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in Grandparent Scam
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A UK poll of 1,000 respondents found that 41% of those with older loved ones believe they would fall for a scam if targeted, with 26% of older Brits having already experienced a scam and 21% falling victim to financial fraud. Common risky online behaviors among seniors include clicking suspicious links (68%), answering unknown calls (60%), oversharing personal information (55%), using weak passwords (51%), and poor password management practices such as writing them down or reusing them across accounts. Experts emphasize that online safety education and intergenerational conversations about cyber security are critical to protecting vulnerable older adults from increasingly sophisticated threats.
signalscv.com
· 2025-12-08
Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a 41-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming to represent Spanish banks and promising nonexistent inheritances, then convincing victims to send upfront fees for taxes and delivery costs through a network of U.S.-based intermediaries. Akhimie faces a maximum 20-year prison sentence, and the case highlights the broader crisis of elder fraud in the U.S., with 147,127 complaints totaling $4.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Adults over 60 lost over $4.9 billion to scams in 2024, with impersonation, romance, tech support, and emerging "grandparent scams" using AI voice cloning being the most common threats. The article provides six protective practices: avoid unknown calls/texts, never share personal information with unsolicited callers, recognize urgency and emotional manipulation tactics, and refrain from sending money to unknown contacts via any payment method.
local10.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. State Department is investigating an impersonation scam in which someone falsely posed as Secretary of State Marco Rubio via Signal messaging to contact three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress. Cybersecurity experts warn that AI-generated voice cloning technology makes high-level impersonation increasingly sophisticated and accessible, with potential targets ranging from government officials to elderly individuals and law firms holding escrow funds. Experts recommend verifying communications through official channels and maintaining skepticism of both written and audio communications, as "seeing is no longer believing" in the age of AI-generated content.
pa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed SB 649 into law, establishing third-degree felony charges for using artificial intelligence to create non-consensual deepfakes or voice clones to defraud or harm residents. The law specifically targets AI-generated scams affecting older adults, such as fake grandchild voice impersonations used to extort money, with Pennsylvania's Department of Aging reporting nearly 18,500 financial exploitation cases in FY 2023-24—nearly double the number since 2017. This legislation strengthens protections for Pennsylvania's fifth-largest older adult population by giving law enforcement new tools to prosecute AI-driven fraud schemes.
ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
This article does not appear to contain content relevant to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The article headlines cover topics including police investigations into violent incidents, homelessness policy, healthcare access, building restoration, and nuclear safety—none of which relate to fraud or elder exploitation. Unable to provide an Elderus-relevant summary.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old Ohio woman with no criminal history, Ann Mayers, robbed a credit union at gunpoint in April 2024 after losing her life savings to an online scam in which a fraudster posing as a U.S. Customs official convinced her to send thousands of dollars; she also borrowed $65,000 from a friend to cover what she believed were legitimate fees. Mayers was arrested within two hours, confessed immediately, and was sentenced to 4–5.5 years in prison after pleading guilty, highlighting how financial fraud can drive vulnerable individuals to desperate and criminal actions.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
The RCMP arrested Gareth West, 38, on July 4 in Quebec, alleging he was the ringleader of a grandparent scam that defrauded American seniors of $21 million between summer 2021 and June 2024. West and 24 other Canadians operated call centers near Montreal, impersonating grandchildren in distress and lawyers to convince elderly victims in 40+ U.S. states to send bail money, which was then transferred to Canada via cash delivery and cryptocurrency. West faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted and is being held pending possible extradition to the United States.
fdic.gov
· 2025-12-08
Financial exploitation costs seniors an estimated $27 billion annually and can occur through theft by family members, caregivers, or scammers. Key prevention strategies include monitoring bank and credit accounts regularly, protecting personal financial information, carefully selecting powers of attorney, reviewing credit reports, taking time with major financial decisions, and remaining alert to common scams like grandparent fraud and fake check schemes. Additional protections include registering with the Do Not Call Registry, avoiding unsolicited deposit requests, and limiting personal information shared on social media.
cybersecuritydive.com
· 2025-12-08
Mobile phishing scams targeting executives and employees via text and voice messages pose an increasingly serious threat, with 77% of companies experiencing at least one attack in the past six months, yet only half of security leaders express concern about the risk. Hackers use impersonation techniques—including AI-generated voice cloning—to trick employees into revealing passwords and granting network access, with notorious groups like Scattered Spider exploiting these social-engineering methods to infiltrate corporate systems. Organizations lack adequate visibility into these attacks and should implement real-time monitoring, mobile-focused security awareness training, and judgment-free reporting systems to address this vulnerability.
nzz.ch
· 2025-12-08
Professional scammers based in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, operate organized "pig butchering" romance scams that target lonely men on dating apps, using fake identities and fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes to steal entire savings. These industrial-scale fraud centers, which expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and often involve forced labor, emotionally manipulate victims by building trust through small early profits before extracting large sums. One victim, a 29-year-old Swiss man, lost all his savings within two weeks of matching with a fake profile, illustrating how the scheme exploits emotional vulnerability rather than outright naivety.
cvillerightnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal Trade Commission data estimates fraud theft in the United States reached $158.3 billion in 2023, with imposter scams, romance scams, tech scams, and investment scams being the most common types, typically beginning with phishing attempts via email, text, phone, or QR codes. AARP Virginia warns that AI technology is making scams increasingly convincing, particularly grandparent scams using synthesized voice calls, and recommends victims and witnesses report fraud to local law enforcement or contact AARP's Fraud Watch Network at 1-877-908-3360.
sidneydailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial scams targeting elderly residents in Shelby County, Ohio have become increasingly sophisticated, with people age 60 and over losing a combined $3.4 billion to fraud worldwide in 2023 alone. Scammers employ methods including Social Security imposter scams, grandparent schemes (enhanced by AI-generated voices and videos), and fake law enforcement threats to extract personal information and money from victims. Elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable due to accumulated wealth, health-related sensory impairments, and reluctance to report fraud due to embarrassment or fear of losing independence.
fox5vegas.com
· 2025-12-08
A Las Vegas senior named Joe Fitzpatrick created educational guides and community classes to help his neighbors at Solera at Stallion Mountain avoid cyber scams after witnessing an epidemic of fraud targeting residents. The guides cover various scam types including tech support, romance, Venmo, and the "grandparent" scam—where criminals use AI to impersonate relatives and request emergency money—with at least one local victim losing significant funds to this scheme. Fitzpatrick's primary advice is to treat online strangers with the same caution as in-person ones and encourages victims to share their experiences to help protect the community.
dallasnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Texas ranks second nationally for internet crime losses, with residents experiencing $1.35 billion in losses in 2024—a $328 million increase from the previous year, according to the FBI. People over 60 experienced the highest financial losses, while Hispanic and Black communities are particularly vulnerable to targeted scams such as family impersonation, phishing, and fraudulent investment schemes. The article provides guidance on recognizing scams (offers that seem too good to be true, pressure to act quickly, requests for personal information, unusual payment methods) and prevention strategies (verifying identities through official channels, using strong passwords, registering with the Do Not Call Registry, and limiting personal information shared online).
calgary.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
A 34-year-old Quebec man was charged with fraud, money laundering, and identity theft after defrauding a Calgary senior of over $300,000 in a cryptocurrency scam. Beginning in June 2022, the suspect impersonated the victim's grandson claiming legal trouble, then posed as a lawyer directing her to make daily bitcoin ATM deposits for fake bail and legal fees over six weeks. Calgary police executed a search warrant in the Montreal area and arrested the suspect, who will appear in court in August.
dallasnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, seniors aged 65 and older reported nearly $4.9 billion in losses to financial scams—a 43% increase from the previous year—with Texas seniors alone filing over 9,473 complaints averaging $489,000 in losses each. Seniors are targeted because they control significant national wealth and often struggle to keep pace with technology, making them vulnerable to romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation, and investment fraud. Family members and caregivers can help protect seniors by monitoring account activity, maintaining open communication about financial matters, and encouraging consultation before large transactions, while laws like the 2017 Elder Abuse Prevention
sequimgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece from a county sheriff outlines common scam tactics affecting communities nationwide, including phishing, imposter scams, investment fraud, romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, and payment transfer schemes. The sheriff advises residents to verify sources independently, avoid urgent pressure to act, be cautious with untraceable payment methods, and report suspected fraud to the FTC, emphasizing that scammers exploit new technologies and crises to target vulnerable victims across all demographics.
idahocountyfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance and confidence fraud caused $601 million in damages to 16,504 victims across the United States in 2023, with an average loss of $36,459 per victim. Idaho was hit hardest, with 112 victims losing $6.9 million ($61,784 per person), while scammers posing as online pen pals or relatives in distress targeted victims primarily through email and social media. Elderly victims aged 60 and older comprised approximately 40% of victims and suffered $365.9 million in losses.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Quebec man was charged with defrauding a Calgary senior of over $300,000 in a grandparent scam that occurred over six weeks in June 2022, in which he impersonated her grandson claiming to need bail money and then posed as a lawyer directing her to make over 300 cryptocurrency deposits. Jeremy Rattray, 34, faces charges of identity theft, fraud over $5,000, and money laundering, and the victim's funds have not been recovered. Calgary police warn seniors to hang up on callers requesting money transfers and note that legitimate officers will never ask for cryptocurrency or gift cards as part of an investigation.
theweeklyjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, older adults aged 60 and above reported $4.9 billion in fraud losses nationally—a 43% increase from 2023—with Puerto Rico experiencing a particularly sharp 618% rise to $21.1 million. The most costly schemes targeting seniors include investment fraud ($1.8 billion), tech support scams ($982 million), and romance scams ($389 million), which are considered especially dangerous due to their psychological manipulation tactics and emotional impact on victims. Experts attribute seniors' vulnerability to a combination of factors including the digital divide, lack of technical knowledge, availability of financial resources, social isolation, and the highly sophisticated, professional nature of modern fraud operations that use
crescentavalleyweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI and FTC are warning the public about evolving scams that exploit advancing technology, including AI-generated voice impersonations of law enforcement and government officials. Elderly Americans are particularly vulnerable to romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation scams, sweepstakes scams, and home repair scams, with millions falling victim annually. The agencies also warn against business email compromise, charity fraud (especially after disasters), cryptocurrency job scams, VA benefits overpayment scams, and card skimmers, recommending victims verify charitable organizations through trusted databases and use credit cards rather than cash, gift cards, or wire transfers for donations.
wjournalpr.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, older adults aged 60 and over suffered $4.9 billion in fraud losses nationally—a 43% increase from 2023—with Puerto Rico experiencing a dramatic 618% surge to $21.1 million in losses for the same demographic. The most financially damaging scams targeting seniors include investment fraud ($1.8 billion), tech support scams ($982 million), and romance scams ($389 million), with experts noting that perpetrators operate as sophisticated, organized call centers using psychological manipulation rather than amateur schemes. Seniors remain vulnerable due to a combination of limited digital literacy, available financial resources, social isolation, and reluctance to report crimes, particularly when perpet
tillamookheadlightherald.com
· 2025-12-08
An Eastern Oregon woman lost $600,000 in life savings to a "gold bar scam" in which scammers impersonated federal agents, claimed her accounts were at risk, and convinced her to purchase gold bars for "safekeeping"; local law enforcement prevented an additional $300,000 loss after her sister reported the scheme to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Hotline. The scam typically involves fraudsters creating false urgency about compromised finances, instructing victims to convert assets into gold, and dispatching couriers to collect the valuables before disappearing. The Oregon DOJ warns that no legitimate government agency requests gold purchases or home visits for money collection, and urges victims to hang up
koco.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple scams are currently targeting Oklahomans, including fake bank fraud calls where scammers impersonate financial institutions to obtain personal information and conduct unauthorized wire transfers, as well as grandparent scams where callers impersonate relatives claiming to be in emergencies. To protect themselves, Oklahomans are advised to hang up on unsolicited calls, avoid sharing personal information like passwords or account numbers, independently verify emergencies by directly contacting the person or institution involved, and report suspected scams to police, banks, and the state attorney general's office.
people.com
· 2025-12-08
Sharon Brightwell of Florida lost $15,000 to scammers who used AI-cloned audio of her daughter's voice in a fake emergency scheme. On July 9, Brightwell received a call mimicking her daughter's number where she heard AI-generated crying claiming a car crash occurred; a fake attorney then demanded $15,000 bail, which she paid, and scammers attempted to extort an additional $30,000 by claiming the daughter had caused a miscarriage. The daughter's son intervened and confirmed via a three-way call that she was safe at work, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is investigating the case.
pennlive.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational/advocacy piece rather than a news report of a specific scam. The Pennsylvania Shapiro Administration highlights rising financial fraud threats including email, text, phone, and AI-generated deepfake scams targeting Pennsylvanians, and details new protections including criminal penalties for AI-generated fraud schemes and virtual currency transfer regulations. In 2024, state agencies processed 27,000 complaints and returned over $22 million to consumers, with resources available through 1-866-PACOMPLAINT or pa.gov/consumer.
californiaglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, seniors lost an average of $33,000 each to online scams as part of a $159 billion total theft from Americans, with highly coordinated criminal networks—often operating from Southeast Asia—using tactics like romance scams, phishing, and imposter calls to manipulate older adults. The Golden Years Policy Council argues this represents a public safety and national security crisis requiring coordinated government response, including establishment of an interagency taskforce, increased law enforcement funding and tools to dismantle scam networks, and a centralized victim reporting system to track the problem's true scale.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
Voice phishing and its variants—including investment fraud, romance scams, smishing (text fraud), and fake reservation scams—have become increasingly sophisticated over the past 20 years, with the "five major phishing crimes" causing 1.687 trillion won in damages last year, 3.4 times more than robbery and theft combined. Victims of phishing crimes suffer average losses of 48.75 million won per case with less than 3% recovery rates, yet many phishing variants lack legal classification as telecommunications fraud and fall outside the official response system, leaving victims without integrated support channels or adequate online resources for assistance.
rstreet.org
· 2025-12-08
The GUARD Act is a proposed federal rule that would authorize law enforcement agencies at all levels to use existing Department of Justice grant funds to investigate elder financial fraud and scams like pig butchering schemes, with support for emerging technologies, real-time intelligence sharing, and interagency coordination. The legislation addresses a critical need, as FBI data shows fraud complaints from adults over 60 increased 46 percent in 2024 to 147,127 cases, yet 78 percent of fraud victims do not report incidents to law enforcement due to shame and jurisdictional challenges that make prosecution difficult. The bill aims to combat transnational organized crime targeting elderly Americans, who face vulnerabilities including diminished digital literacy
greenwichsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
At a July 2 Retired Men's Association meeting, computer expert Aaron Woodin presented "Don't Fall for It! Recognizing and Avoiding Scams," detailing how scammers exploit trust through tactics like false urgency, emotional manipulation, and enforced isolation. He identified common digital threats including fake event invitations and invoices, scam pop-ups, social media impersonations, phone-based impersonations of tech companies and government agencies, grandparent/romance scams, and SIM Swap attacks. Woodin advised victims to verify contact information independently, shut down suspicious screens, avoid calling numbers on suspicious invoices, add cyber fraud insurance riders, and contact mobile
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
From January through April 2025, the Federal Trade Commission received over 75,000 reports of government imposter scams, with scammers impersonating U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Social Security, Medicare, and the FTC itself to steal money via phone and text. Consumers lost approximately $204 million total, with median losses ranging from $650 overall to $12,000 for FTC impersonation scams, typically requested through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or banking information. Scammers exploit current concerns about immigration, drug trafficking, and tariffs by claiming intercepted packages contain drugs or threatening arrest warrants to pressure victims into immediate payment.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A 36-year-old Canadian man, Jia Hua Liu, was arrested in July after conducting a multi-state door-to-door scam targeting seniors across Ohio, Indiana, New Mexico, and Tennessee, defrauding victims of an estimated $309,000 total. One Charlestown, Indiana resident was tricked into withdrawing $27,000 from his retirement accounts and handing it over in cash; three additional attempted scams in Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan were prevented by family members, potentially saving another $70,000 in losses. Liu was apprehended at Louisville airport while attempting to flee the country and faces charges including theft, fraud, conspiracy, an
travelandtourworld.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly travelers are increasingly targeted by AI-generated deepfake scams that create convincing fraudulent videos of non-existent vacation destinations, causing significant financial losses to seniors who book trips based on the fabricated content. Scammers use advanced AI technology to produce hyper-realistic videos, fake testimonials, and manipulated voices to lure victims into bookings, exploiting older adults' lower digital literacy and trusting nature. As deepfake technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated, authorities warn that awareness, careful verification of travel offers, and digital literacy education are essential to protect vulnerable seniors from this growing fraud threat.
ktlo.com
· 2025-12-08
Local officials are warning residents, particularly seniors, about rising fraud activity in the region, including fake billing, phony tech support, family impersonation, and spoofed caller IDs. The "grandparent scam"—where someone impersonates a relative requesting emergency funds while demanding secrecy—is among the most commonly reported schemes in Baxter County. Law enforcement advises residents to verify contact information independently, never send money through untraceable means like cryptocurrency ATMs, and pause to consult trusted contacts or their bank if something feels suspicious.
noozhawk.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Californians lost over $2.5 billion to cyber scams, with seniors increasingly targeted by sophisticated fraud schemes including government impersonation, tech-support scams, grandparent scams, and emerging AI-powered voice cloning tactics. Protection measures include refusing to share personal information over the phone, independently verifying caller identity, discussing scams with family members, and reporting suspicious activity to authorities or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2025 bipartisan report highlights that fraud and scams cost seniors $4.8 billion in 2024, with investment, cryptocurrency, and romance scams posing the greatest risks to older adults who are often targeted due to politeness, trust, and unfamiliarity with digital technologies. Common scams include Medicare fraud ($80.5 million in losses), imposter scams ($789 million in losses), phishing, and deepfakes, which cause not only financial devastation but also significant emotional and physical health impacts on victims.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
North Branford police conducted an elder fraud awareness presentation at Evergreen Woods Community to educate seniors on prevention strategies. The presentation highlighted that seniors lose more than $3 billion annually to various fraud schemes including romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, and government impersonation scams, with tips provided on how to recognize and protect against these threats.
tribtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The article describes five active scams in the Valley area: fake delivery drivers posing as legitimate couriers to extort payment for nonexistent packages, sweepstakes fraud schemes that have resulted in losses exceeding $100,000, fraudsters using stolen personal information to open vehicle accounts in victims' names, scammers impersonating police officers and bail bondsmen to extort payment, and unlicensed door-to-door salespeople operating without required permits. Residents are advised to verify identities before sharing personal information, hang up on suspicious callers, and familiarize themselves with local soliciting regulations to protect against these schemes.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
Turlock Police arrested 40-year-old Yuwen Zheng in connection with an elaborate fraud scheme targeting a senior citizen, who lost thousands of dollars after being deceived by perpetrators posing as representatives from established companies and government agencies. Zheng was apprehended at the victim's residence while attempting to collect additional cash in person, and detectives believe there may be additional elderly victims in the Turlock area and beyond. Zheng was booked on charges of theft by false pretenses and elder abuse.
onlineathens.com
· 2025-12-08
An Athens woman fell victim to a law enforcement impersonation scam in which a caller posed as a police officer and requested money to secure a family member's release from jail. Reports filed with Athens-Clarke police indicate that residents and businesses in the area continue to be targeted by telephone scams, with victims unaware they are speaking with con artists.
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office warned of rising scams targeting older adults in the region, including grandparent scams, government imposter schemes, tech support fraud, and sweepstakes scams that aim to steal money and personal information. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Report, Americans over 60 lost $1.7 billion to fraud in the previous year, with Lyon County seniors being frequent targets due to their trust, limited tech skills, and fear of reporting. The sheriff's office is offering community presentations on fraud prevention and recommends residents use the STOP, LEAVE, ASK, WAIT, ACT protocol to identify and avoid suspicious calls.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Morgan Hill Police Department arrested one suspect and recovered $15,000 from two separate elder fraud cases reported on July 23. The first case involved a victim who lost $30,000 to a pop-up scam claiming their computer was hacked and requiring payment to fix it; the suspect was arrested on July 24 and charged with elder abuse, criminal conspiracy, and theft by false pretenses. The second case involved a victim who received a call from someone impersonating an FBI agent demanding $24,000; police intercepted $15,000 before it was shipped out of state.
kolotv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office issued a scam alert after handling numerous identity theft and phone scams, warning that seniors are frequently targeted by fraudsters impersonating government officials or offering financial assistance. Americans over 60 lost $1.7 billion to fraud in the past year according to the FBI, with seniors vulnerable due to trust in authority figures, substantial savings, limited tech literacy, and reluctance to report being scammed. Common scams affecting Lyon County seniors include grandparent scams, government imposter schemes, financial abuse by trusted individuals, tech support fraud, and lottery scams.
griceconnect.com
· 2025-12-08
The Statesboro Police Department warned of three escalating phone scams targeting senior citizens in the area: Social Security fraud (claiming false benefits issues to extract personal information or payments), the "Grandparent" scam (impersonating grandchildren claiming emergencies to request wire transfers), and fake charity solicitations (posing as legitimate organizations to collect donations). The department advised seniors to never share personal or financial information over the phone, verify callers by contacting organizations directly, and report suspicious calls to local police.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating artists and messaging people on social media asking to use their photos for "art projects," then requesting personal information like full names and email addresses under the pretense of sending e-checks for commissions. The scheme is a variant of the common fake check scam, where fraudsters send counterfeit checks that appear legitimate, ask victims to wire back excess funds, and use the collected personal information for future fraud. The Federal Trade Commission warns this tactic is widespread and advises victims to report incidents to the FTC or Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A TikTok user warned of a scam in which fraudsters pose as artists requesting permission to use people's photos for art projects, only to later request personal information (full name and email) under the pretense of sending an e-check commission. The scheme is a variant of the common fake check scam, where fraudsters send fraudulent checks that include excess funds and instruct victims to wire the overage back, allowing scammers to access victims' personal information for future fraud while the victim ultimately loses money.
ket.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational forum featuring experts and fraud victims discusses common scams targeting elderly people, including email/social media schemes, tech support scams, and impersonation of law enforcement or government officials. Seniors are frequent targets because they may be lonely, vulnerable, or less technologically savvy, and scammers exploit urgency and fear to manipulate victims; real victims lost thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, including one woman who lost over $400,000 and now owes the IRS $100,000 in additional taxes. The discussion emphasizes that fraudsters use sophisticated, multi-layered schemes designed to be difficult to trace and recommends awareness and verification of unexpected contacts as prevention strategies.
ket.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational forum features elder fraud experts discussing common scams targeting seniors, including email, social media, tech support, and phone-based schemes. Elderly individuals are frequent targets because they have more free time, may be lonely or financially worried, and scammers exploit urgency and fear to manipulate them. The panel shares real victim experiences—including a woman who lost over $400,000 to an imposter federal agent scam and now owes $100,000 in taxes—and emphasizes that scams use multiple layers of deception designed to be difficult to trace before funds are depleted.
azag.gov
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and the Better Business Bureau launched an educational campaign warning consumers about AI voice cloning scams, where fraudsters use synthesized voices to impersonate loved ones, celebrities, or officials to extort money or solicit fake donations. Common targets include grandparents receiving calls about grandchildren in distress and parents receiving calls about injured children needing bail money. The agencies recommend verifying unexpected emergency calls by hanging up and calling the person directly through a trusted number, establishing code words with loved ones, avoiding unknown callers, and refusing requests for gift card or app-based payments.