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justice.gov
Irene Fike, a 56-year-old Kentucky woman, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after defrauding a victim of over $363,000 between 2018 and 2022. While employed at an accounting firm and later hired as an independent contractor, Fike exploited her access to the victim's financial accounts to make unauthorized purchases and transfer funds to her personal credit card, falsifying financial records to conceal the scheme. She was ordered to pay $405,867.08 in restitution and will serve 85 percent of her sentence followed by three years of supervised release.
morningstar.com
This educational podcast features AARP's Kathy Stokes discussing how to protect oneself from investment fraud, with particular focus on growing threats from cryptocurrency-related scams and the use of artificial intelligence by fraudsters. The piece emphasizes identifying warning signs of investment fraud and provides resources including AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360) and guidance on recognizing common scam tactics targeting investors of all ages, though older adults face heightened risk.
morningstar.com
Investment fraud targeting older adults is growing significantly, driven by emerging technologies like cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence that make scams increasingly sophisticated and convincing. According to Kathy Stokes, AARP's director of fraud prevention, Americans lost a record $10 billion to scams and fraud in 2023, with crypto-related schemes and AI-enabled fraud posing particular threats to financial security. Stokes emphasizes the importance of education and awareness as key protective measures for older adults vulnerable to these evolving fraud schemes.
planadviser.com
This article provides guidance on cybersecurity best practices for retirement plan sponsors to defend against fraud, account takeovers, and emerging threats like AI-generated deepfakes. Key recommendations include implementing a comprehensive program covering people (employee training), processes (regular policy reviews and updates), and technology (data protection and incident response plans), along with adding IT representation to plan committees and conducting rigorous vendor due diligence. The article references the SPARK Institute's cybersecurity framework and Department of Labor guidelines as resources for establishing security controls and resilience measures.
foxbusiness.com
Scammers are impersonating recruiters via text messages and emails to target job seekers in a competitive labor market, using "smishing" and phishing attacks to steal personal information or money. Americans receive an average of nearly 12 scam messages daily, with criminals using data breaches, AI personalization, and phone spoofing to make fraudulent job offers appear legitimate, often resulting in victims paying money to fake recruiters. Similar text-based scams also impersonate the U.S. Postal Service, highway toll authorities, and real companies like Idea Grove.
foxnews.com
A woman in New Jersey received a phishing email impersonating the Social Security Administration claiming her Social Security number was compromised and requesting she open an attached document. The article explains that phishing scams use fake official emails with urgent language to trick victims into opening malware-laden attachments or divulging personal information, and provides guidance on recognizing these scams, steps to take if you receive one (flag as spam, don't open attachments, don't respond), and prevention measures such as verifying your Social Security account and using two-factor authentication.
wbbjtv.com
The Better Business Bureau warns that scams involving phishing for personal information—including account numbers and Social Security numbers—have become increasingly common through phone calls, texts, and emails, contributing to the $10 billion in fraud losses reported by Americans in 2023. To protect themselves, consumers should avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from unknown sources, verify company legitimacy by Googling phone numbers, be cautious about accepting cookies online, and never respond to unsolicited delivery service texts, as legitimate companies do not contact customers this way. Reporting suspicious communications and blocking spam are key steps to reduce exposure to these scams.
abc11.com
Scammers are targeting voters with unsolicited political texts and calls impersonating campaigns, requesting donations or asking people to confirm voting registration through malicious links designed to steal personal information for identity theft. The scams include fake donation requests, voice-cloning technology, and copycat websites with slightly altered URLs, with election fraud identified as one of the top scams of 2024. Consumers are advised to avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, donate directly through official candidate websites using credit cards, and verify voting information through official state election board websites.
aol.com
Georgia drivers have been targeted by a scam involving fraudulent text messages claiming unpaid Express Lane fees, with links designed to steal personal and financial information. The messages create urgency to pressure recipients into immediate payments, potentially leading to identity theft and financial loss. Victims should contact their banks, reset passwords, report to the FTC, and remember that the State Road and Tollway Authority never requests personal information via text or email.
brainerddispatch.com
Online financial scams resulted in losses exceeding $10 billion in 2024, a $1 billion increase from 2022, with artificial intelligence enabling scammers to exploit personal data and impersonate voices and images more effectively. The article identifies four common scam tactics—pretending to be trusted entities, creating artificial problems or prizes, applying pressure to act quickly, and demanding irreversible payments—and highlights frequent scam types including fake charities, phishing, romance scams, and business email compromise. Protection strategies include enabling multifactor authentication, maintaining updated software and operating systems, and recognizing warning signs across all types of online transactions.
indeonline.com
Disaster victims face document replacement scams where fraudsters impersonate government agencies or create lookalike websites to charge upfront fees for replacing vital documents like Social Security cards, driver's licenses, and birth certificates—services often available free through official channels. Scammers collect personal and financial information through fake websites and unsolicited calls/texts claiming victims need to replace Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security cards. The Better Business Bureau advises victims to verify website URLs (looking for "HTTPS://" and lock icons), avoid third-party services without BBB verification, use credit cards for disputes, and report scams to BBB.org or the Federal Trade Commission.
odt.co.nz
Scammers in New Zealand are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to defraud residents, with a BNZ survey finding that 9 out of 10 New Zealanders were targeted by scams in 2023 (a 13% increase year-over-year), and research showing 62% encountered scams monthly. While scams affect people of all ages, older adults are particularly vulnerable to certain types like romance scams due to larger financial assets, with identity theft, shopping, and investment scams being the most common and emotionally damaging. Banks, police, and Netsafe recommend avoiding urgency-driven requests, verifying communications directly with companies, using
nypost.com
Bitcoin ATM scammers defrauded seniors of $110 million in the past year, a nearly tenfold increase from 2020, with Americans over 60 being more than three times as likely to fall victim than younger adults. The typical scheme involves fraudsters posing as customer service representatives or officials contacting victims about identity theft or account breaches, then directing them to scan QR codes and deposit money into bitcoin ATMs that flows directly to the perpetrators. One victim, a 76-year-old Indiana resident, lost $31,500 after being targeted by scammers impersonating Apple support, bank representatives, and government officials.
dailyhodl.com
An Ohio woman lost $6,000 after a scammer impersonating a Huntington Bank employee convinced her to withdraw cash and deposit it into a scammer's Chase bank account via an ATM using Apple Wallet. Despite reporting the fraud, JPMorgan Chase denied responsibility, claiming the victim was liable for the loss. The incident is part of a broader Consumer Financial Protection Bureau investigation into whether major banks adequately vet customers and terminate fraudulent accounts.
securityboulevard.com
Back-to-school season creates prime conditions for scammers targeting busy parents and students through phishing emails promoting fake school supply deals, fake giveaways collecting personal data for identity theft, and fraudulent scholarship offers. Consumers can protect themselves by verifying sources directly through official websites, checking email sender domains, researching giveaway legitimacy, and confirming clear terms and conditions before sharing personal information or making purchases.
irs.gov
Pamela Moore, a Cincinnati woman, was sentenced to 24 months in prison in August 2024 for laundering over $8 million in proceeds from online romance scams between 2020 and 2023. Moore used personal and business bank accounts, including a fake jewelry business account, to receive and convert the stolen funds to Bitcoin at the scammers' direction, personally retaining approximately $1.7 million. As restitution, Moore was ordered to pay back the $1.7 million she directly received from the laundered funds.
golaurens.com
**QR Code Fraud Schemes**
Scammers are increasingly exploiting QR codes through multiple fraud methods including fake parking meter payments (where victims pay via QR code but still receive tickets or towing), romance scams involving cryptocurrency wallet transfers (victims lose thousands after months of relationship-building), phishing schemes that direct users to malicious websites or malware, and impersonation scams mimicking utilities or government agencies to demand immediate payment. Most QR code fraud victims encounter the codes through unsolicited communications or in public locations, and the difficulty in verifying a code's destination before scanning makes it an effective tool for fraudsters.
newsandsentinel.com
Three men—two from Cleveland and one from Michigan—were indicted for stealing $30,000 from a Washington County senior citizen through an overpayment scam in July, where they posed as PayPal representatives and convinced the victim to provide a refund. The suspects are also linked to a similar $30,000 theft in Franklin County, and investigators indicate there are additional victims throughout the Great Lakes region. Law enforcement advises seniors to verify requests for money or gift cards by contacting family, friends, or local authorities before complying.
komando.com
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
justice.gov
**Olusegun Samson Adejorin, a Nigerian national, was extradited from Ghana in August 2024 to face federal charges for a $7.5 million business email compromise scheme targeting two charitable organizations—one in Maryland and one in New York. Between June and August 2020, Adejorin gained unauthorized access to employee email accounts, impersonated staff members, and fraudulently requested fund withdrawals, successfully diverting over $7.5 million from Victim 2's investment funds. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison on wire fraud charges, plus additional penalties for identity theft and unauthorized computer access.**
yahoo.com
College students ages 18-24 reported the highest median losses to scams in 2023 for the second consecutive year, according to the Better Business Bureau's 2023 Scam Tracker Risk Report. The most common scams targeting this demographic include employment scams (offering remote work with high pay to collect personal information), online purchase fraud (items never delivered or counterfeit), and investment/cryptocurrency scams (median loss of $3,800), which the BBB warns are now the riskiest. The BBB advises students to scrutinize messages for red flags like poor grammar, misspellings, suspicious job offers requesting sensitive data, and investment opportunities that seem too good to
newyorkfamily.com
This educational article outlines common scams targeting children and recommends preventive strategies for parents and kids. Key scam types include phishing (stealing sensitive data via suspicious links and emails), fake websites mimicking legitimate retailers, fake online offers with "free" or "discount" baits, phone scams impersonating authority figures, and in-person scams involving direct requests for money or counterfeit products. Parents are advised to educate children on recognizing these tactics, verifying website addresses for misspellings, and avoiding sharing personal information with unknown sources or suspicious sites.
indianexpress.com
A 62-year-old retired bank employee in Karnataka lost over Rs 63 lakh across two separate online scams between April and August 2024, both involving false promises to buy old currency at inflated prices. The victim was lured through Instagram and Quikr advertisements to pay various "fees" to fraudsters who claimed to purchase his old coins and notes, ultimately defrauding him of Rs 52.12 lakh in the first scheme and Rs 10.89 lakh in the second. Police registered cases under cybercrime and fraud statutes against the perpetrators.
bankinfosecurity.com
Job seekers in cybersecurity are increasingly targeted by fraudulent job postings that exploit the field's high demand and remote work prevalence. Common scam tactics include requests for personal information (Social Security numbers, identification), unusually high salaries with quick hiring processes, vague job descriptions, and unprofessional communication. Job applicants can protect themselves by researching companies directly, contacting employers through official websites, and remaining skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true.
krgv.com
Cybersecurity experts warn travelers to avoid common scams including fake vacation rental listings, fraudulent hotel payment calls, counterfeit concert tickets, and phishing texts about unpaid tolls. To protect yourself, book through reputable sites, verify listings before paying, avoid wire transfers and prepaid cards, call businesses directly to confirm requests, and monitor your bank and credit accounts while traveling. Victims of travel scams can contact the Identity Theft Resource Center at 888-400-5530.
finance.yahoo.com
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.
finance.yahoo.com
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.
postandcourier.com
Imposter scams were the FTC's top-reported fraud type in 2023, resulting in $2.7 billion in losses, with a current trend of deceptive emails and texts falsely claiming subscriptions are expiring or have been renewed to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or providing payment information. Victims who click these links risk fraudulent charges, identity theft, and malware installation on their devices. To avoid these scams, consumers should verify messages independently by logging into accounts through official channels, scrutinize sender email addresses and message language for red flags, contact businesses directly using verified phone numbers, and avoid providing payment information in response to unsolicited messages.
abilene-rc.com
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.
augustachronicle.com
A Privacy Journal study ranked Georgia as the third most dangerous state for online dating, scoring 43.16 based on six risk factors including romance scams, identity theft, fraud, registered sex offenders, STD prevalence, and violent crime. Georgia performed particularly poorly in identity theft and fraud cases, with 358 per 100,000 residents experiencing identity theft annually and 470 per 100,000 falling victim to other types of fraud, though it had the fourth-lowest rate of romance scams. Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire were identified as the safest states for online dating.
unisa.edu.au
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
newsweek.com
A study ranking online dating safety across U.S. states identified Nevada, Alaska, Georgia, Florida, and Arizona as the five most dangerous states, based on rates of romance scams, identity theft, fraud, violent crime, and encounters with registered sex offenders. Georgia and Florida ranked among the least safe due to particularly high identity theft and fraud rates, while Arizona led the nation in romance scams specifically. The research demonstrates that geographic location significantly influences online dating risks for users.
latimes.com
Fraudulent QR code stickers were affixed to approximately 150 parking meters in Redondo Beach's Esplanade and Riviera Village areas, directing users to a fake website (poybyphone.online) where they were prompted to enter payment and personal information. The scam, known as "quishing," has been used in multiple cities and can expose victims to identity theft and financial fraud; all stickers have been removed and authorities are investigating. Residents who may have been defrauded or scanned the fake codes are encouraged to contact the Redondo Beach Police Department.
the-sun.com
A cybersecurity expert warned that major data breaches—including AT&T's 2024 compromises affecting millions of customers' personal information—enable sophisticated scams orchestrated by state-sponsored actors from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran who use stolen data for social engineering attacks. Victims lose billions annually to romance scams and "pig-butchering" investment scams (particularly in cryptocurrency), with one in four Americans losing an average of $500 to scams in the past year. The expert recommends monitoring for phishing attempts, using unique passwords with a password manager, and enabling multi-factor authentication to protect against fraud resulting from data breaches.
myleaderpaper.com
Austin James, a 27-year-old contractor from Hillsboro, was sentenced to five years' probation, 90 days of house arrest, and ordered to repay $94,606 for his role in financially exploiting an 80-year-old St. Louis woman. James and accomplice Gino Rives convinced the elderly homeowner to write checks totaling over $550,000 for home renovations that were actually worth only $50,000, with James receiving eight checks for work he never performed. Rives, the scheme's primary perpetrator, was separately sentenced to 87 months in prison and ordered to repay over $1 million to elder
irs.gov
James Dougherty of Boise was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for wire fraud after systematically defrauding an elderly retired schoolteacher of her 46-acre ranch and over $250,000 through a scheme involving gaining power of attorney, establishing a fraudulent trust, and selling the property to himself at below-market value. His wife, Jessica Dougherty, received three years of probation for obstruction of justice after destroying evidence on a computer while in custody. The victim, whose health had deteriorated, lost control of her finances and real property between 2015 and 2017 when the Doughertys fraudulently transferre
fox61.com
Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection warned residents of a scam targeting Eversource and United Illuminating customers, where scammers impersonate utility company employees and offer fake senior rate discounts while requesting personal information like account numbers and payment details to commit identity theft and financial fraud. The DCP advised customers to hang up on unsolicited calls, verify legitimacy by calling the official number on their bill, and report scams to authorities and credit agencies.
theconversation.com
An 83-year-old Maryland woman named Mae fell victim to tech support fraud when she clicked a malicious link claiming to be from Apple, leading scammers posing as tech support and bank fraud personnel to convince her to purchase gift cards totaling thousands of dollars over a 10-hour period. The case illustrates a larger problem: an estimated $8 billion is stolen annually from seniors age 60 and older through stranger fraud, with gift cards increasingly becoming the preferred payment method for scammers because they lack consumer protections afforded to credit and debit cards and are easily converted to untraceable purchases or resold on dark web marketplaces. The investigation reveals that federal regulators have consistently
forbesafrica.com
Elder fraud losses exceeded $3.4 billion in 2023, representing an 11% increase from the previous year, with scammers increasingly employing long-term relationship-building tactics rather than quick schemes targeting seniors aged 60 and older. Beyond elder fraud, the IRS has initiated over 460 criminal investigations into Employee Retention Credit (ERC) abuse, including a case where a preparer filed over $124 million in false claims, while also offering a second voluntary disclosure program through November 2024 for businesses to repay incorrectly claimed credits at 85% of the amount received.
wftv.com
A Cobb County man's Facebook account was hacked in late July, and the imposter used it to sell fake high-priced items (cars, trucks, hot tubs) to his friends, resulting in at least one friend losing money. Despite reporting the hack to Facebook over two weeks prior and following their identity verification procedures, the company has not resolved the issue, and the fake posts continue to appear on his page. The imposter's fraudulent listings are being reported by other users, but Facebook has dismissed complaints as not violating community standards.
wdbj7.com
The Local Office on Aging in Roanoke, Virginia advises seniors to protect themselves from cyber scams and identity theft by staying informed about their finances, recognizing common scam tactics, and safeguarding personal information. The organization is hosting a free Senior Legal Safety Conference on September 20 featuring presentations on fraud prevention and legal protections for older adults.
yahoo.com
An 83-year-old Maryland resident named Mae fell victim to a tech support scam that ultimately resulted in fraudsters convincing her to purchase gift cards as payment. The article documents how gift card fraud has become a leading payment method in elder fraud schemes, with an estimated $8 billion stolen annually from seniors age 60 and older, yet federal regulators have failed to implement consumer protections for gift cards comparable to those for credit and debit cards. The investigation reveals that while fraudsters, gift card companies, and retailers profit from these schemes, the privately-held technology companies managing the gift card infrastructure are best positioned to prevent fraud but lack legal requirements to do so.
upi.com
An 83-year-old Maryland woman named Mae fell victim to tech support fraud after clicking a malicious link on her frozen laptop, leading fraudsters to convince her to purchase gift cards worth thousands of dollars over a 10-hour period. The case illustrates a broader problem: an estimated $8 billion is stolen annually from seniors age 60 and older through fraud, with gift cards increasingly becoming the preferred payment method for criminals due to minimal consumer protections and difficulty in tracing funds. Federal regulators have failed to provide gift cards with the same protections as credit and debit cards, while retailers, technology companies, and fraudsters all profit from the scheme at victims' expense.
theitem.com
An 83-year-old Maryland woman named Mae fell victim to a tech support scam when a fake Apple alert prompted her to contact fraudsters posing as Apple and bank employees, who ultimately convinced her to purchase gift cards totaling thousands of dollars over a 10-hour period. The case illustrates a broader problem: an estimated $8 billion is stolen annually from seniors age 60 and older through fraud, with gift cards increasingly becoming the payment method of choice for criminals because they lack consumer protections afforded to credit and debit cards. Federal regulators have failed to adequately protect consumers from gift card fraud despite it being a growing problem, while technology companies and retailers benefit financially from these crimes due to
justice.gov
Ella Mae Woods, 76, a former Brattleboro resident, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for wire fraud and theft of government money after pleading guilty in May 2024 to misappropriating her deceased mother's Social Security benefits for approximately 28 years. Woods fraudulently collected $328,000 in payments that should have stopped when her mother died in 1994, including opening bank accounts in her mother's name and forging signature documents; she was ordered to pay full restitution of $328,000 and serve one year of supervised release following her prison term.
tampabay.com
A cybersecurity firm KnowBe4 discovered that a newly hired remote software engineer was a North Korean scammer operating through a U.S. laptop farm, exposed when the company laptop immediately began downloading password-stealing malware. The scheme involved multiple actors including a compromised American citizen whose identity was stolen, fake references with Gmail addresses, and inconsistencies in the hiring process that the FBI has linked to a known North Korean data-stealing operation targeting I.T. positions at American and British companies. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in remote hiring processes and the need for companies to implement stronger verification procedures, in-person interviews, and cross-referenced background checks to prevent foreign threat actors from infilt
bluewin.ch
Scammers stole the identity of Swiss SP Co-President Cédric Wermuth by using his photos to conduct romance scams online, a form of marriage fraud. The fraud was discovered when a bank manager alerted Wermuth that a customer attempted to transfer 100,000 Swiss francs to him after being deceived; Wermuth found his details on at least five Facebook pages used for the scam. Wermuth filed a criminal complaint with Aargau cantonal police, which will be forwarded to the public prosecutor's office.
phoenixnewtimes.com
Arizona ranks among the nation's worst states for online dating safety, according to a Privacy Journal study that analyzed romance scams, identity theft, fraud, and other risk factors. The state has the highest rate of romance scam victims at 9.2 per 100,000 residents annually, along with the 10th-highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases and eighth-highest fraud rate, placing it 46th out of 50 states overall. The study recommends vigilance when using dating apps like Bumble and Tinder to avoid catfishing, romance scams, and other online dating dangers.
newsweek.com
Elder fraud targeting Americans over 60 increased 3% between 2022 and 2023, with victims losing an average of over $36,000 per incident. Arizona, Utah, and Rhode Island experienced the largest increases (36%, 23%, and 22% respectively), with research suggesting scammers are increasingly targeting high-income areas with large senior populations. Prevention measures include educating seniors and financial professionals about common scams, improving digital literacy among older adults, and implementing stronger security settings on financial accounts.
foxbusiness.com
During back-to-school season, fraudsters employ multiple scams targeting families seeking savings, including deep-discount shopping scams on social media (offering counterfeit or non-existent brand-name items), textbook scams (selling fake or undelivered books at reduced prices), and financial aid scams. The Federal Trade Commission advises consumers to research sellers beyond social media platforms, use credit cards for purchases, avoid payment methods like gift cards and wire transfers, and buy from official retailers to protect themselves from losing money to these schemes.