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A group of scammers operating on Facebook defrauded a 31-year-old Honduran asylum seeker, N., by conducting fake immigration court hearings and ICE check-ins over six months, collecting $3,500 in fees while instructing him to skip his real court hearing, ultimately resulting in an in absentia deportation order. This case is part of a broader trend of immigration-related scams targeting vulnerable immigrants seeking legal assistance, with such scams increasing 27% in New York City alone in the past year, often using elaborate fake judicial settings and documents to appear legitimate.

An 87-year-old Maryland woman lost tens of thousands of dollars in a tech support scam after receiving a fake pop-up warning that her bank accounts were compromised and demanding $18,000 to fix the issue. Two New York residents, Chongsong Chen (48) and Wei Hua Wang (71), were arrested and charged with theft and theft scheme after physically picking up cash from the victim's home, with authorities apprehending them during the handoff when the victim called the sheriff's office. The case prompted Harford County law enforcement to warn the public that elder fraud increased 14% nationally in 2023 and caused over $3.4 billion in losses

The New York State Police warned residents of Jefferson and Lewis counties about scams targeting elderly people, including impersonation of law enforcement conducting financial investigations and grandparent scams where callers pose as lawyers demanding money for a grandchild's legal troubles. These scams commonly use spoofed phone numbers, text apps, pop-up messages, and create urgency while demanding secrecy, often requesting payment via gift cards or cash sent through the mail. Law enforcement reminded the public that legitimate officers and lawyers never request payment through gift cards or cash, and advised residents to verify suspicious contact through independent phone calls to known contacts.

The Bonadio Group, a certified fraud examination firm, highlights the widespread problem of elder financial abuse, noting that only one in 44 cases are reported to authorities like Adult Protective Services. The article presents two case studies: one involving a childhood friend who exploited a widowed mother by taking her debit card, obtaining her home deed, and evicting her; and another where a caregiver stole over $200,000 from an elderly man over three years while subjecting him to severe neglect, ultimately forcing him into long-term care. Accountants and professionals are encouraged to report suspicious financial activity to Adult Protective Services and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to protect vulnerable seniors.

State police in Jefferson and Lewis counties, New York are warning of scams targeting elderly residents, including impersonation schemes where scammers pose as law enforcement conducting financial investigations or lawyers claiming a grandchild needs money. These scams typically involve urgent requests for secrecy and use spoofed phone calls, text messaging apps, or pop-up messages to contact victims. Police advise that legitimate law enforcement and lawyers never request payment via gift cards or cash, and recommend verifying suspicious claims by calling law enforcement directly.

Doctor spoofing calls, where scammers manipulate caller ID to impersonate doctors' offices, Medicare, pharmacies, or hospitals, were named the New York StateWide Senior Action Council's Medicare Fraud of the Month for June 2025. Scammers use these spoofed calls to trick seniors into revealing personal information such as Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, and insurance details by claiming to need verification for medical services or test results. Seniors can protect themselves by hanging up and calling back using trusted phone numbers, never sharing personal information with unknown callers, avoiding "YES" or "NO" responses, and reporting suspected fraud to the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol Helpline at

Consumer fraud increased 25 percent in 2024, with Americans losing $12.5 billion total, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Common scams include robocalls, phishing emails (particularly fake job recruitment and toll collection schemes), and fraudulent websites mimicking legitimate retailers like Joann Fabrics. Experts recommend using call-blocking apps, verifying email addresses and website URLs, paying by credit card, and considering identity theft protection insurance to help prevent fraud.

This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It is a lifestyle piece about dating preferences among New Yorkers and Americans based on a survey, with no connection to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.

Two men—Jinrong Shi, 28, of New York, and Jiyang Zhong, 27, a Chinese national—were indicted on federal charges for running "grandparent" and "tech support" scams targeting elderly victims in Northeast Ohio (Cleveland Heights, Willoughby, Canton, and Warren) in May and June 2024. The defendants, working with a network of co-conspirators using "fraud callers" and "fraud couriers," defrauded victims of over $201,000 by posing as law enforcement or tech support personnel and arranging cash pickups at victims' homes or directing victims to mail money. The laundered proceeds

aOK, a new identity-verified chat app, launched to address the growing threat of romance scams and catfishing in online dating. The app requires government-issued ID verification for all users and uses end-to-end encryption to create a secure messaging environment, addressing a critical gap where conversations typically move to less secure platforms like WhatsApp after initial dating app contact. Romance scams cost victims £94.7 million in the UK and $1.3 billion in the US in 2024, with individual losses averaging over £10,000, making robust identity verification tools increasingly urgent for dating safety.

Senator Tina Smith is urging the Trump Administration to address a widespread text message scam targeting Minnesotans, in which fake DMV messages claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets and threaten arrest to coerce online payments. The scam has been reported across multiple states including Georgia, New York, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Colorado, and Smith has requested intervention from the Department of Justice to combat the scheme's scale and sophistication.

Thousands of Minnesotans received fraudulent text messages impersonating the Department of Motor Vehicles, threatening legal consequences and demanding payment for fictitious traffic violations. This scam, which has also affected residents in Georgia, New York, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Colorado, puts victims at financial risk and creates anxiety about message authenticity. Senator Tina Smith is urging the Trump Administration to take action against the widespread scheme.

The NYPD warned New Yorkers about a lottery scam in which scammers convince strangers to cash winning lottery tickets in exchange for a share of the winnings. A 79-year-old woman lost approximately $27,500 in jewelry and cash after falling for the scheme, which escalated to threats and a home invasion. Authorities advise never cashing lottery tickets for unknown individuals and warn against paying fees to claim prizes or cashing checks from the lottery with processing fees listed.

Forty-two state attorneys general, led by New York AG Letitia James, are calling on Meta to combat investment scams on Facebook that use fraudulent images of celebrities like Warren Buffett and Elon Musk to lure users into pump-and-dump schemes on WhatsApp, with thousands of users losing hundreds of millions of dollars. The attorneys general report that criminals are repeatedly evading Meta's review systems, and the scams persist months after being reported to the company. Meta responded by stating it is investing in technology, facial recognition, and cross-industry partnerships to combat scams, while the AGs urged the company to increase human review of ads or stop running investment ads altogether.

State Departments of Transportation in Idaho, Iowa, and Wisconsin issued warnings about phishing text scams impersonating state agencies and demanding payment for unpaid tolls or traffic violations, with threats of legal action. The scams have already targeted Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York, and are becoming more sophisticated by using fear tactics to trick victims into clicking malicious links or sharing personal information. State agencies advise recipients to ignore urgency demands, avoid clicking links or sharing information, block senders, and report scams to the FTC or Internet Crime Complaint Center.

An asylum seeker from Honduras was defrauded by scammers posing as immigration lawyers who conducted fake court hearings and ICE check-ins over six months, collecting $3,500 in fees while instructing him to avoid his real immigration court date. The elaborate scheme, which included deepfake-like video calls with fake judges and USCIS officers, resulted in N. being ordered deported in absentia after missing his actual hearing. Immigration-related scams targeting vulnerable immigrants on social media have surged 27% in New York City alone, with advocates noting the true number is likely much higher due to language barriers and underreporting.

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DMV text message scams, known as "smishing," are expanding across multiple states including Colorado, Indiana, Minnesota, California, Michigan, and North Carolina, with earlier warnings issued in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. These fraudulent texts falsely claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets or outstanding bills and threaten consequences like vehicle registration loss, driving privilege suspension, or credit score damage unless they click a link and pay. The Federal Trade Commission advises recipients not to click links or respond, instead contacting their state DMV directly through official channels and reporting the messages to their wireless provider, the FTC, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

This educational article outlines scam prevention strategies for seniors based on a training session at the JCC Marlene Myerson Center in New York. Key scam types targeting older adults include romance scams (exemplified by a woman who sold her house after being deceived by a fake Amnesty International worker), postal fraud, charitable giving scams, and text message schemes originating from the Philippines. The training recommends three defense strategies: slowing down decision-making, consulting friends or neighbors before acting, and avoiding any response, payment, or personal information disclosure, as scammers rely on speed and isolation to succeed.

This educational article outlines scam prevention strategies shared at a training session in New York targeting older adults. Key advice includes slowing down, consulting friends or neighbors before responding to suspicious requests, and avoiding sharing personal information—as scammers rely on speed and isolation to succeed. Common scams affecting seniors include romance scams, postal fraud, charitable giving scams, and text message schemes, with perpetrators often prioritizing theft of personal data (like Social Security numbers or credit card information) over individual payments.

DMV officials across multiple U.S. states issued advisories in May warning citizens about text message scams impersonating the DMV and demanding payment for fake "outstanding tolls" or traffic violations, with messages threatening license suspension, penalties, or legal action. The fraudulent texts use official-looking ".gov" links and domain variations (such as "ezpassnj") to appear legitimate, targeting unsuspected victims in at least ten states including New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California. Authorities recommend recipients delete the messages immediately, avoid clicking links or providing information, and report the scams to the FTC or their service provider via the SPAM hotline (7726).

**Summary:** A senior fraud prevention forum is being held in Glenmont, NY on June 23 to educate seniors and community members about avoiding common scams and fraud. The event, hosted by Senator Patricia Fahy, AARP New York, and local officials, highlights that senior fraud costs consumers over $3 billion annually and has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scammers in Wisconsin are impersonating the Wisconsin Department of Transportation DMV by sending text messages claiming unpaid traffic violations or final notices, attempting to trick recipients into revealing personal information or clicking malicious links. The Wisconsin DMV received a large volume of complaints on June 2 and noted similar scams had recently targeted Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. The DMV advises residents not to respond to unsolicited texts, avoid clicking links, and warns to be suspicious of communications requesting money or creating urgency.

A multi-state text scam impersonating the North Carolina DMV claimed recipients had unpaid traffic tickets or toll charges and threatened vehicle registration suspension or required payment of $6.99 within hours. The fraudulent texts included links to fake websites mimicking official DMV sites, designed to steal personal information or payment card details from drivers across North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, New York, and Florida. The NC DMV advises recipients not to respond, to block the sender, and to report the messages to the FTC via text to 7726.

A Delaware woman lost $701,529 in gold bars between August 2023 and February 2024 after scammers posing as federal agents claimed her identity had been stolen and she was under investigation; they told her the Treasury would safeguard gold bars she purchased to resolve the matter. When authorities caught the scheme, they arrested Rakeshkumar Patel, an Indian national illegally residing in New York, who pleaded guilty after attempting to collect an additional $300,000 in gold in May 2024. The scam was part of a larger fraud operation targeting older affluent adults across Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, with a combined loss of $2.1

New York State Police warned of a phone scam in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement or government officials, using spoofing technology to make calls appear legitimate while demanding Social Security numbers and personal information under threats of arrest. State Police clarified that legitimate agencies never request sensitive information or threaten legal action by phone.

The New York State Police warned residents about an escalating phone spoofing scam in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement through spoofed caller IDs, threatening legal action or arrest to coerce victims into revealing Social Security numbers and personal information. The scam exploits fear-based tactics and technology that manipulates caller ID displays; authorities emphasize that legitimate law enforcement never demands personal details or threatens arrests by phone. Residents are advised to hang up immediately on suspicious calls, verify caller identity through official agency numbers, and report incidents to the New York State Police.

New Yorkers have reported receiving scam messages claiming they owe money for unpaid E-ZPass or tolling charges, with such scams increasing after holiday travel periods like Memorial Day weekend. Scam experts note these fraudulent messages exploit the timing of heavy travel to appear more credible to potential victims.

**Summary:** The New York State Police warned of an ongoing phone spoofing scam in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement or government officials to extract sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers from victims, often threatening arrest or legal action. Legitimate government agencies never demand personal information or threaten consequences over the phone; recipients should hang up immediately, avoid sharing any data, and verify calls by contacting agencies directly using trusted numbers.

Nearly 7,500 AARP members and New Yorkers delivered letters to state legislative leaders urging support for bills (S.6379 and A.7019) to protect older adults from financial exploitation, following an FBI report showing scams targeting New Yorkers age 60+ resulted in over $257 million in losses from more than 6,200 victims in 2024—a significant increase from $203 million in 2023. The proposed legislation would require bank employees to identify signs of financial exploitation, place holds on suspicious transactions, and refer cases to law enforcement. AARP is calling on lawmakers to pass this measure before the 2025 legislative session ends in June

Chautauqua County DMV is warning residents about phishing text messages falsely claiming to be from the New York DMV, demanding immediate payment for traffic fines and threatening vehicle registration suspension. Phishing scams have doubled since 2022 and are among the top three scams reported to the Better Business Bureau, affecting people across all age groups with some victims losing over $1,000. To protect themselves, residents should avoid clicking suspicious links, verify messages directly with their local DMV, check for spelling errors and suspicious web addresses, and never share personal information via text or email.

Toll fee smishing scams—fraudulent text messages claiming users owe payment for tolls—have surged in waves since 2024, with the FBI and FTC issuing warnings and state DMVs in New York, Florida, and California recently alerting residents to the threat. In April 2025 alone, Americans received 19.2 billion spam texts, and text-based fraud attempts generated approximately $470 million in criminal revenue according to the FTC's 2024 data. The article advises consumers to verify sender phone numbers and domain names, check official toll agency websites, avoid engaging with messages, use mobile security features, and report suspicious texts to the FBI's Internet Crime

The New York State DMV is warning residents of phishing text scams where fraudsters impersonate the agency to steal personal information, often claiming victims have outstanding traffic tickets that must be paid by a deadline or face license suspension. Over 170 such phishing scams were reported across upstate New York regions in 2024, with red flags including poor grammar, threatening language, and suspicious URLs. Victims should avoid clicking links or sharing personal information and can report suspected phishing to the DMV or Federal Trade Commission.

The New York State DMV issued an alert about phishing scams using fraudulent text messages falsely claiming recipients have outstanding traffic tickets and threatening license suspension, with over 170 cases reported across upstate New York regions in 2024. These scams attempt to steal personal information or install malicious software by impersonating the DMV, which does not send unsolicited text messages requesting personal data. Residents are advised to delete suspicious messages immediately and report incidents to the DMV or the Federal Trade Commission.

A New York man pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud conspiracy charges for his role in a nationwide elder fraud scheme that defrauded victims of over $2.1 million between May 2023 and May 2024. The scheme involved posing as federal agents to convince elderly victims that their identities were compromised, then instructing them to liquidate savings and convert funds into cash or gold bars, which the conspirators collected in person. Rakeshkumar Patel, 36, was arrested near Millsboro, Delaware in May 2024 and faces more than five years in federal prison upon sentencing.

Two seniors in Suffolk County were targeted by bank impersonation scams in which fraudsters posed as bank employees, convinced victims their accounts were compromised, and picked up their debit cards in person—resulting in $5,150 in ATM withdrawals by unidentified accomplices. Suffolk County officials highlighted these incidents to warn about the rising threat, noting that scams targeting New Yorkers 60 and older caused over $257 million in losses from 6,200 victims in 2024, a significant increase from 2023.

DMVs across multiple states (New York, Florida, California) are warning drivers about phishing text messages ("smishing") falsely claiming unpaid traffic violations and threatening penalties to steal personal and financial information. These scams are part of a growing trend; Americans received 19.2 billion spam texts in April alone, and the FTC reported Americans lost over $12 billion to fraud in 2024. Experts recommend not clicking links from unknown numbers, registering with the National Do Not Call Registry, and remaining skeptical of unsolicited requests for personal information.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles issued an alert warning residents of phishing text scams where fraudsters impersonate the DMV to steal personal information, often claiming recipients have unpaid traffic tickets and threatening license suspension or registration revocation. Over 170 phishing scams were reported across upstate New York regions in 2024, and the DMV recommends residents verify communications, avoid clicking suspicious links, and report incidents to [email protected] or the Federal Trade Commission.

AARP New York is advocating for passage of legislation (S.6379/A.7019) that would allow banks to place holds on suspicious transactions and refer cases to law enforcement to prevent elder financial fraud. According to an FBI report, scams targeting New Yorkers age 60 and older resulted in over $257 million in losses from more than 6,200 victims in 2024, an increase from $203 million stolen from 4,300 victims in 2023. The proposed measure, already adopted by 24 other states, would train financial institution employees to identify and intervene in cases of financial exploitation before transactions are completed.

A 36-year-old Flushing, New York man pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for his role in an elder fraud scam that defrauded elderly victims of at least $2.15 million between May 2023 and May 2024. The scheme involved fraudsters posing as federal agents who convinced victims their identities had been compromised, then instructed them to liquidate life savings and convert funds to cash or gold bars, which couriers like the defendant collected from victims' homes. The defendant faces more than five years in federal prison at sentencing.

Rakeshkumar Patel, 36, from Flushing, New York, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for his role in a scheme that defrauded elderly Americans of over $2 million. The scam targeted senior citizens across multiple states, including Delaware, and resulted in federal charges accepted by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews.

An 82-year-old retired urban planner named Brian Ketcham lost significant money to romance scammers on the dating website Dream Singles, communicating with profiles of women (primarily one named "Vasilisa") who likely did not exist in real life. After his death in 2024, his children discovered hundreds of printed chat transcripts and documented evidence of the scheme, which required him to purchase credits for each message sent to the fake profiles. The article explores how his initial skepticism gradually eroded as the scammers built emotional connections with him, ultimately resulting in financial loss before his death.

Governor Hochul issued a consumer alert warning NBA fans purchasing tickets to the New York Knicks' Eastern Conference Finals games at Madison Square Garden to avoid ticket scams, which surge during high-demand sporting events. The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection provided tips to prevent fraud, including purchasing only from official venues and trusted sources, avoiding online marketplaces and street scalpers, and verifying seller legitimacy before completing transactions.

The New York Statewide Senior Action Council warned of a spreading Medicare scam involving medical identity theft, where criminals obtain seniors' confidential medical information to fraudulently bill for services and supplies. The alert comes as the FTC reports identity theft has risen since late 2023, with thousands of Americans—particularly older adults—falling victim annually; authorities advise seniors never to share Medicare or Social Security numbers with unsolicited callers and to verify suspicious claims directly with Medicare (1-800-Medicare) or their doctors.

A New York watchdog group issued an alert warning Medicare cardholders about medical identity theft, where scammers use personal health information or Medicare numbers to fraudulently bill for services. The alert emphasizes that Medicare, the IRS, and Social Security will never call requesting information, and advises victims to monitor statements, contact their doctor's office, call Medicare at 1-800-Medicare, or call the New York State Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-333-4374 for assistance.

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Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram have become major conduits for internet fraud, accounting for nearly half of reported scams on JPMorgan Chase's Zelle payment platform between summer 2023 and 2024, with similar patterns documented by British and Australian regulators. An internal 2022 Meta analysis found that 70 percent of newly active advertisers were promoting scams, illicit goods, or low-quality products, driven by cryptocurrencies, AI, and overseas crime networks. The company has been reluctant to remove repeat scammers or add fraud prevention measures that might impact its $160 billion advertising business, despite repeated employee warnings.

The author experienced two scams: a utility impersonation scam where a caller claiming to be from Con Edison demanded $450 payment via cash transfer for a fake "conversion fee," and a phishing scheme involving unsolicited text messages from someone posing as "Elena" attempting to extract personal information through social engineering. Both scams were avoided when the author recognized the suspicious tactics and verified the claims with legitimate sources and authorities. The piece highlights that scams cost American adults an estimated $47 billion in 2024, with romance scams alone resulting in $697.3 million in losses across nearly 59,000 victims.

On May 12, 2025, Lance Norman, 36, of Queens, NY, was arrested for operating a fraudulent Publishers Clearing House scheme targeting an elderly resident of Chatham, NY, who was defrauded of approximately $62,000 across two cash payments. Norman was charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree after being stopped by state troopers in Westchester County with a large amount of cash in his vehicle; he admitted to meeting with the victim and receiving the money.

Lance Norman, 36, of Queens, was arrested for operating a Publishers Clearing House scam targeting a Columbia County resident who lost approximately $62,000 in cash across two in-person meetings in Hudson. Norman was located in Westchester County with a large sum of cash in his vehicle and was charged with grand larceny and conspiracy, both felonies. New York State Police urged the public to be cautious of prize or sweepstakes scams demanding upfront payments and to report suspicious financial activity targeting older adults.