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# Holiday Scam Summary This holiday season, scammers are using artificial intelligence to create convincing fake websites, social media ads, and celebrity endorsements that trick shoppers—with one in five Americans falling victim and losing an average of $900. To protect yourself, experts recommend verifying websites by typing addresses directly into your browser, being skeptical of deeply discounted prices and urgent "buy now" offers, avoiding payments through money apps, and not clicking links in suspicious delivery emails or texts. Remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

During the holiday season, scammers increasingly target senior citizens through charity fraud, fake online shopping websites, and phone impersonation schemes, exploiting the elderly's trust and less familiarity with modern technology while people are distracted by festivities and shopping. West Virginia's Secretary of State warns that fraudsters use emotional appeals and urgency to manipulate victims into donating to fake charities or providing credit card information for nonexistent purchases. To protect yourself, verify charities using the official list at erls.wvsos.gov, be cautious of unsolicited donation requests, avoid clicking suspicious links, and never share payment information without independently confirming the legitimacy of the organization or seller.

# Holiday Scam Summary The FBI is warning holiday shoppers about a surge in scams two weeks before Christmas, including fake shopping emails with malicious links, fraudulent charity donation requests, and romance scams that exploit seasonal generosity. Scammers use increasingly sophisticated AI-generated emails and texts that look legitimate to steal personal and financial information from victims. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in promotional emails, go directly to official websites to verify sales, research charities before donating, and take time to pause and verify suspicious messages rather than acting out of urgency.

# Holiday Shopping Scam Warning The FBI is warning online shoppers about increasingly sophisticated holiday scams that use artificial intelligence to deceive victims, with cybercriminals targeting everyone regardless of age or tech-savviness. To protect yourself, avoid clicking suspicious ads or links, verify deals directly on official websites, inspect sender details in emails and texts, use password managers, and never share multi-factor authentication codes. If you fall victim to a scam, report it immediately to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) within the first few hours, as authorities can sometimes stop transactions before money leaves the country.

# Fraud Surge Targets Arizona Seniors Arizona experienced a 20% surge in senior fraud reports in 2025, with over 7,000 victims losing nearly $67 million to holiday scammers who exploit increased online shopping and charitable giving. The most common schemes include fake online shopping websites, phishing messages about delayed packages, and bogus charity donation requests. Experts advise seniors to verify suspicious communications with trusted friends or family members before taking action, and emphasize that victims shouldn't feel ashamed as scammers are highly sophisticated and specifically target vulnerable populations.

Seniors are increasingly targeted by scammers who exploit their savings, home ownership, and relative unfamiliarity with technology to commit fraud. Common scams include unsolicited calls selling unnecessary products like medical-alert devices, lottery/prize schemes requiring upfront fees, and fake mobile health clinics that bill insurance and Medicare using stolen personal information. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited calls and emails, never pay upfront fees for prizes you've won, verify any medical services through official channels, and report suspicious activity to the FTC.

Elder scams cost San Diego County seniors $149 million in a single year, with scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated and targeting vulnerable populations during the holiday season and year-round. The San Diego District Attorney's Office is working to raise awareness about common scams and encourage reporting by removing the stigma and shame that often prevents seniors from coming forward, emphasizing that anyone—regardless of education or intelligence—can fall victim to these crimes. To protect yourself, stay vigilant about unsolicited contacts, verify requests through official channels before sharing personal information or money, and report suspected scams to local authorities rather than suffering in silence.

Political scams are surging, with scammers impersonating politicians and campaigns to trick voters into donating money, particularly targeting seniors like Susan J., whose grandmother nearly fell for a call from a cloned campaign phone number. Adults over 60 lost an estimated $1.9 billion to fraud in 2023 (possibly much more), with political scams representing a growing portion of that total as elections become more polarized and digitized. To protect yourself, pause before giving financial information over the phone, verify requests by contacting campaigns directly through official websites, and discuss suspicious calls with trusted friends or family before taking action.

Political scams are surging as scammers impersonate politicians and campaigns to trick voters into donating money or sharing personal information, with seniors being particularly vulnerable targets. One example involved a scammer cloning a real campaign's phone number to solicit donations, affecting millions including a politically engaged grandmother in Virginia. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited political calls asking for credit card information over the phone, verify requests through official campaign websites, and discuss suspicious messages with trusted neighbors or family members before responding.

During the holiday season, scammers intensify their fraud schemes, targeting seniors who are often more trusting and polite, making them vulnerable to losing their retirement savings and pensions. West Virginia officials warn families to protect older loved ones by verifying charities through the official state registry before donating and being cautious of unsolicited phone and internet contacts. Anyone who suspects fraud should immediately report it to the Secretary of State's Investigations Division at 877-FRAUD-WV to help protect other seniors.

Georgia's Secretary of State reports that holiday scams remain widespread, with 1,140 cases of senior exploitation reported since the SPEAR Act took effect, including 81 victims in November 2025 alone. Common scams targeting holiday shoppers and donors include gift card fraud, impersonation scams posing as family members requesting money, fake online shopping sites that don't deliver goods, and document fraud. Consumers are urged to stay vigilant by verifying requests for money or gift cards through direct contact, shopping only on secure websites, and reporting suspected fraud to authorities.

The Amador County Sheriff's Office warned the public of an ongoing telephone scam in which callers impersonate the Sheriff and demand payment for alleged missed federal grand jury duty. The Sheriff's Office clarified that they do not request payments over the phone for jury duty or any other matter, and urged recipients of such calls to hang up and contact the Sheriff's Office at 209-223-6500 rather than providing personal information or making payments.

The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to remain vigilant against seasonal scams during the Labor Day weekend, noting that scammers exploit holiday distractions and increased spending activity. Common Labor Day scams include fake vacation rental listings, counterfeit event tickets, fraudulent websites mimicking legitimate sales, phishing emails and texts, door-to-door contractor schemes, and fake charities. The BBB recommends verifying vendors and websites, booking through trusted platforms, using official ticket vendors, researching charities before donating, and avoiding unsolicited ads and links.

This educational article reports that online scams caused a record $16.6 billion in losses in 2024, with 73% of U.S. adults experiencing some form of online scam or attack. The article outlines common scam tactics (unsolicited contact, promises of easy money, requests for personal information or upfront payments) and describes six prevalent scam types including counterfeit merchandise, charity fraud, cryptocurrency investment fraud, bogus debts, home repair scams, and emergency/grandparent scams that specifically target seniors. Awareness of these warning signs can help individuals avoid becoming victims.

This educational article reports that scams cost Americans $16.6 billion in 2024, with 73 percent of U.S. adults experiencing online scams or attacks. The piece outlines common red flags—unsolicited contact, promises of easy money, requests for personal information or upfront payments—and describes prominent scam types including counterfeit merchandise, charity fraud, cryptocurrency investment schemes, bogus debts, home repair scams, and emergency/grandparent scams that particularly target elderly individuals.

The Placer County Sheriff's Office warns of increasing fake tech support scams targeting seniors, where scammers impersonate Microsoft, Apple, and other legitimate companies by calling with claims of computer problems and requesting remote access to demand payment for unnecessary repairs. The advisory emphasizes that legitimate companies never initiate unsolicited calls about viruses and advises residents to hang up on unexpected tech support calls, avoid clicking suspicious pop-ups, never grant remote access to unknown parties, and consult trusted family members or local police when uncertain.

The Better Business Bureau warned consumers to be vigilant against scams during Labor Day weekend, when scammers exploit increased holiday activity and consumer distraction. Common scams to watch for include vacation rental fraud, counterfeit event tickets, online shopping and charity scams, phishing communications, and home improvement fraud featuring artificially low prices and pressure for quick payment. The bureau recommends consumers take extra time to verify offers before making purchases and visit BBB.org for additional fraud prevention information.

This educational article outlines five common charity scams that exploit people's generosity, particularly following disasters: fake FEMA websites impersonating government relief agencies, fraudulent charities mimicking legitimate organizations, phony crowdfunding campaigns using false stories, scam contractors demanding upfront payment, and sketchy peer-to-peer payment requests. The article provides safety guidance including donating only through official charity websites verified on CharityNavigator.org, avoiding unsolicited links and payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers, and verifying contractor credentials before hiring.

The article discusses a surge in impersonation scams targeting seniors, where scammers pose as government agencies or trusted businesses (like Amazon) to convince victims to transfer money for "protection," ultimately stealing it. The FTC reports a nearly 200% increase in reports of older Americans losing up to $10,000 since 2020, with a 400% increase in losses exceeding $100,000, and younger Americans are increasingly affected. The piece provides protective advice including being wary of money transfer requests, refusing demands for gift cards or cryptocurrency transfers, and hanging up to independently verify caller claims.

Texas seniors lost over $480 million to scams in 2024, ranking second nationally according to FBI data, with common schemes including charity fraud, romance scams, and jury duty threats targeting vulnerable older adults. Local organizations like San Angelo's Better Business Bureau and retirement communities are addressing the surge through education programs that teach seniors to recognize red flags, avoid panic-driven decisions, and report crimes without shame. Experts note that official complaint numbers likely underrepresent the true scope, as many victims fail to report due to embarrassment.

Scammers impersonate legitimate charities and create fake donation sites following natural disasters like hurricanes, exploiting people's desire to help during high-emotion situations. In 2024, disaster relief scams cost Americans $3 billion overall, with the FBI receiving over 4,500 complaints totaling $96 million in losses. People should watch for red flags including unexpected contact combined with pressure to act quickly or requests for unusual payment methods, and should verify organizations through trusted sources before donating.

Three Ghanaian men—Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah—were extradited to the United States in August 2025 to face charges for their roles in a $100 million fraud scheme involving romance scams targeting vulnerable elderly individuals and business email compromise attacks on companies. The criminals created fake online identities to gain victims' trust and convince them to send money, while also impersonating business executives to trick employees into wiring funds to fraudulent accounts; the stolen money was then laundered through West Africa. A fourth suspect, Patrick Kwame Asare, remains at large, and the defendants face multiple charges including wire frau

Lloyds Bank warned of a surge in football ticket scams ahead of the Premier League season, reporting over 2,400 fraud cases among its customers in the past two years with losses exceeding £500,000, and estimating at least 12,000 nationwide victims have lost over £2.5 million since the 2023/24 season. The scams, primarily targeting fans aged 25-34, involve fraudsters posting fake ticket listings on social media offering discounted or sold-out game tickets, then disappearing after victims pay via bank transfer without delivering tickets. The UK government joined Lloyds' "Stop! Think Fraud" campaign to advise supporters to purchase

**Military Consumer Fraud Alert** - California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer protection alert warning service members, veterans, and their families about targeted scams, noting that military consumers nationwide reported over 99,400 fraud complaints last year, including 44,587 imposter scams costing victims and families over $199 million. The alert identifies common threats including charity scams (fake veteran organizations), predatory schools using high-pressure tactics to exploit GI Bill benefits, and home loan scams impersonating government agencies, advising consumers to pause on seemingly too-good-to-be-true offers and verify legitimacy before engaging.

Louisiana residents are warned of a summer surge in scams including vacation rental fraud, AI voice cloning impersonations, toll violation/DMV phishing texts, and jury duty scams. Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics—from fake travel listings requiring upfront wire transfers to AI-generated voices claiming relatives are in emergencies—to steal identities and drain bank accounts. Authorities recommend victims verify requests through official channels, resist immediate action, and never provide personal information to unsolicited contacts.

California's Attorney General issued a consumer alert during Military Consumer Month warning service members, veterans, and their families about targeted scams, noting that military consumers reported over 99,400 fraud complaints nationwide last year, including 44,587 imposter scams costing over $199 million. The alert identifies key fraud tactics targeting the military community—including charity scams using deceptive veteran-related names, predatory for-profit schools using high-pressure tactics, and home loan scams impersonating government agencies—and advises victims to verify charities through the Registry of Charitable Trusts and to pause before accepting offers that seem too good to be true.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and the Better Business Bureau launched an educational campaign warning consumers about AI voice cloning scams, where fraudsters use synthesized voices to impersonate loved ones, celebrities, or officials to extort money or solicit fake donations. Common targets include grandparents receiving calls about grandchildren in distress and parents receiving calls about injured children needing bail money. The agencies recommend verifying unexpected emergency calls by hanging up and calling the person directly through a trusted number, establishing code words with loved ones, avoiding unknown callers, and refusing requests for gift card or app-based payments.

The Statesboro Police Department warned of three escalating phone scams targeting senior citizens in the area: Social Security fraud (claiming false benefits issues to extract personal information or payments), the "Grandparent" scam (impersonating grandchildren claiming emergencies to request wire transfers), and fake charity solicitations (posing as legitimate organizations to collect donations). The department advised seniors to never share personal or financial information over the phone, verify callers by contacting organizations directly, and report suspicious calls to local police.

Romance scams are among the costliest fraud schemes, with victims reporting over $1.3 billion in losses in 2022, targeting people seeking relationships online through fake profiles and emotional manipulation to solicit money, gift cards, or personal information. Scammers typically establish trust quickly, claim emergencies or hardships, avoid in-person meetings, and pressure victims to keep the relationship secret. Protection strategies include moving slowly in relationships, verifying identities through reverse image searches, refusing money requests, consulting trusted friends or family, and reporting suspicious profiles to the FTC and BBB Scam Tracker.

North Branford police conducted an elder fraud awareness presentation at Evergreen Woods Community to educate seniors on prevention strategies. The presentation highlighted that seniors lose more than $3 billion annually to various fraud schemes including romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, and government impersonation scams, with tips provided on how to recognize and protect against these threats.

A 2025 bipartisan report highlights that fraud and scams cost seniors $4.8 billion in 2024, with investment, cryptocurrency, and romance scams posing the greatest risks to older adults who are often targeted due to politeness, trust, and unfamiliarity with digital technologies. Common scams include Medicare fraud ($80.5 million in losses), imposter scams ($789 million in losses), phishing, and deepfakes, which cause not only financial devastation but also significant emotional and physical health impacts on victims.

An Eastern Oregon woman lost $600,000 in life savings to a "gold bar scam" in which scammers impersonated federal agents, claimed her accounts were at risk, and convinced her to purchase gold bars for "safekeeping"; local law enforcement prevented an additional $300,000 loss after her sister reported the scheme to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Hotline. The scam typically involves fraudsters creating false urgency about compromised finances, instructing victims to convert assets into gold, and dispatching couriers to collect the valuables before disappearing. The Oregon DOJ warns that no legitimate government agency requests gold purchases or home visits for money collection, and urges victims to hang up

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into fraudulent charity scams where bad actors impersonated payment processors to collect flood relief donations intended for the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department under false pretenses. The scammers exploited the Texas Hill Country flooding tragedy to deceive donors, diverting money for personal gain while the fire department itself suffered significant losses. The Attorney General's office advises donors to verify charities through resources like CharityWatch and GuideStar, avoid wiring money or sharing personal information, and report suspected fraud to the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.

Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, a 41-year-old illegal immigrant, was arrested for staging a fake ICE "kidnapping" at a Los Angeles fast-food restaurant and creating a fraudulent GoFundMe campaign claiming her family needed $4,500 to help her. Surveillance footage and phone records exposed the hoax, revealing that Calderon voluntarily left the restaurant and that fabricated photos of her alleged "rescue" were created to support the false narrative. She faces up to five years in federal prison on charges of conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers, while the fundraiser collected only $80 before being shut down.

The FBI and FTC are warning the public about evolving scams that exploit advancing technology, including AI-generated voice impersonations of law enforcement and government officials. Elderly Americans are particularly vulnerable to romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation scams, sweepstakes scams, and home repair scams, with millions falling victim annually. The agencies also warn against business email compromise, charity fraud (especially after disasters), cryptocurrency job scams, VA benefits overpayment scams, and card skimmers, recommending victims verify charitable organizations through trusted databases and use credit cards rather than cash, gift cards, or wire transfers for donations.

In 2024, seniors aged 65 and older reported nearly $4.9 billion in losses to financial scams—a 43% increase from the previous year—with Texas seniors alone filing over 9,473 complaints averaging $489,000 in losses each. Seniors are targeted because they control significant national wealth and often struggle to keep pace with technology, making them vulnerable to romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation, and investment fraud. Family members and caregivers can help protect seniors by monitoring account activity, maintaining open communication about financial matters, and encouraging consultation before large transactions, while laws like the 2017 Elder Abuse Prevention

Following catastrophic flooding in Central Texas, federal and state officials warned of a surge in disaster-related scams targeting both flood victims and charitable donors. Scammers posed as government agencies, law enforcement, insurance companies, and contractors to trick victims into paying for free federal assistance or hiring fraudulent contractors, while also creating fake social media profiles to solicit donations from well-intentioned helpers. Officials advised victims to initiate their own contact with legitimate government agencies (using .gov websites), remember that FEMA assistance is free, and donors to verify charities directly through official websites or platforms like GoFundMe that offer fraud detection and refund guarantees.

A Chime user, who works for a bank, lost $600 to an imposter scam after receiving a text appearing to be from Chime asking about a withdrawal attempt. The scammer called posing as a Chime representative, used personal information to build credibility, and convinced the victim to transfer money to another account under the pretense of protecting her funds from criminals—a variation of the "me to me" scam. Chime did not reimburse the victim, and the Financial Technology Association advises consumers to pause before sending money and contact companies only through verified channels on official apps or websites.

Consumer Bankers Association Vice President Brian Fritzsche argues that while banks invest in fraud prevention technologies and coordinate with law enforcement, combating financial fraud and scams requires a broader, coordinated national response involving government agencies, telecommunications providers, social media platforms, and fintech companies. Fritzsche emphasizes that modern fraud schemes are sophisticated criminal enterprises using AI voice cloning, phishing emails, and social media manipulation that extend beyond traditional banking channels, affecting hundreds of thousands of Americans annually with significant financial and psychological impacts, including reported suicidal ideation among identity crime victims.

The U.S. Department of Justice, with assistance from Tether, recovered $40,300 in cryptocurrency from a scam impersonating the Trump inauguration committee, in which victims were deceived by spoofed email addresses with subtle character differences into sending crypto donations they believed were legitimate political contributions. The scammers used phishing messages sent on December 24, 2024, to trick victims into depositing funds into fraudulent wallets, which were then laundered through multiple addresses within hours. Law enforcement officials warn that such impersonation scams cost Americans billions annually and recommend victims verify email addresses, URLs, and official channels before sending any cryptocurrency or assets.

This article promotes a podcast episode featuring romance scam expert Becky Holmes, who combats scammers through counter-tactics while coordinating with law enforcement. Romance scams ensnare victims through prolonged campaigns of affection on social media, often impersonating celebrities or targeting vulnerable populations like widows and divorcees, with recent research showing 10% of the public have been victims and some losing over $10,000. The episode discusses how AI and video manipulation technology are evolving romance scam tactics, requiring updated protection strategies.

This educational resource presents a chart detailing common scams targeting consumers, including AI scams (deepfake impersonations), bank text scams (phishing for account information), billing/invoice scams (fake invoices demanding payment), brushing scams (unsolicited items to boost reviews), and charity scams. The guide identifies shared scammer tactics such as impersonation, creating urgency, and pressuring victims to share personal information, while offering specific identification and prevention strategies for each scam type. The material encourages sharing this information with friends and family as a primary defense against fraud.

A Louisville woman lost $9,000 to a "grandparent scam" in which a caller impersonated her grandson claiming he needed bail money, leading to the identification of a delivery person via doorbell camera footage. The arrest of the suspect at a local hotel within 36 hours initiated a nationwide investigation that ultimately resulted in six federal convictions and exposed an international call center network operating from Canada, Colombia, and Panama that had stolen over $3 million from elderly victims across the U.S. The victim has since recovered approximately half of her lost money and now recognizes such scams.

This educational article identifies eight prevalent online scams in 2025, including phishing, verification malware, impersonation, fake job offers, holiday delivery fraud, donation scams, romance scams, and fake police calls. The article advises readers to watch for red flags such as urgency in messaging, requests for sensitive information (OTPs, passwords), unsolicited job offers asking for upfront payment, suspicious links, and emotional manipulation tactics. Key protection strategies include verifying sender identity through official channels, avoiding clicking links in unsolicited messages, never running commands from unknown websites, and being skeptical of legitimate-seeming requests from companies or government agencies.

Scammers are creating fake Facebook profiles posing as family members to share fraudulent links to virtual funeral livestreams or donation pages, charging victims £10 or requesting donations that never provide access to genuine services. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute reports this scam has circulated for two years across the UK and Ireland, targeting high-profile deaths and exploiting grieving individuals who often don't report the fraud due to embarrassment or concern for the bereaved family. Legitimate funeral directors never charge for livestreaming, and victims should verify any links directly with the funeral director or family before providing payment or personal information.

Malwarebytes research surveying 1,300 people across the US and Europe found that 78% encounter scams on their smartphones at least weekly, with 44% encountering them daily, primarily through email (65%), phone calls/voicemails (53%), text messages (50%), malicious websites (49%), and social media (47%). Despite the high frequency of scam encounters, only 15% of respondents strongly agreed they could confidently identify a scam, highlighting the need for caution when receiving messages from unknown senders or urgent requests for money or personal information.

Attorney General Bailey provides consumer protection guidance for post-disaster fraud prevention, identifying construction fraud, price gouging, and charity fraud as the most common schemes. Key recommendations include obtaining written contracts and multiple bids before hiring contractors, avoiding prepayment, reporting price increases on essential goods to authorities, and verifying charity legitimacy before donating. Consumers can contact the Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222 for additional assistance.

Jenny's 68-year-old mother, a recent widow, appears to have fallen victim to a romance scammer posing as a US military veteran named "Don" on Facebook; Jenny suspects money may have been sent but faces resistance when trying to warn her mother about the scam. Financial adviser Sarah Davidson explains that romance scammers exploit vulnerable people through emotional manipulation and gradually request money, with victims aged 61+ losing an average of £19,000 each, and emphasizes that confrontation often backfires as victims are psychologically invested in the false relationship.

UK victims lost over £106 million to romance fraud in the 2024/25 financial year, with 9,449 reported cases representing a 9% increase, according to City of London Police data. The average loss per victim was £11,222, with the 50-59 age group suffering the highest financial impact (£22.1 million total), though male victims slightly outnumbered female victims for the second consecutive year. Police believe the actual figure is significantly higher due to underreporting caused by victim shame and embarrassment, and they have launched a public awareness campaign to educate people about the emotional manipulation and financial exploitation tactics used by romance scammers.

An Evanston, Illinois woman lost $62,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam after spending six months communicating with someone impersonating Yellowstone actor Kevin Costner on Telegram, who convinced her that gift card purchases would generate cryptocurrency profits. The scam was confirmed to be part of a long-running cryptocurrency ring active since at least 2018, with police stating that arrest and fund recovery are unlikely. The FTC advises verifying celebrity identities through research, consulting trusted sources before sending money, and reporting fraud to both financial institutions and authorities.