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in Scam Awareness
latimes.com
· 2026-07-31
Immigration-related scams have surged dramatically in Orange County and nationwide, with con artists impersonating licensed attorneys using fake websites, AI-generated photos, and stolen identities to defraud vulnerable immigrants seeking legal help, with victims losing hundreds to thousands of dollars. The scams have become increasingly sophisticated, with some legitimate attorneys also participating in fraud by filing false asylum and visa applications without client knowledge, exploiting immigrants' desperation during a surge in deportation cases. Federal Trade Commission complaints about immigration service fraud increased from 623 in 2023 to 1,626 in 2025, and disciplinary actions against immigration lawyers nationwide have escalated significantly.
latimes.com
· 2026-07-31
A 53-year-old Southern California woman lost thousands of dollars to online fraudsters who posted a fake rental listing for an affordable bungalow near Fullerton on social media and real estate platforms. The scam is part of a growing trend where criminals use fake listings and AI-generated content on social media to exploit people desperate for affordable housing in California's tight rental market. Police report that perpetrators often operate through untraceable accounts and from outside the country, making it extremely difficult to hold them accountable.
sbs.com.au
· 2026-07-31
As Australia's 2026 Census approaches, scammers are impersonating the Australian Bureau of Statistics through cold calls, fake texts, and phishing emails to trick residents into sharing personal information. The ABS has clarified it will never request sensitive data, offer prizes, or contact people via social media, and legitimate Census communications come only from official @abs.gov.au email addresses and include an ABS logo or yellow field officer identification. Australians are urged to verify any Census-related contact through the official ABS website or Scamwatch before responding.
sanews.gov.za
· 2026-07-31
South Africa's Department of Social Development has warned young people against fake online job offers being used by human trafficking networks to lure victims into exploitation, with criminals advertising fraudulent employment opportunities on social media, particularly in Thailand. Since 2024, multiple groups of South African victims have been rescued after being transported across the Thailand-Myanmar border and forced to work in scam compounds under abusive conditions while performing cyber crimes. Traffickers typically promise lucrative salaries and free travel, but victims face long working hours, violence, debt bondage, and are often coerced into recruiting friends and family members to expand the criminal operation.
wdsu.com
· 2026-07-31
Scammers are targeting new employees with text messages impersonating company leaders and requesting purchases of gift cards, with amounts like $300 in Google gift cards reported. The scam exploits publicly available information from LinkedIn posts and job announcements to identify new hires and impersonate their managers. Experts advise verifying requests directly with coworkers and reporting suspicious messages to prevent financial loss, as these non-refundable digital purchases are difficult to recover.
riograndeguardian.com
· 2026-07-31
Summer travel scams are on the rise, with a McAfee report finding that 38% of travelers encountered travel-related scams and 41% of those lost money, as scammers increasingly use AI to make fraudulent schemes appear more authentic. Common summer scams include fake travel deals, password theft, caller ID spoofing impersonating airlines and hotels, and impersonation of government agencies using scare tactics. Protection strategies include verifying travel deals through official channels, never sharing passwords or one-time codes, keeping vacation photos private, and hanging up on suspicious callers rather than using the number on caller ID.
kxii.com
· 2026-07-31
Used car scams target buyers with artificially low prices and fraudulent listings, with scammers using third-party payment apps and gift cards to make refunds nearly impossible. The Texas Department of Insurance recommends verifying vehicles through their VIN number on sites like VIN Check and purchasing in person to avoid these scams, which can cost thousands of dollars upfront plus increased insurance premiums.
sbs.com.au
· 2026-07-31
Ahead of Australia's 2026 Census on August 11, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's Scamwatch has received reports of scams where fraudsters impersonate the Australian Bureau of Statistics through fake emails, texts, and calls to trick people into sharing personal information. The ABS has warned that scammers may pose as Census officials requesting sensitive data, offering prizes, or using hyperlinks in emails—none of which legitimate Census communications will do. Australians are advised to verify any Census-related contact through the official ABS website or hotline (1300 100 557) and report suspicious messages to Scamwatch.
wtoc.com
· 2026-07-31
Savannah police warn residents about evolving phone and relationship scams where callers impersonate government agencies or claim family members are in jail to demand immediate payment, often through gift cards. Key warning signs include demands for urgent payment with tight deadlines, and victims are advised to hang up, contact their bank immediately, file a police report, and block unknown callers. Police also recommend that elderly residents secure personal and financial documents at home and remain vigilant about protecting vulnerable family members from scam attempts.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-07-31
Researchers conducted a study comparing AI chatbots to human scammers in "pig butchering" romance scams that lead to fake cryptocurrency investments, finding that AI chatbots significantly outperformed humans at the trust-building stage, with nearly 50% of test subjects complying with chatbot requests versus fewer than 20% for human scammers. The study, based on interviews with 145 former scam workers including trafficking survivors from Southeast Asia, suggests that scammers could use AI to automate the lengthy relationship-building phase before handing off to humans for the final investment solicitation to bypass AI safeguards. This hybrid approach could enable scam operations to defraud victims of six-figure
legis1.com
· 2026-07-31
A Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing examined AI-powered fraud schemes that clone voices to impersonate loved ones and create deepfakes, with online scam losses increasing 26% in 2025 to an average household loss of $1,009. Experts testified that AI tools have made existing scams more sophisticated while lowering barriers for criminals, prompting lawmakers to introduce bipartisan legislation including the Guard Act and National Strategy for Combating Scams Act to strengthen law enforcement efforts and create reporting systems targeting elder fraud.
wxyz.com
· 2026-07-31
A 16-year-old Troy student fell for a job scam after receiving a phishing email impersonating his school, which included fake checks for $1,500 and requested he send back $900 via Zelle. Although he avoided direct financial loss when the checks bounced, his bank account was subsequently closed and he may be unable to open a new account for five years. The incident highlights a 198% increase in reported losses among those under 20 in 2025, as scammers increasingly target young people with fraudulent job opportunities.
tahoedailytribune.com
· 2026-07-31
Scammers targeting Lake Tahoe vacation rentals steal legitimate listings and photos from platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, then repost them on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace at below-market prices while posing as property owners or managers. They request payment through Cash App, PayPal, or Venmo, making it nearly impossible for victims to recover funds once transferred. Experts recommend booking only through established platforms or verified local property management companies and paying exclusively with credit cards to ensure buyer protection.
kob.com
· 2026-07-31
Scammers posing as PNM utility workers have been approaching residents in Albuquerque's Nob Hill area, claiming to need access to homes and requesting personal information such as social security numbers. PNM warns that legitimate employees always carry proper identification, never show up unannounced without a scheduled appointment, and will never ask for money or personal information over the phone. Residents are urged to verify employee badges, report suspicious activity to PNM and local police, and alert neighbors through community platforms.
kmph.com
· 2026-07-31
California's Employment Development Department lost over $30 billion to unemployment insurance fraud—the largest such case in U.S. history—after suspending identity verification during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which allowed criminal organizations to file fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims using fake identities. Six years later, investigators continue pursuing cases while federal and state authorities have made multiple arrests and implemented fraud prevention measures, with the U.S. Department of Labor recently deploying a team to review California's unemployment insurance program. The fraud was significantly more widespread than other states, with Washington State, the next closest, losing approximately $650 million by comparison.
newsbreak.com
· 2026-07-31
A 67-year-old Florida man lost nearly $700,000 in a romance scam that began with an unsolicited text message from someone claiming to be "Aileen," who gradually built trust over thousands of messages before pitching fake investment opportunities in gold markets. The victim sold his inherited house, car, and business while making multiple deposits into the fraudulent investment scheme, only to have all contact cease once the scammer disappeared with the funds. Now at retirement age, Geissler is rebuilding his life from scratch, currently living in a hotel and using a bicycle for transportation.
scworld.com
· 2026-07-31
AI chatbots have demonstrated superior ability to build trust compared to human scammers in "pig butchering" scams (romance scams involving fake cryptocurrency investments), with nearly 50% of test subjects complying with requests from AI versus fewer than 20% from humans. A study by researchers from four universities shows AI could potentially automate significant portions of scam operations and replace human labor. The findings highlight growing concerns about AI-driven fraud and the challenges in detecting and preventing such deceptive practices.
helpnetsecurity.com
· 2026-07-31
Cybercrime has evolved into a commercialized subscription-based ecosystem where criminals rent AI tools, malware, and infrastructure to conduct attacks at scale, with threat actors targeting executives, consumers, and enterprises through impersonation fraud, phishing, banking trojans, and pig-butchering scams. The sector employs cloaking technology, bulletproof hosting, and AI-generated lures to evade detection, with specific cases including fake CAPTCHA scams costing victims approximately $30 per interaction and Android banking trojans stealing digital identities including facial biometrics and one-time passwords. This fragmented criminal economy enables low-skilled actors to operate efficiently while exploiting trusted infrastructure and corporate networks,
financefeeds.com
· 2026-07-31
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture action seeking to recover $2.12 million in Tether (USDT) from a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scam that targeted multiple victims through fake trading platforms and romance scams. Scammers built trust with victims via dating apps and social media, then persuaded them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms that displayed fake profits and repeatedly demanded additional fees before allowing withdrawals. Investigators used blockchain analysis to trace the stolen cryptocurrency through multiple wallets, and worked with Tether to freeze the tokens before pursuing legal recovery.
1380kcim.com
· 2026-07-31
A Ghanaian national living in Maryland, 43-year-old Nana Takyiwa Adonu, was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for operating a nationwide romance scam that defrauded victims of over $1.6 million, including an Iowa victim who lost more than $55,000. Adonu created fake online dating profiles and operated a fraudulent company to receive stolen funds from victims seeking romantic relationships, and she was ordered to pay $1.65 million in restitution. According to FBI statistics, an estimated 59,000 people have fallen victim to romance scams losing over $672 million, with many cases going unreported due to victim embarrass
dailypost.ng
· 2026-07-31
Nigeria's First Lady has warned citizens about online scams being weaponized for human trafficking, with young Nigerians—including graduates—being lured abroad through fake employment and investment opportunities. Victims are then trapped in exploitative conditions and forced to conduct romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and other online schemes targeting people in the US, UK, and Canada. Since January 2026, Nigeria has rescued 156 trafficking victims, while over 300,000 people are trafficked annually into scam compounds in Southeast Asia, where their documents are confiscated and they're coerced into committing fraud under threats and intimidation.
firstalert4.com
· 2026-07-31
The Better Business Bureau is warning college students and parents of two prevalent scams ahead of the fall semester: fake rental listings where scammers copy legitimate property photos and descriptions, and fraudulent back-to-school shopping deals offering steep discounts. The BBB received over 400 reports of fake rental listings last year with losses totaling millions of dollars, with red flags including requests for deposits or personal information before viewing a property in person. Consumers are advised to shop only with familiar retailers, verify business credentials on BBB.org, and use credit cards for online purchases to dispute charges if needed.
nbc26.com
· 2026-07-31
Following tornado damage in the Fox Cities, scammers are targeting both disaster victims and donors through fraudulent contractors and fake fundraising campaigns. Out-of-state contractors may collect down payments and disappear without completing repairs, while fake online fundraisers solicit donations under false pretenses. Experts recommend using local, established contractors and verifying fundraisers through platforms like GoFundMe before donating.
biometricupdate.com
· 2026-07-30
AI-enabled fraud against older Americans is escalating rapidly, with criminals using voice cloning, deepfakes, and stolen personal data to impersonate loved ones and trusted professionals, exploiting emotions like fear and urgency more effectively than ever before. A 64-year-old California woman lost $5,400 in a kidnapping scam after being convinced by an AI-cloned voice of her daughter, while the Senate Special Committee on Aging reported that Americans over 60 lost $7.7 billion to scams in 2025, with $893 million specifically linked to AI-enabled fraud across over 22,000 complaints. The hearing emphasized that while AI hasn't changed the emotional tactics of
thecourierexpress.com
· 2026-07-30
The Jefferson County Area Agency on Aging held a "Scam Jam" seminar to educate seniors about financial fraud, with speakers warning that scammers stole over $7.7 billion from victims last year and emphasizing that Social Security numbers are primary targets. Key warning signs discussed included urgent calls requesting gift card payments, romance scams targeting lonely seniors, and fraudulent VA benefit schemes charging veterans $2,000-$30,000 when legitimate veteran services are free. Attendees learned practical prevention tips including using secret code words with family, refusing to share personal information, and checking credit reports regularly.
aol.com
· 2026-07-30
A 44-year-old Rosemead man was charged with elder fraud, grand theft, and conspiracy after driving a courier to a Thousand Oaks woman's home to collect $14,000 in cash obtained through a tech support scam. The victim was tricked into believing her computer was infected with malware and that she was under investigation by federal authorities, prompting her to withdraw the cash from multiple banks while remaining on the phone with scammers. The defendant was arrested in July and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
oswegocountytoday.com
· 2026-07-30
Seniors lost nearly $8 billion to scammers in 2025, with over $350 million specifically from AI-related scams including voice cloning, phishing attacks, and forged documents, representing a 59% increase from 2024. U.S. Senators Gillibrand and Kelly are pressuring nine major AI companies to implement stronger safeguards protecting vulnerable users, particularly seniors and people with disabilities, through a letter requesting details on safety testing and harm tracking. The average senior victim lost $39,000 per incident, prompting Senate Aging Committee hearings and calls for regulatory reforms to prevent fraudsters from exploiting generative AI technology.
inkl.com
· 2026-07-30
A scammer posing as a Medina County Sheriff's captain attempted to extort $2,400 from an Ohio police captain by claiming he had missed jury duty and faced arrest, but was exposed when his target recorded the call and revealed he was a law enforcement officer. Government impersonation scams cost Americans $920 million in 2025, with older adults being particularly vulnerable to this common fraud scheme that uses fear and urgency to pressure victims into untraceable payments via cash, gift cards, or wire transfers. The FTC advises that legitimate courts contact jurors by mail, never by phone, and urges people to hang up and verify claims through official agency numbers rather than using contact information provided by callers
pdcn.org
· 2026-07-30
A 73-year-old Baldwin resident was defrauded of $40,000 after receiving a phone call claiming his bank account and social security number were compromised and instructing him to withdraw cash for safekeeping. The victim met an unknown subject in a parking lot on Grand Avenue and handed over the money, later realizing he had been scammed. Junkai Chen, 35, of Fresh Meadows, was arrested and charged with Grand Larceny 3rd Degree in connection with the elder fraud scheme.
slobodenpecat.mk
· 2026-07-30
A woman from Bitola posted a couch for sale on a classifieds platform and was contacted by scammers using a German phone number posing as buyers, who directed her to a phishing website mimicking Cargo Express and tricked her into entering her bank card details. The scammers attempted to steal funds but were unable to withdraw money because only 7 denars was on the card. This phishing campaign targeting classifieds sellers remains active despite Cargo Express warning about the scam in April, and similar fraud schemes using legitimate company brands continue to victimize citizens across the country.
elliptic.co
· 2026-07-30
The Royal Thai Police and blockchain analytics firm Elliptic collaborated to analyze over 500 cryptoasset-related cases involving individual victim losses of nearly $14 million, with suspicious incoming transactions totaling $520 million between January 2022 and October 2025. The investigation identified approximately $200 million in suspected investment, romance, and "pig butchering" scam proceeds, along with cryptoasset thefts and money laundering linked to criminal networks in Cambodia and Myanmar operating across 32 different blockchains. The analysis revealed criminals' use of decentralized exchanges and cross-chain bridges to launder proceeds while evading know-your-customer verification requirements.
nst.com.my
· 2026-07-30
Hong Kong actress Strawberry Yeung, 61, identified and rejected a "pig-butchering" romance scam in which a man she met cultivated an intense two-month fake relationship before requesting HK$300,000 (approximately RM156,000) for a supposed business investment. Yeung recognized the classic scam red flags—including his sudden investment pitch after establishing trust through constant flirtation and posts showcasing wealth—and confronted the scammer, who then ceased contact. The actress used her experience to highlight how scammers often target older single women assuming they are lonely and vulnerable, while emphasizing that many older women maintain fulfilling lives with their own priorities and are not easily dece
abcnews4.com
· 2026-07-30
The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office is launching a free Senior Fraud Prevention Tour with five presentations scheduled through September to educate seniors and families about common scams targeting older adults, including fake bond requests, bank imposter scams, romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and AI voice imitation scams. Detective Jeremy Maurer emphasized that seniors are frequently targeted because scammers know they have retirement savings and assets, with one of the fastest-growing threats being artificial intelligence used to imitate loved ones' voices to demand emergency money. The sheriff's office stresses prevention through verification and caution, as money sent to scammers can quickly disappear through multiple accounts or overseas channels.
punchng.com
· 2026-07-30
The First Lady of Nigeria called for increased vigilance against online scams targeting young Nigerians, warning that traffickers are exploiting educated graduates through fraudulent overseas employment and investment offers that lead to forced criminality. According to Nigeria's National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, over 300,000 people are trafficked annually into scam compounds in Southeast Asia where they are forced to conduct romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and investment schemes targeting victims in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. Nigeria remains one of the world's highest-burden countries for human trafficking, with approximately 156 victims rescued since January 2026 and over 300 others repatriated from
stgeorgeutah.com
· 2026-07-30
A 53-year-old man has been extradited from Illinois to Utah to face felony charges for an elaborate romance scam that defrauded an Arizona woman of over $82,500 between August 2024 and July 2025. Todd Joseph Sweet posed as a retired Army sergeant major involved in classified operations and manipulated the victim into providing cash, credit card information, and $27,000 from her retirement funds, while also taking possession of her $65,000 pickup truck that he never returned. Investigators discovered Sweet has a pattern of similar romance scams across multiple states, including a 2010 Tennessee case where he swindled another victim out of $19,000 and
timesnownews.com
· 2026-07-30
Research comparing AI chatbots to human scammers found that AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are significantly more effective at building trust in romance scams, with 50% of study participants agreeing to download an app after chatting with an AI chatbot versus only 18% after speaking with a human scammer. AI chatbots also received higher trust ratings than humans and can simultaneously conduct thousands of conversations with victims, making romance fraud easier to scale than traditional human-operated scams. The study was conducted by researchers from universities in India, Italy, Australia, and Israel.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2026-07-30
This article is an informational piece from the FTC encouraging public awareness and communication about fraud prevention rather than describing a specific scam incident. It recommends discussing scam tactics with friends and family as a defense strategy and directs readers to FTC resources for fraud information.
aol.com
· 2026-07-30
A Georgia family searching for a Barbie DreamHouse online was directed to a fraudulent website disguised as Wayfair that appeared in top Google search results, resulting in $16,000 in unauthorized Amazon Web Services charges on their stolen credit card. The family's bank initially refused to cover the fraudulent charges for months before finally agreeing to reimburse them last week. The scam highlights how fake retail sites are appearing in prominent search engine results to deceive shoppers into entering their payment information.
ambcrypto.com
· 2026-07-30
The U.S. government seized $2.12 million in USDT cryptocurrency from a wallet linked to a "pig-butchering" investment scam that used dating apps, social media, and fake job offers to lure victims to fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms promising guaranteed returns. Scammers displayed fictitious profits to encourage larger deposits and charged victims fake tax and verification fees when they attempted withdrawals, with investigators identifying multiple victims who lost significant sums. The seized funds were recovered through blockchain analysis after being transferred across multiple wallets to obscure their origins, with the FBI reporting over 41,000 cryptocurrency investment fraud complaints totaling $5.8 billion in 2024.
ppc.land
· 2026-07-30
HUMAN Security research reveals that AI-powered phone farms have dramatically lowered the barrier to entry for large-scale scams, with threat actors able to launch romance scams, investment fraud, and fake-account campaigns for as little as $5,000 upfront or rent 25 virtual phones for approximately $2,970 monthly. The "FunFoneFarm" ecosystem combines cheap secondhand phone circuit boards, orchestration software like Auto.js, and AI tools to create fleets that mimic human behavior and evade platform detection. This technological infrastructure enables fraudsters to capitalize on an estimated $27.8 billion lost annually to romance and investment scams.
wealthprofessional.ca
· 2026-07-30
Investment fraud cost Canadians $351 million in 2025, the highest loss among all scam types, yet 89% of survey respondents expressed confidence they could spot such scams while simultaneously engaging in risky behaviors like using public Wi-Fi for financial accounts and clicking unverified links. The disconnect highlights what fraud experts call "overconfidence," with only 41% of Canadians actively educating themselves on fraud prevention despite 46% encountering scams weekly or daily and 24% having fallen victim in the past year. Across all fraud categories, Canadians reported over $704 million in losses from 112,000 reports in 2025, with authorities estimating only 5
defence.lk
· 2026-07-30
This article discusses how human trafficking has evolved to incorporate cyber-enabled scams as a primary recruitment and exploitation tool, with traffickers using social media, fraudulent websites, and the dark web to perpetrate romance scams, fake employment schemes, and visa fraud to lure and traffic victims for sexual exploitation, forced labor, and other abuses. The article highlights that traffickers increasingly exploit technology to deceive vulnerable individuals, and notes that some trafficking victims are forced into criminal activities like cyber scams through coercion, which legally distinguishes them from traditional criminals due to the absence of criminal intent. The piece emphasizes that human trafficking affects people across all demographics and can occur within or across international borders, with the "trap behind the scams
thedailystar.net
· 2026-07-30
Young Bangladeshis and other educated nationals are being trafficked into compounds in Southeast Asia under false job promises and forced to run romance scams that have generated an estimated $88.3-$114.1 billion in losses across the region in 2025. This represents a shift from traditional labor trafficking to exploiting victims' cognitive skills—their judgment, persuasion abilities, and technical expertise—to conduct large-scale fraud operations. The scam networks operate as self-funding parallel economies across governance gaps, with illicit proceeds moving through underground banking and cryptocurrency while accumulating vast quantities of stolen personal data and identity documents.
wired.com
· 2026-07-30
Researchers from four universities conducted a study showing that AI chatbots are more effective than human scammers at building trust during "pig butchering" scams, which are romance-based text fraud schemes that lead to fake cryptocurrency investments stealing six-figure sums from victims. In simulations with test subjects, nearly half complied with requests from AI chatbots compared to fewer than one in five for human scammers, with victims also rating the AI chatbots as significantly more trustworthy. The findings suggest that AI could autonomously handle the trust-building phase of these scams, with human scammers only taking over at the final investment solicitation stage to evade AI safeguards.
spacedaily.com
· 2026-07-30
In 2022 and 2023, Americans reported losing over $1.3 billion and $1.14 billion respectively to romance scams, affecting approximately 70,000 and 64,000 people with median individual losses of $4,400 and $2,000. Older adults aged 70 and over experienced the highest median losses at $10,000, with total fraud losses among people aged 60 and over rising fourfold from $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024, largely driven by high-value scams involving investment schemes and romance fraud. Romance scams operate through prolonged relationship-building and incremental payment
thecourierexpress.com
· 2026-07-30
The Jefferson County Area Agency on Aging held a Scam Jam educational program where law enforcement and government officials informed seniors about common fraud schemes, warning that scammers stole over $7.7 billion from victims last year. Key warning signs discussed included urgent demands for payment via gift cards, romance scams targeting lonely seniors, imposters falsely claiming VA endorsement, and unsolicited calls requesting personal information or Social Security numbers. Officials advised seniors to use protective measures such as establishing secret code words with family, checking credit reports regularly, and contacting accredited Veterans Service Offices rather than paying private companies up to $30,000 for benefit claims.
wcyb.com
· 2026-07-30
Buchanan County Public Schools in Virginia fell victim to a cyber scam involving a misdirected payment related to construction of a new high school, with details of the fraudulent transfer remaining unreleased. According to the Better Business Bureau, such scams typically involve criminals impersonating legitimate businesses or construction companies and convincing accounting departments to wire large sums of money without independent verification. The BBB warns that advancing AI technology is making voice and image impersonation easier, and emphasizes that organizations should always verify payment requests through trusted independent contacts before transferring funds.
newson6.com
· 2026-07-30
Scammers in Oklahoma are using increasingly sophisticated tactics including phone calls, texts, emails, and artificial intelligence to defraud people, with the FTC reporting $59 billion in losses nationally in a single year. According to AARP Oklahoma's Fraud Watch Network, common scams include emergency/grandparent scams enhanced by AI, and fraudsters are targeting people of all ages across multiple platforms. The AARP Fraud Watch Helpline (877-908-3360) offers trained specialists to help identify potential scams and, in some cases, prevent financial loss before it occurs.
wsbtv.com
· 2026-07-30
Bipartisan lawmakers are advancing legislation (H.R. 9500) to allow fraud victims to deduct losses from financial scams, addressing a tax code gap created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that left victims responsible for taxes and early-withdrawal penalties on stolen retirement funds. The House Ways and Means Committee unanimously approved the bill, which would let victims claim theft-loss deductions and potentially provide retroactive relief for those affected over the past eight years. The legislation aims to prevent the "second kick when you're down" scenario where crime victims face additional financial harm through IRS tax bills on money stolen by fraudsters.
money.ca
· 2026-07-30
A Reddit user shared their near-miss experience with a sophisticated phone scam where scammers impersonated Wealthsimple and claimed someone was fraudulently using their credit card to book a hotel, requesting a verification code to "block" the transaction. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, such fraud investigator scams cost Canadians $28.3 million last year, part of a reported $704 million in total fraud losses. Experts warn that these scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and effective, with nearly half of Canadians encountering scams weekly or daily.