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bankrate.com
· 2025-12-08
Holiday shoppers face multiple online scams including puppy scams (fake breeders requesting upfront deposits), toy scams (counterfeit or non-existent products at discounted prices), and marketplace frauds on platforms like Facebook Marketplace where scammers take payment and disappear. Protection strategies include being skeptical of prices that seem too good to be true, avoiding clicking links from ads or search results, purchasing directly from trusted retailers, and refusing to pay upfront to unverified sellers who won't communicate via phone or video.
about.fb.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals operating forced-labor scam compounds primarily in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the UAE) systematically target people worldwide through text messaging, dating apps, and social media to perpetrate "pig butchering" and investment fraud schemes. These criminal organizations, estimated to control up to 300,000 forced workers, steal approximately $64 billion annually by building false trust with victims and manipulating them into depositing money into fake cryptocurrency and investment platforms. The article outlines how scam operators use deceptive personas, scripted social engineering tactics, and phased withdrawal schemes to exploit victims globally before disappearing with their funds.
dailydigest.uconn.edu
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece warns students and employees about phishing email scams designed to steal money, login credentials, and personal information through deceptive tactics such as fake job offers, urgency threats, and requests to verify accounts or share passwords. The guidance advises recipients to be suspicious of unexpected emails (even from seemingly legitimate @uconn.edu addresses), never click links or share credentials with senders, and report suspected phishing to Outlook and local police if credentials or money have been compromised.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies nine common scams expected to target people in 2025, including grandparent scams (using AI to impersonate relatives requesting money), mail fraud schemes, debt collection scams, and lottery/prize scams. The piece advises consumers to watch for red flags such as urgent language, requests for personal information, poor grammar, unsolicited contact, and suspicious links, while emphasizing that verifying identities directly and avoiding hasty decisions can protect against financial loss.
al.com
· 2025-12-08
During Medicare's open enrollment period (through Dec. 7), the Federal Trade Commission warns of scammers impersonating Medicare representatives to steal personal information and money by requesting Medicare numbers, bank account details, or credit card information under false pretenses such as issuing new cards or processing fake medical equipment claims. Seniors should never share personal information with unsolicited callers claiming to be from Medicare, verify suspicious calls by hanging up and dialing Medicare's official number (1-800-633-4227), and treat Medicare numbers with the same protection as credit cards.
mdjonline.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article Type:** Educational/Awareness
Georgia's elder fraud investigators identified three dominant scam methods targeting seniors in 2024: Romance Scams (exploiting loneliness and shame), Bank Examiner Scams (impersonating government officials to trick victims into transferring funds), and Sweepstakes Scams (convincing victims they've won lotteries and must pay upfront fees). These scams persist because seniors are reluctant to report them due to embarrassment or fear of admitting vulnerability, and scammers target victims through social media and public information about their wealth and lifestyles.
spokanejournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial fraud targeting older adults has significantly increased in sophistication, with U.S. financial institutions reporting approximately $27 billion in suspicious elder financial exploitation activity from June 2022 to June 2023, and older adults losing over $1.9 billion to fraud in 2023 alone (though the FTC estimates the actual figure may reach $61.5 billion). Check fraud has become particularly prevalent, increasing 385% nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic, with criminals stealing checks from mailboxes and using chemical solvents to alter amounts while preserving signatures. Financial experts recommend protective measures including using permanent gel markers on checks, avoiding blank spaces, monitoring statements regularly, and educating family
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Eldercare Locator launched a national "Home for the Holidays" campaign to help older adults and families protect themselves from financial fraud and scams during the holiday season. According to the FBI, scams targeting people age 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with fraud increasing during the holidays due to heightened online shopping and donation appeals that scammers exploit, particularly targeting isolated or lonely individuals. The campaign provides resources to help older adults recognize, prevent, and report financial scams and fraud.
vindy.com
· 2025-12-08
A fraud awareness forum in Youngstown hosted by Jewish Family and Community Services attracted 126 seniors to learn prevention strategies from Mahoning County Prosecutor Gina DeGenova. The program covered major scam tactics including phishing text links, romance and catfishing schemes, AI voice impersonation, home improvement fraud, and warned against sharing personal information on social media that could endanger children or be used to answer security questions.
bbc.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines how artificial intelligence has made scams increasingly difficult to detect, particularly through text messages, voice calls, and audio impersonation that can replicate individuals' messaging styles and voices. It provides practical identification tips for common scams including text message frauds (impersonating companies), concert ticket resales on social media, and audio/impersonation scams, along with advice such as verifying unexpected requests through direct contact, checking for spelling errors and suspicious links, and establishing safe words with family members. The article recommends reporting scams through built-in blocking features on email and phone platforms.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Virgin Media O2 created "Daisy," an AI-generated grandmother chatbot designed to waste scammers' time by engaging them in lengthy conversations filled with rambling stories and feigned tech confusion. Since its November launch, Daisy has had over 1,000 conversations with scammers, with some lasting up to 40 minutes, as part of the company's fraud-prevention strategy in the United Kingdom where 69% of the public reports being targeted by scams. The initiative highlights the broader problem of phone fraud affecting both British and American consumers, while companies develop AI-powered defenses and consumers are advised to remain vigilant against unsolicited calls requesting personal financial information.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
During the holiday shopping season, consumers face increased fraud risks as scammers exploit busy shoppers and high transaction volumes. Common scams include fake advertisements offering deep discounts, fraudulent package tracking notifications, fake charities, counterfeit gift cards, and porch theft—with the Better Business Bureau reporting a 125% rise in scam complaints and over 80% of victims losing money on online purchase scams. Consumers are advised to verify retailers, avoid unsolicited emails and texts, research charities, and use package tracking technology and home security to protect themselves and their holiday purchases.
listverse.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus elder fraud research database. The content is a general listicle about various scams (cryptocurrency investment scams, online marketplace scams, phone scams, etc.) rather than a focused article about elder fraud, elder abuse, or scams specifically targeting older adults.
To be useful for Elderus, the article would need to specifically address scams affecting seniors, elder financial exploitation, or elder abuse cases. Please provide an article or transcript focused on elder-specific fraud or abuse for summarization.
fox32chicago.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Nigerian nationals operating from the Chicago suburbs, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, were sentenced to 20 and 10 years in prison respectively for orchestrating multiple fraud schemes that stole at least $3.5 million from victims across the U.S. Their schemes included inheritance scams requiring upfront fees, romance scams conducted through social media and dating apps, and business email compromise attacks targeting corporate accounts. A third conspirator, Jennifer Gosha, pleaded guilty to related charges with sentencing scheduled for December 18.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed over 2 million accounts connected to pig butchering scams on Facebook and Instagram, which involve elaborate romance schemes designed to manipulate victims into cryptocurrency investment fraud before stealing their money. The scam centers, primarily located in Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, UAE, and Philippines), often employ victims who are coerced into fraud work under threat of physical abuse after responding to fake job postings. Key warning signs include unsolicited messages from attractive profiles offering investment opportunities and requests to invest in cryptocurrency or transfer funds to the scammer.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two Nigerian nationals operating from the Chicago suburbs, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, conducted inheritance scams, romance scams, and business email compromise fraud schemes that defrauded victims of at least $3.5 million across the United States. Ibekie was convicted on 14 counts and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, while Aniukwu pleaded guilty and received a 10-year sentence; a third accomplice, Jennifer Gosha, pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges and awaits sentencing.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old Winnipegger nearly fell victim to an elaborate Manitoba Hydro impersonation scam in which fraudsters used personal information, fake work orders, and realistic-sounding IVR systems to pressure her into depositing money at a bitcoin kiosk. The scammers posed as Hydro technicians and agents, claiming she had unpaid bills and threatening power disconnection within an hour, but the scheme was exposed when she visited actual Hydro headquarters. Manitoba Hydro confirmed awareness of the scam and reminded customers that the utility does not accept cryptocurrency, credit cards, e-transfers, or phone payments for bills.
standoutmagazine.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
More than half of UK consumers incorrectly view social media as a safe space for buying live event tickets, despite platforms offering no buyer protection, leading to widespread fraud. Research by Get Safe Online found that 42% of survey respondents had purchased tickets on social media, with one in eight becoming victims of scams; during the Oasis ticket sale, scam victims lost an average of £346 each, with 90% of frauds occurring on social media platforms. Younger consumers (18-34) and Londoners are particularly vulnerable to ticket scams, with 17% of social media ticket buyers reporting negative experiences including fake tickets, phishing scams, and sellers disappearing with payment.
nbclosangeles.com
· 2025-12-08
During the holiday shopping season, scammers are targeting gift cards by tampering with packaging on store racks, stealing card information, and draining the balance before purchase. According to AARP's fraud prevention director, 30% of people have given or received a worthless gift card, up 21% from two years prior, with one woman discovering multiple cards she gifted to community members had zero value. Experts recommend purchasing gift cards from locked displays or behind cashier counters, or sending digital gift cards via email or text to prevent theft.
theconcordian.org
· 2025-12-08
On November 4, many Concordia College students received a phishing email impersonating campus staff and faculty members, offering free expensive items like musical instruments and electronics to trick recipients into providing sensitive information. The scam was identified by students who noticed mismatched email addresses, and the college has implemented security measures including multi-factor authentication and email filtering to reduce such incidents, while encouraging community reporting as the best defense against fraud.
kaynewscow.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Morrison woman lost her entire life savings after scammers posing as fraud experts convinced her to withdraw her money and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM in Ponca City following a fake email about a Bitcoin transaction. Her daughter established a GoFundMe campaign to help her mother, who has Parkinson's disease, recover from the financial loss and to raise awareness about the scam.
ntd.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Bradenton, Florida man was arrested for defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of at least $250,000 (possibly up to $600,000) by posing as Elon Musk on Facebook and promising a $55 million return on fake business investments. The article also highlights a related case where a 26-year-old Minnesota man was arrested for stealing over $100,000 from a 77-year-old widower through an online romance scam, reflecting a broader trend in which scammers stole at least $3.4 billion from Americans aged 60 and older in 2023.
becu.org
· 2025-12-08
Native and Indigenous elders in the U.S. face disproportionate risks of financial fraud and scams, with one documented case involving a tribal member losing $15,000 to a sweetheart scam. According to federal data, Alaska Native and Indigenous individuals are more likely to be victims of scams and less likely to report them than other groups, with approximately one million Indigenous and Alaska Native people over 65 across 574 federally recognized tribes. Community organizations are working to address this vulnerability by providing support without stigma, while recognizing that factors like regular tribal payments, Social Security, and cultural values around resource-sharing make older Indigenous people particularly attractive targets for financial exploitation.
latimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers use multiple channels—email, phone calls, texts, fliers, and mail—to target victims year-round, with increased activity during the holiday season. Common scams include fake delivery notifications, timeshare exit schemes, fake virus warnings that trick victims into giving remote computer access, and tampered gift cards, with losses often unrecoverable as money is quickly moved offshore. The article advises consumers to never respond to communications from unknown sources and remain vigilant, as older adults suffer significantly greater losses than younger fraud victims despite millennials reporting fraud at higher rates.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Package and delivery scams are surging during the 2024 holiday season, with four main types targeting consumers: "brushing" (fraudsters ordering items to your address using fake accounts to post fake reviews), "smishing" (fake text/email delivery notifications with malicious links), fake missed-delivery notices with phishing links or QR codes, and mail theft by criminals using insider information or stolen tracking numbers. Consumers should verify package status through official carrier websites rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages, monitor credit cards for unauthorized charges, and report incidents to the FTC.
greekreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
Virgin Media O2 launched Daisy, an AI-powered virtual grandmother, to combat rising phone and online scams targeting older adults by engaging fraudsters in lengthy, complex conversations that waste their time and prevent them from victimizing real customers. The initiative addresses a critical problem: Americans over 60 lost $3.4 billion to scams in 2023 (an 11% increase from 2022), with the average victim losing $33,915, while 22% of Britons report facing fraud attempts weekly. Daisy uses advanced natural language processing and realistic voice synthesis to convincingly pose as a vulnerable elderly person, gathering intelligence on scam tactics while raising public awareness about digital
levittownnow.com
· 2025-12-08
As Medicare's December 7 enrollment deadline approaches, scammers pose as Medicare officials or insurance company employees via phone calls and text messages to trick older adults into disclosing Social Security numbers and sensitive information. Experts advise that legitimate Medicare programs and private insurers rarely contact beneficiaries by phone unsolicited, and recommend hanging up on suspicious callers, avoiding robocalls, and contacting insurers directly through official toll-free numbers to verify requests. Caregivers should help elderly relatives enroll early to avoid deadline pressure, which makes people more vulnerable to scams.
dicksoncountysource.com
· 2025-12-08
During Medicare's Open Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7), scammers impersonate Medicare representatives to steal personal information and money by falsely claiming they need Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, or bank account details for new cards or fake medical equipment claims. Medicare never unexpectedly contacts beneficiaries to request personal information, sell coverage, or charge for cards, and consumers should hang up suspicious calls and verify by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or report scams to that same number.
mysuncoast.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old man in Bradenton, Florida was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of over $600,000 after convincing her to invest in fake business opportunities with promised returns of $55 million. Elder fraud is rising across Florida's Suncoast region through various scams including romance and phishing schemes, with authorities recommending residents pause to verify requests, question urgency, and recognize too-good-to-be-true offers.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Google identified five common online scams affecting its billions of users: deepfake content impersonating public figures to promote investment fraud, cryptocurrency investment schemes promising unrealistic returns, fake banking apps and websites designed to steal personal information, cloaking attacks that show different content to users than to Google's security systems, and fraudulent event ticketing pages that mirror legitimate sites to sell fake merchandise and tickets. The company recommends users verify app sources, examine URLs and website details carefully, watch for unnatural expressions in videos, avoid investment offers that seem too good to be true, and enable browser protections to identify malicious sites.
i95rock.com
· 2025-12-08
The Massachusetts Better Business Bureau warns Connecticut residents about 11 prevalent holiday scams including fraudulent USPS package notifications, fake gift card offers, counterfeit job postings, look-alike websites, fake charities, phishing shipping links, puppy sales (with 80% of sponsored pet ads being fake), misleading social media advertisements, social media gift exchange schemes, and holiday-themed apps—all designed to steal personal information or money. Scammers use tactics like impersonating legitimate companies, offering free prizes, and creating convincing replicas of official websites and communications to deceive consumers during the holiday season.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Farmer Alan Steven lost £28,000 total (£12,000 to a contractor and £16,000 to a grain merchant) after scammers hacked his email account and cloned invoices from his legitimate suppliers, changing only the bank details. Invoice fraud targeting farmers is rising sharply, with Action Fraud reports jumping 54% from 35 cases in 2022 to 54 in 2023, and agricultural insurers now paying out triple the fraud claims compared to previous years, with individual losses often reaching tens of thousands of pounds that can devastate small farm operations.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This column warns readers about the prevalence of holiday-season scams, which range from fake delivery notifications and fraudulent timeshare exit schemes to tech support scams and gift card draining. According to fraud prevention experts, sophisticated international criminal syndicates are targeting consumers through multiple channels, with older adults suffering particularly high losses despite millennials reporting fraud more frequently; one notable case involved an 85-year-old woman who lost $80,000 between Thanksgiving and Christmas to a fake virus warning scam. The article advises consumers to be vigilant when making purchases, booking travel, donating to charities, and handling gift cards, as stolen money is often transferred overseas and virtually impossible to recover.
sheppnews.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A woman lost money to a sophisticated two-stage scam that began with a fraudulent call claiming to be from NBN offering an internet refund, which gained remote access to her computer via AnyDesk software. The scammers then impersonated her bank's fraud department, using the continued remote access to move funds between her accounts and authorize an unauthorized transfer, which she discovered only after visiting her bank branch the next day. The article highlights red flags including unsolicited direct contact from NBN, requests for remote computer access, and fraudulent claims of being a bank representative needing device access—legitimate banks never require remote access to verify accounts or detect fraud.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Ian Finlay lost over £50,000 when scammers contacted his mobile network impersonating him and requested a replacement SIM card, which was sent to a London address, allowing them to gain control of his phone and access his email and bank accounts while he was on holiday in Australia. The fraudsters obtained his personal information through phishing emails or stolen data from the dark web, exploiting gaps in the network's security verification process. His banks ultimately reimbursed the stolen funds after confirming the transactions were fraudulent, though Finlay expressed concern about how easily criminals circumvented security measures.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending fraudulent emails impersonating the TSA PreCheck program to trick travelers into enrolling through fake websites and stealing their personal information. The TSA and FTC warn that legitimate PreCheck enrollment requires in-person payment at an airport enrollment center, never online, and users should only visit the official tsa.gov/precheck website to avoid falling victim to these schemes.
nationalpost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Florida man, Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr., was arrested and charged with grand theft for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook to scam a 74-year-old Texas woman out of $250,000 (with her husband reporting the actual total may reach $600,000) by convincing her to invest in fake business opportunities. Moynihan established rapport with the victim over several months in 2023 by referencing real Musk social media posts, eventually persuading her that she had legitimately invested with the tech billionaire; police also discovered evidence he used false identities of actors Johnny Depp and Lionel Richie, an
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are using AI-generated phishing emails claiming that recipients' Apple IDs have been suspended, creating false urgency especially during Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season to trick users into clicking malicious links and surrendering account credentials. The scams target Apple's 2 billion+ users by impersonating legitimate Apple communications, sometimes including sophisticated 2FA-bypass methodologies, and exploiting the affluent Apple user demographic. Apple advises users to verify sender email addresses, avoid clicking suspicious links, recognize that Apple never requests passwords or authentication codes via email, and contact Apple directly through its official website if they suspect account issues.
securitybrief.com.au
· 2025-12-08
During Australia's end-of-year shopping season, online scams pose increased risk as consumer spending surges, with over 11% of Australians experiencing scams or card fraud in 2022/2023 and Westpac reporting a 47% rise in buying and selling scams in 2023. Common tactics include misleading sales promotions, non-delivery of products, fake shipping notifications, and SMS phishing, with scammers targeting consumers during the forecast $11.8 billion holiday gift-spending period. Experts recommend consumers and retailers employ security measures such as navigating directly to retailer websites, using secure payment methods (PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay),
we-ha.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and AARP Connecticut Director Nora Duncan held a press conference to warn consumers about increasing fraud and scams, particularly during the holiday season when shopping, travel, and charitable giving increase. According to an AARP report, approximately 82% of U.S. consumers have experienced attempted fraud in the past year, with scams becoming increasingly sophisticated through phishing emails about delivery problems, counterfeit products, and fake charities. Officials urged awareness and caution, recommending that people report suspicious activity to the AARP Fraud Watch Network (877-908-3360), the Federal Trade Commission, or the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
dailystar.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A UK survey reveals that nearly one in three Brits worry about falling victim to purchase scams during Christmas shopping, with four in ten experiencing increased scam attempts during the festive season. UK Finance reported that a record £85.9 million was stolen through 156,516 purchase scams last year, with 92% occurring online—a 34% increase from 2022. The most common scams target high-demand items including phones (26%), tickets (23%), gift cards (23%), laptops (21%), and clothing (19%), typically involving fake products, counterfeit goods, or non-delivery after payment on fraudulent websites or social media ads.
advocacy.consumerreports.org
· 2025-12-08
Consumer Reports investigation found that wire transfer scams targeting bank customers are increasingly common, with victims rarely reimbursed—major banks like JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America reimbursed customers at rates of only 2-24 percent in 2023. The scams exploit banks' security gaps using readily available "phishing-as-a-service" kits sold on Telegram and the Dark Web for as little as $150 monthly, with phishing complaints to the FBI more than doubling since 2019 to nearly 300,000 reports annually. Consumer Reports is calling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to investigate these scams and support reforms including stronger account authentication, security
consumerreports.org
· 2025-12-08
Bank imposter fraud targeting customers is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers using phishing schemes, hacked personal data, and affordable "phishing-as-a-service" cybercrime kits (costing as little as $150/month) to steal billions from Americans' bank accounts. Major banks like Wells Fargo have faced multiple class-action lawsuits, with documented losses exceeding $700,000 in individual cases, yet banks frequently deny reimbursement claims citing the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, which does not require them to reimburse customers who are tricked into authorizing fraudulent transfers. Key advice includes being skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming to be from banks,
ogletree.com
· 2025-12-08
Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams involve criminals spoofing legitimate email addresses to trick victims into sending wire transfers, with Real Estate Wire Fraud (REWF) targeting property buyers into wiring funds to fraudulent accounts. Between 2013 and 2022, the FBI documented over 211,000 BEC complaints totaling approximately $30.4 billion in losses, with REWF complaints surging 27% from 2020 to 2022 and losses jumping 72% to $446.1 million. The FBI recommends verifying payment requests independently through known contact information, avoiding unsolicited links, and confirming any account or procedural changes directly
gvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses pig butchering, a evolving romance scam variation that originated in China where fraudsters build fake romantic relationships with victims (called "pigs") to eventually swindle them out of money. The piece, written by a Community Outreach Specialist with R.O.S.E. (Resources/Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly), alerts readers—particularly older adults—to this emerging fraud threat and directs them to roseadvocacy.org for information on the latest scams targeting seniors.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, two Nigerian nationals living in the Chicago suburbs, were sentenced to a combined 30 years in federal prison for defrauding US citizens of at least $3.5 million through inheritance scams, romance scams, and business email compromise schemes. Ibekie received 20 years and Aniukwu received 10 years after being convicted on multiple counts including wire fraud, money laundering, and passport fraud. A third accomplice, US citizen Jennifer Gosha, pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges and is scheduled for sentencing on December 18, 2024.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old woman from Staffordshire was targeted by a romance scammer posing as a widower named "John" who claimed to be a civil engineer in Dubai and eventually requested £100 in gift cards after fabricating a story about being shot and hospitalized. The victim became suspicious and did not send money, contacting authorities instead. This case exemplifies the surge in dating scams reported to Action Fraud, which received 4,109 dating fraud reports in the first six months of 2024—a 56% increase from the same period in 2019—as fraudsters emotionally manipulate vulnerable people online into sending money.
fingerlakesdailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Schuyler County officials issued a holiday season warning about gift card scams targeting seniors and consumers. Scammers impersonate government agencies, financial institutions, or legitimate companies via phone, email, or text to pressure victims into purchasing gift cards (Amazon, Walmart, Apple, etc.) and providing the card numbers and PIN codes. County officials emphasize that no legitimate business or government agency requests payment via gift card, and urge victims to report suspected fraud immediately to law enforcement, the gift card issuer, and keep receipts, as some companies may issue refunds.
barbadostoday.bb
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece discusses the vulnerability of elderly adults to digital scams and fraud, particularly in the Caribbean context. The author highlights that seniors aged 60 and older lost over US$3.4 billion to scams in 2023 according to FBI data, with the average victim losing US$33,915, and notes that older adults are targeted due to their trusting nature, substantial savings, technological inexperience, and emotional vulnerabilities exploited through tactics like grandparent scams and romance fraud. The article emphasizes that data breaches exposing personal information increase seniors' risk, and that most cannot recover financially from these losses due to their inability to re-enter the workforce.
saultstar.com
· 2025-12-08
Sault Ste. Marie Police Services is warning residents about an increase in "grandparent scams," where fraudsters contact seniors by phone impersonating grandchildren in legal trouble or their lawyers, typically demanding $5,000 to $10,000 in cash delivered by a fake courier. Police recommend that seniors pause and verify such claims by asking personal questions, contacting family members directly using known phone numbers, and never sharing money or personal information over the phone.