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Newtown Township residents were scammed out of approximately $7,000 over a three-day period in late May through two separate gift card fraud schemes: one victim lost $3,500 after receiving a fraudulent call claiming their YouTube TV account would be canceled, and another victim lost $3,500 after receiving a phishing email about a Netflix billing increase. Police also warned residents of a circulating text message scam impersonating the Pennsylvania Court system demanding payment for alleged traffic violations, and reminded the public that legitimate businesses and government agencies never request payment via gift cards or electronic transfers.

A Delaware woman lost $701,529 in gold bars between August 2023 and February 2024 after scammers posing as federal agents claimed her identity had been stolen and she was under investigation; they told her the Treasury would safeguard gold bars she purchased to resolve the matter. When authorities caught the scheme, they arrested Rakeshkumar Patel, an Indian national illegally residing in New York, who pleaded guilty after attempting to collect an additional $300,000 in gold in May 2024. The scam was part of a larger fraud operation targeting older affluent adults across Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, with a combined loss of $2.1

A Pennsylvania family received dozens of unwanted Amazon packages worth at least $1,000 totaling electronics and accessories addressed to an unknown person named Therese starting in May in a suspected brushing scam. In brushing scams, perpetrators send products to addresses and post fake positive reviews to boost sales, though no fraudulent reviews were found under the family's name in this case. Amazon confirmed the family could legally keep the items but they declined to do so out of concern for potential unauthorized charges appearing later.

Police across multiple states including Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, and New Jersey are warning of a DMV text scam impersonating the Department of Motor Vehicles and threatening to suspend vehicle registration unless victims click malicious links to pay alleged fines immediately. The scam is designed to steal personal and financial information by creating panic and urgency. Authorities recommend not clicking links or responding to such messages, instead reporting them to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, contacting your state DMV directly through official channels, and forwarding suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) to help wireless providers block similar messages.

Williamsport Police warned residents of a text message scam impersonating the Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles, claiming enforcement penalties would begin on May 31 and directing victims to click a link to pay outstanding traffic tickets. The PA DMV does not contact individuals via text to request payment, and clicking such links can compromise personal and financial information. Residents are advised to independently verify the legitimacy of suspicious communications before providing information or clicking links.

Between May 27-29, Newtown Township and Wrightstown Township police reported multiple scams targeting residents. Two gift card scams resulted in losses totaling $7,000—one involving a fake YouTube TV account cancellation threat and another using a fraudulent Netflix billing increase email. Additionally, residents received text messages impersonating the Pennsylvania Court system demanding payment for alleged traffic violations through a scam URL. Police emphasized that legitimate businesses and government agencies never request payment via gift cards or unsolicited electronic transfers, and advised residents to verify contact through official channels before providing any payment information.

Scammers in Wisconsin are impersonating the Wisconsin Department of Transportation DMV by sending text messages claiming unpaid traffic violations or final notices, attempting to trick recipients into revealing personal information or clicking malicious links. The Wisconsin DMV received a large volume of complaints on June 2 and noted similar scams had recently targeted Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. The DMV advises residents not to respond to unsolicited texts, avoid clicking links, and warns to be suspicious of communications requesting money or creating urgency.

Police are warning the public about a widespread DMV text message scam that threatens to suspend vehicle registration unless victims click malicious links and pay fake fines, with reports across multiple states including Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, and New Jersey. The scam is part of a broader wave of "smishing" (SMS phishing) attacks designed to steal personal and financial information by creating panic and prompting immediate action. To protect yourself, do not click links in unsolicited DMV texts, report suspicious messages to the FTC and your wireless provider, and verify any requests directly through your state's official DMV website or phone number.

DMV text message scams, known as "smishing," are expanding across multiple states including Colorado, Indiana, Minnesota, California, Michigan, and North Carolina, with earlier warnings issued in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. These fraudulent texts falsely claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets or outstanding bills and threaten consequences like vehicle registration loss, driving privilege suspension, or credit score damage unless they click a link and pay. The Federal Trade Commission advises recipients not to click links or respond, instead contacting their state DMV directly through official channels and reporting the messages to their wireless provider, the FTC, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

State Departments of Transportation in Idaho, Iowa, and Wisconsin issued warnings about phishing text scams impersonating state agencies and demanding payment for unpaid tolls or traffic violations, with threats of legal action. The scams have already targeted Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York, and are becoming more sophisticated by using fear tactics to trick victims into clicking malicious links or sharing personal information. State agencies advise recipients to ignore urgency demands, avoid clicking links or sharing information, block senders, and report scams to the FTC or Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Centre County reported over 350 cases of elder abuse in 2024, a five-fold increase over the past decade, with financial exploitation now surpassing self-neglect as the most commonly reported abuse type. Sophisticated scams using AI-generated deepfakes, voice spoofing, and impersonation have stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from local seniors, with statewide estimates between $260 million and $2.1 billion stolen from Pennsylvania residents over 60 in 2022. The Centre County Office of Aging is hosting educational initiatives and encouraging victims to report scams to local law enforcement to prevent further exploitation.

The FBI Philadelphia marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) to highlight the growing crisis of elder fraud, reporting that Americans over 60 filed over 147,000 complaints in 2024 with losses totaling approximately $4.8 billion nationally, while Pennsylvanians over 60 alone reported 6,300 complaints resulting in $151 million in losses. The FBI emphasizes that elder abuse takes multiple forms and urges the public to recognize scam attempts, resist pressure to act quickly, protect personal information, and report suspected fraud to law enforcement. Education, community outreach, and victim support services are identified as critical tools in protecting vulnerable seniors from exploitation.

On World Elder Abuse Day, the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office highlighted that Pennsylvania seniors lost over $151 million to fraud last year, ranking the state 8th nationally. The FBI investigates multiple fraud schemes targeting seniors including investment scams, technical support schemes, money mule operations, and romance scams. Seniors are advised to verify business legitimacy through resources like the Better Business Bureau, avoid rushing into decisions, and never share personal information with unverified sources; victims can report fraud through 1-800-CALL-FBI or ic3.gov.

Pennsylvania state agencies warned residents about a fake inheritance scam targeting older adults, in which scammers impersonated Commonwealth employees via spoofed emails claiming a distant relative had left money and demanding hundreds of thousands of dollars in upfront fees to release the funds. Officials stressed that legitimate Pennsylvania agencies use @pa.gov email addresses, will not demand quick action or secrecy, and urged residents to verify requests with trusted contacts before responding.

Pennsylvania officials warned of an email scam targeting older residents, in which fraudsters impersonate state employees and claim recipients have inherited large sums from distant foreign relatives, then request hundreds of thousands of dollars in upfront fees to release the funds. The scammers use spoofed email addresses resembling official state accounts and create false urgency to pressure victims into quick payments. Officials advise recipients to verify sender email addresses (legitimate PA state emails end in @pa.gov), avoid responding to unsolicited money offers, and contact trusted family members or local Area Agencies on Aging before engaging with unknown individuals making financial offers.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday issued a consumer alert warning residents to be cautious of scammers exploiting storm and flood damage by targeting those seeking vehicle purchases and home improvement contractors. The advisory recommends verifying contractor registration, obtaining written estimates, avoiding large upfront payments, using bank certificates of completion, and reporting suspected scams to the Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Utility-related impostor scams are surging across Pennsylvania, with criminals posing as utility representatives to demand immediate payments via untraceable methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission received over 70 calls in a single day about scammers falsely claiming service switches were detected and threatening disconnection, though utilities never demand immediate payment or use non-traditional payment methods. AARP Pennsylvania recommends residents verify suspicious calls by contacting the number on their utility bill and report fraud to the PUC, local law enforcement, or the FTC.

Pennsylvania Governor signed Senate Bill 649 into law in 2025, classifying deepfakes and digital impersonations as criminal "digital forgeries" to combat AI-enabled scams targeting elderly citizens, teenagers, and small businesses. The law allows law enforcement to prosecute those who create and distribute non-consensual digital representations of real people with intent to defraud or injure, while preserving protections for parody, satire, and legitimate artistic expression. Attorney General Dave Sunday stated the law provides crucial tools to investigate and hold offenders accountable for exploiting seniors through digital deception schemes.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed SB 649 into law, establishing third-degree felony charges for using artificial intelligence to create non-consensual deepfakes or voice clones to defraud or harm residents. The law specifically targets AI-generated scams affecting older adults, such as fake grandchild voice impersonations used to extort money, with Pennsylvania's Department of Aging reporting nearly 18,500 financial exploitation cases in FY 2023-24—nearly double the number since 2017. This legislation strengthens protections for Pennsylvania's fifth-largest older adult population by giving law enforcement new tools to prosecute AI-driven fraud schemes.

A senior living resident in Silver Spring Township, Pennsylvania was targeted by a scam in which a man impersonating an FBI agent demanded $27,000 in cash to prevent her arrest. A relative recognized the fraud and alerted police, who arrested a 39-year-old suspect at the victim's home before the money was handed over; the suspect was charged with theft by deception and criminal conspiracy. Authorities are investigating similar incidents in coordination with federal agencies and remind the public that legitimate law enforcement never demands cash or gift cards over the phone.

A 39-year-old man was arrested in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania after impersonating an FBI agent to scam a senior citizen out of $27,000 in cash on July 8. The victim was convinced to withdraw the money after the suspect demanded payment to avoid arrest, but her son recognized the scam and called police, who intercepted the call and made the arrest. The suspect faces felony charges for theft by deception and conspiracy.

An elderly woman in Adams County, Pennsylvania was defrauded of $16,000 by scammers impersonating Microsoft IT support who convinced her to purchase Bitcoin and Walmart gift cards. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the case, which represents a common elder fraud scheme combining tech support impersonation with cryptocurrency and gift card payment methods.

A Cumberland County, Pennsylvania senior was nearly defrauded of $27,000 after receiving a phone call from someone impersonating an FBI agent who demanded cash payment to avoid arrest. The victim withdrew the money as instructed, but her son recognized the scam and alerted police, who arrested a 39-year-old man attempting to collect the payment and charged him with theft by deception and conspiracy. The FBI and ICE are investigating similar incidents in the area.

Eight Chinese nationals were indicted for orchestrating a wide-scale computer pop-up scam targeting elderly victims from August 2023 to February 2024, falsely claiming their computers or bank accounts were compromised and then impersonating federal law enforcement to collect cash. The conspiracy defrauded more than 50 victims across 19 states of over $10 million. The defendants face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Two suspects posing as Microsoft IT support representatives scammed an elderly Adams County, Pennsylvania resident out of $16,000 by manipulating them into making Bitcoin kiosk deposits and Walmart gift card purchases. Pennsylvania State Police are seeking the suspects, with one identified at a Sam's Club in Allentown where a stolen gift card was redeemed.

Two Delaware County seniors each lost approximately $9,000 in a phone scam where callers impersonated their adult children claiming to be in accidents, then posed as bail bondsmen demanding cash to prevent jail time. The scammers used rideshare services to send couriers to collect the money wrapped in shoeboxes, with funds ultimately transported to Newark, New Jersey and Reading, Pennsylvania. Police urge residents to hang up on such calls and contact authorities, noting that legitimate law enforcement never demands cash payment.

Christen Lee Cosgrove, age 40, and Brian Cosgrove, age 37, of Pennsylvania were indicted on federal charges including conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering for defrauding a 93-year-old senior citizen and financial institutions of approximately $1 million between October 2022 and May 2023. The defendants allegedly used fraudulent wire transactions to obtain the money and spent it on personal purchases including a house, recreational vehicle, boat, and vacations. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and Luzerne County District Attorney's Office, with potential sentences of up to 30 years for bank fraud and 20

This is an educational/advocacy piece rather than a news report of a specific scam. The Pennsylvania Shapiro Administration highlights rising financial fraud threats including email, text, phone, and AI-generated deepfake scams targeting Pennsylvanians, and details new protections including criminal penalties for AI-generated fraud schemes and virtual currency transfer regulations. In 2024, state agencies processed 27,000 complaints and returned over $22 million to consumers, with resources available through 1-866-PACOMPLAINT or pa.gov/consumer.

A Pennsylvania family was scammed when selling a floor buffer on Facebook Marketplace; the buyer paid with counterfeit bills marked "motion picture purposes" instead of legitimate U.S. currency. After discovering the fake cash upon inspection, the Calhouns attempted to contact the perpetrator, who refused communication, prompting Pennsylvania State Police to open an investigation with no charges filed as of the report date. The incident highlights the risks of in-person cash transactions through social media platforms, which lack buyer/seller protections.

State Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill is hosting a free community event called "Scam Jam" in York County to educate older adults and families about identifying and avoiding scams. The event will feature representatives from state banking and securities, the district attorney's office, police, and AARP, along with fraud prevention games and prizes.

Pennsylvania State Police investigated a $20,000 fraud case in North Whitehall Township where elderly victims received phishing emails falsely claiming fraudulent Apple charges, then were manipulated by a scammer posing as "Thomas" into downloading remote access software and withdrawing cash that was handed to a courier using the code word "purple." The scam occurred on June 6, and police are seeking information about the unknown male courier who collected the money.

A senior couple in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania was scammed out of $20,000 through a phishing email scheme in which scammers impersonated Apple Customer Support, claimed fraudulent charges had occurred, and eventually sent someone to their home to collect cash in person. The scammers contacted the couple over 20 times via email, directing them to a fake help-line and falsely telling them Apple had accidentally deposited $20,000 into their account that needed to be repaid. Financial exploitation through such scams is now the leading form of elder abuse reported in Pennsylvania, with an estimated $2 billion annually stolen from older adults in the state.

Scammers employ constantly evolving tactics including fake emails, texts, and social media profiles to deceive victims, with Pennsylvanians losing approximately $400 million through text messaging scams alone. To avoid becoming victims, consumers should guard credit and debit cards, avoid clicking links from unknown senders, verify company contact information independently, refrain from posting vacation photos on social media, and be cautious during high-risk periods like summer travel and back-to-school shopping when scams increase. Victims can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission or FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Pennsylvania State Representative Tina Pickett held an annual Senior Expo in Athens to educate seniors on protecting themselves from scams, featuring speakers on healthcare, benefits, secure banking, and Medicare, as well as free document shredding services. According to the National Council on Aging, seniors over 60 lost $3.4 billion combined to scams in 2023, with fraud threats including identity theft and financial exploitation that can damage victims' credit and finances.

The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities is offering free educational presentations throughout August 2025 to help seniors, veterans, and the general public recognize and avoid scams, fraud, and identity theft. Events include interactive sessions like "Fraud BINGO" for older adults and consumer protection information booths at community gatherings across multiple counties. Pennsylvanians can report scams and consumer concerns to the department by calling 1-866-PACOMPLAINT, visiting pa.gov/consumer, or emailing [email protected].

Rosemary Grogan, an 82-year-old Pennsylvania resident, discovered $50,000 missing from her bank account due to fraud in 2024, a experience shared by growing numbers of elderly victims targeted by sophisticated scammers. U.S. cybercrime losses have surged from $4.2 billion in 2020 to $16.6 billion in 2024, yet small police departments lack resources to pursue international criminal networks, leaving most victims unable to recover stolen funds. Community leaders are calling for a coordinated federal response, including better data sharing and a national cybercrime task force, as current state-level and FBI resources address only large-scale patterns

On July 30 in Adams County, Pennsylvania, an elderly resident received a phone call from someone impersonating an FBI agent who claimed the resident's account was compromised and demanded $20,000 for "safekeeping." The scam involved an Uber driver who was supposed to transport the victim to withdraw the money and collect it, but a vigilant bank teller intervened by warning the elderly resident not to hand over the cash without an actual FBI agent present, causing the Uber driver to abandon the scheme without obtaining any funds.

An elderly Adams County, Pennsylvania resident was targeted by an impersonation scam in which a caller claiming to be an FBI agent demanded $20,000, stating the resident's account had been compromised and arranging for an Uber driver to transport him to the bank. A vigilant bank teller recognized the scam and prevented the loss. Local police departments are increasing community awareness by reminding residents that government agencies never request cash via unsolicited phone calls and advising people to independently verify any such contact before responding.

A text message scam targeting Pennsylvania residents falsely claims to be from the state's DMV threatening vehicle registration and driver's license suspension over unpaid traffic tickets, with messages originating from an Oregon area code and containing links to fraudulent payment pages. The scam uses non-existent Pennsylvania administrative codes and has been linked by the FBI to Chinese hacking groups, with recent reports showing messages sent to multiple recipients in group texts. Residents are advised not to click links in suspicious text messages, as the legitimate DMV does not handle traffic ticket enforcement.

State Rep. Doyle Heffley and Sen. David Argall are hosting two educational seminars on August 9, 2025, to help senior citizens recognize and protect themselves from fraud. The seminars will take place in Jim Thorpe and Beaver Meadows, Pennsylvania, and will provide attendees with information on current scam tactics and practical prevention strategies.

Pennsylvania State Police issued a warning about increased scams, con artist schemes, and home invasions targeting residents, particularly the elderly. Common tactics include home improvement fraud (offering low-quality services like diluted driveway sealant at below-market prices), paired home invasions where one person distracts the homeowner while the other searches for valuables (often posing as utility workers), and phone scams that lead to identity theft. Police recommend verifying identification and employment, checking contractor references, and being skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true.

David P. Shallcross, director of the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Senior Protection Unit, conducted a fraud awareness seminar for approximately 25 seniors in Friedensburg, highlighting common scams targeting older adults including the "Sweetheart Swindle" (where scammers pose as romantic interests to extract money), lottery/investment schemes, and cryptocurrency fraud. Shallcross provided protective strategies such as verifying information sources, recognizing red flags like unsolicited requests for gift card payments, and using verification tools like the SEC's EDGAR database and FINRA.org; he noted that the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office returned $1.2 million to scam victims in

This article announces a free fraud prevention workshop hosted by Representative Tina Davis on September 5th at the Bristol Township Senior Center, designed to educate residents about common scams including phishing emails, family emergency schemes, and fake bank communications. The interactive event features experts from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office, AARP, and local police who will provide guidance on avoiding identity theft, freezing credit reports, recognizing scams, and reporting fraud to authorities.

The Cybersecurity Association of Pennsylvania warns of a surge in sophisticated "Phantom Hacker" scams targeting seniors, with nearly half of victims over 60 and Americans losing over $1 billion nationwide to this multi-phase fraud. The scam typically involves criminals posing sequentially as tech support, bank representatives, and government officials to gain remote computer access and fraudulently transfer victims' funds to fake "safe" accounts, sometimes using AI to enhance credibility. PennCyber urges families to educate seniors on red flags—such as demands for wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or prepaid cards—and report suspicious contacts to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

A cybersecurity group called the Cybersecurity Association of Pennsylvania (PennCyber) has issued a warning about "Phantom Hacker" scams that specifically target senior citizens, urging increased vigilance in the community. The article appears to be a public awareness alert, though specific details about how the scam operates or reported cases are not included in the provided excerpt.

Police departments in Robeson and Caernarvon townships in southern Berks County, Pennsylvania, issued a warning about door-to-door contractors offering low-cost paving and construction work, which are frequently associated with scams or substandard workmanship. The townships have not issued solicitation permits for these types of jobs, and residents are advised to contact police if approached by suspicious contractors.

This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a newsletter from a Pennsylvania state representative discussing budget negotiations, school year wishes, labor unions, and community events. While it mentions an "Elder Fraud Prevention Seminar" scheduled for 9/23, this is merely a calendar listing, not substantive content about fraud or elder abuse. This does not meet the content criteria for the Elderus research database.

The Cybersecurity Association of Pennsylvania warns of sophisticated "phantom hacker" scams targeting seniors, which involve multiple phases of social engineering where criminals impersonate tech support, bank representatives, and government officials to manipulate victims into transferring funds or granting computer access. Nearly half of victims nationwide are over 60, with seniors representing two-thirds of losses totaling over $1 billion, and scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to make attacks more convincing. Experts advise families to educate seniors on red flags—such as requests for wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or prepaid cards—and to report suspicious contacts to local FBI offices or the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

In 2024, consumers lost over $1.4 billion to cryptocurrency scams, according to the FTC, prompting AARP Pennsylvania to alert residents to fraud schemes involving fake investment opportunities and romance scams that direct victims to deposit money into crypto ATMs. Scammers contact victims via text, email, or social media claiming guaranteed profits or threatening legal action, then direct them to send cryptocurrency through ATMs or other untraceable methods. AARP urges consumers to verify investment sources, resist pressure to act quickly, and never send money or cryptocurrency to unknown contacts.

This is an educational event announcement rather than a news article about a specific scam or fraud case. Here's the summary: A free educational program on senior fraud protection will be held September 8 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm, presented by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Senior Protection Unit and a Reading-based elder law firm. Attorney David Shallcross will cover scams targeting seniors including tech repair scams and romance fraud, along with protection strategies, while Attorney Rose Kennedy will discuss estate planning and elder law considerations. Registration is required through the Wyoming Public Library website or by phone at 610-374-2385.