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thesun.my
· 2025-12-08
This article excerpt does not contain information about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. The main article describes a flood mitigation infrastructure project in Malaysia, and the related news items cover topics such as border tensions, elections, and general crime statistics—none of which relate to elder fraud or elder abuse.
For the Elderus database, please provide articles specifically about scams targeting seniors, financial exploitation of elderly individuals, or elder abuse cases.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between April 2023 and March 2024, British courier fraud scams targeting elderly people resulted in £28.7 million in losses, with victims averaging £20,000 each. People in their 80s were most vulnerable, accounting for 43% of victims, with approximately 85% of all victims aged 60-90; fraudsters posed as police officers or bank officials to trick targets into handing over money, valuables, or bank cards by claiming to investigate account issues or fraudulent business activity. City of London Police conducted a joint operation across England and Wales in May, making five arrests and receiving over 100 referrals from 26 forces, while recommending call-
fronterasdesk.org
· 2025-12-08
The FBI is hosting an educational seminar in Tucson to help seniors recognize phone and internet scams, following reports that fraud targeting people 60 and older caused over $3 billion in losses nationwide last year—a 10% increase from 2022. Local church members prompted the event after experiencing spam calls and falling victim to increasingly sophisticated scams, including AI-generated voice impersonation and phishing emails. The free public seminar covers scam identification and prevention techniques.
ca.movies.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Minal Patel, a Georgia man who owned LabSolutions in Atlanta, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for orchestrating a $463 million Medicare fraud scheme involving unnecessary genetic cancer tests. Patel used telemarketing calls to recruit Medicare beneficiaries, paid kickbacks and bribes to patient brokers and telemedicine companies to obtain fraudulent doctor's orders, and submitted claims to Medicare from 2016 to 2019, resulting in $187 million in actual payouts to his company, of which Patel personally received over $21 million. The case was part of a larger federal investigation that charged 35 people involved in billing billions in fraudulent
thevalleyledger.com
· 2025-12-08
State Rep. Jeanne McNeill hosted a senior scam prevention presentation on May 29, featuring David Shallcross from the Pennsylvania attorney general's office who provided guidance on avoiding scams. According to McNeill, seniors lost over $3.4 billion to scams in the previous year (an 11% increase), with individual victims losing an average of $33,915 each.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Jeremy Wade Wilson, owner of Publishers Elite, pleaded guilty to operating a $4.8 million nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme from 2013-2019 that defrauded over 14,000 victims, including more than 200 in Minnesota, through fraudulent magazine subscription sales targeting elderly and vulnerable consumers. Wilson, the final of 64 defendants charged, faces sentencing in September 2024 after pleading guilty to six counts of wire fraud and SCAMS Act violations.
alligator.org
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old Florida man nearly fell victim to a grandparent scam when someone impersonating his grandson called asking for $5,000 bail money, though the grandson was actually safe at university. Florida reported over 40,000 online scams in 2023 resulting in $874 million in losses, ranking third nationally, with adults 60 and older losing over $290 million—the highest of any age group—yet only 15% of offenses are reported due to shame and embarrassment among victims.
mix957gr.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old Michigan woman lost $40,000 after scammers posing as federal agents convinced her that her money was at risk due to identity theft and bank insolvency, then persuaded her to withdraw her life savings for "safekeeping." When the two men from Illinois attempted to return a week later for more money, an alert neighbor reported the activity to authorities, leading to their arrest. Authorities urge the public to verify the identities of anyone claiming to be law enforcement or government officials before providing personal information or transferring funds.
au.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Australian authorities warned of a surge in remote access scams where fraudsters impersonate legitimate companies like Microsoft, tricking victims into downloading screen-sharing software that grants access to bank accounts. Losses from these scams increased 52 percent in early 2024, with victims losing an average of $17,943 and seniors over 65 suffering the largest losses; Australians reported $15.5 million in total losses during 2023. The ACCC advises never downloading software when directed by phone callers and never sharing banking information, passwords, or two-factor codes.
wgrd.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old Michigan woman lost $40,000 after scammers posing as federal agents convinced her that her life savings were at risk due to identity theft and bank insolvency, then persuaded her to withdraw the cash for "safekeeping." When the perpetrators returned a week later seeking additional funds, an alert neighbor reported them to authorities, leading to the arrest of two men from Illinois. Authorities stress the importance of verifying the identities of anyone claiming to represent law enforcement or government agencies before transferring funds or sharing personal information.
choice.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A CHOICE survey of 280 scam victims in Australia found that four out of five victims reported their banks failed to flag suspicious transactions before money was transferred to scammers, and about half received inadequate support afterward. Australians lost $2.7 billion to scams last year, with over half of initial contact occurring on websites or social media platforms, yet banks and tech companies face minimal consequences while victims often suffer shame and financial loss with little recourse for recovery.
herald-review.com
· 2025-12-08
A Mount Zion woman was charged with stealing over $100,000 in cash and property from an elderly female victim between May 2022 and July 2023. Ali L. Fisher, 31, faces two counts including financial exploitation of an elderly person and obtaining control of property through deception, with the alleged theft totaling more than $40,000 in additional cash. Fisher was arrested on May 14 and released on pretrial release pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 24 in Macon County Circuit Court.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida man, Jian Hua Ren, was arrested for attempting to defraud a Hicksville woman of $45,000 through an impersonation scam. The suspect posed as a Nassau Federal Credit Union fraud representative and convinced the victim her account was compromised, instructing her to withdraw the funds for safekeeping. The victim, who had fallen for a similar scam previously, recognized the scheme and called 911, leading to Ren's arrest and charge of Attempted Grand Larceny 3rd Degree.
wthr.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reported that scammers stole $3.4 billion from people over 60 in 2023, prompting a free educational workshop scheduled for June 10 in Indianapolis to teach seniors and caregivers about evolving fraud tactics, including how artificial intelligence is being exploited by scammers. The workshop, featuring FBI forensic accountants and Indiana's consumer protection director, will focus on top scams including tech scams, data breaches, and romance schemes.
richmondmagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Teens are the fastest-growing victims of online scams, with losses to those 20 and younger increasing from $8.2 million in 2017 to $210 million by 2022, according to the FBI. Common scams targeting teens include phishing emails, deceptive pop-up ads, direct message offers, and catfishing schemes on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Parents and educators can reduce risk by teaching teens to verify sources, recognize red flags like poor grammar and suspicious links, adjust privacy settings, and maintain open communication about online dangers.
thehackernews.com
· 2025-12-08
Malachi Mullings, 31, of Georgia was sentenced to 10 years in prison for laundering over $4.5 million obtained through business email compromise (BEC) schemes targeting healthcare programs and companies, as well as romance scams targeting elderly victims, between 2019 and 2021. Mullings opened 20 fraudulent bank accounts under a fake company name to conceal the proceeds and used funds to purchase luxury items, including a Ferrari bought with $260,000 from a romance scam. The case highlights ongoing efforts to prosecute money launderers facilitating cyber fraud schemes.
dailypress.net
· 2025-12-08
Online scammers increasingly use spoofing and phishing tactics to deceive victims by impersonating legitimate businesses through fraudulent emails and websites designed to steal personal and financial information. According to the FTC, social media scams caused the highest total losses at $1.4 billion in recent years, while phone-based scams resulted in the highest per-person losses averaging $1,480; notably, older adults who fell victim to scams lost significantly more money than younger adults. Law enforcement officials emphasize that these scams are preventable and encourage community members to monitor vulnerable elderly individuals.
tampafp.com
· 2025-12-08
Florida ranked second nationally in elder fraud complaints and losses in 2023, with Americans aged 60+ losing $3.4 billion that year, an 11% increase from 2022. Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 556 into law, which takes effect January 1 and permits banks to delay money disbursements if employees suspect financial exploitation of seniors or vulnerable adults, while providing legal immunity to banks acting in good faith. The legislation was developed in response to widespread scams targeting Florida's retiree population, particularly tech support fraud schemes.
prweb.com
· 2025-12-08
According to an FBI report, Americans over 60 experienced elder fraud crimes at record levels, with victims losing an estimated $3.4 billion in reported losses. Common scams targeting seniors include the grandparent scam (impersonating grandchildren claiming arrest), sweepstakes fraud requiring upfront payment, gift card serial number schemes, and government imposter fraud. Elderwerks, a Palatine, Illinois nonprofit, is hosting free educational presentations on scam prevention and identity theft protection to help seniors and caregivers recognize and avoid these crimes.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old Jackson resident agreed to a civil court order permanently prohibiting her from participating in romance scams after acting as a money transmitter for an international fraud ring. Holly Locke received packages of money from multiple victims and forwarded the funds to her online romantic partner, unknowingly facilitating fraud against people who believed they were helping their own romantic partners. This civil consent decree marks the first of its kind in the Eastern District of Michigan and is part of a broader Department of Justice effort to disrupt international romance scam operations targeting U.S. citizens.
gbnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Car insurance fraud cases in the UK have reached record levels, with 42,500 cases recorded last year, targeting vulnerable populations including elderly drivers through tactics like "ad spoofing" (fake websites), "ghost broking" (fraudulent policies), and "data farming" (cold calling to encourage false claims). In one case, a fraudster was jailed for four years after cloning an insurance company's identity to sell fake policies to elderly drivers worth £26,000. Authorities warn drivers to verify insurance deals, recognize suspicious offers, and report suspected fraud to protect themselves from potentially losing thousands of pounds.
kfoxtv.com
· 2025-12-08
El Paso police reported a rise in identity theft scams targeting elderly residents over the past two years, with victims particularly vulnerable to text and phone scams due to high trust levels and limited awareness of technology capabilities. Sgt. Cristina Mendoza of the Financial Crime Unit identified key warning signs including unsolicited contact, pressure to pay in specific ways, and inability to verify the other party's identity.
goldendalesentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
From 2022 to 2023, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network reported approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity related to elder financial exploitation, with 80% of all suspicious activity reported by banks involving elder scams. Common scams targeting seniors include government impersonator scams, fake prizes/sweepstakes, computer tech support scams, and grandparent scams, perpetrated by strangers, family members, friends, or caregivers. Prevention strategies include protecting sensitive documents, monitoring financial accounts, avoiding unsolicited requests for personal information, consulting financial advisors before making decisions, and building relationships with trusted financial institutions.
cgsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center increased 14 percent in 2023, with victims aged 60 and over losing $3.4 billion total and an average of $33,915 per victim. Tech support scams were the most commonly reported type of elder fraud, while investment scams proved the costliest, exceeding $1.2 billion in losses, with over 12,000 victims also targeted through cryptocurrency schemes. Oregon specifically saw elderly residents lose $44 million in 2023, with scammers exploiting older Americans' relative lack of technological proficiency.
sauconsource.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams targeting seniors aged 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses during 2023, with individual victims losing an average of $34,000, and incidents increased 11 percent year-over-year. To address this growing problem, Pennsylvania Rep. Jeanne McNeill's office is hosting a free Senior Scam Prevention Presentation on May 29 featuring Dave Shallcross from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office, who will provide guidance on avoiding scams and steps for victims. The event includes a question-and-answer session and is open to people of all ages.
au.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
An Australian businesswoman fell victim to a phishing text scam impersonating Coles supermarket, which lured her to a fake website by claiming her loyalty rewards points were expiring soon. The scam, which has been circulating for months and targeting multiple Australian loyalty programs (Coles, Qantas Frequent Flyer, and Telstra), is designed to steal personal information like passwords and banking details for fraudulent activities. Scamwatch received 209 reports of this scam in four months, with authorities warning Australians not to click links in unsolicited messages claiming to be from major retailers or loyalty programs.
kwbu.org
· 2025-12-08
Teresa Gingles, a geriatric physical therapist, founded the nonprofit Better At Last to address elder fraud, which disproportionately affects older Americans who lost an average of $33,000 per victim to scams in 2023. The organization is hosting a free "Protect Yourself!" conference on June 7 at the Waco Convention Center featuring 20+ speakers including fraud experts and law enforcement to educate seniors on protecting themselves against tech support scams, romance scams, investment fraud, and other schemes. The conference emphasizes community connections and trusted relationships as key defenses against elder fraud.
wlos.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article addresses the rising trend of financial scams targeting elderly people and emphasizes that knowledge and community vigilance are key defenses. It recommends that seniors protect themselves by exercising caution with unsolicited communications, utilizing security software, maintaining strong passwords, monitoring financial statements regularly, and reporting suspected fraud to the FTC and local authorities. The article also encourages families and communities to stay informed about common scams through trusted resources like the FBI and National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-FRAUD-11).
wsoctv.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, elder fraud cost North Carolina and South Carolina consumers approximately $100 million combined, with North Carolina seniors losing $63 million (averaging $32,000 per victim) and South Carolina seniors losing $35 million (averaging $27,000 per victim), according to analysis of FBI and FTC data by cybersecurity company VPNPro. Despite these significant losses, both states ranked better than at least half of the country in elder fraud victimization.
oodaloop.com
· 2025-12-08
Malachi Mullings, 31, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for laundering over $4.5 million through business email compromise and romance scams conducted between 2019 and June 2021. Mullings used 20 fraudulent bank accounts under the fake company name "The Mullings Group LLC" to process stolen funds from schemes targeting elderly individuals, healthcare benefit programs, and private companies.
mlive.com
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old Jackson, Michigan woman was barred by federal court order in May 2024 from participating in romance scams after repeatedly serving as a "money transmitter" for fraudsters while also being victimized herself. Holly Locke received packages of money from scam victims and forwarded them to fraudsters she met online, beginning with someone in Ghana in 2022 who claimed to need funds for an orphanage; despite being warned by postal inspectors and signing a cease-and-desist order, she resumed the activity in May 2023 with new scammers met on Facebook. The consent decree, approved by U.S. District Judge Paul D.
thewesterlysun.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly residents in Rhode Island are being targeted by scammers using phone calls, emails, and fake websites, with victims losing $2.24 million to cryptocurrency scams in 2023 alone. Scammers exploit the emotional vulnerability of seniors by impersonating authority figures or loved ones in distress, then directing victims to unregulated cryptocurrency ATMs with no transaction limits to convert cash into untraceable digital currency. Proposed legislation aims to protect residents by implementing daily transaction limits and mandatory warnings on crypto ATMs to prevent elderly victims from losing irretrievable funds to these increasingly sophisticated schemes.
pennwatch.org
· 2025-12-08
The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities hosted multiple educational presentations throughout June to help seniors and the public recognize and prevent financial fraud and elder abuse. Programs covered topics including elder financial abuse recognition, cybersecurity, identity theft prevention, and investment fraud awareness, with sessions delivered through interactive formats like Fraud BINGO in partnership with organizations such as AARP Pennsylvania and local libraries across the state.
fox43.com
· 2025-12-08
A Dauphin County resident was scammed out of $20,000 in a grandparent scam where they received a phone call claiming a family member was in legal trouble and needed money urgently. An older man posing as a "courier" later collected the cash from the resident's home, though the family member was confirmed to be in no actual legal trouble. Lower Swatara Township Police are seeking surveillance footage from the area and note this scam primarily targets senior citizens.
bc.ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to elder fraud research. It is a compilation of general British Columbia news headlines covering topics such as housing policy, immigration, wildlife disease testing, sports, crime, weather, and family immigration matters. None of the items described involve scams, fraud, or elder abuse.
latfusa.com
· 2025-12-08
California experienced over $624 million in losses to elderly fraud in 2022, affecting 11,517 victims aged 60 and over with an average loss of $54,225 per victim. Investment scams, business imposters, and romance scams were the most costly fraud types nationally, while seniors were particularly vulnerable to online fraud ($564 million in losses) and tech support scams (517% higher likelihood compared to the general population). Bank transfers and cryptocurrency were the primary payment methods exploited, accounting for $570 million and $288 million in losses respectively.
crestviewbulletin.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (observed around June 5) educates Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, families, and healthcare providers on protecting themselves from fraud, errors, and abuse through monitoring statements, protecting Medicare numbers, and reporting suspicious activity. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program offers free resources like My Health Care Trackers and educational support to help individuals detect and prevent Medicare fraud, which causes significant harm to both beneficiaries and the Medicare program.
chicagofed.org
· 2025-12-08
Financial scams targeting older adults are rising, and while seniors are not more likely to be scammed than younger people, they experience greater harm when victimized. The Chicago Federal Reserve convened experts who identified key vulnerabilities—including declining financial literacy masked by high confidence, social isolation, and emotional manipulation tactics used by scammers—and recommended strategies such as consulting trusted advisors, establishing power of attorney, recognizing urgency/secrecy red flags, and approaching victims with sensitivity to shame and resistance.
cbs58.com
· 2025-12-08
A financial expert highlighted that criminals steal over $28 billion annually from seniors, noting that scammers often target older Americans due to their substantial savings and that most thefts are committed by acquaintances including family or caregivers. Three key red flags to watch for are sudden unexplained banking habit changes, unexpected alterations to financial documents, and unnecessary services. Legislation such as the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act is being pursued to help reduce senior fraud.
insurancenewsnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week educates beneficiaries, caregivers, families, healthcare providers, and community members on protecting themselves and others from Medicare fraud, which costs the program an estimated amount annually. Key prevention strategies include monitoring Medicare statements for unauthorized services, safeguarding Medicare numbers, reviewing medical equipment shipments, and reporting suspicious activity to the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), which provides free resources and educational services to detect and report fraud, errors, and abuse. Individuals can contact the SMP at 1-800-963-5337 for questions and assistance with potential Medicare fraud concerns.
witl.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Michigan are using Venmo and other peer-to-peer payment apps to defraud users by "accidentally" sending stolen money and then requesting it back; when Venmo's fraud detection catches the transaction, the recipient's account is charged back, leaving them liable for the loss. Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel advises recipients not to return such funds but instead contact Venmo support directly, and warns residents to avoid other P2P scams including fake fraud department calls and fraudulent bank alerts requesting personal information like Social Security numbers.
riverreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
**World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) highlights a critical public health issue affecting approximately five million older adults annually in the United States, with financial fraud being the most prevalent form, causing victims an estimated $30 billion in losses per year.** The article emphasizes that elder abuse—which includes physical, emotional, neglect, and financial mistreatment—requires community-wide prevention through awareness training, technology safeguards (bank alerts, secure document storage), and strong social networks. Older adults are advised to be cautious of unsolicited contact requesting personal information or urgent payment via unusual methods, and reporting mechanisms are available through multiple agencies with anonymity protections.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Former Epsilon Data Management executives Robert Reger and David Lytle were convicted of conspiracy and mail/wire fraud for knowingly selling targeted consumer data lists to perpetrators of mass-mailing fraud schemes over a 10-year period. The defendants used Epsilon's algorithms to identify millions of consumers most vulnerable to fraud, including elderly people, and sold approximately 100 lists to fraudster clients who sent deceptive letters falsely promising cash prizes and wealth. The case demonstrates corporate accountability for facilitating consumer fraud through the misuse of personal data and targeting vulnerable populations.
washingtonexaminer.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania's aging population faces growing elder fraud risk, prompting Rep. Joe Hogan to introduce House Bill 2064, which would allow banks to flag suspicious transactions, delay potentially fraudulent payments, and share information with law enforcement and area agencies on aging. The National Council on Aging reported nearly 90,000 fraud complaints in 2022 totaling over $3 billion in losses nationally, with common scams including government impersonation, grandparent schemes, and romantic fraud targeting vulnerable seniors. The legislation aims to protect elders through financial institution safeguards, public education, and coordination between banks and protective services.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Medicare is a frequent target for criminal scammers, with the Senior Medicare Patrol reporting three prevalent scams in 2024: false billing for diabetes treatments and devices that were never received, offers of free products that are either never delivered or of poor quality, and fraudulent free genetic testing at health fairs used to obtain Medicare numbers. To protect themselves, beneficiaries should carefully review their monthly Medicare statements for unauthorized charges, never share their Medicare number with anyone except healthcare providers, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
azcentral.com
· 2025-12-08
According to an FTC report, scammers most frequently impersonate Best Buy's Geek Squad (52,000 reports in 2023), followed by Amazon, PayPal, Microsoft, and Publishers Clearing House, using methods including fraudulent emails, phone calls, and social media to pressure victims into urgent action. Microsoft impersonators caused the highest financial losses, exemplified by a Mesa resident who lost nearly her entire life savings after being directed to a fake support line and tricked into depositing $25,000 in Bitcoin. Consumers can protect themselves by recognizing red flags such as demands for cryptocurrency payments, pressure to act immediately, and unsolicited contact, and should verify company ident
katytimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Members Choice Credit Union released awareness tips for Older Americans Month highlighting common scams targeting seniors, including grandparent scams, intimidation scams impersonating authorities, text message scams, freebie scams, and romance scams. The organization provided prevention strategies for each scam type and recommended that family members monitor elderly relatives' financial activity, set up fraud alerts, encourage password changes, and utilize resources like AARP's elder fraud guidelines.
murrayledger.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans older than 60 reported over $3.4 billion in fraud losses across more than 100,000 complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, with losses increasing 11% from 2022. The most common scams targeting seniors include tech support and call center fraud ($1.3 billion in losses), phony investment schemes ($1.2 billion), and fake romance scams, with the particularly devastating "Phantom Hacker" scam draining victims of their life savings through multiple fraudulent personas. In Kentucky specifically, seniors reported $12.8 million in losses across 908 complaints, and the FBI notes that some victims have rem
ksdk.com
· 2025-12-08
A reformed Nigerian scammer named Chris Maxwell, who previously defrauded women of over $70,000 through romance scams, now works for an identity verification company exposing fraud networks to authorities. Missouri experienced approximately 58,250 impersonation scams in the first three months of the year resulting in millions in losses, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence to impersonate family members and government officials, often targeting older adults who may lose their life savings after multiple transactions. Experts recommend establishing trusted family contacts for verification, using reverse image search tools, insisting on video meetings before sending money, and reporting suspected scams to local law enforcement and the Missouri Attorney General's Office.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Three trending Medicare scams in 2024 include false billing for diabetes treatment and devices not received, fraudulent offers of free products that are cheap or never delivered, and fake genetic testing schemes at health fairs designed to steal Medicare numbers. Seniors are advised to scrutinize monthly Medicare statements, never share their Medicare number with unsolicited offers, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or the AARP Fraud Watch Network.