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in Scam Awareness
thenewsenterprise.com
Financial scams are growing in prevalence and target individuals across all ages, incomes, and backgrounds. The article provides eight prevention strategies: protect personal information, verify identities before sharing details or money, avoid clicking suspicious links, secure devices with software updates, trust your instincts, be cautious with money transfers, educate yourself about scams, and report suspicious activity to authorities.
fox29.com
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.
losalamosreporter.com
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.
newjersey.news12.com
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.
knoe.com
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.
businessinsider.com
Peter Gray, a 35-year-old from Yorkshire, UK, was sentenced to 56 months in prison in February for romance fraud against three women he met on Tinder, scamming them out of over $100,000 by stealing their identifying information and taking out loans in their names without consent. The victims reported that Gray used information from their driver's licenses obtained during dates to fraudulently secure loans ranging from $11,000 to $25,000, exploiting their trust through love-bombing tactics. This case reflects broader trends in romance scams, with Americans losing $1.3 billion to such schemes in 2022, up 164% from 2019.
aol.com
In 2021, Illinois residents lost over $19.7 million to romance scams across 591 reported cases, with the FBI noting that similar scams cost the U.S. $739 million in preliminary 2022 losses. The FBI identified common red flags including requests to move communication off dating apps, quickly professed love, isolation from friends and family, canceled visit plans, and requests for money or personal information. The agency advises victims to go slow in online relationships, never send money to people met online, verify photos independently, and report suspected scams to the FBI Springfield office or online.
dhs.gov
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.
1063thebear.iheart.com
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.
levittownnow.com
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.
digitalinformationworld.com
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.
westerniowatoday.com
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.
shorenewsnetwork.com
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.
the-sun.com
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.
crosstimbersgazette.com
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.
wgal.com
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.
mainepublic.org
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.
thegazette.com
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).
cw34.com
Florida seniors lost nearly $300 million to scams in 2023, ranking the state second-highest in the nation for elderly fraud, according to FBI data showing over 101,000 seniors filed fraud reports. Tech support scams led the fraud types, though romance scams resulted in the largest individual losses (tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars), with many cases going unreported due to victim shame. Law enforcement warns seniors to avoid answering unknown calls and clarifies that legitimate authorities do not call ahead about warrants or missed jury duty.
usatoday.com
Rental fraud has surged nationwide since the pandemic, with 93% of major apartment owners and managers reporting fraud in the past year, often involving individuals using false identities for criminal purposes such as drug dealing, property destruction, or sex trafficking. These fraudulent activities drive up rents for honest tenants, reduce affordable housing stock, and create safety concerns for residents and staff; small landlords are particularly vulnerable to losses they cannot absorb. The epidemic is partly attributed to pandemic-era eviction moratoriums that emboldened fraudsters, with fraudulent applications doubling from 15% to 29% between February and August 2020.
dailykos.com
A consumer received a phishing email impersonating Harbor Freight offering a free power washer for survey completion, requiring only shipping payment. After entering credit card information on the fraudulent site, the consumer's bank flagged suspicious activity; upon researching, they discovered this was a known scam with a documented history and discovered Harbor Freight maintains an official scam alert page about it. The consumer successfully prevented charges by canceling their card immediately, though their credit card information was compromised.
cbc.ca
A romance scam targeting women used stolen photos of Sigi Fink, an Austrian weatherman, to impersonate an attractive man on Instagram; the actual scammer admitted to being a 26-year-old Nigerian using the stolen images to prey on women. Additionally, Loblaw reported $13.58 billion in Q1 revenue with a 9.8% profit increase, prompting a consumer boycott on Reddit over high grocery prices, with the retailer responding that it is working to combat inflation.
lichfieldlive.co.uk
A phone scam impersonating Metropolitan Police officers has been reported to Staffordshire Police, wherein callers falsely claim victims have someone in custody with a cloned bank card and request personal details over the phone. Police advise that legitimate law enforcement and banking officials never request passwords, money withdrawals, or personal information by phone, and recommend hanging up and calling back using a different phone line or waiting before attempting contact to verify the caller's legitimacy.
thetimes.co.uk
A digitally savvy consumer was scammed through a dropshipping scheme when she purchased a €70 designer-style bag advertised on Instagram, only to receive a flimsy €10 product sourced from a budget fast-fashion platform. The seller acted as a middleman with approximately 600% markup, and when she complained, the company offered no recourse and return shipping to China would have cost as much as the original purchase. The article explains that while dropshipping itself is a legitimate business model, it has increasingly become a get-rich-quick scheme using manipulative advertising tactics (hyperbolic claims, fake discounts, glamorous imagery) to sell low-quality products at inflated prices
timesnownews.com
A 52-year-old woman entrepreneur lost Rs 2.7 crore in an online scam between April 6-22, 2024, after clicking a malicious link and being lured into fraudulent investment schemes through Instagram and Telegram with promises of quick returns. Authorities traced and froze the perpetrators' accounts, with Rs 1.7 crore approved for restitution to the victim. The case underscores the importance of skepticism toward offers promising easy money, verification of investment legitimacy, and immediate reporting to authorities when fraud is suspected.
cbs12.com
Florida seniors lost nearly $300 million to scams in 2023, ranking the state second-highest in the nation for elderly fraud, according to FBI data showing over 101,000 seniors filed fraud reports. Tech support scams led the reported incidents, though romance scams caused significant unreported losses, with victims losing life savings totaling tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Law enforcement warns seniors not to respond to unsolicited calls claiming to be from police or courts and advises reporting scams through local sheriff's offices.
tucson.com
Scammers stole over $3.4 billion from Americans over age 60 last year, an 11% increase from the previous year, with the FBI receiving more than 100,000 complaints and nearly 6,000 victims losing over $100,000 each. Tech support scams remain the most common fraud, with criminals impersonating officials to convince victims their accounts are compromised and directing them to transfer funds or withdraw cash/gold for in-person courier pickup. The FBI warns that these increasingly sophisticated schemes represent organized, transnational criminal enterprises using romance scams, investment fraud, and other tactics that can leave vulnerable seniors financially destitute.
parkrapidsenterprise.com
Minnesota's senior financial fraud investigator Lisa Lovering states that awareness of scam tactics reduces victimization risk by 80% and significantly loss severity by 40%. According to AARP's 2023 data, seniors lost $28.3 billion to elder exploitation and fraud, with those over 80 experiencing average losses of $1,674 compared to $548 for young adults, though underreporting is widespread. Lovering advises avoiding payments via cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to unknown contacts; being skeptical of unsolicited calls from government agencies or businesses; and recognizing common tactics like imposter scams, romance scams, and lottery schemes that
finance.yahoo.com
Tennesseans over age 60 lost $43 million to scams in 2023, representing an 18% increase from 2022, with tech support fraud being the most common scheme and investment scams causing the largest financial losses at nearly $15 million. Nationally, elderly victims reported over $3.4 billion in losses across 101,068 complaints, reflecting a 14% increase in elder fraud, with romance scams and data breaches also significantly affecting seniors in Tennessee.
theberkshireedge.com
The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office is investigating at least two "grandparent scams" targeting senior citizens, in which fraudsters impersonate relatives in crisis situations and request money. Scammers obtain personal information through social media or purchased data, and now use AI voice-cloning technology to make the deception more convincing. Resources on protecting against this fraud type are available from the FCC and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
thegardenisland.com
Hawai'i seniors over 60 lost $27.96 million to fraud schemes in 2023, a dramatic increase from $10 million in 2021, with 453 complaints filed to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, ranking the state 37th nationally. The most common scams targeting older Americans include investment fraud, tech support schemes, romance cons, and extortion, with nationwide losses exceeding $3.4 billion in 2023. Law enforcement officials urge seniors and their families to report suspected fraud to the FBI and educate themselves about these schemes, noting that many cases go unreported.
ladailypost.com
In 2023, 759 New Mexico residents over age 60 lost more than $17.7 million to online fraud, with the costliest scams being confidence/romance schemes ($4.9 million), investment fraud ($4.6 million), and tech support scams ($3.1 million). The FBI emphasizes that older adults are vulnerable targets due to financial stability, potential isolation, and lower awareness of online threats, and urges seniors and families to educate themselves about these scams and report incidents through ic3.gov or their local FBI office.
dailyitem.com
The FBI reported that scammers stole $3.4 billion from Americans aged 60 and older in 2023, with victims in that age group accounting for at least 11% of reported fraud complaints. Scammers are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics, including tech support scams and targeting bank accounts, with some victims losing their entire life savings. The article provides recommendations to protect against fraud, including never sharing sensitive information over unsecured channels, monitoring accounts regularly, declining requests for immediate money transfers, and contacting authorities if a scam is suspected.
columbian.com
Scammers stole more than $3.4 billion from Americans over 60 last year, representing an 11% increase from the previous year, according to an FBI report. The FBI received over 100,000 complaints from older victims, with common schemes including tech support scams, romance fraud, investment fraud, and increasingly sophisticated courier-based schemes where criminals trick victims into withdrawing cash or precious metals for pickup. The rise in losses reflects organized criminal enterprises exploiting vulnerable populations through multiple tactics, with the FBI warning that actual losses are likely higher than reported.
finance.yahoo.com
New Mexico seniors reported losing over $17.7 million to scams in 2023, with the FBI receiving more than 750 complaints about elder fraud in the state. The most prevalent scam types include romance scams, tech support fraud, and cryptocurrency investment schemes, with scammers often posing as representatives from major companies or creating fake online relationships. The FBI recommends family members check in regularly with elderly relatives, watch for red flags like unsolicited calls from companies, and report suspected fraud immediately to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
boothbayregister.com
Digital package delivery scams use fraudulent text messages impersonating major carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx) to trick recipients into clicking malicious links and providing personal information or payment. Americans reported $330 million in losses from text scams in 2022, more than double the previous year. To protect yourself, verify package issues directly with retailers or shippers rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts.
miamioh.edu
Phishing scams are circulating at Miami University via fraudulent shared files through Google Docs and Microsoft Word with subjects like "Extra-Departmental Reward," where scammers attempt to collect personal information by tricking users into opening the documents. Additionally, malicious QR codes have been posted around campus with titles like "Girlfriend Application" or "Boyfriend Application" designed to compromise user devices. Users are advised to avoid opening suspicious shared documents and scanning untrusted QR codes, verify official branding before engaging with QR codes, and report suspicious emails to the information security office.
marca.com
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission warned of a surge in phone scams targeting SNAP and TANF benefit recipients, where scammers spoof the Lone Star Card Help Desk's caller ID to trick victims into revealing their PIN, Social Security number, and date of birth under the false promise of new or increased benefits. HHSC emphasized that legitimate agency representatives never request sensitive information via unsolicited calls, texts, or emails, and urged affected individuals to verify calls by hanging up and contacting the number on their Lone Star Card or reporting fraud to the OIG hotline.
ca.movies.yahoo.com
A U.K.-based influencer with 4 million followers was extradited to the U.S. and accused of running romance scams targeting older Americans between 2013 and 2019, earning approximately $2 million. Prosecutors allege she deceived victims into believing they were in romantic relationships with her, then convinced them to send money under false pretenses—including one victim who transferred $89,000 across 82 wire transfers after the influencer claimed she needed funds to save her father's farm in Ghana. Montrage has been charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and related conspiracy counts, each carrying up to 20 years in prison; she pleaded not guilty and bail
cbs12.com
**Summary:**
Florida seniors lost nearly $300 million to scams in 2023, ranking the state second-highest in the nation for elderly fraud, according to FBI data showing over 101,000 seniors filed fraud complaints—a 14% increase from 2022. Tech support scams led reported incidents, while romance scams caused significant unreported losses, with victims often losing tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars due to shame and embarrassment. Law enforcement warns of evolving schemes including AI-assisted voice cloning and impersonation of law enforcement, urging seniors not to answer unknown numbers and to report suspicious activity through available channels.
timesnewsgroup.com.au
Australian losses to scams totaled $2.74 billion in 2023, a 13.1% decrease despite a surge in reported incidents (601,000+), with investment scams causing the most damage at $1.3 billion. Older Australians are disproportionately affected, experiencing a 13.3% increase in losses to $120 million, including cases involving deepfake videos and fake investment schemes on social media. The government's National Anti-Scam Centre, established in 2023 with $86.5 million in funding, has already achieved a 29% reduction in scam losses within six months of operation.
indiatoday.in
A 52-year-old woman entrepreneur lost Rs 2.7 crore between April 6-22 after clicking a suspicious link, joining an Instagram group, and being lured into fake investment schemes promising quick returns. Police traced and froze the scammers' accounts through Telegram and Instagram, with Rs 1.7 crore approved for return to the victim and an additional Rs 30 lakh pending clearance. The article advises protecting oneself by remaining skeptical of too-good-to-be-true offers, verifying investment legitimacy, avoiding suspicious links, and reporting fraud to authorities immediately to maximize recovery chances.
businesstoday.in
A Bengaluru entrepreneur named Aditi nearly fell victim to a sophisticated SMS-based financial scam in which a caller impersonated a family member, claimed to have accidentally transferred Rs 30,000 instead of Rs 3,000, and requested immediate repayment while creating artificial urgency. Aditi detected the fraud by noticing the fake bank alerts came from a regular 10-digit number rather than an official bank sender ID and that her father would have contacted her directly. She emphasized the importance of verifying financial alerts through official bank apps or websites on separate devices rather than relying solely on SMS communications, as scammers have become skilled at mimicking legitimate banking notifications.
rutherfordsource.com
The Murfreesboro Police Department reported two sophisticated scams targeting elderly residents in March. A 75-year-old lost $138,000 after receiving fraudulent emails impersonating McAfee Services requesting wire transfers, while a 73-year-old lost $71,000 total ($28,000 wire transfer plus $11,000 in gift cards) after encountering a fake Microsoft/FTC ad on eBay that used false child pornography allegations to manipulate him into downloading remote access software and transferring funds. Police advise residents to remain skeptical of unsolicited communications and to hang up on suspicious calls.
indystar.com
Indiana seniors over 60 reported $26.5 million in financial losses across approximately 1,170 fraud cases in 2023, driven primarily by investment schemes ($12 million), tech support fraud ($8.9 million), and romance scams. Nationally, seniors suffered over $3.4 billion in losses—an 11% increase from 2022—with tech support fraud being the most commonly reported crime type and investment scams proving the costliest. The FBI released this data to educate the public and prevent further victimization, noting that some victims have taken extreme measures such as remortgaging homes and depleting retirement accounts to cover losses.
tampabay.com
Over 50 elderly Americans in Broward County fell victim to lottery scams between 2020-2021, losing more than $6.6 million collectively after being told they won prizes and asked to pay upfront fees for shipping and taxes. Florida ranked second nationally for elder fraud in 2023 with residents over 60 losing nearly $300 million, reflecting a broader U.S. trend where elderly victims lost $3.4 billion that year to investment fraud, romance scams, tech-support scams, and government impersonation schemes. The crimes remain significantly underreported due to victim embarrassment and fear of losing independence, with experts estimating only one-
njbiz.com
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center released its 2023 Elder Fraud Report showing a 14% increase in complaints and 11% increase in losses targeting Americans over 60. New Jersey received 2,049 complaints from victims over 60, resulting in $104.1 million in losses (8th highest nationally), though the FBI notes actual fraud and losses likely exceed reported figures due to underreporting. FBI leadership emphasized that combatting elder financial exploitation remains a priority and urged the public to report all fraud incidents to help identify trends and support investigations.
ajc.com
Two retired law enforcement officers, Joe Gavalis (77) and Dan Flynn (72), volunteer with the North Georgia Elder Abuse Task Force Foundation to combat elder fraud and abuse in Georgia. Through their work with the foundation, they have facilitated over 60 training sessions for law enforcement, distributed consumer education guides to senior centers and community groups reaching approximately 8,000 people, and provide ongoing guidance to active officers on financial crime investigations. Their efforts address a critical gap, as most police officers in Georgia lack specialized training in investigating financial crimes against elderly citizens.
justice.gov
Emmanuel Quamey, a 36-year-old Ghanaian national, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for money laundering connected to romance scams that defrauded over a dozen vulnerable and elderly U.S. victims between September 2019 and March 2023. Quamey received and laundered approximately $3.8 million in fraud proceeds through multiple bank accounts in the United States and Ghana, and was ordered to pay $3.3 million in forfeiture and restitution to victims. Romance scams involve perpetrators posing as romantic partners on social media and dating websites to trick victims into sending money under false pretenses.
infosecurity-magazine.com
Romance investment scams have surged dramatically, with the FTC reporting increases from 11,000 victims in 2016 to 70,000 in 2022, resulting in $1.3 billion in cumulative losses, and the FBI documenting $652.5 million in romance scam losses in 2023 alone. Scammers create fake online profiles posing as wealthy professionals or socialites, build emotional connections with victims, and then manipulate them into investing in fake opportunities or trading platforms where funds are immediately lost. Key warning signs include requests for money or cryptocurrency, pressure to keep relationships secret, and persistent avoidance of in-person meetings or video calls.