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Coinbase disclosed that overseas support staff were bribed by cybercriminals to steal customer data, resulting in a $20 million extortion demand that the company refused to pay. The breach affected less than 1 percent of monthly users and compromised personal information including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, partial Social Security numbers, and account balances, though customer funds remained inaccessible; attackers already used the stolen data in social engineering scams to defraud some customers. Coinbase terminated the involved employees, is reimbursing defrauded customers, and estimates remediation costs between $180-400 million while offering a $20 million reward for information leading to

**Article:** LexisNexis Risk Solutions 2024 Cybercrime Report **Summary:** First-party fraud—including false loan applications, friendly fraud refund claims, and misrepresentation of personal information—became the leading fraud type globally in 2024, rising to 36% of all fraud (up from 15% in 2023), with inflation and rising living costs driving opportunistic attacks against financial institutions and ecommerce providers. Account takeover fraud remained significant at 27% of cases, while scams and authorized push payment fraud declined to 11%, though over three billion bot-driven account takeover attacks were still detected and AI-

An 85-year-old Kansas woman named Shirley Crow died in November 2024 after her family reported suspected neglect by her caretaker to Adult Protective Services on October 5, 2024, alleging missed medications and missed medical appointments. The case remained open eight months later with minimal investigation progress, as the assigned caseworker carried a caseload of 70 other cases; the Kansas Department for Children and Families does not publicly share investigator caseload data, though analysis suggests investigators in some regions handle 12-14 new cases monthly, and proposed federal cuts threaten to further weaken the adult protective services system.

A Luxembourg physiotherapist lost nearly €30,000 to an "alloteur" phone scam in which fraudsters impersonated his bank's fraud department, convinced him his accounts were compromised, and manipulated him into providing login credentials and authorizing account transfers under the guise of recovering stolen funds. The scammers exploited a banking vulnerability by having the victim remove security safeguards, ultimately draining his accounts while the fake advisor provided false reassurances about fund recovery. Though his bank reimbursed €17,000, the victim was denied recovery of the remaining €10,000 on grounds that he had "facilitated" the fraud, and the case remained un

A Facebook romance scam used an unauthorized image of Liberian Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe to solicit women across Africa for fake long-term relationships, with the fraudulent page accumulating over 17,000 followers and generating thousands of engagements since its creation in May 2023. The scam employed classic grooming and trafficking tactics including false identity, promises of financial stability, and redirection to WhatsApp for private contact, exposing vulnerable women to potential exploitation. Despite Facebook rebranding the page after complaints, the fraudulent content remained active, highlighting broader vulnerabilities in digital safety as romance scams caused victims an estimated $1.3 billion in losses in

Robert Dunn, 62, was sentenced to 24 years to life for murdering elderly couple Joaquin and Eleanor Sierra in 2003 and stealing their Social Security benefits and bank funds. Dunn concealed the mummified bodies in a storage unit he paid for using checks stolen from the victims, where they remained undiscovered for 11 years until 2014. Dunn had an extensive criminal history of identity theft, fraud, and violence against vulnerable people, including elderly individuals and women he manipulated using religious rhetoric.

A 56-year-old Japanese man in Tokyo concealed his 86-year-old father's skeletal remains in a wardrobe for two years after the elder's death in January 2023, citing funeral costs as his reason for not reporting the death. Police discovered the body when neighbors alerted them after the man's Chinese restaurant remained closed for a week, and he now faces a fraud investigation amid speculation that he may have continued claiming pension benefits during the concealment period.

Online scammers stole a record $16.6 billion in 2024, a 33% increase from $12.5 billion in 2023, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, with 859,532 total complaints filed and elderly victims representing over 147,000 complaints. Investment scams caused the largest losses at $6.5 billion, followed by business email compromise at $2.7 billion and tech support scams at $1.4 billion, while phishing remained the most commonly reported cybercrime. The figures represent only reported cases and underscore how the digitalization of daily life has expanded criminal opportunities since 2020.

A Maine resident avoided falling victim to a fake check scam when a Facebook Marketplace buyer mailed her a fraudulent cashier's check for $2,400—significantly more than the $600 agreed price for her car. The victim identified red flags including an incorrect check number placement and a non-existent routing number, then brought it to her bank, which discovered two other identical fraudulent checks and reported them. The scam exploits online mobile check deposits, which may initially appear to clear before bouncing weeks later, leaving victims responsible for the full amount.

Sharon Gardner, 59, of Rumford, Maine, was arrested for abusing and financially exploiting an elderly family member whom she served as primary caregiver, dividing over $1,000 from the victim's account and repeatedly using their debit card without authorization while restricting their outside contact. She was charged with two Class C felonies (endangering the welfare of a dependent person and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer) and one Class D misdemeanor (misuse of identification), with the investigation remaining active and additional charges possible.

The FBI warned New England homeowners and real estate agents about Quit Claim Deed fraud, in which scammers forge documents to illegally transfer property ownership and then sell, mortgage, or rent the properties for profit. Since 2019, the scam has cost victims over $61.5 million across New England, with Massachusetts accounting for $46 million in losses, and victims in Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island suffering an additional $15 million combined. The FBI provided recommendations for both homeowners (monitoring property records, setting up title alerts, and watching for suspicious activity) and real estate agents (requiring in-person identity verification, requesting original documentation, and confirming notary credentials) to

A Bucksport, Maine man nearly fell victim to a puppy scam after finding an online listing for a Maltese puppy priced under $800 from a supposed Texas breeder; he avoided the fraud after noticing inconsistencies in property details and transportation costs, and was subsequently targeted for Bitcoin transfers through PayPal. Puppy scams are increasingly common, with perpetrators requesting wire transfers, cryptocurrency payments, or money sent to individuals rather than businesses—all red flags that indicate potential fraud and make fund recovery unlikely.

Modern scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and effective due to advanced technology and organized criminal groups operating internationally. The article illustrates this trend through the example of a utility company impersonation scam targeting a Maine resident, and explains how scammers exploit phishing, deepfakes, AI-generated content, and cryptocurrency investment schemes to defraud victims. Key protective strategies include verifying accounts directly through official channels and remaining suspicious of urgent payment demands, particularly those requesting digital payment methods like Zelle.

A Cumberland, Maine woman lost $100,000 to a sophisticated scam that began with a phishing email giving scammers remote computer access, followed by an impersonator claiming to be a Microsoft employee who convinced her to convert her savings into gold bars that were later picked up by a fake courier. Police arrested 44-year-old Zhangqi Xie of New York and charged him with Theft by Deception, while warning the public never to exchange money for gold, bitcoin, or gift cards based on unsolicited communications and to avoid opening suspicious email attachments.

The Bar Harbor, Maine school system was targeted by a business email compromise scam in January 2025, where fraudsters submitted a false request to change bank account information that was processed by school staff. Once the account was changed, a legitimate $1,066,754 payment from Wright-Ryan Construction for a school construction project was diverted to the scammers' account, but quick action by school officials, law enforcement, and the FBI resulted in the account being frozen and most or all of the funds being recovered. The school system has disabled the compromised payment system and implemented enhanced security training for accounts payable staff to prevent future incidents.

Text message scams cost Americans over $330 million in 2022, with banking-related phishing messages being the most common type. Experts advise never clicking links or calling numbers in suspicious texts, instead independently verifying contact information with banks or organizations directly, and emphasize that banks never request personal information via text. Additional protective measures include using antivirus software on all devices, reporting suspicious messages to the FTC or FCC, and maintaining healthy skepticism toward unsolicited messages, particularly during tax season when scammers intensify their efforts.

In 2024, the FTC received 2.6 million fraud reports (stable compared to 2023), but the percentage of victims who lost money increased significantly from 27% to 38%, representing a 25% overall increase in reported losses. Investment scams led all categories with $5.7 billion in losses (up 24%), followed by imposter scams at $2.95 billion, with government imposter scams alone reaching $789 million; consumers increasingly paid scammers via bank transfers and cryptocurrency.

Twenty-five Canadian nationals, mostly from Québec, were indicted for operating a "grandparent scam" that defrauded U.S. seniors in 41 states of approximately $21 million starting in summer 2021. The defendants made fraudulent phone calls from Montreal call centers posing as grandchildren or attorneys, claiming relatives needed bail money for arrests, and collected payments from victims' homes before transferring funds to Canada via cash deliveries and cryptocurrency transactions. Twenty-three suspects were arrested in Canada while two remained at large, with organizers facing up to 40 years in prison and other participants facing up to 20 years.

**Summary:** Scammers in Maine are using artificial intelligence to clone voices and impersonate family members, with over 2,000 Maine residents falling victim to these AI-enabled scams in the past year according to the FTC. This evolved version of the "grandparent scam" uses voice spoofing to make fraudulent calls appear to come from relatives in distress asking for immediate money. Experts recommend verifying unexpected urgent requests by hanging up and calling back the person directly, as scammers rely on panic to succeed.

Scammers are increasingly using AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate family members and loved ones in distress, with "grandparent scams" becoming more convincing and difficult to detect. According to the FTC, imposter scams were the most common fraud type in Maine last year, affecting more than 2,000 victims, and experts warn this number could rise as fraudsters refine their tactics. To protect themselves, consumers should verify unexpected calls by hanging up and calling back directly, establish family code words, not trust caller ID, and resist pressure tactics that create urgency.

Investment/cryptocurrency scams topped the list of fraud affecting Canadians and Americans in 2024, with over 80% of targeted victims losing money at a median loss of $5,000, according to a Better Business Bureau report. Employment scams ranked second, primarily targeting 18-34-year-olds with fake job offers requiring upfront equipment purchases that employers never reimburse. Romance and online purchasing scams also remained prevalent, with victims over 65 most susceptible, and nearly 30% of scam victims reporting negative mental health impacts.

AARP Maine operates a Fraud Watch Network Speakers Bureau that provides free 45-minute presentations to community groups on fraud prevention topics including identity theft and romance scams, available in person or virtually. Interested organizations can submit presentation requests through the AARP Maine website or contact AARP for more information.

Malaysian authorities raided a luxury residence in Kuala Lumpur operating as an international scam call centre, arresting 42 foreign workers including six Thai nationals who were employed to conduct investment, gambling, and romance scams generating approximately 1.13 million baht daily. The suspects, aged 23-54 from multiple countries, confessed to earning around 30,080 baht monthly and targeted victims via Facebook, TikTok, WeChat, Telegram, and WhatsApp across Malaysia and internationally. Police seized 100,000 ringgit in cash along with phones, computers, and scam manuals, while the alleged syndicate leader, a Chinese national, remained at large.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine, AARP Maine, and the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention launched the Maine Rx Elder Fraud Program, a collaborative awareness initiative that will distribute educational brochures about fraud recognition and reporting through Hannaford Supermarkets' 60 in-state pharmacies. The program addresses a significant problem: in the prior year, 397 Mainers filed fraud complaints totaling over $7.1 million in losses, while nationally, Americans aged 60-plus lost $3.4 billion to scams, with actual losses likely higher due to underreporting.

The Better Business Bureau released its 2024 annual Scam Tracker report showing that online shopping scams remained the top fraud scheme for the fifth consecutive year, followed by phishing and employment scams. Scammers increasingly exploit new technologies like AI and deepfake video to impersonate legitimate organizations, conduct fake interviews, and use emotional manipulation and urgency tactics to target victims across all age groups. The BBB emphasizes that vigilance and refusing to engage with fraudsters is essential to combating these schemes.

Romance scams remained a significant threat in 2024, ranking as the third most common scam, with victims losing tens of thousands of dollars each. Scammers typically target vulnerable individuals—particularly widows and widowers—through social media, building emotional connections before pivoting conversations toward cryptocurrency investments or requests for money due to fabricated emergencies. Key warning signs include claims of foreign residence, quick declarations of love, minimal online presence, reluctance to video call, requests for money via cryptocurrency or gift cards, and inconsistent stories.

A scam impersonating "The Tax Center" has been targeting Maine residents, falsely claiming they owe back taxes and offering a fraudulent "Complete Tax Forgiveness Program" to eliminate the debt. Senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to this and similar schemes conducted via spoofed phone calls, texts, and malicious links, making it essential to never share personal information with callers and to verify tax matters directly with official government sources.

During the holiday season, Mainers face increasingly sophisticated scams including phishing emails impersonating UPS or PayPal, "brushing" scams with fake QR codes on unexpected Amazon packages, and tampered gift cards that scammers drain before they're given as gifts. AARP Maine recommends checking with companies directly before clicking links, placing credit freezes if data is compromised, verifying charities through the IRS or Charity Navigator, and contacting the AARP Fraud Watch Network if targeted, noting that over 80% of Americans have experienced or been targeted by holiday-related fraud.

**Scam Type:** Phishing/SMS fraud targeting Camden National Bank customers in Maine. **What Happened:** Belfast Maine Police Department reported a scam involving fraudulent text messages claiming to be from Camden National Bank, stating the recipient's account has been placed on hold due to a security threat and requesting they click a link to restore access. The messages and links are entirely fraudulent and designed to steal personal information. **Advice:** Financial institutions never request sensitive information via text message; customers should contact their bank directly by phone or in-person if they receive such messages and report them to local police.

An American woman over 50 revealed in a viral video how she was victimized by two Nigerian romance scammers ("Yahoo boys") between 2020 and an unspecified later date, losing unspecified amounts of money to both perpetrators. The first scammer posed as a romantic interest for ten months before she discovered his true identity and Nigerian girlfriend when he accidentally called using his real phone number; the second scammer admitted to using her money for his mother's medical bills. Despite significant financial losses, the victim expressed no animosity toward her scammers and remained optimistic about recovery.

A J.D. Power survey found that 29 percent of bank customers experienced fraud on their accounts in the past 12 months, with younger customers (under 40) experiencing higher rates at 42 percent. While 92 percent of customers remained loyal to their banks after fraud was resolved, the study revealed that only 20 percent or fewer customers actively use fraud prevention methods like two-factor authentication or biometric verification. Key recommendations include setting up account alerts, enabling two-factor authentication, using biometric authentication, regularly monitoring accounts, and locking debit cards when not in use.

Meta received a Shonky Award for failing to protect Australians from scams, as social media fraud losses reached $95 million in 2024, with a Queensland retiree losing $110,000 in a fake celebrity investment scam that remained on Facebook for six to eight weeks. Scams on Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) account for 76% of all reported social media scam losses, and CHOICE found that Meta's response times to reported fraudulent ads were inconsistent, with some remaining live for at least four days. The Australian government has introduced legislation imposing fines up to $50 million on social media platforms and other companies that

Alfred Mancinelli, a 79-year-old widower, lost approximately $1 million in retirement savings and his granddaughter's college fund to romance scammers impersonating professional wrestler Alexa Bliss and others over several years. Despite his son Chris's attempts to intervene and protect his assets, Alfred remained convinced he was in a genuine romantic relationship and even sued his son, demonstrating how romance scams isolate victims and make them resistant to help. The case illustrates a broader trend where older Americans are disproportionately targeted for costly online scams, with Americans losing an estimated $652 million to romance and confidence scams in 2023 alone.

The article outlines several prevalent scams targeting Mainers, particularly seniors, including fake jury summons demanding payment via gift cards, the "grandparent scam" where callers pose as jailed relatives requesting bail money, online dating scams that build trust before requesting funds, and caller ID spoofing that masks scammers' true identities. Key advice includes never sharing personal information or sending money to strangers, avoiding suspicious links, and warning elderly relatives about these common fraud schemes.

Scammers are exploiting high demand for Taylor Swift's sold-out Eras Tour tickets in Canada by hacking social media accounts and posing as friends to sell fake tickets, defrauding victims of thousands of dollars each. One Toronto woman's hacked Facebook account was used to scam at least four people out of up to $1,600 each, and despite numerous reports to Facebook and police, the fraudulent account remained active. Experts recommend verifying seller identity by contacting the person directly, as police note recovered funds are rare due to the volume of fraud reports.

Luz Paulino, owner of a Massachusetts tax preparation company, was sentenced to 54 months in prison for using stolen identities to defraud the IRS, a bank, and the Small Business Administration of approximately $2.1 million in COVID-19 relief loans between 2019 and 2021. She filed false tax returns under victims' names to obtain fraudulent refund advance loans and fraudulently applied for SBA disaster loans using stolen identities of businesspeople, using proceeds to wire funds internationally and purchase a vehicle. Paulino fled the United States after being indicted in January 2021 and remained a fugitive for 19 months before being returned by

A TikTok content creator warned British tourists about scams in Armutalan, Marmaris, Turkey, after losing "a considerable amount of money" to card fraud where scammers watched him enter his PIN. He also cautioned visitors to be vigilant about inflated drink prices and bars serving undisclosed "concoctions" of alcohol, particularly in fishbowl drinks, and recommended paying for beverages one at a time to avoid unauthorized charges. The warning video accumulated over 70,000 views, with mixed responses from viewers—some confirmed similar experiences while others reported the area remained safe during their visits.

At least six U.S. states—Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Connecticut, Maine, and Delaware—are enacting legislation to empower banks to identify and block suspicious transactions targeting seniors, as cyber fraud against older adults rises with seniors losing $3.4 billion in 2023 alone, largely through impersonation scams. These state-level efforts aim to fill federal protection gaps, though they create varying liability standards for financial institutions and may complicate compliance across different jurisdictions. Florida has already signed nine bills into law effective January 2024, while Pennsylvania's House Bill 2064 and similar measures in other states would allow banks to delay or refuse fraudulent transactions and face reimbursement liability

At least six U.S. states (Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Connecticut, Maine, and Delaware) are enacting legislation to give banks new tools to identify and block suspicious transactions targeting seniors, as cyber fraud against older adults rises and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau remains inactive. In 2023, impersonation scams alone caused $1.3 billion in losses with nearly half of victims over 60, and seniors filed over 101,000 complaints totaling $3.4 billion in losses. The state bills vary in their approach and liability provisions for financial institutions, though all aim to empower banks to halt or delay transactions suspected of elder financial exploitation.

California Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 278, which would have required banks to establish emergency contact programs for elderly accountholders and delay transactions over $5,000 for three days if fraud was suspected. The bill was introduced by State Senator Bill Dodd in response to Alice Lin, a Southern California widow who lost $200,000 in a cryptocurrency scam after her bank failed to stop seven wire transfers despite red flags. The banking industry initially opposed the measure over liability concerns but removed its opposition after amendments were made, though the bill's enforceability against federally chartered banks remained uncertain due to federal law preemption.

A sting operation by India's Mid-Day newspaper in August 2024 exposed a dating app scam targeting male users across major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. Women match with men on apps like Tinder and Bumble, arrange dates at specific nightclubs, and then leave after the men accumulate large bills—with the women receiving 15-20% commissions from the establishments. Despite the scam's prevalence and complaints on social media, dating app platforms have largely remained silent and failed to launch awareness campaigns, with only Tinder responding that it enforces fraud detection measures and photo verification.

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

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

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.

Brandon Dean Guffey, 41, was convicted on four felony counts including elder abuse and theft for defrauding two Wichita residents in their 90s between 2020 and 2022 through a tree-trimming scam, stealing approximately $5,600 combined by altering checks and falsely claiming work remained unpaid. This is Guffey's second conviction for similar yard-work fraud targeting elderly victims with diminished cognitive capacity; he previously pleaded guilty to related crimes in 2014, including convincing an 86-year-old woman to pay $8,800 for a $400 job.

**Summary:** Roslyn Weems, a 52-year-old Mississippi woman previously employed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for stealing approximately $52,000 in rental income from her employer's luxury coastal Maine property in July 2021. Weems intercepted rental payments by diverting them to accounts under her control rather than the property owner's account and used the funds for personal benefit. She faces sentencing on December 19, 2024, with potential penalties including up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and mandatory restitution.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for Maine launched the Maine Rx Elder Fraud Program on September 5th, a collaborative initiative with AARP Maine and the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention to educate older adults about scams through pharmacy distribution channels, beginning with informational brochures at 60 Hannaford in-store pharmacies. In 2023, over 101,000 Americans aged 60+ lost $3.4 billion to fraud, including 397 Mainers who reported losses totaling $7.1 million, though actual losses are believed to be significantly higher due to underreporting. The program aims to help seniors recognize common scam tactics

This AARP survey of Maine residents reveals that while people of all ages generally view aging optimistically and believe wisdom comes with age, 91 percent of respondents acknowledge that older adults are vulnerable targets for fraud and scams. The survey also found widespread perceptions of age discrimination in employment and concerns about older adults' ability to manage technology and afford living expenses, highlighting the need for education to combat aging stereotypes and protect seniors from exploitation.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine launched the Maine Rx Elder Fraud Program, a collaborative awareness initiative with AARP Maine and the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention that distributes educational brochures through Hannaford Supermarkets' 60 in-state pharmacies to educate seniors about recognizing scams and reporting fraud. In the prior year, 397 Mainers aged 60+ filed fraud complaints with reported losses exceeding $7.1 million, while nationally over 101,000 seniors were defrauded of $3.4 billion through increasingly sophisticated schemes.

Hannaford Supermarkets launched the Maine Rx Elder Fraud Program across 60 Maine pharmacies in partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office, AARP Maine, and the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention, distributing informational brochures on prescription bags to help seniors recognize and report fraud. The initiative addresses a growing problem: in 2023, over 101,000 Americans age 60+ lost $3.4 billion to fraud, with 397 Maine residents alone filing complaints for $7.1 million in losses. The brochures include common scam warning signs and information about the National Elder Fraud Hotline, leveraging pharmacists' trusted relationships