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in Grandparent Scam
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud losses nationwide reached $12.5 billion in 2024, with New York State accounting for $534 million in losses across 118,933 reported cases; older adults were disproportionately affected, with those over 50 reporting 28,578 fraud cases totaling $159 million in losses. AARP New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and local officials launched "The Big Shred NY!" — a statewide initiative offering 27 free document shredding locations through May 10, 2025, to help residents safely dispose of personal documents containing sensitive information that could be used for identity theft.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and city officials launched "The Big Shred NY!" initiative, offering 27 free document shredding locations across New York State through May 2025 to help residents safely dispose of personal documents and prevent identity theft. Fraud targeting Americans reached $12.5 billion in 2024—a 25% increase from 2023—with New York State accounting for $534 million in losses, and older adults particularly vulnerable with $159 million lost among those over 50. The program aims to combat the rising sophistication of scams targeting seniors through document destruction as a preventive measure against financial fraud.
harlemworldmagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and other officials launched "The Big Shred NY!" initiative, offering 27 free document shredding locations across New York State through May 2025 to help residents safely dispose of personal documents and prevent identity theft. Fraud targeting Americans reached $12.5 billion in 2024—a 25% increase from 2023—with New York State accounting for $534 million in losses, and adults over 50 reporting $159 million in losses from 28,578 documented fraud cases.
fiftyplusadvocate.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency ATMs have become a prevalent tool for scammers targeting older adults, with the FTC reporting $65 million in fraud losses through Bitcoin ATMs in the first half of 2024 alone—$46 million from victims aged 60 and older. Scammers use these unregulated kiosks in various schemes including romance and grandparent scams to trick victims into depositing cash. AARP Massachusetts is advocating for legislation requiring cryptocurrency ATM operator licensing, daily transaction limits, fraud warning notices, and consumer education to strengthen protections for residents.
en.as.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers increasingly use identity theft and impersonation via messaging apps (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, iMessage) to pose as friends or relatives in distress and request urgent money transfers. The Spanish National Police recommend a simple verification tactic: ask the suspicious contact a personal question only a real acquaintance would know, such as "Where did we meet?" to confirm their identity before responding to money requests. This basic security question can effectively prevent victims from falling for these emotionally manipulative scams that exploit goodwill across messaging platforms worldwide.
miragenews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Thai woman working in the United States lost $300,000 to an Asian criminal network operating a romance/identity theft scam that began with a fraudulent call claiming to be from the Thai embassy in March 2024. The scammers created an elaborate false narrative involving identity theft, a police investigation, and threats of criminal prosecution to manipulate the victim into providing personal information and making payments. The victim reported feeling mentally trapped by fear for her family's safety, which prevented her from recognizing the deception.
news.un.org
· 2025-12-08
A Thai woman working in the United States lost $300,000 to an Asia-based criminal network that impersonated Thai embassy and Central Investigation Bureau officials in a sophisticated scam spanning three months. The scammers convinced her she was a suspect in an international money laundering scheme and demanded she transfer money to prove her innocence, exploiting psychological manipulation and careful timing to prevent her from verifying their claims. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime reports this scam type is increasingly used by transnational organized crime groups expanding operations across Asia and globally.
neherald.com
· 2025-12-08
A Thai woman working in the United States lost $300,000 to an Asia-based criminal network that conducted an elaborate scam involving false claims of identity theft, an international money laundering investigation, and threats of criminal prosecution. The scammers, posing as Thai embassy and Central Investigation Bureau officials, convinced her to wire money over three months as "proof of innocence," exploiting psychological manipulation and careful timing to prevent her from verifying their claims. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, this type of sophisticated transnational organized crime scheme is increasingly common and expanding globally, with victims experiencing severe financial and emotional consequences.
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide explores the intersection of fraud and mental health, examining how the prevalence of scams—which cost Americans over $12 billion in 2024—creates psychological stress and constant vigilance in daily life. The article discusses how exposure to fraud, whether direct or indirect, can lead to anxiety, distrust, and destabilizing uncertainty, particularly as scammers increasingly use deceptive text messages, emails, and phone calls to target victims through romance scams, impersonation schemes, and fake job offers. The piece emphasizes the importance of protecting one's digital identity and provides strategies for managing the mental health impacts of living in an environment where fraudulent threats are pervasive and often difficult to distinguish
mustsharenews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 20-year-old Singaporean TikToker was scammed out of approximately $5,000 (S$4,977) by someone impersonating her boss via phone call, exploiting her role as a personal assistant who regularly handled money transfers. Despite lodging a police report within 20 minutes, she has little chance of recovery as banks cannot force scammers to return funds without their approval. The case highlights the rising trend of impersonation scams in Singapore, where S$7.2 million was lost to such scams in just the first two months of the year.
ktbs.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, over 859,000 Americans reported internet scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, resulting in $16.6 billion in losses—a 33% increase from the previous year. Investment scams caused the largest losses at $6.5 billion, while seniors aged 60+ lost $2.5 billion, with tech support scams being particularly devastating for this group at nearly $1 billion. The report emphasizes that awareness and caution—avoiding suspicious links, refusing remote access requests, and verifying urgent requests—are essential defenses against these schemes.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
Donna Nelson, a 59-year-old Perth grandmother and former Aboriginal health executive, was imprisoned in Japan for six years after being duped by a romance scammer known as "Kelly" who convinced her to smuggle two kilograms of methamphetamine into the country in January 2023. Although a Japanese court acknowledged in late 2023 that Nelson was a victim of a romance scam, it still found her guilty of drug importation; meanwhile, the scammer remains at large with no law enforcement agency in Japan, Australia, or internationally pursuing him. Nelson's five daughters are now fighting for her release and raising funds for her legal appeal while questioning why no authorities are investigating the
boothbayregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office documented 29 fraud cases in 2024 with potential losses totaling $452,356 for local residents, with romance and family emergency scams causing the highest losses ($222,780), followed by technical support scams ($94,300) and cryptocurrency fraud ($55,000). The office is seeing a recent spike in grandparent and bail scams, including cases where scammers sent couriers to victims' homes to collect cash in person, with two separate victims losing $63,000 combined in the first quarter of 2025. Law enforcement advises victims to verify emergency claims by calling the person directly and to be aware that legitimate bail commissioners and law enforcement will never
wiscassetnewspaper.com
· 2025-12-08
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office documented 29 fraud cases in 2024 with potential losses of $452,356 to local residents, with romance and family emergency scams accounting for the highest losses at $222,780, followed by technical support scams at $94,300 and cryptocurrency fraud at $55,000. Detective Jared Mitkus reported a recent spike in grandparent/bail scams (March 2025), including two cases where victims lost $63,000 total to couriers collecting cash at their homes, and emphasized that legitimate bail commissioners and law enforcement never collect bail payments in person. Law enforcement advises victims to verify emergency calls by directly contacting the family member
keyt.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired caregiver in Fresno, California discovered her identity had been stolen for a cryptocurrency investment scam on Facebook, where scammers posed as her offering "Expert Crypto Trader" services with falsified certificates. California has reported over 190,000 cases of alleged financial abuse against seniors from January 2022 to February 2025, with cryptocurrency, phishing, romance, and government impersonation scams being prevalent, particularly in Fresno and Madera counties. Experts recommend seniors avoid sending money to unknown individuals, verify claims through official sources, and report suspected fraud to the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.
futurism.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using AI-powered "realtime deepfakes" to commit fraud against elderly and younger users alike, altering their appearance and voices in live videos to impersonate trusted individuals or create convincing false identities. Common schemes include romance scams, Medicare fraud, and the "grandparent scam," in which criminals impersonate a loved one's voice to coerce money or sensitive information; one Canadian grandmother lost $9,000 CAD to such a scam. While elderly users are traditionally vulnerable, research shows younger generations (Gen Z, millennials, Gen X) are 34 percent more likely to lose money to fraud overall, though the growing sophist
komando.com
· 2025-12-08
A 90-year-old Nashville grandmother lost $6,000 to an elaborate "grandparent scam" in which scammers used a deepfaked voice impersonating her granddaughter Amanda, claiming she needed money immediately after a car accident; a person came to her home to collect the cash. The victim only discovered the fraud when she called back requesting to speak directly with her granddaughter, highlighting how the scam exploited her love and the urgency of the emergency. The article recommends families establish a code word for emergency calls and adjust elderly relatives' phone settings to accept only saved contacts to prevent similar incidents.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired caregiver in Fresno, California discovered her identity had been stolen in a cryptocurrency investment scam when friends congratulated her on launching a crypto business; the fraudulent Facebook post falsely claimed she was a certified "Expert Crypto Trader" and garnered 160+ responses, though the actual number of victims who sent money remains unknown. California's Department of Social Services received over 190,000 reports of financial abuse against seniors between January 2022 and February 2025, with experts noting that older adults are particularly vulnerable to sophisticated scams involving cryptocurrency, phishing, impersonation, and romance fraud, especially as AI technology makes these schemes more convincing.
rmpbs.org
· 2025-12-08
An 86-year-old Colorado resident named Beverly Russman has been repeatedly targeted by multiple scams over several years, including fake urgent payment demands, ATM withdrawal schemes, and the "Grandparent Scam," which nearly cost her thousands of dollars before bank tellers and family intervention stopped her. According to the FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report, Colorado ranks seventh nationwide in senior fraud complaints, with scammers stealing over $54 million from seniors that year, with perpetrators often using personal information gleaned from social media and obituaries to target victims. Experts note that seniors are prime fraud targets due to their financial assets, and victims can report fraud to the FTC but
saltwire.com
· 2025-12-08
Luiggi Giovanni Yataco, 35, was sentenced for his role in the "Grandparent Scam," defrauding seniors in St. John's and Gander of nearly $27,900 in October 2023 by posing as a lawyer and claiming grandchildren needed bail money for car accidents. Yataco pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud and one count of wearing a disguise, claiming he was merely a "money mule" collecting cash envelopes, though he was arrested when police caught him attempting to pick up money from one of the victims. The scam is part of a broader pattern affecting Canadian seniors, with over $23
mylloydminsternow.com
· 2025-12-08
Lloydminster residents attended a fraud prevention awareness event featuring experts who highlighted two major scam types: grandparent scams and romance scams. Key recommendations included establishing a family safe word to verify callers' identities (which has saved three Alberta families), performing reverse image searches on potential contacts, and avoiding sending money to unknown individuals, particularly those with red flags like new social media accounts or out-of-country connections. The presenters emphasized that romance scam victims—who may lose hundreds of thousands of dollars—should not be shamed for falling victim to emotionally manipulative predators, and encouraged all victims to report fraud to police and family despite embarrassment.
dispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors are frequently targeted by scammers through multiple channels including impersonation, tech support fraud, romance scams, and AI deepfakes, often resulting in significant financial losses including entire life savings. Columbus police and banking experts identify seniors as especially vulnerable due to lower tech literacy and greater trust in communications, and recommend protective measures such as verifying unexpected contacts independently, avoiding unsolicited links, and using video calls to confirm romantic connections. Families should discuss specific scam examples with seniors to help them recognize and prevent fraud.
hometownnewsbrevard.com
· 2025-12-08
Helping Seniors of Brevard partnered with AARP Florida to present a free educational event called "Scam Jam" on May 16 in Melbourne designed to help seniors recognize and protect themselves from common fraud schemes. The event features workshops on prevalent scams including Nigerian lottery schemes, romance scams, government impersonation, tech support fraud, grandparent scams, and identity theft, with experts emphasizing warning signs such as pressure tactics, requests for gift cards or wire transfers, and poor grammar. The organization stresses that seniors should slow down, verify requests with others, and report suspicious activity to local law enforcement to help prevent victimization.
wyff4.com
· 2025-12-08
AI voice-mimicking scams emerged as a major threat in 2025, with scammers using artificial intelligence to impersonate family members in distress to solicit emergency payments. A victim named Dee Dee nearly lost $9,500 after receiving a convincing call from what sounded like her grandson claiming he needed bail money for a car accident, but was stopped just in time by her daughter's intervention. The article recommends families establish secret code words to verify caller identity when unexpected financial requests are made.
wpsdlocal6.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, over 859,000 Americans filed complaints with the FBI about internet scams, resulting in $16.6 billion in losses—a 33% increase from the previous year. Investment scams caused the largest losses at $6.5 billion, while seniors aged 60+ were disproportionately targeted, losing $2.5 billion to various schemes including tech support scams ($1 billion among seniors alone), business email compromise ($2.7 billion), call center scams ($1.9 billion), and grandparent scams. The FBI advises vigilance against suspicious links, unsolicited remote access requests, and urgent money transfer requests, recomm
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Chase Bank held an educational seminar in Chicago to help senior citizens protect themselves against fraud, which cost U.S. consumers over $12 billion in the previous year with a 25% increase from 2023. The seminar covered five common scams targeting seniors: impersonation, romance scams, family emergency schemes, computer virus scams, and prize/inheritance claims, with Chase advising consumers to verify suspicious communications before sharing information and recognize pressure tactics used by scammers. Attendees learned the "four Ps" framework for identifying scams—imposters pretending to be trusted sources, fake problems, pressure to act quickly, and requests for payment—and were encouraged to report any fraud to authorities.
ktnv.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors in Henderson, Nevada are being targeted by scammers using calls, emails, and AI-generated voices to steal money, with one woman's mother losing a quarter of her net worth over nearly two years before intervention stopped the fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission, people lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, with seniors particularly vulnerable to employment offers, loan scams, tech support fraud, and AI impersonation calls. Former FBI agent Thomas Quilty recommends seniors establish secret code words with family, limit WiFi connections, use strong passwords, and report fraud without shame to help combat the growing problem.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece highlights the growing problem of senior-targeted scams, particularly romance and grandparent scams, which police departments report receiving complaints about daily. A notable case involved a romance scam where a victim lost over $100,000, though authorities face challenges helping victims who deny being scammed or refuse assistance. Law enforcement agencies are conducting community awareness events to educate seniors on warning signs and prevention tactics for internet-based fraud schemes.
nwitimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency investment fraud accounted for nearly $4 billion in losses in 2023 (71% of all crypto-related losses), a 53% increase from 2022, with victims often lured through "pig butchering" scams that build trust via dating apps and social media before directing them to fake investment platforms. Criminals exploit cryptocurrency's decentralized nature, irreversible transactions, and AI-enhanced deception tactics—including voice cloning and fake videos—to operate sophisticated call center operations that mimic legitimate businesses. While people aged 30-49 filed the most complaints, victims over 60 suffered the highest losses at over $1.24 billion.
jamestownsun.com
· 2025-12-08
Following a joint investigation, Western Union agreed to pay $586 million and admitted to aiding wire fraud, with the U.S. Department of Justice using these funds to refund victims of various scams (employment, romance, grandparent, advance fee loan, and timeshare schemes) who transferred money through Western Union between January 1, 2004, and January 19, 2017. Fraud victims have until May 31 to file claims for refunds, though the verification and payment process may take up to a year, and refunds will depend on the amount lost and the total number of valid claims submitted.
jocoreport.com
· 2025-12-08
An 81-year-old man in Benson lost $17,000 to a grandparent scam in which scammers impersonated his grandson and then a lawyer, claiming the grandson needed bail and legal fees for a traffic accident. The victim withdrew cash twice and left envelopes outside his home for pickup before realizing his grandson had not been in an accident; the Johnston County Sheriff's Office is investigating the case.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Pittsburgh-area law enforcement leaders warned the public about increasingly sophisticated scams facilitated by technology, including common schemes like "grandparent" scams, fake tech support, and gift card fraud. The officials advised people to pause before acting on suspicious communications, verify information with trusted sources, avoid clicking links, and report all scams regardless of amount, noting that most stolen money is quickly moved out of the country and difficult to recover.
nkytribune.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. consumers lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from the prior year, with investment scams accounting for $5.7 billion in losses. Adults aged 60+ are particularly vulnerable, having lost $3.4 billion in 2023 alone to scams including tech support, grandparent, and government impersonation schemes. The article recommends consumers verify caller identity by hanging up and calling their bank directly, never share account credentials or one-time access codes, and ignore unsolicited payment requests, as legitimate banks will never ask for such information.
valpo.life
· 2025-12-08
Americans lose $10 billion annually to scams, with older adults being particularly vulnerable due to lower confidence in recognizing fraudulent schemes and varying levels of tech-savviness. Common scams targeting seniors include tech support fraud, sweetheart scams (which cost people over 60 nearly $367 million in 2023), imposter scams, advance fee scams, investment scams, gift card scams, emergency wire transfers, and phishing attempts. To protect yourself, understand how scams operate—scammers pose as trusted entities and create urgent situations to pressure you into sharing money or personal information—and avoid clicking unknown links, verify requests by calling institutions directly, and be skeptical of
deseret.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics—including spoofed caller IDs, voice cloning, and impersonation of government agencies and loved ones—to defraud people through unsolicited calls, texts, and emails requesting money or personal information. Older adults are particularly targeted because they tend to be more trusting and willing to "make things right," and fraudsters deliberately create urgency to pressure quick decisions without verification. The FBI reports billions of dollars are stolen annually through fraud, and experts recommend resisting immediate action, consulting trusted contacts, and avoiding clicks on suspicious links rather than falling prey to these schemes.
beverlyreview.net
· 2025-12-08
Katie Walsh of the Cook County Sheriff's Office warned senior citizens about the "grandparent scam," in which callers impersonate distressed relatives claiming to need emergency money and demand secrecy to prevent rational intervention. Walsh identified multiple scam types targeting people of all ages—including IRS impersonation, romance scams, and fake charities—noting that seniors are vulnerable not due to lack of intelligence but because emotional manipulation disrupts rational thinking. She advised victims to hang up before sharing information, consult trusted contacts, report to police and the Federal Trade Commission, and contact Illinois Adult Protective Services if needed, while emphasizing that recovery options are limited.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Manitoba woman received an AI-generated phone call mimicking her son's voice asking for money without judgment, prompting her to verify by calling her son directly. This "spear phishing" scam, which uses artificial intelligence to recreate loved ones' voices from online audio clips, is an evolved version of the grandparent scam and has also targeted a Winnipeg legislator whose voice was used to solicit $5,000 from a constituent. Experts recommend verifying callers through trusted phone numbers, testing them with false information, and trusting instincts when something feels off.
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2025-12-08
National Senior Fraud Awareness Day (May 15) highlights a growing problem: seniors lost over $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, an 11 percent increase from 2022, through schemes including tech support, romance, and cryptocurrency fraud. The Federal Trade Commission reports that older adults experienced the highest financial losses among all age groups who reported scam losses in 2024, making fraud prevention education and resources from major financial institutions essential for protecting vulnerable seniors.
buckscounty.gov
· 2025-12-08
National Senior Fraud Awareness Day (May 15th) highlights the growing threat of scams targeting seniors in Bucks County and nationwide, including grandparent scams using AI technology, government impersonation schemes, tech support fraud, romance scams, and phishing attacks. The article emphasizes that seniors are vulnerable targets exploited through various channels, and recommends protective measures such as verifying information independently, resisting pressure tactics, protecting personal data, using strong passwords, and consulting trusted contacts before responding to suspicious requests.
news-shield.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam incidents are increasing dramatically—computer repair shops now report 1-2 victims daily compared to 1-2 per week previously—with AI technology making fraudulent emails, websites, and voice impersonations increasingly convincing and difficult to detect. Common scams include romance schemes (often the costliest), tech support pop-ups that trick users into granting remote access and transferring funds via untraceable payment methods, and "grandparents scams" using voice mimicry. Experts recommend verifying caller identities with family knowledge questions, avoiding rushed financial decisions, refusing unusual payment methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency, and immediately contacting banks or professionals rather than calling numbers on suspicious pop
news-shield.com
· 2025-12-08
**Title:** In this technological age there is no shortage of ways a scammer might try to defraud someone.
AI-powered scams are increasing dramatically, with one computer repair business reporting a spike from 1-2 scam victims per week to 1-2 daily, as scammers now use tools like ChatGPT to create convincing phishing emails, fake websites, and deepfake voice calls. Common scams include romance fraud (which starts with small requests but accumulate over time), fake tech-support pop-ups that trick users into granting remote access and stealing banking information, and grandparent scams where AI mimics a family member's voice
buckscounty.gov
· 2025-12-08
National Senior Fraud Awareness Day (May 15th) highlights the escalating threat of fraud targeting seniors in Bucks County and nationwide, with criminals increasingly using AI-powered tactics like grandparent scams, government impersonation, tech support fraud, and romance scams to exploit seniors' trust and extract money. To protect themselves, seniors should verify unexpected contact through independent channels, resist pressure tactics, safeguard personal information, use strong passwords, and consult trusted contacts before responding to requests for money or sensitive data.
cyberscoop.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned of an ongoing campaign since April targeting current and former U.S. government officials with phishing texts and AI-generated deepfake audio impersonating senior officials to gain access to personal accounts. The advisory highlights the growing use of deepfake technology in fraud schemes, exemplified by a 2024 incident where a political consultant faced a $6 million FCC fine and criminal charges for creating a deepfake of President Biden to suppress votes. The FBI recommends not assuming messages from senior officials are authentic and advises standard security measures including multifactor authentication and identity verification through official phone numbers.
thepress.net
· 2025-12-08
The county issued a public awareness warning about ten common phone and internet scams targeting residents, including grandparent scams, government imposter schemes, technology support fraud, romance scams, charity fraud, lottery scams, investment schemes, home repair fraud, phishing emails and texts, and utility payment scams. The advisory educates the public on how to identify and recognize these fraudulent tactics to protect themselves from financial loss and identity theft.
en.cibercuba.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Florida's elderly adults lost over $180 million to increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, with scammers using phone calls, texts, emails, social engineering, artificial intelligence, and identity theft as primary tactics. The most common scams targeting seniors include romance scams, fake investment opportunities (particularly cryptocurrency), and the "grandparent scam" where victims are pressured to send money urgently based on false emergencies. Authorities recommend never answering unknown calls, never providing personal information or money over the phone, and contacting institutions directly through official channels to verify any suspicious requests.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Impersonation scams are increasingly sophisticated, exploiting digital banking and UPI apps through fraudulent calls and emails that mimic legitimate financial institutions and government agencies. Key warning signs include unsolicited requests for passwords or OTPs, pressure to act quickly, demands for secrecy, and slight variations in sender email addresses—legitimate organizations never request sensitive information via phone or email. Experts recommend never sharing private information, enabling multi-factor authentication, verifying requests by calling contacts directly, and remaining skeptical of offers promising unrealistic returns or urgent money transfers.
ciso.economictimes.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns iPhone and Android users that criminals are using AI-generated text messages and voice calls—including cloned voices of family members and government officials—to steal personal information such as banking credentials and private data. Users should watch for red flags like odd pauses in audio, grammar errors, distorted images, and unusual delays, and should verify contacts through separate channels, avoid clicking suspicious links, and use encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp or Signal. The agency recommends enabling multi-factor authentication and reporting suspicious messages to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains why retirees are targeted for financial fraud and describes common scams affecting older adults. Americans over 60 lost more than $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, with victims aged 80+ reporting average losses of $1,450—nearly three times higher than younger victims. The piece identifies key vulnerabilities (accumulated wealth, lower tech familiarity, trusting nature, social isolation) and provides warning signs and protection strategies for imposter scams (posing as IRS, Medicare, Social Security) and tech support scams, emphasizing awareness as the primary defense against financial fraud.
newscentermaine.com
· 2025-12-08
AI-powered voice cloning technology is enabling scammers to create convincing replicas of trusted individuals to perpetrate fraud, with common schemes including family emergency scams targeting relatives and "vishing" attacks on businesses (one case involving a quarter-million dollar theft). Since AI voices are now difficult to distinguish from real ones by ear alone, experts recommend focusing on suspicious situations rather than voice authenticity, verifying callers through independent contact methods, and establishing family verification codes to confirm identity during unexpected calls requesting money.
wgel.com
· 2025-12-08
A St. Louis man, Alen Saric, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for his role in a vehicle sale scam that defrauded victims across four Illinois counties from 2018 to 2023 using fake cashier's checks to purchase vehicles on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, with the scheme totaling $1.7 million and involving the theft and resale of vehicles before victims discovered the fraud. The case highlights growing concerns about elder fraud, with financial institutions urging seniors to verify cashier's checks directly with banks, avoid acting under pressure, and consult trusted individuals before completing transactions with strangers online.