportunities. A common tactic involves sending counterfeit checks to cover supposed home office setup costs, which the victim deposits but don't bounce until after they've spent or transferred money to scammers, leaving them financially responsible for losses. Universities including University of Michigan and Oakland University have reported rising incidents of these highly customized scams, particularly at the beginning and end of academic years, with scammers conducting detailed online research to make their pitches appear credible and realistic.
bbc.com
Clark Hoefnagels created Catch, an AI-powered email filter designed to detect phishing and scam emails, after his grandmother lost $27,000 to a scam in Ontario, Canada. Despite the growing threat of AI-enabled fraud—with reports of AI tools used against banks increasing 84% in 2022—the product has struggled commercially because individuals show little concern about scams even after being victimized, while banks and financial institutions increasingly recognize AI-powered fraud as a significant threat and are investing in AI-based defenses.
thecyberexpress.com
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
toronto.ctvnews.ca
I cannot provide a meaningful summary of this article. The content provided contains only a headline and publication timestamps with no actual article text describing the crimes, arrests, or details of the violent crime spree. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, please provide the full article text.
khq.com
A Spokane man lost $2,000 to an online vehicle scam after finding what appeared to be a 2008 Nissan Altima listed for $800 on Facebook Marketplace. The scammer, posing as an Army nurse selling her deceased husband's car, convinced Spencer to purchase eBay gift cards for the vehicle purchase and then requested additional payments for shipping insurance and "duty fees." The Better Business Bureau reports a 30 percent increase in these "virtual vehicle scams" from 2022 to 2023 and recommends using credit cards on trusted platforms and never paying outside the system to protect against fraud.
indiatoday.in
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.
bankingjournal.aba.com
Banking industry associations testified before the Senate that combating fraud requires a coordinated, multi-sector approach beyond banks' technology and consumer education efforts alone. The associations emphasized that successful fraud prevention requires cooperation from law enforcement, telecommunications regulators, and social media companies to address all stages of scams, from target identification to fund processing. They highlighted the industry's existing anti-phishing campaigns and technology investments while calling for regulators to prevent phone number spoofing and social media platforms to remove fraudulent accounts impersonating financial professionals.
mediavillage.com
Nearly half of scam victims (49%) have experienced postal delivery scams, which exploit the increasing volume of door-to-door deliveries to target people. Scammers use malicious parcel schemes to capitalize on consumers' expectations of legitimate package deliveries.
abc7ny.com
This segment features consumer advice on identifying and avoiding job offer text scams, a growing threat where scammers use SMS messages to impersonate employers and target job seekers. The piece, presented by Nina Pineda on a New York-based news program, aims to educate viewers on protective measures against this type of fraud.
wlos.com
A sophisticated scam in Asheville, North Carolina defrauded two residents of $50,000 total, in which suspects posed as Microsoft employees after displaying pop-up warnings on victims' computers, then convinced them to withdraw cash and sent an in-person courier to collect it from their homes. The scam is notable for its rare in-person component, involving a suspect driving a dark silver or gray Toyota Highlander with possible front-right quarter panel damage. Police are warning residents to verify the identity of anyone claiming to represent Microsoft or other companies before providing money or access to their homes.
fortune.com
A coalition of major tech and crypto companies—including Match, Meta, Coinbase, Kraken, Ripple, and Gemini—launched Tech Against Scams to combat romance scams and "pig butchering" schemes that have cost Americans $700 million in romance scams (2022) and $2.5 billion in crypto-related scams overall. Criminal gangs primarily based in Southeast Asia exploit social media, dating platforms, and cryptocurrency to build false relationships and trick victims into sending money, with a recent arrest of two Chinese nationals revealing a single syndicate that stole at least $73 million. The coalition aims to share threat intelligence and security tools to more rapidly identify an
ca.finance.yahoo.com
Tech and crypto companies including Meta, Match, Coinbase, Kraken, Ripple, and Gemini formed a coalition called Tech Against Scams to combat romance scams and "pig butchering" schemes, where scammers gain victims' trust before stealing money through fake investment opportunities. The initiative was announced in response to a surge in fraud losses, including $700 million lost to romance scams and $2.5 billion to crypto scams in 2022, with criminal gangs primarily based in Southeast Asia using human trafficking victims to target victims via social media and dating platforms. By sharing threat information and tools across companies, the coalition aims to disrupt scam networks more quickly an
techcrunch.com
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.
cbc.ca
Kleo Mitsis, a public servant in Quebec, fell for a Facebook Marketplace scam while trying to purchase discounted power tools and lost $150 in an e-transfer deposit plus additional cash before refusing further advances. After the seller requested a second payment claiming his truck had broken down, Mitsis reported the fraud to local police and was surprised when an officer called two weeks later, indicating he was not the scammer's only victim.
thv11.com
Scammers impersonating the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office and Circuit Court contacted residents claiming they owed money for missed jury duty and threatening arrest warrants, with at least one victim attempting to pay $7,500 before realizing the fraud. Pulaski County officials reported receiving approximately 20 such calls daily and identified red flags including spelling errors, spoofed official phone numbers, and demands for immediate payment, warning that legitimate court payment procedures involve letters and arrangements through the accounting office rather than direct phone calls.
torontosun.com
A woman in New York City fell victim to a street scam where two young men posed as fundraisers for a South Bronx basketball team, then used her phone to fraudulently transfer money via Zelle and Venmo to their own accounts. The scammers have been operating across multiple NYC locations including parks and the Barclays Center, targeting multiple victims with the same deceptive fundraising pitch.
ca.sports.yahoo.com
Two Los Angeles retirees, both in their late 70s/early 80s, lost approximately $79,500 and $75,000 respectively to tech support and cryptocurrency scams in early 2024. Neal was duped into allowing remote computer access after a fake software subscription email, while Mrs. K. was tricked by a pop-up virus alert into withdrawing cash and depositing it into bitcoin machines at multiple locations. The article notes that elder fraud is widespread and sophisticated, with the FBI reporting that victims over 60 lost $3.1 billion in 2022, and recommends disconnecting from the internet when encountering suspicious pop-ups and being cautious of uns
crypto.news
An investor lost over $101,000 in cryptocurrency across multiple blockchains after falling victim to a phishing scam that exploited a multi-call function vulnerability, allowing attackers to execute unauthorized transactions that appeared legitimate. The attackers tricked the victim into signing transactions containing malicious code that enabled fund transfers without consent, while the exploiter retained approximately $220,000 in stolen assets across various chains. This incident is part of a broader trend of phishing attacks in the crypto space, with similar schemes resulting in losses exceeding $674,000 and $180,000 in other recent cases.
timesgazette.com
Highland County is offering free educational training sessions for seniors on online safety, covering how to identify scams, phishing attempts, and privacy threats in the digital world. The sessions, scheduled across multiple locations from May through June, include hands-on technical support from experts to help participants protect themselves online. The program is funded through an Ohio Healthy Aging Grant and a partnership between local county and community organizations.
palmbeachpost.com
Romance scams affected 70,000 people in 2022, resulting in $1.3 billion in losses with an average loss of over $4,000 per victim, according to the FTC. Florida ranked third nationally with 1,474 reported victims losing $53.4 million. The article identifies ten warning signs of romance scammers, including unusually fast professions of love, reluctance to video chat, requests to move communications off dating platforms, claims of emergencies requiring money transfers, poor grammar, and pressure to keep the relationship secret from friends and family.
sandhillsexpress.com
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nebraska identified an impersonation scam using U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr's name, image, and title in fraudulent emails requesting payment from victims; several concerned citizens reported receiving the emails, but no financial losses occurred. The office advises recipients to avoid opening attachments or sharing personal information, and to report such emails to the FBI Tip Line and FTC Fraud Line, noting that the U.S. Attorney's Office only collects money for court-ordered restitution in criminal cases.
winonapost.com
**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
tradingview.com
Daren Li and Yicheng Zhang orchestrated a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam that defrauded victims of $73 million by cultivating fake romantic relationships on social media and dating apps, then luring victims into investing in fraudulent crypto platforms that generated fabricated returns. The scam exploited human psychology and the desire for connection, with perpetrators using stolen photos and fabricated life stories to build emotional trust before introducing fake investment opportunities. The article advises victims to maintain skepticism toward online romantic interests promising financial returns, research investments thoroughly, and protect personal financial information from strangers online.
the-sun.com
**Summary:**
AI voice cloning scams use just a three-second voice clip from social media to impersonate victims and deceive their family and friends into sending money. Nearly a quarter of British adults have experienced or witnessed such scams, with 78 percent losing money, as criminals exploit emotional manipulation and high-pressure scenarios (like fabricated accidents or emergencies) to bypass victims' logic. The technology is readily available online through free and paid tools, making it increasingly accessible to scammers.
the-sun.com
Voice cloning scams use artificial intelligence to impersonate loved ones requesting emergency money, as exemplified when fraud attorney Gary Schildhorn nearly lost $9,000 after receiving a call from what he believed was his injured son in jail. Scammers obtain voice samples from social media, voicemail, and phone recordings, making complete protection difficult despite technology companies offering verification features. To protect against such scams, experts recommend using secret code words with family members, hanging up and independently verifying caller identity through known contact information, and remaining skeptical of urgent requests for immediate payment.
kunc.org
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
wsiu.org
Fraudsters are sending text message phishing scams impersonating toll collection services like the Illinois Tollway and Florida Turnpike, claiming recipients owe small amounts (typically around $12) and threatening $50 late fees to pressure immediate payment. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to verify any toll debt by visiting the official toll service website or calling their customer service line directly rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages.
7news.com.au
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.
news4sanantonio.com
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.
krforadio.com
A 2023 study by Incogni found that U.S. residents over age 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud—a 10.6% increase from 2022—with 101,068 reports filed, up 14.5% from the prior year. Minnesota elderly were among the hardest hit nationally, with victims over 60 losing an average of $44,623 each, ranking third-highest per-victim loss behind only DC and Hawaii. The article advises protecting against scams by scrutinizing emails for misspellings, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and verifying requests directly with companies' official websites or customer service.
aol.com
A 37-year-old Illinois man, Ligneshkumar Patel, was charged with stealing $148,000 in gold Krugerrand coins from a 73-year-old Edwardsville woman in March 2024 after scammers posing as PayPal convinced her to purchase the coins with her retirement funds and hand them over to him. Patel, arrested in Wisconsin while attempting to scam another victim, served as the middleman in the scheme and faces two felony counts. Police Chief Michael Fillback warned that such scams targeting vulnerable individuals through fake identity fraud alerts and high-pressure tactics demanding immediate payment have become increasingly common, and advised victims
highlandcountypress.com
The Highland County Health Department is offering free online safety and privacy training sessions for seniors throughout May and June, covering topics such as identifying scams, phishing attempts, and protecting personal information online. Each session includes hands-on technical support from experts who will provide one-on-one assistance to help seniors navigate the digital world safely. The program is funded through an Ohio Healthy Aging Grant and a partnership between Highland County Commissioners and the Community Action Organization.
ksal.com
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.
wmur.com
The "Say Yes" scam, where scammers allegedly record someone saying "yes" to authorize fraudulent purchases, is largely a myth with no documented financial losses reported to the Better Business Bureau. Cyber security experts explain that a recording of the word "yes" alone cannot authorize purchases, and the urban legend likely originated from telemarketers using automated systems to verify active phone numbers. Consumers should be aware of related scams where callers impersonate law enforcement claiming to have intercepted packages containing drugs, but the specific "Say Yes" recording scam is not a legitimate financial threat.
kwch.com
The Better Business Bureau warns that rental scams surge from May to August, with victims losing money and housing during peak moving season. Scammers often lack verifiable contact information and use fake online listings to defraud renters. The BBB recommends working only with rental companies that provide contact details, requesting virtual tours or video calls with owners, and avoiding companies unwilling to verify their legitimacy before payment.
news4jax.com
McAfee data predicts one in four people will fall victim to travel scams during summer 2024, with scammers increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes and realistic phishing emails to target travelers. Nearly 25% of victims lost $1,000 or more per scam, with common tactics including copycat websites, fake reviews, and requests for wire transfers or gift cards. Experts recommend booking through verified websites, exercising skepticism about online reviews, avoiding public Wi-Fi, and reporting suspected scams to the FTC.
foxsanantonio.com
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.
news18.com
Arup, a British multinational engineering firm, lost $25.6 million in January 2024 to a deepfake scam targeting a finance employee in Hong Kong. The victim was deceived by fake video calls impersonating the company's CFO and other officials and authorized 15 transfers totaling 200 million Hong Kong dollars before the fraud was discovered. The incident highlights the increasing sophistication of deepfake technology and cyber threats, with company leadership warning employees to remain vigilant against evolving scamming techniques.
michigansthumb.com
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
justice.gov
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
freepressokc.com
The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office launched an online senior fraud complaint form to help older Oklahomans report scams, as financial fraud targeting people over 60 reached $3.4 billion nationally in 2023, an 11 percent increase from the previous year. Common schemes include fake lotteries, tech support scams, and impersonation of grandchildren, government officials, or romantic interests. The office advises seniors to protect themselves by avoiding sharing personal information unsolicited, not clicking email links or attachments, being wary of upfront payment demands, and rejecting high-pressure tactics from unknown callers.
berkshireeagle.com
This article explains why fraud victims often experience greater shame and social stigma than victims of violent crimes, despite both being theft. Romance and relationship scams are particularly devastating because criminals invest time building emotional connections with vulnerable individuals (often those seeking companionship after loss) through fake profiles on social media, then repeatedly extract money by fabricating emergencies or personal crises. The article advises recognizing red flags such as requests to move communication off dating platforms, inability to meet in person, and repeated requests for money, while recommending early intervention through trusted intermediaries and resources like the AARP Consumer Hotline.