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Search across 26,669 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
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CBS Mornings
· 2024-04-23
Online romance scams are costing victims over $1 billion annually—double the amount from four years prior—affecting people of all ages and genders, not just retirees. The article highlights a new twist where scammers employ victims as "money mules" and features the case of Laura Cole, a 57-year-old retired healthcare executive and widow, who fell victim to a romance scammer she met entirely online and over the phone, losing her life savings. Shame and embarrassment cause many victims to go unreported, likely making actual fraud numbers significantly higher than official statistics.
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WCPO 9
· 2024-04-22
Impersonation scams via text messages and emails are increasingly common, with the U.S. Postal Service being the most impersonated organization in 2023, followed by Amazon, Publishers Clearing House, Geek Squad, and Norton. The Federal Trade Commission received over 330,000 reports of business impersonation scams and nearly 160,000 government impersonation scams last year, with fraudulent messages about package delivery delays and expired subscriptions designed to trick recipients into providing personal information.
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WFMY News 2
· 2024-04-19
This educational piece from the Better Business Bureau discusses phone spoofing scams, where fraudsters manipulate caller ID to display legitimate business numbers (banks, the IRS, Sheriff's Office) to trick recipients into believing they are legitimate callers. The article explains how spoofing works and advises consumers to be cautious when receiving calls from seemingly recognizable numbers, as scammers can now spoof real phone numbers from trusted institutions to increase the likelihood that victims will comply with their requests.
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CBS News
· 2024-04-17
An 81-year-old Ohio man, William Brock, was charged with murder after shooting Uber driver Itha Hall multiple times at his home. Brock had been targeted by scammers who made threatening calls claiming his family was in danger and demanding money; the same scammers then contacted Hall via the Uber app to pick up a package from Brock's residence, leading Brock to believe she was connected to the threats. Hall was killed while attempting to flee after Brock confronted her with a gun.
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ABC11
· 2024-04-16
An 81-year-old Ohio man, William Brock, was charged with murder after fatally shooting 61-year-old Uber driver Lola Hall in a tragic case involving coordinated scams. Scammers called Brock demanding $112,000 in fake bail money and instructed him a driver would arrive to pick up a package, while simultaneously directing Hall through the Uber app to pick up a package at his home; when Hall arrived unaware of the circumstances, Brock confronted her at gunpoint and shot her three times when she attempted to leave. The incident illustrates how scammers can simultaneously victimize multiple people with fatal consequences.
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CTV News
· 2024-04-12
An Ontario woman lost $86,000 in a CRA impersonation scam after receiving a call from someone claiming to be a government investigator who said her bank accounts were being used in a money laundering operation. The scammer convinced her she needed to cooperate with an RCMP investigation and directed her to withdraw cash from two banks and deposit it into a Bitcoin machine, falsely promising it would be returned once the investigation concluded. This scam is particularly sophisticated as it uses the victim's personal information and creates urgency through claims of government authority and potential financial loss.
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Eyewitness News WTVO WQRF (MyStateline)
· 2024-04-12
The L's Park Police Department held a free educational session warning Illinois seniors about tax refund scams and other fraud schemes, including the grandchild scam where criminals impersonate relatives to extract money. Police emphasized that scammers are particularly active during tax season and encouraged victims to report fraud to local authorities and the Better Business Bureau for current scam alerts in their area.
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NBC10 Boston
· 2024-04-11
Suffolk County DA's office conducted a multi-agency fraud prevention presentation at the Boston Elks Lodge in West Roxbury to educate seniors about common scams, including romance, home repair, and government impersonation fraud schemes that cost consumers $8.8 billion in 2022. The "Fraud Fighters" workshop, led by DA Kevin Hayden, aimed to help older adults identify and avoid scams before they occur, emphasizing that prevention is more effective than intervention after fraud happens.
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12 News
· 2024-04-10
A Valley woman lost nearly $20,000 in an impostor scam where a fraudster impersonated Wells Fargo, sending her a fake fraud alert text about an unauthorized charge and then calling from a spoofed bank number to convince her to wire money from her savings account. The victim notes that despite knowing common scam red flags, the scammer's convincing approach—creating what appeared to be "green flags"—manipulated her judgment when large sums of money were at stake. Experts warn that scams are constantly evolving with increasingly sophisticated tactics designed to exploit vulnerable targets.
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ABC News
· 2024-04-04
As tax day approaches, IRS Commissioner Danny Worle warns the public about increased tax scam activity and identifies common red flags in fraudulent emails impersonating the IRS. Key warning signs include references to expired programs (like 2021 economic impact payments), claims of first-time contact via email (the IRS initiates contact by mail), suspicious formatting, and requests to click links that are designed to steal personal information and funds.
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The Deshbhakt
· 2024-04-02
This video essay discusses political corruption allegations in India, focusing on how the BJP appears to avoid corruption charges while opposition parties face various scams and legal actions. The video then explains the 2G spectrum scam of 2008, where the Indian government allocated mobile spectrum to companies at artificially low prices through administrative allocation rather than auction, resulting in an estimated loss of 1.76 lakh crore to the national treasury—a controversy that contributed to the fall of the UPA government and led the Supreme Court to cancel 112 spectrum licenses in 2012.
**Note:** This is a political commentary/educational piece rather than a scam affecting individual elders, so it falls outside the typical scope of
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NBC10 Boston
· 2024-03-22
Scammers are targeting high school students and parents preparing for the SAT by making unsolicited calls claiming to represent the College Board or test prep companies, using stolen personal information to establish credibility. The fraudsters request credit card information and deposits for prep materials, falsely claiming charges will be refunded once materials arrive. Parents and students should verify any SAT prep offers directly with legitimate organizations before providing payment or personal financial information.
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NewsNation
· 2024-03-18
"Pig butchering" scams are on the rise, with Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel and other organized crime groups using artificial intelligence, large language models, and cryptocurrencies to execute sophisticated fraud campaigns. Hundreds of victims have been lured through social media and messaging apps, with some trafficked and forced to commit fraud; the scam typically begins with a random contact offering investment opportunities before the victim is manipulated into sending money. These AI-enabled financial crimes and human trafficking schemes are expanding globally across European, Asian, and African criminal organizations.
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FOX59 News
· 2024-03-12
Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023, a $1 billion increase from 2022, with investment scams being the costliest at $4 billion (averaging $7,000 per victim), followed by imposter scams at $2.7 billion and social media scams at $1.4 billion. The FTC is responding with increased enforcement actions, including 180 actions against telemarketers and new rules being drafted against impersonation fraud with tougher penalties. Consumers can protect themselves by guarding personal information, avoiding unsolicited links, and using unique passwords across accounts.
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FOX31 Denver
· 2024-03-11
Scams increased 34% year-over-year leading up to tax season, with the Colorado Public Interest Research Group warning consumers to remain vigilant. Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics including calls, texts, and impersonation of family members, with an 81% of Americans expressing concern about personal data misuse. Consumer protection experts advise sharing minimal personal information, ignoring unsolicited urgent money requests, and placing credit freezes with the three major credit bureaus to prevent identity theft and fraudulent account creation.
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Good Morning America
· 2024-03-05
Janice Swafford fell victim to a "malicious tagging" scam on Facebook when she clicked a link in what appeared to be a message from a friend about someone's death. After clicking the fake link, scammers gained access to her account and sent messages to her contacts claiming she had been hacked, then an unknown person offered to secure her account for $100. Security experts warn this type of emotionally manipulative scam is on the rise on Facebook, using provocative posts and artificial intelligence to create convincing fraudulent messages that trick users into clicking malicious links.
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CityNews
· 2024-03-05
Fraudulent activity in Canada increased 133% in 2023, with common scams including Interac e-Transfer fraud, job scams, fake credit card transaction calls, and fraudulent Canada Post delivery messages that are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Those aged 18-24 are more vulnerable to online scams, while people over 45 are more susceptible to email and phone call fraud, with women reporting scams more frequently than men. The scams vary seasonally, with fraudsters adapting their tactics throughout the year.
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19 News
· 2024-03-04
Kayoga County Prosecutor Michael Mali is conducting public education meetings during National Consumer Protection Week to warn seniors about increasingly common scams, particularly government impersonation schemes where fraudsters pose as law enforcement and claim a grandchild needs bail money. Mali, whose own mother was targeted by such a scam, emphasizes the widespread nature of the problem, noting that dozens of residents per hundred fall victim to these schemes. The educational initiative aims to help seniors recognize warning signs and stop scams before losing money.
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CBS Chicago
· 2024-03-04
A Glenwood, Illinois man named Elliot Lawson Henderson defrauded multiple people through discounted travel deals advertised on social media and a dedicated website. One victim, Pinky Jackson, paid Henderson for flights, a hotel room, and Broadway tickets for a New York City trip, but upon arrival discovered the hotel booking was never actually paid for, forcing her family to pay full price on the spot. Multiple individuals report that Henderson takes payment for travel packages and then fails to complete the bookings, leaving customers stranded without accommodations.
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8 News Now — Las Vegas
· 2024-03-01
Multiple women have accused Las Vegas reality TV star Liel Birch (also known as "Mocha Blast") of romance scamming them after initiating contact via Facebook with charming messages and promises of monogamous relationships. Birch, who appeared on the show "Life After Lockup," allegedly deceived these women out of money; the investigation emerged following a 2023 incident in which he fatally shot a man during a live YouTube interview, which prosecutors ruled self-defense in a love triangle dispute.
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LastWeekTonight
· 2024-02-29
**Pig Butchering Scams Overview**
"Pig Butchering" is a romance/investment scam that typically begins with unsolicited text messages appearing to be sent to the wrong person, establishing false familiarity and trust. Scammers then gradually build relationships with victims and persuade them to invest money in fraudulent cryptocurrency or trading schemes, often resulting in significant financial losses. The scam gets its name from the process of cultivating ("fattening") victims before extracting ("butchering") their money.
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FOX 5 San Diego
· 2024-02-22
A couple fell victim to a spoofing scam when scammers impersonated Chase Bank, claiming suspicious account activity and convincing them to provide access codes to their accounts. Despite the victims' attempts to verify the caller and quickly seek help at multiple bank branches, a $49,500 wire transfer was initiated before their account was frozen 4.5 hours later; the couple is now working with the FBI and lawyers to recover the funds.
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Milan Art Institute
· 2024-02-21
This is an introduction to a free educational workshop on art scams, hosted by artists who aim to share their personal experiences and knowledge of common scams targeting artists. The workshop covers various types of scams that artists encounter regularly, with plans for a live Q&A session to address participant questions and concerns. No specific scam details or victim information is provided in this excerpt.
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CNN
· 2024-02-19
A financial columnist for New York magazine fell victim to an elaborate multi-stage scam in which fraudsters impersonating Amazon, the Federal Trade Commission, and a CIA investigator convinced her to withdraw $50,000 and hand it to them in cash over the course of a five-hour phone call. The scammers exploited her vulnerability by threatening her family and creating a false sense of urgency, using isolation tactics to prevent her from seeking help or verification. She came forward with her story to highlight that scam victims span all demographics and professions, and that sophisticated scammers are skilled at identifying and exploiting individual vulnerabilities.
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KTLA 5
· 2024-02-18
Scammers in Southern California are impersonating LA County Sheriff's deputies to extort money from residents by claiming they have arrest warrants and threatening immediate arrest or jail time. The scammers use caller ID spoofing technology to display official law enforcement numbers, obtain personal information from public voter records and online data brokers, and pressure victims to pay bogus fines via cryptocurrency or wire transfers, with at least one victim losing $1,200 before realizing the fraud. Law enforcement warns that legitimate agencies never call to demand payment and advises residents to hang up and verify claims by contacting the actual agency directly.