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I don't see a full article text in your submission—only a title and a news section header. To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the actual content of the "How to avoid romance scams, on Playing It Safe" article. Could you please provide the complete article text so I can summarize the key advice or findings about romance scam prevention?

A reshipping scam targeting job seekers has resurged, where applicants believe they are hired for remote "warehouse distribution coordinator" positions with attractive salaries ($3,000+) and minimal hours, but are instead asked to share personal information (Social Security cards, driver's licenses) and unknowingly repackage and ship items purchased with stolen credit cards and banking information. The scam provides no actual paychecks while victims become complicit in moving illegally obtained goods, with employment scams ranking second in BBB Scam Tracker reports for 2024. Red flags include requests for personal/financial information, email-only interviews, unrealistic pay-to-work ratios, and the

Deputy Tara Hardin from the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office discusses the rising threat of romance scams and emphasizes the need for increased vigilance as scammers employ increasingly sophisticated tactics. The segment provides prevention strategies to help people protect themselves from this growing type of fraud.

This is an educational podcast episode featuring cybersecurity expert Steve Weisman discussing scam prevention and identification strategies. The episode covers various scam types (including VA imposter and "free piano" scams), the role of AI in modern fraud schemes, and protective measures such as a "zero trust" verification approach where all transactions—particularly checks—must be independently confirmed before trusting them.

Representatives Zach Nunn (R-IA) and Jim Himes (D-CN) introduced the bipartisan TRAPS Act to combat rising payment scams affecting Americans, particularly seniors, by establishing a coordinated federal task force involving law enforcement, regulators, and industry partners. Iowa residents lost over $52 million to scams in the past year across schemes including fake investments and romance cons, with the U.S. experiencing a 25% increase in fraud in 2024, prompting support from credit unions and military advocacy groups who note the scams disproportionately affect senior veterans and active-duty families.

Iowa seniors, particularly those relying on landlines, face persistent scam calls with 85% of landline calls classified as spam or unwanted. According to the FBI's 2022 Elder Fraud Report, 557 seniors over 60 in Iowa lost an average of $500 or more to scams, totaling over $12 million in losses statewide, with common tactics including impersonation calls requesting bank details. The author advocates for increased state and local resources to educate and protect Iowa's approximately 500,000 seniors who still use landlines.

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin issued a warning about romance scams, which are among the most frequently reported scams to their office. Scammers initiate contact via social media (Facebook/Instagram), move conversations to private messaging apps, quickly build romantic relationships through "love bombing," and request money from victims they've never met in person, often using AI-generated fake photos to appear legitimate. The article advises people to be cautious of online relationships and never send money to people they haven't met face-to-face.

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin issued a warning about romance scams, one of the most frequently reported scam types in the area. Scammers initiate contact via social media (Facebook or Instagram), move conversations to private messaging apps, quickly build romantic relationships through love-bombing, and request money from victims who have never met them in person, often using AI-generated fake photos to appear legitimate.

Iowa seniors face a significant threat from scam calls, with 85% of landline calls now classified as spam or unwanted, targeting the approximately 500,000 seniors in the state who rely on landlines. According to the FBI's 2022 Elder Fraud Report, 557 seniors over 60 in Iowa lost an average of $500 or more to scams, totaling over $12 million in losses statewide. The author calls for state and local authorities to develop comprehensive educational programs and anti-fraud resources to protect vulnerable seniors from increasingly sophisticated schemes.

A real estate agent in Iowa was nearly defrauded in a vacant land scam in which scammers impersonated a property owner to solicit fraudulent sale of a $200,000 lot. The scammers contacted the agent via phone, email, and text, creating a convincing narrative that matched public records, though the agent ultimately discovered the deception before completing the transaction. The agent emphasized that vacant land is particularly vulnerable to such scams due to fewer safeguards and transfer requirements compared to residential properties, and is working to raise awareness among colleagues about the need for strict verification procedures when confirming seller identity.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird warned seniors about common scams ahead of National Senior Citizens Day, including impostor schemes where scammers pose as family members or falsely claim victims are involved in crimes requiring payment. The article highlights a case where victim Lynne Caltrider was scammed out of a considerable amount of money directed to a cryptocurrency ATM, though authorities recovered a portion and arrested individuals involved; Caltrider received recognition for sharing her story to help law enforcement. The attorney general urges older Iowans to remain cautious, recognize warning signs, and report suspected scams to the Iowa Attorney General's office.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird warned seniors on National Senior Citizens Day about scams targeting older residents, particularly impersonation schemes where fraudsters pose as family members or claim legal troubles to extract money. The attorney general's office runs "Stop the Scammers" educational events; one victim, Lynne Caltrider, helped authorities recover some lost funds and was awarded for her assistance in the investigation. Residents can report suspected scams to the Iowa Attorney General's office at 1-888-777-4590 or online.

Dan Smoker lost $17,000 after a United Airlines customer service agent transferred him to a scammer posing as "David" who claimed to rebook his family's cancelled flights to Europe. The scammer convinced Smoker the $17,328 charge would be refunded later, but the refund never materialized and David's number became blocked when Smoker followed up. United Airlines confirmed their agent had Googled a fake Lufthansa phone number and transferred Smoker to the scammer by mistake; the airline refunded some associated costs but not the original $17,000, leaving Smoker to dispute the charge with American Express.

I appreciate you sharing this content, but this appears to be a technical instruction about streaming an app rather than an article about fraud, scams, or elder abuse. To provide a useful summary for the Elderus database, I would need an article or transcript that discusses: - A scam or fraud incident - Elder abuse - Financial exploitation - Fraud schemes or warnings - Research findings about elder fraud Could you please share the actual article you'd like summarized?

The City of Cedar Rapids issued a warning about fraudsters sending fake invoices that attempt to charge residents "compensation fees," falsely claiming to be from the city's Development Services department. Scammers are using fraudulent email addresses (such as [email protected]) that do not match the official cedar-rapids.org domain to appear legitimate. Residents are advised to verify any invoices by contacting the city's Development Services team directly at 319-286-5780 or [email protected].

Iowa's Department of Insurance and Financial Services has stopped over $2.7 million from being sent to scammers through their "Stop the Scammers" tour across 22 communities, while recovering an additional $270,000 that had already been sent to fraudsters. The department has investigated over $10 million in fraud statewide in 2025 and identifies key warning signs including requests for money from online contacts, pressure to keep transactions secret, cryptocurrency transfers, and promises of guaranteed returns.

The Iowa Insurance Division's "Stop the Scammers" statewide tour visited 22 communities to educate Iowans about fraud prevention and reporting, resulting in investigations of over $10 million in fraud during the first eight months of 2025, with $2.7 million stopped before reaching scammers and nearly $270,000 recovered. Officials emphasize that scammers are professionals who exploit victims over extended periods, and that anyone pressured to make quick financial decisions should hang up and seek advice from family or authorities rather than feel shame about potential victimization. Reporting fraud is crucial as victims may recover some or all of their money, with reporting available through the Iowa Insurance Division at

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird warned residents about employment scams in which fraudsters pose as recruiters and offer work-from-home jobs via unsolicited text or email, then request personal financial information (Social Security numbers, bank account details) before interviews or job confirmation. The scam relies on victims providing sensitive data under the guise of employment paperwork, with no actual job existing. Bird advises verifying employers online, avoiding unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true, and never sharing personal information until after legitimate hiring by a verified company.

The Tama County Sheriff's Office warned residents about asphalt paving scams after two incidents occurred within 48 hours, one of which resulted in a homeowner being injured. Authorities believe fraudulent crews were offering asphalt work at misleading prices, and suspects fled when confronted by one resident. The Sheriff's Office urged residents to verify contractors before hiring and report any suspicious solicitations.

The FBI reports that cryptocurrency ATM scams resulted in nearly $250 million in losses in 2024, more than double the previous year, with scammers primarily using romance, impostor, and financial scams to trick victims into depositing money. An 85-year-old woman in Wisconsin was approached by police while being manipulated into depositing tens of thousands of dollars into a Bitcoin ATM after being told her bank account was hacked. Iowa's investigation found that 97% of crypto ATM transactions were scams, with victims losing over $20 million in less than three years, while companies operating these machines profit by taking up to 23% per transaction.

The Iowa Insurance Division is warning Medicare beneficiaries about scams during the 2026 open enrollment period (October 15–December 7), which scammers exploit to steal personal information and fraudulently enroll individuals in new plans. Common schemes include unsolicited calls and texts requesting Medicare numbers or personal data, with Medicare fraud costing an estimated $100 billion annually. Free assistance is available through certified SHIIP counselors across Iowa to help beneficiaries safely navigate enrollment decisions.