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in General Elder Fraud
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CBS Philadelphia
· 2025-03-27
Washington Township Police Department in New Jersey partnered with the FBI to host an educational seminar teaching seniors and families how to recognize and avoid scams, prompted by recent major fraud cases in their community. Scammers commonly use fear, urgency, and confusion to target seniors through IRS scams, grandparent scams, tax support scams, online banking scams, and EasyPass billing scams, with recent local cases involving losses of $100,000 or more. Police emphasize that recognizing red flags through education is the most effective way to prevent seniors from losing their savings to fraud.
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Mid-Michigan now on FOX66 & NBC25
· 2025-03-27
Scammers are increasingly targeting older adults, particularly those over 75, using sweepstakes, impersonation, and text message scams to steal money and personal information. Law enforcement agencies recommend treating all unsolicited communications as potential scams and emphasize that education and skepticism are the best defenses against these frauds, with experts advising never to trust unexpected offers or requests for personal information.
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WXYZ-TV Detroit | Channel 7
· 2025-03-26
A 68-year-old Oxford woman lost her home, car, and life savings to a romance scam in which a scammer impersonated actor Mark Harmon. The case sparked broader community awareness about online fraud, with psychologists and victims sharing warning signs of romance scams and money transfer app fraud, which continue to affect numerous people including the elderly.
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CBS Philadelphia
· 2025-03-27
The FBI and Washington Township Police hosted a fraud awareness seminar at a senior center in Gloucester County, New Jersey, prompted by an incident where a 78-year-old resident nearly lost over $244,000 to scammers. The event aimed to educate seniors about common scam tactics and help prevent fraud in the community.
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CBS6 Albany
· 2025-03-30
Medicare watchdog groups are warning seniors about genetic testing scams in which fraudsters offer free or low-cost genetic tests claiming they can detect diseases, cancers, and autoimmune conditions, with costs ranging from $900 to $11,000. Medicare rarely covers these tests, and seniors are advised to consult with their personal physicians before undergoing any genetic testing rather than responding to unsolicited offers.
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FOX 4 Now
· 2025-04-03
Lee County Sheriff's Office reported approximately 20 fraud cases daily in 2024, with 2,400 total reported cases—60% resulting in losses exceeding $10,000 each. The most common scam involved fraudsters impersonating law enforcement and claiming victims missed court dates, demanding payment via untraceable methods like Bitcoin or gift cards, though recent high-dollar wire fraud cases totaled $395,000, $475,000, and $158,000. Most suspects operate outside the United States, making recovery of stolen funds difficult once money is transferred overseas.
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WFTV Channel 9
· 2025-04-05
Seminal County Sheriff's Office in Florida reported a surge in sophisticated scams targeting residents, with one victim, Shirley, receiving multiple fraudulent letters impersonating FedEx and a company called Investment Specialist Incorporated, with bills escalating from $68 to thousands of dollars. Law enforcement noted an increase in scam-related crimes since 2020, as criminals increasingly favor scams over other crimes due to lower risk of identification and arrest. Authorities advise consumers to verify suspicious messages before responding, as scammers often use urgency and official-looking documentation to deceive victims.
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WMBD News
· 2025-04-06
Local organizations in Bartonville held a "Safety of Seniors" awareness event at Limestone Community High School featuring 40 vendors and informational presentations to educate older adults about rising scams targeting seniors. The Bartonville Police Chief emphasized the importance of educating citizens about various scams and helping them recognize warning signs, noting that the police department often serves as a first point of contact for victims.
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Click On Detroit | Local 4 | WDIV
· 2025-04-08
A Macomb County senior citizen lost over $30,000 in a Bitcoin internet service scam after receiving an email about home internet security protection she did not sign up for. When she called to cancel, scammers posing as customer service representatives gained access to her personal and banking information, ultimately tricking her into sending money via Bitcoin. The scam targeted seniors looking to save money and appears to have affected multiple victims in the local area.
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News Channel 3-12
· 2025-04-08
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department held a community presentation in Carpinteria to warn residents about a dramatic increase in scams, including prize/giveaway scams, romance fraud, and other schemes designed to extract money or personal information from victims. While scams affect people across all demographics, seniors are disproportionately targeted, and attendees learned to recognize red flags and protect themselves from various fraud tactics.
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KPAX-TV
· 2025-04-11
A Helena, Montana resident nearly fell victim to an impersonation scam when a caller posing as a sheriff's office representative threatened arrest for missed jury duty and demanded $5,000 payment. The victim avoided losing money by contacting his bank, Opportunity Bank of Montana, whose employees verified the scam and confirmed the fraudster had spoofed the sheriff's department's phone number. The transcript emphasizes common tactics scammers use—fear and urgency—and recommends pausing to verify information before responding to suspicious communications.
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8 News Now — Las Vegas
· 2025-04-12
Experts and law enforcement in Nevada are warning seniors about a surge in scams targeting the state's 480,000 Social Security recipients, with seniors losing a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024. Key protective measures include ignoring unsolicited calls, texts, and emails requesting personal information; changing passwords regularly; and verifying links before clicking. One senior shared her experience with an email impersonation scam attempting to solicit Apple gift cards, highlighting the importance of verifying sender information.
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CTV News
· 2025-04-14
Police in Ontario are warning of a fake gold investment scheme that has defrauded at least three elderly residents of approximately $1.3 million. Scammers impersonate bank or security officials, claiming victims' bank accounts have been compromised, then convince them to purchase large quantities of gold as a security measure—gold that is never actually picked up. Police emphasize that legitimate banks never ask customers to withdraw funds and buy gold, nor do they request customer participation in investigations.
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CTV News
· 2025-04-15
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled a proposed crackdown on senior fraud, noting that Canadian seniors are 33% more likely to lose money in scams than other age groups. His proposed measures include requiring banks and telecom providers to detect and block fraud in real-time, implementing 24-hour delays on high-risk transactions from senior accounts, creating new criminal offenses for executives who enable senior scams, and imposing harsher penalties for fraudsters. The proposal responds to thousands of Canadian seniors losing millions to scams in recent years, including phishing texts and robocalls targeting those over 65.
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WBNS 10TV
· 2025-04-20
**Summary:**
Ohio seniors received scam prevention training as scammers become increasingly sophisticated, particularly targeting older adults over 65 who are less digitally savvy. According to the National Council on Aging, seniors aged 60 and over lost $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, with attorney Carlos Crawford advising people to watch for red flags like misspelled words, suspicious email addresses (such as Gmail addresses impersonating government agencies), and to trust their instincts when something feels off.
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ABC News
· 2025-04-23
The FBI reported that Americans lost a record $16.6 billion to scams last year, a 33% increase from the previous year, with seniors aged 60 and older being disproportionately targeted and losing nearly $5 billion. Scams targeting seniors included impersonation schemes (fake coworkers, tech support), with criminals posing as tech support claiming to remove viruses for a fee. The FBI urged consumers to "check, call, and wait"—verify email addresses and phone numbers, confirm authenticity by calling, and wait before sending money to verify legitimacy.
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NewsChannel 5
· 2025-04-29
Rob Naylor of AARP Tennessee discusses how elder scams have evolved from traditional mail and door-to-door tactics to primarily email and text message schemes that seek personal information including names, addresses, and social security numbers. He raises awareness about Real ID scams targeting people in states with Real ID campaigns, noting that unsolicited requests for Real ID information are likely fraudulent, especially from non-.gov email addresses or text messages with suspicious formatting; Tennessee has not yet reported Real ID scams.
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KPRC 2 Click2Houston
· 2025-04-29
**Article Type:** Educational/Protective Advice
Seniors aged 60 and older lost nearly $3.5 billion to scams in 2023, with impersonation fraud (such as fake bank calls and text messages) being the most common type. The article recommends three protective measures: set up bank alerts for transactions over a certain amount, avoid writing checks and verify check images online if necessary, and establish direct contact information with your bank before a problem occurs.
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10 Tampa Bay News
· 2025-05-02
**Summary:**
A 92-year-old Tampa Bay-area man was defrauded of $800,000 in an elaborate romance scam involving 37-year-old Otis Swinton Jr., who posed as a woman online to gain the victim's trust before manipulating him into transferring funds to accounts under the scammer's control. The stolen funds were accessed through forged checks, ATM withdrawals, credit cards, cryptocurrency, and identity theft. Swinton Jr., a career criminal recently released from prison in March after serving seven years for similar crimes targeting over 50 people, was arrested in Orlando and now faces fraud charges; authorities indicate there may be additional victims.
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News4JAX The Local Station
· 2025-05-06
The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers frequently target older adults through telemarketing fraud by spoofing caller ID to impersonate trustworthy sources like government agencies or banks. Key red flags include unsolicited calls and pressure to make quick decisions; legitimate agencies will not contact you unexpectedly or rush you into action. To reduce scam calls, seniors should register their phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.
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KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas
· 2025-05-07
A Sun City Anthem senior was scammed over nearly two years after initially being defrauded while purchasing light bulbs online, ultimately losing approximately one-quarter of her net worth. When the victim stopped making payments, scammers escalated their tactics by harassing her with incessant calls and threats of bodily harm, eventually threatening her granddaughter's safety to extort additional payments. While the district attorney intervened to prevent further losses, the stolen funds were never recovered, reflecting a broader national crisis in which seniors lost $12.5 billion to scams in the previous year according to the Federal Trade Commission.
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KTVN 2 News Nevada
· 2025-05-07
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office and Better Business Bureau are hosting a free senior scam awareness seminar on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Douglas County Community and Senior Center in Gardenerville. The seminar is open to seniors, caregivers, friends, and families and will provide tips on avoiding scams and protecting seniors from fraud.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-05-07
The Silera Community Center in Henderson hosted a fraud prevention seminar called "Robbery Not Reported" to educate Las Vegas Valley seniors on protecting themselves from scams targeting their money, data, and identity. Attendee Paul Block shared that he lost $3,000 to a cryptocurrency scam and knows someone who lost $100,000 to a romance scam, emphasizing the importance of seniors openly discussing their experiences with fraud to reduce shame and help others learn from these mistakes.
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KTVN 2 News Nevada
· 2025-05-08
Three men were arrested in Douglas County on elder fraud and extortion charges: 22-year-old Junian Woo and 21-year-old Lu Dao were apprehended in Genanoa after attempting to collect money from a homeowner, followed by the arrest of 45-year-old Juan Fuma in Gardnerville under similar circumstances. The article does not specify dollar amounts or whether money was successfully obtained from the victims.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2025-05-08
Ohio is observing Older Ohioans Month while state agencies raise awareness about scams targeting seniors, a growing problem in the state. Scam and fraud-related complaints from older adults increased 22% year-over-year, though actual incidents are likely higher due to underreporting. State officials advise seniors to treat all unsolicited contact via phone or text as potential fraud and recommend utilizing resources from the Ohio Attorney General's office and Ohio Department of Aging for protection.
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CBS 8 San Diego
· 2025-05-09
San Diego County seniors lost $100 million to scams in the past year, with one victim paying $1,700 in gift cards after a phone scammer impersonated a court official threatening arrest. A seminar in North County drew 250 seniors and local officials to educate the community on increasingly sophisticated scam tactics including fake court documents and deceptive pop-ups, as FBI data shows seniors nationally lost $4.8 billion to internet scammers in 2024—a 43% increase from the prior year.
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WXYZ-TV Detroit | Channel 7
· 2025-05-12
A 25-year-old Toledo man was arrested for defrauding an elderly couple in their 80s in Shelby Township out of $50,000 through a multi-layered email and phone scam. The scam began with a fraudulent email claiming unauthorized charges on the victims' credit card for a Geek Squad subscription, but when the husband called the provided number, the scammer claimed to discover an additional $50,000 in charges from a child pornography website to pressure the victims into paying. Police indicate there were other targets of this scheme.
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Dayton 24/7 Now
· 2025-05-13
Millions of elderly Americans fall victim to financial scams annually, with the most common targeting seniors being investment/cryptocurrency scams, home improvement scams, romance scams, and online purchase scams. Phone fraud is also prevalent, where scammers impersonate government agencies or bank officials, using either polite or threatening tactics to manipulate victims into sending money. To protect seniors, awareness of these common scam types and verification tactics is essential.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-05-14
Scammers are targeting Medicare patients by posing as durable medical equipment companies or pharmacies and enrolling them in unwanted remote patient monitoring devices and services, often unapproved by the FDA, then billing them monthly fees. Victims may receive no equipment at all, unauthorized equipment, or have their Medicare information stolen for additional fraud. The Department of Health and Human Services advises seniors to consult their doctor before enrolling in any healthcare services, hang up on unsolicited medical device offers, refuse unordered deliveries, and report scams to the HHS hotline.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-05-15
An elderly woman named Joanne McGordy lost $11,860 to a bitcoin scam that began with a fraudulent text claiming unauthorized Apple account charges. After calling the number provided in the text, a scammer convinced her to withdraw money from her bank and convert it to bitcoin at a gas station for "protection." A good samaritan gas station manager intervened by asking if she needed help, which led to the scam being identified and stopped before she lost her entire retirement savings.
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NBC 7 San Diego
· 2025-05-16
Carlsbad Police shut down an elaborate fraud scheme targeting elderly residents that stole over $145,000 in cash and gold bullion. Scammers used fake computer popups and impersonated Apple and Wells Fargo representatives to convince victims to liquidate assets, which were then packed into shoebox parcels for courier pickup; in one case, a victim lost $130,000 before police made an arrest during a second pickup. A separate incident involved an elderly resident losing $10,000 to someone impersonating an FTC investigator using authentic-looking agency letterhead and logos.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2025-05-19
According to FBI figures, scammers defrauded seniors of $4.8 billion in 2024. The Mentor Police Department in Northeast Ohio is increasing scam prevention outreach through workshops at senior centers and assisted living facilities in response to rising fraud targeting older adults. One victim, Jack Hines, nearly fell for a phishing email scam but caught himself before losing money.
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therhodeshow
· 2025-05-20
This educational segment discusses common senior scams affecting millions of Americans annually, including identity theft schemes, grandparent scams (falsely claiming a relative needs bail money), tech support scams, and romance scams. Key prevention strategies include educating seniors about scam tactics, maintaining regular involvement in their financial affairs, and reporting suspected fraud to state police or adult services, while noting that many scams go unreported due to victim embarrassment.
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WTAJ News
· 2025-05-23
The Cambria County Area Agency on Aging hosted an educational luncheon at the Johnstown Senior Center where speakers from the Attorney General's Office and local police taught seniors how to recognize and report fraud schemes. Presenters emphasized that older adults are losing substantial sums—sometimes resulting in loss of their homes—often through scams where they believe they are helping someone and will be repaid, and highlighted that financial exploitation is the fastest-growing crime affecting seniors.
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NBC Montana
· 2025-05-27
Three Chinese nationals were sentenced in federal court for operating a sophisticated gift card fraud scheme that targeted elderly and lonely Americans through fake online relationships, as well as unsuspecting retail shoppers. The criminals stole gift card codes by removing security coverings, then quickly spent the funds on high-value electronics like Apple products that were warehoused and shipped to China, exploiting New Hampshire's tax-free retail environment to maximize profits. Law enforcement warns this type of multilayered criminal enterprise remains a threat and could easily occur again.
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ABC 10 News
· 2025-05-29
A Carlsbad couple nearly lost $50,000 in a sophisticated scam that began with a fraudulent text about a $499 Norton purchase. When the senior called the provided number, a polished and professional scammer named "Roger" convinced him to enter $500 to reverse the charge, but the amount mysteriously changed to $50,000 in his bank account. The FBI has warned of increasing scams targeting elderly residents in the county using tactics that exploit trust and create a false sense of urgency.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2025-05-30
Congressman Sanford Bishop questioned SEC Commissioner Atkins about investor protection for elderly Americans, noting that investor advocacy legal clinics assisting seniors defrauded by brokers and advisors have declined from 24 clinics to only 10 across the country due to depleted funding from FINRA and state regulators. Bishop asked what the SEC can do to prevent further clinic closures and promote resources to at-risk populations, with Atkins indicating support for expanding these consumer protection initiatives.
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CBS Evening News
· 2025-06-01
A 26-year-old U.S. Navy electrician named Thomas Xiao admitted to passing sensitive military documents to a Chinese intelligence officer who posed as an investor and researcher on the Chinese social media app WeChat between 2021 and 2023. Chinese intelligence operatives are increasingly using social media and virtual contact to recruit U.S. military personnel and extract classified information, as traditional in-person espionage has become more difficult.
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WFRV Local 5
· 2025-06-03
The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau warns that investment and cryptocurrency scams are the most prevalent frauds targeting adults 55 and older. The BBB recommends being cautious of phone fraud with spoofed caller IDs, avoiding pressure to act immediately, and verifying unusual claims by calling official sources directly rather than trusting the caller's information.
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The Dallas Morning News
· 2025-06-05
Two Keller, Texas residents—Felix Clark and Esther Ampiel—pleaded guilty to federal charges for operating a romance scam that targeted elderly victims across the United States between June and September 2022. The scheme used fake online dating profiles to deceive vulnerable seniors, including recent widows, into sending money under false pretenses such as claims about accessing gold in Ghana, with funds subsequently transferred abroad. Clark pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud, while Ampiel pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitter business.
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KPRC 2 Click2Houston
· 2025-06-10
A 65-year-old Vietnamese American man in Houston lost his entire life savings of $500,000 in an elaborate elder fraud scheme that began with a legitimate IRS identity theft letter. Scammers posing as Vietnamese embassy officials then contacted him via phone calls in Vietnamese, claiming his identity was being used to launder money overseas, and convinced him over nearly five months to send money by using AI-generated videos and fake documents impersonating government officials. The victim, now forced to continue working past retirement age, is seeking assistance to recover from the fraud.
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KGUN9
· 2025-06-10
Arizona Attorney General Chris Mace is conducting statewide educational outreach on elder fraud targeting the state's growing senior population, noting that one in ten older adults will experience abuse or exploitation. The transcript highlights a voice cloning scam in which a woman received a fraudulent call claiming her daughter was in danger, with AI-generated voice technology making the deception particularly convincing. Mace emphasizes that seniors are targeted because they often have substantial savings, and education is the primary tool to help people recognize and prevent such scams.
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WPLG Local 10
· 2025-06-13
Federal authorities warned of a 43% increase in elder fraud victim losses nationwide, with Florida ranking third in both losses and victims. FBI Miami highlighted rising impersonation fraud schemes—including immigration-related scams—that target seniors through phone calls and text messages, exploiting their politeness, desire for companionship, and lower technological literacy.
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News4JAX The Local Station
· 2025-06-15
The FBI reported a 43% surge in elder fraud in 2024, with nearly 150,000 complaints from seniors resulting in almost $5 billion in losses. Scammers target older adults through calls, texts, and emails by exploiting their likelihood to answer phones and using psychological manipulation tactics to execute convincing cons. The article recommends using verification platforms and awareness to protect elderly loved ones from these increasingly sophisticated schemes.
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FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
· 2025-06-17
Congress held a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to address the growing threat of sophisticated online scams targeting older Americans, with lawmakers focusing on international crime networks and legal loopholes that hinder victim recovery. The hearing highlighted cases such as grandparent scams where seniors voluntarily send money based on fraudulent emergency claims, and revealed systemic issues including victims being denied support by local authorities and difficulty recovering stolen funds. Lawmakers aim to close legal gaps that currently allow scammers to evade prosecution and make it harder for elderly victims to reclaim their money.
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WFXR NEWS
· 2025-06-18
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to address the rising epidemic of online scams targeting seniors, with lawmakers seeking to close legal loopholes that enable scammers to evade prosecution and complicate victim recovery efforts. The FBI reported nearly $5 billion in fraud losses from elderly Americans in the past year—a 40% increase from 2023—with common schemes including grandparent scams where victims are deceived into sending money for false emergencies. Lawmakers noted that many victims receive no legal recourse despite losing their savings, leaving them feeling abandoned and ashamed.
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NewsX Live
· 2025-06-19
Two Indian nationals studying in the United States were sentenced to federal prison for phishing scams impersonating US government officials to defraud elderly Americans. Kishan Rajkumar Patel, age 20, targeted at least 25 elderly victims and caused $94,156 in losses, while another Indian student named Muhammad was sentenced to 8 years in prison for a similar scheme that defrauded elderly Americans of nearly $6 million.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2025-06-20
Senator Chuck Grassley questioned law enforcement experts about scam calls targeting elder citizens, focusing on gaps in information sharing between federal, state, and local agencies during elder fraud investigations. An expert testified that fragmented investigations across multiple agencies fail to identify coordinated criminal enterprises, citing San Diego County as an example where 12 independent law enforcement agencies did not share data and missed connections between victims across different cities targeted by the same criminals, and that national coordination is necessary to effectively combat this growing crime.
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23ABC News | KERO
· 2025-06-20
This awareness piece from Bakersfield highlights the prevalence of elder abuse in California, where an estimated 202,549 cases are reported annually, with 6,985 cases in Kern County alone in 2024—though experts note actual numbers are likely much higher due to underreporting. A certified nursing assistant and psychiatric technician emphasizes the importance of treating elders with respect and caution, as caregivers are entrusted by families to provide proper care, and abuses of that power cause significant harm.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2025-06-20
This is a Senate hearing transcript excerpt in which a junior senator with experience as a federal prosecutor, judge, and state attorney general expresses frustration that anti-fraud experts are identifying systemic coordination and information-sharing problems rather than simply requesting additional funding to combat elder fraud. The senator emphasizes that existing resources appear underutilized and suggests the solution lies in reorganizing how federal agencies approach and share information about scams, rather than increasing budgets.