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in General Elder Fraud
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12 News
· 2025-06-24
A Jamaican man, Sherwane Benjamin Bellfonte, was extradited to Arizona and is facing charges for defrauding an 85-year-old woman in Tucson of approximately $400,000 through a combined lottery and romance scam. Bellfonte posed as an engaged suitor, sending flowers and love messages while convincing the victim to send money, in a case authorities note represents a rare successful international prosecution of an online scammer.
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News 4 Tucson KVOA-TV
· 2025-06-27
A Jamaican man named Sherwane Benjamin Bellfonte, known as "the Iceman," was extradited to Tucson to face federal prosecution for an elaborate romance and sweepstakes scam targeting an 85-year-old woman from Veil, Arizona, between December 2015 and January 2019. Bellfonte and his co-conspirators defrauded the now-deceased victim of approximately $400,000 by posing as a romantic interest while pressuring her to send money. The FBI reports increasing numbers of similar scams targeting Arizona's elderly population.
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NBC News
· 2025-06-26
A senior couple in Colorado lost $20,000 in a gift card scam after receiving a fraudulent email claiming they owed money for an unauthorized phone purchase. The scammer, posing as a federal agent named Rebecca, convinced them to purchase multiple gift cards and provide PIN codes, with the scammer eventually admitting to the theft when contacted by police. The couple, now in their mid-70s, must rebuild their savings from scratch, highlighting the devastating impact of these scams run by international criminal networks.
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CTV News
· 2025-06-26
A Manitoba senior lost his entire life savings of $2 million in a cryptocurrency investment scam involving a fake website called "Fargo Investor" created using artificial intelligence. Scammers, reportedly operating from outside Canada, used social media ads featuring celebrity endorsements to promote the unregistered investment opportunity, which the Manitoba Securities Commission warns is part of a rising trend of fraud targeting seniors.
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CTV News
· 2025-06-26
A Manitoba senior lost $2 million in a Fargo Investor cryptocurrency scam, prompting a warning from the Manitoba Securities Commission. The fraudulent scheme operated by showing the victim fake returns on his investments over time, creating the illusion of legitimate gains before the scammers converted his money to cryptocurrency and moved it overseas.
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KXAN
· 2025-07-03
According to the FBI, Texas ranks second nationally for internet crime losses, with residents losing over $1.3 billion to extortion, data breaches, and phishing scams—an increase from the previous year. A community banker recommends key protective measures including avoiding clicking suspicious links in unsolicited text messages about unpaid tolls or invoices, and verifying unfamiliar communications through independent research before taking action.
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FOX 35 Orlando
· 2025-07-04
Two sushi restaurant owners in Brevard County, Florida were accused of running a tech support scam that victimized elderly people across the country, with victims tricked into purchasing gift cards and wiring money after receiving fake computer warning messages. The investigation, which began in Wisconsin in 2023, resulted in the couple's arrest in late June, with one documented victim being a 76-year-old man who lost $14,300 (through $4,300 in gift cards and a $10,000 wire transfer to California).
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-07-15
Joe Fitzpatrick, a retired data security professional living in a Las Vegas senior community, created the Silera Community Scam Guide after noticing neighbors were regularly targeted by scammers, with some losing money to tech support and other common fraud schemes. He and fellow residents compile easy-to-read guides identifying various scams to help educate their community about fraud prevention, addressing what Fitzpatrick describes as a daily epidemic affecting seniors in the area.
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CTV News
· 2025-07-17
A Calgary senior lost over $300,000 in a cryptocurrency scam that began in 2022 when a scammer impersonated her grandson claiming he needed bail money for a car crash and drug charges. The fraudster, working with a fake lawyer, instructed the victim to make more than 300 deposits into Bitcoin ATMs over a six-week period before she became suspicious and reported it to police. Calgary police's cybercrime unit identified and arrested 34-year-old Jeremy Ratray of Quebec in connection with the scheme.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-07-22
The FBI is warning of a spike in elder scams across the Las Vegas Valley, with scammers targeting retirement communities through various schemes including government impersonations, fake notices from Clark County, impersonation of police officers, and in-person fraud. FBI officials attribute the vulnerability of elderly victims to their trusting nature and note that common scam types include investment fraud and phishing emails designed to appear legitimate. The FBI emphasizes the importance of reporting scams and warns scammers that they will be tracked down and prosecuted.
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CBS 13 News
· 2025-07-24
Maine secured a federal grant to establish the state's first elder justice investigator position, a two-year pilot program to combat the rising problem of elder fraud and abuse. According to the FBI, one in ten seniors becomes a victim of elder crime, though most cases go unreported to police. Officer Candace Simeone now leads this initiative, noting that over 85% of elder abuse suspects are known to the victim, making these cases particularly challenging to investigate.
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WENY TV NEWS
· 2025-07-25
Pennsylvania State Representative Tina Picket held an annual senior expo in Athens, Bradford County, to educate elderly residents about protecting themselves from scams targeting their finances and identities. The event featured speakers on topics including healthcare benefits, secure banking, and Medicare, along with booths offering information on local services and a free document shredding service to reduce identity theft risk.
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WOWK 13 News
· 2025-07-25
Chase Bank and the Charleston Police Department partnered to educate seniors about fraud and scam risks, citing that West Virginia lost over $27 million to fraud in the previous year according to the Federal Trade Commission. The initiative aims to help vulnerable populations, particularly those living paycheck-to-paycheck, avoid financial devastation that could result from having their bank accounts emptied by scammers.
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KTVN 2 News Nevada
· 2025-07-28
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office is warning of a rising trend in phone and identity scams targeting senior citizens, including scams impersonating law enforcement, government agencies, and family members in distress. Officials recommend that seniors stop and consult with trusted family members or official sources when encountering potential scams to avoid victimization.
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WCHS Eyewitness News
· 2025-07-28
Charleston Police and Chase Bank hosted a workshop to educate seniors on avoiding scams, as phone, text, and email fraud targeting this population is on the rise both nationally and locally. According to the Federal Trade Commission, West Virginians lost more than $27 million to fraud and scams in the past year, primarily from impostor schemes including EasyPass, jury duty, and romance scams. The workshop emphasized the importance of verifying communications directly with companies or agencies rather than responding to urgent-seeming messages.
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WBIR Channel 10
· 2025-07-28
The Knox County Sheriff's Office hosted an educational event called "Scam Smart" in partnership with Minet Funeral Home, attracting over 70 community members to learn about technology-based scams targeting seniors. Officers provided prevention tips and covered various scam types, emphasizing that anyone with a cell phone can become a victim regardless of age. Residents were encouraged to report scams to the Knox County Sheriff's Office or submit tips via knoxsheriff.org.
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CBS New York
· 2025-07-28
A 78-year-old Long Island retired art teacher lost $15,000 in a scam that began with a fraudulent text message about an unauthorized Apple Pay charge. After responding to the text, she received calls impersonating Apple and her bank, which convinced her that her account was compromised and that she needed to withdraw $15,000 from her savings account. She withdrew the cash and handed it to a scammer posing as a bank representative at her gated community, who then fled with the money.
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CBS 8 San Diego
· 2025-08-01
In the first half of 2025, over 700 senior citizens in San Diego County lost nearly $70 million to financial scams, with losses on track to exceed last year's total of $98 million, though actual figures are likely higher due to underreporting. The FBI reported that seniors accounted for more than one-third of the $16 billion in nationwide fraud losses last year, with scammers targeting vulnerable elderly people who are often deceived by professional-sounding perpetrators. Local law enforcement and prosecutors are working to combat these crimes and bring scam artists to justice.
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BBC News
· 2025-08-02
This BBC documentary exposes multi-million pound whiskey investment scams targeting investors in Scotland's unregulated whiskey trade. Criminals deceive investors into purchasing worthless assets (such as picture frames instead of actual whiskey), with victims losing between £47,000 and over £300,000 each. The investigation tracks perpetrators exploiting the industry's lack of regulation while investors are left financially devastated with no recourse.
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A Current Affair
· 2025-08-07
A 74-year-old woman named Bridget fell victim to a "letterbox scam" in May after seeing a fake "hacked" warning on her computer and calling a fraudulent support number. A scammer posing as "Peter" convinced her over hours of phone calls that her bank cards were compromised and persuaded her to place them in an envelope—an elaborate social engineering scheme that exploited her trust. The suspects remained at large as this marked a new variation of cyber fraud, with such crimes being reported every six minutes.
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WSYX ABC 6
· 2025-08-09
Investment scams cost Americans over $5 billion last year, with the Ohio Department of Commerce warning of increased fraud targeting vulnerable populations. Scammers exploit emotions like fear of missing out, loneliness, and guilt to manipulate victims—particularly seniors—into wiring money or sending checks for fake investment opportunities, often initiated through unsolicited text messages or social media contact.
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KPBS Public Media
· 2025-08-11
An 86-year-old San Diego senior named Bob Duff was targeted by a romance scam when someone posing as a 37-year-old South Korean woman named Kalista initiated contact via text, built rapport over two days on the messaging app Telegram, and attempted to establish an emotional connection. The incident illustrates how tech-savvy scammers are increasingly targeting San Diego seniors by exploiting loneliness and using social engineering tactics on digital platforms.
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WCVB Channel 5 Boston
· 2025-08-12
Thirteen members of a transnational elder fraud ring operating from a call center in the Dominican Republic were charged, with nine arrested and four still at large. The sophisticated operation targeted more than 400 victims, including at least 50 in Massachusetts, using the "grandchild in trouble" scam and even arranging Uber rides to banks to collect cash from seniors. Many victims lost their life savings and suffered lasting emotional trauma, with full financial recovery unlikely as authorities work to seize assets.
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Western Mass News
· 2025-08-13
Thirteen individuals have been charged for operating a transnational elder fraud scheme centered at a call center in the Dominican Republic that defrauded over 400 U.S. seniors of more than $5 million. The perpetrators used fake emergency scripts claiming victims' loved ones needed money, sometimes orchestrating ride-share drivers to transport elderly victims to banks for additional withdrawals, before laundering funds back to the Dominican Republic. Nine suspects are in custody while four remain at large; all face multiple fraud charges.
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WCBD NEWS 2
· 2025-08-13
The Charleston Police Department is warning elderly residents about a series of phone scams in which criminals manipulate seniors into sending money, with some victims losing up to $10,000. The scammers create false urgency by claiming a loved one needs bail money or that a warrant has been issued for the victim's arrest. CPD advises recipients of suspicious calls to hang up immediately and never provide personal or financial information over the phone.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-08-14
An 86-year-old South Philadelphia woman was defrauded of $6,000 after receiving a call from scammers using AI-generated voice technology to impersonate her granddaughter claiming to be in a car accident and detained by police. A fake lawyer then demanded $10,400 to secure the granddaughter's release, settling for the $6,000 in cash the victim had available. The incident highlights how scammers exploit family emergencies and new technology to manipulate elderly victims into sending money quickly without verification.
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FOX59 News
· 2025-08-19
Imposter scammers are increasingly targeting seniors' life savings, with the number of older Americans reporting losses exceeding $100,000 increasing nearly sevenfold since 2020, according to FTC data. Scammers impersonating businesses and government agencies use three common tactics to create urgency and fear: claiming unauthorized account use, identity theft, or computer security problems, then instructing victims to move money to accounts they control under the guise of protection. The FTC advises never transferring money at a stranger's direction and instead hanging up and contacting trusted contacts or the agency directly to verify claims.
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CNY Central
· 2025-08-20
Federal authorities arrested 13 people involved in a transnational grandparent scam that defrauded at least 400 elderly victims nationwide of approximately $5 million, with funds funneled to the Dominican Republic. Scammers called victims from call centers in the Dominican Republic, impersonating grandchildren in distress and requesting urgent wire transfers, sometimes using ride-share drivers to collect cash in person. An elderly couple from Cayuga County, New York, was among the victims, losing nearly $25,000 to the scheme.
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KSBY News
· 2025-08-23
The California Franchise Tax Board is warning taxpayers about scams involving fraudulent text messages impersonating the FTB, which direct recipients to fake websites designed to steal personal and banking information. Officials advise recipients not to respond to suspicious communications claiming to be from the FTB or IRS, and instead contact the agencies directly to verify any claims.
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News 4 Tucson KVOA-TV
· 2025-08-26
The Arizona Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Edward Albarasin and Gretchen Zamyan and over 50 of their businesses (operating under names like Hands with Hope) for running a real estate scam targeting elderly Arizona homeowners. The defendants allegedly deceived senior citizens, including at least five individuals with physical or mental impairments, into signing over their property deeds through lies and fraudulent notarizations. The Attorney General is seeking restitution and a permanent ban on the defendants' future real estate dealings.
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8 News Now — Las Vegas
· 2025-08-26
In 2024, older Americans ages 60 and up lost $12.5 billion to scams and fraud—a 25% increase from 2023—with impostor scams being the most common type, where criminals impersonate government officials or companies like Amazon and PayPal. Las Vegas seniors including Bernardet Bartal reported falling victim to multiple schemes involving fake checks, fraudulent car repairs, and housing scams, losing thousands of dollars with little recovery. According to AARP, seniors face relentless daily contact from scammers through phone calls, texts, and emails attempting to extract personal information and money.
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FOX23 News Tulsa
· 2025-08-27
Scammers are using AI voice cloning technology to impersonate loved ones in "vishing" (voice phishing) schemes that target families with emergency-based fraud calls. With as little as 15 seconds of audio, attackers can create a convincing voice clone and spoof the caller's phone number to pressure victims—particularly elderly targets—into sending money by claiming a loved one is hurt or needs immediate help.
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CBS News Sacramento
· 2025-08-27
A 74-year-old Sacramento woman lost her entire life savings of $28,000 to an elder fraud scam in which a scammer impersonated a PayPal employee via email and WhatsApp, claiming she was a victim of fraud and using scare tactics about money laundering to convince her to withdraw cash from two banks. One of two perpetrators then came to her home to collect the wrapped cash, and Sacramento County's grand jury noted insufficient investigation of such crimes.
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KCRA 3
· 2025-08-28
A Sacramento woman lost $28,000 of her life savings in a sophisticated scam that began with a fraudulent PayPal email. After calling what she believed was PayPal customer service, a scammer convinced her that her identity had been used to open 22 accounts linked to money laundering, then pressured her to withdraw cash and hand it to someone posing as a Social Security official. Thompson's surveillance camera captured her handing over the box of cash, and she is now sharing her story as a warning to other seniors, while Sacramento police investigate the case.
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NBC 6 South Florida
· 2025-12-09
An elderly woman named Christine lost $6,000 in a grandparent scam after receiving a panicked call from someone claiming to be her granddaughter Addison asking for emergency money; authorities believe the caller used AI-generated voice technology to impersonate her granddaughter, who was actually safe at work. The grandparent scam is a widespread fraud affecting over 147,000 victims annually with losses totaling nearly $4.9 billion, and scammers are increasingly using readily available AI voice-cloning tools that require minimal audio samples to create convincing impersonations.
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WSOCTV9
· 2025-08-28
This educational piece from WSOC-TV features attorney Jason Stujeni's advice on how to discuss scam awareness with aging parents. He recommends teaching seniors to recognize red flags—including poor spelling, requests for unusual payment methods (gift cards, wire transfers), emotional manipulation, unsolicited contact from those claiming to represent banks or government agencies, and AI-enabled grandchild impersonation scams—and to avoid answering unknown contacts, clicking unfamiliar links, or sharing personal information with strangers.
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KTVQ News
· 2025-09-01
An 85-year-old woman in Yellowstone County, Montana was defrauded of $130,000 in a PayPal scam where fraudsters convinced her they had used their own money to secure an account for her and she needed to repay them. The scammers used isolation tactics, telling her not to tell anyone and that they were the only ones she could trust, while claiming her accounts had been hacked and they were trying to help recover her money. This case exemplifies the growing wave of elder fraud scams affecting Montana and the country, with the victim facing potential homelessness after losing her life savings.
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10 Tampa Bay News
· 2025-09-02
A 70-year-old former police officer and firefighter from Port Richie, Florida lost $47,000 in an AI-generated romance scam after developing an online relationship with a woman named "Bonnie" who claimed to need money for an overseas job. The scammer, traced to Nigeria, used AI-generated images and extracted funds through wire transfers and Bitcoin before the victim discovered the deception. The victim now faces an additional $22,000 debt demand from his bank and warns others about the dangers of romance scams, particularly for lonely individuals seeking connection.
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KJRH -TV | Tulsa | Channel 2
· 2025-09-02
The "phantom hacker" scam, which has stolen over $1 billion from seniors, uses a three-part scheme: fraudsters impersonating bank support alert victims to suspicious account activity, then fake government officials offer to help protect the money, and finally scammers gain remote computer access by claiming someone is stealing funds, allowing them to drain accounts while instructing victims to tell no one, especially their bank. Key warning signs include urgent threats and demands for secrecy.
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CBS4 Indy
· 2025-09-02
According to a new report, Indiana ranks second in the nation for senior fraud rates, with fraudulent scams against seniors increasing 240% over the last three years—the highest increase in the country. The article highlights a recent case in Parke County where a woman and accomplice nearly defrauded an 80-year-old man out of over $100,000 through a hacking scam, but the victim became suspicious and reported it to authorities, leading to the suspect's arrest.
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ABC10
· 2025-09-04
California seniors lost $1.7 billion to fraud in 2024, with scammers increasingly targeting older adults through digital devices using evolving tactics like spoofing and gift card scams. Experts from AARP and Chase Bank conducted educational workshops in Sacramento to help seniors recognize common scams and protect their identities, emphasizing that awareness and vigilance are key to prevention.
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Local 3 News
· 2025-09-05
Elder law attorney Nancy Cogar discusses the prevalence of scams targeting vulnerable populations, particularly elderly individuals who tend to have more accumulated wealth. While scams are primarily aimed at seniors, Cogar notes that younger people are also targeted through schemes like fraudulent job recruitment emails, emphasizing that the key warning sign is offers that seem too good to be true.
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Atlanta News First
· 2025-09-06
Fulton County launched a free online training program called "Avoid Cyber Threats" to help seniors recognize and avoid digital scams, following FBI data showing seniors suffered approximately $5 billion in financial losses last year. The program was created in response to the vulnerability of older adults to cyber fraud, illustrated by a resident's experience losing $2,000 to a phishing scam, and addresses the fact that Georgia ranks seventh nationally for internet crime losses.
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WUSA9
· 2025-09-08
DC's Attorney General filed a lawsuit against a major Bitcoin ATM operator after finding that 93% of deposits at these machines were linked to fraud, with victims having a median age of 71 and median losses of $8,000. The scam typically begins with a phone call from someone impersonating a bank, government official, or trusted company, who convinces seniors to deposit money into Bitcoin ATMs under false pretenses such as protecting their funds or assisting with a government investigation. Red flags include high-pressure tactics and artificial urgency in these calls.
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NBC4 Columbus
· 2025-09-10
The third annual Senior Tech Conference in Ohio educated over 400 people age 55+ on recognizing online scams and fraud, addressing a 22% increase in senior scam complaints from 2023 to 2024 (over 300 complaints filed). Sessions covered online banking, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and notably deepfake technology used to impersonate grandchildren and loved ones targeting vulnerable seniors.
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WENY TV NEWS
· 2025-09-11
The New York Attorney General warned seniors about the "Phantom Hacker" scam, a three-phase fraud in which victims receive unsolicited contact claiming their bank account has been hacked, are tricked into downloading remote-access software, and then receive follow-up calls from scammers posing as their bank or government officials to convince them their funds are compromised. Since last year, over $1 billion has been stolen nationwide from people near or in retirement through such schemes, and authorities advise seniors to avoid clicking unsolicited links, never grant remote computer access, and call their bank directly using a known number if they receive fraud alerts.
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13WHAM ABC News
· 2025-09-17
Eight suspects were charged federally for operating fraud schemes targeting over 139 senior citizens across Western New York, resulting in approximately $11 million in losses. The schemes employed multiple tactics including romance scams, account hacking, and identity theft, and were dismantled by a newly formed Department of Justice task force based in Rochester.
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WSLS 10
· 2025-09-18
Virginia ranks 11th nationally for elder fraud losses, with nearly 4,000 complaints from residents 60 and older in 2024 resulting in over $16.6 million in losses. Scammers target seniors on fixed incomes through online schemes, including convincing phishing attempts like fake tech support calls. Experts emphasize the importance of online safety awareness to protect vulnerable older adults from fraud.
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13WHAM ABC News
· 2025-09-18
Thirty-five-year-old Esther Marie Jones of Rochester appeared in federal court as one of eight suspects accused of running fraud schemes targeting dozens of senior citizens in Western New York. According to the criminal complaint, Jones was found in possession of 31 fraudulent identification cards, 4 stolen social security cards, and 65 fraudulent bank cards, which she allegedly used to steal money from seniors and open businesses under their identities. A fraud prevention expert noted that elder fraud victims often suffer devastating consequences, as seniors who lose their life savings lack the financial resources to recover, unlike younger fraud victims.
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CHEK Media
· 2025-09-20
Scammers are increasingly targeting seniors with medical fraud using deepfake technology and artificial intelligence to create convincing but fake advertisements. One notable scam used deepfaked videos of a CBC journalist and doctor endorsing a supplement claiming to cure type 2 diabetes in 14 days, exploiting seniors' trust in recognized media figures and medical professionals.