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forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Real estate scams are surging, with the FBI's IC3 receiving 9,521 complaints in 2023 resulting in $145.2 million in losses, primarily through business email compromise (BEC) schemes targeting homebuyers and sellers. Notable cases include a Connecticut homebuyer who nearly lost $426,000 after receiving a spoofed email posing as their attorney, and a Texas realtor who identified a fraudulent property listing scheme. Common tactics include fake closing/wire fraud emails, rental listing scams, and home warranty schemes, with scammers exploiting the busy March-June real estate season by impersonating attorneys, lenders, and property owners to steal money
news.wjct.org
· 2025-12-08
A 37-year-old Chinese man named Xu Bochun was trafficked to a compound in Myanmar operated by a Chinese conglomerate, where he was forced to conduct "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams targeting Chinese and European victims via fake social media accounts. Xu and approximately 90 other captives were coerced to solicit victims to send increasing amounts of cryptocurrency (USDT/Tether) under false promises of investment returns, with threats of sale to violent cartels for failure to meet quotas. This scam operation emerged from Chinese-run illegal casinos and gambling zones in Southeast Asia that, facing labor shortages during COVID-19, shifted to
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans over 60 lost more than $3.4 billion to fraud schemes, with 101,068 complaints filed—an 11% increase from 2022—according to an FBI report compiled by the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Tech support scams were the most common fraud type targeting this age group, followed by personal data breaches, romance scams, and investment fraud, with investment crimes alone costing victims over $1.2 billion. Cryptocurrency was involved in $1.1 billion of losses, while the FBI noted these figures likely underestimate actual fraud against seniors since only about half of all complaints included age data.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Sixteen people were charged in connection with a "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of older Americans across the Northeast out of millions of dollars between January 2019 and December 2023. Scammers operating call centers in the Dominican Republic used spoofed phone numbers to call elderly victims, impersonating distressed grandchildren or relatives needing bail money, then posed as attorneys and officials to extract payments via couriers or mail. The charges carry penalties up to 20 years in prison, with elder fraud complaints rising 14% nationally and victims losing an average of $33,915 each in 2023.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. seniors over 60 experienced record elder fraud losses of $3.4 billion across over 101,000 reported complaints in 2023, with a 14% increase from 2022, according to an FBI report. Investment scams, tech support scams, romance scams, and "grandparent scams" were identified as the most costly schemes, with individual victims losing over $100,000 in some cases. The FBI urged financial institutions to implement stronger safeguards and emphasized that early reporting and public education are critical to preventing victims from completing fraudulent transfers.
murrayledger.com
· 2025-12-08
At least two people in Calloway County, Kentucky fell victim to an impersonation scam over the weekend in which fraudsters posed as sheriff's deputies and claimed victims had missed jury duty and had active arrest warrants, demanding immediate payment via electronic transfer, wire services, or Bitcoin to avoid arrest. One victim lost approximately $900. Sheriff Nicky Knight emphasized that legitimate law enforcement will never solicit money over the phone or in person for warrants or charges, and warned that scammers are becoming more sophisticated by spoofing official phone numbers and using publicly available information to appear credible.
timberjay.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported a 14% increase in elder fraud complaints in 2023, with financial losses exceeding $3.4 billion and an average victim loss of $33,915. Over 101,000 seniors aged 60+ reported fraud to IC3, with investment scams, tech support scams, and romance scams being among the most common schemes, while cryptocurrency scams affected over 12,000 seniors. The report notes that actual fraud rates are likely higher due to underreporting, and scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create convincing deepfakes and chatbots to target elderly victims.
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Hackers attempt billions of cyberattacks daily using various methods including phishing, spear phishing, job scams, and romance scams, with criminal marketplaces operating as organized businesses that sell malware-as-a-service subscriptions. A cyber threat researcher demonstrated how easily attackers can create phishing emails and gain remote access to computers using publicly available tools, often targeting people downloading pirated software. Protection measures include scrutinizing links and URLs before clicking, enabling two-factor authentication, changing passwords if compromised, and freezing credit for free.
abc13.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are operating a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment scheme that has seen exponential growth in Houston, using fake websites and apps that appear legitimate to trick victims into investing in non-existent cryptocurrencies. The perpetrators contact victims via email, phone, social media, or personal connections, starting with small requests (e.g., $5,000) and progressively requesting larger amounts while showing fake investment returns, ultimately draining victims' entire savings before disappearing. In 2023, this scam cost victims billions of dollars nationally and $300 million in Texas.
ualrpublicradio.org
· 2025-12-08
A 37-year-old Chinese man was trafficked to a compound in Myanmar under the guise of a theater job, where he was forced to conduct "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams targeting Chinese and European victims by posing as romantic interests and soliciting increasingly large amounts of crypto currency in exchange for promised investment returns. The forced scam operations emerged from Chinese-run illegal economic zones that originated as money laundering and gambling operations in Southeast Asia, and according to a University of Texas study, such scams have stolen approximately $75 billion worldwide. The scammer himself became a victim of human trafficking after COVID-19 disrupted traditional gambling operations and led criminal syndicates to resort to
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elder fraud complaints increased 14% with losses rising 11%, as individuals age 60+ reported 101,068 scams totaling $3.4 billion, averaging $33,915 per victim, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Tech support scams were the most frequently reported fraud type (17,696 victims), while investment scams proved costliest at $1.2 billion in losses, followed by tech support scams ($590 million) and business email compromise scams ($382 million). The actual numbers are believed to be significantly higher due to underreporting and incomplete victim age data in crime reports.
consumerfinancemonitor.com
· 2025-12-08
FinCEN's 2023 Financial Trend Analysis examined 155,415 Bank Secrecy Act filings reporting approximately $27 billion in elder financial exploitation (EFE) between June 2022 and June 2023, with scams accounting for 80% of reports and theft for 20%, where family members—particularly children—perpetrated 40% of theft cases. The analysis found that perpetrators primarily use unsophisticated methods avoiding direct contact with financial institutions, such as account takeover (22% of scams), tech support scams (10%), and romance scams (9%), with funds typically transferred via checks, wires, and online transfers, averaging
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FBI reported that Americans over 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud—an 11% increase from 2022—with tech support scams and investment schemes causing the most damage at $600 million and $1.2 billion respectively. Call center schemes were particularly devastating for seniors, accounting for nearly $770 million in losses and reportedly leading some victims to remortgage homes, drain retirement accounts, and in extreme cases, take their own lives. California reported the highest losses nationally at $620 million across over 11,000 complaints from elderly victims, and the FBI recommends seniors verify unsolicited contacts, resist pressure to act quickly, and report suspecte
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational overview of online fraud tactics, particularly on social media platforms. In 2024, 70% of authorized push payment (APP) fraud originated online, with criminals impersonating legitimate businesses, charities, or loved ones to manipulate victims into sending money through fake profiles and targeted ads. The UK introduced new consumer protections in October 2024, including up to £85,000 reimbursement coverage and a five-day claims process, as social media's anonymity, ease of account creation, and access to personal information make it an ideal environment for fraudsters to operate at scale.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline director Amy Nofziger discusses six fast-growing scams identified through thousands of annual helpline calls, including celebrity impersonation, check fraud, sweepstakes and grandparent scams, voice printing fraud, and Olympics-related schemes. The Fraud Watch Network offers free resources to consumers of any age, including a helpline staffed by 150 trained fraud specialists who provide support and guidance to scam victims and those seeking fraud prevention advice.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
The Yahoo Boys, a loosely organized collective of thousands of scammers primarily based in West Africa, operate openly on social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, TikTok, and YouTube, conducting romance scams, sextortion schemes, business email compromise, and AI-generated deepfake fraud that collectively total hundreds of millions of dollars annually. These cybercriminals openly share their identities, sell fraudulent scripts and fake identification documents, and coordinate their activities across dozens of groups with hundreds of thousands of combined members, with social media companies providing what experts describe as "free office space" for their criminal operations. While major platforms have removed many Yahoo Boys accounts after media scrut
tampabay.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 50 elderly Americans in Broward County fell victim to lottery scams between 2020-2021, losing more than $6.6 million collectively after being told they won prizes and asked to pay upfront fees for shipping and taxes. Florida ranked second nationally for elder fraud in 2023 with residents over 60 losing nearly $300 million, reflecting a broader U.S. trend where elderly victims lost $3.4 billion that year to investment fraud, romance scams, tech-support scams, and government impersonation schemes. The crimes remain significantly underreported due to victim embarrassment and fear of losing independence, with experts estimating only one-
indystar.com
· 2025-12-08
Indiana seniors over 60 reported $26.5 million in financial losses across approximately 1,170 fraud cases in 2023, driven primarily by investment schemes ($12 million), tech support fraud ($8.9 million), and romance scams. Nationally, seniors suffered over $3.4 billion in losses—an 11% increase from 2022—with tech support fraud being the most commonly reported crime type and investment scams proving the costliest. The FBI released this data to educate the public and prevent further victimization, noting that some victims have taken extreme measures such as remortgaging homes and depleting retirement accounts to cover losses.
rutherfordsource.com
· 2025-12-08
The Murfreesboro Police Department reported two sophisticated scams targeting elderly residents in March. A 75-year-old lost $138,000 after receiving fraudulent emails impersonating McAfee Services requesting wire transfers, while a 73-year-old lost $71,000 total ($28,000 wire transfer plus $11,000 in gift cards) after encountering a fake Microsoft/FTC ad on eBay that used false child pornography allegations to manipulate him into downloading remote access software and transferring funds. Police advise residents to remain skeptical of unsolicited communications and to hang up on suspicious calls.
businesstoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A Bengaluru entrepreneur named Aditi nearly fell victim to a sophisticated SMS-based financial scam in which a caller impersonated a family member, claimed to have accidentally transferred Rs 30,000 instead of Rs 3,000, and requested immediate repayment while creating artificial urgency. Aditi detected the fraud by noticing the fake bank alerts came from a regular 10-digit number rather than an official bank sender ID and that her father would have contacted her directly. She emphasized the importance of verifying financial alerts through official bank apps or websites on separate devices rather than relying solely on SMS communications, as scammers have become skilled at mimicking legitimate banking notifications.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A 52-year-old woman entrepreneur lost Rs 2.7 crore between April 6-22 after clicking a suspicious link, joining an Instagram group, and being lured into fake investment schemes promising quick returns. Police traced and froze the scammers' accounts through Telegram and Instagram, with Rs 1.7 crore approved for return to the victim and an additional Rs 30 lakh pending clearance. The article advises protecting oneself by remaining skeptical of too-good-to-be-true offers, verifying investment legitimacy, avoiding suspicious links, and reporting fraud to authorities immediately to maximize recovery chances.
timesnewsgroup.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian losses to scams totaled $2.74 billion in 2023, a 13.1% decrease despite a surge in reported incidents (601,000+), with investment scams causing the most damage at $1.3 billion. Older Australians are disproportionately affected, experiencing a 13.3% increase in losses to $120 million, including cases involving deepfake videos and fake investment schemes on social media. The government's National Anti-Scam Centre, established in 2023 with $86.5 million in funding, has already achieved a 29% reduction in scam losses within six months of operation.
ca.movies.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Okechukwu Nwofor, a 32-year-old from Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to approximately six years in prison for leading a romance and business email compromise scam network that defrauded victims of nearly $1 million between July 2018 and November 2019. The scheme, which involved money mules transferring stolen funds through multiple accounts, devastated victims—causing one woman's inability to care for her disabled son, another's home foreclosure, and one victim's suicide—resulting in a restitution order of nearly $400,000. Four of Nwofor's co-conspirators pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy, with three
9to5mac.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam is circulating via email impersonating Netflix, falsely claiming users' accounts have "expired" and offering a free 90-day membership extension in exchange for credit card information. The scam uses legitimate-looking Netflix branding and polished messaging to deceive recipients, but can be identified by checking the actual email domain, recognizing the suspicious offer, and noting that Netflix accounts do not typically expire. Users are advised to avoid clicking email links and instead visit services directly through their official websites to verify account status.
miamioh.edu
· 2025-12-08
Phishing scams are circulating at Miami University via fraudulent shared files through Google Docs and Microsoft Word with subjects like "Extra-Departmental Reward," where scammers attempt to collect personal information by tricking users into opening the documents. Additionally, malicious QR codes have been posted around campus with titles like "Girlfriend Application" or "Boyfriend Application" designed to compromise user devices. Users are advised to avoid opening suspicious shared documents and scanning untrusted QR codes, verify official branding before engaging with QR codes, and report suspicious emails to the information security office.
boothbayregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Digital package delivery scams use fraudulent text messages impersonating major carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx) to trick recipients into clicking malicious links and providing personal information or payment. Americans reported $330 million in losses from text scams in 2022, more than double the previous year. To protect yourself, verify package issues directly with retailers or shippers rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts.
thegardenisland.com
· 2025-12-08
Hawai'i seniors over 60 lost $27.96 million to fraud schemes in 2023, a dramatic increase from $10 million in 2021, with 453 complaints filed to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, ranking the state 37th nationally. The most common scams targeting older Americans include investment fraud, tech support schemes, romance cons, and extortion, with nationwide losses exceeding $3.4 billion in 2023. Law enforcement officials urge seniors and their families to report suspected fraud to the FBI and educate themselves about these schemes, noting that many cases go unreported.
theberkshireedge.com
· 2025-12-08
The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office is investigating at least two "grandparent scams" targeting senior citizens, in which fraudsters impersonate relatives in crisis situations and request money. Scammers obtain personal information through social media or purchased data, and now use AI voice-cloning technology to make the deception more convincing. Resources on protecting against this fraud type are available from the FCC and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
parkrapidsenterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
Minnesota's senior financial fraud investigator Lisa Lovering states that awareness of scam tactics reduces victimization risk by 80% and significantly loss severity by 40%. According to AARP's 2023 data, seniors lost $28.3 billion to elder exploitation and fraud, with those over 80 experiencing average losses of $1,674 compared to $548 for young adults, though underreporting is widespread. Lovering advises avoiding payments via cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to unknown contacts; being skeptical of unsolicited calls from government agencies or businesses; and recognizing common tactics like imposter scams, romance scams, and lottery schemes that
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 52-year-old woman entrepreneur lost Rs 2.7 crore in an online scam between April 6-22, 2024, after clicking a malicious link and being lured into fraudulent investment schemes through Instagram and Telegram with promises of quick returns. Authorities traced and froze the perpetrators' accounts, with Rs 1.7 crore approved for restitution to the victim. The case underscores the importance of skepticism toward offers promising easy money, verification of investment legitimacy, and immediate reporting to authorities when fraud is suspected.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about fraud or elder abuse—it is a privacy and cookie consent notice from Yahoo. It does not contain information relevant to the Elderus database and cannot be summarized as requested.
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, at least 500 domestic helpers in Singapore lost $800,000 to scams, representing an 18% increase from 2022, with phishing scams being the most common type followed by job and e-commerce scams. One maid, "Jane," was targeted by a fraudulent moneylender who obtained her work permit details and threatened to contact her employer and appear at her home, extracting weekly payments until she reported the crime. Experts note that actual scam numbers may be significantly underreported due to victims' fears of job loss, deportation, and embarrassment, and recommend that employers remain vigilant for signs of distress among
thetimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A digitally savvy consumer was scammed through a dropshipping scheme when she purchased a €70 designer-style bag advertised on Instagram, only to receive a flimsy €10 product sourced from a budget fast-fashion platform. The seller acted as a middleman with approximately 600% markup, and when she complained, the company offered no recourse and return shipping to China would have cost as much as the original purchase. The article explains that while dropshipping itself is a legitimate business model, it has increasingly become a get-rich-quick scheme using manipulative advertising tactics (hyperbolic claims, fake discounts, glamorous imagery) to sell low-quality products at inflated prices
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
A lottery scam recording demonstrates how scammers contact victims via phone, claiming they've been randomly selected to win $18.5 million and a luxury car, then directing them to call a number to claim the prize. The scam works by telling victims they must pay taxes and fees upfront to receive their winnings. Lottery scams arrive through multiple channels including texts, emails, and phone calls, and victims should remember that legitimate winnings never require advance payment.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Rental fraud has surged nationwide since the pandemic, with 93% of major apartment owners and managers reporting fraud in the past year, often involving individuals using false identities for criminal purposes such as drug dealing, property destruction, or sex trafficking. These fraudulent activities drive up rents for honest tenants, reduce affordable housing stock, and create safety concerns for residents and staff; small landlords are particularly vulnerable to losses they cannot absorb. The epidemic is partly attributed to pandemic-era eviction moratoriums that emboldened fraudsters, with fraudulent applications doubling from 15% to 29% between February and August 2020.
thegazette.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2024 Better Business Bureau study found that young adults ages 18-24 reported losing more money to scams than older age groups, contrary to common assumptions about elder fraud. Employment scams were the most prevalent fraud type for this age group (30% of reports), with a median loss of $1,819, often involving fake checks or reshipping schemes, while online purchase scams accounted for 29.1% of reports. Young victims were primarily targeted through text messages, social media platforms like Instagram and X, and online payment systems, with wire transfers generating the highest median losses ($2,150).
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns that tech support fraud is the most commonly reported scam targeting seniors nationwide, where scammers pose as tech representatives to access sensitive information, though investment scams caused the greatest financial harm with over $50 million in reported losses last year. To protect themselves, seniors should avoid unsolicited contacts, never open attachments from unknown sources, resist pressure to act quickly, and never share personal information or money with unverified people.
crosstimbersgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $10 billion to scams and fraud in 2023, with the FTC receiving 2.6 million fraud reports including 1 million identity theft cases. Common scam types include gift card fraud, romance scams, and phishing attacks, with losses occurring primarily through bank transfers and cryptocurrency, often initiated via email, phone, or social media. The article recommends monitoring financial accounts regularly, never allowing remote computer access to unvetted parties, and immediately contacting your bank if suspicious charges appear.
digitalinformationworld.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reports that cyber scams targeting seniors aged 60 and above caused $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year, with common schemes including tech support, investment, romance, and cryptocurrency fraud. Elderly victims averaged $34,000 in losses per person, with Florida and California experiencing particularly high losses ($620 million and $181 million respectively), and seniors are less likely to report these crimes due to embarrassment and underreporting. The FBI recommends seniors verify suspicious offers, avoid unknown contacts, and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
levittownnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Bucks County authorities held an educational event for Bristol Township seniors to address rising scam and fraud targeting the community. Officials warned about common schemes including mailbox theft, check washing, tech support scams, and fraudulent text messages impersonating the IRS or retailers, with victims in the area losing up to $250,000; they recommended using credit cards over debit cards, gel pens for checks, and prompt reporting of suspicious activity to law enforcement.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
In April, Apple notified iPhone users in 92 countries that they were targeted by mercenary spyware attacks, with many victims located in India and Europe; the incident was linked to a Chinese spyware campaign called "LightSpy," though details remain unclear. Mercenary spyware, which can cost millions of dollars to deploy, is typically used by nation-state actors to target specific high-profile individuals such as journalists, dissidents, and government workers through sophisticated "zero-click" attacks that require no user interaction. Apple states that its Lockdown Mode feature can protect against such attacks, and notes that the vast majority of users will never be targeted by this type of advanced threat.
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Peter Gray, 35, was convicted and sentenced to 56 months in prison in February for defrauding four women of approximately £80,000 through romance scams on Tinder. Rather than directly requesting money, Gray gained victims' trust as a romantic partner, then secretly photographed their identification documents and bank cards to steal their identities and take out loans in their names, with individual victims losing between £9,000 and £20,000. His victims reported feeling intuitive red flags about his behavior, including suspicious gestures like sending flowers to addresses he shouldn't have known and taking unauthorized photos of personal documents.
newjersey.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens at a Fair Lawn Senior Center learned about scams targeting older adults, with one attendee sharing how he nearly lost $1,000 to a gift card scam before CVS staff alerted him. Rep. Josh Gottheimer unveiled a Senior Security Strategy that includes requiring social media platforms to add warning labels to fraudulent accounts, establishing an SEC grant program for state scam response efforts, and notes that over 2,000 New Jersey seniors reported scams to the FBI last year. The key advice is to never provide personal information when contacted by phone, email, or social media, and to report suspected scams to local police or the FBI.
963kklz.com
· 2025-12-08
QR code scams are increasing in Nevada, particularly in public parking lots where fraudsters use fake codes to collect payment information, but also in restaurants, bars, and shopping malls. To protect yourself, inspect QR codes for signs of tampering or replacement stickers, manually type web addresses instead of scanning codes, and be especially cautious of unsolicited QR codes in emails, texts, or letters offering prizes or free goods. Las Vegas tourists should be particularly vigilant in parking areas and near attractions.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational piece about common banking scams in 2024, reporting that consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023. It describes seven prevalent scams—including fake bank websites, malicious apps, phishing communications, check washing, check overpayment schemes, money transfer fraud, and account takeover attacks—and provides protective measures for each, such as verifying bank legitimacy through official channels, downloading only reputable apps, and monitoring bank statements regularly.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Package delivery scams use fake text messages impersonating major carriers like USPS, UPS, or FedEx to trick recipients into clicking malicious links and providing personal information or payment for fake fees. Americans reported $330 million in losses from text scams in 2022, more than double the prior year, making this a rapidly growing threat. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links or calling numbers from unsolicited texts and instead verify package issues directly through the retailer or shipper's official website.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A 16-year-old boy in Scotland was targeted by sextortion scammers who posed as a young girl, tricked him into sharing an intimate image, then threatened to distribute it to his contacts—tactics that led to his suicide. His parents are now raising awareness about the scam, which primarily targets young men, and calling for social media companies to implement stronger protections for teenagers against these predatory criminals who use psychological manipulation and panic tactics.
moneycontrol.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The content provided is a website header and cookie/consent policy for Moneycontrol, a financial news and information platform. It contains no information relevant to the Elderus database.
castanet.net
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational opinion piece in which a senior citizen shares personal experiences and advice about avoiding scams. The author describes encountering various fraud attempts over decades, including Nigerian bank schemes, a fraudulent eBay car listing, fake CRA phone calls, and a spoofed Norton Antivirus renewal email, and advises seniors to never respond to unsolicited emails or click links, and to block suspicious contacts.
homelandprepnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans over 60 lost more than $3.4 billion to fraud—an 11 percent increase from 2022—with tech support scams ($600 million), investment fraud ($1.2 billion), and call center schemes ($770 million) being the most costly. California alone reported over 11,000 complaints totaling $620 million in losses, and the FBI noted that some victims were forced to remortgage homes, deplete retirement accounts, or take their own lives due to financial devastation. The FBI recommends seniors verify contact information independently, avoid quick decisions, never share personal information with suspected scammers, and report fraud immediately to law enforcement