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in Scam Awareness
theweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Solar panel scams have surged dramatically, with one-star reviews increasing over 1,000% since 2018, as fraudulent companies use high-pressure sales tactics, misleading financing arrangements, and predatory loans to defraud homeowners. Common schemes include misrepresenting incentives, selling non-functional panels, failing to honor lease obligations after company bankruptcies, and creating fake companies, with both smaller operators like Pink Energy and major companies like SunRun and Tesla facing legal complaints. Federal agencies are now investigating these practices alongside victims to combat the fraud affecting millions of U.S. homeowners.
foxcarolina.com
· 2025-12-08
**QR Code Scams on the Rise**
The Better Business Bureau warned that scammers are increasingly using QR codes to direct victims to phishing websites, fraudulent payment portals, and malware downloads, with reports of fraud on parking meters, in emails, postal mail, and through romance scams impersonating utility and government officials. To protect against these scams, consumers should verify QR codes before scanning them, avoid scanning codes from strangers (especially those promising urgent opportunities), be wary of shortened URLs, and check for signs of tampering such as stickers placed over legitimate business codes.
journal-news.com
· 2025-12-08
College students are increasingly targeted by financial scams including fake scholarships, bogus apartment listings, and fraudulent credit card offers that seek personal information such as names, addresses, and Social Security numbers. Experts advise students to avoid unfamiliar websites, carefully review forms before completing them, protect sensitive information like phone numbers, and be skeptical of unsolicited scholarship offers via email, text, or social media. The Better Business Bureau recommends using antivirus software, guarding passwords, and having important documents sent to permanent addresses rather than dorms.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
Metro Detroit police report a surge in scam schemes targeting residents, in which perpetrators impersonate government agencies, tech support, or financial institutions to convince victims to withdraw large sums of cash or cryptocurrency. Victims are instructed to either hand cash to "couriers" or deposit funds into bitcoin ATMs, with one Northville Township woman in her 70s losing $300,000 through a combination of cash, bitcoin, and gold bars in summer 2024. Scammers keep victims on the phone to prevent them from seeking help and often direct them to multiple banks to avoid suspicion.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational awareness piece, not a news report of a specific scam incident. Here's the summary:
Romance scams are increasingly prevalent on social media, dating apps, and online platforms, with criminals evolving tactics to exploit lonely individuals into money laundering schemes, fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, and other fraud. AARP Texas hosted a Facebook Live educational event on September 4, 2024, featuring federal prosecutors and law enforcement to discuss warning signs of romance scams, protective measures, and resources for victims.
wflx.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost victims a median of $2,000, with total reported losses reaching $1.14 billion—the highest of any imposter scam category. Scammers are increasingly using AI and deepfakes to create fake profiles on dating apps and social media, stealing images and establishing fictitious identities to build trust before requesting money. Experts recommend victims never send money to online contacts they haven't met in person and use reverse image searches to verify profile photos, while recognizing that shame and embarrassment often lead victims to underreport these crimes.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A GOBankingRates survey of over 1,100 Americans found that nearly 40% reported being victims of identity theft, financial fraud, or financial scams. The article identifies 14 common scam types affecting Americans, including phone scams (17% of victims), money transfer scams (12%), online shopping fraud, phishing, imposter scams, Social Security scams, debt collection scams, romance scams, and tax scams, along with practical prevention tips for each. No specific dollar loss amounts are provided, but the survey emphasizes that scams are widespread and offer guidance on how to protect oneself from each type.
wilsoncountysource.com
· 2025-12-08
Police departments and the Better Business Bureau are issuing warnings about a growing wave of QR code scams that direct victims to phishing websites, fraudulent payment portals, and malware. Common schemes include parking meter payment fraud, cryptocurrency wallet scams, romance scams, utility/government impostor scams, and phishing attacks via email or text. Consumers should verify QR codes before scanning, avoid codes from unfamiliar sources, check for tampering on public codes, and report suspicious activity to the BBB or FTC.
dos.ny.gov
· 2025-12-08
The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection released fraud prevention guidance for older adults, noting that financial exploitation is the most prevalent form of elder abuse. According to the FBI's 2023 Internet Crime Report, adults aged 60 and older lost at least $3.4 billion annually to fraud, with investment scams accounting for over $1 billion of those losses—a 38% increase from 2022. The agency advises seniors to recognize red flags in investment and reverse mortgage scams, conduct independent research before committing funds, and avoid unsolicited financial contacts.
suncommunitynews.com
· 2025-12-08
This does not appear to be an article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse. Instead, it is a system notification or website interface message regarding email verification and session management. It is not suitable for summarization in the Elderus fraud research database.
housingwire.com
· 2025-12-08
The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection released consumer awareness tips for National Senior Citizens Day warning older adults about reverse mortgage scams, where fraudsters pose as lenders to pressure seniors into signing poorly explained contracts without allowing them to consult trusted advisors or review documentation. Legitimate reverse mortgage professionals encourage clients to seek second opinions and comply with mandatory HUD counseling requirements, whereas scammers discourage outside consultation and rush borrowers into decisions. The advisory recommends seniors research multiple lenders independently and consult resources from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau before pursuing any reverse mortgage.
hometownsource.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The Senior LinkAge Line is offering two educational classes on September 11 to help older adults detect, report, and prevent health care fraud, waste, and abuse. Participants will learn how to identify Medicare scams, protect their Medicare beneficiary numbers, and review their Medicare paperwork, with registration available online or by calling 800.333.2433.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A Westpac bank teller in Horsham, Victoria, prevented a customer from losing $500,000 to a term deposit scam by questioning an unusually high interest rate offer and verifying banking details with ING directly, discovering the BSB number did not match any legitimate ING account. The sophisticated scam promised returns that did not align with actual bank offerings, highlighting how fraudsters create seemingly legitimate investment opportunities to deceive savings-focused customers. Australians lost $1.3 billion to investment scams in 2023, and experts recommend verifying any financial offers directly through official company websites or publicly sourced contact numbers rather than using details provided by the offeror.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Young adults ages 18-24 are increasingly targeted by scammers during back-to-school season, with this age group reporting a median loss of $155 per scam in 2022—higher than other age groups for the first time. Common scams include textbook fraud, scholarship schemes, and employment offers, which exploit college students' inexperience with financial transactions and life decisions. Protection strategies include verifying websites, using credit cards for purchases (which offer more protection than peer-to-peer payment apps), and being cautious of unsolicited offers and deeply discounted prices.
wwaytv3.com
· 2025-12-08
Election-related scams exploit voters' emotional investment in candidates and causes by mimicking legitimate campaign emails and phone calls to steal personal information, banking details, and donations. The Better Business Bureau advises verifying email links by typing official URLs directly into browsers, avoiding clicking suspicious links, being wary of pressure tactics, and researching organizations before donating or sharing personal information. Common scams include phishing emails with malicious links, fake surveys requesting Social Security numbers or credit card information under the guise of prizes, and fraudulent donation requests that divert funds to scammers rather than campaigns.
knopnews2.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers are increasingly using AI and deepfakes to deceive victims on dating apps and social media, with the FTC reporting median losses around $2,000 per victim and total losses reaching $1.14 billion—the highest for any imposter scam. Fraudsters create fake profiles using stolen images and AI-generated content to build trust before requesting money, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. Experts recommend victims reverse-image search profile photos, never send money to someone met only online, and monitor privacy settings to prevent their own photos and voice from being cloned.
wcpo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
College students frequently fall victim to financial scams targeting their personal information, including fake scholarships, bogus apartment listings, fraudulent credit card offers, and online shopping scams. To protect themselves, students should avoid filling out unsolicited forms, guard sensitive information like Social Security numbers and phone numbers, use strong and unique passwords, enable anti-virus software, and direct important documents to their permanent home rather than dorms.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2023 GOBankingRates survey of over 1,100 Americans found that nearly 40% of respondents had experienced identity theft, financial fraud, or financial scams. Common scams included phone scams (17% of victims), money transfer scams (12%), online shopping fraud, phishing schemes targeting personal information, and imposter scams (7%), with the article providing prevention tips such as verifying requests through direct contact, shopping on reputable websites, and avoiding suspicious email links.
thecalifornian.com
· 2025-12-08
newschannel5.com
· 2025-12-08
The Tennessee Attorney General's Office warns that QR code scams are rising, including phishing scams that steal personal information, payment scams using fake codes in public places, package scams directing users to malicious websites, cryptocurrency scams, and donation scams impersonating charities. The office recommends verifying QR code sources, inspecting codes for tampering, using secure scanner apps, previewing URLs before clicking, avoiding unsolicited codes from mail/email/text, and keeping device security software updated.
williamsonsource.com
· 2025-12-08
Police departments and the Better Business Bureau are warning consumers about rapidly growing QR code scams, where fraudsters use QR codes to direct victims to phishing websites, fake payment portals, and malware-infected sites. Common scams include parking meter fraud, cryptocurrency wallet schemes, romance scams, utility impostor schemes, and phishing attacks, with victims experiencing significant financial losses and device compromise. Consumers should verify QR code sources before scanning, avoid codes from unfamiliar sources, check for tampering on public codes, and report suspicious activity to the BBB and FTC.
sonomasun.com
· 2025-12-08
An 88-year-old woman lost $4,600 to a sophisticated scam that began with a fraudulent Norton AntiVirus email. After calling the number in the email, she was socially engineered into sharing a two-factor authentication code, which gave scammers access to her bank account; they transferred $4,000 to her checking account, then intimidated her into sending back $3,600 via Bitcoin and cash to an Uber driver. The article emphasizes the importance of verifying sources, never sharing sensitive information or authentication codes, consulting trusted individuals, and reporting scams to authorities.
tampabay.com
· 2025-12-08
A cybersecurity firm KnowBe4 discovered that a newly hired remote software engineer was a North Korean scammer operating through a U.S. laptop farm, exposed when the company laptop immediately began downloading password-stealing malware. The scheme involved multiple actors including a compromised American citizen whose identity was stolen, fake references with Gmail addresses, and inconsistencies in the hiring process that the FBI has linked to a known North Korean data-stealing operation targeting I.T. positions at American and British companies. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in remote hiring processes and the need for companies to implement stronger verification procedures, in-person interviews, and cross-referenced background checks to prevent foreign threat actors from infilt
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Journalist April Helm watched her widowed mother, Sherri Tyson, lose $350,000 to a romance scammer between 2018 and 2020, despite Helm's extensive intervention efforts including presenting evidence, involving family, and arranging federal law enforcement involvement. The article explains that chronic fraud victims like Tyson often cannot reject scammers' lies due to psychological manipulation, isolation, emotional investment, and rationalization traps that make admitting the fraud feel more shameful than continuing to deny reality. Risk factors for chronic victimization include isolation, depression, cognitive decline, and lack of purpose, and scammers deliberately create immersive false realities that prevent rational thinking
bluewin.ch
· 2025-12-08
Scammers stole the identity of Swiss SP Co-President Cédric Wermuth by using his photos to conduct romance scams online, a form of marriage fraud. The fraud was discovered when a bank manager alerted Wermuth that a customer attempted to transfer 100,000 Swiss francs to him after being deceived; Wermuth found his details on at least five Facebook pages used for the scam. Wermuth filed a criminal complaint with Aargau cantonal police, which will be forwarded to the public prosecutor's office.
kdhlradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Prescott, Wisconsin are impersonating IRS agents via phone calls and text messages, claiming victims owe back taxes and threatening arrest warrants to create urgency and panic. The Prescott Police Department advises residents to hang up and contact the IRS directly rather than responding to such unsolicited communications.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Employment scams increased 118% last year, resulting in over $70 million in losses, the FBI reports. Criminals use fake job offers and AI-generated text messages to steal victims' personal information and money. Job seekers should verify job offers directly with companies and avoid sharing personal or financial information with unverified employers.
romesentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection is raising awareness about financial scams targeting older adults, noting that Americans aged 60 and older lose at least $3.4 billion annually to fraud—the highest amount of any age group. Investment scams represent the costliest fraud type, with losses jumping 38% from $3.31 billion in 2022 to $4.57 billion in 2023, with seniors losing over $1 billion to these schemes in 2023 alone.
fingerlakes1.com
· 2025-12-08
The New York State Department of Consumer Protection is warning seniors about financial scams ahead of National Senior Citizens Day, noting that older adults lost an estimated $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023. The department recommends vigilance and education to combat common scams targeting seniors, including investment fraud, reverse mortgage scams, and government imposter schemes. Officials advise seniors to verify unexpected requests for personal information or money before responding.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud targeting Americans over 60 increased 3% between 2022 and 2023, with victims losing an average of over $36,000 per incident. Arizona, Utah, and Rhode Island experienced the largest increases (36%, 23%, and 22% respectively), with research suggesting scammers are increasingly targeting high-income areas with large senior populations. Prevention measures include educating seniors and financial professionals about common scams, improving digital literacy among older adults, and implementing stronger security settings on financial accounts.
whec.com
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old woman in Webster, New York lost $400,000 in four months when her computer was compromised and scammers made 76 fraudulent withdrawals from her bank account, none of which were flagged or stopped by ESL Bank despite many being five-figure amounts. Dan Lyon, a fraud expert at Lifespan, notes that banks typically release funds if customers request them and cites a proposed state budget provision that would have allowed tellers to place holds on suspicious withdrawals—a measure that was removed during spring negotiations but AARP is pushing to reinstate. Experts emphasize that seniors over 60 are deliberately targeted because they hold the nation's wealth
americanbanker.com
· 2025-12-08
A widow lost $87,000 to Social Security Administration impersonators who contacted her two weeks after her husband's death, likely finding her through obituaries. The incident illustrates a broader crisis: over 8.68 million elder fraud cases occur annually in the U.S., costing victims an average of $20,015 each and totaling $113.7 billion yearly, with perpetrators increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes and threatening language to exploit vulnerable seniors unfamiliar with modern technology. Several states are responding by passing laws that require banks to report suspected fraud, block suspicious transactions, and train employees to identify elder exploitation schemes.
communitycare.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide from Community Care Inform Adults outlines best practices for social workers protecting vulnerable adults from scams, which are recognized as financial abuse under the Care Act 2014. Key recommendations include treating scams as safeguarding concerns, working multi-agency with police and trading standards, acting quickly to prevent escalation, assessing mental capacity, and developing comprehensive risk assessment and protection plans in partnership with clients. The guide notes that 73% of UK adults have been targeted by scams, with 35% (19 million people) losing money, yet fewer than one-third report the crime to authorities.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
During back-to-school season, fraudsters employ multiple scams targeting families seeking savings, including deep-discount shopping scams on social media (offering counterfeit or non-existent brand-name items), textbook scams (selling fake or undelivered books at reduced prices), and financial aid scams. The Federal Trade Commission advises consumers to research sellers beyond social media platforms, use credit cards for purchases, avoid payment methods like gift cards and wire transfers, and buy from official retailers to protect themselves from losing money to these schemes.
wxxinews.org
· 2025-12-08
This discussion addresses the rising prevalence of scams targeting older adults, including text message schemes impersonating government agencies (like the Thruway Authority), unsolicited calls offering medical supplies, and investment fraud from fake celebrities. Experts from law enforcement and elder care organizations, along with a caregiver, discuss how to recognize these scams and respond when a loved one has been victimized.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
Trademark scams targeting applicants and registrants have increased significantly, with fraudsters using fake invoices mimicking the USPTO, unsolicited phone calls demanding immediate payment, and deceptive emails from purported trademark attorneys claiming competing registrations or trademark conflicts. The scams aim to trick victims into paying bogus fees by creating urgency around losing trademark rights, though the USPTO never sends invoices directly to applicants and legitimate communications go only to attorneys of record. Best practices include verifying all trademark communications with your attorney and ignoring unsolicited offers for trademark services or payment demands.
nbcconnecticut.com
· 2025-12-08
Following devastating storms and flash flooding in Connecticut, the Department of Consumer Protection warned residents to beware of disaster recovery scams, including fraudulent contractors offering low-cost repairs without contracts and fake charities soliciting donations. State officials advised homeowners to verify contractor credentials, insurance, and identification before hiring, research charities before donating, and watch for signs of water damage when purchasing vehicles, as scammers commonly exploit disaster survivors' urgency and vulnerability.
wmtv15news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns college students, particularly freshmen ages 18-24, about six prevalent scams: fake apartment listings (where scammers copy real listings and request deposits for properties that don't exist), fraudulent credit card offers targeting first-time users, identity theft (requiring regular credit report monitoring), fake scholarship and grant offers, and other schemes exploiting their inexperience. The BBB emphasizes the importance of verifying sources, researching offers that seem too good to be true, and protecting personal information to prevent financial and identity-related harm.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP New York is hosting a free educational webinar on September 18 featuring FTC consumer protection attorney Adam Hersh to help older adults identify common scams, prevent fraud, and report incidents. The session will cover tactics used by fraudsters targeting seniors and provide resources from the AARP Fraud Watch Network, including guidance on protecting personal and financial information.
njspotlightnews.org
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reported that scammers stole approximately $3.4 billion from seniors in 2023, with the actual figure likely higher due to underreporting caused by victim embarrassment and uncertainty. Common scams targeting older adults include mail fraud, online scams, and identity theft, often leveraging fear of missing out and appearing legitimate. To protect themselves, seniors should verify the legitimacy of unsolicited communications by contacting companies directly through official websites rather than using contact information provided in suspicious emails or calls.
kvoa.com
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued an alert about cryptocurrency scams targeting consumers through investment schemes, impersonation fraud, and blackmail extortion. Scammers use phone calls, emails, social media, and dating apps to pose as investment managers, government officials, or love interests to trick victims into buying and transferring cryptocurrency. The Attorney General recommends verifying caller information independently, remaining skeptical of unsolicited requests for cryptocurrency payments, never sharing personal information with unknown callers, consulting trusted individuals before major financial decisions, and reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.
seehafernews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Manitowoc County Public Safety Committee is hosting an educational event titled "Common Scams and Frauds Targeting Seniors" in partnership with Wisconsin DATCP on August 22nd, with sessions at two locations (Manitowoc County Office Complex at 11 a.m. and Kiel Community Center at 5 p.m.). The free presentations aim to educate seniors about rising scam threats in the community and provide preventative measures, with local police available to answer questions.
prunderground.com
· 2025-12-08
Traverse Bay Farms partnered with financial expert Andy LaPointe to promote senior fraud prevention through his book "Senior Savvy: A Comprehensive Guide to Avoiding Scams." The guide educates seniors on recognizing and protecting themselves from various scams including door-to-door, telephone, phishing, social media, romance, and cryptocurrency schemes, while providing actionable strategies for internet safety, password management, and scam reporting.
asic.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
ASIC released a report examining anti-scam practices at 15 banks outside Australia's four major banks and found significant gaps in fraud prevention and victim support. The review identified inconsistent scam strategies, narrow liability approaches, poor customer service responses, and inadequate staff training, with customers bearing 96% of scam losses during 2022-2023. While overall scam losses decreased 13% to $2.74 billion in 2023, reported scams increased 18.5%, highlighting the need for coordinated industry and regulatory action to improve protections for vulnerable customers.
bluewin.ch
· 2025-12-08
Swiss politician Cédric Wermuth, SP Co-President and Aargau National Councillor, became a victim of identity theft when scammers used his photos for romance scams on Facebook and other online platforms. The fraud was discovered when a bank manager alerted Wermuth that a customer attempted to transfer 100,000 francs to him; Wermuth found at least five fraudulent profiles using his identity details on Facebook alone. He filed a criminal complaint that has been forwarded to the public prosecutor's office.
rfa.org
· 2025-12-08
A South Korean court sentenced the leader of an international scam operation to eight years in prison for luring nearly 60 South Korean victims with promises of high-paying jobs and forcing them into fraudulent crimes in Laos and Myanmar, resulting in losses exceeding 23 billion won ($17 million) between May and October of the previous year. The scam group imprisoned victims in offices within special economic zones, confiscated their passports, and coerced them into illegal activities including voice phishing, investment scams, and romance scams while withholding travel and living expenses. In response to the escalating threat, South Korea imposed a level 4 travel ban on the Lao Golden
wror.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article reports that New England states rank among the safest for online dating based on rates of romance scams, identity theft, fraud, sex offenders, and STDs, with Vermont ranking #1 nationally and Massachusetts at #17. The article also notes that all six New England states rank in the top 20 most expensive states for dating, with New York leading at $297.27 for an average date compared to the national average of $120.90.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Malaysian celebrities, including singer Siti Nurhaliza, cooking influencer Khairul Aming, and former shuttler Lee Chong Wei, have raised alarm about AI-generated deepfake content that misuses their images and voices to promote financial schemes and fraudulent products. The scammers particularly target elderly social media users, using replicated audio and video to deceive victims into purchasing items or investing in schemes. The celebrities and Malaysia's Communications Minister are urging the public to verify online content and calling for social media platforms to label AI-generated material and implement stricter accountability measures.
today.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a meaningful summary of this content. The material provided appears to be a webpage listing or index of multiple video segments rather than a cohesive article. While the page includes references to fraud-related content (such as "Medical Ad Scams Powered by AI Deepfakes" and "How to save on prescription medications and avoid scams"), the actual article text or substantive details about these topics are not included.
To create an accurate Elderus summary, please provide the full text or transcript of the specific article you'd like summarized.
wcpo.com
· 2025-12-08
The article discusses how the average US household has 17 internet-connected devices, making tech support needs common and creating opportunities for scams when consumers search online for help. Legitimate tech support options include Best Buy's Geek Squad and subscription services like Asurion ($24.99/month) and HelloTech ($16.50/month), though consumers should verify company legitimacy through reviews, understand coverage and security protocols, and avoid sharing unnecessary personal information. The article emphasizes caution when searching for tech support online, as scammers often pose as customer service representatives to steal money or access devices.