Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 22,013 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
6,244 results
in Financial Crime
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada and FBI Las Vegas Division are reinforcing efforts to combat elder fraud during World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, noting that such schemes cost billions annually and affect over 100,000 elder Americans each year. The office charged Aurora Phelps with 21 counts including wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft for allegedly defrauding older men she met through online dating services; Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico. The Justice Department provides a National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-FRAUD-11) offering personalized support to victims age 60 and older, with case managers helping victims report fraud an
news3lv.com
· 2025-12-08
During World Elder Abuse Awareness Month in June, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Nevada and FBI Las Vegas Division announced intensified efforts to combat elder fraud, which costs the U.S. billions annually and affects over 100,000 seniors each year. The agencies highlighted a case involving Aurora Phelps, who faces a 21-count indictment for luring older men through online dating services and stealing their money; she is currently in custody in Mexico. The National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311) offers support to victims aged 60 and older, with officials emphasizing that reporting fraud helps authorities identify perpetrators and recover financial losses.
wdrb.com
· 2025-12-08
A Louisville woman lost $9,000 to a "grandparent scam" in which a caller impersonated her grandson claiming he needed bail money, leading to the identification of a delivery person via doorbell camera footage. The arrest of the suspect at a local hotel within 36 hours initiated a nationwide investigation that ultimately resulted in six federal convictions and exposed an international call center network operating from Canada, Colombia, and Panama that had stolen over $3 million from elderly victims across the U.S. The victim has since recovered approximately half of her lost money and now recognizes such scams.
yubanet.com
· 2025-12-08
On June 20, 2025, Rushabh Rajesh Desai, 35, of San Jose, was arrested by Nevada County Sheriff's Office deputies after attempting to scam a 75-year-old woman out of $30,000 through a phone scam; a concerned friend called 911 during the scam in progress, and deputies located Desai's vehicle near the victim's residence before the money could be handed over. Desai was charged with conspiracy to commit crime, attempting to obtain money by false pretense, and elder theft. The incident highlights the importance of contacting law enforcement or a trusted person immediately when suspicious contact occurs, as this quick action prevented the
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Jelissa LaCour, age 36, a Jefferson Parish resident, was indicted in June 2025 on two counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft for fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program loans using falsified tax forms and Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds using the identities of purported renters and accomplices. If convicted, LaCour faces up to 20 years imprisonment for each wire fraud count and up to two years for each identity theft count, plus fines up to $250,000 per count.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A Philadelphia man lost over $1 million in two consecutive scams orchestrated by a fraudster posing as "Daisy" from Apple customer support. The scam began when he called a fake Apple support number, and evolved from a customer service fraud (where he was tricked into buying gift cards) into a romance scam that built trust over months of daily communication, ultimately resulting in him handing over $780,000 in precious metals to a money mule. The article warns consumers to watch for red flags including fake customer support numbers, lookalike websites, unsolicited contact, and suspicious requests for money or assets.
valadao.house.gov
· 2025-12-08
The House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 2481, the Romance Scam Prevention Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman David Valadao that requires dating apps to notify users who have interacted with accounts removed for fraudulent activity. According to the FTC, romance scams cost Americans over $1.1 billion in 2023, disproportionately affecting seniors who are often conned out of their life savings by scammers using fake profiles.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A Houston couple, Darlington Akporugo (47) and Jasmin Sood (37), were sentenced to 188 and 121 months in prison respectively for operating a romance scam that defrauded over 25 victims nationwide of more than $3.1 million, with many victims being elderly women and widows. The pair used fake social media identities to build romantic relationships, then convinced victims to send money for fake business investments and personal emergencies, while Sood created fraudulent bank accounts under aliases to launder the funds. Both defendants were ordered to pay full restitution of $3.1 million and serve three years of supervised release.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies eight prevalent online scams in 2025, including phishing, verification malware, impersonation, fake job offers, holiday delivery fraud, donation scams, romance scams, and fake police calls. The article advises readers to watch for red flags such as urgency in messaging, requests for sensitive information (OTPs, passwords), unsolicited job offers asking for upfront payment, suspicious links, and emotional manipulation tactics. Key protection strategies include verifying sender identity through official channels, avoiding clicking links in unsolicited messages, never running commands from unknown websites, and being skeptical of legitimate-seeming requests from companies or government agencies.
wnegradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Justice Department announced increased prosecution efforts against elder fraud schemes, which cost victims billions of dollars annually and often deplete life savings. The Northern District of Georgia has prosecuted multiple cases including an Indian call center scam where perpetrators impersonated government officials to fraudulently obtain funds, resulting in convictions and money laundering charges against Pradip Parikh, Alpesh Patel, and others. The Justice Department employs a two-pronged approach combining criminal prosecution with community outreach and education about common elder fraud schemes including romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams.
ohioattorneygeneral.gov
· 2025-12-08
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost convened a sold-out World Elder Abuse Awareness Month conference at Ohio State University to address emerging threats to older adults, including cryptocurrency scams, modern financial fraud, and AI-enabled schemes in the digital era. Yost announced a new partnership with the Ohio Pharmacists Association to train pharmacists in recognizing abuse warning signs and promoting the Elder Abuse Hotline (1-855-OHIO-APS), leveraging pharmacists' regular contact with seniors over 60. The state's Elder Justice Unit and newly expanded Electronic Fraud Investigations unit work to identify criminal operations targeting older adults, recover stolen funds, and support victims across all demographic backgrounds
jambroadcasting.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dietert Center in Kerrville is offering free scam awareness seminars this week, including an Elder Fraud/Exploitation Seminar on June 24 presented by Texas Partners Bank covering how to identify legitimate bank alerts versus scams, and a Scam Awareness Presentation on June 26 by Kerrville Police Department addressing phishing and other criminal scamming tactics. These educational sessions aim to help community members protect themselves from fraud and exploitation.
explorejeffersonpa.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Clearfield County lost $1,750 to scammers who posed as dog sellers on fictitious websites, instructing her to pay via gift cards between June 13-16. In separate incidents, state police also arrested a driver for drug possession and drug paraphernalia in Big Run Borough on June 20, and investigated a sex offender's failure to comply with Megan's Law registration requirements in Jefferson County.
12news.com
· 2025-12-08
A Jamaican man, Sherwayne Benjamin Bellinfantie, was extradited to Arizona and charged with wire fraud and money laundering for deceiving an 85-year-old woman in Vail, Arizona into sending nearly $400,000 between 2015 and 2019 through a romance scam involving fake lottery winnings. The FBI reports that online lottery scams targeting seniors in Arizona increased 400% between 2023 and 2024, with such international prosecutions being exceptionally rare. The article notes common scams include "pig butchering" schemes involving cryptocurrency and tech support frauds, and recommends avoiding unknown contacts, urgent messages, an
liherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Nearly 25 seniors at General Douglas MacArthur Village in Hempstead attended a scam awareness workshop presented by the Office of Crime Victim Advocate on June 9, where they learned to recognize and avoid common fraud schemes including romance scams, identity theft, deed theft, and "grandparent scams." The training, which covered tactics like phishing and bogus official calls that create artificial urgency, statistically reduces victimization risk by 80 percent according to studies. The New Greater Hempstead Chamber of Commerce Committee on Aging continues to provide resources and will host another awareness workshop in September.
koreaherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Thai police arrested 21 people (20 South Korean nationals and one Chinese national) operating an online romance scam from a luxury villa in Chon Buri Province after a tip from the South Korean Embassy revealed a kidnapped victim being forced to work for the operation. Officers discovered scripted investment pitch materials and confiscated electronic devices, indicating the group was part of a larger transnational fraud network. All suspects remained in custody facing legal proceedings under Thai law.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
One month after Telegram banned two major Chinese-language cryptocurrency scam marketplaces (Haowang Guarantee and Xinbi Guarantee) that had facilitated $35 billion in transactions, the black market operations have largely reconstituted themselves on the platform. Smaller competing marketplaces, particularly Tudou Guarantee (which has doubled in size to 289,000 users and now processes approximately $15 million daily), have filled the void left by the bans and continue enabling money laundering for investment scams operating from Southeast Asian compounds that victimize millions worldwide and exploit forced labor. Telegram's enforcement appears ineffective, as the same illicit services—money laundering, stolen
nationthailand.com
· 2025-12-08
On March 10, 2025, UN Special Rapporteurs sent a formal letter to Thailand alleging that sophisticated online scam centers across Southeast Asia are exploiting victims globally—including elderly persons—through coerced labor in romance scams, financial fraud, and fake investment schemes. Victims are lured by deceptive job advertisements, held in guarded compounds with confiscated passports, subjected to physical abuse, and forced to commit crimes for minimal pay, with Thailand serving as a key transit hub and resource provider for these operations. The UN formally requested Thailand clarify its response to these allegations and ensure trafficking victims are not prosecuted for crimes committed under duress, while also requesting similar
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Garrett County Sheriff Bryson Meyers issued a public awareness reminder about common scams targeting residents in the area, including tech support fraud, grandparent scams, government impersonation, romance scams, investment fraud, AI voice cloning, jury duty scams, and law enforcement impersonation. Residents are advised never to send money or personal information to unknown callers, avoid unsolicited pop-ups, and be alert to payment requests via Bitcoin or prepaid cards, as legitimate officials do not solicit payments by phone.
hellorayo.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Over the past three years, Essex residents lost more than £5.5 million to romance fraud, with 549 reported cases averaging £10,142 per victim, often targeting vulnerable older adults seeking companionship. One Kent woman lost nearly £100,000 and her home after being deceived by a scammer posing as an American serviceman on social media, and subsequently victimized again by extortion and impersonation scams. Police advise potential victims to avoid sending money to online contacts they haven't met in person, verify profile photos through reverse image searches, limit personal information sharing, and consult trusted friends and family rather than allowing fraudsters to isolate them.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI has filed to seize nearly $680,000 in cryptocurrency from a sophisticated romance scam targeting professionals on LinkedIn and dating apps. Two victims—a Solon, Ohio resident who lost $500,000 and an Arizona woman who lost $63,000—were deceived into investing in cryptocurrency after scammers built trust through social media before moving conversations to encrypted platforms. Investigators traced the stolen funds across blockchain networks, identifying how criminals converted the stolen assets to Tether stablecoin, demonstrating law enforcement's growing ability to track cryptocurrency fraud despite the technology's irreversible transactions and pseudonymous nature.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
FBI arrested multiple Ghanaian nationals, including Kofi Boat (associate of musician Shatta Wale) and Dada Joe Remix, in connection with a decade-long transnational fraud scheme involving romance scams that targeted elderly Americans from 2013 to 2023, with one case involving a $100 million fraud scheme. The suspects face charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, with stolen funds allegedly laundered and distributed to co-conspirators across Ghana and other countries. A local radio presenter attributed the fraud activity to Ghana's entertainment industry's shift toward materialism over genuine talent, advocating for wealthy individuals to redirect focus toward national development.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
The Central Bureau of Investigation uncovered a ₹100 crore GST refund fraud scheme involving a serving IRS customs officer and 29 others across Bihar and Jharkhand. The conspirators, including senior customs officials and private traders, fabricated export transactions for tiles and automobile parts to fraudulently claim GST refunds and tax exemptions, with raids recovering gold, forged documents, and digital evidence. The case highlights vulnerabilities in India's GST refund mechanisms and raises concerns about corruption within revenue enforcement agencies.
theglobeandmail.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple finance professionals, including Bank of Montreal's Brian Belski and economist David Rosenberg, have fallen victim to imposter scams using AI-generated deepfake videos and fake social media accounts to lure investors into WhatsApp groups offering fraudulent investment advice. Rosenberg's firm reported collective losses exceeding $1 million from victims who were convinced to invest in stocks that artificially inflated then plummeted in value. Canadian net losses from social media-initiated investment scams have surged 95 percent since 2021 to $128.4 million annually, with law enforcement and social media platforms struggling to remove fraudulent content quickly enough to prevent harm.
wirralglobe.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance fraud reports rose 9% nationally, with Merseyside Police recording 150 incidents in 2024 resulting in £2.4m in combined losses. People aged 50-59 suffered the highest financial losses at £22.1m nationally, targeted due to greater financial assets and vulnerability during life transitions like divorce or bereavement. Scammers use "love bombing" tactics to build trust and emotional dependence before requesting money; authorities advise victims to verify identities, stay within dating app messaging, and report suspicious activity to Action Fraud or Crimestoppers.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
A 60-year-old retired Air Force officer in Noida was defrauded of ₹1 crore in a sophisticated "digital arrest" scam where cybercriminals posing as Mumbai Police and CBI officers kept him isolated via video call for 27 days, gradually coercing him to transfer his savings under the pretense of a money laundering investigation. The scam involved doctored documents, impersonation of senior officials, and psychological manipulation to prevent the victim from contacting anyone, and was only discovered when a relative grew suspicious after being unable to reach him. Noida Police have launched an investigation in collaboration with bank authorities and cyber forensic experts, with preliminary
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Sandy Hunter fell victim to a text message toll scam in January after receiving a fraudulent text requesting payment for tolls from her cross-country trip; she clicked the link and made a payment, resulting in $300 in unauthorized purchases on her credit card in California. The scam exploited her hurried state and emotional response to the threat of driver's license suspension, demonstrating how toll text scams are currently common in Utah. Hunter and FBI officials at a Scam Jam awareness event in Salt Lake City advised victims to verify sender information (checking country codes), avoid using debit cards for online payments, and take time to review websites carefully before entering payment information.
pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
The US Justice Department filed a civil forfeiture complaint to recover $225.3 million in stolen Tether cryptocurrency from seven virtual currency addresses, with the goal of returning funds to at least 430 victims of cryptocurrency investment scams. The scams, often called "pig butchering," typically begin with contact via text, social media, or dating apps, where perpetrators build rapport before manipulating victims into fake investment schemes; the FBI estimates these frauds caused $9.3 billion in losses in 2024, with seniors over 60 losing approximately $2.8 billion. Victims who believe they were affected are urged to file reports through the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center website
kentonline.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Sarah from Faversham lost £100,000 and her home to romance fraudsters who contacted her on social media in 2022, posing as an American serviceman and later using sextortion and fake FBI impersonation tactics to extract additional funds. Police report that romance scammers stole £3.1 million from 240 victims in the last financial year, averaging £13,000 per person, with the crimes targeting vulnerable individuals by building trust over months before requesting money for various fabricated expenses. Authorities advise never sending money to people met only online and recommend consulting trusted friends or family if something seems suspicious.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced increased efforts to combat elder fraud schemes—including romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandpament scams—that cost victims billions of dollars and deplete life savings. The office employs a two-pronged approach: prosecuting domestic and foreign criminals involved in elder fraud and money laundering, and conducting outreach to law enforcement and community groups on prevention and detection. The National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-372-8311) provides free support to seniors age 60 and older who have experienced financial fraud, offering victim assessment, reporting assistance,
newstalkkgvo.com
· 2025-12-08
A scammer from India was arrested and charged with wire fraud after defrauding a Missoula senior citizen out of over $1 million through an elaborate impersonation scheme. The perpetrator initially posed as an Amazon representative, then claimed the victim's identity had been stolen and transferred her to accomplices posing as Social Security and U.S. Marshal Service officials, who convinced her to hand over cash in multiple pickups under the pretense of "legalizing" it for her protection. Law enforcement arrested the suspect during a sting operation when he returned to collect the final payment.
local10.com
· 2025-12-08
A 48-year-old Miami man was arrested in Standish, Maine after flying to New England to collect money from an elderly woman who had been victimized by a "grandparent scam." The woman had withdrawn $9,500 believing she was paying legal fees for her grandson's arrest, but Bighoro was the in-person collector for the fraud scheme. He faces charges of theft by deception and operating with a suspended license.
ksl.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam Jam, an educational event held in Sandy, Utah, brought together FBI and AARP experts to educate residents about common fraud schemes including romance, internet, cryptocurrency, and tech support scams. The event featured a personal testimony from Rita, who lost several thousand dollars to a romance scam impersonating a celebrity, emphasizing the importance of reporting fraud despite the emotional and financial toll. Utah reported over 150,000 fraud cases totaling $61 million in losses, with experts stressing that fraud prevention through awareness and recognizing red flags is more effective than recovery efforts.
diyatvusa.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Indian nationals studying in the United States were sentenced to prison for their roles in separate elder fraud schemes targeting elderly Americans. Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel received 63 months for operating as a "money mule" in a phishing scam impersonating federal officials that defrauded at least 25 elderly victims of over $2.6 million, while Moinuddin Mohammed received 8 years for a similar impersonation scheme resulting in nearly $6 million in losses. Both cases highlight growing transnational fraud operations exploiting vulnerable seniors through government impersonation and threats of legal action.
news.outsourceaccelerator.com
· 2025-12-08
Pranav Patel, a 33-year-old Indian national, was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in federal prison for operating as a money collector in a $1.79 million government impersonation scam that targeted elderly Americans, with co-conspirators posing as government agents and threatening victims with arrest to extort cash and gold. Patel traveled along the East Coast collecting packages from vulnerable seniors, including one victim who was forced to sell his home after losing his life savings. Law enforcement recovered most of the funds after arresting Patel during a planned collection operation, though overseas call center operators remain under investigation.
valley.newhavenindependent.org
· 2025-12-08
Harry Danley Jr., a city public works employee in Ansonia, was arrested and charged with first-degree larceny in June 2024 for allegedly convincing an 85-year-old woman with mild dementia to write him approximately $25,000 in checks. Danley claims the money were loans he intended to repay after selling his home, not theft, and maintains he should face civil rather than criminal charges, though police note he has missed multiple repayment deadlines and still owes the victim $23,770. The case is scheduled for court on July 22, 2024.
mobileidworld.com
· 2025-12-08
Two California brothers-in-law, Ayman Alaaraj and Ahmad Nassar, were indicted on 17 counts of bank fraud and identity theft for stealing $794,000 from elderly victims through phone number porting schemes that bypassed two-factor authentication security measures. The defendants allegedly took control of victims' phone numbers to intercept security codes and gain unauthorized access to financial accounts, transferring funds without permission. The case highlights growing vulnerabilities in SMS-based authentication systems and carries potential sentences of up to 30 years in prison for each defendant.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
Two Indian nationals on student visas, Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel and Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya, were convicted in a $2.69 million elder fraud scheme targeting at least 25 elderly U.S. citizens through phishing and impersonation of government officials; Patel received 63 months in prison and was arrested in Texas attempting to collect $130,000 in illicit proceeds. The U.S. Embassy in India issued a formal warning that visa holders engaging in illegal activities face immediate visa revocation and permanent ineligibility, highlighting a growing pattern of international student fraud exploited for elder scams.
theprescotttimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Since January 1, 2025, the Prescott area has experienced over $2 million in reported scam losses, with seniors particularly vulnerable to romance scams, bank impersonation schemes, warrant scams, and gift card fraud. Notable cases include a $632,000 romance scam and gift card losses exceeding $33,000, with scammers using emotional manipulation and pressure tactics to request untraceable payments via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or electronic platforms. The Prescott Police Department urges residents to remain vigilant, hang up on suspicious callers, and contact their 24/7 dispatch line at (928) 445-3131 if they suspect fraud.
boernestar.com
· 2025-12-08
On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the FBI highlighted the growing threat of elder fraud, reporting $4.885 billion in losses from 147,127 complaints in 2024—a 46% increase in complaints and 43% increase in losses compared to 2023. Seniors are targeted for various scams including investment schemes, technical support fraud, romance scams, and money mule operations because they are often perceived as trusting, financially stable, and less likely to report crimes. The FBI recommends seniors verify unknown contacts online, resist pressure to act quickly, avoid unsolicited offers, never share personal information or money with unverified sources, and report suspected fraud immediately to local law enforcement
ctnewsjunkie.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chuck Grassley introduced a resolution designating June as National Elder Abuse Awareness Month in recognition of the widespread problem affecting seniors. According to the resolution, approximately one in six older Americans experienced some form of abuse in a community setting in the previous year, yet elder abuse remains vastly underreported, with only one in 24 cases reported overall and just one in 44 cases of financial exploitation reported. The resolution calls for increased public awareness and prevention efforts to protect seniors from physical abuse, emotional exploitation, financial scams, neglect, and other forms of exploitation that frequently occur in private homes and care facilities.
lethbridgeherald.com
· 2025-12-08
**Seniors and Financial Fraud - Overview and Rising Threats**
People age 60 and over lost $3.4 billion combined to fraud in 2023, with scammers increasingly targeting older adults through evolving methods including phone impersonation, online platforms like Facebook, and cryptocurrency schemes. Common scams include the grandparent scam, tech support fraud, romance scams, and investment schemes that exploit seniors' trust and lower technological proficiency. Law enforcement notes that fraudsters now use sophisticated tools and AI to appear more credible, making it essential for seniors to remain vigilant about unsolicited contact and requests for personal or financial information.
hometownstations.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men, Jinrong Shi (28) and Jiyang Zhong (27), were indicted on 10 counts for defrauding elderly victims in Northeast Ohio through "grandparent" and "tech support" scams in May-June 2024, stealing over $201,000 from residents in Cleveland Heights, Willoughby, Canton, and Warren. The defendants worked with a criminal network of "fraud callers" and "fraud couriers" who convinced victims to withdraw cash and used passwords to gain trust, then laundered proceeds across state lines and through cryptocurrency accounts in China. Both men face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Ridwan Adeleke Adepoju, a 33-year-old Nigerian national, was sentenced to 43 months in federal prison for operating multiple cyber fraud schemes from Nigeria that targeted U.S. citizens and businesses, including those in the Chicago area. His schemes included phishing scams, romance scams, and fraudulent tax return submissions, utilizing spoofed emails, fake social media accounts, and unwitting money mules to victimize numerous victims. Adepoju was arrested in the United Kingdom, extradited to the U.S., and pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges.
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint to seize $225.3 million in cryptocurrency stolen from over 430 victims across multiple states through romance scams and investment fraud schemes operated by actors in the Philippines and Vietnam. Scammers, operating from what authorities believe were "scam compounds," contacted victims via social media posing as potential romantic interests or legitimate investment advisors, directing them to deposit funds into fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms before locking them out of accounts. This represents the largest cryptocurrency seizure in U.S. Secret Service history and demonstrates law enforcement's growing capacity to use blockchain analysis to trace and recover stolen digital assets.
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults are vulnerable to financial fraud from family members and trusted individuals, not just external scammers. Experts recommend protecting against family financial abuse by establishing a trusted team to oversee finances, automating bill payments, monitoring accounts regularly, organizing legal documents (power of attorney, wills), requiring dual signatures for major transactions, and watching for red flags such as unusual financial activity, missing valuables, and unauthorized account changes.
hilinetoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice is intensifying efforts to combat financial fraud targeting seniors in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, highlighting recent prosecutions including a Montana case where a man allegedly stole over $1 million from an elderly victim through an India-based scam. Officials are urging community members to monitor older adults for signs of abuse or suspicious financial activity and report concerns to authorities, with victims able to access support through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Family members can commit financial fraud against seniors in retirement, with red flags including unusual account activity, missing valuables, suspicious signatures, and unauthorized changes to wills or powers of attorney. Experts recommend protecting yourself through estate planning, forming a trusted financial care team, automating bill payments, securing personal information, obtaining legal documents like powers of attorney and wills, and implementing dual signatures or co-trustees to prevent any single person from having complete financial control.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Jamaican national Sherwayne Benjamin Bellinfantie was extradited to the United States in June 2025 to face charges for participating in a romance and lottery sweepstakes scheme that defrauded an 85-year-old Arizona resident of over $400,000 between 2015 and 2019. Bellinfantie and co-conspirators posed as romantic interests and falsely claimed the victim had won lottery prizes, requesting money for taxes and fees, while sending flowers to reinforce the deception. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, each carrying a maximum 20-year prison sentence.
broadandliberty.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder abuse and fraud targeting seniors remains a persistent problem, with the FBI reporting $4.885 billion in losses from 147,127 complaints in 2024—a 46% increase in complaints and 43% increase in losses compared to 2023. Criminals exploit elderly individuals through various schemes including investment scams, technical support fraud, romance scams, and home invasions, targeting them because they are perceived as polite, trusting, financially stable, and less likely to report crimes. The FBI emphasizes the need for public education about these scams and their devastating financial and emotional impacts on victims and their families.