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10,158 results in Scam Awareness
cnbc.com · 2025-12-08
As the April 15 tax filing deadline approaches, the video warns about "ghost preparers" and other tax scams targeting filers. CNBC's Sharon Epperson explains how to identify and avoid these fraudulent tax preparation schemes that can compromise personal financial information and lead to costly mistakes on tax returns.
cnbc.com · 2025-12-08
As the April 15 tax deadline approaches, scammers intensify efforts to steal taxpayer personal and financial information through unsolicited emails, texts, and calls impersonating tax authorities or preparers. The IRS received 294,138 identity theft complaints last year with over $5.5 billion in identified tax fraud. Taxpayers can protect themselves by filing electronically or mailing returns directly, verifying preparer credentials on IRS.gov, and never providing personal information to unsolicited contacts, as the IRS only initiates contact by regular mail.
ny1.com · 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common tax season scams and protection strategies. Scammers typically use fear, urgency, and financial incentives to trick taxpayers into sharing personal information or money, with identity theft being particularly prevalent—the IRS received 294,138 identity theft complaints in 2023, leaving victims waiting an average of 19 months for refund processing. Experts recommend verifying the legitimacy of tax professionals, remembering that the IRS contacts people only via official mail and websites, and avoiding sharing personal information with unsolicited callers.
spotonflorida.com · 2025-12-08
Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill was suspended by Governor Ron DeSantis after being arrested on charges of elder exploitation, personal identification fraud, and mortgage fraud. Hill pleaded not guilty to seven felony counts related to the charges. The suspension came shortly after her arrest on Thursday.
the-sun.com · 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old Marin County, California woman lost $30,000 in a phone scam where a caller impersonated her bank's fraud department and convinced her to withdraw cash, which was then collected from her home by the scammer. The suspect, Hao Canh Diep, was apprehended when he attempted to target the woman again for an additional $25,000, and he was charged with financial elder abuse and grand theft. The article also highlights a separate check-washing scam that defrauded a Massachusetts business owner of $13,000 and provides general tips for avoiding scams.
states.aarp.org · 2025-12-08
AARP South Carolina is launching a fraud prevention education initiative to help members protect themselves from financial exploitation. The organization offers resources on preventing elder abuse, identifying Medicare and veterans scams, and evaluating suspicious calls at aarp.org/scfraud, along with a series of upcoming fraud prevention events featuring former prosecutor Paul Greenwood, who specializes in elder fraud cases.
nbcmiami.com · 2025-12-08
Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill was arrested and suspended from office by Gov. DeSantis on charges including elder exploitation, personal identification fraud, and mortgage fraud involving approximately hundreds of thousands of dollars allegedly stolen from a 96-year-old woman. Hill, who has represented western Orlando since 2013, pleaded not guilty to seven felony counts and may return to office if exonerated.
indiatoday.in · 2025-12-08
A 41-year-old man from Thane, India lost Rs 50,000 after downloading a fraudulent app disguised as the legitimate "Vahan Parivahan" e-challan payment application, which he installed after receiving a fake text message claiming to be from Panvel Traffic Police about a traffic violation. The scammers gained unauthorized access to his bank account and conducted multiple transactions without requiring him to share his OTP, draining Rs 50,000 before he realized the fraud and uninstalled the app. Police registered a case under the Information Technology Act for identity theft and cheating by personation, and advised the public to verify official communications through legitimate channels rather than
moneyweek.com · 2025-12-08
Between January 2020 and December 2023, investment scammers stole £2.6bn from nearly 100,000 people in the UK, averaging £13m per week and £26,773 per victim, according to research by the Pensions Management Institute. Boiler room fraud (fake stockbroker schemes) and Ponzi schemes were the most prevalent, accounting for £553m and £499m respectively, while 2023 was particularly severe with 26,740 people losing £527m to investment fraud.
aol.com · 2025-12-08
This educational article warns Gen Z about four money scams targeting their generation, particularly employment-related fraud. The article highlights that Gen Z is vulnerable because they grew up with technology and are less skeptical of digital communications and remote work offers than older generations. Key scams include shipping scams (where victims unknowingly process stolen merchandise and face legal consequences) and equipment scams (where fake job offers use fraudulent checks to trick victims into sending their own money for equipment purchases).
finance.yahoo.com · 2025-12-08
While scammers traditionally target seniors, Gen Z is increasingly vulnerable to digital fraud schemes, particularly remote work scams that exploit their comfort with technology and familiarity with remote employment. Two common scams affecting Gen Z are shipping scams (where victims process stolen merchandise and become liable for the fraud) and equipment scams (where fake checks are deposited and victims wire their own money for equipment, leaving them in debt). Scammers use sophisticated tactics including spoofed company websites and email addresses, fake job boards, and social media platforms to lure young victims into these schemes.
mha.gov.sg · 2025-12-08
Singapore's police force reported receiving some deepfake-related scam complaints in 2023, though the number was not high and cases were not being systematically tracked. The government addressed deepfake scam risks to elderly residents through its "SG Cyber Safe Seniors Programme" launched in 2021, which includes physical and online educational sessions, digital ambassador outreach, and multilingual handbooks designed to teach safe mobile application use and scam prevention tactics.
abc12.com · 2025-12-08
I appreciate you providing this content, but the text you've shared appears to be website header/footer information and metadata rather than the actual article content about the Michigan attorney general's scam prevention advice. To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the main body of the article that contains the actual advice or information being offered. Could you please share the full article text?
dailyrepublic.com · 2025-12-08
Solano County launched an online Senior Fraud Prevention Center to address increasing scam reports targeting local seniors. The county's public education campaign recommends seniors verify government communications, watch for fake social media identities and sweetheart scams, scrutinize investment offers, avoid urgent account compromise notices without proof, monitor finances closely, and protect Power of Attorney documents. The center provides resources, reporting strategies, and contact information for regulatory agencies, law enforcement, and Adult Protective Services through SolanoCares.org.
cbs2iowa.com · 2025-12-08
Law enforcement in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is warning seniors about an evolving "grandparent scam" that uses AI to impersonate distressed relatives and manipulate victims into withdrawing large cash amounts, sometimes picked up by couriers posing as family members. Scammers use social media information and spoofed phone numbers or deepfake voices to create urgency and pressure victims to act quickly without verification. Police recommend establishing a family password system for emergencies, verifying unexpected requests by calling trusted contacts directly, and reporting suspected fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.
aol.com · 2025-12-08
This educational article warns Gen Z that scammers target all age groups, not just seniors, with a particular focus on employment fraud. The article highlights two common remote work scams: shipping scams where victims unknowingly process stolen merchandise and face criminal liability, and equipment scams where victims deposit fraudulent checks and lose their own money purchasing non-existent job equipment. Gen Z is particularly vulnerable because they grew up with technology and are less skeptical of digital communications and remote work offers.
moneyweek.com · 2025-12-08
Online purchase scams are increasing significantly, with Santander customers losing £7.3 million in 2023 (a 32% increase from 2022) to fraudsters posing as sellers on online marketplaces, with an average loss of £500 per victim. To protect yourself, remain vigilant for red flags such as pushy sellers, fake or missing images, prices that seem too good to be true, and unprotected payment methods, as sophisticated scammers increasingly use AI to create convincing fraudulent listings for high-demand items like smartphones, gaming consoles, and collectibles.
techlicious.com · 2025-12-08
In 2023, U.S. consumers lost $10 billion to fraud, with investment scams topping the list, often orchestrated by cyber-scam factories in Southeast Asia that force trafficked victims into perpetrating schemes targeting wealthy nations. Common scams include "pig-butchering" cryptocurrency fraud, romance scams, and impersonation schemes, with authorities making arrests but struggling to shut down operations that rapidly relocate. Protection strategies include remaining suspicious of unsolicited contact, refusing remote computer access to unverified sources, ignoring threatening calls claiming to be government officials, and reporting scams to the FTC.
cftc.gov · 2025-12-08
I can see this is a webpage from the CFTC's Learn & Protect section, but the actual article content about "Lies Versus Facts: The Truth Behind Gold and Silver IRA Scams" is not included in what you provided—only the navigation menu and page structure are visible. To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the full text of the PDF document or article content. Could you please share the actual article text or content from the "MetalsIRALies_0.pdf" document?
sequimgazette.com · 2025-12-08
The Sequim Police Department warned residents about IRS impersonation scams, where fraudsters contact people by phone, mail, or email demanding tax payments and personal information. Thousands of people have lost millions of dollars to these scams, and residents are advised to hang up on suspicious calls, avoid sharing personal information, and report suspected scams through the Washington State Attorney General's Office website.
states.aarp.org · 2025-12-08
IRS impostor scams peak during tax season, with consumers reporting $5.8 million in losses in 2023, typically initiated through robocalls using spoofed caller IDs that appear legitimate. Scammers demand payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency for alleged back taxes under threat of arrest, or pose as the IRS offering refunds to steal personal information like Social Security numbers and bank details. The key defense is to never trust unsolicited IRS contact, regardless of personal information the caller may possess, and instead verify any tax-related communication through official IRS channels or trusted contact information.
finance.yahoo.com · 2025-12-08
Social Security scams targeting the 68 million American beneficiaries use five common tactics: impersonating SSA officials to steal personal information, falsely claiming benefits have been suspended, alleging overpayment and threatening legal action, promising automatic benefit increases that require activation, and offering fraudulent investment schemes to multiply benefits. The Social Security Administration advises recognizing scams by the four "P"s—scammers pretend to be official, present problems or prizes, pressure immediate action, and request specific payment methods—and remembers that SSA will never threaten arrest, demand personal information to activate benefits, or pressure immediate payment.
wtsp.com · 2025-12-08
IRS impersonation scams spike during tax season, with scammers targeting people rushing to meet filing deadlines by posing as IRS recruiters or agents to steal personal information like Social Security numbers and driver's licenses. The Better Business Bureau warns that the IRS never initiates contact via email, text, or social media to request personal or financial information, and instead always communicates through mail; last year the IRS received over 294,000 identity theft complaints. Experts recommend verifying the sender's identity and taking time before responding to suspicious communications to avoid financial loss and identity theft.
thepointsguy.com · 2025-12-08
Advances in technology and social engineering are enabling sophisticated scams that cost consumers billions of dollars annually. Visa's 2024 Threats Report identifies four major scams on the rise, including pig butchering (romance) scams where fraudsters use AI and deepfake technology to build trust with victims over weeks or months before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms—affecting 10% of surveyed adults and resulting in billions in losses. The report notes that beyond financial victims, these scams often involve human trafficking victims forced to participate in the fraud operations.
soyacincau.com · 2025-12-08
A 57-year-old Malaysian civil servant nearly lost her life savings of RM150,000 to a phone scam in which fraudsters impersonated Maybank and government officials, instructing her to withdraw cash for alleged unauthorized transactions and mule account activities. A quick-thinking Maybank branch manager recognized the scam during the withdrawal and froze the victim's accounts, preventing the loss. The incident highlights the importance of bank staff vigilance and customer awareness of common scam tactics, particularly unsolicited calls requesting personal banking information or fund transfers to unknown accounts.
straitstimes.com · 2025-12-08
In 2023, 500 migrant domestic workers in Singapore fell victim to scams, representing an 18 percent increase from 423 cases in 2022. The Ministry of Manpower and police conduct mandatory anti-scam training and education programs for these workers, covering phishing, internet love, and loan scams—the most common fraud types targeting domestic workers.
the-sun.com · 2025-12-08
An 87-year-old woman in Rochester, Minnesota lost $18,000 in a grandparent scam on February 22 when a caller impersonated her son, claimed to be in a car accident, and directed her to a fake attorney who demanded bail money. A man in a medical mask collected the cash from her home, and she only discovered the fraud after calling her actual son to verify. Police noted the in-person collection was unusual for phone scams, and without surveillance footage or a clear suspect description, identification was unlikely.
hometownstations.com · 2025-12-08
Following severe weather in Ohio on April 2 and March 14, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency issued a warning about home repair scams targeting residents seeking to repair storm damage. Scammers pose as contractors, pressuring homeowners for upfront payments and promising immediate work, then either failing to return, abandoning jobs, or delivering poor workmanship. The agency advises residents to verify contractor licensing, request business cards, and avoid contractors who pressure quick decisions.
upnorthlive.com · 2025-12-08
Cheboygan County Sheriff's Office hosted an educational presentation for seniors to help them avoid financial scams, with Undersheriff Josh Ginop sharing recent local cases including a dating scam where a victim lost approximately $380,000 that was traced overseas. The presentation covered traditional scam methods (emails and phone calls) as well as newer techniques like cryptocurrency transfers, and attendee Mali Thomas shared her experience being nearly scammed into buying gift cards to reduce her phone bill until a clerk recognized the fraud. About half of the attendees reported having either fallen victim to a scam or prevented one using knowledge from similar educational events.
General Elder Fraud Scam Awareness Cryptocurrency Gift Cards
sfstandard.com · 2025-12-08
On March 27 in San Francisco, 68-year-old Vickie Wong lost $50,000 in gold and over $1,000 in cash to a "blessing scam" perpetrated by three Cantonese-speaking women who convinced her she was cursed and needed a purification ceremony. The scammers switched Wong's valuables with another bag during the ritual; this incident is part of a pattern of such crimes targeting monolingual, superstitious older Chinese women in San Francisco's Chinese community, with over 60 recorded victims. Law enforcement has launched an education campaign, though the true number of victims may be higher due to underreporting, and some scamm
govtech.com · 2025-12-08
In 2022, seniors aged 60 and older filed 88,262 fraud complaints resulting in $3.1 billion in losses, according to FBI data. Solano County responded to this spike by launching the Solano Senior Fraud Prevention Center (SolanoScamCenter.org) to educate residents and provide resources for fraud prevention and reporting, offering guidance on identifying government impersonation, social media scams, prize schemes, and urgent account compromise claims. The center provides contact information for filing reports with Adult Protective Services, law enforcement, and regulatory agencies to help victims respond and protect their finances.
the420.in · 2025-12-08
Indian nationals are being targeted by human traffickers who lure them with fake high-paying job offers in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, then coerce them into participating in online financial scams and forced labor. The Indian government has issued warnings urging job seekers to use only legitimate employment channels and thoroughly verify employer credentials, following recent arrests of key cybercrime syndicate members and incidents where victims were smuggled into forced cybercrime operations in Laos and Cambodia. Authorities recommend exercising caution with online job offers, researching companies through embassies, avoiding sharing personal information, and informing family of travel plans when seeking employment abroad.
muskogeephoenix.com · 2025-12-08
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond warned consumers about rising Bitcoin ATM scams targeting elderly victims who are deceived into withdrawing bank funds and depositing them into unregulated virtual currency kiosks at retail locations. Scammers employ various tactics including fake bank failure warnings, romance schemes, investment advisor impersonation, and fake antivirus alerts to convince victims to convert their money to irreversible cryptocurrency transfers. The Attorney General advised Oklahomans never to pay anyone who requests advance payments in cryptocurrency, gift cards, or money transfers, and to contact relatives or the Oklahoma Attorney General's office if they suspect they have been victimized.
General Elder Fraud Scam Awareness Cryptocurrency Crypto ATM
veronapress.com · 2025-12-08
On March 28, Verona Police arrested 23-year-old Jiale Yang after receiving an anonymous tip that he would commit elder fraud that afternoon; Yang falsely identified himself as an IRS agent and obtained $30,000 in cash from the victim, who had been deceived by a pop-up claiming her computer had a virus and directed her to "Apple Support" where she was told her money was involved in criminal activity. The article also outlines five common types of elder fraud schemes: grandparent scams, government impersonation scams, phishing scams (which increased from 114,702 reports in 2019 to 298,878 in 2
Romance Scam Government Impersonation Law Enforcement Impersonation Tech Support Scam Phishing Cryptocurrency Crypto ATM Gift Cards Check/Cashier's Check
independent.ie · 2025-12-08
Romance scams resulted in €1.9 million in reported losses to Irish authorities in 2023, though actual losses are likely higher due to underreporting from shame and lack of awareness. Dr. Jessica Barker emphasizes that victims should not feel ashamed, as these scams are orchestrated by experienced criminal gangs who employ sophisticated, shared tactics. The article provides warning signs and safety advice to help people identify and protect themselves from romance fraud.
accc.gov.au · 2025-12-08
Australian authorities are warning consumers to verify payment details directly with businesses before paying emailed invoices, as payment redirection scams caused $16.2 million in losses last year. Scammers compromise business email accounts or impersonate email addresses to send fake invoices with altered banking details, with one man losing over $35,000 on a car purchase; the scam is particularly prevalent in real estate, legal, construction, car dealerships, and travel sectors. Consumers are advised to independently verify payment details by calling the business directly using self-sourced contact information before transferring funds.
abc11.com · 2025-12-08
The FBI in North Carolina is warning consumers about a surging cryptocurrency investment scam that has cost North Carolina victims over $65 million in 2023, with investment fraud involving crypto rising 53% nationally from $2.57 billion in 2022 to $3.944 billion in 2023. Scammers use social media research and fake websites/apps to build trust with victims, displaying fake profits to encourage larger investments, then disappear with all funds when victims attempt major withdrawals. The FBI advises victims not to be embarrassed and to report scams quickly, though recovery is difficult since cryptocurrency is unregulated.
adirondackdailyenterprise.com · 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common tax season scams and protection strategies. Scammers typically use fear, urgency, and money as tactics to trick taxpayers into sharing personal information or paying for fraudulent services, with identity theft being particularly prevalent—the IRS received 294,138 identity theft complaints in 2023, and victims wait an average of 19 months for resolution. Experts recommend verifying that contacts are genuinely from the IRS (which communicates only by mail), researching tax professionals through official directories, and avoiding unsolicited phone calls to prevent falling victim to these scams.
abc7chicago.com · 2025-12-08
A Naperville woman lost $2,000 to a sophisticated spoofing scam where fraudsters used caller ID technology to impersonate Chase Bank with the bank's actual phone numbers. The scammers claimed to protect her from fraud, obtained her trust by referencing her transaction history, and convinced her to share authentication codes sent to her phone, which they used to transfer $2,000 through the Zelle app. Banks never request personal information or authentication codes via unsolicited calls, and customers should hang up and call their bank directly using the number on their card if they suspect fraud.
aarp.org · 2025-12-08
A Hong Kong finance worker lost $25.6 million after being deceived in a video conference where the CFO and executives were entirely computer-generated deepfakes, representing a sophisticated AI-enabled fraud scheme. Criminals are increasingly weaponizing generative AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E to create convincing fake voices, videos, and identities for various scams including celebrity endorsement frauds, romance schemes, sextortion, and phishing emails. Experts warn that AI technology has dramatically lowered the barrier for fraud perpetration, enabling an "industrial revolution for fraud criminals" with potentially endless victims and losses.
wbur.org · 2025-12-08
"Pig-butchering" is a major online scam operation that has generated approximately $75 billion and involves criminals targeting vulnerable people through digital currency exploitation, human trafficking, and international crime networks operating from compounds in Southeast Asia. The scam uses sophisticated social engineering tactics and digital currency to defraud victims, with victims losing substantial sums while perpetrators operate across borders with connections to organized crime groups.
cbsnews.com · 2025-12-08
The IRS has identified six common tax scams proliferating before the April 15 filing deadline, including phishing/smishing, fraudulent Employee Retention Credit promoters, fake IRS account setup assistance, false fuel tax credit claims, misleading offer-in-compromise "mills," and fake charities. Scammers exploit fear and greed through unsolicited texts, emails, and calls impersonating the IRS—which the agency never does—and should be avoided by remembering that the IRS only initiates contact by mail, never requests payment information by phone, and never threatens legal action or guarantees refunds.
cbsnews.com · 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content because the text provided is only navigation menu items and headers from a CBS News webpage, not an actual article about a tax scam. To summarize the tax scams article mentioned in the headline, please provide the full article text describing what the IRS's "dirty dozen" tax scams are and what details are included about them.
connexionfrance.com · 2025-12-08
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This article describes multiple fraud schemes targeting people in France, including overpayment scams where fraudsters pose as robbery victims to trick people into withdrawing cash on their behalf, and text message phishing scams impersonating official agencies like ANTAI (driving fine collection) and La Poste with fake links to fraudulent websites. The article also mentions that French authorities detected over 40,000 home renovation fraud cases in 2024 and notes that scammers often exploit victims' desire to help others or comply with authority by creating artificial urgency.
huroncountyview.mihomepaper.com · 2025-12-08
In late January 2024, the Sebewaing Light & Water Department fell victim to a phishing scam in which an unknown third party, likely located overseas, impersonated a legitimate vendor and fraudulently obtained funds from the utility. The fraud was detected on January 23, 2024, and immediately reported to Michigan State Police, with the investigation ongoing. The department cautioned residents to remain vigilant against fraudulent emails and online scams, advising victims to contact law enforcement immediately.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com · 2025-12-08
A 43-year-old auto-rickshaw driver from Thane, India fell victim to an e-challan scam after receiving a text message about a traffic violation and installing a fraudulent app called Vahan Parivahan, resulting in unauthorized transactions of Rs 50,000 from his account despite deleting the app quickly. E-challan scams use phishing messages, fake websites, and malicious apps impersonating traffic authorities to steal personal financial information and login credentials from victims. To protect themselves, people should avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, verify traffic violations directly with official authorities, use only government websites ending in ".gov.
firstpost.com · 2025-12-08
Singapore reported a record 46,563 scam cases in 2023, resulting in SGD 651.8 million in losses, with an 18 percent increase in cases targeting migrants, particularly domestic workers from India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar who fall victim to phishing, romance, and loan scams. The government is responding through mandatory anti-scam education programs for foreign workers during settlement orientation and ongoing awareness training to help them recognize and report scams within their communities.
maryvilleforum.com · 2025-12-08
This is a community newsletter from Grant City, Missouri, not an article about elder fraud. The only fraud-related content is a brief announcement that the Young at Heart organization is holding an educational meeting on April 18 at 10 a.m. to help attendees detect, prevent, and report Medicare fraud, identity theft, and other scams. The remainder of the newsletter discusses weather, local events, and social activities.
mondaq.com · 2025-12-08
The FTC reported 64,003 romance scams in 2023 resulting in $1.14 billion in losses (median $2,000 per victim), advising consumers never to send money, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to online suitors. The FTC also announced enforcement actions against AI companies engaging in deceptive data practices, published a final rule prohibiting impersonation of government agencies and businesses, and secured a $20.3 million judgment against merchant cash advance company owner Jonathan Braun for defrauding small business owners through misleading practices and unlawful asset seizure.
justice.gov · 2025-12-08
Chukwunonso Umegbo, a former New Bedford man, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for wire fraud and money laundering related to romance scams between 2018 and 2019. Umegbo used fake identities to open bank accounts in the Boston area that received over $568,000 from romance scam victims, which he then withdrew as cash, converted to cashier's checks, or spent; he was arrested in London in 2022 and extradited to face charges in 2023. He was ordered to pay $578,954.78 in restitution and forfeiture.