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in Government Impersonation
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 57-year-old woman named Kirsty was targeted by a romance scammer on a dating app in 2019 who posed as a successful businessman but exhibited multiple red flags including poor English, inconsistent location details, and requests to move conversations off-platform; though she did not lose money, she felt "robbed and violated" and has not used dating apps since. The case illustrates how romance fraud targeting older adults—who may be lonely, financially secure, and less tech-savvy—is a real threat beyond documentaries like "The Tinder Swindler," with experts recommending users verify identities, avoid sharing personal details early, and remain skeptical of profiles that
thephuketnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam calls and online fraud in Phuket, Thailand have dramatically escalated, with victims jumping from 1,365 in 2022 (B10.9 million in losses) to 5,510 in 2024 (B413 million in losses). In January 2025 alone, Thailand recorded 31,165 technology-related fraud cases averaging 1,005 per day, with fraudulent online sales, job offer scams, and investment schemes causing over B2 billion in damages. Authorities recommend verifying suspicious calls by hanging up and blocking the number, using caller ID apps, and remembering that legitimate government notifications arrive as physical letters, not
sg.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Chinatown braised duck hawker, Melvin Chew, nearly fell victim to a scam when an unknown caller requested 10 packets of duck rice with extra ingredients but refused to provide advance payment or specify details about the order. Chew grew suspicious due to the caller's initial silence, refusal to come to the stall, and lack of interest in the cost, ultimately declining to prepare the food and warning other hawkers through a Facebook group about the scam attempt using the phone number +65 8946 1932, which was subsequently confirmed as fraudulent by multiple other merchants.
barchart.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonate the IRS through phishing emails and smishing texts, directing victims to fake links or requesting personal information by claiming urgent account updates are needed. Tax season presents a prime opportunity for fraudsters, who exploited emotional tactics around penalties and refunds to steal $5.7 billion from U.S. taxpayers in 2022. The IRS recommends avoiding these scams by remembering that legitimate IRS contact occurs through regular mail, not email or text, unless you specifically requested a callback.
dnronline.com
· 2025-12-08
Dayton Police Chief Justin Trout presented to community members about common elder scams, noting that Americans ages 60 and older lost $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023. Trout warned against multiple scam types including government impersonation (IRS scams, arrest threats), AI-generated fake messages, cryptocurrency payment requests, overpayment schemes, and phishing emails, emphasizing that money lost to most scams cannot be recovered. Key advice includes never paying money to avoid arrest, independently verifying company contact information, avoiding cryptocurrency transactions, and deleting suspicious emails without clicking links.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams in the UK have become increasingly sophisticated and target all demographics, not just the elderly—16–34 year olds actually account for half of online fraud victims due to their frequent use of quick payment methods and distracted smartphone habits. Fraud is the UK's most common crime with an estimated nine million victims last year, yet only one in 1,000 reported cases results in conviction, with scammers employing tailored techniques ranging from AI deepfakes in video calls to romance baiting on dating apps. The article emphasizes that no online platform is safe and that even highly educated, tech-savvy individuals are vulnerable to sophisticated social engineering tactics.
americanbar.org
· 2025-12-08
This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a professional biography or interview with a lawyer discussing her career in maritime law, renewable energy, and public service under the Clinton Administration, her private practice work, teaching experience, and involvement with professional organizations like the ABA. No summary for the Elderus database is applicable.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old retired couple in Mentor, Ohio lost their entire life savings of $45,000 to an elaborate online scam involving a fake pop-up alert, impersonated bank and federal officials, and instructions to withdraw cash and hand it over in a parking lot. The scammers convinced the victim his accounts were compromised and used social engineering and authority manipulation to overcome his initial skepticism. The article includes expert advice on fraud prevention, including verifying communications directly with your bank, protecting personal information, and placing credit freezes to prevent unauthorized accounts.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting senior citizens and pensioners through sophisticated digital scams including QR code fraud, OTP theft, fake investment schemes, malicious apps, and impersonation of bank representatives and government officials, resulting in significant losses of lifelong savings. Cybersecurity experts attribute these attacks to seniors' limited awareness of digital threats and recommend education and vigilance in identifying fraudulent tactics such as fake customer service numbers and online marketplace scams. An awareness webinar organized by FCRF and Paytm on February 24, 2025, aims to help seniors learn how to identify scams, protect their bank accounts, and report cyber fraud.
islandpacket.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "What can I do about all these scams? Tips and tricks to keep you and your loved ones safe"
Beaufort County, South Carolina residents—particularly older adults—face a high risk of scams, with the state ranking seventh nationally for fraud cases. Common schemes targeting seniors include cryptocurrency scams (up 900% since 2020), contractor fraud, phone solicitation, and religious impersonation scams. The FTC advises identifying scams by recognizing when scammers impersonate legitimate organizations, create false urgency or prize claims, and pressure immediate action or unusual payment methods.
scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps to target at least four elderly men between 2021 and 2022, drugging them with prescription sedatives and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through a scheme the FBI called a "romance scam on steroids." Three victims died, including one whom Phelps allegedly sedated, transported across the U.S.-Mexico border in a wheelchair, and abandoned in a Mexico City hotel room; she also stole their vehicles, drained bank accounts, used credit cards for luxury purchases, and attempted to access their social security and retirement accounts. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud,
americanbar.org
· 2025-12-08
This article provides guidance for seniors on safely using AI-driven dating apps, emphasizing the importance of creating authentic profiles while protecting personal privacy and recognizing common scam tactics. Key advice includes using clear photos, writing vague bios that avoid specific details, asking thoughtful questions during conversations, enabling two-factor authentication, and immediately blocking and reporting suspicious profiles—particularly those requesting money or rushing conversations off-platform. The article also addresses professional considerations for senior professionals, recommending they maintain separate personal and professional identities online.
championnewspapers.com
· 2025-12-08
Identity theft and consumer fraud are growing significantly in the digital age, with the FTC receiving over 5.7 million fraud reports in 2021 and the ITRC documenting a 68 percent increase in data compromises compared to 2020. Common scams targeting North Americans include phone scams impersonating government agencies, phishing emails with malware, text message links requesting personal information, Medicare card verification schemes targeting seniors, and large-scale data breaches at major companies. Consumers should never share personal information over the phone unless they've verified legitimacy, avoid clicking suspicious links, be cautious of emails from apparent legitimate sources, and monitor credit regularly for unauthorized activity.
moneywise.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans receive an average of two scam calls and three scam texts weekly, with reports showing $12.5 billion lost to cybercrime in 2023 alone. AI-powered scams are increasingly sophisticated, including AI-generated fake voice recordings and photos (particularly grandparent scams with fake mugshots), enhanced phishing emails with professional formatting, and counterfeit e-commerce websites using pressure tactics and chatbots to extract personal information. Protection strategies include verifying unexpected requests through independent contact, being skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true, and using security software that can detect suspicious websites and content.
bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Two women in Bengaluru lost a combined approximately Rs 19 lakh to online astrologers operating on Instagram who promised to resolve their personal and financial problems through paid rituals. The scammers gained victims' trust through initial small payments, then coerced them into escalating payments for elaborate rituals (claiming issues like Shani dosha), before disappearing with the money and offering minimal refunds. Police warn that these cyber fraudsters use psychological manipulation and social media to exploit vulnerable individuals, with a consistent pattern of building trust, making alarming predictions, demanding large sums, and then vanishing.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Alfred's family discovered unusual bank transactions and learned that their father had fallen victim to multiple scams over several years, including romance fraud involving an impostor posing as WWE wrestler Alexa Bliss, as well as advance-fee schemes. Despite his sons' efforts to protect him, Alfred believed he was helping friends in need and paying legitimate bills, leading to family conflict and legal action between father and son over the attempts to stop the fraudulent transactions.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Romance Scam with Drugging and Theft**
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, was indicted on 21 counts including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping for allegedly meeting older men through online dating services, drugging them, and stealing money from their financial accounts between July 2021 and December 2022. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces up to life in prison if convicted, and the FBI is actively seeking to identify additional victims through an investigative website.
brandonsun.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old Winnipeg woman narrowly avoided a lottery scam when a caller claiming to represent Lotto Max offered her $150,000 and a Range Rover, then requested a $2,000-$3,000 bank draft as an upfront fee. According to TD Bank fraud data, nearly 600 Manitobans were defrauded of over $36 million in the first nine months of 2024, with 31 percent of Manitoba and Saskatchewan residents reporting victimization by financial fraud, though only 14 percent feel confident detecting scams.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Five defendants were convicted in a conspiracy to steal $1.1 million in retirement funds from 25 different 401(k) accounts belonging to elderly retired Florida school district employees between January and March 2022, with insider Vargas, who worked for the retirement fund company, orchestrating fraudulent withdrawal forms faxed to the company. The conspirators face up to 20 years in prison, with four defendants facing a mandatory minimum of two years, and sentencing is scheduled for April 28, 2025.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two brothers, Zubair and Muzzammil Al Zubair, and Michael Leon Smedley, the chief of staff to the mayor of East Cleveland, were charged in a 32-count superseding indictment with fraud, money laundering, tax fraud, and public corruption spanning from June 2020 through August 2023. The Al Zubair brothers executed multiple schemes including investment fraud, SBA COVID-19 loan fraud, cryptocurrency mining scams, and international arms trafficking fraud while falsely claiming to be a member of the UAE royal family and a legitimate hedge fund manager. Smedley allegedly leveraged his city position to provide official letters, city business
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
43-year-old Aurora Phelps of Las Vegas was charged in a 21-count indictment for running a romance scam targeting older men through online dating services between July 2021 and December 2022, during which she allegedly drugged victims and stole from their bank accounts. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping, with a potential life sentence if convicted on all counts. The FBI is seeking additional victims and has established resources including a dedicated webpage and the National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311) for those 60 and older who may
vox.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message scams have become a sophisticated and growing threat, with complaints increasing 500 percent from 2015 to 2022 as scammers use AI and personal data to craft convincing, targeted messages about unpaid fines, packages, and other common scenarios. In 2024 alone, phone scammers stole over $25 billion, averaging $450 per victim, with risks increasing when messages include personal details like names or addresses. The article advises consumers to verify suspicious texts independently, avoid clicking links from unknown senders, and recognize red flags like unusual domain extensions, as human vigilance remains the most effective defense against increasingly sophisticated text fraud.
6abc.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity experts report a 77% increase in tax-related phishing attempts during the 2023-2024 filing season, with scammers impersonating IRS officials and tax preparers to steal personal information and commit identity theft or fraudulent tax filings. Americans lost $5.5 billion to tax scams in 2023, and current schemes specifically target the recovery rebate credit by claiming victims must provide personal information to receive automatic payments. Experts recommend filing taxes early, ignoring unsolicited communications, verifying preparers' credentials through IRS.gov, and reporting suspicious messages rather than engaging with them.
kgun9.com
· 2025-12-08
Green Valley, Arizona authorities warn residents about multiple evolving scams targeting seniors, including voice cloning fraud, impersonation schemes (costing victims $1.1 billion nationally in 2023), romance scams (which cost Arizona residents $47 million over two years), and pornography-related blackmail scams. Experts recommend residents verify suspicious communications through trusted third parties and never share personal information without confirming legitimacy, noting that scammers use urgency tactics and exploit loneliness to manipulate their targets.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Thirty New York organizations, including AARP, have signed a letter supporting Governor Hochul's proposal to allow banks to place holds on transactions suspected of involving elder financial exploitation. According to FBI data, elder fraud complaints increased 14% nationally in 2023 with associated losses up 11%, and New York ranks among the top five states for elder fraud complaints and monetary losses. An AARP survey found 88% of New Yorkers age 45 and older support the proposed measure to protect vulnerable seniors from scammers using sophisticated methods to target older adults.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
An Indian national, Moinuddin Mohammed, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for his role as a courier in an international money laundering conspiracy that defrauded elderly victims of nearly $6 million. The scheme involved fraudsters impersonating U.S. government officials to convince victims to surrender cash, gold, and savings; identified victims lost between $151,500 and $470,000 each, with 21 total victims nationwide. Mohammed was ordered to pay approximately $960,000 in restitution and forfeit an additional $36,000 in seized assets.
ukiahdailyjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman lost money to a romance scam in which an online suitor fabricated emergencies (car accident, medical bills) to request loans totaling over $1,000. The executive director of the Ukiah Senior Center describes this as part of a widespread trend of financial fraud targeting seniors, including romance scams, impersonation schemes (government officials, grandchildren), and lottery scams. The article advises victims to verify requests before sending money, watch for red flags in online relationships, and report suspected fraud to law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission without shame.
clickorlando.com
· 2025-12-08
An 84-year-old woman in Volusia County, Florida was defrauded out of approximately $32,500 in a fake Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes scam in June 2023, after being told she won $1 million and needed to pay upfront taxes. Two suspects were arrested, including 25-year-old Shania Baptiste, who was extradited from New York and faces felony charges of fraud and grand theft; the victim had sent two checks ($20,000 and $12,500) despite warnings from bank and store employees that she was being scammed. The case highlights the ongoing threat of PCH impersonation scams targeting
ft.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, a UK sustainability consultancy lost £324,634 to an authorized push payment (APP) fraud scam where criminals impersonated a client's email to trick an employee into transferring funds; the victim spent 11 months and £100,000 in legal fees attempting recovery and ultimately declared the company insolvent. While new UK regulations implemented in October 2024 now mandate reimbursement up to £85,000 for APP fraud victims, fraud experts and affected individuals report the system remains broken due to police inaction, regulatory gaps, and inconsistent bank treatment of claims. APP fraud accounted for 40 percent of all fraud losses in the UK in 2
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old Fort Myers woman was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud involving a 19-year scheme to fraudulently obtain $338,364.66 in Department of Veterans Affairs survivor's benefits intended for her deceased mother. Laurie Ann Roszell forged her mother's signature on documents, impersonated her mother's voice during calls with the VA, and made false statements to federal agents claiming her mother was alive and living with her. The court ordered her to forfeit the full amount of stolen benefits.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
During the 2024 tax season, scammers increased identity theft and refund fraud attempts, with the IRS receiving nearly 300,000 identity theft reports resulting in an estimated $5.5 billion in losses. Common scams include fraudulent IRS communications via phone/text/email, AI-powered voice cloning, fake account setup offers, phishing emails promising unclaimed refunds, and fraudulent tax preparers who steal personal information and refunds. Taxpayers can protect themselves by remembering the IRS only contacts via mail, verifying caller information, researching tax preparers using the IRS directory, and avoiding unsolicited IRS-related communications or links.
miamioh.edu
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource outlines three prevalent scam types in 2025: SMS scams impersonating the IRS, toll agencies, and shipping companies to solicit urgent payments; AI-powered scams using sophisticated phishing emails, fake images, and deepfake videos to enhance convincingness; and fraudulent scholarship offers that request upfront fees with little return. Key prevention strategies include avoiding suspicious links, ignoring requests for personal information, recognizing urgency tactics and grammatical errors, never responding to suspicious messages, and reporting suspected phishing attempts to security authorities.
live5news.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP warns that scammers are exploiting cryptocurrency ATMs—machines that resemble regular ATMs and are increasingly found in gas stations and grocery stores—to steal from victims by posing as law enforcement or government officials and pressuring them to withdraw cash and deposit it into Bitcoin ATMs, where funds are instantly converted to untraceable cryptocurrency. One victim lost $80,000 through this scheme, and cryptocurrency scams cost Americans $1 billion in 2024. The AARP advises that any request to pay bills or deposit money through a crypto ATM is always a scam and should be reported to local law enforcement or ic3.gov.
asahi.com
· 2025-12-08
Japanese and Nigerian police jointly dismantled a fraud ring that defrauded 14 Japanese victims of 150 million yen ($986,000) between 2022-2023 through social media investment and romance scams, with perpetrators posing as astronauts, military personnel, and doctors to solicit funds. Nigerian authorities arrested 11 nationals whose bank accounts received victim funds, while Japanese police apprehended 9 individuals who converted stolen money into cryptocurrency; this marks the first time overseas suspects were arrested based on Japanese authorities' information. The investigation, coordinated by Interpol across 21 nations, uncovered a Nigeria-based syndicate converting victim funds through cryptocurrency exchanges,
business-standard.com
· 2025-12-08
A senior citizen in Karnataka lost Rs 3 lakh after searching for his bank manager's phone number on Google and calling a fraudster who had planted fake contact details online; the scammer posed as the bank manager, built trust through video and voice calls, and tricked the victim into clicking a malicious link that enabled unauthorized withdrawal. The article also reports a separate "digital arrest" scam in Agra where two suspects extorted money by impersonating police officers and threatening legal consequences. Protection requires verifying contact details through official websites or bank helplines rather than search results, and avoiding clicks on suspicious message links.
truthout.org
· 2025-12-08
This article concerns a federal government appointment rather than elder fraud, so it falls outside Elderus's scope of elder abuse and scams targeting seniors. The piece details how Frank Schuler IV, co-founder of a real estate firm that profited from "syndicated conservation easement" tax schemes condemned by the Senate and IRS, was appointed as a senior adviser to the GSA administrator—a position critics argue is inappropriate given Schuler's history exploiting tax provisions and costing the government billions in lost revenue.
coppercourier.com
· 2025-12-08
Online romance scams in Arizona resulted in over $47 million in losses during 2022-2023, with victims ranging from elderly individuals to people in their 30s, making the state the fifth-highest in the nation for such fraud. Key warning signs include scammers professing "instant love," quickly moving communication off dating platforms, refusing to share photos, and requesting money, sometimes stringing victims along for extended periods. Law enforcement and AARP Arizona warn that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence and new technology to impersonate people, and encourage vigilance especially around Valentine's Day when people are most vulnerable to romance-based fraud.
en.vietnamplus.vn
· 2025-12-08
Thai police launched a "Senior's Community Cyber Police Club" to combat rising online fraud targeting older citizens, who lost 4.4 billion THB (125 million USD) in nearly 14,000 reported cases during 2024. The program provides weekly educational Zoom sessions teaching seniors about common scams such as fake product sales, fraudulent job offers, and extortion calls impersonating officials, with early results showing declining victimization rates and increasing membership. The initiative complements other awareness efforts including weekly Facebook programs and daily scam alerts as part of Thailand's broader cybercrime prevention strategy.
propublica.org
· 2025-12-08
**Article Type:** Government/Tax Fraud Accountability
The new acting administrator of the General Services Administration appointed Frank Schuler IV, co-founder of a firm that profited from "syndicated conservation easement" tax shelter schemes, as a senior adviser. Schuler's company exploited a tax deduction intended for land conservation by packaging inflated property appraisals into outsized tax deductions for wealthy clients, costing the government tens of billions in revenue and earning promoters millions in fees; the scheme was finally restricted through 2022 legislation after years of IRS crackdowns, court cases, and a bipartisan Senate investigation that deemed it among "the worst of the
thefiscaltimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This article reports on the Trump administration's DOGE project gaining access to sensitive Social Security Administration data following the resignation of Acting Commissioner Michelle King, who reportedly objected to the request. Experts warn that if such detailed personal information—including bank details, earnings records, and family information for virtually all Americans—is mishandled, it could facilitate widespread elder fraud and scams targeting seniors, or be weaponized for political purposes. The administration claims to be investigating massive fraud in Social Security, but researchers who study the system say the data cited represents minor, well-known issues rather than evidence of significant fraud.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters impersonating bailiffs nearly scammed two victims out of £3,000 by falsely claiming County Court Judgements and threatening to seize their belongings. The scammers used fake court documents, accomplices to "verify" fake debts, and pressure tactics to convince victims to transfer money to personal accounts. Both victims avoided losing money by independently verifying court contact numbers and receiving alerts from their banks, highlighting the importance of confirming such claims directly with official sources rather than using provided phone numbers.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Indore lost Rs 30 lakh (approximately $36,000 USD) to an online romance scam after meeting a man posing as a Navy officer on a matrimonial website in February 2024. Over the course of a year, the scammer cultivated trust through fabricated emergencies—including a brother's accident and death, a heart attack, and cancer diagnosis—to convince her to make multiple money transfers before disappearing. The Indore Crime Branch has launched an investigation and frozen relevant bank accounts.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers nationwide are sending text messages impersonating toll collection agencies, demanding payment for unpaid tolls and directing victims to fake websites to steal banking information, credit card details, and personal identifying information like driver's license numbers. The Federal Trade Commission and multiple state authorities including New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania have issued warnings about this "smishing" scam, which the FBI reported had generated over 2,000 complaints across at least three states as of April 2023. Victims should avoid clicking links or replying to unsolicited toll texts, and should instead delete and report suspicious messages to their phone carrier.
local3news.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly people aged 60 and older lost approximately $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year, with seniors targeted because they hold significant wealth and are susceptible to increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics. The most common scams affecting seniors include romance scams (averaging $2,000 per victim), investment/cryptocurrency scams, gift card scams, texting scams, home improvement scams, and imposter scams, which often involve refined variations of traditional schemes rather than entirely new tactics. Experts recommend staying connected with elderly loved ones and remaining vigilant about suspicious offers that create artificial time pressure or build false relationships, as scammers exploit lon
wilx.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to watch for IRS impersonation scams during tax season, including phishing emails, fake phone calls demanding payment via wire transfer or prepaid debit cards, and fraudulent mailing scams requesting personal information. To protect themselves, taxpayers should file early, use an Identity Protection PIN, verify they're on the official IRS website, remember that the IRS contacts by mail first, and work with trustworthy tax professionals. Victims of tax identity theft should contact the IRS at 1-800-908-4490 and file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
pandasecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season 2025 brings increased fraud risk as over 160 million Americans file returns by April 15th, with scammers exploiting the confusion through multiple tactics including fake charities, dishonest tax preparers, and IRS impersonation calls and phishing emails. The IRS warns taxpayers to verify non-profit status before donating, use honest tax preparers, hang up on unsolicited IRS calls requesting banking information or gift cards, and avoid clicking links in suspicious emails or following unqualified social media tax advice. Installing antivirus software and being cautious of tax debt relief services can help prevent personal information theft and fraudulent refund claims filed in victims' names.
sowetanlive.co.za
· 2025-12-08
A 66-year-old pensioner from South Africa was robbed of R2,000 (her and her mother's old age grants) by a man she met on the dating app Badoo; he gained her trust through online dating, accompanied her to withdraw the money, then stole her purse during their first in-person date and disappeared. Romance scams are rising in South Africa, particularly targeting older single women and widows through fake online relationships built to exploit emotional vulnerability and extract money or personal information, with international reports indicating up to 3% of Europe's population has fallen victim to such schemes.
shelterislandreporter.timesreview.com
· 2025-12-08
On February 13, the Shelter Island Public Library hosted an educational Zoom presentation on senior scams led by Tom McCann of Senior Services of North America, covering common fraud schemes including phone scams, sweepstakes/lottery fraud, home improvement cons, and reverse mortgage scams. McCann emphasized that seniors are particularly vulnerable due to loneliness, increased home time, unfamiliarity with technology, and potential disabilities, and recommended protective measures such as recognizing red flags (urgency, requests for money, and offers that seem too good to be true), using the do-not-call list, monitoring credit reports, and enabling two-factor authentication.
montgomeryadvertiser.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security scammers typically use four tactics: impersonating trusted agencies, claiming problems or prizes exist, pressuring immediate action, and requesting payment via gift cards. A scam survivor shares her experience losing $39,000 to a romance scam, while the Social Security Administration provides resources on recognizing scams and protecting personal information through their website and SSA Talks audio series.