Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 26,669 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
8,635 results
in Phishing
fox32chicago.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly Vernon Hills resident lost $27,000 in a sophisticated impersonation scam in July when scammers posing as federal agents convinced her that her social security number had been misused to purchase firearms; the victim made two cash deliveries totaling the amount after being manipulated through fake emails, pop-up messages, and promises that her money would be returned. Police arrested Dmytro Kariev, 54, of Wheeling on September 2 and charged him with Class 2 felony theft after investigators used the victim's description and vehicle photos to identify him as the man who collected the initial $20,000 cash payment. Detectives believe additional victims may exist
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-07
This article discusses how modern fraud tactics have evolved to become more sophisticated and technology-driven, with criminals using AI-powered tools and social engineering techniques to compromise accounts before transactions occur. Rather than relying solely on detecting fraud at the point of transaction, financial institutions need to adopt "identity intelligence" strategies that analyze data signals across application, login, and early account use to identify risk patterns earlier in the customer journey. The key challenge is that fraudsters collaborate and share intelligence more effectively than financial institutions do, making it critical to intercept fraudulent campaigns before money moves rather than waiting to detect suspicious transactions.
broadview.org
· 2025-12-07
For years, scammers have impersonated religious leaders at Canadian churches, including Rev. Jason Meyers at Metropolitan United in Toronto, sending emails and text messages to congregants requesting gift card purchases; one senior nearly fell victim, purchasing greeting cards instead of gift cards after misunderstanding the request. Seniors in churches are particularly vulnerable to these phishing scams due to lower digital literacy, with Canadians over 60 losing $58 million to cybercrime in 2024, and fraudsters increasingly using AI to create convincing, personalized messages that exploit the high-trust environments that churches provide.
vpnmentor.com
· 2025-12-07
Tejasvi Manoj, a 17-year-old Indian American, was named TIME's "Kid of the Year 2025" for creating Shield Seniors, a website educating older adults about online scams after her grandfather nearly lost $2,000 to a fraud scheme in 2024. The FBI received 860,000 scam reports in 2024 with potential losses exceeding $16 billion, with seniors aged 60+ being heavily targeted by schemes like the "Phantom Hacker." Tejasvi's awareness campaign and educational platform aim to address the widespread lack of scam literacy in the senior community.
onlineathens.com
· 2025-12-07
Dorian Wilkerson, a former math instructor from Georgia, scammed his wife Shareza Jackson out of more than $2 million by falsely claiming to be a cosmetic surgeon at Emory Hospital and convincing her to take out loans to fund a fake clinic called The Best U Now. The scheme was featured in Netflix's docuseries *Love Con Revenge*, which premiered in 2024, and revealed how Wilkerson used romantic manipulation and false credentials to exploit his spouse. Despite Jackson filing a civil suit and the national exposure from the documentary, Wilkerson was never criminally charged, remains free in Atlanta, and has not repaid the stolen funds.
gov.mo
· 2025-12-07
Macao Polytechnic University partnered with the Judiciary Police to conduct anti-fraud education for approximately 3,000 new students through seminars and an interactive "Anti-Scam Promotion Vehicle." The activities educated students about common fraud schemes including police impersonation, romance scams, brushing scams, and phishing, using real-world case simulations and engaging games to strengthen fraud awareness and prevention capabilities. The university plans to continue these anti-fraud initiatives as part of the Macao government's "On-campus Anti-scam 'Vaccination' Programme."
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Quishing—a scam combining QR codes with phishing techniques—is rapidly increasing, with 784 reported incidents between April 2024 and April 2025 resulting in nearly £3.5 million in losses across the UK. Fraudsters replace phishing links with QR codes to trick victims into visiting malicious websites that steal banking credentials, personal data, or install malware, with cases ranging from small parking fees to major identity theft and loan fraud affecting victims of all ages.
news.usps.com
· 2025-12-07
The U.S. Postal Service is warning employees and contractors about smishing scams—text message-based cyberattacks where criminals impersonate USPS leadership to steal personal data by requesting credential verification through suspicious links. The advisory recommends employees avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts, be wary of messages from unknown numbers, and report suspicious communications to the Postal Inspection Service.
adanews.ada.org
· 2025-12-07
The American Dental Association warned members of a phishing scam using fraudulent emails claiming membership suspension unless recipients clicked links to update payment information within 24 hours. At least one member received the deceptive email, which the ADA reported to the hosting company, resulting in the scammer's account being shut down. The ADA recommends member dentists implement cybersecurity measures including staff training, data backups, email vigilance, and anti-virus software, and to report suspicious emails to their email provider or the ADA Member Service Center.
securityboulevard.com
· 2025-12-07
The "Phantom Hacker" scam, which has stolen over $1 billion in the past year, uses a three-phase impersonation scheme targeting seniors and others by posing as tech support, financial institution, and government representatives to trick victims into transferring funds to fraudulent "safe" accounts via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or cash. The scam's effectiveness lies in its elaborate layering of trusted personas, remote computer access, and official-looking communications that convince victims to move money while remaining silent about the transactions. Experts warn that artificial intelligence will make such scams increasingly convincing and scalable, requiring stronger security controls at the vendor and service provider level to protect vulnerable populations.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational article warns seniors about Medicare scams that surge during fall open enrollment periods. Scammers impersonate Medicare or medical providers via phone calls to trick beneficiaries into revealing Social Security numbers, Medicare card numbers, and other personal information—which criminals use to submit fraudulent claims worth tens of thousands of dollars. The article advises that Medicare will never call unsolicited, recommends hanging up on suspicious callers, and directs victims to call 1-800-MEDICARE for assistance.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Idaho's Attorney General warned of a surge in cryptocurrency ATM scams targeting seniors, with reported losses jumping from $19 million in 2023 to over $35 million in 2024. Scammers use fake tech support calls and government imposter schemes to trick victims into depositing cash at cryptocurrency ATMs located in gas stations and convenience stores, where transactions are untraceable and recovery is nearly impossible. One alert convenience store employee prevented two seniors from losing over $30,000 in a single week by unplugging the machine and calling police.
the420.in
· 2025-12-07
In February 2024, 16-year-old Tejasvi Manoj from Texas was inspired to act after her 85-year-old grandfather nearly fell victim to a $2,000 impersonation scam. She launched Shield Seniors, a web platform with AI-powered tools that help seniors recognize, analyze, and report online scams through educational resources, a chatbot, email/text analysis (95% accuracy), and direct reporting options. The initiative addresses a critical need, as seniors lost nearly $5 billion to online scams in 2024—a 32% increase from the previous year.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman from Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately 1 million yen (US$6,700) in a romance scam after a fraudster posing as a distressed astronaut contacted her on social media in July, gradually building trust before requesting money for "life-saving oxygen" through convenience store transfers. Police in Sapporo classified the case as a romance scam and warned residents of similar schemes. The article provides guidance on protecting oneself from romance scams, including avoiding money transfers to strangers, verifying profile pictures, recognizing red flags like platform-switching requests, and consulting trusted individuals before sharing personal information or funds.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-07
In February 2024, 16-year-old Tejasvi Manoj from Frisco, Texas, was inspired to create Shield Seniors—a comprehensive cybersecurity platform—after her 85-year-old grandfather nearly fell victim to an email scam requesting $2,000 from a fake relative. According to FBI data, seniors face escalating threats, with fraud targeting individuals over 60 reaching $5 billion in losses in 2024, a 32% increase year-over-year. Shield Seniors offers educational resources, an AI-powered scam analyzer with 95% accuracy, a chatbot for cybersecurity questions, and reporting tools to help older adults
foodtruckoperator.com
· 2025-12-07
Multiple Milwaukee food truck operators were targeted by scammers who posed as event organizers and demanded vendor fees ($500 per incident) via peer-to-peer payment apps to secure spots at festivals and events that often did not exist. Once victims sent money through these apps, the funds were generally unrecoverable, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection advised vendors to verify events independently and avoid unsolicited communications before making payments.
ag.ny.gov
· 2025-12-07
New York Attorney General Letitia James warned of the "Phantom Hacker" scam, a three-phase coordinated fraud targeting seniors that has stolen over $1 billion since 2024 by impersonating banks and government agencies to gain remote computer access and convince victims to transfer retirement savings via wire, cash, or cryptocurrency. The scam begins with a fake security alert prompting victims to download malware, followed by impersonators claiming to be from the victim's bank and a government agency, creating a false sense of legitimacy to steal funds. The AG advises New Yorkers to avoid clicking unsolicited links, calling provided numbers, granting remote computer access, or transferring
phillyvoice.com
· 2025-12-07
**Article Type:** Educational/Awareness
**Summary:**
Over 60% of businesses fell victim to scams in 2024, with common frauds including phony invoices, vendor impersonation, fake business consultants, and advertising schemes that target business owners and their employees' financial information. Scammers exploit business automation, credit card processing, and growth opportunities through tactics like spoofed websites, fake testimonials, and demands for immediate payment. Businesses can protect themselves by verifying all communications, checking fine print on agreements, avoiding signing blank documents, and staying alert to red flags such as urgency and promises that seem too good to be true.
upworthy.com
· 2025-12-07
A Canadian bank teller prevented a senior citizen from losing $9,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam. The elderly customer had clicked on a Facebook advertisement months earlier, deposited a few hundred dollars, and was now being told he needed to pay $9,000 upfront to access supposedly generated earnings of $90,000 USD—a classic advance-fee cryptocurrency fraud. The alert teller recognized the scam, showed the customer evidence from Reddit's scam community, and successfully convinced him not to proceed, limiting his actual loss to the initial small deposits.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational article explains why credit monitoring remains important for retirees and provides protective strategies against identity theft. Seniors lost $4.9 billion to scams in 2024, with scammers targeting retirees who neglect credit monitoring, as stolen identities can be used for loans, credit cards, or insurance applications. The article recommends four steps: monitor credit reports monthly (free weekly reports now available), place a fraud alert if suspicious activity occurs, freeze credit with all three bureaus for maximum protection, and secure personal data online.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Seventeen-year-old Tejasvi Manoj, honored as TIME's 2025 Kid of the Year, founded Shield Seniors, an AI-based platform protecting older adults from online scams and fraud. Motivated by her grandfather's near-experience with a phishing scam and research showing seniors lost over $3 billion to cyber fraud in 2024, Tejasvi created a user-friendly tool with features for learning cybersecurity, analyzing suspicious messages, and reporting fraud. Through her platform, TEDx talks, and community workshops, she is addressing a critical vulnerability in seniors' digital literacy.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, with adults over 60 being frequent targets due to their savings, limited digital experience, and trust in official-sounding communications. The article provides 10 protective strategies for seniors, including not answering unknown numbers, rejecting unsolicited calls from government agencies, never sharing personal information over the phone, resisting pressure tactics and unusual payment requests (gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency), verifying impersonators through independent sources, consulting trusted contacts before responding to suspicious requests, and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts.
globalpolicywatch.com
· 2025-12-07
In August, the FTC announced a $14 million settlement with Match Group, the parent company of dating platforms including Match.com, OkCupid, and PlentyOfFish, for deceptive marketing and unfair billing practices. The settlement resolved a 2019 complaint alleging that Match sent misleading notifications from fraudulent accounts to non-subscribers to induce paid subscriptions, promoted unclear "free" guarantee offers with hidden eligibility conditions, and employed burdensome cancellation procedures—practices that resulted in nearly 500,000 subscriptions purchased through deception between 2016 and 2018. The settlement includes injunctive provisions requiring Match to address these consumer protection
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-07
Text message job scams have surged in recent years, with reported losses rising from $90 million in 2020 to $501 million by 2024. Contrary to expectations, younger Americans—particularly Gen Z (20%) and millennials (16%)—are more vulnerable to these scams than older generations, with young men being especially susceptible due to financial pressures, career inexperience, and the appeal of fast remote income. Among victims who engaged with scam texts, approximately 30% had money stolen from their accounts and 45% shared personal information with scammers.
twistedsifter.com
· 2025-12-07
A TikTok user named Samantha warned viewers about a "text buddy" scam after nearly falling for it herself. Someone contacted her via DM asking personal questions (where she lived, her age, occupation) before offering to pay her to be a "text buddy" and be "spoiled," which she recognized as a known scam. She blocked the person and posted the warning to alert others.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Criminals are exploiting QR codes by mailing unsolicited packages containing malicious QR codes that, when scanned, direct victims to fraudulent websites to steal personal and financial information or install malware on their devices. This evolved form of the traditional "brushing scam" takes advantage of people's curiosity about mystery packages and the difficulty in identifying suspicious codes before scanning. The FBI warns the public to avoid scanning QR codes from unknown sources and to use strong antivirus protection on mobile devices.
al.com
· 2025-12-07
Cybercriminals are exploiting iCloud Calendar invites to send phishing emails that impersonate Apple's official servers, making fraudulent messages appear legitimate and bypass spam filters. Victims receive fake PayPal receipt notifications directing them to call a "support team," where scammers attempt to extract personal information to compromise accounts and steal money. Apple users are advised to delete unexpected calendar invites with suspicious messages and avoid responding to these phishing attempts.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-07
The IRS warned of a rise in fraudulent tax schemes circulating on social media that encourage improper use of tax credits like the Fuel Tax Credit and Sick and Family Leave Credit. Thousands of taxpayers filed inaccurate returns following misleading posts and false "tax experts," resulting in over $162 million in penalties and 32,000 enforcement actions, with individuals risking denied refunds and up to $5,000 civil penalties for frivolous returns. The IRS recommends consulting legitimate tax professionals, following verified IRS accounts, and reporting suspected scams to avoid being misled.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
An 85-year-old grandmother nearly fell victim to an imposter scam when scammers posing as her bank claimed she owed $50,000 in fraudulent charges, then connected her with someone impersonating an FTC official who pressured her to purchase prepaid debit cards for payment. According to the FTC, fraud losses for seniors have surged dramatically, with losses of $10,000 or more quadrupling between 2020 and 2024, as scammers exploit fear and use untraceable payment methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, and prepaid cards. Key protective measures include recognizing red flags such as unexpected contact from institutions, requests for unusual payment
phillyvoice.com
· 2025-12-07
**Article Type:** Educational/Awareness Piece
This educational article outlines common business fraud schemes targeting small business owners, including phony invoices, vendor impersonation, fake consultant services, and fraudulent online advertising schemes. The piece advises business owners to implement protective measures such as verifying vendor legitimacy, requiring multi-party invoice approval, avoiding signing blank documents, and recognizing urgency-based pressure tactics as red flags, noting that over 60% of businesses encountered scammers in 2024.
cheapism.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams, with adults over 60 being frequent targets due to their savings, limited digital experience, and trust in official-sounding messages. Modern scammers employ sophisticated tactics like AI voice cloning and deepfake videos to impersonate loved ones and government agencies. The article provides ten practical tips for seniors to avoid scams, including not answering unknown numbers, never sharing personal information over the phone, recognizing pressure tactics, avoiding unusual payment methods, verifying identities through trusted sources, and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts.
starlocalmedia.com
· 2025-12-07
Tejasvi Manoj, a 16-year-old from Frisco, was named TIME's 2025 Kid of the Year for creating Shield Seniors, a website and mobile app designed to educate seniors about online scams and fraud. After her grandfather was targeted by cybercriminals in February 2024, Manoj researched the prevalence of scams targeting older Americans and developed the platform to help users identify suspicious emails and messages, with links to report fraudulent communications.
presspubs.com
· 2025-12-07
Internet scams targeting seniors and vulnerable populations are increasing, employing tactics such as impersonating government agencies via phone/email, compromising contacts through hacked accounts, creating deepfake audio/video, and romance scams on social media. Protection strategies include verifying contacts through known numbers, avoiding links and downloads from unknown sources, and reporting suspected scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP.
kristv.com
· 2025-12-07
Nueces County, Texas experienced five cyberattacks in July, with three resulting in approximately $2 million in losses, primarily through Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes where fraudsters impersonate vendors to redirect payments to their accounts. BEC scams are among the top three fraud schemes targeting organizations, along with bill pay fraud and phishing emails, and can be prevented by verifying payment requests through official contact information rather than using details provided in suspicious communications.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-07
A cryptocurrency user lost approximately $180,000 through a phishing scam, part of a broader August 2025 trend where phishing attacks cost crypto users over $12 million and affected 15,230 victims, with a particularly sophisticated variant called EIP-7702 signature scams responsible for $5.6 million in losses. Scammers used deceptive emails and communications mimicking legitimate services to trick victims into signing fraudulent transactions that drained their funds. Protection measures include verifying URLs, using two-factor authentication, never sharing seed phrases or passwords, and remaining vigilant about suspicious communications.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-07
Scammers use unsolicited voicemail and phone calls claiming recipients are "prequalified" for loans (such as a $52,000 loan in this example) to pressure them into revealing personal information like Social Security numbers or bank account details. The scam employs pressure tactics including urgency, fake caller IDs, multiple calls from different numbers, and offers to remove recipients from call lists if they call back. The article advises never calling back, using call-blocking services, and reporting suspicious calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
Shengsheng He, a California man and co-owner of the Bahamas-based Axis Digital Limited, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for his role in an international digital asset investment scam that defrauded U.S. victims of more than $36.9 million. The conspiracy involved overseas scammers contacting victims through unsolicited social media and dating apps to solicit fraudulent digital asset investments, with stolen funds laundered through shell companies, international banks, and digital asset wallets connected to scam centers in Cambodia. He was ordered to pay $26,867,242.44 in restitution, and eight co-conspirators have ple
azcentral.com
· 2025-12-07
While Google's systems weren't directly breached, criminals obtained publicly available Gmail user data through a compromised Salesforce tool, giving scammers validated lists of names, emails, and phone numbers to craft more convincing phishing and vishing attacks. The article recommends several protective measures: use unique 16+ character passwords, enable passkeys where available, maintain two-step verification, review third-party app access, and remain skeptical of urgent messages claiming to be from Google or other organizations. Users should also monitor their accounts regularly and verify unexpected requests through trusted communication channels rather than clicking links in messages.
staysafeonline.org
· 2025-12-07
Social Security scams, among the most common frauds targeting Americans, involve criminals impersonating SSA, OIG, or DOJ officials through phone, email, text, or social media to steal money or personal information. Red flags include claims of suspicious activity or benefit increases, pressure to act immediately, and requests for payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers—methods the SSA will never use. Victims should hang up, avoid clicking links, never send money through untraceable methods, and report scams to SSA OIG, USA.gov, or the FBI's IC3 to protect themselves and others.
geekspin.co
· 2025-12-07
A 63-year-old Florida man, Charles Henry Williams, was arrested in connection with a multi-year timeshare resale scam that defrauded an elderly Georgia couple of over $1 million. The scheme targeted vulnerable seniors across multiple states, with the primary victims deceived into making payments for fraudulent property transactions over four years before the fraud was discovered. Williams faces charges including Theft by Deception and Exploitation of an Elder Person, and law enforcement urges seniors and their families to verify financial requests and remain alert to similar schemes.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-07
A 63-year-old Florida man was arrested in August 2025 after a five-month investigation into a four-year timeshare resale scam that defrauded an elderly Georgia couple of over $1 million. Charles Henry Williams faced charges including Theft by Deception and Exploitation of an Elder Person, and authorities identified additional victims across multiple states, suggesting a broader fraud scheme. Law enforcement urges seniors and families to verify financial requests and remain vigilant against online fraud schemes targeting vulnerable elderly individuals.
clickorlando.com
· 2025-12-07
A 56-year-old Florida man, Cory Woodall, was arrested for organized fraud and grand theft after spending $30,000 from a romance scam victim, 70-year-old Carol West, who lost a total of $60,000 over six weeks to scammers impersonating a retired Army general on Facebook. Woodall admitted to spending the stolen money on a 2023 Hyundai Kona and other purchases, claiming he intended to "scam the scammer," though he denied being the person chatting with West online. According to the FTC, Florida residents reported nearly 3,400 romance scams last year, resulting in
marketing-interactive.com
· 2025-12-07
Hang Seng Bank launched a public awareness campaign from September to December featuring four Hong Kong actors known for villain roles who formed the "Hang Seng Anti-Fraud Band" to promote fraud prevention through a reimagined Cantonese song and music video highlighting common scams including phishing, investment fraud, online shopping scams, and virtual romance scams. The bank's integrated campaign included live performances, a traveling educational bus, and social media content, supported by technology measures that detected over 1,200 fraud cases in the first half of the year and protected approximately HK$200 million in customer funds.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-07
Singapore reported S$456 million in fraud losses during the first half of 2025, a decline from the previous year, though cryptocurrency scams remained a significant concern accounting for S$81.6 million (18% of total losses), with Tether, Bitcoin, and Ethereum being the primary targets. Victims were predominantly aged 30-49 and fell prey to investment scams, job fraud, and phishing schemes, while authorities recovered S$56.7 million in fraudulent funds and prevented S$179 million in potential losses through collaborative efforts.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-07
North Yorkshire Police warned of a surge in social media job scams, receiving 40 reports over six months targeting young people as young as 15. The scams involve fraudsters posing as TikTok HR representatives offering payment for liking or sharing content, then directing victims to suspicious links and requesting money with promises of refunds that never materialize. Police cautioned that these schemes constitute money mule networks and criminal activity that can result in closed bank accounts.
coconutcreektalk.com
· 2025-12-07
Coconut Creek Police warned residents of a cryptocurrency scam targeting Bitcoin and Coinbase users after a local woman was deceived via text message into surrendering access to her Coinbase account when scammers falsely claimed her password had been changed. The incident is part of a broader trend where criminals contact victims through email, text, or phone calls using urgent language to extract sensitive information. Police advise residents to disregard suspicious messages and never share account details with unsolicited contacts claiming to represent financial or cryptocurrency institutions.
kfiz.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are conducting jury duty avoidance scams using fake government websites to steal personal information and money from targets. The scheme begins with a call or text impersonating law enforcement, directing victims to a fraudulent website that captures Social Security numbers and birthdates, then pressures them to pay via credit card or cryptocurrency ATMs. The article emphasizes that legitimate courts never demand immediate payment or sensitive personal information by phone, and advises victims to verify requests directly with official law enforcement contacts and avoid clicking unsolicited links.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-07
Phishing scam texts are circulating that falsely claim recipients have received parking penalty charge notices (PCNs) and urge them to click a link to pay, with some messages threatening license suspension or court action. Councils across the UK, including Cheshire West and Chester, warn that genuine PCNs are only issued as physical tickets on windscreens or by post, never by text, and legitimate messages include specific details like vehicle registration, time, and location of the offense. To protect yourself, verify the sender through official channels, check for HTTPS URLs and proper spelling, and never click suspicious links or share financial information; if compromised, restart your device, change passwords, and report the
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
World Liberty Financial's WLFI token, associated with the Trump family, launched on September 1st and experienced significant volatility, initially reaching $0.46 before plummeting to $0.16 within days amid accusations of being a "scam" from users, analysts, and Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok, with the project freezing 272 wallets including TRON founder Justin Sun's allegedly linked to phishing scams. Despite the controversy and lack of concrete evidence of insider fraud, WLFI has since recovered to trade at $0.238 with a $5.9 billion market cap, though it remains 48.5
3bmedianews.com
· 2025-12-07
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office warned of romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly seniors and widowed persons, after a local man nearly lost money to a scammer posing as a woman on social media. The scammer built emotional trust over time before requesting money, and the sheriff's office reported that hundreds of victims in the area have lost thousands of dollars and compromised identities to similar schemes. The agency urges residents to pause before sending money or personal information to online contacts and to contact their Fraud Unit at (931) 484-6176 if they suspect scam involvement.