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in Grandparent Scam
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Jean Richard Audate, a 38-year-old New York City man, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his role in a grandparent scam conspiracy that defrauded elderly victims across the United States of over $867,000. Audate traveled to multiple locations, including Rhode Island, to collect cash that victims had been tricked into sending after receiving phone calls from scammers posing as grandchildren or lawyers claiming a relative needed bail money. The scammers also falsely invoked "gag orders" to prevent victims from discussing the requests with others.
terracestandard.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary as requested. The content provided is a website homepage/navigation menu for a news outlet, not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. To create a summary for the Elderus database, please provide an actual article or transcript that discusses a specific fraud case, scam scheme, or elder abuse incident.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two suspects—a 26-year-old man from Montreal and a 24-year-old woman from Quebec City—were arrested at Vancouver International Airport in connection with a grandparent scam operation that defrauded Saanich, B.C. residents of more than $20,000. The scam involved fraudsters posing as relatives in distress to convince elderly victims to send money. Both suspects face two counts of fraud and are scheduled to appear in court, though police believe additional victims on Vancouver Island may not have reported the crimes.
winnipeg.ca
· 2025-12-08
Fraud Prevention Month 2024 highlights the importance of education and awareness in combating scams targeting Canadians, particularly seniors through schemes like the grandparent scam. In 2022, Canada reported 70,878 frauds affecting 37,047 victims with total losses of $529.3 million, while Manitoba alone experienced 1,850 scams resulting in $10.4 million in losses across 1,011 victims. Law enforcement agencies, including the Winnipeg Police Service, are promoting fraud prevention throughout March via radio panels, community events, educational articles, and social media campaigns focused on cryptocurrency, grandparent, bank investigator, and sextortion frau
castanet.net
· 2025-12-08
**Fraud Landscape and Impact:**
Canadian fraud and cybercrime losses reached $530 million in 2022, a 40% increase from 2021, with AI and emerging technologies enabling criminals to create personalized scams and voice replications. While young adults (20-29) report fraud most frequently, older adults suffer substantially larger financial losses, exemplified by cases including a 68-year-old losing $3,000 to cryptocurrency fraud and an 80-year-old losing $5,000 in a grandparent scam.
**Key Prevention Strategy:**
Experts recommend four protective measures: remain alert to red flags and share scam awareness with
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Wayne County, Ohio is launching a free scam education and awareness program for residents ages 60 and older through a partnership between the Gilcrest Center, county commissioners, and Job and Family Services, funded by an Ohio Department of Aging grant. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to online financial scams due to declining cognitive abilities, lower technology familiarity, and susceptibility to tactics using fear or urgency, with common 2023 scams including COVID-19 fraud, fake medical equipment sales, and bogus genetic testing. The program emphasizes protective measures such as verifying sender identity, avoiding suspicious links, and protecting personal information to help seniors safely navigate digital transactions.
the-daily-record.com
· 2025-12-08
Wayne County, Ohio has launched a free scam education and awareness program for residents ages 60+ with incomes below 300% of the poverty line, partnering the Gilcrest Center with county commissioners and Job and Family Services through an Ohio Department of Aging grant. The initiative addresses the growing vulnerability of older adults to sophisticated online scams, including COVID-19 fraud, medical equipment sales, and phishing schemes, by providing mentoring and practical safety tips such as verifying sender identity, avoiding suspicious links, and protecting personal information.
doorcountydailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines the anatomy of the "Grandchild Scam," explaining how perpetrators use caller ID cloning to appear legitimate, create emotional urgency (such as claiming a grandchild is injured or jailed), isolate victims from seeking outside advice, and request wire transfers or money card purchases. The article emphasizes that scammers follow consistent methodology across fraud types—elevating emotion to lower logic—and advises potential victims to end suspicious calls immediately and adopt a decisive "hard target" approach to discourage further contact.
atlantafed.org
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission reported over 850,000 imposter fraud complaints in 2023, resulting in approximately $2.7 billion in losses—a 60 percent increase over five years. Business and government imposters account for nearly 80 percent of these complaints, with phone calls generating the highest median losses per victim at $1,500. While older adults are frequently targeted, younger people also fall victim to phone-based imposter scams involving fake government agencies, tech support, or romantic partners using emotional manipulation to extract money.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
A TD survey found that 41% of young adult Canadians (ages 18-34) are more likely to be targeted by fraudsters on social media than older adults, with nearly 30% having fallen victim to financial fraud or scams through various channels including social media (43%), online ads (29%), and job applications (25%). Young adults are most concerned about job scams (19%), investment scams (15%), and cheque scams (12%), with 62% feeling vulnerable to fraud despite 60% taking steps to educate themselves about warning signs. Experts recommend learning to identify red flags, reporting incidents to banks and police, opting for electronic payments over cheques, and being suspicious
oudtshoorncourant.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece provides ten practical strategies for avoiding romance scams on the internet. Key advice includes: not engaging with unknown online contacts, using reverse image lookups to verify identities, recognizing manipulation tactics (excessive terms of endearment, avoidance of video calls), never sending money to people you haven't met, and avoiding sharing personal information or intimate photos that could be used for sextortion or extortion. The article emphasizes trusting friends and family who recognize warning signs, as scammers often exploit emotional manipulation and create false scenarios to extract money or sensitive information.
thepointsguy.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FTC received 2.6 million fraud reports totaling $10 billion in losses, with imposter scams being the most common type, and AI technology is rapidly enabling new fraud methods including voice cloning, deepfakes, email spoofing, and credential stuffing attacks. Scammers use AI to impersonate loved ones, clone voices, generate fake images, mimic writing styles, and create convincing fraudulent communications to steal money and loyalty points, with the technology expected to advance further to include convincing deepfake video calls. Protection strategies include awareness of these AI-enabled tactics, verification procedures beyond video calls, and regulatory efforts like the FTC's
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Josiah DeJesus, a 22-year-old from the Bronx, was sentenced to 80 months in prison for serving as the lead courier in a "grandparents" fraud scheme operating from the Dominican Republic from June to October 2020. The scam targeted elderly Americans nationwide by using phone calls from overseas co-conspirators posing as grandchildren or attorneys to convince victims their grandchildren had been arrested and needed immediate bail money, with DeJesus and his recruits collecting thousands of dollars from UPS and FedEx packages across Pennsylvania. DeJesus was ordered to pay $366,303.28 in restitution to victims.
vancouver.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in Kelowna was targeted in a grandparent scam on February 9, 2024, when a caller impersonating "Sgt. Ashley Olsen" claimed her grandson had been arrested and demanded an immediate bond payment. The senior withdrew a large sum of money that was collected by a female suspect in her building's lobby, and received a follow-up call requesting additional funds, but a bank employee recognized the fraud and prevented further withdrawal. Police are seeking a woman described as 23-30 years old with long dark hair and specific clothing, and are reminding the public to verify such claims directly with family members.
welivesecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, seniors over 60 reported $3.1 billion in cybercrime losses to the FBI across 88,262 incidents, representing an 82% year-on-year increase, though many cases remain unreported. Digital fraudsters increasingly target senior citizens, believing they have more savings but less digital awareness to recognize scams. Common schemes include phishing, romance scams ($734 million in 2022), Medicare impersonation, tech support fraud, online shopping scams, robocalls, government impersonation ($1 billion in combined losses in 2022), and lottery fraud.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines major fraud trends affecting consumers in 2024, noting that fraud losses exceeded $10 billion in 2023 with a 14% increase year-over-year. It describes five prevalent scam types targeting older adults: grandparent scams (impersonating distressed relatives), romance scams (building false relationships to extract money), SIM swap scams (hijacking phone numbers to access financial accounts), investment scams (promoting unrealistic opportunities with high-pressure tactics), and mail theft scams (stealing personal information from physical mail). The article provides practical prevention strategies including using family code words, conducting background checks, enabling voice authentication with banks, avoiding unsolicite
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparent scam" has stolen millions from elderly Americans by impersonating a grandchild's lawyer or bail bondsman, falsely claiming the grandchild is in legal trouble or an accident out of state and demanding urgent payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. In 2021, over 92,000 older fraud victims lost $1.7 billion, with scammers exploiting fear and urgency by calling at odd hours. Law enforcement recommends not answering calls from unknown numbers, hanging up without engaging, and calling family members directly to verify—while noting that emerging AI voice-cloning technology makes these scams increasingly difficult to detect.
theprescotttimes.com
· 2025-12-08
The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office warned senior citizens that scammers use urgency tactics through calls, texts, emails, and social media to steal money, advising victims to "slow down" and verify requests independently. Recent local cases included a $12,000 grandparent scam using AI-generated voices and a $40,000 Bitcoin fraud, with law enforcement cautioning against clicking suspicious links, using untraceable payment methods, and trusting caller IDs, as scammers impersonate relatives, banks, and government agencies.
southcoasttoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparent scam" has stolen millions from elderly Americans by impersonating lawyers, bail bondsmen, or family members to claim a grandchild is in legal trouble or distress and urgently needs cash sent via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. The FBI reported over 92,000 older fraud victims lost $1.7 billion in 2021, with scammers exploiting psychological tactics—calling at odd hours and inducing fear—and now increasingly using AI voice cloning to impersonate relatives. Law enforcement recommends not answering unknown callers, hanging up on urgent money requests, and independently verifying any family emergency by calling the relative directly rather than engaging with the
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
On National Slam the Scam Day, Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon highlighted that scams remain a significant crime driver in the borough, with senior citizens losing over $2.6 million to fraud in 2023 alone. Common scams include impersonation schemes (government officials, police, IRS, family members), marketplace fraud, and payment requests via gift cards and digital platforms, with scammers using threats and pressure tactics to manipulate victims. McMahon emphasized that prevention and immediate reporting to the District Attorney's Scams Hotline (718-556-7226) are critical to investigating incidents and securing restitution for victims.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
The "courier scam" has affected at least 390 people in two months, with one Chennai businessman losing ₹6 crore after being threatened by fraudsters posing as police officers. Scammers contact victims claiming a parcel with drugs or contraband was found in their name, then connect them via video call to fake police officers who threaten legal action and coerce money transfers by promising account protection through a new Aadhaar card and KYC update.
thestarphoenix.com
· 2025-12-08
Saskatoon Police Service partnered with the Electronic Recycling Association to offer free secure destruction of electronics and confidential documents on March 14 as part of Fraud Prevention Month awareness efforts. The initiative comes as Canadian fraud losses reached $567 million in 2023, with investment scams, spear phishing, and romance scams causing the most financial damage, while fraud methods have evolved to include cryptocurrency schemes and sophisticated phishing techniques targeting both individuals and institutions.
golocalprov.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men from Florida and New York—Jason Rhodes, 34, and Robert Munoz, 29—were arrested in Warwick, Rhode Island in connection with a "grandparent scam" targeting elderly residents in Warwick and Coventry after police executed a controlled money delivery on March 8, 2024. During a search of a hotel room, detectives seized evidence linking the suspects to multiple grandparent scams and a large sum of cash, with the investigation ongoing. Warwick Police are urging other potential victims throughout Rhode Island to report similar scams to their local police departments.
clickondetroit.com
· 2025-12-08
**AI Voice Cloning Scams**
Scammers are using advanced artificial intelligence to clone voices from small audio clips and impersonate loved ones or authority figures (family members, bosses, or candidates) in urgent situations to trick targets into sending money immediately via digital payment apps or wire transfers. The article outlines common scenarios—such as a "daughter in an accident" requesting funds or a "boss" requesting urgent vendor payments—and provides prevention tips including resisting immediate action, verifying requests through known contact numbers, avoiding digital wallet transfers when uncertain, and implementing multifactor authentication and workplace verification protocols.
southeastiowaunion.com
· 2025-12-08
Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen conducted a statewide "Stop the Scammers" educational tour in Mt. Pleasant to inform older residents about common fraud schemes including romance scams, grandparent scams, investment scams, and pig butchering scams. Ommen emphasized that scammers exploit emotional vulnerabilities and target older Iowans by conducting personal research and creating deceptive relationships to extract thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The campaign aimed to educate residents so they could share protective information with family and friends to help prevent fraud victimization.
clickorlando.com
· 2025-12-08
The Titusville Police Department held an educational scam seminar at the public library to warn seniors about common frauds including IRS scams, utility fraud, fake prizes, tech support scams, and impersonation schemes. The city's Criminal Investigations Division receives approximately 15 new fraud cases per week involving thousands of dollars, with seniors being the primary targets; police emphasized that scammers exploit vulnerabilities and continuously update their tactics, and advised seniors to safeguard personal information and verify callers' identities before engaging further.
winnipegfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparent scam" has significantly increased across Canada, targeting seniors through phone calls from scammers impersonating grandchildren in crisis situations (legal trouble, illness, etc.) to pressure victims into sending money urgently via courier or bank withdrawal. In 2022, this scam resulted in losses exceeding $9.2 million nationally, with Manitoba victims losing over $313,000. Protection strategies include not answering unknown numbers, calling trusted family members to verify urgent requests, and remembering that police never demand bail money directly.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A 79-year-old Manitoba senior lost $16,000 in a "grandparent scam" in which a caller impersonated her grandson, claiming he had been arrested after a car crash and needed bail money; a second caller posed as his lawyer, instructing her not to tell anyone and arranging courier pickup of cash from her home. Since the start of 2024, approximately 13 similar scams have been reported in southern Manitoba, resulting in roughly $70,000 in losses, with scammers increasingly targeting less tech-savvy victims by requesting in-person cash withdrawals rather than online transfers. A 32-year-old courier who was intercepting the final payment
sentinelandenterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
Two bank branch managers in Massachusetts prevented an elderly couple in their mid-70s from losing $80,000 in March 2024 after scammers posed as law enforcement, claiming the couple needed to transfer funds due to alleged illegal images and money laundering on their computer. Branch Manager Kim Giammasi at Hanscom Federal Credit Union became suspicious and required the couple to complete the transfer in person, allowing her colleague Melody Anoli to contact Billerica police, who confirmed the scam and secured the couple's accounts. The article emphasizes the importance of bank employee vigilance and provides Federal Trade Commission guidance on avoiding such schemes, including never clicking unexpected links, refusing unsolicited payment requests
winnipeg.ca
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparent scam" has significantly increased across Canada, with scammers impersonating grandchildren in distress to pressure seniors into sending money urgently, often through couriers. In 2022, Canadian seniors lost over $9.2 million to this scam, with Manitoba losses exceeding $313,000. Protection strategies include ignoring unknown callers, verifying requests by calling trusted family members, and remembering that police never demand money directly for bail.
valleybreeze.com
· 2025-12-08
The Burrillville Police Department warned residents about the "grandparent scam," in which callers impersonate grandchildren in distress to convince seniors to withdraw and send money, often instructing victims not to tell bank tellers about the transfers. An elderly couple in Burrillville was recently targeted, and the FBI reports seniors lost over $3 billion to online scams in 2023. Police Chief Stephen Lynch recommends residents slow their response, verify claims with family members, and report suspicious calls to local authorities.
fox23maine.com
· 2025-12-08
Maine seniors lost $12.7 million to fraud in 2022, a dramatic increase from $2 million in 2021, with victims over 60 nationwide experiencing skyrocketing losses according to FBI data. One Maine senior fell victim to a tech support scam involving deceptive popups claiming she had a virus and requesting access to her savings account information. Experts emphasize that education and awareness are critical to protecting Maine's aging population, the oldest in the nation, from increasingly prevalent fraud schemes.
fox23maine.com
· 2025-12-08
Maine seniors lost $12.7 million to fraud in 2022, a dramatic increase from $2 million in 2021, according to FBI data. One victim fell prey to a tech support scam involving fake virus warning popups that prompted her to call scammers who attempted to access her savings account information. Experts emphasize that education and community awareness are critical tools in combating fraud targeting Maine's elderly population, the oldest in the nation.
wgme.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud losses among Maine seniors have surged dramatically, increasing from $2 million in 2021 to $12.7 million in 2022, with tech support scams being among the most common threats to the state's aging population. One Maine senior fell victim to a tech support imposter scam involving malicious popups claiming she had a virus, which prompted her to call a fraudulent number where scammers attempted to access her savings account information. Experts emphasize that education and awareness are critical to protecting Maine's elderly residents, who represent the nation's oldest state population and face heightened vulnerability to fraud schemes.
cp24.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is about Canadian political maneuvering regarding pipeline policy and does not contain information about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It cannot be summarized for the Elderus database as it falls outside the scope of elder fraud research.
toronto.ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this article because the text provided does not contain any actual article content about the grandparent scam or the Toronto man's charges. The material shown only includes a title and a list of unrelated shopping and product recommendation articles.
Please provide the full article text so I can create an accurate summary for the Elderus database.
weau.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported over $12.5 billion in total fraud losses nationally in 2023, with Wisconsin accounting for 7,683 complaints and $92 million in losses. The FBI Milwaukee field office released a list of common fraud alert questions to help consumers identify potential scams, including cryptocurrency and investment fraud, impersonation of banks or government agencies, tech support scams, romance scams, and cash-for-gift-card schemes. Consumers who suspect they have been targeted are encouraged to file complaints at www.ic3.gov.
kpbs.org
· 2025-12-08
On March 20, 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office presented an educational program at San Diego State University featuring Assistant U.S. Attorney Oleksandra Johnson, an elder fraud coordinator, who discussed various methods of elder financial abuse including mail, phone, computer, and in-person schemes. The presentation covered trending fraud types in Southern California such as grandparent scams, romance scams, and investment fraud, while providing information on recognizing signs of financial abuse and prevention strategies.
amac.us
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines four common scam tactics targeting potential fraud victims: scammers impersonating trusted organizations (IRS, Social Security, tech companies) to steal financial or personal information; scammers falsely claiming computer or account problems to instill fear and extract payment or data; scammers posing as family members in emergencies (often using voice-cloning technology) to solicit money for bail or hostages; and scammers claiming victims have won prizes or sweepstakes requiring upfront fees. The article advises victims to block unwanted contacts, never open suspicious links, verify emergencies by calling family members using known phone numbers, and remain skeptical of unsolic
wmtv15news.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reports that Americans lost over $12.5 billion to fraud and scams in the previous year, with Wisconsin alone experiencing more than 7,000 complaints resulting in $92 million in losses. The FBI has released a list of common fraud warning signs including cryptocurrency investment schemes, impersonation of banks or government agencies, tech support scams, romance scams, and cash withdrawal schemes to help consumers identify if they may be targeted. Victims or those who suspect fraud are encouraged to report incidents to IC3 at www.ic3.gov.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Regina police are warning seniors about "grandparent scams" in which fraudsters call posing as grandchildren or police officers claiming an emergency requiring immediate payment of thousands of dollars for bail, car repairs, or legal fees. Multiple reports were received over three days, with some scammers fraudulently claiming to be officers who would pick up bond money at victims' homes. Police urge anyone experiencing or suspecting such fraud to contact them immediately.
fox5dc.com
· 2025-12-08
A California man was arrested in Montgomery County, Maryland for defrauding a 64-year-old woman out of $800,000 by posing as a federal investigator and convincing her to convert her assets into gold bars for supposed identity theft protection, then stealing the gold from a parking lot. The FBI reports this cash-to-gold scam resulted in over $55 million in losses nationwide from May to December of the previous year, with at least 12 victims identified in Montgomery County alone, as scammers exploit the lack of transaction scrutiny from gold bullion websites compared to traditional banking institutions.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Albertans reported losing over $156 million to fraud since 2020, with losses reaching $62.5 million in 2023 alone—a fivefold increase from 2020—though experts estimate only 5-10% of incidents are reported due to victim reluctance and embarrassment. Investment scams, particularly cryptocurrency fraud, accounted for nearly 58% of 2023 losses ($35.9 million), followed by spear-phishing attacks that took $8.5 million, with technological advancements and the unregulated nature of cryptocurrency enabling fraudsters to operate across borders with relative anonymity.
blogto.com
· 2025-12-08
Toronto residents are experiencing a surge in scams targeting seniors and vulnerable citizens, including fraudulent speeding ticket texts, rental listing scams (with victims losing up to $3,600), 407 ETR toll highway payment scams via text message, and grandparent scams that have defrauded over 200 Toronto victims of more than $1 million since 2021. Recent cases include an 87-year-old who lost $10,000 when scammers falsely claimed her grandson needed bail money for drug possession charges, highlighting how fraudsters exploit urgency and trust in authorities to manipulate victims.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
According to a Valley First branch manager, fraud is a growing threat in Canada, with common scams including investment, grandparent, tech support, romance, and spoofing schemes. In 2023, Canada recorded over 62,000 fraud reports affecting more than 41,000 victims with losses exceeding $554 million, though actual figures are likely higher due to underreporting. Protection strategies include maintaining updated antivirus software, enabling multi-factor authentication, using complex passwords, setting up banking alerts, and avoiding sharing personal information or upfront fees.
wmtv15news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dane County Sheriff's Office warned the public of AI-enhanced grandparent scams where criminals use artificial intelligence to mimic a grandchild's voice and claim they are in danger, pressuring victims to send money in the tens of thousands of dollars. The scam targets elderly grandparents across urban and rural areas, particularly during spring break when college and high school students are away, and succeeds by creating false urgency while telling victims not to contact parents. Law enforcement advises people to hang up and directly call the family member to verify the emergency, adjust social media privacy settings, and listen for robotic tones in the voice recording as a warning sign.
nbc15.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dane County Sheriff's Office is warning the public about AI-powered grandparent scams where scammers use artificial intelligence to create realistic voice recordings impersonating grandchildren in distress, pressuring grandparents to send money urgently while threatening not to contact parents. These scams affect victims nationwide across urban and rural areas, with losses reaching tens of thousands of dollars per incident, though AI voices may still have a robotic quality that can serve as a warning sign. Law enforcement advises victims to hang up and call family members directly to verify emergencies and recommends adjusting social media privacy settings to limit scammers' access to personal information.
wkow.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dane County Sheriff's Office reports that artificial intelligence is being increasingly used in "Grandparent Scams," where scammers use AI-generated voice recordings created from online videos to impersonate grandchildren in distress and convince seniors to send money. The scam has become more convincing and effective at stealing thousands of dollars from vulnerable elderly victims. Authorities recommend tightening social media privacy settings, hanging up and independently calling family members to verify claims, and reporting suspected scams to local law enforcement.
channel3000.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dane County Sheriff's Office is warning seniors about AI-powered "Grandparents scams," where criminals use artificial intelligence to clone a grandchild's voice from online videos and convince elderly victims their relative needs emergency financial help. To protect themselves, seniors should limit social media sharing, use strict privacy settings, and verify emergency calls by hanging up and contacting family members directly.
1011now.com
· 2025-12-08
A Lincoln couple, ages 86 and 89, lost $23,000 to a grandparent impersonation scam in which callers claimed to be their grandson and his lawyer, demanding bail money for a fake accident and citation. The victims withdrew cash and gave it to a courier before realizing the deception the following day and contacting police. Lincoln Police recommend that families discuss impersonation scams with elderly relatives and always verify the identity of callers claiming to be family members or legal/financial representatives.