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abc7news.com
California and San Francisco law enforcement issued warnings about financial fraud targeting seniors, which costs older adults nearly $3 billion annually. Scams include call center fraud, romance schemes, grandparent scams, and AI-enabled impersonations, with particular targeting of ethnic communities like Chinatown through language-based trust exploitation, including a notable $39 million Ponzi scheme. Authorities urge reporting of suspected elder fraud to police, adult protective services, and the California Attorney General's office to help catch perpetrators and prevent future victimization.
postandcourier.com
In observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the IRS Criminal Investigation's Charlotte Field Office is promoting fraud awareness to combat the rising tide of financial crimes against seniors. According to the FBI's 2023 Internet Crimes Report, individuals aged 60 and above filed 101,068 complaints and sustained $3.4 billion in losses from scams including tech support fraud, government impersonation, phishing, and romance schemes. The IRS employs education, criminal investigations, and public-private partnerships to combat elder fraud, with recent prosecutions including a home health care operator sentenced to 45 months for stealing over $1 million from elderly clients and an investment fraudster sentenced to
justice.gov
On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis highlighted the Justice Department's multi-faceted approach to combating elder fraud, including the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force and Money Mule Initiative that target foreign-based schemes and fraud networks. The office detailed common scams affecting older Americans—including Social Security impostor schemes, tech support fraud, and lottery scams—and cited a 2023 federal conviction where a defendant defrauded an elderly widow of approximately $1.2 million by posing as her personal representative and spending her money on luxury items and lottery tickets.
whig.com
Phishing remains one of the most prevalent fraud tactics, with scammers using emails, text messages, and phone calls to steal personal information and money by impersonating banks, government agencies, and tech support. The Better Business Bureau reports phishing text messages are increasing in frequency and now incorporate artificial intelligence to create more convincing messages. Common warning signs include requests to confirm financial information, claims of account problems, urgent language with typos, and unsolicited links or offers; victims should verify suspicious communications directly with legitimate organizations before clicking links or providing information.
boothbayregister.com
Moving scams are fraudulent schemes perpetrated by rogue online operators who lure customers with lowball estimates, demand deposits or upfront payments, and then either fail to appear, raise prices at the last minute, or hold belongings hostage demanding additional payment. To protect yourself, obtain multiple quotes, verify company references, and remember that the cheapest option is not always the safest when moving valuable personal belongings.
businessinsider.com
Phishing scams targeting weight loss drugs like Ozempic increased 183% from January to April, with scammers exploiting the high cost of these medications (approximately $1,000 monthly) by posting fake offers on social media platforms like Facebook and Craigslist. Criminals impersonate doctors and pressure victims to share personal information and use unconventional payment methods such as Bitcoin, Zelle, and Venmo—red flags indicating fraudulent activity. McAfee recommends consumers verify official retailers, avoid suspiciously low prices, check for complete product details, and report scams to relevant financial institutions to attempt fund recovery.
wfsb.com
Phishing reports doubled in 2023, with the Better Business Bureau receiving a record 9,238 reports, while Connecticut specifically saw phishing complaints rise from 58 in 2022 to 84 in 2023. Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create more convincing phishing messages via email, text, and voicemail to trick people into divulging personal information. To protect themselves, people should be suspicious of unexpected messages with urgent subject lines and avoid responding to anything that appears suspicious.
shoredailynews.com
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) prompted Virginia State Police to highlight common scams targeting older adults, including a software update scam that defrauded one Virginia senior of $36,000 and the "Grandparent scam" using AI voices to impersonate grandchildren in distress. The advisory recommends independent verification of requests, avoiding gift card or cryptocurrency payments, establishing trusted "buddy systems," and regular financial audits to help vulnerable adults protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.
nbcdfw.com
An elderly woman in White Settlement, Texas was targeted by a scammer posing as a Chase Bank security employee who instructed her to withdraw and deposit $40,000 in Bitcoin at an ATM while on a video call. A bystander, Myndi Jordan, noticed the victim depositing money at a Chevron gas station and called police; Sergeant James Stewart arrived and intervened before the full amount could be transferred, stopping the transaction after $23,900 had already been deposited. Police were able to coordinate with Bitcoin to recover the deposited funds, and authorities are warning the public that scammers can spoof bank phone numbers and use coercion and threats to manipulate victims into
clarksvilleonline.com
Scammers are targeting travelers with fraudulent airline ticket schemes, using fake websites and spoofed customer service numbers to sell counterfeit tickets, then claiming flights are canceled to extract additional fees. The Better Business Bureau reports numerous cases where victims believed they purchased legitimate discounted flights but were directed to pay extra charges or rescheduling fees to non-existent airlines. To protect against these scams, consumers should book directly through official airline websites, verify flight information independently, check website security, and use credit cards for online purchases.
gmtoday.com
The Jackson Police Department's Fraud Prevention Friday post highlights romance scams, which target all age groups and operate through three stages: pretense (the scammer builds fake trust online), problem (the scammer creates an excuse preventing in-person meetings or fabricates a crisis), and pressure (the scammer requests money from the victim). The department recommends citizens educate themselves on romance scams, exercise caution when meeting people online, and references the film "The Tinder Swindler" as a resource for understanding how these scams operate.
justice.gov
In observation of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts emphasized its commitment to prosecuting elder fraud and financial exploitation, noting that nearly one in 10 adults aged 60 and older experience some form of elder abuse annually. The office highlighted a recent case where Chukwunonso Umegbo was sentenced to over three years in prison for operating a romance scam that defrauded at least 45 victims of more than $568,000 between 2018 and 2019, including a senior who lost her home, car, and retirement savings. The District of Massachusetts has launched an Elder Justice Out
au.finance.yahoo.com
An Australian woman lost $2,500 after a scammer impersonating Virgin Money tricked her into providing a one-time passcode via SMS that appeared to come from the bank's official number. The scammer used technology to spoof the bank's phone number, making the fraudulent message appear in the same conversation thread as legitimate bank communications. The incident highlights growing bank impersonation scams, with Australia's National Anti-Scam Centre recording over 6,800 such reports in 2023 resulting in $18 million in losses, and experts warn scams may increase during tax season when fraudsters impersonate the Australian Taxation Office.
the-sun.com
86-year-old Sandra Jung of Little Rock, Arkansas lost nearly $10,000 in a tech support scam after seeing a malware pop-up and calling what she believed was Microsoft's official number from a Google search result. The scammer convinced her that an erroneous $15,000 refund (instead of the promised $150) had been deposited and manipulated her into sending back nearly $10,000 to "resolve" the issue. Jung filed a report with the Attorney General's office but is unlikely to recover the funds.
wmtw.com
Seniors are increasingly targeted by scammers using phone calls impersonating banks or relatives to steal personal information and money. According to FBI data, older Americans lost $1.6 billion to fraud from January-May 2024, with Maine victims alone losing $7.2 million in 2023 (397 cases averaging $18,040 per victim). Experts recommend pausing to verify unexpected urgent calls through known phone numbers and educating older adults about common scams, with organizations like Kennebunk Savings partnering with the Southern Maine Agency on Aging to provide fraud prevention resources and support.
adirondackdailyenterprise.com
Saranac Lake Police Chief Darin Perrotte provided guidance on protecting oneself from financial scams, emphasizing the importance of skepticism toward unverifiable communications and resisting artificial urgency tactics. He outlined why seniors are vulnerable targets—including accumulated assets, trusting nature, and isolation—and recommended verification strategies such as calling organizations back using independently verified numbers and questioning requests for information companies should already have on file. Perrotte stressed protecting Social Security numbers, avoiding text-based financial requests, and remaining aware that exploitation often comes from trusted individuals like family members and caregivers rather than strangers.
abc17news.com
Phishing scams reached a record high in 2023 with 9,288 reports to the Better Business Bureau, and 2024 is on track to exceed this with 3,363 reports in the first quarter alone. One victim, Stacy Keys, lost $800 after clicking a fraudulent Hertz rental website and being instructed to load money onto prepaid cards by phone; scammers are increasingly using technology and AI to mimic legitimate websites and conduct phishing via email, phone calls, and text messages. Since 2021, the BBB has received 23,126 phishing reports with a median loss of $300 each, and victims are advise
sbs.com.au
During Australian tax season, scammers are targeting residents with sophisticated phishing scams impersonating government agencies like the Australian Taxation Office and myGov; Commonwealth Bank data shows 24 percent of Australians have already been exposed to tax-related scams, with only 69 percent able to identify them correctly. Scammers use robocalls, emails, and SMS messages containing malicious links to trick victims into providing personal information or payment under false pretenses of urgent debts or refunds. To protect themselves, Australians should recognize that legitimate ATO communications never include unsolicited links or QR codes, request passwords, show a caller ID, or threaten immediate arrest.
djournal.com
Cyber scams targeting elderly people are increasing, with common schemes including fake Microsoft security alerts, phishing text messages spoofing legitimate companies, and tax refund fraud that uses stolen taxpayer information to file fraudulent returns. Elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable because they tend to trust callers claiming to represent government agencies and are susceptible to tax-related scams. The article advises consumers to verify email, text, and phone communications before clicking links or providing information, remain suspicious of unsolicited contact, and consult resources like the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity tips to learn detection and avoidance techniques.
lavanguardia.com
Digital fraud targeting seniors in Spain has surged dramatically, with scam cases against people over 65 increasing 78% between 2019 and 2022 (from 7,568 to 13,479 cases), and digital fraud cases alone rising 21.73% in 2022 compared to 2021. Seniors are vulnerable targets due to lower technology familiarity, trustfulness, and susceptibility to social engineering tactics such as fake investment schemes and fraudulent shopping charges, with 15% of victims losing over €10,000 according to one survey. Experts emphasize that enhanced digital education and protection measures are needed to help older adults navigate the internet safely and avoi
al.com
Romance scammers exploit emotional connections formed on dating apps and social media to lure victims into fake investment schemes, particularly cryptocurrency fraud. In 2021, romance scams cost Americans $547 million, with cryptocurrency-based scams being the most expensive, and victims have lost tens of thousands to millions of dollars. Red flags include promises of guaranteed profits, "no risk" investments, offers to teach investment strategies, and requests for payment via gift cards, payment apps, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency—anyone meeting online who pitches cryptocurrency investment is running a scam and should be reported immediately to the platform and the FTC.
sebastopoltimes.com
Financial exploitation of elderly residents in Sonoma County increased significantly, with Adult Protective Services reporting a 9% rise in abuse reports and 14% increase in investigations from 2022 to 2023, with 19% of over 7,800 allegations involving financial exploitation. Common scams targeting seniors include investment fraud, tech support scams, phishing schemes, and romance scams, which collectively cost victims $3.4 billion nationally in 2023, with romance scams proving particularly damaging due to the emotional manipulation involved. Experts advised seniors to avoid clicking links in suspicious emails or calls, contact companies directly to verify account issues, and be wary of requests for money from online dating
prnewswire.com
In 2024, major consumer protection organizations reported that elder real estate fraud losses increased 14 percent since 2022, with nearly 1,500 Americans ages 60 and older losing $65 million in real estate scams in 2023 alone. The fraud includes forged documents, Power of Attorney abuse, deed theft, and deceptive financial schemes targeting seniors' property and money. Organizations including AARP, the National Association of Realtors, and the National Consumer Law Center are urging states to implement stronger protections such as uniform power of attorney laws, multi-factor authentication, property record monitoring, and enhanced enforcement by adult protective services and law enforcement.
fincen.gov
FinCEN released an analysis of elder financial exploitation (EFE) showing approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity reported by financial institutions between June 2022 and June 2023, based on 155,415 filings. The agency reminds financial institutions to remain vigilant in identifying and reporting EFE, which damages victims' savings, retirement accounts, and overall financial security, and directs victims and reporters to resources including the National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-FRAUD-11), the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, and the FTC.
wtop.com
Elder fraud cases are rising nationally, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics including fake caller IDs and AI voice mimicry to target older adults through lottery scams, tech support fraud, IRS impersonation, and grandparent scams. Prosecution faces significant challenges including overseas perpetrators, underreporting (only 1 in 41 victims report), victim incapacity due to dementia or death, and lack of documentation, with conservative estimates placing annual losses at $3 billion nationally. Authorities recommend victims keep detailed records of financial arrangements, verify callers independently before providing information or money, and report fraud promptly rather than delaying due to embarrassment.
bctv.org
The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting senior citizens, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use high-pressure tactics and spoofed caller IDs to demand immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency for fictitious tax debts or false refunds. The IRS advises recipients of unexpected calls claiming to be from the agency to hang up immediately and instead contact IRS customer service directly at 800-829-1040 to verify any legitimate tax issues.
wgem.com
Quincy Police arrested a suspect for residential burglary at a retirement home who allegedly stole credit and debit cards from elderly residents' apartments. Police and senior advocates warn that criminals target seniors due to their trust and desire for connection, though most crimes against the elderly involve scams conducted via phone, online, or mail. Authorities recommend family members help protect seniors by reviewing their mail and accounts for suspicious charges, discussing scam recognition, monitoring for unauthorized contact, and maintaining regular check-ins to catch fraud early.
sf.gov
San Francisco's Mayor London Breed joined city, state, and federal leaders on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to announce that over 1,200 seniors were reached through a multi-agency fraud prevention campaign, with presentations delivered in six languages across 37 locations. The coalition educated seniors on identifying red flags for scams including blessing scams, AI-based impersonation, grandparent schemes, and "pig butchering" cryptocurrency fraud, while highlighting that elder fraud caused over $3.4 billion in losses nationally in 2023, with the average victim losing $33,915. The effort aimed to help seniors and families recognize fraudulent schemes and report crimes to prevent victimization.
wuky.org
Elder Kentuckians lost $12.8 million to scams in the previous year, with projections to double to $12.7 million by May of the current year, according to FBI officials who warn the problem is not declining. The three most common scams targeting Kentucky elders are investment fraud (including cryptocurrency and precious metals schemes), tech support fraud (phishing and fake security alerts), and romance fraud, with a detailed case study showing a 72-year-old woman losing nearly $200,000 to a military officer imposter who cultivated a romantic relationship with her over months before requesting money for military contract payouts and travel expenses. The investigation resulted in the indictment of three U
milfordlive.com
Delaware Hospice reported that elder fraud is rising nationwide, with the "phantom hacker" tech support scam being particularly successful against seniors; between January and June 2023, $542 million was fraudulently transferred, with two-thirds of victims over age sixty-five. Common scams include fake tech support calls requesting remote access to computers, fraudulent bank/brokerage contacts directing victims to transfer funds to "protected" accounts, and impersonation of government agencies (IRS, Federal Reserve) urging fund transfers via wire, cash, or cryptocurrency. To protect elderly family members, avoid responding to unsolicited hacker alerts, never allow unknown parties remote computer access, verify company contact information independently
yahoo.com
North Carolina authorities report that seniors lost approximately $7 million to scams in 2023, with over 500 elder fraud complaints resulting in an average loss of $50,000 per victim, though many cases go unreported due to shame or embarrassment. Tech support, investment, and romance scams are the most prevalent schemes, and a new helpline (2-1-1) has been launched to assist victims and provide fraud prevention resources. State officials emphasize that scammers employ increasingly sophisticated tactics and urge community members to support victims while maintaining healthy skepticism of unsolicited offers that sound too good or too urgent.
kfvs12.com
Phishing scam reports doubled in 2023, reaching a record high of over 9,000 cases according to a BBB study, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence and chatbots to target victims through text messages and steal personal information. Both individuals and businesses were affected, with businesses alone losing $2.9 billion to these scams in 2023. The BBB warns that phishing links can install malware on devices and urges people to be cautious of unsolicited messages with suspicious links.
plantcityobserver.com
After hurricanes, scammers target disaster victims through fake contractors demanding upfront payment or using misleading Assignment of Benefits documents, fake government/utility workers requesting personal information, non-existent rental listings, and fraudulent charities. Victims should verify all contractors' credentials and insurance, avoid cash/wire transfer payments, never pay for FEMA assistance, and check charity legitimacy before donating.
advantagenews.com
The Better Business Bureau warns of a Facebook scam where legitimate-appearing posts about lost pets or missing persons are shared by users with good intentions, then altered by scammers to promote deceptive rental ads or fraudulent surveys promising cash prizes. Since the beginning of 2021, the BBB received over 23,000 phishing-related reports, with more than 9,000 in the previous year; users should be suspicious of posts lacking comment options.
euronews.com
Deepfakes are being weaponized by cybercriminals and fraudsters faster than anticipated, with politicians representing nearly 40% of targets (primarily for election interference) and celebrities/businesses increasingly victimized in scams worth millions of euros. Trading scams using deepfakes are the most prevalent (35%), followed by retail and gambling, with recent incidents including a €23 million fraudulent transfer and impersonations of public figures like Tom Hanks and Elon Musk to promote investment schemes.
legends1063.fm
A BadCredit.org report found that 78% of Millennials and Gen Z have been targeted by debt collection scams, with young adults losing an average of $3,067 to scams over their lifetime. The most common scam types affecting this demographic are phishing, identity theft, and mobile payment scams, with the FTC receiving over 124,000 debt collection scam reports in 2023 alone.
news.bloomberglaw.com
The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting older adults, in which fraudsters pose as government officials to steal personal information and money. The alert highlights an increasing threat to seniors from scammers using government impersonation as their primary tactic.
effinghamradio.com
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about impersonation scams targeting seniors in Illinois and nationwide, where fraudsters pose as IRS or other government agency officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use tactics such as spoofed caller IDs, fabricated urgent scenarios (false tax debts or refunds), threats of arrest, and demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to pressure victims into immediate action. The IRS advises recipients of unsolicited calls claiming to be from the IRS to hang up immediately and contact legitimate IRS customer service at 800-829-1040 to verify any communications.
wdam.com
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting Mississippi seniors, where fraudsters pose as IRS or government agency representatives to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and text messages. Scammers use pressure tactics, fake urgency, and demand payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, often spoofing caller IDs to appear legitimate. The IRS advises that anyone receiving an unexpected call claiming to be from the IRS should hang up immediately and not return the call, as the IRS initiates contact by mail about account issues.
carolinajournal.com
North Carolina's Senior Consumer Fraud Task Force held a press conference highlighting the rising epidemic of elder fraud, with statistics showing that approximately 1 in 10 seniors becomes a victim, resulting in $3.1 billion in losses nationwide in 2022 (an 84% increase from 2021), with individual victims losing an average of $40,000. The task force identified five major scam types targeting seniors: sweetheart scams, sweepstakes scams, impostor scams, tech support scams, and grandparent scams, while warning that scammers increasingly use AI to replicate voices. Victims can report fraud to local authorities, the FBI's Internet Crime
chicagocrusader.com
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about impersonation scams targeting seniors in Illinois and nationwide, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use tactics such as spoofed caller IDs, fabricated urgent scenarios (false tax debts or refunds), threats of arrest or deportation, and demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The IRS recommends hanging up on unexpected calls claiming to be from the IRS, never returning calls using provided numbers, and verifying legitimacy by contacting IRS customer service at 800-829-1040.
wabi.tv
Romance scams are affecting Maine residents at an increasing rate, with scammers using social media and dating sites to build fake relationships and convince victims to send money for plane tickets or other expenses that never materialize. According to the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 70,000 people reported romance scams in 2022, losing over $1 billion with a median loss of $4,400 per victim. Experts advise potential victims to watch for red flags such as requests for money, isolation from friends and family, and broken promises to meet in person, and emphasize that prevention through awareness is more effective than law enforcement recovery efforts.
picketfencemedia.com
Online dating romance scams targeting seniors have increased dramatically over the past five years, with vulnerable and lonely older adults losing significant sums, sometimes their entire life savings, to scammers posing as potential romantic partners. The article details a case of a 75-year-old man who lost his life's savings to a scammer claiming to be a 37-year-old woman who contacted him via LinkedIn and later WhatsApp, using red flags such as a large age gap, refusal to meet in person, and requests for financial investments. The author advises seniors to approach online dating cautiously by being aware of warning signs, trusting their instincts, and insisting on in-person meetings before
hudsonvalleycountry.com
New York officials are warning residents about a rising "pig butchering" scam targeting romance seekers on dating apps and social media. Scammers build trust with victims over time before convincing them to invest money in cryptocurrency or foreign currency schemes, often moving conversations to encrypted platforms like WhatsApp to evade law enforcement. New York Attorney General Letitia James recommends verifying people's identities, avoiding wire transfers to unvetted contacts, and being suspicious of those who resist video calls, pressure for investments, or request personal financial information.
californiademocrat.com
Sherry Cox of California, Missouri lost $20,000 to a tech support scam after clicking a cancellation link in a fraudulent "Geek Squad" email. A scammer posing as "Justin" manipulated her through remote access and psychological coercion—claiming she had mistakenly authorized a $40,000 refund and threatening to lose his job—to withdraw cash, wrap it in a book, and overnight it to California, before attempting to solicit an additional $10,000 wire transfer to Thailand, which was prevented by her bank's intervention. Cox publicly shared her story to raise awareness that anyone, regardless of intelligence or caution, can fall victim
thv11.com
In May, 86-year-old Sandra Jung fell victim to a fake Microsoft support scam after a malware warning prompted her to search for Microsoft's phone number online. A scammer posing as a Microsoft representative convinced her that an accidental $15,000 refund had been deposited and pressured her into sending back nearly $10,000 to "fix" the error. Jung lost approximately $10,000 that she had intended to use for her partner's care, and although she reported the fraud to the Attorney General's office, the money could not be recovered; experts recommend bypassing sponsored search results and contacting companies directly through their official websites.
saga.co.uk
Four people over 50 are victims of fraud every minute in the UK, according to Age UK research, yet most cases go unreported due to stigma and shame surrounding fraud victimization. The article identifies common scams targeting older adults including QR code fraud (fake codes redirecting to fraudulent payment sites), ATM skimming (devices that capture card details and PINs), and card trapping, while emphasizing that fraud is a crime of manipulation by criminals rather than a reflection of victim vulnerability. Experts recommend checking for tampered codes, protecting PINs at ATMs, reporting suspicious activity, and learning to recognize warning signs across emails, social media, phone calls, and in-person interactions
indianweekender.co.nz
New Zealand Police warned of a resurgence in phone scams where fraudsters impersonate officers, targeting landlines and claiming to investigate counterfeit banknotes or cloned credit cards to pressure victims into withdrawing cash or revealing banking details. At least two elderly individuals in Auckland lost significant sums after withdrawing cash and handing it to individuals posing as police at their doors. Police advise hanging up suspicious calls, contacting 105 to verify legitimacy, and remembering that legitimate police never request bank details, passwords, or money over the phone.
connexionfrance.com
France launched Cybersecure, a free online portal operated by Orange Cyberdéfense that allows users to check URLs and emails against a database of known scams and fraudulent sites. The service provides instant results for flagged links or human expert review within 12 hours for unknown URLs, though Orange acknowledges it is not 100% effective and users should remain vigilant. The article also provides guidance on avoiding email and website scams, including never clicking suspicious links directly and verifying requests independently with relevant organizations.
finance.yahoo.com
Gary and Cindy Wilbur fell victim to two separate elder fraud scams: a utility company impersonation call attempting to extract credit card information, and a fake Amazon customer service scam accessed through a fraudulent Google search result that resulted in unauthorized bank withdrawals. After reporting these incidents to their bank, attorney general, and credit bureaus, the family adopted an open dialogue about finances and regularly communicate about emerging scams, helping them avoid future victimization.