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As the 2025 tax season begins, cybercriminals are launching a surge of tax-related scams targeting taxpayers, with malicious domains using tax-related terms seeing a 693% traffic increase in the 30 days before the 2024 filing deadline. Common scam tactics include phishing emails impersonating tax software providers like TurboTax, fake charities, unlicensed tax preparers, and misleading fuel tax credit offers (which increased 121% from 2024 to 2025), with fraudulent activity persisting even after the April 15 deadline. Experts advise taxpayers to verify all websites and email requests before

The FTC reported $12.5 billion in consumer fraud losses in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, with investment scams ($5.7 billion) and imposter scams ($2.95 billion) leading the categories. The percentage of fraud reporters who lost money jumped from 27% to 38%, indicating scammers are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics, particularly through bank transfers and cryptocurrency payments that are difficult to reverse. Job and employment scams saw explosive growth, tripling in reports and skyrocketing from $90 million to $501 million in losses between 2020 and 2024.

Jacci Gruninger, Executive Director of the Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization (LARSO), was selected to present the organization's S.A.F.E. (Scam Awareness for Elders) program at the National Council on Aging's Age+Action Conference in Washington, DC. The S.A.F.E. initiative educates seniors about common scams and provides them with tools to protect themselves and their families from fraud. Gruninger's presentation will showcase LARSO's collaborative community efforts and success stories in helping vulnerable older adults recognize and avoid increasingly sophisticated scams.

Washington State has experienced a surge in text message scams impersonating Good To Go!, the state's toll billing system, which direct victims to fake websites and threaten legal action to collect payment information. A victim described losing access to her accounts after providing her driver's license and credit card number through a fraudulent link. WSDOT advises that legitimate Good To Go! communications never request payment via text or direct users to external websites; customers should only log into the official Good To Go! account to address toll issues.

A 52-year-old Federal Way, Washington woman was indicted on wire and bank fraud charges for operating a fake investment scheme targeting elderly members of the Korean community, defrauding at least 28 victims of over $3 million by falsely claiming to be an investment advisor while funneling funds into personal accounts and shell companies. Lee allegedly spent nearly $1 million of investor funds at casinos and operated the scheme in a Ponzi-style fashion, with approximately $2.2 million in net losses after some payments were returned to victims. The case carries potential sentences of up to 30 years in prison and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for

A federal court ordered the digital asset platform Debiex to pay over $2.2 million in restitution plus $221,466 in penalties for defrauding customers through a sophisticated online romance scam. The scheme involved "solicitors" who posed as romantic interests on social media to lure victims into opening fake trading accounts, while "money mules" like relief defendant Zhāng Chéng Yáng transferred misappropriated funds through digital asset wallets. The court also ordered approximately $120,000 in digital assets recovered from Zhang's wallet be returned to one victim, though the CFTC cautioned that full fund recovery may not materialize depending on

Beth Hyland, 54, lost $26,000 in a romance scam after meeting "Richard," a man posing as a French construction manager on a dating app, who used "love bombing" tactics and a fake Qatar job opportunity to extract money via bitcoin before disappearing. The scammer was identified as part of a Nigerian criminal group known as the "Yahoo boys," and law enforcement was unable to apprehend him. Her case inspired bipartisan federal legislation requiring dating apps and social media platforms to remove or flag known scammers and notify users who interacted with fraudulent accounts.

Beth Hyland, 54, lost $26,000 to a romance scam after meeting "Richard," a scammer posing as a French construction manager on a dating app who used love-bombing tactics and fake promises of a large payout to manipulate her into sending money via bitcoin and loans. The scammer, identified as part of a Nigerian criminal organization known as "Yahoo boys," was never caught, and Hyland's case inspired bipartisan legislation in Congress (introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn and John Hickenlooper) requiring dating apps and social media platforms to remove or flag known scammers and notify users who interacted with fraudulent accounts.

This educational article identifies New Jersey as the safest U.S. state for retirees based on FBI data analysis, citing low violent and property crime rates, minimal senior involvement in fatal accidents, and strong healthcare access. The article also lists nine additional safe states for retirement (New York, Mississippi, Louisiana, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, Alabama) and warns against five states with higher risks of elder fraud, property crime, and scams (Colorado, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Zelle's operator Early Warning Services for failing to implement adequate fraud prevention safeguards on the peer-to-peer payment network, resulting in over $870 million in losses to customers of the three banks over seven years. The banks rushed Zelle to market to compete with apps like Venmo and CashApp without proper protections, leaving hundreds of thousands of consumers vulnerable to fraud schemes and denying many victims legally required reimbursement when they filed complaints.

I don't see an actual article content in what you've provided—only the navigation menu and header structure from an NBC4 Washington news website. Could you please provide the actual article text or content that you'd like me to summarize? Once you share the body of the article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse, I'll be happy to write a concise 2-3 sentence summary for the Elderus database.

Congresswoman Ann Wagner and Congressman Josh Gottheimer reintroduced the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act to protect seniors from financial scams and fraud. The legislation would empower the financial industry with tools to identify and delay suspicious transactions involving seniors, and require the SEC to recommend additional protections, addressing the fact that approximately 1 in 5 senior investors are victimized by financial fraud, resulting in an estimated $3.4 billion in annual losses.

Congressmen David Valadao, Brittany Pettersen, Tom Suozzi, and Craig Goldman introduced the bipartisan Romance Scam Prevention Act, which requires online dating platforms to notify users if they have interacted with someone removed from the app for fraudulent activity. Romance scams cost Americans over $1.1 billion in 2023, with scammers using fake identities to manipulate victims into financial exploitation on platforms used by over 60 million Americans.

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and Senate Special Committee on Aging will hold a joint hearing on April 9, 2025, to examine how the Chinese Communist Party exploits American retirees through financial scams and predatory investment practices that threaten retirement savings and national security. Expert witnesses including Kevin O'Leary, Chris Iacovella, and Brady Finta will testify on the risks posed to American investments in China and discuss scams targeting older Americans' retirement funds.

Criminals are sending approximately one billion fraudulent toll notification texts daily targeting drivers nationwide, impersonating legitimate agencies like EZPass and SunPass, with the DMV region experiencing a 900% surge in complaints since January 2024. Experts warn that any engagement with these messages—even replying—signals to AI-powered scam networks that a number is active, leading to further fraud attempts; consumers reported losing $2.95 billion to impersonation scams in 2024 overall. Authorities including the FBI, FTC, and state transportation departments advise drivers to never click links in unsolicited toll texts and instead verify toll status directly through official agency channels.

A 56-year-old former financial advisor in Fox Island, Washington was indicted for stealing over $920,000 from a widow in her 70s by exploiting her trust and moving funds from her brokerage and bank accounts into his own accounts through multiple transactions. Winslow used the stolen money to purchase personal assets including an island home, hot tub, car, and jewelry, and attempted to conceal the fraud by funneling funds through gold coin purchases and layered transactions while falsifying his tax returns. He faces charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and tax fraud, with trial scheduled for June 2025.

Employment scams have nearly tripled since 2020, with Americans losing $501 million to job and fake employment agency scams in 2024, according to the FTC. Scammers target vulnerable job seekers—particularly recently laid-off federal workers—by creating fake job listings that mimic legitimate employer websites and request sensitive personal and financial information, with victims losing an average of nearly $3,000 per scam. Red flags include requests for expensive equipment purchases or banking information before employment begins, as illustrated in a case involving a Washington state woman who was approached via LinkedIn with a fraudulent remote transcriptionist job offer.

Washington Trust Bank employees launched a Senior Fraud Awareness workshop series in April 2023 to combat rising scams targeting older adults, after branch staff witnessed seniors being pressured to withdraw cash while on phone calls with scammers. The trio of bank managers has conducted five workshops in Spokane senior living communities and plans to expand regionally, providing FTC data, practical fraud prevention tips, and resources for reporting elder fraud. According to federal data, older adults lost over $1.9 billion to fraud in 2023 alone, with estimates suggesting actual losses could reach $61.5 billion.

A joint congressional hearing in April addressed how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) threatens Americans' retirement savings and financial stability through market manipulation, investment fraud, and targeted scams against seniors. Expert witnesses testified that the CCP infiltrates U.S. capital markets, uses American investor money to fund military and surveillance infrastructure, and operates global scam networks, with elder fraud complaints overwhelming law enforcement resources. The hearing emphasized the need for stronger protections to prevent hostile foreign actors from exploiting U.S. capital and vulnerable populations.

This article addresses consumer economic sentiment and trade policy—not elder fraud. It reports that U.S. consumer sentiment fell to pandemic-era lows in April due to trade war concerns, with respondents increasingly worried about unemployment and inflation, though no fraud, scams, or elder abuse are discussed in the content provided.

A 24-year-old Indian national living in California was arrested on April 9, 2025, in Washington County, Wisconsin, after attempting to defraud an elderly woman through a tech support email scam that gained access to her bank account. The suspect convinced the victim that a large refund had been accidentally deposited and instructed her to prepare $26,500 in cash for courier pickup, but the victim became suspicious and contacted authorities, leading to the suspect's arrest during the coordinated pickup. The suspect confessed to conducting similar fraud operations across multiple states under instructions from relatives in India, with travel and expenses covered by the fraud operation.

Two Bremerton, Washington women, Heather Marquis and Emily Vranic, were indicted on charges of conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft for stealing mail and using personal documents to take over the identities of approximately 278 victims between April 2019 and November 2024. The defendants opened credit cards, lines of credit, and accessed bank accounts in victims' names, transferring funds to their own accounts and using victim accounts to pay their mortgage, resulting in an estimated $620,000 in losses. Both defendants face trial in June 2025, with potential sentences ranging up to 30 years in prison depending on convictions.

The SEC launched an anti-fraud public service campaign warning investors about relationship investment scams, in which perpetrators build trust through online romantic or friendship connections to solicit money for fraudulent investments. The campaign includes educational videos, resources, and guidance advising investors to ignore unsolicited messages, be skeptical of investment opportunities from unknown contacts, and immediately stop communication with suspected scammers while reporting them to the SEC.

AARP, Amazon, Google, and Walmart launched the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center (NEFCC) in April 2025, a nonprofit organization designed to coordinate law enforcement, industry, government, and academia in combating fraud targeting older adults. The center will leverage private sector data to identify patterns across elder fraud cases nationwide, helping law enforcement dismantle large-scale criminal fraud operations; according to the FTC, older Americans lost as much as $61.5 billion to fraud in 2023 alone. NEFCC is led by Brady Finta, a former FBI Supervisory Special Agent with over 20 years of experience in organized crime and elder fraud investigation.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network report reveals widespread consumer vulnerability to cyber threats, with over 276 million adults exposed through unverified apps and unreliable social media content, and 203 million lacking multifactor authentication on their accounts. The report emphasizes that consumers can reduce fraud risk through protective measures such as enabling multi-factor authentication, verifying app sources, and staying informed about emerging scams. AARP offers free resources including a fraud helpline (877-908-3360) and peer support groups to help victims and advocates for policy changes to combat the growing fraud problem.

Two brothers were sentenced for stealing over $435,000 from a Washington homeowner in a contractor fraud scheme targeting elderly homeowners across the country. Beginning in January 2024, they falsely claimed the victim needed urgent roof and foundation repairs, pressuring him to write checks totaling thousands of dollars while performing minimal or fake work, including demanding $200,000 for non-existent building supplies. The victim expressed profound feelings of shame and betrayal, which experts note are common among fraud victims, while federal agencies provide red flags such as door-to-door solicitation, pressure for immediate payment in cash, and aggressive sales tactics to help seniors avoid similar scams.

U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer introduced bipartisan legislation called the GUARD Act to combat financial fraud and "pig butchering" scams targeting older Americans by providing state and local law enforcement with federal grant funding and blockchain tracing tools. "Pig butchering" scams involve fraudsters convincing retirees to invest in fake opportunities, with victims over 70 suffering median losses of $9,000 compared to $2,400 for all age groups, and these scams causing over $1 billion in losses in 2022 alone. The bill is supported by multiple organizations including AARP and law enforcement associations.

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a consumer alert warning of deepfake telemarketing scams targeting District residents, particularly seniors, which use artificial intelligence to create fake audio or video of loved ones requesting money for emergencies. Scammers easily obtain audio samples from voicemails or social media to create convincing "cheap fakes" that are simple to produce using low-cost tools. The AG recommends protecting yourself by refusing to share personal information, hanging up and calling back using verified numbers, disclosing requests to trusted contacts, denying remote access to devices, and staying informed about evolving scam tactics.

**Summary:** The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that cybercriminals stole a record $16.6 billion from Americans in 2024, a 33% increase from the previous year, with over 850,000 reported scams and fraud cases. Adults age 60 and older were disproportionately affected, with over 80% of victims experiencing financial, data, or identity theft losses.

A 67-year-old retired man was scammed out of approximately $2,700 over three months by a fraudster impersonating a London-based glamour model on Facebook and messaging apps. The scammer, posing as "Sophie" from Washington DC, built an emotional relationship with the victim, claiming to need money for family medical expenses, and the victim sent gift card codes totaling $2,700. The victim's wife discovered the fraud through unusual credit card payments, and after the husband acknowledged the scam (triggered by watching a TV segment about similar cons), the couple separated after 16 years of marriage due to the emotional infidelity involved.

The FBI warns of discount medical insurance scams that promise reduced rates but provide no actual coverage, resulting in millions in annual losses and primarily targeting people seeking affordable healthcare through unsolicited contact. Washington state issued a cease-and-desist order against one fraudulent company after over 100 complaints, with victims reporting misrepresented coverage, denied refunds, and unauthorized charges; specific cases included Pennsylvania residents pressured into plans with no actual coverage, a Texas senior deceived into unwanted dental insurance, and a Maryland man left responsible for $7,000 in surgery costs after his purchased plan was not accepted by his hospital. To protect themselves, consumers should verify that insurance companies are licensed in their state through the state

A Cambodia-based gang with North Korean ties operated the Huione Group, which facilitated "pig butchering" romance scams and other cyber fraud against Americans, stealing at least $4 billion between August 2021 and January 2025. The scammers used dating apps, social media, and professional networking sites to pose as romantic interests or business contacts, convincing victims to invest in cryptocurrency or transfer funds for fake business ventures. The U.S. Treasury Department announced a proposed rule to sever Huione's access to the American financial system, with one victim, Beth Hyland, losing $26,000 after being manipulated into sending bitcoin payments through ATMs to a Nigeria

A Kansas City digital literacy program called "Show Me Seniors Digital Literacy Cohort" graduated its first group of senior citizens who learned computer skills and scam prevention techniques. The initiative, funded by Senator Barbara Washington and Lincoln University, responds to a concerning trend: the Federal Trade Commission reports that the number of older adults losing $100,000 or more to fraud has tripled since 2020, with investment scams being the most common cause. Participants received free laptops and certifications, with the next cohort scheduled to begin in May.

The Trump administration proposed cutting approximately 90 percent of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) workforce, an agency responsible for protecting consumers from financial scams and fraud. Federal judges temporarily blocked the layoffs, but Senator Kirsten Gillibrand expressed concern that staffing reductions could leave seniors vulnerable to fraud, noting that in 2023 over 100,000 adults aged 60+ reported financial scams averaging $33,000 in losses per victim, while the CFPB has returned $21 billion to consumers including many seniors.

In 2023, more than 4,300 older New Yorkers were defrauded, losing over $200 million, as older Americans nationwide lost $3.4 billion to scams. The Trump administration is attempting to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by firing approximately 90% of its staff, including nearly all employees of the Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans, which provides fraud education and counseling to seniors. This action threatens to leave vulnerable older adults without critical protections and resources, despite the CFPB having returned over $21 billion in compensation to Americans harmed by financial fraud since its creation.

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A Cambodia-based gang with North Korean ties operating under the Huione Group has stolen billions of dollars from Americans through "pig butchering" romance scams and investment fraud since August 2021, according to federal officials. Between August 2021 and January 2025, Huione raked in at least $4 billion in proceeds, with the operation facilitating payments and cryptocurrency exchanges that enabled the scams targeting US retirees and others through dating apps and social media. The US Treasury Department has proposed a federal rule to sever Huione Group's access to the US financial system, with one victim, Beth Hyland, losing $26,000 to a Tinder sc

The U.S. Attorney's Office partnered with the Du Quoin Public Library to host a free fraud prevention seminar on May 15 aimed at educating seniors about the latest online and phone scams targeting them. The presentation covered online scams, fraud schemes specific to seniors, and federal prosecutions in Southern Illinois, while providing attendees with detection tips and guidance on contacting law enforcement if victimized.

The FBI warns of an ongoing discount medical insurance scam that targets people seeking affordable healthcare through unsolicited contact via calls, texts, or emails, promising discounted rates and coverage that fails to materialize when victims need medical services. Scammers use pressure tactics like time-limited offers and misrepresent coverage while refusing refunds, with Washington state issuing a cease-and-desist against one company operating under multiple names after receiving over 100 complaints. Victims reported unpaid medical bills ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, as well as difficulty canceling policies and receiving promised refunds.

The FBI issued a nationwide alert about fraudulent "discount" medical insurance schemes targeting seniors and other Americans, resulting in millions of dollars in losses. Scammers impersonate legitimate insurance companies through unsolicited calls, texts, and emails, using high-pressure tactics to pressure victims into enrolling in fake plans that provide no actual coverage when medical services are needed. Documented cases include victims in Washington, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Maryland who were denied coverage claims, subjected to unauthorized charges, and refused refunds after discovering the plans were fraudulent.

Congressman Bryan Steil and Representatives Josh Harder and Dan Meuser introduced a congressional resolution to designate May 8th as National Scam Survivor Day. The resolution highlights that in the prior year, 2.6 million Americans lost more than $12.5 billion to scams, and commends scam survivors who speak out to raise awareness.

In 2024, 2.6 million Americans lost over $12.5 billion to scams, prompting Congressmen Steil, Harder, and Meuser to introduce a bipartisan resolution designating May 8th as National Scam Survivor Day. The resolution aims to reduce stigma around victimization, encourage survivors to share their experiences for awareness, and foster collaboration between government, private sector, and nonprofits to prevent future scams targeting seniors, veterans, and other vulnerable populations.

This IRS alert issued during National Small Business Week warns taxpayers and businesses to remain vigilant against year-round scams and fraud, highlighting the agency's "Dirty Dozen" list of schemes including W-2 phishing, fake charities, spear phishing, and fraudulent social media tax advice. The IRS recommends protective measures such as using multi-factor authentication, strong passwords, anti-malware software, and securing Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), while cautioning that disaster season creates additional opportunities for scammers impersonating IRS workers offering false casualty loss claim assistance. Victims can report scams to [email protected], contact the disaster

Mohammed Asif, a 34-year-old Indian national, was indicted for operating American Labworks LLC, a fraudulent diagnostic testing laboratory in Everett, Washington, that billed Medicare over $8.7 million for COVID-19 and respiratory tests that were never ordered or performed, resulting in $1.1 million in fraudulent payments. Medicare received over 200 complaints from beneficiaries reporting they were billed for tests they never received, with some billing records showing tests billed for deceased individuals or by deceased physicians. Asif was arrested in April 2025 while attempting to board an international flight after withdrawing $260,000 from the company account in May 2

This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It is an obituary for former Supreme Court Justice David Souter and does not involve scams, fraud, elder abuse, or related criminal activity targeting older adults.

Five federal financial regulatory agencies and FinCEN issued guidance to help banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions combat elder financial exploitation, which affected approximately $27 billion in reported suspicious activity over a one-year period ending in June 2023. The statement recommends risk management practices including employee training on recognizing exploitation, establishing trusted contact processes, implementing transaction holds when appropriate, and timely reporting to law enforcement and Adult Protective Services. These measures aim to help supervised institutions identify, prevent, and respond to elder financial exploitation that can cause older adults to lose their life savings and financial security.

The FBI warned in April against a sophisticated medical insurance scam where fraudsters pose as legitimate insurance companies to deceive consumers seeking affordable coverage, resulting in hundreds of victims losing thousands of dollars across the country. Scammers use tactics like claiming to offer time-limited discounts, requiring upfront payments, and misrepresenting coverage, leaving victims with unexpected medical debt when claims are denied—including a Maryland man stuck with a $7,000 emergency surgery bill and over 100 Washington state residents defrauded by a multi-named company. The FBI recommends verifying insurance through state commissioners or the Better Business Bureau, confirming provider acceptance, reviewing fine print carefully, and never paying upfront.

U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ashley Moody (R-FL), and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act to provide tax relief to individuals who have suffered losses from fraud, scams, thefts, accidents, and personal casualty losses. The legislation reinstates tax deductions for personal casualty and theft losses that were previously suspended.

Congressman Jamie Raskin led a bipartisan group in introducing the Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act, which would restore the Casualty and Theft Loss Deduction for taxpayers from 2018-2025 to prevent victims from facing additional tax liability on stolen or lost income. The legislation was prompted by a Maryland constituent who lost $655,000 in retirement savings to fraud and faced a $148,000 tax bill, and addresses a critical issue as elder fraud caused over $4.885 billion in losses in 2024 with an average victim loss of $83,000.

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center issued a public service announcement on May 15 warning of a malicious text and voice messaging campaign active since April that impersonates senior U.S. officials and targets current or former federal and state officials and their contacts. The scheme uses "smishing" texts and AI-generated voice messages to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or sharing credentials, which attackers then use to compromise personal and work accounts. The FBI advises recipients to verify unsolicited messages through known phone numbers, inspect URLs carefully, enable multi-factor authentication, and report incidents to local FBI field offices or IC3.gov.