Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 26,669 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
8,010 results
in Financial Crime
sookenewsmirror.com
I cannot provide a summary for this submission. The content provided is a website homepage/navigation menu for a news publication, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. To create a summary for the Elderus database, please provide the actual article text, particularly the piece about the email scam targeting BCHL food vendors or any other fraud-related content.
justice.gov
Dr. Osama Nahas and medical assistant Isabel Pruneda were convicted of healthcare fraud, kickback conspiracy, and identity theft for operating a multimillion-dollar scheme at an adult daycare in the Rio Grande Valley from 2016-2017, in which they ordered unnecessary lab tests and prescriptions for elderly patients, forged consent forms, and misappropriated medications while receiving tens of thousands in kickbacks from testing companies and bribing daycare facility owners. Both face up to 10 years in federal prison, with Pruneda facing an additional mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft, plus potential fines up to $250,000 each.
thegeorgiagazette.com
I cannot provide a summary of this article because the content itself is not available—only a subscription paywall message is shown. The actual article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse has been archived and requires a paid subscription to The Georgia Gazette to access. To complete a summary for the Elderus database, please provide the full text of the article.
decrypt.co
"Pig butchering" romance scams using cryptocurrency surged 85 times higher from 2020 to 2023, with revenue doubling between 2022-2023, according to Chainalysis research. These scams involve fraudsters building fake romantic relationships before tricking victims into cryptocurrency investments they don't understand, resulting in an average loss of $4,593 per victim in 2023—the highest financial impact of any scam type. The scammers, often organized criminal groups, frequently operate through human trafficking networks in Southeast Asia and use sophisticated money laundering techniques to hide their activity, though a December 2023 Interpol operation arrested 3,500
justice.gov
Jean Richard Audate, a 38-year-old New York City man, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his role in a grandparent scam conspiracy that defrauded elderly victims across the United States of over $867,000. Audate traveled to multiple locations, including Rhode Island, to collect cash that victims had been tricked into sending after receiving phone calls from scammers posing as grandchildren or lawyers claiming a relative needed bail money. The scammers also falsely invoked "gag orders" to prevent victims from discussing the requests with others.
pembinavalleyonline.com
The Grandparent Scam, currently prevalent in Manitoba, involves criminals calling seniors pretending to be relatives who need bail money for a supposed arrest, then arranging cash pickup at the victim's home. RCMP Sergeant Joanne Ryll advises recipients to hang up, verify the story by calling other family members, never share personal information, and establish a family safety word, noting that fraudsters often make multiple calls requesting additional money once they identify a vulnerable victim. Recovery of money lost to these scams is nearly impossible once handed over to the criminals.
dailyfly.com
Dr. Thomas Andrew Webster pled guilty to conspiring to accept kickbacks in a telemarketing and medical supply fraud scheme operating between May 2021 and September 2023 across Washington and other states. The scheme involved obtaining Medicare and TRICARE beneficiary information through telemarketers, creating fraudulent medical records and durable medical equipment orders that Webster signed, resulting in over $13.7 million in fraudulent billings and Webster personally receiving at least $839,565 for fake doctor visits that never occurred. Webster agreed to forfeit assets and faces sentencing on June 26, 2024.
kpmg.com
Canadian organizations of all sizes face evolving fraud risks driven by technological advances like generative AI, cryptocurrency, and digital payment systems, with SMBs particularly vulnerable due to limited fraud prevention resources and awareness. Fraudsters employ increasingly sophisticated tactics including crypto scams, online payment fraud, social engineering attacks targeting elders, and ESG misrepresentation, with 88% of victimized Canadian SMBs experiencing internal fraud and 75% experiencing external fraud over the past five years. Organizations must strengthen their fraud prevention strategies through risk assessment, robust controls, and cross-sector partnerships to effectively counter these threats.
justice.gov
Steven Lukens, CEO of Gulf Atlantic International Supply, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for submitting substandard materials and 191 forged quality control documents to a NASA contractor for the Space Launch System at Kennedy Space Center. Lukens defrauded the contractor of $271,024.35 through fraudulent Certificates of Compliance, Pressure Testing Certificates, and test reports, and faces up to 20 years in federal prison with forfeiture of the fraudulent proceeds.
hawaiinewsnow.com
Scammers impersonated Honolulu Police Department officers in recent phone scams, falsely claiming victims had outstanding arrest warrants and demanding payment via Federal Deposit Box at supermarkets. The Honolulu Police Department warns that legitimate law enforcement agencies never request payment over the phone and urges anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers.
fcpdnews.wordpress.com
Scammers contact victims by phone, email, or in person impersonating police or government officials, using intimidation tactics and false urgency to demand money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or gold by threatening arrest or claiming a family member has been arrested or injured. Legitimate law enforcement never calls to demand immediate payment, drop charges for money, or request sensitive information over the phone. Victims should verify caller identity independently, stay skeptical of pressure tactics, guard personal information, and report suspicious activity to local authorities.
13wmaz.com
The Perry Police Department has observed a significant increase in white-collar crimes and scams since the pandemic, prompting Detective Ike Wilcox to launch free "Stop the Scam" educational seminars since December 2022, which have reached over 600 people across 21 classes, podcasts, and broadcasts. Scammers specifically target law-abiding, trusting individuals through pressure tactics and emotional manipulation, with the detective's own wife falling victim to a phone payment scam. Wilcox advises the public to be suspicious of unusual requests, avoid paper checks due to check-washing and counterfeiting risks, use electronic payments, and educate themselves on common fraud tactics
calgaryherald.com
Nishaan Singh Sandhu pleaded guilty to his role in a grandparent scam targeting 81-year-old Calgary senior John Roy, who lost $12,000 after being told his grandson was in jail in Philadelphia and needed bail money. When the judge indicated a custodial sentence was appropriate and rejected a probationary proposal, Sandhu's lawyer sought to withdraw the guilty plea; the case returns to court March 15 to determine if the plea can be vacated or proceed to sentencing. Sandhu was arrested at Roy's home while posing as "Michael Lee" to pick up the fraudulent payment, though the Crown did not allege he was involved in the
gazettengr.com
**Nigerian Romance/Sweepstakes Scam Targeting Elderly Americans**
Dotun Alonge, a 47-year-old Nigerian national living in Providence, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison as the fifth defendant convicted in a sophisticated fraud operation that defrauded elderly Americans across multiple states of over $1.7 million. The scam involved fabricated romantic relationships on social media and dating sites, fake sweepstakes winnings requiring upfront payments, and fraudulent rental property schemes to extract money from victims. Four other co-conspirators received sentences ranging from time served to 42 months, with joint restitution ordered at approximately
primepublishers.com
The Middlebury Senior Center (located at 1172 Whittemore Rd., open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Friday) is hosting an Elder Fraud Prevention Lunch & Learn at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, presented by Brandon Ross, Financial Crimes Officer at Ion Bank. The free program will cover elder financial exploitation, common scams, identity theft safeguards, and prevention strategies, with registration required by calling 203-577-4166.
justice.gov
Dr. Thomas Andrew Webster of Ohio pleaded guilty to conspiring to accept kickbacks in a fraudulent telemarketing and medical supply scheme that victimized Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries in Eastern Washington and other states between May 2021 and September 2023. Webster signed fake medical records and durable medical equipment orders created by telemarketers who obtained patient information through cold calls, resulting in over $13.7 million in fraudulent billings to Medicare and TRICARE, with Webster personally receiving at least $839,565 for fictitious doctor visits that never occurred. As part of his guilty plea, Webster agreed to forfeit assets representing his criminal proceeds, with sent
taipeitimes.com
A 37-year-old Philadelphia tech professional lost $450,000 in a "pig butchering" romance scam after being wooed for months on a dating app by someone posing as a French wine trader using deepfake videos and sophisticated manipulation tactics. The fraudster gained her trust through romantic attention, then convinced her to invest in cryptocurrency through a fake trading app, with initial fake gains encouraging larger investments including her retirement funds and loans. The scam, run by Southeast Asian crime syndicates, has caused billions in losses across the US with little recourse for victims to recover their money.
justice.gov
Noel Chimezuru Agoha, age 40, of Baltimore, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for orchestrating business email compromise (BEC) and romance scams that defrauded victims of over $1.5 million between 2015 and 2018. Operating with co-conspirators, Agoha used fraudulent emails impersonating business contacts and fake dating profiles to trick victims into transferring funds to drop accounts he controlled, personally obtaining approximately $111,242 in BEC proceeds and over $1 million in dating scam proceeds, and was ordered to pay $1 million in restitution.
wmar2news.com
The "Phantom Hacker" scam has cost Marylanders millions of dollars through a multi-layered scheme where scammers pose as government officials (CIA, FBI, Treasury, etc.) and convince victims their identities have been stolen and accounts compromised. Victims are instructed to withdraw large sums of cash or purchase precious metals to "protect" their assets, which are then handed over to couriers; between May and December 2023, the FBI's IC3 received reports of over $55 million in losses nationwide, including $3.8 million from 7 Maryland victims, with one individual losing over $2 million.
abc6.com
Five individuals were convicted and sentenced for operating a Nigerian-based conspiracy that defrauded elderly U.S. citizens across multiple states of over $1.7 million through romance scams, fake sweepstakes, and fraudulent rental schemes. The defendants used fake romantic relationships and false promises to manipulate victims into sending money, and each was ordered to pay approximately $455,750 in restitution with several facing deportation after serving their prison terms.
justice.gov
Five foreign nationals, including Dotun Olawale Alonge (sentenced to 18 months in federal prison), were convicted for laundering over $1.7 million in proceeds from a Nigeria-based conspiracy that defrauded elderly U.S. citizens through romance scams, sweepstakes fraud, and rental property schemes. Victims were instructed to wire money or send cash to addresses in Rhode Island controlled by the defendants, who then moved the funds through multiple banks and businesses before sending most proceeds to Nigeria. The defendants have been ordered to pay approximately $455,750 in restitution to identified victims, with several facing deportation after their sentences.
netnewsledger.com
The Thunder Bay Police Service warned of persistent grandparent scams targeting seniors in the community, with one victim losing $3,000 after receiving a call from someone impersonating a lawyer representing her grandson who allegedly needed bail money. The scam typically involves fraudsters calling from private numbers, sometimes playing background voices to create credibility, and requesting urgent fund transfers via email or gift cards. The police recommend protective measures including hanging up on suspicious calls, independently verifying claims with family members, being alert to pressure tactics, reporting suspicious activity, and staying informed through resources like the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
gmanetwork.com
A 37-year-old Philadelphia tech professional lost $450,000 in a "pig butchering" romance scam involving a fake online suitor who used deepfake videos and sophisticated social engineering to build romantic trust before directing her to a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment app. The scammer, operating from Southeast Asia as part of an organized crime syndicate, convinced the victim to invest her savings and retirement funds by showing fake profitable trades and gradually escalating pressure to invest more. This type of romance-based cryptocurrency fraud has resulted in billions of dollars in losses across the United States with minimal victim recovery options.
m9.news
Shreya Datta, a 37-year-old Indian-American tech professional in Philadelphia, lost $450,000 to a sophisticated "pig butchering" romance scam in which a fraudster posing as a French wine trader named Ancel used deepfake videos and emotional manipulation on the dating app Hinge to lure her into a fake cryptocurrency investment scheme. The scammer requested increasing investments and ultimately asked for a "tax" when Datta attempted to withdraw profits, revealing the fraud. Dating scams accounted for over $3.5 billion in losses in 2023, and victims often experience significant emotional distress compounded by social stigma and shame that disc
golocalprov.com
A Nigerian-based conspiracy defrauded elderly U.S. citizens of over $1.7 million through multiple scam methods, including romance scams on dating sites, fake sweepstakes claims, and rental property fraud. Dotun Olawale Alonge, the fifth defendant convicted in the case, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for money laundering; he and four other convicted co-conspirators were ordered to pay approximately $455,750 in joint restitution to victims, with one fugitive still at large.
pennwatch.org
The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities is hosting multiple educational presentations throughout March 2024 to help seniors and the public protect themselves from financial fraud and identity theft. Topics include recognizing elder financial abuse (which is the #1 reported issue to Adult Protective Services), avoiding identity theft, cybersecurity best practices, investment fraud awareness, and common scam tactics, with sessions offered both in-person and virtually across the state.
latestly.com
A 40-year-old man from Jajpur, Odisha, lost Rs 53,000 to an online fake lottery scam after receiving text messages claiming he had won Rs 1 lakh and requesting processing fees and GST payments; the fraudsters then gained access to his bank account through a shared link and debited an additional amount. The victim filed a police complaint, and authorities registered a case against unidentified fraudsters while warning the public to verify lottery claims and avoid sharing banking details with unknown contacts.
dojmt.gov
The Montana Department of Justice's Office of Consumer Protection is warning of a cryptocurrency scam targeting PPP loan recipients, in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement and threaten arrest for unpaid loans to extort victims into sending money via bitcoin ATMs. Scammers exploit publicly available PPP loan data and confusion about loan forgiveness, using threats and forged documents to coerce victims into irretrievable cryptocurrency transfers. The agency advises that legitimate government agencies never demand payment over the phone and urges victims to report attempts to authorities.
local10.com
The Broward Sheriff's Office warned the public about an impersonation scam in which callers falsely claim to represent local police departments and demand money to place arrest warrants on hold. A woman in her 20s nearly fell victim after receiving a spoofed call claiming she missed jury duty and owed thousands in bond money, with the caller instructing her to withdraw funds via a pharmacy kiosk; she avoided the scam after a family member exposed it. While this victim escaped financial loss, seniors have accounted for $13 million in losses to similar scams in Miami-Dade County alone, with authorities reporting 650 instances over the past year and urging the public to report
therecord.media
Investigators traced nearly $100 million in cryptocurrency payments to a criminal scam compound in Myanmar (KK Park) operating pig butchering romance scams and worker trafficking ransoms over less than two years. Two cryptocurrency addresses linked to a Chinese front company received $24.2 million from known scam wallets and additional funds from ransoms, with families often extorted for $30,000+ to secure trafficked workers' release. The investigation reveals how romance scams and ransom extortion are interconnected operations generating significant profits for organized crime syndicates in Southeast Asia.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A Philadelphia tech professional named Shreya Datta lost approximately $450,000 in savings and retirement funds to a "pig butchering" romance scam, in which a man posing as a French wine trader named "Ancel" built trust over months using deepfake videos and manipulated screenshots before convincing her to invest in cryptocurrency through a fraudulent trading app. The scammer used emotional manipulation, gifts, and fabricated investment profits to gradually increase her investment until she attempted withdrawal and discovered the scheme; the FBI reported that over 40,000 people lost more than $3.5 billion to dating scams in 2023.
orilliamatters.com
The Huronia West Ontario Provincial Police arrested two individuals (ages 24 and 25) in late February after investigating a grandparent scam in which a suspect impersonated a police officer and falsely told a victim their grandson was in jail, demanding money for legal fees; the suspect visited the victim's home three times to collect cash before police intervened on the third visit. Both suspects were charged with fraud over $5,000, with the 24-year-old also charged with resisting a peace officer. The OPP provided guidance on protecting against emergency/grandparent scams, emphasizing verification of callers through independent contact information and warning that legitimate law enforcement will never request payment by
prnewswire.com
Virginia's House Bill 692 passed unanimously in both chambers in February 2024, requiring financial institutions to train employees to identify and report elder financial exploitation, establish trusted contact procedures, and develop detection guidelines. The bill was championed by advocate Janine Williamson, whose uncle retired Navy Commander Larry Cook lost $3.6 million through international wire fraud scams that financial institution employees failed to detect or report, prompting her negligence lawsuit against Wells Fargo and Navy Federal Credit Union.
healthjournalism.org
Elder fraud schemes—including grandparent scams, romance scams, and government impersonation scams—have become increasingly sophisticated through AI technology like deepfake videos and robocalls, making them difficult to distinguish from legitimate communications. In 2022 alone, approximately 88,000 people aged 60 and older lost $3.1 billion to fraud, with victims over 70 losing an average of nearly $42,000; scammers typically exploit emotions rather than intelligence, and experts advise victims and their families to watch for financial requests as the key indicator of fraud. The AARP Fraud Watch Network received nearly 100,000 calls last year from victims of all
wcti12.com
Carteret County, North Carolina is experiencing a surge in elder scams involving cryptocurrency and phone-based fraud, including impersonation of law enforcement, fake bail/accident schemes, and romance scams. County officials warn against sending money to unknown contacts claiming legal authority, investing in cryptocurrency without research, clicking suspicious links, and falling victim to online relationship scams, while noting that cryptocurrency and gift cards are preferred by scammers because they are difficult for law enforcement to trace. Residents are advised to verify suspicious claims with local law enforcement before sending any funds.
justice.gov
Jack Connor Ridall, 29, of Miami, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for operating an investment fraud scheme through three shell companies (Stratcapital LLC, Guss Capital LLC, and Guss Actium Manager LLC) that defrauded at least three victims of approximately $735,000. Ridall misrepresented his investing experience, the safety of investments, and how funds would be used, then misappropriated the money for personal luxury purchases and fraudulent family transfers while providing forged attorney letters and audit reports to victims claiming high returns. Ridall pleaded guilty to wire fraud in November 2023.
punekarnews.in
Between December 2022 and February 2024, a 35-year-old investor in Pune lost Rs 1.3 crore (approximately $156,000 USD) in a stock market investment scam perpetrated by two accused individuals who promised returns but refused to repay the principal amount. The suspects, aged 23 and 24, gained the victim's trust and directed funds to bank accounts associated with We Task Academy and Aspire Enterprises, paying only partial interest (Rs 41.65 lakh) before disappearing with the remaining amount. The Wakad Police Station registered a case and are investigating the fraud.
chainalysis.com
Romance scams ("pig butchering scams") generated over $700 million in reported losses to Americans in 2022, with scammers building fake relationships and coercing victims into fraudulent cryptocurrency and fiat investments before disappearing. Beyond victimizing romance scam targets, criminal gangs operating compounds in Myanmar and Southeast Asia have kidnapped and trafficked individuals forced to work 12+ hour days executing these scams, with gangs also collecting ransoms from victims' families in cryptocurrency, effectively mixing scam proceeds with extortion payments.
newindianexpress.com
In 2018, India's Rajya Sabha Committee on Government Assurances summoned banking officials and CBI representatives to provide testimony on major financial scams affecting the Indian banking sector. As of March 2018, bank fraud cases exceeded Rs 1,000 crore across multiple institutions, with 292 cases under CBI investigation involving 44 prominent banks including SBI, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank, with some cases implicating bank officers themselves. The parliamentary inquiry aimed to ensure accountability and address the systemic fraud issues that had compromised public sector and private banks nationwide.
steinbachonline.com
Steinbach RCMP responded to four grandparent scam incidents in two days, with two victims losing money. Scammers called elderly residents impersonating relatives in legal trouble and requesting bail money, which victims were instructed to hand over to couriers at their homes. Police advise recipients to hang up, verify the story by calling the alleged family member, never share personal information, and establish a family safety word to prevent falling victim to this fraud.
wesh.com
Scammers are exploiting the confusion surrounding multiple medical bills from different providers following hospital visits, using counterfeit letterheads and logos to target victims with fraudulent invoices. Experts recommend verifying bills match insurance claims and explanation of benefits, obtaining prior authorizations and cost estimates upfront, and never paying bills without verification, as scammers often target small amounts to avoid detection and frequently operate offshore where prosecution is costly.
ghanaweb.com
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy related to romance scams targeting elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She knowingly received stolen funds from vulnerable victims and was arrested abroad; she faces up to five years in prison and must forfeit and pay restitution of approximately $2.16 million.
marketplace.org
Financial advice columnist Charlotte Cowles lost $50,000 to an elaborate scam in which fraudsters impersonated Federal Trade Commission and CIA officials; she withdrew the cash from her Bank of America account before realizing the scheme later that day. Banks have limited tools to prevent such scams, with policies varying by institution—some tellers may offer alternatives like cashier's checks or wire transfers, while others simply warn customers—and the FTC reported consumers lost $8.8 billion to scams in 2022, a 30% increase from the previous year.
timesnownews.com
A YouTuber operating the "ScamSandwich" channel poses as an elderly widow to expose and disrupt online scammers, gaining over 90,000 subscribers since January 2023. By gaining remote access to scammers' computers, he reveals their locations (primarily in India and West Africa), deploys disruptive viruses, and publicly humiliates them on camera, sometimes prompting expressions of remorse and reports to authorities. While his videos provide entertainment and awareness, they highlight the serious problem of elder fraud, with Americans over 60 losing billions of dollars annually to scams.
punekarnews.in
A couple in Pune's Wakad area lost Rs 35 lakhs 35 thousand between January 29 and February 17, 2024, after being lured through social media advertisements into a fake share market investment scheme. The fraudsters created a deceptive WhatsApp group and counterfeit mobile app to convince the victims to invest, then prevented them from withdrawing funds and refused to return their money or promised profits. Five individuals have been identified in the case, and Wakad Police are investigating the incident.
justice.gov
The U.S. Attorney's Office partnered with Winchester and Waltham Police Departments to host financial fraud awareness seminars for older adults, featuring presentations from federal prosecutors, the IRS, and U.S. Postal Service on common scams and protective measures. According to FBI data, victims over 60 experienced an 84% increase in losses from 2021 to 2022, totaling over $3 billion, with nearly 5,500 victims losing more than $100,000 each to schemes including tech support, romance, and sweepstakes scams.
publicnewsservice.org
AARP Connecticut is launching a new educational series to address the growing complexity of scams targeting older adults, with 400 different scam types reported in 2022. Seniors are frequently targeted because they tend to have more financial resources, and losses can range from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars, with emotional and psychological impacts extending beyond financial harm. The free online series will cover topics including artificial intelligence and voice cloning scams, with a Connecticut man recently indicted for defrauding Wisconsin seniors of $200,000 through grandparent impersonation scams.
nypost.com
A YouTube content creator operating under the pseudonym "Neld Harris" poses as an elderly, tech-illiterate widow to infiltrate and expose scam operations targeting vulnerable seniors. Through his ScamSandwich channel, which has garnered over 8 million views since launching in January 2023, he lures scammers into elaborate traps, takes control of their computers, and publicly reveals their identities, locations, and tactics. This "scambaiting" effort addresses a significant problem: the AARP reports Americans over 60 lose $28.3 billion annually to scams, with only 1 in 10 cases reported to authorities.
gbcghanaonline.com
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection with romance scams targeting vulnerable elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She faces up to five years in prison and has agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41. The criminal conspiracy specifically targeted older Americans through fake online romantic relationships to steal their money.
gnnliberia.com
Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Reall) pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money in a $2 million romance scam targeting older Americans, where she controlled bank accounts that received fraudulent funds obtained through fake romantic identities. She agreed to forfeit and make restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces up to five years in prison upon sentencing by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty. The scam, which exploited vulnerable elderly victims through false pretenses including fake gold transport payments and FBI investigation claims, resulted in her extradition from the United Kingdom in May 2023.