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in Grandparent Scams
virginislandsdailynews.com
· 2026-05-19
A St. Thomas woman named Henrietta Harlow was arrested for allegedly stealing nearly $134,000 from her elderly mother, who has advanced Alzheimer's dementia and was under her care. Using power of attorney, Harlow made unauthorized withdrawals and transfers from her mother's bank account, diverted Social Security benefits, and took control of her mother's rental property—actions that continued for years despite her mother's need for round-the-clock care and inability to manage her own finances. To protect vulnerable family members, people should monitor any relatives with power of attorney over elderly or disabled family members, review bank and financial statements regularly, and report suspected elder financial abuse to local authorities immediately.
savingadvice.com
· 2026-05-19
AI scammers are using voice-cloning technology to impersonate loved ones in fake emergency scenarios, with one in four adults experiencing or knowing someone affected by these scams, and 77% of victims losing money (ranging from $500 to $15,000). Criminals need only seconds of audio from social media posts, voicemails, or videos to create convincing voice replicas that exploit panic and emotional reactions, particularly targeting seniors. To protect yourself, verify emergencies through independent contact methods before sending money, be cautious about voice content you share online, and remember that legitimate contacts won't pressure you for immediate payment.
foxnews.com
· 2026-05-17
When you Google your name, scammers can easily access the personal information that appears in the top search results—including your address, social media profiles, phone number, and details about relatives—all without hacking or paid tools. This publicly available information helps fraudsters personalize their scams through calls, texts, and emails to make them seem more credible and trustworthy. To protect yourself, you should Google your own name to see what's publicly visible, run a personal data exposure scan to identify information already circulating online, and consider removing your details from people-search sites or requesting that search engines de-index pages containing your personal information.
wfmd.com
· 2026-05-17
When you Google your name, scammers can easily access the same public information that appears in search results—including your address, LinkedIn profile, photos, and relatives' names—without needing any hacking skills or paid tools. This readily available personal data becomes a "seed" that scammers use to target you with precision, researching details about your location, employer, and family to craft convincing fraud schemes. To protect yourself, Google your own name to see what's publicly visible, consider using personal data exposure scans to identify information already circulating online, and be cautious about what personal details you share on social media and public platforms.
abc12.com
· 2026-05-15
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning seniors and their families about scams targeting older adults, noting that over 100,000 older Michiganders fall victim to fraud and exploitation annually. Common warning signs include unsolicited urgent requests, pressure to act quickly, requests for payment via gift cards, and offers that sound too good to be true, with prevalent scams including grandparent emergencies, tech support fraud, and investment schemes. Seniors are advised to block unwanted calls, never share personal information with unexpected callers, and contact authorities if they suspect they've been targeted.
theweek.com
· 2026-05-14
Older adults are increasingly targeted by scams, including new schemes exploiting concerns about upcoming inheritance tax changes and traditional tactics like grandchild impersonation scams, with victims over 65 losing an average of £831 per incident. Scammers use emotional manipulation and request untraceable payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers to steal money and personal data, sometimes resulting in victims losing their life savings within seconds. To protect yourself or loved ones, experts recommend staying vigilant by pausing to verify the source of requests, being skeptical of urgent pleas from "relatives" asking for money, and refusing requests for gift cards or wire transfers.
myupnow.com
· 2026-05-14
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warns that over 100,000 older adults in the state are victims of fraud and exploitation annually, highlighting common scam tactics including unsolicited urgent requests, pressure to act immediately, demands for personal information or unusual payment forms, and threats or promises that sound too good to be true. Seniors and their families should protect themselves by blocking unwanted calls, refusing to share personal or financial information with unexpected contacts, and being suspicious of urgent requests, secret communications, or vague offers. Common scams targeting Michigan seniors include grandparent emergency scams, phishing schemes, investment romance scams, and artificial intelligence fraud.
mercurynews.com
· 2026-05-13
Older adults are losing billions of dollars to increasingly sophisticated scams, with fraud losses rising from $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024, according to federal data. Seniors are targeted because they often have retirement savings and assets, plus may be less familiar with evolving technology like AI-powered voice mimicry and phishing schemes. Experts advise older adults and their families to be cautious of urgent requests for money, verify caller identities through independent contact information, and stay skeptical of unsolicited communications—especially those creating emotional pressure.
wfmd.com
· 2026-05-11
Data brokers expose retirees to significant fraud risk even after they attempt to remove their personal information, because hundreds of data broker companies operate across the U.S. and opting out from one site like Spokeo doesn't remove your data from others. Retirees are particularly vulnerable because their decades of public records, property ownership, and family connections make them attractive targets, and many believe their manual opt-out efforts provide full protection when they only offer temporary coverage on limited sites. To stay safer, people should understand that data brokers continuously pull updated information from public records and will relist removed information within weeks or months, requiring ongoing, repeated opt-out efforts rather than one-time actions.
cnbc.com
· 2026-05-10
AI-powered scam calls using deepfake voice technology are becoming increasingly sophisticated and common, with scammers impersonating family members in distress to extort money from victims. One Montana woman nearly fell for the scam when a caller perfectly mimicked her daughter's voice and crying, demanding payment while threatening her—the deception was so convincing that despite suspecting it was a scam, she almost complied out of fear for her daughter's safety. To protect yourself, verify emergencies by directly calling family members using known phone numbers, be skeptical of caller ID (which can be spoofed), and contact police rather than sending money if someone claims a loved one is in danger.
foxnews.com
· 2026-05-10
Data brokers operate hundreds of websites that compile and sell personal information like names, addresses, phone numbers, and estimated net worth—primarily targeting retirees with decades of public records. Many people mistakenly believe that opting out of one or two data broker sites like Spokeo or Whitepages fully protects them, but the hundreds of other data brokers still have their information, and even sites they've opted out of often relist data within weeks as public records refresh. To stay protected, retirees should opt out of multiple data broker sites and understand that removal is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix, to prevent their information from being used in scams that can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
buffalobulletin.com
· 2026-05-09
Digital scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and prevalent in Sheridan, with police reporting major losses including an $80,000 and $16,000 scam already in May alone. Residents are being targeted by various schemes including grandparent scams, bank impersonation, and tech support fraud, with scammers using fear and urgency as their primary tactic. Police advise anyone receiving aggressive or urgent demands over the phone to hang up immediately, as legitimate organizations will never pressure you to act instantly.
codyenterprise.com
· 2026-05-07
Scammers are increasingly targeting small communities by impersonating banks, government agencies, and family members to pressure people into sending money or sharing personal information quickly. The key to avoiding these scams is to pause and verify any unexpected requests by looking up official contact numbers yourself, never clicking links in unsolicited messages, and consulting trusted friends or family before responding. Legitimate organizations won't rush you, threaten you, or demand sensitive information unexpectedly—so if someone is pushing for immediate action, it's a major red flag.
patch.com
· 2026-05-06
The Town of Huntington is hosting a free seminar with the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office to educate seniors about common scams, including home improvement fraud, romance scams, and "grandparent scams" where criminals impersonate distressed relatives to steal money. Older adults are frequent targets of these schemes, which can have devastating financial consequences. The seminar takes place Thursday, May 7 at 1:30 p.m. at Cinema Arts Centre and will teach residents how to recognize warning signs and protect their personal information and finances.
nemasket.theweektoday.com
· 2026-05-05
The Lakeville Council on Aging is hosting several May activities, including a free elder fraud awareness program on May 12 presented by the FBI and Lakeville Police Department that will teach seniors about common scams like Grandparent fraud and how to report them. Other offerings include presentations on aging and depression, a theatrical performance, and a gardening workshop. Interested seniors can register for most events by calling 508-947-7224.
kmbc.com
· 2026-05-01
A Kansas City grandmother avoided losing thousands of dollars to a scammer posing as her grandson by asking a personal question—his wedding anniversary—that only her real family would know. The scammer had called claiming he was in an accident and needed money, but Cox became suspicious when he used an unfamiliar nickname and had an accent. Experts recommend that all families establish a secret codeword, password, or personal question known only to family members, combined with screening calls and maintaining a "safe callers" list on your phone, to protect against these increasingly common scams.
timesleader.com
· 2026-04-30
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday and State Senator Lisa Baker hosted a scam prevention event at the Kingston Active Adult Center, where about 65 seniors learned how to recognize and avoid increasingly sophisticated scams targeting older adults. The event, led by David Shallcross from the Attorney General's Senior Protection Unit, focused on teaching seniors to identify red flags and take action when something seems suspicious, as scammers are becoming more aggressive and convincing. Pennsylvania has the third-highest percentage of seniors in the nation, making scam awareness education particularly important for protecting vulnerable older residents.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2026-04-30
A Cleveland woman named Crysta Willis received a phone call from a scammer posing as a deputy sheriff, claiming her grandson was in jail and needed $5,000 for bail—unaware that her 20-year-old grandson was actually upstairs in her house. Willis, who works in senior outreach and serves on a county scam task force, kept the caller on the line, asking probing questions that exposed his evasiveness, then confronted him about targeting vulnerable seniors. The "grandparent scam" is a widespread scheme where criminals contact older adults with fake emergencies involving grandchildren to pressure them into wire transfers before they can verify the story—so experts recommend always independently contacting family members and local authorities rather than acting immediately on such calls.
pcmag.com
· 2026-04-30
According to a Federal Trade Commission report, people lost $2.1 billion to scammers operating on social media platforms in recent years, with criminals using tactics like deepfakes created from public photos and impersonation of celebrities or acquaintances. Anyone can fall victim to these scams, which exploit trust and familiarity across major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. To protect yourself, stay skeptical of unsolicited messages, take time before responding, and think critically—especially when money or personal information is requested, as legitimate contacts typically won't pressure you for either.
theredstonerocket.com
· 2026-04-29
Modern scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence technology to commit fraud, with reported losses exceeding $13 billion annually, according to FBI officials who spoke at an educational event. Common schemes include voice cloning (which requires only three seconds of audio), romance scams, investment scams, and government impersonation—with one victim losing $20,000 after hearing an AI-cloned voice of her grandson. To protect yourself, experts recommend establishing family code words to verify identities, being skeptical of video and audio requests for money, and watching for telltale signs of AI-generated content like unnatural mouth movements.
nbcnews.com
· 2026-04-27
Immigrants facing deportation fears are becoming easy targets for scams, with fraudsters posing as immigration lawyers on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to exploit desperate families. One Venezuelan woman in New York lost money to such a scheme after seeking help for a detained family member, falling victim to convincing fake USCIS documents and professional video calls from someone claiming to be an attorney. Immigration experts warn these social media fraud schemes have surged recently, so immigrants should verify lawyers through official bar associations, work only with in-person meetings and official contact information, and be wary of promises for quick case resolutions.
peninsuladailynews.com
· 2026-04-25
Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics—such as impersonating distressed family members or authority figures—to pressure people into sending money quickly through wire transfers or other hard-to-trace methods. A local resident nearly lost thousands of dollars in a "grandparent scam" but avoided it by contacting a family member to verify the story. To protect yourself, slow down when pressured for immediate payment, independently verify requests by contacting organizations directly using trusted phone numbers, and remember that legitimate businesses won't demand urgent payments via unconventional methods like wire transfers or gift cards.
houstonchronicle.com
· 2026-04-25
The Lake Conroe Centennial Lions Club hosted a presentation by banking professionals Julie Leone and Jamie McBee on "Senior Fraud," highlighting that 1 in 10 elder adults experience financial abuse or fraud, with billions of dollars lost annually to scammers. The speakers, who have extensive banking experience, educated the community about how seniors are financially exploited and targeted by fraudsters. While the article doesn't provide specific advice, the presentation emphasized the importance of awareness about senior fraud vulnerabilities, suggesting that community education and engagement with financial institutions are key steps in protecting vulnerable populations.
yourconroenews.com
· 2026-04-25
The Lake Conroe Centennial Lions Club hosted a presentation by two First Financial Bank representatives who educated members about "Senior Fraud," revealing that 1 in 10 senior adults experience financial abuse or fraud, with billions lost annually. Scammers specifically target elderly individuals through various exploitation schemes. While the article doesn't provide specific advice, the presentation highlighted the importance of awareness, suggesting that seniors and their families should learn to recognize and protect themselves from financial fraud schemes.
wypr.org
· 2026-04-21
Elder financial fraud in Maryland has surged dramatically, with one in 20 older adults reporting financial abuse in 2024 and losing a combined $47 million—nearly five times more than in 2020, according to state officials. Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics, including impersonating police officers and grandchildren, and leveraging artificial intelligence to sound convincing; one Montgomery County resident lost $10,000 after a fake police officer convinced her to transfer cash to a cryptocurrency kiosk. State leaders recommend verifying caller identities by hanging up and calling official numbers directly, and emphasize that there is no shame in being targeted, as older adults are often deliberately chosen by scammers.
myupnow.com
· 2026-04-21
Marquette County TRIAD, a partnership between local law enforcement and senior volunteer programs, is working to help seniors protect themselves from increasingly common fraud schemes such as rental scams, fake grandchild emergencies, and fake arrest warrant threats. While seniors are often targeted, officials emphasize that scams affect people of all ages and financial backgrounds, and recommend that victims and their families educate themselves and others to recognize warning signs. Seniors seeking help can contact the RSVP Director at 906-315-2607 for more information and safety resources.
forbes.com
· 2026-04-20
Senator Maggie Hassan has pressured four AI voice-cloning companies—ElevenLabs, LOVO, Speechify, and VEED—to explain how they prevent scammers from impersonating people's voices, after the FBI reported $893 million in losses from AI-related scams in 2025. Consumer Reports testing found that four of six voice-cloning products had minimal safeguards against cloning voices without consent, raising serious concerns about identity theft and fraud. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unexpected calls asking for money or sensitive information, verify caller identity through independent contact methods, and report suspected voice-cloning scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
nypost.com
· 2026-04-19
Senior citizens are increasingly falling victim to sophisticated scams, including the "phantom hacker/courier scheme" that costs Americans over $500 million annually, exemplified by a 76-year-old New Jersey man who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars after calling a number in a fake Norton antivirus email. These scams take various forms—from Medicare fraud and "grandparent" schemes to romance and IRS impersonation scams—and often go unreported because victims are embarrassed, making the true financial impact likely far greater than estimated. Banks and businesses need to take responsibility for enabling these schemes, and seniors should be cautious about unsolicited emails and calls requesting personal information or urgent wire transfers.
foxnews.com
· 2026-04-19
Scammers don't need to hack into secure systems—instead, they exploit publicly available personal information sold by data brokers, including your address, phone number, age, and income details gathered from public records and voter registrations. A major 2024 case involved a Montreal-based scam operation that defrauded elderly Americans of over $21 million using simple spreadsheets of victim information purchased from commercial databases to identify targets for grandparent scams. To protect yourself, you should take steps to remove your personal information from data broker websites and be cautious of unsolicited calls asking for money, especially ones claiming urgency or family emergencies.
kotatv.com
· 2026-04-14
Scammers are targeting seniors with fake emergency calls claiming their grandchildren need immediate bond money due to accidents, exploiting fear and urgency to pressure victims into sending money before they can think clearly. One Ohio woman named Crysta Willis avoided falling victim by verifying her grandson was actually home and confronting the caller. Experts recommend protecting yourself by slowing down, asking questions, and independently verifying claims by calling family members directly rather than trusting the caller's information.
wsaw.com
· 2026-04-14
Seniors are being targeted by the "grandparent scam," where fraudsters call posing as law enforcement claiming a grandchild has been in an accident and needs bond money paid immediately. The scam works by triggering fear and urgency that prevents victims from thinking clearly, with some seniors losing their life savings. To protect yourself, experts recommend slowing down and independently verifying claims—such as hanging up and calling your family member directly—rather than acting on the emotional pressure of the caller.
letsdatascience.com
· 2026-04-10
Scammers are using AI technology to impersonate family members in phone calls targeting grandparents and elderly people, with one documented case involving an elderly woman in China who received a fraudulent call appearing to be from her grandson requesting urgent help. This emerging scam exploits the emotional vulnerability of seniors and the convincing nature of AI voice synthesis to manipulate victims into sending money. To protect yourself or elderly relatives, be skeptical of unexpected calls requesting money or personal information, verify requests through independent contact with family members using known phone numbers, and consider setting up a family code word for legitimate emergencies.
newsbytesapp.com
· 2026-04-10
Americans lost a record $21 billion to online scams in 2025, a 27% increase from 2024, with seniors over 60 being particularly vulnerable—accounting for $7.75 billion in losses and an average of $38,500 per victim. The surge has been fueled by AI-powered scams, including voice cloning used in romance and "grandparent distress" schemes, as well as cryptocurrency investment fraud, with phishing and spoofing remaining the most common attack types. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited contact, verify requests for money through independent channels, and report suspicious activity to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
yahoo.com
· 2026-04-10
In 2025, cybercriminals stole over $21 billion from Americans through online scams—a significant jump from $16.6 billion in 2024—with phishing and extortion being the most common tactics, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Report. Seniors over 60 were hit particularly hard, losing $7.75 billion across 201,266 complaints, while cryptocurrency investment scams and AI-powered fraud schemes also surged dramatically. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited messages and links, verify requests through independent contact methods before sharing personal information, and be especially cautious of emotional appeals or investment opportunities that promise quick returns.
cnet.com
· 2026-04-09
In 2025, cyber fraud reached a record $21 billion in losses according to the FBI, with cryptocurrency investment scams and elder fraud being the biggest culprits—seniors over 60 lost $7.75 billion across 201,266 complaints, while crypto-related fraud totaled over $11 billion. Phishing and spoofing attacks were the most common crime type, and AI-powered scams made frauds increasingly convincing and harder to detect. To protect yourself, verify links before clicking, be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities (especially crypto), and if you're over 60 or helping an elderly relative, take extra precautions like confirming requests through known contact methods before sharing personal or financial information.
techlicious.com
· 2026-04-08
According to an FBI report released in 2026, Americans lost a record $20.9 billion to online scams in 2025—a 26% increase from the previous year—with investment fraud accounting for nearly half of those losses, particularly through "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams where fraudsters build trust via social media and dating apps before directing victims to fake investment platforms. The volume of complaints surged to over 1 million for the first time, averaging nearly 3,000 reports daily, indicating that scammers are using increasingly sophisticated techniques that are harder to detect. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment tips from online contacts, verify requests claiming to be from banks or government agencies by calling official numbers directly, and never transfer money to unfamiliar investment platforms or send funds to cover "taxes" on account withdrawals.
cbsnews.com
· 2026-04-07
A 16-year-old Girl Scout created an educational game called "Scout the Scam" after her grandparents nearly fell victim to a fake uncle scam, helping seniors recognize and avoid fraud in an age of sophisticated AI-powered schemes. According to AARP, nearly one in four American adults have lost money to fraud, with common tactics including urgent-sounding calls and texts requesting immediate financial information. Experts advise people to question unsolicited requests, verify caller identity independently, and remember that banks never ask for account information or money transfers over the phone.
floridabar.org
· 2026-03-21
Judge Lori Vaughan: 'As you can imagine, a big portion of our presentation is how to recognize and avoid financial scams; they’re everywhere now. I feel like every time we identify something and get t...
wowt.com
· 2026-03-20
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Scammers are now posting fake social media ads featuring a deepfake police officer image in an attempt to discredit warning stickers placed on Bitcoin ATM machines across the Omah...
yahoo.com
· 2026-03-20
BOSTON (WWLP) – A Dominican national has been extradited to Massachusetts for allegedly laundering proceeds from a call center operation that defrauded hundreds of elderly victims, resulting in over $...
yahoo.com
· 2026-03-20
A Dominican national has been extradited to the United States for his alleged role in an elder fraud ring that victimized seniors across the country, including in Massachusetts, federal authorities sa...
prnewswire.com
· 2026-03-20
LOS ANGELES, March 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Adaptive Security, the leading provider of AI-powered social engineering prevention solutions, today launched free public training resources designed to hel...
fallriverreporter.com
· 2026-03-20
BOSTON – A Dominican national has been extradited to the United States for his alleged role in a transnational “call center” operation in the Dominican Republic that tricked hundreds of elderly victim...
chathamvoice.com
· 2026-03-20
CK Crime Stoppers is reminding residents to stay alert to the “Grandparent Scam,” a fraud tactic that continues to target older adults and vulnerable community members through urgent and emotional pho...
boston25news.com
· 2026-03-20
BOSTON — A Dominican national has been extradited to the United States for his alleged role in an elder fraud ring that victimized seniors across the country, including in Massachusetts, federal autho...
klkntv.com
· 2026-03-19
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Lincoln Police Department is warning about a scam targeting families.
It’s being referred to as “Pig Butchering.”
“The gist of it is to fatten the prospect or the potentia...
nypost.com
· 2026-03-19
In the midst of tax season, with the April 15 deadline quickly approaching, the Internal Revenue Service is warning taxpayers about scammers out to rip you off.
Scams tend to spike during tax filing ...
foxnews.com
· 2026-03-19
Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on FoxNews.com.
Millions of Americans are digging into their roots. Genealogy has quietly become one of the fastest-growing hobbies in...
fox17online.com
· 2026-03-19
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A text message claiming to be from the Michigan Secretary of State is making the rounds — and officials say it's a scam.
The message reads: "Michigan Secretary of State Offi...
cnet.com
· 2026-03-18
Modern online scams operate across multiple platforms, perhaps spanning social media, messaging apps, email and online marketplaces. Google, Meta and Amazon are among 11 tech, retail and payments comp...