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cbsnews.com
A 74-year-old Sacramento resident lost her entire life savings of $28,000 in a sophisticated elder fraud scheme involving email and WhatsApp impersonation of PayPal officials. The scammers used fear tactics to convince her to withdraw cash from two banks, then sent a second perpetrator posing as a Social Security officer to her home to collect the wrapped money using a predetermined password. The case highlights gaps in law enforcement resources, as the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department reduced its elder abuse detective unit from 12 to 8 officers due to budget cuts.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A retired merchant navy officer, Surya Pal Singh, and his 100-year-old father, Hardev Singh, lost Rs 1.29 crore in a "digital arrest" scam in Lucknow. Scammers impersonated a CBI officer, sent a fake arrest notice via WhatsApp claiming money laundering charges, and convinced the victims to transfer funds through multiple RTGS transactions to various accounts between August 21-26. The fraud was discovered only after the transfers were completed, with payments dispersed to accounts in Bhavnagar, Panaji, and Jalgaon.
greatnews.life
This 2013 overview identifies the top scams affecting La Porte County and beyond, with phishing (stealing personal information for identity theft) ranked as the most prevalent fraud. The top ten scams include grandparent impersonation schemes targeting elderly relatives, doorstep contractor fraud using high-pressure sales tactics, work-from-home schemes, lottery scams, Nigerian advance-fee frauds, and account hijacking of email and social media platforms. The article emphasizes that internet growth and social networking have expanded scam delivery methods and increased victim numbers significantly, with many scams persisting or resurfacing over years despite awareness efforts.
6abc.com
A South Los Angeles woman lost over $431,000 to a romance scam involving deepfake videos of actor Steve Burton from "General Hospital," whom the scammer impersonated on Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. The victim, who has a history of mental illness, was convinced the scammer was the real actor in love with her and sent money via gift cards, cash, and bitcoin before ultimately selling her condo for $350,000 and planning to send an additional $70,000. Actor Steve Burton confirmed he knows of hundreds of women who have lost money to similar scams using his identity and cloned voice/image, calling the deepfake romance scam epidemic a serious threat to vulnerable individuals.
oag.ca.gov
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an alert about ongoing text-based scam activity targeting state taxpayers, in which scammers impersonate the California Franchise Tax Board to trick victims into providing personal and financial information under the guise of tax refunds. These government imposter scams are part of a larger fraud problem, with scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods. Consumers are advised to avoid clicking links in suspicious texts, verify messages directly with official agencies, and report suspected tax fraud to the IRS or California Franchise Tax Board.
ohio.gov
Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages to Ohio residents impersonating state agencies including the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Ohio Turnpike, and Department of Taxation. State agencies will never contact citizens via unsolicited text messages, and residents should report suspicious messages to the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
wdbj7.com
The Virginia Tech Police Department warned of multiple ongoing scams targeting students and community members, including fake football ticket sales via social media (where scammers pose as alumni and accept payment through apps like Venmo but never deliver tickets), sextortion schemes targeting male students (where scammers pose as attractive women, solicit intimate photos, then blackmail victims), fraudulent job offers involving fake checks that students are asked to cash and return funds for, and impersonation scams where scammers pose as family or friends requesting gift card payments. The department provided prevention advice for each scam type, emphasizing purchasing from official vendors, never sending intimate photos to unknown contacts, verifying checks through banks, and carefully ver
securitybrief.com.au
Australians lost AUD $119 million to cyber scams in the first four months of 2025, with citizens encountering an average of 10 scam attempts daily and suffering average individual losses of AUD $1,851 per victim. Cybercriminals are increasingly using AI-powered tactics including deepfakes, phishing emails, and personalized targeted scams to deceive Australians at scale. Experts recommend a dual approach combining AI-powered detection tools with public education, awareness, and basic cybersecurity practices such as software updates and strong passwords to combat the surge in fraud.
yahoo.com
According to AARP data, older Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams and fraud in 2024, representing a 25% increase from 2023, with imposter scams being the most common type. Scammers target seniors by posing as government officials, companies like Amazon and PayPal, or Medicare representatives, using phone calls, texts, and emails to request money or personal information. Experts advise seniors to verify all claims directly with organizations, avoid clicking links from unsolicited contacts, and remain cautious about sharing personal or financial information.
amac.us
The grandparent scam tricks seniors into sending money to scammers posing as distressed grandchildren or relatives in crisis. Scammers exploit grandparents' emotional vulnerability and willingness to help by researching personal information online, impersonating authority figures, and requesting untraceable payments via wire transfer or gift cards. Modern variants use sophisticated technology including caller ID spoofing and AI voice cloning to appear more convincing, making these scams increasingly difficult to distinguish from legitimate requests.
witl.com
A study analyzing FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data from 2021-2024 found that Millennials in Michigan rank third nationally as cybercrime victims, averaging approximately 3,000 scam incidents annually compared to 2,385 for seniors. The higher victimization rate among Millennials is attributed to their greater digital dependence for networking, socializing, shopping, and banking, which makes them more vulnerable targets for criminals than seniors who use technology less frequently.
brantfordexpositor.ca
Brantford Police issued a scam alert regarding two fraud schemes targeting seniors: a card-compromise scam where callers pose as bank representatives and send agents to collect debit/credit cards and PINs for fraudulent purchases, and a fake gold chain scam where suspects lure elderly victims into their vehicle under false pretenses and steal their real jewelry by exchanging it for counterfeit items. Police emphasized that financial institutions never request card verification in this manner and provided prevention tips including verifying caller identity, avoiding unsecured screen sharing, and consulting trusted contacts before sending money.
justice.gov
Twenty-eight alleged members of a Chinese organized crime ring operating since at least 2019 were charged in federal indictments for a $65 million fraud scheme targeting thousands of seniors across the United States, including a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor's widow who lost her entire life savings. The network, composed primarily of Chinese nationals working with India-based call centers, used impersonation and psychological manipulation to trick victims into wiring money, with scammers posing as technical support agents or government officials and often convincing victims they had received mistaken refunds. After a nationwide takedown operation, 25 defendants were arrested, $4.2 million was seized from financial accounts
prweb.com
RangersAI announced two new features in its ScamRanger app to combat elder fraud and scams: Guardian Mode, which allows vulnerable users to designate trusted contacts who receive scam alerts and can provide support, and a WhatsApp Agent that delivers real-time scam detection directly within WhatsApp. The app detects over 130 scam types across SMS, email, and chat platforms, addressing a global scam crisis exceeding $1 trillion in losses annually.
justice.gov
An elderly victim in Bristolville, Ohio, and his sister lost over $1.6 million in a cryptocurrency investment scam that began with a text from an unknown person claiming to be named "Zach." The scammer, operating under the username "Shaw Goddess" on Telegram, posed as a successful investor and convinced the victim to open accounts on Crypto.com and Strike.com, ultimately directing him to transfer over $1 million to a fake investment platform; when withdrawal attempts failed, the victim realized the fraud. Federal investigators used blockchain analysis to trace approximately $200,000 of the stolen funds to a Tether cryptocurrency address, which was frozen by Tether Limited in December
saharareporters.com
Oluwasegun Baiyewu, 37, of Richmond, Texas, was convicted by a federal jury in Puerto Rico for conspiracy to launder funds from large-scale fraud schemes including romance scams, pandemic relief fraud, and business email compromise attacks that disproportionately targeted elderly and vulnerable Americans. Baiyewu and four co-conspirators routed stolen proceeds through multiple accounts to conceal their origin, then used the funds to purchase used cars shipped to Nigeria and distribute money to other co-conspirators between 2020 and 2021. The defendants will be sentenced by the District of Puerto Rico court.
tulsapeople.com
Scam losses in Oklahoma exceeded $72 million in 2024 and have tripled over the past five years, with increasingly emotionally manipulative tactics targeting older adults. Common scams include phishing, grandparent scams, tech support fraud, romance scams, and cryptocurrency schemes. Protection strategies include pausing before clicking links, researching contacts independently, using strong passwords with two-factor authentication, avoiding cryptocurrency and gift card payments, and reporting suspected fraud to the Oklahoma Attorney General, FTC, or AARP's Fraud Watch helpline.
weare.sa.gov.au
South Australia Police reported that Australians lost over $18.4 million to online shopping scams in 2024, with South Australians accounting for $556,000 of that total, while romance scams cost Australians $12 million nationally ($1 million in South Australia), exemplified by a woman who lost $30,000 to a fake suitor over six months. The report also highlighted a surge in sextortion cases using AI-generated deepfake images, with 284 South Australians reporting online image abuse and losing over $101,000 combined, particularly affecting males under 18. SAPOL warned of red flags including requests for cryptocurrency
financialpost.com
Canadians lost $310.6 million to investment fraud in 2024, with deepfakes of celebrities and politicians used in fraudulent social media ads promising unrealistic returns. While reported cases have leveled off since 2022, experts estimate only 5-10 percent of fraud incidents are reported due to victim shame and underreporting. Younger Canadians aged 18-24 are experiencing the largest rise in reported fraud victimization, and the article advises protecting oneself through digital privacy awareness, recognizing red flags in investment ads, and reporting suspected fraud.
hermoney.com
Online dating scams, tech support fraud, and fake e-commerce websites represent increasingly sophisticated threats that affect people across all age groups. In 2023, online dating scams alone generated 64,003 reports with $1.14 billion in losses, with scammers using months of emotional manipulation and professionally researched personal details to build false trust before requesting money. The article provides preventative strategies including reverse image searches for dating profiles, verification of tech support legitimacy through official company websites, and use of scam-detection tools before purchasing from unfamiliar retailers.
sbs.com.au
Julian, a self-described digitally savvy graphic designer, lost money to a sophisticated tax authority impersonation scam that exploited his emotional vulnerability and shame about unfiled taxes by pressuring him to purchase gift cards as "good faith" payment. Australian consumer watchdog data reveals that while overall scam reports declined, reports involving financial losses increased 40.5 percent nationally, with even higher increases among culturally and linguistically diverse Australians (44 percent) and First Nations Australians (55.3 percent), driven by increasingly sophisticated online shopping scams, phishing attacks causing $19.5 million in losses, and AI-powered tactics including deepfakes that exploit emotional states to
nbcnews.com
Lightning Shared Scooter Co. (LSSC), a fraudulent investment scheme posing as a Hong Kong-based scooter-sharing company, defrauded hundreds or thousands of victims by promising returns on initial investments of $2,000-$65,000 that could be monitored and withdrawn through a mobile app. The scam used fake endorsements from public figures (including Sean Spicer), local officials, military personnel, and fabricated storefronts in at least eight U.S. cities to gain credibility, particularly targeting immigrant and lower-income communities who invested life savings and college funds. Victims discovered last month they could not withdraw earnings, with law
xinhuanet.com
In the first half of 2025, reported scams in Australia declined 24 percent to 108,305 incidents, yet financial losses surged 26 percent to 174.8 million Australian dollars (113.5 million USD), with incidences involving financial loss increasing 40.5 percent. Shopping scams were the most prevalent type, while vulnerable populations—including English-as-second-language speakers (up 44 percent) and Indigenous Australians (up 55.3 percent)—experienced disproportionate increases in reported losses, with phishing and cryptocurrency impersonation scams accounting for 19.5 million dollars in losses.
abc7.com
A South Los Angeles woman lost at least $81,304 and sold her condo for $350,000 after being scammed by someone using AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating actor Steve Burton from "General Hospital." The scammer, who contacted the victim over Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, convinced her he was in love with her and needed money for properties and a shared home, exploiting her mental health vulnerabilities. The actor confirmed hundreds of women have been similarly victimized by scammers using his identity, calling the deepfake romance scam epidemic.
wsls.com
Text message scams impersonating package delivery services and toll collection agencies are among the fastest-growing fraud schemes, using convincing messages that urge immediate action and request personal or financial information through suspicious links. Scammers employ tactics such as fake sender addresses and threats of late fees to trick recipients into clicking malicious links that can install malware or steal credit card data. Consumers can protect themselves by verifying unexpected messages directly with official sources, avoiding clicking links from unknown senders, and blocking suspicious numbers.
kjrh.com
Text message scams impersonating delivery services and toll collection agencies are growing rapidly, with scammers using urgent language to pressure victims into clicking malicious links or providing personal and financial information. The Better Business Bureau reports that fake toll payment demands are among the fastest-growing scams, often tricking victims into surrendering credit card details through fraudulent websites. To protect yourself, verify unexpected messages directly with companies, inspect sender information for red flags, avoid clicking links from unsolicited messages, and use official shipping apps to track packages independently.
justice.gov
A federal jury in Puerto Rico convicted Oluwasegun Baiyewu and four co-conspirators of money laundering involving proceeds from romance scams, pandemic relief fraud, unemployment insurance fraud, and business email compromise schemes that primarily targeted elderly and vulnerable Americans. The defendants laundered stolen funds through hundreds of transactions in 2020-2021, including purchasing used cars shipped overseas to Nigeria, with the conspiracy affecting victims across multiple states and Puerto Rico.
northeastbylines.co.uk
The Financial Conduct Authority published guidance on common banking scams including vishing, phishing, card fraud, and bank impersonation, advising consumers to verify suspicious calls by hanging up and redialing using official numbers or the anti-fraud hotline 159. The article also highlights that the e-money provider Revolut received the highest number of fraud complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service, surpassing major banks, and warns of "Termination Experts," a subscription cancellation service that charges fees for services customers did not authorize, recommending victims verify claims directly with companies and utilize cooling-off periods for online purchases.
facebook.com
A scam impersonated the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) via text messages, falsely claiming the recipient owed fines for toll violations or unpaid tickets—a service SCDMV does not provide through texts. The victim also reported receiving a separate fraudulent call from an unknown number claiming an unauthorized charge had been made on a Bank of America debit card they did not own, requesting they call an 800 number to verify. The victim avoided falling victim to both scams by recognizing the suspicious contact methods and reported the incidents to Horry County Police, who resolved the matter.
uk.news.yahoo.com
This is not an article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse. This is a standard privacy and cookie consent notice from Yahoo's website. It contains no information relevant to the Elderus database and therefore cannot be summarized according to the specified criteria.
mcafee.com
McAfee Labs research from 2025 reveals a dramatic surge in scams across multiple categories, with job-related scams exploding over 1,000% from May through July, affecting nearly 1 in 3 Americans via text message. Shopping scams increased 250% during Amazon Prime Day, while personal finance scams surged 150% with email scams doubling between June and July, exploiting keywords like "loan" and "credit card." Technology scams grew 40% in text messages and 160% in emails, with scammers weaponizing consumer vulnerability by impersonating trusted brands (Amazon, Apple, Target, Nvidia) and exploiting economic anxiety,
forbes.com
Imposter scams cost Americans $2.95 billion annually and rank as the second most costly fraud type, with scammers commonly posing as government agencies or law enforcement to demand immediate payment or personal information. Russell Tafron Weatherspoon was convicted of operating a multistate scam (March 2022–April 2024) where he and accomplices spoofed law enforcement phone numbers to tell victims that arrest warrants had been issued, demanding bond payments; similarly, Anthony Sanders was indicted in January 2025 for a jury duty scam in which he posed as a Sarasota sheriff and extorted over $12,000 in Bitcoin from a victim by threatening
time.com
In February 2024, cybercriminals attempted to scam Tejasvi Manoj's 85-year-old grandfather through a fake email impersonating a relative requesting $2,000, but the scam was prevented when the family verified the request directly. Inspired by this near-miss and discovering that seniors lost nearly $5 billion to fraud in 2024 (a 32% increase from the prior year), the then-16-year-old Tejasvi developed Shield Seniors, a website educating adults over 60 about online scams, analyzing suspicious communications, and providing reporting resources. Her efforts earned her TIME's Kid of the Year 2025
indianexpress.com
A 78-year-old man in Noida lost Rs 3.14 crore in a "digital arrest" scam where criminals impersonating TRAI, police, CBI, and Supreme Court officials trapped him in fake video calls for 15 days, threatening him with money-laundering charges and forcing him to transfer funds to a fake "Secret Supervision Account." Cybercrimes against seniors have surged 86 percent between 2020 and 2022, with common scams including digital arrest, investment fraud, deepfakes, and government impersonation—schemes that exploit seniors' trust and vulnerability to urgency-based tactics through means they struggle to recognize
fox4news.com
The FBI warned about the "Phantom Hacker Scam," which has cost Americans over $1 billion since 2024 by targeting seniors' life savings and retirement accounts. The three-phase scam involves a tech support impostor gaining remote computer access, a financial institution impostor convincing victims to transfer funds to a "safe" account, and a government impostor directing further transfers to "alias" accounts. Victims rarely recover their funds, with recovery rates in single-digit percentages even when reported immediately, making this scam particularly devastating for seniors.
newschannel5.com
Scammers are increasingly targeting cell phone users with text messages impersonating toll collection agencies and delivery services, demanding immediate payment or personal information through fraudulent links. According to the Better Business Bureau, toll road scam texts are among the fastest-growing scams currently affecting consumers, with scammers using official-looking sender addresses to appear legitimate. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links from unexpected texts, verify requests directly with official sources, download tracking apps from USPS/FedEx/UPS, and block suspicious numbers rather than engaging with them.
wmur.com
Text message scams impersonating delivery services and toll collection agencies are among the fastest-growing fraud threats, using urgent language to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or providing personal and financial information. Consumer Reports and the Better Business Bureau recommend verifying unexpected messages by contacting companies directly rather than clicking links, checking sender addresses carefully, and using official tracking apps to confirm legitimate communications.
staysafeonline.org
This educational article outlines five common charity scams that exploit people's generosity, particularly following disasters: fake FEMA websites impersonating government relief agencies, fraudulent charities mimicking legitimate organizations, phony crowdfunding campaigns using false stories, scam contractors demanding upfront payment, and sketchy peer-to-peer payment requests. The article provides safety guidance including donating only through official charity websites verified on CharityNavigator.org, avoiding unsolicited links and payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers, and verifying contractor credentials before hiring.
theberkshireedge.com
Adams Community Bank announced a partnership with Carefull, a financial safety platform, to offer free fraud and scam protection to its account holders, making ACB the first bank in Western Massachusetts to provide this service. The Carefull platform monitors accounts for unusual activity, detects romance scams and other financial exploitation, analyzes suspicious communications, and provides secure storage for important documents and records with $1 million identity theft insurance. This initiative reflects ACB's commitment to protecting seniors and their families as elder fraud cases continue to rise.
techtimes.com
Artificial intelligence has dramatically enhanced catfishing and romance scams, enabling fraudsters to create realistic fake profiles, deepfake videos, and AI-generated voices that allow them to conduct convincing long-term deceptions with minimal effort. These scams exploit emotional vulnerability by targeting loneliness and trust, making it increasingly difficult for victims to distinguish between real and fake interactions, even during video calls. Protection requires education about AI-facilitated fraud risks and vigilance on dating platforms, including avoiding individuals who refuse to meet in person or seem "too perfect."
anz.com.au
ANZ Bank has successfully prevented thousands of fraudulent payments through its Confirmation of Payee (CoP) feature, which alerts customers when payment recipient details don't match bank records; since launch, 143,303 payments were abandoned by customers, with 10,040 going to accounts flagged on the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange. The bank emphasizes that combating scams requires collaboration between financial institutions, customers, and authorities, alongside technological innovations like the Digital Padlock feature and partnerships with fraud intelligence networks. Australia's coordinated approach has contributed to a 25.9% decrease in reported scam losses in 2024 compared to 2023, demonstrating that awareness and prevention strategies are
ktlo.com
Baxter County, Arkansas is experiencing a rise in scams targeting residents, prompting local law enforcement to host a public call-in program with Sheriff John Montgomery to educate citizens on fraud prevention. The initiative follows recent arrests of three men accused of acting as "money mules" for overseas scam operations; common schemes affecting residents include government impersonation, tech support fraud, fake sweepstakes, romance scams, and home repair fraud using phishing emails, robocalls, and spoofed numbers.
fox32chicago.com
The FBI has warned seniors about the Phantom Hacker Scam, which has cost Americans over $1 billion since at least 2024 by draining life savings and retirement accounts. The scam operates in three phases—a tech support impostor gains remote computer access, a financial institution impostor convinces victims to transfer funds to a "safe" account via wire transfer or cryptocurrency, and potentially a government impostor prompts further transfers to "alias" accounts. Security experts emphasize that victims rarely recover their money unless they report the theft immediately, and scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence to target seniors based on their personal interests and social media profiles.
republicworld.com
A Maharashtra government employee lost approximately Rs 2 lakh after clicking on a malicious WhatsApp "e-wedding" invitation disguised as an Android application package (.apk) file from an unknown number. The malware installed on the victim's device gave cybercriminals access to sensitive data and bank account details, enabling fraudulent transactions. The article advises victims to report incidents to the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, notify banks immediately, change passwords, and prevent such scams by avoiding suspicious links, enabling two-factor authentication, and downloading apps only from official sources.
analyticsinsight.net
A cybercriminal group called ShinyHunters breached Google's systems in June 2025, compromising nearly 2.5 billion Gmail users' contact information, business names, and notes—though passwords were not exposed. Following the breach's discovery on the dark web in August 2025, attackers launched phishing campaigns using spoofed calls, fake emails, and text messages impersonating Google to trick victims into revealing login credentials and sensitive documents. Cybersecurity experts recommend users ignore unsolicited Google communications and enable two-factor authentication to protect their accounts.
foxnews.com
The Phantom Hacker Scam has cost Americans over $1 billion since 2024 by targeting seniors through a three-phase operation: tech support impostor gains remote computer access, financial institution impostor convinces victims to move funds to a "safe" account via wire transfer or cryptocurrency, and government impostor directs further transfers to "alias" accounts. Cybersecurity experts warn the scam is "devastating" for seniors as victims rarely recover their funds, with recovery rates in single-digit percentages only if reported immediately, and criminals increasingly use AI to personalize attacks based on social media profiles.
thestar.com.my
A Pew Research Center survey of over 9,000 U.S. adults found that approximately 73% experienced at least one online scam or attack, with credit card fraud, shopping scams, and ransomware being most common; notably, adults aged 18-59 were 34% more likely than those 60+ to report losing money to fraud. Cybersecurity experts warn of emerging threats including unsolicited calendar invites containing phishing links or malware, and multi-factor authentication app attacks designed to wear down users into revealing personal information. Protection measures include adjusting calendar settings to prevent automatic invite updates, verifying suspicious invitations through direct contact with trusted sources, and ign
pbs.org
Sophisticated criminal networks are using stolen identities to create "ghost students" and flood U.S. community college application systems to siphon millions in financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education has identified $150 million dispersed to ineligible students, including $30 million to deceased individuals, with victims including both colleges and people whose identities were stolen to fraudulently obtain student loans. These overseas fraud rings operating from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Vietnam target community colleges due to their open-access policies and also exploit .edu email addresses for additional fraud schemes involving discounts on software and services.
bctv.org
Eleven individuals were arrested in connection with an alleged $10 billion Medicare fraud scheme, highlighting a growing problem in healthcare fraud that costs the U.S. billions annually. Capital Blue Cross reports an uptick in fraudulent claims involving durable medical equipment (DME), with scammers using medical knowledge to submit false claims for services never provided or needed. The organization recommends protecting yourself by safeguarding personal information, verifying DME prescriptions with your doctor, monitoring insurance statements, and reporting suspicious activity immediately.
newsbreak.com
This educational article from FODMAP Everyday® identifies 12 items people over 50 should remove from their wallets to protect against identity theft and fraud. The piece emphasizes that elder fraud is a critical threat, citing FBI data showing scams targeting people over 60 caused $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 (averaging $33,915 per victim), with total fraud losses reaching $12.5 billion in 2024—a 25% increase year-over-year. Key recommendations include removing Social Security cards, excessive credit cards, and debit cards, as thieves can use these items to commit identity theft, credit card fraud, and drain