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A June 2024 Sacramento County Grand Jury report found that elder financial abuse cases have surged in the county, with Adult Protective Services confirming nearly 4,000 cases between 2019 and 2024, yet over 97% went unprosecuted due to inadequate staffing, poor data systems, and lack of specialized training in law enforcement and the District Attorney's Office. The report identified that perpetrators are typically trusted individuals (caregivers, family members, or advisors) in over 72% of cases, creating emotional barriers to reporting, and recommended increased funding for investigators, prosecutors, victim advocates, and specialized social workers to address the growing problem as Sacramento County's senior

Senator Dick Durbin testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on elder fraud, reporting that Americans aged 60 and older lost nearly $4.9 billion to fraud in the prior year, with average losses of $83,000, representing a 43 percent increase year-over-year. He highlighted the particular threat of cryptocurrency ATM scams, which caused nearly $247 million in losses in 2024, a 31 percent increase, with one case involving an elderly Illinois woman losing her entire $40,000 life savings. Durbin introduced the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act to require operators to register with regulators, display scam warnings, implement transaction limits, and ref

Nearly 25 seniors at General Douglas MacArthur Village in Hempstead attended a scam awareness workshop presented by the Office of Crime Victim Advocate on June 9, where they learned to recognize and avoid common fraud schemes including romance scams, identity theft, deed theft, and "grandparent scams." The training, which covered tactics like phishing and bogus official calls that create artificial urgency, statistically reduces victimization risk by 80 percent according to studies. The New Greater Hempstead Chamber of Commerce Committee on Aging continues to provide resources and will host another awareness workshop in September.

Steven McBee Sr., patriarch of the reality TV show "The McBee Dynasty," pleaded guilty in November 2024 to a multi-million-dollar federal crop insurance fraud scheme spanning 2018-2020, in which he underreported crops and misrepresented planting dates to illegally obtain over $4 million in USDA benefits and subsidies. He faces up to 30 years in prison, must pay restitution, and forfeit $3.2 million to the government, with sentencing scheduled for September 2025. McBee Sr. will not appear in season 2 of his family's Bravo show, which premieres June 30,

Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming victims were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from overseas relatives, then requesting upfront fees for delivery and taxes before victims could receive the funds. Akhimie faces up to 20 years in prison, and seven co-conspirators from the United Kingdom, Spain, and Nigeria have also been convicted in connection with this international fraud operation.

The Aspen Institute launched the National Task Force on Fraud and Scam Prevention in 2024 to develop the first coordinated U.S. national strategy against financial fraud, which currently costs Americans $430 million daily and $158 billion annually while funding transnational criminal organizations. Fraud losses reported to the FBI have increased 15-fold over the past decade, with new technologies like AI making scams more sophisticated, prompting leaders from government, law enforcement, industry, and civil society to collaborate on cross-sector solutions including improved data-sharing, victim support, and a unified reporting system.

The Aspen Institute's National Task Force on Fraud and Scam Prevention, launched in 2024, addresses a critical problem: criminals steal $430 million daily from American families, totaling $158 billion annually and funding transnational criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking and human trafficking. This podcast features discussions with task force leaders about the scope of fraud in the U.S., systemic vulnerabilities that scammers exploit, the role of emerging technologies like AI in perpetuating scams, and the need for a coordinated national strategy involving government, law enforcement, industry, and consumer advocates to combat fraud at its root.

A Nigerian national pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 vulnerable and elderly U.S. victims of more than $6 million. Ehis Lawrence Akhimie and his conspirators sent personalized letters falsely claiming victims had inherited millions from deceased overseas relatives, then solicited upfront payments for delivery fees and taxes that victims never received. This case represents coordinated international prosecution involving U.S., UK, and Spanish authorities, with Akhimie facing up to 20 years imprisonment and seven co-conspirators previously convicted.

Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable U.S. consumers of more than $6 million. The scheme used personalized letters falsely claiming to be from Spanish bank representatives offering unclaimed inheritances, then requested upfront fees for delivery and taxes before victims could receive funds that never materialized. Akhimie faces up to 20 years imprisonment, and seven co-conspirators from Nigeria, Spain, and the United Kingdom have already been convicted and sentenced in connection with this international fraud ring.

"Revenge on Gold Diggers," a Chinese interactive video game released in June, became a commercial hit by simulating pig-butchering love scams where players protect themselves from women who manipulate men for money, selling over one million copies. The game sparked intense debate in China, with supporters praising its anti-fraud educational value amid rising scam concerns (40,000 telecom fraud cases in 2024), while critics condemned it for reinforcing misogynistic stereotypes and portraying women as inherent schemers rather than addressing systemic vulnerabilities in relationships. The developers changed the Chinese title to "Emotional Anti-Fraud Simulator" but maintained the English title remained "

Cybercriminals deliberately target adults 65 and older through socio-economic crimes like romance fraud, fake investments, and phishing, exploiting age-based stereotypes and vulnerabilities such as memory issues, social isolation, and limited digital confidence. A research study by Dr. Suleman Lazarus and colleagues emphasizes that recognizing "ageism in cybercrime"—where older adults are purposefully targeted because they are perceived as easier to deceive—is essential to building effective defenses. Better awareness, clearer guidance, and stronger support systems are needed to protect older adults online, as the issue stems not from lack of money but from lack of confidence navigating digital financial systems.

In 2024, Americans lost over $12.5 billion to scams, with seniors accounting for $4.8 billion in losses, prompting Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Elizabeth Warren to request a Government Accountability Office investigation into staffing cuts at federal consumer protection agencies including the CFPB, FTC, and FBI. The senators argue that the Trump administration's actions—including firing approximately 90% of CFPB employees and implementing the Department of Government Efficiency—have severely undermined fraud prevention efforts at a time when they are most needed. The GAO has been asked to assess how these cuts have impacted the government's ability to implement fraud prevention recommendations and protect

Consumer Bankers Association Vice President Brian Fritzsche argues that while banks invest in fraud prevention technologies and coordinate with law enforcement, combating financial fraud and scams requires a broader, coordinated national response involving government agencies, telecommunications providers, social media platforms, and fintech companies. Fritzsche emphasizes that modern fraud schemes are sophisticated criminal enterprises using AI voice cloning, phishing emails, and social media manipulation that extend beyond traditional banking channels, affecting hundreds of thousands of Americans annually with significant financial and psychological impacts, including reported suicidal ideation among identity crime victims.

Older adults lost nearly $5 billion to fraud and scams in 2024, with losses increasing 41% from $3.4 billion in 2023 and average individual losses reaching $83,000, according to a U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging report. The report highlights an alarming rise in AI-powered schemes and traditional fraud methods including imposter scams, investment fraud, healthcare scams, and gift card fraud, with cryptocurrency losses alone reaching nearly $3 billion. The number of older adults reporting fraud jumped 43% in 2024, prompting calls for increased federal protection and consumer education initiatives.

Tampa homeowners Larry and Dreama Bilby discovered criminals attempting to steal their home through a "title piracy" scheme involving a fraudulent quitclaim deed while their house was undergoing repairs after being damaged by a fallen tree. After setting up security cameras and registering for property record alerts, they were notified that Michelle Cherry and Victor Rodriguez had filed a quitclaim deed to transfer ownership of the Bilbys' home without their knowledge. This scam exploits legal documents typically used for legitimate property transfers between family members to fraudulently steal homes from unsuspecting owners.

This article highlights the prevalence of cryptocurrency scams targeting investors, despite rising Bitcoin prices and mainstream crypto adoption. Recent cases include a $650 million OmegaPro multi-level marketing scheme promising 300% returns, a Chicago-area veteran defrauded of $10,000 by an Elon Musk impersonator, and a Secret Service operation that seized nearly $400 million in crypto assets stolen through various scams. The article warns that scammers exploit legitimate market enthusiasm and media coverage to lure victims into fraudulent investment platforms that vanish with deposits once initial profits are shown.

Sophisticated fraudsters in Kerala are targeting elderly pensioners through phone scams impersonating government officials, using stolen personal data (pension details, Aadhaar numbers, nominee information) to build trust before requesting OTPs to access bank accounts. Kerala's Cyber Operations Division reports 2,000-2,500 daily fraud complaints with approximately 125 resulting in cases, causing an estimated loss of ₹1-1.5 crore daily, though 90% of losses are under ₹1 lakh per victim. The Pension Directorate has warned pensioners that legitimate government officials never contact them by phone or online to update life certificates, and victims should report frau

Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming victims were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances and requesting upfront payments for delivery fees and taxes, with funds collected through a network of U.S.-based money mules. Akhimie faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, and seven co-conspirators from the United Kingdom, Spain, and Nigeria have also been convicted in connection with this international fraud operation.

Legal experts from LSC-funded organizations discuss how civil legal services address critical needs of aging Americans, with LSC programs assisting over 312,000 seniors age 60+ annually with issues including wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives. Seniors face particular vulnerability to scams and fraud, and these legal crises compound other challenges like housing costs and medical issues that threaten their safety, stability, and ability to age independently with dignity.

Sam responded to an unsolicited text about a marketing job opportunity and was drawn into a task-based scam after being contacted via WhatsApp by scammers posing as recruiters. The scammers lured him with promises of $900+ weekly wages for easy work, daily payments, and a paid trial, ultimately resulting in Sam losing thousands of dollars before he ended contact. The article identifies multiple red flags Sam missed, including error-riddled messages, unrealistic wages for unskilled work, requests to move communication off legitimate platforms, and pressure to proceed without standard employment verification procedures.

Email payment scams involving last-minute changes to payment methods and destinations cost parties significant sums, including a $475,000 settlement in Thomas v. Corbyn Rest. Dev. Corp where defendants' attorney wired funds to an imposter's account after receiving a fraudulent email requesting a change from check to wire transfer. Courts have held the party in the best position to prevent fraud—typically through verifying requests via independent phone contact and scrutinizing suspicious email addresses and sudden payment term changes—liable for losses. The key defense against these schemes is to assume the worst when receiving unexpected payment modification requests and verify all changes through established, verified communication channels rather than relying on email alone.

**Incident:** A wildfire survivor in Ventura County filed a lawsuit against ServPro Global DRT alleging fraud, elder abuse, and property destruction following the November 2024 Camarillo Mountain Wildfire. The contractor allegedly performed unauthorized restoration work on the plaintiff's property, caused significant damage to HVAC systems and structural components, then demanded over $62,000 and filed a fraudulent mechanic's lien against the property when challenged. The California Contractors State License Board identified multiple violations including lack of proper contracts, failure to provide required senior cancellation rights, and use of unregistered sales personnel, supporting allegations of predatory fraud targeting vulnerable disaster survivors.

Mark Janbakhsh, CEO of auto dealership Auto Masters, was convicted of bank fraud, conspiracy, and related crimes after submitting false documentation to Capital One and First Tennessee Bank between 2013 and 2017 to fraudulently obtain approximately $26.4 million in credit. When auditors discovered discrepancies, Janbakhsh directed employees to destroy evidence and later lied under oath during bankruptcy proceedings, additionally attempting to bribe a co-conspirator with over $300,000 to flee and obstruct the federal investigation. He faces up to 30 years in federal prison and $1 million in fines at sentencing.

**Real Estate Wire Fraud Alert:** Scammers increasingly impersonate real estate agents, lenders, and title companies to deceive homebuyers into wiring money to fraudulent accounts, with first-time homebuyers being three times more likely to fall victim and 1 in 20 consumers expected to be scammed according to a 2025 CertifID report. Experts recommend verifying all wire instructions directly with verified phone numbers, remaining skeptical of urgent requests, and avoiding clicking unknown links in purchase-related communications.

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James L. Townes Jr., 50, of Berkeley, Missouri, and accomplice Charnay Bartlett, 29, were indicted on multiple counts for orchestrating a property fraud scheme in which they fraudulently transferred ownership of 16 homes and a duplex between September 2018 and April 2025 by stealing identities, forging signatures, and creating fraudulent notarized deeds. In a separate indictment, Townes was charged with falsely claiming disability benefits while simultaneously operating multiple businesses and managing investment accounts and notary commissions from February 2017 through August 2025. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the combine

Financial fraud in Oregon resulted in an estimated $201 million in reported losses and $1.2 billion in unreported losses in 2025, with the FBI and FTC reporting significant increases in fraud cases nationwide. The state's economy faces a projected $3.9 billion reduction in GDP, $2.6 billion reduction in personal income, and approximately 15,000 job losses due to all financial fraud (reported and unreported). Oregon ranks 26th-28th among states for cyber-enabled crime losses and elder fraud complaints, with fraud cases up 3,336 since 2022 and total losses up 285% since 2020.

Palm Beach County officials held a community meeting in Delray Beach to alert residents about rising scams targeting seniors, including fake SunPass charges, Bitcoin ATM schemes, and identity theft via suspicious texts. State Attorney Alexcia Cox announced that her office has created specialized prosecution units for elder abuse, cybercrime, and property deed fraud, while noting that AI technology and overseas offenders have complicated fraud prosecution efforts. According to FBI data, cybercrimes cost Americans over $16 billion in 2024, representing a 33% increase from the previous year.

Netflix's "Love Con Revenge" follows host Cecilie Fjellhøy (a former "Tinder Swindler" victim) and private investigator Brianne Joseph as they investigate romance scams and help victims pursue justice. The series documents cases including a man who manipulated a woman out of thousands by fabricating military trauma stories, and another who posed as a doctor while orchestrating approximately $2 million in fraud against his wife and her daughters. The hosts emphasize that romance fraud is widespread and encourage victims to come forward despite the emotional and financial devastation, as well as challenges in holding perpetrators accountable.

Netflix's docuseries "Love Con Revenge" features Cecilie Fjellhøy and private investigator Brianne Joseph exposing romance scams, with cases including Todd Dean (the "Selfie Scammer"), who defrauded at least eight women of tens of thousands of dollars for a fake wellness startup called Sanjara and was ordered to pay one victim $30,727.50 in court before filing for bankruptcy in December 2023, and Ricky Morrisey, who stole over $13,000 from victim Bridget Phillips while posing as a military veteran with a fabricated tragic backstory, resulting in fraud and larceny

Text message job scams have surged in recent years, with reported losses rising from $90 million in 2020 to $501 million by 2024. Contrary to expectations, younger Americans—particularly Gen Z (20%) and millennials (16%)—are more vulnerable to these scams than older generations, with young men being especially susceptible due to financial pressures, career inexperience, and the appeal of fast remote income. Among victims who engaged with scam texts, approximately 30% had money stolen from their accounts and 45% shared personal information with scammers.

Netflix's "Love Con Revenge" docuseries exposes romance scams where fraudsters manipulate victims into sending money through fake romantic relationships. The documentary follows cases including Todd Dean (the "Selfie Scammer") who convinced at least eight women to invest in a fake wellness startup, resulting in a $30,727.50 court judgment against him; and Ricky Morrisey, who stole over $13,000 from victim Bridget Phillips and was convicted of three felony counts, receiving a three-year prison sentence in September 2025, while some scammers continue to evade accountability.

In February 2024, former U.S. Ambassador Cindy Dyer testified to the Senate about the connection between human trafficking abroad and romance scams targeting older Americans, noting that scam centers in Southeast Asia—particularly Cambodia—force trafficking victims to defraud Americans out of millions of dollars and life savings. The FTC estimated that Americans lost $158 billion to all fraud in 2023, with older Americans reporting $277 million in romance scam losses that year, though actual figures are likely much higher due to underreporting. Experts stress that international cooperation is essential to combat these overseas-based scams, but such efforts have been hindered by reduced foreign aid and weakened international all

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A Nigerian national, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over $6 million from more than 400 elderly and vulnerable victims. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming victims had unclaimed inheritances from overseas relatives, then requesting upfront fees for delivery, taxes, and other costs; the perpetrators collected money through a network of U.S.-based money mules, and victims never received any inheritance. Akhimie is the eighth defendant sentenced in connection with the scheme, which was investigated by U.S. law enforcement and international authorities from

Bank fraud prevention experts presented findings at a senior center on common scams targeting older adults, including tech support, phishing, vishing, and grandparent scams that use fear and emotional appeals to steal money. According to Federal Trade Commission statistics cited, consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023—a 14% increase from 2022—with tech support fraud being the leading crime type for those over 60, resulting in nearly $600 million in reported losses. The presentation advised seniors to recognize red flags in phishing emails, be skeptical of unsolicited tech support offers, and trust their instincts to avoid becoming victims.

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The Financial Exploitation Prevention Act, reintroduced in September by Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), would empower financial institutions to detect and delay suspicious transactions targeting seniors, particularly those involving securities and real estate. Financial exploitation costs U.S. seniors approximately $27 billion annually, and the bill seeks to close existing protection gaps by requiring the SEC to recommend legislative and regulatory changes to combat senior financial abuse, including romance scams and fraudulent home-related transactions.

Consumers lose $158 billion annually to fraud affecting approximately 57,000 new victims daily, according to a National Task Force on Fraud and Scam Prevention report. The report recommends that financial institutions, telecom companies, social media platforms, and tech companies implement stronger protections and accountability measures, while advocating for Congress to close consumer protection gaps, strengthen the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and hold VoIP providers accountable for facilitating scam calls and texts on their networks.

A scammer's attempt to fraudulently obtain a reverse mortgage on an elderly Ohio homeowner's property was prevented by EquityProtect's SmartPolicy fraud prevention technology, which flagged the unauthorized loan request and alerted the homeowner's daughter who held Power of Attorney. The incident illustrates growing financial crime targeting seniors, with the FBI reporting $4.88 billion in losses from 147,127 elder fraud complaints in 2024, a 46% increase in complaints year-over-year.

A scammer attempted to defraud an elderly Ohio homeowner by convincing him to take out a reverse mortgage to steal his home equity, but the scheme was foiled when EquityProtect's Property Title Lock service detected the unauthorized loan application and notified the homeowner's daughter, who held Power of Attorney over the property. The incident highlights growing financial crimes against seniors, with the FBI reporting $4.88 billion in losses from 147,127 elder fraud complaints in 2024, a 46% increase from the previous year.

Texting and messaging scam attempts increased by 50 percent in the past year, with young adults experiencing the highest rise, according to Consumer Reports' 2025 Cyber Readiness Report. The report revealed significant disparities in scam vulnerability: low-income households were three times more likely to lose money from scams than high-income households (29% vs. 10%), and Black Americans who encountered scams lost money at more than twice the rate of white Americans (37% vs. 15%), partly due to lower credit card usage and reliance on less-protected payment methods. Consumers can protect themselves by not replying to suspicious texts, blocking senders, reporting to their mobile provider

Pennsylvania residents are on track to lose more money to fraud in the current year than in the previous year, with Pennsylvanians having lost approximately $400 million to scams last year and ranking eighth nationally in total fraud losses. Artificial intelligence is enabling increasingly sophisticated scams—including the "grandparent scam" where criminals use AI voice technology to impersonate family members—making traditional detection methods like spotting typos ineffective, and most scams originate from organized networks outside the U.S., making investigation and prosecution difficult. The National Elder Fraud Coordination Center, launched this year with analysts based in Pittsburgh, is working to address this growing epidemic through coordination between private and public sector partners.