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justice.gov
Three individuals were sentenced for their roles in a Ghana-based romance scam targeting elderly Americans between March 2019 and March 2022. Sadia Alhassan (18 months prison), Shawn William Smith (1 day prison), and Mohammed Saaminu Zuberu (5½ months prison) served as money launderers and intermediaries, receiving funds that victims sent via mail and commercial carriers after being deceived into believing they had romantic relationships with scammers in Ghana. The defendants were ordered to pay $581,261.67 in restitution to their victims.
wired.com
**Scammer Payback Answers Scam Questions** (11/05/2024)
YouTube scambaiter Pierogi from Scammer Payback identifies key red flags of scams, including pressure to make quick decisions, requests for remote computer access, and demands for payment via gift cards, Cash App, wire transfers, or Bitcoin. The video addresses common scam types including tech support pop-ups, romance scams (citing a case where a 90+ year old woman was defrauded of tens of thousands of dollars by someone posing as a celebrity), and explains why scammers prefer gift cards for money laundering and anonymity, while demonstrating
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A resident of Alambagh, Lucknow fell victim to a digital arrest scam in October 2024, losing Rs 1.24 lakh after receiving a fraudulent WhatsApp call claiming to be from TRAI that falsely linked her Aadhaar to unauthorized numbers involved in money laundering. The victim was subsequently contacted by someone impersonating a Mumbai Police official who instructed her to transfer funds to specified accounts for verification purposes, resulting in losses of Rs 64,000 and Rs 60,000 from her HDFC and Kotak accounts respectively. This was the 40th such digital arrest case reported in Lucknow since January 2024.
starofmysore.com
An 82-year-old retired resident in Mysuru lost Rs. 1.06 crore after receiving calls from fraudsters impersonating Mumbai Police officials and a telecommunications authority representative, who claimed his phone number was involved in obscene advertisements and money laundering, then convinced him to transfer funds for "verification" purposes. In a separate incident, a Mysuru-based doctor was defrauded of Rs. 12.11 lakh in a job scam by someone posing as a recruitment company representative offering employment in Qatar. Police advise citizens never to share personal or financial information with unknown callers and to verify such claims directly with local authorities, as genuine officials never request fund transfers
cbsnews.com
A Massachusetts woman lost thousands of dollars in a sophisticated impersonation scam when callers posing as Border Patrol and U.S. Marshals convinced her that a package with her name contained drugs and contraband. Despite verifying the callers' names and phone numbers on official federal websites (a technique called "spoofing"), she was directed to deposit money into a Bitcoin machine under the false premise that freezing her accounts would protect her assets. The scam, which uses advanced technology including AI voice replication and data scraping, has been reported nationally, and the victim now struggles to afford rent at her affordable housing complex.
m.economictimes.com
"Digital arrest" scams have become a widespread fraud in India where perpetrators pose as law enforcement officials via video call, falsely accusing victims of crimes and ordering them to remain isolated at home while transferring money to avoid arrest. Victims reported losing approximately Rs 120.3 crore during the first quarter of 2024 alone, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently warning the public that digital arrests do not legally exist in India and legitimate agencies never request personal information via phone or video call. The scam exploits fear-based social engineering tactics, often initiated with calls about overseas parcels containing drugs, misused identification, or family members in legal trouble.
rcmp-grc.gc.ca
This is not a news article or detailed account of a specific scam or fraud case. Rather, it is an informational webpage from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) outlining their services and areas of focus, including a general mention that Canadians lose millions yearly to fraud and that the RCMP operates an Anti-Fraud Centre to help stop scams. The page provides links to resources and does not contain specific information about victims, scam types, dollar amounts, or outcomes related to elder fraud.
justice.gov
Viraj Patel, a money mule operating in Florida, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for laundering at least $216,000 in proceeds from government-imposter fraud schemes targeting senior citizens. Patel picked up cash and gold from victims who had been deceived by India-based conspirators into believing their identities were compromised, including one victim who was tricked into surrendering $71,000 and later $50,000 in a single scheme. The court ordered Patel to forfeit $145,000 in traceable fraud proceeds.
regtechtimes.com
Three Georgia residents—Patrick Dallas, Stacey Robinson, and Owen Demoy Byfield—were charged in federal court for operating a sweepstakes fraud scheme targeting seniors across at least ten states, including Rhode Island, stealing at least $1 million. The fraudsters impersonated Publishers Clearing House representatives, convincing victims they had won large prizes and pressuring them to pay upfront fees via cash, gift cards, or valuable items; one 77-year-old Rhode Island victim nearly lost $163,000 before a FedEx employee's intervention alerted him to the scam. The defendants face charges for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as money laundering
m.economictimes.com
Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned citizens against a sophisticated "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonate government officials via video call, falsely accusing victims of serious crimes like money laundering or drug trafficking, then extort large sums under threat of arrest. Two elderly victims from Hyderabad lost substantial amounts—a 79-year-old retired consultant transferred Rs 2 crore and an 85-year-old woman lost Rs 5.9 crore—after scammers used fake official documents and maintained intimidating video surveillance to prevent victims from seeking help. The article advises that legitimate law enforcement never conducts arrests or demands payments via video calls and recommends reporting
justice.gov
Three Georgia residents have been charged with operating a multi-state Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes scam that defrauded seniors in at least ten states of over $1 million. The defendants allegedly convinced elderly victims they had won significant lottery prizes and directed them to send upfront fees, gift cards, watches, and checks to collect their winnings; one 77-year-old Rhode Island victim lost over $172,000 before a FedEx employee intervened. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering, with proceeds allegedly used to purchase property through fraudulent mortgage applications.
abc6.com
Three Georgia residents—Patrick Dallas, Stacey Robinson, and Owen Demoy Byfield—were charged with defrauding senior citizens across Rhode Island and other states out of at least $1 million through a fake Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes scheme, where victims were tricked into believing they won millions and pressured to pay upfront fees or taxes. One 77-year-old Rhode Island victim alone lost over $143,000 in cash, wire transfers, and luxury watches before a FedEx employee intervened; the defendants allegedly laundered funds through controlled bank accounts. The charges include conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering, with authorities noting that over 100,000
justice.gov
**Summary:**
Stephanie L. Bonincontro, a 43-year-old from Oakdale, Pennsylvania, was indicted on wire fraud and money laundering charges for misusing a $500,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) intended for her tree service business. She allegedly diverted approximately $250,000 into a personal investment account for money laundering and used $225,000 for personal expenses and credit card debt through a second company she owned. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines.
aba.com
I cannot provide a summary of this content. The text provided is a navigation menu or table of contents from the American Bankers Association website, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. It lists various banking topics, training programs, conferences, and committee names without any actual content about fraud incidents or elder fraud cases.
Please provide an actual article or transcript about elder fraud, scams, or abuse if you would like me to create a summary for the Elderus database.
timesherald.com
This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It covers political news regarding Steve Bannon's release from federal prison after serving a sentence for contempt of Congress related to the January 6 Capitol investigation. While it mentions criminal charges related to border wall fundraising, this is a political/criminal justice story, not an elder fraud matter relevant to the Elderus database.
bizzbuzz.news
India's Union Home Ministry revealed that approximately 46% of digital arrest scams, trading fraud, romance scams, and investment fraud cases originate from Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, with victims losing a total of Rs 1,776 crore. The scams include trading scams (Rs 1,420 crores), investment frauds (Rs 222.58 crores), digital arrests (Rs 120.3 crores), and romance scams (Rs 13.23 crores), with complaint numbers rising from 4.52 lakh in 2021 to 7.4 lakh complaints in the first four months of 2024.
businessday.ng
Internet scams are a global concern causing significant financial losses and erosion of trust in digital transactions. India recorded $7.93 million USD in cybercrime losses across 4,850 cases in 2023, while Brazil experienced 1.8 million banking trojan infections the same year; Pakistan reported 32,072 suspicious transactions, and South Africa ranks 7th globally for cyber criminality, with identity theft and phishing attacks being prevalent across all regions. Governments are implementing awareness campaigns and stronger cybersecurity measures, but rapid digital infrastructure growth continues to outpace law enforcement efforts to combat evolving scam tactics.
levittownnow.com
Money mule scams trick victims into receiving funds (via check or transfer) and forwarding them elsewhere under false pretenses such as work-from-home jobs, prize winnings, or romantic relationships. Scammers have recently exploited rideshare services like Uber's package delivery feature to collect money from victims without direct contact, leading to tragic outcomes including at least one delivery driver's death. To protect yourself, avoid unsolicited calls and opportunities that seem too good to be true, let unknown callers go to voicemail, and verify any suspicious offers through consumer protection agencies before engaging.
kashmirobserver.net
India's CERT-In cyber-security agency issued a public advisory detailing over a dozen online scams targeting citizens, with particular focus on the "digital arrest" scam where fraudsters impersonate government officials via WhatsApp or Skype, threatening victims with arrest to coerce them into transferring money under false pretenses of investigations or security deposits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi simultaneously warned the public about these scams in his radio address, recommending citizens verify agency identity directly, avoid panic-driven money transfers, and report incidents to the national cyber-security helpline (1930) or www.cybercrime.gov.in. The advisory also highlighted other prevalent scams including phishing,
indianexpress.com
A 73-year-old man from Pune was defrauded of Rs 45 lakh (approximately $54,000 USD) in a "digital arrest" scam in September, where cyber criminals posing as TRAI and Mumbai Crime Branch officers convinced him he was under investigation for drug trafficking and money laundering, forcing him to remain confined at home without contact with others for four days. The fraudsters used video calls with fake police credentials and Maharashtra police logos to build credibility, then instructed him to transfer his savings to fraudulent "RBI safe accounts," after which the scammers became unreachable. This case exemplifies organized cross-border cyber crimes where fraudsters use
theedgemalaysia.com
Traditional Know Your Customer (KYC) methods such as document verification and facial recognition are increasingly insufficient against sophisticated fraud tactics like deepfakes, money mule scams, romance scams, and account takeovers—with 70% of fraud occurring after the initial onboarding process. AI and machine learning technologies can both facilitate fraud through deepfake creation and combat it through real-time behavioral analysis, anomaly detection, and signature/pixel analysis to identify fraudulent documents and account activity across geographic locations. Effective fraud prevention requires a collaborative approach combining advanced technology, robust regulations, public awareness, and information sharing among businesses, governments, and individuals.
theeagleonline.com.ng
Six suspects aged 22-27 were arrested by the Special Fraud Unit in Lagos, Nigeria for business email compromise, romance scams, benefit fraud, credit card fraud, and money laundering. Officers recovered a vehicle, high-end mobile phones worth millions of Naira, and various fetish materials from the suspects, with investigations revealing connections to additional associates involved in computer-related fraud. The suspects await court charges upon completion of the investigation.
6abc.com
A 70-year-old man in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania was targeted through a romance scam on LinkedIn beginning in August 2022, where a criminal posed as a woman to build trust and extract his personal information. The scammers used his identity to purchase iPhones and iPads connected to his AT&T account, then convinced him to facilitate cryptocurrency purchases and transfers as part of a money laundering scheme, resulting in approximately $10,000 in fraudulent charges before the bank detected the activity. The FBI warns that romance scams have become a billion-dollar-a-year enterprise increasingly used to turn victims into "money mules," with AI technology making such schemes more convincing,
professionalsecurity.co.uk
Former fraud investigator Megan Searle outlines common online dating scams, where perpetrators use "love bombing" (excessive flattery), superficial conversations, and fabricated emergencies to manipulate victims into sending money or becoming unwitting "money mules." She advises users to verify identities through video calls, avoid sharing personal photos early, and recognize red flags such as requests for money, avoidance of video chats, and lack of meaningful conversation. The tactics became increasingly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic when isolation made people more vulnerable to exploitation.
prnewswire.com
A married senior couple lost $30 million in a coordinated fraud scheme involving impersonation, cryptocurrency transfers, and alleged negligence by Charles Schwab, Bank of America, and Unchained Trading. Scammers used confidential information from Schwab's 2023 data breach to convince the victims their investment accounts were compromised, then directed them to liquidate assets and convert funds to cryptocurrency. The lawsuit alleges that all three institutions failed to implement proper Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols despite clear red flags of elder financial abuse and identity theft, and instead attempted to upsell additional services rather than halt the fraudulent transactions
cnn.com
Hundreds of elderly Americans, including those with dementia, have been victimized by deceptive political fundraising tactics from both Republican and Democratic campaigns, with vulnerable donors unknowingly giving away millions of dollars through relentless text messages and emails that automatically enrolled them in recurring donations. A CNN investigation identified over 1,000 government complaints and found that elderly donors lost more than $6 million in a small sample alone, with some individuals giving away six-figure sums from their life savings, predominantly to Republican candidates and former President Donald Trump. The predatory practices exploit cognitive decline by making false urgent pleas for money appear to come directly from major candidates, draining bank accounts without donors' knowledge or consent
wnyt.com
A 21-year-old Boston man was arrested for his role as a courier in a tech support scam that defrauded a 75-year-old Berkshire County resident of approximately $420,000 between June and October 2024. The victim was targeted via a computer pop-up claiming to be from Microsoft, then deceived into believing he was involved in money laundering and instructed to withdraw cash in installments and hand it to couriers; the suspect was arrested after delivering a box of cash to an undercover officer posing as the victim. Urvishkumar Vipulkumar Patel was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and release
berkshireeagle.com
A 75-year-old North Adams man lost over $400,000 in a tech support scam that operated from June to September, in which a caller posing as a federal agent convinced the victim to withdraw cash and hand it to couriers, claiming he was implicated in money laundering. Boston resident Urvishkumar Vipulkumar Patel, 21, was arrested after an FBI sting operation at the victim's home and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud; he claimed he was hired to pick up packages and deliver them for a cut. The FBI advises that legitimate federal agencies never request money by phone or send couriers to collect funds
aws.amazon.com
This article describes Wipro and AWS's development of an Intelligent Financial Fraud Detection (IFFD) solution designed to address gaps in traditional fraud detection systems. The system uses AI and deep learning to detect fraud in real-time, with particular focus on elder fraud, which the FBI reported affected over 101,000 people age 60+ in 2023 with losses exceeding $3.4 billion. IFFD aims to reduce false positives to under 5% while identifying emerging threats like investment scams, romance scams, and grandparent scams before funds are transferred.
onmanorama.com
**Digital Arrests Scam in India**
Scammers in India are conducting "digital arrest" fraud, impersonating law enforcement officers via video calls to falsely accuse victims of crimes and extort money while confining them to their homes. High-profile victims include Malayalam actor Maala Parvathi (who avoided loss) and former church leader Dr. Geevarghese Mor Coorilos (who lost Rs 15 lakh), while an atomic energy institute employee was defrauded of Rs 71.33 lakh; Kerala Police advise victims to use common sense, noting that India has no law permitting arrests over phone or
dlnews.com
Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding allegedly led a major cocaine trafficking network that smuggled large quantities of drugs from California to Canada using cryptocurrency payments, including Tether (USDT), with one tracked payment involving 17,300 USDT linked to a drug deal. Wedding, who previously served prison time for cocaine trafficking in 2010, is now facing US prosecution for leveraging encrypted messaging and crypto to facilitate the operation. The case highlights ongoing concerns about cryptocurrency misuse in crime, though Tether reports it has frozen over $1.8 billion in illicit funds and is collaborating with law enforcement to combat criminal activity on its platform.
foxnews.com
Americans lost $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, a 45% increase from 2022, with over 69,000 complaints filed to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. People aged 60 and older were disproportionately affected, reporting over $1.6 billion in losses across 16,806 complaints, primarily through investment fraud schemes and relationship-building scams that use fake websites and recovery schemes. Common tactics include scammers promising unrealistic returns via unsolicited contact, building trust through dating apps and social media before pushing crypto investment, and impersonating recovery specialists to steal additional funds from victims.
atlantablackstar.com
An 81-year-old Washington grandmother lost $109,000 to a phone scammer who impersonated a Social Security Administration agent and used a fake Supreme Court document to create urgency about bank fraud. The victim transferred funds to shell companies (Yongri Trading Inc. and Shengya WS Inc.) and mailed $15,000 in cash based on the scammer's instructions, while her bank stated it followed proper protocols during the fraudulent transactions.
news.sky.com
A Thai teenager named Poom-Jai was lured to Cambodia under false employment promises and forced to work in a "fraud factory" conducting "pig butcher" romance scams, where he manipulated lonely victims into investing money in fraudulent schemes before stealing it all. Across Southeast Asia, an estimated 300,000 scammers operating in heavily guarded compounds controlled by Chinese mafia have stolen at least £34 billion worldwide, with workers often trafficked, tortured, and imprisoned when they fail to meet targets or attempt escape. Poom-Jai eventually suffered beatings with electric batons when accused of theft and attempted a desperate escape from the compound.
courant.com
Tolulope Samuel Bodunde, a 33-year-old Nigerian citizen living in New Jersey, was sentenced to two years in prison for participating in an international internet fraud scheme that targeted multiple victims across the United States and abroad, including elderly women through romance scams. The conspiracy used money mules to funnel fraudulent proceeds through bank accounts, defrauding businesses and individuals by posing as legitimate recipients; Bodunde was ordered to pay $494,939 in restitution to three victims.
urbanmilwaukee.com
Lakia Jackson, a 34-year-old Milwaukee woman, was indicted in October 2024 for a $3.7 million health care fraud scheme involving We Care Services, where she allegedly offered kickbacks to recruit pregnant women and new mothers for prenatal and childcare coordination services, then submitted false claims for services never provided. Jackson also submitted claims for services allegedly provided before clients were ever enrolled or met with her agency. She faces multiple federal charges including health care fraud, kickback violations, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft, with potential sentences reaching up to 20 years in prison per count.
cupe.ca
Canada's Public Pension Investment Board lost over $500 million on investments in Orpea, a major European for-profit long-term care company that collapsed amid allegations of systemic elder abuse, financial mismanagement, fraud, and embezzlement by executives (including a former CEO and CFO who were jailed). Despite holding two board seats, the CPPIB failed to prevent or address the criminal conduct affecting vulnerable residents and ultimately impacting the retirement savings of 22 million Canadian workers. The report and subsequent recommendations advocate for prohibiting pension funds from investing in for-profit long-term care and returning such facilities to public sector control.
wusa9.com
An 81-year-old woman in Washington, D.C. lost approximately $109,000 in a government impersonation scam after receiving a phone call claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. The scammer sent fraudulent documents (including a fake "U.S. Supreme Court" certificate with numerous grammatical errors) and text instructions directing her to transfer funds and mail cash to multiple accounts. This case illustrates a growing trend: the FBI reported elder fraud targeting those 60 and older exceeded $3.4 billion in losses last year, a significant increase from 2022, and authorities advise that legitimate government agencies contact people by mail only, never by phone, email
odishabytes.com
Scammers are increasingly using deepfake technology and artificial intelligence to perpetrate fraud, employing tactics including romance scams (where victims are lured into fake relationships and defrauded of millions), "digital arrest" schemes (where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement to coerce victims into extended video calls and payments), and investment scams using deepfake videos of celebrities like Virat Kohli and Ratan Tata to promote fraudulent apps. Notable victims include men across Taiwan, Singapore, and India who lost over $46 million to romance scams, and Indian textile baron SP Oswal who was defrauded of $833,000 after being
therecord.media
A global law enforcement operation called SOGA X conducted in June and July across 28 countries arrested over 5,100 people and shut down tens of thousands of illegal gambling websites, recovering more than $59 million in illicit proceeds during the UEFA 2024 European Football Championship. The crackdown exposed links between illegal gambling operations and organized cybercrime centers involved in human trafficking, romance scams, and "pig butchering" fraud schemes, with one Philippine raid rescuing over 650 trafficking victims who had been forced to conduct online fraud. Notable takedowns included dismantling a Vietnamese gambling ring generating $800,000 daily and disrupting organized crime operations in Thailand, Greece, an
interpol.int
**Operation SOGA X (June-July 2024):** An international law enforcement operation involving INTERPOL and 28 countries made over 5,100 arrests and recovered USD 59 million in illicit proceeds from illegal gambling networks. The operation rescued more than 650 human trafficking victims in the Philippines who had been lured with false employment promises and forced into running cyber scams including romance scams and cryptocurrency fraud, while also dismantling major illegal betting operations in Vietnam, Thailand, and Greece that generated hundreds of millions in illegal transactions through money laundering schemes.
patch.com
An 82-year-old Woodland Park resident lost $432,000 to a door-to-door home improvement scam perpetrated by Abba Cohen, 42, of Queens, who collected payment for services never rendered. Cohen was arrested on October 15 and faces second-degree charges including conspiracy to commit theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and money laundering. Authorities are seeking additional victims or information about similar incidents involving Cohen.
digit.in
A 29-year-old Bengaluru businessman lost Rs 14.57 lakh in a digital arrest scam in September 2024 after receiving calls from fraudsters impersonating TRAI and CBI officials who accused him of money laundering and threatened "digital arrest." The scammers pressured him to transfer nearly 80% of his bank balance to purportedly secure RBI accounts for verification over the course of a week before he filed a complaint on October 3. The article advises protecting against such scams by never sharing personal information based on unsolicited calls, verifying claims directly with official organizations, avoiding responses to urgency tactics, and reporting suspicious contact to authorities
fox61.com
Tolulope Samuel Bodunde, a 33-year-old Nigerian citizen, was sentenced to two years in prison for participating in a multi-country business email compromise scheme that defrauded multiple victims including Connecticut, Colorado, Alaska, and New York-based companies. Bodunde specifically exploited elderly women through romance scams to serve as unwitting money mules and was ordered to pay $494,939 in restitution to three victims. The criminal network, led by co-conspirator Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, operated over several years by impersonating legitimate entities in electronic communications to trick victims into transferring money to accounts controlled by the conspirators.
justice.gov
Carlton Rembert, 70, was sentenced to 66 months in prison for his role in a guardianship fraud scheme that stole over $1 million from at least 120 incapacitated elderly people in Pennsylvania between 2012 and 2018. Working with his sister Gloria Byars, a court-appointed guardian, and co-conspirator Alesha Mitchell, Rembert deposited over $695,000 in fraudulent checks into shell company accounts and spent the stolen funds on personal expenses including vacations and vehicles. Rembert was ordered to pay $534,335 in restitution to victims.
justice.gov
William Jack Berg, a 52-year-old from Waukee, Iowa, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for defrauding approximately 17 victims over eight years by posing as a financial advisor and convincing them to invest in two companies he created and controlled (W. Holdings of Iowa and Excel Performance Management), using fabricated investment documents and statements. Berg used the victims' money for personal expenses and attempted to destroy evidence after learning of his federal indictment; he was ordered to pay over $1.6 million in restitution and serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
timesnownews.com
A 29-year-old Bengaluru businessman lost Rs 14.57 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonated officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and CBI, falsely claiming his phone number was linked to money laundering and threatening legal consequences. The scammers pressured the victim to transfer 80% of his bank balance to a supposedly secure RBI account for "verification" after having him download Signal to record a fake video statement. The article advises victims to verify caller claims directly with organizations, avoid sharing personal information or transferring funds in response to unsolicited calls, be cautious of urgency-inducing tactics
orilliamatters.com
Project Sharp, a 15-month investigation by 11 Ontario and Quebec police services, resulted in 14 arrests and 56 charges related to an "emergency grandparent" scam targeting seniors with landlines. Scammers impersonated police officers or lawyers claiming victims' grandchildren were in custody and demanded bail money, often using money mules to collect funds from victims who experienced significant financial loss and emotional trauma. A 14th suspect, a 24-year-old from Waterloo, was arrested in October 2024 as part of the ongoing investigation.
journalpatriot.com
The U.S. Department of Justice's Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force identified four trending elder fraud scams targeting older adults: SSA Impostor Scams (falsely claiming Social Security numbers are suspended), Tech Support Scams (charging for unnecessary computer repairs and fake refunds), Lottery Scams (claiming victims won foreign lotteries requiring upfront fees), and IRS Impostor Scams (impersonating IRS agents demanding payment). These scams often operate internationally using U.S.-based "money mules" to receive payments, and older adults are targeted because they are less likely to report suspected fraud; victims can report scams to the National
thestar.com.my
A 45-year-old clerk in Hutan Melintang, Malaysia lost RM445,000 in a phone scam involving impersonators claiming to represent an online shopping company and police, who accused her of unlicensed business operations and money laundering to trick her into transferring her and her mother's savings. After waiting two months with no return of funds and failing to contact the scammer, the victim filed a police report in October. Authorities advise the public to ignore calls from unknown numbers, never share banking details, and verify suspicious claims directly with relevant agencies or trusted contacts.