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in Government Impersonation
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman reported a fraud case to police after falling victim to a scam in which fraudsters impersonated law enforcement officers, using spoofed phone numbers and psychological tactics to pressure her into providing personal and financial information. Authorities traced the financial transactions, detained the individuals involved, and issued warnings urging the public to remain vigilant and never share personal details or grant remote device access to unsolicited callers. Police emphasized that legitimate law enforcement and government officials never request such information, and advised citizens to report suspicious calls to UIDAI's helpline at 1947.
boredpanda.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is a collection of various scam examples and general awareness advice rather than a single incident report. It showcases multiple types of fraud including restaurant billing schemes, GoFundMe donation fraud using deceased pets, charity scams involving emotional appeals (cancer), fake charity sales, and robocalls targeting business owners. The article highlights that scammers use psychological tactics such as professional language, appeals to trust, fear and urgency, and confusion to manipulate victims, and emphasizes the importance of verifying receipts, checking credentials, and remaining cautious even when feeling pressured.
woub.org
· 2025-12-08
The city of Athens, Ohio fell victim to a $721,976 cyber scam when fraudsters impersonated a construction company accountant via spoofed email addresses and convinced city officials to redirect a fire station project payment to a fraudulent bank account. The scammers gained access to legitimate email exchanges between city staff and the actual contractor, created nearly identical fake email domains, and posed as the accountant to request electronic payment instead of checks. The fraud was discovered when the scammers attempted to redirect a second payment, and investigations are ongoing.
firstcoastnews.com
· 2025-12-08
I appreciate you testing my summarization capability, but this text appears to be a technical instruction or website interface element about downloading an app, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse.
I'm specifically designed to summarize content related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse for the Elderus database. If you have an actual article or transcript about fraud or scams affecting seniors, I'd be happy to summarize that for you instead.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational announcement for a three-part fraud prevention workshop series offered by AARP NJ at the Senior Resource Center in Chester, New Jersey, scheduled for May and June. The sessions cover fraud landscape awareness and prevention tools, government imposter scams with identity protection checklists, and cybercrime safety across various settings including social media and online banking.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, over 4,300 New Yorkers age 60 and older lost more than $203 million to financial scams, averaging $47,000 per victim, prompting AARP New York and state legislators to call for enhanced consumer protections including bank teller training to identify exploitation signs. Common scams targeting seniors include the "grandparent scam," where fraudsters pose as relatives requesting emergency money via untraceable payment methods like cash or gift cards. Governor Hochul's proposed budget includes measures to equip financial institutions to recognize and prevent elder financial fraud through employee training and transaction monitoring.
miamitimesonline.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines major scam trends for 2025, including AI-enhanced scams (phishing, deepfakes, voice cloning), imposter scams where fraudsters pose as trusted contacts or companies with a median loss of $800 per victim, sextortion schemes involving explicit content extortion, romance scams using fake profiles and deepfake video calls, and phone-based scams using robocalls and malware. The article emphasizes that scammers primarily seek personal information or money, and recommends skepticism when contacted unexpectedly, especially regarding urgent requests or investment opportunities.
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season scams are prevalent, with fraudsters impersonating the IRS, tax preparers, and tax software companies through emails, texts, and voice-cloned phone calls to steal sensitive financial information or install malware on victims' devices. Common tactics include fake refund offers, threats of legal action, malicious links, and posing as tax professionals to create fraudulent IRS accounts and file returns in victims' names. Experts recommend verifying the legitimacy of communications by directly contacting organizations using official phone numbers and being cautious about unsolicited requests for personal information.
phila.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonate government tax agents via mail, phone, and email to pressure taxpayers into providing personal information or making immediate payments, particularly during tax season. To protect against tax scams, taxpayers should recognize warning signs like threatening language, urgent payment demands, and promises of unusually large refunds, and should never share sensitive information like Social Security numbers or passwords unless they can verify the requester's identity through official channels. The Philadelphia Department of Revenue advises verifying any notices through your online tax account, reporting suspicious contacts, and obtaining tax information only from official government websites.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers exploit psychological vulnerabilities and human behavior to deceive victims, using tactics like "spray and pray" messaging to catch people when distracted, tired, or stressed. The FTC received 2.6 million fraud reports in 2024 resulting in $12.5 billion in losses, with research showing that nine in ten Americans have been targeted by fraud attempts, and cognitive impairment—whether temporary or chronic—significantly increases susceptibility to scams. Key protective insights include recognizing that truth bias makes people inherently inclined to believe what others tell them, and that remaining alert and verifying requests independently are essential defenses against fraud.
b985.fm
· 2025-12-08
The Bar Harbor, Maine school system was targeted by a business email compromise scam in January 2025, where fraudsters submitted a false request to change bank account information that was processed by school staff. Once the account was changed, a legitimate $1,066,754 payment from Wright-Ryan Construction for a school construction project was diverted to the scammers' account, but quick action by school officials, law enforcement, and the FBI resulted in the account being frozen and most or all of the funds being recovered. The school system has disabled the compromised payment system and implemented enhanced security training for accounts payable staff to prevent future incidents.
e.vnexpress.net
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old woman named Ngoc in Phan Thiet, Vietnam lost her entire life savings of VND3 billion (approximately US$117,000) to an elaborate prize-drawing scam between June 2023 and January 2024. Scammers posing as employees of a non-existent "Perfect Southeast Asia Joint Venture Shopping Center" convinced her to purchase hundreds of items at inflated prices (4-10 times their actual value) by promising high-value prizes and lucky draw codes, instructing her not to open packages; when she requested pickup of the goods in January 2024, the scammers took 36 items an
jamaica-gleaner.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Kyle Dunkley, a 27-year-old first-time renter, lost $140,000 to a rental scam after responding to a property advertisement, submitting documents, signing a contract, and making payment—only to have the fraudster disappear before the move-in date. Scammers are increasingly hijacking legitimate real estate listings from agents' websites and reposting them on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to deceive potential tenants, with victims typically asked to pay first month's rent, deposits, and security fees before being blocked by the perpetrators.
richmondobserver.com
· 2025-12-08
Local law enforcement agencies in Hamlet, North Carolina are warning residents about persistent financial scams, including gift card scams, prize scams, and imposter schemes involving government agencies, tech support, and family members. One resident lost $16,000 in a relative-in-trouble scam in January 2024 when a suspect posing as the victim's grandson claimed to be in jail and arranged a cash pickup at a restaurant; the suspect, Bryan Buonjiovanni, 19, of Canada, was later arrested and charged with obtaining property by false pretenses. Police recommend residents verify requests through independent contact with family members, never purchase gift cards for payments, and create secret family passwords to prevent
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Phillip Priolo, a 61-year-old from Florida, was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and four counts of mail fraud for operating a mass mailing scheme from March 2015 to December 2016 that defrauded thousands of elderly victims. The scheme involved sending millions of personalized-appearing notices falsely claiming recipients had won a cash prize and requesting an upfront fee to collect it; victims who paid never received the promised prize. Priolo faces up to 20 years in prison per count, with sentencing to be scheduled later in 2022.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Police in Montreal have dismantled multiple international grandparent scam networks that defrauded hundreds of American seniors out of over $21 million USD. The scams involved organized call centres where operators posed as grandchildren requesting emergency funds from elderly victims in the United States, with two major operations—led by Anthony David Di Rienzo (2019-2021) and Gareth West (2021-2024)—operating with similar structures, victim-targeting methods, and U.S.-based collection teams, suggesting connections to organized crime.
niagara-gazette.com
· 2025-12-08
A "grandparent scam" is targeting senior citizens in Niagara County, where scammers impersonate a grandchild in distress (claiming a car accident or jail situation) and demand immediate payment via gift cards or cash. One Niagara County resident lost $25,000 after being told to purchase four $600 Green Dot gift cards, while Canadian perpetrators have defrauded victims across Vermont and 30+ other states using AI-cloned voices. Sheriff Michael Filicetti and local authorities advise hanging up and confirming directly with family members, as legitimate law enforcement would never request gift cards or cash for bail or damages.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Grandparent scams targeting seniors in Niagara County involve fraudsters posing as family members in distress and requesting money via gift cards or cash to avoid legal consequences; one local victim lost $24,000 after being told a family member was in jail. According to law enforcement, these scams are widespread across multiple states and increasingly use artificial intelligence to clone victims' voices, with perpetrators often operating from outside the region and employing local accomplices to collect payments. Sheriff officials recommend hanging up to verify claims directly with family members and note that legitimate law enforcement never requests gift cards or cash over the phone.
ny1.com
· 2025-12-08
IRS and tax-related scams are particularly prevalent during tax season, with fraudsters impersonating the IRS, tax preparers, and tax software companies through phishing emails, texts, and increasingly sophisticated voice cloning calls to steal sensitive financial information and submit fraudulent tax returns. Common tactics include fake refund offers, threats of criminal charges, malicious links that install ransomware, and fraudulent tax preparer services designed to capture personal data and file false returns in victims' names. Consumers should verify contact information directly with official sources, avoid clicking unsolicited links, and hang up on suspicious calls to independently verify the caller's identity.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Texas retiree lost approximately $500,000 in a romance-investment scam after meeting a woman named "Gianna" on the dating site Silver Singles, who gradually persuaded him to invest in cryptocurrency over several months. The scammer used fabricated account statements showing investment gains to encourage him to withdraw his 401(k) and continue sending money, eventually disappearing with his funds. To recover his losses, Dalrymple plans to return to full-time work and sell his home; the scam exemplifies a growing trend combining romance and cryptocurrency fraud, with investment scams accounting for nearly half of all reported fraud cases involving cryptocurrency in 2024.
buckscountyherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers target seniors of all financial means, exploiting their politeness and vulnerability through schemes like grandparent scams, credit card theft, investment fraud, and romance scams. National fraud losses reached $12.5 billion last year, with Pennsylvania ranking sixth in fraud reports; AARP's Consumer Issues Task Force, staffed by 15 volunteers including former postal inspector Tony Wolchasty, educates seniors about common scams and advises victims to report to local police and contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360.
bucks.crimewatchpa.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece from a Bucks County Sheriff addresses the rising threat of fraud targeting seniors, particularly grandparent scams, government impersonation schemes, tech support fraud, romance scams, and phishing attacks. The article emphasizes that seniors are vulnerable targets and provides concrete prevention strategies including verifying contacts independently, protecting personal information, resisting pressure tactics, and reporting suspected fraud to local police. The key message is that protecting seniors from fraud is a community-wide responsibility requiring awareness and vigilance.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Montreal-based grandparent scam network targeted thousands of American seniors between 2019 and March 2021, defrauding victims like Madeline, an 80-year-old former nurse, of their life savings by impersonating grandchildren in legal trouble and manipulating them into wire transfers. The alleged leaders, including David Anthony Di Rienzo, lived lavishly with luxury vehicles while victims suffered lasting emotional and financial devastation, with one judge noting the scammers "took their peace of mind." Multiple similar networks operated from Montreal during this period, employing emotional manipulation scripts to exploit vulnerable seniors' trust and sense of responsibility for family members.
nbclosangeles.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old El Monte man, Quan Lin, was arrested in Redlands for posing as an FBI agent and defrauding a 73-year-old resident of $25,000 while attempting to extract an additional $35,000 by threatening the victim with arrest for child pornography. The victim became suspicious on the second day of the scam and alerted police, who intercepted Lin at the residence; he is being held on $250,000 bail and faces charges including elder fraud, grand theft, and theft by false pretenses. Investigators suspect Lin may be connected to similar scams in other communities.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Bank impersonation scams via text, email, and phone calls increased dramatically in 2024, with the FTC reporting these scams accounted for nearly half of all reported frauds and resulted in losses exceeding $1.1 billion—more than triple the 2020 total. Criminals use spoofing technology and sophisticated replicas of bank communications to trick victims into revealing PINs, passwords, account access codes, or moving money to "safe" accounts by creating false urgency around account security threats. Consumers should never provide account credentials or personal information to unsolicited contacts; instead, they should hang up and call their bank directly using verified contact information from official websites or statements, an
duanemorris.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS's annual 2025 "Dirty Dozen" list warns taxpayers about prevalent tax scams that use both sophisticated and simple social engineering tactics to steal sensitive financial information. The most common scams include phishing and smishing attacks (fake IRS emails and texts designed to trick people into sharing personal data) and social media tax scams promoting false credits and loopholes. The IRS emphasizes that awareness alone is insufficient—taxpayers must proactively protect themselves by verifying communications directly through official sources and consulting trusted tax professionals rather than relying on unsolicited messages or unverified social media advice.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS released its 2025 "Dirty Dozen" list of prevalent tax scams, including phishing emails, IRS impersonation calls demanding payment, fake tax preparers, fraudulent refund claims using stolen identities, and misleading social media tax advice. Taxpayers should protect themselves by verifying communications, using trusted tax software, enabling multi-factor authentication, and reporting suspected scams to authorities; victims may be eligible for theft loss deductions under certain circumstances with proper documentation.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Pleasant Community Education Outreach Service (CEOS) in Point Pleasant, West Virginia held a meeting on March 13 where member Elaine Matheny presented an educational lesson on scams targeting senior citizens, covering ten types of fraud including telephone scams, IRS scams, romance scams, tech support scams, and lottery scams, along with prevention tips. The lesson, written by Gina Taylor and Carter Taylor, was designed to educate the community on how to recognize and avoid common elder fraud schemes.
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old widow and other senior victims who lost their retirement savings to online scams impersonating federal investigators now face significant tax bills from the IRS, compounding their financial losses. Mary Ellen Strange, for example, owes an estimated $100,000 in taxes for 2025 after being defrauded into draining her retirement accounts. The article highlights how scam victims experience compounding hardship—initial financial devastation followed by unexpected tax liability on the stolen funds they were forced to withdraw.
longisland.com
· 2025-12-08
Older New Yorkers lost over $203 million to scams in 2023, with more than 4,300 victims age 60 and older experiencing an average loss of $47,000 each, prompting AARP New York and state legislators to call for consumer protection measures in the state budget. Governor Hochul's proposed safeguards include training bank employees to identify signs of financial exploitation and place holds on suspicious transactions, with the "grandparent scam" identified as one of the most common schemes targeting seniors. The coalition is urging financial institutions to work with state leadership to implement fraud prevention measures that would help protect older New Yorkers' retirement savings from increasingly sophisticated sc
actionnewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
The California Franchise Tax Board issued a warning during tax season about persistent scams targeting taxpayers, particularly text message schemes directing victims to fraudulent FTB website replicas designed to steal personal and banking information. State Controller Malia M. Cohen advised taxpayers to guard sensitive information and verify any communications from tax agencies directly rather than clicking links or downloading attachments from suspicious messages. The FTB recommends contacting them at (800) 852-5711 or the IRS at (800) 892-1040 if taxpayers receive suspicious correspondence.
latimes.com
· 2025-12-08
ICE impersonators and other scammers are increasingly targeting immigrant communities, capitalizing on fears related to deportation policies, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The article provides protective guidance including: verify federal officials through official identification and government channels only, never sign documents or provide personal/financial information to unsolicited callers, understand that legitimate ICE agents will not contact you via personal social media or request money, and be aware that "notario" or notary public titles do not indicate legal expertise in the United States. Impersonating a federal officer is illegal and punishable by fines or imprisonment.
abc11.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, scammers stole a record $12.5 billion from Americans, a 25% increase from the previous year, with investment scams and imposter scams causing the largest losses according to FTC data. A Raleigh woman lost nearly $3,000 to a Microsoft imposter scam after being tricked into purchasing gift cards, a common tactic where fraudsters impersonate legitimate companies or government agencies. Red flags include requests to buy gift cards, cryptocurrency, or send money through payment apps to unknown individuals.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Reports of individuals impersonating ICE agents have increased across the United States, with scammers contacting victims by phone, email, or in person to demand payment via cash, wire transfers, or gift cards while threatening arrest or deportation. Authorities advise immigrants to verify agent identities through official ICE field offices, avoid sharing original documents without verified government requirements, seek help only from licensed lawyers and accredited representatives, and report suspicious activity to local authorities, as legitimate federal agencies never demand payment over unsolicited contact.
fhtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are evolving with AI-generated videos and images to impersonate celebrities and create fake relationships, with scammers targeting Arizonans of all ages—particularly isolated seniors—to extract thousands of dollars through emotional manipulation and fabricated emergencies. A French woman lost $850,000 to a fraudster impersonating Brad Pitt using AI-generated hospital images, exemplifying how scammers build trust over months before requesting wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. Consumers should watch for red flags including unsolicited contact with urgency, requests for personal information, upfront payment demands, and suspicious grammar, and can verify photos through reverse image searches.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
"Digital arrest" scams in Mumbai involve fraudsters posing as police or CBI officers via video call to coerce victims into isolation and payment through psychological manipulation and fabricated legal threats. In 2023, Mumbai police registered 195 such cases, with victims ranging from senior citizens to high-earning professionals (bankers, doctors, IT professionals, MNC directors), who lost amounts ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 32 lakh after being threatened with drug trafficking charges, harm to family members, or travel bans. Scammers exploit authority bias, create artificial urgency, leverage stolen personal data (Aadhaar, PAN numbers), and use AI-generated videos
mesquitelocalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security imposter scams remain prevalent across the U.S., with scammers using deceptive tactics to obtain sensitive information or money through fraudulent letters, texts, emails, and calls. The Social Security Administration clarifies that it will never text/email ID images, suspend Social Security numbers, threaten arrest, demand payment via gift cards or wire transfers, or promise benefits in exchange for fees. Individuals should report suspected Social Security fraud to the Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report and verify suspicious communications through official channels.
yourvalley.net
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are evolving to incorporate AI-generated videos and images to impersonate celebrities and create fake online relationships, with scammers targeting people of all ages but particularly vulnerable seniors who feel isolated. A French woman lost $850,000 to a fraudster claiming to be Brad Pitt who used AI to fabricate hospital photos and impersonate the actor, requesting money for medical treatment. Consumers should watch for red flags including unsolicited urgent contact, requests for personal information, and demands for upfront payments, and can verify suspicious photos through reverse image searches.
13wmaz.com
· 2025-12-08
A South Carolina man, Bhargav Patel, was arrested in Jones County, Georgia after attempting to defraud an elderly couple of their life savings through a courier scam, in which he convinced them their bank deposits were unsafe and arranged to pick up their withdrawn money for "safekeeping." The couple's family intervened before the theft was completed, obtained the suspect's license plate, and authorities tracked and arrested Patel, charging him with exploitation of the elderly and two counts of criminal attempt to commit theft. The sheriff's office emphasized that such fraud cases are among the highest-volume crimes they handle and advised residents to be cautious of unsolicited calls, especially from those impersonating government agencies
indianasenaterepublicans.com
· 2025-12-08
A smishing scam targeting Indiana residents falsely claims consumers owe unpaid toll road fees via text message, using urgency and threatening language to pressure victims into clicking malicious links and entering personal financial information. The Indiana Toll Road Concession Company warns that it never requests sensitive information by text or phone, and advises recipients to report scam messages to the FBI at www.ic3.gov, verify account status directly with the company, and contact their bank immediately if they clicked any links or shared information.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Sarah Croney, a 39-year-old care home worker in Lincolnshire, was targeted by an organized criminal gang in 2023 when a burglar stole her purse from work, and an accomplice then posed as a bank official to obtain her details and drain her account. The gang carried out 46 sneak-in burglaries across 13 counties between March 2023 and May 2024, targeting workers in care homes, schools, and other public facilities before using the stolen information to commit fraud. Two ringleaders, Darren Wykes and George Quinn, were jailed for five years and four months and five years respectively; Cr
thehindu.com
· 2025-12-08
The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau warned corporate offices and IT firms of a rising trend of impersonation scams targeting financial personnel, where cybercriminals pose as senior executives via WhatsApp, email, and SMS to trick accounts officers into transferring large sums of money. In a documented case, an accounts officer received a WhatsApp message displaying a company CMD's profile picture and was instructed to transfer funds for an urgent project, resulting in financial loss before the fraud was discovered. The TGCSB recommends companies implement multi-level approval processes, verify all financial instructions through direct voice contact with the purported sender, and conduct regular employee training to counter these sophisticated attacks.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
On March 21, 2025, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office arrested suspects in an ongoing phone scam targeting an elderly male customer who was instructed to withdraw $50,000 from Wells Fargo in Oakdale. A vigilant bank teller alerted law enforcement after the victim attempted a second large withdrawal, prompting detectives to coordinate an undercover operation that successfully apprehended the scammers at a pre-arranged collection point. The case highlights the importance of reporting suspicious requests for large cash withdrawals to authorities immediately.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported over $310 million in investment fraud losses in 2024, with more than $1 billion lost since 2021, as scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence and deepfakes to create convincing fraudulent investment platforms and cryptocurrency schemes. Victims are typically lured through social media ads, fake search results, or impersonated contacts, receive small returns on initial investments to build trust, but lose their money when attempting larger withdrawals. Law enforcement warns that fraudsters use urgency tactics and target vulnerable populations, with romance scams also prevalent; Canada's fraud industry is estimated at $100 million annually.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Investment scams remain the most prevalent fraud scheme in Canada, with over $310 million in reported losses in 2024 and more than $1 billion since 2021, often employing artificial intelligence and deepfake videos featuring public figures to appear legitimate. Scammers typically lure victims through social media ads, fraudulent Google search results, and fake endorsements, initially providing small returns to build trust before preventing withdrawals once larger sums are invested. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and Royal Newfoundland Constabulary advise victims to avoid pressure tactics, conduct due diligence before investing, and report incidents to authorities, noting that fraud networks operate as sophisticated criminal enterprises targeting vulnerable
news-press.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, seniors lost $3.4 billion to financial scams, with common schemes including grandparent scams, fake financial institution impersonations, tech support fraud, government impersonation, and romance scams that exploit older adults' trust and emotional vulnerabilities. The article advises seniors to be wary of anyone demanding immediate payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers, and to verify requests through official channels before sending money. These scams cause not only significant financial losses but also lasting emotional and psychological harm to victims.
mobileidworld.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI issued a nationwide alert about a fourfold increase in "smishing" attacks (fraudulent SMS messages) targeting U.S. smartphone users since January 2025, with over 2,000 complaints received regarding fake toll payment and delivery service notifications. Cybercriminals operating from China have registered more than 10,000 domains and use sophisticated phishing kits to steal personal and financial information, with Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Orlando being the most heavily targeted cities. The FBI recommends users delete suspicious texts without clicking links and verify payments directly through official websites.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
A former pastor in Crofton, Kentucky, Marvin Upton, was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in prison for defrauding an elderly parishioner with dementia between 2013 and 2016 through bank fraud, and for filing false tax returns that concealed the fraudulent income. Upton was ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution to the victim's estate and $222,037 to the IRS. The case was prosecuted under the Department of Justice's National Elder Justice Task Force as part of broader efforts to combat financial exploitation of seniors.
chicagotribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season presents increased fraud risk as scammers use phishing emails, texts, phone calls, and social media to impersonate the IRS and steal personal information or money. Common tactics include creating false urgency, threatening arrest, promising inflated refunds through "ghost" preparers who file fraudulent returns, and exploiting uncertainty around recent IRS workforce cuts to appear more convincing. Experts recommend using only trusted tax professionals, avoiding suspicious links and unsolicited offers, and reporting scams to the IRS, as reduced agency staffing may slow response times to fraud complaints.
11alive.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season fraud is escalating, with scammers using common tactics like phishing emails, threatening calls impersonating the IRS, and fake tax preparers who file fraudulent returns with inflated deductions to steal refunds. This year, criminals are exploiting uncertainty from recent IRS workforce cuts—both to impersonate the agency with false filing claims and because reduced IRS staffing may slow response times to reported scams and takedown of malicious websites. Consumers are advised to watch for red flags including urgency, threats, suspicious links, and promises of large payouts, and to only use accredited tax professionals.