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in Scam Awareness
consumer.ftc.gov
Scammers impersonate government officials or utility company representatives to pressure homeowners into purchasing solar panels or energy efficiency upgrades, falsely promising free installations, large rebates, or guaranteed bill savings that can cost victims tens of thousands of dollars. These scams typically begin with unsolicited calls, messages, or visits offering "free" energy audits or claiming the victim is already enrolled in a program requiring payment. To protect yourself, avoid any "free" solar offers, resist pressure for immediate payment or unusual payment methods (cash, gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency), and never share personal information in response to unexpected online requests.
wmtw.com
The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to watch for three back-to-school scams: fake online shopping websites using clickbait ads to steal personal information, phone scams impersonating the College Board requesting payment for test prep materials, and job scams targeting students that involve fake checks and requests to send money back via gift cards or money orders. The advisory recommends verifying website URLs when shopping online, never providing financial information to unsolicited callers, and remembering that legitimate employers will never ask applicants to pay money or send funds before employment begins.
freep.com
A viral Facebook post claiming a missing autistic child named Brandan Cooper has circulated across multiple communities in Canada and the United States, but authorities and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children have identified it as a scam. Scammers use these fake missing child posts to gain shares and engagement, then alter the original post to promote fraudulent schemes such as fake apartment rentals, surveys promising cash prizes, or cryptocurrency investments, unknowingly enlisting people who shared the original post to spread the scam to their networks. To protect against these schemes, people should verify missing child posts only come from official law enforcement agencies or credible news sources before sharing.
lawfaremedia.org
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun Rao discusses the Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Branch work, which addresses the growing scale and sophistication of consumer fraud schemes, including elder fraud, that have been enabled by technological advances such as robocalls, texts, emails, and social media. The Consumer Protection Branch brings together criminal and civil cases across federal courts nationwide with nearly 250 staff members and over 100 trial attorneys, partnering with agencies like the FTC, FDA, and CPSC to protect consumer health, safety, economic security, and privacy.
aol.com
TRICARE beneficiaries in the Augusta area are being targeted by phishing scams via text messages claiming to come from Wisconsin Physicians Service (the TRICARE For Life contractor) and threatening coverage expiration due to nonpayment. TRICARE reminded beneficiaries that the agency never contacts them by phone or text requesting payment or personal information, and advised them to report suspicious messages to their TRICARE contractor or the Defense Health Agency's Office of the Inspector General.
jocoreport.com
A 70-year-old Johnston County resident lost $1,000 in gift cards after being contacted on social media by someone impersonating "General Douglas" with the United Nations Peace Corps who claimed to be interested in a romantic relationship. The scammer is part of a broader pattern of fraud schemes that falsely claim UN affiliation to obtain money or personal information through romance, employment, and confidence scams via multiple channels including social media, email, and phone calls.
nbcboston.com
This educational piece warns consumers about moving scams prevalent around Boston's September move-in season, noting that the Better Business Bureau received 5,918 complaints against moving companies in 2023, with victims losing an average of $350. Common scams include no-shows where deposits are taken without service, unexpected upcharges beyond quoted prices, and theft or withholding of belongings. The article advises consumers to thoroughly vet moving companies by checking physical addresses and insurance, avoiding phone-only estimates, requesting onsite inspections, limiting upfront deposits, documenting belongings with photos and labels, and walking away from any company that raises red flags or refuses to answer questions.
thehackernews.com
A Singapore-based commodity firm lost $42.3 million in a business email compromise (BEC) scam in July 2024 when fraudsters impersonated a supplier and redirected a payment to a fake bank account in Timor-Leste; using INTERPOL's Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP) mechanism, authorities recovered $39 million and froze the fraudulent account within one day, with seven suspects arrested and an additional $2 million recovered. The article also covers law enforcement's seizure of the Cryptonator cryptocurrency exchange, which facilitated over 4 million transactions worth $1.4 billion and allegedly enabled money laun
wsbtv.com
Sherlyn Sims, a Zimbabwe national, was found guilty of laundering over $1.2 million obtained through romance fraud and business email compromise schemes, using fake Georgia-registered businesses to collect victim funds before transferring money internationally and to personal accounts. Multiple elderly victims were defrauded through fake online romantic relationships, with one victim sending nearly $100,000 after being deceived, and another losing money intended for a home purchase. Sims faces sentencing in November, while her co-conspirators received prison sentences ranging from five years to later sentencing dates.
justice.gov
Sherlyn Sims was convicted of money laundering and conspiracy related to romance scams and business email compromise schemes that defrauded dozens of victims of over $1.2 million between December 2019 and August 2020. Sims registered sham businesses, including Grace Trading LLC, to open bank accounts where she deposited stolen funds, then quickly transferred the money to foreign countries, withdrew cash, or spent it; victims included elderly individuals and others who lost significant sums, with one romance fraud victim depleting her life savings of nearly $100,000 after being tricked by an online scammer posing as her boyfriend. Sims was sentenced to be determined at a November 2024
uppermichiganssource.com
The Marquette Police Department warned that scammers are increasingly targeting people of all ages through romance, missing persons, and government impersonation schemes. Detective Lieutenant Chris Aldrich advised residents to avoid sharing personal or banking information with unsolicited contacts, and reminded the public that government agencies do not accept payment via gift cards; he also recommended verifying bank communications by visiting the institution in person rather than responding to calls or emails.
news.trendmicro.com
Deepfake technology, powered by AI advances, is increasingly used in fraud schemes targeting individuals and businesses. Criminals employ deepfake videos, face-swapping, and voice cloning to impersonate celebrities, executives, and recruiters in romance scams, job recruitment fraud, and investment schemes, with deepfake content increasing 900% between 2019-2020 and an estimated 26% of small companies and 38% of large companies experiencing deepfake-related fraud in 2023. Notable cases include a Japanese manga artist losing nearly $500,000 USD to a fake video call impersonating actor Mark Ruffalo, while experts warn that by
cbc.ca
Online fraud reports in Greater Sudbury increased from 381 to 405 cases per 100,000 people between 2022 and 2023, with police warning residents to never share personal information or allow remote computer access to strangers. Fraud and extortion account for approximately 60 percent of criminal internet activity nationwide, with victims often experiencing significant financial and emotional distress and reluctance to report crimes. Police recommend contacting the communications branch to report incidents, though investigations are complicated by perpetrators frequently operating internationally.
ca.news.yahoo.com
Major dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, Match, and Plenty of Fish launched a public awareness campaign with scam alerts to help users identify romantic fraudsters, advising them to stay on-platform, use photo verification, and avoid anyone claiming crypto expertise. Dating scams caused significant financial losses globally—8,036 UK reports totaling £91.4 million in 2023 and $300 million annually in the US since 2020, with average losses per victim reaching $190,000—prompting Match Group to partner with victim advocates and cyber-crime investigators on the safety initiative.
oklahoman.com
The Social Security Administration sent a legitimate email notifying beneficiaries that they must update their online accounts by transitioning from the old "my Social Security" account to a new Login.gov account if created before September 18, 2021. The article advises users to verify they are visiting the legitimate SSA website (www.ssa.gov/myaccount) and warns of scammers who create fraudulent websites mimicking SSA links to steal personal information, recommending users report suspicious emails to the SSA Office of the Inspector General at 800-269-0271.
thestatesman.com
Criminals are impersonating Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials by using the agency's logo as display pictures on social media and making calls to extort money from victims. The scammers use fake warrants, summons, and forged documents attributed to CBI officers to convince people they are under investigation and must pay money to resolve the matter. The CBI has advised the public to remain cautious, verify any official communications directly with local authorities, and report suspicious attempts to police immediately.
helpnetsecurity.com
Bolster research identified 24 nation-state threat actor groups (75% from China, Russia, or Iran) conducting AI-fueled phishing campaigns targeting U.S. citizens ahead of the 2024 presidential election, with phishing site hosting nearly doubling compared to 2023 and averaging over 45,000 malicious sites daily in May. Threat actors are exploiting stolen voter data (including databases with over 100,000 records dating back to 2015) sold on the dark web to create counterfeit identification cards for potential identity theft and voter fraud, while also breaching U.S. military and government email accounts to impersonate legitimate officials and extract sensitive
forbes.com
Impersonation scams, where fraudsters mimic trusted entities through phishing and fake websites, caused over $1.1 billion in U.S. consumer losses in 2023, with new malicious sites created every 11 seconds. AI technology has made these scams more sophisticated and harder to detect quickly, though governments, regulators, and companies are responding with stronger enforcement actions, expanded rules like the FTC's updated Impersonation Rule, and consumer education campaigns emphasizing multi-factor authentication and fraud awareness.
states.aarp.org
The Federal Trade Commission reported over $10 billion in losses to fraud and identity theft last year, prompting AARP to advocate for new consumer protections in Minnesota. New legislation now regulates cryptocurrency ATMs with daily transaction limits of $2,000 for new customers and requires operators to post fraud warnings, along with 14-day refund protections for fraud victims. Additional protections were enacted to combat predatory real estate schemes targeting vulnerable homeowners, making long-term exclusive sales contracts unenforceable and allowing victims to pursue court damages or restitution through the Attorney General's office.
ktvz.com
QR code scams, known as "quishing," have surged dramatically since May 2023, with email-based attacks increasing 2,400% by March 2024, targeting both individuals and businesses by embedding malicious URLs or malware in fake QR codes placed on physical locations or sent via phishing emails. Scammers use these codes to steal personal information, download malware, or trick users into providing login credentials, with executives facing disproportionately higher attack rates due to their access to sensitive data. To protect themselves, consumers should inspect QR codes for irregularities before scanning, keep their phone operating systems and apps updated, and use multi-factor authentication as a defense against
justice.gov
Christopher Parks, Christopher Noah Parks, and Stephen Miller operated a fraudulent medical debt collection scheme through companies Assured Collections LLC and Assured Financial LLC, sending thousands of false debt collection notices nationwide to veterans and older Americans demanding payment for medical devices they either did not owe or had never received. The scheme, which Parks directed while incarcerated for prior healthcare fraud charges, caused consumers to pay debts that were largely illusory, leading a federal court in Oklahoma to issue permanent injunctions on August 2 barring the defendants from engaging in any future billing or debt collection activities.
oig.ssa.gov
Three Dominican nationals were extradited to face charges in a "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans across multiple states out of millions of dollars. The defendants operated call centers in the Dominican Republic where they impersonated grandchildren in distress, then had "closers" pose as lawyers or police to convince victims to send thousands in cash via couriers or mail. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines if convicted on charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy.
blackenterprise.com
A North Carolina woman lost $60,000 after a romantic interest connected her to a fraudulent job opportunity posing as a charity finance position, requiring her to open bank accounts and provide all banking credentials to the scammer. The perpetrator used her accounts to make over $60,000 in unauthorized charges on her credit cards and attempted to deposit fraudulent checks, with payment reversals leaving her liable for mounting debt. The FTC reports nearly 105,000 job opportunity scams in 2023 alone with $450 million in total losses, and advises job seekers to never disclose personal information before formal employment, refuse positions requiring payment, and independently verify company legitimacy.
kare11.com
The City of Blaine, Minnesota lost $1.57 million to an international wire fraud scam in August 2023 when fraudsters used a fake email address mimicking a legitimate contractor (New Look Contracting) to intercept a payment meant for a construction project. The scam was discovered when the real contractor inquired about their overdue payment, prompting Blaine to issue a duplicate payment; federal authorities later indicted a Maryland-based network that used confusingly similar company names and shell companies to steal and launder funds. The city did not publicly disclose the fraud for nearly a year, and it remains under federal investigation.
wbrc.com
The Better Business Bureau advises the public to report suspected scams to law enforcement before sending money, as scammers often operate from foreign countries and once funds are transferred, law enforcement has limited ability to recover them. The BBB emphasizes a proactive approach—contacting police about suspicious activity on devices or communications before financial loss occurs—enables better investigation and prevents crime, whereas post-fraud forensics rarely result in money recovery. Residents are urged to avoid clicking unknown links and contact local law enforcement with questions about potential scams.
kcbd.com
Lubbock Police Department reported a surge in scams targeting elderly residents over two to three months, with 20-30 victims reporting losses to authorities. Scammers falsely claim victims' accounts are compromised and pressure them to withdraw funds and deposit them into Bitcoin machines, with reported losses ranging from $25,000 to $70,000; police warn that money sent through these scams is rarely recovered since perpetrators are often located outside the country. Key warning signs include being asked to stay on the phone during financial transactions and unsolicited contact claiming money is owed; victims are advised to trust their instincts and verify claims by contacting organizations directly.
news.airbnb.com
Airbnb partnered with the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI) to combat travel scams as consumer research revealed that 47% of Americans have fallen for scams, losing an average of $2,697 per victim. The partnership provides safety guidance for online travel bookings, noting that scammers exploit deal-seeking behavior and use sophisticated tactics including fake websites, emails, and AI-generated content to trick travelers. Airbnb reported detecting and mitigating nearly 2,500 phishing domains globally in 12 months and recommends users only communicate, book, and pay directly through legitimate platforms.
interpol.int
A Singapore commodity firm transferred USD 42.3 million to fraudsters in a business email compromise scam after receiving a spoofed email from what appeared to be a supplier requesting payment to a new bank account in Timor Leste. Acting swiftly through INTERPOL's Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP) mechanism, Singapore and Timor Leste authorities recovered USD 39 million from the fake account, arrested seven suspects, and recovered an additional USD 2 million through follow-up investigations. This represented Singapore's largest-ever recovery of funds lost to business email compromise fraud.
forbes.com
A Schwab Bank customer received a text message impersonating the bank's fraud department asking about a suspicious $2,500 transfer; after replying "No," scammers called and tricked the victim into authorizing two wire transfers of approximately $5,500 each, claiming the transfers would return funds to the account. The client's advisor successfully helped cancel the second transfer with Schwab, preventing total loss, though the scam demonstrates how fraudsters use legitimate account holder names and mass messaging to impersonate trusted financial institutions.
vaildaily.com
Elder fraud scams cause over $3.4 billion in annual losses, with the average senior victim losing $33,915, according to the FBI's 2023 report. Common scams include the "grandparent scam" (where fraudsters pose as grandchildren needing bail money) and IRS impersonation schemes that exploit seniors' trusting nature and politeness. To protect loved ones, maintain open communication, verify emergency requests with other family members, never share personal information over the phone, and report suspected fraud to relevant companies and authorities.
timesgazette.com
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a national program that educates Medicare beneficiaries and their families about detecting and reporting healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse, with particular focus on medical identity theft—when fraudsters use personal information like Medicare numbers to bill for unauthorized services. In 2023, the SMP program reached 1.2 million people through outreach events, assisted over 270,000 beneficiaries with fraud complaints, identified 26 emerging fraud schemes, and helped Medicare recover more than $111 million in fraudulent billings. The Ohio SMP, operated by Pro Seniors Inc., encourages beneficiaries to report suspicious activity and offers resources to protect Medicare information.
highlandcountypress.com
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program empowers Medicare beneficiaries to prevent and report healthcare fraud, particularly medical identity theft where fraudsters use personal information to bill for unauthorized services. In 2023, the nationwide SMP program reached 1.2 million people through outreach events, assisted over 270,000 beneficiaries with fraud-related issues, and helped Medicare recoup more than $111 million in fraudulent billings while identifying 26 emerging fraud schemes.
journalpatriot.com
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thelocal.ch
This article does not contain information relevant to the Elderus database. The content discusses general travel advisories for tourists visiting Switzerland from the US, UK, and France, covering topics such as cultural norms, healthcare, altitude sickness, petty theft warnings, and local laws. It does not address elder fraud, scams, elder abuse, or financial exploitation of seniors.
bankingjournal.aba.com
Fraud cases are surging across financial institutions, with Kennebec Savings Bank in Maine tripling its fraud cases between 2021 and 2023 and preventing over $430,000 in losses in 2023 alone. Scammers increasingly use sophisticated social engineering tactics—including impersonation, phone number spoofing, and AI-generated content—to manipulate victims into voluntarily transferring funds, making it difficult for banks to prevent losses even with strong security measures. The FTC reported a 14% increase in fraud losses in 2023, with imposter scams accounting for nearly $2.7 billion of the over $10 billion in total annual frau
cointelegraph.com
The Australian Federal Police is investigating cryptocurrency phishing scams affecting at least 2,000 Australian crypto wallets, with victims losing approximately $4 billion since May 2021 through "approval phishing" tactics that trick users into signing malicious transactions. These scams commonly appear as fraudulent investment schemes or romance scams (pig-butchering scams) promising high returns, and authorities are collaborating with blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis and major cryptocurrency exchanges to educate the public and prevent further losses.
crypto.news
The Australian Federal Police partnered with Chainalysis and major cryptocurrency exchanges to identify over 2,000 compromised crypto wallets belonging to Australians as part of "Operation Spincaster," targeting criminals using "approval phishing"—a fraud tactic where scammers trick victims into authorizing transactions that grant wallet control. Since May 2021, bad actors have stolen more than $4 billion in cryptocurrency through approval phishing attacks, often deployed in investment and romance scams, with the collaboration helping prevent further losses among identified victims.
cryptonews.com.au
The Australian Federal Police identified over 2,000 compromised Australian crypto wallets as part of Operation Spincaster, an international anti-scam initiative involving law enforcement from six countries and blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. Victims fell prey to "approval phishing" scams, where scammers trick wallet owners into signing malicious transactions that grant access to their cryptocurrency assets; globally, this tactic has resulted in over AU$4 billion in losses since 2021. The operation focuses on loss prevention through early identification of compromised wallets and collaboration between law enforcement and crypto exchanges, as prosecuting overseas scammers and recovering stolen funds is extremely difficult.
wibx950.com
**Police Impersonation Scam - Central New York**
Scammers are impersonating Oneida County Sheriff's deputies and calling residents claiming they have outstanding court proceedings and demanding payment, threatening arrest if victims don't comply. The Oneida County Sheriff's Office warns residents never to provide personal information (SSN, birthday, bank details, etc.) over the phone to unidentified callers and advises hanging up and calling the Sheriff's Office directly to verify any such claims.
atlantablackstar.com
Rebecca Adami from North Carolina lost $60,000 in an employment scam where a romantic interest connected her with a fake recruiter offering a charity finance position. The scammer obtained her banking information, made fraudulent charges on her credit cards, deposited bad checks in her name totaling $67,000, and reversed legitimate payments to trap her in debt. Employment scams surged 118% in 2023, with the FTC reporting $367 million in consumer losses in 2022, and the agency recommends verifying employers independently and never providing financial information or prepaying for legitimate job positions.
vietnamnet.vn
Online fraud remains widespread, with scammers exploiting social media, e-commerce platforms, and OTT applications through five primary tactics: fake money recovery services, counterfeit miracle medications, labor export/visa scams, copyright extortion schemes, and fraudulent e-commerce alerts. Recent cases include a woman in Thanh Hoa losing additional funds to a fake recovery service and 10 victims collectively defrauded of over 747 million VND in overseas work scams. Prevention strategies include verifying service legitimacy through official channels, avoiding sharing personal information with unverified contacts, consulting certified healthcare professionals, and reporting suspected fraud to law enforcement.
wsbt.com
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel conducted an educational presentation for approximately 70 seniors in Southwest Michigan to raise awareness about common scams targeting older adults, including romantic scams, spoofing, phishing, and AI-enhanced fraud schemes. Nessel advised seniors to verify sources before making payments, never share personal information without confirming facts, and report suspected scams to authorities so others can be warned, noting that Michigan seniors lose millions annually to fraud. The event was organized by the Area Agency on Aging in St. Joseph to help seniors protect themselves and maintain their independence and dignity.
hayspost.com
A social media scam targets young adults with unsolicited messages from fake "artists" offering thousands of dollars to use their photos. The scammer sends a fraudulent check, instructs the victim to deposit it and wire back money for supposed "supplies," but the check ultimately fails and leaves the victim owing the bank. The FTC advises only depositing checks from known, trusted sources and reporting suspicious activity to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
earlytimes.in
**Not applicable for elder fraud database.** This article concerns alleged financial irregularities and misappropriation of funds within India's Congress party during the 2023 Bharat Jodo Yatra political event. While it involves fraud allegations, it does not relate to elder abuse, elder fraud, or scams targeting seniors and therefore falls outside the scope of Elderus research materials.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Uttarakhand's state cyber police revised its operating procedures due to a surge in online trading fraud cases, which increased from 38 cases last year to 50 in the first six months of this year. Cases exceeding Rs 20 lakh will now be handled by state cyber police in Dehradun, while smaller cases go to district units; one architect from Mussoorie lost Rs 3 crore after scammers contacted her on social media, promised investment returns, and prevented fund withdrawals. Police emphasize the need for public vigilance against such schemes that lure victims with promised returns before disappearing with their money.
nbcmiami.com
Criminals are increasingly using Google Voice scams to gain access to victims' accounts by tricking them into sharing multi-factor authentication codes, then making calls and texts that appear to come from the victim's number while remaining anonymous. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, 60% of over 13,000 crimes reported in 2023 involved Google Voice, affecting victims of all ages. The key prevention strategy is to never share multi-factor authentication codes with anyone, and victims can disconnect their number from a compromised account through Google Voice's account recovery tools.
tomsguide.com
Scammers are impersonating bank employees via spoofed caller IDs, tricking victims into cutting up their debit cards while keeping the chip intact, then sending accomplices to collect the chip and coerce the PIN from victims' homes. Once obtained, the scammers use the chip and PIN to withdraw funds directly from victims' accounts in person, bypassing bank fraud detection systems. The FBI warns that to protect yourself, scrutinize the call quality and professionalism of the caller, ask verification questions, and never comply with requests to damage your debit card—legitimate banks never ask customers to do this.
thegazette.com
This is an educational advisory from the Better Business Bureau warning consumers about online shopping scams during summer sales season. The article provides seven key prevention tips: research retailers and check BBB.org, watch for phishing emails and texts, scrutinize social media ads and look-alike websites (checking URLs for slight variations), verify website security features like "https," avoid suspiciously underpriced popular items, ensure professional website quality, and always pay with credit cards rather than digital wallets or prepaid cards.
wsbt.com
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel conducted a senior fraud awareness presentation in St. Joseph, educating nearly 70 Southwest Michigan seniors on protecting themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams including spoofing, phishing, romantic scams, and AI-enhanced fraud schemes. Nessel emphasized the importance of verifying sources before making payments, never sharing personal information without fact-checking, and reporting scams to authorities—noting that Michigan seniors lose millions annually to fraud and that reporting helps protect both victims and future potential targets.
e.vnexpress.net
A romance scam ring in Vietnam lured vulnerable singles through fake dating service pages on social media and Telegram, creating fictitious profiles of compatible partners and then requesting escalating payments ($39-$788 USD and higher) under false pretenses of meeting fees, compatibility assessments, or prize claims. At least three victims—Thao, Hong Hanh, and Pham Trung—lost between 20 million and 90 million Vietnamese dong (approximately $788-$3,550 USD), with scammers using fake versions of legitimate dating service websites and impersonating real companies like Rudicaf to build credibility.