Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 26,669 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
14,184 results
in Scam Awareness
observernews.net
The Florida Securities Dealers and Advisors Association will host a free panel discussion on November 8 in Sun City Center addressing fraud targeting veterans and their families, featuring experts from law enforcement, financial regulatory authorities, and consumer protection services. According to the Federal Trade Commission, veterans lost an estimated $292 million to fraud in 2022, with common schemes including identity theft, phishing scams, romance scams, and investment fraud, with benefits recipients being particularly vulnerable targets.
kgun9.com
Arizona experienced a 36% surge in elder fraud cases from 2022 to 2023, prompting the Green Valley Council to host Fight Fraud Day at a local recreation center, where the Pima County Sheriff's Department warned residents about evolving scams including voice cloning, number spoofing, and romantic fraud schemes that increasingly target the retirement community. The presentation demonstrated how artificial intelligence and voice cloning technology are being weaponized to impersonate family members and create fraudulent stories, with Green Valley residents reporting 2-3 scam attempts daily ranging from telephone fraud to compromised bank accounts. The PCSD provided fraud prevention resources and encourages residents to remain skeptical of unsolic
sdvoice.info
The Department of Justice's annual report documented over 300 enforcement actions against more than 700 defendants targeting older adults, recovering nearly $700 million and disrupting major transnational schemes. Notable cases included convictions of two Pittsburgh nursing homes for falsifying Medicare and Medicaid records to hide inadequate care, and investigations into New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes finding constitutional rights violations through poor infection control and medical care. The DOJ also addressed broader elder fraud affecting over 225,000 seniors through romance scams and government impersonation schemes, stopped $27 million in fraudulent transfers, and advanced prevention through nearly 1,000 elder justice events and a National Elder Fraud Hotline that handle
cbsnews.com
Job scams are increasing as scammers impersonate recruiters and companies on online employment platforms to steal money and personal information from job seekers. A 28-year-old quality assurance analyst lost $1,000 after depositing a fraudulent check and unknowingly sharing personal information with scammers who posed as a marketing technology company. To protect themselves, job seekers should research companies and recruiters before engaging, avoid clicking links or responding to unsolicited messages, never deposit suspicious checks, and remember that legitimate employers typically only request basic information (skills, experience, contact details) before making a job offer.
cincinnati.com
Racist spoof text messages were sent to Black Americans across multiple states and college campuses, including Clemson University, telling recipients they were selected for enslavement. Spoofing is a scam technique where senders disguise their identity to appear as trusted sources, and while the practice itself is legal, using it to steal money or personal information is criminal; victims can block numbers, contact their carrier, file complaints with the FCC and FTC, or use spam-blocking apps to protect themselves. Although spoof numbers are difficult to trace, affected individuals can check public forums to identify others receiving the same messages.
states.aarp.org
This AARP article identifies six major holiday scams affecting U.S. consumers: card declined scams that result in double charges; fake delivery/order notifications designed to collect shipping fees or harvest personal information; charity fraud using legitimate-looking solicitations; online shopping scams through fake websites and social media ads; travel scams offering unrealistic discounts; and gift card theft through tampering or code theft. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, including verifying websites independently, researching charities through tools like Charity Navigator, using credit cards for donations, and registering gift cards when possible.
dispatch.com
Spoofing is when callers or texters falsify their caller ID to hide their identity, often impersonating government agencies or companies to extract personal information—a scam that recently targeted Black Americans with racist text messages using spoofed numbers. The FCC recommends avoiding spoofing scams by not answering unknown numbers, never responding to requests for personal information, verifying calls by hanging up and calling official numbers independently, and using call-blocking tools. While spoofing is illegal under the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 and can result in fines up to $10,000, there is no surefire way to prevent your number from being spoofed, though
androidpolice.com
A federal court ruled that Google has no obligation to refund victims of Google Play gift card scams, dismissing a class-action lawsuit from a victim who lost $1,000 to a government grant impersonation scam. Google Play gift cards account for 20 percent of reported gift card scams in the United States, totaling over $17 million in losses between 2018 and 2021, yet the judge found that Google shares no liability since scammers—not the company—committed the fraud. The ruling underscores that consumers bear responsibility for protecting themselves, as digital gift card issuers have no legal duty to warn or compensate victims of third-party scams.
cbsnews.com
Check washing, where scammers steal mailed checks and use chemicals to remove ink before altering payee names and amounts, has increased 365% since the pandemic, according to the Allegheny County District Attorney's office. The scam has particularly targeted older adults, with postal inspectors recovering over $1 billion in counterfeit checks and money orders annually. To protect themselves, residents should pay bills electronically when possible, use blue collection boxes for mailing checks, write with non-erasable gel ink, avoid blank spaces on checks, and monitor bank accounts regularly within the 30-day fraud reporting window.
uscourts.gov
Attorneys nationwide received fraudulent emails impersonating the federal judiciary's CM/ECF system, directing recipients to malicious websites containing computer viruses through fake Notices of Electronic Filing. To protect against this scam, users should validate cases directly through legitimate CM/ECF systems, avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from questionable sources, and contact their local federal court before opening suspicious court-related emails.
ketv.com
The Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers are sending phishing emails directing travelers to fake TSA PreCheck websites to steal enrollment and renewal fees. Travelers can avoid this scam by remembering that first-time TSA PreCheck applications require in-person payment at a TSA enrollment center, while renewals are only conducted online at the official site tsa.gov/precheck.
kiro7.com
The Thurston County Sheriff's Office warned of a rise in scam calls where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement and claim victims have arrest warrants, then demand payment to resolve them. The sheriff's office emphasized that legitimate law enforcement never demands money over the phone to clear warrants, and advised residents to treat any such call requesting payment as a scam.
states.aarp.org
During Medicare's open enrollment period (October 15–December 7), scammers impersonate Medicare representatives to steal personal information and Medicare numbers from beneficiaries through unsolicited calls and high-pressure tactics, sometimes fraudulently claiming extra benefits for early enrollment or offering unnecessary services. AARP Pennsylvania advises beneficiaries to review Medicare statements carefully, reject unsolicited offers, and verify that legitimate contact comes only after they initiate calls to Medicare, with scams reportable to law enforcement or AARP's fraud hotline at 1-877-908-3360.
republicanherald.com
This educational piece outlines nine common scam tactics and warning signs, including unsolicited phone calls claiming to be from banks or government agencies, requests for untraceable payment methods (gift cards, prepaid debit cards), poor quality communications with misspellings, upfront payment demands, and pre-checked boxes for recurring donations. The author advises readers to verify caller identity independently, watch for threats or "too good to be true" offers, and report suspected scams to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office.
thecourier.com
This does not appear to be an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The content consists of standard website notification messages and a reference to local news about Hancock County schools. It is not relevant to the Elderus database and cannot be summarized as fraud or scam-related content.
wfhb.org
This article describes a longstanding con technique that thrives in the digital age through emails and social media, where scammers establish false premises (unrelated to money initially) to build trust before requesting financial transfers. Once victims are persuaded of the fabricated facts, fraudsters use them as justification to solicit money, which victims are unlikely to recover once sent.
regtechtimes.com
Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old Nigerian man, was arrested upon arrival at a Texas airport and charged with 14 counts of wire fraud for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.3 million. Using fake dating profiles under the alias "Giovanni," Nwadialo posed as a U.S. military member overseas and convinced victims to send money through various pretexts, including military fines and investment opportunities, with one victim losing over $2.4 million. If convicted, Nwadialo faces up to 20 years in prison per count.
crypto.news
Coinbase's Chief Information Security Officer identifies social engineering scams as the top threat to crypto users, advising people to ignore unsolicited calls from exchanges, verify contacts through official channels (which can prevent up to 80% of such scams), and avoid sending crypto to unknown individuals. Additional threats include deepfake technology used to impersonate leaders and romance scams exploiting emotional vulnerabilities, with Coinbase addressing these risks through AI-driven fraud detection and machine learning monitoring, while advocating for industry-wide information sharing through initiatives like the Crypto Information Sharing and Analysis Center.
northdallasgazette.com
The Department of Justice released its annual elder fraud report detailing over 300 enforcement actions against more than 700 defendants that resulted in nearly $700 million in recoveries, including high-profile convictions of two Pittsburgh nursing homes for falsifying Medicare compliance records and investigations into New Jersey veterans' facilities for constitutional rights violations. The DOJ's broader anti-fraud initiative addressed over 225,000 seniors affected by romance scams and government impersonation schemes, preventing $27 million in fraudulent transfers and handling over 50,000 calls through its National Elder Fraud Hotline. The department emphasized prevention through nearly 1,000 elder justice events, including a national law enforcement summit bringing together
riverreporter.com
The New York StateWide Senior Action Council warned seniors about Medicare scams during the open enrollment period ending December 7, advising people to avoid sharing personal information with unsolicited callers claiming to represent Medicare, as the agency never cold-calls and Part D enrollment is voluntary, not mandatory. Seniors who suspect their Medicare or Social Security numbers have been compromised or were enrolled in plans without permission can contact the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol at 800/333-4374.
whdh.com
Job seekers fell victim to a reshipping scam in which fraudsters posed as legitimate shipping companies (Black Stone Shipping and Juneu Ship) and hired workers for remote "inspection specialist" positions paying $4,000 monthly. Victims received packages purchased with stolen credit cards at their homes and were unknowingly used to help criminals hide their involvement by shipping items to other locations. The Better Business Bureau reported dozens of victims across the state, and both men mentioned contacted police upon discovering the scheme.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A federal judge ruled that Google is not liable for losses from Google Play gift card scams, determining the company did not cause the fraud or knowingly receive stolen funds. Plaintiff Judy May lost $1,000 after being tricked into buying gift cards by a scammer posing as a relative, but the court found Google's retention of standard 15-30% commissions on fraudulent purchases was unrelated to the initial scam. The judge dismissed the lawsuit and class action claim for triple damages, though May was permitted to refile her case.
livemint.com
A 63-year-old man from Hyderabad lost ₹50 lakh after being recruited into a fraudulent stock market scheme via WhatsApp, where a scammer posing as financial advisor "Kunal Singh" promised exceptional returns and directed victims to invest through a fake platform called "Skyrim Capital." The article also documents two separate cases in Bengaluru where victims lost money (including ₹19 lakh) after being deceived by deepfake videos featuring prominent business figures promoting fraudulent trading platforms. Authorities advise elderly citizens to avoid joining unverified investment groups on messaging apps and recognize guaranteed high returns as a major red flag.
indiatoday.in
A 63-year-old man from Hyderabad lost Rs 50 lakh after joining a WhatsApp group called "Stock Discussion Group" where a scammer posing as financial advisor Kunal Singh promised returns as high as 500 percent and directed victims to invest through a fraudulent platform called Skyrim Capital. The victim was initially shown small profits to build confidence, then pressured to make increasingly larger investments across multiple accounts before discovering the scam when withdrawal requests were denied. The article advises elderly individuals to avoid investment groups on messaging platforms unless verified, to be wary of guaranteed high returns, and to consult certified financial advisors before investing.
indiatvnews.com
A 63-year-old man in Hyderabad lost ₹50 lakh after joining a fraudulent "Stock Discussion Group" on WhatsApp where a scammer posed as financial advisor "Kunal Singh," promised unrealistic returns, and funneled him to a fake platform called "Skyrim Capital." Simultaneously, scammers in Bengaluru used deepfake videos of prominent business figures Narayana Murthy and Mukesh Ambani to defraud elderly investors, with victims like Ashok Kumar losing ₹19 lakh. Authorities warn senior citizens to avoid unverified financial groups on social media, verify investment advisors
seattlemedium.com
The Department of Justice released its annual report detailing over 300 enforcement actions against more than 700 defendants targeting older adults, resulting in nearly $700 million in recoveries. Notable cases included convictions of two Pittsburgh nursing homes for falsifying Medicare/Medicaid records to hide inadequate care, and findings that New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes violated residents' constitutional rights through poor infection control and medical care. The DOJ also addressed broader elder fraud schemes affecting over 225,000 seniors through romance scams and government impersonation, halting $27 million in fraudulent transfers and handling over 50,000 calls through its National Elder Fraud Hotline, while promoting prevention through nearly
spotlightpa.org
As Medicare's December 7 enrollment deadline approaches, scammers impersonate Medicare officials and insurance company employees via phone calls and text messages to trick older adults into disclosing Social Security numbers and other sensitive information. Medicare and its private insurance partners (like Blue Cross Blue Shield or Aetna) will not initiate contact by phone, and recipients should hang up on unsolicited callers asking for personal information and instead call back directly through official toll-free numbers. Caregivers should help seniors start their coverage selection early to avoid deadline pressure, verify information through reputable sources like medicare.gov, and remain cautious of phishing emails, texts, and robocalls.
bbc.com
Shoppers are being warned about scam adverts for luxury advent calendars on social media platforms, with fraudsters offering heavily discounted items like Space NK's £250 advent calendar for £28.99 to lure consumers ahead of Black Friday and Christmas shopping. Consumer group Which? advises buyers to verify website URLs, question unrealistically low prices, check for recently created websites and social media accounts, and report suspicious sites to the National Cyber Security Centre to avoid becoming victims of these online scams.
wral.com
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein warned voters to avoid multiple scams around Election Day, including fake poll closure notices, false claims that voting can occur via text or email, and absentee ballot scams requesting fees. Additional threats include polling scams requesting sensitive information and "campaign investment pool" schemes falsely promising returns on donations if a candidate wins. Residents should report suspected election scams to the NC Consumer Protection Division at www.ncdoj.gov/complaint or 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.
fox7austin.com
Election season scams in 2024 have included fraudulent political text messages requesting donations or personal information through phishing links, deepfake videos of candidates created using AI to influence voters, and hacking attempts by foreign actors (Iranian and Chinese hackers) targeting email accounts and devices of presidential campaign staff and candidates. Experts recommend not responding to unsolicited texts, verifying information through fact-checking, and using online deepfake detection tools to protect against these threats.
cnn.com
Hundreds of Oasis fans lost an average of £346 ($449) each—with some losing up to £1,000—to ticket scams following the band's reunion tour announcement in August, according to Lloyds Banking Group. Over 90% of the scams originated from social media advertisements, particularly Facebook, where fraudsters posted fake ticket listings at discounted or inflated prices and collected money via bank transfer for non-existent tickets. Oasis-related ticket fraud accounted for approximately 70% of all reported ticket fraud cases between late August and late September.
arstechnica.com
In 2021, Judy May lost $1,000 to scammers who posed as government grant representatives and convinced her to purchase Google Play gift cards; a federal judge ruled Monday that Google cannot be held liable for refusing her refund, finding that scammers—not Google—induced the purchase. Google Play gift card scams accounted for 20 percent of all reported gift card scams between 2018-2021, resulting in over $17 million in collective losses, yet the court determined Google was not responsible despite the company collecting 15-30 percent commissions on fraudulent purchases and possessing the technical capability to track and prevent such transactions.
uppermichiganssource.com
This article warns about a vacant land scam affecting prospective property buyers in Marquette, Michigan. A local realtor discusses how the scam operates and provides protective measures for consumers interested in purchasing vacant land.
foxnews.com
Jason Rhodes and Robert Munoz were charged with federal wire fraud and identity theft conspiracy for operating grandparent scams in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, collecting approximately $230,000 from elderly victims. The scammers posed as attorneys or family members calling seniors to claim a relative needed bail money, with Rhodes and Munoz acting as couriers to collect cash; they were arrested in March after police set up an operation at a victim's residence and seized $60,000 in cash and evidence from a hotel room. Victims are urged to contact local police or the National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311) if they believe they've been targeted.
aol.com
The Atascadero Police Department warned SLO County residents of an identity theft scam where callers impersonate police officers investigating fraud cases. Scammers use caller ID spoofing to make calls appear to originate from the Police Department and request personal identifying information, with multiple residents already reporting the scam. Residents should avoid sharing personal information with suspicious callers and verify any questionable calls by contacting the Atascadero Police Department at 805-461-5051.
justice.gov
Three individuals were sentenced for their roles in a Ghana-based romance scam targeting elderly Americans between March 2019 and March 2022. Sadia Alhassan (18 months prison), Shawn William Smith (1 day prison), and Mohammed Saaminu Zuberu (5½ months prison) served as money launderers and intermediaries, receiving funds that victims sent via mail and commercial carriers after being deceived into believing they had romantic relationships with scammers in Ghana. The defendants were ordered to pay $581,261.67 in restitution to their victims.
lifehacker.com
Last year saw 2.6 million fraud reports with $10 billion in losses, as scammers employ psychological manipulation tactics to deceive victims. The article identifies three primary techniques scammers use: impersonating authority figures to exploit deference, creating time pressure and artificial scarcity to trigger emotional responses, and using incremental requests (foot-in-the-door) to gradually escalate victim cooperation. Awareness of these tactics—such as recognizing that legitimate authorities welcome verification and that legitimate businesses never demand snap decisions—can help people protect themselves from Romance Scams, Impostor Scams, Delivery Scams, and similar frauds.
theglobeandmail.com
Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence—including deepfakes, convincing emails, and fake trading bots—to perpetrate investment fraud, with a Canadian study showing people invested 22% more in AI-enhanced scams compared to traditional ones. Vulnerable populations include elderly investors, recent immigrants, and younger self-directed investors, with documented cases including a man from Barrie, Ontario who lost $11,000 to a deepfake video of Justin Trudeau in September 2023. The Ontario Securities Commission found that investor education about warning signs reduced AI scam investments by 10%, while technology-based detection tools proved most effective, reducing fraudulent investments by nearly one-
infosecurity-magazine.com
Since the announcement of Oasis reunion shows in late August, hundreds of UK fans have been scammed through fake ticket listings, primarily on social media, losing an average of £346 each with some victims losing up to £1,000. Those aged 35-44 were most frequently targeted, and approximately 90% of the scams originated from fake Facebook ads or posts directing victims to pay upfront for non-existent tickets. New regulations taking effect in October will require banks to reimburse APP fraud victims up to £85,000, while Meta has agreed to share threat intelligence with UK banks to help remove fraudulent accounts.
wired.com
**Scammer Payback Answers Scam Questions** (11/05/2024)
YouTube scambaiter Pierogi from Scammer Payback identifies key red flags of scams, including pressure to make quick decisions, requests for remote computer access, and demands for payment via gift cards, Cash App, wire transfers, or Bitcoin. The video addresses common scam types including tech support pop-ups, romance scams (citing a case where a 90+ year old woman was defrauded of tens of thousands of dollars by someone posing as a celebrity), and explains why scammers prefer gift cards for money laundering and anonymity, while demonstrating
echolive.ie
A retired Irish police officer and his wife fell victim to a sophisticated phishing scam while in Cyprus when they received a convincing text message impersonating their bank; though a scammer obtained personal information during the subsequent phone call, the bank's fraud detection team blocked an attempted €2,500 transaction and prevented financial loss. The incident caused significant inconvenience including card cancellations, replacement delays, and disrupted standing orders, and the author emphasizes that such scams are increasingly convincing and can target even tech-savvy, educated individuals, urging people to follow professional fraud awareness advice from organizations like FraudSMART rather than assuming they cannot be deceived.
expats.cz
Scammers are hacking legitimate accommodation booking platform accounts to send fraudulent payment requests to travelers, particularly targeting short-term and long-term rentals across the Czech Republic. Victims receive messages appearing to come from platforms like Booking.com warning of reservation cancellations and requesting updated payment information via phishing links; one victim, Petra Hovorková, nearly fell for the scheme but was saved when her bank blocked the transaction. Cybersecurity experts advise travelers to verify website URLs carefully, contact banks immediately if personal information is compromised, and report suspicious activity to both their banks and booking platforms.
thehindu.com
A 63-year-old man from Hyderabad lost ₹50 lakh (approximately $60,000 USD) to a stock trading scam that began when he joined a WhatsApp "Stock Discussion Group" promoted by a fraudster claiming to be financial expert Kunal Singh. The scammer lured the victim through fake online classes promising high returns, then directed him to invest through a fraudulent platform called Skyrim Capital, using multiple bank accounts and beneficiary names for each transaction. The victim filed a complaint with Hyderabad cyber crimes police after realizing the fraud.
commbank.com.au
This article identifies the five most common scams affecting Australians: investment scams (where fake ads lead to fraudulent investment offers), remote access scams (where scammers gain device access via phone impersonation), romance scams (involving fake online identities and requests for money), phishing (fraudulent emails/texts impersonating legitimate sources), and payment redirection scams (using fake email addresses to redirect business payments to fraudulent accounts). The article provides descriptions of how each scam operates and warning signs to watch for, serving as an educational guide for consumers to recognize and avoid these fraud schemes.
finrafoundation.org
The FINRA Foundation partners with organizations including the Cybercrime Support Network, Better Business Bureaus, and AARP to educate consumers about financial fraud and support scam survivors through counselor-led peer programs, interactive workshops, and helpline services. The Foundation provides free resources including publications, educational tools, games, and a documentary to help consumers recognize fraud red flags, verify investment professionals, and protect themselves from various scams including romance imposter scams and disaster-related fraud.
ckom.com
Saskatoon Police Service warned the public about "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, which begin with unsolicited contact via text, email, or dating apps and use romance and fake investment promises to defraud victims. Fraudsters gain trust, direct victims to fraudulent investment platforms showing false returns, then demand additional fees before cutting off contact, often leaving victims with losses of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Police advise Canadians to avoid unsolicited investment offers, consult registered financial professionals, and report suspected fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and local authorities.
business-live.co.uk
HSBC UK has alerted nearly two million customers, particularly those over 65, about a gold impersonation scam where criminals pose as police or bank officials to convince victims to purchase gold and hand it over under the pretense of safekeeping or evidence collection, with victims losing hundreds of thousands of pounds. The bank reports a significant surge in scam activity between July and September 2024, including investment fraud (averaging £33,739 losses), bank/police impersonation (averaging £20,772 losses), and romance scams (averaging £31,000 losses), with September 2024 marking the highest rate of scam incidents in the past year.
marketech-apac.com
A TransUnion report on Hong Kong fraud reveals that 51% of Gen Z and 41% of Millennials report being targeted by fraud schemes over three months, with Millennials experiencing the highest victimization rate at 7%. Vishing (fraudulent phone calls) and phishing were the most common attack methods, while digital fraud attempts in Hong Kong reached 5.7% of transactions in H1 2024—10% higher than the global average—with the community sector (dating and forum sites) recording the highest fraud rates at 15%.
ncdoj.gov
This educational piece from the North Carolina Department of Justice warns voters ahead of the November 5, 2024 election about common scams designed to prevent voting or steal personal information, including fraudulent calls claiming polls are closed, fake text/email voting schemes, false absentee ballot offers, and campaign investment pool scams. The article advises eligible voters to verify polling information directly through official sources, never provide personal financial data to unsolicited callers, and report suspected election fraud to the North Carolina State Board of Elections or Consumer Protection Division.
theguardian.com
Denise George fell victim to "card not received" fraud when criminals intercepted her replacement credit card and used her personal details—obtained partly from her public Companies House listing as a charity trustee—to access her bank accounts via telephone banking. The fraudsters stole £500 from her credit card and £1,500 from her ISA before Barclays detected the suspicious activity, which the bank later admitted it should have flagged earlier. This incident reflects a broader trend: UK Finance reported £570m in payment fraud losses in the first half of the year, with "card not received" fraud cases increasing 39% in losses to £1.9m, particularly targeting properties with communal letter