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in General Elder Fraud
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CBS 8 San Diego
· 2025-08-01
In the first half of 2025, over 700 senior citizens in San Diego County lost nearly $70 million to financial scams, with losses on track to exceed last year's total of $98 million, though actual figures are likely higher due to underreporting. The FBI reported that seniors accounted for more than one-third of the $16 billion in nationwide fraud losses last year, with scammers targeting vulnerable elderly people who are often deceived by professional-sounding perpetrators. Local law enforcement and prosecutors are working to combat these crimes and bring scam artists to justice.
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CBS New York
· 2025-07-28
A 78-year-old Long Island retired art teacher lost $15,000 in a scam that began with a fraudulent text message about an unauthorized Apple Pay charge. After responding to the text, she received calls impersonating Apple and her bank, which convinced her that her account was compromised and that she needed to withdraw $15,000 from her savings account. She withdrew the cash and handed it to a scammer posing as a bank representative at her gated community, who then fled with the money.
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WBIR Channel 10
· 2025-07-28
The Knox County Sheriff's Office hosted an educational event called "Scam Smart" in partnership with Minet Funeral Home, attracting over 70 community members to learn about technology-based scams targeting seniors. Officers provided prevention tips and covered various scam types, emphasizing that anyone with a cell phone can become a victim regardless of age. Residents were encouraged to report scams to the Knox County Sheriff's Office or submit tips via knoxsheriff.org.
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WCHS Eyewitness News
· 2025-07-28
Charleston Police and Chase Bank hosted a workshop to educate seniors on avoiding scams, as phone, text, and email fraud targeting this population is on the rise both nationally and locally. According to the Federal Trade Commission, West Virginians lost more than $27 million to fraud and scams in the past year, primarily from impostor schemes including EasyPass, jury duty, and romance scams. The workshop emphasized the importance of verifying communications directly with companies or agencies rather than responding to urgent-seeming messages.
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KTVN 2 News Nevada
· 2025-07-28
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office is warning of a rising trend in phone and identity scams targeting senior citizens, including scams impersonating law enforcement, government agencies, and family members in distress. Officials recommend that seniors stop and consult with trusted family members or official sources when encountering potential scams to avoid victimization.
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WOWK 13 News
· 2025-07-25
Chase Bank and the Charleston Police Department partnered to educate seniors about fraud and scam risks, citing that West Virginia lost over $27 million to fraud in the previous year according to the Federal Trade Commission. The initiative aims to help vulnerable populations, particularly those living paycheck-to-paycheck, avoid financial devastation that could result from having their bank accounts emptied by scammers.
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WENY TV NEWS
· 2025-07-25
Pennsylvania State Representative Tina Picket held an annual senior expo in Athens, Bradford County, to educate elderly residents about protecting themselves from scams targeting their finances and identities. The event featured speakers on topics including healthcare benefits, secure banking, and Medicare, along with booths offering information on local services and a free document shredding service to reduce identity theft risk.
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CBS 13 News
· 2025-07-24
Maine secured a federal grant to establish the state's first elder justice investigator position, a two-year pilot program to combat the rising problem of elder fraud and abuse. According to the FBI, one in ten seniors becomes a victim of elder crime, though most cases go unreported to police. Officer Candace Simeone now leads this initiative, noting that over 85% of elder abuse suspects are known to the victim, making these cases particularly challenging to investigate.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-07-22
The FBI is warning of a spike in elder scams across the Las Vegas Valley, with scammers targeting retirement communities through various schemes including government impersonations, fake notices from Clark County, impersonation of police officers, and in-person fraud. FBI officials attribute the vulnerability of elderly victims to their trusting nature and note that common scam types include investment fraud and phishing emails designed to appear legitimate. The FBI emphasizes the importance of reporting scams and warns scammers that they will be tracked down and prosecuted.
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CTV News
· 2025-07-17
A Calgary senior lost over $300,000 in a cryptocurrency scam that began in 2022 when a scammer impersonated her grandson claiming he needed bail money for a car crash and drug charges. The fraudster, working with a fake lawyer, instructed the victim to make more than 300 deposits into Bitcoin ATMs over a six-week period before she became suspicious and reported it to police. Calgary police's cybercrime unit identified and arrested 34-year-old Jeremy Ratray of Quebec in connection with the scheme.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-07-15
Joe Fitzpatrick, a retired data security professional living in a Las Vegas senior community, created the Silera Community Scam Guide after noticing neighbors were regularly targeted by scammers, with some losing money to tech support and other common fraud schemes. He and fellow residents compile easy-to-read guides identifying various scams to help educate their community about fraud prevention, addressing what Fitzpatrick describes as a daily epidemic affecting seniors in the area.
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FOX 35 Orlando
· 2025-07-04
Two sushi restaurant owners in Brevard County, Florida were accused of running a tech support scam that victimized elderly people across the country, with victims tricked into purchasing gift cards and wiring money after receiving fake computer warning messages. The investigation, which began in Wisconsin in 2023, resulted in the couple's arrest in late June, with one documented victim being a 76-year-old man who lost $14,300 (through $4,300 in gift cards and a $10,000 wire transfer to California).
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KXAN
· 2025-07-03
According to the FBI, Texas ranks second nationally for internet crime losses, with residents losing over $1.3 billion to extortion, data breaches, and phishing scams—an increase from the previous year. A community banker recommends key protective measures including avoiding clicking suspicious links in unsolicited text messages about unpaid tolls or invoices, and verifying unfamiliar communications through independent research before taking action.
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News 4 Tucson KVOA-TV
· 2025-06-27
A Jamaican man named Sherwane Benjamin Bellfonte, known as "the Iceman," was extradited to Tucson to face federal prosecution for an elaborate romance and sweepstakes scam targeting an 85-year-old woman from Veil, Arizona, between December 2015 and January 2019. Bellfonte and his co-conspirators defrauded the now-deceased victim of approximately $400,000 by posing as a romantic interest while pressuring her to send money. The FBI reports increasing numbers of similar scams targeting Arizona's elderly population.
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CTV News
· 2025-06-26
A Manitoba senior lost $2 million in a Fargo Investor cryptocurrency scam, prompting a warning from the Manitoba Securities Commission. The fraudulent scheme operated by showing the victim fake returns on his investments over time, creating the illusion of legitimate gains before the scammers converted his money to cryptocurrency and moved it overseas.
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CTV News
· 2025-06-26
A Manitoba senior lost his entire life savings of $2 million in a cryptocurrency investment scam involving a fake website called "Fargo Investor" created using artificial intelligence. Scammers, reportedly operating from outside Canada, used social media ads featuring celebrity endorsements to promote the unregistered investment opportunity, which the Manitoba Securities Commission warns is part of a rising trend of fraud targeting seniors.
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NBC News
· 2025-06-26
A senior couple in Colorado lost $20,000 in a gift card scam after receiving a fraudulent email claiming they owed money for an unauthorized phone purchase. The scammer, posing as a federal agent named Rebecca, convinced them to purchase multiple gift cards and provide PIN codes, with the scammer eventually admitting to the theft when contacted by police. The couple, now in their mid-70s, must rebuild their savings from scratch, highlighting the devastating impact of these scams run by international criminal networks.
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12 News
· 2025-06-24
A Jamaican man, Sherwane Benjamin Bellfonte, was extradited to Arizona and is facing charges for defrauding an 85-year-old woman in Tucson of approximately $400,000 through a combined lottery and romance scam. Bellfonte posed as an engaged suitor, sending flowers and love messages while convincing the victim to send money, in a case authorities note represents a rare successful international prosecution of an online scammer.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2025-06-20
This is a Senate hearing transcript excerpt in which a junior senator with experience as a federal prosecutor, judge, and state attorney general expresses frustration that anti-fraud experts are identifying systemic coordination and information-sharing problems rather than simply requesting additional funding to combat elder fraud. The senator emphasizes that existing resources appear underutilized and suggests the solution lies in reorganizing how federal agencies approach and share information about scams, rather than increasing budgets.
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23ABC News | KERO
· 2025-06-20
This awareness piece from Bakersfield highlights the prevalence of elder abuse in California, where an estimated 202,549 cases are reported annually, with 6,985 cases in Kern County alone in 2024—though experts note actual numbers are likely much higher due to underreporting. A certified nursing assistant and psychiatric technician emphasizes the importance of treating elders with respect and caution, as caregivers are entrusted by families to provide proper care, and abuses of that power cause significant harm.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2025-06-20
Senator Chuck Grassley questioned law enforcement experts about scam calls targeting elder citizens, focusing on gaps in information sharing between federal, state, and local agencies during elder fraud investigations. An expert testified that fragmented investigations across multiple agencies fail to identify coordinated criminal enterprises, citing San Diego County as an example where 12 independent law enforcement agencies did not share data and missed connections between victims across different cities targeted by the same criminals, and that national coordination is necessary to effectively combat this growing crime.
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NewsX Live
· 2025-06-19
Two Indian nationals studying in the United States were sentenced to federal prison for phishing scams impersonating US government officials to defraud elderly Americans. Kishan Rajkumar Patel, age 20, targeted at least 25 elderly victims and caused $94,156 in losses, while another Indian student named Muhammad was sentenced to 8 years in prison for a similar scheme that defrauded elderly Americans of nearly $6 million.
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WFXR NEWS
· 2025-06-18
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to address the rising epidemic of online scams targeting seniors, with lawmakers seeking to close legal loopholes that enable scammers to evade prosecution and complicate victim recovery efforts. The FBI reported nearly $5 billion in fraud losses from elderly Americans in the past year—a 40% increase from 2023—with common schemes including grandparent scams where victims are deceived into sending money for false emergencies. Lawmakers noted that many victims receive no legal recourse despite losing their savings, leaving them feeling abandoned and ashamed.
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FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
· 2025-06-17
Congress held a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to address the growing threat of sophisticated online scams targeting older Americans, with lawmakers focusing on international crime networks and legal loopholes that hinder victim recovery. The hearing highlighted cases such as grandparent scams where seniors voluntarily send money based on fraudulent emergency claims, and revealed systemic issues including victims being denied support by local authorities and difficulty recovering stolen funds. Lawmakers aim to close legal gaps that currently allow scammers to evade prosecution and make it harder for elderly victims to reclaim their money.
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News4JAX The Local Station
· 2025-06-15
The FBI reported a 43% surge in elder fraud in 2024, with nearly 150,000 complaints from seniors resulting in almost $5 billion in losses. Scammers target older adults through calls, texts, and emails by exploiting their likelihood to answer phones and using psychological manipulation tactics to execute convincing cons. The article recommends using verification platforms and awareness to protect elderly loved ones from these increasingly sophisticated schemes.
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WPLG Local 10
· 2025-06-13
Federal authorities warned of a 43% increase in elder fraud victim losses nationwide, with Florida ranking third in both losses and victims. FBI Miami highlighted rising impersonation fraud schemes—including immigration-related scams—that target seniors through phone calls and text messages, exploiting their politeness, desire for companionship, and lower technological literacy.
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KGUN9
· 2025-06-10
Arizona Attorney General Chris Mace is conducting statewide educational outreach on elder fraud targeting the state's growing senior population, noting that one in ten older adults will experience abuse or exploitation. The transcript highlights a voice cloning scam in which a woman received a fraudulent call claiming her daughter was in danger, with AI-generated voice technology making the deception particularly convincing. Mace emphasizes that seniors are targeted because they often have substantial savings, and education is the primary tool to help people recognize and prevent such scams.
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KPRC 2 Click2Houston
· 2025-06-10
A 65-year-old Vietnamese American man in Houston lost his entire life savings of $500,000 in an elaborate elder fraud scheme that began with a legitimate IRS identity theft letter. Scammers posing as Vietnamese embassy officials then contacted him via phone calls in Vietnamese, claiming his identity was being used to launder money overseas, and convinced him over nearly five months to send money by using AI-generated videos and fake documents impersonating government officials. The victim, now forced to continue working past retirement age, is seeking assistance to recover from the fraud.
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The Dallas Morning News
· 2025-06-05
Two Keller, Texas residents—Felix Clark and Esther Ampiel—pleaded guilty to federal charges for operating a romance scam that targeted elderly victims across the United States between June and September 2022. The scheme used fake online dating profiles to deceive vulnerable seniors, including recent widows, into sending money under false pretenses such as claims about accessing gold in Ghana, with funds subsequently transferred abroad. Clark pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud, while Ampiel pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitter business.
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WFRV Local 5
· 2025-06-03
The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau warns that investment and cryptocurrency scams are the most prevalent frauds targeting adults 55 and older. The BBB recommends being cautious of phone fraud with spoofed caller IDs, avoiding pressure to act immediately, and verifying unusual claims by calling official sources directly rather than trusting the caller's information.
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CBS Evening News
· 2025-06-01
A 26-year-old U.S. Navy electrician named Thomas Xiao admitted to passing sensitive military documents to a Chinese intelligence officer who posed as an investor and researcher on the Chinese social media app WeChat between 2021 and 2023. Chinese intelligence operatives are increasingly using social media and virtual contact to recruit U.S. military personnel and extract classified information, as traditional in-person espionage has become more difficult.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2025-05-30
Congressman Sanford Bishop questioned SEC Commissioner Atkins about investor protection for elderly Americans, noting that investor advocacy legal clinics assisting seniors defrauded by brokers and advisors have declined from 24 clinics to only 10 across the country due to depleted funding from FINRA and state regulators. Bishop asked what the SEC can do to prevent further clinic closures and promote resources to at-risk populations, with Atkins indicating support for expanding these consumer protection initiatives.
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ABC 10 News
· 2025-05-29
A Carlsbad couple nearly lost $50,000 in a sophisticated scam that began with a fraudulent text about a $499 Norton purchase. When the senior called the provided number, a polished and professional scammer named "Roger" convinced him to enter $500 to reverse the charge, but the amount mysteriously changed to $50,000 in his bank account. The FBI has warned of increasing scams targeting elderly residents in the county using tactics that exploit trust and create a false sense of urgency.
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NBC Montana
· 2025-05-27
Three Chinese nationals were sentenced in federal court for operating a sophisticated gift card fraud scheme that targeted elderly and lonely Americans through fake online relationships, as well as unsuspecting retail shoppers. The criminals stole gift card codes by removing security coverings, then quickly spent the funds on high-value electronics like Apple products that were warehoused and shipped to China, exploiting New Hampshire's tax-free retail environment to maximize profits. Law enforcement warns this type of multilayered criminal enterprise remains a threat and could easily occur again.
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WTAJ News
· 2025-05-23
The Cambria County Area Agency on Aging hosted an educational luncheon at the Johnstown Senior Center where speakers from the Attorney General's Office and local police taught seniors how to recognize and report fraud schemes. Presenters emphasized that older adults are losing substantial sums—sometimes resulting in loss of their homes—often through scams where they believe they are helping someone and will be repaid, and highlighted that financial exploitation is the fastest-growing crime affecting seniors.
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therhodeshow
· 2025-05-20
This educational segment discusses common senior scams affecting millions of Americans annually, including identity theft schemes, grandparent scams (falsely claiming a relative needs bail money), tech support scams, and romance scams. Key prevention strategies include educating seniors about scam tactics, maintaining regular involvement in their financial affairs, and reporting suspected fraud to state police or adult services, while noting that many scams go unreported due to victim embarrassment.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2025-05-19
According to FBI figures, scammers defrauded seniors of $4.8 billion in 2024. The Mentor Police Department in Northeast Ohio is increasing scam prevention outreach through workshops at senior centers and assisted living facilities in response to rising fraud targeting older adults. One victim, Jack Hines, nearly fell for a phishing email scam but caught himself before losing money.
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NBC 7 San Diego
· 2025-05-16
Carlsbad Police shut down an elaborate fraud scheme targeting elderly residents that stole over $145,000 in cash and gold bullion. Scammers used fake computer popups and impersonated Apple and Wells Fargo representatives to convince victims to liquidate assets, which were then packed into shoebox parcels for courier pickup; in one case, a victim lost $130,000 before police made an arrest during a second pickup. A separate incident involved an elderly resident losing $10,000 to someone impersonating an FTC investigator using authentic-looking agency letterhead and logos.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-05-15
An elderly woman named Joanne McGordy lost $11,860 to a bitcoin scam that began with a fraudulent text claiming unauthorized Apple account charges. After calling the number provided in the text, a scammer convinced her to withdraw money from her bank and convert it to bitcoin at a gas station for "protection." A good samaritan gas station manager intervened by asking if she needed help, which led to the scam being identified and stopped before she lost her entire retirement savings.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-05-14
Scammers are targeting Medicare patients by posing as durable medical equipment companies or pharmacies and enrolling them in unwanted remote patient monitoring devices and services, often unapproved by the FDA, then billing them monthly fees. Victims may receive no equipment at all, unauthorized equipment, or have their Medicare information stolen for additional fraud. The Department of Health and Human Services advises seniors to consult their doctor before enrolling in any healthcare services, hang up on unsolicited medical device offers, refuse unordered deliveries, and report scams to the HHS hotline.
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Dayton 24/7 Now
· 2025-05-13
Millions of elderly Americans fall victim to financial scams annually, with the most common targeting seniors being investment/cryptocurrency scams, home improvement scams, romance scams, and online purchase scams. Phone fraud is also prevalent, where scammers impersonate government agencies or bank officials, using either polite or threatening tactics to manipulate victims into sending money. To protect seniors, awareness of these common scam types and verification tactics is essential.
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WXYZ-TV Detroit | Channel 7
· 2025-05-12
A 25-year-old Toledo man was arrested for defrauding an elderly couple in their 80s in Shelby Township out of $50,000 through a multi-layered email and phone scam. The scam began with a fraudulent email claiming unauthorized charges on the victims' credit card for a Geek Squad subscription, but when the husband called the provided number, the scammer claimed to discover an additional $50,000 in charges from a child pornography website to pressure the victims into paying. Police indicate there were other targets of this scheme.
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CBS 8 San Diego
· 2025-05-09
San Diego County seniors lost $100 million to scams in the past year, with one victim paying $1,700 in gift cards after a phone scammer impersonated a court official threatening arrest. A seminar in North County drew 250 seniors and local officials to educate the community on increasingly sophisticated scam tactics including fake court documents and deceptive pop-ups, as FBI data shows seniors nationally lost $4.8 billion to internet scammers in 2024—a 43% increase from the prior year.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2025-05-08
Ohio is observing Older Ohioans Month while state agencies raise awareness about scams targeting seniors, a growing problem in the state. Scam and fraud-related complaints from older adults increased 22% year-over-year, though actual incidents are likely higher due to underreporting. State officials advise seniors to treat all unsolicited contact via phone or text as potential fraud and recommend utilizing resources from the Ohio Attorney General's office and Ohio Department of Aging for protection.
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KTVN 2 News Nevada
· 2025-05-08
Three men were arrested in Douglas County on elder fraud and extortion charges: 22-year-old Junian Woo and 21-year-old Lu Dao were apprehended in Genanoa after attempting to collect money from a homeowner, followed by the arrest of 45-year-old Juan Fuma in Gardnerville under similar circumstances. The article does not specify dollar amounts or whether money was successfully obtained from the victims.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-05-07
The Silera Community Center in Henderson hosted a fraud prevention seminar called "Robbery Not Reported" to educate Las Vegas Valley seniors on protecting themselves from scams targeting their money, data, and identity. Attendee Paul Block shared that he lost $3,000 to a cryptocurrency scam and knows someone who lost $100,000 to a romance scam, emphasizing the importance of seniors openly discussing their experiences with fraud to reduce shame and help others learn from these mistakes.
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KTVN 2 News Nevada
· 2025-05-07
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office and Better Business Bureau are hosting a free senior scam awareness seminar on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Douglas County Community and Senior Center in Gardenerville. The seminar is open to seniors, caregivers, friends, and families and will provide tips on avoiding scams and protecting seniors from fraud.
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KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas
· 2025-05-07
A Sun City Anthem senior was scammed over nearly two years after initially being defrauded while purchasing light bulbs online, ultimately losing approximately one-quarter of her net worth. When the victim stopped making payments, scammers escalated their tactics by harassing her with incessant calls and threats of bodily harm, eventually threatening her granddaughter's safety to extort additional payments. While the district attorney intervened to prevent further losses, the stolen funds were never recovered, reflecting a broader national crisis in which seniors lost $12.5 billion to scams in the previous year according to the Federal Trade Commission.
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News4JAX The Local Station
· 2025-05-06
The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers frequently target older adults through telemarketing fraud by spoofing caller ID to impersonate trustworthy sources like government agencies or banks. Key red flags include unsolicited calls and pressure to make quick decisions; legitimate agencies will not contact you unexpectedly or rush you into action. To reduce scam calls, seniors should register their phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.
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10 Tampa Bay News
· 2025-05-02
**Summary:**
A 92-year-old Tampa Bay-area man was defrauded of $800,000 in an elaborate romance scam involving 37-year-old Otis Swinton Jr., who posed as a woman online to gain the victim's trust before manipulating him into transferring funds to accounts under the scammer's control. The stolen funds were accessed through forged checks, ATM withdrawals, credit cards, cryptocurrency, and identity theft. Swinton Jr., a career criminal recently released from prison in March after serving seven years for similar crimes targeting over 50 people, was arrested in Orlando and now faces fraud charges; authorities indicate there may be additional victims.