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jamaicaobserver.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams, business imposter scams, and internet/email fraud are common schemes targeting older adults. Romance scammers exploit loneliness through fake online profiles to extract money for purported travel or emergencies, while business imposters use caller ID spoofing to pose as legitimate companies or charities to steal personal information and funds. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to internet scams, phishing emails, and fake anti-virus pop-ups due to lower technology adoption rates and unfamiliarity with online security features.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, over 101,000 people age 60 and older lost nearly $3.4 billion to financial exploitation, according to the FBI's Elder Fraud Report, with common scams including tech support fraud ($590 million in losses), investment fraud ($4.57 billion, up 38% year-over-year), power of attorney abuse, Medicare/Medicaid fraud, and homeowner scams. AI-driven fraud is making scams increasingly sophisticated, with criminals creating convincing fake audio and video to deceive victims. Protection requires vigilance about warning signs such as unusual account activity and suspicious communications, along with education and open family dialogue about financial security.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial institutions reported over $27 billion in elder exploitation losses between June 2022 and June 2023, with scams being the predominant form of abuse targeting individuals aged 60 and older. The FBI's 2023 report documented significant increases in elder scams, resulting in over $3.4 billion in losses to victims. Experts recommend reviewing FinCEN and CFPB guidelines to help combat financial exploitation of seniors.
wbckfm.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Secret Service has warned Michigan residents about "smishing"—text message phishing scams—targeting online shoppers with three main tactics: fake package tracking notifications, undelivered package alerts, and fraudulent purchase warnings, all designed to trick victims into clicking malicious links and surrendering sensitive financial information. The Secret Service recommends avoiding unsolicited messages entirely, never clicking links from unknown sources, independently verifying requests for personal information, and deleting suspicious texts rather than responding to them.
nextgov.com
· 2025-12-08
The Department of Veterans Affairs launched VSAFE.gov, a new website and call center platform designed to help veterans and their families identify, avoid, and report scams targeting benefits, identity theft, and education fraud. The initiative was spurred by a surge in predatory schemes targeting veterans following the 2022 PACT Act expansion of benefits and healthcare services, with lawmakers pressing the VA to strengthen its anti-fraud protections. The platform consolidates resources from multiple federal agencies including the FTC, FCC, and Social Security Administration to provide veterans with fraud prevention tools and reporting assistance.
nbcwashington.com
· 2025-12-08
Gold bar scams targeting seniors in the D.C. area have resulted in millions of dollars in losses, with scammers impersonating law enforcement officers and convincing victims to convert cash into gold bars for purported "safekeeping." Montgomery County alone has identified approximately 20 victims aged 61-94, with individual losses reaching $2.3 million, and the FBI has received over 250 complaints nationwide; authorities have charged four men and linked the schemes to criminal organizations in India and China. Experts advise avoiding suspicious pop-ups and calls from unknown numbers, and warn that once funds are handed over, recovery is virtually impossible as money is quickly laundered and sent overseas.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Kari Melissa Morales, 51, of Milford, Michigan, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after attempting to scam a Grand Rapids resident out of $60,000 using fake FBI arrest warrant and IRS receipt documents. Morales and a co-conspirator were conducting a text message-based fraud scheme, but law enforcement had reassigned the victim's phone number to an undercover federal agent, resulting in no actual financial loss and leading to Morales's arrest. Morales faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for her role in the scam, which was intended to exploit the victim into sending money by falsely claiming legal authority.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Ari Tietolman, a Canadian resident, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for operating a telemarketing fraud scheme from 2005 to 2014 that targeted tens of thousands of American senior citizens, defrauding them of millions of dollars by selling worthless or non-existent services such as fraud protection, prescription drug discounts, and legal services. Tietolman and his network of telemarketers, operating from "boiler rooms" in Canada and India, made false claims about their affiliations with banks and government agencies, misrepresented product costs, and debited victims' bank accounts without informed consent. He was ordered to pay $7
newjersey.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
An older woman from Alexandria Township, New Jersey lost $13,000 in a tech support and bank impersonation scam where a fake Microsoft/TD Bank representative convinced her to withdraw cash to "protect" her account, with an accomplice posing as a courier collecting the money from her home. State police are seeking an Asian male suspect, approximately 5'9" and 30-35 years old, described as having black hair and a mustache.
moco360.media
· 2025-12-08
Montgomery County law enforcement warned residents about gold bar scams linked to international organized crime groups operating from China and India that have defrauded approximately 20 local victims of millions of dollars since July 2023. Notable cases include a 23-year-old charged with stealing over $700,000 from a mentally disabled Leisure World resident and a 19-year-old charged with swindling an 82-year-old woman of more than $900,000; police have identified seven cases totaling $6.3 million in losses. Officials advised residents to avoid clicking pop-up ads, answering unknown numbers, and liquidating assets into cash or gold for couriers, noting that while
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonate utility companies with urgent calls claiming unpaid bills and demanding immediate payment via barcodes, QR codes, gift cards, or wire transfers—payment methods legitimate utility companies never require. To protect yourself, contact your utility company directly using the number on your bill or their official website, never the caller's number, and report suspected scams to the FTC and your utility company immediately.
mymcmedia.org
· 2025-12-08
Law enforcement officials in Montgomery County arrested five scammers involved in fraud schemes that defrauded four victims of an estimated $2.9 million, with three additional cases pending that could bring total losses to $6.3 million. The scammers impersonated government officials to convince victims—mostly elderly individuals aged 61-94—to convert savings into gold bars or hand over cash directly, with one victim losing $2.3 million. Officials advise the public to avoid answering calls from unknown numbers, never click pop-up ads, hang up immediately if callers demand money, and contact trusted individuals or police for verification before sending any funds.
wvua23.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics including AI voice mimicry to impersonate family members and request bail money, fake law enforcement calls claiming missed jury duty or warrants, and phishing texts posing as banks with frozen accounts. The article advises consumers to verify suspicious calls independently by hanging up and calling back directly, avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts, and be skeptical of unexpected prize notifications and car warranty offers.
beverlyreview.net
· 2025-12-08
The Cook County Sheriff's Department is launching an educational program to help seniors recognize and avoid "sweetheart scams," which involve scammers building fake romantic relationships to extract money or personal financial information. In 2023, over 101,000 Americans aged 60+ reported losses totaling $3.4 billion to financial fraud, with Illinois accounting for 2,887 victims and nearly $138 million in losses. Sheriff Thomas Dart advises victims to pause and verify suspicious requests with trusted contacts or law enforcement rather than providing immediate responses or financial access to unknown callers.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens across the country are taking educational classes to learn about artificial intelligence and its potential benefits and risks. While AI offers seniors advantages like reducing loneliness and improving access to medical care, research shows older adults are particularly vulnerable to AI-enabled scams, deepfakes, and misinformation. Instructors emphasize teaching balanced skepticism—encouraging seniors to use AI tools while remaining cautious about false or manipulated content—rather than avoiding the technology altogether.
wtop.com
· 2025-12-08
Montgomery County, Maryland law enforcement officials warned of an organized crime scam targeting seniors in which approximately 20 victims lost millions of dollars since July 2023, with at least five suspects arrested. The scheme typically begins with fraudulent computer alerts, pop-up ads, or calls impersonating federal agents or tech support, convincing victims their accounts are compromised and pressuring them to convert savings to gold bars for "safekeeping." Notable cases include a 74-year-old man defrauded of over $1 million and an 82-year-old woman victimized by a 19-year-old suspect, with authorities believing significantly more unreported victims exist.
digit.in
· 2025-12-08
A woman in northeast Delhi lost Rs 2 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam in which three fraudsters posed as CBI officials, falsely claimed her husband had been arrested on rape charges, and kept her on the phone for six hours to extort the payment. The three scammers from Bihar were arrested following police raids based on technical surveillance. A "digital arrest" scam involves fraudsters impersonating law enforcement to threaten victims into transferring money by claiming legal action or public exposure, and victims can protect themselves by verifying caller authenticity through official channels and avoiding unsolicited payment requests.
digitaljournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple victims in Westchester, New York lost substantial funds in investment scams, including cryptocurrency Ponzi schemes and stock market manipulation frauds that promised high returns. Natisa Securities LLC, a recovery firm based in Westchester, assists defrauded investors by employing financial advisors, legal experts, and investigators to recover lost funds and navigate complex fraud cases through legal procedures and international networks.
wmur.com
· 2025-12-08
Merrimack County residents were targeted by AI-powered phone scams in which fraudsters spoofed caller IDs to impersonate law enforcement and family members. Scammers used artificial intelligence to manipulate voices and falsely claim warrants requiring payment or pose as relatives needing emergency money wired via Bitcoin ATMs, with at least one victim losing $5,000. Sheriff David Croft advised residents to verify callers independently and noted that legitimate law enforcement never requests money to resolve warrants.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
Kari Morales, a 51-year-old from Milford, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for acting as a money mule in an IRS impersonation scam targeting a Kent County woman for $60,000. Morales was recruited online by a co-conspirator known as "Tom" to collect the fraudulently obtained cash in Grand Rapids while posing as a federal agent with fake FBI and IRS documents, unaware the victim's phone number had been reassigned to an undercover federal agent. Morales was promised $2,500 for her role in the scheme and pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court.
galvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Check fraud costs the U.S. banking system $10-50 billion annually, with independent bankers arguing that major banks' failure to enforce "know your customer" requirements and adequately police accounts allows fraudsters to deposit stolen checks that are quickly withdrawn before detection. Galveston County has been particularly hard hit, with criminal enterprises stealing over $1 million in postal checks in 2022, and 90% of independent bank association members reported difficulty obtaining reimbursement from larger banks that improperly accepted fraudulent checks.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Sabrina Aboshanab, a 33-year-old caregiver from Wappingers Falls, was sentenced to 5-15 years in prison for stealing $164,332.26 from an 81-year-old man in her care between December 2017 and April 2023. Aboshanab, who lived in the victim's home as his caregiver, used his personal information to transfer funds via online and app-based services even after his arrest in 2022, and must pay full restitution. A co-defendant, Mark Schmidt, pleaded guilty to first-degree identity theft and received a 1-3 year
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Nicholas Melanson, 42, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced on August 12, 2024, to six months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for interstate transportation of a stolen check and elder fraud. Over nine days in May 2022, Melanson made five trips from New Hampshire to an elderly woman's home in Windsor, Vermont, driving her to banks where he facilitated or conducted transactions totaling at least $392,000 (most of which were stopped or reversed), receiving $1,500 in cash and a $3,000 bonus while seeking $10,000 monthly payments. He was ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution to
fortune.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors across the country are taking artificial intelligence classes to understand both the technology's benefits—such as reducing loneliness and improving healthcare access—and its risks, particularly AI-enabled scams and deepfakes to which older adults are more susceptible. Educational programs like one at a Chicago-area senior center aim to help seniors develop balanced skepticism about AI while encouraging them to engage with the technology rather than becoming paralyzed by fear. Research shows senior citizens are disproportionately vulnerable to both AI-generated scams and misinformation, raising particular concerns about deepfakes' potential impact on voters.
fortune.com
· 2025-12-08
A University of Michigan study from February-March 2024 found that health care affordability is the top concern among older American voters, with 56% very worried about medical care costs, 54% concerned about prescription medication costs, and 52% anxious about health insurance and Medicare expenses. Financial scams and fraud ranked as the fifth-highest concern at 53%, with researchers noting that the Government Accountability Office estimates older Americans lose $2.9 billion annually to fraud, which causes significant mental distress that can cascade into other health problems. The study suggests that presidential candidates seeking older voters' support should prioritize communicating plans to control health care costs and address fraud prevention.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
Ari Tietolman of Montreal, Canada, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for operating a massive telemarketing fraud scheme from 2005 to 2014 that targeted tens of thousands of American senior citizens, defrauding them of millions of dollars through worthless or non-existent products like fraud protection services, prescription drug discount cards, and legal services. Tietolman and his co-schemers made unauthorized debits from victims' bank accounts after making false claims about affiliations with banks, insurance companies, and the U.S. government, while he was ordered to pay $7,042,898.22 in restitution; two co-defendants also
theorcasonian.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece highlights that seniors on Orcas Island face elevated risks from scams, identity theft, and elder abuse, with organizations like Orcas Senior Center and San Juan County Senior Services working to address these vulnerabilities. The article emphasizes that isolation and lack of mental health services contribute to senior vulnerability, noting one example of a community member losing $11,000 to a scam. The piece promotes local support programs including Hearts and Hands (in-home visits) and Buddy Check-In (phone outreach) to combat isolation and provide companionship for vulnerable elders.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 76-year-old Concord retiree lost over $190,000 in a tech support scam that began in March when a caller impersonated an Xfinity cybersecurity official, claiming his computer was hacked and crypto account fraudulently opened. The scammer escalated the scheme by posing as an FTC agent, threatening a wire fraud investigation and instructing Frilich to deposit his life savings into a "secure wallet" while monitoring him via computer camera and sending couriers to collect cash. This case exemplifies the broader elder fraud crisis, with Americans 60 and older losing over $3.4 billion to such scams in 2023, with
forwardtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, senior citizens reported $3.4 billion in fraud losses, a 14 percent increase from 2022, with losses continuing to rise in 2024 at $1.6 billion through May alone. The article highlights a specific case in Houston where a man was indicted for defrauding a 92-year-old dementia patient out of his home by falsely claiming property tax obligations and repair needs, then coercing him to sign over his deed. Experts emphasize that reporting fraud promptly and seeking help from legal services are critical, as scammers actively target vulnerable elderly individuals, particularly in the African American community.
wrrv.com
· 2025-12-08
A father-daughter duo from Ulster County, New York—Frank Whittaker and Christine Ellsworth—were arrested for stealing over $250,000 from a 92-year-old elderly woman between 2021 and the time of their arrest. After gaining the victim's trust through help with household tasks, Whittaker obtained Power of Attorney and used it to drain the woman's accounts through checks and illegal bank transfers, spending the stolen money on vehicles, jewelry, restaurants, and casinos. Both face charges of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, with potential sentences of up to 15 years if convicted.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Edward L. Stief, Jr., a 41-year-old from Effingham County, Illinois, was federally charged with wire fraud, mail fraud, and related crimes for defrauding an elderly victim of over $330,000. Stief exploited his position as the victim's appointed Financial and Healthcare Power of Attorney by moving the elderly individual into his care, gaining access to bank accounts, and persuading him to cash out life insurance policies, with most funds deposited into Stief's personal accounts. The case highlights the vulnerability of seniors to financial exploitation and resulted in federal charges carrying potential sentences of up to 20 years imprisonment.
auckland.scoop.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating police officers have been targeting vulnerable, elderly New Zealanders via landline calls, claiming victims are fraud victims and directing them to withdraw cash to be handed over as "evidence." Since June 2024, New Zealand Police have made multiple arrests including a 26-year-old UK national who was convicted of defrauding 21 Auckland victims of over $330,000 across 27 fraud charges. Police emphasize that legitimate officers will never request banking details, PINs, passwords, or money over the phone, and recommend contacting 105 to verify any officer's identity.
tech.einnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Private Digital Investigations announced new measures to combat rising cybercrimes including Nigerian romance scams and sextortion schemes, which exploit victims emotionally and financially through fake profiles and blackmail threats. The agency employs AI-driven profile analysis, digital forensics, and law enforcement collaborations to identify scammers, and offers public education through workshops, support hotlines, and online resources. The article advises victims to cease communication with suspected scammers, report profiles to platforms, avoid sharing explicit content, and seek help from professional investigators or authorities rather than paying ransom demands.
fortune.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It is a business/HR feature about Synchrony's employee benefits strategy and workplace listening practices, with no connection to elder fraud, scams, elder abuse, or financial exploitation of older adults.
tribuneonlineng.com
· 2025-12-08
**Type:** Educational/Expert Interview
Anuoluwapo Ojomo, a financial services compliance expert, identifies key warning signs of elder financial exploitation including unusual account withdrawals, unpaid bills despite available funds, and sudden changes in financial decision-making, emphasizing that perpetrators range from family members to financial advisors. She notes that elder financial exploitation affects 5-10% of older people globally, with higher vulnerability among those experiencing cognitive decline, isolation, or recent loss, and stresses that prevention requires family monitoring, financial institution training, legal protections, and swift reporting to authorities when exploitation is suspected.
9and10news.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men, Jayesh Panchal and Vijaya Shetty, were sentenced to federal prison (78 and 63 months respectively) for their roles in an international tech support scam that defrauded over 40 elderly victims of more than $11 million across multiple states, including a West Michigan victim who lost $398,000. The scam involved fake pop-up warnings and impersonation of tech companies and federal agents to convince seniors to withdraw cash, wire money, or purchase gift cards under false pretenses. Panchal and Shetty were ordered to pay millions in restitution and were among the defendants who traveled throughout the U.S. to collect fraud proceeds from
wilx.com
· 2025-12-08
Jayesh Panchal and Vijaya Shetty were sentenced to 78 and 63 months in prison respectively for their roles in an international fraud conspiracy that stole over $11 million from senior citizens across multiple states. The scheme used fake virus warnings and fake tech support calls to trick elderly victims into withdrawing cash or transferring funds through various methods, with Panchal and Shetty traveling throughout the U.S. to collect proceeds and launder money on behalf of conspiracy leaders based in India. Panchal was ordered to pay $7.93 million in restitution to 40 victims, while Shetty was ordered to pay $596,800.
mb.com.ph
· 2025-12-08
Six Chinese nationals were arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga on August 14 for operating a cyber-scam operation involving romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, credit card scams, and fake investment schemes targeting victims globally. The NBI discovered computers, phones, fraudulent scripts, and cryptocurrency investment platforms at the arrested individuals' office during a warrant operation. The six suspects face charges under the Cybercrime Prevention Act and Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act.
gmanetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Six Chinese nationals were arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga by the NBI for operating online scam and cybercrime operations, including romance scams and fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes targeting victims globally. Operatives seized computers, phones, SIM cards, scripts, and customer ledgers that indicated organized fraudulent activities, and the suspects were referred to the Department of Justice for inquest under the Cybercrime Prevention Act and Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act.
ibsintelligence.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans are increasingly concerned about rising financial fraud, with the FTC reporting $10 billion lost to scams in 2023 (up from $3.5 billion in 2020), and 74% of survey respondents worried that AI advancements will increase fraud rates. Nearly half of Americans surveyed (45%) reported being victims of financial fraud, with credit card theft (53%), electronic payment fraud (19%), and check fraud (17%) as top scams, and 24% losing $5,000 or more. Financial institutions face mounting pressure as fraud victims often switch banks or reduce services, with recovery rates for stolen funds remaining below 10% in most cases.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two men were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an international fraud conspiracy that stole over $11 million from elderly victims across multiple states, with one West Michigan victim losing $398,000. Jayesh Panchal received 78 months and was ordered to pay $7,930,287 in restitution, while Vijaya Shetty received 63 months and was ordered to pay $596,800 in restitution. The scam used fake tech support pop-up warnings and impersonation of Microsoft, Apple, and federal agents to convince seniors to withdraw cash, make wire transfers, or purchase gift cards, claiming their accounts were compromised or they were involved in
lincolnparishjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece by law enforcement examines modern phone-based scams targeting Americans, highlighting how technology has enabled criminals to defraud victims without in-person contact. The article details six prevalent scams: impersonation of law enforcement demanding payment for fines, fake charity solicitations, fraudulent debt collectors, fake prize offers, and IRS impersonation schemes—emphasizing that government agencies never demand immediate payment via phone, gift cards, or wire transfers, and advising victims to hang up and verify claims directly with legitimate organizations.
fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
A Brooklyn man, Mavani Coleman, was sentenced to three months in prison for his role in a check fraud and identity theft scheme that defrauded a retired New Haven woman of $479,569 between 2018 and his arrest in 2023. Coleman worked with accomplices including Gregory Ivy, who stole blank checks from the victim's home and forged her signature, while Coleman deposited the checks into various accounts and used her banking information to conduct unauthorized electronic transfers. Coleman was ordered to pay $248,423 in restitution and must report to prison in October 2024, with co-conspirators awaiting sentencing.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Pennsylvania woman nearly fell victim to a romance scam involving a fake foreign inheritance scheme, where an online acquaintance convinced her to front money for supposed legal fees and escrow to unlock a British estate. Red flags included fake legal documents with spelling errors, an implausible timeline, and a fabricated London law firm address, which legal experts confirmed were fraudulent. The article highlights how elder fraud is increasingly difficult to recover due to modern money transfer methods and cryptocurrency, and emphasizes the importance of verifying credentials and seeking professional legal advice before sending money in estate-related matters.
morningsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
A 41-year-old former Salem man, Edward L. Stief, Jr., was indicted on federal charges of wire fraud, mail fraud, and monetary transaction in criminally derived property for defrauding an elderly victim of over $330,000. Stief gained the victim's trust by becoming his financial and healthcare power of attorney in May 2023, then persuaded him to leave a nursing home and move into his care, during which he accessed the victim's bank accounts, convinced him to cash out life insurance policies, and deposited most of the funds into his own accounts. If convicted, Stief faces up to 20 years in prison for the fraud charges.
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Two New York residents were sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating a large-scale tech support scam that defrauded elderly victims of over $11 million across multiple states. Jayesh J. Panchal (78 months) and Vijaya C. Shetty (63 months) worked with India-based scammers who used fake computer virus warnings to trick seniors into sending money via wire transfers, gift cards, and in-person meetings; one Michigan victim alone lost $398,000 after being deceived into believing she was protecting her accounts with federal agents. Both defendants were ordered to pay substantial restitution to their victims.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
This educational article by consumer rights expert Martyn James outlines the growing landscape of fraud in 2024, explaining why scammers are increasingly successful through digital innovation, mass messaging, and sophisticated social engineering tactics. The article cites that 252,626 people lost nearly £341 million to "push payment" fraud in the UK, with some victims losing life savings exceeding £100,000, though £1.2 billion in fraud was prevented last year. James provides practical advice for fraud victims, including immediately contacting their bank via the official number or the 159 stop scams line, and emphasizes the importance of identifying the type of fraud to determine the appropriate response.
ynetnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains how online scams have evolved to exploit vulnerable targets through voice phishing (vishing), SMS phishing (smishing), and AI-generated voice technology, with real examples including a $250,000 CEO impersonation fraud and a $25 million company theft via deepfake video calls. The article identifies key vulnerabilities including the widespread sale of personal data by brokers and the increasing sophistication of scam tactics like "pig butchering," romance scams, and tech support hoaxes that require minimal technical skills to execute at scale. Protective measures recommended include avoiding unexpected calls from unknown numbers, enabling two-factor authentication with security keys rather than SMS, verifying
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
A criminal organization led by a 39-year-old woman was convicted of defrauding over 23 billion won from approximately 60 Korean victims through romance scams and fake investment schemes. The group lured economically vulnerable people from Daegu and Changwon with promises of earning millions of won monthly, then imprisoned them in offices in Laos and Myanmar where they were forced to commit fraud by sending fake stock investment messages and falsified profit graphs to potential victims. The ringleader received an 8-year prison sentence, with other members receiving 2 to 5 years in prison based on their roles in the operation.
mocoshow.com
· 2025-12-08
Montgomery County authorities charged five suspects in a gold bar scam that defrauded residents of nearly $3 million since January 2023, with investigators estimating close to 20 victims who lost their life savings. In this scam, fraudsters impersonate federal government officials or cybersecurity experts to pressure victims into converting money to gold, which is then stolen. Authorities advise residents not to answer unknown calls or click pop-up ads, to slow down and verify requests, and to remember that the federal government never requests large withdrawals or unusual transactions like gold or gift card purchases.