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turnto10.com
· 2025-12-08
A survey by MedicareFAQ.com found that nearly 40% of seniors have fallen victim to scams, with victims losing an average of $3,500, though most never report the crimes due to not knowing where to report, embarrassment, or believing losses were too small. Common scam methods include phishing emails, fake tech support, phony shopping offers, phone calls, and text messages, and experts recommend seniors ignore unsolicited communications, monitor financial accounts closely, and set up transaction alerts to protect themselves.
katc.com
· 2025-12-08
A Lafayette, Louisiana resident lost $50 to a rental scam after finding a fake apartment listing on Facebook and sending an application fee to a fraudster posing as a landlord. According to FBI data, 11,500 people nationwide reported rental and real estate scams in 2021, resulting in $350 million in collective losses. Experts recommend meeting landlords in person, viewing properties before payment, researching landlords' legitimacy, and avoiding wire transfers to strangers.
kare11.com
· 2025-12-08
A Maple Grove senior lost $20,000 in a phone scam after accidentally dialing an incorrect number and reaching scammers posing as Xfinity customer service. The scammer convinced the victim that his accounts had been hacked and pressured him to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM; a gas station clerk intervened during the final transaction, preventing the loss of an additional $5,000. Brooklyn Park police report that residents lost over $1 million to cryptocurrency scams in 2024, with recovery being nearly impossible once funds are transferred between digital wallets, particularly when scammers operate overseas.
nowhabersham.com
· 2025-12-08
Peach State Federal Credit Union launched community outreach initiatives to educate seniors about fraud prevention, holding free seminars at senior centers in Summerville and Toccoa with plans to expand across their service area. The credit union, which serves over 70,000 members in Georgia and South Carolina, provides fraud prevention resources through seminars, social media, and their website to help seniors and families identify and avoid financial exploitation. Membership is not required to attend the free educational sessions.
denver7.com
· 2025-12-08
A Commerce City woman fell victim to a loan scam when fraudsters impersonated her bank (Navy Federal Credit Union), obtained a loan in her name, and then called her claiming suspicious activity on her account—instructing her to transfer $12,000 back through Zelle transfers, which she did before verifying the call. Despite her attempts to dispute the loan, Navy Federal is holding her responsible for the $400-monthly payments on the fraudulently obtained loan, leaving her facing potential bankruptcy.
says.com
· 2025-12-08
Deepfake videos featuring former Malaysian badminton champion Datuk Lee Chong Wei are circulating on social media promoting fake investment schemes. Lee warned the public to verify claims through his official social media accounts and advised remaining vigilant against "too good to be true" offers, noting that fellow shuttler Lai Pei Jing lost most of her life savings to a similar bogus investment scheme. Lee is collaborating with Malaysian authorities to combat scams, which resulted in RM1.218 billion in losses from 34,497 reported cases in 2023.
finextra.com
· 2025-12-08
Santander's fraud protection measures implemented in December 2023 to prevent bank transfers for unseen Facebook Marketplace purchases stopped 1,899 transactions, but 263 customers who bypassed the warnings by falsely claiming they had seen items in person subsequently fell victim to scams, losing a total of £284,000 (averaging £647 per person). The findings reveal that fraudsters are pressuring victims to circumvent safety measures, with nearly 60% of scam victims having initially been flagged by the bank's protective system. This represents a response to a 50% year-over-year increase in Facebook Marketplace scam losses reported to Santander, which totaled nearly £
capitalgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Maryland policymakers held a public awareness event warning older residents about financial fraud, which affected 1,985 adults age 60+ in the state last year. A 79-year-old Montgomery County woman lost over $500,000 to an FBI imposter scam involving fake fentanyl trafficking investigations, experiencing severe physical and psychological health consequences. State officials announced expanded protections for seniors and encouraged fraud victims to report incidents to law enforcement at 833-372-8311, emphasizing that reports help build cases against scammers targeting vulnerable populations nationwide.
thethaiger.com
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-one victims reported losing over 12 million baht to an online toy scam involving a Facebook seller who took payment for Labubu and Art Toys collectibles but never delivered the goods. The scammer, who operated a physical store at Mega Sapanlek that was subsequently put up for sale, exploited victims' trust built through prior successful transactions, with some victims like one reseller losing 1.5 million baht and being forced to use children's tuition fees for the fraudulent purchases. Thai police have taken statements and forwarded the case to higher authorities for investigation and arrest.
crapo.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, seniors lost $3.4 billion to scams, an 11 percent increase from 2022, prompting Senator Mike Crapo to co-sponsor a unanimously passed Senate Resolution to combat elder fraud. Common scams targeting older Americans include romance schemes, fraudulent tech support, cryptocurrency conversion fraud, and investment scams, with warning signs including unexpected contact with pressure to act quickly, requests for personal information, and demands for untraceable payments. The Idaho Attorney General's office and other agencies provide educational resources and encourage seniors to report fraud without shame, noting that scammers are sophisticated and victims should contact law enforcement, their financial institutions, and relevant agencies rather than remaining silent due to
publicnewsservice.org
· 2025-12-08
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and AARP Maryland's PROTECT Week highlight the rising threat of elder financial abuse, with FBI data showing Americans age 60+ lost over $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, an 11% increase from the prior year. Common fraud schemes targeting seniors include tech support scams, phishing via email and text, and the "grandparents scam"—increasingly sophisticated with AI-generated voice mimicry and caller ID spoofing—with Maryland seniors alone reporting nearly $72 million in losses from nearly 2,000 complaints in 2023. Advocates stress that fraudsters often pose as trusted individuals like caretakers or neighbors
uppermichiganssource.com
· 2025-12-08
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), hosted by United Way of the Eastern Upper Peninsula, received $920 in funding to host educational sessions called "Financial Empowerment for Everyone" aimed at seniors in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The presentations will teach participants how to recognize and avoid scams, spot signs of financial abuse, report fraud, protect financial documents, and practice technology safety.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) by partnering with law enforcement agencies, AARP, Meals on Wheels, and the FBI to combat elder fraud through community education. The office hosted three public outreach events in Raleigh, Wake Forest, and Supply to help seniors recognize signs of financial scams and connect them with resources and support services. U.S. Attorney Michael Easley emphasized that seniors are frequently targeted by fraudsters and prioritized prosecuting cases involving elderly victims as part of broader efforts to protect vulnerable populations.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
On June 15, 2024, U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and highlighted that financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse, costing older adults an estimated $23 billion annually. The U.S. Attorney's Office has expanded efforts to combat elder fraud through initiatives including the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, which targets foreign-based schemes, the Money Mule Initiative to disrupt fraud networks, and Senior Scam Alerts educating the public about common schemes such as Social Security impostor scams, tech support fraud, and lottery scams.
mcall.com
· 2025-12-08
The Lehigh County District Attorney's Office is hosting a free "Safeguarding Seniors" symposium on June 25 to educate older residents and caregivers about recognizing fraud, abuse, and neglect. The event will feature personal stories from families affected by elder abuse, training on identifying scam red flags from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Elder Abuse Unit, and interactive "Fraud Scam Bingo" sessions to help attendees detect financial fraud.
mageenews.com
· 2025-12-08
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15, 2024) was recognized by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi to promote awareness of elder fraud and abuse. The Justice Department highlighted common scams targeting seniors—including Social Security impostor schemes, tech support fraud, and lottery scams—and emphasized that information and vigilance, along with partnerships between law enforcement and the public, are key to prevention. Resources like the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force and Senior Scam Alerts are available to help older individuals and families identify and avoid fraudulent activity.
953mnc.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns that text-based phishing scams are increasing in 2024, with scammers employing new technology tactics. Red flags include unsolicited messages claiming account problems, requesting financial information, containing suspicious links, or filled with typos. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in unexpected texts or emails, don't open messages from anonymous senders, and ignore urgent action demands.
actionnews5.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reported an 11% increase in elder fraud losses in 2023 compared to 2022, with people over 60 losing $3.4 billion nationwide and $43 million in Tennessee alone. Common scams targeting seniors include cryptocurrency investments, tech support fraud, business scams, and romance scams, with scammers exploiting older adults' disposable income and lower proficiency with online services. The FBI advises victims to stop sending money, cut off contact with scammers, and file complaints with the Internet Crime Complaint Center immediately.
wmdt.com
· 2025-12-08
During Maryland's PROTECT Week, state officials highlighted efforts to combat elder financial abuse, which affects one in five adults over 65 and costs seniors $2.9 billion annually, despite younger Americans being more frequent targets. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and Comptroller Brooke Lierman announced that their offices are working through Project SAFE and other initiatives to educate seniors and pursue asset recovery, emphasizing that scammers—including trusted family members and neighbors—specifically target seniors' life savings. The officials provided protective tips including letting unknown calls go to voicemail, guarding personal information, and regularly monitoring financial statements, while encouraging victims to seek help without shame.
local12.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams targeting people 60 and older have increased 14 percent, with victims collectively losing $3.4 billion, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. The most common scam involves fraudsters calling or emailing victims claiming they've won a prize or contest, then requesting payment for taxes before disappearing with the money. Protection strategies include being skeptical of unknown callers, consulting trusted contacts before responding, verifying suspicious communications, contacting police if necessary, and using data removal services to reduce exposure of personal information.
wifr.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau reported that phishing scam reports nearly doubled in 2023, with scammers impersonating legitimate companies via links and messages to trick victims into sharing personal or financial information. Both individuals and businesses have been targeted, with the FBI indicating businesses have lost billions over the past three years. The BBB advises consumers to be cautious of red flags including unsolicited payment requests with embedded links, suspicious activity claims, and generic messages using well-known company logos.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated romance scam operation based in the Dubai desert targeted tens of thousands of people through fake text messages and WhatsApp messages, with scammers posing as wealthy Eastern European women and models to lure victims into cryptocurrency investment schemes. An insider named Evan, who took a job at the facility out of desperation, discovered the operation involved a three-stage "pig-butchering scam" where workers messaged 40-50 potential victims daily using stolen photos and video call actors. The syndicate was eventually exposed through the collaboration of an Australian victim (Murray Sargant), a private detective, a YouTube scam-baiter, and Evan himself, who worked from within to help
wymt.com
· 2025-12-08
FEMA issued a warning to survivors of April 2 storms in Kentucky about fraudsters using stolen personal information (names, addresses, Social Security numbers) to apply for disaster assistance on their behalf. Officials advise disaster survivors to verify FEMA communication through the official helpline (800-621-3362), avoid anyone demanding payment for disaster grants, and never share banking information with individuals claiming to be FEMA housing inspectors, as legitimate inspectors never request personal financial data.
kiiitv.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2023 Better Business Bureau report shows phishing scam reports nearly doubled compared to 2022, with first quarter 2024 numbers on track to exceed last year's totals. U.S. consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with a couple billion attributed to imposter and phishing scams, including losses exceeding $1 million in Corpus Christi alone (though only 3-5% of victims report scams). Experts advise verifying unsolicited contacts by calling official business numbers independently and avoiding urgent pressure tactics and threats commonly used by scammers to extract personal information.
wsaz.com
· 2025-12-08
Following severe weather in Kentucky on April 2, scammers targeted disaster survivors by fraudulently applying for FEMA assistance using stolen personal information including names, addresses, and Social Security numbers. FEMA warned survivors to verify their own applications and contact authorities if they receive unsolicited FEMA correspondence or inspectors, and advised that legitimate FEMA representatives carry official identification, never charge fees, and do not collect banking information. Survivors should report suspected scams to local law enforcement, the Kentucky Attorney General, or FEMA's fraud hotline.
moneymarketing.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Fraud affects one in 17 people in the UK and comprises 38% of all crime, according to an Anti-Money Laundering Professionals Forum. The article outlines seven increasingly sophisticated fraud types targeting victims: impersonation fraud (posing as banks or authorities), social media fraud (fake websites and phishing), cryptocurrency investment scams (promising false high returns), courier fraud (impersonating officials to extract money), romance fraud (building fake relationships to steal assets), investment fraud (promoting worthless overseas properties or shares), and payment diversion (using nearly-identical email addresses to redirect payments). Pension providers and authorities must work together to combat these scams through reporting and vigilance.
commbank.com.au
· 2025-12-08
One in four Australians have been exposed to tax-related scams, with SMS phishing being the most reported scam type during tax season. Scammers impersonate myGov and the Australian Tax Office to trick recipients into clicking fake links and entering bank card details on fraudulent websites that mimic official pages. Australians are advised to verify suspicious messages by contacting organizations directly using verified phone numbers or official websites rather than following links in unsolicited texts or emails.
videos.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This appears to be a webpage header/navigation for AARP content rather than a complete article. Based on the available text, it references an AARP Hearing Center video featuring FBI Financial Crimes Section Chief James Barnacle discussing how people can use technology to protect themselves from scams, though the specific advice or recommendations are not provided in the excerpt shown.
vancouversun.com
· 2025-12-08
The RCMP and B.C. Securities Commission delivered warning letters to 10 suspected "money mules" on May 29 who were allegedly laundering proceeds from offshore investment scams involving hundreds of thousands of dollars through cash and cryptocurrency transfers. The operation targets individuals who may be unwittingly assisting criminals, willfully ignoring the illegal activity, or knowingly participating in money laundering schemes that originate from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. British Columbians reported $46.4 million in investment scam losses in 2023, though authorities estimate actual losses are significantly higher, with the true figure likely in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
9news.com.au
· 2025-12-08
As Australia's financial year closes, authorities warn residents about tax phishing scams, with new Commonwealth Bank research revealing that while 90 percent of Australians are confident in identifying scams, only 69 percent successfully identified all three test examples, and 28 percent fell for a sophisticated MyGov impersonation scam. Around one in four Australians have been exposed to tax-related scams, with the Australian Tax Office receiving over 22,000 reports last year and phishing losses totaling approximately $4.7 million in 2024, averaging $2,000 per victim. The alert emphasizes that phishing scammers impersonate government organizations through fake links
wiscassetnewspaper.com
· 2025-12-08
This AARP awareness piece highlights elder financial exploitation as a multi-billion dollar crime and promotes a free educational event on June 20 featuring Philip Marshall, whose grandmother Brooke Astor (a wealthy New York philanthropist) was isolated, manipulated, and financially exploited by her son in her later years. The article encourages the public to learn scam prevention through AARP's Fraud Watch Network and upcoming speaker programs.
indeonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Asphalt paving contractors conduct door-to-door scams by claiming they're working nearby and offering discounted driveway repairs, then requesting large upfront payments before disappearing or delivering substandard work. Homeowners have lost over $8,000 in some cases to these unscrupulous contractors, with victims receiving either poor-quality pavement or no work completed at all. Be cautious of unsolicited offers and reluctant contractors who hesitate to provide pricing details or business location information.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
The city of Fresno lost over $600,000 to a phishing scam in 2020 when criminals sent a fraudulent contractor invoice with the legitimate contractor's letterhead but an incorrect account number. A civil grand jury determined that city officials failed to notice conspicuous red flags, including inadequate approval procedures for large payments and unwritten finance department policies, and that the fraud went undetected until 2022. Mayor Jerry Dyer stated that Fresno has since implemented improved training and updated fraud prevention procedures to prevent similar incidents.
drgnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The South Dakota Better Business Bureau has created a Scam Survival Toolkit to help fraud victims recover emotionally and practically after being scammed. The toolkit emphasizes that victims should overcome shame, seek help, and report incidents to the BBB's Scam Tracker or the state Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division to raise awareness and protect others. South Dakotans can report scams via email, phone, or online, and sign up for consumer protection alerts.
eyeonannapolis.net
· 2025-12-08
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown warns of increasingly sophisticated imposter scams that use AI-generated voices to mimic trusted figures such as government officials, banks, law enforcement, and family members in order to steal money or personal information. Common scam types include government imposters threatening legal action, family/friend imposters claiming emergencies, and tech support scams, which typically involve unsolicited contact, urgency tactics, requests for sensitive data, or payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency. Consumers can protect themselves by hanging up on suspicious calls, independently verifying caller identity through official contact numbers, never sharing personal information, and reporting suspected scams to the Attorney General, FTC, AARP Fraud Watch Network,
themonroetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Phishing scam reports to the Better Business Bureau nearly doubled in 2023, reaching over 9,000 reports—a record high—with scammers increasingly using text-based (SMS) phishing tactics alongside traditional email and phone-based methods to trick victims into sharing personal information or downloading malicious software. The BBB documented phishing techniques used across multiple scam types including government impersonation, tech support fraud, and cryptocurrency schemes, with victims losing billions of dollars over the past three years. Common red flags include urgent language, requests to confirm financial information, suspicious login alerts, and messages impersonating authority figures or well-known companies.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
**Romance Scam Warning Signs and Prevention**
Romance scammers employ multiple tactics to defraud victims on dating platforms, with key red flags including premature declarations of love, avoidance of video calls, requests for money or financial information, excuses to delay in-person meetings, and suspiciously tailored profiles. Protection strategies include keeping social media private, using strong passwords, installing anti-virus software, being cautious on public Wi-Fi, and monitoring one's digital footprint for personal information vulnerable to exploitation.
thestar.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams involving sensitive personal and financial information are increasingly sophisticated, with Canadians losing over $554 million to fraud in 2023. Experts advise verifying the identity of callers by independently contacting the organization through official channels rather than using provided phone numbers, and warn against sharing personal information like social insurance numbers or clicking suspicious links, as scammers often use urgency and AI-generated voices to deceive victims.
clareherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Irish police issued a warning about evolving fraud tactics following recent incidents in Clare, including CEO fraud where an employee received a fraudulent email appearing to be from their supervisor requesting voucher purchases, and phone fraud where a victim provided security codes to someone posing as a financial institution representative, resulting in account theft. Police recommend companies implement employee training, clear verification procedures, and mandatory additional confirmation methods such as direct phone calls to senior management to prevent these scams.
aimamedia.org
· 2025-12-08
Unable to provide a reliable summary. This article lacks clear factual reporting with verifiable details about a specific scam. The text is heavily opinionated, contains unclear allegations against political figures and officials without documented evidence, dollar amounts, or identified victims, and appears to be a political critique rather than a documented case of elder fraud or financial scams affecting seniors.
cessnockadvertiser.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian banks and government officials, led by Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones, are strengthening international collaboration against scammers by meeting with counterparts in Singapore and New Zealand to share information and prevention strategies. The National Anti Scam Centre and Australian Banking Association are implementing new technologies to prevent identity fraud and payment delays, with financial losses from scams trending downward in Australia. The effort recognizes scam prevention as a transnational challenge requiring coordinated global responses to protect customers across borders.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Russian judge Natalia Larina, 50, died after falling from her Moscow apartment window; authorities are investigating claims she was a victim of a financial scam in which she lost a substantial sum of money after being deceived by telephone scammers posing as bank security officials warning of fraudulent transfers related to Ukraine's armed forces. Larina, known for sentencing political opponents and "traitors" to Kremlin authorities during her 15-year judicial career, reportedly left a note after discovering she had been deceived, though the circumstances of her death remain under investigation.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 19-year-old California man was indicted for stealing over $20,000 from a 74-year-old Kettering woman through a tech support scam that began with a phishing email. The victim was manipulated into mailing cash and transferring funds through multiple interactions before police arrested the suspect during an attempted in-person money exchange. The case highlights the prevalence of tech support scams targeting seniors, which the FBI identified as the most common elder fraud type in 2023, with victims aged 60+ losing an average of $33,915 each.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A scam-baiter named Jim Browning exposed a cryptocurrency investment scam operation based in Georgia, Eastern Europe, that targets victims worldwide by posing as financial advisors and recovery services. The scammers use fake celebrity endorsements and fraudulent websites to lure victims, then display fake cryptocurrency portfolios to convince them their money is growing, with some victims—including an Australian man Browning monitored in real-time—losing thousands of dollars. Australians reported losing over $2.74 billion to scams in the previous year, with attackers particularly targeting older adults with retirement savings.
wflx.com
· 2025-12-08
Callers impersonating St. Lucie County Sheriff's deputies are using spoofing technology to contact residents and demand payment via Bitcoin or gift cards, claiming they have outstanding warrants to avoid arrest. Law enforcement emphasizes that legitimate officers never demand payment through unconventional methods and advises residents to hang up on such calls and report them to the Sheriff's Office. No specific losses are mentioned, but the scam highlights the importance of verifying caller identity before providing any personal information or payment.
elliptic.co
· 2025-12-08
AI-enhanced scams are emerging as a potential threat in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, though not yet widespread. Criminals are exploiting AI technology through deepfake videos of celebrities and public figures to promote fake crypto investment schemes, and by creating fraudulent "AI-related" tokens designed for pump-and-dump schemes and rug-pulls that defraud investors. Elliptic released a horizon scanning report identifying five typologies of AI-enabled crypto crimes and recommends industry stakeholders implement best practices and develop strategies to prevent these threats from becoming mainstream.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
"Grief harvesting" scams targeting recently bereaved individuals in the UK exploit publicly available social media data and obituaries to conduct identity theft, impersonate funeral homes and charities, and manipulate grieving families emotionally. Fraudsters harvest personal information from deceased individuals' public profiles and social media accounts to send convincing phishing emails, open fraudulent loans or credit cards in the deceased's name, and solicit donations through fake charities. Cybersecurity experts recommend that people plan ahead for data protection after death, verify charity communications, and adjust Facebook privacy settings, as current data protection regulations leave a legal grey area regarding personal data after death.
wptv.com
· 2025-12-08
The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office warned residents about an impersonation scam where callers falsely claim to be deputies and demand payment via Bitcoin or gift cards to avoid arrest for alleged outstanding warrants. The scammers use spoofing technology to make calls appear to originate from local numbers or the Sheriff's Office itself, and residents are advised to hang up and not provide personal information or payment. Reports of such calls can be submitted to the Sheriff's Office to help law enforcement track emerging scam patterns.
troyrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert about "pig butchering" romance scams, where fraudsters build romantic relationships with victims on dating apps and social media before convincing them to invest money in fake cryptocurrency or currency schemes. Victims typically deposit tens of thousands to over a million dollars before discovering they cannot withdraw funds or are asked to pay fake fees, at which point the scammers disappear. The Attorney General recommends verifying people's identities, consulting financial advisors before investing, and reporting suspected scams to law enforcement and the relevant platforms.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes a growing scam involving fraudulent QR codes, where scammers place fake QR codes over legitimate ones—such as on parking meters or in messages—to direct victims to phishing websites designed to steal financial information. The article cites the example of David Birch's sister, who nearly lost money after scanning a malicious QR code at a parking facility but was saved when her bank blocked the fraudulent transactions. The US Federal Trade Commission has issued consumer alerts about QR code scams, which have become increasingly prevalent as the technology spreads and criminals exploit the difficulty in verifying whether codes are legitimate.