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in General Elder Fraud
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old woman in Mumbai's suburbs lost Rs 21 lakh to an online extortion scam where fraudsters impersonated Delhi Customs and CBI officials and conducted a fake three-day "interrogation" via WhatsApp and video call, threatening her with arrest for alleged involvement with fake passports, drugs, and ATM cards found in an intercepted parcel. The scammers isolated her by instructing her not to tell anyone and sent forged legal documents to coerce her into transferring money, while also pressuring her to mortgage her jewelry and take loans before she sought police verification and discovered the fraud. The Cyber Police registered an FIR against the perpetrators.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters impersonating FedEx courier employees and police officers are conducting an escalating scam across India, wherein victims receive calls claiming a package linked to their Aadhaar number contains illegal drugs, followed by "digital arrest" tactics where victims are coerced into transferring money through fear of legal consequences and threats of leaked videos. FedEx has issued an advisory urging recipients of suspicious calls to avoid sharing personal information and report to authorities, as documented victims have lost substantial sums ranging from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 2.8 crore, with 163 cases registered in Bengaluru alone totaling Rs 5 crore in losses.
khak.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Iowa residents lost $42.6 million to various scams, with romance scams alone accounting for over $4 million in losses and representing nearly 30% of senior financial exploitation reports filed with the Iowa Insurance Division. Common scams affecting Iowans include identity theft, investment fraud, tech support scams, grandparent scams, and compromised business email schemes. The FBI's "Take A Beat" initiative recommends protecting against scams by being cautious of unsolicited contact, verifying senders, enabling two-factor authentication, avoiding sharing personal information, being wary of cryptocurrency or gift card payment requests, and reporting suspected fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center
qchron.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023-2024, New York City's Department for the Aging assisted over 43,000 elder abuse victims through its Elderly Crime Victims Resource Center and Elder Justice Network, which provide counseling, crisis intervention, and criminal justice support. Elder abuse takes multiple forms—including physical, sexual, emotional abuse, fraud, and financial exploitation—and can affect older adults across all demographics, prompting NYC authorities to expand police training, assign liaison officers to precincts, and hold awareness summits to help victims access resources and support.
turnto10.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP partnered with Rhode Island State Police and U.S. Senator Jack Reed to host an Elder Fraud Prevention Summit, bringing together state and federal leaders to address elder fraud issues. The event aimed to coordinate efforts and raise awareness about protecting seniors from fraud and scams.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A 21-year-old Boston man was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud after serving as a courier in a tech support scam that defrauded a 75-year-old Massachusetts man of approximately $420,000 between June and October 2024. The victim was lured by a fake Microsoft pop-up message, then convinced by a scammer posing as a federal Treasury agent that his identity was involved in money laundering and instructed to withdraw cash in installments and hand it to couriers at his home. The defendant was arrested on October 7, 2024, when he arrived to collect a package from an undercover officer, and admitted to collecting packages for payment at the
turnto10.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP partnered with Rhode Island State Police and U.S. Senator Jack Reed to host an Elder Fraud Prevention Summit addressing the growing threat of scams targeting older adults. Rhode Islanders over 60 lost approximately $7.4 million to fraud in the previous year, prompting officials to share detection and prevention tips, including staying informed, maintaining open communication with trusted sources, and using AARP's free Fraud Watch Network alerts to learn about trending scams.
nbcbayarea.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned that cryptocurrency has become a major target for fraud, with California losing over $1 billion to stolen cryptocurrency in 2023, including $260 million in the Bay Area alone. Scammers specifically target elderly and retired investors by pitching fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities and then using intimidation tactics to extract additional funds, with investment fraud identified as the leading cause of crypto-related financial losses. The agency advises investors to be suspicious of unsolicited calls or texts promoting cryptocurrency investments or schemes that seem too good to be true.
kgun9.com
· 2025-12-08
During Medicare open enrollment (October 15 - December 7), seniors face increased scam threats including fraudulent calls claiming to be from Medicare offering new cards and misleading mail marketing unnecessary items like braces and testing kits. Scammers who obtain a beneficiary's Medicare number can alter coverage and access benefits, costing Medicare billions annually, so seniors are advised to guard their Medicare numbers as carefully as Social Security numbers and report suspicious communications. The Pima Council on Aging offers free, bi-monthly Medicare counseling and workshops to help beneficiaries navigate coverage options and identify fraud.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old California woman was defrauded of $50,000 in a grandparent scam where fraudsters impersonated her grandson, claiming he needed bail money for a drunk driving accident and subsequent legal charges. The scammers directed her to convert cash to cryptocurrency through a Coinstar machine, and despite warnings from the machine and her bank manager, she made multiple transfers totaling $50,000 to a crypto account—funds that are now unrecoverable due to cryptocurrency's decentralized and anonymous nature. The scam exploited emotional manipulation and artificial urgency, tactics that are particularly effective against older adults, who according to FTC data experienced median fraud losses of
reed.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Senator Jack Reed partnered with AARP Rhode Island and the Rhode Island State Police to hold an Elder Fraud Prevention Summit addressing the rising threat of scams targeting older adults. According to the FBI, elder fraud complaints rose 14 percent in 2023 with losses exceeding $3.4 billion nationally, including $7.4 million lost by Rhode Islanders over age sixty. The summit emphasized public education, awareness of common scam tactics (tech support, romance, investment, and data breach scams), and the importance of reporting fraud to authorities rather than remaining silent out of embarrassment.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The content is a standard privacy/cookie notice from Yahoo regarding data collection and user consent practices. It does not contain information relevant to the Elderus fraud research database and therefore cannot be summarized for that purpose.
tricountynews.com
· 2025-12-08
This article announces an educational webinar on financial scams targeting older adults, presented by Catholic United Financial on October 24th. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, people over 60 reported losses exceeding $3.4 billion in the previous year, representing an 11 percent increase, with criminals employing increasingly sophisticated schemes. The webinar aims to help participants identify common scams and protect themselves and their loved ones from fraud.
agrinews-pubs.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece reviews common scams targeting seniors, noting that scammers are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics. The article outlines five prevalent scam types—romance scams, computer repair fraud, grandparent scams, government impersonation, and bank account fraud—and provides protective strategies such as establishing family code words, avoiding unsolicited callers, and independently verifying contact from financial institutions or authorities.
cp24.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Police arrested 24-year-old Jahzion Holness-Edie as part of Project Sharp, a multi-agency investigation into emergency grandparent scams operating across Canada. The ongoing investigation has identified 126 victims (primarily from Ontario) who lost a combined $739,000 after being deceived by callers posing as police or lawyers claiming their grandchildren were in custody and needed bail money. The criminal organization allegedly has ties to Italian organized crime and uses "money mules" to collect payments from seniors.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Florida residents reported 151,152 fraud cases resulting in $654.5 million in losses, with imposter scams, online shopping fraud, and prize/sweepstakes scams ranking as the top three most common schemes. Common examples include IRS and grandparent imposter scams, fake retail websites, and false Publishers Clearing House notifications, with the first half of 2024 already showing 71,351 reports and $388.6 million in losses. Multiple state and federal resources are available to help victims and prevent fraud, including the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360) and the National Elder Frau
wsvn.com
· 2025-12-08
A former Miami-Dade corrections officer, Carmelia Newbold, was arrested and charged with exploiting her elderly disabled neighbor Thomas Edward Chiappetta through a fraudulent power of attorney scheme. Newbold used the invalid POA to gain control of Chiappetta's assets after his sister (his caregiver) died in 2020, transferring his $500,000 Miramar home to herself via fraudulent deed, accessing his sister's life insurance proceeds, and collecting his Social Security benefits before moving him to a long-term care facility where he died. She faces two felony counts: exploitation of the elderly and organized fraud.
goarch.org
· 2025-12-08
The Queens District Attorney's Office and Elder Fraud Coordinator Daren Wilkes presented an educational session on elder fraud and scam awareness on September 29, 2024, at Saints Constantine and Helen Parish in Jackson Heights, New York. The presentation aimed to inform community members about common fraud schemes targeting seniors and protective measures they can take.
wsvn.com
· 2025-12-08
A former Miami-Dade corrections officer, Carmelia Newbold, was arrested on charges of exploiting her elderly disabled neighbor Thomas Edward Chiappetta by using a fraudulent power of attorney to gain control of his assets after his sister's death in 2020. Newbold allegedly transferred Chiappetta's $500,000 home to herself, accessed his sister's life insurance proceeds, collected his Social Security benefits, and named herself beneficiary of his life insurance policy before moving him to a long-term care facility where he later died. She faces two felony counts—exploitation of the elderly and organized fraud.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 100,000 elderly Americans fell victim to fraud last year, losing more than $3.4 billion, with Rhode Island seniors alone losing approximately $7.4 million. U.S. Senator Jack Reed and partners hosted an awareness event highlighting common elder scams—including tech support, grandparent, government impersonation, sweepstakes, home repair, romance, and family scams—and recommended strategies to avoid them: never volunteer personal information, be skeptical of urgent claims, avoid payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and don't hesitate to hang up on suspicious callers. Victims should report scams to local police or the FTC, and seniors can access
clintonherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Between September 10-18, criminals conducted a coordinated grandparent scam targeting seniors across central Iowa, resulting in significant losses. Scammers posed as grandchildren claiming to be in accidents involving pregnant women, then transferred calls to fake attorneys demanding bond money ranging from $6,000 to $40,000, with couriers collecting the cash within hours of withdrawal. Law enforcement agencies across the region documented multiple cases following this pattern, though specific total loss figures were not provided.
newsradiori.iheart.com
· 2025-12-08
Rhode Island authorities are warning seniors about AI-powered voice scams that impersonate relatives or acquaintances requesting emergency money. In 2023, Rhode Islanders over 60 lost over $7 million to various scams, prompting state police to advise never sharing personal information with unknown callers.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
During Medicare's Open Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7), scammers target seniors with fraudulent schemes involving impersonation of Medicare representatives, unsolicited calls, pressure to enroll in prescription drug plans, requests for personal information like Medicare and Social Security numbers, and offers of illegal gifts. New York's Senior Medicare Patrol warns that Medicare never cold calls beneficiaries and enrollment in Part D prescription plans is voluntary, with seniors having the entire enrollment period to decide. Seniors who suspect compromise of their personal information or unauthorized enrollment can contact the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-333-4374 to report fraud.
abc17news.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Ontario woman lost $20,000 to a romance scam after being contacted on Facebook by someone posing as a widower who built an emotional connection with her and eventually requested money via Apple gift card purchases for a fabricated emergency. The case highlights romance scams as one of Canada's top three frauds, with Canadians losing over $52 million annually, and the victim's family is advocating for retailers and social media platforms to implement better fraud prevention measures.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Florida experienced 151,152 fraud reports resulting in $654.5 million in losses, with imposter scams, online shopping fraud, and prize/sweepstakes scams being the most prevalent. Common examples include IRS and grandparent imposter schemes, fake retail websites, and fraudulent lottery notifications, with victims encouraged to report incidents to local law enforcement, the Florida Attorney General, or national resources like the FBI and FTC.
cp24.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old woman from Newfoundland lost $20,000 to a romance scam after a stranger contacted her on Facebook, posed as a widower, and gradually convinced her to purchase Apple gift cards under the pretense of helping with his sick son and financial difficulties. The victim, who was vulnerable following her husband's death and cancer treatment, was targeted through escalating requests that began with $50 gift cards and increased to amounts as high as $3,000. The daughters are working with the RCMP and Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to recover funds and are advocating for retailers and social media platforms to implement stronger safeguards against such fraud, which costs Canadians over
spotonflorida.com
· 2025-12-08
A former Miami-Dade corrections officer, Carmelia Newbold, was arrested for exploiting an elderly disabled neighbor and committing organized fraud that involved transferring the victim's property. Newbold appeared before a Broward County Circuit judge following her arrest. The case involves elder exploitation and property fraud perpetrated against a vulnerable adult.
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Ontario woman lost $20,000 to a romance scam after being contacted via Facebook by someone posing as a widower her age, who eventually requested money for his sick son and instructed her to purchase Apple gift cards in escalating amounts. The victim, who was vulnerable after her husband's death and recent cancer treatment, was targeted during a lonely period and gradually sent funds ranging from $50 to $3,000 per transaction. The case highlights that romance scams remain among Canada's top three frauds, with Canadians losing over $52 million in the previous year, and the family is now advocating for retailers and social media platforms to implement stronger safegu
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Nashik city police released an educational video warning citizens about "digital arrest" scams, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement and threaten callers with arrest while demanding personal information like Aadhaar numbers and bank details, often claiming a drug parcel was found in the victim's name. The police emphasized that digital arrests do not exist and advised recipients to verify caller credentials and contact local police stations or the cybercrime helpline (1939) rather than providing information or transferring money. The alert noted that senior citizens and those less familiar with technology are primary targets of these increasingly common online fraud schemes.
morningjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
The Wellington Kiwanis will host an Internet Safety for Adults educational meeting on October 17 at 6 p.m. at the Wellington Fire Department, featuring systems engineer Chris Mohler who will teach attendees how to recognize and avoid online scams, phishing, email fraud, and identity theft. The presentation will cover practical warning signs and common attacks targeting older adults, with an emphasis on making the topic accessible and actionable for all users.
shensentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Pennsylvania state legislators partnered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Senior Protection Division to host a free educational seminar on October 25 at Fairlane Village Mall in Pottsville, designed to inform seniors about current scams and prevention strategies. The event, requiring advance reservations, was organized by Senator David G. Argall and Representative Tim Twardzik to help protect vulnerable seniors in their districts.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
Following Hurricane Milton's devastation across Florida, scammers are targeting vulnerable survivors through multiple fraud schemes including fake FEMA officials requesting personal information, unlicensed contractors demanding upfront payment, and fraudulent charities and crowdfunding campaigns. Authorities warn victims to verify legitimacy directly with agencies like FEMA (1-800-621-3362), research charities before donating, and avoid contractors who pressure immediate payment or provide evasive answers. The Better Business Bureau and FEMA emphasize that official disaster assistance contacts victims proactively, never solicits sensitive financial data unsolicited, and offers multiple forms of aid beyond the initial $750 emergency assistance.
redrocknews.com
· 2025-12-08
Detective Justin White of the Sedona Police Department presented on internet and identity safety, emphasizing that gift card and cryptocurrency payment requests are always fraudulent and warning residents about 40 types of scams, particularly warrant and government impersonation scams that target older adults by exploiting fear and emotions. In 2023, the FBI reported 14,190 government impersonation victims with losses exceeding $394 million, while local authorities received 25-30 fraud reports in a 10-week period with no successful losses. White advised residents to stay calm, trust their instincts, verify claims independently, and report scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center or local authorities.
dailybreeze.com
· 2025-12-08
A Santa Monica software developer lost $740,000 in a "pig butchering" romance scam, where a scammer cultivated trust over two months through daily communication before pitching fake cryptocurrency investments. This sophisticated long-con scheme, which originated in China in 2019 and expanded globally during the pandemic, has devastated hundreds or thousands of Californians—some victims have died by suicide after losing family fortunes—with Americans losing $4 billion to cryptocurrency investment scams in 2023, including $1.1 billion from California residents alone.
journalpatriot.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice's Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force identified four trending elder fraud scams targeting older adults: SSA Impostor Scams (falsely claiming Social Security numbers are suspended), Tech Support Scams (charging for unnecessary computer repairs and fake refunds), Lottery Scams (claiming victims won foreign lotteries requiring upfront fees), and IRS Impostor Scams (impersonating IRS agents demanding payment). These scams often operate internationally using U.S.-based "money mules" to receive payments, and older adults are targeted because they are less likely to report suspected fraud; victims can report scams to the National
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Google has issued warnings about increasingly sophisticated AI-driven phishing scams targeting Gmail users, with attackers impersonating Google support personnel via phone calls following fake account recovery notifications. In one notable case, a Microsoft solutions consultant nearly fell victim to a scam where a caller claimed suspicious activity had accessed his account for 7 days, using realistic details and spoofed phone numbers that appeared legitimate to pressure the victim into revealing credentials. Google has implemented new anti-scam alliance initiatives and recommends users enroll in its Advanced Protection Program to secure high-risk accounts against these evolving threats.
dungogchronicle.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Margaret Noy fell victim to a phishing scam after clicking on a fraudulent email impersonating Centrelink and providing her account details, resulting in a $1,600 fraudulent application and unauthorized bank account change within an hour. Services Australia reported a sharp rise in government impersonation scams, with 10,060 unique scams observed in 2023-24 compared to 3,936 the previous year, and calls to their scams helpline increased from 18,412 to 22,451. The agency recommends using strong security measures such as passpasses, Digital ID, and two-factor authentication to protect accounts.
spotonalabama.com
· 2025-12-08
A free educational stage play designed to raise awareness about scams targeting senior citizens will be performed on October 22 at the Comer Memorial Library in Sylacauga, with complimentary lunch provided for attendees. The performance aims to help older adults recognize and avoid falling victim to various types of fraud schemes.
orilliamatters.com
· 2025-12-08
Project Sharp, a 15-month investigation by 11 Ontario and Quebec police services, resulted in 14 arrests and 56 charges related to an "emergency grandparent" scam targeting seniors with landlines. Scammers impersonated police officers or lawyers claiming victims' grandchildren were in custody and demanded bail money, often using money mules to collect funds from victims who experienced significant financial loss and emotional trauma. A 14th suspect, a 24-year-old from Waterloo, was arrested in October 2024 as part of the ongoing investigation.
dailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Santa Monica software developer lost $740,000 in a "pig butchering" romance scam in which a scammer spent two months building trust and romantic connection before pitching a fake cryptocurrency investment scheme. The scam, which originated in China in 2019 and expanded globally during the pandemic, involves networks of scammers posing as romantic partners to exploit victims over weeks or months, with California residents losing over $1.1 billion to cryptocurrency investment scams in 2023 alone, and some victims driven to suicide after devastating financial losses.
presstelegram.com
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering" romance scams have siphoned millions of dollars from Californians annually through sophisticated confidence schemes that build romantic relationships with victims before exploiting them financially. The scams have caused severe damage to victims' lives, including destroyed families, lost retirement savings, and in some cases, suicides. State agencies are working to combat this fast-growing fraud scheme that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations.
bristolpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Detective Matthew D'Amore from the Plainville Police Department hosted an educational event titled "Scams with Detective D'Amore" on October 22 at the Plainville Senior Center to teach seniors how to recognize and avoid falling victim to scams. The presentation aimed to increase awareness and provide fraud prevention guidance to the local senior community.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This alert describes 10 common scams targeting middle-aged and elderly people, including digital arrest threats, fake family member arrests, fraudulent stock trading schemes promising 30-40% returns, easy money offers, customs parcel interception claims, unauthorized credit card issuance, fake money transfer notifications, expired KYC update requests, and bogus tax refund calls. Each scam is accompanied by protective notes advising victims to verify claims directly with family members or institutions, avoid clicking suspicious links, check bank accounts independently, and recognize that schemes offering unusually high returns or easy money are typically fraudulent.
sbsun.com
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering" romance scams are siphoning millions of dollars from Californians annually through sophisticated cons where scammers build fake romantic relationships with victims before manipulating them into sending money. The scheme has devastating consequences, including destroyed families, erased retirement plans, and some victims driven to suicide, according to state officials working to combat the fast-growing fraud.
thelocal.dk
· 2025-12-08
Danish police have identified that criminals targeting senior citizens in phone scams use public telephone directory websites like krak.dk to locate potential victims by searching for names common among elderly populations. The scammers typically impersonate bank representatives claiming the victim's card has been hacked, then pose as bank couriers to collect cash, bank cards, and jewelry from victims' homes. Police recommend that relatives help elderly family members remove their details from public directories to prevent these increasingly common fraud cases.
fox4beaumont.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Texas recorded 13,000 allegations of financial exploitation targeting elderly residents, with over 500 cases reported in Jefferson County alone. October is recognized as Financial Exploitation Awareness Month, during which Adult Protective Services in Beaumont and other organizations are hosting educational events to help seniors and their families recognize and prevent financial scams and exploitation.
advantagenews.com
· 2025-12-08
During Medicare open enrollment season, scam artists target seniors through unsolicited emails, texts, and calls impersonating government agencies to steal personal information for identity theft or fraudulent medical billing. The Better Business Bureau advises seniors to be cautious of such contacts and directs them to bbb.org for resources on avoiding and reporting healthcare scams.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are employing AI and sophisticated tactics to target victims across age groups in India, including fresh graduates (fake job offers), middle-aged parents (police threat scams), and retirees (KYC update phishing). From January to May 2024, Indian citizens filed approximately 9.5 lakh cybercrime complaints and lost around Rs 1,750 crore to various scams including TRAI impersonation, fake digital arrests, fraudulent stock trading schemes, and easy money-for-tasks schemes.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Cyber criminals in Kanpur impersonated law enforcement officers to defraud a retired police inspector and his son in a "digital arrest" scam. The criminals called the son claiming he was under arrest for drug trafficking, then contacted the father demanding Rs 50,000 for his release; the father transferred the money via RTGS before discovering the fraud when he later spoke with his son. A complaint was filed at Jajmau police station.
corporate-adviser.com
· 2025-12-08
Research from WEALTH at Work found that 13% of UK adults fell victim to pension scams in the past year, part of a total 6.2 million people affected by financial fraud overall, with victims losing an average of £1,000. Pension scams typically involved fake promises of guaranteed returns or early access to pensions, while other prevalent scams included purchase scams (27%), investment scams (19%), romance scams (14%), and tax refund scams (10%). The research emphasizes that fraudsters use professional-looking materials and multiple contact methods to appear legitimate, and recommends that people verify company registration with the Financial Conduct Authority, never rush financial decisions, and follow the