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2urbangirls.com
· 2026-06-11
Adults aged 60 and older are filing more fraud complaints with the FBI than any other age group, highlighting a growing digital security threat targeting seniors. AARP, Verizon, and Senior Planet are responding by offering free, hands-on workshops at local Verizon stores to help older adults learn how to protect themselves from online scams and improve their digital security skills. If you're a senior in Southern California, you can sign up for these one-hour workshops to gain practical knowledge about staying safe online.
bitdefender.com
· 2026-06-10
Scams now cost consumers and economies over $450 billion annually—equivalent to the GDP of entire developed nations—and have evolved into a sophisticated, borderless underground economy operating across multiple channels including websites, SMS, WhatsApp, social media, and phone calls. Victims of all types are targeted through diverse methods like fake ads, phishing messages, and fraudulent investment platforms, making it increasingly difficult to avoid scams through a single channel. To protect yourself, stay vigilant across all communication platforms, verify requests for personal or financial information independently, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and report suspicious activity to relevant authorities.
iowacourts.gov
· 2026-06-10
Scammers posing as law enforcement or Iowa court officials are targeting residents through phone calls, emails, and texts, threatening them with arrest warrants, unpaid fines, and missed jury duty in order to extort money via cryptocurrency, prepaid cards, or direct payments. The Iowa Judicial Branch warns that legitimate court communications never come via text or phone calls and never request money, personal information, or direct victims to external websites or phone numbers. To protect yourself, only pay court fines through official channels (the clerk's office by mail/in-person, the secure ePayment system, or by calling 515-348-4788 during business hours), and hang up immediately if contacted by phone or text claiming to be from courts or law enforcement demanding payment.
romesentinel.com
· 2026-06-10
Oneida County is hosting two free awareness events on June 15 to help seniors recognize and avoid scams, featuring experts from the Better Business Bureau and financial institutions who will discuss common fraud tactics and protection strategies. Seniors aged 60 and older can also sign up for a free SilverShield service that allows them to send suspicious messages for verification, which has already helped identify scams saving residents an estimated $20,700 since May. With the FBI reporting over 859,000 scam complaints in 2024 resulting in $16.6 billion in losses, these educational resources and protective services are designed to help vulnerable populations defend themselves against increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.
wilcosun.com
· 2026-06-10
Anne Marshall lost her life savings to a tech support scam that began with a fake pop-up warning about expired Geek Squad support, which she called to dispute—giving scammers remote access to her computer and leading to escalating demands for money. Her story, shared at a Sun City community fundraiser breakfast, highlights a widespread problem affecting approximately 50,000 Americans annually, with victims over 50 accounting for more than half of all scam losses totaling $20.9 billion in 2025. Residents should be cautious of unsolicited pop-ups and calls, avoid granting remote access to their computers, and remember that scammers deliberately target people when they're tired or busy—falling victim doesn't mean you're stupid, according to law enforcement.
newsweek.com
· 2026-06-10
The FBI released an updated list of most-wanted fraudsters accused of schemes costing victims tens of millions to over $1 billion, including healthcare fraud, investment scams, mortgage fraud, and money laundering. Notable cases include Herbert Leon Kimble, who allegedly orchestrated a $1.2 billion Medicare fraud scheme using call centers to push unnecessary orthopedic braces, and Michael Lizaso Marasigan, accused of stealing over $10.7 million from a charitable bingo operation meant to fund children's medical programs. The FBI is asking the public to report any information about these suspects, emphasizing that citizens are crucial to locating fugitives and that even small details can help investigators.
techxplore.com
· 2026-06-10
Hundreds of thousands of job seekers are being lured across borders into Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia under false employment promises, only to be trapped in heavily guarded compounds where they're forced to operate romance and investment scams targeting unsuspecting people online. Researchers analyzed social media posts from victims and their families to expose how these operations work, revealing that victims are coerced into long hours of fraudulent work with violence used as punishment. To protect yourself, be skeptical of job offers requiring you to relocate abroad, verify employment opportunities through official channels, and be cautious of romantic relationships that quickly lead to investment opportunities online.
briefglance.com
· 2026-06-10
The Ontario Securities Commission has warned investors about 11 unregistered investment scams, including operations like Capital Systematics and Delta Capital Group, which use sophisticated tactics such as impersonating legitimate firms or requesting banking credentials to defraud investors. These scams target everyday investors and can result in complete financial compromise, not just investment losses. To protect yourself, verify that investment firms are properly registered with regulators, scrutinize website details (like domain names and security certificates), and never share banking login credentials with anyone claiming to be an investment advisor.
helpnetsecurity.com
· 2026-06-10
Scam operations have become increasingly sophisticated, operating like organized businesses with budgets and dedicated teams, and they've shifted from email to social media as their primary attack method. According to Bitdefender's 2026 report, one in seven consumers fell victim to scams in the past year, with phishing, investment fraud, and fake shops being the most common types, often using impersonation and malvertising tactics. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited messages and ads on social media, verify financial institution communications directly through official channels, and avoid clicking links or downloading files from suspicious sources, especially around major events or trending topics where scammers often strike.
sg.news.yahoo.com
· 2026-06-10
Since February, scammers in Singapore have stolen at least $1.7 million from victims by posing as Microsoft tech support through fake pop-up alerts that claim devices have been hacked. Victims are tricked into calling fraudulent support numbers, then transferred to scammers impersonating police officers who convince them to transfer money or grant remote access to their bank accounts. To protect yourself, remember that Microsoft never includes phone numbers in alerts—ignore suspicious pop-ups, don't click links within them, and verify any support requests directly through Microsoft's official channels.
malwarebytes.com
· 2026-06-09
Americans lost nearly $900 million to AI-powered scams in 2025, according to the FBI, with criminals using voice cloning, deepfake videos, and AI-generated scripts to execute sophisticated fraud schemes including romance scams, government impersonation, and extortion calls. The reported losses came from over 22,000 complaints, though the actual total is likely much higher since many victims don't report being scammed. To protect yourself, the FBI recommends verifying identities through official contact channels rather than trusting communications that appear official, especially when government agencies or financial institutions are involved.
blog.google
· 2026-06-09
Global fraud losses reached an estimated $580 billion in 2025, with about one in five adults falling victim to scams, according to Google's latest fraud advisory. The most concerning threats include sophisticated phishing attacks like Adversary-in-the-Middle (AITM) and "Quishing" (QR code phishing) that can bypass multi-factor authentication, as well as scammers abusing trusted cloud services like Google Calendar and Docs to hide malicious content from security filters. To stay safe, users should be cautious of unexpected calendar invitations and document shares, verify login pages before entering credentials, and avoid clicking QR codes from untrusted sources.
miamitimesonline.com
· 2026-06-09
Lt. Gov. Jay Collins announced his "Live Florida" initiative at a news conference to address financial security for Florida seniors, including plans to combat fraud and cybersecurity threats targeting retirees. Collins highlighted rising costs for housing, healthcare, and insurance as major challenges for seniors and referenced his previous work launching Operation Senior Shield, which sends alerts to help older adults avoid scams. The initiative aims to provide seniors with timely information about emerging threats to protect them from fraudsters and boost consumer protections.
telegraph.co.uk
· 2026-06-09
Nigerian romance scammers are defrauding lonely people in Western countries out of billions of dollars by creating fake online personas and building emotional connections before requesting money or valuables. The article follows the case of Silvia Barragan, a 56-year-old dentist who nearly fell victim to a scammer posing as an American soldier before her sons discovered the emails were originating from Lagos, Nigeria. To protect yourself, be cautious of online dating matches who quickly profess deep feelings, avoid sending money or valuables to anyone you haven't met in person, and use verification tools to check the geographic origin of suspicious communications.
mpg.de
· 2026-06-09
Hundreds of thousands of job seekers, particularly those with language skills or vulnerable family situations, are being trafficked across borders to Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia under false employment promises, where they're forced to operate online fraud schemes like "pig-butchering" scams while held captive through wage theft, document confiscation, and violence. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute analyzed social media posts from victims and their families to expose recruitment tactics and control methods used by scam operators. People should be extremely cautious about unsolicited job offers promising high pay abroad, verify employment opportunities independently, and report suspected trafficking to authorities immediately.
miragenews.com
· 2026-06-09
Hundreds of thousands of job seekers in China have been trafficked across borders to Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia under false employment promises, where they are forced to operate online fraud schemes—including "pig-butchering" scams that target romantic relationships—while held captive in guarded compounds with withheld wages and threats of violence. Researchers analyzing social media posts from victims and families identified that scammers specifically target vulnerable people with language skills or weak social networks, using control tactics like location tracking and document confiscation to prevent escape. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited job offers from abroad, especially those promising unusually high pay, and verify employment opportunities through official channels before accepting positions or crossing borders.
abc7news.com
· 2026-06-09
yahoo.com
· 2026-06-08
An 85-year-old Pennsylvania woman lost over $154,000 after scammers falsely claimed her Amazon account was hacked and impersonated the Federal Trade Commission to convince her to send money via cash and certified checks. The scam exploited a common tactic where criminals contact victims about suspicious account activity to create urgency and fear, eventually escalating payment requests. To protect yourself: ignore unsolicited messages about account hacks, remember that Amazon and the FTC never demand payment to resolve issues, and verify any claims by contacting companies directly through official channels rather than using contact information provided in suspicious messages.
aei.org
· 2026-06-08
A new study reveals that cybercriminals purchased approximately 20 percent of all new domain name registrations in 2025—roughly 16.8 million domains—to conduct phishing scams, malware campaigns, and other online crimes, with at least 8.5 million already blocklisted by May 2026. Domain registrars and registries profit from this high-volume, low-friction business model while the costs of fraud fall on victims rather than the companies facilitating these registrations. The article suggests that policy reforms, industry accountability measures, and enforcement coordination—along with tools like the Global Signal Exchange for sharing threat intelligence—could significantly reduce criminals' ability to easily acquire domains in bulk for malicious purposes.
foxnews.com
· 2026-06-08
Scammers are increasingly using technology to spoof trusted contacts' phone numbers and AI voice tools to impersonate people you know, making fraudulent calls dangerously convincing. Android is rolling out a new "fake call detection" feature that automatically alerts you when a call claiming to be from a saved contact may be fraudulent, by verifying whether the call is actually coming from that person's device. To protect yourself, be cautious of unexpected calls from familiar numbers, and use this new Android feature when available—even if a call appears legitimate, verify important requests through other means before sharing sensitive information or money.
cnet.com
· 2026-06-08
Scammers are using an unexpected twist on package theft: they're *leaving* phones on victims' doorsteps as part of an identity theft scheme. When unsuspecting recipients activate these free phones and enter personal information, the devices lock up, giving criminals access to sensitive data. To protect yourself, be suspicious of unexpected package deliveries, verify any requests to return items directly with your carrier by calling their official number, and never activate devices you didn't order or enter personal information into unfamiliar phones.
sfchronicle.com
· 2026-06-08
Scammers are impersonating Indian consulate staff in the Bay Area, calling residents and claiming they need to pick up documents or that their phone number is linked to criminal activity in India—a sophisticated "digital arrest" scam targeting Indian immigrants and visa applicants. The fraudsters use local San Francisco area codes to appear legitimate and pressure victims into providing personal information or money to "prove their innocence." Residents should hang up immediately if they receive such calls, verify any consulate communications directly through official channels, and report suspected scams to local authorities rather than engaging with the callers.
azbigmedia.com
· 2026-06-08
Norton's cybersecurity team has identified 10 common scams expected to surge this summer, including AI-powered voice cloning for imposter schemes, deepfake romance fraud, reservation hijacking, and fake booking websites that mimic legitimate platforms. Scammers target distracted summer travelers who are spending more on travel and tickets and clicking links without verification. To stay safe, consumers should verify links before clicking, be skeptical of unsolicited contact, and use real-time security protection tools to defend against these evolving threats.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-06-08
An 85-year-old Florida woman fell victim to a "lonely scam" where she was convinced she had won $7 million but needed to send money upfront—she had already lost $3,500 and was planning to give more when police intervened. These scams, which also include robocalls, fake lottery winnings, and computer support schemes, continue to target older Americans despite years of warnings from police and the FBI. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming you've won prizes or need to send money first, verify unexpected winnings through official channels, and consider having trusted family members help monitor suspicious financial requests.
foxnews.com
· 2026-06-07
Scammers specifically target retirees during the six-week summer window between Memorial Day and July Fourth, exploiting vacation travel, public Wi-Fi usage, and family distractions through schemes like fake rental listings and grandparent scams. The timing is strategic—retirees are away from home using unsecured networks while adult children are busy and less likely to notice fraudulent activity quickly. To protect yourself, avoid posting vacation photos until after you return home, use secure Wi-Fi connections, verify rental listings carefully, and stay alert to urgent family requests for money.
ourmidland.com
· 2026-06-07
Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create more convincing fraud schemes—including realistic emails, voice mimicry, and fabricated images—making it harder for older adults to detect deceptive messages. To protect yourself, learn AI basics, start with small uses like smartphone voice assistants, treat AI as a helpful tool rather than a decision-maker, and always verify important information about health, finances, or legal matters through trusted sources like your doctor, bank, or government websites. If something online seems unusual or too good to be true, take time to look more closely before responding or sharing personal information.
the-independent.com
· 2026-06-07
Americans lost nearly $900 million to AI-powered scams in 2025, with the FBI receiving over 22,000 complaints about schemes involving deepfakes, impersonation, and fraudulent communications that appear legitimate even to trained individuals. Victims have ranged from individuals losing thousands to AI-generated voice impersonations to people losing over a million dollars to fake authority figures, with cybersecurity experts warning that losses will likely increase as AI technology becomes more sophisticated. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unexpected communications requesting financial information or urgent action, verify requests through independent channels (calling known numbers rather than using provided contact info), and be particularly cautious of voice or video communications that seem unusual.
abqjournal.com
· 2026-06-07
Scammers are sending fake text messages and emails impersonating Amazon product recalls to steal passwords and personal information from shoppers. To protect yourself, verify recalls directly through Amazon's app or website using your order number, or check the official government website recalls.gov rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages. Additionally, Facebook remains the most dangerous platform for scams, with users losing $794 million to fraud there in 2025 alone—primarily through fake shopping ads—so be cautious of unfamiliar sellers and ads on social media platforms.
bournemouthecho.co.uk
· 2026-06-07
A Dorset resident fell victim to a multi-stage scam that began with a fake delivery company email requesting payment for fuel surcharges, which the victim paid after clicking a suspicious link. Hours later, a convincing caller posing as a bank representative then tricked them into paying a larger sum for a fake loan, though the victim's actual bank eventually identified and refunded the fraud. Dorset Police advise the public never to click unknown links or answer calls from unfamiliar numbers, and to report suspected scams to Action Fraud or through the Dorset Police website.
prnewswire.com
· 2026-06-06
Norton's 2026 Summer Scam Forecast identifies the top 10 scams expected to surge between now and Labor Day, including AI-powered imposter fraud, reservation hijacking, and deepfake-based romance schemes that exploit summer travelers' distraction and increased spending on travel and tickets. Summer is particularly vulnerable to scams because people are distracted, more likely to click confirmation links hastily, and spending more money on vacations and entertainment. To stay safe, consumers should verify links before clicking, be skeptical of unsolicited contacts claiming to be from banks or services, and use additional security measures like multi-factor authentication when booking travel or making purchases online.
newsroom.gendigital.com
· 2026-06-06
Norton's 2026 Summer Scam Forecast warns that scammers increasingly target consumers during summer months when people are distracted and spending more on travel and entertainment, using sophisticated AI tools like voice cloning and deepfakes to make their schemes more convincing. The analysis of millions of blocked scam attacks identified 10 prevalent scam types expected to surge this summer, including reservation hijacking and lookalike booking websites. To protect yourself, Norton recommends being cautious with confirmation links, verifying booking sites directly rather than through search ads, and considering security tools that provide real-time threat protection.
wbaltv.com
· 2026-06-06
Scammers are impersonating parents seeking childcare services and sending fake checks for more than the agreed-upon amount, then requesting providers return the "overpayment" via wire transfer or payment app before the checks bounce. Childcare providers are being targeted through email, text, social media, and caregiving platforms, with scammers often claiming to be relocating and needing immediate care arrangements. To protect yourself, the FTC advises being suspicious of overpayment requests, waiting for checks to fully clear before sending any money, and reporting suspected scams to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-06-06
Norton's 2026 Summer Scam Forecast identifies the top 10 scams expected to surge between now and Labor Day, including AI-powered imposter fraud, reservation hijacking, package delivery scams, and gambling fraud—with imposter scams jumping 144% last summer compared to other times of year. Scammers exploit summer distractions when people are traveling, spending more money, and clicking links without checking, while new threats like voice cloning and deepfakes make fraudulent calls and romance scams harder to detect. To stay safe, remain skeptical of unexpected calls or messages from "family" or government agencies, verify booking confirmations through official websites rather than links in emails, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages—especially during travel season.
tn.gov
· 2026-06-06
Tennessee's Department of Disability and Aging and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have partnered to distribute educational magnets and information cards about common scams to older adults through meal delivery services, recognizing that homebound seniors are particularly vulnerable targets for fraud and elder abuse. The initiative will use meal delivery programs to reach seniors with information about the SafeSeniorTN website and resources that help them identify and avoid scams. Older adults receiving meals at home should watch for the educational materials and visit SafeSeniorTN to learn about common scams and where to report suspected fraud.
bitget.com
· 2026-06-05
A cryptocurrency exchange froze over $3 million in funds linked to a Southeast Asian fraud network as part of a coordinated "Disruption Week" operation involving the U.S. Department of Justice, Meta, Microsoft, and Starlink, which also shut down servers and infrastructure supporting fraud across 1.4 million compromised accounts. The Royal Thai Police made arrests in connection with the scheme, which authorities identified as part of a broader trend of investment fraud and "pig-butchering scams" that have become the fastest-growing and most financially damaging fraud types targeting Americans. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities, especially those promoted through social media or messaging apps, and verify any investment opportunity through official channels before sending money.
cnet.com
· 2026-06-05
Consumers lost over $12.5 billion to fraud last year—a 25% increase from the previous year—with social media account takeovers being the top threat, affecting an estimated 35% of the public in 2025. Fraudsters use increasingly sophisticated tactics including password theft, impersonation scams, and identity theft to steal money and personal information from victims and their contacts. To protect yourself, experts recommend being alert to suspicious messages from contacts who seem "off," verifying requests through alternative channels before sharing personal information, and reporting compromised accounts immediately to the platform.
kiplinger.com
· 2026-06-05
Cybercriminals are exploiting Microsoft's legitimate device code login feature to steal account credentials from Outlook, Teams, and Microsoft 365 users through a sophisticated scam that the FBI recently warned about. Unlike traditional phishing emails with obvious red flags, this "device code phishing" attack appears legitimate and can fool even users with multi-factor authentication enabled if they accidentally approve an unauthorized login request. To protect yourself, be cautious of unexpected login prompts or emails requesting verification codes, verify requests through official channels before approving them, and review your Microsoft account activity regularly for suspicious access attempts.
malwarebytes.com
· 2026-06-05
Travel scams are widespread and exploit the combination of high-value payments, urgency, and personal data required when booking flights, hotels, and rentals. Common tactics include fake travel websites that steal payment information, phishing emails impersonating legitimate brands, and fraudulent rental listings that push victims to communicate off-platform. To protect yourself, verify websites directly through official channels rather than clicking links in emails or ads, use reputable booking platforms with built-in protections, and be skeptical of urgent messages claiming booking problems.
cbsnews.com
· 2026-06-05
A Mount Lebanon woman lost $18,000 after scammers used a fake pop-up warning about child pornography on her computer to frighten her into withdrawing cash and sending it via Bitcoin. According to an IRS special agent, criminals increasingly target seniors with sophisticated fraud schemes, including government impersonation scams claiming unpaid taxes or fines, exploiting their trust and inducing panic to bypass rational decision-making. To protect yourself, be wary of urgent demands for immediate payment, unsolicited pop-ups or phone calls claiming legal trouble, and verify any government contact independently by calling official agencies directly rather than using contact information provided by the caller.
engadget.com
· 2026-06-04
Meta partnered with Microsoft, Coinbase, Starlink, and international law enforcement agencies to dismantle scam networks operating out of Southeast Asia that targeted Americans with romance scams, fake job offers, and impersonation schemes. The joint operation resulted in the removal of over 1.4 million fraudulent accounts across Facebook and Instagram, the freezing of $3 million in cryptocurrency, and 63 arrests. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited job offers or romantic advances from strangers online, verify requests for money or personal information through official channels, and report suspicious accounts to the platforms where you encounter them.
digitaltoday.co.kr
· 2026-06-04
Cryptocurrency scams surged to $14 billion in losses during 2025, with impersonation crimes skyrocketing 1,400% as scammers employ increasingly sophisticated tactics including phishing fake exchanges, deepfake videos of celebrities endorsing fraudulent tokens, romance scams, and hacking social media accounts of crypto influencers. Crypto investors are advised to verify website URLs directly rather than clicking ads, never share private keys or recovery phrases, be skeptical of endorsements on social media, and carefully review wallet permissions before connecting to applications.
panewslab.com
· 2026-06-04
Coinbase froze over $3 million in cryptocurrency tied to a Southeast Asian fraud network targeting U.S. citizens, as part of a coordinated "Disruption Week" operation by the Department of Justice involving Meta, Microsoft, and Starlink that dismantled criminal infrastructure and disrupted over 1.4 million fraudulent accounts. The scams—primarily investment fraud and "pig butchering" schemes (where scammers build fake relationships to extract money)—represent the fastest-growing fraud threat to Americans. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited investment opportunities and online relationships pushing financial offers, verify anyone requesting money through independent channels, and report suspected scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
tradingview.com
· 2026-06-04
Coinbase and major tech companies including Meta and Microsoft froze over $3 million in cryptocurrency and dismantled servers used by Southeast Asia-based fraud networks targeting Americans, resulting in over 1.4 million compromised accounts being disrupted and several arrests. The coordinated operation, led by the U.S. Department of Justice's Scam Center Strike Force, highlighted how investment fraud and "pig butchering" scams have cost Americans over $11 billion in losses in 2025 alone. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities, verify the legitimacy of platforms and contacts before transferring money, and report suspected scams to the FBI or your local authorities immediately.
malwarebytes.com
· 2026-06-04
Scammers stole over $21 billion from Americans last year, with fraudulent calls happening daily and targeting millions of people. Malwarebytes created a free tool called Scam Number Check that allows you to instantly look up suspicious phone numbers to determine if they're linked to scams before answering. The advice is simple: let unknown calls go to voicemail first, then check the number with this tool to avoid sharing personal information or money with potential scammers.
stimson.org
· 2026-06-04
Artificial intelligence is being weaponized by both criminals and legitimate platforms in the ongoing battle over fraud and scams, with criminal organizations using AI tools to enhance their scam operations while tech companies deploy AI to detect and block these threats. This Stimson Center event discussion explored how scammers are leveraging AI and deepfakes to evade detection, as well as how platforms can use AI to improve security and identify new fraud tactics. The takeaway for users is to remain vigilant about AI-enabled scams that may appear more sophisticated and convincing, while relying on trusted platforms that invest in AI-powered security measures to protect them.
gorhamtimes.com
· 2026-06-04
A 90-year-old widow lost $20,000 to cybercriminals in a case highlighting the growing problem of elder fraud affecting vulnerable older adults. To protect seniors, families should maintain regular communication about scams, establish financial power of attorney documents, carefully vet caregivers, and immediately alert banks if fraud occurs. Resources like the National Do Not Call Registry and Eldercare Locator can provide additional protection and support.
oag.dc.gov
· 2026-06-04
A 54-year-old Virginia woman pleaded guilty to financially exploiting a 79-year-old disabled woman in Southeast DC, stealing nearly $7,000 through unauthorized debit card purchases and fraudulent Cash App transfers between June 2024 and March 2025. The victim, who relied solely on Social Security benefits and had a long-standing trust relationship with the defendant, became unable to pay rent as a result of the theft. Attorney General Schwalb urges anyone aware of elder abuse or financial exploitation to report it to his office, emphasizing that victims often remain silent due to shame or their relationship with the perpetrator.
kob.com
· 2026-06-03
Seniors over age 60 lost more than $55 million to fraud scams last year, prompting the FBI to increase efforts to combat elder fraud through awareness and prevention. Scammers use tactics like creating false urgency, building fake trust, and impersonating law enforcement or corporations to trick victims into sending money, gift cards, or personal information. To protect yourself, the FBI recommends hanging up on suspicious calls, verifying requests with trusted family members, maintaining antivirus software, and reporting fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center or calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.
edhat.com
· 2026-06-03
Elder fraud is a widespread and growing crisis, with Santa Barbara County alone reporting 357 complaints in 2025 resulting in over $34 million in losses—though actual losses are likely much higher due to underreporting driven by victim shame and confusion about where to report crimes. Scams targeting seniors range from sophisticated international schemes like phishing and fake tech support calls to personal betrayals by caregivers and local opportunists who exploit vulnerable, wealthy seniors. To protect yourself or loved ones, report suspected fraud promptly to local law enforcement or the FBI, and be wary of unsolicited calls, online requests for personal information, and offers that seem too good to be true.
enlacelatinonc.org
· 2026-06-03
Hispanic adults are twice as likely as white adults to fall victim to payment app scams involving popular services like Zelle, Cash App, and Venmo, with the FTC reporting over 90,000 fraud cases in 2024 alone resulting in losses exceeding $390 million. To stay safe, experts recommend treating these apps like cash (once sent, money typically cannot be recovered), only sending money to people you know, and being suspicious of payment requests from strangers or unfamiliar situations. These money transfer apps are convenient for splitting expenses and reimbursing friends and family, but users should exercise caution since they offer limited fraud protection compared to traditional banking.