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in Government Impersonation
kcentv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Temple Police Department reported a surge in phone and online scams targeting Central Texas residents, including Microsoft, IRS tax, Social Security/Medicare, and law enforcement impersonation schemes. One victim received a call from someone posing as a Bell County Sheriff's deputy demanding several thousand dollars for a fake failure-to-appear warrant, using real names of county officials to appear credible. Police advise residents to verify caller identities independently, never share personal or financial information unsolicited, and report suspected scams immediately.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI received more than 147,000 reports of scams and fraud targeting Americans ages 60 and older in 2024, with reported losses exceeding $100,000 more than tripling since 2020. Seniors are targeted because they control over 60% of the nation's wealth, and scammers use sophisticated impersonation, phishing, vishing, and smishing tactics to steal personal and financial information. The article advises awareness of these common scam types and recommends working with financial advisors to identify and protect against fraudulent schemes.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Diane Field sued "Real Housewives of Orange County" star Vicki Gunvalson and associated investment companies for fraud and elder abuse after allegedly being convinced in 2019 to invest approximately $6 million—90% of her combined net worth with her late husband—into Allianz annuities and a $300,000 annual life insurance policy through fraudulent sales tactics and false promises of tax savings. The elderly plaintiff, who was vulnerable following her husband's declining health and subsequent death, claimed Gunvalson and her business partner Ali misrepresented the investments as safe and conservative while concealing the true costs and risks involved.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article addresses how adult children can help protect elderly parents from fraud, noting that FBI data shows elder fraud complaints rose 14% in 2023 with victims aged 60+ losing $3.4 billion that year, averaging $33,915 per victim. The article recommends initiating protective conversations by referencing recent news stories about scams or asking elders about suspicious communications they've received, allowing for natural dialogue rather than confrontational warnings.
claytodayonline.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, banks reported over $27 billion in suspicious elder fraud activity, with FBI reports indicating average losses exceeding $33,000 per case. Scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence and voice-cloning technology to impersonate trusted contacts and exploit elders through tactics that create urgency (tech support, government imposter, grandparent scams) or offer unrealistic rewards (investment, romance, lottery scams). The article recommends pausing when pressured, verifying identities through independent channels, and consulting trusted third parties before making financial decisions.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Five Chinese nationals were indicted for operating a multinational fraud ring that scammed over 2,000 seniors out of more than $27 million between 2021 and 2023. The defendants used unsolicited pop-up ads, emails, and phone calls to direct victims to scam call centers in India, then employed social engineering and remote access software to convince victims to send money via wire transfer or express mail packages to Southern California and Nevada addresses, which the defendants picked up using fake identities and laundered through cryptocurrency. Law enforcement arrested four defendants in a coordinated operation in July 2024, while the fifth was arrested in April 2024.
sgvtribune.com
· 2025-12-08
A multinational fraud ring involving five defendants from Southern California and Nevada targeted approximately 2,000 elderly people across the United States, defrauding them of more than $27 million between 2021 and 2023. The scammers used unsolicited pop-ups, emails, and phone calls to lure victims to call centers in India, then gained remote access to their computers and impersonated technical support, government, and bank officials to trick victims into sending money via wire transfer or express mail. The defendants allegedly laundered the stolen funds through cryptocurrency to co-conspirators in India, with four arrested in Los Angeles and Las Vegas in April and one arrested previously.
sandiegouniontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Five Chinese nationals in California and Nevada conspired with India-based fraudsters to defraud more than 2,000 elderly Americans of over $27 million between 2021 and 2023 through pop-up ads, phishing emails, and phone calls that led victims to phony call centers where scammers impersonated bankers and government officials and gained remote access to their computers. The victims sent cash and wire transfers to real businesses like CVS Pharmacy where the defendants picked up packages using fake IDs, then laundered the money through cryptocurrency transactions with their India-based co-conspirators. Four defendants were arrested during coordinated raids in Nevada and Los Angeles County; the fifth was
startribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Nearly one-third of surveyed veterans and military consumers lost money to scammers impersonating veterans or military-friendly organizations, exploiting the strong camaraderie within the military community to build trust before pitching fake charities or fraudulent medical equipment offers. Veterans, active-duty service members, and their families are approximately 40% more likely to fall victim to scams than civilians, with the FTC reporting that military retirees and veterans lost $66 million to fraud in 2020 at a median loss of $569 per victim.
metro.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams peak during summer months, with a 139% increase in reported scam value from May to June compared to March to April, according to Barclays analysis. While men report romance scams more frequently, women lose significantly more money on average (£8,900 versus £3,500 for men), as scammers pose as romantic interests or impersonate wedding vendors to gain trust and extract funds. Barclays advises online daters to verify identities before sending money and urges victims to report scams without shame, emphasizing that sophisticated tactics and time investment by scammers can fool anyone.
bgindependentmedia.org
· 2025-12-08
Bowling Green Police are warning residents about a rising tide of online scams affecting all age groups, including a notable shift toward younger victims who are three times more likely to fall for scams than older adults. Recent local cases included a 23-year-old woman who lost $3,734 to a fake job offer using counterfeit checks, a 25-year-old man deceived into sending $11,000 via a computer virus scam, and an 18-year-old extorted for $600 after being sextorted. Police advise residents to heed red flags such as pressure to act quickly, requests to deposit unknown checks and send money, and suspicious online interactions, an
fisherphillips.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida-based cybersecurity training company hired a remote software engineer through a standard hiring process, including video interviews and background checks, only to discover the employee was a North Korean cybercriminal using AI deepfake technology to fake his identity and photograph. Within 30 minutes of receiving his company computer, the fake employee attempted to load malware and execute unauthorized programs before being detected and shut down by IT security. The incident demonstrates how AI-enhanced identity fraud is increasingly targeting remote positions at U.S. companies, whether for data theft, espionage, or system disruption, and can affect even cybersecurity professionals.
commercialappeal.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FTC received over 330,000 reports of business impersonation scams resulting in hundreds of millions in losses, with scammers most frequently impersonating Best Buy/Geek Squad, Amazon, and PayPal. Common tactics include fake alerts about suspicious charges or unauthorized purchases that trick victims into transferring money, buying cryptocurrency, or providing bank access, with losses ranging from thousands to over $124,000 per victim. To protect yourself, avoid responding immediately to unsolicited messages, never use contact information from suspicious messages, and verify requests by contacting companies directly through known legitimate phone numbers or websites.
superhits106.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dubuque Police Department reported a surge in internet-based scams over two months, including Bitcoin ATM scams where victims transfer money via QR codes to scammers' wallets, and pop-up scams falsely claiming computer compromise to trick victims into withdrawing cash for fake bank representatives. Authorities advise the community to be cautious of unsolicited online communications and to trust their instincts when something feels wrong.
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
A Mayfield Heights woman lost nearly $6,000 to a sophisticated phone scam in which fraudsters spoofed a Huntington Bank number, convinced her to withdraw cash and transfer it via Chase Bank ATM, and then coerced her into undressing on FaceTime under the pretense of identity verification. The scammers used panic tactics about fraudulent charges to pressure the victim into moving her money, a common technique that exploits people's fear of losing their accounts. Authorities advise hanging up on unsolicited calls and independently verifying any banking concerns by contacting your bank directly, as legitimate financial institutions will never request personal verification through video call or ask for login credentials.
startribune.com
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old Minnesota woman, Gayle J. Ferngren, was sentenced to 1¾ years in prison for her role in a global fraud scheme that victimized over $1.8 million from people across the country through romance fraud and pandemic aid scams. Ferngren was initially targeted by scammers posing as a romantic interest in 2016, but eventually became a knowing participant who transferred stolen funds to co-conspirators in Egypt, South Africa, and other locations. She was ordered to repay $1.76 million to victims and serve 100 hours of community service.
pinkvilla.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old woman, Diane Field, sued reality TV star Vicki Gunvalson and her business partner Ali Hashemian, alleging financial elder abuse and fraud related to life insurance and annuity products sold through Gunvalson's insurance firm. Field claimed she was misled into believing a $300,000 life insurance policy was a one-time payment when it was actually an annual obligation, allegedly targeting her $6 million net worth. Gunvalson's attorney denied all allegations, asserting she is a professional insurance broker with 34 years of experience who followed Field's instructions and did not engage in fraud or elder abuse.
siliconvalley.com
· 2025-12-08
Five Chinese nationals in California and Nevada conspired with India-based fraudsters to defraud over 2,000 elderly Americans of more than $27 million between 2021 and 2023 using tech support scams, government impersonation, and refund schemes. The defendants lured victims through pop-up ads and unsolicited calls to phony Indian call centers, then used remote access software to gain computer control and convince victims to send cash via wire transfer or express mail to businesses like CVS, which the defendants retrieved using fake IDs before laundering funds through cryptocurrency. Four of the five defendants were arrested during coordinated raids in Nevada and Los Angeles County in connection with the federal in
cubaheadlines.com
· 2025-12-08
67-year-old Ana María Núñez was arrested by Miami police for a fraudulent investment scheme that defrauded a barber shop owner of $105,000 between April and May 2022. Núñez posed as an investment opportunity broker, claiming a fake company called ATP Expediter and Investment would sell satellites to China with promised returns of 100-400%, but never delivered on the promises and ceased contact. Núñez has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1996, including a 2022 case where she and her son stole $437,107 from a cancer patient, and she currently faces charges of first-degree grand theft and organized fraud.
boothbayregister.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, post-disaster fraud cost Americans over $9.3 billion, with scammers impersonating government, utility, and insurance workers to solicit upfront fees or deposits for promised federal grants, priority repairs, or faster claim processing following hurricanes and wildfires. Legitimate FEMA agents never request payment and carry government-issued photo badges, while victims should verify any offers through established channels before providing money. AARP advises caution with door-to-door solicitations and offers resources through its Fraud Watch Network to help identify and prevent disaster-related scams.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonated the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department using the fake name "Lt. Justin Branberry" in phone calls to extract money from residents across multiple states including Ohio, Arizona, and Florida. At least one victim lost $3,000 (her entire Social Security check) to the scheme, which used professional-sounding language, badge numbers, and case numbers to establish false authority; authorities warn that legitimate sheriff's departments contact people in person or by mail, not by phone.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Australia's Labor government proposed scam reform legislation requiring banks, telcos, and social media platforms to compensate fraud victims if their systems are inadequate, but consumer advocates and scam victims criticize the plan as too slow and insufficiently holding banks accountable. Critics argue the government has adopted banking industry talking points—particularly the "honey pot" concern that mandatory reimbursements would invite fraudster claims—rather than adopting the UK's stricter model that makes banks primarily responsible for reimbursing victims except in cases of gross negligence. One victim lost over $800,000 to fraud, and reformers contend banks have failed to exercise proper due diligence in preventing mule accounts used by sc
wrat.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article from the Federal Trade Commission outlines common online scams and fraud schemes affecting consumers. Key scams discussed include spoofing (falsifying caller ID to impersonate legitimate organizations), the 809 scam (international callback schemes with high rates), catfishing (creating fake online identities for romance or exploitation scams), cramming (unauthorized small charges on bills), and family emergency scams (targeting grandparents with urgent requests for money). The article advises consumers to hang up on unsolicited callers, verify numbers independently, never share personal information with unknown callers, and be cautious of suspicious requests—noting that while younger adults report romance scams more frequently, older consumers typically lose
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Since May 2024, Monterey County Sheriff's Office received reports of a phone and online fraud scheme targeting senior citizens, resulting in $97,000 in losses across four incidents. Suspects impersonated FTC or bank employees, instructing victims to withdraw cash ($10,000–$40,000) from multiple bank branches and hand it over to couriers who arrived at their homes; on July 16, 2024, 34-year-old Yang Liu of Alhambra, California was arrested when apprehended collecting money from a victim. Authorities advise seniors to hang up on callers claiming to be from financial institutions or law enforcement, verify contact information through official
housingwire.com
· 2025-12-08
Older Americans are increasingly falling victim to elaborate, multi-faceted scams designed to drain retirement savings, with perpetrators impersonating government officials, tech support, or romantic interests while using psychological manipulation to keep victims engaged. One 76-year-old retired lawyer lost $740,000 in just three months, believing he was helping federal authorities protect his funds. Americans over 60 suffered losses exceeding $3.4 billion in 2023, with stolen funds typically moved to overseas accounts or cryptocurrency wallets, making recovery nearly impossible and often compounded by tax penalties on large retirement account withdrawals.
wsbt.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel conducted a senior fraud awareness presentation in St. Joseph, educating nearly 70 Southwest Michigan seniors on protecting themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams including spoofing, phishing, romantic scams, and AI-enhanced fraud schemes. Nessel emphasized the importance of verifying sources before making payments, never sharing personal information without fact-checking, and reporting scams to authorities—noting that Michigan seniors lose millions annually to fraud and that reporting helps protect both victims and future potential targets.
earlytimes.in
· 2025-12-08
**Not applicable for elder fraud database.** This article concerns alleged financial irregularities and misappropriation of funds within India's Congress party during the 2023 Bharat Jodo Yatra political event. While it involves fraud allegations, it does not relate to elder abuse, elder fraud, or scams targeting seniors and therefore falls outside the scope of Elderus research materials.
wsbt.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel conducted an educational presentation for approximately 70 seniors in Southwest Michigan to raise awareness about common scams targeting older adults, including romantic scams, spoofing, phishing, and AI-enhanced fraud schemes. Nessel advised seniors to verify sources before making payments, never share personal information without confirming facts, and report suspected scams to authorities so others can be warned, noting that Michigan seniors lose millions annually to fraud. The event was organized by the Area Agency on Aging in St. Joseph to help seniors protect themselves and maintain their independence and dignity.
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud cases are surging across financial institutions, with Kennebec Savings Bank in Maine tripling its fraud cases between 2021 and 2023 and preventing over $430,000 in losses in 2023 alone. Scammers increasingly use sophisticated social engineering tactics—including impersonation, phone number spoofing, and AI-generated content—to manipulate victims into voluntarily transferring funds, making it difficult for banks to prevent losses even with strong security measures. The FTC reported a 14% increase in fraud losses in 2023, with imposter scams accounting for nearly $2.7 billion of the over $10 billion in total annual frau
paymentsjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Seller impersonation fraud in real estate is increasing, with one in five title companies reporting such attempts in April 2024 and 28% experiencing at least one attempt in the prior year. Fraudsters target vacant properties and desperate buyers by creating fake listings and forged documents, sometimes using stolen personal information of legitimate owners, to facilitate quick all-cash sales. Buyers can protect themselves by verifying the seller's identity through in-person or video meetings, using approved notaries, and obtaining title insurance, with nearly half of title companies successfully detecting and preventing fraudulent transactions before closing.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Schwab Bank customer received a text message impersonating the bank's fraud department asking about a suspicious $2,500 transfer; after replying "No," scammers called and tricked the victim into authorizing two wire transfers of approximately $5,500 each, claiming the transfers would return funds to the account. The client's advisor successfully helped cancel the second transfer with Schwab, preventing total loss, though the scam demonstrates how fraudsters use legitimate account holder names and mass messaging to impersonate trusted financial institutions.
popculture.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
YouTuber Fuslie fell victim to a "smishing" scam impersonating USPS, clicking a malicious link in a text message and entering her credit card information multiple times before realizing the website was fraudulent. She subsequently canceled all her cards to prevent unauthorized charges. The incident highlights the prevalence of these phishing scams, which attempt to steal personal and financial information by posing as legitimate government agencies or companies.
oig.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Three Dominican nationals were extradited to face charges in a "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans across multiple states out of millions of dollars. The defendants operated call centers in the Dominican Republic where they impersonated grandchildren in distress, then had "closers" pose as lawyers or police to convince victims to send thousands in cash via couriers or mail. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines if convicted on charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer, Alabama, was charged with wire fraud for executing a Power of Attorney over an elderly family member without permission and fraudulently transferring over $500,000 from the victim's bank accounts to his own between September and December 2023. Pruitt also became a joint account holder and altered payable-on-death beneficiaries on the victim's accounts. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Christopher Parks, Christopher Noah Parks, and Stephen Miller operated a fraudulent medical debt collection scheme through companies Assured Collections LLC and Assured Financial LLC, sending thousands of false debt collection notices nationwide to veterans and older Americans demanding payment for medical devices they either did not owe or had never received. The scheme, which Parks directed while incarcerated for prior healthcare fraud charges, caused consumers to pay debts that were largely illusory, leading a federal court in Oklahoma to issue permanent injunctions on August 2 barring the defendants from engaging in any future billing or debt collection activities.
abc3340.com
· 2025-12-08
**Elder Financial Abuse Surge in Alabama**
Alabama has experienced a dramatic increase in elder financial abuse cases since 2016, with reports growing from 23 cases that year to 243 cases nine months into the current fiscal year, according to the Alabama Securities Commission. Recent convictions include Gina Cook Gilbert ($2.5 million stolen from her elderly mother), Nicholas Houston Allen ($370,000 in ordered restitution), and James Langford III (accused of taking $200,000-$600,000 from an elderly woman's account as trustee). The exploitation typically exploits relationships of trust, often involving family members or caregivers targeting victims between
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
QR code scams, known as "quishing," have surged dramatically since May 2023, with email-based attacks increasing 2,400% by March 2024, targeting both individuals and businesses by embedding malicious URLs or malware in fake QR codes placed on physical locations or sent via phishing emails. Scammers use these codes to steal personal information, download malware, or trick users into providing login credentials, with executives facing disproportionately higher attack rates due to their access to sensitive data. To protect themselves, consumers should inspect QR codes for irregularities before scanning, keep their phone operating systems and apps updated, and use multi-factor authentication as a defense against
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Impersonation scams, where fraudsters mimic trusted entities through phishing and fake websites, caused over $1.1 billion in U.S. consumer losses in 2023, with new malicious sites created every 11 seconds. AI technology has made these scams more sophisticated and harder to detect quickly, though governments, regulators, and companies are responding with stronger enforcement actions, expanded rules like the FTC's updated Impersonation Rule, and consumer education campaigns emphasizing multi-factor authentication and fraud awareness.
thestatesman.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are impersonating Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials by using the agency's logo as display pictures on social media and making calls to extort money from victims. The scammers use fake warrants, summons, and forged documents attributed to CBI officers to convince people they are under investigation and must pay money to resolve the matter. The CBI has advised the public to remain cautious, verify any official communications directly with local authorities, and report suspicious attempts to police immediately.
oklahoman.com
· 2025-12-08
The Social Security Administration sent a legitimate email notifying beneficiaries that they must update their online accounts by transitioning from the old "my Social Security" account to a new Login.gov account if created before September 18, 2021. The article advises users to verify they are visiting the legitimate SSA website (www.ssa.gov/myaccount) and warns of scammers who create fraudulent websites mimicking SSA links to steal personal information, recommending users report suspicious emails to the SSA Office of the Inspector General at 800-269-0271.
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
Deepfake technology, powered by AI advances, is increasingly used in fraud schemes targeting individuals and businesses. Criminals employ deepfake videos, face-swapping, and voice cloning to impersonate celebrities, executives, and recruiters in romance scams, job recruitment fraud, and investment schemes, with deepfake content increasing 900% between 2019-2020 and an estimated 26% of small companies and 38% of large companies experiencing deepfake-related fraud in 2023. Notable cases include a Japanese manga artist losing nearly $500,000 USD to a fake video call impersonating actor Mark Ruffalo, while experts warn that by
lawfaremedia.org
· 2025-12-08
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun Rao discusses the Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Branch work, which addresses the growing scale and sophistication of consumer fraud schemes, including elder fraud, that have been enabled by technological advances such as robocalls, texts, emails, and social media. The Consumer Protection Branch brings together criminal and civil cases across federal courts nationwide with nearly 250 staff members and over 100 trial attorneys, partnering with agencies like the FTC, FDA, and CPSC to protect consumer health, safety, economic security, and privacy.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonate government officials or utility company representatives to pressure homeowners into purchasing solar panels or energy efficiency upgrades, falsely promising free installations, large rebates, or guaranteed bill savings that can cost victims tens of thousands of dollars. These scams typically begin with unsolicited calls, messages, or visits offering "free" energy audits or claiming the victim is already enrolled in a program requiring payment. To protect yourself, avoid any "free" solar offers, resist pressure for immediate payment or unusual payment methods (cash, gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency), and never share personal information in response to unexpected online requests.
wpsdlocal6.com
· 2025-12-08
Smishing—text message scams that trick recipients into clicking malicious links or calling scammer numbers—has become increasingly common as cybercriminals shift from robocalls and emails to take advantage of higher text message open rates. Common tactics include fake package delivery notifications, impersonation of trusted brands like Amazon and FedEx, and social engineering to steal login credentials, financial information, or gain remote device access, potentially leading to identity theft and financial loss. Consumers can protect themselves by ignoring unsolicited texts, enabling two-factor authentication, verifying company contact information independently, and reporting suspicious messages to the FTC by forwarding to 7726 (SPAM).
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is investigating major US banks including JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo over their handling of fraud and scams on the Zelle peer-to-peer payment platform. Senate investigations found that reimbursements for unauthorized Zelle transactions declined significantly over five years, prompting lawmakers and regulators to scrutinize whether banks are adequately protecting consumers, though the banks argue that covering scam costs could encourage further fraud and cost billions of dollars.
markets.financialcontent.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023, an increase of $1 billion from 2022, with elderly people frequently targeted due to their presumed savings. Financial professionals recommend three protective strategies: slow down and verify requests before acting, be selective about who accesses sensitive financial information and documents, and seek assistance from certified financial planners who can monitor accounts and help recover from fraud.
iharare.com
· 2025-12-08
A 33-year-old Zimbabwean woman, Sherlyn Sims, was convicted in Atlanta for money laundering related to romance scams and business email compromise schemes that defrauded dozens of victims of over US$1.2 million between December 2019 and August 2020. Sims created fake businesses like "Grace Trading, LLC" and opened fraudulent bank accounts where she received stolen funds, which she then quickly transferred internationally, withdrew as cash, or spent. Victims included romance scam targets who were deceived by fake online suitors into sending money—one victim alone lost nearly US$100,000 after being told her "boyfriend" needed bail money
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Hector Claveria, 51, of Queens, New York, pleaded guilty to international money laundering after acting as a money mule for elder fraud and computer fraud schemes in 2020. He collected cash proceeds from these schemes and wired $20,000 to a foreign bank account in June 2020, knowing the funds originated from fraudulent activities that deceived elderly victims into sending payments based on false claims of debt to government agencies or computer service companies. Claveria faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, with sentencing scheduled for December 19, 2024.
fortune.com
· 2025-12-08
Zelle, the payment app owned by major U.S. banks including JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo, faces a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau investigation over fraud vulnerabilities, with Zelle's chief fraud risk manager arguing the app has adequate safeguards while placing responsibility on users, lawmakers, and law enforcement to combat scammers. Between 2019 and 2023, the percentage of reimbursed Zelle fraud claims declined from 62% to 38%, according to Senator Richard Blumenthal, though Zelle reports a 50% decrease in fraud reports from 2022 to 2023 and attributes this partly to its anti