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army.mil
Military service members and their families face elevated fraud risks during high-stress periods like deployment transitions, with the Better Business Bureau reporting 273,937 complaints from military consumers between 2019-2024 and higher median losses compared to nonmilitary consumers. Common scams targeting this population include fake rental listings requiring advance payments, phishing emails impersonating military financial officials, and investment fraud promising unrealistic returns. To protect themselves, service members should use credit cards over cryptocurrency or wire transfers, verify requests by contacting organizations directly, and communicate openly with family members about finances.
techradar.com
Romance scams cost victims over £106 million in 2024 in the UK alone, with fraudsters increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic identities to impersonate celebrities and trusted individuals, as demonstrated by a case where a French woman lost €830,000 to fake Brad Pitt impersonators. Beyond romance fraud, these same tactics are being deployed in investment scams, phishing attacks, and social engineering schemes, with investment scam losses reaching £144.4 million in 2024 and one Georgian network defrauding victims across multiple countries of $35 million using deepfake videos of money expert Martin Lewis.
moodys.com
Fraud schemes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with global losses exceeding $1 trillion annually and affecting individuals, businesses, and government bodies across the UK and worldwide. Emerging fraud types include sextortion scams (which more than doubled globally in 2023 to 26,718 cases) and romance scams (up 14% in 2024), often enabled by AI and deepfakes for identity theft and deception. Public-Private Partnerships, advanced technology tools, and regulatory reforms are being deployed to combat fraud, with the UK's National Fraud Initiative demonstrating success by preventing £510 million in fraud between 2022-2024.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Three separate fraud cases were reported in the Udupi and Mangaluru regions: a 33-year-old woman lost Rs 11.5 lakh to a forex trading scam after being deceived by someone posing as a CEO of Abhiram Exports; a 27-year-old woman lost Rs 1.7 lakh through a fake work-from-home scheme promoted via Telegram; and a man from Bantwal lost Rs 3.8 lakh in a gift/customs clearance scam after receiving a fraudulent call. All three cases were registered with local police under various sections of the IT Act and BNS.
countytimes.co.uk
Paul Butterworth, a 72-year-old grandfather from Powys, lost £17,106 to a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam operated by Diamond Ridge Financial Academy, which used a fake investment platform called "Winning" promoted through Facebook and WhatsApp. The scammers made his account appear to grow to $753,855, but when he attempted withdrawal, froze his account and demanded a $25,000 "loan repayment," ultimately leaving him with only £5,500 recovered so far through the National Fraud Helpline and his bank Nationwide.
myfoxzone.com
Texas seniors lost over $480 million to scams in 2024, ranking second nationally according to FBI data, with common schemes including charity fraud, romance scams, and jury duty threats targeting vulnerable older adults. Local organizations like San Angelo's Better Business Bureau and retirement communities are addressing the surge through education programs that teach seniors to recognize red flags, avoid panic-driven decisions, and report crimes without shame. Experts note that official complaint numbers likely underrepresent the true scope, as many victims fail to report due to embarrassment.
kshb.com
The Palmer Center in Independence, Missouri hosted its annual "Scamboree" event to educate approximately 175 senior attendees about fraud prevention, featuring resources on common scams including investment fraud and utility company impersonation schemes. According to the Senior Medicare Patrol program, Medicare loses an estimated $60 billion annually to fraud, errors, and abuse, with participants advised to avoid sharing personal information with unknown callers and to hang up immediately on suspicious calls.
cnn.com
Financial scams have become increasingly prevalent and sophisticated, with the FBI reporting $16.6 billion in cybercrime losses in the past year—a 33% increase over the prior year with an average loss of $19,372 per victim. The FTC documented a more-than-four-fold increase between 2020 and 2024 in reports of older Americans (age 60+) losing $10,000 or more to scams, with some victims emptying entire bank accounts and retirement funds. Common schemes include imposter scams masquerading as government agencies or businesses, tech support scams, and prize/sweepstakes frauds, with red flags
investopedia.com
AI-powered bank impersonation scams are surging, with cyber fraud losses reaching a record $16.6 billion in 2024 (up 33% from 2023). Scammers now use artificial intelligence to create legitimate-looking emails, texts, and calls with perfect grammar and spoofed phone numbers, exploiting consumers' trained panic responses to fraud alerts. Key red flags include urgent requests for immediate action, unusual payment methods (cash withdrawals, bitcoin transfers, new accounts), and the article advises consumers to hang up and call the number on their debit card to verify any bank communication.
makeuseof.com
In 2024, scammers stole $16.6 billion using increasingly sophisticated tactics including AI-generated deepfakes, romance schemes, and cryptocurrency fraud. AI-powered voice clones enable criminals to impersonate trusted individuals and request urgent wire transfers, while romance scammers target vulnerable people on dating platforms, building emotional connections before requesting money for fabricated emergencies or investments. Cryptocurrency and investment scams remain particularly damaging, using social media ads and fake investment advisors to promise unrealistic returns and create urgency around missing opportunities.
thestar.com.my
A 55-year-old Malaysian man was victimized by two consecutive scams totaling approximately RM451,500 (RM390,000 in an initial IPO investment scheme, then RM61,500 in a recovery scam). After losing his savings to fraudsters posing as Hong Kong IPO investment advisors found on social media, the victim sought help from a fake lawyer who claimed to work with authorities and directed him to an online gambling site, where a second scammer impersonating the Hong Kong Anti Deception Coordination Centre convinced him to send additional money under false promises of recovery. This case illustrates the vulnerability of fraud victims to follow-up "
ainvest.com
A senior UK bank professional lost £13,000 in a pump-and-dump scam involving Pheton Holdings, a Chinese Nasdaq-listed company, after investing over six weeks based on convincing deepfake social media advertisements featuring financial sector figures and professional-looking market updates. The trader's investment initially doubled before the share price crashed, wiping out his gains entirely. This case reflects a broader trend of coordinated pump-and-dump schemes targeting micro-cap stocks, with the FBI reporting a 300% increase in related complaints year-over-year.
it-online.co.za
Luno's data shows that while crypto scams affect less than 1% of its 14 million customers, scams and fraudulent misrepresentation remain prevalent in digital currency, with the platform handling 516 scam-related queries over three months. Common fraud schemes include romance scams (one South African man lost R4 million over 4.5 years), phishing, impersonation of staff, money laundering schemes, and password compromises, with males aged 20-40 and females aged 20-30 most susceptible. Luno recommends security measures such as unique passwords, two-factor authentication, and passkeys, while noting that cryptocurrency's dec
trendmicro.com
Task scams are fraudulent employment schemes advertised through social media and text messages that promise easy remote work (like liking videos or writing reviews) with attractive compensation and benefits. Scammers use social engineering and psychological manipulation—including fake professional websites and initial small payouts—to build trust before escalating financial demands, ultimately trapping victims in a cycle of deposits to access their claimed earnings. The Federal Trade Commission reported increased task and employment scam complaints in 2024, with victims targeting a range of demographics but most commonly those seeking easy online income from home.
newamerica.org
Chicago residents identified online fraud as a major concern, with 90 percent of survey respondents rating protection from it as "important" or "very important." The Federal Trade Commission received 2.6 million fraud reports in 2024 resulting in $12.5 billion in losses, with Illinois accounting for over 186,000 fraud reports, and the article provides expert guidance on identifying, avoiding, and responding to various types of fraud including account fraud, non-delivery scams, and impersonation schemes.
azag.gov
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and the Better Business Bureau issued a public awareness campaign alerting residents to cryptocurrency scams, where criminals use Bitcoin and other digital currencies to defraud victims through investment schemes, romance scams, impersonation fraud, and ransomware demands because crypto lacks protections and is difficult to trace. The campaign recommends verifying caller information independently, being skeptical of unsolicited financial requests, recognizing that legitimate businesses never demand cryptocurrency payment upfront, and consulting trusted individuals before making digital currency transactions.
roughdraftatlanta.com
Fulton County Department of Senior Services launched Avoid Cyber Threats (A.C.T.), a free online training program in August targeting residents aged 55 and older to help them recognize and avoid cyber scams including phishing, voice cloning, and impersonation schemes. The initiative responds to a 60 percent rise in scams targeting seniors over five years, with Americans aged 60+ losing nearly $4.9 billion to fraud in 2024 and Georgia ranking seventh nationally for senior fraud losses; the program aims to train 2,000 seniors by December, with research showing trained seniors are 80 percent more likely to recognize and avoid scams.
financial-planning.com
Stanley and Riki Tulin, an elderly couple, filed a federal lawsuit against JPMorgan alleging the bank failed to prevent investment advisor Scott J. Mason from defrauding them of over $19 million through forged signatures and fraudulent transfers. Mason pleaded guilty in January to schemes defrauding clients of more than $23 million and was sentenced to over eight years in prison, while the Tulins accuse JPMorgan of negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and failing to properly oversee their accounts despite years of fraudulent activity.
coconutcreektalk.com
An 80-year-old Coconut Creek resident was defrauded through a fake loan scheme in which scammers texted him about a $10,000 loan eligibility, obtained his personal information, deposited fraudulent funds into his account, then instructed him to buy gift cards and provide the card numbers before the false deposits cleared, leaving his account overdrawn. Coconut Creek Police are warning residents to delete similar text messages and avoid sharing personal or financial information with unsolicited callers, as this scam falls into the "too good to be true" category.
ainvest.com
In 2024, seniors aged 60 and older lost $4.885 billion to scams—a 43% increase from 2023—with investment fraud, imposter scams, and tech support fraud causing the most damage, including median losses of $20,000 per victim in investment schemes. The FBI and FTC attribute this surge to older adults' significant assets, limited digital literacy, and AI-enabled fraud tactics like deepfakes, compounded by low reporting rates (only 19% of victims report incidents). While regulatory tools like FINRA's trusted contact rules and AI-driven transaction monitoring have improved, gaps remain due to widespread financial illiteracy among seniors and scammers
plumassun.org
The FBI warns of a QR code scam variation in which criminals send unsolicited packages designed to trick recipients into scanning codes that steal personal information or install malicious software on their phones. This evolves from traditional "brushing scams" where vendors ship unrequested items to boost product ratings. The FBI recommends avoiding unsolicited packages without sender information, not scanning unknown QR codes, and reporting suspected fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
sierradailynews.com
The FBI warns the public about an evolving "brushing scam" variation where criminals send unsolicited packages with QR codes designed to steal personal and financial information or install malicious software on victims' phones. The packages often lack sender information to encourage scanning, and while not yet widespread, the agency advises consumers to avoid scanning unknown QR codes, reject unsolicited packages, and report suspicious activity to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
pandasecurity.com
Wrong number phone scams are increasingly common frauds where scammers send seemingly accidental texts to build trust and eventually manipulate victims into sending money or sharing personal information. Scammers use social engineering tactics—starting with innocent messages, building rapport over weeks, and escalating to requests for funds or cryptocurrency investments, with some victims losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. The best defense is to not respond to unknown numbers, block them immediately, and report suspicious messages to authorities, as even replying "wrong number" confirms your phone is active and marks you for future scam attempts.
mangaloretoday.com
Mohammed Sabir, a resident of Bantwal taluk, lost Rs 7,09,873 in an investment scam after clicking a malicious link shared via Telegram on July 31, 2025. The scammers promised investment returns but blocked his withdrawal attempts once he transferred multiple installments to their specified accounts. A case was registered at Dakshina Kannada CEN Police Station under IT Act and BNS Act provisions.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Mohammed Sabir from Bantwal taluk lost approximately Rs 7.09 lakh in an investment scam after clicking a malicious link from an unknown Telegram account in July. The fraudsters promised investment returns but prevented him from withdrawing his funds, leading authorities to register a case under IT Act and BNS Act provisions at Dakshina Kannada CEN police station.
people.com
Journalist Alex Sammon investigated a job offer scam by deliberately responding to a text message recruiting for fake remote work, which led him to uncover a Philippines-based "click farm" operation that required users to perform repetitive clicks on music streaming platforms while pressuring victims to make Bitcoin purchases to access earnings they could never withdraw. According to the FTC, Americans reported $470 million in losses to text scams in 2024, more than five times the amount reported in 2020, with tens of thousands of people reporting similar fraudulent job offer texts. Sammon lost less than $100 during his investigation but documented how scammers use fake recruiters and fake earnings to manipulate victims into
cantonrep.com
Sheriff Eric Weisburn outlines four key warning signs of scams—impersonation of trusted organizations, creation of false problems or prizes, pressure to act immediately, and demands for untraceable payment methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency—to help Stark County residents protect themselves. The article emphasizes that legitimate organizations never demand money or personal information unsolicited via phone, text, or email, and advises people to pause, verify through trusted contacts, and report suspected scams to local authorities or the FTC. Residents are encouraged to share their experiences to help prevent others from becoming victims.
thecable.ng
The Nigeria Immigration Service has begun deporting 192 foreign nationals convicted of internet fraud, with the first batch of 42 deported in early 2025. The deportations follow a major December 2024 EFCC operation that arrested 792 members of an international fraud syndicate (primarily Chinese, Filipino, and other nationals) operating from Lagos, where they trained others in romance and cryptocurrency scams. The court-ordered repatriations come after convictions were secured in June, and the EFCC had previously seized digital assets worth $222,729 from the convicted fraudsters.
the-sun.com
Cyber criminals are increasingly using malicious links hidden in emails, PDFs, and other documents rather than attachments to steal passwords and install malware, with over 3 billion such attacks reported. Emerging threats include "ClickFix" scams (fake error messages), QR code phishing (4.2 million attempts in early 2025), and "pig butchering" romance scams where criminals build trust with victims before pressuring them into fraudulent investments—including a 2023 case where a Kansas banker lost £34.6 million and received a 24-year sentence. Security experts warn these attacks exploit human psychology by using trusted brands and familiar technology rather
premiumtimesng.com
The Nigerian Immigration Service deported 42 Chinese and Philippine nationals convicted of cyber fraud and Ponzi scheme offenses after the Federal High Court sentenced each to one year imprisonment and fined them N1 million. The syndicate operated from a Lagos building where foreign nationals trained Nigerian recruits to conduct romance and investment scams targeting victims in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe, generating over N2.26 billion through cryptocurrency and bank transfers between April and December 2024, with $222,729.86 in digital assets ordered forfeited.
ainvest.com
This article examines the financial vulnerability of aging populations globally, noting that only 49.2% of adults aged 55+ demonstrate basic financial literacy, making them susceptible to fraud and inadequate retirement planning. It highlights how countries with robust financial education programs (like Sweden and Norway) have reduced senior fraud exposure by 30%, and discusses emerging solutions including government policy changes, annuity products, and AI-driven fintech tools that simplify retirement planning for low-literacy populations. The piece positions the aging demographic as a $10 trillion investment opportunity while emphasizing the need for scalable education, transparent financial products, and technology-driven safeguards to protect seniors from financial mismanagement and predatory schemes.
m.scoop.co.nz
The U.S. sanctioned leaders of Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) for operating timeshare fraud schemes that victimized Americans and generated revenue for the terrorist organization. Operating from call centers in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, English-speaking telemarketers impersonated brokers, attorneys, and government officials to defraud victims into paying advance fees and taxes, with U.S. victims losing nearly $300 million to these schemes between 2019 and 2023. The Department of Justice encourages fraud victims to report complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center or contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-
news.vocofm.com
Two Romanian nationals were arrested in Vacaville, California on August 8 for operating a "cash drop scam" targeting elderly victims, with investigations linking them to over 40 fraudulent cases across six states. The scam involved criminals observing victims withdraw cash at ATMs, obtaining their PIN and card information through distraction techniques (such as dropping bills on the ground), then stealing or switching their cards. The suspects faced multiple felony charges including fraud, identity theft, conspiracy, and elder abuse, and are being held in Solano County Jail pending further investigation with FBI assistance.
canyon-news.com
Jonathan Tudor, a West Hollywood resident, was arrested on July 29 for running a luxury vehicle discount scam in which he posed as a BMW executive and defrauded victims of approximately $16,000 by convincing them to wire money for discounts he never delivered. Detectives recovered over $250,000 in luxury goods (Fendi, Gucci, Hermès, Louis Vuitton) believed stolen from victims at his residence. Tudor was charged with 44 counts including fraud, money laundering, theft from an elder, and grand theft, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for August 26.
aol.com
Kenneth G. Akpieyi, a Georgia man, was convicted on federal charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded eight victims of over $3 million. Operating across social media platforms, Akpieyi and his co-conspirators posed as military officers and entrepreneurs to build emotional relationships with victims—predominantly women—before fabricating financial emergencies to extract money, which was then routed through his business accounts to avoid detection. The case underscores the serious threat romance scams pose to older adults and highlights key warning signs including rapid declarations of love, requests for money via untraceable methods, and pressure to move conversations to
investmentexecutive.com
The SEC charged Ryan Wear and his companies with operating two Ponzi schemes that raised over $275 million from retail and institutional investors between 2016 and 2023 by falsely claiming funds would be invested in water vending machines that either did not exist or were sold to other investors. Fund manager Jordan Chirico was separately charged for violating his fiduciary duty by investing his fund's assets in the scheme while concealing his personal $7 million stake and knowledge that the venture was fraudulent, ultimately increasing the fund's investment to over $90 million by early 2024. Both men face criminal charges including securities fraud and wire fraud, and the operator filed for bankruptcy in August 2024.
governor.ny.gov
Scammers are using fake text messages and spoofed websites impersonating the New York DMV and toll collection agencies to pressure victims into providing personal information by claiming traffic fines or E-ZPass fees are due with urgent deadlines. These phishing schemes particularly target older adults and vulnerable New Yorkers, with the stolen data used for identity theft and fraud. Governor Hochul advised residents to verify suspicious communications directly with official agencies, monitor credit reports, and avoid clicking links or sharing personal information via unsolicited messages.
nbcsandiego.com
The "Sandwich Generation" refers to middle-aged adults caring for both young adult children and aging parents, each with distinct online safety vulnerabilities. A Cox Mobile survey found that 86% of people in this group experience stress managing cybersecurity for both generations, with younger adults targeted by fake job offers, investment scams, and rental fraud, while seniors face grandparent schemes, impostor scams, and romance fraud. Experts recommend open, non-judgmental conversations about scams with both groups, setting boundaries, and prioritizing self-care to manage the stress of this dual responsibility.
justice.gov
Two Missouri men, James Johnson (77) and Darrell Niswonger (68), pleaded guilty to operating a nearly 20-year Ponzi scheme that defrauded over 90 victims of at least $3 million starting in 2006. Operating as Johnson & Niswonger Financial Resources LLC in Perryville, they falsely claimed to invest clients' money in municipal bonds while actually using the funds for personal expenses including country club memberships, home improvements, and biweekly salaries of $7,500, making selective payments to victims to maintain the illusion of legitimate returns. When the business closed in April 2025, the
jdsupra.com
This article examines how white-collar crime has evolved in the digital age, with global losses from business email compromise exceeding $2.9 billion annually and cryptocurrency money laundering surpassing $3 billion. The piece discusses emerging investigation techniques including digital forensics, blockchain analysis, and machine learning, while highlighting the human impact—including a tragic case where an elderly fraud victim shot a ride-share driver under scammer threat, and noting that elderly victims lose an average of $35,000 per incident with over 88,000 reported cases in 2022.
abc7.com
A West Hollywood man, Jonathan Tudor, allegedly defrauded more than 40 victims by posing as a BMW executive and selling them luxury cars at steep discounts that were never delivered, collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars. Victims included Gloria Schlesinger, who lost nearly $14,000, and his neighbor Scott S.; the stolen funds were spent on luxury goods from brands like Hermès and Gucci. Tudor was arrested in July and faces 44 criminal charges including theft from an elder, securities fraud, grand theft, money laundering, and forgery, and is being held without bail.
beverlyhillscourier.com
On July 1, an elderly Beverly Hills resident lost $59,000 to an organized crime group impersonating financial institution employees and federal agents who convinced him his bank accounts had been compromised and needed to collect his funds for "safekeeping." The suspects used caller ID spoofing and made two separate visits to collect the cash, but were identified through security cameras and license plate readers; one suspect was arrested and charged with grand theft, theft by false pretense, and financial elder abuse. Investigators believe there are additional victims and continue searching for a second suspect, while urging the public to verify suspicious calls directly with their financial institutions.
communitynewspapers.com
Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz testified before a U.S. Senate committee that scammers are using increasingly sophisticated schemes—including AI-generated scams, cryptocurrency theft, and robocalls—to target seniors, with those over 60 losing $4.8 billion in 2023 alone and individuals aged 50-59 losing an additional $2.5 billion. The sheriff noted that most victims do not report crimes due to shame and fear, and highlighted emerging threats including condo and homeowner association fraud that particularly affects elderly homeowners in South Florida. Sen. Rick Scott introduced legislation to provide law enforcement with advanced tools to combat financial exploitation
malwarebytes.com
The DOJ extradited and indicted four Ghanaian nationals for allegedly leading a criminal organization that stole over $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise schemes targeting Americans, primarily older men and women. In 2024 alone, nearly 59,000 Americans lost an estimated $697.3 million to romance scams, with the actual losses believed to be significantly higher due to underreporting. The article outlines how these scams operate—building trust through fake relationships before requesting money for fabricated emergencies or investment opportunities—and provides protective measures including verifying profiles, avoiding money transfers to strangers, and reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A man in Mangaluru lost approximately Rs 4.8 lakh in an online investment scam after being lured through a WhatsApp group called "A24 Premium VIP Stock Sharing Club" that promised returns on gold trading and stock investments. The scammer, posing as a woman named Ella, used fake testimonials from group members showing profits to build credibility, then demanded increasingly larger transfers, ultimately directing the victim to send Rs 3.4 lakh to an account belonging to Prizm Infratel Pvt Ltd. When the victim attempted to withdraw his funds in July, he was asked for additional payments, revealing the fraudulent scheme, and a case was registered with
khou.com
Thirteen people were charged in a sophisticated "grandparent scam" operation based in the Dominican Republic that targeted over 400 seniors across the United States, resulting in losses exceeding $5 million. The scheme, led by Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia, involved English-speaking call center workers posing as distressed grandchildren or their attorneys to pressure elderly victims (average age 84) into sending cash via runners and mail, with the funds then laundered back to the Dominican Republic. Victims should report suspected fraud to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center, and experts advise verifying urgent requests directly with family members before sending
witn.com
Five people in Craven County, North Carolina were formally charged with a total of 139 felonies in connection with a financial exploitation scheme targeting an elderly couple that began in November 2023, with two of the suspects serving as in-home caregivers to the victims. The charges include identity theft, forgery, larceny, fraud, and elder exploitation, with lead suspect Ashley Berry facing 90 felony counts. Police urge family members and caregivers to monitor for financial exploitation involving in-home caregivers and contact Adult Protective Services with any suspicious activity.
pulse.com.gh
Over 20 Ghanaians have been arrested and prosecuted by US authorities since 2021 for wire fraud, romance scams, and money laundering targeting American citizens, with several high-profile cases involving extradition. Notable cases include Hajia4Reall (Mona Faiz Montrage), who defrauded victims of over $2 million in romance scams and was sentenced to one year in prison with $1.4 million in restitution; Dada Joe Remix (Joseph Badu Boateng), extradited for orchestrating a $100 million romance and inheritance fraud scheme; and three other members of "The Enterprise
home.treasury.gov
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned four Mexican individuals and 13 companies linked to CJNG's timeshare fraud operation in Puerto Vallarta, which has been targeting elderly American timeshare owners since approximately 2012. CJNG, a designated terrorist organization, uses call centers staffed with English-speaking telemarketers to perpetrate complex scams that can last years and result in victims losing their life savings, while generating significant alternative revenue for the cartel's violent operations. Treasury officials warned current and prospective timeshare owners in Mexico to be cautious of unsolicited offers and conduct due diligence before engaging in purchases.
ca.news.yahoo.com
Thirteen individuals were charged with operating grandparent scam call centers based in the Dominican Republic that defrauded approximately 400 older adults (average age 84) of over $5 million across the United States by posing as family members in legal trouble needing bail money. Nine of the defendants are in custody, including ringleader Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia, while four remain at large; the perpetrators used dark web data to target victims, employed scripted calls, and laundered proceeds toward luxury purchases and home upgrades.