Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
1,275 results
in Grandparent Scam
audacy.com
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-five Canadian nationals, mostly from Québec, were indicted for operating a "grandparent scam" that defrauded U.S. seniors in 41 states of approximately $21 million starting in summer 2021. The defendants made fraudulent phone calls from Montreal call centers posing as grandchildren or attorneys, claiming relatives needed bail money for arrests, and collected payments from victims' homes before transferring funds to Canada via cash deliveries and cryptocurrency transactions. Twenty-three suspects were arrested in Canada while two remained at large, with organizers facing up to 40 years in prison and other participants facing up to 20 years.
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly resident in Ashtabula County, Ohio received a call from someone claiming her granddaughter was in jail and needed $17,000 for bail, with a voice in the background purporting to be the granddaughter pleading for help. The victim agreed to pay a reduced amount and was picked up by a Lyft driver to go to the bank, but a bank teller intervened and prevented the withdrawal. The Sheriff's Office urges residents to avoid sharing personal information over the phone and to report suspicious activity to law enforcement or their bank immediately.
san.com
· 2025-12-08
The FCC issued a consumer alert warning about AI-powered voice cloning scams that impersonate loved ones, often using social media videos to create convincing deepfakes requesting urgent money transfers. These scams exploit fear and pressure tactics—such as fake arrest scenarios and "don't tell anyone" instructions—to bypass victim skepticism, with elder fraud complaints rising 14% in 2023 and 25 Canadian nationals recently charged with using similar schemes across 45 states.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
This curated cybercrime news roundup covers multiple fraud incidents globally. Domestic cases include Indian police recovering Rs 1.05 lakh from 10 cyber fraud victims, an engineer losing Rs 1.76 crore to fake investment schemes via WhatsApp, a teacher losing Rs 2.1 lakh in stock market fraud, and a senior citizen defrauded of Rs 47 lakh in online trading schemes. International incidents include the FCC warning seniors about AI-powered "grandparent scams" that cloned voices, Bybit cryptocurrency exchange losing $1.5 billion to hackers exploiting insecure freeware, and law enforcement shutting
hyannisnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This article reports on federal law enforcement arrests of undocumented immigrants with criminal records in Massachusetts during early 2025, including individuals charged with sexual assault, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses. The cases involved coordination between DEA, ICE, and local police, with one suspect remaining in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and another wanted for felony drug trafficking in Brazil. The article does not contain information related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse and is therefore outside the scope of the Elderus database.
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2025-12-08
The FCC warned of increasingly sophisticated "grandparent scams" conducted via robocalls, following the indictment of 25 Canadians accused of running call centers near Montreal that stole tens of millions of dollars from elderly victims across 40+ U.S. states. Scammers impersonated grandchildren in legal trouble, used voice cloning and AI technology, and pressured victims to send bail money—ultimately transmitting $21 million to Canada through cash deliveries and cryptocurrency. The FCC advises recipients to hang up and call their grandchild back using a saved number, consult trusted contacts despite pressure to stay silent, and report suspicious calls to the National Elder Frau
pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
Vermont officials charged 25 Canadians operating call centers near Montreal for conducting a "Grandparent Scam" that defrauded elderly Americans of $21 million between summer 2021 and June 2024. The scammers used personal information to impersonate grandchildren in distress, then posed as attorneys and bail bondsmen to convince victims to send money, which was transferred to Canada via cash pickups and cryptocurrency. Law enforcement dismantled the operation on June 4, 2024, when they executed search warrants and caught defendants actively calling victims, with the alleged ring leaders facing up to 40 years imprisonment if convicted.
denver7.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans aged 60 and older are the most targeted group for scams, with elder fraud costing the nation $3.4 billion annually and averaging $33,915 per victim in 2023. Scammers exploit older Americans' cognitive vulnerabilities, loneliness, trust, and technological inexperience through impersonation via calls, texts, emails, and social media—sometimes using artificial intelligence to mimic voices. Protection strategies include monitoring accounts, using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, verifying unexpected requests directly with contacts, and reporting suspected fraud to the FBI, FTC, local police, or state attorney general offices despite potential embarrassment.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old woman in the Pacific Northwest lost $300,000 to an elaborate computer help desk scam in which criminals impersonating tech workers, investment officers, and a U.S. marshal convinced her over weeks of lengthy phone calls that her investment account had been hacked and instructed her to liquidate funds and purchase gold to "protect" her money. The scam devastated her entire family, eliminating her retirement savings and funds earmarked for her children's down payments and grandchildren's education, and may force her to sell her home to cover resulting tax debt. The case illustrates how scam victims' family members become "secondary victims" experiencing emotional, financial, and care
kcrg.com
· 2025-12-08
**Grandparent scams** are increasing in prevalence, with criminals impersonating grandchildren in distress (accidents, jail, hospitalization) to pressure elderly victims into sending money immediately, often using social media research to make calls convincing. Recent Iowa cases resulted in losses of at least $10,000, with one arrest made in the Burt area in March 2025. Key protective measures include hanging up to verify information, contacting family members directly, resisting pressure to act quickly, and reporting suspicious calls to law enforcement immediately.
pennlive.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS is warning taxpayers about its 2025-26 "Dirty Dozen" list of common tax scams that increase during filing season, including email phishing, smishing via text messages, misleading social media tax advice, fake charity schemes, and false claims for fuel tax credits and non-existent self-employment credits. These scams can lead to identity theft, fraudulent tax credit claims, and other financial harm if taxpayers are not vigilant. The IRS emphasizes that scammers exploit tax season urgency to trick people into divulging personal information or filing false returns.
calgary.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Calgary woman in her 80s was scammed out of $12,000 in January 2025 after receiving a phone call from a man posing as a bank employee who claimed the bank needed her help investigating an employee. The suspect convinced the victim to purchase gift cards, share security codes, and withdraw cash from her bank, which he then picked up from her home; police are seeking the public's help to identify the suspect. The Calgary Police Service advises seniors to be wary of high-pressure tactics, requests for gift card or e-transfer payments, and to verify claims with trusted contacts before taking action.
signalscv.com
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-five Canadian nationals were arrested for operating a "grandpailer scam" that defrauded elderly Americans across more than 40 states of over $21 million between summer 2021 and June 2023. The defendants, operating from call centers near Montreal, posed as grandchildren needing bail money and convinced victims to hand cash to fake bail bondsmen; the money was then laundered to Canada using cryptocurrency and other methods while victims were threatened with gag orders. The indictment includes five alleged call center managers facing up to 40 years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering, while other defendants face up to 20 years.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, older adults lost a record $12.5 billion to scams and fraud—a 25 percent increase from 2023—with adults in their 70s reporting median losses of $1,000 compared to $417 for those in their 20s. The most common scams were imposter schemes (particularly government impostors, which surged from $171 million to $789 million), followed by online shopping, job opportunity, and investment scams, with investment fraud being the most lucrative for criminals at $5.7 billion in reported losses. The FTC notes that fraud's impact on older adults is often catastrophic, affecting retirement security and forcing
postguam.com
· 2025-12-08
Docomo Pacific issued a public warning about sophisticated AI-driven scam calls targeting elderly residents in Guam, prompted by an incident where the company's CEO's mother received a call from a scammer impersonating a federal agent demanding personal information and threatening home visits. The warning highlights how artificial intelligence now enables scammers to clone voices of family members and gather personal details from social media to pressure seniors into revealing information or sending money. The advisory recommends residents verify callers through trusted contacts, maintain skepticism of unexpected communications, and report suspected scams to the FCC.
cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired IT professional in northeast Ohio, known as "Eastside Eddie," combats robocall and text scams by posing as a victim to waste scammers' time and expose their tactics on YouTube and in community educational classes. Cuyahoga County residents lost over $3.4 million to various scams last year, with two victims losing their homes, prompting both Eddie's vigilante efforts and an official county awareness campaign highlighting common schemes (romance, grandparent, company/government, and lottery scams) and warning signs like requests for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or remote computer access.
bai.org
· 2025-12-08
Financial institutions must implement transaction monitoring systems and staff training to combat elder financial exploitation, which totaled $27 billion in 155,415 suspicious activity reports between June 2022 and June 2023. The most common exploiters are known individuals—relatives or caregivers—who may have legal access to accounts and use manipulation or coercion, though romantic scams and government impersonation schemes targeting the elderly are also on the rise. Banks and credit unions must balance sensitive customer interactions with regulatory reporting requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act to identify and report suspicious transactions that may indicate elder abuse.
ca.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Canadians lost $638 million to scams in 2024, with impersonation and investment fraud being the costliest types, as fraudsters increasingly use sophisticated technology including AI to create convincing deepfakes and pose as legitimate organizations or celebrities. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reports that while fewer cases were processed in 2024 compared to 2023, authorities estimate 90-95% of fraud cases go unreported, and recommend Canadians verify unexpected calls or messages and be aware of red flags such as requests for personal information or unsolicited payment demands. Key prevention strategies include trusting instincts, questioning suspicious communications, and educating seniors about evolving scam tactics.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-five Canadians were arrested in a joint Canadian-American law enforcement operation and charged with operating a grandparent scam from call centers in Montreal that defrauded elderly victims in 45 American states of $21 million between 2021 and 2024. The scammers used voice-over-internet protocol technology to mask their locations and employed a multi-step operation where "openers" called elderly victims claiming a grandchild needed bail money, then passed them to fake attorneys and sent couriers or mail-based collection schemes to retrieve funds, which were laundered through cryptocurrency conversion. The article notes that scammers exploit psychological vulnerabilities in older adults and advises families to
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season 2025 has become a prime target for AI-powered fraud, with cybercriminals using generative AI, deepfakes, and voice cloning to create highly convincing phishing emails, fake IRS calls, and impersonations of tax professionals and agents. The IRS identified over $37 billion in tax and financial crimes in fiscal year 2023, with fake IRS calls using voice cloning jumping 150% in 2025, affecting individuals, small businesses, tax professionals, and large firms through personalized attacks that bypass traditional security defenses. Criminals are also creating synthetic identities to file fraudulent returns and claim illegitimate refunds, while deepfake videos
pennlive.com
· 2025-12-08
As the April 15 tax filing deadline approaches, the IRS warns taxpayers about its annual "Dirty Dozen" list of common scams including email phishing, text smishing, misleading social media tax advice, fake charity donation schemes, and false claims for fuel tax credits and non-existent self-employment tax credits. These scams aim to steal personal and financial information, facilitate identity theft, and trick taxpayers into claiming ineligible tax credits. The IRS recommends taxpayers verify information directly through official IRS channels and remain cautious of unsolicited communications during tax season.
windsornewstoday.ca
· 2025-12-08
Chatham-Kent police issued a public warning after receiving multiple complaints about "grandparent scams" targeting seniors, where fraudsters impersonate family members claiming an emergency and demanding urgent money for bail or release. The scammers falsely claim to be affiliated with law enforcement, but police emphasized that no legitimate officer will ever collect money in person. Residents can report incidents to Chatham-Kent police at 519-352-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
I appreciate you testing my instructions, but this content appears to be a collection of news headlines about weather conditions in Alberta, a historic building in Istanbul, and a nuclear situation at Chernobyl—none of which relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.
I'm specifically designed to summarize articles about scams, fraud, or elder abuse for the Elderus database. If you have an article about those topics, I'd be happy to provide a concise 2-3 sentence summary focusing on what happened, who was affected, the type of fraud involved, and any relevant dollar amounts or outcomes.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, over 4,300 New Yorkers age 60 and older lost more than $203 million to financial scams, averaging $47,000 per victim, prompting AARP New York and state legislators to call for enhanced consumer protections including bank teller training to identify exploitation signs. Common scams targeting seniors include the "grandparent scam," where fraudsters pose as relatives requesting emergency money via untraceable payment methods like cash or gift cards. Governor Hochul's proposed budget includes measures to equip financial institutions to recognize and prevent elder financial fraud through employee training and transaction monitoring.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Police in Montreal have dismantled multiple international grandparent scam networks that defrauded hundreds of American seniors out of over $21 million USD. The scams involved organized call centres where operators posed as grandchildren requesting emergency funds from elderly victims in the United States, with two major operations—led by Anthony David Di Rienzo (2019-2021) and Gareth West (2021-2024)—operating with similar structures, victim-targeting methods, and U.S.-based collection teams, suggesting connections to organized crime.
niagara-gazette.com
· 2025-12-08
A "grandparent scam" is targeting senior citizens in Niagara County, where scammers impersonate a grandchild in distress (claiming a car accident or jail situation) and demand immediate payment via gift cards or cash. One Niagara County resident lost $25,000 after being told to purchase four $600 Green Dot gift cards, while Canadian perpetrators have defrauded victims across Vermont and 30+ other states using AI-cloned voices. Sheriff Michael Filicetti and local authorities advise hanging up and confirming directly with family members, as legitimate law enforcement would never request gift cards or cash for bail or damages.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Grandparent scams targeting seniors in Niagara County involve fraudsters posing as family members in distress and requesting money via gift cards or cash to avoid legal consequences; one local victim lost $24,000 after being told a family member was in jail. According to law enforcement, these scams are widespread across multiple states and increasingly use artificial intelligence to clone victims' voices, with perpetrators often operating from outside the region and employing local accomplices to collect payments. Sheriff officials recommend hanging up to verify claims directly with family members and note that legitimate law enforcement never requests gift cards or cash over the phone.
bucks.crimewatchpa.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece from a Bucks County Sheriff addresses the rising threat of fraud targeting seniors, particularly grandparent scams, government impersonation schemes, tech support fraud, romance scams, and phishing attacks. The article emphasizes that seniors are vulnerable targets and provides concrete prevention strategies including verifying contacts independently, protecting personal information, resisting pressure tactics, and reporting suspected fraud to local police. The key message is that protecting seniors from fraud is a community-wide responsibility requiring awareness and vigilance.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Montreal-based grandparent scam network targeted thousands of American seniors between 2019 and March 2021, defrauding victims like Madeline, an 80-year-old former nurse, of their life savings by impersonating grandchildren in legal trouble and manipulating them into wire transfers. The alleged leaders, including David Anthony Di Rienzo, lived lavishly with luxury vehicles while victims suffered lasting emotional and financial devastation, with one judge noting the scammers "took their peace of mind." Multiple similar networks operated from Montreal during this period, employing emotional manipulation scripts to exploit vulnerable seniors' trust and sense of responsibility for family members.
news.wfsu.org
· 2025-12-08
While scams affect all ages, elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable due to isolation, memory issues, and embarrassment that often prevents reporting and recovery efforts. Florida attorneys report multiple active cases among their clients, with victims—especially recently widowed or cognitively declining seniors—often spending significant time and emotional energy shutting down fraudulent accounts and hiding their exploitation from family. The article highlights common scams targeting seniors including grandparent schemes, arrest warrant threats, romance scams, and toll violations, while noting that proposed Florida legislation aims to make it easier to prosecute scammers through the communication channels they use.
cknxnewstoday.ca
· 2025-12-08
During March Anti-Fraud Month, the Ontario Provincial Police reported 72 fraud calls in the Grey Bruce area from January through early March 2024, with romance scams, grandparent scams, cryptocurrency schemes, gift card scams, and e-transfer fraud being the most common types. Constable Krista Linthorne advised the public to avoid acting under pressure, never share financial information via unsolicited communications, and verify requests by contacting institutions directly. Victims should immediately contact their bank and credit bureau to freeze accounts, report losses to police, and those who identify attempted scams should contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
cknxnewstoday.ca
· 2025-12-08
During the first two months of 2025, the Grey Bruce OPP received 72 fraud reports, with romance scams, grandparent scams, cryptocurrency schemes, gift card scams, and e-transfer fraud being the most common. Constable Krista Linthorne advises the public to avoid pressure to act quickly on money requests, never share personal or financial information via unsolicited calls or texts, and remember that legitimate government agencies and banks will never contact citizens requesting such information. Those who suspect fraud or lose money should immediately contact their bank and credit bureau, while confirmed victims should report to police and use the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for additional resources.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
An Ontario senior was nearly scammed in what may have been the first known AI voice-cloning case in Canada, when fraudsters impersonated her grandson and demanded $9,000 claiming he had been arrested. The "grandparent scam" uses AI-generated deepfake voices harvested from social media to impersonate family members in crisis situations, with Canadians reporting nearly $3 million in losses to this scheme in 2024. Experts recommend establishing code words with family members to verify callers' identities, as scammers only need three to five seconds of voice samples to create convincing AI replicas.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
CBC's Marketplace partnered with three prominent "scambusters" (combined 10 million social media followers) to create a fraud-fighting centre that infiltrated criminal networks overseas, rerouted 62 active scam call centres, and intercepted fraudulent calls to protect Canadian victims. The article also highlighted a grandparent/emergency scam targeting an Ontario senior who lost $9,000 after receiving a call mimicking her grandson's voice (possibly using AI voice cloning) claiming he was arrested and needed bail money; Canadians reported losing nearly $3 million to this scam type in 2024.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Over four years, Montreal police arrested at least 50 people involved in three elaborate grandparent scam networks that defrauded elderly victims out of millions of dollars, with investigations requiring hundreds of hours of surveillance, wiretaps, and stakeouts. Major operations like Project Sharp in 2024 led to 14 arrests of suspects accused of defrauding Canadian seniors of over $1.2 million, and police report that increased enforcement action is beginning to reduce scam cases, with reported losses to Canadian victims dropping from $11.6 million in 2023 to $3.2 million in 2024. However, prosecuting these cases takes years due to court delays
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Over the past four years, Montreal police have arrested at least 50 people involved in three elaborate grandparent scam networks that defrauded elderly victims out of millions of dollars. Law enforcement built cases through hundreds of hours of surveillance, stakeouts, and wiretaps, with major operations like Project Sharp resulting in 14 arrests in 2024 for defrauding Canadian seniors of over $1.2 million. Police report that increased enforcement and arrests are beginning to reduce grandparent scam incidents, with reported losses to Canadian victims dropping from $11.6 million in 2023 to $3.2 million in 2024.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Pleasant Community Education Outreach Service (CEOS) in Point Pleasant, West Virginia held a meeting on March 13 where member Elaine Matheny presented an educational lesson on scams targeting senior citizens, covering ten types of fraud including telephone scams, IRS scams, romance scams, tech support scams, and lottery scams, along with prevention tips. The lesson, written by Gina Taylor and Carter Taylor, was designed to educate the community on how to recognize and avoid common elder fraud schemes.
longisland.com
· 2025-12-08
Older New Yorkers lost over $203 million to scams in 2023, with more than 4,300 victims age 60 and older experiencing an average loss of $47,000 each, prompting AARP New York and state legislators to call for consumer protection measures in the state budget. Governor Hochul's proposed safeguards include training bank employees to identify signs of financial exploitation and place holds on suspicious transactions, with the "grandparent scam" identified as one of the most common schemes targeting seniors. The coalition is urging financial institutions to work with state leadership to implement fraud prevention measures that would help protect older New Yorkers' retirement savings from increasingly sophisticated sc
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article uses a cautionary legal case (Dowling v. Uriostegui) to illustrate estate plan fraud targeting elderly individuals. A woman systematically befriended an elderly man, isolated him from family, and exerted undue influence to redirect his $1.8 million estate to herself and her gambling-addicted son (a lawyer) instead of his biological son, while the scammer's son flaunted ill-gotten assets including a Corvette and 12 racehorses. The article advises families to protect vulnerable elderly relatives through regular communication and vigilance against potential scammers seeking to manipulate estate planning documents.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
CBC's Marketplace partnered with three prominent "scambusters" to create a fraud-fighting call center that has rerouted 62 active scam call centers and intercepted fraudulent calls targeting Canadian victims. The article highlights a recent AI voice-cloning grandparent scam in which an Ontario senior was nearly defrauded of $9,000 after receiving a convincing call claiming to be her grandson in legal trouble, exemplifying a scheme that cost Canadians nearly $3 million in reported losses in 2024. The piece serves as a public awareness resource about various scams and fraud prevention efforts.
khou.com
· 2025-12-08
A 59-year-old Houston woman nearly fell victim to a "grandparent scam" when she received a call from someone impersonating a police officer claiming her daughter had been in an accident and demanding personal information. She avoided losing money by independently verifying her daughter's safety through a separate phone call, recognizing red flags like vague details and requests for personal information. FBI Houston confirmed the scam is common and advised the public to stay calm, ask questions, and verify loved ones' safety directly if they receive suspicious calls about emergencies.
pennlive.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS has released its 2025-26 "Dirty Dozen" list warning taxpayers about scams that increase during tax filing season, which peaks before the April 15 deadline. Common schemes include email phishing and text message scams (smishing) impersonating the IRS, misleading social media tax advice, fraudulent charity donations, false fuel tax credit claims, and bogus self-employment tax credit schemes that can lead to identity theft and ineligible tax deductions. The IRS emphasizes that scammers exploit tax season urgency to trick vulnerable taxpayers into providing personal and financial information or filing fraudulent claims.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
A 76-year-old retired lawyer lost $740,000 in retirement savings to con artists who posed as federal investigators, convincing him he was helping with a fraud investigation. The article notes that retirees are frequent targets due to presumed savings, trust, cognitive vulnerabilities, and isolation, and outlines common scams including phishing emails, phone impersonations, and fake online sales, while recommending verification of unexpected requests, strong passwords, and reporting fraud rather than remaining silent due to embarrassment.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
On March 21, 2025, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office arrested suspects in an ongoing phone scam targeting an elderly male customer who was instructed to withdraw $50,000 from Wells Fargo in Oakdale. A vigilant bank teller alerted law enforcement after the victim attempted a second large withdrawal, prompting detectives to coordinate an undercover operation that successfully apprehended the scammers at a pre-arranged collection point. The case highlights the importance of reporting suspicious requests for large cash withdrawals to authorities immediately.
news-press.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, seniors lost $3.4 billion to financial scams, with common schemes including grandparent scams, fake financial institution impersonations, tech support fraud, government impersonation, and romance scams that exploit older adults' trust and emotional vulnerabilities. The article advises seniors to be wary of anyone demanding immediate payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers, and to verify requests through official channels before sending money. These scams cause not only significant financial losses but also lasting emotional and psychological harm to victims.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
A "smishing" scam has spread across multiple states for over a year, with scammers sending text messages claiming recipients owe small toll amounts (e.g., $12.51) and directing them to fake E-ZPass websites to pay outstanding balances. Clicking the malicious links can expose victims to identity theft, unauthorized credit accounts, and financial fraud, as scammers gain access to personal and financial information. The FBI recommends verifying toll balances directly through official websites or customer service, not clicking unknown links, and filing complaints with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if targeted.
bostonglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
Modern scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and effective due to advanced technology and organized criminal groups operating internationally. The article illustrates this trend through the example of a utility company impersonation scam targeting a Maine resident, and explains how scammers exploit phishing, deepfakes, AI-generated content, and cryptocurrency investment schemes to defraud victims. Key protective strategies include verifying accounts directly through official channels and remaining suspicious of urgent payment demands, particularly those requesting digital payment methods like Zelle.
altoonamirror.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania State Police presented a seminar on scams targeting seniors, noting that older adults lost over $1 billion to cybercrimes in 2023, with common schemes including government imposter scams, grandparent scams, and tech support fraud. One victim paid $500 for fake tech support and later wired $65,000 to the same scammers after they gained remote access to her device, highlighting how emotional manipulation and technology exploitation are used to defraud older adults.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Luis Alfonso Bisono Rodriguez, a 34-year-old Cleveland resident, was indicted on federal charges for participating in a grandparent fraud scheme that operated across Pennsylvania and Ohio between October 2024 and January 2025. The organized crime group defrauded at least five elderly victims in Western Pennsylvania of over $50,000 by impersonating grandchildren in crisis situations and requesting immediate money transfers; Rodriguez received the stolen funds via rideshare drivers and transferred much of it to the Dominican Republic through wire transfers. The FBI indicates there are likely additional victims across multiple states and requests that anyone with information report it through the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
upi.com
· 2025-12-08
Luis Alfonso Bisono Rodriguez, a 34-year-old Cleveland resident, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for operating a grandparent fraud scheme targeting elderly victims across Pennsylvania and Ohio from October through January. The organized crime operation involved scammers calling seniors impersonating grandchildren in crisis situations to solicit emergency funds, with money collected in Pennsylvania transported via rideshare drivers to Rodriguez, who then wired over $50,000 to the Dominican Republic; at least five elderly individuals were victimized, though authorities believe the actual number is higher.