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boston.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Brooklyn men, Shaoquin Liu, 27, and Shiwang Ning, 33, were arrested in Quincy for allegedly stealing over $120,000 from a senior citizen through a tech support scam involving fake emails and calls impersonating the victim's banks and the FDIC. The suspects remotely accessed the victim's computer, obtained financial information, and convinced the victim to withdraw large cash amounts that were picked up from their home multiple times before the victim grew suspicious and contacted police. Both men were charged with one count of larceny and two counts of fraud.
futurity.org
· 2025-12-08
A University of Florida study found that older adults with greater bodily awareness—specifically those who could accurately detect their own heartbeat—were 15-20% better at spotting phishing emails and detecting lies in videos. The research suggests that training older adults to tune into their internal physical signals could help reduce scams that cost seniors over $28 billion annually, though researchers note further investigation is needed to develop such training programs.
sciencedaily.com
· 2025-12-08
A University of Florida study found that older adults who were more attuned to their body's signals, such as heartbeat awareness, were 15-20% better at detecting lies and phishing scams. Researchers tested over 100 participants across two age groups by measuring their ability to count their heartbeat and then assessing their performance in identifying fake emails and deceptive videos, suggesting that training people to recognize these internal bodily cues could help combat the $28 billion in annual financial losses older adults experience from scams.
patriotledger.com
· 2025-12-08
Quincy police arrested two men from Brooklyn in connection with a tech support scam that defrauded a local senior citizen of over $120,000. The perpetrators used a fake Microsoft notification to lure the victim into calling a number where they impersonated an FDIC employee, convincing the senior to withdraw cash and hand it over to a courier, while simultaneously accessing the victim's computer remotely to obtain financial information and send fraudulent correspondence from government agencies. The victim became suspicious and contacted police; both men were charged with larceny and conspiracy and held on $100,000 bail.
govinfosecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
At least six U.S. states (Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Connecticut, Maine, and Delaware) are enacting legislation to give banks new tools to identify and block suspicious transactions targeting seniors, as cyber fraud against older adults rises and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau remains inactive. In 2023, impersonation scams alone caused $1.3 billion in losses with nearly half of victims over 60, and seniors filed over 101,000 complaints totaling $3.4 billion in losses. The state bills vary in their approach and liability provisions for financial institutions, though all aim to empower banks to halt or delay transactions suspected of elder financial exploitation.
koco.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud in Oklahoma increased 15% from 2022 to 2023, with nearly 1,000 seniors over age 60 falling victim to scams and losing over $22 million in total. The most common fraud schemes targeting seniors are fake tech support and romance scams, with criminals exploiting seniors' accumulated wealth; the FBI advises victims and potential victims to hang up, log off, and walk away from any pressure to conduct financial transactions.
news9.com
· 2025-12-08
Oklahoma ranked 27th nationally with 955 elder fraud complaints according to FBI data, part of a broader trend where Americans over 60 lost nearly $3.5 billion to scams in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year. Experts advise victims to report fraud immediately to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov), as there is a 7 in 10 chance of recovering funds if reported quickly, and recommend hanging up on suspicious callers and telling family members rather than keeping requests secret. Cryptocurrency scams and pressure tactics to conduct immediate financial transactions are common red flags.
bankinfosecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
At least six U.S. states—Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Connecticut, Maine, and Delaware—are enacting legislation to empower banks to identify and block suspicious transactions targeting seniors, as cyber fraud against older adults rises with seniors losing $3.4 billion in 2023 alone, largely through impersonation scams. These state-level efforts aim to fill federal protection gaps, though they create varying liability standards for financial institutions and may complicate compliance across different jurisdictions. Florida has already signed nine bills into law effective January 2024, while Pennsylvania's House Bill 2064 and similar measures in other states would allow banks to delay or refuse fraudulent transactions and face reimbursement liability
abc7chicago.com
· 2025-12-08
Spanish police arrested five people and investigated ten others in Operation Bralina for a romance scam involving impersonating Brad Pitt to defraud two women out of 325,000 euros ($362,000). The scammers targeted vulnerable women suffering from depression through a fan site, building fake romantic relationships via messaging apps and convincing them to make multiple bank transfers; police recovered 85,000 euros and discovered the operation used fake identity documents and money mules to launder funds across eight provinces.
abccolumbia.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Lexington men, Kenneth Brown and Nicholas Shepard, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud for their roles in business email compromise and romance scams. They received victim checks through the mail at their precious metals business, deposited them into their business account, and converted the funds into cryptocurrency. Both men face up to 20 years in federal prison, fines up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervised release.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Kenneth J. Brown and Nicholas R. Shepard, both 45 of Lexington, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire and mail fraud by operating a scheme involving business email compromise and romance scams. The defendants received victim checks through the mail at their precious metals business, deposited them into their business account, and converted the funds into cryptocurrency. Both men face up to 20 years in prison, $250,000 in fines, restitution, and three years of supervised release pending sentencing.
postandcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Lexington men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud after scamming at least five victims across five states out of more than $500,000 through email and romance scams between December 2021 and late 2022. Kenneth J. Brown Jr. and Nicholas R. Shepard, who owned Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange, converted stolen funds into cryptocurrency and face up to 20 years in federal prison and $250,000 in fines. The scams targeted individuals from Colorado to Florida, with victims losing thousands of dollars each in schemes involving false claims about money transfers and fraudulent romance solicitations.
postandcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Lexington men, Kenneth J. Brown Jr. and Nicholas R. Shepard, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to wire and mail fraud after scamming at least five victims across five states out of over $500,000 through email and romance scams between December 2021 and 2022. The pair operated Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange and converted stolen funds into cryptocurrency, facing potential sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison and $250,000 fines.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned of a rising epidemic of online romance scams, reporting over 15,000 complaints last year with losses exceeding $210 million over three years. Debby Montgomery Johnson, a widow, lost over $1 million to a scammer posing as a British businessman named Eric Cole over a two-year online relationship, only to discover he was actually a young man in Nigeria. The FBI notes that romance scammers are sophisticated operators who target emotionally vulnerable victims, often well-educated individuals, and advises people to report suspicious online dating contacts to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
CBS News investigated romance scams originating from Ghana that have defrauded Americans of over $10 billion according to the Federal Trade Commission. The scammers operate from "boiler rooms" in Accra where young men pose as attractive women on dating apps to build trust with lonely victims, particularly older American men, before convincing them to send money; the scammers retain 40% of funds while their syndicate bosses take 60%. The operation has evolved from crude "Nigerian Prince" emails into a sophisticated, billion-dollar transnational criminal enterprise that exploits vulnerable Americans through emotional manipulation and identity deception.
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, nearly 1,000 Oklahoma seniors fell victim to fraud schemes, losing over $22 million combined—representing a 15% increase in elder fraud cases in the state from 2022 to 2023, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Common scams targeting seniors include romance schemes conducted through social media and fake tech support pop-ups, with criminals exploiting seniors' accumulated wealth over their lifetimes. The FBI advises older adults and their families to recognize warning signs and immediately disengage from any interaction involving financial pressure by hanging up the phone or logging off.
businesstoday.in
· 2025-12-08
India's digital transformation has increased online scam targeting, with cybercriminals particularly exploiting elderly pensioners through impersonation schemes. The Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) warned that fraudsters are impersonating government officials and contacting pensioners via WhatsApp, email, and SMS, falsely claiming pension payments will be stopped unless they complete forms and share personal information like PPO numbers and bank details. Authorities advise pensioners to verify communications directly with relevant agencies, resist artificial urgency tactics, and report suspicious activity to prevent financial fraud.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Randy A. Farrell, Sr., age 61, a third-party building inspector in New Orleans, was indicted on 25 counts including conspiracy, wire fraud, and honest services fraud for accepting bribes to allow unlicensed electricians to obtain fraudulent permits and pass inspections on hundreds of homes using licensed electricians' names. Farrell and his company IECI & Associates also attempted to obstruct the investigation by offering bribes to public officials. If convicted, Farrell faces up to 20 years in prison per count and potential fines up to $250,000 per count.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned of a surge in online romance scams, reporting over 15,000 complaints last year with losses exceeding $210 million over three years. Debby Montgomery Johnson, a widow, lost more than $1 million to a scammer posing as a British businessman named Eric Cole over a two-year online relationship before discovering he was actually a young man in Nigeria. FBI officials note that romance scammers are skilled at exploiting emotionally vulnerable victims, often through establishing relationships and requesting money for fabricated emergencies or plans, and advise potential victims to report suspicious behavior to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
thestar.com
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto resident fell victim to a fake taxi scam where a driver with a taxi-style dome light used a rigged payment machine to steal the victim's debit card information and PIN, resulting in $1,471 in fraudulent charges. Toronto police report 493 similar taxi scam incidents in the year with total losses of $914,000, and the scam typically targets young people rather than seniors; detection methods include verifying taxi license plates and never relinquishing control of payment cards. Key prevention tips include checking that cabs have proper taxi identification and remaining vigilant about card security throughout transactions.
sandhillsexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A U.S. man lost $700,000 in an elaborate romance scam orchestrated from Ghana. CBS News investigation revealed that sophisticated overseas romance scams—which have evolved from simple "Nigerian Prince" emails—are costing Americans over $10 billion annually, with scammers operating from "boiler rooms" in Ghana where young men pose as attractive women on dating apps to target lonely, older American victims, with criminal syndicates taking large cuts of the money extracted.
ksfr.org
· 2025-12-08
As the 2023-24 election cycle approaches record spending of over $10 billion, scammers are exploiting the climate to defraud citizens through various election-related schemes. Common scams include fraudulent Political Action Committees posing as candidate fundraisers, illegal robocalls using AI-generated voices, impersonation calls claiming to be from county clerk offices requesting personal information, and fake pollster calls offering payment in exchange for personal data. Experts advise verifying legitimacy through proper PAC procedures, refusing unsolicited calls requesting contributions, never providing personal information to unverified callers, and reporting suspicious election-related communications to authorities.
gmtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The Jackson Police Department warned of a court scam in which fraudsters use spoofed caller IDs to impersonate law enforcement and claim victims have missed court-ordered activities, threatening arrest. Scammers target individuals with public records (recent arrests, those on bond, sex offender registries) and falsely claim missed appointments such as DNA sample submissions, though no legitimate letter or appointment ever existed. To protect themselves, citizens can verify warrants through Wisconsin's online court records (wicourts.gov) and driving status through the Wisconsin DOT, and should remember that courts never accept payment via bitcoin, gift cards, or home pickup of bail money.
kauainownews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Hawai'i's Department of Law Enforcement warns the public of scammers impersonating law enforcement officers who call victims claiming they face arrest for missed court appearances or jury duty, then demand payment for bail or civil fees. The scammers use spoofed phone numbers and often make geographic mistakes (mispronouncing Hawaiian street names or referencing non-existent offices) that reveal they are calling from outside Hawai'i. Legitimate law enforcement agencies never solicit payment by phone, and residents should not provide financial information to callers claiming to be officers.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
William J. White, a 63-year-old Arizona resident, was sentenced to 15 months in prison on September 25, 2024, for attempting to cash a forged check at a local bank using false identification. White was also ordered to pay a $100 mandatory assessment fee and will serve two years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
siliconeer.com
· 2025-12-08
Imposter scams—where criminals impersonate trusted businesses or government agencies—are the most common type of fraud reported to the FTC, with 360,000 cases in the first half of 2024 alone resulting in $1.3 billion in losses (median $800 per victim). Losses from government and business impersonation scams have surged dramatically, from $370 million combined in 2020 to over $1.3 billion by 2023, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics including fake urgency, unusual payment methods like Bitcoin ATMs, and threats of arrest or deportation. The FTC's new Impersonation Rule
kchanews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Floyd County Sheriff's Office issued a scam alert regarding fraudulent calls targeting senior citizens, where scammers claim a family member has been arrested and demand cash bail to be picked up by a courier. The Sheriff's Office clarified that legitimate bail payments are only accepted in person at their office or jail, and urged victims or those receiving such calls to report them to local law enforcement and never provide personal information or money over the phone.
decripto.org
· 2025-12-08
US authorities recovered over $6 million in stolen cryptocurrencies from Southeast Asian fraudsters who targeted multiple victims through text messages, dating apps, and investment groups, directing them to fake investment platforms that promised high returns. The FBI used blockchain technology to trace the stolen funds, and Tether assisted by blocking the scammers' wallets, enabling rapid recovery despite the international complexity of the case. This recovery highlights a larger crisis: cryptocurrency investment scams caused $3.9 billion in losses in 2023, with fraudsters often targeting vulnerable individuals desperate for investment opportunities, including some who took additional mortgages on their homes.
indeonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using fake "card declined" messages on fraudulent websites and in phishing emails to trick consumers into entering payment information and personal details, then charging their accounts without authorization. The BBB and AAA have received multiple reports of consumers being charged unexpectedly despite receiving error messages suggesting their transactions failed. To protect yourself, verify website URLs and security features, research businesses before purchasing, avoid unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true, use credit cards for added fraud protection, and monitor your accounts for unauthorized charges.
youarecurrent.com
· 2025-12-08
Abdul Mohammed, 31, of Des Plaines, Illinois, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud for his role in a scheme targeting elderly victims. The conspiracy involved posing as government agents ("Agent Roy" and FBI officials) who convinced seniors their accounts were compromised, instructing them to withdraw funds and convert them to cash or gold bars for "protection"—with documented losses including $80,000 and an attempted collection of $45,000. Mohammed faces up to 60 years in federal prison if convicted.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Kristen Levin, a Shreveport, Louisiana resident, was indicted on September 26, 2024, on three counts of wire fraud for stealing approximately $589,729 from her employer (Company A) between 2015 and 2020 using fraudulent invoices for products the company never received. If convicted, Levin faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release.
fallriverreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
Two individuals were arrested and ordered detained for their roles in online scams targeting Rhode Island seniors. Jirui Liu, 22, of Canada, was charged in a scheme that defrauded a 79-year-old Narragansett man of approximately $165,000 (cash and gold bars) after a pop-up falsely claimed he was under investigation for child pornography and money laundering; Kush J. Patel, 22, of Connecticut, was charged in a separate scheme where a 72-year-old Tiverton man was defrauded of nearly $200,000 through similar tactics involving a fake FTC agent. Both perpetrators
newportdispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
Two young adults—Jirui Liu, 22, of Canada and Kush J. Patel, 22, of Connecticut—were arrested on federal charges for operating separate online fraud schemes targeting elderly Rhode Island residents. Liu defrauded a 79-year-old victim of $35,000 in cash and $130,000 in gold bars through a fake child pornography investigation pop-up, while Patel scammed a 72-year-old victim of nearly $200,000 using false claims about computer viruses and identity theft; both cases involved impersonation of federal agents and prompted law enforcement intervention to recover assets. Authorities encourage elder fraud reporting via the
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Senate's Special Committee On Aging held a hearing on elder financial fraud, featuring testimony from AARP's Kathy Stokes revealing that organized transnational crime rings operate like corporations, using emotional manipulation to bypass victims' logical thinking, and that identity fraud alone cost Americans $43 billion in 2023. Scammers are increasingly using AI to create convincing fake communications, emails, and deepfakes, making tech support scams and bank impostor scams harder to detect, though awareness of common tactics and red flags can help protect vulnerable adults.
courant.com
· 2025-12-08
Kush J. Patel, 22, of Connecticut and Jirui Liu, 22, of Canada face federal charges for orchestrating online scams targeting Rhode Island senior citizens, defrauding victims of approximately $200,000 and $165,000 respectively through fake pop-up messages and impersonation of federal agents. The scammers falsely claimed the victims' identities were compromised and directed them to purchase gold bullion as a means to "secure" their assets, with law enforcement ultimately arresting both suspects during undercover delivery operations.
abc6.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men—22-year-old Jirui Liu of Ontario and 22-year-old Kush J. Patel of Connecticut—have been charged with wire fraud and money laundering for running online scams targeting Rhode Island seniors. Liu's scheme defrauded a 79-year-old man of $35,000 in cash and $130,000 in gold bars, while Patel's scam victimized another Rhode Islander of approximately $200,000. Both defendants have been detained and appeared in court.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two individuals were charged in federal court for operating online scams targeting Rhode Island seniors. Jirui Liu, 22, of Canada, defrauded a 79-year-old man of $35,000 in cash and $130,000 in gold bars through a scheme involving fake pop-up warnings and impersonation of federal authorities; Kush J. Patel, 22, of Connecticut, defrauded a 72-year-old victim of approximately $363,000 in gold bullion using similar tactics. Both perpetrators were ordered detained and face charges including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering
latintimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 79-year-old Narragansett man lost $35,000 in cash and $135,000 in gold bars to an online scam in which fraudsters falsely claimed he was under investigation for child pornography and money laundering, then physically collected the assets from his home. Two men—Jirui Liu of Canada and Kush J. Patel of Connecticut—were arrested and charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy; Liu was caught attempting to collect a final $160,000 payment when police intervened, while Patel separately defrauded a 72-year-old victim of nearly $300,000 in gold bars
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 200,000 people in Southeast Asia have been forced into operating online "pig butchering" scams by Chinese organized crime groups, generating billions in stolen funds through a scheme that builds false relationships with victims before directing them to fraudulent investment platforms. The FBI reported nearly $4 billion in losses from these scams in 2023 alone, with total global losses estimated at $75 billion or more, and similar operations have now expanded to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and West Africa. Despite crackdowns by Beijing and international law enforcement efforts, experts warn that the scam continues to proliferate globally as criminal groups replicate the model in regions with weak governance and enforcement.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP Connecticut offers a free bimonthly webinar series called "Fighting Fraud with AARP Connecticut" that educates participants on current fraud schemes including artificial intelligence scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and romance scams through expert speakers and safety tips. The next session is scheduled for Friday, October 25 at noon and can be accessed via Zoom by registering at events.aarp.org/FightFraudOct.
thesun.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Online romance scams increased by 27% between March and August, with Santander customers alone losing approximately £3.8 million during this period, up from £3 million in the previous eight months. The average loss per victim was £4,500, with targets ranging from ages 18 to 93, and a bank survey found that nearly one-third of respondents would offer money to a romantic partner known for less than six months, despite most believing they would never fall victim to such fraud.
azag.gov
· 2025-12-08
Yuniel Rodriguez-Leon was sentenced to 2.75 years in prison plus 2.5 years probation for operating a gift card cloning scheme at Walmart stores across Arizona counties (Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal) from October to December 2023. Rodriguez-Leon removed gift cards from shelves, cloned the card numbers, returned them to stores, and then used the cloned cards to drain balances after consumers loaded funds, causing financial losses to victims. The Arizona Attorney General's Office, in partnership with Walmart's Global Investigations, identified Rodriguez-Leon through video surveillance and transaction records, leading to his guilty pleas on felony charges of frau
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Abilash Kurien, Vice President of International Cargo Airline Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, was sentenced to 32 months in prison for his role in a decade-long fraud scheme that defrauded the company of more than $32 million in revenue. Kurien personally received over $7 million in kickbacks from vendors in exchange for ensuring they received favorable business arrangements, and was ordered to forfeit $7.2 million and pay $23 million in restitution. The scheme involved at least 10 senior executives and employees at Polar and its vendors and operated from 2009 through July 2021.
marionstar.com
· 2025-12-08
Millions of elderly Americans lose over $3 billion annually to financial fraud and scams, as seniors are frequently targeted due to their trustworthiness, financial savings, and reluctance to report crimes. FBI Special Agent Jacob Hollister presented information on October 15 at Kingston Residence of Marion detailing how criminals build trust with elderly targets through online, phone, and mail communications and sustain fraudulent schemes for financial gain.
wthr.com
· 2025-12-08
The Indianapolis FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association is hosting a free elder fraud awareness workshop on October 8, featuring forensic accountants and consumer protection officials to educate the community about fraud schemes. The event is being held in response to findings that Indiana seniors lost over $37.8 million to elder fraud in 2023, with Indiana ranking 25th among U.S. states and territories for elder fraud losses.
providencejournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Two out-of-state men faced federal charges for defrauding two elderly Rhode Island residents through gold bullion scams totaling approximately $530,000 in losses and purchases. The scammers used fake online popup messages falsely accusing the victims (ages 79 and 72) of child pornography and money laundering offenses, then impersonated federal authorities to direct them to purchase and surrender gold bars and cash. Law enforcement from multiple agencies coordinated to apprehend one conspirator during a controlled delivery in September, with ongoing investigations into similar schemes.
wmar2news.com
· 2025-12-08
Marylanders lost approximately $69 million in cryptocurrency investment scams, where fraudsters contact victims randomly, build trust, and convince them to invest savings or retirement funds into fake trading accounts showing false returns before blocking withdrawals. Scammers typically encourage victims to liquidate retirement accounts and take loans for larger investments, with some victims losing over $1 million while being charged hundreds of thousands in fees to access their funds; cryptocurrency-related fraud comprises about half of all reported fraud cases, and FBI officials warn that peer-to-peer crypto transactions cannot be reversed once completed.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
In the first six months of 2024, Americans lost $65 million to Bitcoin ATM scams, with losses increasing nearly 10-fold since 2023. Scammers use various tactics—such as impersonating law enforcement and threatening arrest—to manipulate victims into depositing cash at Bitcoin ATMs; one Houston man lost nearly $60,000 after being told he had an active warrant. The median loss across all ages is $10,000, though consumers over 60 are more frequently targeted, and the FTC warns that if anyone directs you to use a Bitcoin ATM, it is a scam.
lawyer-monthly.com
· 2025-12-08
Wire transfer scams cost Americans $343.7 million in 2023, with fraudsters impersonating trusted contacts to redirect payments to their accounts through compromised emails, fake documents, or intercepted communications. Wire transfers are nearly impossible to reverse once processed, making them the scammer's preferred method; one victim lost his entire $900,000 life savings intended for a home down payment when scammers hijacked his email conversation with his real estate agent. Common wire transfer scams include real estate fraud, advance-fee loan schemes, fake checks, family emergency impersonations, rental fraud, tech support scams, and business email compromise attacks.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two Ontario women—Gabriel Edith Marie Paradis, 27, and Vanessa Fatima Alves Dasilva, 20—were sentenced to house arrest (one year and 18 months respectively) for their role as "money mules" in a grandparent scam that defrauded nine elderly Manitoba seniors of nearly $90,000 in summer 2022. The scheme involved unknown scammers calling victims posing as grandchildren in legal trouble and requesting bail money, which the women would pick up from victims' homes; while most victims recovered their money, the emotional impact included loss of trust and embarrassment.