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in Government Impersonation
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, a 47-year-old man from Bessemer, Alabama, was sentenced to 50 months in prison for defrauding an elderly family member with dementia of $550,000 between September and December 2023. Pruitt executed a fraudulent Power of Attorney, became a joint account holder, altered beneficiaries, and transferred funds to his personal accounts without the victim's knowledge or permission. His sentence was enhanced due to perjury committed during his trial testimony.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Five defendants were sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and identity theft targeting elderly retired Florida school district employees' 401(k) retirement accounts between January and March 2022. The conspirators, including a retirement specialist with inside access to personal information, fraudulently withdrew approximately $1.1 million from 25 different accounts, some belonging to deceased individuals, with sentences ranging from 6 months to 87 months in federal prison. The scheme involved creating fake withdrawal forms, processing them through the company's system, and laundering the stolen funds through various bank accounts.
keyt.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired caregiver in Fresno, California discovered her identity had been stolen for a cryptocurrency investment scam on Facebook, where scammers posed as her offering "Expert Crypto Trader" services with falsified certificates. California has reported over 190,000 cases of alleged financial abuse against seniors from January 2022 to February 2025, with cryptocurrency, phishing, romance, and government impersonation scams being prevalent, particularly in Fresno and Madera counties. Experts recommend seniors avoid sending money to unknown individuals, verify claims through official sources, and report suspected fraud to the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.
oswegocountytoday.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, more than 4,300 older New Yorkers were defrauded, losing over $200 million, as older Americans nationwide lost $3.4 billion to scams. The Trump administration is attempting to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by firing approximately 90% of its staff, including nearly all employees of the Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans, which provides fraud education and counseling to seniors. This action threatens to leave vulnerable older adults without critical protections and resources, despite the CFPB having returned over $21 billion in compensation to Americans harmed by financial fraud since its creation.
hawaiibusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Hawai'i residents lost $61.6 million to fraud in 2024, with scams ranging from romance and cryptocurrency schemes to employment and ticket fraud. While younger people now fall victim to scams as frequently as older adults due to increased online activity and confidence with technology, older adults typically lose larger amounts of money per incident, with romance scams having the highest median loss at $6,099. Experts advise victims and potential targets to pause and step away from high-pressure situations to recognize scams, as fraudsters rely on creating urgency and emotional manipulation to bypass critical thinking.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns of sophisticated scams where fraudsters impersonate doctors, police, and bank officials using spoofed numbers and "smishing" texts, often targeting previous fraud victims through social media with promises of fund recovery. These schemes employ AI and deepfakes to appear legitimate, with scammers posing as recovery experts or FBI officials to steal personal information and money a second time. The article recommends staying calm when contacted by suspected scammers, avoiding unknown contact numbers, refusing remote access or software downloads, using strong antivirus protection, and considering personal information removal services as defensive measures.
asianjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Nevada officials warned seniors about rising SSA impersonation scams, following an FTC report showing Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, with adults aged 70 and older heavily targeted. Scammers use spoofed numbers and fear tactics—claiming suspended Social Security numbers or unpaid taxes—to extract personal information, with Filipino-American seniors particularly vulnerable due to language barriers and cultural factors. Authorities recommend hanging up on suspicious calls, never providing personal information unsolicited, and reporting incidents to the FTC or Nevada Attorney General's office, while community groups advocate for multilingual prevention resources.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
The Palm Springs Police Department is warning senior residents in the Coachella Valley about increasingly sophisticated online scams that target older adults through phone calls, emails, text messages, and QR codes to steal personal and financial information. The Joslyn Center in Palm Desert is combating the problem by offering weekly "Teach Tech" classes that educate seniors about common scams and how to identify warning signs, with the center seeking additional volunteers to expand the program and address a waiting list of interested seniors.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This article describes an educational event held by AARP Virginia that presented information about six types of scams targeting older adults, paired with wine tastings. The scams covered included cryptocurrency fraud (where victims are tricked into depositing cash at crypto ATMs), jury duty scams (imposter calls claiming arrest is imminent unless fines are paid), and romance scams, with volunteers providing recognition strategies and prevention advice for each.
mondaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Online scams using remote access software (such as AnyDesk and TeamViewer) have become increasingly sophisticated, with fraudsters posing as financial advisers or IT technicians to trick victims into granting device access, allowing them to steal funds, personal data, and banking credentials. These scams cause significant financial losses and serious long-term psychological consequences, including damage to credit ratings and erosion of trust. Criminals typically initiate contact via phone, email, or social media, impersonate trusted institutions, and once granted access, transfer funds to untraceable accounts, purchase cryptocurrencies, or manipulate online banking systems.
etvbharat.com
· 2025-12-08
Truecaller announced Scamfeed, a new in-app community feature that allows users to anonymously report and discuss scams in real-time, creating a crowdsourced early warning system against fraud. The platform enables users to share experiences with various scam types—including phishing, impersonation, dating scams, and financial fraud—and check if others have reported similar suspicious activity, helping users identify red flags and protect themselves and their networks.
psychologytoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in California's Bay Area are impersonating FasTrak, the state's electronic toll collection system, sending text messages claiming users owe small amounts (such as $3.95) with urgent warnings to pay or face penalties and links to fraudulent websites. The scams have become increasingly sophisticated, now featuring correct spelling, official logos, and convincing websites that mimic legitimate sites, making them difficult for consumers to identify. To protect themselves, recipients should verify messages directly through official FasTrak websites or customer service rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts.
guardian.ng
· 2025-12-08
Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, a 36-year-old Nigerian man, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for operating an international inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly victims of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming to be from a Spanish bank offering inheritance money, then requiring victims to pay fees and taxes upfront before receiving funds that never materialized. The investigation involved international collaboration between U.S. law enforcement agencies and authorities from Portugal, the UK, Spain, and Europol.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Billy Ray Thomas Jr., an assistant branch manager at Neches Federal Credit Union in Texas, pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy and was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison on April 29, 2025. Thomas conspired with another individual to fraudulently obtain loans for approximately 30 credit union members—including family and acquaintances—without their knowledge or consent, causing losses exceeding $1.3 million in documented restitution. Thomas was ordered to repay $1,363,825.18 to victims who either did not sign loan documents or unknowingly signed documents they did not understand while trusting Thomas in his position of authority.
kesq.com
· 2025-12-08
The Palm Springs Police Department is warning seniors in the Coachella Valley about increasingly sophisticated online scams targeting older adults through phone calls, emails, text messages, and QR codes to steal personal and financial information. The Joslyn Center in Palm Desert is combating these scams by offering weekly "Teach Tech" classes that educate seniors on how to identify and avoid common fraud tactics, and is seeking volunteers to expand these educational programs to meet growing demand.
hercampus.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is a first-person account from a college student describing her experience with a suspected fraudulent internship opportunity, not a completed elder fraud case. The student was recruited via LinkedIn by a marketing firm with vague credentials, red flags including a LinkedIn profile with no members and communication via text rather than email, and was invited to multiple interview rounds. While the article does not detail financial losses or confirm the scam was completed, it serves as a cautionary tale about job recruitment fraud targeting vulnerable populations—in this case, desperate job-seeking students rather than elders.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Barbara Trickle, 80, of Las Vegas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for operating a prize notice scam from 2012 to February 2018 that defrauded thousands of consumers, predominantly elderly, of over $15 million. Trickle and her co-conspirators mailed fraudulent notices claiming victims had won cash prizes and would receive them upon paying $20-$50 fees; victims instead received worthless reports or trinkets and were subsequently inundated with additional fraudulent mailings. The scheme was shut down following a U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigation and court order.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, a Nigerian national, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for leading a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming victims had inherited money from deceased overseas relatives and requesting upfront payments for delivery fees and taxes before the funds could be released. The defendants used a network of U.S.-based money mules to collect victim payments, with no victim ever receiving any actual inheritance funds.
presidentialprayerteam.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, consumers lost $470 million to text message scams—a fivefold increase from 2020—despite fewer overall scam reports being filed. The most prevalent scams involved fake package delivery notifications, fraudulent job offers requiring upfront payments, and impersonated bank fraud alerts, with perpetrators also using fake toll notices and "wrong number" schemes that escalated into romance or financial scams. The FTC recommends consumers avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts, verify messages through trusted contacts, and report suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) or through their messaging app's reporting features.
ktnv.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal Trade Commission data shows Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, with adults 70 and older reporting a median loss of $1,000. Seniors are increasingly targeted through phishing emails impersonating banks or the Social Security Administration to steal personal information and Social Security benefits, though many victims avoid reporting due to embarrassment. Officials recommend protecting yourself by monitoring bank statements, shredding documents with personal information, never sharing details via email or phone, and verifying any Social Security Administration communications directly.
coingeek.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. House lawmakers introduced the bipartisan GUARD Act on April 21 to combat "pig butchering" scams and financial fraud targeting older Americans, particularly through online and investment schemes. The legislation would equip federal, state, and local law enforcement with blockchain technology tools to trace and prosecute scammers, addressing a crisis in which Americans reported over $12.5 billion in fraud losses in 2024 (a 25% increase year-over-year), with older adults suffering disproportionately higher losses—including pig butchering schemes that accounted for 33.2% of digital asset scam revenue in 2024.
marieclaire.com.au
· 2025-12-08
**Online Romance Scam Leading to Drug Smuggling Conviction**
In January 2023, 58-year-old Donna Nelson, an Aboriginal community leader from Western Australia, was arrested at Tokyo customs after carrying two kilograms of methamphetamine in a suitcase she believed belonged to "Kelly," a man she had been in an online romantic relationship with for two years via a dating website. Nelson claims she fell victim to a calculated romance scam designed to lure her to Japan under false pretenses, but her legal defense was unsuccessful and she was sentenced to six years in prison in December 2024. Her five daughters are now fighting for her release, maintaining her innoc
hayspost.com
· 2025-12-08
Kyle fell victim to an impersonation scam when a fraudster posing as his bank's fraud department obtained his personal information (social security number and birthdate) by asking identity verification questions while simultaneously using those answers to attempt accessing Kyle's account. Golden Belt Bank's Chief Operations Officer recommends hanging up on unsolicited calls and calling your bank directly using a verified number, and warns of common red flags including pressure for immediate action, requests for secrecy, upfront payment demands, and hard-to-track payment methods like wire transfers or gift cards. Banks will never ask for full debit card numbers, PINs, or online passwords unless you initiate contact, and one-time passcodes shoul
wcpo.com
· 2025-12-08
A veterinarian in Deer Park, Ohio lost $2,000 to an elaborate jury duty scam in which a caller impersonated a Hamilton County Sheriff's Office official, claiming she had missed jury duty and owed a fine. The scammer isolated his victim by instructing her to use her mobile phone, visit Walmart, and use provided barcodes to transfer money from her debit card through the store's money services. Legitimate court summons arrive by mail, not phone calls, and red flags include demands for payment via retail stores, pressure to keep calls secret, and requests to move to personal devices.
kob.com
· 2025-12-08
A 67-year-old Albuquerque server lost her entire life savings of $32,000 in a phishing scam after receiving a fraudulent text claiming to be from Apple about unauthorized account activity. When she called the number provided, scammers convinced her that her bank account was compromised and persuaded her to withdraw all her money and transfer it to a newly-created Bitcoin account. Despite filing reports with police and the FBI, recovery efforts have been unsuccessful, and the victim advises others to verify suspicious messages with trusted contacts rather than calling numbers provided in unsolicited communications.
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
A Government Accountability Office study found that fragmented federal oversight and lack of coordination among 13+ agencies hampers efforts to combat scams that cost Americans "large sums" including entire life savings. The report identified massive underreporting—only 5-15% of victims report scams—and recommended 16 actions including establishing a government-wide strategy, universal definition, and comprehensive estimate of scam losses to improve consumer protection efforts.
levittownnow.com
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old Philadelphia woman nearly fell victim to a sophisticated tech support scam in which fraudsters impersonating Microsoft and her bank claimed she had been hacked and threatened arrest, attempting to manipulate her into withdrawing cash to purchase cryptocurrency. The scam exploited heightened emotions and urgency, tactics that have become more effective with AI advancement and access to personal data on the dark web. According to the FTC, Americans lost between $23.7 billion and $158.3 billion to financial scams in 2023-2024, with cryptocurrency transfers and digital payment methods making these crimes particularly difficult to trace and recover from.
paxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Hugo Travel owner Hien Duong lost approximately $284,000 after a fraudster contacted him via social media posing as a U.S. booking agent and purchased about 100 airline tickets to Vietnam using fake credit cards, which were later disputed with the airlines. The Regina-based travel agency was forced to pay kickback charges to multiple airlines, and a GoFundMe campaign was launched by another travel industry professional to help Duong recover some losses. Regina police are investigating the case, which authorities note is part of a broader pattern of business fraud targeting small enterprises.
timesandstar.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams increased 20% year-on-year in Q1 2025, with victims losing an average of £8,000, rising to £19,000 for those aged 61 and over. Scammers primarily operate through social media platforms and dating apps, building trust with victims over time before requesting money through manipulative emotional appeals. Barclays urges affected customers to report incidents to their banks and seek emotional support, while calling on tech companies to strengthen anti-scam measures on their platforms.
6abc.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate loved ones in emergency scams, with deepfakes becoming so advanced that even experts struggle to detect them. A Consumer Reports investigation found that four of six popular voice cloning apps lack meaningful safeguards to prevent unauthorized voice replication, and no federal laws currently prohibit this practice. Experts recommend protecting yourself by enabling two-factor authentication on financial accounts, being skeptical of unexpected calls or messages requesting personal information, and maintaining healthy skepticism of anything heard online.
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
Between December 2023 and February 2025, the FBI received over 100 reports of scammers impersonating the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) to target previous fraud victims with promises of fund recovery. The scammers use fake social media profiles, emails, phone calls, and messaging apps to gain access to victims' sensitive financial information, resulting in repeated victimization. The FBI advises that IC3 will never directly contact individuals through these channels, and people should never send money or share personal information with unknown contacts.
cyberscoop.com
· 2025-12-08
The bipartisan GUARD Act proposes to equip federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement with federal grant funding and advanced technological tools—including blockchain tracing capabilities—to investigate financial fraud schemes targeting elderly Americans. The legislation responds to a 46% surge in financial fraud complaints from people over 60 in 2024, which resulted in over $4.8 billion in losses, with particular concern about emerging scams like pig butchering and SMS phishing targeting toll road violations.
thedailyrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old Maryland resident sued Athena Bitcoin and Genesis Coin in February 2024, alleging the companies knowingly facilitate elder financial abuse by placing ATMs in senior-heavy neighborhoods, charging high fees, and failing to implement fraud-prevention measures. Reynolds lost $13,000 in a tech support scam where she was directed to deposit cash via an Athena ATM using a scammer's QR code. The lawsuit seeks class-action status for Maryland seniors and cites FTC data showing consumers lost over $110 million to Bitcoin ATM scams in 2023, a nearly tenfold increase since 2020.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
Indian national Hardik Jayantilal Patel, living illegally in the US, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for orchestrating a telemarketing scam that defrauded senior citizens of $3.2 million between March and November 2019. Patel and his network of "runners" impersonated US government officials, threatening victims with fake investigations and demanding cash payments, which the runners then collected and laundered. Patel was ordered to pay $3.2 million in restitution to 85 identified victims and faces removal from the country following his sentence.
willistonobserver.com
· 2025-12-08
This advice column addresses seniors' concerns about potential identity theft from government data access, recommending protective measures. The article explains that fraud alerts and credit freezes are free tools that can be placed on credit reports to prevent scammers from opening accounts in one's name, with credit freezes offering stronger protection than fraud alerts. Seniors are advised to contact the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to set up these protections, or alternatively monitor their credit reports regularly through AnnualCreditReport.com.
ktbs.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, over 859,000 Americans reported internet scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, resulting in $16.6 billion in losses—a 33% increase from the previous year. Investment scams caused the largest losses at $6.5 billion, while seniors aged 60+ lost $2.5 billion, with tech support scams being particularly devastating for this group at nearly $1 billion. The report emphasizes that awareness and caution—avoiding suspicious links, refusing remote access requests, and verifying urgent requests—are essential defenses against these schemes.
largsandmillportnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams increased 20% year-on-year in Q1 2025, with victims losing an average of £8,000 and those aged 61+ losing up to £19,000. Barclays warns that scammers primarily operate through social media and dating apps, manipulating victims into sending money by building trust and creating emotional scenarios like medical emergencies or travel costs. The bank emphasizes that victims should report scams to their bank and seek support from family and friends, and calls on tech companies to take greater action in preventing scammers from operating on their platforms.
fortune.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2011, a criminal gang hacked a Middle Eastern bank and used counterfeit debit cards to steal millions from ATMs worldwide, exemplifying card-based fraud that has become harder to execute due to advanced detection systems like Mastercard's Safety Net tool, which blocked $14.7 million in fraudulent transactions in 2023 alone. As card fraud has declined through AI-powered detection and data analysis, criminals have shifted tactics toward social engineering scams—including romance and investment fraud—which exploit emotional trust and are difficult to prevent, though tracking suspicious account transfer patterns offers some defensive opportunities. The ongoing evolution of fraud tactics demonstrates a persistent cat-and-mouse dynamic between scammers and financial
mustsharenews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 20-year-old Singaporean TikToker was scammed out of approximately $5,000 (S$4,977) by someone impersonating her boss via phone call, exploiting her role as a personal assistant who regularly handled money transfers. Despite lodging a police report within 20 minutes, she has little chance of recovery as banks cannot force scammers to return funds without their approval. The case highlights the rising trend of impersonation scams in Singapore, where S$7.2 million was lost to such scams in just the first two months of the year.
oig.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Hardik Jayantilal Patel, 37, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for leading a money laundering operation that supported an international telemarketing fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans from March through November 2019. Operating from Kentucky, Patel coordinated with "runners" who picked up hundreds of cash-filled packages mailed by victims across multiple states after scammers impersonating government officials convinced them they were under investigation; Patel and his conspirators caused significant harm to 85 identified victims, with Patel ordered to pay $3,203,478 in restitution. The case involved seven total defendants sentenced, with co-conspirators receiving
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Antonio Jackson Jr., a 39-year-old from Manvel, Texas, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for multiple fraud schemes that defrauded victims of approximately $1,974,145.63 in total restitution ordered. Jackson exploited his military veteran status to perpetrate four Paycheck Protection Program loan frauds (resulting in ~$480,000 in losses), home improvement loan scams against a federal credit union, false VA-backed loan statements, and fraudulent disabled veteran property tax relief claims, using fabricated documents, forged government seals, and fake business records throughout his criminal conduct.
abccolumbia.com
· 2025-12-08
South Carolina seniors over 60 were disproportionately targeted by cybercriminals in 2024, with 2,295 victims losing over $58.5 million according to the FBI's Internet Crime Report—accounting for more than a third of the state's total $146 million in reported cyber losses. The most costly scams targeting seniors included tech support scams, government impersonation schemes, and investment fraud, each resulting in nearly $10 million in losses, while confidence/romance scams accounted for approximately $3 million. Business email compromises and investment fraud were among the most prevalent cyber crimes statewide, with losses totaling $40.8 million and $
wtop.com
· 2025-12-08
Prince George's County police reported approximately $1 million in scams from county residents in a single year, with recent arrests including a case where a victim lost $700,000 and another who lost $40,000 after being deceived by pop-up warnings and impersonators claiming to be from Microsoft, banks, and federal agencies. The scammers used phony employee numbers and convincing rhetoric to build trust, isolating victims by instructing them not to discuss the situation or search for information about scams. Police advise victims to recognize red flags—unsolicited requests for money, passwords, or personal information, and manufactured urgency—and to verify claims by contacting banks directly or calling law
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
**Gold Bar Scam**
Scammers impersonating government officials convince senior citizens to withdraw their life savings and purchase gold bars, then pose as couriers to steal the gold and disappear. The FBI reported victims lost $219 million to gold bar scams in 2024, with increasing incidents reported in 2025, as record-high gold prices and gold's reputation as a trustworthy investment make it an attractive target for criminals who exploit the difficulty of tracing the precious metal.
nbcmiami.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI in Miami warned of an increase in phone scams targeting South Florida residents in which callers impersonate federal officers and demand victims wire or mail money for fake "settlements" or law enforcement investigations. In 2024, Florida residents reported 1,579 impersonation scams resulting in over $12 million in losses; the FBI advises recipients to hang up immediately and report such calls to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
home.barclays
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams increased 20 percent in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024, with the majority originating on social media and dating platforms. Victims aged 61 or older were particularly vulnerable, losing an average of £19,000 per scam in 2024, more than triple the overall average of £8,000. Scammers typically build trust quickly before requesting money through fake emergencies, travel costs, or medical expenses, often using emotional manipulation and artificial intelligence to impersonate celebrities or create false urgency.
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide explores the intersection of fraud and mental health, examining how the prevalence of scams—which cost Americans over $12 billion in 2024—creates psychological stress and constant vigilance in daily life. The article discusses how exposure to fraud, whether direct or indirect, can lead to anxiety, distrust, and destabilizing uncertainty, particularly as scammers increasingly use deceptive text messages, emails, and phone calls to target victims through romance scams, impersonation schemes, and fake job offers. The piece emphasizes the importance of protecting one's digital identity and provides strategies for managing the mental health impacts of living in an environment where fraudulent threats are pervasive and often difficult to distinguish
cybersecuritydive.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Complaint Center report found that Americans lost $16.6 billion to cyber fraud and internet crimes, a 33% increase from 2023, with investment scams causing the most financial damage at $6.6 billion despite being only the fifth most commonly reported crime type. Phishing, spoofing, and extortion generated the most complaints, while business email compromise (BEC) and other persuasion-based scams proved most costly, indicating that social engineering exploits cause greater financial harm than technical vulnerabilities.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP's Fraud Watch Network provides comprehensive support for fraud victims, recognizing that scams cause both financial and emotional harm including shame and isolation. The organization offers a helpline (877-908-3360) with trained fraud specialists, plus free peer-facilitated support groups called ReST (Resilience, Strength, and Time) where victims can connect with others and receive emotional guidance to aid recovery.
queenannenews.com
· 2025-12-08
This advice column addresses seniors' concerns about potential identity theft from government data access by recommending protective measures. The writer explains two primary defenses: fraud alerts (which flag accounts for extra verification) and credit freezes (which prevent new accounts from being opened without authorization), both of which are free and don't affect credit scores. The column provides contact information for the three major credit bureaus and suggests that seniors can also monitor their credit through free weekly reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.