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in Scam Awareness
kmvt.com
· 2025-12-07
The Idaho Department of Finance held a senior fraud prevention roadshow in Twin Falls to educate residents about financial exploitation, as Idaho has experienced a 440% increase in cybercrime losses with seniors as the primary targets. John Yaros, the State's Security Bureau Chief, highlighted investment scams as particularly common, with $23 million in reported losses, where scammers build trust with seniors online and convince them to invest in cryptocurrency and other fraudulent schemes. Authorities urged attendees to recognize red flags, avoid offers that seem too good to be true, and report suspicious activities to local police and the Idaho Department of Finance.
readthereporter.com
· 2025-12-07
Dillman & Owen Estate and Elder Law hosted an educational webinar on October 23 featuring FBI Special Agent Jeremy Michaelis and Forensic Accountant Chris Knight to educate seniors on recognizing and avoiding common scams. The session provided practical tips and insights into current fraud threats targeting senior citizens, drawing on the experts' backgrounds in complex financial crimes and fraud investigation.
tribtoday.com
· 2025-12-07
**Mail-Related Scams Targeting Older Adults**
This educational article identifies several mail and postal-related scams commonly targeting seniors, including physical mailbox theft of checks, phishing emails/texts impersonating the Postal Service, fake messages claiming millions in waiting parcels, malicious QR codes, and traditional letter-based schemes involving employment offers and sweepstakes. The article advises depositing mail directly at post offices, ignoring unsolicited postal communications and QR codes, never clicking suspicious links, and discarding letters with unrealistic offers, while noting that the Postal Service never notifies customers about delivery issues via email or text.
tnonline.com
· 2025-12-07
"Phantom hacker" scams targeting seniors have surged nationwide, with Americans losing over $1 billion to these multiphase social engineering attacks that often drain entire retirement accounts. Nearly half of victims are over 60, with seniors representing two-thirds of total losses, as scammers use spoofed numbers and multiple impersonators (posing as tech support, bank representatives, and government officials) to create convincing narratives that manipulate victims into transferring funds. The Cybersecurity Association of Pennsylvania urges families to educate seniors on red flags—such as requests for wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or prepaid cards—and to report suspicious contact to the FBI or Internet Crime Complaint Center
devonlive.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are targeting pensioners with phishing text and email scams impersonating the Department for Work and Pensions and fictitious government departments, claiming recipients must register for Winter Fuel Payments by clicking links that direct to fake websites designed to steal personal and financial information. Most eligible recipients receive the Winter Fuel Payment automatically without needing to claim or provide personal details, and experts warn that around 9 million people fell victim to financial scams in 2024, with fraudsters expected to intensify efforts as winter approaches. Protection involves avoiding unsolicited links, never sharing personal or banking information in response to unexpected messages, and verifying the legitimacy of any government communications through official channels.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are targeting millions of British pensioners with phishing text messages and emails impersonating government departments (Department for Work and Pensions, fictitious "Department of Energy") to exploit confusion about the reinstated Winter Fuel Payment. The fraudulent messages falsely claim recipients must register by a certain date and direct them to fake websites designed to steal personal and financial information, though legitimate Winter Fuel Payments are issued automatically without requiring claims or personal data. Around 9 million people fell victim to financial scams in 2024, and experts warn that increasingly sophisticated tactics put older people at particular risk during the winter months.
cambridge-news.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are impersonating government departments via text and email to exploit confusion about the Winter Fuel Payment, directing victims to fake websites to steal personal and financial information. Most eligible recipients receive the payment automatically without needing to register or provide banking details. Citizens Advice reported that approximately 9 million people fell victim to financial scams in 2024, with experts warning that older people may be at particular risk during the winter months.
hkma.gov.hk
· 2025-12-07
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has launched a consultation with retail banks to develop a framework for determining shared responsibility when customers suffer losses from authorized payment scams. The framework aims to clarify liability in cases where customers are deceived into authorizing transactions (such as romance scams), distinguishing them from unauthorized transactions where banks bear full responsibility, and will assess both banks' anti-scam measures and customers' diligence in preventing fraud.
mitrade.com
· 2025-12-07
The Colorado Bureau of Investigations began investigating a crypto-linked romance scam in which a Colorado man lost $1.4 million from his retirement savings after meeting someone on a dating website who convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency through fraudulent apps. The scammer, posing as a woman named "Erin," built romantic trust before transitioning conversations to investments, eventually directing the victim to send funds to a fake cryptocurrency application controlled by the perpetrator. CBI officials note that crypto romance scams are rising, particularly targeting elderly individuals, and that the unregulated nature of cryptocurrency makes these investments especially vulnerable to fraud with limited recovery options.
euronews.com
· 2025-12-07
An Interpol-coordinated crackdown across 14 African countries in July and August resulted in the arrest of 260 suspects involved in online romance scams and sextortion schemes that targeted over 1,400 victims and caused nearly $2.8 million in losses. The operation revealed a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes where perpetrators use fake identities and social media profiles to build romantic relationships, extract money through false fees, or blackmail victims with intimate images. Notable arrests included 68 suspects in Ghana, 22 in Senegal who impersonated celebrities, and 24 in Côte d'Ivoire engaged in sextortion activities.
vindy.com
· 2025-12-07
**Mail-Related Scams Targeting Older Adults**
This educational article outlines five primary mail-related scams affecting seniors: thieves stealing mail from unsecured mailboxes and altering checks, fake "Delivery Notification Failure" emails and texts containing malicious links, fraudulent messages from the "Postmaster General" requesting money orders for fake lottery winnings, malicious QR codes posing as USPS communications, and traditional mail scams involving employment offers and lottery schemes. The article advises depositing mail directly at post offices, ignoring unsolicited postal notifications, never clicking suspicious links or QR codes, and discarding letters offering unrealistic money
salemnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Between 2023 and May 2025, the FBI's Boston Division documented 103 courier fraud cases targeting elderly victims in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, resulting in over $26 million in losses. In these scams, fraudsters convinced victims aged 60 and older to hand over cash or gold bars to couriers by impersonating family members or government officials, with Massachusetts victims alone losing $18.6 million across 59 cases. The FBI advises inexperienced individuals, particularly seniors, to avoid engaging with unsolicited requests for money or valuables and to verify requests through official channels.
koat.com
· 2025-12-07
The New Mexico Department of Justice warned of online immigration attorney scams targeting vulnerable individuals through social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, where fraudsters pose as licensed attorneys offering immigration services. Scammers use real attorney names and license numbers, and request payment via Bitcoin, Venmo, or gift cards to appear legitimate. The department recommends verifying attorneys through Google searches, official contact numbers, the State Bar Association, and carefully reviewing all contracts before providing money or documents.
police.boston.gov
· 2025-12-07
Imposter scams targeting older adults have surged 400% since 2020, with victims losing $10,000 or more by being tricked into transferring money to scammers posing as banks, government agencies, or tech companies. Common schemes involve criminals claiming suspicious account activity, linking victims to criminal activity with threats of arrest, or reporting hacked computers, often using spoofed phone numbers and fake credentials to appear legitimate. Protection strategies include never transferring money to "protect" accounts, hanging up to verify contact through official channels, and using call-blocking tools, with victims encouraged to report incidents to local police, the FTC, or FBI's IC3.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are impersonating Amazon through fake emails, texts, and phone calls claiming account or order issues to steal personal information and gain unauthorized access to customer accounts ahead of the holiday shopping season. Red flags include spelling errors, suspicious links to non-Amazon websites, and requests for remote device access—Amazon never requests these. Customers should verify account issues directly through Amazon.com or the app, monitor the "Your Orders" section, and report suspicious messages to 7726 (SPAM) immediately.
cbs12.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers in St. Lucie County, Florida posed as Walmart employees and called residents via voicemail and robocalls claiming unauthorized PlayStation 5 and Pulse 3D headset purchases were being processed on their accounts, instructing victims to call back or press numbers to stop the transactions. The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office warned residents not to respond to these calls, provide personal or financial information, and instead to verify their accounts directly, contact their bank if suspicious charges appear, and report the scam to Walmart and the FTC.
taskandpurpose.com
· 2025-12-07
A 10-person scam ring operating near Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia defrauded hundreds of Navy Federal Credit Union customers out of approximately $2 million between 2023 and 2025. The scammers, using aliases like "Wildboy," "Fatty," and "Jizzle," targeted military-age individuals in public spaces, convincing them to surrender their phones under false pretenses, then used the devices to illegally transfer funds, submit fraudulent loans, and steal personal information—sometimes using threats, physical force, or firearms. Within eastern Virginia alone, 500 victims reported the scheme, leading to federal indictments against all 10 defendants on charges including bank
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Financial scams targeting Americans aged 60 and older have quadrupled since 2020, with losses from high-value scams (over $100,000) escalating from $55 million in 2020 to $445 million in 2025, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers employ sophisticated impersonation tactics—posing as banks, retailers, government agencies, or law enforcement—and exploit fear and urgency to pressure victims into disclosing sensitive information without verification. Protection strategies include pausing before responding to suspicious contact, independently verifying claims through official channels, and establishing family communication protocols to provide trusted guidance during potential fraud attempts.
pahouse.com
· 2025-12-07
State Rep. Nikki Rivera partnered with AARP Pennsylvania to host a "$CAM JAM" educational event on October 9, 2025, in Lancaster to help residents, particularly seniors, learn how to identify and avoid financial scams and fraud. The event will feature representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities providing interactive education on safeguarding finances, with Fraud BINGO activities and prizes, as seniors are targeted by scammers at high rates resulting in an estimated $3 billion in annual losses nationally.
morningjournalnews.com
· 2025-12-07
A local educational presentation warned seniors about common scams targeting their demographic, noting that single seniors seeking companionship and those with lower technological literacy are particularly vulnerable despite possessing 70 percent of American wealth. Key red flags include unsolicited "out of the blue" contact requesting quick action, gift cards, or wire transfers, while protective measures include verifying contacts through official phone numbers, knowing that legitimate companies never request uninitialized personal information, and utilizing credit freezes through the three major bureaus. Common scams discussed include grandparent schemes, door-to-door solicitation fraud, international lottery schemes, and toll text scams.
rappler.com
· 2025-12-07
This article explores the digital divide among elderly Filipinos, highlighting that while some seniors like 67-year-old Paz Deocariza have successfully adopted technology to connect with family abroad, the vast majority remain excluded from digital life. A 2021 study found that only 18% of Filipinos aged 65 and older possess basic ICT skills, with barriers including poverty, lack of access, and limited interest in learning technology. The piece illustrates how this exclusion affects seniors' daily lives, from communication with distant family to accessing essential services and emergency help.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-07
A 65-year-old resident of Kolkata lost Rs 9 lakh to a "suicide scam," an escalated variant of digital arrest fraud, after being contacted by a fake social media profile and subsequently threatened with defamation, arrest, and murder charges by impersonators claiming to be police and YouTube officials. The scammers fabricated a suicide scenario to create urgency and fear, ultimately pressuring the victim into making multiple payments totaling over Rs 9 lakh through various bank transfers. This modus operandi, which reportedly originated in Mumbai in previous years, targets vulnerable individuals through social engineering and psychological manipulation involving false authority figures and fabricated criminal implications.
denver7.com
· 2025-12-07
A Colorado man lost approximately $1.4 million in a crypto-romance scam after connecting with someone on a dating website who posed as a woman named Erin and convinced him to invest in cryptocurrencies. The scammer initially directed the victim to legitimate crypto apps but later funneled money into a fake app under their control, exploiting his emotional vulnerability during marital troubles. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case, which represents the largest crypto scam loss the agency has encountered, and authorities note that perpetrators are typically overseas, making recovery efforts the primary focus.
latestly.com
· 2025-12-07
OpenAI announced a multi-year partnership with AARP and its Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) to educate older adults on using AI tools safely and securely. The initiative launches with a ChatGPT instructional video teaching seniors how to identify and avoid scams, followed by nationwide training sessions and community safety programs. The effort aims to ensure artificial intelligence benefits all populations, including older adults who are often targeted by fraud.
pennwatch.org
· 2025-12-07
Pennsylvania's Department of Banking and Securities is conducting free public presentations throughout October to educate seniors and the general public about avoiding scams, recognizing fraud, and preventing identity theft. Programs include interactive "Fraud BINGO" sessions, senior expos with consumer protection resources, "$camJam" events featuring law enforcement experts, and financial planning presentations held at senior centers and community facilities across the state.
bostonherald.com
· 2025-12-07
The Boston Police Department warns that older residents face multiple evolving scams, including cryptocurrency fraud (with Boston residents losing over $9 million in 2024), home improvement schemes, imposter scams (up 400% since 2020 among victims losing $10,000+), and unwitting money mule recruitment. Police advise seniors to research investments, verify contractor credentials, hang up on suspicious callers and independently confirm with known numbers, keep digital wallet keys private, and avoid transferring money for unknown parties.
dddnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Older adults are frequent targets for financial scams because they have accumulated wealth, may experience cognitive or sensory decline, and often grew up in a more trusting era, making them vulnerable to exploitation. The FBI estimates seniors lose over $3 billion annually to fraud through common schemes including robocalls, government impersonation scams, romance scams, tech support scams, and emerging threats like deepfakes and grandparent scams. Protection strategies include hanging up on high-pressure calls, verifying caller identities independently, and familiarizing oneself with common scam tactics.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Shineth Gonzales, an Evans woman, agreed to shut down her two Greeley-based immigration service businesses after Colorado authorities found she falsely claimed to have a Harvard Law degree, created a fake employee named "Shequioa Daniels," and overcharged vulnerable immigrant clients for services she was unqualified to provide. Gonzales was fined $12,000 (with a payment plan of $250 monthly, escalating to $50,000 if she violates the settlement) and prohibited from working in immigration services or using the title "Dr. Gonzales" again, while some of her clients had to hire licensed attorneys to fix the errors she created.
iharare.com
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
Interpol arrested 260 individuals across 14 African nations in a coordinated operation targeting romance scam and sextortion networks operating during July and August. The perpetrators defrauded over 1,400 victims of approximately $2.8 million by building fake romantic relationships, then demanding money or blackmailing victims with compromising images. Notable arrests included 68 suspects in Ghana, 22 in Senegal, and 24 in Ivory Coast, with authorities attributing the rise in these crimes to expanded access to online platforms.
markets.financialcontent.com
· 2025-12-07
A Colorado man lost his entire life savings of approximately $1.4 million to a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency romance scam after being lured by a woman on Ashley Madison who posed as a successful crypto trader on WhatsApp. Over six weeks, the victim was manipulated into transferring funds to a fraudulent investment app displaying fake profits, and the scam was only exposed when he was asked to pay an additional $400,000 in "fees" to withdraw his earnings. The case, under investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations, highlights the vulnerability of individuals facing personal difficulties and the difficulty in recovering cryptocurrency funds once they enter anonymous wallets.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Ruth Grover, a 69-year-old from Hartlepool, received three suspicious Facebook messages from men claiming to be widowed U.S. Army generals shortly after changing her relationship status to "widow" in 2010, which prompted her to investigate romance scams. Drawing on her police background, she founded ScamHaters United, a Facebook group that grew to thousands of members worldwide, where she helps victims identify and escape romance scammers who use fabricated military or oil rig worker personas and manufactured emergencies to extract money. Though most scammers operate internationally and remain unprosecuted, Grover's group now receives approximately 300 messages daily from potential victims and has
yourvalley.net
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
A Safety and Fraud Townhall is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Sundial Auditorium featuring local officials including Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan, County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, and Supervisor Debbie Lesko discussing fraud prevention strategies. The event highlights the growing threat to seniors, with those over 60 reporting more than $3.4 billion in losses to scams in 2023, representing an 11% increase from 2022.
bostonherald.com
· 2025-12-07
The Boston Police Department warns that older residents are being targeted by multiple scam types, including cryptocurrency investment schemes (which caused Boston residents over $9 million in losses in 2024 alone), home improvement fraud by door-to-door contractors, imposter scams, and unwitting money mule schemes. Police advise seniors to research investments thoroughly, verify contractor credentials, be skeptical of unsolicited offers on social media and dating apps, and hang up on suspicious callers to independently verify identities before transferring money or cryptocurrency.
mitrade.com
· 2025-12-07
The Colorado Bureau of Investigations investigated a crypto-linked romance scam in which a Colorado man lost $1.4 million from his retirement savings after being deceived by someone posing as "Erin" on a dating website who convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency. The scammer initially built romantic trust before transitioning conversations to financial investment, directing the victim to send funds first to legitimate crypto apps and then to a fake application controlled by the scammer. CBI Special Agent Zeb Semester noted this was the largest crypto scam loss he had witnessed, and authorities emphasized that romance scams combined with cryptocurrency investment schemes are increasingly common and difficult to recover from due to the unregulated nature of
wwnytv.com
· 2025-12-07
Governor Hochul warned New Yorkers of scams exploiting the state's inflation refund initiative, which arrive via text, voice calls, emails, and mail requesting personal payment information to claim refunds. The New York State Tax Department and IRS do not contact taxpayers unsolicited to request personal information; recipients should block senders, delete messages, and report suspicious communications to authorities.
nbcphiladelphia.com
· 2025-12-07
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theconversation.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, Australians lost over A$2.03 billion to scams across 494,732 reported cases, with most enabled through online or phone contact. Scammers exploit universal psychological principles—such as appeals to need/greed, authority, kindness, distraction, and social proof—that are similar to legitimate persuasion techniques used in sales and marketing. To protect yourself, evaluate whether a request has legitimate intent, who benefits, and whether you have a free, informed choice.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams targeting older adults have surged 52% among people over 55, with victims aged 75-84 losing an average of £8,068 each compared to £5,219 across all age groups. Scammers use fake dating and social media profiles to build emotional connections, then request money for emergencies like medical bills or travel expenses, often avoiding video calls or in-person meetings with elaborate excuses. Key prevention strategies include staying on monitored messaging platforms, consulting trusted friends and family before sending money, and never transferring funds to someone met only online.
interpol.int
· 2025-12-07
INTERPOL has built a specialized network of cybercrime officers across Africa's 54 countries to combat the growing cyber threat, which now accounts for up to 30% of crime in some regions. Through coordinated operations and intelligence sharing with member countries and private partners, INTERPOL has achieved significant results, including over 1,200 arrests and nearly $100 million in recovered funds in their latest Africa-wide operation (Serengeti 2.0). The organization emphasizes rapid information exchange and cross-border collaboration to detect and respond to phishing, malware, and ransomware campaigns targeting financial institutions and vulnerable populations.
securityboulevard.com
· 2025-12-07
International law enforcement arrested 260 suspects and seized 1,235 electronic devices across 14 African countries in Operation Condor 3.0 (July-August), a crackdown on romance scams and sextortion rings operated by criminal syndicates originating in Southeast Asia. The operation identified 1,463 victims who lost an estimated $2.8 million and dismantled 81 cybercrime infrastructures, highlighting the growing threat of digitally-enabled scams exploiting human vulnerabilities across Africa and globally.
whas11.com
· 2025-12-07
A 2025 PrivacyJournal study ranked U.S. states by online dating safety based on reported romance scams, fraud, identity theft, violent crime, STD rates, and registered sex offenders per 100,000 residents. Vermont was found to be the safest state for online daters, while Nevada ranked as the most dangerous due to high rates of fraud, identity theft, and romance scams. Kentucky ranked fifth-safest overall, with notably low fraud and romance scam reports, though it had elevated identity theft cases and registered sex offenders among the top five states.
cyberscoop.com
· 2025-12-07
An Interpol-coordinated operation spanning 14 African countries arrested 260 cybercrime suspects and dismantled 81 criminal networks involved in romance scams and sextortion, resulting in approximately $2.8 million in losses across nearly 1,500 victims. Ghana accounted for the largest portion of arrests (68 suspects) with victims losing $450,000, while other countries including Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Angola also made significant arrests; authorities seized electronic devices, forged documents, and SIM cards used in the schemes. The operation highlighted the growing threat of digitally-enabled fraud on social media and dating platforms across Africa, with
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Governor Kathy Hochul warned New York residents to be vigilant against scams targeting inflation refund checks, which will be distributed to approximately 8.2 million households over the coming months. Scammers are actively attempting to defraud residents by impersonating legitimate refund programs during the distribution period.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
David Cornejo Fernandez, a Peruvian national, was sentenced to 80 months in prison and ordered to pay over $3 million in restitution for providing technology infrastructure—including internet phone lines, caller-ID spoofing services, and pre-recorded messages—to fraudulent call centers that impersonated U.S. government officials to extort Spanish-speaking victims. The scheme defrauded over 8,800 U.S. victims of more than $3 million by falsely threatening legal consequences if they did not pay for unsolicited English-language learning products. Cornejo is the ninth defendant extradited from Peru and convicted in this transn
crypto.news
· 2025-12-07
A 71-year-old retiree in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia lost RM525,000 (approximately $100,000) after responding to a Facebook advertisement for a cryptocurrency investment scheme that promised $500,000 in returns. The victim made seven transactions between August 20-27 using retirement savings, and police suspect an organized syndicate orchestrated the scam; no arrests had been made at the time of reporting. Malaysian authorities have noted a rising trend of crypto fraud targeting senior citizens, with scammers using sophisticated tactics including fake celebrity endorsements, deepfakes, and impersonation of financial institutions.
azag.gov
· 2025-12-07
Arizona's Attorney General issued a consumer alert warning residents to watch for post-storm fraud schemes following severe weather that caused widespread damage across the state. The alert highlights two primary scams: fraudulent contractors offering unsolicited repair services and fake charities soliciting donations, and provides protective measures such as verifying contractor licenses through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, getting written contracts, avoiding upfront payments, and donating only through verified charitable organizations. Consumers are urged to report suspected fraud to the Arizona Attorney General's office, the ROC, the FTC, or the Better Business Bureau.
rappler.com
· 2025-12-07
Rappler organized a community forum called "Lolo at Lola laban sa Scam" at Far Eastern University on September 16, bringing together over 200 senior citizens and students to learn about scam prevention and digital safety. The event featured talks and panel discussions led by cybercrime experts from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and the National Commission of Senior Citizens, covering the dangers of online scams, anti-scam tips, and fact-checking methods. The initiative was part of Rappler's #ScamAlert campaign to empower communities with information to combat fraud and disinformation.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
Tochuwku Albert Nnebocha, a 43-year-old Nigerian national extradited from Poland, was charged in federal court for operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme targeting American seniors over more than five years. The scheme sent fraudulent letters falsely claiming victims had inherited millions from deceased relatives in Spain and demanded upfront fees for delivery and taxes, with victims sending money through a network of compromised U.S. bank accounts and never receiving promised funds. Nnebocha faces charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and two co-defendants have already been sentenced to approximately 97 months incarceration.
salemnews.net
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
An identity protection workshop in Columbiana educated seniors on recognizing and preventing common scams, with instructor Dave Long noting that single seniors and those over 60 are particularly vulnerable targets due to their trustworthiness and the fact that Americans age 60+ hold 70 percent of the nation's wealth. Key protective strategies include freezing credit files, recognizing red flags such as unsolicited requests for quick action or gift cards, verifying contact by calling companies directly, and understanding that legitimate entities never request personal information via unsolicited contact. The workshop emphasized that awareness and education are the FBI's recommended best defense against fraud, with attendees encouraged to hang up on scammers rather than engage with
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans age 60 and older lost over $3 billion to scammers in 2023, with reported elder fraud complaints to the FBI increasing 14% year-over-year, though actual losses are likely much higher due to underreporting and unreported phone, mail, and in-person scams. Older adults are particularly vulnerable due to greater trustworthiness, financial assets, and unfamiliarity with technology, with tech-support scams being most common but investment scams proving costliest, while fraudulent call centers—increasingly using AI voice-cloning and deepfakes—accounted for at least $770 million in losses. Prevention through education on