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A 71-year-old woman and 68-year-old man in Lancaster County lost $115,000 in gold bars after receiving a call from someone posing as an FBI agent who falsely claimed they were under investigation for child pornography. The scammers instructed the couple to purchase gold bars and hand them over to an unknown person, claiming the bars would be taken to Washington D.C. as part of the investigation. The Sheriff's Office reported this as the largest fraud case by dollar amount in their jurisdiction for 2024.

A couple aged 71 and 68 in Lancaster County, Nebraska lost $115,000 to scammers who used fear tactics after the couple's computer shut down, falsely claiming the FBI had connected them to child pornography and theft. The scammers convinced the couple to withdraw $115,000 from their bank, purchase gold bars, and hand them over to a man in a silver Ford Explorer who promised to deliver them to Washington D.C. for safekeeping; police believe the gold bars have likely left the country. This represents the largest fraud case Lancaster County Police Department handled in 2024, highlighting how sophisticated scams now involve in-person collection of funds rather than traditional wire transfers

Representatives Robin Kelly and Troy Balderson introduced the Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act, bipartisan legislation directing the Federal Trade Commission to issue a comprehensive report on senior-targeted scams, including their types, frequency, and policy recommendations. The bill also requires the FTC to update its web portal with regional scam information and resources for law enforcement and adult protective services to help seniors and caregivers identify and prevent fraud. The Elder Justice Coalition endorsed the legislation as a commonsense approach to combat financial abuse that can devastate seniors' life savings.

An undercover operation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and partner agencies in Whatcom County, Washington on April 20 resulted in the rescue of seven adult trafficking victims and the arrest of Kody Allan Schwiger, 31, after officers posed as sex-trafficking customers and responded to online advertisements. A concurrent HSI operation led to the arrest of Noone Danger Marshall, 43, of Ferndale, who attempted to arrange commercial sex with what he believed was a 16-year-old (actually an undercover agent). The rescued victims, all U.S. citizens, received support services from non-governmental organizations, and the investigations remain ongoing.

FBI Washington Field Office officials warn of "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, where perpetrators develop long-term virtual relationships with victims to manipulate them into sending money. The scam is prevalent in the D.C. area and can affect individuals and families of various backgrounds.

Scammers stole more than $3.4 billion from Americans over age 60 last year, representing an 11% increase from the previous year, according to an FBI report. The FBI received over 100,000 complaints from older victims, with nearly 6,000 losing more than $100,000 each, as criminals increasingly employ sophisticated tactics including tech support scams, romance frauds, investment schemes, and in-person courier pickups to collect cash and precious metals. The report highlights a rise in organized, transnational criminal enterprises targeting vulnerable older Americans, with some victims becoming destitute.

Scammers stole more than $3.4 billion from Americans over age 60 last year, representing an 11% increase from the previous year, according to an FBI report. The FBI received over 100,000 complaints from older victims, with increasingly sophisticated schemes including tech support scams, romance frauds, investment schemes, and in-person courier pickups to collect cash or precious metals. The report highlights the devastating impact on vulnerable seniors, including one case where an 81-year-old Ohio man fatally shot an Uber driver after being targeted by a court impersonation scam.

The top three brands that scammers impersonate in 2024 are USPS, Microsoft, and Meta, according to a recent Guardio report. USPS phishing attacks typically come via email or text claiming package delivery issues and direct victims to fake websites to steal credentials; Microsoft impersonators urge victims to click malicious links that install malware or phish for information; and Meta scammers send fake account restriction warnings that lead to fake login pages. The FTC recommends protecting yourself by installing updated security software, updating your phone, enabling multi-factor authentication, and backing up data regularly.

Scammers stole more than $3.4 billion from Americans over 60 last year, an 11% increase from the previous year, according to an FBI report that documents increasingly sophisticated criminal tactics. The FBI received over 100,000 complaints from older victims, with tech support scams being the most common fraud type, followed by rising schemes involving in-person couriers collecting cash or gold from victims deceived into believing their accounts were compromised. Investigators warn that organized criminal enterprises are using romance scams, investment fraud, and impersonation tactics, with losses potentially underreported as many victims never report their victimization.

Older Americans lost over $3.4 billion to scams in the past year, a rise of 11% from the previous year, according to an FBI report showing increasingly sophisticated criminal tactics targeting victims over 60. The most common fraud was tech support scams, with a rising trend of in-person couriers collecting cash or precious metals from victims convinced their bank accounts had been compromised. Federal investigators warn of organized, transnational criminal enterprises using romance scams, investment fraud, and impersonation schemes, with nearly 6,000 victims losing over $100,000 each last year.

U.S. seniors over 60 experienced record elder fraud losses of $3.4 billion across over 101,000 reported complaints in 2023, with a 14% increase from 2022, according to an FBI report. Investment scams, tech support scams, romance scams, and "grandparent scams" were identified as the most costly schemes, with individual victims losing over $100,000 in some cases. The FBI urged financial institutions to implement stronger safeguards and emphasized that early reporting and public education are critical to preventing victims from completing fraudulent transfers.

Scammers stole more than $3.4 billion from Americans over age 60 last year, representing an 11% increase from the prior year, according to an FBI report. The FBI received over 100,000 complaints from older victims, with nearly 6,000 losing more than $100,000 each, and investigators warn of rising sophistication in schemes including tech support scams, romance fraud, investment fraud, and in-person courier pickups of cash and precious metals. The losses may be significantly underreported, and experts caution that these crimes can leave elderly victims financially devastated and destitute.

Scammers stole more than $3.4 billion from Americans over 60 last year, representing an 11% increase from the previous year, according to an FBI report. The FBI received over 100,000 complaints from older victims, with common schemes including tech support scams, romance fraud, investment fraud, and increasingly sophisticated courier-based schemes where criminals trick victims into withdrawing cash or precious metals for pickup. The rise in losses reflects organized criminal enterprises exploiting vulnerable populations through multiple tactics, with the FBI warning that actual losses are likely higher than reported.

Scammers stole over $3.4 billion from Americans over age 60 last year, an 11% increase from the previous year, with the FBI receiving more than 100,000 complaints and nearly 6,000 victims losing over $100,000 each. Tech support scams remain the most common fraud, with criminals impersonating officials to convince victims their accounts are compromised and directing them to transfer funds or withdraw cash/gold for in-person courier pickup. The FBI warns that these increasingly sophisticated schemes represent organized, transnational criminal enterprises using romance scams, investment fraud, and other tactics that can leave vulnerable seniors financially destitute.

An FBI report found that over 100,000 Americans aged 60 and older lost an average of $34,000 each to computer money scams in 2023, totaling more than $3.4 billion—an 11% increase from the previous year. Tech support scams were the most common fraud type, followed by data breaches, romance scams, non-payment schemes, and investment fraud, with over 12,000 victims reporting cryptocurrency was used to facilitate their scams.

The Marietta Police Department and Washington County Sheriff's Office warned residents of impostor scams in which callers falsely claimed to be officers from these agencies, using spoofed phone numbers and real officers' names. The scammers told victims they had warrants or legal matters (such as identity theft or drug-related charges) and requested financial information or money over the phone. Law enforcement officials emphasized that legitimate agencies never request money, financial details, or conduct official business by phone, and advised residents to hang up and call their local department directly to verify any caller's authenticity.

Americans lost over $10 billion to scams and fraud in 2023, nearly triple the $8.8 billion lost in 2022, according to FTC data. Representative Josh Harder introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate May 9th as National Scam Survivor Day to reduce stigma around victimization and raise awareness, particularly regarding imposter scams that increasingly use AI technology to deceive consumers and seniors. The resolution aims to prompt greater action to protect families from fraud while acknowledging that actual losses are likely higher due to underreporting.

A national initiative is training doctors across 22 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico to identify elderly patients vulnerable to investment fraud and refer them to securities regulators and social workers. The program, expanding from a successful Texas pilot, represents a collaborative approach between investor protection groups, medical associations, and adult protection services to address senior investment scams as a public health issue.

A 63-year-old Pennsylvania woman lost her $1,225 Social Security check after falling victim to an impersonation scam in April 2024. The victim provided her Social Security information to an unknown female caller claiming to represent the Social Security Administration, and her check was subsequently rerouted to an address in Washington D.C. State Police in DuBois launched an investigation into the fraud.

In May 2024, Dolapo Lawal, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to access device fraud and aggravated identity theft for orchestrating a stolen identity tax refund scheme targeting elderly victims. Lawal fraudulently obtained over $3 million in tax refunds using elderly victims' identities, loaded the funds onto debit cards opened in their names, and withdrew more than $80,000 in cash at ATMs for personal use, including payments on his Mercedes and credit card debt. Law enforcement recovered approximately 24 fraudulent debit cards with $200,000 in stolen refunds during an April 2022 traffic stop, and later discovere

Dolapo Lawal of Baltimore pleaded guilty to access device fraud and aggravated identity theft for operating a stolen identity tax refund scheme that defrauded elderly victims of over $3 million. Lawal obtained fraudulent tax refunds using victims' identities, loaded them onto debit cards opened in the victims' names, and withdrew the funds in cash for personal use; law enforcement recovered 24 fraudulent debit cards and over $80,000 in cash from his vehicle in April 2022, and found over 300 additional debit cards during a June 2023 search warrant of his home. Lawal faces a maximum of 10 years in

A joint investigation uncovered at least sixty scam operators on TikTok impersonating pharmacies and medical professionals to defraud Americans seeking Ozempic and other weight loss drugs, collecting hundreds of dollars per victim before failing to deliver the products. The scammers exploit TikTok's algorithms, which recommend weight loss drug sellers to users and facilitate connections between bad actors and vulnerable consumers, using payment apps like Zelle and Venmo to make refunds difficult. The investigation also found that nearly half of Americans using these drugs acquired them without prescriptions, highlighting both the prevalence of scams and the broader problem of illegal drug distribution on social media platforms.

Fraudsters are impersonating U.S. Marshals and federal officials by spoofing their phone numbers to target Maine residents, claiming they must pay fines to avoid arrest or promising payments that require upfront fees. The scammers use convincing tactics such as publicly available personal information, fake badges, and case numbers to appear credible. Victims are urged to report suspected scams to the FBI or FTC, and to avoid taking immediate action on unsolicited calls demanding payment or personal information.

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Kyrsten Sinema introduced a bipartisan resolution that unanimously passed the Senate to designate May 15, 2024, as "National Senior Fraud Awareness Day." According to FBI data, seniors lost over $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023—an 11% increase from 2022—through various schemes including tech support, romance, and cryptocurrency scams. The resolution aims to raise awareness and help protect seniors' savings from increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.

From 2022 to 2023, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network reported approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity related to elder financial exploitation, with 80% of all suspicious activity reported by banks involving elder scams. Elder financial exploitation—the unauthorized or improper use of an older person's funds, property, or assets—can be perpetrated by strangers, family members, friends, neighbors, or caregivers using tactics such as government impersonation, fake prizes, tech support scams, and the grandparent scam. The article emphasizes preventive measures including protecting sensitive documents, reviewing credit reports, verifying credentials, and trusting instincts when suspicious activity occurs.

Libertyville Savings Bank is hosting a free educational open house on June 13 to raise awareness about elder financial exploitation, coinciding with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15. According to FinCEN, over 155,000 suspicious activity reports related to elder abuse were filed in the past year, totaling $27 billion in suspicious activity, though many cases go unreported. The event will inform attendees about recognizing fraudulent communications and scams targeting seniors of all ages.

Washington residents lost approximately $250 million to fraud in 2023, with 53,269 complaints filed to the Federal Trade Commission—roughly $3.2 million per 100,000 residents. Imposter scams (22% of cases) and identity theft (14% of cases) were the most common fraud types, followed by online shopping fraud, bank and lender scams, and prize/sweepstakes schemes. Victims are advised to report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and avoid providing personal information to unknown callers, even those claiming to be legitimate authorities.

On June 15, 2024, U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and highlighted that financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse, costing older adults an estimated $23 billion annually. The U.S. Attorney's Office has expanded efforts to combat elder fraud through initiatives including the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, which targets foreign-based schemes, the Money Mule Initiative to disrupt fraud networks, and Senior Scam Alerts educating the public about common schemes such as Social Security impostor scams, tech support fraud, and lottery scams.

Attorney General Merrick Garland addressed the Elder Justice Coordinating Council at the Department of Justice, highlighting the agency's commitment to combating elder abuse and fraud. Over the last five years, the Justice Department has pursued more than 1,500 criminal and civil cases targeting older adults, provided services to over 1.5 million elder victims, and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in restitution. Garland emphasized the critical role of interagency coordination and partnerships in addressing evolving threats to elders, including emerging challenges from artificial intelligence and transnational fraud schemes.

The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning on June 12, 2024, about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors who are deceived by fraudsters posing as IRS or other government agency representatives. Scammers use manipulated caller IDs, fabricated urgent scenarios, and pressure victims to make immediate payments via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to steal personal information and money. The IRS recommends that anyone receiving unsolicited calls from alleged IRS representatives should hang up immediately and verify legitimacy by calling the official IRS customer service line at 800-829-1040.

The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors, in which fraudsters pose as IRS or other government officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers pressure victims into immediate payments via gift cards or wire transfers by threatening arrest or promising false refunds, often using spoofed caller IDs and creating false urgency. The IRS recommends hanging up on unexpected calls, contacting IRS customer service at 800-829-1040 to verify communications, and remembering that the IRS initiates contact primarily through mail and never demands payment via gift cards or wire transfers.

FinCEN released an analysis of elder financial exploitation (EFE) showing approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity reported by financial institutions between June 2022 and June 2023, based on 155,415 filings. The agency reminds financial institutions to remain vigilant in identifying and reporting EFE, which damages victims' savings, retirement accounts, and overall financial security, and directs victims and reporters to resources including the National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-FRAUD-11), the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, and the FTC.

In 2024, major consumer protection organizations reported that elder real estate fraud losses increased 14 percent since 2022, with nearly 1,500 Americans ages 60 and older losing $65 million in real estate scams in 2023 alone. The fraud includes forged documents, Power of Attorney abuse, deed theft, and deceptive financial schemes targeting seniors' property and money. Organizations including AARP, the National Association of Realtors, and the National Consumer Law Center are urging states to implement stronger protections such as uniform power of attorney laws, multi-factor authentication, property record monitoring, and enhanced enforcement by adult protective services and law enforcement.

The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting senior citizens, in which fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and text messages. Scammers use tactics including caller ID spoofing, false claims of tax debt or prize winnings, threats of arrest or deportation, and demands for immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The IRS advises seniors to hang up on unexpected calls claiming to be from the IRS, verify communications through official channels at 800-829-1040, and report suspicious activity.

The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors, in which fraudsters pose as government officials from the IRS, Social Security Administration, and Medicare to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use tactics such as spoofed caller IDs, fabricated urgent scenarios (false tax debts or prize claims), and demands for immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to pressure victims into quick compliance. The IRS recommends that anyone receiving unexpected calls from alleged IRS representatives should hang up immediately and verify any claims by calling the official IRS customer service line at 800-829-1040.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day highlights key strategies for protecting seniors from fraud and scams. Experts recommend measures such as verifying caller identities, protecting personal information, monitoring financial accounts, and maintaining open communication with trusted family members to prevent elder fraud and abuse.

This is an opinion piece critical of the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, arguing that the bill would weaken SEC oversight of cryptocurrency by shifting regulatory authority to the less-equipped Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The author cites the FBI's 2023 report documenting over $4 billion in investment scam losses and notes that 90% of stablecoin transactions are fraudulent, warning that reduced regulation would increase consumer vulnerability to crypto fraud and scams.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington seized over $1 million in collectible stamps purchased with stolen money from a fraud scheme targeting seniors and vulnerable populations. The scheme involved two phases: victims were first defrauded by scammers impersonating government agents (FBI, SEC, DOJ) who claimed their accounts were breached and demanded they transfer funds for safekeeping, and some of those stolen funds were then funneled through romance scam victims via cashier's checks to purchase the stamps. The government has identified 28 victims defrauded of hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively, and seized stamps will be liquidated with proceeds returned to victims

The IRS has issued a warning about impersonation scams increasingly targeting seniors, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) via phone calls, emails, and text messages to steal personal information and money. Scammers use pressure tactics, fake caller IDs, and demands for payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, often threatening arrest or deportation to coerce immediate compliance. The IRS advises seniors to hang up on unexpected calls claiming tax issues, verify communications directly at 800-829-1040, and never provide sensitive information or make payments without confirming legitimacy through official channels.

Since April 2022, Washington State's DSHS has tracked a surge in EBT card scams affecting 9,000 SNAP recipients, resulting in $5.5 million in total losses with an average loss of nearly $600 per household. To address this fraud, DSHS has processed over 8,000 claims and replaced $3 million in stolen benefits, while launching a multilingual education campaign translated into 15 languages to help immigrant and refugee communities recognize scam warning signs and protect their EBT card information.

A June 2024 Washington Post investigation revealed a massive scam operation centered in Myanmar's Kokang region, controlled by Chinese crime families, that employed approximately 120,000 coerced workers across over 300 call centers to perpetrate cryptocurrency investment scams and romance scams targeting US victims. Workers from 35 countries were lured under false pretenses and subjected to beatings, torture, and killings for attempting to escape or failing to meet quotas, demonstrating why legal consequences remain minimal for scammers operating from overseas jurisdictions.

A HostingAdvice.com survey of 3,000 parents found that Washington state parents monitor their children's online activities less rigorously than the national average, with only 36% monitoring daily and 43% actively overseeing their kids' online habits. The primary parental concern is exposure to inappropriate content (44%), with monitoring methods including browser history checks (33%) and parental control software (25%), though experts recommend greater vigilance given recommendations for warning labels on social media apps.

Washington residents lost $5.5 million in electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card reader scams over two years, affecting approximately 9,000 people who receive food assistance and other government benefits, with an average loss of nearly $600 per household. The scams involved thieves placing devices on card-reading machines to steal benefit information, with most fraudulent transactions occurring out of state through card cloning. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services has reimbursed $3 million in stolen benefits and encourages affected residents to report losses within 30 days by calling the agency or visiting an office.

Remote job scams are targeting college students through fake job postings on legitimate sites and email, where scammers send fraudulent checks as "advance payments" and instruct victims to wire portions of the funds to other accounts. When the checks bounce days later, victims are held liable for the full amount by their banks while the money sent to scammers becomes unrecoverable, leaving students with significant financial losses.

A phishing scam is targeting Washington drivers by sending text messages impersonating the Good To Go tolling service, directing recipients to a fake website (mygoodtogotoll.com) to pay a purported unpaid toll of $6.67 with threats of additional $66.70 charges. The Washington State Department of Transportation warned drivers not to click the malicious link and reminded them the legitimate payment website is MyGoodToGo.com without the word "toll" in the URL. The Better Business Bureau recommends avoiding unsolicited messages, verifying website URLs carefully, and never replying to suspected scam texts.

The IRS and Security Summit partners launched their annual "Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself" awareness campaign warning tax professionals about evolving scams targeting their businesses and client data. Identity thieves are using multiple schemes including posing as new clients, phishing emails requesting Central Authorization File information, and phone/text campaigns to trick tax professionals into revealing sensitive information that could be used to file fraudulent tax returns. Tax professionals are advised to remain vigilant year-round against these threats, with the IRS offering educational forums and resources to help the tax professional community strengthen their security defenses.

A Syracuse University study of over 2,200 political ad groups found that weak social media regulations enabled widespread scams targeting voters, particularly older Americans. Fraudulent ads promised free Trump merchandise (flags, coins) in exchange for credit card information for shipping, then charged victims $80 or more without authorization; researchers identified networks of deceptive pages that shared creators and quickly regenerated when removed, primarily seeking to harvest personal financial data rather than support candidates. The $19 million in ads were viewed over 1 billion times across Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, with Meta removing most of the identified scam network after researcher notification, though similar ads persisted on other platforms.

The IRS warned that scammers are increasingly targeting tax professionals through phishing scams to steal taxpayer information and commit identity theft. Common tactics include posing as new clients to distribute malware, impersonating the IRS to obtain professional identification numbers (EFIN, PTIN, CAF), promoting fraudulent "Zero Tax programs," and sending AI-generated fake IRS letters. Tax professionals are advised to remain vigilant and can report suspected phishing attempts to [email protected].

The IRS issued a warning on July 11, 2024, alerting car dealers and businesses to phishing and smishing scams that impersonate the IRS and legitimate organizations to steal financial and personal information or install malware and ransomware. The advisory follows a recent ransomware attack targeting car dealerships and urges recipients to avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, enable multi-factor authentication, and report suspicious emails to [email protected]. Key protective measures include verifying sender identity through independent communication channels and never downloading attachments or providing sensitive information in response to unsolicited contact.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia filed a civil forfeiture action to recover approximately $2.5 million in USDT cryptocurrency seized by the FBI from a perpetrator in Thailand who operated "pig butchering" scams targeting U.S. citizens. Pig butchering schemes involve scammers building trust with victims through online communications before manipulating them into fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes, often extracting multiple payments before victims realize they have been defrauded. The forfeiture action demonstrates law enforcement's commitment to pursuing cryptocurrency-based fraud schemes across international borders and recovering assets to compensate victims.