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in Identity Theft
legaltalknetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
indiatvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article addresses online dating safety in India, where dating apps like Tinder and Bumble have become increasingly popular among younger generations. It provides five key safety tips to prevent romance scams: protect personal information from strangers, recognize red flags such as quick declarations of love or requests for money, verify profiles through reverse image searches and social media checks, never send money regardless of claimed emergencies, and use app reporting tools to block suspicious users. The article emphasizes that while online dating offers opportunities for meaningful connections, users must remain vigilant to avoid identity theft, stalking, and financial fraud.
moodys.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides an overview of the evolving fraud landscape, noting that the United States experienced over 59,000 fraud risk events in 2024—a 12,500 event increase over five years—while globally, an estimated $1.03 trillion is lost annually to fraud schemes including credit card fraud, romance scams, phishing, and identity theft. Businesses are implementing comprehensive fraud prevention strategies, including ongoing screening and monitoring, third-party risk management, and compliance with new regulations like the UK's "failure to prevent" fraud offence that requires senior managers to allocate reasonable budgets for fraud prevention technology and training. The article emphasizes that effective fraud prevention requires collaboration among financial institutions, adverse
vocal.media
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Americans over $1.3 billion in 2022, with losses quadrupling over five years and affecting victims across all age groups, though those 50 and older account for approximately 60% of reported cases. Sarah, an Ohio woman, lost $45,000 to a romance scammer impersonating a successful oil rig worker named Marcus over three months before discovering the entire relationship was fabricated. These increasingly sophisticated, organized international schemes employ specialized teams that steal identities, build emotional connections through psychological manipulation, and exploit fundamental human needs for connection to extract money from victims.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A scammer hijacked a woman's Facebook account and impersonated her to target her friends with a fake $150,000 government grant scheme, nearly deceiving a retired tech worker into sending $2,500 in upfront fees. The scam involved the imposter posing as a "Global Empowerment" agent who requested personal information and payment for "approval and shipping," even fabricating photos of cash-filled FedEx boxes. The potential victim avoided financial loss by recognizing inconsistencies in the pitch and continuing the conversation to expose the scam tactics.
floridadaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Eight people have been charged in a sophisticated $8.8 million bank fraud operation that victimized over 230 people, many of them seniors, after three Maryland bank employees allegedly used their access to steal customer information including Social Security numbers and account details, which co-conspirators then used to open fraudulent accounts and transfer funds. The defendants, arrested across multiple states, face charges including racketeering, conspiracy, identity fraud, and unauthorized computer access, with bonds ranging from $10,000 to $1,020,000. Authorities recovered some stolen funds that were spent on personal purchases including vehicles, and the case involved coordination between Florida, Maryland, Virginia, and Missouri law enforcement agencies.
rocketcitynow.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial fraud targeting older Americans reached nearly $5 billion in losses in 2024, with over 147,000 complaints reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center—a 46 percent increase from the previous year. TARCOG's Senior Medicare Patrol is hosting a free Fraud and Scam Summit on August 20 at Athens State University to educate seniors and caregivers on recognizing scams, preventing identity theft, and reporting suspected financial abuse, with preregistration required.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
From February 2020 through September 2021, Matthew Cahill and three co-conspirators stole checks, bank account information, and personal identifying information from U.S. Mail to commit bank fraud, altering or creating counterfeit checks that they cashed, deposited, or used at retail stores, and also made unauthorized electronic transfers. The scheme resulted in losses of $67,807, and Cahill was sentenced to 23 months in prison with $30,737 in restitution; his co-conspirators received sentences ranging from 12 to 24 months in prison with restitution orders totaling over $47,000.
westernunion.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a navigation page and "About Us" header for a money transfer service's fraud awareness section, not a specific article about a scam or fraud incident. The page displays menu options and links to educational fraud prevention resources covering topics like puppy scams, identity theft, military scams, romance scams, and telemarketing scams, but contains no actual content, case study, or data to summarize.
weny.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania State Representative Tina Pickett held an annual Senior Expo in Athens to educate seniors on protecting themselves from scams, featuring speakers on healthcare, benefits, secure banking, and Medicare, as well as free document shredding services. According to the National Council on Aging, seniors over 60 lost $3.4 billion combined to scams in 2023, with fraud threats including identity theft and financial exploitation that can damage victims' credit and finances.
tribtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The article describes five active scams in the Valley area: fake delivery drivers posing as legitimate couriers to extort payment for nonexistent packages, sweepstakes fraud schemes that have resulted in losses exceeding $100,000, fraudsters using stolen personal information to open vehicle accounts in victims' names, scammers impersonating police officers and bail bondsmen to extort payment, and unlicensed door-to-door salespeople operating without required permits. Residents are advised to verify identities before sharing personal information, hang up on suspicious callers, and familiarize themselves with local soliciting regulations to protect against these schemes.
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Joe Schulz, a New Jersey-based custom clothing manufacturer, received a suspicious order from a Dubai company for 200 coats and was targeted by an overpayment scam when they deposited a fraudulent check for $93,000 instead of the $14,000 owed, then requested he wire back the $79,000 difference. Schulz avoided the scam by investigating the check's origin, discovering it was fraudulently drawn on a legitimate Indiana construction company's account, and immediately contacting his bank to freeze his account. The incident illustrates how fake checks can appear legitimate and clear quickly, but may take weeks for banks to detect as fraudulent.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
During the 2024 holiday season, phishing and spoofing scams stole over $70 million from victims, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics including legitimate-looking HTTPS encryption and URLs mimicking real websites to deceive consumers. The article provides guidance on identifying malicious links by checking URLs for suspicious indicators (such as "@" symbols, typo-squatting, or unusual domain extensions), avoiding shortened links, and being wary of urgent messaging, while warning that clicking scam links can result in financial loss, credential theft, or malware installation.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam impersonates Microsoft security alerts by sending emails with links that appear to point to legitimate platforms like Google Docs or SharePoint but actually redirect users to fake Microsoft login pages designed to steal credentials. The scam uses urgent language, vague threats about account compromise, and sometimes modifies support contact information to deceive victims into providing sensitive information. Users can protect themselves by verifying sender addresses, hovering over links before clicking, only approving two-factor authentication requests they initiated, and reporting suspicious emails to Microsoft.
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office warned of rising scams targeting older adults in the region, including grandparent scams, government imposter schemes, tech support fraud, and sweepstakes scams that aim to steal money and personal information. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Report, Americans over 60 lost $1.7 billion to fraud in the previous year, with Lyon County seniors being frequent targets due to their trust, limited tech skills, and fear of reporting. The sheriff's office is offering community presentations on fraud prevention and recommends residents use the STOP, LEAVE, ASK, WAIT, ACT protocol to identify and avoid suspicious calls.
wgxa.tv
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old Peach County, Georgia man nearly lost $20,000 in cash after scammers posing as Bank of America convinced him he was involved in a money laundering investigation and instructed him to mail the funds to Miami. His son Keith intercepted the package through connections with law enforcement before it could be delivered on Monday, recovering the money safely. The incident highlights the prevalence of elder fraud, with the FBI reporting millions of seniors fall victim annually, losing an estimated $3 billion, and elder fraud complaints rising 14% as of 2023.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In the first six months of 2025, Telangana victims lost Rs 681 crore to cyber fraudsters—a 24% decline from the previous year—attributed to increased public awareness campaigns and rapid reporting mechanisms. While cyber fraud complaints nationally rose 37%, Telangana experienced a 13% reduction, with notable decreases in reward points scams (74%), gift fraud (60%), and digital arrest cases (56% fewer senior citizens affected), though loan fraud complaints increased 16%. Of the Rs 681 crore lost, the largest losses came from stock market investment and part-time job fraud (Rs 170 crore), with authorities recovering Rs 107
vocal.media
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to elder fraud research. It is promotional content about Ukraine dating websites and apps, designed to market online dating platforms. While the article mentions "avoiding scams and fake profiles" in dating contexts, it does not document actual elder fraud cases, scams targeting seniors, or abuse of elderly individuals. This appears to be commercial advertorial content rather than news reporting or educational material about elder exploitation.
hawaiinewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
The Maui Police Department warned the public about a text message scam claiming unauthorized charges on victims' accounts, which directs them to call a number where scammers pose as legitimate representatives and convince victims they are targets of identity theft. The scammers pressure victims to withdraw large sums of money and convert it to cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, while falsely claiming the matter should not be reported to law enforcement. Police advise that legitimate financial institutions never request cryptocurrency transfers, victims should never be told to hide fraud from law enforcement, and suspicious messages should be ignored in favor of contacting banks directly with verified contact information.
kolotv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office issued a scam alert after handling numerous identity theft and phone scams, warning that seniors are frequently targeted by fraudsters impersonating government officials or offering financial assistance. Americans over 60 lost $1.7 billion to fraud in the past year according to the FBI, with seniors vulnerable due to trust in authority figures, substantial savings, limited tech literacy, and reluctance to report being scammed. Common scams affecting Lyon County seniors include grandparent scams, government imposter schemes, financial abuse by trusted individuals, tech support fraud, and lottery scams.
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
This June 2025 conversation with economic crime expert Olivier Beaudet-Labrecque examines the global scam economy, revealing how economic hardship and youth unemployment in West Africa are driving individuals into online fraud schemes including romance scams and SIM-swapping, often learned through peer networks in cyber cafes. The discussion highlights that scams harm both international victims and local communities, strain under-resourced law enforcement, and damage entire nations' digital reputations and economic access. Key takeaway: combating online fraud requires empathy, education, and technological solutions to address the socioeconomic drivers fueling the scam ecosystem.
nj.com
· 2025-12-08
Drivers in New Jersey, California, and Maryland have received phishing text messages falsely claiming to be from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission warning of unpaid traffic tickets and threatening license suspensions and fines. The scam is a phishing attempt designed to trick recipients into clicking a malicious link and providing personal information; the actual New Jersey courts and MVC communicate only by U.S. Mail and never by text message, and legitimate traffic ticket payments go directly to municipal courts, not through the links provided in these messages.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A multi-state investigation called Operation Teller-to-Telegram resulted in the arrest of eight individuals, including three Maryland bank employees, who allegedly stole $8.8 million from elderly customers through a coordinated fraud ring. The bank employees Barbara Frazee, Camala Shafer, and Antonio Penn sold senior customers' personal information via the encrypted app Telegram to co-conspirators who used the stolen account details, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth to drain victims' savings accounts. All eight suspects face RICO charges, identity theft felonies, and other serious charges.
pennlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Rosemary Grogan, an 82-year-old Pennsylvania resident, discovered $50,000 missing from her bank account due to fraud in 2024, a experience shared by growing numbers of elderly victims targeted by sophisticated scammers. U.S. cybercrime losses have surged from $4.2 billion in 2020 to $16.6 billion in 2024, yet small police departments lack resources to pursue international criminal networks, leaving most victims unable to recover stolen funds. Community leaders are calling for a coordinated federal response, including better data sharing and a national cybercrime task force, as current state-level and FBI resources address only large-scale patterns
ket.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational forum featuring experts and fraud victims discusses common scams targeting elderly people, including email/social media schemes, tech support scams, and impersonation of law enforcement or government officials. Seniors are frequent targets because they may be lonely, vulnerable, or less technologically savvy, and scammers exploit urgency and fear to manipulate victims; real victims lost thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, including one woman who lost over $400,000 and now owes the IRS $100,000 in additional taxes. The discussion emphasizes that fraudsters use sophisticated, multi-layered schemes designed to be difficult to trace and recommends awareness and verification of unexpected contacts as prevention strategies.
ket.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational forum features elder fraud experts discussing common scams targeting seniors, including email, social media, tech support, and phone-based schemes. Elderly individuals are frequent targets because they have more free time, may be lonely or financially worried, and scammers exploit urgency and fear to manipulate them. The panel shares real victim experiences—including a woman who lost over $400,000 to an imposter federal agent scam and now owes $100,000 in taxes—and emphasizes that scams use multiple layers of deception designed to be difficult to trace before funds are depleted.
abc3340.com
· 2025-12-08
A mother and daughter who worked as in-home caretakers in Alabama were sentenced to prison for defrauding an elderly victim of approximately $500,000 between December 2020 and February 2022. Mykia L. Henderson, 32, received 87 months in prison and Cynthia H. Mixon, 50, received 57 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The defendants used their access to the victim's financial information to create fraudulent payment accounts through Square and Stripe, charged unauthorized credit card transactions, wrote bogus checks, and concealed their activity with false descriptions.
wbrc.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Alabama women—32-year-old Mykia L. Henderson and 50-year-old Cynthia H. Mixon (mother and daughter)—were sentenced to 57 months in prison for defrauding an elderly victim of nearly $500,000 between December 2020 and February 2022. While working as the victim's in-home caretakers, they used fraudulent payment accounts (Square and Stripe) to charge the victim's credit cards, wrote unauthorized checks, and concealed their activities through false descriptions on transactions. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
moodys.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams emerged as one of the fastest-growing fraud threats in 2025, with reported losses skyrocketing from $90 million in 2020 to over $501 million in 2024, according to FTC data. These scams lure victims through fake job postings with promises of high pay and remote work, then harvest sensitive personal information for identity theft and synthetic identity fraud rather than seeking quick financial gains. The use of artificial intelligence to create convincing fake interviews and resumes, combined with AI-driven data manipulation and fraud detection bypass, is making job scams increasingly difficult to detect and enforce against.
wealthsolutionsreport.com
· 2025-12-08
Ultra-high net worth (UHNW) individuals face increasingly sophisticated scams that exploit publicly available data, AI technology, and deep social engineering to target them with highly personalized fraud schemes. The article identifies seven major scam types affecting wealthy Americans: whaling (executive phishing), deepfake-driven impersonation and family emergency scams, synthetic identity fraud, tax and authority impersonation scams, and romance scams—each using tailored personal details and urgent requests to extract sensitive information, authorize fraudulent transfers, or manipulate victims into fake investments. Wealth managers and advisors are advised to educate clients on red flags including unusual communication changes, urgent financial requests from trusted sources, and demands
ocalagazette.com
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old Ocala woman lost $7,300 in cryptocurrency and nearly lost $160,000 in cash converted to gold in a multi-stage scam involving a fake computer hack, fraudulent bank officer call, and an accomplice attempting to pick up the gold at her home—the plot was foiled by law enforcement and a gold exchange company alert, resulting in the arrest of Jiann Cao. Local agencies report approximately $1 million stolen monthly from elder fraud victims in Marion County, with common scams including tech support fraud, romance scams, and investment schemes; officials recommend verifying the authenticity of unsolicited communications and emphasize education and reporting as key prevention strategies.
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
Pig butchering scams—which begin with casual text messages and evolve into romantic relationships—are rising in prevalence and causing significant financial harm. Scammers establish trust, often through romance and cryptocurrency investment promises, then direct victims to fraudulent trading platforms where they see initial gains but cannot withdraw funds due to fabricated fees; victims experience both financial loss and emotional trauma from the manufactured relationship. Financial advisors can help by monitoring for unusual withdrawal patterns and having nonjudgmental conversations with clients, while recognizing that many scammers themselves are human trafficking victims forced to operate from compounds in Southeast Asia run by organized crime networks.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
Roger Roger, a Costa Rica resident, was sentenced to over 15 years in prison for leading a telemarketing fraud scheme that stole more than $4 million from hundreds of U.S. victims, many of them elderly, by posing as government officials and convincing them they had won sweepstakes prizes requiring upfront payments. He was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit international money laundering, and international money laundering, and was ordered to pay $3.3 million in restitution and forfeit $4.2 million.
oag.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
California's Attorney General issued a consumer alert during Military Consumer Month warning service members, veterans, and their families about targeted scams, noting that military consumers reported over 99,400 fraud complaints nationwide last year, including 44,587 imposter scams costing over $199 million. The alert identifies key fraud tactics targeting the military community—including charity scams using deceptive veteran-related names, predatory for-profit schools using high-pressure tactics, and home loan scams impersonating government agencies—and advises victims to verify charities through the Registry of Charitable Trusts and to pause before accepting offers that seem too good to be true.
wwltv.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in New Orleans are impersonating NOPD officers and court officials, calling residents and claiming they owe money for missed jury duty, then demanding payment or personal information for identity theft. The Orleans Parish Criminal District Court and NOPD warned that law enforcement never contact citizens this way and urged people to hang up and report such calls immediately. According to a cybersecurity expert, these scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated through AI and social media data, making it critical for people to recognize red flags like artificial urgency, pressure to keep calls secret, and unusual payment methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency.
abc10.com
· 2025-12-08
Recent high school graduates and young adults are increasingly targeted by scammers offering fraudulent scholarships, fake jobs, loan forgiveness schemes, and bogus rental listings, with Americans losing over $16 billion to scams in 2024—a 33% increase from the previous year. To protect themselves, students should watch for red flags like unsolicited messages and unrealistic offers, verify sources before clicking links, and consult trusted adults before sharing personal or financial information. Victims should immediately report scams to their bank, police, and the FTC, then monitor their credit reports for fraudulent accounts.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security scams employ three primary tactics: fake remote job offers that request personal information and upfront fees, phishing emails impersonating the Social Security Administration to direct victims to fraudulent websites, and in-person schemes where imposters posing as government officials convince victims to provide cash or valuables. Recent cases include a victim who gave $2 million in gold bars to someone claiming to be a CIA agent and an Ohio woman who liquidated $500,000 in retirement savings to purchase gold for phone scammers. Protect yourself by avoiding unsolicited job offers and payment requests, verifying emails end in ".gov," and reporting suspicious activity to the Social Security Administration or Office of the Inspector General.
portal.ct.gov
· 2025-12-08
Attorney General William Tong warned servicemembers, veterans, and their families about scams that specifically target the military community, noting that the Federal Trade Commission reported nearly 100,000 fraud cases in 2024 costing over $580 million. The press release detailed common scams including payday loan schemes, benefits fraud targeting senior veterans, OTP bot scams, loan and credit card fraud, car sales scams, fraudulent use of Military OneSource branding, fake military charities, and job scams. The Attorney General urged military community members to remain vigilant and report suspected fraud immediately, emphasizing that scammers often appear legitimate and exploit detailed knowledge of military incomes and benefits.
soycarmin.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies 11 common "silent scam" billing schemes targeting seniors, including deceptive free trials, fake magazine renewals, hidden medical alert fees, identity protection upsells, and difficult-to-cancel gym memberships. These subtle, recurring charges exploit seniors' trust and digital literacy gaps, accumulating significant financial losses over time despite individual charges being small. The article recommends protective measures such as carefully reading fine print, using virtual credit cards with spending limits, verifying billing sources directly, and scrutinizing contracts before purchase.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Tea is a women-only dating app with over 4 million users that became viral in July 2024 for allowing women to mark men as "red flags" to warn other users, but it experienced a significant data breach in late July that exposed approximately 72,000 images including 13,000 selfies and photo IDs, as well as direct messages. Despite the security incident and associated controversy, the app's Canadian launch was delayed to February 2026 while the company works to identify affected users and offer identity protection services. The app's continued popularity reflects widespread concerns about women's safety on mainstream dating platforms, with studies showing that one in five Canadian women experience online harassment and many feel unsafe using
cbs8.com
· 2025-12-08
**San Diego County elder fraud losses reached nearly $70 million in the first half of the year, with officials projecting the total will exceed last year's $98 million in losses.** The most prevalent scam type is "tech support fraud," where seniors receive fake pop-up messages instructing them to call a number for device repair. Local authorities have established the Elder Justice Task Force and encourage reporting suspected scams to the National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-372-8311), though recovery remains difficult especially for international operations.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-08
In May, a 67-year-old Ohio man was targeted by scammers who falsely claimed his Apple ID was compromised with $27,000 in fraudulent charges, then sent an accomplice to his home to collect cash in person; the victim handed over money before becoming suspicious, leading to the arrest of 42-year-old Liwei Zhang on charges of theft, identity fraud, and telecommunications fraud. Similar in-person collection scams have targeted multiple elderly victims across the country, with perpetrators like Canadian citizen Jia Hua Liu collecting over $300,000 from vulnerable seniors. The article advises victims to verify suspicious texts independently using official phone numbers, never send money
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated malvertising campaign on Facebook has been deceiving users with fake ads impersonating popular cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance and MetaMask, using celebrity faces such as Elon Musk to appear legitimate. When users click these ads, they are directed to counterfeit websites that trick them into downloading malware disguised as desktop applications, which then installs a silent server capable of receiving malicious instructions while evading detection. The campaign, which has been running for several months and involves hundreds of fake Facebook accounts posting thousands of ads daily, primarily targets men interested in technology and finance, particularly in Bulgaria and Slovakia.
legaltalknetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational podcast episode featuring cybersecurity expert Steve Weisman discussing scam prevention and identification strategies. The episode covers various scam types (including VA imposter and "free piano" scams), the role of AI in modern fraud schemes, and protective measures such as a "zero trust" verification approach where all transactions—particularly checks—must be independently confirmed before trusting them.
wxyz.com
· 2025-12-08
Beth Hyland of Michigan lost $26,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a construction project manager on Tinder, claiming he needed funds for legal fees related to a $10 million job payout in Qatar; when he requested an additional $50,000 a month later, her financial advisor identified the scheme. The scammer used stolen photos from a real man in Germany, and Hyland never met him in person despite their plans to marry and build a life together. She found healing through FightCybercrime.org's peer support group, which has served over 600 romance scam survivors in five years, and now emphasizes that victims experience not only financial loss but
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
**Military Consumer Fraud Alert** - California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer protection alert warning service members, veterans, and their families about targeted scams, noting that military consumers nationwide reported over 99,400 fraud complaints last year, including 44,587 imposter scams costing victims and families over $199 million. The alert identifies common threats including charity scams (fake veteran organizations), predatory schools using high-pressure tactics to exploit GI Bill benefits, and home loan scams impersonating government agencies, advising consumers to pause on seemingly too-good-to-be-true offers and verify legitimacy before engaging.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A 63-year-old Calgary woman lost approximately $380,000 of her life savings to a romance scam conducted over five years by a man who claimed to work for the U.S. government and promised to relocate to Canada to be with her. She discovered the fraud when she questioned repeated requests for money and became suspicious of a fake photo of a house they were supposedly going to share, ultimately seeking help from an elder support organization. Romance scams affected over 1,030 Canadians who lost $58 million collectively last year, making it an increasingly common form of fraud targeting seniors.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Calgary woman lost approximately $380,000 in a romance scam that spanned five years, after selling her deceased father's house and moving into a motel while waiting to relocate to the United States to be with a man named "Gilbert" who claimed to work for the U.S. government. Nelson eventually realized the scam when the man continuously requested money and sent her a photo of their supposed future home that appeared fake, leaving her homeless and dependent only on her pension while seeking affordable housing. Romance scams are an increasingly common form of fraud in Canada, with organizations like Unison at Kerby Centre regularly assisting seniors who have experienced similar financial abuse.
buzzfeed.com
· 2025-12-08
Millennials are vulnerable to a distinct set of scams despite believing themselves resistant to fraud, including crypto/bitcoin schemes promising quick wealth, multilevel marketing companies, romance scams, fake government websites, sham investment gurus, and algorithmic manipulation through rage bait and influencer culture. Other common vulnerabilities include online sports betting, QR code scams, fake job postings, buy-now-pay-later debt traps, and deceptive fast-fashion shopping platforms like Temu and Shein that misrepresent products or deliver hazardous items.