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in Grandparent Scam
newamerica.org
· 2025-12-08
Chicago residents identified online fraud as a major concern, with 90 percent of survey respondents rating protection from it as "important" or "very important." The Federal Trade Commission received 2.6 million fraud reports in 2024 resulting in $12.5 billion in losses, with Illinois accounting for over 186,000 fraud reports, and the article provides expert guidance on identifying, avoiding, and responding to various types of fraud including account fraud, non-delivery scams, and impersonation schemes.
woay.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults in West Virginia are frequently targeted by scammers using robocalls, texts, and social media schemes that exploit personal information to build false credibility. Common tactics include impersonating legitimate businesses, the IRS, or family members in distress, then pressuring victims to purchase Green Dot cards, Bitcoin, or other untraceable payment methods. Police advise seniors to question callers without disclosing personal information and recognize that legitimate businesses never operate through unsolicited contact demanding immediate payment.
ktvo.com
· 2025-12-08
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird warned seniors about common scams ahead of National Senior Citizens Day, including impostor schemes where scammers pose as family members or falsely claim victims are involved in crimes requiring payment. The article highlights a case where victim Lynne Caltrider was scammed out of a considerable amount of money directed to a cryptocurrency ATM, though authorities recovered a portion and arrested individuals involved; Caltrider received recognition for sharing her story to help law enforcement. The attorney general urges older Iowans to remain cautious, recognize warning signs, and report suspected scams to the Iowa Attorney General's office.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal investigators charged 13 people, including alleged ringleader Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia, in connection with a "grandparent scam" operation based in the Dominican Republic that defrauded approximately 400 elderly victims (average age 84) of over $5 million. The scammers posed as grandchildren in distress and used accomplices posing as lawyers to pressure victims into withdrawing cash, which was then collected by Uber drivers and laundered; Uber's security team helped the FBI uncover the scheme by flagging suspicious activity. Many victims lost tens of thousands of dollars each, and authorities warn that most will not recover their money, with four suspects still at large.
portageonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Two retired servicemen in Portage la Prairie—retired RCMP officer Colin Wilcox and Canadian Armed Forces veteran Glen Jones—launched a grassroots fraud prevention education program in March 2024 that has since delivered about 20 presentations to seniors' groups across Manitoba and neighbouring communities, distributing hundreds of pamphlets and pointer cards with fraud prevention tips. The presentations have documented significant losses, including one case where a woman lost $7,500 to a scammer posing as a friend, and highlight common schemes such as the "grandparent scam" and computer-generated robocalls. The program emphasizes prevention strategies, such as recognizing the telltale
portageonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Two retired servicemen in Portage la Prairie—retired RCMP officer Colin Wilcox and Canadian Armed Forces veteran Glen Jones—launched a grassroots fraud prevention education program in March 2024, distributing hundreds of pamphlets and presenting to seniors' groups across Manitoba after witnessing a sharp increase in scams targeting older adults. Their presentations, supported by local businesses and the National Association of Federal Retirees, have reached several hundred people and highlighted real cases including a woman who lost $7,500 to a scammer impersonating a friend and the "grandparent scam" where callers claim a grandchild is in jail. The initiative emphasizes prevention strategies such as
commonsenseinstituteus.org
· 2025-12-08
Financial fraud in Oregon resulted in an estimated $201 million in reported losses and $1.2 billion in unreported losses in 2025, with the FBI and FTC reporting significant increases in fraud cases nationwide. The state's economy faces a projected $3.9 billion reduction in GDP, $2.6 billion reduction in personal income, and approximately 15,000 job losses due to all financial fraud (reported and unreported). Oregon ranks 26th-28th among states for cyber-enabled crime losses and elder fraud complaints, with fraud cases up 3,336 since 2022 and total losses up 285% since 2020.
fox6now.com
· 2025-12-08
Banks warn seniors to beware of phone scams involving "spoofing," where fraudsters impersonate legitimate financial institutions to steal personal and account information. Common scams targeting seniors include grandparent schemes, romance fraud, and business-targeted phishing calls; while there is no guarantee victims will recover lost funds, banks advise never sharing passwords or account details over the phone and hanging up to independently verify any suspicious calls before providing information.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
The article discusses a surge in impersonation scams targeting seniors, where scammers pose as government agencies or trusted businesses (like Amazon) to convince victims to transfer money for "protection," ultimately stealing it. The FTC reports a nearly 200% increase in reports of older Americans losing up to $10,000 since 2020, with a 400% increase in losses exceeding $100,000, and younger Americans are increasingly affected. The piece provides protective advice including being wary of money transfer requests, refusing demands for gift cards or cryptocurrency transfers, and hanging up to independently verify caller claims.
rappler.com
· 2025-12-08
Rappler is hosting "Lolo at Lola Laban Sa Scam," a free all-day educational event on September 16, 2025, in Manila to help elderly citizens and families protect themselves against digital scams through workshops and expert panels. The event addresses a growing threat: the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center received over 10,000 scam complaints in 2024 (triple the 2023 number), with older adults particularly vulnerable to emotionally manipulative fraud schemes. Participants will learn how to document scams, verify information, and improve digital safety through hands-on workshops led by government officials and fact-checking experts.
inkl.com
· 2025-12-08
Phone-based elder scams remain prevalent in 2024, with fraudsters using evolving tactics that exploit trust and urgency to target older adults. Common scams include Medicare impersonation, fake tech support, grandparent emergency schemes, lottery/prize offers, utility company threats, and government agency impersonation—each designed to steal personal information, drain bank accounts, or install malware. The key protection strategy is to never share personal information over unsolicited calls, verify requests independently by contacting official sources directly, and ask verification questions that only legitimate contacts would know.
roanoke.com
· 2025-12-08
Gareth West, alleged leader of a grandparent scam network operating out of Montreal, was arrested in Quebec for defrauding American seniors of approximately $30 million through a complex scheme employing dozens of people. The article also documents a specific case in which Roanoke residents Ewell and Louise Beirne lost $75,000 after clicking on a fraudulent pop-up warning about their bank account, and provides ten key fraud prevention tips including refusing urgency, verifying through official channels, avoiding irreversible payment methods, and resisting pressure to keep transactions secret.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old man in Noida lost Rs 3.14 crore in a "digital arrest" scam where criminals impersonating TRAI, police, CBI, and Supreme Court officials trapped him in fake video calls for 15 days, threatening him with money-laundering charges and forcing him to transfer funds to a fake "Secret Supervision Account." Cybercrimes against seniors have surged 86 percent between 2020 and 2022, with common scams including digital arrest, investment fraud, deepfakes, and government impersonation—schemes that exploit seniors' trust and vulnerability to urgency-based tactics through means they struggle to recognize
hermoney.com
· 2025-12-08
Online dating scams, tech support fraud, and fake e-commerce websites represent increasingly sophisticated threats that affect people across all age groups. In 2023, online dating scams alone generated 64,003 reports with $1.14 billion in losses, with scammers using months of emotional manipulation and professionally researched personal details to build false trust before requesting money. The article provides preventative strategies including reverse image searches for dating profiles, verification of tech support legitimacy through official company websites, and use of scam-detection tools before purchasing from unfamiliar retailers.
tulsapeople.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam losses in Oklahoma exceeded $72 million in 2024 and have tripled over the past five years, with increasingly emotionally manipulative tactics targeting older adults. Common scams include phishing, grandparent scams, tech support fraud, romance scams, and cryptocurrency schemes. Protection strategies include pausing before clicking links, researching contacts independently, using strong passwords with two-factor authentication, avoiding cryptocurrency and gift card payments, and reporting suspected fraud to the Oklahoma Attorney General, FTC, or AARP's Fraud Watch helpline.
witl.com
· 2025-12-08
A study analyzing FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data from 2021-2024 found that Millennials in Michigan rank third nationally as cybercrime victims, averaging approximately 3,000 scam incidents annually compared to 2,385 for seniors. The higher victimization rate among Millennials is attributed to their greater digital dependence for networking, socializing, shopping, and banking, which makes them more vulnerable targets for criminals than seniors who use technology less frequently.
amac.us
· 2025-12-08
The grandparent scam tricks seniors into sending money to scammers posing as distressed grandchildren or relatives in crisis. Scammers exploit grandparents' emotional vulnerability and willingness to help by researching personal information online, impersonating authority figures, and requesting untraceable payments via wire transfer or gift cards. Modern variants use sophisticated technology including caller ID spoofing and AI voice cloning to appear more convincing, making these scams increasingly difficult to distinguish from legitimate requests.
greatnews.life
· 2025-12-08
This 2013 overview identifies the top scams affecting La Porte County and beyond, with phishing (stealing personal information for identity theft) ranked as the most prevalent fraud. The top ten scams include grandparent impersonation schemes targeting elderly relatives, doorstep contractor fraud using high-pressure sales tactics, work-from-home schemes, lottery scams, Nigerian advance-fee frauds, and account hijacking of email and social media platforms. The article emphasizes that internet growth and social networking have expanded scam delivery methods and increased victim numbers significantly, with many scams persisting or resurfacing over years despite awareness efforts.
wsoctv.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
This educational piece explains why seniors are targeted by scammers—they tend to be trusting, have substantial savings, and keep finances private—and outlines key prevention strategies. The advice covers recognizing red flags (poor spelling, unusual payment requests, emotional manipulation, unsolicited contact), teaching parents what not to do (answer unknown contacts, click unsolicited links, share personal information), and implementing safeguards (monitoring accounts, using the Do Not Call Registry, freezing credit, and awareness of social media impersonation tactics).
nbcmiami.com
· 2025-12-08
An 86-year-old grandmother from South Philadelphia lost $6,000 in a grandparent scam after receiving a call from someone impersonating her granddaughter claiming to be in a car accident and detained by police; a man posing as a lawyer demanded money and arranged for someone to pick up the cash from her home. The scam is part of a larger trend of elder fraud that affected over 147,000 victims in 2024 with nearly $4.9 billion in losses, with criminals increasingly using AI voice cloning technology to make their impersonations more convincing. Experts recommend asking callers questions only real family members would know and establishing a family security word for emergencies.
thecentersquare.com
· 2025-12-08
Arizona is projected to lose over $4 billion to financial fraud in 2024, with the state ranking 11th nationally in fraud rates at 1,459 cases per 100,000 residents, according to a Common Sense Institute report. Common fraud types affecting Arizonans include grandparent scams, romance scams, gift card scams, skimming, and forgery, with experts noting that only about 14% of fraud is reported to authorities. Researchers recommend that families help protect older adults—who are at higher risk due to lower technological familiarity—by teaching them to verify sources before sharing financial information online.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old man in Noida was defrauded of Rs 3.14 crore in a "digital arrest" scam where fraudsters impersonated government officials (TRAI, police, CBI, Supreme Court) and convinced him he was involved in money laundering, keeping him and his wife under virtual surveillance for 15 days before the deception was discovered. Cybercrimes against seniors have surged 86% between 2020-2022, with common scams including digital arrest, investment fraud, deepfakes, government impersonation, and OTP theft, exploiting seniors' vulnerability to trust-based and fear-based tactics.
theriverbanknews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article reports that scams cost Americans $16.6 billion in 2024, with 73 percent of U.S. adults experiencing online scams or attacks. The piece outlines common red flags—unsolicited contact, promises of easy money, requests for personal information or upfront payments—and describes prominent scam types including counterfeit merchandise, charity fraud, cryptocurrency investment schemes, bogus debts, home repair scams, and emergency/grandparent scams that particularly target elderly individuals.
escalontimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article reports that online scams caused a record $16.6 billion in losses in 2024, with 73% of U.S. adults experiencing some form of online scam or attack. The article outlines common scam tactics (unsolicited contact, promises of easy money, requests for personal information or upfront payments) and describes six prevalent scam types including counterfeit merchandise, charity fraud, cryptocurrency investment fraud, bogus debts, home repair scams, and emergency/grandparent scams that specifically target seniors. Awareness of these warning signs can help individuals avoid becoming victims.
inquisitr.com
· 2025-12-08
A widespread scam targets Social Security recipients, particularly vulnerable seniors living alone and dependent on benefits for survival. Scammers impersonate Social Security Administration officials via phone calls, texts, or emails, falsely claiming account problems or requesting verification of information to obtain personal data (Social Security numbers, bank details) or money directly through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The key warning signs include unsolicited contact, payment demands, pressure tactics, and suspicious links or misspellings; the legitimate SSA communicates only by postal mail and does not solicit sensitive information unsolicited.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating local law enforcement officials in a jury duty fraud scheme, calling victims with claims of missed jury duty and threatening arrest warrants to extort payment via wire transfers or gift cards. The scam targets vulnerable individuals by using personal information and blocked numbers to appear credible, though legitimate jury summonses are always delivered by mail. Key protections include never trusting unknown callers demanding payment, verifying claims directly with official court or police numbers, and recognizing that government agencies never request payment through gift cards or cryptocurrency.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately 1 million yen ($6,700) to a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut in distress and claimed to need money for oxygen while stranded in space. The woman met the fraudster on social media in July and developed romantic feelings before being deceived into sending the funds. The case highlights the growing threat of romance scams targeting vulnerable populations, particularly elderly individuals in aging societies like Japan.
japantimes.co.jp
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately ¥1 million ($6,700) in a romance scam after meeting a fraudster on social media in July who posed as an astronaut claiming to be stranded in space and needing money for oxygen. The victim, who lived alone, developed romantic feelings for the scammer during their online communications before he successfully extracted the funds from her. Police emphasized that elderly individuals should remain suspicious of any requests for cash from social media contacts and report such incidents to authorities, noting that Japan's aging population is frequently targeted by organized fraud schemes.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-07
Financial exploitation of older adults is rising at epidemic rates through scams, family manipulation, and digital illiteracy, with the FBI reporting over 100,000 victims age 60+ in 2023 and total losses exceeding $3 billion (averaging $35,000 per person). Older adults are particularly vulnerable due to trust, isolation from face-to-face interaction, and a digital divide, with those age 80+ suffering the highest median losses. Common schemes include tech support, grandparent scams, government impersonation, romance scams, and increasingly sophisticated AI-generated voice clones, while many cases go unreported due to shame or involvement of trusted family members
abc10.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers increasingly target seniors through digital platforms, with California consumers reporting over $1.7 billion in fraud losses in 2024, particularly involving identity theft and smartphone scams. Seniors are vulnerable because they are more likely to respond to unsolicited calls and urgent emails, and common tactics include impersonating government agencies or family members to pressure victims into quick payments via gift cards. Experts recommend that seniors never give personal information over the phone, keep antivirus software updated, verify website legitimacy before transactions, and immediately notify law enforcement and financial institutions if targeted, while family and friends can support prevention through regular check-ins and open conversations about fraud.
97x.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman in her 80s from Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately $6,700 after being targeted by a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut claiming his spaceship was under attack and needed money for oxygen. The victim, who lived alone and met the scammer on social media in July, developed emotional attachment through online conversations that made her vulnerable to his fabricated crisis. This case reflects a broader surge in romance scams globally, with the U.S. reporting over 64,000 victims and $1 billion in losses in 2023 alone, prompting authorities to urge the public to avoid sending money to online contacts and report suspicious requests immediately.
gilmermirror.com
· 2025-12-07
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) provides resources and tools to help older adults, caregivers, and families protect themselves from fraud and scams. Key resources include the BBB's Older Adult Resources page for recognizing red flags, ScamTracker for reporting and researching scams, credit monitoring through annualcreditreport.com, and the Do-Not-Call Registry to reduce unsolicited communications. The article also highlights warning signs of elder abuse—including unexplained injuries, financial manipulation, isolation, and declining living standards—and encourages families to use these tools to support safe, informed aging.
bitdefender.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational piece highlights the rising threat of sophisticated online scams targeting seniors, noting that FTC data shows reports of victims aged 60+ losing $10,000 or more quadrupled between 2020 and 2024. Scammers use impostor schemes impersonating businesses or government agencies, increasingly leveraging AI-generated deepfakes and voice technology, with a notable 2024 case involving 16 defendants charged in a grandparent scam ring that defrauded victims of over $55 million. The article recommends verification through trusted channels, raising awareness of scam tactics, and implementing cybersecurity tools as key defenses against elder fraud.
wifr.com
· 2025-12-07
The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers are increasingly using AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate grandchildren and other loved ones, convincing seniors to send money by claiming emergencies such as accidents, arrests, or medical crises. These "grandparent scams" are becoming more realistic by incorporating personal details gleaned from social media, and scammers can now replicate voices with just seconds of audio. The BBB recommends families establish code words for verification, limit personal information on social media, avoid sending money through untraceable methods like gift cards or payment apps, and contact police if suspicious requests occur or money has already been sent.
easttexasradio.com
· 2025-12-07
Federal authorities arrested 13 individuals involved in a transnational emergency/grandparent scam operation that defrauded over 400 victims of more than $5 million. The scammers impersonated distressed family members via calls, texts, or social media, claiming arrests, accidents, or emergencies to pressure victims into sending money via payment apps, sometimes even using fake mugshots or voice-cloning technology to enhance credibility. To protect themselves, people should verify urgent requests by contacting family members directly, avoid sending money through untraceable payment methods, and alert police if anyone offers to pick up cash in person.
wnegradio.com
· 2025-12-07
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts arrested 13 individuals involved in a transnational elder fraud scheme that targeted over 400 victims and resulted in more than $5 million in losses. Emergency scams—also called grandparent scams—use fake urgent situations (arrests, accidents, medical emergencies) to pressure victims into sending money via payment apps, often impersonating family members and using personal details found on social media or even voice cloning technology to appear credible. To avoid these scams, victims should resist acting immediately, verify stories by calling family members directly, avoid sending money through payment apps or gift cards without confirmation, and contact police if someone arrives to collect cash.
wsfa.com
· 2025-12-07
This content does not contain information relevant to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The articles cover local news topics including a civil rights commemoration, healthcare policy, a shooting investigation, and municipal ordinances. No summary for the Elderus database is applicable.
wsfa.com
· 2025-12-07
AARP warns of AI-enabled "grandparent scams" where sophisticated international crime rings use artificial intelligence to replicate grandchildren's voices and call seniors late at night claiming to be in trouble and requesting immediate money. To protect against these scams, AARP recommends establishing a family code word for verification, avoiding calls from unknown numbers, and keeping personal information off the internet.
abc3340.com
· 2025-12-07
The FBI warns seniors to remain vigilant against fraud schemes targeting older adults, noting that elder fraud remains a significant problem because criminals exploit vulnerable seniors who may be more trusting and often live alone. The agency recommends protective measures including shredding financial documents, avoiding unsolicited contact, resisting pressure to act quickly, and discussing investments with trusted individuals. Seniors are encouraged to report suspected fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center or local field offices, as many victims do not report incidents due to shame and can suffer severe financial losses.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers impersonated St. Clair County Sheriff's Office staff by calling or messaging family members of jailed individuals, claiming to offer GPS tether release in exchange for payment via PayPal, Zelle, or Apple Pay. At least one victim lost nearly $1,000 to the scheme, which the sheriff's office emphasized it would never use to collect payments. Residents are urged to verify requests through official channels and report suspected scams to local authorities.
trmlabs.com
· 2025-12-07
This resource is a law enforcement guide for investigating cryptocurrency-enabled scams, which have caused at least $53 billion in losses since 2023, with figures likely underreported due to delayed victim reporting. The guide provides investigators with essential terminology, investigation methodologies, and blockchain forensics techniques to trace fraudulent cryptocurrency transactions and identify the real-world controllers behind pseudonymous addresses. It serves as a practical manual for police and law enforcement professionals to understand and combat crypto-related investment scams, phishing schemes, and other cryptocurrency fraud.
ew.com
· 2025-12-07
Netflix's docuseries "Love Con Revenge" features Cecilie Fjellhøy and private investigator Brianne Joseph exposing romance scams, with cases including Todd Dean (the "Selfie Scammer"), who defrauded at least eight women of tens of thousands of dollars for a fake wellness startup called Sanjara and was ordered to pay one victim $30,727.50 in court before filing for bankruptcy in December 2023, and Ricky Morrisey, who stole over $13,000 from victim Bridget Phillips while posing as a military veteran with a fabricated tragic backstory, resulting in fraud and larceny
cheapism.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams, with adults over 60 being frequent targets due to their savings, limited digital experience, and trust in official-sounding messages. Modern scammers employ sophisticated tactics like AI voice cloning and deepfake videos to impersonate loved ones and government agencies. The article provides ten practical tips for seniors to avoid scams, including not answering unknown numbers, never sharing personal information over the phone, recognizing pressure tactics, avoiding unusual payment methods, verifying identities through trusted sources, and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
An 85-year-old grandmother nearly fell victim to an imposter scam when scammers posing as her bank claimed she owed $50,000 in fraudulent charges, then connected her with someone impersonating an FTC official who pressured her to purchase prepaid debit cards for payment. According to the FTC, fraud losses for seniors have surged dramatically, with losses of $10,000 or more quadrupling between 2020 and 2024, as scammers exploit fear and use untraceable payment methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, and prepaid cards. Key protective measures include recognizing red flags such as unexpected contact from institutions, requests for unusual payment
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-07
Text message job scams have surged in recent years, with reported losses rising from $90 million in 2020 to $501 million by 2024. Contrary to expectations, younger Americans—particularly Gen Z (20%) and millennials (16%)—are more vulnerable to these scams than older generations, with young men being especially susceptible due to financial pressures, career inexperience, and the appeal of fast remote income. Among victims who engaged with scam texts, approximately 30% had money stolen from their accounts and 45% shared personal information with scammers.
komando.com
· 2025-12-07
A Florida grandmother lost $60,000 in a romance scam after being deceived by fraudsters posing as a retired Army general online. One suspect allegedly pocketed $30,000 of the stolen funds to purchase a Hyundai Kona, and the victim later confronted him in person, though he claimed to be "scamming the scammer."
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, with adults over 60 being frequent targets due to their savings, limited digital experience, and trust in official-sounding communications. The article provides 10 protective strategies for seniors, including not answering unknown numbers, rejecting unsolicited calls from government agencies, never sharing personal information over the phone, resisting pressure tactics and unusual payment requests (gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency), verifying impersonators through independent sources, consulting trusted contacts before responding to suspicious requests, and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational article explains why credit monitoring remains important for retirees and provides protective strategies against identity theft. Seniors lost $4.9 billion to scams in 2024, with scammers targeting retirees who neglect credit monitoring, as stolen identities can be used for loans, credit cards, or insurance applications. The article recommends four steps: monitor credit reports monthly (free weekly reports now available), place a fraud alert if suspicious activity occurs, freeze credit with all three bureaus for maximum protection, and secure personal data online.
upworthy.com
· 2025-12-07
A Canadian bank teller prevented a senior citizen from losing $9,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam. The elderly customer had clicked on a Facebook advertisement months earlier, deposited a few hundred dollars, and was now being told he needed to pay $9,000 upfront to access supposedly generated earnings of $90,000 USD—a classic advance-fee cryptocurrency fraud. The alert teller recognized the scam, showed the customer evidence from Reddit's scam community, and successfully convinced him not to proceed, limiting his actual loss to the initial small deposits.
wsmv.com
· 2025-12-07
The Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky reported an uptick in "emergency scams" targeting families, particularly as college students return to campus. Scammers impersonate loved ones claiming urgent situations (arrests, accidents, medical emergencies) and request money, using voice-altering technology and social media details to make their pleas convincing. The BBB advises verifying requests by contacting loved ones directly, asking verification questions, and never sending money to unverified sources through payment apps, gift cards, or wire transfers.