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in Grandparent Scams
localnewsmatters.org
· 2025-12-08
A Marin County scammer attempted a "grandparent scam" by falsely telling an older man that his grandson was in custody at Alameda County Courthouse and needed $4,000 for bail. When the victim agreed to provide the money, the Marin County Sheriff's Office arranged for the suspect to pick up the cash in person and arrested him upon arrival at the victim's residence. The suspect was charged with attempted embezzlement of an elder adult and attempted grand theft.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two Ontario women were sentenced to house arrest for their roles as "money mules" in a grandparent scam that defrauded nine elderly Manitoba residents of nearly $90,000 in summer 2022. Gabriel Edith Marie Paradis received a one-year conditional sentence, while Vanessa Fatima Alves Dasilva received an 18-month conditional sentence, after they pleaded guilty to fraud charges for picking up cash from victims who were deceived by phone calls claiming their grandchildren needed bail money. While most victims recovered their funds, the court noted lasting emotional impacts including embarrassment, loss of trust, and shattered confidence among the seniors targeted.
clintonherald.com
· 2025-12-08
During mid-September 2024, scammers conducted a coordinated grandparent scam targeting seniors across central Iowa, from Des Moines to Iowa City, resulting in significant financial losses. The scheme involved callers impersonating grandchildren claiming to be in auto accidents with injuries to pregnant women, then transferring calls to fake attorneys demanding bond money ranging from $6,000 to $40,000, which couriers collected in cash within hours of victims withdrawing funds from banks.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two Ontario women—Gabriel Edith Marie Paradis, 27, and Vanessa Fatima Alves Dasilva, 20—were sentenced to house arrest (one year and 18 months respectively) for their role as "money mules" in a grandparent scam that defrauded nine elderly Manitoba seniors of nearly $90,000 in summer 2022. The scheme involved unknown scammers calling victims posing as grandchildren in legal trouble and requesting bail money, which the women would pick up from victims' homes; while most victims recovered their money, the emotional impact included loss of trust and embarrassment.
lawyer-monthly.com
· 2025-12-08
Wire transfer scams cost Americans $343.7 million in 2023, with fraudsters impersonating trusted contacts to redirect payments to their accounts through compromised emails, fake documents, or intercepted communications. Wire transfers are nearly impossible to reverse once processed, making them the scammer's preferred method; one victim lost his entire $900,000 life savings intended for a home down payment when scammers hijacked his email conversation with his real estate agent. Common wire transfer scams include real estate fraud, advance-fee loan schemes, fake checks, family emergency impersonations, rental fraud, tech support scams, and business email compromise attacks.
newstopicnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens are frequently targeted by scammers using untraceable payment methods like prepaid cards and wire transfers, with law enforcement noting these scams are largely preventable through awareness. Documented cases in Sanford included a 77-year-old man defrauded of $3,000 in iTunes cards by someone impersonating his granddaughter claiming to need bail money, and various lottery and inheritance scams sent to residents. Law enforcement agencies advise that any unsolicited request to pay money to receive money is a scam, recommend never sharing personal information over the phone, and note that legitimate government agencies would never demand payment via gift cards or money orders.
massapequapost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Town of Oyster Bay partnered with the Nassau County District Attorney's office to combat an escalating wave of scams targeting seniors, with over $230 million stolen from New Yorkers in 2024 alone. Scammers exploit seniors through telephone and email schemes impersonating government agents, bank officials, or family members to gain access to retirement accounts and savings, while also using methods ranging from mailbox theft to sophisticated malware attacks. The partnership is hosting educational seminars to inform seniors and their families about recognizing and reporting these threats, which have grown increasingly sophisticated, including the use of AI voice-mimicking technology.
wlos.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder financial scams increased 14% in complaints and 11% in financial impact in 2023, with criminals targeting seniors through imposter scams (IRS/Social Security), shopping fraud, grandparent scams, tech support schemes, and sweepstakes fraud. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, emphasizing that seniors should never share personal information unsolicited, verify requests through independent contact with family or organizations, be skeptical of unusual payment methods, and report suspected fraud immediately.
clreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office reported an increase in grandparent scams targeting senior citizens in North Iowa, where callers falsely claim a relative has been arrested and demand cash for bail. Victims were duped into handing over cash to couriers who arrived at their homes, with suspects identified as a well-dressed Black male driving a dark SUV with possible Minnesota plates, sometimes accompanied by an unknown female. Law enforcement advises seniors never to provide personal information or cash to unknown callers and to report such incidents immediately.
timeshudsonvalley.com
· 2025-12-08
On September 20, 2024, New Windsor Police Sergeant Hannah Lake presented information to the New Windsor Senior Citizens Club about fraud schemes commonly targeting seniors, including government impersonation, grandparent, romance, home improvement, solicitor, and gift card scams. Sergeant Lake also educated local merchants on recognizing and reporting suspicious gift card purchases. The presentation emphasized prevention strategies such as never sharing sensitive information by phone, refusing gift card payments, recognizing law enforcement and tax scams, and being wary of requests for secrecy regarding money transfers.
kpbs.org
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational event hosted by Osher at SDSU featuring Assistant U.S. Attorney Oleksandra Johnson, who specializes in elder fraud prosecution. The presentation covers methods criminals use to perpetrate elder financial abuse (mail, phone, computer, in-person, and media), current trending scams in Southern California including grandparent scams, romance scams, and investment scams, and warning signs of financial abuse with prevention strategies.
milwaukeeindependent.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, a crisis-level problem projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology increase vulnerability and perpetrator access. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and underfunded, with relatively few scammers caught or convicted, stolen funds rarely recovered, and many victims reluctant to report crimes—illustrated by an Ohio case where an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer threatening to extract $12,000 in supposed bond money, while the actual perpetrator remained at large. Key challenges include difficulty investigating overseas fraud, rapid conversion of funds to cryptocurrency, some police dismiss
milwaukeeindependent.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, with the problem projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology make fraud easier to perpetrate and harder to prosecute. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and under-resourced, with perpetrators rarely caught or convicted, and victims—particularly older adults—often unable to recover stolen funds from romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud. The article illustrates the crisis through cases including an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer, while the perpetrator remained at large, highlighting how inadequate law enforcement
kaaltv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office reported an increase in "grandparent scams" targeting senior citizens in North Iowa, where callers falsely claim a relative has been arrested and demand cash payment delivered by a courier to the victim's home. Law enforcement identified a suspect as a well-dressed Black male driving a dark four-door SUV with possible Minnesota plates, and advised seniors to hang up, verify information independently, and report suspicious calls to local police. The FTC recommends protecting yourself by remembering that legitimate businesses don't demand immediate payment via wire transfer or gift cards, law enforcement won't threaten arrest over the phone, and government agencies won't solicit sensitive information through unsolicite
cadillacnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel met with over 70 senior citizens in Cadillac to educate them about emerging scams, including phishing, smishing, identity theft, grandparent scams, and "pig butchering" scams—a long-term fraud where perpetrators build false relationships with victims via social apps before stealing money or personal information. Nessel highlighted how artificial intelligence is increasingly being used by scammers to create personalized, convincing fraud schemes, including deepfake audio and video to impersonate family members, and directed residents to the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection website for scam information and alerts.
kttc.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office warned of a "grandparent scam" targeting senior citizens in north Iowa, where scammers called victims claiming a relative had been arrested and needed cash for bail, then sent a courier to collect money from victims' homes. Authorities identified a suspect—a well-dressed Black man driving a black or dark-colored 4-door SUV with possible Minnesota plates, potentially accompanied by a woman—and urged seniors never to give cash or personal information to unknown persons and to report such contacts to law enforcement.
kaaltv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office warned of an increase in scams targeting senior citizens in North Iowa, where callers falsely claimed relatives had been arrested and needed bail money, then sent couriers to collect cash from victims' homes. A suspect was identified as a well-dressed Black male driving a dark-colored SUV with possible Minnesota plates, sometimes accompanied by an unknown female. Authorities advise seniors never to provide personal information or cash to unknown persons claiming to represent law enforcement.
knews.kathimerini.com.cy
· 2025-12-08
A criminal network of Roma individuals is defrauding elderly Greeks by impersonating utility company employees from DEI and OTE, often combining these scams with false claims that a family member has been in an accident to gain trust and steal money. A notable case involved a decorated police officer from Patras who stole €40,000 from an elderly victim, prompting Greek Police to launch a public awareness campaign warning seniors that utility workers do not enter homes beyond the meter and that unsolicited callers asking about household composition are likely scammers.
courierpostonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Martins Inalegwu and Steincy Mathieu, a Burlington County couple, were sentenced to prison (80 months and 16 months respectively) for operating a romance scam that defrauded over 100 victims of approximately $4.5 million between 2016 and 2020. The scammers posed as romantic interests on dating websites, targeting vulnerable older adults and others, with one victim—a tourism board finance director—embezzling $2.8 million from her employer to send to the couple. Both defendants were ordered to pay millions in restitution and unpaid taxes.
denver7.com
· 2025-12-08
The Wheat Ridge Police Department warned of a cryptocurrency extortion scam circulating through the community in which victims receive emails containing personal information (addresses, photos from Google Maps) and threats of blackmail involving fabricated malware and compromising videos, demanding cryptocurrency payment via Bitcoin QR code. None of the Wheat Ridge residents who received these emails fell victim to the scam, though police emphasized the importance of reporting such attempts to raise community awareness. The scam exploits urgency and fear through false claims, reflecting a broader national problem—Americans lost over $5.5 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, with Colorado reporting more than 1,300 fraud cases costing residents $81 million
liherald.com
· 2025-12-08
The Town of Oyster Bay partnered with the Nassau County District Attorney's office to combat scams targeting seniors, offering two educational seminars in September 2024 to teach residents about online threats and reporting procedures. According to the Federal Trade Commission, over $230 million was stolen from New Yorkers by scammers in 2024 alone, with seniors being particularly vulnerable to phone and email scams impersonating government agents, banks, or family members, as well as physical theft and technologically sophisticated attacks. The seminars address growing concerns about increasingly complex fraud schemes, including those using artificial intelligence to mimic voices, with some victims losing their entire life savings.
farmers-exchange.net
· 2025-12-08
A 45-year law enforcement investigator specializing in financial crimes against seniors presented fraud prevention advice at an Elkhart County event, identifying seniors as prime targets due to their wealth ($35 trillion combined net worth for those 70+), isolation, and politeness. He outlined common scams including romance, grandparent impersonation, lottery fraud, and computer/payment account schemes, recommending seniors avoid clicking suspicious links, never trust unsolicited callers, watch for red flags like upfront payment demands, and verify references before hiring services. Dietz emphasized that billions of dollars are lost annually to scammers in the region, advising families to establish secret codes and remain vigilant against caller ID
whitehallledger.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes a voice-cloning scam where scammers impersonated a grandfather by mimicking his voice to request bank account information from family members, highlighting how scammers use increasingly sophisticated technology to target victims. The piece reports that Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023 and emphasizes that elderly people are frequently targeted, recommending protective measures such as slowing down before responding to urgent requests, being selective about who accesses financial information, and seeking help from certified financial planners to monitor accounts and recover from fraud.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
A grandmother received a deepfake voice call from a scammer impersonating her grandson claiming to be in jail and needing $10,000 for bail, but she verified the call was fake by contacting her grandson directly. The article outlines common scams targeting seniors—including grandparent scams, government impersonation, romance scams, and spoofing—and provides protective strategies such as verifying callers through known phone numbers, establishing family safe words, taking time to think despite pressure tactics, and using unique passwords with one-time passcodes.
effinghamradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias issued a warning that scammers are using sophisticated AI technology, including voice cloning and deepfake videos, to fraudulently access personal information and financial accounts from Illinois residents. The alert highlights four prevalent scam types—deepfakes, romance scams, Ponzi schemes, and affinity scams—and recommends that prospective investors validate identities, verify licenses through BrokerCheck or Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, and avoid suspicious links and attachments.
pcpatriot.com
· 2025-12-08
Virginia State Police report an uptick in financial scams targeting older adults and vulnerable individuals, including anti-virus software scams (one victim lost $36,000), "grandparent scams" using AI voices to impersonate grandchildren in distress, and cryptocurrency fraud (one woman scammed out of $160,000 in Bitcoin). Police recommend independently verifying requests before responding, establishing a trusted "buddy system," and remembering that legitimate organizations never pressure payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
the-review.com
· 2025-12-08
Perry Township police held an educational session for approximately 80 seniors to raise awareness about common scams targeting older adults, which cost consumers over $10 billion in 2023 according to the FTC. Police detectives outlined major fraud schemes including "pig butchering" (romance/investment scams where victims lose substantial sums), grandparent scams (fake bail requests), and Social Security benefit threats, with local examples showing losses ranging from $15,000 to nearly $200,000. The presentation covered warning signs of fraud and protective measures, such as establishing family passwords to combat AI voice impersonation and never sharing personal information with unsolicited callers.
cantonrep.com
· 2025-12-08
Perry Township police held an educational session for approximately 80 seniors to warn about prevalent scams costing consumers over $10 billion annually in 2023. Detectives outlined multiple fraud schemes targeting seniors, including "pig butchering" (investment scams where one victim lost nearly $200,000), grandparent scams (one local case involved a $15,000 loss), AI voice cloning, Social Security benefit threats, and Facebook account hacking. Police emphasized warning signs such as pressure tactics, requests for non-credit card payments, and threats, while advising seniors to establish family passwords, verify callers independently, and never share personal information with unsolicited contacts.
decripto.org
· 2025-12-08
Zikica Fiser, a 54-year-old man, was convicted of a sentimental scam targeting a 78-year-old dementia sufferer in Trieste, embezzling EUR 74,200 through false pretenses including impersonating a doctor and fabricating personal crises. The Court of Appeal upheld his sentence of two years and six months imprisonment and ordered him to pay EUR 106,000 in compensation, though no restitution has been made to date. The case was uncovered by the victim's niece and highlights the rising trend of romance scams in Italy, which increased 118% from 2020 and caused EUR 4
keysnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A California financial advisor, Paul Horton Smith, was convicted in January for operating a $24 million Ponzi scheme called "Northstar" from 2000 to 2020, defrauding hundreds of elderly victims who believed they were investing in annuities or real estate. The case exemplifies a broader trend of rising elder fraud nationally, with FBI data showing a 14% increase in reported elder fraud cases in 2023 and losses exceeding $3 billion annually, exploited through scams ranging from fake prizes and romance schemes to AI-generated voice impersonations. Financial experts recommend victims verify advisor credentials through free tools like BrokerCheck and the IAPD
foxsportsradionewjersey.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman working in cybersecurity fell victim to an elaborate phone scam impersonating a Homeland Security officer who claimed she was involved in drug smuggling and threatened her with up to 9 years in prison, though she avoided revealing personal identifying information. The scammer obtained her phone number, home address, thirty-year address history, and banking information, leaving her vulnerable to follow-up fraud attempts; the article also warns that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and commonly target seniors and other vulnerable populations through impersonating government agencies like the IRS and Homeland Security.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Brandon Dean Guffey, 41, was convicted on four felony counts including elder abuse and theft for defrauding two Wichita residents in their 90s between 2020 and 2022 through a tree-trimming scam, stealing approximately $5,600 combined by altering checks and falsely claiming work remained unpaid. This is Guffey's second conviction for similar yard-work fraud targeting elderly victims with diminished cognitive capacity; he previously pleaded guilty to related crimes in 2014, including convincing an 86-year-old woman to pay $8,800 for a $400 job.
1043wowcountry.com
· 2025-12-08
Law enforcement in North Central Washington is warning residents about three prevalent scams: fake prize claims (where a woman lost thousands after being told she won a truck), grandparent scams claiming a relative needs bail money, and jury duty scams threatening arrest for failure to report unless a fine is paid. Authorities advise victims to hang up immediately, avoid sharing personal information or sending money, and contact their local county court with any questions rather than engaging with callers.
miningjournal.net
· 2025-12-08
This article describes three common scams targeting elderly people: grandparent scams (where callers pose as distressed relatives or law enforcement to solicit wire transfers), IRS scams (where fraudsters impersonate tax agents to steal money or personal information), and sweepstakes scams (where victims are promised prizes to encourage purchases or payments). The article emphasizes that geographic location offers no protection against these schemes and advises seniors and their families to recognize warning signs such as urgent requests for wire transfers, threats of arrest, and demands for sensitive personal information.
bankrate.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers employ multiple tactics to steal credit card information, particularly capitalizing on economic changes like potential Federal Reserve rate cuts. Common scams include interest rate reduction schemes, student loan forgiveness offers, grandparent emergencies, and fake charity websites—all designed to pressure victims into providing payment information. To protect yourself, contact your lender or issuer directly rather than responding to unsolicited offers, verify website URLs carefully, and be skeptical of guaranteed results and limited-time offers.
propakistani.pk
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains how older adults are increasingly vulnerable to online scams due to limited digital literacy, despite the importance of staying connected. Key threats include phishing emails (targeting 42% of victims aged 69+), social media scams (27% of Gen X victims affected), and fake tech support schemes where scammers gain device access. The article emphasizes that building digital confidence and understanding common online risks is essential to empower seniors to protect themselves in an increasingly digital world.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Approximately 3,000 international victims of fraud facilitated by Western Union will receive a second distribution of $18.5 million in reimbursements, bringing the total compensation to over $420 million for more than 175,000 victims since the fund's establishment. The frauds, stemming from a 2017 deferred prosecution agreement, involved grandparent scams, lottery/sweepstakes scams, and romance scams, with Western Union having agreed to forfeit $586 million total after acknowledging it aided and abetted these schemes through complicit employees who failed to prevent fraudster activity. The Justice Department anticipates additional distributions in the coming months as it works
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Lethbridge, Alberta used AI voice-changing software to impersonate grandchildren in fraud calls, convincing victims to send money for emergencies; two men were arrested after allegedly collecting funds as local couriers for the scheme. The technology requires only a three-second audio clip from social media to recreate a victim's loved one's voice, making the scam more convincing and harder to detect than traditional grandparent schemes. Police note that organized criminals quickly adopt new technologies, and law enforcement struggles to keep pace with rapidly evolving cyber tools, though tracking financial transfers remains an effective investigative approach.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice distributed $18.5 million from forfeited Western Union funds to approximately 3,000 fraud victims, representing the sixth distribution under the Western Union Remission Fund. Through two phases, the fund has now distributed over $420 million to more than 175,000 victims who received full compensation for losses caused by fraud schemes that Western Union aided and abetted, including grandparent scams and lottery/sweepstakes schemes targeting seniors. Western Union agreed to forfeit $586 million total following a 2017 deferred prosecution agreement for violations including the Bank Secrecy Act and wire fraud facilitation.
missioncityrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. This appears to be a website homepage/navigation menu from a British Columbia news publication, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. To create a proper Elderus summary, please provide the actual text of an article related to fraud, scams, or elder abuse.
yubanet.com
· 2025-12-08
A 14-year-old Girl Scout created an awareness campaign for her Silver Award project after observing family members, friends, and community members fall victim to scams. She developed the SAVE tool (STOP, ASK, VERIFY, EXIT) to help people recognize and respond to scam attempts, along with educational materials like magnets, stickers, and a video demonstrating the technique.
ketv.com
· 2025-12-08
**Type:** Publishers Clearing House Scam / Elder Fraud
**Victim:** Monty Thompson, Iowa resident
**Outcome:** Monty lost over $8,000 in two months and died by suicide on July 24th after being scammed.
Monty Thompson was targeted by offshore scammers claiming he had won millions of dollars and a Ford F-150 from Publishers Clearing House, but was required to pay taxes and fees upfront before receiving his prize. After losing over $8,000 and facing continued contact from the scammers (who called over 20 times), Monty took his own life. The Iowa Attorney
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Penny Mashburn signed up for magazine subscriptions thinking she was supporting a school fundraiser, but the scam led to years of telemarketer harassment and charges that escalated from $39 to $199 per subscription across multiple companies, ultimately costing her much of her savings. Penny and her sister Nancy's investigation into the fraud helped expose a 20-year conspiracy that defrauded over 150,000 victims nationwide of millions of dollars, ultimately leading them to testify in federal court to help shut down the operation.
crosstimbersgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Bank of America outlines six common types of elder fraud targeting older Americans—including investment scams, unscrupulous billing practices, internet/phone fraud, high-pressure sales tactics, and fraudulent friendships—and notes that elder fraud remains vastly underreported due to victims' reluctance to admit they've been deceived. The article provides protective strategies for family members, such as verifying references, requiring written documentation, avoiding unsolicited financial transactions, and monitoring accounts for suspicious activity like unusual checks or ATM withdrawals. Bank of America recommends establishing open communication about finances and utilizing tools like designated trusted contact persons to help detect fraud early.
noozhawk.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article examines how financial fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated through advanced tools like AI, with seniors (ages 60+) being particularly vulnerable targets due to larger savings and lower tech awareness. The piece details common fraud methods including phishing scams, tech support/customer service impersonations, social media investment schemes, and romance scams, noting that the FTC reported $8.8 billion in fraud losses in 2022, with seniors accounting for over $3 billion despite filing fewer reports than younger victims. The article emphasizes that anyone—regardless of age or financial literacy—can fall victim to these schemes and advises vigilance against unsolicited communications, suspicious links, and impersonations of
theweek.com
· 2025-12-08
UK fraud complaints reached a record high of 8,734 cases from April to June, with nearly half upheld by the Financial Ombudsman Service, representing a significant increase from 6,094 complaints in the same period the previous year. Authorised push payment (APP) fraud accounted for over half the complaints, resulting in £459.7 million in losses in 2023, with scammers using impersonation, fake goods sales, and romance scams as primary methods. While banks voluntarily reimburse some victims, mandatory refund schemes were scaled back to £85,000 per claim following pressure from financial industry lobbyists, leaving many fraud victims with limited recourse
bentonspiritnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines four emerging fraud schemes targeting seniors: check cooking (digitally altering stolen checks), voiceprinting (using deepfake voice technology to impersonate victims and access financial accounts), celebrity impersonation (scammers posing as celebrities or their agents on social media to solicit loans), and multistage grandparent scams (organized call centers with young operatives posing as grandchildren in distress). The article provides protective measures for each scam type, including using electronic bill payments, avoiding phone conversations with non-family members, being skeptical of celebrity direct messages, and verifying caller information through independent contact methods.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Police in southern Alberta arrested two men involved in an AI-enabled grandparent scam targeting seniors, where fraudsters used artificial intelligence to mimic victims' grandchildren's voices in emergency situations and convinced elderly residents to courier money to them. The scammers obtained voice samples from social media profiles, created AI mimics to call grandparents claiming urgent financial needs, and hired couriers (including the two arrested men) to collect cash. Authorities recommend seniors verify emergency calls with other family members before sending money.
shawlocal.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the National Council on Aging, financial scams targeting seniors cost approximately $3 billion annually, causing both monetary losses and significant emotional distress to victims who are often targeted for their perceived vulnerability and trust. Common schemes include Medicare/health insurance fraud, phishing scams, investment fraud, and grandparent scams, all of which rely on deception to steal sensitive information or money. Seniors can protect themselves through education and awareness, with resources available including a free community workshop offered by Home Instead on September 12, 2024, at the DeKalb Public Library covering fraud prevention strategies and protection techniques.
morningstar.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational podcast features AARP's Kathy Stokes discussing how to protect oneself from investment fraud, with particular focus on growing threats from cryptocurrency-related scams and the use of artificial intelligence by fraudsters. The piece emphasizes identifying warning signs of investment fraud and provides resources including AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360) and guidance on recognizing common scam tactics targeting investors of all ages, though older adults face heightened risk.