Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 26,669 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
8,635 results
in Phishing
▶ VIDEO
FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-04-05
Scammers send fraudulent text messages impersonating the U.S. Postal Service, claiming recipients have undeliverable packages and requesting they click a link to verify their address; the link directs victims to a fake website that steals personal and financial information. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts, do not reply to suspicious messages, and contact the postal service or retailer directly if unsure about a package delivery.
▶ VIDEO
FOX 4 Now
· 2025-04-03
Lee County Sheriff's Office reported approximately 20 fraud cases daily in 2024, with 2,400 total reported cases—60% resulting in losses exceeding $10,000 each. The most common scam involved fraudsters impersonating law enforcement and claiming victims missed court dates, demanding payment via untraceable methods like Bitcoin or gift cards, though recent high-dollar wire fraud cases totaled $395,000, $475,000, and $158,000. Most suspects operate outside the United States, making recovery of stolen funds difficult once money is transferred overseas.
▶ VIDEO
5NEWS
· 2025-03-28
The Arkansas Attorney General is warning residents about a resurfacing text messaging scam targeting toll road users. The alert advises residents to be cautious of unsolicited texts claiming to be from toll road operators, which are used to steal personal and financial information.
▶ VIDEO
Mid-Michigan now on FOX66 & NBC25
· 2025-03-27
Scammers are increasingly targeting older adults, particularly those over 75, using sweepstakes, impersonation, and text message scams to steal money and personal information. Law enforcement agencies recommend treating all unsolicited communications as potential scams and emphasize that education and skepticism are the best defenses against these frauds, with experts advising never to trust unexpected offers or requests for personal information.
▶ VIDEO
WFSU Public Media
· 2025-03-26
Florida residents, particularly seniors, are experiencing widespread scam calls and text messages, including toll balance fraud and unsolicited calls from unknown numbers. According to board-certified elder law attorney Jana McConna, vulnerable seniors—especially those who are isolated, lonely, recently widowed, or experiencing memory issues—are actively being targeted, with scammers exploiting emotional vulnerability and cognitive decline to financially manipulate victims. McConna emphasizes that isolation and loneliness are key risk factors that make seniors susceptible to fraud schemes.
▶ VIDEO
WXYZ-TV Detroit | Channel 7
· 2025-03-26
The Better Business Bureau warns of a tax season scam where victims receive text messages falsely claiming the IRS owes them $1,400 from a pandemic-era tax credit, with a link to click. To avoid this scam, consumers should remember that the IRS does not communicate via text message, use reputable tax software or preparers, and access tax information directly through irs.gov.
▶ VIDEO
60 Minutes
· 2025-03-23
This 60 Minutes segment examines why investment fraud and Ponzi schemes continue to thrive despite public awareness of high-profile cases like Bernie Madoff's multi-billion dollar fraud. The piece features expert Ricky Jay discussing how con artists exploit human psychology—including greed and excessive trust—and identifies key warning signs such as dealings with well-established figures who rely on exclusive affiliations to build credibility. The segment highlights that despite financial disasters and skepticism, investors remain vulnerable to sophisticated scams, a phenomenon regulators refer to as "ponzi-monium."
▶ VIDEO
CBC News
· 2025-03-21
Three prominent online fraud fighters—Jim Browning, Kitboga, and Pleasant Green—collaborated to infiltrate and disrupt scammer call centers targeting North American victims. Through real-time interception, they successfully prevented multiple fraud attempts including one targeting a woman threatened with legal trouble, coordinating with banks and law enforcement to protect victims from losing thousands of dollars. The operation demonstrated tactics used by scammers and highlighted how these vigilantes have collectively disrupted hundreds of scam centers and prevented hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses over nearly a decade.
▶ VIDEO
WITN-TV
· 2025-03-20
Jones County hosted a community safety event called "Wellness" to educate senior citizens about scams and fraud, which have been increasing across the East. Attendees learned about various scam tactics, including text/phone scams that may contain viruses and family emergency scams, with participants sharing their personal experiences being targeted by scammers.
▶ VIDEO
WHNT News 19
· 2025-03-19
The Colbert County Sheriff's Office reported a recent surge in phone and text scams targeting senior citizens in the area, with reported losses reaching approximately $60,000. Common scams include impersonation of grandchildren claiming emergency money is needed and fraudsters posing as law enforcement demanding payment; the sheriff emphasized that legitimate law enforcement will never call requesting money and advised seniors to use common sense and contact the sheriff's department if uncertain about a call's legitimacy. The office hosted scam prevention presentations at senior centers to educate residents on recognizing and avoiding these schemes.
▶ VIDEO
WHNT News 19
· 2025-03-19
The Colbert County Sheriff's Office held a scam awareness presentation at the East Colbert Senior Center to educate seniors about fraud prevention. Sheriff Eric Valentine warned attendees to be cautious of suspicious calls, texts, and emails, and emphasized never sharing banking information over the phone, noting that scam victims in the area have lost between $4,000 and $10,000, with recovery being nearly impossible once funds are sent.
▶ VIDEO
CTV News
· 2025-03-18
An Ontario mother lost $5,700 to scammers who impersonated her son via text messages, claiming he needed money for car repairs and requesting e-transfers. The victim sent multiple payments totaling over $5,700 before discovering the messages were not from her son, leaving her feeling violated and uncertain about where the money went. Experts warn that "smishing" (text-based fraud) often uses urgency and familiar relationships as tactics, and advise people to verify requests for money by contacting the person directly through another method.
▶ VIDEO
FOX59 News
· 2025-03-18
Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from $10 billion in 2023, according to the FTC's annual report. While the number of fraud reports remained stable at 3.7 million, the percentage of reports resulting in actual financial loss increased from 27% to 38%, and median losses per victim rose significantly since 2020. The rise in fraud losses is attributed partly to AI-enabled scams, with government imposter scams, online shopping fraud, and email-based schemes being particularly prevalent, though notably young people are now losing more money than senior citizens.
▶ VIDEO
NEWS CENTER Maine
· 2025-03-17
Text message scams (smishing) cost Americans over $330 million in 2022, with the most common impostering personal banking services. Banks never text customers requesting personal information; recipients should never click links or call numbers in suspicious texts but instead independently contact their bank to verify legitimacy. Scammers use urgency and anxiety to pressure victims into responding without thinking.
▶ VIDEO
CNBC
· 2025-03-15
Toll text scams are proliferating as scammers exploit the shift to electronic tolling systems and mobile phone usage, sending deceptive messages claiming unpaid tolls are due and threatening fines or license suspension. Clicking links in these texts can result in malware installation or credential theft, as legitimate toll operators never contact customers via text requesting payment through links. Federal agencies including the FTC and FBI have warned the public that these scams have become increasingly sophisticated and widespread across the country.
▶ VIDEO
WSMV 4 Nashville
· 2025-03-14
The FBI reported over 2,000 complaints about toll payment scam text messages in a single month, with scammers sending convincing texts claiming recipients owe toll fees and threatening late charges. These phishing texts contain links designed to steal sensitive personal information and have increased in frequency, particularly during travel seasons like spring break and summer. Cybersecurity experts warn that the texts use vague dates and urgent language to pressure victims into clicking malicious links.
▶ VIDEO
23ABC News | KERO
· 2025-03-12
Bay Area Toll Authorities warned Bakersfield residents of a scam involving fraudulent text messages claiming unpaid toll violations and threatening license suspension or legal action if payment is not made via a suspicious link. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission spokesperson confirmed that legitimate toll agencies never request payment through text messages or website links, and the scam has cycled through waves of high activity over the past year with periodic mutations to evade detection.
▶ VIDEO
WREG News Channel 3
· 2025-03-12
The IRS is warning consumers about multiple tax scams active this season, including fraudulent preparers who disappear after filing, phishing emails and texts impersonating the IRS or tax software companies that threaten account holds or offer fake refunds, and unreliable social media advice urging people to misuse W-2s. Consumers should only work with tax preparers who sign returns and never deposit refunds into preparers' accounts, and should verify tax information through official IRS channels rather than social media or unsolicited communications.
▶ VIDEO
Eyewitness News ABC7NY
· 2025-03-12
SMS phishing scams ("smishing"), along with related voice phishing ("vishing"), remain prevalent threats that consumers regularly receive via text messages and calls. The FBI warns consumers to delete these deceptive messages rather than clicking links, as leaving them on devices can allow scammers to access personal information; scammers typically exploit current news trends and seasonal events like tax season to lure victims.
▶ VIDEO
News 5 Cleveland
· 2025-03-07
This educational piece features Frank Salona, president/CEO of the Better Business Bureau in Canton, discussing scam prevention during National Consumer Protection Week. He emphasizes that scams affect all consumers regardless of demographics and highlights seasonal fraud schemes, particularly storm-chasing scams targeting homeowners with fake repair services during severe weather seasons like spring storms and flooding.
▶ VIDEO
The National Desk
· 2025-03-04
A Bankrate survey found that 34% of U.S. adults experienced financial fraud in the past year, with 37% of those losing money. Contrary to assumptions that only older generations are vulnerable, Gen Z and Millennials who fell victim to scams were actually more likely to lose money (53% and 45% respectively), compared to Gen X at 32%. Financial strain from inflation and elevated interest rates is making Americans more vulnerable to scams.
▶ VIDEO
CBS4 Indy
· 2025-03-04
A cybersecurity survey reveals that many Americans are overconfident in their ability to avoid online scams, with over a third believing victimization only occurs from oversharing and nearly half thinking misspellings easily identify scams—misconceptions that no longer hold true as scammers increasingly sophisticate their tactics. Despite 75% of respondents agreeing scams should be reported, actual reporting rates are significantly lower, dropping to 14% for romance scams, while seniors remain the most targeted demographic though younger age groups are experiencing the fastest growth in scam victimization.
▶ VIDEO
News 19 WLTX
· 2025-02-25
Two Lexon County men, 45-year-old Kenneth Brown and 46-year-old Nicholas Shepard, were sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving business email compromise and romance scams. The men coordinated with others to receive checks from scam victims at their business, Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange, then deposited and converted the funds into cryptocurrency. They must pay $415,000 in restitution and are ineligible for parole under the federal system.
▶ VIDEO
News4JAX The Local Station
· 2025-02-24
A local couple's Facebook account was hacked, leading to a cascade of fraud attempts including unauthorized access to their Venmo and American Express accounts, as well as fraudulent car sale ads posted under their name requesting deposits. The incident left the couple feeling helpless as they dealt with multiple compromised accounts and attempted scams across various platforms.
▶ VIDEO
News4JAX The Local Station
· 2025-02-24
A couple's Facebook account was hacked, giving scammers access to their Venmo, American Express, and marketplace account, where the fraudsters attempted to sell a car the couple didn't own and solicit deposits. Although the couple avoided financial loss by alerting their banks quickly, their Facebook friends were targeted and scammed when the hacker posted a fraudulent car sale listing using the couple's identity on Facebook Marketplace.
▶ VIDEO
CBS Chicago
· 2025-02-24
**Summary:**
The Federal Trade Commission warned about a text message scam circulating in Illinois and elsewhere claiming recipients owe late toll fees and threatening legal action or driver's license suspension if unpaid. Scammers use multiple phone numbers to contact victims and attempt to obtain passwords, PINs, credit card, and banking information; the FTC advises those concerned about tolls to contact the tollway agency directly using verified phone numbers or websites rather than responding to unsolicited messages.
▶ VIDEO
WJCL News
· 2025-02-24
Savannah and Chatham County authorities are warning residents about a nationwide surge in text message scams impersonating toll collection agencies. The scams use urgency tactics (threatening license suspension or fees) and fake links to steal personal information, credit card numbers, and bank account details, often targeting people who never used the toll roads mentioned. Authorities advise recipients to delete messages without responding, block the contacts, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or the FTC.
▶ VIDEO
WHNT News 19
· 2025-02-22
Tax scammers are actively targeting taxpayers during the 2025 tax season by filing fraudulent returns using stolen Social Security numbers to claim refunds. The Better Business Bureau warns that identity theft through tax fraud is particularly prevalent during tax season, with one example involving a scammer filing a fraudulent return using a victim's SSN for thousands of dollars—though the IRS flagged the duplicate filing and sent notice. To protect against this scam, experts recommend using the IRS Identity Protection PIN (issued annually in December/January), filing taxes early once W-2s arrive, and remembering that the IRS never contacts taxpayers by phone, text, or email.
▶ VIDEO
PBS NewsHour
· 2025-02-16
Online romance scams target victims across all demographics through psychological manipulation, with perpetrators using fake profiles to convince people to invest money, often via cryptocurrency. Investigative reporter Cezary Podkul notes that victims have lost billions of dollars annually, with some individuals losing over $1 million, and that many scam operations are run by Chinese cybercriminal gangs that recruit trafficked individuals. To protect oneself, people should watch for red flags like unsolicited contact offering investments, seek second opinions from trusted friends, and report suspected scams immediately to local police, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, and the U.S. Secret Service to aid law enforcement in tracing funds and identifying additional
▶ VIDEO
ABC15 Arizona
· 2025-02-12
This article warns about three Valentine's Day scams: impostor websites selling fake jewelry, flowers, or dating services that use stolen logos and offer suspicious discounts or request untraceable payment methods; romance scams where fraudsters build fake profiles to establish emotional connections before requesting money; and wrong-number scams that target lonely individuals through unsolicited texts to lure them into conversations. The article advises consumers to watch for red flags including unrealistic deals, requests for cryptocurrency or cash transfers, relationships that move too quickly without in-person meetings, and requests to keep relationships secret.
▶ VIDEO
WLUK-TV FOX 11
· 2025-02-12
As Valentine's Day approaches with consumers expected to spend $26 billion on gifts, the Better Business Bureau warns of common scams including fraudulent online retailers, romance scams targeting vulnerable people, and phishing emails. To protect themselves, shoppers should verify seller legitimacy by calling businesses, checking for poor grammar on websites, and verifying website creation dates through tools like GoDaddy, while avoiding unrealistically cheap deals.
▶ VIDEO
FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2025-02-06
Romance scams are prevalent and increasingly sophisticated, with the Better Business Bureau reporting a median loss of $6,000 per victim. Scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and social media to build trust over weeks or months before requesting money or pushing cryptocurrency investment schemes, and they now use AI to generate realistic photos and communicate with multiple victims simultaneously. To protect yourself, verify profile photos using reverse image search, trust your instincts if something seems too good to be true, independently research any investment opportunities, and avoid clicking links or sharing financial information provided by potential romantic contacts.
▶ VIDEO
WISN 12 News
· 2025-01-30
Police and the Better Business Bureau are warning Wisconsin residents about a "sextortion" email scam in which fraudsters claim to have compromising video footage and demand approximately $2,000 in bitcoin, using publicly available personal information like phone numbers, addresses, and home photos to appear credible. The scammers, typically located in Africa, threaten to send the alleged videos to the victim's contacts unless payment is made; authorities advise recipients to ignore the emails and report them rather than respond, as the scammers will move on to other targets if no payment is received.
▶ VIDEO
WRTV Indianapolis
· 2025-01-30
The Federal Trade Commission warns of a phishing scam where fraudsters send text messages impersonating toll road companies like EasyPass, claiming recipients have unpaid tolls and urging them to click a link or face increased fees. Clicking the malicious link takes victims to a fake website requesting credit card or bank information, potentially leading to identity theft and financial fraud. To protect yourself, verify toll notices by contacting the state agency directly through official channels rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts, then report, block, and delete the suspicious message.
▶ VIDEO
KTVN 2 News Nevada
· 2025-01-28
The IRS began accepting 2024 tax returns and warned taxpayers to be cautious of scams, emphasizing that the agency never initiates contact through unsolicited emails, texts, or phone calls—communication occurs only through official mail. The filing deadline is April 15th, though extensions may apply to victims of disasters such as the LA fires.
▶ VIDEO
Channel 3000 / News 3 Now
· 2025-01-27
A scam targeting parents of University of Wisconsin-Madison students involved fraudsters impersonating UWPD officers, calling at night (between 2-3 a.m.) and claiming their child had been detained, demanding money for release. Madison Police Department received at least three reports of the scam calls, which used real officer names to appear credible, exploiting the fear and disorientation of parents awakened in the middle of the night.
▶ VIDEO
WPBF 25 News
· 2025-01-23
Fraudulent text messages impersonating SunPass have resurfaced in South Florida, claiming recipients owe toll payments and threatening legal action, with fake account balances included. These phishing scams attempt to steal personal information like driver's license numbers for identity theft, with hundreds of residents in Martin and Saint Lucie counties reporting receipt of the fraudulent texts. Authorities advise recipients to delete messages without clicking links and contact SunPass directly, while Americans lost over $2 million to similar imposter scams in the previous year.
▶ VIDEO
Arizona’s Family (3TV / CBS 5)
· 2025-01-23
A Phoenix woman's Facebook account was hacked, giving the criminal access to her personal information and thousands of contacts, who were then targeted with scam posts claiming she needed emergency money and was selling valuables. The hacker added their own email account to the compromised profile, intercepting all identity verification requests and making account recovery difficult. According to a cybersecurity expert, these Facebook hacks typically result from phishing scams and weak passwords, and users can protect themselves by enabling two-factor authentication.
▶ VIDEO
Denver7
· 2025-01-20
The City and County of Denver issued a warning about a text message scam falsely claiming recipients had unpaid parking invoices. The scam messages, which appeared official with Denver logos and branding, attempted to collect personal and financial information from residents; Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure confirmed it only notifies residents of unpaid parking tickets by mail, never by text.
▶ VIDEO
NBC 7 San Diego
· 2025-01-17
Two text message scams are circulating in San Diego County: one falsely claiming to be a parking fine from the city of San Diego, and another impersonating FasTrack toll road violations, both urging recipients to click links or pay fees. The city of San Diego confirmed it does not issue fines via text, and these messages are designed to steal personal information or compromise devices. Residents are advised to ignore and delete these messages without clicking any links.
▶ VIDEO
NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-01-17
A victim lost over $137,000 in life savings after receiving an email falsely claiming her social security number was used for drug trafficking, demonstrating how sophisticated social engineering scams exploit fear and panic rather than relying solely on cyber tactics. According to the FTC, Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023—the highest amount ever recorded—with scammers increasingly using organized crime networks, technology, and social manipulation to target victims through emails, texts, and social media.
▶ VIDEO
WPBF 25 News
· 2025-01-12
Authorities in Martin County, Florida are reporting a rising scam targeting elderly residents, in which scammers pose as tech support by displaying fake McAfee virus alerts and convincing victims to grant remote computer access. The scammers then manipulate victims into withdrawing cash from their banks under the false pretense of account security testing, with two known victims losing a combined $57,000 ($40,000 and $17,000 respectively) before couriers collected the cash. Law enforcement advises families to check with elderly loved ones about recent cash withdrawals or money transfers to help identify and investigate cases.
▶ VIDEO
ABC News 4
· 2025-01-11
A Mount Pleasant woman nearly fell victim to a sophisticated phone scam in which a caller impersonated law enforcement, claiming she had a failed jury duty summons and a flag on her driver's license for arrest. The scammer, speaking politely and calmly, instructed her to withdraw $5,000 in cash and deliver it to a specific address under the guise of placing it in a safety deposit box. The woman did not complete the transaction, and police are warning residents about this detailed and convincing scam targeting the public.
▶ VIDEO
NBC10 Boston
· 2025-01-09
Hundreds of Massachusetts residents received fraudulent text messages impersonating E-ZPass (Easy Drive MA), requesting payment for tolls, in what authorities are investigating as a "smishing" scam with FBI involvement. One victim clicked the malicious link and was directed to a fake payment page; the scam messages originated from a Philippines phone number and contained spelling errors that revealed their fraudulent nature. Cybersecurity experts advise users not to click links in unsolicited text messages and to verify directly with official sources before providing payment information.
▶ VIDEO
Denver7
· 2025-01-08
▶ VIDEO
WGN News
· 2025-01-07
The Better Business Bureau released its top 10 local scams of 2024, with online purchases through fake websites ranking as the #1 threat, followed by phishing scams, employment scams, debt collection scams, and social media shopping scams involving counterfeit products. Consumers are advised to verify companies through the BBB before providing personal or financial information, avoid clicking suspicious links in emails or social media ads, be wary of unsolicited urgent requests, and recognize that legitimate debt collectors must notify in writing before taking action.
▶ VIDEO
WNYT NewsChannel 13
· 2025-01-06
Law enforcement and cybersecurity experts warn that artificial intelligence tools are increasingly being exploited by scammers in 2025 to perpetrate fraud in novel ways. According to University of Albany cybersecurity professor George Berg, AI's ability to replicate human thinking, appearance, and speech gives scammers new capabilities to deceive victims more effectively than ever before. Experts are urging public awareness of these emerging AI-enabled fraud tactics as a growing threat.
▶ VIDEO
IRSvideos
· 2025-01-06
This is an educational webinar presented by the IRS and FTC during National Tax Security Awareness Week that covers common identity theft and tax-related scams, methods for identifying and reporting fraud, the IRS Identity Protection PIN program, and resources for protecting against identity thieves. The 75-minute presentation includes technical guidance for participants and a live Q&A session to address audience questions about fraud prevention and recovery.
▶ VIDEO
PBS NewsHour
· 2025-01-04
Pig-butchering investment scams have cost victims worldwide an estimated $75 billion over the past four years, with Americans alone losing $4.6 billion in 2023, through fake romantic relationships that manipulate targets into investing in cryptocurrency on fraudulent platforms. The scams typically begin with a wrong-number text leading to conversation with a fake attractive persona who builds trust over 90 days before pressuring victims to invest increasingly large sums until they lose their life savings. Beyond the financial victims, the scammers themselves are often human trafficking victims forced by Asian organized crime syndicates (primarily Chinese, but including Yakuza and Korean groups) operating from compound cities built specifically to run these
▶ VIDEO
wgaltv
· 2024-12-30
Sweepstakes and lottery scams rank as the #5 most common fraud scheme of 2024, claiming hundreds of thousands of victims annually through letters, phone calls, and emails that falsely claim they've won a prize. Scammers use tactics including fake checks (which bounce after victims deposit them), requests for gift card payments for taxes and fees, or demands for cryptocurrency, but victims can avoid this scam by remembering they cannot win a lottery they never entered.