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dailyfly.com
· 2025-12-08
James Dougherty, 44, and his wife Jessica Dougherty, 43, of Boise, defrauded an elderly retired schoolteacher of her 46-acre ranch and over $250,000 through a scheme involving gaining financial power-of-attorney, executing a fraudulent trust naming themselves as beneficiaries, and selling the ranch to themselves at below-market value. James Dougherty was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for wire fraud, while Jessica received three years of probation for obstruction of justice after she destroyed evidence by requesting the deletion of files from a laptop while in custody.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Mavani Coleman, 44, of Brooklyn, was sentenced to three months in prison for his role in defrauding a retired New Haven woman of $479,569 through a scheme involving forged checks and unauthorized electronic funds transfers. Coleman and co-conspirators Gregory Ivy and Lamont Bethea stole checks from the victim's home, forged her signature, and used her banking information to transfer funds; Coleman personally stole $33,869 and was ordered to pay $248,423.09 in restitution. The group attempted to steal a total of $624,818.28 from the victim's account before the scheme was discovered.
aa.com.tr
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using AI-generated deepfake videos of celebrities like Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and Jeff Bezos to defraud people, particularly elderly individuals with limited cybersecurity knowledge, by luring them into fake investment schemes promising quick returns on non-existent companies. Victims have lost substantial sums, including an 82-year-old retiree who lost most of his investments in 2023, while the technology has also been misused to impersonate real professionals like doctors to steal account information. YouTube and Facebook have removed millions of fraudulent channels and videos, though experts warn that as deepfake technology improves and becomes more convincing, organized crime groups will
unisa.edu.au
· 2025-12-08
During Australia's Scams Awareness Week 2024, UniSA expert Dr. Braam Lowies highlighted that despite a 13% drop in scam losses, Australians lost $2.7 billion to scams in 2023, with older people over 65 suffering disproportionately—losing $120 million (a 13.3% increase). Investment scams, romance scams, and remote access scams remain prevalent, with investment scams causing the most harm, while scammers exploit psychological tactics and target older adults' retirement savings, often exacerbated by limited digital literacy and cyber security awareness. The campaign emphasized the importance of sharing scam
securitybrief.com.au
· 2025-12-08
During National Scam Awareness Week, cybersecurity executives from firms including Qualys, SailPoint, and CyberArk emphasized the growing sophistication of scams enabled by AI and deepfake technology, warning that consumers must adopt a "zero-trust" approach to personal information requests. Industry leaders stressed that organizations must implement robust security measures, strengthen digital identity protections beyond weak authentication methods like SMS passcodes, and provide ongoing education to both employees and customers, as even vigilant individuals can fall victim to evolving threats. The experts noted that businesses are prime targets for cybercriminals due to their collections of personal data, and that personal scams can directly compromise corporate cybersecurity posture through passwor
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old retired employee from Chinchwad, Pune lost Rs21.5 lakh to an online share trading scam between May and July 2024. After being contacted on social media and added to a messenger group, he was deceived by a woman claiming to be a company executive who provided trading tips and requested funds for shares and a personal loan, before removing him from the group in August. The victim filed a police complaint with Nigdi police after realizing the fraud.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Hannah, a woman in her 70s, lost $300,000 in a cryptocurrency scam and nearly lost another $25,000 to a recovery scam perpetrated by the same fraudster posing as an investigator named "David." She avoided disclosing the losses to her family out of fear of losing independence, becoming increasingly isolated until a bank teller identified the second scam attempt. The case illustrates how older adults are vulnerable to follow-on scams exploiting emotional isolation, with people aged 55+ accounting for 47.6% of reported scam losses in the first half of 2024.
mykxlg.com
· 2025-12-08
Dwayne Anderson, a 35-year-old Jamaican national, was extradited to South Dakota and appeared in court facing eight counts of wire fraud for operating a sweepstakes scam that defrauded a California woman over seven years (2010-2017). Using multiple aliases, Anderson convinced the victim she had won money and collected thousands in fraudulent fees and taxes, even persuading her to travel to Jamaica in 2017 where an additional $1,600 was collected, though she never received any winnings. Anderson faces up to 20 years per count, and the case highlights international law enforcement cooperation in prosecuting transnational elder fraud schemes.
djc.com
· 2025-12-08
A California financial advisor, Paul Horton Smith, was convicted in January of operating a Ponzi scheme called "Northstar" that defrauded more than $24 million from hundreds of clients over two decades (2000-2020), with the majority of victims being elderly. Smith was barred from working in the financial services industry following his guilty plea. The case demonstrates how long-running investment fraud schemes can operate while targeting vulnerable populations.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Dwayne Anderson, a 35-year-old Jamaican national, was extradited to the United States and charged with eight counts of wire fraud for operating a sweepstakes scam targeting a California woman from 2010 to September 2017. Using false identities, Anderson contacted the victim repeatedly via phone, text, and email claiming she had won millions, convincing her to send thousands in supposed fees and taxes, and ultimately luring her to Jamaica in 2017 with instructions to bring $1,600 in cash—money she never recovered. Anderson faces up to 20 years in prison per count if convicted.
seehafernews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Manitowoc County Public Safety Committee held its first educational presentation on common scams and frauds targeting seniors on August 22nd, with strong community attendance and positive feedback. The interactive sessions covered online and phone scams affecting seniors, with support from local police departments providing additional insights. Follow-up presentations are scheduled for September 25th at two locations: Lester Public Library in Two Rivers (11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.) and Whitelaw Fire Department (4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.).
abilene-rc.com
· 2025-12-08
Detective Kevin Landers of the Abilene Police Department outlines common scams targeting seniors, including romance, lottery, sweepstakes, and government impersonation schemes where callers demand payment via gift cards or bitcoin. Seniors are frequently targeted because they tend to be trusting, have savings, own homes, and maintain good credit, though scammers prey on people of all ages. Landers recommends protecting oneself by verifying unsolicited offers online, resisting pressure to act quickly, monitoring credit reports annually, and stopping communication with suspected scammers immediately.
fbcnews.com.fj
· 2025-12-08
During Fiji's National Scam Awareness Week, police revealed that retired women are being targeted in romance scams, with one victim losing approximately $500,000 after being manipulated through WhatsApp by a perpetrator posing as an overseas resident. Nine cases have been reported, with scammers employing tactics such as requesting nude photos and threatening to expose victims on social media unless they provide money. Retired women, particularly those aged 60-70, are identified as vulnerable targets for these fraudulent schemes.
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
Washoe County is hosting a free scam prevention presentation by the Better Business Bureau on August 28 at 2:00 p.m. at the Washoe County Senior Center. The event aims to educate local seniors about common scams and scammer tactics as a defense against fraud.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Computer Pals, a 25-year-old NSW-based organization, highlights the digital challenges faced by tech-inexperienced seniors, including vulnerability to AI-enabled scams and difficulty managing finances online. The group offers low-cost technology training to seniors and emphasizes the importance of digital literacy, particularly for those who have recently lost partners and lack basic computer skills; they encourage Generation X members to become instructors to help address the aging membership base.
wsaz.com
· 2025-12-08
This article does not contain information about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a compilation of local news updates covering library changes, restaurant features, a found urn, and general elder wellness check-in advice. As such, it is not suitable for summarization in the Elderus database.
actionnews5.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center's Elder Fraud Report, seniors lost over $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, with more than 100,000 complaints filed by people over 60—representing an 11% increase from the previous year. The article provides general awareness about common senior scams and includes expert commentary from Brookdale Senior Living's general counsel on how to identify and prevent fraud targeting older adults.
clickorlando.com
· 2025-12-08
IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel warned that scammers are impersonating IRS officials to target seniors, claiming outstanding tax debt through phone calls, texts, or emails with fake caller IDs and urgent deadlines. Seniors over 60 lost a combined $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, with IRS impersonation being the most common senior scam, though it occurs year-round. The IRS never initiates contact by phone, text, or email, never leaves urgent messages, and never demands immediate payment—legitimate tax notices arrive by mail only.
wsaz.com
· 2025-12-08
I appreciate you providing this article, but the text provided appears to be incomplete—it only contains the header, publication information, and a reference to Brookdale's website without any actual content about protecting seniors from scams.
To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the full article text. Could you please share the complete article content?
thirteen.org
· 2025-12-08
At an AARP fraud prevention summit in Edison, New Jersey, experts including AARP's Kathy Stokes challenged the misconception that older adults are the most vulnerable to phone, text, and social media fraud. The summit, attended by more than 250 people, highlighted various fraud prevention strategies and raised awareness about the actual risk factors for financial exploitation.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Seven Maryland residents lost a combined $6.3 million in a gold bar scam where fraudsters posed as federal agents and claimed to be safeguarding assets from identity theft or foreign threats, directing victims to convert cash into gold bars for courier pickup by fake "FBI agents." The Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office believes approximately 20 victims total were targeted in what officials describe as organized crime with international links to India and China, with scammers able to transport the untraceable gold across borders. Seniors are particularly vulnerable, with people over 60 reporting $3.4 billion in cyber fraud losses nationally in 2023.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Anthony Moulder and Abdou-Rahmane Diallo were sentenced to 10 and 7.5 years in prison, respectively, for operating fraudulent magazine subscription schemes that defrauded over 20,000 elderly and vulnerable victims of approximately $116.6 million between 2008 and 2020. Moulder's Florida-based companies used deceptive sales scripts and purchased consumer lists to solicit unwanted subscriptions, while Diallo's Canadian operation targeted previous fraud victims by impersonating a "magazine cancellation department" and falsely promising to eliminate their existing subscriptions in exchange for large payments. Both men pleaded guilty to fraud charges and were prosecute
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A GOBankingRates survey found that Gen Z and millennials fall victim to financial scams at higher rates than older generations, with 35% experiencing phone-related scams compared to 25% of Gen Xers, and 18% of Gen Zers victimized by Social Security scams versus less than 2% of seniors. Fraud prevention experts attribute this vulnerability to younger generations' greater trust in digital platforms, overconfidence in spotting scams, financial pressures, and exposure to recruitment into fraudulent activities on social media, despite 81% of Gen Z believing they can identify AI-generated fraud.
abcactionnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI and Sarasota County Sheriff's Office warned of an increase in sophisticated scams targeting senior citizens in which fraudsters impersonate tech support or government officials, convince victims to liquidate assets into cash or precious metals, and then dispatch couriers to collect the money before disappearing. Victims have reported losses exceeding $300,000, and authorities recommend hanging up on scammers, avoiding suspicious links, and reporting incidents to law enforcement immediately.
floridatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors are frequently targeted by scammers who exploit their trust and financial stability, with elder fraud causing over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 and an average victim loss of $33,915. Common scams include fraudulent phone calls impersonating banks or family members, phishing emails and texts, fake charities, Medicare/insurance schemes, tech support scams, and romance scams (which resulted in $1.3 billion in losses in 2022). The article advises seniors to be skeptical of unsolicited contact, verify organizations directly before donating or sharing information, and report suspected scams to the FTC, Department of Justice, or AARP.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Brookdale Senior Living released educational guidance on protecting seniors from fraud, noting that crimes against seniors totaled over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with more than 100,000 complaints filed by people over 60—an 11% increase from the previous year. The article identifies common scam types including tech support scams, romance scams, investment schemes, and non-payment fraud, advising seniors to recognize red flags such as urgent demands for payment, requests for wire transfers or cryptocurrency, and threats from authorities. Resources provided include awareness information at Brookdale.com and the National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-372-8311) for reporting suspecte
canada.ca
· 2025-12-08
Financial abuse is the most common form of elder abuse in Canada, involving the illegal or unauthorized use of someone's money or property, and can range from outright theft (such as cashing pension cheques without permission or misusing power of attorney) to coercive tactics like pressuring someone to give away assets or sign documents they don't understand. Vulnerable older adults—particularly those who are alone, lonely, isolated, or in poor health—are at higher risk, and abusers are typically trusted individuals such as family members, caregivers, or friends who exploit their close relationships. Protection strategies include securing financial information, establishing a trustworthy power of attorney, documenting gifts and loans, obtaining independent legal advice
multivu.com
· 2025-12-08
Crimes against seniors resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with more than 100,000 complaints filed by people over 60—an 11% increase from the previous year, according to FBI data. Common senior scams employ tactics such as demanding urgent payment, requesting non-conventional payment methods (wire transfers, cryptocurrency, gift cards), or threatening to contact authorities. Red flags include unsolicited emails, calls, or texts using pressure tactics, and victims or their families can report suspected fraud to the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311.
coindesk.com
· 2025-12-08
Australians lost AUD$180 million (USD$122 million) in cryptocurrency investment scams over 12 months, representing 47% of the AUD$382 million lost to investment scams in the 2023-24 financial year. Contrary to assumptions that only older people are targeted, 60% of scam reports came from people under 50 years old, with scammers using pressure tactics, pig butchering schemes, and deepfake technology to deceive victims into making poor investment decisions.
miragenews.com
· 2025-12-08
This awareness piece highlights sophisticated investment scams targeting Australians, particularly "pig butchering" schemes where scammers build trust over weeks or months before soliciting cryptocurrency investments. A Queensland victim lost approximately $244,000 AUD after being befriended on Facebook by a scammer who gradually encouraged increasingly larger investments in cryptocurrency, promising substantial returns; when the victim attempted to withdraw funds, the scammer blocked all contact. Recent data from the AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre shows Australians lost at least $180 million to cryptocurrency investment scams in 12 months, with nearly half of all investment scam losses involving cryptocurrency and victims now more likely
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
Investment and cryptocurrency scams pose the highest fraud risk for seniors aged 65 and older, with romance scams ranking as the second most prevalent threat. Senior citizens are increasingly falling victim to scams, according to Better Business Bureau experts who emphasize the need for targeted prevention awareness among this vulnerable population.
peabodykansas.com
· 2025-12-08
A free fraud-prevention seminar will be held on September 17 at Marion Senior Center, where Justin Rahe from Emporia State Federal Credit Union will educate seniors on protecting themselves from fraud, scams, and unsafe online browsing practices. The seminar aims to help older adults recognize and avoid financial exploitation through practical security guidance.
startribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men were sentenced to prison for operating a massive magazine subscription fraud scheme that defrauded victims across all 50 states of over $300 million—the largest elder fraud conspiracy prosecuted by Minnesota federal authorities. Anthony Eugene Moulder, 63, received 10 years for owning fraudulent magazine companies that used deceptive scripts to bilk thousands of vulnerable and elderly victims out of over $86 million between 2008 and 2020, while Abdou-Rahmane Diallo, 36, received 7.5 years for posing as a cancellation service representative and collecting large payments from victims seeking to cancel unwanted subscriptions.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A 20-year nationwide telemarketing scheme defrauded over 150,000 elderly and vulnerable Americans of approximately $300 million through bogus magazine subscriptions and fake cancellation services. Anthony Eugene Moulder and Abdou-Rahmane Diallo, among 64 defendants from 14 states and Canada, were sentenced to prison (10 and 7.5 years respectively) after pleading guilty; Moulder's operation alone scammed $86.6 million by using deceptive sales scripts, while Diallo's scheme collected $30 million by posing as a cancellation service. The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
Washoe County partnered with the Better Business Bureau to educate seniors about common scams, as fraud targeting this population is increasing. Imposter scams (posing as Social Security, revenue agencies, or retailers like Amazon) are most frequently reported, while investment, cryptocurrency, and romance scams pose the highest financial risk to those 65 and older; scammers often use phone calls rather than online methods, exploiting seniors' likelihood of answering calls. The BBB emphasizes that reporting scams—even those without financial loss—is critical since only about 5% of victims report fraud, and encouraging community reporting helps prevent others from becoming victims.
lawfaremedia.org
· 2025-12-08
National Public Data, a data broker, was hacked by a group calling itself "USDoD," resulting in the theft and public posting of 2.9 billion records containing names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, family member names, and phone numbers affecting hundreds of millions of people in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. The breach highlights four critical lessons: data brokers are incentivized to collect ever-expanding datasets for profit, large-scale data aggregation creates compounded privacy and national security risks, the data brokerage industry remains largely unregulated despite recent legislative discussions, and regulatory enforcement alone cannot adequately address the systemic problem of privacy-invasive
maryvilleforum.com
· 2025-12-08
Grandparent scams, which surge during the school year, involve scammers impersonating distressed family members to solicit emergency money from seniors, often using social media information and increasingly voice cloning technology. Law enforcement in Maryville, Missouri documented cases where seniors were deceived into sending bail money or visiting police stations, with the FBI reporting over 195 complaints and $1.9 million in losses from January to September of the previous year. Seniors are targeted because they are trusting, have financial resources, and are often reluctant to report fraud due to shame or fear of losing family confidence.
baynews9.com
· 2025-12-08
Florida ranked second in the nation for elder fraud complaints in 2023, with seniors reporting nearly $300 million in losses. A Central Florida woman lost $46,000 from her Chase Bank and nonprofit accounts after receiving a call from imposter scammers posing as bank customer service representatives who tricked her into providing verification codes. Imposter scams lead fraud cases nationwide with over $2.5 billion in reported losses, and the FBI reported an 11% increase in fraud cases involving people over 60 from 2022 to 2023.
fijivillage.com
· 2025-12-08
Police are investigating multiple romance scam cases, with one victim losing up to $500,000. The scams primarily target retired women who are manipulated into sharing intimate photos, then extorted through threats of social media exposure and blackmail. Several cases involve a single perpetrator posing as an overseas contact via WhatsApp, with at least eight to nine cases currently before the courts.
fijitimes.com.fj
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting elderly and retired women (ages 60-70) through romance fraud schemes, with perpetrators posing as overseas suitors via WhatsApp, sweet-talking victims into sharing nude photos, and then extorting money by threatening to expose the images on social media. One victim lost approximately $500,000 to a local perpetrator who targeted multiple women this way, with close to 10 cases currently pending in court. Authorities advise women to avoid sharing personal information and photos with strangers on social media to prevent falling victim to these extortion schemes.
ferntreegully.mailcommunity.com.au
· 2025-12-08
During Australia's Scam Awareness Week (August 26-30), authorities highlighted the escalating threat of online scams affecting communities nationwide, including fake missing child posts circulating in social media groups. In 2023, Australians reported over 601,000 scams with losses for people over 65 reaching $120 million (a 13.3% increase), with investment scams, remote access scams, and romance scams causing the most harm; scam calls resulted in the highest reported losses at $116 million. Experts emphasize that victims often experience shame and isolation, and recommend community awareness-sharing, trusted support networks, and mental health services to help
akron.com
· 2025-12-08
Summit County, Ohio held an update on its "Outsmart the Scam" community education events, with the next event scheduled for October 19 at Tallmadge High School featuring workshops on device safety and recognizing phishing emails. The department plans to expand its scam awareness outreach beyond seniors to include high school students and other age groups, recognizing that younger people are increasingly targeted through social media platforms like TikTok, and will hold events quarterly while developing one-minute educational videos about circulating scams.
times-herald.com
· 2025-12-08
Southern States Bank held a community workshop led by consumer banker Tara Davis to educate seniors on identifying and avoiding financial scams, citing statistics showing 1 in 10 Americans aged 60+ experience elder abuse, with financial exploitation affecting 5.2% of older adults. The workshop covered common schemes including phishing emails, social media fraud, and impersonation scams, and highlighted a recent case where a client nearly lost $5,000 to a scammer posing as a neighbor before bank staff intervened. Davis recommended freezing credit, building relationships with bankers, and staying vigilant about reporting suspicious activities, while noting that 60% of elder abuse cases involve family members.
sinardaily.my
· 2025-12-08
In the first seven months of 2024, Pahang police recorded 45 fraud cases involving teachers with total losses of RM1.2 million, showing a decrease in case numbers but an increase in average loss amounts compared to the same period in 2023. Investment scams, fraudulent purchases, and Macau-style scams were the most common types, with syndicates particularly targeting retired educators. Authorities conducted an anti-scam awareness seminar for teachers and plan to continue these prevention programs while extending fraud awareness education to students.
vintontoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is hosting an educational workshop titled "Stay Independent: Spot, Stop and Avoid Fraud" on September 24 to help older adults and caregivers recognize and prevent financial exploitation. The program covers common fraud types, warning signs, and protective strategies, noting that elder financial fraud is the most common form of elder abuse affecting over 50 million Americans aged 62 and older.
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
An 84-year-old woman fell victim to a sophisticated Publishers Clearing House scam where fraudsters impersonated company representatives and used forged logos from the FDIC, IRS, and Federal Reserve Bank to build credibility and gain access to her investment accounts. Financial experts recommend that advisors protect elderly clients through verification tactics such as calling banks back at official numbers, scrutinizing email sender addresses rather than clicking links, and using account controls like payment holds to prevent urgent transfer requests from succeeding.
ksro.com
· 2025-12-08
California's legislature approved SB 278, legislation strengthening protections against elder and dependent adult financial abuse by clarifying banks' and financial institutions' duties to prevent fraud. The bill allows victims to hold financial institutions accountable for negligently assisting fraudulent transfers when they should have detected the abuse. The measure now awaits Governor Gavin Newsom's signature.
local3news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau reports an increase in Medicare fraud calls targeting senior citizens, where scammers claim to provide free products that will be billed to Medicare through a third-party arrangement. These calls initiate the Medicare fraud process by falsely claiming they will coordinate with the victim's physician and Medicare to deliver the product. Seniors who suspect they have received such calls are advised to contact their physician immediately.
komando.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans over age 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud schemes in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year, with tech support scams being the most commonly reported type and investment scams causing the highest losses at $1.2 billion. Seniors are targeted because they typically have larger nest eggs and assets, and roughly 68% of elder fraud cases begin with personal information leaked online, with underreporting being a significant issue as many victims do not report incidents due to shame or uncertainty about how to report. Common scam types affecting seniors include tech support fraud, romance scams, government impersonation schemes, and data breaches, with warning signs including unsolicited contact
bradleyscout.com
· 2025-12-08