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aging.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
In a September 19, 2024 Senate hearing on elder fraud, lawmakers discussed how scammers stole over $3.4 billion from American seniors in 2023, often through impersonation, romance scams, and false investment promises by transnational criminal organizations based in countries like Mexico and China. The hearing highlighted that Medicare alone lost an estimated $60 billion to fraud, errors, and abuse in 2023, with scammers using stolen Medicare numbers to bill for unnecessary medical equipment. Senators emphasized the importance of community banks, local law enforcement, and AI-powered fraud detection systems in combating these crimes and called for enhanced education to help seniors recognize warning signs.
mcknightsseniorliving.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FTC reported $10 billion in total consumer fraud losses (up $1 billion from 2022), with older adults losing $3.4 billion according to FBI data, driven primarily by imposter scams, investment fraud (up 400% since 2021), and tech support scams despite scam types remaining largely consistent with previous years. The Senate Special Committee on Aging released its ninth annual fraud book highlighting that common scams targeting seniors include imposter, sweepstakes, lottery, cryptocurrency, and AI-enabled schemes, with tech support scams causing nearly $590 million in losses and investment scams topping $1.2 billion. Between June
kttc.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office warned of a "grandparent scam" targeting senior citizens in north Iowa, where scammers called victims claiming a relative had been arrested and needed cash for bail, then sent a courier to collect money from victims' homes. Authorities identified a suspect—a well-dressed Black man driving a black or dark-colored 4-door SUV with possible Minnesota plates, potentially accompanied by a woman—and urged seniors never to give cash or personal information to unknown persons and to report such contacts to law enforcement.
saharareporters.com
· 2025-12-08
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered €5,100 from a Nigerian romance scammer and returned the funds to Spanish citizen Heinz Burchard Einhaus Uchtmann, with the handover made to Spain's Ambassador to Nigeria in September 2024. The recovery was achieved through collaboration between the EFCC and Spanish Police, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in combating cross-border financial crimes. EFCC leadership emphasized the agency's commitment to preventing Nigeria from becoming a safe haven for financial criminals and called for continued global partnership among law enforcement agencies to address the borderless nature of internet fraud.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bengaluru man named KJ Rao lost Rs 59 lakh in an elaborate online scam involving fraudsters who impersonated police, CBI officials, and a judge to convince him he was under "digital arrest" for money laundering and misuse of Aadhaar details. Using multiple deceptive tactics including fake video calls, fabricated courtroom proceedings, and continuous surveillance via Skype, the scammers pressured Rao to transfer Rs 50 lakh and Rs 9 lakh to separate bank accounts under the pretense of court orders. Rao reported the scam to local police after the scammers abruptly ended contact
wpbf.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office warned residents of a phone scam in which callers impersonate deputies and threaten arrest to extort money from victims. Scammers request payment through various methods including Bitcoin, PayPal, Zelle, and gift cards; law enforcement advises that no legitimate government official will call demanding payment. Residents with information about the scam are urged to contact the sheriff's office or call Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bengaluru man lost Rs 59 lakh in a sophisticated online scam involving fluent English-speaking fraudsters who impersonated police officers, CBI officials, and a judge to convince him he was under "digital arrest" for money laundering and Aadhaar misuse. The scammers used automated calls, WhatsApp video calls, fake courtroom theatrics, and round-the-clock surveillance via Skype to psychologically manipulate the victim into transferring funds across multiple bank accounts before abruptly disconnecting. The victim reported the incident to police after realizing the deception.
wtov9.com
· 2025-12-08
Jeffrey Morris, a 37-year-old real estate developer in Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced to five years in prison for defrauding investors through forged leases, withheld information, and Ponzi-scheme payments that caused five or more victims to lose their savings. Morris must pay nearly $5 million in restitution to investors and over $500,000 to the IRS for unpaid taxes and penalties.
news.monroelocal.org
· 2025-12-08
The Monroe Police Department's incident report for September 6-12, 2024 (part three) documents two fraud cases: one involving a compromised Social Security number with no financial loss after the complainant froze accounts, and another involving unauthorized credit card charges made in Greendale, Wisconsin. The report also includes various other incidents including traffic stops, accidents, disputes, and welfare checks across the city during this period.
citizensvoice.com
· 2025-12-08
State Rep. Mike Cabell hosted a free educational seminar on October 7 at Meadows Manor Community Room in Dallas to teach older residents about current financial fraud schemes and protective measures. The event, led by David Shallcross from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, covered safety tips and holiday scams targeting seniors, who are frequently exploited by scammers using evolving tactics.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
On September 21, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new initiatives to support women's economic security, particularly as they age, acknowledging that women typically retire with less savings than men while living longer and facing greater financial vulnerability. The announcement included over $200 million in grants for senior employment training, nearly $3 million for emergency housing for older women experiencing abuse, and new resources for retirement planning and financial literacy. The administration also emphasized existing protections against financial fraud and scams targeting women, alongside policies to strengthen Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Tennessee man's wife fell victim to a sophisticated scam where thieves posed as bank representatives following a legitimate fraud alert text, tricking her into revealing the answer to her account's security question. Using this information, the scammers disabled notifications, transferred funds between accounts, and set up an ACH withdrawal—though the victim's daily account monitoring allowed her to catch the fraud quickly and recover most funds through her bank and IC3 reporting. The incident illustrates how scammers exploit trust and use security question answers to bypass account protections, and highlights the importance of verifying caller identity and being cautious about sharing personal information even when requests seem legitimate.
headtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
David Checkley, a romance fraudster, was jailed again after previously defrauding Sharon Shearer, 70, of over £200,000 during a three-year relationship that left her bankrupt and homeless. The article also reports a significant rise in various fraud schemes in the UK, including an 43% increase in banking complaints about denied refunds (8,700 cases between April-June), a 34% surge in purchase scams totaling £85.9 million in 2023, and a 31% increase in romance scam payments reaching £36.5 million—the highest ever recorded. Common scams highlighted include marketplace fraud, fake ticketing schemes,
dailytimesng.com
· 2025-12-08
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered €5,100 from a Nigerian romance scammer and returned the funds to Spanish victim Heinz Burchard Einhaus Uchtmann in collaboration with Spanish Police. The EFCC Executive Chairman formally handed over the recovered assets to the Spanish Ambassador on September 20, 2024, emphasizing that the case demonstrates the importance of international law enforcement cooperation in combating borderless financial crimes. The recovery underscores both countries' commitment to preventing Nigeria from becoming a safe haven for financial criminals and fraudsters engaged in romance scams and similar schemes.
chronicle.ng
· 2025-12-08
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered €5,100 from a Nigerian romance scam and returned the funds to a Spanish citizen, Heinz Burchard Einhaus Uchtmann, through the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria. The handover highlighted successful international cooperation between Nigerian and Spanish law enforcement agencies in combating transnational financial crimes, with EFCC leadership emphasizing their commitment to making Nigeria inhospitable for romance scammers and other fraudsters.
thestar.com
· 2025-12-08
Canadian seniors reported 17,000 fraud cases totaling $137.8 million in 2022, with financial abuse on the rise as the population ages. While seniors fall victim to various scams including romance and prize fraud, familial elder financial abuse—when family members or caregivers exploit a senior's finances—is among the most common yet underreported forms. Key protective measures include establishing powers of attorney, maintaining organized financial documents, having transparent family conversations about money, designating a trusted contact person with financial advisers, and working with professionals to monitor for suspicious spending or behavior changes.
couriernews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Russellville Police Department warns that elderly individuals are increasingly targeted for financial crimes, with an estimated 37 percent of telemarketing fraud victims being seniors. The article attributes this trend to the growing aging population and seniors' accumulated resources, while advising elders to report crimes, remember that "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," and contact local police before committing to suspicious offers.
kaaltv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office reported an increase in "grandparent scams" targeting senior citizens in North Iowa, where callers falsely claim a relative has been arrested and demand cash payment delivered by a courier to the victim's home. Law enforcement identified a suspect as a well-dressed Black male driving a dark four-door SUV with possible Minnesota plates, and advised seniors to hang up, verify information independently, and report suspicious calls to local police. The FTC recommends protecting yourself by remembering that legitimate businesses don't demand immediate payment via wire transfer or gift cards, law enforcement won't threaten arrest over the phone, and government agencies won't solicit sensitive information through unsolicite
lawrencekstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister conducted a community presentation warning residents about common scams after a local family lost $90,000, noting that scammers typically operate outside U.S. jurisdiction making fund recovery nearly impossible. Scammers use emails, phone calls, social media, and mail to target victims by spoofing phone numbers, impersonating government agencies or financial institutions, and creating emotional urgency through threats or too-good-to-be-true offers. Armbrister recommends verifying suspicious calls by hanging up and calling trusted numbers, watching for red flags like immediate threats and AI-enhanced voice spoofing, and never providing personal or banking information to unsolicited callers
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Tanya M. Aboseada, 39, of Florida, was sentenced to 3 years in prison for defrauding her elderly grandmother in Illinois of $317,049 through wire fraud between November 2021 and August 2022. Aboseada made multiple false claims to convince her grandmother to wire money, including fabricated stories about needing funds for vehicle transfers, IRS debts, legal fees, and to pay off a family after a fatal accident. She was ordered to pay full restitution of $317,049 and serve three years of supervised release.
milwaukeeindependent.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, with the problem projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology make fraud easier to perpetrate and harder to prosecute. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and under-resourced, with perpetrators rarely caught or convicted, and victims—particularly older adults—often unable to recover stolen funds from romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud. The article illustrates the crisis through cases including an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer, while the perpetrator remained at large, highlighting how inadequate law enforcement
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Abdul Mohammed, 31, of Des Plaines, Illinois, was federally charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud for his role in a scheme that defrauded elderly victims of hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement savings. The conspiracy involved scammers posing as FBI agents who falsely claimed victims' identities or accounts were compromised and instructed them to withdraw cash or purchase gold bars for "protection," with one documented victim losing at least $125,000 across multiple transactions. Mohammed is currently a fugitive with an outstanding warrant and faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted.
newsnationnow.com
· 2025-12-08
An Austin woman lost thousands of dollars in a warrant scam when a caller impersonating a sheriff's deputy claimed she had missed jury duty and needed to send money via Bitcoin to avoid arrest; a bank manager intervened and prevented further losses. The FBI reports that Texans over 60 lost more than $278 billion in elder fraud last year, with common schemes including investment fraud (using fake cryptocurrency accounts and withdrawal fees) and tech support scams (pop-ups claiming virus infections to trick victims into sending money for gold, cash, or crypto). Law enforcement advises victims to pause and independently verify requests before acting, and recommends reporting fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
click2houston.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Houston and nationwide are increasingly using cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, to defraud victims through fake law enforcement calls claiming warrant arrests related to missed jury duty. Lt. Abraham Alanis of the Harris County Sheriff's Office reports receiving daily complaints about these calls, where criminals use spoofed phone numbers and real officer names to pressure victims into sending untraceable Bitcoin payments. According to the FBI, cryptocurrency scams resulted in 69,468 complaints nationwide in 2023 with $5.6 billion in losses, with Texas accounting for 4,770 complaints and approximately $411.9 million in losses.
milwaukeeindependent.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, a crisis-level problem projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology increase vulnerability and perpetrator access. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and underfunded, with relatively few scammers caught or convicted, stolen funds rarely recovered, and many victims reluctant to report crimes—illustrated by an Ohio case where an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer threatening to extract $12,000 in supposed bond money, while the actual perpetrator remained at large. Key challenges include difficulty investigating overseas fraud, rapid conversion of funds to cryptocurrency, some police dismiss
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bedford County resident received multiple calls claiming he had won a $2.5 million Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes and was asked to pay $4,850 upfront in taxes before receiving the prize. The victim's contact with the actual Publisher's Clearing House company confirmed he was not a winner, as the legitimate company never calls winners and instead delivers prizes in person. This scam is part of a broader fraud epidemic in Pennsylvania, where the FTC reported over 14,800 fraud complaints in the first half of 2024, with sweepstakes and lottery scams accounting for 618 of those reports.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Afeez Akinloye, a Nigerian citizen, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on September 19, 2024, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud targeting U.S. real estate businesses. Between fall 2016 and summer 2017, Akinloye and co-conspirators hacked email accounts related to real estate transactions and impersonated sellers to request fraudulent wire transfers, using accounts obtained through romance scams; eleven total victims lost $1.85 million with an additional $4.6 million in attempted losses, including two Nebraska victims who lost $52,000. Akinloye was arrested in South Africa in 2022
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Moira Stuart, a 75-year-old BBC News presenter, fell victim to a sophisticated phone scam where fraudsters impersonated her bank and instructed her to transfer money to catch an alleged "inside job" at her branch. A vigilant bank cashier prevented her from losing thousands of pounds by questioning the transaction and alerting the bank's anti-fraud team. Stuart publicly shared her experience to combat the shame surrounding fraud victimization and to raise awareness, noting that nearly three million instances of bank fraud costing £1.2 billion were recorded the previous year, with authorized fraud victims losing an average of nearly £2,000.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Tourists visiting London have become victims of an increasingly common rickshaw scam where dishonest drivers manipulate credit card machines—often by shifting decimal points—to charge exorbitant fares for short journeys, with one victim charged $1,700 for a 1-kilometer ride between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Multiple complaints to Transport for London have documented cases involving overcharges ranging from 10 to 450+ pounds, with some drivers employing intimidation tactics. Until recently, pedicab regulations in London dated back to 1869, allowing nearly anyone to operate these vehicles without oversight; authorities including the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association and Metropolitan Police have called for stronger regulation to
wfmj.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI arrested 24-year-old Indian national Shreyas Baldevbhai Chaudhary in Georgia for his role in a $4.8 million nationwide elder fraud scheme targeting at least six victims across multiple states using fake tech support scams. Chaudhary allegedly defrauded a 77-year-old Salem man of approximately $61,000 by convincing him his computer was hacked and pressuring him to send cash to couriers posing as Microsoft or financial institution representatives. The investigation, which also identified co-conspirator Trusha Chaudhary and is ongoing with additional arrests expected, revealed a sophisticated operation that victimized elderly Americans in Ohio, California
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania lawmakers are pushing for stricter banking regulations to combat wire fraud targeting seniors, in which scammers trick victims into transferring money from their accounts to overseas criminals. The investigation highlights a growing trend of elder fraud that presents challenges for banks whose customers are being victimized by these scams.
kpbs.org
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational event hosted by Osher at SDSU featuring Assistant U.S. Attorney Oleksandra Johnson, who specializes in elder fraud prosecution. The presentation covers methods criminals use to perpetrate elder financial abuse (mail, phone, computer, in-person, and media), current trending scams in Southern California including grandparent scams, romance scams, and investment scams, and warning signs of financial abuse with prevention strategies.
wfmj.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI arrested 24-year-old Shreyas Baldevbhai Chaudhary in Georgia for his role in a $4.8 million nationwide elder fraud scheme targeting at least six victims across multiple states, including a 77-year-old Salem man who lost approximately $61,000. The scam involved fake tech support pop-ups claiming victims' computers were hacked, followed by pressure to send cash or gold to couriers posing as Microsoft or financial institution representatives. A co-conspirator, Trusha Chaudhary, was also apprehended, and authorities indicate the investigation is ongoing with additional arrests expected.
bradfordera.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.), chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, held a hearing titled "Fighting Fraud: How Scammers Are Stealing from Older" Americans to address scams targeting elderly citizens. The hearing examined fraud schemes affecting seniors, though specific details about the scams discussed and outcomes are not provided in the excerpt.
therecordnorthshore.org
· 2025-12-08
Multiple residents across northern Chicago suburbs reported fraud incidents in mid-September, including check washing schemes in Winnetka where stolen mailed checks were altered and cashed for a combined total of over $9,000, and a digital scam in Glencoe where a resident lost more than $100,000 after responding to a pop-up message on their computer screen. The police reports also documented various property crimes including burglaries and thefts across Wilmette, Highland Park, and Northfield during the same period.
montclairlocal.news
· 2025-12-08
Montclair Police warn residents of sextortion scams where fraudsters email victims claiming to have installed malware and threatening to release compromising videos unless payment is made in Bitcoin, using publicly available information like phone numbers and home addresses to appear credible. Police advise residents to never provide personal information, financial details, or payments via Bitcoin, wire transfer, or gift cards, and to be aware that caller ID can be spoofed; victims should contact Montclair Police at (973) 744-1234 if targeted.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
West African "Yahoo boys" operating from Ghana conduct large-scale romance and computer repair scams, targeting vulnerable Americans (particularly widowers and elderly victims) and stealing billions in fraudulent wire transfers and gold purchase schemes. A 92-year-old retired nurse lost significant portions of her life savings to a gold scam despite repeated warnings, leading to lawsuits against banks like Charles Schwab for allegedly ignoring red flags on suspicious transactions. U.S. consumers reported over $10 billion in fraud losses in 2023—a 14% increase from 2022—as overseas-based scams exploit weak bank safeguards and psychological manipulation to drain American accounts.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering legislation that would require banks to flag suspicious transactions—such as overseas wire transfers—and freeze them for several days while alerting law enforcement and potentially trusted family members, targeting protection for residents age 60 and older. The bill addresses a growing wire fraud problem where scammers trick elderly victims into transferring hundreds of thousands of dollars through elaborate schemes like romance scams and fake investment offers, with nearly 60% of stolen money in financial fraud cases originating from wire transfers and most never being recovered. The measure passed the Pennsylvania House in July with bipartisan support and is currently under Senate consideration.
uppermichiganssource.com
· 2025-12-08
Delta County retirees attended an AARP-sponsored fraud awareness workshop where law enforcement identified romance scams and IRS impersonation scams as the top threats targeting Upper Peninsula residents. Scammers use emotional manipulation—such as fake online dating profiles or threatening calls about back taxes—with artificial urgency to pressure victims into sending money, though the IRS does not initiate contact by phone. Authorities advised residents to hang up on suspicious callers, limit personal information on social media, avoid stranger friend requests, and contact local law enforcement if money is involved.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Isaiah Okere, a 42-year-old Nigerian citizen, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after being extradited from South Africa for his role in an international scam operation targeting at least 15 victims. From 2015 to 2019, Okere and co-conspirators orchestrated romance scams, lottery scams, and business email compromise schemes that resulted in over $1 million in losses, with vulnerable and elderly victims losing their entire retirement savings, and one victim reporting suicidal ideation. Okere used false identities and foreign bank accounts to facilitate the fraud and money laundering scheme, and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
fox5atlanta.com
· 2025-12-08
A Gwinnett County woman fell victim to a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam in December 2022 when a fraudster impersonated her real estate closing attorney and instructed her to wire $131,092.55 to purchase her home. With assistance from Gwinnett County Police detectives and JP Morgan Chase, authorities recovered over $100,000 of the stolen funds—$45,092.55 was returned after the suspect, Edina Winter of Glen Cove, New York, was charged, and the remaining $86,000 was seized from the fraudulent account.
clreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office reported an increase in grandparent scams targeting senior citizens in North Iowa, where callers falsely claim a relative has been arrested and demand cash for bail. Victims were duped into handing over cash to couriers who arrived at their homes, with suspects identified as a well-dressed Black male driving a dark SUV with possible Minnesota plates, sometimes accompanied by an unknown female. Law enforcement advises seniors never to provide personal information or cash to unknown callers and to report such incidents immediately.
news.ufl.edu
· 2025-12-08
Researchers at the University of Florida found that older adults who are more attuned to their own heartbeat are 15-20% better at detecting phishing emails and identifying liars, suggesting that "gut instinct" or bodily awareness could be trained to help protect seniors against fraud. The study tested over 100 participants across age groups and found that enhanced bodily awareness specifically benefited older adults in spotting deception in both email and video scenarios, which is significant given that seniors lose more than $28 billion annually to financial scams.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Spanish police arrested five members of a criminal organization who operated a romance scam impersonating actor Brad Pitt, defrauding two Spanish women of over €350,000 by convincing them they were in a romantic relationship with the actor and requesting money for fake investment projects. The scammers targeted victims through a fan page, profiled them via social media to identify vulnerable individuals, and laundered funds through money mules in West African countries; authorities recovered €85,000 of the stolen amount. The case highlights the prevalence of romance scams, which caused over $50 million in reported losses across Canada alone in 2023.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A 39-year-old Florida woman, Tanya Aboseada, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to 12 counts of wire fraud for scamming her elderly grandmother in Illinois out of $317,049 between November 2021 and August 2022. Aboseada fabricated elaborate stories—including claims about owing IRS money, paying attorney fees, and needing to pay a family after a fatal accident—to convince her grandmother to wire money into her bank account on multiple occasions. She was ordered to pay full restitution of $317,049 and serve three years of supervised release.
thecut.com
· 2025-12-08
Two women in Spain were defrauded of $362,000 by scammers posing as Brad Pitt through a fan site and WhatsApp, with the criminals profiling victims on social media to target vulnerable individuals experiencing depression and social isolation. Five people were arrested and ten investigated in Operation Bralina, with authorities recovering $95,000 of the stolen funds. The article warns that unsolicited contact from celebrities via text, DM, or messaging apps is always a scam and advises checking on vulnerable acquaintances who may be targeted by such schemes.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
Pig butchering crypto scams involve fraudsters building trust with victims through fake identities and relationships on social media platforms like WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Instagram before directing them to fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platforms and stealing their money. The SEC filed its first enforcement actions against these scams in September 2024, charging eight defendants in connection with fake platforms NanoBit and CoinW6, while the CFTC and other federal agencies have partnered to distribute educational materials warning consumers that these scams cost Americans billions annually. Victims are advised to ignore unsolicited messages from strangers and report suspicious contacts to prevent becoming targets of this rapidly growing fraud scheme.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
A 60-year-old grandmother from Leicestershire lost £565 after booking a holiday through a fake Facebook profile impersonating Tattershall Lakes Country Park, a scam she only discovered after excitedly telling her two granddaughters about the trip. She eventually received a refund from her bank, though the incident highlighted the emotional impact of holiday fraud beyond financial loss. Action Fraud reports that holiday scams cost UK consumers £12.3 million in 2023, with 6,640 cases reported, and recommends using only official booking websites rather than social media offers that seem too good to be true.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 46-year-old single mother from London was defrauded of £18,000 across two separate scams initiated through a dating app. She was first lured by a man using the fake name "Gabriel" on the app Happn into a fraudulent investment scheme where initial payments of £600 and £1,500 were promised substantial returns; when told she needed to pay additional fees and taxes to access her supposed £39,078 profit, she realized the scam but had already lost approximately £10,000. Desperate to recover her losses, she fell victim to a second scam involving fake online work tasks, ultimately borrowing £11,000 from friends and family
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide examines why scam victims face blame and shame, explaining that psychological biases—including the "just world" belief, hindsight bias, and defensive attribution—cause people to wrongly hold victims responsible for being scammed. The article emphasizes that victim blaming is harmful and counterproductive, noting that scams are increasingly common (the FTC reported $76 million lost to government impersonation scams in 2023, up 90% from 2022) and that anyone can fall victim regardless of intelligence or caution.