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wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud complaints to the FBI increased 14% last year, with over 100,000 people aged 60 and older reporting scam victimization in 2023, compared to only 18,000 people under 20. West Virginia, having one of the nation's oldest populations, is particularly vulnerable to schemes including malware scams (where scammers pose as tech support or federal agents demanding payment), romance scams, and insider fraud perpetrated by family members or caregivers. Law enforcement officials recommend elders avoid clicking unknown links, recognize that legitimate agencies never demand phone payment or gift cards, and encourage younger family members to regularly check in about their online safety.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder scams cost banks over $27 billion in suspicious activity in 2023, with individual losses averaging more than $33,000 per case, increasingly enabled by AI-powered voice cloning and identity masking technology. Six common scam types target older adults through two main strategies: creating urgency (tech support, government imposter, and grandparent scams) or offering too-good-to-be-true opportunities (investment, romance, and lottery scams). Protective measures include pausing when rushed, verifying identities through independent channels before acting, avoiding nontraditional payment methods, and consulting trusted third parties when emotional decisions are involved.
azbigmedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Up to 20% of older Americans fall victim to elder fraud annually, with losses totaling over $3.4 billion in 2023 and averaging $34,000 per victim, using methods like deceptive emails, phone calls, and impersonation scams. Common schemes include government impersonation, sweepstakes scams, robocalls, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams targeting seniors due to isolation and limited technical knowledge. Prevention strategies include staying informed about evolving scams, monitoring accounts regularly, maintaining open communication with family about finances, reporting suspicious activity immediately, and pausing before responding to urgent requests for money or personal information.
greenwichsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting senior citizens, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security, Medicare) or businesses to steal personal information and money. Scammers use pressure tactics, fake caller IDs, and demands for immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to exploit victims. The IRS advises that it does not initiate contact by phone, email, or text about tax issues, and victims should hang up on unexpected calls and report scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder scams cost banks over $27 billion in 2023, with victims losing an average of $33,000 per case, increasingly facilitated by AI-enabled voice cloning and impersonation fraud. Common scams targeting older adults employ two main tactics: creating urgency (tech support, government imposter, grandparent scams) or offering too-good-to-be-true opportunities (investment, romance, lottery scams). The most effective prevention involves pausing when pressured, verifying identities through independent channels, and consulting trusted third parties before making financial decisions or sharing personal information.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
This article provides awareness and prevention tips for common tourist scams across Europe, including pickpocketing in crowded areas, inflated bar bills in Budapest, fake police officers posing as authorities to steal money or valuables, and street vendors offering unsolicited items like bracelets or flowers. The piece advises travelers to stay alert, use anti-theft bags, avoid dingy bars with unclear pricing, insist on going to police stations if approached by officers, and trust their instincts when meeting strangers.
wrrv.com
· 2025-12-08
New York State Police issued a fraud alert warning older residents about a scam in which perpetrators convince victims to withdraw money from their bank accounts for the scammers to pick up. The scam has generated multiple complaints from seniors, and police emphasized that anyone contacted by phone or computer with such requests should immediately call 911 and never withdraw or surrender funds. Scams targeting New Yorkers cost the state over $10 million last year, with other common schemes against seniors including romance, investment, and "grandparents" scams.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
A 35-year-old New York man pleaded guilty to mistreating an elder person after defrauding a 78-year-old Wichita woman out of more than $100,000 in a romance scam, where he posed as someone named Victor seeking financial help. Jango Touray was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay full restitution, with a 34-month prison sentence imposed if he violates probation or fails to pay. Romance scams typically begin with social media friend requests or emails from attractive strangers claiming financial difficulties, and are difficult to prosecute and recover funds from because scammers operate across state lines and launder money through multiple accounts
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office reports a sophisticated scam targeting older residents in which fraudsters send pop-up warnings claiming computers are compromised and direct victims to call a number for help. After gaining the victim's trust through multiple conversations and posing as bank fraud departments, the scammers arrange in-person cash pickups at victims' homes using fake "security codes" to appear legitimate. Victims have lost substantial sums, including cases exceeding $60,000 and $120,000, and authorities urge residents to report suspicious pop-ups or money-demanding calls and warn family members about this scheme.
odt.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
This article is not related to elder fraud or elder abuse. It covers local police enforcement activities in Wānaka, New Zealand, including drug cultivation charges, dangerous driving enforcement, hazardous weather road safety campaigns, and a brief mention of general Facebook scams involving firewood sales where buyers paid without receiving goods.
rappler.com
· 2025-12-08
The Social Security System (SSS) of the Philippines warned the public about phishing text scams where scammers impersonate SSS and trick recipients into clicking malicious links by promising benefits or warning of expiring payments, which steal personal information like SSS numbers and login credentials. Members can identify fake alerts by checking that legitimate SSS messages come from "SSS" as the sender and direct users to www.sss.gov.ph, while scam messages originate from unidentified mobile numbers. The SSS Special Investigation Department investigated the incidents and reported them to the National Telecommunications Commission, and victims are advised to report fraud to law enforcement or contact SID directly.
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suffolktimes.timesreview.com
· 2025-12-08
A Greenport senior narrowly avoided an online scam on July 2 when she became suspicious of a caller claiming to be from the Federal Trade Commission who instructed her to move money to a digital safe deposit box; she proactively withdrew her funds and discovered nine fraudulent credit card applications in her name, all of which were denied. Separately, on July 10, a 75-year-old Southold woman lost $15,000 to a scammer claiming to be from Capital One headquarters.
daytonatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud is rising nationwide, costing seniors $3.4 billion annually, with Volusia County reporting $4.6 million in losses over the past year as scammers target older adults through imposter calls, investment fraud, and tech scams. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office created a three-person financial fraud unit and used a screening of the movie "Thelma"—which depicts a grandmother falling victim to an imposter scam—to educate 140+ seniors on fraud awareness and prevention. A 90-year-old attendee avoided a fake son/lawyer scam demanding $10,000 by verifying her son's location, exemplifying the importance of
yourdailyjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
The Hamlet Senior Center hosted a fraud prevention symposium led by North Carolina Attorney General's Office investigator Luke Perrin to educate seniors on recognizing and avoiding scams. Perrin addressed common misconceptions—such as the false belief that only elderly people are targeted—and provided practical advice including how to identify suspicious emails and phone calls, the importance of using credit cards over debit cards for online purchases, and warnings about social media scams that use fake surveys to steal security question answers. The event drew a standing-room-only crowd, prompting the Senior Center Director to plan additional fraud prevention programs for the broader community.
pasoroblesdailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office reported over $150,000 stolen in a tech support scam targeting older residents, with individual victims losing between $60,000 and $120,000 each. The scam begins with pop-up warnings claiming a computer is compromised, directing victims to call a number where scammers pose as bank fraud representatives and eventually arrange in-person cash pickups using fake security codes to appear legitimate. The sheriff's office advises residents to contact law enforcement if they receive suspicious pop-ups or money-demanding calls and to inform family and friends about the scheme.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Following the CrowdStrike IT outage, cyber-security agencies in the UK and Australia warned of a wave of opportunistic scams, including fake emails, websites, and phone calls impersonating CrowdStrike or Microsoft to distribute malicious software or steal personal information. Researchers documented a sharp rise in fraudulent domain registrations designed to trick IT managers and the public into downloading malware or divulging sensitive data. Authorities advised users to verify they are communicating with official representatives and only use legitimate company websites for updates and support.
cbia.com
· 2025-12-08
Following the July 19 global IT outage affecting Microsoft-based systems, state officials warned of increased scam activity, as fraudsters exploit the confusion by impersonating IT teams and sending phishing emails to gain access to sensitive information. Warning signs include suspicious email addresses, generic messages with typos, unknown links, and requests for passwords or personal information. Individuals should verify suspicious communications directly with known contact information and report phishing attempts to the Federal Trade Commission.
bbc.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Following a global IT outage linked to CrowdStrike, cyber-security agencies worldwide warned of a surge in opportunistic scams exploiting the incident, including fake emails, websites, and phone calls posing as official CrowdStrike or Microsoft support. Hackers registered malicious websites and released bogus software fixes claiming to help users recover, with the goal of stealing credentials or distributing malware to both IT professionals and the general public. Authorities advised users to only access information and fixes through official CrowdStrike channels and to remain vigilant against phishing attempts capitalizing on widespread confusion and concern.
wfsb.com
· 2025-12-08
Following a global IT outage caused by a CrowdStrike software update in July 2024, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection warned the public of increased phishing, imposter, and scam risks as criminals exploited the situation to target vulnerable users. Officials cautioned people to watch for suspicious emails, text messages, and phone calls impersonating IT teams or tech company support, which may contain malicious links or requests for sensitive information. The department urged consumers to verify sender email addresses, avoid clicking unknown links, and report suspected phishing attempts to the FTC or Anti-Phishing Working Group.
nbcconnecticut.com
· 2025-12-08
Following a global IT outage, Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection warned the public that scammers exploit such disruptions by sending phishing emails and texts impersonating IT teams and software companies like CrowdStrike and Microsoft to steal sensitive information. The department advised people to be suspicious of emails with incorrect addresses, typos, unknown links, or requests for passwords, and to report suspected phishing attempts to the FTC, Anti-Phishing Working Group, or via text to SPAM (7726).
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
This article outlines ten common tourist scams targeting visitors to European cities, including pickpocketing in crowded areas, bar bill fraud (particularly in Budapest), fake police officers posing as currency inspectors, unsolicited bracelet/flower sellers, counterfeit gold ring schemes, fake transportation tickets, ATM manipulation, taxi overcharges, and other street-level cons. The piece provides practical prevention advice for each scam, such as using anti-theft bags, avoiding unmarked bars, insisting on going to police stations when approached by officials, rejecting items from strangers, and purchasing tickets only from official vendors.
legit.ng
· 2025-12-08
A Nigerian man (@dieahdy) was scammed at Computer Village in Lagos when a scammer gave him what appeared to be cash wrapped with a rubber band, but which turned out to be cardboard cut to resemble money. The victim only discovered the deception after returning home and posted a TikTok video warning others to be careful of scammers in the area, expressing shock at how he fell for the scheme. The incident reflects a pattern of fraud at Computer Village, where scammers use sleight-of-hand tactics to dupe unsuspecting customers into receiving worthless items instead of cash or electronics.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending fraudulent links to grieving families claiming to offer livestreams of funeral services, initially charging £15 but potentially using the transactions to clone credit cards and drain bank accounts. The fraudsters use public records to identify the bereaved, create fake profiles with authentic details and photos of the deceased, and trick mourners into clicking malicious links that appear legitimate. Authorities advise verifying any funeral livestream links directly with funeral directors or crematoriums, as genuine services never require payment and links come only from official providers.
katc.com
· 2025-12-08
A Nunez resident narrowly avoided a door-to-door scam when a man impersonating a DIRECT-TV employee attempted to collect personal information and bills from his home; the resident later confirmed with DIRECT-TV that no representative had been sent. The scammer, operating from an unmarked red car, claimed to be addressing customer complaints about pricing, and similar incidents were reported in the area with the suspect impersonating both DIRECT-TV and Dish employees. Sheriff officials advise residents to request valid peddler's licenses, verify caller identity directly with companies, and avoid sharing personal information or documents with unsolicited visitors.
dlnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Chainalysis partnered with law-enforcement agencies across six countries (US, UK, Canada, Spain, Netherlands, and Australia) to combat "approval phishing" scams that have defrauded victims of $2.7 billion in cryptocurrency since May 2021. Operation Spincaster generated over 7,000 leads between April and June, resulting in account closures, fund seizures, and intelligence-building related to approximately $162 million in reported losses. The initiative brought together 12 public sector agencies and 17 crypto exchanges to disrupt scams through public-private collaboration and blockchain analytics.
247ureports.com
· 2025-12-08
Mr. Obinna Ezenwa was defrauded and emotionally manipulated by American woman Kymberly Stalvey Ann Shepard, whom he met on a dating app in October 2018 and married in January 2019 after she visited Nigeria. Shepard deceived Ezenwa about her ability to sponsor his US immigration, later revealing she was already legally married to three other men and had reached the immigration sponsorship limit; when he could not obtain a visa independently, she allegedly stalked and harassed him on social media, falsely accused him of extortion leading to his arrest in February 2021, and blocked all communication. This case involves romance frau
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Greater Manchester Police issued an urgent warning about a rising QR code fraud scam targeting car parks and parking meters, with three cases reported in one week. Fraudsters place fake QR code stickers over legitimate parking meter codes, directing victims to fraudulent payment sites that steal personal and financial information. Police recommend checking for tampered stickers, using only built-in phone QR scanners, and verifying URLs before completing transactions.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud complaints to the FBI increased 14% last year, with over 100,000 people aged 60+ reporting scam victimization in 2023, compared to only 18,000 people under age 20. West Virginia is particularly vulnerable due to its aging population and residents' trusting nature. Common scams include malware schemes that lead to fake law enforcement calls demanding payment via wire transfer or gift cards, romance/online dating fraud, and insider schemes perpetrated by family members or caregivers, with law enforcement and community outreach efforts ongoing to raise awareness and prevention strategies.
dailymaverick.co.za
· 2025-12-08
This educational article distinguishes between fraud (forged documents, identity theft) and scams (convincing someone to provide money or banking details), noting that romance scams result in the highest monetary losses. The article provides guidance on protecting oneself, including using Google reverse image search to verify photos, recognizing red flags such as urgency, requests for additional payments, impersonation of legitimate companies, unrealistic returns, and unexpected phone service interruptions, and always contacting companies directly using independently sourced contact information.
lampasasdispatchrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
Catfishing scams involve fraudsters using fake identities to establish romantic relationships with victims for financial gain. The FTC received 56,000 romance scam complaints in 2021, more than triple the 2017 total, indicating a sharp rise in this fraud type. AARP provides guidance on recognizing and avoiding these schemes to protect vulnerable individuals from emotional manipulation and financial losses.
victoriabuzz.com
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old man in Nanaimo lost $150 in cash on June 7th after being approached by four people in a Dodge Caravan who claimed they needed money for ferry tickets and a flight to Toronto. The victims gave him worthless jewelry (two rings and a gold chain) in exchange, promising repayment from Toronto, but the phone number provided was never answered and the jewelry assessed at zero value.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Consumer group Choice surveyed 280 scam victims and found that 61% lost confidence in online financial transactions, while banks failed to prevent or adequately support most victims—with four out of five saying their bank did nothing to flag the scam beforehand. Australians lost $2.7 billion to scams in the most recent year, predominantly affecting older people, yet banks, telcos, and tech platforms face minimal consequences despite having the technology to detect and prevent fraud. Choice calls for mandatory business obligations including consumer reimbursement for scam losses, fair reporting pathways, and enforceable rules for financial institutions and digital platforms.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Bengaluru woman lost Rs 1.2 crore over 20 days in a scam where criminals impersonated telecom department and Mumbai Crime Branch officials, threatening her with arrest for alleged money laundering and demanding she transfer funds for "verification." The scammers used fabricated documents and intimidation tactics to manipulate the victim into sharing her bank details, then disappeared after the transfer. The article advises staying vigilant against such calls, verifying caller identities through official channels, never sharing financial information with unknown callers, and remembering that genuine officials do not threaten immediate arrest or demand money transfers.
saltwire.com
· 2025-12-08
A community member shares personal and secondhand experiences with scams targeting seniors, including a technical support scam where he was hacked after granting remote access to his computer and an investment fraud that depleted an elderly man's savings. The writer calls for increased public awareness, urges seniors to be cautious with unsolicited calls, and advocates for telecom companies to better block scam calls originating internationally, while noting that embarrassment often prevents victims from reporting incidents.
cheknews.ca
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old senior in Nanaimo was scammed out of $150 on June 7 when four people (two adults and two youth) in a Dodge Caravan approached him claiming they needed ferry money to reach Vancouver for a flight to Toronto; in exchange, they gave him two rings and a gold chain that were later determined to be worthless. Similar fake jewelry scams have been reported multiple times across Vancouver Island in 2024, with victims targeted by groups posing as families in financial distress who offer jewelry as collateral for cash loans they never intend to repay.
kxxv.com
· 2025-12-08
A healthcare administrator in Texas highlights that seniors born before 1950 are particularly vulnerable to scams due to their trusting nature, with the most common frauds involving Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, home repairs, and grandparent impersonation schemes. The FBI reported that scams targeting people over 60 caused over $3.4 billion in losses last year, and experts recommend seniors avoid sharing personal information over the phone, resist pressure to act immediately, and consult trusted contacts before transferring money.
npr.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece advises that scams are increasingly sophisticated and can target anyone, emphasizing the importance of proactive protection measures. Experts provide guidance on safeguarding personal data and money from fraudsters through various security practices and awareness strategies.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
This article educates military families and job seekers on recognizing online job scams, warning that legitimate employers never ask applicants to pay for positions or send checks to be partially returned. Red flags include unsolicited job offers, fake testimonials, unverifiable companies, and requests to communicate through unusual platforms like Microsoft Teams, with scammers targeting vulnerable individuals through job sites, social media, and email.
crossroadstoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Non-attorneys such as insurance salesmen, mortgage brokers, and real estate agents perpetrate living trust scams targeting elderly individuals in communities. To protect yourself, avoid purchasing estate planning services remotely, watch for red flags like claims of authorization in all 50 states, resist fear-based marketing tactics, and be cautious of social media solicitors offering these services.
crossroadstoday.com
· 2025-12-08
This appears to be a news section header or navigation page for Community Crossroads rather than a specific article about elder abuse or scam prevention. The page lists several unrelated news stories, none of which directly address elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse prevention. To provide an Elderus summary, please provide the full text of a specific article focused on elder abuse or fraud prevention.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Six Nigerian nationals were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 82 to 128 months for operating an international inheritance fraud scheme that targeted elderly U.S. victims through personalized letters claiming they were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased relatives. Victims were deceived into sending money for alleged delivery fees and taxes, with proceeds routed through a complex network of U.S.-based accomplices; the defendants defrauded over 400 victims and were ordered to pay more than $6 million in restitution.
tech.hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old woman in Bengaluru lost ₹1.2 crore after fraudsters impersonated telecom and Mumbai crime branch officials, claiming she was involved in illegal activities and money laundering, then pressured her to transfer funds by presenting forged documents including a fake FIR and arrest warrant. The victim transferred the money believing it would be returned after an investigation, but the scammers became unreachable. The article recommends protective measures including verifying requests through official channels, avoiding unsolicited contact, using strong passwords with two-factor authentication, and monitoring bank accounts for suspicious activity.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 2024 CelcomDigi survey of 10,839 Malaysians found that 65.5% had encountered scam attempts, with phone calls being the primary method at 52.6%, and 73% reported being actual victims. Most scams involved phone impersonation where callers posing as bank or government representatives requested personal information and payments. The survey revealed low incident reporting rates, with only 6.5% contacting the National Scam Response Centre and 64% unaware the service existed, indicating a significant gap in fraud mitigation despite 87% of respondents claiming increased scam awareness.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old woman from Bengaluru lost Rs 1.28 crore in a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme where scammers impersonated telecom and police officials, falsely accusing her of money laundering and threatening arrest using forged documents to extract her banking information. After she transferred the substantial sum under the pretense it would be returned following a fabricated investigation, the fraudsters became unreachable and she filed a police complaint. The article advises victims to verify requests through official channels, avoid sharing personal information with unsolicited callers, use strong passwords with two-factor authentication, install security software, and monitor bank accounts regularly for suspicious activity.
ifamagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Research from LV= found that 3.8 million UK adults lost money to purchase scams last year, with young adults aged 18-34 reporting higher victimization rates across all scam types (phishing, trusted organization impersonation, refund scams, and others) compared to those aged 65 and over. The disparity is attributed partly to younger adults spending significantly more time online (averaging 4 hours 35 minutes daily), making them more exposed to fraudulent schemes.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Three businesses in Guernsey fell victim to a sophisticated vishing scam in which fraudsters posing as NatWest International representatives called them and persuaded them to download malicious software that gave hackers complete control of their computers. The Office of the Data Protection Authority warned islanders to exercise extreme caution with unexpected calls, verify callers through independent means, and be particularly wary of scammers exploiting the recent worldwide IT outage as cover; fortunately, none of the targeted businesses suffered financial losses in this incident.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Jose Alejandro Zuñiga Cano, a Peruvian call center operator, pleaded guilty to his role in a $15 million transnational mail and wire fraud scheme that targeted over 30,000 Spanish-speaking U.S. residents, including elderly people and recent immigrants. Zuñiga's operation made unsolicited calls falsely claiming victims had won prizes or qualified for free English courses, then impersonated lawyers and court officials to threaten victims with arrest and immigration consequences unless they paid. He was the 12th defendant convicted in the scheme, which also included a restitution scam targeting previous victims.
oig.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two Dominican nationals, Rafael Ambiorix Rodriguez Guzman and Felix Samuel Reynoso Ventura, were extradited to the United States and charged in connection with a "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans across multiple states out of millions of dollars. Operating from call centers in the Dominican Republic, the defendants allegedly impersonated attorneys, police officers, and court personnel, convincing elderly victims that their grandchildren needed emergency bail money or legal fees following arrests or accidents. Both men face charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy, with potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison per count.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens lose approximately $3 billion annually to elder fraud, with scammers increasingly targeting seniors due to their financial security and trusting nature. The article identifies eight common scams affecting elderly individuals, including tech support/home repair fraud, grandchild impersonation schemes, government agency impersonation, fake sweepstakes, phishing emails (particularly fake Geek Squad invoices), overpayment scams, and unsubscribe email phishing attempts. Key prevention strategies include verifying caller identities independently, confirming stories with family members before sending money, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and researching companies before making purchases.
wyomingnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Banking and law enforcement officials in Wyoming warn that fraud is increasingly common and takes multiple forms, including wire fraud, romance scams, and schemes targeting the elderly by impersonating lawyers or law enforcement officers claiming a family member is in trouble. Scammers use spoofed caller IDs, AI voice cloning, and legitimate-looking websites to exploit trusting people, with victims often embarrassed to report incidents and arrests remaining rare since perpetrators frequently operate outside jurisdiction. Authorities advise residents to verify caller information independently, never provide personal details over the phone, and recognize that legitimate law enforcement will not demand payment or bonds via phone calls.