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in General Elder Fraud
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office, along with Age-Friendly Mecklenburg and AARP-Charlotte, hosted a Walk for Awareness event on June 15, 2024, to highlight World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and increase community recognition of elder exploitation, neglect, and abuse. According to the FBI's 2023 Internet Crimes Report, individuals 60 and older filed 101,068 complaints and sustained $3.4 billion in losses from online fraud, with tech support scams, government impersonation, phishing, and romance scams being particularly prevalent threats to older adults.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud complaints are rising significantly, with the FBI reporting 101,000 victims who lost $3.4 billion in 2023, though AARP estimates actual losses exceed $28 billion annually due to underreporting driven by victim shame and embarrassment. Common scams targeting seniors include AI voice cloning, romance scams, tech support fraud, impersonations of banks and government agencies, and investment schemes. Key protective measures include establishing code words with family to verify identity, never sending money to unknown contacts, ignoring unsolicited pop-up and email messages, hanging up and calling back known numbers to verify callers, and remembering that legitimate government agencies contact by mail rather than
intouchweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams, which exploited approximately 70,000 Americans in 2022 resulting in $1.3 billion in losses (a 78% increase from 2020), typically begin on social media platforms (40% of cases) or dating apps where scammers build trust before requesting money for investments, emergencies, or travel. Older adults aged 65 and above are the most frequently targeted demographic and suffer the highest financial losses, with victims experiencing not only severe financial consequences but also profound emotional trauma including shame, betrayal, and lasting psychological harm.
spectrumnews1.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 140 million American adults have been victims of fraud according to AARP's Fraud Watch Network. Patricia Kaster lost approximately $1.7 million in a 2023 impersonation scam where fraudsters posed as her bank's fraud department and the FTC, convincing her to liquidate assets and sell her house by falsely accusing her of money laundering. The FTC reported that consumers lost $10 billion to fraud in 2023, and AARP recommends hanging up on unsolicited calls and avoiding providing money or information to unknown callers as key fraud prevention strategies.
wfmynews2.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial exploitation represents the most common form of elder abuse in the U.S., with losses exceeding $28 billion annually, with the majority perpetrated by people known to the victim rather than strangers. AARP emphasizes that older adults' trusting nature makes them vulnerable to scams and fraud through email and phone calls. The organization is promoting World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2024, with a community event in Kernersville featuring education, document shredding, and medication disposal services to help combat financial exploitation.
fox13news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Bradenton Police Department established a dedicated Elder and Vulnerable Adult Fraud Unit in response to a surge in elder fraud cases, investigating 36 incidents this year with victims averaging 75 years old and total losses of $2 million. Common scams targeting seniors include phishing messages (one victim lost nearly $50,000 after clicking a fraudulent Facebook link claiming account compromise), romance scams, and untraceable payment methods like gift cards and cryptocurrency. The unit focuses on prevention through education at assisted living facilities and partnerships with banks to identify potential victims before scammers strike.
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Portland Division reported an increase in scammers impersonating federal agents and government officials to extort cash and gold from victims, with couriers collecting payments directly from homes. Seniors over 60 are the primary targets, and in 2023, government impersonation scams resulted in over 14,190 victim reports nationally with losses exceeding $394 million, including $1.7 million in Oregon alone. The FBI emphasized that legitimate federal agencies never call or email threatening arrest or demanding money, and encouraged victims to report suspicious contacts to local law enforcement and the IC3 at ic3.gov.
broadbandbreakfast.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults' losses to fraud and scams have increased significantly, from $1 billion in 2021 to approximately $1.8 billion in reported losses in 2023, with the FTC estimating actual losses may reach as high as $48 billion when accounting for unreported cases. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to business impersonation scams (especially Amazon impersonation), romance scams, tech support scams, and investment scams involving fake cryptocurrency opportunities. Government agencies, tech companies, and nonprofit organizations are working to combat fraud through education, awareness tools, and new coalitions like Tech Against Scams, while also recognizing the significant mental and emotional health impact on scam
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Ishpeming Multi-Purpose Senior Center, in partnership with the Tri County Office of Aging, is hosting a free educational event to teach seniors and caregivers how to prevent fraud and scams targeting phone, text, and email. The event includes trained staff who help identify fraud, prevention strategies, and reporting procedures, with the center extending outreach to seniors with limited technology access throughout Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
carolinajournal.com
· 2025-12-08
North Carolina has experienced a significant spike in insurance fraud since the COVID-19 pandemic, with senior citizens particularly targeted through online scams that convince them to move savings into fraudulent high-return annuities and investment accounts. Additional fraud schemes include door-to-door impostors posing as Department of Insurance employees, medical prescription scams, and staged accidents, with Americans collectively paying over $300 billion annually to cover known insurance fraud costs.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bradenton senior lost nearly $50,000 after clicking on a phishing message on Facebook that falsely claimed her account was hacked and directed her to call a number for help. Bradenton police identified this as part of a broader phishing scam trend on Facebook Messenger designed to steal money, and they advise users to avoid clicking suspicious links or attachments and to report such messages directly to Facebook.
uppermichiganssource.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan's Assistant Attorney General Kristen Stinedurf held a Zoom presentation at the Ishpeming Senior Center to educate seniors about evolving scam tactics, including urgency tactics, secrecy demands, and gift card scams. Attendee Joe Ellen Yeadon reported her bank account had been targeted three times, reflecting a broader community problem. Stinedurf advised seniors to hang up calls or delete texts when offers seem too good to be true.
wtsp.com
· 2025-12-08
Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida's "Protection of Specified Adults" bill into law, which allows banks to delay disbursing funds for up to 15 days if employees suspect seniors aged 65 and older or vulnerable adults are being scammed. Florida seniors reported nearly $300 million in losses from scams, the second-highest in the nation, with cases ranging from phone impersonation schemes to elaborate financial exploitation; the law takes effect in January 2025. Experts recommend protecting against scams by hanging up on suspicious calls, avoiding unverified links, and verifying requests directly with official sources rather than numbers provided by potential scammers.
paymentsdive.com
· 2025-12-08
Zelle parent Early Warning Services and the National Council on Aging launched a joint educational initiative to reach elderly Americans with content about business impostor scams, text messaging scams, and online scams, distributing materials through senior centers and community organizations. About one-third of fraud victims last year were over age 60, with older Americans losing approximately $1.6 billion to scams, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The effort comes as Zelle faces increasing congressional scrutiny over fraud reimbursement policies and criticism that fraud on the platform remains unacceptably high.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau reported a record-high 9,000 phishing scam reports in 2023, nearly doubling from the previous year, with scammers increasingly using text messages and other new technologies to target victims. Red flags include unsolicited emails, texts, and calls claiming suspicious account activity or requesting confirmation of financial information via links. The BBB advises consumers to verify the source of communications and avoid clicking links, noting that banks rarely contact customers via text or email except for fraud alerts, with younger adults (18-24) particularly targeted by text scams and seniors by phone calls.
messenger-inquirer.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP's Scam Prevention Guide addresses the growing threat of fraud targeting seniors through increasingly sophisticated schemes including fake pop-up warnings, romance scams on social media, grandparent scams involving multiple perpetrators, home repair fraud, and impersonation of government agencies like the IRS. The guide emphasizes that seniors are vulnerable to these scams because scammers exploit emotions like fear, loneliness, and the desire to help family members, with perpetrators using personal information and legitimate-sounding tactics to build trust. Protection strategies include not answering calls from unknown numbers, verifying social media profiles before accepting requests, and remembering that legitimate agencies like the IRS contact people by mail, not phone
troyrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
New York's Department of State Division of Consumer Protection released guidance on scams targeting older adults, noting that elder fraud caused over $3.4 billion in losses nationally in 2023, with the average victim losing $33,915. The advisory outlines common scams including medical device, grandparent, jury duty, funeral notification, and IRS imposter schemes, and recommends that seniors hang up on unrecognizable numbers, avoid unsolicited links, and verify requests through trusted phone numbers. Officials emphasized that elder abuse is widely underreported and urged anyone suspecting abuse to contact the New York State Adult Services Helpline at 1-844-697-3505.
kvia.com
· 2025-12-08
According to a 2023 AARP report, approximately $28.3 billion is lost annually to scams in the United States, with senior citizens being frequently targeted by scammers. Investment advisor Brian Mirau notes that retirees are particularly vulnerable and emphasizes the importance of understanding these financial threats.
ncdoj.gov
· 2025-12-08
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein released a resource card in June 2024 to help seniors and families navigate long-term care options and understand available health insurance plans, addressing concerns about costs, staffing, and residents' rights in care facilities. The initiative, part of Elder Abuse Awareness Month, connects residents with state and federal agencies and includes the Department of Justice's Medicaid Investigations Division, which has recovered over $1 billion in restitution and penalties since 1979 and investigates fraud and abuse in Medicaid-funded facilities.
mysuncoast.com
· 2025-12-08
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fox13news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Bradenton Police Department has established a dedicated unit to address the escalating problem of elder fraud affecting senior citizens in their jurisdiction. The creation of this specialized unit reflects the growing prevalence and cost of scams targeting elderly residents.
fingerlakesdailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Title:** New York Department of State Warns of Elder Fraud Epidemic
The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection issued guidance on elder fraud following the FBI's 2023 report showing that scams targeting adults over 60 resulted in $3.4 billion in losses (an 11% increase from 2022), with the average victim losing $33,915. The advisory describes eight common scams affecting older adults—including medical device, grandparent, ghosting, jury duty, funeral notification, sweepstakes, IRS imposter, and free grant scams—and provides prevention tips such as resisting immediate action, verifying caller identity, an
mysuncoast.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, the Bradenton Police Department investigated elder fraud cases resulting in nearly $2 million in losses, prompting the creation of a dedicated Elder Fraud Unit to combat these crimes. Recent cases include a woman who lost $50,000 after clicking a phishing scam on Facebook that directed her to call a fraudulent assistance number, with social media emerging as a particularly effective platform for scammers to target seniors. Police recommend that residents verify requests by calling companies directly rather than clicking links or responding to unsolicited messages, and warn that losses are expected to increase throughout the year.
elkhornmediagroup.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Portland Division reported an increase in government impersonation scams where fraudsters pose as FBI or other federal agents and demand payment via cash, gold, or courier pickups, using intimidation tactics and threatening arrest. In 2023, 14,190 people nationally reported being victims of these scams with losses exceeding $394 million, with the Portland Division alone losing $1.7 million; adults over 60 accounted for 40% of victims but suffered 58% of national losses, with some experiencing home foreclosures, emptied retirement accounts, and suicides due to financial devastation. The FBI advises that legitimate federal agencies never call demanding money or threatening arrest, an
sent-trib.com
· 2025-12-08
The Perrysburg Township Police Department warned residents of phone scams targeting elderly people, citing an incident where a woman was nearly defrauded of $10,000 after being instructed to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM. The department emphasized that legitimate businesses never request payment via Bitcoin or gift cards, and cautioned against allowing anyone remote access to computers or bank accounts under the guise of IT security.
echo.ie
· 2025-12-08
Fraud cases in Tallaght, Ireland increased 65% in 2024 with 86 cases recorded, with romance fraud identified as a significant portion of this rise. Since 2020, over €7 million has been stolen from romance scam victims across Ireland, including cases where individuals lost €35,000-€36,000 after being manipulated by scammers using fake profiles on dating apps. Gardaí advise potential victims to never send money or bank details to online contacts and to be suspicious of those who avoid video calls or ask probing questions without sharing personal information.
daytondailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
An elder victim in Kettering, Ohio lost over $36,000 after clicking a phishing email and providing personal information to scammers posing as tech support personnel; she made payments totaling $5,000 by mail, $18,000 in cash, and $1,000 was stolen electronically before police arrested suspect Karan Karan during an attempted in-person money collection. The case exemplifies tech support scams, which the FBI reports were the leading type of elder fraud in 2023, causing victims 60+ over $3.4 billion in losses that year with an average loss of $33,915 per victim.
wvpublic.org
· 2025-12-08
Federal prosecutors in West Virginia are warning that the state's large elderly population is particularly vulnerable to financial schemes including romance scams and money laundering related to drug and human trafficking, citing West Virginia's older demographics and trusting culture as risk factors. Two U.S. Attorneys are organizing a statewide conference in June to educate financial professionals on recognizing suspicious activity and identifying signs of elder abuse, trafficking, and fraud.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The True Link Card, a prepaid Visa debit card, offers fraud protection for elderly people by allowing adult children to monitor and control spending, including blocking purchases from known scammers and problematic merchants, setting transaction limits, and requiring approval for suspicious charges. The card's founder developed it after his grandmother wrote four checks daily to fraudulent charities, and the $20 annual fee can pay for itself by preventing costly scams and reducing the need for constant financial oversight. The product helps protect seniors from both deliberate fraud and ill-advised purchases by limiting transaction amounts and restricting where the card can be used.
publicnewsservice.org
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud costs the nation $60 billion annually, with Michigan experiencing a rise in scams targeting the 22% of its population enrolled in Medicare. Common scams include imposters claiming to be from Medicare calling to verify personal information and healthcare providers billing for unnecessary services; seniors are advised to hang up on any calls claiming to be from Medicare, monitor their Explanation of Benefits monthly, and report suspicious charges. Last year, 23 Michigan home health-care operators were charged with Medicare fraud totaling over $61 million in fraudulent billings.
chicago.suntimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a personal essay by columnist Mary Mitchell about retirement planning and lifestyle, not a news article about fraud or elder abuse. While the piece briefly mentions that scammers target seniors and that elder fraud resulted in $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 (an 11% increase), the main focus is Mitchell's advice on avoiding depression, staying active, protecting finances from scams, decluttering thoughtfully, and appreciating retirement privileges. The fraud reference serves as one of five general retirement tips rather than detailing a specific scam incident.
wfmj.com
· 2025-12-08
An 85-year-old Boardman man was targeted in a grandparent scam where a caller impersonating his grandson claimed to be in jail, and a second caller posing as an attorney requested $9,500 to resolve the situation. The victim withdrew cash and attempted to ship it via UPS to Connecticut before his daughter discovered the fraud and contacted UPS to stop the delivery. This scam is part of a broader pattern tracked by the FBI, which received over 195 grandparent scam complaints from January through September 2023, resulting in at least $1.9 million in losses.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont, partnering with federal law enforcement agencies, conducted outreach events at senior centers in advance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15, 2024) to educate older adults about financial fraud and elder abuse. The outreach highlighted prevalent scams targeting seniors including government imposter schemes, tech support fraud, romance scams, grandparent scams, and lottery schemes, while emphasizing that elder abuse remains often overlooked and underreported.
kulr8.com
· 2025-12-08
Roxanna Rae Lewis-Stella, 60, of Billings, Montana, was sentenced to four and one-half years in prison for stealing over $700,000 from her elderly mother in Lewistown between November 2021 and July 2023 while serving as her caregiver. Lewis-Stella forged approximately 70 checks, impersonated her mother to banks, intercepted statements, and also stole jewelry and misused her deceased father's credit cards to fund personal expenses including travel, cosmetic procedures, and shopping. The victim was forced to sell her home and move into an assisted living facility after the thefts were discovered, and Lewis-
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud victims, particularly older adults, face a "double whammy" of financial losses when they liquidate retirement accounts to pay scammers, as they incur both the theft and unexpected IRS tax liabilities on the withdrawn funds. In the past year, 880,418 fraud complaints reported losses exceeding $12.5 billion, with current tax law treating stolen funds as taxable income rather than deductible losses. Lawmakers and advocacy groups like AARP are pushing for legislative changes to allow defrauded taxpayers greater tax deductions, and experts urge brokers and banks to better screen for unusual withdrawal requests that may indicate scam activity.
wng.org
· 2025-12-08
A 96-year-old World War II veteran lost over $322,000 of his retirement savings to Ternion Group International LLC, a fraudulent Christian investment company that promised to build a vocational school and purchase homes in Chicago, with his own son (age 70) convincing him to invest; the DOJ charged five people in April 2024, including the son, after the promised projects never materialized and contact ceased in 2020. The case highlights the rising threat of investment scams targeting seniors, with Americans over 60 losing $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, and demonstrates the particular vulnerability of elderly victims who may distrust reporting due to family involvement
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Roxanna Rae Lewis-Stella, 60, was sentenced to four and one-half years in prison for forging approximately 70 checks and stealing over $700,000 from her elderly mother in Lewistown between November 2021 and July 2023 while serving as her caregiver. Lewis-Stella also stole other assets including a silver bar, used her deceased father's credit cards, and forged a life insurance check, concealing her crimes by impersonating her mother to banks and intercepting statements. The theft forced her mother to sell her home and move into assisted living, and Lewis-Stella was ordered to pay $725,145 in restitution
dailymontanan.com
· 2025-12-08
Roxanna Rae Lewis-Stella, 60, of Billings, Montana, stole over $700,000 from her elderly mother while serving as her primary caretaker through forged checks, identity theft, and intercepting bank statements, forcing her mother to sell her home and enter assisted living. Lewis-Stella pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to four years in prison; she also misused her deceased father's credit cards and stole a life insurance check, spending the stolen funds on personal expenses including travel, clothing, and cosmetic procedures. The case highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals dependent on family caregivers and was noted as particularly eg
thedailynewsonline.com
· 2025-12-08
State officials in New York are raising awareness about scams targeting adults age 60 and older, which caused over $3.4 billion in losses nationally in 2023—an 11 percent increase from 2022, with the average victim losing $22,481. Common scams include medical device scams, grandparent scams, identity theft, jury duty scams, funeral notification scams, sweepstakes scams, IRS imposter scams, and free grant scams. Authorities recommend older adults verify caller identities, ignore unsolicited contacts and links, never send money or share banking information, and consult trusted family members before responding to suspicious calls or
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old US citizen testified via video conference from Baltimore against a Kolkata-based cyber fraud gang that defrauded him of several thousand dollars in 2023. The gang, which targeted elderly Americans under the guise of offering technical support, resulted in the arrest of two suspects, Denis Ahmed and Mohammad Iftikhar Ali, after the FBI contacted Indian police through Interpol. This marks the third instance since 2023 of a US victim providing testimony in this manner against Indian-based cyber fraud operations.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 60-year-old man in Nagpur, Chandrasekhar Chaware, was defrauded of ₹87.6 lakh through the Apollo Online Classes app, which falsely promised investment training and profitable returns. Between March and May, Chaware made multiple transfers via IMPS after attending convincing online classes, only to discover the scheme was fraudulent when he attempted to withdraw his alleged profits. Police have registered a case of online financial fraud and are investigating to identify and apprehend the perpetrator.
barrie.ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a regional news roundup from Barrie, Ontario covering various local events and incidents including a house explosion investigation, weather, holiday events, and other community news. While one brief mention references a "speed camera text messaging scam," the article does not provide details about this scam or its impact on any individuals.
thetomahawk.com
· 2025-12-08
Tennessee experienced $36.6 million in elderly fraud losses in 2022, affecting 1,462 residents aged 60 or over (averaging $25,012 per victim), with an incident rate of 87.4 victims per 100,000 elderly residents. Nationally, investment scams caused the largest losses to seniors ($404 million), followed by business impostor and romance scams, with online contact methods and bank transfers being the most common fraud channels. Elderly residents aged 60+ were significantly more vulnerable to tech support scams, being 517% more likely to fall victim compared to younger age groups.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost over $10 billion to scams last year, with organized criminal networks operating from India and Nigeria using US "cash mules" to launder money through untraceable Bitcoin accounts. Seniors with landlines are particularly targeted through various schemes including romance scams (with victims losing up to $2.5 million), fake emergency calls from supposed grandchildren, phishing emails, suspicious text messages, and fake billing notifications. The article advises never sharing personal or financial information with unsolicited callers, texts, or emails, and recommends blocking suspicious contacts, verifying charges directly with banks, and reporting fraud to email service abuse addresses.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Drivers in Massachusetts received scam text messages falsely claiming they owed unpaid E-ZPass tolls, a fraud that the FBI has received over 2,000 complaints about since early March. The scam exploits the common occurrence of drivers unknowingly passing through tolls, making small payment demands seem plausible. E-ZPass confirmed these messages are fake and advised that toll authorities never contact customers via text; recipients should avoid clicking links and instead contact the toll authority directly to verify any legitimate debts.
elliptic.co
· 2025-12-08
AI-enhanced scams are emerging as a potential threat in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, though not yet widespread. Criminals are exploiting AI technology through deepfake videos of celebrities and public figures to promote fake crypto investment schemes, and by creating fraudulent "AI-related" tokens designed for pump-and-dump schemes and rug-pulls that defraud investors. Elliptic released a horizon scanning report identifying five typologies of AI-enabled crypto crimes and recommends industry stakeholders implement best practices and develop strategies to prevent these threats from becoming mainstream.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A scam-baiter named Jim Browning exposed a cryptocurrency investment scam operation based in Georgia, Eastern Europe, that targets victims worldwide by posing as financial advisors and recovery services. The scammers use fake celebrity endorsements and fraudulent websites to lure victims, then display fake cryptocurrency portfolios to convince them their money is growing, with some victims—including an Australian man Browning monitored in real-time—losing thousands of dollars. Australians reported losing over $2.74 billion to scams in the previous year, with attackers particularly targeting older adults with retirement savings.
examiner-enterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It is a community events listing for Bartlesville, Oklahoma, featuring recreational activities such as farmers markets, historical tours, children's activities, and a health fair. It contains no information about scams, fraud, elder abuse, or related incidents.
gvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report revealed that Americans over 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud, an 11% increase from 2022, with Arizona seniors alone losing $128 million (a 56% jump from $82 million in 2022). The article highlights the growing severity of elder fraud and directs readers to resources like R.O.S.E. (Resources/Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly) for information on scams targeting seniors, while noting that vigilant staff at a Green Valley UPS store prevented nearly $200,000 in scammer losses over two years.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 19-year-old California man was indicted for stealing over $20,000 from a 74-year-old Kettering woman through a tech support scam that began with a phishing email. The victim was manipulated into mailing cash and transferring funds through multiple interactions before police arrested the suspect during an attempted in-person money exchange. The case highlights the prevalence of tech support scams targeting seniors, which the FBI identified as the most common elder fraud type in 2023, with victims aged 60+ losing an average of $33,915 each.