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Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
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in Robocall / Phone Scam
wmur.com
· 2025-12-08
The Pittsburg Police Department warned residents about "brushing," an e-commerce fraud scheme in which sellers send unsolicited products to people and post fake positive reviews on their behalf to artificially boost product ratings and sales. While the scam has no direct financial impact, authorities cautioned that recipients' personal information could be compromised and used in future frauds, and advised not to pay for any follow-up calls regarding unexpected packages.
buzzfeed.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to elder fraud research. It is a BuzzFeed-style listicle documenting retail employee anecdotes about customer scams and return fraud schemes (such as attempting to return worn items, fraudulently claiming defective products, or shoplifting), none of which involve seniors as victims or perpetrators. It contains no information about elder abuse, elder-specific scams, or financial exploitation of older adults.
interest.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering" is a cryptocurrency investment scam originating in China where fraudsters build personal relationships with victims through fake handlers (like "Mr Glenn Hutchins" and "Sophia") to convince them to deposit cryptocurrency into bogus trading platforms and transfer funds for promised high returns and 20% commissions. The scam operates globally through WhatsApp groups and spoofed websites (such as btcs-alpha.com mimicking legitimate sites), targeting victims who are lured by fake screenshots of profits from other group members. Victims lose money when the promised trades and profits never materialize, with billions lost globally to this form of online fraud.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Bengaluru woman lost Rs 1.2 crore over 20 days in a scam where criminals impersonated telecom department and Mumbai Crime Branch officials, threatening her with arrest for alleged money laundering and demanding she transfer funds for "verification." The scammers used fabricated documents and intimidation tactics to manipulate the victim into sharing her bank details, then disappeared after the transfer. The article advises staying vigilant against such calls, verifying caller identities through official channels, never sharing financial information with unknown callers, and remembering that genuine officials do not threaten immediate arrest or demand money transfers.
saltwire.com
· 2025-12-08
A community member shares personal and secondhand experiences with scams targeting seniors, including a technical support scam where he was hacked after granting remote access to his computer and an investment fraud that depleted an elderly man's savings. The writer calls for increased public awareness, urges seniors to be cautious with unsolicited calls, and advocates for telecom companies to better block scam calls originating internationally, while noting that embarrassment often prevents victims from reporting incidents.
12news.com
· 2025-12-08
Jury service phone scams are increasing in Maricopa County, with fraudsters posing as law enforcement and threatening jail time unless victims pay fines via prepaid gift cards. The Maricopa County Superior Court clarified that it never demands payment by phone—fines for missing jury service can only be ordered by a judge in court—and urged residents to verify jury status directly with the court at 602-506-5879 rather than responding to unsolicited callers.
kxxv.com
· 2025-12-08
A healthcare administrator in Texas highlights that seniors born before 1950 are particularly vulnerable to scams due to their trusting nature, with the most common frauds involving Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, home repairs, and grandparent impersonation schemes. The FBI reported that scams targeting people over 60 caused over $3.4 billion in losses last year, and experts recommend seniors avoid sharing personal information over the phone, resist pressure to act immediately, and consult trusted contacts before transferring money.
tech.hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old woman in Bengaluru lost ₹1.2 crore after fraudsters impersonated telecom and Mumbai crime branch officials, claiming she was involved in illegal activities and money laundering, then pressured her to transfer funds by presenting forged documents including a fake FIR and arrest warrant. The victim transferred the money believing it would be returned after an investigation, but the scammers became unreachable. The article recommends protective measures including verifying requests through official channels, avoiding unsolicited contact, using strong passwords with two-factor authentication, and monitoring bank accounts for suspicious activity.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 2024 CelcomDigi survey of 10,839 Malaysians found that 65.5% had encountered scam attempts, with phone calls being the primary method at 52.6%, and 73% reported being actual victims. Most scams involved phone impersonation where callers posing as bank or government representatives requested personal information and payments. The survey revealed low incident reporting rates, with only 6.5% contacting the National Scam Response Centre and 64% unaware the service existed, indicating a significant gap in fraud mitigation despite 87% of respondents claiming increased scam awareness.
ifamagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Research from LV= found that 3.8 million UK adults lost money to purchase scams last year, with young adults aged 18-34 reporting higher victimization rates across all scam types (phishing, trusted organization impersonation, refund scams, and others) compared to those aged 65 and over. The disparity is attributed partly to younger adults spending significantly more time online (averaging 4 hours 35 minutes daily), making them more exposed to fraudulent schemes.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A 17-year-old Victorian boy, Rohan Patrick Cosgriff, died by suicide in July 2022 after being victimized by a sextortion scam originating from Nigeria, in which he was coerced into sending intimate images to someone on Snapchat who then threatened to distribute them unless he paid money. A coroner's report found that eleven other Australian young people have died by suicide over the past decade following sextortion or image-based abuse, and recommended a shift in online safety education from simply discouraging image-sharing to helping victims understand they have not done anything wrong and can recover from such situations. The coroner suggested these findings should inform a statutory review of Australia
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Three businesses in Guernsey fell victim to a sophisticated vishing scam in which fraudsters posing as NatWest International representatives called them and persuaded them to download malicious software that gave hackers complete control of their computers. The Office of the Data Protection Authority warned islanders to exercise extreme caution with unexpected calls, verify callers through independent means, and be particularly wary of scammers exploiting the recent worldwide IT outage as cover; fortunately, none of the targeted businesses suffered financial losses in this incident.
oig.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two Dominican nationals, Rafael Ambiorix Rodriguez Guzman and Felix Samuel Reynoso Ventura, were extradited to the United States and charged in connection with a "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans across multiple states out of millions of dollars. Operating from call centers in the Dominican Republic, the defendants allegedly impersonated attorneys, police officers, and court personnel, convincing elderly victims that their grandchildren needed emergency bail money or legal fees following arrests or accidents. Both men face charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy, with potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison per count.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens lose approximately $3 billion annually to elder fraud, with scammers increasingly targeting seniors due to their financial security and trusting nature. The article identifies eight common scams affecting elderly individuals, including tech support/home repair fraud, grandchild impersonation schemes, government agency impersonation, fake sweepstakes, phishing emails (particularly fake Geek Squad invoices), overpayment scams, and unsubscribe email phishing attempts. Key prevention strategies include verifying caller identities independently, confirming stories with family members before sending money, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and researching companies before making purchases.
wyomingnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Banking and law enforcement officials in Wyoming warn that fraud is increasingly common and takes multiple forms, including wire fraud, romance scams, and schemes targeting the elderly by impersonating lawyers or law enforcement officers claiming a family member is in trouble. Scammers use spoofed caller IDs, AI voice cloning, and legitimate-looking websites to exploit trusting people, with victims often embarrassed to report incidents and arrests remaining rare since perpetrators frequently operate outside jurisdiction. Authorities advise residents to verify caller information independently, never provide personal details over the phone, and recognize that legitimate law enforcement will not demand payment or bonds via phone calls.
desertnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Boron Seniors Center hosted a fraud prevention seminar in July presented by Alta One Federal Credit Union's branch manager Carol Hooks, who emphasized that seniors are disproportionately targeted by scammers despite fraud affecting all age groups. Hooks advised community members to trust their instincts when suspicious communications seem illegitimate, avoid following scammer instructions, and contact their financial institution or local police if they suspect fraud. The credit union has conducted multiple educational seminars across locations after members fell victim to fraud, recognizing that financial institutions cannot stop scams once they are underway and prevention through awareness is essential.
claimsmag.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the UK recorded over 17,000 cases of telecom facility takeover fraud, a 13% increase from the previous year, with the telecom sector now accounting for two in five such cases. Criminals impersonating network operators increasingly targeted vulnerable mobile users aged 61 and over, who represented nearly 27% of all facility takeover cases. Experts recommend consumers protect themselves by refusing to divulge personal information, verifying unexpected calls directly with companies, monitoring accounts for suspicious activity, and reporting suspected fraud to Action Fraud.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
Online scammers in India are increasingly targeting elderly individuals through sophisticated fraud schemes, including impersonation of government officials and threats of arrest. Notable cases include a 77-year-old woman in Bengaluru who lost Rs 1.28 crore after scammers posing as telecom and police officials coerced her into sharing bank details, and a Chandigarh woman defrauded of Rs 72 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam. Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to limited digital literacy, natural trust in authority figures, and financial stability, making awareness, verification of unsolicited contacts, and updated device security essential protective measures.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article describes 12 common scams targeting seniors, including government impersonation (IRS, Medicare, Social Security), fake charity donations, lottery/sweepstakes schemes, phishing emails, voice recording scams, grandchild emergency requests, computer repair scams, and romance scams. The article advises seniors to verify requests independently, never provide personal information to unsolicited callers, hang up without responding to suspicious calls, and confirm the identity of family members before sending money.
kemmerergazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Banking and law enforcement officials in Evanston, Wyoming warn that fraud is increasingly common and takes multiple forms, including wire fraud, romance scams, impersonation of lawyers and law enforcement via spoofed caller IDs, and AI-generated voice cloning. Elderly residents are particularly targeted through calls falsely claiming relatives are in jail or in trouble, with scammers using pressure and urgency to manipulate victims into sending money via wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Law enforcement advises residents to verify calls by manually dialing official numbers, never provide personal information over the phone, and recognize that legitimate deputies will never collect money by phone.
mypunepulse.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old woman in Bengaluru was defrauded of Rs 1.2 crore by scammers posing as government officials who fabricated accusations of illegal SIM card purchase and money laundering, then coerced her into transferring funds by threatening arrest with forged documents. The victim realized she had been scammed only after attempting to contact the fraudsters once the supposed investigation concluded. Key prevention measures include independently verifying caller identities, being skeptical of threats demanding immediate payment, protecting personal financial information, and verifying claims through official channels.
cubaheadlines.com
· 2025-12-08
An 87-year-old and 82-year-old couple in Miami lost $18,500 in a grandparent scam where a caller impersonated their grandson claiming to be arrested, directing them to send bail money via a Lyft driver who delivered it to the perpetrator. Agustín García Marsán, 38, was arrested and faces multiple charges including elder theft and organized fraud after being linked to similar scams across Florida and North Carolina using fake identities and ride-sharing services to collect money from elderly victims.
sandiegouniontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day highlights the widespread problem of elder abuse, with approximately 5 million older adults abused annually in the United States, though only 1 in 14 cases are reported. Financial fraud is the most common form of elder abuse, with victims losing roughly $30 billion yearly, and can be prevented through awareness of common scams (lottery schemes, identity theft, phishing), use of technology safeguards (bank alerts, account monitoring), and maintaining social connections. Older adults and their supporters are encouraged to report suspected abuse to Adult Protective Services, local law enforcement, or resources like the National Center on Elder Abuse and the Eldercare Locator (1-800
jcsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elder fraud reports to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center rose 14 percent, with over 101,000 victims aged 60 and older losing more than $3.4 billion—an average of $33,915 per victim. The most common scams included tech support fraud, investment schemes (costing $1.2 billion alone), government impersonation, romance scams, and cryptocurrency fraud, with scammers often using spoofed caller IDs and posing as agencies like the IRS and Social Security Administration. TARCOG hosted a Fraud & Scam Summit in Alabama to educate the community about these schemes and provide resources to
wxii12.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud investigators in Guilford County are warning senior citizens about a court-related scam in which callers falsely claim victims missed jury duty or failed to appear in court, demanding payment of fines to resolve the alleged offense. Detective Chris Malloy emphasized that law enforcement does not collect money over the phone and advised potential victims to recognize this as a fear-based scam; scammers accept payment through gift cards, cash, cryptocurrency, and gold, and are difficult to prosecute, especially when operating from overseas. The Guilford County Sheriff's Office offers a senior academy program to help residents protect themselves against fraud.
nbcnewyork.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Long Island men posing as unlicensed contractors for a fake company called "Top Line Masonry" targeted senior homeowners by performing minor repairs, then deliberately causing additional damage to justify larger jobs and deposits before disappearing. David Young, 31, and Adam Turner, 25, pleaded guilty to multiple charges; police confirmed at least one victim in Floral Park and suspect additional victims in surrounding areas, with Nassau County reporting 31 home improvement scams targeting seniors aged 70-90 that year alone.
sandiegouniontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
At a California senior scam awareness seminar, officials warned that seniors remain the primary target for financial fraud due to their assets, with losses exceeding $3.4 billion reported to the FBI in 2023 alone. Common scams targeting older adults include online romance fraud (median loss over $9,000 for those 70+), annuity schemes, imposter calls impersonating government agencies and companies, tech support scams, and home remodeling fraud. Experts advised seniors to verify caller information independently, recognize high-pressure sales tactics and false urgency, and remember that government agencies do not initiate contact by phone.
wilx.com
· 2025-12-08
Summer fraud incidents surge during peak travel season, with consumers losing over $10 billion to fraud annually, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Common scams include fake vacation rentals, phony hotel payment decline calls, counterfeit concert tickets, fraudulent cruise offers, and smishing texts about unpaid tolls—with the FBI reporting over 2,000 complaints related to toll collection scams. Experts advise using reputable booking sites, calling businesses directly to verify suspicious communications, purchasing tickets from official venues, and monitoring bank and credit accounts regularly for signs of identity theft.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian criminals are conducting widespread sextortion scams targeting American men on social media platforms, with Meta removing approximately 63,000 Nigerian accounts, 200 Facebook pages, and 5,700 groups used to coordinate these schemes. In these scams, criminals pose as attractive women to manipulate victims into sending nude photos, then extort money by threatening to release the images; the FBI reports at least 20 teen victims have died by suicide as a result. Meta is implementing protective measures including an auto-blur feature for nude images in Instagram DMs and recommends users exercise caution with unsolicited messages from accounts with highly polished photos.
colorado.edu
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides international students—particularly those seeking employment through OPT programs—with guidance on identifying and avoiding common scams including threatening calls impersonating government officials, employment scams, phishing, spoofing, and gift card payment requests. The article advises students to report any scams to local police and federal agencies such as the FTC and ICE, and to immediately contact their financial institutions if they've already sent money to attempt reversal of fraudulent transactions.
fairfaxhs.fcps.edu
· 2025-12-08
Four Fairfax High School students—Advik Atyam, David Nam, Nathan Kim, and Yousif al Atbi—created ScamCops, an award-winning educational website and AI chatbot designed to help seniors identify common scams, after each experienced personal scam losses. The project, which won first place in the 2024 Fairfax Area Student Shark Tank Technology Challenge, has expanded into a nonprofit with 2,000 website views and users across 36 countries, featuring a scam identification quiz, educational blog, and student volunteer "cops" who present at retirement homes. The initiative addresses a critical problem: according to the FTC, consumers lost over
today.rtl.lu
· 2025-12-08
A middle-aged Luxembourg resident lost €30,000 in a "spoofing" scam in which criminals using spoofed Luxembourgish phone numbers impersonated Luxtrust and Payconiq employees, manipulating him into surrendering his bank cards and security codes through a two-hour call. The scammers exploited the victim's compliance after a fake Payconiq message about an expired certificate, then convinced him fraudulent charges had been made and instructed him to enter credentials on a fake Luxtrust page. Despite filing a complaint, recovery is unlikely as the perpetrators operate from abroad and the transferred funds (€10,000 withdrawn from ATM, €
13wham.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI is warning consumers in the Rochester area about gold bar scams targeting seniors, where fraudsters trick victims—often through impersonation schemes like posing as grandchildren in distress—into liquidating their savings to purchase gold bars that are then picked up by couriers. People aged 60 and older lost $3.4 billion to scams in the previous year, with individual victims losing between $500,000 to over $1 million in single incidents, and the average elder fraud loss reaching $33,000. The FBI emphasizes that legitimate government agencies and businesses will never request consumers to purchase gold or precious metals, and urges victims to report suspicious activity immediately to the Internet Crime Complaint
gazettejournal.net
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors, in which fraudsters pose as government officials via phone calls, emails, and text messages to steal personal information and money. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel emphasized that combating these scams requires coordination between federal agencies and the tax community to reach and protect vulnerable seniors and taxpayers.
mediapost.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed over 60,000 Instagram accounts linked to sextortion scams operated by Nigerian cybercriminals ("Yahoo Boys") who primarily targeted adult men in the U.S. using fake identities, and also identified accounts attempting to target minors, which were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The company simultaneously removed approximately 7,200 additional assets from Facebook (including 1,300 accounts, 200 Pages, and 5,700 Groups) that were distributing scam guides and fake profile materials to facilitate fraud schemes.
illawarramercury.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A former police officer turned private investigator in Australia estimates that romantic scams are significantly under-reported due to victims' shame and embarrassment, with her agency having contacted 25-30 victims who never reported losses through official channels. Her clients have lost between $100,000 and $500,000 each to romance scammers, with one 86-year-old man losing $200,000 in savings, while reported romance scam losses in Australia total approximately $200 million. She advises the public to watch for red flags including poor grammar, premature declarations of love, scripted conversations, and requests to keep the relationship secret—and to walk away if the person cannot meet in person
securityboulevard.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines three common cyber travel scams: clone websites that mimic legitimate travel companies to steal financial and personal information, brand impersonation through fake social media accounts and promotional giveaways, and fraudulent customer service accounts that exploit frustrated customers. The article advises travelers to verify website domains carefully, avoid booking through social media messages or unsolicited offers, and contact companies directly through official channels rather than responding to suspicious accounts.
disb.dc.gov
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource from DISB (District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking) provides information on common scam types to help consumers protect themselves during financial transactions. The tracker includes detailed examples of advance fee scams, affinity scams by licensed professionals, and credit card phishing scams, with specific case narratives and protective strategies such as verifying information directly with legitimate agencies and being cautious of unsolicited financial offers.
wlbt.com
· 2025-12-08
A 93-year-old Mississippi woman lost $1,600 after being called by a scammer impersonating a Publishers Clearing House representative who claimed she had won $2.5 million and demanded upfront fees, which the victim paid via gift cards. The scam depleted her bank account, put it in the negative, and the scammer continued harassing her via text messages; local law enforcement noted that most such scams originate overseas, making prosecution nearly impossible.
inkl.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts based in Nigeria that were conducting sextortion scams, primarily targeting adult men in the US and some minors, with threats to expose private sexual content unless financial demands were met. The takedown included a network of 2,500 accounts managed by roughly 20 individuals, with most sextortion attempts being unsuccessful, though cases targeting minors were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Meta's crackdown follows multiple tragic incidents where sextortion victims died by suicide, and the company has since developed AI-powered protection tools and automated systems to identify and block sextortion accounts.
smartphonemagazine.nl
· 2025-12-08
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cbs12.com
· 2025-12-08
The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office warned residents of a sophisticated remote access scam where victims contact what appears to be legitimate customer service for help with tech issues, only to be directed to download a VPN app that grants scammers full remote access to their phones and personal data. A local woman nearly fell victim to the scheme after being instructed by a fake customer service representative to download the malicious app, which exposed her personal information and photos to criminals.
connecticut.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
An 18-year-old Deer Park entrepreneur fell victim to a car wrap scam after receiving a fraudulent email posing as NOS Energy drink offering him $750 weekly to wrap his car. When he deposited a fake $3,900 check, Bank of America closed his account and blacklisted him from all financial institutions for five years, mistakenly treating him as a perpetrator rather than a victim. After news investigation intervention, the bank reversed the blacklist decision and reinstated his account once they confirmed he was scammed.
kivitv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Meridian, Idaho woman received a phone call from a scammer claiming her family member was in a car accident and demanding $2,000, threatening to hurt the victim if money wasn't sent. The victim grew suspicious when the caller couldn't answer specific questions about her family member, so she drove to verify the person's safety in person and discovered the threat was false. The scammer never obtained any money, and Meridian Police noted that attempted scams without financial loss typically don't result in formal reports, though residents should contact police if money is actually lost.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian internet fraudster Marcel, a 26-year-old "Yahoo boy" based in Abuja, destroyed evidence by hiding his phone in a toilet pipe when Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials raided his apartment building in May following a tip-off about suspected cybercriminals in the area. Though officers searched his room and discovered his phone charger, they did not locate the hidden device, and Marcel was not arrested during the raid, though he admitted to using the phone for "bombing and grinding" (finding and defrauding online victims) for over two years.
openaccessgovernment.org
· 2025-12-08
During the COVID-19 pandemic, cybercriminals exploited vulnerable populations through phishing emails (up 220%), fake vaccine offers, and impersonation scams, with older adults particularly targeted due to limited digital literacy and social isolation. Impersonation scam cases doubled to 39,394 in 2020, romance scams increased 38%, and investment scams rose 32%, resulting in £479 million in Authorized Push Payment fraud losses in the UK with victims recovering only £206.9 million. Financial services firms are urged to implement continuous fraud awareness campaigns and change communication practices to avoid inadvertently training customers to fall victim to scams.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
Smishing scams use text messages to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or calling scammer-operated numbers, often impersonating legitimate delivery services or popular companies to steal login credentials and personal information. These scams are cheap and effective for criminals, potentially leading to identity theft, financial loss, and malware installation on victims' devices. To protect yourself, avoid clicking unknown links, enable two-factor authentication, contact companies directly using verified numbers, and report suspicious texts to the FTC by forwarding to 7726.
kpcw.org
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers use multiple tactics to target unsuspecting victims, including fake merchandise ads, phishing texts and emails, fraudulent job postings, and deceptive streaming links on social media. Common scams include job offers asking people to advertise on their vehicles and fake streaming links for events. The BBB advises consumers to never click links or call numbers from unsolicited messages and to verify phone numbers independently before responding.
clarkecountydemocrat.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines three common scam types targeting consumers: investment scams that promise guaranteed returns through fake platforms, employment scams offering easy work-from-home opportunities with little effort, and impersonation scams where fraudsters pose as legitimate businesses or government agencies. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, including researching companies before committing funds, verifying job opportunities through direct company contact, and calling verified phone numbers to confirm requests for money or personal information.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating Amazon through text messages, emails, and calls claiming account or payment issues to trick consumers into clicking malicious links or providing personal information. Criminals use AI-driven content creation and multi-channel attacks impersonating major brands like Amazon, Bank of America, and federal agencies, with over two-thirds of Amazon scams reported globally in 2023 involving fake billing or account access claims. To protect themselves, consumers should verify sender email addresses, avoid clicking links or attachments, and hover over URLs to confirm legitimacy before engaging.