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thetimes.com
Moira Stuart, a 75-year-old BBC News presenter, fell victim to a sophisticated phone scam where fraudsters impersonated her bank and instructed her to transfer money to catch an alleged "inside job" at her branch. A vigilant bank cashier prevented her from losing thousands of pounds by questioning the transaction and alerting the bank's anti-fraud team. Stuart publicly shared her experience to combat the shame surrounding fraud victimization and to raise awareness, noting that nearly three million instances of bank fraud costing £1.2 billion were recorded the previous year, with authorized fraud victims losing an average of nearly £2,000.
yahoo.com
A Bedford County resident received multiple calls claiming he had won a $2.5 million Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes and was asked to pay $4,850 upfront in taxes before receiving the prize. The victim's contact with the actual Publisher's Clearing House company confirmed he was not a winner, as the legitimate company never calls winners and instead delivers prizes in person. This scam is part of a broader fraud epidemic in Pennsylvania, where the FTC reported over 14,800 fraud complaints in the first half of 2024, with sweepstakes and lottery scams accounting for 618 of those reports.
milwaukeeindependent.com
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, a crisis-level problem projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology increase vulnerability and perpetrator access. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and underfunded, with relatively few scammers caught or convicted, stolen funds rarely recovered, and many victims reluctant to report crimes—illustrated by an Ohio case where an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer threatening to extract $12,000 in supposed bond money, while the actual perpetrator remained at large. Key challenges include difficulty investigating overseas fraud, rapid conversion of funds to cryptocurrency, some police dismiss
knoe.com
The Better Business Bureau alerts consumers about payday loan scams, specifically highlighting that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is distributing refund checks to victims of the Hydra Group scam. Consumers who believe they were affected but haven't received a check can call (855) 411-2372 to inquire, and those who suspect they're victims of payday loan scams should contact the BBB at (318) 387-4600.
medicalnewstoday.com
Medicare scam calls are fraudulent attempts to steal seniors' Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, bank account information, and other personal data by impersonating government agencies or Medicare representatives. Scammers use pressure tactics such as threatening benefit cancellation, promising free services, or offering plan upgrades to manipulate victims into disclosing sensitive information. Medicare and Social Security never make unsolicited calls requesting personal information; recipients should hang up immediately and contact Medicare directly at 800-633-4227 to report suspicious calls.
6abc.com
Fake job offer scams are among the fastest-growing frauds in the U.S., with reports jumping 118% in 2023, and scammers use these schemes to steal identities or money by requesting pre-payment for job expenses or using stolen identities to deceive employers. To protect themselves, job applicants should research positions directly through company websites, be cautious of requests for sensitive information like Social Security numbers, and verify job postings independently, while employers should conduct thorough background checks and conduct face-to-face interviews.
ellsworthamerican.com
I cannot summarize this content. This appears to be a list of country names and jurisdictions rather than an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. To provide a summary for the Elderus database, please provide an actual news article or transcript discussing a specific fraud case, scam scheme, or elder abuse incident.
milwaukeeindependent.com
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, with the problem projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology make fraud easier to perpetrate and harder to prosecute. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and under-resourced, with perpetrators rarely caught or convicted, and victims—particularly older adults—often unable to recover stolen funds from romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud. The article illustrates the crisis through cases including an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer, while the perpetrator remained at large, highlighting how inadequate law enforcement
gcsynod.org
This article announces that the FBI has expanded resources and support to faith communities during election years when hate crimes typically increase. The FBI offers educational materials on hate crimes and civil rights violations, and encourages reporting through multiple channels (1-800-CALL-FBI, tips.fbi.gov, ic3.gov, or 911 for emergencies), while also making speakers available to community organizations on topics including elder fraud, internet crimes, and civil rights protection.
elderlawanswers.com
This educational article discusses the growing threat of data breaches and internet scams, citing FBI statistics showing global losses from internet scams increased from $3.5 billion in 2019 to $12.5 billion in 2023, with notable recent breaches at National Public Data and a CMS contractor affecting millions of consumers' personal information. The article provides cybersecurity awareness advice for Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October), recommending that internet users strengthen their passwords, consider using password managers, and monitor their financial accounts to reduce their vulnerability to fraud and identity theft.
duncanbanner.com
Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023, up $1 billion from 2022, with elderly people frequently targeted due to their presumed savings. The article provides financial protection advice from CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals, including verifying suspicious requests with trusted contacts, being cautious with emails and calls, securing sensitive documents, using strong passwords, setting up automatic bill payments, and seeking help from a CFP® professional if victimized by identity theft or fraud.
macombgov.org
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office conducted outreach at a Senior Expo to educate seniors about common scams including identity theft, telemarketing fraud, internet scams, home improvement fraud, and caregiver fraud. Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido distributed "S.C.A.M.S." (Stopping Crimes Against Macomb Seniors) booklets and offers presentations to community groups to help seniors protect themselves from fraud. The office has scheduled another free Senior Expo for October 17, 2024, in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
bernews.com
Three senior citizens in Bermuda were defrauded of approximately $685,000 through a combination of social media impersonation and phone scams. One victim received a Facebook message appearing to be from someone they knew, instructing them to purchase Apple gift cards and share redemption codes, while two others received unsolicited calls from scammers posing as bank employees requesting account information or computer remote access. Police advised seniors to avoid responding to unsolicited requests for gift cards or personal information, verify caller identity by contacting their bank directly, and report suspected fraud immediately.
foxnews.com
Americans received over 4.4 billion robocalls in April, with scam calls surging 73% to 710 million, primarily featuring fraudulent tax relief schemes promising to eliminate or make tax debt "non-collectible." These scams target people with tax obligations by requesting upfront fees and personal information while delivering nothing in return. The article recommends protecting oneself through data removal services, screening unknown calls, verifying caller identity, and reporting suspicious calls to authorities.
lawrencekstimes.com
Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister conducted a community presentation warning residents about common scams after a local family lost $90,000, noting that scammers typically operate outside U.S. jurisdiction making fund recovery nearly impossible. Scammers use emails, phone calls, social media, and mail to target victims by spoofing phone numbers, impersonating government agencies or financial institutions, and creating emotional urgency through threats or too-good-to-be-true offers. Armbrister recommends verifying suspicious calls by hanging up and calling trusted numbers, watching for red flags like immediate threats and AI-enhanced voice spoofing, and never providing personal or banking information to unsolicited callers
wgal.com
A phishing scam text message circulated in York, Pennsylvania, claiming recipients owed parking violation fees (ranging from $4.15 to $35) and directing them to click a malicious link. York City officials warned residents via Facebook that the text was fraudulent and advised anyone receiving suspicious parking-related communications to contact the York City Parking Bureau directly at 717-849-2230 rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages.
couriernews.com
The Russellville Police Department warns that elderly individuals are increasingly targeted for financial crimes, with an estimated 37 percent of telemarketing fraud victims being seniors. The article attributes this trend to the growing aging population and seniors' accumulated resources, while advising elders to report crimes, remember that "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," and contact local police before committing to suspicious offers.
thestar.com
Canadian seniors reported 17,000 fraud cases totaling $137.8 million in 2022, with financial abuse on the rise as the population ages. While seniors fall victim to various scams including romance and prize fraud, familial elder financial abuse—when family members or caregivers exploit a senior's finances—is among the most common yet underreported forms. Key protective measures include establishing powers of attorney, maintaining organized financial documents, having transparent family conversations about money, designating a trusted contact person with financial advisers, and working with professionals to monitor for suspicious spending or behavior changes.
thetimes.com
A buyer lost £615 to a Facebook Marketplace scam when purchasing a second-hand bicycle; the seller requested payment via PayPal's friends and family option (which lacks buyer protection) and never delivered the item or responded to messages. After intervention, PayPal refunded the full amount, and the article warns that scammers increasingly exploit the friends and family payment method to avoid refunds, with Facebook scam losses rising 366% from £7 million in 2020 to £32.6 million in 2022. The advice recommends paying by cash in person when possible, or using protected payment methods like PayPal's standard goods and services option rather than bank
headtopics.com
David Checkley, a romance fraudster, was jailed again after previously defrauding Sharon Shearer, 70, of over £200,000 during a three-year relationship that left her bankrupt and homeless. The article also reports a significant rise in various fraud schemes in the UK, including an 43% increase in banking complaints about denied refunds (8,700 cases between April-June), a 34% surge in purchase scams totaling £85.9 million in 2023, and a 31% increase in romance scam payments reaching £36.5 million—the highest ever recorded. Common scams highlighted include marketplace fraud, fake ticketing schemes,
foxnews.com
A Tennessee man's wife fell victim to a sophisticated scam where thieves posed as bank representatives following a legitimate fraud alert text, tricking her into revealing the answer to her account's security question. Using this information, the scammers disabled notifications, transferred funds between accounts, and set up an ACH withdrawal—though the victim's daily account monitoring allowed her to catch the fraud quickly and recover most funds through her bank and IC3 reporting. The incident illustrates how scammers exploit trust and use security question answers to bypass account protections, and highlights the importance of verifying caller identity and being cautious about sharing personal information even when requests seem legitimate.
fox5atlanta.com
Cybersecurity experts report a 25% increase in fake job offer scams from 2022 to 2023, with approximately 245,500 people victimized last year, as scammers increasingly use generative AI to create realistic-looking job listings and emails. Losses totaled $491 million in 2023, with scammers targeting vulnerable recently laid-off workers by requesting upfront equipment investments or stealing personal information for resale. Experts advise job seekers to research companies thoroughly, be suspicious of unusually high pay offers, and report suspected scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
abc7chicago.com
The Better Business Bureau issued a warning about driveway repair and paving scams targeting homeowners, where fraudsters pose as contractors claiming to already be working in the area and offering discounted services before disappearing with payment or providing substandard work. The alert recommends homeowners decline unsolicited offers, research contractors through the BBB website, use written contracts, avoid paying in full upfront, and pay by credit card rather than cash to enable fraud disputes if needed.
pandasecurity.com
**Summary:**
As Amazon Prime Day approaches on October 8-9, scammers are preparing to exploit the shopping rush by targeting consumers through phishing emails, fake Amazon websites, and stolen credential misuse. Common tactics include fraudulent messages claiming Prime subscriptions have been canceled to steal login information, as well as package theft by "porch pirates" taking advantage of increased deliveries. Consumers can protect themselves by using antivirus software, verifying account information directly through Amazon, and using Amazon Lockers for package delivery to avoid theft.
fredericksburgfreepress.com
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative reported an increase in in-person scams in its southeast service area, including incidents where individuals falsely claimed to be REC employees attempting to read meters after hours or sell solar installations. The cooperative emphasized that legitimate REC employees and contractors arrive in marked vehicles during normal business hours with proper identification, and advised customers to contact local law enforcement or 911 if approached by suspicious individuals claiming to represent REC.
kttc.com
This is a local news roundup that does not contain information relevant to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The headlines cover a jury trial, traffic accidents, and a community event, none of which relate to financial exploitation or elder-related fraud.
cbs8.com
According to a 2024 Truecaller/Harris Poll report, Americans lost $25.4 billion to communication fraud and robocalls annually, with Hispanic communities facing disproportionate targeting and twice the victimization rate compared to other groups. Fraudsters exploit Hispanic populations through immigration scams, identity theft, and jury duty schemes, highlighting the need for enhanced vigilance and protective measures like call-filtering apps to combat these threats.
goldrushcam.com
On September 21, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new initiatives to support women's economic security, particularly as they age, acknowledging that women typically retire with less savings than men while living longer and facing greater financial vulnerability. The announcement included over $200 million in grants for senior employment training, nearly $3 million for emergency housing for older women experiencing abuse, and new resources for retirement planning and financial literacy. The administration also emphasized existing protections against financial fraud and scams targeting women, alongside policies to strengthen Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
citizensvoice.com
State Rep. Mike Cabell hosted a free educational seminar on October 7 at Meadows Manor Community Room in Dallas to teach older residents about current financial fraud schemes and protective measures. The event, led by David Shallcross from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, covered safety tips and holiday scams targeting seniors, who are frequently exploited by scammers using evolving tactics.
cadillacnews.com
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel met with over 70 senior citizens in Cadillac to educate them about emerging scams, including phishing, smishing, identity theft, grandparent scams, and "pig butchering" scams—a long-term fraud where perpetrators build false relationships with victims via social apps before stealing money or personal information. Nessel highlighted how artificial intelligence is increasingly being used by scammers to create personalized, convincing fraud schemes, including deepfake audio and video to impersonate family members, and directed residents to the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection website for scam information and alerts.
kkco11news.com
The Delta County Sheriff's Office reported receiving multiple scam calls from an individual impersonating law enforcement officers, specifically claiming to be Lt. Burris from the warrant division, who targets senior citizens by threatening arrest and demanding payment via phone. The scammer uses the phone number (970) 624-0293 or spoofs DCSO's number, employing a fake southern accent to appear credible. Law enforcement clarified that legitimate agencies will not call citizens about warrants or demand bond payments over the phone.
cnet.com
**Credit Card Debt Forgiveness Scams**
As Americans carry record credit card debt (averaging $7,951 per household), scammers are increasingly targeting consumers with fraudulent "debt forgiveness" offers through mail, email, and text messages. Legitimate warning signs of scams include upfront payment demands, use of the word "forgiveness," unsolicited outreach, requests for personal financial information without assessing overall debt, pressure to stop making payments, and high-pressure sales tactics with artificial deadlines. Consumers should be wary of any company promising complete debt elimination, as reputable credit counseling organizations do not charge upfront fees and will work with those unable
cbs8.com
Vista resident Jan Hoops lost approximately $24,000 in a gift card scam after a pop-up alert directed her to call a fake Microsoft number; the scammer convinced her that her accounts had been hacked, instructed her to withdraw cash from her credit union and purchase Lowes gift cards, then obtained the card numbers by having her read them aloud. Employees at both the credit union and store warned Hoops about the scam, but the fraudster kept her on the phone and instructed her not to trust them, ultimately deceiving her into providing the gift card information needed to cash them in. The recommended defense is to hang up on unsolicited calls about account breaches and independently verify concerns
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A Bengaluru man lost Rs 59 lakh in a sophisticated online scam involving fluent English-speaking fraudsters who impersonated police officers, CBI officials, and a judge to convince him he was under "digital arrest" for money laundering and Aadhaar misuse. The scammers used automated calls, WhatsApp video calls, fake courtroom theatrics, and round-the-clock surveillance via Skype to psychologically manipulate the victim into transferring funds across multiple bank accounts before abruptly disconnecting. The victim reported the incident to police after realizing the deception.
b985.fm
Scammers posing as bank representatives are targeting small business owners in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts by calling victims about suspicious account activity and requesting screen-sharing access to transfer funds. Amy Kelly, owner of TaleSpinStudio in Maine, lost all funds from her business account after falling victim to this scam, which the Federal Trade Commission reports occurred over 1,000 times in Maine in 2023. Despite reporting the incident to police and her bank, recovery efforts were largely unsuccessful.
timesnownews.com
A Bengaluru man named KJ Rao lost Rs 59 lakh in an elaborate online scam involving fraudsters who impersonated police, CBI officials, and a judge to convince him he was under "digital arrest" for money laundering and misuse of Aadhaar details. Using multiple deceptive tactics including fake video calls, fabricated courtroom proceedings, and continuous surveillance via Skype, the scammers pressured Rao to transfer Rs 50 lakh and Rs 9 lakh to separate bank accounts under the pretense of court orders. Rao reported the scam to local police after the scammers abruptly ended contact
saharareporters.com
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered €5,100 from a Nigerian romance scammer and returned the funds to Spanish citizen Heinz Burchard Einhaus Uchtmann, with the handover made to Spain's Ambassador to Nigeria in September 2024. The recovery was achieved through collaboration between the EFCC and Spanish Police, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in combating cross-border financial crimes. EFCC leadership emphasized the agency's commitment to preventing Nigeria from becoming a safe haven for financial criminals and called for continued global partnership among law enforcement agencies to address the borderless nature of internet fraud.
mcknightsseniorliving.com
In 2023, the FTC reported $10 billion in total consumer fraud losses (up $1 billion from 2022), with older adults losing $3.4 billion according to FBI data, driven primarily by imposter scams, investment fraud (up 400% since 2021), and tech support scams despite scam types remaining largely consistent with previous years. The Senate Special Committee on Aging released its ninth annual fraud book highlighting that common scams targeting seniors include imposter, sweepstakes, lottery, cryptocurrency, and AI-enabled schemes, with tech support scams causing nearly $590 million in losses and investment scams topping $1.2 billion. Between June
aging.senate.gov
In a September 19, 2024 Senate hearing on elder fraud, lawmakers discussed how scammers stole over $3.4 billion from American seniors in 2023, often through impersonation, romance scams, and false investment promises by transnational criminal organizations based in countries like Mexico and China. The hearing highlighted that Medicare alone lost an estimated $60 billion to fraud, errors, and abuse in 2023, with scammers using stolen Medicare numbers to bill for unnecessary medical equipment. Senators emphasized the importance of community banks, local law enforcement, and AI-powered fraud detection systems in combating these crimes and called for enhanced education to help seniors recognize warning signs.
indianexpress.com
Since May 2024, Pune cyber police have documented 16 cases of senior citizens defrauded through WhatsApp messages impersonating Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd (MNGL), resulting in total losses of Rs 1.06 crore. The scam involves fake bill payment notifications that prompt victims to contact a number, where fraudsters manipulate them into downloading remote access applications and sharing banking credentials, ultimately siphoning funds from their accounts. Police classify these as social engineering frauds exploiting elderly people's fears about service disconnection, and have advised MNGL to issue consumer warnings.
newsweek.com
The IRS warned taxpayers against fraudulent "Offer in Compromise mills" that charge excessive fees to resolve tax debts, using aggressive marketing and false guarantees despite the program being available directly from the IRS at no cost. These scams target financially struggling taxpayers with empty promises, often resulting in high fees paid for poor outcomes. The IRS reminded the public that legitimate alternatives exist, including short-term and long-term payment plans for those who don't qualify for Offer in Compromise.
miltontimes.com
Investment fraud losses exceeded $4.5 billion in 2023, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Report. Common scams include cryptocurrency schemes promoted via social media, dubious investment programs claiming "proven" get-rich strategies, fraudulent real estate development offerings, and precious metals sales using pressure tactics and false guarantees. Protection measures include verifying that investment professionals are registered with FINRA, avoiding pressure to make quick decisions, being skeptical of "risk-free" claims, and researching companies online before investing.
seehafernews.com
Scammers are impersonating law enforcement officers from multiple Wisconsin agencies, including the Fond du Lac Police Department, Manitowoc Police Department, and Winnebago County Sheriff's Office, using spoofed phone numbers and posing as specific officers. The scams involve false claims of arrest warrants and requests for DNA samples or large cash payments via Bitcoin, with perpetrators demonstrating detailed knowledge of DNA procedures to increase credibility. Law enforcement agencies warn that legitimate police will never request DNA samples or cryptocurrency payments and urge citizens to report such calls.
fox2detroit.com
Facebook scams for mobile car detailing services are proliferating, typically posted by new group members offering discounts with promises of payment after service and vague contact information to avoid. Red flags include new or backdated profiles, identical wording across multiple posts, no pricing listed, and requests to message directly; similar scams also target consumers through air duct cleaning and false missing person posts that later redirect to phishing links. Users should verify legitimate businesses independently, report suspicious posts to Facebook and the BBB, and check local law enforcement sources before sharing missing person alerts.
reporternews.com
Scammers in Taylor County impersonated law enforcement by spoofing the Sheriff's Office phone number and used scare tactics to convince victims they had arrest warrants, instructing them to pay fines via cash withdrawal and cryptocurrency. The scheme successfully defrauded residents of at least $31,000 before being reported. The Taylor County Sheriff's Office clarified they never solicit payment by phone for warrants or court orders and advised residents to hang up on such calls and report them immediately.
courierpostonline.com
Martins Inalegwu and Steincy Mathieu, a Burlington County couple, were sentenced to prison (80 months and 16 months respectively) for operating a romance scam that defrauded over 100 victims of approximately $4.5 million between 2016 and 2020. The scammers posed as romantic interests on dating websites, targeting vulnerable older adults and others, with one victim—a tourism board finance director—embezzling $2.8 million from her employer to send to the couple. Both defendants were ordered to pay millions in restitution and unpaid taxes.
uta.edu
**Summary:**
Rebecca Cole, a PhD candidate at the University of Texas at Arlington, successfully defended her dissertation on online romance scam victimization in the United States. Her mixed-methods research examined factors associated with victimization (including loneliness and interpersonal trust) and found that impacts extend beyond financial loss to include significant emotional, psychological, physiological, and legal consequences. Cole's work advocates for comprehensive victim support, trauma-informed care, increased awareness, and improved law enforcement training to reduce stigma and encourage reporting of these scams.
helsinkitimes.fi
Financial scams in Finland increased significantly in the first half of 2024, with losses totaling 27.5 million euros—nearly 8 million more than the same period in 2023. Phishing scams caused the largest losses at 11.7 million euros, while investment scams more than doubled to 10.9 million euros, though banks managed to block an additional 18.2 million euros in fraudulent transactions. Experts advise caution against scams using urgency tactics and impersonation of officials, and recommend being skeptical of offers that sound too good to be true.
denver7.com
The Wheat Ridge Police Department warned of a cryptocurrency extortion scam circulating through the community in which victims receive emails containing personal information (addresses, photos from Google Maps) and threats of blackmail involving fabricated malware and compromising videos, demanding cryptocurrency payment via Bitcoin QR code. None of the Wheat Ridge residents who received these emails fell victim to the scam, though police emphasized the importance of reporting such attempts to raise community awareness. The scam exploits urgency and fear through false claims, reflecting a broader national problem—Americans lost over $5.5 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, with Colorado reporting more than 1,300 fraud cases costing residents $81 million
devilslakejournal.com
At least 150 insurance fraud cases involving out-of-state addiction treatment centers are under FBI investigation in North Dakota, with an estimated $8 million in insurance losses occurring in the past year—a significant increase from $1.5 million five years ago. "Body brokers" lure vulnerable individuals, often from tribal communities, with offers of free flights to California treatment facilities, then use fraudulent insurance billing to generate profits while providing inadequate or dangerous care, resulting in overdose deaths including Benjamin Barragan and Kalisha Thomas. Red flags include unsolicited free flights and rapid processing by out-of-state insurance representatives, and authorities warn that while some facilities appear legitimate with proper licensing,