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Maryland state leaders and AARP launched "Protect Week," a public education campaign coinciding with World Elder Abuse Day, to help older adults and families avoid financial exploitation and scams. In Maryland alone, over 3,200 people aged 60+ lost approximately $80 million to scams in the previous year, with fraud often originating from both strangers online and trusted individuals. The campaign emphasizes that scammers exploit elders' vulnerability and trusting nature through increasingly sophisticated schemes that create artificial urgency.

Cryptocurrency scams cost Maryland residents nearly $94 million in 2023, according to an FBI report, with romance-based schemes being particularly prevalent. Though representing only 10% of financial fraud complaints to the FBI, cryptocurrency scams account for 50% of total money stolen, with approximately 1,400 Maryland complaints among nearly 58,000 nationwide. The scams exploit emotional manipulation and leverage the online nature of cryptocurrency to easily access victims' financial and personal information.

Five fraudsters were arrested in Maryland for operating a nationwide scam that has stolen at least $84 million over the past year. The scammers used fake popup ads claiming stolen personal data, then impersonated federal authorities to pressure victims into purchasing gold bars, sending couriers to collect cash; in Maryland alone, seven victims lost nearly $3 million. Authorities recommend not answering calls from unrecognized numbers and avoiding clicking on suspicious popup ads to protect against this fraud.

Five people have been charged in Maryland for operating a "gold bar" scam that tricked senior citizens into converting their assets into gold, with seven identified victims in Montgomery County alone losing over $7 million. Police report that millions of dollars have been lost to this scam nationwide, though their prevention efforts have stopped over $3 million in additional losses. Authorities recommend not answering calls from unknown numbers, avoiding popup ads, and have partnered with local pawn shops to educate merchants on identifying suspicious bulk gold purchases.

Maryland authorities arrested five people for operating a gold bar scam that targeted elderly residents in Montgomery County, with at least 20 victims losing millions of dollars combined. Notable victims include an 81-year-old woman who lost over $900,000 and a 74-year-old man who lost $240,000, with some victims now at risk of losing their homes. Law enforcement believes this organized criminal enterprise has affected many more cases beyond those identified so far.