Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
3,332 results
in Tech Support Scam
broadandliberty.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder abuse and fraud targeting seniors remains a persistent problem, with the FBI reporting $4.885 billion in losses from 147,127 complaints in 2024—a 46% increase in complaints and 43% increase in losses compared to 2023. Criminals exploit elderly individuals through various schemes including investment scams, technical support fraud, romance scams, and home invasions, targeting them because they are perceived as polite, trusting, financially stable, and less likely to report crimes. The FBI emphasizes the need for public education about these scams and their devastating financial and emotional impacts on victims and their families.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are using fake Google ads and search parameter injection attacks to hijack support pages for major brands including Apple, Bank of America, Facebook, HP, Microsoft, Netflix, and PayPal, displaying fraudulent phone numbers that appear legitimate. When victims call these numbers, scammers pose as brand representatives and attempt to steal personal data, financial account credentials, or gain remote computer access. Users can protect themselves by verifying phone numbers through official brand websites, recognizing red flags like urgent language and encoded characters in URLs, and using security tools like Malwarebytes Browser Guard to detect search hijacking attempts.
whec.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers increasingly use psychological manipulation tactics and AI technology—including deepfakes, voice disguise, and fake websites—to deceive consumers, particularly targeting vulnerable individuals seeking work-from-home opportunities or financial gains. Dr. Martina Dove, a behavioral science expert, explains that scammers exploit human traits like commitment and desperation, often using AI-generated training materials and fake job postings to build trust before defrauding victims. Consumers can protect themselves by consulting ChatGPT to verify suspicious messages, seeking input from trusted friends and family, and remembering that offers that seem too good to be true usually are.
hometownstations.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men, Jinrong Shi (28) and Jiyang Zhong (27), were indicted on 10 counts for defrauding elderly victims in Northeast Ohio through "grandparent" and "tech support" scams in May-June 2024, stealing over $201,000 from residents in Cleveland Heights, Willoughby, Canton, and Warren. The defendants worked with a criminal network of "fraud callers" and "fraud couriers" who convinced victims to withdraw cash and used passwords to gain trust, then laundered proceeds across state lines and through cryptocurrency accounts in China. Both men face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
turnto23.com
· 2025-12-08
California seniors lost nearly $833 million to scams in 2024, a 43% increase from the previous year, with romance and technology scams being the most prevalent in Bakersfield and Kern County. The FBI highlighted a case involving a retired educator who was defrauded after being contacted by a scammer posing as an attractive woman through a text message, demonstrating how emotional vulnerability can be exploited. To protect themselves, seniors should independently verify claims, check with the Better Business Bureau, resist pressure to act quickly, and never send money or gift cards to unverified individuals.
lethbridgeherald.com
· 2025-12-08
**Seniors and Financial Fraud - Overview and Rising Threats**
People age 60 and over lost $3.4 billion combined to fraud in 2023, with scammers increasingly targeting older adults through evolving methods including phone impersonation, online platforms like Facebook, and cryptocurrency schemes. Common scams include the grandparent scam, tech support fraud, romance scams, and investment schemes that exploit seniors' trust and lower technological proficiency. Law enforcement notes that fraudsters now use sophisticated tools and AI to appear more credible, making it essential for seniors to remain vigilant about unsolicited contact and requests for personal or financial information.
boernestar.com
· 2025-12-08
On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the FBI highlighted the growing threat of elder fraud, reporting $4.885 billion in losses from 147,127 complaints in 2024—a 46% increase in complaints and 43% increase in losses compared to 2023. Seniors are targeted for various scams including investment schemes, technical support fraud, romance scams, and money mule operations because they are often perceived as trusting, financially stable, and less likely to report crimes. The FBI recommends seniors verify unknown contacts online, resist pressure to act quickly, avoid unsolicited offers, never share personal information or money with unverified sources, and report suspected fraud immediately to local law enforcement
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans lost $1.14 billion to romance scams, with the FBI reporting 17,910 complaints and $672 million in losses in 2024. Scammers build fake online relationships through stolen photos and personas on dating apps and social media, using emotional manipulation ("love bombing") to gain trust before requesting money, gifts, or sensitive information. Victims—who are often lonely, grieving, or trusting—experience lasting emotional and financial damage, with cryptocurrency increasingly used as the payment method due to its difficulty in tracing.
wsbradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta is participating in a national initiative to prosecute perpetrators of elder fraud through cooperation with domestic and international law enforcement agencies. The office employs a two-pronged strategy combining prosecution of offenders with community education and prevention efforts, as these scams—including romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams—cost seniors billions of dollars annually and often deplete life savings. Victims or those aware of elder fraud can report incidents to the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311.
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams defraud victims through fake online relationships, with Americans losing an estimated $1.14 billion in 2023 and the FBI reporting $672 million in losses from 17,910 complaints in 2024. Scammers build emotional trust through "love bombing" on social media and dating apps (40% and 19% of cases respectively), then manipulate victims into sending money, gifts, or cryptocurrency—with crypto transfers showing the highest median losses. These schemes cause lasting emotional and financial damage to vulnerable individuals seeking companionship, with the real toll likely higher due to underreporting.
ksl.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam Jam, an educational event held in Sandy, Utah, brought together FBI and AARP experts to educate residents about common fraud schemes including romance, internet, cryptocurrency, and tech support scams. The event featured a personal testimony from Rita, who lost several thousand dollars to a romance scam impersonating a celebrity, emphasizing the importance of reporting fraud despite the emotional and financial toll. Utah reported over 150,000 fraud cases totaling $61 million in losses, with experts stressing that fraud prevention through awareness and recognizing red flags is more effective than recovery efforts.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans lost an estimated $1.14 billion to romance scams, emotional cons in which scammers build fake online relationships to manipulate victims into sending money, gifts, or sensitive information. The FBI reported 17,910 romance scam complaints in 2024 totaling $672 million in losses, with scammers increasingly using cryptocurrency for faster, harder-to-trace payments. These scams typically begin on social media (40%) or dating apps (19%), where perpetrators use stolen photos and fake personas to establish emotional trust through "love bombing" before requesting money from vulnerable targets who feel they are helping a romantic partner in crisis.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced increased efforts to combat elder fraud schemes—including romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandpament scams—that cost victims billions of dollars and deplete life savings. The office employs a two-pronged approach: prosecuting domestic and foreign criminals involved in elder fraud and money laundering, and conducting outreach to law enforcement and community groups on prevention and detection. The National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-372-8311) provides free support to seniors age 60 and older who have experienced financial fraud, offering victim assessment, reporting assistance,
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
A Panchkula resident lost ₹19 lakh to an online trading scam conducted via WhatsApp, where fraudsters posing as investment consultants lured the victim into a fake trading app that displayed fabricated profits before becoming unresponsive when withdrawal was attempted. Police registered a case under IPC and IT Act sections and launched an investigation into the suspects' phone numbers and bank accounts. Authorities advised the public to verify credentials of financial advisors and avoid transferring large sums based on online promises of unrealistic returns.
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is a general news roundup from Spectrum News Hawaii covering multiple unrelated stories from the week, including Rams rookies helping rebuild homes in Lahaina following the 2023 wildfires, an unannounced emergency alert test sent to Hawaii residents, a restaurant closure due to health violations, and a brush fire update. None of these stories involve elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse, so this content is not relevant to the Elderus database.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
A 60-year-old retired Air Force officer in Noida was defrauded of ₹1 crore in a sophisticated "digital arrest" scam where cybercriminals posing as Mumbai Police and CBI officers kept him isolated via video call for 27 days, gradually coercing him to transfer his savings under the pretense of a money laundering investigation. The scam involved doctored documents, impersonation of senior officials, and psychological manipulation to prevent the victim from contacting anyone, and was only discovered when a relative grew suspicious after being unable to reach him. Noida Police have launched an investigation in collaboration with bank authorities and cyber forensic experts, with preliminary
dentonrc.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article presents a quiz-format overview of common elder fraud schemes and prevention strategies, based on insights from a Texas Elder Justice Coalition summit. Key scams covered include romance/pig butchering scams, tech support fraud, impersonation scams using AI, fake lottery schemes, and caregiver theft, with recommendations including reporting to IC3.gov, using family code words, and recognizing warning signs like secretive apps and unusual bank activity.
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans lost an estimated $1.14 billion to romance scams, with the FBI reporting 17,910 complaints totaling $672 million in 2024 alone. Romance scammers build fake online relationships on social media and dating platforms to manipulate victims into sending money, gifts, or sensitive information, using emotional manipulation ("love bombing") and moving conversations to private messaging apps to avoid detection. These scams disproportionately affect lonely, grieving, or trusting individuals, and victims experience lasting emotional and financial trauma beyond the immediate monetary loss.
techradar.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI has warned of a new SMS phishing scam targeting US drivers with fake text messages claiming unpaid toll fees are owed, directing recipients to malicious links designed to steal credit card and personal information. The scam mimics Department of Motor Vehicles communications and uses urgent language and threats of legal action to pressure victims into clicking links before they notice red flags like generic greetings, typos, fake sender addresses, and non-existent government agencies. Users are advised to delete suspicious messages immediately, avoid clicking unknown links, and report scams to the FTC or FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
au.pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are using paid search ads and a technique called "search parameter injection" to redirect customers of major brands like Bank of America, Netflix, Microsoft, PayPal, and Apple to legitimate-looking websites where fraudulent support numbers are displayed in the search bar, tricking users into calling scammers who then attempt to steal personal data, financial information, or remote computer access. Malwarebytes reports a 41% increase in such "malvertising" scams in the US between July and September 2024, with an estimated 90% of perpetrators operating from South and Southeast Asian countries. Users can protect themselves by watching for red flags including urgent language, pre-populated text in
tech.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are using sponsored Google ads and a technique called "search parameter injection" to display fake customer support numbers on legitimate websites for major brands including Netflix, Microsoft, Bank of America, PayPal, Apple, Facebook, and HP. When victims call these fraudulent numbers, scammers impersonate company representatives to steal personal data, financial information, or gain remote access to computers. Malwarebytes reports that malvertising incidents in the US increased 41% between July and September 2024, with an estimated 90% of scammers operating from South and Southeast Asian countries.
kfiz.com
· 2025-12-08
Wisconsin residents reported receiving fraudulent letters impersonating a Canadian law firm claiming they were eligible to claim a $10 million life insurance policy (requesting $980,000 in processing fees) and a fake Medicare letter threatening penalty fees and requesting personal information from a soon-to-be Medicare enrollee. The article advises consumers to pause before acting, verify the sender's legitimacy, research common scam templates, and take preventative steps such as opting out of prescreened offers and reducing unsolicited mail through services like OptOutPrescreen.com and the DMA Mail Preference Service.
hackread.com
· 2025-12-08
A coordinated cryptocurrency theft operation targeted CoinMarketCap users through a malicious wallet verification pop-up embedded via a compromised homepage doodle image, draining approximately $43,266 from 110 victims using the Inferno Drainer toolkit. The attack used a convincing interface prompt that appeared across multiple pages on the site, tricking users into granting wallet access, with successful hits including stolen tokens like SOL, XRP, and PENGU. CoinMarketCap's security team detected and removed the malicious content, patched vulnerable systems, and confirmed the platform was secure following the incident.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Garrett County Sheriff Bryson Meyers issued a public awareness reminder about common scams targeting residents in the area, including tech support fraud, grandparent scams, government impersonation, romance scams, investment fraud, AI voice cloning, jury duty scams, and law enforcement impersonation. Residents are advised never to send money or personal information to unknown callers, avoid unsolicited pop-ups, and be alert to payment requests via Bitcoin or prepaid cards, as legitimate officials do not solicit payments by phone.
blog.knowbe4.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the FTC's October 2024 report, Americans lost an estimated $158.3 billion to scams in 2023 (approximately $433 million daily), with roughly 21 million U.S. citizens successfully scammed annually after adjusting for significant under-reporting. The top scams include investment fraud (often initiated through fake text messages leading to cryptocurrency schemes), fake job postings on legitimate employment sites, romance scams enhanced by AI deepfakes, tech support scams impersonating major tech companies, and fake vendor schemes.
12news.com
· 2025-12-08
A Jamaican man, Sherwayne Benjamin Bellinfantie, was extradited to Arizona and charged with wire fraud and money laundering for deceiving an 85-year-old woman in Vail, Arizona into sending nearly $400,000 between 2015 and 2019 through a romance scam involving fake lottery winnings. The FBI reports that online lottery scams targeting seniors in Arizona increased 400% between 2023 and 2024, with such international prosecutions being exceptionally rare. The article notes common scams include "pig butchering" schemes involving cryptocurrency and tech support frauds, and recommends avoiding unknown contacts, urgent messages, an
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
San Diego seniors lost $108 million to scams in 2024, with at least 1,300 residents aged 60 and older averaging $80,000 in losses each, though the actual figure is likely higher due to underreporting. Scammers are becoming increasingly brazen, with a common scheme involving fake tech support or overpayment notifications followed by couriers being sent to victims' homes to collect cash in person. The FBI has established the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force to combat elder fraud, which has already recovered $7.5 million for victims, and notes that fraud targets intelligent professionals including doctors, lawyers, and judges.
wnegradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Justice Department announced increased prosecution efforts against elder fraud schemes, which cost victims billions of dollars annually and often deplete life savings. The Northern District of Georgia has prosecuted multiple cases including an Indian call center scam where perpetrators impersonated government officials to fraudulently obtain funds, resulting in convictions and money laundering charges against Pradip Parikh, Alpesh Patel, and others. The Justice Department employs a two-pronged approach combining criminal prosecution with community outreach and education about common elder fraud schemes including romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams.
techradar.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam robocalls have declined 75% since fall 2021, but financial losses have increased significantly—rising from $692 million in 2021 to $948 million in 2024, with median losses per victim climbing from $1,200 to $1,500. Scammers have become far more efficient by using curated victim lists obtained from data breaches and the dark web, targeting specific customers with convincing impersonation rather than making indiscriminate calls. The article advises individuals to assume their personal information is already exposed and practice skepticism toward unexpected calls by using call-blocking technology and verifying callers through legitimate institutional contact numbers.
techradar.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2025, scammers are expected to leverage AI-driven tactics to conduct increasingly sophisticated fraud, building on the $1.03 trillion stolen in 2024. The article identifies five emerging scams including AI-powered robocalls with cloned voices, SIM swap attacks targeting two-factor authentication weaknesses, and OTP bot attacks, while noting common warning signs such as unsolicited urgent communications, requests for money transfers or app downloads, and suspicious video or audio inconsistencies. Consumers are advised to recognize these red flags and use enhanced security tools to protect themselves against evolving fraud schemes.
sg.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
While reported U.S. losses to online and phone scams reached over $50 billion in 2023, actual losses may exceed $100 billion when accounting for the 80-90% of incidents that go unreported. WhatSpam, an AI-powered app launched in 2025, aims to protect Americans by blocking spam and scam calls, texts, and emails before they reach users, using artificial intelligence to counter increasingly sophisticated AI-generated scams while maintaining user privacy by storing data locally on devices.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Modern scams increasingly use AI voice cloning, fake bank alerts, cryptocurrency schemes, gold bar frauds, and pet emergencies to deceive victims out of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Notable cases include a man who lost $25,000 to an AI voice clone impersonating his son, another who lost $300,000 to a fake bank freeze scam, and a retiree defrauded of $3.1 million in a gold bar scheme. Protective measures include verifying caller identity through direct contact, accessing bank accounts independently rather than through provided links, avoiding investment opportunities from social media strangers, and recognizing that legitimate law enforcement does not request money transfers or asset convers
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies eight prevalent online scams in 2025, including phishing, verification malware, impersonation, fake job offers, holiday delivery fraud, donation scams, romance scams, and fake police calls. The article advises readers to watch for red flags such as urgency in messaging, requests for sensitive information (OTPs, passwords), unsolicited job offers asking for upfront payment, suspicious links, and emotional manipulation tactics. Key protection strategies include verifying sender identity through official channels, avoiding clicking links in unsolicited messages, never running commands from unknown websites, and being skeptical of legitimate-seeming requests from companies or government agencies.
bisinfotech.com
· 2025-12-08
AI-powered romance scams have become increasingly sophisticated, using deepfake videos, voice cloning, and emotionally intelligent chatbots to create convincing fake identities that exploit victims' psychological need for connection. India has experienced a 300% rise in online romance scams between 2022 and 2024, with victims losing an estimated ₹270 crore in 2024 alone, predominantly affecting educated urban professionals aged 25-40. These scams are particularly effective because the AI technology is now scalable, automated, and difficult to distinguish from genuine interactions, making even tech-savvy users vulnerable to emotional and financial exploitation.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A Chinese student in London was sentenced to over a year in prison for using a portable "SMS blaster" device to send fraudulent text messages to tens of thousands of people between March 22-27, 2025. The device tricks mobile phones into connecting to a fake 2G network, allowing criminals to bypass anti-spam measures and send convincing phishing messages impersonating legitimate organizations like HMRC. Security experts recommend disabling 2G on Android devices and filtering unknown contacts on iPhones, while users can report suspicious texts to 7726 for investigation.
kcbx.org
· 2025-12-08
State Senator Monique Limón is hosting a free Senior Scam Prevention Seminar in Goleta on June 27 to educate older adults about protecting themselves from fraud, following warnings from law enforcement in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties about recent scam calls impersonating officers. Experts from the California Department of Insurance, Consumer Affairs, and Department of Justice will present information on common scam tactics including fake tech support, grandparent scams, fake lottery winnings, and phony home repair offers that frequently target seniors.
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the FBI's annual internet crime report, seniors lost nearly $5 billion to scams last year and are disproportionately targeted by scammers who view them as wealthy, not feeble-minded. The article identifies two major red flags for potential scams: feeling panicked and experiencing pressure to make fast decisions, and recommends that seniors slow down, create mental space to think, and independently verify claims before acting. Various protective services and apps have been developed to help seniors guard against financial exploitation.
amac.us
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource presents a chart detailing common scams targeting consumers, including AI scams (deepfake impersonations), bank text scams (phishing for account information), billing/invoice scams (fake invoices demanding payment), brushing scams (unsolicited items to boost reviews), and charity scams. The guide identifies shared scammer tactics such as impersonation, creating urgency, and pressuring victims to share personal information, while offering specific identification and prevention strategies for each scam type. The material encourages sharing this information with friends and family as a primary defense against fraud.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Over 180 Utahns attended a Scam Jam event presented by AARP Utah and the FBI to learn fraud prevention strategies, as Utah residents had lost more than $15.4 million to fraud in 2025, with $12 million of that from people aged 50 and older. The event featured FBI officials, state consumer protection leaders, and media experts who shared real victim stories, including a text scam and a romance scam that cost one woman $90,000, while emphasizing prevention tactics such as scrutinizing email addresses for typos and reporting fraud quickly to authorities.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors lost nearly $5 billion to scams last year and remain prime targets due to their concentrated wealth, according to the FBI. The article identifies five red flags indicating a potential scam: feeling panicked, pressure to make fast decisions, unsolicited contact, requests for personal information, and reluctance to verify claims—noting that scammers rely on emotional manipulation and time pressure to override victims' judgment. Experts advise pausing to think critically when experiencing these warning signs, as scammers count on immediate reactions rather than careful consideration.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies five red flags that warn seniors they may be targeted for scams, emphasizing that older adults lose nearly $5 billion annually and are targeted because they hold roughly half of U.S. wealth. The first two red flags discussed are feeling panicked (as in grandparent scams demanding immediate bail) and pressure to make fast decisions (such as investment opportunities or fake retail websites), with experts advising victims to slow down, create mental space, and independently verify claims rather than acting immediately.
mtdemocrat.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reports that elder fraud losses reached $4.885 billion across 147,127 complaints in 2024, representing a 46% increase in complaints and 43% increase in losses from 2023, with California accounting for $832.7 million of those losses. Seniors are frequently targeted through investment scams, technical support schemes, romance scams, and money mule operations because they are perceived as trusting, financially stable, and less likely to report crimes. The FBI recommends seniors verify unsolicited contact through independent research, resist pressure to act quickly, avoid sharing personal information with unverified sources, and report suspected fraud to law enforcement immediately.
trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is a product description and educational piece about Trend Micro ScamCheck, an AI-powered anti-scam tool designed to protect users from modern identity theft and fraud. The tool offers features including scam call/text blocking, deepfake detection, suspicious content analysis, and real-time alerts to help users identify and avoid scams across multiple platforms (SMS, email, social media, video calls, and websites). The piece emphasizes that scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics and that anyone can be targeted, making dedicated anti-scam protection necessary alongside traditional antivirus software.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Jensen Beach, Florida, lost $800 to a Facebook scam in which a fraudster impersonating Elon Musk promised her a Tesla and $250,000 in cash, then repeatedly requested Apple Gift Card payments for supposed delivery fees. The scammer used a fake profile with copied images and AI-generated content, moved the conversation to WhatsApp, and exploited urgency and flattery to manipulate the victim into sending multiple payments before she recognized the pattern. Gift cards are favored by scammers because they are untraceable, fast, and nearly impossible to recover once redeemed.
www2.ljworld.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers have been impersonating Senior Resource Center employees and attempting to sell burial plots to Douglas County residents, prompting the center's director to warn the public that the organization does not sell anything. The FBI reports that cybercriminals stole over $16 billion from Americans in 2024, with people over 60 losing nearly $5 billion; experts recommend the "Stop, Verify and Report" approach—stopping the conversation, verifying legitimacy through trusted sources, and reporting suspected scams to the Kansas Protection Report Center at 1-800-922-5330.
evanstonroundtable.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Evanston seniors fell victim to scams in recent months: a 76-year-old woman lost over $102,350 after being tricked into transferring funds to Bitcoin by someone impersonating a Microsoft employee, and an 83-year-old woman nearly lost $12,500 in a Publisher's Clearinghouse sweepstakes scam before loss prevention staff at Jewel-Osco intervened. Police emphasized that prevention requires education, as most scammers operate internationally making arrests rare, and urged families to discuss common scam tactics with vulnerable relatives, particularly impersonation schemes involving grandchildren, financial institutions, tech support, and government agencies.
coastalbreezenews.com
· 2025-12-08
Lunch with Friends hosted over 100 seniors on June 18th at Marco Lutheran Church, where Lieutenant Joseph Belardo from the Marco Island Police Department presented on elder fraud prevention. Lt. Belardo warned that scammers stole $3.4-$6.1 billion from older Americans last year, with tech support scams, government impostor scams, and AI-powered voice cloning being among the most common threats; he advised seniors to be skeptical of unsolicited calls/texts/emails, avoid clicking suspicious links, and verify requests by calling trusted phone numbers directly. The presentation also covered ransomware, malware, and deepfakes, with recommendations to update security software, use V
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Pradip Parikh, 67, and Alpesh Patel, 40, were convicted for operating an India-based call center scam that defrauded millions of Americans, predominantly elderly victims, by impersonating Social Security Administration officials and threatening arrest to pressure victims into transferring funds to bank accounts they controlled. Victims testified to losing significant sums, including a 70-year-old who transferred over $600,000 and a widowed mother of eight who lost more than $300,000, with the defendants retaining thousands for themselves before laundering the remaining funds. Both were convicted of money laundering and conspiracy charges, with Patel also convicted of wire fraud conspiracy
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
An 87-year-old Maryland woman lost tens of thousands of dollars in a tech support scam after receiving a fake pop-up warning that her bank accounts were compromised and demanding $18,000 to fix the issue. Two New York residents, Chongsong Chen (48) and Wei Hua Wang (71), were arrested and charged with theft and theft scheme after physically picking up cash from the victim's home, with authorities apprehending them during the handoff when the victim called the sheriff's office. The case prompted Harford County law enforcement to warn the public that elder fraud increased 14% nationally in 2023 and caused over $3.4 billion in losses
vietnam.vn
· 2025-12-08
Gen Z individuals in Hanoi fell victim to sophisticated impersonation scams despite growing up with digital literacy. Multiple cases involved fraudsters posing as police officers or bank employees, using psychological pressure and panic tactics to convince victims to transfer money; a 20-year-old lost 1.6 billion VND, another lost nearly 1 billion VND to fake police calls, and a 30-year-old lost 145 million VND total to a fake bank employee scam. The article highlights that scammers succeed not just through deceiving awareness but by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities and crisis-response confusion with constantly evolving scenarios and impersonation tactics.