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in Scam Awareness
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A Canadian man, Patrice Runner, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for operating a psychic mass-mailing fraud scheme that defrauded over 1.3 million victims—primarily elderly and vulnerable Americans—of more than $175 million between 1994 and 2014. The scheme involved sending fraudulent letters falsely attributed to psychics Maria Duval and Patrick Guerin, promising wealth and happiness in exchange for fees, then bombarding victims who paid with dozens of follow-up letters requesting additional payments. Runner, who operated through shell companies in Canada and Hong Kong while living in multiple countries, was extradited from Spain in 2020 to face federal charges of mail
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office in North Carolina warned the public about IRS imposter scams and other financial fraud schemes targeting older adults, particularly around Tax Day. According to the FBI's 2023 Internet Crimes Report, individuals 60 and older filed 101,068 complaints and sustained $3.4 billion in losses, with tech support scams, government impersonation, phishing, romance scams, and non-delivery schemes being the most common schemes. Federal prosecutors used an interactive "Fraud Bingo" educational tool at a senior center to help older adults, caregivers, and community workers recognize fraud tactics and report suspicious activity to help recover stolen funds and identify emerging
chicagotribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are impersonating U.S. Marshals, judges, and police officers in phone scams targeting the elderly and others, claiming their identities have been stolen and bank accounts hacked, then convincing victims to withdraw money and place it on gift cards. The scammers use fake badge numbers and caller ID spoofing to appear legitimate, with some victims losing tens of thousands of dollars; the U.S. Marshals Service urges recipients to report such calls to the FBI and FTC, noting that legitimate agencies never request money over the phone.
vermilioncountyfirst.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Troy Balderson (R-OH) introduced the Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act, bipartisan legislation directing the Federal Trade Commission to issue a comprehensive report on senior-targeted scams, their frequency, and policy recommendations to help older adults avoid them. The bill also directs the FTC to update its consumer portal with searchable scam information by region and coordinate with media and law enforcement to distribute awareness materials to seniors and caregivers, with the goal of preventing seniors from losing their life savings to fraudulent schemes.
cnhi.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes programming and social activities at the 127 Senior Center in Crossville, highlighting their Friday morning gatherings that include bingo, meetings, and entertainment. Members Linda Kondrach and Lynda Ennis raised awareness about common scams targeting seniors, specifically warning about fraudulent computer messages and telephone scams where callers record victims saying "yes." The center also hosts weekly Thursday evening live music events open to the community.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, over 374,000 fraud cases were reported to the UK's Cifas National Fraud Database, with identity theft comprising 64% of incidents (237,000+ cases) and criminals increasingly using AI, deepfakes, and social engineering tactics to steal consumer details and compromise bank accounts. Cifas members prevented £1.8 billion in fraud losses, but warned that economic pressures and account takeover attempts—including sophisticated voice spoofing for security questions—represent growing threats to consumers across banking, finance, insurance, and retail sectors.
govtech.com
· 2025-12-08
Law enforcement arrests alone are insufficient to combat ransomware; a multi-pronged approach targeting various ecosystem vulnerabilities—including cryptocurrency wallets, initial access tools like Qakbot, and criminal infrastructure—is more effective. Defenders should address basic security gaps and be aware that many successful ransomware attacks use decades-old techniques rather than sophisticated methods, while youth perpetrators in communities like "The Com" often employ social engineering tactics targeting specific employees on LinkedIn. Experts recommend early intervention and legitimate opportunities (such as bug bounty programs) to redirect tech-savvy individuals away from criminal activity rather than relying solely on arrests and imprisonment.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly Chase customer's account was compromised, with over $1,000 fraudulently transferred via Zelle to someone using the name "Adam," which Chase initially refused to refund despite the customer being an account holder for over 30 years. After media intervention, Chase reversed its decision and credited the victim $1,094 to her account. The article notes that one in five older Americans falls victim to financial exploitation, losing an average of $120,303, and provides recommendations for protecting seniors including disabling Zelle, monitoring accounts, and never giving remote device access to unknown parties.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A Texas man, Oluseun Martins Omole, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for operating a scheme that defrauded thousands of U.S. victims of over $12 million in consumer electronics between February 2018 and March 2023. Working with a Nigerian-based criminal enterprise, Omole received fraudulently obtained goods through romance scams, fake online marketplace listings, and employment scams, then repackaged and shipped them overseas while earning hundreds of thousands in fees. He faces up to 20 years in prison and has agreed to pay restitution and asset forfeiture as part of his plea agreement.
abcactionnews.com
· 2025-12-08
SunPass and the FBI warned drivers about a phishing scam using text messages claiming unpaid toll fees and directing recipients to fraudulent websites to steal personal information. The FBI received over 2,000 complaints about these "smishing" texts, which contain nearly identical language and urge immediate payment to avoid fees. Consumers are advised to verify account status through official websites, contact customer service directly, and file complaints with the IC3 if they receive such messages.
cpr.org
· 2025-12-08
Internet scammers targeted over 10,000 Coloradans in the past year, stealing $187.6 million, with investment fraud, business email compromise, and tech support scams causing the largest losses statewide. People 60 and older were the most victimized group and suffered the greatest financial losses, while tech support scams and extortion schemes saw notable increases; nationally, phishing, personal data breaches, and cryptocurrency investment fraud (up 50% in losses) emerged as significant threats.
news.azpm.org
· 2025-12-08
Kitboga, a computer engineer-turned-Twitch streamer with 1.2 million followers, is a prominent "scam baiter" who poses as vulnerable individuals to waste scammers' time and expose their tactics through livestreamed videos. Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to internet crimes in the past year (a 22% increase from the previous year), yet law enforcement lacks resources to investigate most cases; Kitboga aims to reduce actual victims by keeping fraudsters occupied while educating viewers about common scams like tech support fraud, romance scams, and pig butchering schemes. He was inspired to start scam baiting in 2017 after
ocnjdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Scamwatch reported that almost $500 million was lost to scams in 2023, with paid survey scams being a particularly common employment fraud targeting job seekers. The article identifies four prevalent paid survey scam methods: stealing personal data through fake platforms, requiring upfront payments to register or access "premium" surveys, requesting payment card details, and creating unrealistic earnings expectations to exploit vulnerable people seeking income. Legitimate survey platforms never charge fees and only request basic demographic information, not personally identifiable information like social security numbers.
wimsradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Marshals Service and FBI are alerting the public to widespread imposter scams in which callers falsely claim to be law enforcement officials, telling victims their identities have been stolen and instructing them to withdraw cash and purchase gift cards—tactics that are entirely fraudulent. The Marshals Service has received daily inquiries from victims nationwide who have lost tens of thousands of dollars, and emphasizes that it never requests money, financial information, or monetary instruments by phone. Victims are urged to report suspected scams to the FBI and Federal Trade Commission, or contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311.
classaction.org
· 2025-12-08
A class action lawsuit filed in South Carolina in April 2024 alleges that Bitcoin Depot and Circle K Stores knowingly failed to implement adequate safeguards against cryptocurrency ATM scams targeting elderly consumers, despite awareness that their machines are commonly used to facilitate elder fraud and money laundering. The defendants allegedly maintained minimal anti-fraud measures because they profit substantially from charging inflated markups on Bitcoin transactions, with the FTC reporting over 46,000 cryptocurrency scam victims losing more than $1 billion between January 2021 and June 2022, primarily through Bitcoin.
newstopicnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office issued a warning about IRS imposter scams and other financial fraud schemes disproportionately targeting older adults, which cause substantial monetary losses and emotional distress. According to the FBI's 2023 Internet Crimes Report, individuals aged 60 and above filed 101,068 complaints and sustained $3.4 billion in losses, with tech support scams, government impersonation, romance scams, and non-delivery schemes being the most common schemes. Federal prosecutors conducted educational "Fraud Bingo" sessions at senior centers to help older adults recognize scam tactics and encourage fraud reporting to authorities.
iredellfreenews.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina is warning residents about IRS imposter scams and other fraud schemes that disproportionately target older adults, with the FBI's 2023 Internet Crimes Report noting that individuals 60 and above filed 101,068 complaints and sustained $3.4 billion in losses—the highest among all age groups. Common scams include government impersonation (IRS, SSA, sheriff's office), tech support scams, romance scams, grandparent scams, and non-delivery schemes, with authorities emphasizing that reporting fraud helps recover stolen funds and identify emerging criminal trends.
independent.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
An 81-year-old Ohio man, William Brock, fatally shot Uber driver Loletha Hall, 61, in March 2024 after falling victim to a bail scam where scammers falsely claimed his relative was in jail and demanded cash. Hall, an innocent victim herself, had been directed through the Uber app to pick up a package at Brock's home as part of the same scam operation; when she arrived, Brock confronted her at gunpoint and shot her multiple times as she attempted to flee. Brock was charged with murder, felonious assault, and kidnapping, while the actual scammers who orchest
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
A Senate report reveals that retirees across multiple states have been targeted by scams resulting in both significant financial losses and substantial IRS tax bills, with victims unable to deduct theft losses under current tax law. The report profiles cases such as a Pennsylvania retiree who lost $765,000 to a cryptocurrency scam and subsequently faced a $220,000 tax bill, highlighting how the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act narrowed the theft loss deduction for individuals to only federally declared disasters. Senator Bob Casey calls for reversing these tax limitations to protect fraud victims from bearing additional tax burdens on their stolen retirement savings.
twistedsifter.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman named Marley fell victim to a jury duty scam when she received a phone call from someone claiming to be from the Sheriff's Department, informing her of missed jury duty and two $375 fines with an arrest warrant pending. Believing the caller had legitimate information about her case, Marley paid the demanded amount before discovering the entire interaction was a scam. The scammer used a prepared script with accurate details to appear credible and exploited Marley's fear of arrest to pressure immediate payment.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
An 81-year-old Ohio man was charged with murder after shooting and killing Uber driver Loletha Hall, 61, on March 25, believing she was working with scammers who had called him claiming to be court officials demanding money for a supposed arrested family member. The scammer had actually ordered the Uber to pick up money from Brock's home, making both Brock and Hall unwitting victims of the same fraud scheme; Brock shot Hall three times when she arrived, and she died from her injuries. Brock was indicted on three counts of murder, felonious assault, and kidnapping, facing up to life in prison with a minimum of 15
dispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
**Student Loan Debt Relief Scams**
Scammers are exploiting confusion around the Biden administration's student loan forgiveness program (which has canceled $153 billion for 4.3 million borrowers) to defraud unsuspecting borrowers. Four red flags indicate a student loan relief scam: requiring upfront or monthly fees, promising immediate loan forgiveness, requesting FSA ID/passwords, and pressuring victims to act quickly based on false urgency. Victims should report fraudulent contacts to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Inspector General Fraud Hotline, as legitimate loan forgiveness is only available through official government channels.
wyff4.com
· 2025-12-08
A mother in Dacusville, South Carolina, received threatening texts and videos from scammers after losing her iPhone, with messages containing personal information about her family and demands to disable tracking on her old device or face physical harm and threats to sell her data on the black market. Upon investigation, she discovered multiple victims had reported similar scam messages online. The victim is warning others, particularly elderly individuals, to be aware of this threatening video and text-based scam targeting iPhone users.
which.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
An Age UK survey found that nearly 4.9 million people over 50 fear answering the phone due to scam risks, with 2.8 million also anxious about opening their doors, leading some to withdraw from society by avoiding the internet, smartphones, or going outside. Analysis of ONS data indicates approximately four people over 50 are scammed every minute, with older adults particularly vulnerable to doorstep scams (90% of victims aged 65+), postal scams (average victim age 75), and phone scams involving impersonation and number spoofing technology. Age UK recommends five prevention steps: stop and avoid on-the-spot decisions, check credentials,
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using caller ID spoofing to impersonate Medicare, Social Security, and doctors' offices in order to steal seniors' personal and medical identity information. The New York StateWide Senior Action Council highlighted this as its April Medicare Fraud of the Month, recommending seniors hang up on unexpected calls, verify caller identity through trusted numbers, never share personal information with unsolicited callers, and regularly review Medicare statements for suspicious claims. Medicare fraud costs taxpayers over $60 billion nationally per year.
moneysense.ca
· 2025-12-08
Young Canadians aged 18-34 are increasingly targeted by phishing scams, with nearly one-third falling victim despite being digitally native. Common schemes include fake boss emails requesting gift card purchases, fake delivery notifications from online shopping, employment scams offering unpaid gig work, and romance scams involving coerced intimate photos, with fraudsters contacting victims via email/text (74%), phone calls (64%), social media (43%), and online dating apps (10%). Cybersecurity experts recommend vigilance against authority figures requesting unusual favors and caution when sharing personal information in response to unsolicited messages.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Quebec police reported that nearly 37,000 Quebecers fell victim to fraud schemes, representing a 15 percent increase since 2021, with credit card, computer, identity theft, grandparent, and romance scams being the most common types. The Mauricie region experienced the steepest rise at 64 percent over two years, while Montreal had the highest total number of cases, though police acknowledged the true figures are likely higher due to underreporting. Police chiefs emphasized the importance of public reporting and awareness to combat the growing fraud problem.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Nearly 37,000 Quebecers reported fraud in 2023, representing a 15 percent increase since 2021, with credit card fraud, computer scams, identity theft, grandparent scams, and romance scams being the most common types. The Mauricie region experienced the steepest increase at 64 percent over two years, while Montreal had the highest total number of cases, though police emphasized that actual fraud rates are likely higher due to significant underreporting by victims.
wsiu.org
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational piece about hiring contractors for spring home improvement projects. The article advises homeowners to carefully select trustworthy contractors and references guidance from the Better Business Bureau's regional director on vetting contractors. No specific scam or fraud case is described.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, nearly 37,000 Quebecers reported fraud, representing a 15 percent increase since 2021, according to the Association of Quebec Police Chiefs. The most prevalent scams involved credit cards, computers, identity theft, "grandparent" scams, and romance scams, with the Mauricie region experiencing a 64 percent surge in cases. Police acknowledged that reported fraud likely represents only a portion of actual cases and urged victims to report incidents to help combat the growing problem.
news-journalonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Florida ranks fourth among the most dangerous U.S. states for online dating according to a Privacy Journal study analyzing romance scams, identity theft, fraud, and other risk factors across 100 cities. The research identified common romance scam patterns including persistent money requests, excuses to avoid meeting, elaborate backstories, secrecy, and false urgency—tactics scammers use to exploit victims seeking romantic connections online.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
Over $300 million was lost last year to IRS impersonation scams, in which fraudsters use spoofing technology to spoof caller IDs and threaten victims with arrest to pressure them into sending money via gift cards or revealing personal information. The IRS rarely initiates contact by phone—it communicates through mailed letters—so recipients should hang up on such calls and be cautious of phishing emails claiming to be from the IRS or tax software companies. The best defense is to avoid clicking links in suspicious emails and to contact the IRS directly through www.IRS.gov if questions arise.
wrdw.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax impersonation scams cost Americans over $300 million last year, with thousands of victims receiving threatening phone calls from individuals posing as IRS agents who use spoofing technology and demand immediate payment via gift cards or personal information. The IRS rarely initiates contact by phone and instead communicates through mailed or certified letters, making unsolicited calls a clear indicator of fraud. To protect yourself, hang up on suspicious calls, avoid clicking links in suspicious emails, and contact the IRS directly through www.IRS.gov if you have concerns about your account.
nbcdfw.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI has received over 2,000 complaints since March 2024 from at least three states about smishing scams impersonating toll collection services, with fraudsters sending text messages claiming recipients owe unpaid tolls of around $12.51 and directing them to fake websites to steal personal and financial information. The agency advises recipients to verify toll amounts through official websites, file complaints with the Internet Crime Complaint Center, and secure their financial accounts if they clicked any links or provided information.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 600 Lloyds Bank customers lost more than £1 million total to Taylor Swift ticket scams ahead of her 15 sold-out UK Eras Tour shows starting in June, with an average loss of £332 per victim. The fraud cases, which constitute significantly more scams than for any other music artist, predominantly originated from fake advertisements and posts on Facebook and social media, where scammers posed as ticket sellers requiring bank transfers for non-existent tickets. Lloyds Bank estimates that across the UK, at least 3,000 victims have been defrauded since tickets went on sale, and advises fans to purchase only through official resale platforms like
wbez.org
· 2025-12-08
Older adults collectively lose $28.3 billion annually to scams and financial exploitation, with particularly severe consequences since retired individuals cannot recoup these losses. Victims often fail to report fraud due to embarrassment or, in cases of abuse by trusted individuals, fear of damaging relationships or involving the criminal justice system. The article provides practical prevention strategies including using caller ID, avoiding pressure to act quickly on financial requests, verifying sender identity before clicking links, consulting with lawyers or financial advisors, and reporting suspected exploitation to banks or Adult Protective Services.
banking.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Senators Brown and Reed urged the CEOs of JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citi to strengthen protections against wire fraud and provide data on fraudulent transactions at their institutions. Wire fraud causes significant financial harm to consumers—often wiping out savings during major purchases—and consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with bank transfers being the most common fraud payment method. The senators called on banks to improve fraud prevention, monitor unauthorized transactions more proactively, and reimburse customers when they fail to prevent fraud.
thetomahawk.com
· 2025-12-08
The Johnson County Senior Center hosted a presentation on property fraud awareness, highlighting that Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023, with imposter scams accounting for $2.7 billion of that total. Seller impersonation schemes—where scammers create fake deeds to sell property they don't own—were recognized as the "Scam of the Year" and have been reported across the U.S., including in nearby Nashville, Tennessee. The senior center aims to educate and protect its members by providing fraud resources and regularly hosting informational presentations on scams and other elder-related services.
9to5mac.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics involving face-swap technology to conduct convincing live video calls with victims, employing setups with dual phones or laptop-based deepfake software to impersonate their fabricated identities. These "Yahoo Boys" scammers use the video calls to build trust before requesting money for fake emergencies, with the technology becoming so advanced that victims may see convincing alterations to facial features, skin tone, hair, and voice. Protection involves remaining cautious on dating apps, immediately suspecting anyone requesting money, and avoiding social media apps that request face photos, as this data is used to train face-swap technology.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Sanda G. Frimpong, a 33-year-old active-duty Army servicemember stationed at Fort Bragg, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars from romance scams. Frimpong and co-conspirators impersonated romantic interests, military personnel, diplomats, and other personas to defraud victims—including seniors and military veterans—before funneling the illicit proceeds through his bank accounts across state lines and contacts in Ghana. He was ordered to pay substantial restitution to the victims of these elaborate fraud schemes.
shu.edu
· 2025-12-08
Job scams targeting the Seton Hall community are on the rise, with fraudsters impersonating legitimate employers or university staff to lure job seekers into revealing personal and banking information through fake job offers that appear too good to be true. Victims are typically asked to deposit counterfeit checks and transfer funds, risking financial losses and potential legal consequences for facilitating criminal activity. The university recommends verifying sender information through official channels, avoiding unsolicited job offers, and reporting suspicious messages to IT Security.
coastalbreezenews.com
· 2025-12-08
Since April 4, 2024, Collier County residents reported nine phone scams in which fraudsters impersonated law enforcement and court officials, claiming victims had failed jury duty, had arrest warrants, or owed traffic fines, and demanded $500 to $10,000 via cash or electronic payment apps. Two victims lost money ($1,800 and $3,500 respectively), while a third's attempted $10,000 withdrawal was stopped by a bank employee; scammers used spoofed caller IDs, blocked numbers, and real employee names and badge numbers to appear legitimate. Residents are advised to avoid answering unknown numbers, never provide financial information to strangers
kvue.com
· 2025-12-08
Drivers across Texas received fraudulent text messages claiming unpaid toll road balances with threats of escalating late fees, directing recipients to fake websites impersonating legitimate toll services like TxTag or the Central Texas Mobility Authority. The FBI identified these "smishing" messages as social engineering scams designed to steal personal information and money, and advised recipients to avoid clicking links, file complaints with the Internet Crime Complaint Center, monitor accounts, and contact actual toll services directly to verify legitimacy.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lose millions of dollars annually to wire transfer fraud scams, with the Senate Banking Committee reporting over $10 billion in consumer fraud losses in 2023. The committee is pressing JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo to provide reimbursement and strengthen security measures, though banks argue they are generally exempt from reimbursing wire transfer losses under the Electronic Funds Transfer Act. Individual victims profiled—including Jennifer Davis ($25,000), Andrew Semesjuk ($15,000), and Nikki Kelly ($48,000)—reported being denied reimbursement by Chase despite being deceived into authorizing the transfers.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Zelle, a peer-to-peer payment service owned by major U.S. banks and launched in 2017, has experienced hundreds of millions of dollars in consumer losses due to fraud since its inception. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit against Early Warning Services (Zelle's operator) in December alleging the platform failed to safeguard against fraud, with scammers exploiting the service's instant, irreversible transfers and minimal verification requirements through social engineering tactics like phishing and impersonation of banks and utilities. Protection strategies include avoiding responses to unsolicited messages and verifying requests independently by calling official bank numbers.
frontiersman.com
· 2025-12-08
Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska Bureau of Investigations warned residents of two active scams operating statewide: a "Cash for Gold" scheme where perpetrators offer to exchange counterfeit jewelry for cash under the pretense of replacing lost IDs or fixing vehicles, and a "Violin" scam (details not fully specified in excerpt). The Cash for Gold scam has resulted in several confrontational and physical incidents with victims.
nhbr.com
· 2025-12-08
Gift card draining—a scam where fraudsters obtain card codes from retail displays, reseal the packaging, and drain the balance once consumers load money—resulted in $217 million in losses in 2023 as part of a broader $10 billion fraud crisis. States including New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island have enacted laws requiring retailer warnings and employee training, while Maryland recently approved legislation mandating secure packaging to conceal activation information, though retailers and manufacturers have resisted such regulations.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Sir Maejor Page, 35, of Toledo, was convicted of wire fraud and money laundering after creating a fraudulent Facebook-based charity called "Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta" and soliciting donations under false pretenses. Page used donor contributions—intended for social justice causes—to purchase personal items including a house and furniture, even after the organization's tax-exempt status was dissolved in 2019. The jury found him guilty following a six-day trial, though sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old Carlsbad retiree was defrauded of $1.335 million over several months by a multinational scam operation that began with a fake pop-up warning about a hacked computer. The scammers, posing as tech support, bank, and government employees, manipulated the victim into purchasing Bitcoin and gold bars under the false premise of securing her assets, with perpetrator Xilin Sun arrested in February 2024 during a controlled FBI delivery attempt when he was caught receiving a package meant to contain $100,000 in gold.
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial institutions reported approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity related to elder financial exploitation between 2022 and 2023, according to FinCEN's analysis of Bank Secrecy Act reports. The majority of cases involved elder scams with unknown perpetrators (80% of reported activity), particularly account takeovers using unsophisticated methods like password guessing, while elder theft by known perpetrators—most frequently adult children—comprised the remainder. Banks filed 72% of all elder exploitation-related reports, demonstrating their critical role in identifying and preventing such financial abuse.