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in Scam Awareness
krmsradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Lake area residents are being targeted by scammers who spoof law enforcement caller ID and claim victims have unpaid warrants, missed jury duty, or failed court appearances, demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest. The Camden County Sheriff's Office advises residents to hang up on suspicious calls and report details to local law enforcement rather than complying with payment demands.
6abc.com
· 2025-12-08
"Crash for Cash" is a growing insurance fraud scheme in the United States where perpetrators intentionally cause vehicle accidents by running into drivers or slamming on brakes, then file fraudulent injury claims against the victims and insurance companies. This scam costs Americans an estimated $45 billion annually in property and casualty fraud, raising insurance premiums by approximately $900 per consumer per year. Experts recommend installing high-quality dash cameras as a deterrent and practicing attentive driving to protect against becoming a victim of these staged accidents.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
A White Settlement, Texas police officer stopped a scam targeting an elderly woman who had been tricked by a Chase Bank impersonator into withdrawing $40,000 and depositing $23,900 into a Bitcoin ATM machine. The scammer used spoofed caller ID and threats of arrest—tactics common in pig butchering scams—before arranging transportation to a bank and convenience store. Authorities intervened before further losses occurred and are working to recover the deposited funds.
mocoshow.com
· 2025-12-08
A ticket resale scam is circulating on local Facebook groups where fraudsters pose as sellers offering concert and event tickets at discounted prices, claiming to have personal or medical emergencies. Scammers use fake ticket screenshots to appear legitimate, request private messages to avoid scrutiny, and block victims after receiving payment. Users are advised to verify sellers through Facebook group administrators and exercise caution when purchasing from unfamiliar accounts, as some fraudulent profiles appear authentic.
wxxv25.com
· 2025-12-08
The Wiggins Police Department reported an increase in electronic scams targeting community residents, including finance, romance, credit card, and internet fraud schemes conducted via phone calls, emails, and social media. Scammers typically request personal information and demand payment through bank transfers, credit cards, or postal services, though legitimate federal agencies and government entities never solicit money through these channels. Residents are advised to contact the Wiggins Police Department at (601) 928-5444 before responding to suspicious requests or sending money.
tbrnewsmedia.com
· 2025-12-08
**Type:** Educational Event/Awareness Program
State Senator Anthony Palumbo and Assemblyman Ed Flood are hosting a Senior Scam Prevention Program at Brightview Port Jefferson Senior Living on June 20 to educate seniors and caregivers about fraud prevention. According to the FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report, over 101,000 seniors reported fraud with average losses of $33,915 per person, and those over 60 lost $3.4 billion total in 2023, with tech support scams, data breaches, romance scams, and investment scams being the most common types. The program, developed in collaboration with the
lakeonews.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides an overview of common scams affecting Okeechobee residents, including account hacking, impersonation fraud, and romance scams. A local man reported his Facebook and Instagram accounts were hacked in June, with the perpetrator attempting to solicit money from his contacts, while another victim lost approximately $200 to someone impersonating a bank employee. The article outlines warning signs and protective measures recommended by the FBI and Federal Trade Commission, emphasizing that scammers use urgency, impersonation, and pressure tactics to obtain personal information and money.
hive.rochesterregional.org
· 2025-12-08
Healthcare scams are proliferating across text messages, emails, and phone calls, targeting patients, staff, and executives alike through phishing links, voice imitation AI, and spoofed domains designed to mimic legitimate healthcare providers. Common tactics include malicious QR codes, fake multifactor authentication prompts, and business email compromise schemes where scammers build relationships with executives to request unauthorized payments. To protect yourself, verify sender domains carefully, question unexpected messages, and be wary of urgent requests containing links or attachments.
calmatters.org
· 2025-12-08
Governor Newsom vetoed California Senate Bill 278, which would have required banks to delay transactions over $5,000 for at least three days if they suspected elder fraud and to notify designated emergency contacts. The veto came despite the bill's passage through the Senate with support from senior advocacy groups like AARP, after 81-year-old Alice Lin lost her entire $720,000 life savings to a cryptocurrency scam despite multiple red flags at her bank. Newsom cited concerns that the bill could prevent legitimate access to funds and stated it needs further legal review to balance consumer protection with individual rights.
cbs19news.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud has reached epidemic proportions, with the FBI reporting $1.6 billion in losses between January and May of this year—a $300 million increase from the previous year—and a 14% surge in elder fraud complaints in 2023. Criminal actors increasingly target older adults because they perceive them as vulnerable and trusting, with the most common schemes being tech support, romance, investment, and government impersonation scams. Geriatrician Dr. Laurie Archbald-Pannone recommends seniors verify unsolicited offers through online searches and report scams immediately without shame, as victim numbers rose 209% and financial losses surged 419% between 2
cobbcountycourier.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans age 60 and older lost more than $3 billion to scammers in 2023, with elder fraud complaints to the FBI increasing 14% that year, though actual losses are likely underreported due to embarrassment and incomplete age data. Older adults are particularly vulnerable because they tend to be more trusting, have financial assets, and may be less comfortable with technology; tech-support scams are most common, while investment scams cause the largest losses. Prevention through education on identifying scams, reporting crimes, and building awareness is critical to combating this growing epidemic and mitigating its traumatic psychological effects on victims.
theitem.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service warned South Carolina seniors about a rising trend of impersonation scams targeting older adults who are deceived by fraudsters posing as government officials or IRS agents. Scammers use manipulated caller IDs, fabricated claims of tax debts or lottery winnings, and pressure tactics demanding immediate payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to steal personal information and money. The IRS advises recipients of suspicious calls to hang up immediately and verify legitimacy by calling official IRS customer service at 800-829-1040 rather than returning the scammer's call.
midhudsonnews.com
· 2025-12-08
During Elder Abuse Awareness Month in June, Sullivan County officials warned of increased fraud incidents since COVID-19, highlighting common scams including romance scams, lottery schemes, and impersonations of Social Security, the IRS, and banks that pressure victims to send money via prepaid gift cards. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, elder fraud losses reached $1.6 billion from January to May 2024 (up nearly $300 million year-over-year), with 2023 reporting $3.4 billion in total losses and a 14 percent increase in elder fraud complaints. Officials advised recognizing warning signs such as isolated elderly individuals engaging in frequent online or phone
thesylvaherald.com
· 2025-12-08
North Carolina's fraud watchdogs warned of rising scams targeting seniors, with particular focus on financial elder abuse during World Elder Abuse Month in June. The N.C. Senior Consumer Fraud Task Force released a 23-minute fraud prevention video and streamlined reporting resources, including a new 2-1-1 hotline for victims to access appropriate assistance and a Department of Justice no-scam line (1-877-5-NO-SCAM) for reporting fraud. Officials emphasized that scammers impersonate government, law enforcement, and family members to steal money and information, and urged older adults to verify identities before sharing information over phone, email, text, or
cbs8.com
· 2025-12-08
A 79-year-old Navy veteran in Poway, California, lost $15,000 in a door-to-door landscaping scam in which fraudsters quoted him $10 per bag of mulch, then inflated the invoice to $19,000 (claiming 1,900 bags) after completing the work and pressuring him into payment. The victim reported the incident to law enforcement and the Contractors License Board, and later discovered through community posts that the same scam operation, operating under the name "Danilo Martinez Landscaping," had targeted other residents in the area with identical tactics.
caswellmessenger.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Moving scams, primarily conducted by rogue online operators, target seniors during peak moving season by offering unrealistically low estimates without inspecting goods, demanding advance deposits or full payment, and then either failing to appear, raising prices last-minute, or holding belongings hostage for additional fees. To protect yourself, obtain multiple quotes, verify company references, and remember that the cheapest option is not always the safest choice for moving valuable personal belongings.
sandmountainreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The Alabama Securities Commission released guidance on identifying and reporting elder financial abuse in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The FBI estimates seniors lost $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, and Alabama has seen a significant increase in reported cases, rising from 90 in 2022 to 215 in the current year. The ASC advises staying connected with elderly relatives, watching for warning signs such as sudden isolation or new acquaintances interested in finances, and contacting authorities at 800-222-1253 to report suspected exploitation.
foxreno.com
· 2025-12-08
The Reno Police Department reported an uptick in scams targeting local residents and hosted a senior awareness session covering various fraud types, including ATM skimmers, fraudulent checks, and impersonation schemes that have resulted in losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The session provided protective measures such as monitoring credit card statements, inspecting currency and checks for signs of fraud, and remembering that legitimate law enforcement never requests payment information over phone, text, or email.
wlbt.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission reported over 170,000 imposter scam reports totaling more than $645 million in losses as of mid-2024, with an average loss of $780 per victim. Pennsylvania's assistant chief deputy attorney general highlighted that wire transfers account for 75% of scams in the state and stressed the need for banks to implement stronger fraud prevention measures similar to those used in credit card protection. Officials urged scam victims to immediately report incidents to their state attorney general's consumer protection division and the FTC to freeze funds and prevent further fraud.
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission reported over 170,000 imposter scam cases in the current year, resulting in losses exceeding $645 million with an average loss of $780 per victim. Pennsylvania's Attorney General's office has established a dedicated team to respond to scam reports by contacting victims, freezing funds, and working with law enforcement to shut down fraudulent communications, while urging consumers to report scams immediately to their state attorney general's office and the FTC. Officials are also pushing banks to take greater responsibility for preventing wire and check fraud, similar to their established fraud prevention practices in the credit card industry.
news4jax.com
· 2025-12-08
Government imposter scams resulted in $76 million in losses last year, nearly doubling from $40 million in 2022, according to data presented on the morning show. These scams involve fraudsters posing as government officials to trick victims into sending money or personal information.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial fraud cost Essex County victims approximately $10 million last year, with cryptocurrency scams emerging as an increasingly common threat, particularly targeting older adults. District Attorney Paul Tucker warned citizens about crypto scams' tactics, including pressure to use crypto ATMs, send funds to scammers' digital wallets instantaneously (preventing transaction reversal), and keep transactions secret. Warning signs include being told to remain on the phone during transactions and that cryptocurrency is the only payment method accepted.
weareiowa.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly Iowans lost over $16 million to scams in the past year, with FBI data showing this is likely underreported and mirrors rising national trends among seniors. Investment scams pose the greatest financial threat to older adults, while newer schemes like phantom hacker scams convince victims to convert assets to precious metals and cash for supposed protection. The FBI advises victims to contact their financial institutions immediately to freeze assets, avoid clicking unsolicited links, verify government officials independently, and report incidents to law enforcement.
kshb.com
· 2025-12-08
A Kansas City woman lost $15,000 in a grandparent scam when a caller impersonating her daughter claimed to be in jail and needed bail money; Lucia Hanna withdrew the cash from her bank after being instructed not to answer questions, only discovering the fraud when she called her actual daughter. Clay County authorities report that such scams are occurring daily and increasingly targeting vulnerable individuals, with law enforcement urging victims to report incidents immediately to help track and deter scam activity.
capitalethiopia.com
· 2025-12-08
Job recruitment scams are proliferating in South Africa, where high unemployment (32%) makes job seekers vulnerable to fraudsters who impersonate recruiters on social media or post fake job listings to extract money or personal information. Common tactics include fake Department of Employment and Labour schemes demanding R250 for background checks and requiring upfront payments for transportation or training, with victims reporting non-existent job offers. Red flags include unsolicited offers via social media, unprofessional communication, unusually high remote salaries, and requests for payment or sensitive personal data—legitimate employers never charge jobseekers for recruitment services or request ID numbers and bank details early in the process.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A 52-year-old businessman in Noida lost Rs 5 lakh to a digital arrest scam in June when a fraudster posing as a Mumbai crime branch official threatened him with arrest for alleged drug smuggling and money laundering, keeping him on a video call while demanding he transfer funds as a temporary "Supreme Court audit" measure. The victim complied under fear of legal consequences but never received the promised return of funds. The case highlights how scammers impersonating law enforcement target even educated individuals, and authorities recommend verifying claims by independently contacting official agencies, never sharing financial information with unknown callers, and reporting suspicious calls to police.
walesonline.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Amid a surge in Taylor Swift ticket fraud—including arrests in Wales and social media hacking incidents—this article warns consumers about common ticket scam red flags such as deeply discounted prices, payment methods without protection, third-party websites, and suspicious seller behavior. Key advice includes purchasing only from official retailers, avoiding deals that seem too good to be true, and reporting incidents to Action Fraud if victimized.
says.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old accountant from Johor lost RM2.27 million to a WhatsApp investment scam that operated from December to June, where scammers promised high returns and instructed him to download an app and transfer funds through multiple transactions. After the victim refused to pay an additional RM1.6 million commission to access alleged profits of RM12.9 million, he reported the fraud to police, who are investigating under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonesty.
newsroom.uvahealth.com
· 2025-12-08
A UVA Health geriatrician warns that seniors face an epidemic of fraud, with Americans ages 60 and older losing more than $3 billion to scams in 2023, often orchestrated by dedicated call centers. She recommends seniors verify unsolicited offers through online searches, remain skeptical of urgent requests, and report suspected fraud without shame, as scammers continuously evolve their tactics faster than seniors can adapt.
wjla.com
· 2025-12-08
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day highlights key strategies for protecting seniors from fraud and scams. Experts recommend measures such as verifying caller identities, protecting personal information, monitoring financial accounts, and maintaining open communication with trusted family members to prevent elder fraud and abuse.
localnewsonly.com
· 2025-12-08
In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the FBI Dallas released findings from the 2023 Elder Fraud Report showing that elder fraud complaints increased 14% with reported losses totaling over $3.4 billion, averaging $33,915 per victim, with Texas accounting for over 7,000 complaints and $278.3 million in losses. Tech support scams were the most commonly reported elder fraud type in 2023, followed by personal data breaches, romance scams, non-payment/non-delivery scams, and investment scams. The FBI identified a formulaic tech support scam pattern where victims' computers are frozen with pop-ups claiming illegal activity, then
enquirerjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
North Carolina's Senior Consumer Fraud Task Force released a new 23-minute fraud prevention video and expanded resources to combat rising scams targeting seniors, following World Elder Abuse Day in June. According to the FTC, Americans lost a record $10 billion to fraud in 2023 with a median loss of $500, with scammers increasingly targeting smaller amounts to avoid law enforcement detection. The state now offers simplified reporting through a dial-211 hotline, the N.C. Attorney General's fraud hotline, and AARP's Fraud Watch helpline to help victims recognize and report fraud without shame.
emissourian.com
· 2025-12-08
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justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
On June 15, 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky observed World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, highlighting that one in ten people over 60 experiences some form of elder abuse, with an estimated $28.3 billion lost annually to elder fraud scams. In 2023, Kentucky's FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received 908 complaints from individuals over 60 reporting $12.8 million in losses, more than any other age group combined. The Justice Department brought nearly 300 criminal and civil actions against over 650 defendants in the past year who stole more than $1.5 billion from 2.4
adirondackdailyenterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
This letter warns seniors about a phone scam targeting Medicare beneficiaries, in which callers falsely claim to verify information about new plastic Medicare cards and request personal details over the phone. The author received such a call from South Dakota and refused to provide information, noting that plastic Medicare cards do not exist. The warning highlights the importance of not sharing personal information with unsolicited callers claiming to represent Medicare.
the-dispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
In honor of Elder Abuse Day on June 15, the North Carolina Senior Consumer Fraud Task Force held a press conference to raise awareness about elder financial fraud and launched new resources to help seniors report scams, including a fraud prevention video and a new 2-1-1 statewide phone number for reporting suspected financial scams. The task force, which now includes the N.C. Association on Aging, is distributing information through senior centers across the state, noting that Americans lost a record $10 billion to fraud in 2023 according to the Federal Trade Commission.
lakesarearadio.net
· 2025-12-08
The Becker County Sheriff's Department is hosting a public educational presentation at Frazee Care Center on senior scams and prevention strategies, designed for seniors and the general public. Interested attendees can contact the facility's director for additional details about the event.
newsday.com
· 2025-12-08
New York State Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert about rising romance scams on dating apps and social media, which have surged nationally with victims losing $1.14 billion in 2023—a 1,420% increase from 2016. Long Island resident Connie Rotolo, 71, transferred $475,000 to an online scammer she met on Zoosk in 2020 who posed as an engineer and later claimed to be in danger in the Philippines, leaving her dealing with financial and emotional fallout four years later. The scams typically target vulnerable, lonely individuals and often involve fake romantic connections used to lure victims into fraudulent investments or
webwire.com
· 2025-12-08
Tietoevry Banking's 2023 fraud prevention report analyzed 3.4 billion transactions and prevented NOK 2.7 billion in fraud, with a 90 percent detection rate stopping approximately 70 percent of fraud attempts without customer loss. The report reveals a significant surge in digital fraud methods, including a 70 percent increase in card/account fraud attempts, 300 percent rise in digital wallet fraud, and over 150 percent growth in social engineering attacks, with phishing attempts up 60 percent. Key emerging threats include AI-enabled fraud techniques such as deepfake voice calls, "secure account" fraud, romance scams, and extortion schemes, requiring
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides guidance on avoiding phone scams, which cost Americans $851 million in 2023 according to the FTC. The primary recommendation is to never answer calls from unknown numbers—instead, let them go to voicemail and verify legitimacy afterward. The article explains common scam tactics (spoofed caller IDs, personal information, urgency triggers) and advises using phone settings to automatically silence unknown callers, noting that scammers can successfully spoof even recognizable company names and that consumers should not overestimate their ability to outsmart experienced fraudsters.
wwmt.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan State Police reported an uptick in phone scams targeting elderly residents in mid-Michigan, with victims losing thousands of dollars in recent incidents. The scams employed various deceptive tactics to trick seniors out of their money. Police are urging the community to remain vigilant and exercise caution with unsolicited phone calls.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity researchers identified a wave of sophisticated scams targeting Trump 2024 campaign donors following the campaign's announcement of cryptocurrency donations in May 2024 and Trump's subsequent conviction in late May. Fraudsters created convincing replica websites (such as donalbjtrump.com) and phishing pages that mimicked the legitimate campaign site, strategically updating content to align with campaign messaging, and offered false opportunities like a $2,000 dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago; while the exact amount stolen is unknown, the real campaign raised over $50 million in 24 hours after the verdict, suggesting significant fraud losses. Notably, researchers confirmed that scammers are
wbiw.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission warns of two-stage government imposter scams in which initial callers claim to represent a company and report suspicious account activity, then transfer victims to accomplices posing as government officials who pressure them to withdraw cash or use gift cards, wire transfers, or payment apps to "resolve" alleged criminal involvement. Red flags include requests to keep the call secret, fake caller IDs mimicking government agencies, and claims that legitimate government employees would never make—such as demanding immediate payment or asking victims to transfer funds to "protect" them.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
Dennis Jones, an 82-year-old Virginia man, lost his entire life savings to a "pig butchering" scam after being groomed online for months by a woman claiming to be named Jessie who convinced him to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency; devastated by financial ruin, he died by suicide before his family could help him recover. Pig butchering scams, run primarily by Chinese criminal gangs operating from Southeast Asia, involve con artists building relationships with victims over months before pressuring them to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms, with the FBI estimating these scams stole nearly $4 billion from American victims in the past year alone—a 53% increase from the previous year
wftv.com
· 2025-12-08
A 79-year-old Florida woman lost approximately $2,000 to a flight booking scam and was prevented from boarding a flight to her husband's funeral in Wisconsin after scammers posing as an Allegiant Airlines representative charged her card multiple times for a fraudulent ticket. Although Stainer received a fake confirmation code and was able to check in luggage and pass through TSA with a boarding pass, the airline's fraud detection system only flagged the fraudulent third-party purchaser after she arrived at the gate, preventing her from boarding. Allegiant acknowledged the scam occurred when she booked the same day as departure, stating their system would have caught the fraud had the ticket been purchase
wsjm.com
· 2025-12-08
The Berrien County Sheriff's Department received multiple reports of a scam in which callers impersonated a deputy named "Lieutenant Justin O'Brien" and threatened arrest for failing to report for jury duty unless victims paid fines through money transfer services like Walmart, Walgreens, and Western Union. No victims were defrauded in the reported cases, but authorities warn that the sheriff's department never contacts people by phone threatening arrest to extort payment, and that callers should hang up and report such incidents to Central Dispatch.
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans age 60 and older lost more than $3 billion to scammers, with elder fraud complaints to the FBI increasing 14% year-over-year, though actual losses are likely much higher due to underreporting and unreported incidents. Older adults are particularly vulnerable because they tend to be more trusting, have accumulated savings and good credit, and may lack familiarity with technology, making them attractive targets for tech-support scams, romance schemes, investment fraud, and call-center operations. Prevention through education on identifying and reporting fraud is critical to mitigating this epidemic's financial and psychological consequences.
fox5atlanta.com
· 2025-12-08
Georgia ranks among the highest states for elder fraud, with seniors losing over $92 million to scams in 2023 alone, as part of a national crisis where the Department of Justice handled over 300 cases recovering more than $1 billion from scammers targeting over 2 million people. The U.S. Attorney for Northern Georgia highlighted common fraud schemes, including jury duty scams that impersonate law enforcement and demand payment via phone, gift cards, or bitcoin. Experts advise seniors to verify requests by calling authorities directly before sending money and to recognize that legitimate law enforcement never demands payment over the phone.
post-journal.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare will never initiate calls to you—if you receive an unsolicited call claiming to be from Medicare, it is a scam. The NY Statewide Senior Action Council and NYS Senior Medicare Patrol offer educational resources and fraud detection assistance to help seniors protect their Medicare information and identify potential scams. A Senior Safety Summit held in Chautauqua County on June 21 provided seniors an opportunity to connect with representatives from law enforcement, consumer protection, social services, and elder law organizations to learn fraud prevention strategies and address personal safety concerns.
spectrumnews1.com
· 2025-12-08
Madeline Sprints fell victim to a parking lot distraction theft scam in Los Angeles where criminals stole three credit cards from her purse and attempted $10,000 in fraudulent charges, prompting her to join the Stop Senior Scams Acting Program to educate other seniors. According to the FBI, adults over 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023 (an 11% increase from 2022), with common scams including grandparent scams, romance scams through dating apps, and tech support scams. The FBI recommends never responding to unsolicited contact and reporting scams to local FBI offices or the Internet Crime Complaint Center