Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
7,257 results
in General Elder Fraud
thegazette.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2024 Better Business Bureau study found that young adults ages 18-24 reported losing more money to scams than older age groups, contrary to common assumptions about elder fraud. Employment scams were the most prevalent fraud type for this age group (30% of reports), with a median loss of $1,819, often involving fake checks or reshipping schemes, while online purchase scams accounted for 29.1% of reports. Young victims were primarily targeted through text messages, social media platforms like Instagram and X, and online payment systems, with wire transfers generating the highest median losses ($2,150).
mainepublic.org
· 2025-12-08
According to the FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report, losses reported by victims over age 60 reached $3.4 billion (up 11% from 2022), with Maine alone reporting nearly 400 complaints totaling over $7 million. The most common scams targeting seniors involve home construction, impersonation of family or government, and appliance or auto sales, with victims targeted for their savings, good credit, and trusting nature. Maine's Attorney General recommends protecting oneself by researching contractors, limiting personal information on social media, freezing credit reports with all three agencies, and promptly reporting scams to law enforcement and banks to prevent fund transfers.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns that tech support fraud is the most commonly reported scam targeting seniors nationwide, where scammers pose as tech representatives to access sensitive information, though investment scams caused the greatest financial harm with over $50 million in reported losses last year. To protect themselves, seniors should avoid unsolicited contacts, never open attachments from unknown sources, resist pressure to act quickly, and never share personal information or money with unverified people.
ca.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes and voice cloning technology to perpetrate scams targeting seniors and families, with one Canadian man using cloned voices to defraud at least eight seniors of $200,000 in three days. Similar "grandparent scams" and fake kidnapping calls claiming children need bail money or ransom are proliferating across the United States, with families losing an average of $11,000 per incident. Experts recommend establishing a family password phrase and verifying callers' identities through independent phone numbers before sending money or sharing personal information.
crosstimbersgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $10 billion to scams and fraud in 2023, with the FTC receiving 2.6 million fraud reports including 1 million identity theft cases. Common scam types include gift card fraud, romance scams, and phishing attacks, with losses occurring primarily through bank transfers and cryptocurrency, often initiated via email, phone, or social media. The article recommends monitoring financial accounts regularly, never allowing remote computer access to unvetted parties, and immediately contacting your bank if suspicious charges appear.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman from Sullivan County, Tennessee was defrauded of over $130,000 after scammers used a fake Microsoft pop-up warning to trick her into purchasing Apple gift cards and eventually withdrawing cash from her bank account. The scheme involved multiple contacts claiming to remove illegal content from her computer, and culminated with a man collecting $130,000 in person at her home. A 29-year-old suspect, Hang Zhan, was arrested and charged with theft and financial exploitation of an elderly person, though as of May 2, no funds had been recovered.
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Vidal Roquez, 39, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for his role in a "grandparent scheme" that defrauded over a dozen seniors in Rhode Island and Massachusetts by convincing them to send cash for a relative's bail. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and was ordered to pay $130,300 in restitution, perform 60 hours of community service educating seniors about scams, and serve three years of supervised release.
westerniowatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
An FBI report found that over 100,000 Americans aged 60 and older lost an average of $34,000 each to computer money scams in 2023, totaling more than $3.4 billion—an 11% increase from the previous year. Tech support scams were the most common fraud type, followed by data breaches, romance scams, non-payment schemes, and investment fraud, with over 12,000 victims reporting cryptocurrency was used to facilitate their scams.
khou.com
· 2025-12-08
Regina Lynn Thomas, 56, and her son Isaiah Thomas, 38, were arrested and charged with 67 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy after defrauding an elderly Houston couple of over $1 million between 2017-2019. Thomas, who posed as a registered nurse and attorney, exploited the family's vulnerability following Hurricane Harvey by falsely claiming one family member faced arrest for a fraudulent FEMA claim and directing them to send wire transfers for fake legal fees. Both face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
digitalinformationworld.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reports that cyber scams targeting seniors aged 60 and above caused $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year, with common schemes including tech support, investment, romance, and cryptocurrency fraud. Elderly victims averaged $34,000 in losses per person, with Florida and California experiencing particularly high losses ($620 million and $181 million respectively), and seniors are less likely to report these crimes due to embarrassment and underreporting. The FBI recommends seniors verify suspicious offers, avoid unknown contacts, and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
toronto.ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
This article is about FIFA World Cup scheduling and does not relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It cannot be summarized for the Elderus database as it falls outside the scope of elder fraud research.
levittownnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Bucks County authorities held an educational event for Bristol Township seniors to address rising scam and fraud targeting the community. Officials warned about common schemes including mailbox theft, check washing, tech support scams, and fraudulent text messages impersonating the IRS or retailers, with victims in the area losing up to $250,000; they recommended using credit cards over debit cards, gel pens for checks, and prompt reporting of suspicious activity to law enforcement.
1063thebear.iheart.com
· 2025-12-08
Congressman Josh Gottheimer introduced legislation to protect seniors from social media scams, prompted by an FBI report showing seniors lost over $3.4 billion to fraud the previous year. The proposals include requiring social media platforms to use AI to identify fraudulent content, increasing state enforcement resources, establishing a federal Senior Investor Task Force within the SEC, and designating May 9 as National Scam Survivor Day.
dhs.gov
· 2025-12-08
A Nigerian national, Amos Prince Okey Ezemma, pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming victims were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from overseas relatives, then requesting upfront payments for delivery fees and taxes before the funds could be released. Ezemma faces up to 20 years in prison upon sentencing, and five other co-conspirators have already been convicted in connection with the scheme.
wlox.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary for this request. The article provided does not contain content related to scams, fraud, or elder abuse. It appears to be a local news homepage featuring weather forecasts, community donations, and general news items. Please provide an article or transcript specifically about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse for summarization.
knoe.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC's Pass It On Program is a consumer resource designed to help people learn about and avoid scams and fraud, with a particular focus on elder fraud. According to the Better Business Bureau, elder fraud complaints rose 14 percent in 2023, prompting this educational initiative to reduce victimization rates. Consumers can access the program through the FTC website or contact the BBB for more information.
newjersey.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens at a Fair Lawn Senior Center learned about scams targeting older adults, with one attendee sharing how he nearly lost $1,000 to a gift card scam before CVS staff alerted him. Rep. Josh Gottheimer unveiled a Senior Security Strategy that includes requiring social media platforms to add warning labels to fraudulent accounts, establishing an SEC grant program for state scam response efforts, and notes that over 2,000 New Jersey seniors reported scams to the FBI last year. The key advice is to never provide personal information when contacted by phone, email, or social media, and to report suspected scams to local police or the FBI.
khou.com
· 2025-12-08
I appreciate you sharing this, but this appears to be a technical notice about downloading a news station app rather than an article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse. It contains no information about fraudulent activity, elder victimization, or scam tactics that would be relevant for the Elderus fraud research database.
If you have an article or transcript about elder fraud, scams, or abuse that you'd like summarized, please feel free to share that instead.
losalamosreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, 759 New Mexico residents over age 60 lost more than $17.7 million to online fraud, with the costliest schemes being romance scams ($4.9 million), investment scams ($4.6 million), and tech support scams ($3.1 million). The FBI emphasizes that older adults are particularly vulnerable due to financial stability and potential isolation, and urges prevention through awareness and family education, with victims encouraged to report incidents to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
fox29.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reported that over $1.2 million was stolen from elderly Americans through scams in 2023. FBI Special Agent Wayne Jacobs and Philadelphia Corporation for Aging President Najjar Orr discussed the rising trend of elder fraud with local media.
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Disability advocates in Georgia are pushing for passage of HB 1123, which would establish an "Elder Justice Coalition" to coordinate a statewide response to elder abuse—a crime affecting at least 10% of adults over 60 nationally and targeting one in five disabled Georgians over 65. The coalition would create regional coordinators, establish data collection systems, coordinate law enforcement training, and enable investigators to identify patterns of abuse across county lines, such as unlicensed care facilities operating in multiple locations. The bill is pending Governor Kemp's signature before the 40-day signing period ends.
bridportnews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A Bridport husband and wife nearly fell victim to courier fraud after receiving a phone call from someone claiming to be their bank asking about their account details; they avoided losing money by being suspicious, contacting their bank directly, and alerting police. Dorset Police report this scam targets elderly and vulnerable people, with fraudsters posing as banks or police officers to convince victims to withdraw or transfer large sums of money for "safekeeping" due to alleged fraudulent activity on their accounts.
castanet.net
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational opinion piece in which a senior citizen shares personal experiences and advice about avoiding scams. The author describes encountering various fraud attempts over decades, including Nigerian bank schemes, a fraudulent eBay car listing, fake CRA phone calls, and a spoofed Norton Antivirus renewal email, and advises seniors to never respond to unsolicited emails or click links, and to block suspicious contacts.
homelandprepnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans over 60 lost more than $3.4 billion to fraud—an 11 percent increase from 2022—with tech support scams ($600 million), investment fraud ($1.2 billion), and call center schemes ($770 million) being the most costly. California alone reported over 11,000 complaints totaling $620 million in losses, and the FBI noted that some victims were forced to remortgage homes, deplete retirement accounts, or take their own lives due to financial devastation. The FBI recommends seniors verify contact information independently, avoid quick decisions, never share personal information with suspected scammers, and report fraud immediately to law enforcement
newjersey.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
Congressman Josh Gottheimer introduced legislation aimed at protecting New Jersey seniors from scams, including a proposal requiring social media platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram to display warning labels on flagged fraudulent content and accounts, as well as a grant program to strengthen the state's scam response capabilities.
thedailystar.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers stole over $3.4 billion from Americans age 50 and older last year, with losses up 11% year-over-year according to an FBI report, as criminals employ increasingly sophisticated tactics including tech support scams, romance fraud, and schemes involving live couriers to collect cash and precious metals from victims. The FBI received more than 100,000 complaints from older adults last year, with nearly 5,000 people losing over $100,000 each, and investigators are warning of organized, transnational criminal enterprises targeting seniors through various scams that exploit vulnerabilities such as loneliness and lack of technical knowledge. The article advises older Americans
scdemocratonline.com
· 2025-12-08
On April 24, the Sullivan County Retired Teachers' Association attended an educational presentation by Jeff Bank security officers on scam prevention. The speakers discussed how scammers use sophisticated technology—including caller ID spoofing, tech support scams, and romance scams targeting older adults—with particular emphasis on "Romance Scams" perpetrated by groups like the "Yahoo Boys/Girls" who send hundreds of messages daily via dating apps and social media impersonating others to build trust before requesting money. The presenters advised against accepting friend requests from unknown individuals and recommended checking new profiles for warning signs such as recent creation dates or minimal activity.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Mark Steven Diamond, a 67-year-old Chicago businessman, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for orchestrating a reverse mortgage scheme that victimized at least 18 elderly homeowners (potentially 80 total victims). Diamond and co-conspirators deceived homeowners into obtaining reverse mortgage loans by misrepresenting documents as repair authorizations, then fraudulently kept the loan proceeds—approximately $929,000 confirmed and up to $6 million estimated in total losses—while failing to perform promised home repairs. Four co-conspirators, including loan originators and a title agency owner, have also pleaded guilty, with Diamond's sentencing scheduled for September 4, 2024.
baltimoresun.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial adviser Eddy Blizzard stole over $1 million from his 75-year-old client Robert McClanahan by gaining access to signed blank checks and using the funds for personal expenses including taxes, a boat, and a house down payment. McClanahan, a man with limited literacy who had worked 40 years to build his retirement savings, fell behind on mortgage payments when Blizzard failed to make them as promised, resulting in foreclosure and McClanahan's death with depleted assets. Blizzard was caught by the FBI, pleaded guilty to bank fraud, and was sentenced to 42 months in prison with ordered restitution of $1,037,
wrdw.com
· 2025-12-08
Georgia disability and aging advocacy organizations are pushing for Governor Kemp to sign HB 1123, which would create an "Elder Justice Coalition" to coordinate a statewide response to elder abuse and fraud. The bill aims to address a significant problem: at least 10% of adults over 60 experience some form of elder abuse annually, with one in five elderly Georgians having disabilities that make them vulnerable targets. If signed, the coalition would establish training programs, coordinate investigations across regions, and collect data on abuse to identify patterns and close loopholes that allow perpetrators to operate multiple unlicensed facilities across county lines.
northjersey.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer introduced bipartisan legislation seeking $60 million in federal funding over six years to help states combat senior scams through enforcement, technology, and education initiatives. The bill comes as seniors lose over $3.4 billion annually to scams involving impersonation, fake deliveries, and social media fraud, with over 2,000 New Jersey seniors reporting scams to the FBI in 2023 alone. Gottheimer also plans to urge social media companies to add warning labels, flag scammers, and improve fraud reporting tools on their platforms.
marcumllp.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's 2023 IC3 Elder Fraud Annual Report shows that fraud targeting individuals over age 60 is increasing significantly, with this age group reporting $3.4 billion in losses—an 11% increase from 2022 and more than all other age groups combined. The 101,068 complaints filed by seniors represented a 14% year-over-year increase, with tech support fraud, personal data breaches, and romance scams being the most common crimes, while investment fraud produced the highest individual losses and increased over 400% in two years. The report emphasizes that actual fraud figures are likely higher than reported, as many elderly victims fail to report crimes due to embarrass
wthitv.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans over age 60 are increasingly targeted by sophisticated online scammers who stole $3.4 billion from older Americans in the previous year—an 11% increase from the prior year—with seniors filing over 100,000 complaints to the FBI. Scammers use various schemes including romance scams, investment scams, tech support scams, and cryptocurrency scams, often impersonating legitimate companies or institutions to trick victims into giving away their savings. To protect themselves, older adults should verify unexpected messages, avoid acting under pressure, double-check suspicious requests, and immediately contact trusted contacts or authorities if they suspect fraud.
roundrocktexas.gov
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational workshop announcement (event has passed) where Silver Safe and Secure, a nonprofit organization, offered a 90-minute training session to help seniors recognize and avoid online scams. The workshop covered common fraud types including phishing, tech support, and romance scams, along with red flags, verification methods, safe browsing practices, and reporting procedures—in response to the 2022 FBI finding that Americans aged 60 and older lost $3.1 billion to fraud that year.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
The FTC has issued an alert about a "growing wave" of government and business-impersonation scams targeting retirees' savings, with Amazon being among the most frequently impersonated companies due to its massive customer base. Common scams include fake refund offers with phishing links, fraudulent Prime subscription renewal notices with unusually high prices directing users to fake login pages, fake delivery/order problems requesting payment or personal information, and suspicious purchase confirmation calls designed to catch victims off guard. Consumers are advised to always verify account information directly through official apps or websites rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages.
readthereporter.com
· 2025-12-08
American Senior Communities and the Indiana Attorney General's Office are hosting free educational sessions to help seniors recognize and avoid scams, with a session scheduled for May 9 in Indianapolis. The presentation will cover common fraud tactics (such as grandparent scams, romance fraud, and fake investment schemes) that cost seniors over $5.9 billion annually, and will provide guidance on identifying scams, recovery steps, and how to report fraud.
accountingtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens lost over $3.4 billion to elder fraud in 2023, with financial abuse frequently perpetrated by family members and caregivers. Forensic accountants play a critical role in investigating these cases by analyzing financial records and transaction patterns to identify where stolen funds went, and their expert testimony carries significant weight in legal proceedings. Beyond direct theft, elder financial abuse can involve exploitation through guardianships, conservatorships, and resource depletion, with documented cases ranging from over $1 million stolen by caregivers to severe neglect and coercion affecting victims' health and living conditions.
baynews9.com
· 2025-12-08
Victoria Zerillo, a 49-year-old general manager of a nonprofit providing repair services to Sun City Center seniors, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing over $410,000 through wire fraud and embezzlement from December 2015 to November 2022. The scheme involved doctored bank statements, unauthorized ATM withdrawals, and fraudulent credit card charges, and was uncovered when a resident with a finance background noticed rising service rates and investigated the company's finances. This case is part of a broader problem in Florida, where seniors lost more than $300 million to various scams in the prior year, making the state second-highest in the nation for elder fraud.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This AARP podcast episode features romance scam survivor Kate Kleinart discussing how she was deceived by a scammer she met on Facebook who used charm and false affection ("love bombing") to gain her trust before requesting money. Kleinart emphasizes that romance scams can happen to anyone and advises people to trust their instincts and remain vigilant about suspicious online behavior. The episode serves as an educational resource highlighting warning signs of romance scams and encouraging victims to recognize and report such fraudulent schemes.
themonroetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
First National Bank and Trust is alerting the public to a growing Bank Imposter Scam in which fraudsters send fake text messages mimicking the bank, then call victims impersonating bank employees to trick them into revealing banking information or transferring money. The bank emphasizes that legitimate banks never request passwords, PINs, or ask customers to transfer money for "protection," and is hosting fraud prevention seminars at senior centers in Beloit and Janesville to educate the public on identifying and combating fraud.
harder.house.gov
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost over $10 billion to scams and fraud in 2023, nearly triple the $8.8 billion lost in 2022, according to FTC data. Representative Josh Harder introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate May 9th as National Scam Survivor Day to reduce stigma around victimization and raise awareness, particularly regarding imposter scams that increasingly use AI technology to deceive consumers and seniors. The resolution aims to prompt greater action to protect families from fraud while acknowledging that actual losses are likely higher due to underreporting.
thesuntimesnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 93-year-old woman with mild dementia became a victim of financial abuse by her youngest daughter, Joan, who siphoned an estimated $230,000 from her mother's savings, manipulated her into signing a new will naming Joan as sole heir and power of attorney, and subsequently sold the mother's condo for $400,000—leaving the three other daughters powerless to stop the exploitation while a police investigation could take up to two years. The article contextualizes this case within the broader problem of elder financial abuse, which the National Council on Aging estimates costs seniors approximately $36.5 billion annually, particularly affecting vulnerable populations including those with cognitive decline and Black seniors (
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It is a local events calendar listing community activities in Patchogue, NY (library anniversary, STEM program, tai chi class) and contains no information about scams, fraud, elder abuse, or related warnings.
securitymagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
"Selfie spoofing" scams, in which fraudsters use victims' social media photos to authenticate stolen identities and open fraudulent accounts, accounted for 20% of identification document fraud in 2023 and are rapidly increasing. Senior citizens aged 50 and above are disproportionately targeted, comprising approximately 49% of victims and being four times more likely to experience such fraud, due to factors including greater accumulated assets and lower technological literacy.
theamericangenius.com
· 2025-12-08
**Title:** Elder Fraud Report 2023: FBI Data on Senior Scams
The FBI's Elder Fraud Report 2023 documents $3.43 billion in losses from 101,068 seniors over 60, averaging $33,915 per victim with an 11% increase from 2022—though actual figures likely exceed these numbers due to underreporting. Tech and customer support scams were most common, while investment scams caused the largest losses at $1.2 billion, with romance, identity theft, and personal data breach scams also prevalent in the top five. Protection strategies include avoiding suspicious links and ads, using only legitimate company websites for contact information
jcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Jeremy Cook, a security officer with Exchange Bank, presented information on financial fraud prevention to seniors at the Jones County Senior Center on April 17, covering common scams including government imposter, grandparent, charity, romance, and technical support scams. Cook advised attendees to ignore unknown callers, never share personal information or send wire transfers, verify charities before donating, and conduct transactions in person when possible, while noting that romance scams alone generated $2.1 billion nationally in 2022. The presentation materials were designed for distribution at churches and other community venues to raise awareness among seniors about financial security threats.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A national initiative is training doctors across 22 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico to identify elderly patients vulnerable to investment fraud and refer them to securities regulators and social workers. The program, expanding from a successful Texas pilot, represents a collaborative approach between investor protection groups, medical associations, and adult protection services to address senior investment scams as a public health issue.
govtech.com
· 2025-12-08
Chippewa Falls financial crimes investigator Joan Lawcewicz warned that artificial intelligence is making scams more sophisticated by enabling scammers to alter voices and images, and that these frauds often use time pressure and emotional manipulation to target victims. She advised the public to verify suspicious calls directly with loved ones, protect sensitive information like Social Security numbers, watch for warning signs such as rushed timelines and slightly altered URLs, and implement protective measures including shredding documents, using two-factor authentication, and monitoring credit reports regularly.
event-newsenterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
A Los Alamitos senior citizen was targeted by an internet and phone-based scam where a fraudster posing as PayPal convinced her to withdraw $20,000 in cash and leave it on her porch. Alert Cypress police detected the scheme at a local bank and coordinated with Los Alamitos detectives, who replaced the cash with newspapers and arrested a suspected money mule when he attempted to pick up the bag. The same scam had previously defrauded a Cypress senior citizen of $30,000.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
According to a new AARP survey, 42 percent of American adults have experienced fraud, a dramatic increase from 15 percent a decade ago, with Americans reporting $10 billion stolen in 2023 to the FTC. Adults 50 and older express higher concern about fraud (63 percent worry significantly), and older adults lose more money on average to scams than younger people, with Black Americans experiencing the highest victimization rate at 56 percent. On a positive note, fraud awareness is improving, with 91 percent of Americans now understanding that fraud can happen to anyone and 96 percent recognizing gift card payment requests as scams.