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2news.com
· 2025-12-08
43-year-old Aurora Phelps of Las Vegas was charged in a 21-count indictment for running a romance scam targeting older men through online dating services between July 2021 and December 2022, during which she allegedly drugged victims and stole from their bank accounts. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping, with a potential life sentence if convicted on all counts. The FBI is seeking additional victims and has established resources including a dedicated webpage and the National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311) for those 60 and older who may
wbaltv.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, Bumble) to target at least four older men in 2021-2022, drugging them with prescription sedatives and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through bank accounts, credit cards, and stock sales in what FBI officials described as "romance scam on steroids." Three of the victims died, and Phelps—currently in custody in Mexico—faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death, with investigators seeking her extradition and urging additional potential victims to come forward.
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps to lure at least four older men into meeting her, then drugged them with sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in what authorities called a "romance scam on steroids." Three of the victims died, including one whom Phelps is alleged to have heavily sedated and transported across the U.S.-Mexico border to a Mexico City hotel where he was found dead; a fourth victim awoke from a coma after being given prescription sedatives over a week. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico and facing 21 federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death,
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Romance Scam with Drugging and Theft**
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, was indicted on 21 counts including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping for allegedly meeting older men through online dating services, drugging them, and stealing money from their financial accounts between July 2021 and December 2022. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces up to life in prison if convicted, and the FBI is actively seeking to identify additional victims through an investigative website.
news3lv.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, has been charged in a 21-count indictment for orchestrating a deadly romance scam targeting older men aged 60-70 between 2019 and 2022. Phelps allegedly lured at least 11 victims through online dating apps, met them in person, drugged them with sedatives, and stole their money, vehicles, and identities; at least three victims died, including one she allegedly sedated and transported across the U.S./Mexico border in a wheelchair. She currently faces charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death, with a
fox5vegas.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a Las Vegas woman currently incarcerated in Mexico awaiting extradition, has been indicted by federal prosecutors for orchestrating romance scams targeting older men between July 2021 and December 2022. Phelps allegedly lured victims through online dating applications, drugged them with prescription sedatives, and stole millions of dollars through unauthorized access to their bank accounts, brokerage accounts, credit cards, and vehicles; at least three victims died, including one man she allegedly pushed across the border in a wheelchair. She faces multiple federal charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, kidnapping, and kidnapping resulting in death, with a potential life sentence if convicted.
reviewjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, ran a "romance scam on steroids" targeting elderly victims primarily in their 60s and 70s through online dating applications over more than three years, resulting in at least three deaths. Phelps drugged victims with prescription sedatives and controlled substances, then stole their vehicles, bank accounts, and credit cards; in one case, she liquidated $3.3 million of a victim's Apple stock. She faces a 21-count indictment including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping charges, is currently incarcerated in Mexico awaiting extradition, and the FBI has
wdsu.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble to lure at least four older men, whom she drugged with sedatives and robbed of hundreds of thousands of dollars between 2021 and 2022; three men died, including one she allegedly transported unconscious across the U.S.-Mexico border. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death, with authorities believing additional victims exist in both countries. Her victims lost substantial sums including approximately $3.3 million in stolen Apple stock, vehicles, bank account funds, and credit card charges
themirror.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, a Nevada woman currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 counts including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death for operating what the FBI called a "romance scam on steroids." Using dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble, Phelps targeted at least four men between 2021 and 2022, luring them to meet in person before secretly drugging them with sedatives and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through theft of vehicles, bank withdrawals, credit card purchases, and unauthorized access to investment accounts—with three of the victims dying and one victim being transported across the U.
championnewspapers.com
· 2025-12-08
Identity theft and consumer fraud are growing significantly in the digital age, with the FTC receiving over 5.7 million fraud reports in 2021 and the ITRC documenting a 68 percent increase in data compromises compared to 2020. Common scams targeting North Americans include phone scams impersonating government agencies, phishing emails with malware, text message links requesting personal information, Medicare card verification schemes targeting seniors, and large-scale data breaches at major companies. Consumers should never share personal information over the phone unless they've verified legitimacy, avoid clicking suspicious links, be cautious of emails from apparent legitimate sources, and monitor credit regularly for unauthorized activity.
mor-tv.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble to lure at least four older men to meet her in 2021-2022, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars through a "romance scam on steroids." Three of the victims died, and Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 counts including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death; she allegedly stole vehicles, drained bank accounts, used credit cards for luxury purchases, and attempted to access retirement accounts, with one victim losing approximately $3.3 million
wmtw.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble to lure at least four older men to meet her between 2021-2022, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars through a "romance scam on steroids." Three of the victims died, and Phelps—currently in custody in Mexico—has been charged with 21 counts including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death, with stolen assets including approximately $3.3 million in Apple stock, vehicles, bank account withdrawals, and luxury goods. The FBI is seeking
kcci.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, Bumble) to lure at least four older men between 2021-2022, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars, including approximately $3.3 million in Apple stock from one victim's E-Trade account. Three of the men died, and Phelps faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death; she is currently in custody in Mexico pending extradition. The FBI is seeking additional victims and has created a website for the public to report information about this "romance scam on ster
ktnv.com
· 2025-12-08
A 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, Aurora Phelps, was arrested in Mexico for operating romance scams targeting older men across multiple states from 2019-2022. Phelps met victims on dating sites, gained their trust, drugged them with sedatives, and stole their financial information and bank accounts, with one victim allegedly losing millions in liquidated stock; the FBI identified at least four victims (two from Nevada, one each from Arkansas and Mexico) and believes three U.S. citizens died as a result of her crimes. Phelps faces 21 federal charges including bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death, and is awaiting extra
scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps to target at least four elderly men between 2021 and 2022, drugging them with prescription sedatives and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through a scheme the FBI called a "romance scam on steroids." Three victims died, including one whom Phelps allegedly sedated, transported across the U.S.-Mexico border in a wheelchair, and abandoned in a Mexico City hotel room; she also stole their vehicles, drained bank accounts, used credit cards for luxury purchases, and attempted to access their social security and retirement accounts. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud,
ttnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Double-brokering scams in the trucking industry involve fraudsters using identity theft to impersonate legitimate trucking companies and brokers, bidding on freight loads through load boards, and then diverting shipments to cross-docks where cargo is laundered and stolen. The scam exploits the legitimate practice of co-brokering by operating covertly, causing loss of communication and visibility while organized cargo criminal rings use industry knowledge to deceive drivers into picking up loads destined for theft. Detection methods include monitoring for impossible travel patterns, unusual account activity, and behavioral analytics, with load board operator DAT closing over 12,000 fraudulent accounts between 2022-2023.
newindianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
The call merging scam is a phishing method where fraudsters pose as acquaintances or professionals and trick victims into merging phone calls, then exploit the merged line to capture one-time passwords (OTPs) from banking apps and complete unauthorized transactions. The scam works by timing the call merge with a victim's bank OTP verification, causing the victim to unwittingly share sensitive authentication codes that enable account theft. The National Payments Corporation of India warns users to avoid merging calls with unknown numbers, never share OTPs over the phone, and immediately report suspicious OTP receipts to prevent financial loss.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, has been charged in a 21-count indictment for an elaborate romance scam in which she allegedly used online dating apps to lure elderly men, drug them, and steal from their bank and investment accounts, resulting in at least three deaths and over $3 million in losses. One victim was allegedly drugged, pushed across the US-Mexico border in a wheelchair, and found dead in a Mexico City hotel room hours later; another victim died on his bathroom floor after a date in Guadalajara. Phelps, currently in Mexican custody, faces charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, kidnapping, and kidnapping
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, Bumble) to target at least four older men seeking companionship, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars through identity theft, unauthorized bank withdrawals, credit card fraud, and asset liquidation—resulting in at least three deaths, including one victim she allegedly transported across the U.S.-Mexico border in a coma. Phelps, a dual U.S.-Mexico citizen currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death, with a potential life sentence if convicted on all counts.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Los Angeles woman, was arrested in Mexico and charged with 21 counts of wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death for allegedly operating a "romance scam" targeting primarily elderly men on dating apps (Hinge, Tinder, Bumble) between 2019 and 2022. Phelps lured victims into meeting her in person, then drugged them with sedatives and stole their personal information to fraudulently access their bank, retirement, and investment accounts—in one case stealing $3.3 million in Apple stock; at least three of her victims died, including one
wtap.com
· 2025-12-08
West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey issued a consumer warning about scammers impersonating charities and disaster relief organizations to solicit donations following severe flooding in southern West Virginia. The office provided guidance to consumers on identifying legitimate charities, including verifying established organizations, avoiding cash or wire transfer payments, using credit cards, and checking for secure website connections (https://). Consumers can report suspected fraud to the Attorney General's consumer protection division at 800-368-8808 or file complaints online at www.ago.wv.gov.
barchart.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonate the IRS through phishing emails and smishing texts, directing victims to fake links or requesting personal information by claiming urgent account updates are needed. Tax season presents a prime opportunity for fraudsters, who exploited emotional tactics around penalties and refunds to steal $5.7 billion from U.S. taxpayers in 2022. The IRS recommends avoiding these scams by remembering that legitimate IRS contact occurs through regular mail, not email or text, unless you specifically requested a callback.
thephuketnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam calls and online fraud in Phuket, Thailand have dramatically escalated, with victims jumping from 1,365 in 2022 (B10.9 million in losses) to 5,510 in 2024 (B413 million in losses). In January 2025 alone, Thailand recorded 31,165 technology-related fraud cases averaging 1,005 per day, with fraudulent online sales, job offer scams, and investment schemes causing over B2 billion in damages. Authorities recommend verifying suspicious calls by hanging up and blocking the number, using caller ID apps, and remembering that legitimate government notifications arrive as physical letters, not
mainichi.jp
· 2025-12-08
A man in his 70s in Sapporo, Japan lost 3.7 million yen (approximately $24,400) in a "special fraud" scam in January when three individuals posing as police officers and government officials convinced him he was involved in money laundering and needed to transfer funds to prove his innocence. The scammers used multiple tactics including fake arrest warrants, international phone calls with fabricated explanations, claims of confidential investigations, and persistent demands for daily ATM transfers, exploiting the victim's anxiety and social isolation over 10 days before he realized the deception. The victim, who lost his retirement savings, continues to experience psychological trauma including heart palp
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
Five Florida defendants were convicted in a 401(k) fraud scheme that targeted retired school district employees, stealing $1.1 million in retirement funds between January and March 2022. Ronald Vargas, an employee of the retirement fund company, worked with co-conspirators to submit fraudulent withdrawal forms and transfer victims' funds to accounts they controlled. All five defendants face sentencing on April 28, 2025, with potential sentences up to 20 years imprisonment and mandatory minimum sentences of two years for conspiracy charges.
centredaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Five Florida residents, including Ronald Vargas who worked for a 401(k) management company, orchestrated a fraud scheme that stole over $1 million from the retirement accounts of 25 older, retired school district employees between January and March 2022. Vargas exploited his access to employees' personal information and authority to approve withdrawals, while his co-conspirators laundered the stolen funds through cash withdrawals and luxury purchases; the group successfully stole $1,007,563 of the $1.4 million they attempted to take. All five defendants have been convicted or pleaded guilty to charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and money laundering, with sentencing schedule
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, is accused of using online dating apps to lure at least four older men, then drugging them with sedatives and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through a sophisticated romance scam that resulted in at least three deaths. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, kidnapping, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death, with potential life sentences; she is believed to have targeted victims between 2019 and 2022, stealing their vehicles, bank accounts, credit cards, and attempting to access retirement accounts while victims were incapacitated.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, was indicted on multiple federal charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping for allegedly luring older men through dating apps and online services, drugging them, and stealing their financial information. Her alleged victims include at least two men who died and one who disappeared; in documented cases, she stole approximately $3.3 million in Apple stock from one victim and over $10,000 from another before his death in Mexico. The FBI is seeking additional victims and has taken custody of Phelps, who was arrested in Mexico in September 2023 pending extradition to the United States.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Drivers are being targeted with fraudulent text messages claiming unpaid toll fees and threatening increased late fees or DMV reports if payment isn't made within 12 hours. The scam directs victims to fake websites that collect personal information and payment card details, with toll fee text scams experiencing a 731 percent increase between December and January. Experts advise ignoring such messages and instead verifying toll balances directly through official state highway websites rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Hyderabad are defrauding US visa applicants by posing as agents who claim to secure interview slots, charging Rs 10,000 or more while creating fake appointment letters and locking victims out of their official accounts by changing login credentials and security questions. Victims reported losses ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 18,000, with scammers operating through social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram. The US Consulate in Hyderabad has warned applicants that visa agents are unnecessary and advised applicants to complete applications independently through the official USTravelDocs.com website.
onlineathens.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple fraud cases were reported in Athens during February, ranging from $11,000 to nearly $2 million in losses. Victims included a man who lost $1.734 million in a fake investment scheme promising unrealistic returns (80-380% monthly profits), a woman whose identity was used to steal $184,693 through a fraudulent bank account, and an 83-year-old woman who lost $11,000 before bank employees intervened to prevent her from withdrawing an additional $60,000 for a gift card scam. Police recommend verifying communications through official channels, being suspicious of unsolicited contact, and not trusting caller ID.
news4jax.com
· 2025-12-08
Susan and Todd Hopper of Jacksonville fell victim to a coordinated cyber fraud scheme that began with a hacked Facebook account, which scammers then used to compromise their Venmo and American Express accounts and post a fraudulent car listing to defraud their friends. Although the Hoppers prevented direct financial losses by alerting their banks promptly, some of their friends lost money responding to the fake car ad, and the couple was further victimized when they contacted a scammer posing as Facebook support. Detective Bobby Fultz recommends using passphrases instead of passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being skeptical of unsolicited communications to prevent similar account takeovers and identity frau
5newsonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, was federally charged in February 2025 with wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and identity theft for carrying out romance scams targeting older men between July 2021 and December 2022, in which she allegedly drugged victims and stole from their financial accounts. She also faces Arkansas charges stemming from a June 2019 incident where she drugged a woman and stole her credit card, resulting in approximately $5,000 in fraudulent charges. Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico on murder charges, with her Arkansas hearings postponed to March 2025, and authorities are
whdh.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, Bumble) to meet at least four older men in 2021-2022, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars through a sophisticated romance scam; three victims died, including one she allegedly transported across the U.S.-Mexico border and left in a Mexico City hotel. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death, with a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on all charges.
live5news.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, currently incarcerated in Mexico awaiting extradition, has been indicted on multiple charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, and kidnapping resulting in death for operating a romance scheme targeting older U.S. men between July 2021 and December 2022. Phelps allegedly lured victims through online dating apps, drugged them with prescription sedatives, and stole millions in cash, stocks, vehicles, and valuables; at least three victims died, including one she wheeled across the border in an incapacitated state who was later found dead in a Mexico City hotel. The FBI describes this as one of the most egregious romance schemes in recent history and suspects there
westernmassnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, currently incarcerated in Mexico awaiting extradition, has been indicted on multiple charges for operating a deadly romance scam targeting older American men between July 2021 and December 2022. Phelps allegedly met victims through online dating apps, drugged them with prescription sedatives, and stole millions in cash, stocks, vehicles, and luxury goods; at least three victims died shortly after encounters with her, including one man she wheeled across the border to Mexico City where he was found dead hours later. She faces charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, kidnapping, and kidnapping resulting in death, with a potential life sentence if convicted.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
As AI-driven scams surge during tax season 2025, taxpayers face three major threats: W-2 phishing scams using AI-generated emails and deepfakes to steal employee tax documents, disaster relief fund scams exploiting tax extensions for disaster victims, and fake Offer in Compromise scams promising debt relief through robocalls and deepfake videos. According to LifeLock research, 56% of individuals have encountered AI-powered tax scams with realistic voices, and the IRS Criminal Investigation unit uncovered over $9.1 billion in tax fraud in 2024, with 81% of scam victims reporting financial losses. Taxpayers are advised to verify
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, scammers stole over £2.2 million from Isle of Man residents, with investment scams accounting for £1.2 million, voice call cons for £391,674, and romance fraud for £45,000, according to the Cyber Security Centre report. The number of suspicious emails and cyber concerns reported increased 50% compared to 2023, though officials believe this represents only a fraction of actual scams as many go unreported. Additional fraud methods included phishing attacks, account compromises, and impersonation schemes using celebrity names.
ndtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, used dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, Bumble) to lure multiple men to Mexico, where she drugged them with sedatives and prescription drugs, then stole their money, financial information, vehicles, and identities. Between 2021-2022, Phelps targeted at least four men, stealing approximately $3.3 million in Apple shares from one victim's E-Trade account, and is currently in custody in Mexico facing 21 charges including wire fraud, identity theft, kidnapping, and one man's death; she could face life in prison if convicted.
clickorlando.com
· 2025-12-08
Five Florida residents, including Ronald Vargas of Osteen who worked for the retirement fund company, were convicted or pleaded guilty to stealing over $1.1 million from 401(k) retirement accounts belonging to 25 elderly retired school district employees between January and March 2022. The scheme involved submitting fraudulent withdrawal forms to transfer victims' funds to accounts controlled by the conspirators, with charges including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. All five defendants face sentencing on April 28, 2024, with potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
myarklamiss.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, faces federal charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death for a scheme in which she met older men on dating websites, drugged them, and stole thousands of dollars from their financial accounts between 2021 and 2022. Three of her alleged victims died, and she has been charged in connection with one death; she also faces separate 2019 Arkansas charges for drugging a woman and fraudulently using her credit card for over $5,000 in purchases. The FBI is seeking additional victims and notes Phelps used multiple aliases and operated across Arkansas, Nevada, an
kgns.tv
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, currently incarcerated in Mexico and awaiting extradition, has been indicted on multiple charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, and kidnapping resulting in death for allegedly targeting older men through online dating applications, drugging them with prescription sedatives, and stealing millions in cash, vehicles, and assets between July 2021 and December 2022. At least three of her victims died shortly after encounters with her, including one Nevada man she allegedly drugged and transported to Mexico City where he was found dead hours later, while another survivor emerged from a coma after she administered large doses of sedatives over a week. The FBI describes the scheme as "one of the most egregious and repreh
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps is accused of orchestrating a romance scam targeting older men across the US and Mexico from July 2021 to December 2022, where she used online dating apps to gain their trust, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and robbed them of cars, bank accounts, credit cards, and millions in stocks. At least three victims died shortly after encounters with her, including one man she allegedly drugged and wheeled across the border to Mexico City where he was found dead hours later; another victim survived after being administered large sedative doses over a week. Phelps, currently incarcerated in Mexico awaiting extradition, faces multiple charges including wire fraud, bank fraud,
stormlake.com
· 2025-12-08
This appears to be a truncated article preview rather than full content. The article discusses why senior adults are targeted by scammers and offers protective measures against fraud, identity theft, and scams, but the full text is behind a subscription paywall and cannot be summarized in detail.
euronews.com
· 2025-12-08
As tax filing season approaches, phishing, smishing, and other tax scams are expected to increase, with the US IRS reporting $9.1 billion in fraud from financial and tax crimes in 2024. Common scams include fake refund offers requesting upfront fees, "ghost" tax preparers who inflate deductions and disappear after payment, and fake tax advisors who steal personal information and refunds. Taxpayers can protect themselves by filing early, using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, verifying tax preparer credentials through official IRS directories, and avoiding suspicious emails or pressure to act quickly.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Tax Scams and Prevention Strategies**
The IRS reported $9.1 billion in fraud from financial and tax crimes in 2024, with scammers targeting stressed taxpayers during tax season through schemes including inflated refund offers, ghost tax preparers who disappear after payment, and fake charities. Key protective measures include filing early, using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, verifying tax preparer credentials through official IRS registries, avoiding unsolicited emails and links, and remaining skeptical of pressure to act quickly, as legitimate tax authorities do not demand immediate payment via phone or text.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season scams are surging, with phishing attempts via text messages up 77%, as criminals impersonate the IRS to steal personal information and refunds through fake tax avoidance schemes, fraudulent charities, and spearphishing attacks. Experts recommend taxpayers protect themselves by obtaining an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS, avoiding "ghost preparers" who charge percentage-based fees, and verifying all IRS communications directly through IRS.gov rather than responding to unsolicited phone or email contact.
americanbar.org
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational piece for estate planning practitioners on protecting vulnerable clients from elder financial exploitation. The article advises practitioners to first ensure their own cybersecurity and document security measures are adequate, then implement firm-wide policies to recognize and prevent elder exploitation, including staff training to identify "procurement" schemes where beneficiaries control client access and educating aging clients about securing sensitive documents through digitization and secure storage. Key recommendations include developing protocols for suspected exploitation, obtaining trusted contact information, and incorporating security discussions into estate planning conversations to address risks from identity theft, document loss, and abuse.
keyt.com
· 2025-12-08
Craig Case, a 76-year-old Santa Barbara security company owner and TV host, was convicted on 63 of 64 counts for embezzling approximately $690,000 from elderly arts patron Constance McCormick Fearing between 2018 and 2021, with the help of co-conspirator Nancy Coglizer who had power of attorney over the victim. Case was found guilty of multiple felonies including theft from an elder, money laundering, identity theft, and forgery, with the jury determining aggravating factors such as exploitation of trust and the victim's vulnerability. Sentencing is scheduled for April 8, 2025.
keyt.com
· 2025-12-08
Craig Case, a 76-year-old Santa Barbara security company owner and TV host, was found guilty on 63 of 64 counts for embezzling nearly $690,000 from Constance McCormick Fearing, a Montecito arts patron who died in 2022, between 2018 and April 2021. Working with Nancy Coglizer (who held power of attorney over Fearing), Case orchestrated the theft through small checks allegedly for security services, structured to avoid financial institution oversight, until trustees discovered the scheme in July 2021. The jury determined aggravating factors including victim vulnerability, significant financial loss, and Case's exploitation of a position of trust