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in Grandparent Scams
winonapost.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** U.S. Department of Justice - Elder Fraud Overview
Millions of elderly Americans lose over $3 billion annually to financial fraud schemes including romance, tech support, grandparent, government impersonation, sweepstakes, home repair, and caregiver scams. Seniors are frequently targeted because they tend to be trusting, have savings and good credit, and are often reluctant to report fraud due to shame or concerns about losing independence. The DOJ recommends protection strategies including recognizing scam attempts, verifying contact information online, resisting pressure to act quickly, avoiding unsolicited offers, never sharing personal information with unverified sources, maintaining updated security
kunc.org
· 2025-12-08
Scammers across Colorado are using phone calls, texts, and emails impersonating law enforcement, the IRS, tech support, and other trusted entities to defraud victims of thousands of dollars. In 2023, Colorado reported $188 million in losses across 11,000+ victims, ranking 7th nationally per capita, with Summit County Sheriff's Office reporting 80 fraud cases so far this year totaling tens of thousands in losses. Authorities advise remaining skeptical of urgent requests, offers that seem too good to be true, and unsolicited contact, and recommend reporting suspicious activity to StopFraudColorado.gov or IC3.gov, noting that once funds are
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Michael O'Reilly, a Calgary senior, received a call from a scammer impersonating his nephew who claimed to be in jail and needed $6,000 for bail; O'Reilly grew suspicious and recorded the call, ultimately preventing any financial loss. According to Calgary Police Service, since January there have been approximately 32 reported incidents targeting seniors in the area, resulting in $180,250 in fraudulent losses across 21 cases, though 9 incidents were stopped before money was lost. Experts recommend verifying requests by calling the person back directly and asking specific questions that scammers cannot easily answer.
secretservice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, in partnership with the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and FDIC Office of Inspector General, launched the Money Mule Initiative to identify and prosecute individuals who transfer stolen funds from fraud victims to international criminals. The initiative targets money mule networks that facilitate various scams affecting older Americans, including lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams, with some money mules unknowingly recruited as victims themselves or through fake work-at-home job offers. Law enforcement has brought criminal charges against multiple defendants, including cases involving multi-continent money laundering schemes and bank impersonation plots targeting small business owners.
berkshireeagle.com
· 2025-12-08
This article explains why fraud victims often experience greater shame and social stigma than victims of violent crimes, despite both being theft. Romance and relationship scams are particularly devastating because criminals invest time building emotional connections with vulnerable individuals (often those seeking companionship after loss) through fake profiles on social media, then repeatedly extract money by fabricating emergencies or personal crises. The article advises recognizing red flags such as requests to move communication off dating platforms, inability to meet in person, and repeated requests for money, while recommending early intervention through trusted intermediaries and resources like the AARP Consumer Hotline.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida announced a Money Mule Initiative in partnership with the FBI, Secret Service, and FDIC-OIG to identify, disrupt, and prosecute networks that facilitate fraud schemes targeting older Americans, including lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams. Money mules—individuals who receive and transfer stolen funds—are recruited either as unwitting victims of scams or through fake work-at-home job offers, and law enforcement is pursuing criminal prosecution against those knowingly assisting fraudsters, with recent cases involving defendants laundering between $1.5 million and $9.5 million in fraud proceeds.
dvidshub.net
· 2025-12-08
Special Agent Johnny Guerrero and other U.S. Air Force cybersecurity experts warn that scammers exploit information shared on social media and dating sites to target military personnel and civilians through fake personas, romance scams, and AI-enabled voice cloning schemes. Social media fraud losses exceeded $2.7 billion in the first half of 2023, with online purchase scams accounting for 44% of losses, while romance scams on dating sites cost victims $1.3 billion in 2022 with a median loss of $4,400. Experts recommend applying a "never trust, always verify" approach: avoid sharing personal details online, verify suspicious requests with family directly, and use
countryherald.com
· 2025-12-08
The Tinley Park Police Department warns of an increase in phone and email scams targeting elderly residents, with common schemes including government impersonation, lottery scams, robocalls, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. The department recommends protecting personal information, monitoring financial statements, using multifactor authentication, avoiding wire transfers and gift card payments, and being skeptical of urgent demands or threats. Victims should contact local police immediately or report scams to the Federal Trade Commission to preserve evidence.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Voice cloning scams are a growing threat, with scammers using AI-powered websites to impersonate loved ones and business contacts, resulting in over $752 million in losses last year. The technology is easily accessible—requiring only a 30-second audio clip (often sourced from social media) and taking just 2-4 minutes to create a convincing fake voice. Law enforcement recommends protecting yourself by establishing secret code words with family members, trusting your instincts when requests for money or sensitive information arise, and double-checking suspicious calls, while regulators work on legislation requiring digital watermarking of AI-generated content.
tinleypark.org
· 2025-12-08
The Tinley Park Police Department reported an increase in phone and email scams targeting elderly residents, including government impersonation, sweepstakes, robocalls, tech support, and grandparent scams. The advisory recommends seniors protect themselves by avoiding sharing personal information over phone or email, monitoring financial statements, using multifactor authentication, refusing to send money to strangers, and being skeptical of callers claiming to be law enforcement or pressuring immediate action.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office has launched an online fraud complaint form to help seniors report suspected scams, which are increasingly targeting older adults through schemes like fake lotteries, tech support scams, and romance/grandparent scams. According to FBI data, seniors over 60 reported $3.4 billion in financial fraud losses in 2023, an 11 percent increase from the previous year. The A.G.'s office urges seniors to protect themselves by avoiding sharing personal information unsolicited, verifying emails before clicking links, and rejecting high-pressure payment requests.
money.com
· 2025-12-08
Young job seekers, particularly students seeking remote work, are being targeted in "money mule" scams where fraudsters trick them into transferring stolen money through their bank accounts, digital wallets, or cryptocurrency accounts. These scams often originate from lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams, and unwitting participants can face identity theft and potential criminal charges for money laundering. The Justice Department took action against over 3,000 money mules in the past year, with criminal charges brought against more than 20 serious offenders, including a case involving three people charged for recruiting college students to launder approximately $7 million from elderly tech fraud victims over three years.
bgindependentmedia.org
· 2025-12-08
Bowling Green Police reported eight scams in a single week, increasingly targeting young people alongside traditional elderly victims. Common schemes included fake vehicle sales on Facebook Marketplace requiring deposit payments via gift cards or Bitcoin, impersonation of federal agents, sextortion involving nude photos, and fake bond payment requests. Police advise residents to trust their instincts, verify purchases in person, consult trusted contacts before acting, and resist pressure for immediate payment or photo sharing, noting that alert business employees have helped prevent some losses by identifying suspicious large purchases of gift cards and cryptocurrency.
wetaskiwintimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Wetaskiwin RCMP warned the public of an active grandparent scam in the community where victims have lost six-figure amounts of money. Scammers impersonate judges, lawyers, or police officers claiming a family member is incarcerated and needs bail money, sometimes using AI-generated voice replications of victims' loved ones. Police emphasized that bail is never paid by phone, courts and police will not request payments or personal information by phone, and victims should verify claims by contacting the relevant agency directly.
kttn.com
· 2025-12-08
Seven California residents were federally indicted for operating a conspiracy that defrauded elderly Americans nationwide using fraudulent Taiwanese passports, fake bank accounts, and money mules to collect victim funds through tech support scams, romance fraud, and imposter schemes. The scheme generated over $7 million in fraudulent deposits, with individual defendants depositing between $440,000 and $1.3 million into criminal accounts. The case was part of the Money Mule Initiative, which resulted in action against over 3,000 money mule networks in the year of prosecution.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Seven members of a nationwide elder fraud ring—including three California residents charged in May—were indicted on conspiracy charges for defrauding elderly people through tech support scams, fake immigration documents, and fraudulent bank accounts. The scheme collected over $7 million from victims, including an elderly Missouri couple who were threatened with prosecution unless they paid $88,000 after seeing a fake virus pop-up warning. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri as part of the Department of Homeland Security's Money Mule Initiative targeting elder fraud networks.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
The Narragansett Police Department is hosting a free public seminar on scam awareness and prevention, scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library. The seminar will cover common scam types including grandparent, tech support, and romance scams, along with local case studies, prevention tips, and reporting procedures for residents of all ages.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Seven California residents were federally indicted for operating a sophisticated fraud scheme targeting elderly victims nationwide through tech support scams, romance fraud, and imposter schemes, using fraudulent Taiwanese passports and fake immigration documents to open bank accounts that funneled over $7 million in victim cash through money mules. Three additional conspirators—Bowen Chen, Jiacheng Chen, and Vianne Chen—were added to the indictment on May 8, joining four others previously charged, with the largest deposits ($1.3 million, $615,000, and $440,000 respectively) traced to specific defendants. The case was part of a federal Money Mule Initiative that prosecut
audacy.com
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparents scam" is evolving as criminals use artificial intelligence to create convincing fake voices impersonating grandchildren in distress, targeting seniors with urgent requests for money. Multiple seniors at a senior center received such calls claiming their grandchildren were in accidents or emergencies abroad. Experts recommend families establish a secret code word to verify the identity of callers as a protection against this increasingly sophisticated fraud.
manchesterjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece explains how romance and relationship scams differ from other crimes and why victims often experience shame rather than sympathy. Scammers target lonely or grieving individuals through social media, slowly building trust over time before repeatedly requesting money for fabricated emergencies or personal crises—making these scams more psychologically damaging than single-incident crimes like robbery. The article advises early intervention by trusted third parties and provides resources including the AARP Consumer Hotline (877-908-3360) for victims seeking help.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 92-year-old South Carolina woman combated relentless scam callers by responding to their pitches with absurd nonsense—including claims she would be "raptured" and requests for senior discounts—which repeatedly frustrated the scammers into hanging up. Her granddaughter documented these interactions in videos, showcasing how humor and distraction can be an effective defense against fraud attempts, though the article notes that elderly people remain particularly vulnerable to scams, with nearly 70,000 people losing $1.3 billion to romance scams alone in 2022.
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparent scam" targets seniors by impersonating grandchildren in emergencies, typically claiming they need bail money after an arrest, with the FBI charging 16 defendants in 2024 for a scheme that defrauded hundreds of older Americans across the Northeast out of millions of dollars. Scammers use personal information found online and increasingly employ AI voice cloning to make calls convincing, but experts recommend victims focus on what is being asked rather than voice recognition, verify bail payment procedures, and question requests to keep secrets from family members.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office and Department of Justice announced completion of the Money Mule Initiative, a campaign that disrupted transnational fraud networks by taking action against over 3,000 money mules who facilitate scams targeting Americans, particularly elderly victims of lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams. More than 20 individuals were criminally charged, including cases involving $4.5 million laundered from romance scams targeting elderly victims, a grandparent scam operation using couriers to collect cash from seniors, and a tech support fraud scheme that collected approximately $7 million from elderly victims. The initiative combined criminal prosecutions, warning letters to unknowing participants,
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal law enforcement agencies completed the Money Mule Initiative, an annual campaign that resulted in criminal charges against over 20 individuals and warning letters to approximately 2,970 money mules involved in facilitating fraud schemes. The initiative targeted networks that transmit stolen funds from fraud victims to international fraudsters, with cases including two men accused of laundering $4.5 million from romance scams and business email compromises targeting elderly victims, and five defendants who acted as couriers collecting cash from grandparent scam victims. The agencies emphasized the importance of public education to prevent unknowing individuals from becoming money mules, as many are initially victimized by romance or lottery scams before being manipulated into ass
kitchener.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two 18-year-olds from the Greater Toronto Area were arrested in Woolwich Township for operating a "grandparent" scam that targeted seniors by impersonating relatives and requesting financial assistance. The arrests followed police recognition of similarities between two fraud cases in the St. Jacobs area, leading officers to locate and apprehend the suspects. Both individuals were charged with two counts of fraud under $5,000 and are scheduled to appear in court in June.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Federal law enforcement agencies completed the Money Mule Initiative, taking action against over 3,000 money mules who facilitate fraud schemes by transmitting stolen funds to international fraudsters. The operation resulted in approximately 2,970 warning letters to individuals (many unknowingly recruited through romance or lottery scams) and criminal charges against more than 20 individuals knowingly facilitating fraud. The initiative specifically targets schemes that harm vulnerable populations, including older Americans victimized by lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams.
bobsullivan.net
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are sending fraudulent text messages to drivers claiming unpaid tolls (typically $12-$13) and threatening $50 late fees, directing victims to fake toll authority websites to steal personal and financial information. The FBI received 2,000 complaints from three states by April, expanding to 12 states by May, with Florida authorities issuing a crackdown due to the state's 700 miles of toll roads. Authorities advise recipients to independently verify toll claims through official channels rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages.
aspentimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scammers stole $188 million from over 11,000 victims across Colorado, with Summit County experiencing 80 fraud reports so far this year totaling tens of thousands in losses. Common scams include phone and email schemes where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement, the IRS, tech support, or claim urgent family emergencies or warrant arrests. Victims are advised to be suspicious of unsolicited messages offering unrealistic rewards, report suspicious activity to law enforcement, and file complaints with StopFraudColorado.gov or IC3.gov, though most stolen funds are unrecoverable once scammers operate from overseas jurisdictions.
jcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Jeremy Cook, a security officer with Exchange Bank, presented information on financial fraud prevention to seniors at the Jones County Senior Center on April 17, covering common scams including government imposter, grandparent, charity, romance, and technical support scams. Cook advised attendees to ignore unknown callers, never share personal information or send wire transfers, verify charities before donating, and conduct transactions in person when possible, while noting that romance scams alone generated $2.1 billion nationally in 2022. The presentation materials were designed for distribution at churches and other community venues to raise awareness among seniors about financial security threats.
northjersey.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer introduced bipartisan legislation seeking $60 million in federal funding over six years to help states combat senior scams through enforcement, technology, and education initiatives. The bill comes as seniors lose over $3.4 billion annually to scams involving impersonation, fake deliveries, and social media fraud, with over 2,000 New Jersey seniors reporting scams to the FBI in 2023 alone. Gottheimer also plans to urge social media companies to add warning labels, flag scammers, and improve fraud reporting tools on their platforms.
toronto.ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
This article is about FIFA World Cup scheduling and does not relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It cannot be summarized for the Elderus database as it falls outside the scope of elder fraud research.
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Vidal Roquez, 39, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for his role in a "grandparent scheme" that defrauded over a dozen seniors in Rhode Island and Massachusetts by convincing them to send cash for a relative's bail. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and was ordered to pay $130,300 in restitution, perform 60 hours of community service educating seniors about scams, and serve three years of supervised release.
ca.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes and voice cloning technology to perpetrate scams targeting seniors and families, with one Canadian man using cloned voices to defraud at least eight seniors of $200,000 in three days. Similar "grandparent scams" and fake kidnapping calls claiming children need bail money or ransom are proliferating across the United States, with families losing an average of $11,000 per incident. Experts recommend establishing a family password phrase and verifying callers' identities through independent phone numbers before sending money or sharing personal information.
theberkshireedge.com
· 2025-12-08
The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office is investigating at least two "grandparent scams" targeting senior citizens, in which fraudsters impersonate relatives in crisis situations and request money. Scammers obtain personal information through social media or purchased data, and now use AI voice-cloning technology to make the deception more convincing. Resources on protecting against this fraud type are available from the FCC and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Vidal Roquez, 39, from Providence, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in a grandparent scam that victimized at least thirteen seniors in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, where he personally collected cash from victims after they were deceived into believing a relative needed bail money. He was sentenced to twelve months and one day in federal prison, ordered to pay $130,300 in restitution, and required to perform community service by educating senior citizen groups about the scam and fraud prevention after his release.
tampabay.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 50 elderly Americans in Broward County fell victim to lottery scams between 2020-2021, losing more than $6.6 million collectively after being told they won prizes and asked to pay upfront fees for shipping and taxes. Florida ranked second nationally for elder fraud in 2023 with residents over 60 losing nearly $300 million, reflecting a broader U.S. trend where elderly victims lost $3.4 billion that year to investment fraud, romance scams, tech-support scams, and government impersonation schemes. The crimes remain significantly underreported due to victim embarrassment and fear of losing independence, with experts estimating only one-
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
The Yahoo Boys, a loosely organized collective of thousands of scammers primarily based in West Africa, operate openly on social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, TikTok, and YouTube, conducting romance scams, sextortion schemes, business email compromise, and AI-generated deepfake fraud that collectively total hundreds of millions of dollars annually. These cybercriminals openly share their identities, sell fraudulent scripts and fake identification documents, and coordinate their activities across dozens of groups with hundreds of thousands of combined members, with social media companies providing what experts describe as "free office space" for their criminal operations. While major platforms have removed many Yahoo Boys accounts after media scrut
wthr.com
· 2025-12-08
An FBI report found that scammers stole $3.4 billion from people over 60 in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year, with tech scams, data breach scams, and romance/confidence scams being the most common. Key prevention strategies include ignoring suspicious fraud alerts and calling card numbers directly, verifying data breach notifications through official mail channels, freezing credit with major bureaus, and being alert to scams that create urgency or demand immediate action. Educating older adults about these tactics is critical to preventing them from losing retirement savings or Social Security benefits.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline director Amy Nofziger discusses six fast-growing scams identified through thousands of annual helpline calls, including celebrity impersonation, check fraud, sweepstakes and grandparent scams, voice printing fraud, and Olympics-related schemes. The Fraud Watch Network offers free resources to consumers of any age, including a helpline staffed by 150 trained fraud specialists who provide support and guidance to scam victims and those seeking fraud prevention advice.
mysuncoast.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns that elder fraud is escalating, with Florida victims losing approximately $293 million and seniors over 60 nationally losing about $3.4 billion, often through impersonation scams such as the "grandparent scam" where fraudsters pose as relatives in distress asking for emergency money. Experts advise seniors to avoid sending money to unknown individuals, verify caller identities directly, and watch for red flags including urgency tactics, suspicious email addresses, and typos in communications.
waff.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reports that seniors over 60 are prime targets for fraud, with Alabama residents in this age group losing over $33 million to scams. Elder fraud complaints increased 14% in 2023, with tech scams, personal data breaches, and romance scams—particularly the "grandparent scam"—leading the way, as scammers increasingly use urgency and fear tactics to pressure victims into sending money or revealing sensitive information. Experts recommend that seniors and their family members hang up immediately when pressured for banking information, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, as these are hallmarks of fraud.
timberjay.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported a 14% increase in elder fraud complaints in 2023, with financial losses exceeding $3.4 billion and an average victim loss of $33,915. Over 101,000 seniors aged 60+ reported fraud to IC3, with investment scams, tech support scams, and romance scams being among the most common schemes, while cryptocurrency scams affected over 12,000 seniors. The report notes that actual fraud rates are likely higher due to underreporting, and scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create convincing deepfakes and chatbots to target elderly victims.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. seniors over 60 experienced record elder fraud losses of $3.4 billion across over 101,000 reported complaints in 2023, with a 14% increase from 2022, according to an FBI report. Investment scams, tech support scams, romance scams, and "grandparent scams" were identified as the most costly schemes, with individual victims losing over $100,000 in some cases. The FBI urged financial institutions to implement stronger safeguards and emphasized that early reporting and public education are critical to preventing victims from completing fraudulent transfers.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Sixteen people were charged in connection with a "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of older Americans across the Northeast out of millions of dollars between January 2019 and December 2023. Scammers operating call centers in the Dominican Republic used spoofed phone numbers to call elderly victims, impersonating distressed grandchildren or relatives needing bail money, then posed as attorneys and officials to extract payments via couriers or mail. The charges carry penalties up to 20 years in prison, with elder fraud complaints rising 14% nationally and victims losing an average of $33,915 each in 2023.
northjersey.com
· 2025-12-08
Sixteen individuals were charged in a "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly people in the Northeast out of millions of dollars by impersonating their relatives and claiming they needed bail money for legal emergencies. The sophisticated scheme involved "openers" making initial contact, "closers" impersonating lawyers or police officers, couriers collecting cash from victims' homes, and dispatchers operating a call center in the Dominican Republic that used technology to spoof U.S. phone numbers. Of the 16 charged, 11 were from the Dominican Republic and 5 from New York areas, facing charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Sixteen individuals—eleven from the Dominican Republic and five from New York—were charged in connection with a "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans out of millions of dollars. The defendants allegedly impersonated grandchildren in distress, claiming they had been arrested and needed immediate cash for bail or legal fees, with victims sometimes losing tens of thousands of dollars before authorities intervened. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies including HSI, the FBI, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.
wtae.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Pittsburgh field office and Highmark are warning of a surge in scams targeting people over 60, which represents a $3 billion annual problem nationally affecting thousands of victims. Common schemes include romance scams, tech support scams, and grandparent scams, all designed to exploit vulnerable populations. The agencies recommend never sharing personal or financial information with unknown callers, resisting pressure to act quickly, verifying caller identity through independent contact with authorities, and reporting incidents to law enforcement and financial institutions.
audacy.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud schemes cost the FBI-reported $3 billion annually, with losses to victims over 60 rising 84% between 2021-2022, prompting the FBI and Highmark to launch a public awareness campaign. Common scams include romance fraud, tech support impersonation, grandparent scams, and fake sweepstakes or charity schemes that exploit seniors' trust and desire for companionship. Protective measures include verifying caller information, resisting pressure to act quickly, and never sharing personal or financial information with unverified contacts.
foxrgv.tv
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The Better Business Bureau has issued a public alert about a bail impersonation scam targeting senior citizens in which fraudsters pose as grandchildren or other relatives in legal distress and request urgent bail money via untraceable digital payment platforms like CashApp or WhatsApp. Seniors should be alert to warning signs including unsolicited calls requesting money, urgent payment demands, and pressure to act quickly; those targeted can report incidents to the BBB at 956-969-1804 or bbb.org/scamtracker.
headtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
A joint FBI and Highmark Health initiative reports that elder fraud targeting people 60 and older is rising, with over 88,000 complaints involving romance scams, tech support fraud, and grandparent schemes, though most cases go unreported due to shame and uncertainty about reporting. The report emphasizes that seniors are vulnerable targets because they tend to be trusting, and scammers use emotional manipulation—invoking joy, hope, or fear—to extract money and personal information, often victimizing the same person repeatedly. Key prevention advice includes hanging up on unsolicited calls, never providing financial information to unknown callers, and reporting suspected fraud to law enforcement and financial institutions.