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A 2022 lawsuit filed by 96-year-old CSULB philanthropist Regena Cole alleged that California State University, Long Beach and the 49er Foundation committed elder abuse, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation by coercing her into donating $25 million through an agreement signed in 2020. Cole claimed the foundation's former CEO obtained private attorney communications, exploited her memory issues and age, and isolated her from legal counsel to secure the donation, which would operate as a debt against her estate if unpaid during her lifetime. The case reached a tentative settlement in June 2024, though the university and foundation have not confirmed details as the settlement

The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office has established a dedicated senior crime unit and launched an educational initiative to protect seniors from rising scams in the area. The office distributes an informational booklet titled "S.C.A.M.S. – Stopping Crimes Against Macomb Seniors" that covers common fraud schemes including identity theft, telemarketing fraud, internet fraud, home improvement fraud, and caregiver fraud, along with free presentations scheduled throughout the county. The initiative advises seniors to never share personal information over the phone or email with unfamiliar individuals and encourages community participation in anti-fraud awareness events.

Elder financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse, affecting at least 10% of older adults annually in the U.S., with AARP estimating annual losses at $28.3 billion for those over 60. Critical data gaps exist regarding the impact on historically discriminated-against communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ populations, and low-income groups, due to underreporting caused by fear of retaliation, distrust of authorities, and language barriers. Better demographic data collection is essential to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies tailored to vulnerable populations.

Baltimore State's Attorney Ivan Bates announced multiple convictions and indictments targeting elder abuse and financial exploitation, including cases involving theft schemes, home improvement fraud, and physical abuse. Notable cases include Bryan Oneal Jones, who defrauded 15 vulnerable adults of approximately $309,299 through fake home improvement contracts; David Coleman, charged with defrauding a 72-year-old disabled veteran of $105,700; and James Rickey Dupree, convicted of theft and forgery in a $200,000 vehicle theft scheme. The announcement coincided with a resource fair by the Economic Crimes Unit's Older & Disabled Persons Unit to educate seniors on

Baltimore State's Attorney Ivan Bates announced multiple convictions and indictments targeting crimes against older adults and vulnerable people, including theft schemes, financial exploitation, and home improvement fraud. Notable cases include James Rickey Dupree convicted of stealing approximately $200,000 in vehicles using falsified documents; Bryan Oneal Jones accused of defrauding 15 victims of $309,299 through fake home improvement contracts; David Coleman charged with defrauding a 72-year-old disabled veteran of $105,700; and several defendants charged with exploiting elderly relatives through undue influence, identity theft, and physical abuse. The announcement coincided with a resource fair by the

Age UK Cheshire is hosting free educational events in October titled "Scam Proof? Protect Yourself and Others from Fraud" to help elderly residents and community members recognize and prevent scams. Expert speakers from local authorities, police, and the Crown Prosecution Service, along with scam survivors sharing their stories, will cover warning signs and tactics used by fraudsters across phone, online, and doorstep scams. The sessions are designed to equip participants with practical strategies to protect their personal and financial information.

A Leesburg woman named Kimberly Bitting and two accomplices allegedly stole approximately $350,000 from a senior widow over 18 months by abusing power of attorney authority to issue fraudulent checks and purchase property. Bitting is charged with three counts of elderly exploitation and one count of organized fraud (both first-degree felonies), while co-defendants Lara Larsen and Ashton Silvis face lesser fraud charges; all defendants have pleaded not guilty. The case highlights the vulnerability of grieving seniors to exploitation by those posing as concerned caregivers, with law enforcement recommending that families remain vigilant about monitoring relationships and financial decisions involving elderly relatives.

Carlton Rembert, 70, was sentenced to 66 months in prison for his role in a guardianship fraud scheme that stole over $1 million from at least 120 incapacitated elderly people in Pennsylvania between 2012 and 2018. Working with his sister Gloria Byars, a court-appointed guardian, and co-conspirator Alesha Mitchell, Rembert deposited over $695,000 in fraudulent checks into shell company accounts and spent the stolen funds on personal expenses including vacations and vehicles. Rembert was ordered to pay $534,335 in restitution to victims.

Carlton Rembert, 70, was sentenced to 5½ years in prison for conspiring with his sister Gloria Byars to defraud at least 120 incapacitated elderly wards in eastern Pennsylvania of over $1 million between 2012 and 2018. Byars, exploiting her position as court-appointed guardian, wrote unauthorized checks to shell companies controlled by the conspirators, which Rembert then deposited and withdrew in cash for personal spending on vacations, vehicles, and luxury items. Rembert was ordered to pay $534,335 in restitution to victims and will serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.

Carlton Rembert, age 70, was sentenced to 66 months in prison for his role in a guardianship fraud scheme that exploited over 100 incapacitated elderly individuals between 2012 and 2018, resulting in losses exceeding $1 million. Working with court-appointed guardian Gloria Byars and accomplice Alesha Mitchell, Rembert deposited over $695,000 in stolen funds into shell company accounts and distributed the money among conspirators while disguising the thefts as medical expenses. Rembert was ordered to pay $534,335 in restitution and five years of supervised release following his conviction.

This article is a promotional piece about digital identity solutions for elderly care, not a scam or fraud incident. It discusses how AI-powered identity verification systems can help protect seniors from identity theft and fraud while improving access to healthcare and financial services, and highlights successful implementations of such technologies in elderly care settings.

Neal's Yard Dairy in London was defrauded of 950 wheels of artisanal cheddar worth over $388,000 after scammers posing as wholesalers from a major French retailer tricked the distributor into sending the cheese before disappearing. The company reimbursed the three small-scale cheesemakers who supplied the product and has alerted the cheese community to watch for the stolen Hafod, Westcombe, and Pitchfork cheddar wheels. The Metropolitan Police are investigating the theft, though no arrests have been made.

This educational article identifies common scam tactics targeting older adults—including urgent payment demands, voice impersonation using AI, and financial abuse by trusted individuals—and notes that Montana has a particularly high senior population per capita. The piece advises protection measures such as ignoring unknown calls, monitoring account activity, using digital payments instead of checks, and maintaining secure personal information, while emphasizing that neither banks nor government agencies demand money or threaten account holders.

The U.S. Department of Justice's sixth Annual Report (July 2023–June 2024) details its efforts to combat elder fraud and abuse, including over 300 enforcement actions against more than 700 defendants charged with stealing nearly $700 million from over 225,000 older victims through romance, lottery, and government impersonation scams, as well as nursing home neglect cases. The department returned millions of dollars to victims, froze over $27 million in fraudulent transfers, supported victim assistance organizations serving 200,000+ older adults, and received over 50,000 calls to its National Elder Fraud Hotline. The department also conducted nearly 1,

Family caregivers play a crucial role in protecting older adults from fraud, as seniors lose billions annually to scams including tech support, lottery, grandparent, investment, imposter, and romance schemes. AARP recommends caregivers maintain open communication with loved ones, educate them about common fraud tactics, establish protective financial measures, and monitor for signs of social isolation that increase scam vulnerability. Resources and guidance are available at www.aarp.org/fraud to help families prevent and respond to fraud targeting older adults.

This opinion piece discusses the vulnerability of elderly adults to digital scams and fraud, particularly in the Caribbean context. The author highlights that seniors aged 60 and older lost over US$3.4 billion to scams in 2023 according to FBI data, with the average victim losing US$33,915, and notes that older adults are targeted due to their trusting nature, substantial savings, technological inexperience, and emotional vulnerabilities exploited through tactics like grandparent scams and romance fraud. The article emphasizes that data breaches exposing personal information increase seniors' risk, and that most cannot recover financially from these losses due to their inability to re-enter the workforce.

This opinion piece examines the escalating problem of elder fraud in the digital age, highlighting how seniors are disproportionately targeted by scammers who exploit their trusting nature, financial assets, and technological vulnerabilities. The 2023 FBI report revealed that seniors aged 60 and older lost over $3.4 billion to fraud, with individuals losing an average of $33,915, while data breaches exposing personal information make them prime targets for sophisticated, personalized attacks. The article emphasizes that common scams include tech support fraud, romance scams, and emergency/grandparent scams, and stresses the urgent need for awareness and protective measures given seniors' limited ability to recover

Door-to-door contractor Adam Waldrop, 23, was arrested and charged with eight felony counts and one misdemeanor for allegedly scamming at least two Los Altos elderly women out of a combined $4,750 for roofing and garage-door repairs he never performed in February and March 2024. Waldrop, who used at least 13 aliases including Billy Thomas Wilson, also faces additional warrants in Merced and Oregon, and police suspect he is connected to scams in other states.

This article argues that elder financial exploitation by family members is an underrecognized and unsupported form of caregiving, with only 1 in 44 cases receiving formal system services despite $28.3 billion lost annually to such abuse (72% from family and friends). The author contends that while illness-related caregiving receives policy support and tax credits, there are no comparable protections or recognition for family members who intervene in financial abuse cases, leaving caregivers to bear significant emotional, financial, and time costs without assistance or reward.

Multiple U.S. regulatory agencies reported in December that elder financial exploitation costs Americans over $28 billion annually, with over 155,000 cases reported between June 2022 and June 2023 linked to approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity. The FBI documented over 101,000 elder fraud complaints in 2023, with victims over 60 losing an average of $33,915—nearly 270% higher than 2020—primarily through investment scams, business email compromise, romance scams, and government impersonation schemes. Regulatory agencies urged financial institutions to strengthen protections by increasing account oversight, training employees to recognize exploitation, and coordinating with law enforcement and elder

A WalletHub study ranking states on elder-abuse protections found Minnesota ranks 10th overall, excelling in financial crime legislation (1st) but lagging in abuse complaint reporting (27th). The article highlights a recent case in rural Douglas County where an elderly resident was defrauded of over $100,000 through a gold investment scam, and emphasizes that elder abuse—including physical, financial, emotional, and neglect—often goes unreported and can be perpetrated by family members or caregivers, requiring greater awareness and preventive measures.

An 84-year-old Canton woman fell victim to a grandparent-style fraud scheme in December when a caller impersonating a bank senior fraud officer convinced her to withdraw cash for a supposed security issue, resulting in at least two successful transfers before family members detected suspicious activity and alerted police. Li Biao, a 30-year-old alleged illegal immigrant from China, was arrested on December 17 while attempting to pick up $25,000 in cash from the victim's residence and faces felony charges for fraudulent false pretenses and resisting police.

An 84-year-old Canton, Michigan woman was targeted by a phone scam in December 2024 in which a caller impersonated a bank "senior fraud officer" and instructed her to withdraw cash for a supposed security purpose; the scheme succeeded twice before family members detected suspicious bank activity and alerted police. Li Biao, a 30-year-old undocumented Chinese national, was arrested on December 17, 2024, when he arrived at the victim's home to collect $25,000 in cash, and was charged with fraudulent false pretenses and resisting police. Police emphasized the importance of monitoring elderly relatives for warning signs such as sudden financial changes, large

A 30-year-old man was arrested in Canton, Michigan, after attempting to defraud an 84-year-old woman by posing as a bank fraud officer and convincing her to withdraw $25,000 in cash over four days. Police apprehended the suspect when he arrived at the victim's home to collect the money on December 17, preventing the theft. The suspect, identified as Li Biao, a Chinese national illegally in the United States, was charged with fraudulent false pretenses and assaulting/resisting police, held on a $100,000 cash bond.

Joseph Beach, 55, of Inwood, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining $253,867.12 from his elderly father while serving as his court-appointed fiduciary, misusing the father's veterans disability, retirement, and Social Security benefits. Beach pleaded guilty to wire fraud in March 2024 and was ordered to pay full restitution of $253,876.12. The case highlights financial exploitation by family members, which the National Coalition on Aging identifies as one of the most common forms of elder abuse, causing an estimated $28.3 billion in annual losses nationwide.

The American Bankers Association Foundation launched its 2025 financial education campaigns as part of a three-year commitment to reach five million Americans, celebrating the organization's 100th anniversary. The Foundation's four national initiatives—Teach Children to Save, Get Smart About Credit, Safe Banking for Seniors, and Lights, Camera, Save!—provide free resources to banks and their employees, with new content for 2025 including updated materials on fraud prevention, cryptocurrency investment scams, money mule scams, and check fraud. Since 2023, nearly 40,000 bank volunteers from 1,115 banks have reached 1.7 million people through these programs.

Shelley Letzer, 67, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, was arraigned on four felony charges including three counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult and fraudulent obtaining of a signature for allegedly exploiting an 87-year-old man with her co-defendant Kirk Lanam. The pair allegedly obtained power of attorney over the victim under false pretenses and used it to write checks to themselves, with Letzer accused of embezzling thousands from the vulnerable man who already had an appointed guardian. Letzer faces up to five years per embezzlement count and ten years for the signature fraud charge.

A Michigan man and woman were charged with financially exploiting an 87-year-old Rochester Hills resident through fraudulent power of attorney, with one defendant embezzling over $400,000 and the other stealing thousands through unauthorized checks. A Michigan State University study in rural communities found that preventative training for family caregivers and seniors, combined with caseworker follow-up visits, effectively empowers people to identify and prevent financial exploitation of older adults. Michigan reports increasing financial exploitation cases, with over 4,000 referrals in fiscal year 2024, and research shows that even basic community education can raise awareness and help prevent elder fraud.

A 91-year-old San Francisco millionaire, Geraldine Clark, was allegedly defrauded of approximately $5 million by her four live-in caregivers between 2015 and 2022 through forged checks and unauthorized withdrawals from her investment portfolio. The caregivers—Elsie Curameng, Milagros Alinas, Lilia Galdo, and Marina Suriao—exploited Clark's dementia (which they concealed from her family) and kept her sedated on high doses of Vicodin to drain her $9 million nest egg down to less than $200 before she died in

A widowed pensioner fell victim to a romance scam, sending thousands of pounds to a woman he had never met in person, whose photos were stolen from social media and used across multiple scam accounts. Santander's "Break the Spell" team, a specialized fraud prevention unit, worked to convince him he was being defrauded, though he initially resisted accepting the reality despite blocked transactions and a failed in-person meeting. The article highlights the growing prevalence of scams in the UK—with £213m lost across the banking sector in the first half of 2024—and notes that Santander's Break the Spell initiative has prevented £17.6m from reaching

An elderly widow lost approximately $8.4 million over four years when her son, Brett Thomas Graham—a securities industry-barred individual—moved money from her accounts at multiple financial firms (JPMorgan Securities, Schwab, and Francis Financial) without proper detection or intervention. The woman, who had memory loss and was living in assisted care, had invested nearly $9 million from the sale of her Upper East Side townhouse, but the financial institutions failed to implement adequate safeguards such as flagging suspicious large withdrawals, conducting proper due diligence, or contacting trusted family members to verify the transactions. Her family only discovered the fraud after she was evicted from her assiste

Fraudsters are increasingly impersonating TikTok employees via text messages to deceive teenagers into fake jobs, claiming they can earn £300-800 per day by liking videos on the platform. Virgin Media O2 reported a sharp increase in these scam messages and found that 23% of surveyed teenagers aged 13-16 did not realize criminals could impersonate their favorite brands, with half failing to identify fraudulent messages when tested. Other common scams targeting this age group include false gambling winnings and fake package delivery notifications.

O2 created "Daisy," an AI chatbot designed to impersonate an elderly grandmother who wastes scammers' time through confusion, tangential conversations about knitting and scones, and technical incompetence. Over several weeks, the bot successfully detained individual fraudsters for up to 40 minutes each—time they could not spend targeting real victims—by feigning difficulty with computer instructions and repeatedly changing the subject. The project, developed in collaboration with scam baiter Jim Browning, was primarily designed as an awareness campaign rather than a full-scale rollout, demonstrating how AI could be used defensively against fraud.

A 16-year-old girl in Glasgow was scammed out of £125 after clicking on a fake social media advert for clothing brand Lucy & Yak that offered items at unusually low prices; she entered her debit card details but the items never arrived, though her bank successfully recovered the funds. The scam mimicked the legitimate brand with authentic logos and product images, with only a subtle dollar sign instead of a pound symbol as a red flag. The incident highlights that teens are vulnerable to social media fraud, with research showing a quarter of British teens are likely to fall for scam texts, prompting warnings to verify sources and check official websites before making purchases.

A Florida Senate bill seeks to expand protections for elderly scam victims by allowing legal service of injunctions to anonymous online fraudsters through the platforms where they made contact, rather than requiring traditional certified mail. The measure was prompted by cases like a widow who lost $2.5 million to a romance scammer on a dating app despite family intervention and court orders to freeze assets. In 2023, Americans over 60 lost $3.4 billion to financial exploitation, with such crimes rising 11 percent from 2022.

A 70-year-old Missouri man fell victim to a sextortion scam in which he sent intimate photos to someone posing as a romantic interest, who then threatened to publish the images unless he paid $2,500; a second scammer then impersonated police and demanded additional money by threatening to contact his employer. Sextortion—coercing victims into financial or behavioral compliance by threatening to share intimate images—affects not only children and teenagers but also older adults, with surveys indicating that 7.6% of adults ages 50-64 and 8.4% of those 65+ have experienced it, though experts believe actual numbers are higher due to underreporting caused by shame

A 70-year-old Missouri man was victimized in a sextortion scam where he sent intimate photos to an online romance scammer, who then extorted him for $2,500 and threatened to share the images; a second extortionist impersonating police demanded additional money by threatening to contact his employer. Sextortion—threatening to publish intimate images to coerce victims into financial or behavioral compliance—is an evolving form of abuse affecting not only minors but also older adults, with 7.6% of adults ages 50-64 and 8.4% of those 65+ reporting victimization, though actual rates are likely higher due to underreporting

A 25-year-old caregiver named Heather Moore was arrested in Ojai, California for financially exploiting an 81-year-old elderly woman by altering and forging checks to steal over $3,000. Moore's fraud was discovered when a vigilant bookkeeper noticed suspicious check alterations and reported the scheme to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Moore was arrested on January 23 and charged with elder abuse, forgery, and grand theft.

Richard Robinson, a serial romance fraudster who operated under the alias "Gary Rogers," conned 68-year-old Yvonne and at least one other woman out of more than £210,000 between 2017 and 2018 by posing as a wealthy, charming motor dealer. After being sentenced to 10 years in prison in July 2020, Robinson was released after serving just four years, prompting Yvonne to flee the UK due to fear for her safety, having lost over £115,000 and suffered physical violence including attempted strangulation. The case illustrates the growing threat of romance fraud in the UK, which increased 27% between

Sarah Works, a 28-year-old Port St. Lucie woman, was arrested following a SWAT raid after an investigation revealed she had fraudulently gained the trust of an elderly victim by posing as a caregiver, then exploited that position to access the victim's bank accounts, credit cards, and personal identification. The fraud was discovered when a family member living out of state noticed suspicious bank activity and alerted authorities; Works also fraudulently obtained power of attorney documents that the victim unknowingly signed. Works is being held without bond on charges including scheme to defraud, fraudulent use of credit cards, and criminal use of personal identification, and this represents her third arrest in two

Regina Henaku, 33, of Leominster, Massachusetts, was indicted on multiple counts after posing as a professional caregiver at health care facilities and assisted living centers in Worcester and Middlesex Counties, where she stole bank cards from at least 16 elderly victims over age 60 between August and November 2024. She used the stolen cards to steal approximately $28,000 from 11 victims and attempted to steal from others, while also using forged identities of a relative and former coworker to gain employment at multiple facilities. Henaku was charged with nine counts of larceny over $250 from an elderly or disabled person, credit card fraud, identity frau

Regina Henaku, 33, of Leominster was indicted on nine counts including larceny and identity fraud for allegedly stealing approximately $28,000 from at least 16 elderly victims over 60 years old between August and November 2024. Henaku posed as a professional caregiver at multiple health care facilities and assisted living homes across Worcester and Middlesex counties, fraudulently using stolen credentials to gain employment and then stealing the bank cards of victims. She worked at five different facilities including Fairview Estates in Hopkinton, and was also charged with obstructing justice by misleading police about her identity during the investigation.

A Cobb County caretaker was investigated for allegedly stealing over $50,000 from an elderly woman with memory loss through forged checks discovered when the woman entered a memory care facility. A family member identified the fraudulent bank activity, and police used bank video footage to connect the theft to the caretaker. The Cobb County Sheriff's Office responded by planning educational sessions at local venues to help families monitor senior finances and prevent similar exploitation of vulnerable elders.

Karina Singer is pursuing a Nevada Supreme Court appeal (Case No. 89171) involving allegations of elder financial abuse, fiduciary misconduct, and over $1 million in improper trust asset distributions from her late father Steven J. Singer's estate. The case was transferred from the Nevada Supreme Court to the Court of Appeals without addressing Singer's pending motions and evidence, which she contends violated appellate procedure rules and constitutional due process protections. Singer has filed an emergency motion to recall the transfer and retain jurisdiction, arguing the Supreme Court has a mandatory obligation to address the uncontested allegations of judicial misconduct and systemic failures in Nevada's probate system.

Elisabeth Iler, a 75-year-old American retired professor living in Mumbai, alleges she was defrauded of ₹2.5 crore (approximately $300,000 USD) by a former relationship manager at a private bank and his associate between 2020 and 2022. The accused used forged signatures and OTPs to redirect her life savings—transferred from the sale of her Florida property—into personal accounts under the guise of legitimate Indian investments in properties that never materialized. Despite filing multiple complaints with police, no FIR has been registered, raising concerns about fiduciary abuse and institutional failure within India's banking sector.

Former San Diego Deputy District Attorney Paul Greenwood shared insights on elder fraud at the 8th Annual Fairfax Scam Jam, highlighting why victims often remain silent—including impairment, isolation, shame, loyalty to abusers, fear of losing independence, dependence on caregivers, and retaliation fears. Greenwood advocates for a proactive community approach to fraud prevention, including training notaries to recognize fraud signs, public awareness campaigns, and educating the public about misconceptions such as ageism affecting investigations and the false belief that giving someone money cannot constitute a crime.

Greenlight launched Family Shield, a subscription plan that helps caregivers protect seniors from financial fraud and physical safety risks through features including financial account monitoring, fraud/identity theft insurance (up to $100,000 for deceptive transfer fraud and $1 million for identity theft), real-time location tracking, and crash detection. The service addresses a significant problem: financial exploitation costs adults 60+ an estimated $62 billion annually, while seniors face rising digital threats including scams and money management errors. The plan includes educational resources and a monitored debit card to help caregivers oversee their senior loved ones' finances and safety comprehensively.

During May 2025's Older Americans Month, Georgia's Attorney General Consumer Protection Division reached over 1,300 seniors to educate them on recognizing, preventing, and reporting financial abuse and exploitation. The division highlighted common scams targeting older adults—including government imposter schemes, investment/cryptocurrency fraud, and romance scams—and provided resources such as their free "Georgia Consumer Protection Guide for Older Adults" (available in English, Spanish, and Korean) along with reporting contacts for suspected financial abuse.

The Federal Trade Commission estimated that criminals stole approximately $61.5 billion from adults age 60 and over in 2023, with elder financial abuse coming from both known perpetrators and stranger scams. AARP highlights preventive measures including adding trusted contacts to financial accounts, freezing credit to prevent unauthorized accounts, and using robocall/text blockers to reduce exposure to phone-based scams. The article emphasizes that these proactive steps can significantly protect older adults' financial security.

Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services and Department of Aging marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Month in June 2025, highlighting that local agencies receive over 100 adult protective services referrals daily and that one in 10 seniors nationally experience some form of elder abuse. The state provided information on recognizing warning signs of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse as well as financial exploitation and neglect, with resources including an awareness campaign and a hotline (1-855-OHIO-APS) for reporting suspected abuse.