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in Grandparent Scams
fox5vegas.com
· 2025-12-08
A Las Vegas senior named Joe Fitzpatrick created educational guides and community classes to help his neighbors at Solera at Stallion Mountain avoid cyber scams after witnessing an epidemic of fraud targeting residents. The guides cover various scam types including tech support, romance, Venmo, and the "grandparent" scam—where criminals use AI to impersonate relatives and request emergency money—with at least one local victim losing significant funds to this scheme. Fitzpatrick's primary advice is to treat online strangers with the same caution as in-person ones and encourages victims to share their experiences to help protect the community.
sidneydailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial scams targeting elderly residents in Shelby County, Ohio have become increasingly sophisticated, with people age 60 and over losing a combined $3.4 billion to fraud worldwide in 2023 alone. Scammers employ methods including Social Security imposter scams, grandparent schemes (enhanced by AI-generated voices and videos), and fake law enforcement threats to extract personal information and money from victims. Elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable due to accumulated wealth, health-related sensory impairments, and reluctance to report fraud due to embarrassment or fear of losing independence.
cvillerightnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal Trade Commission data estimates fraud theft in the United States reached $158.3 billion in 2023, with imposter scams, romance scams, tech scams, and investment scams being the most common types, typically beginning with phishing attempts via email, text, phone, or QR codes. AARP Virginia warns that AI technology is making scams increasingly convincing, particularly grandparent scams using synthesized voice calls, and recommends victims and witnesses report fraud to local law enforcement or contact AARP's Fraud Watch Network at 1-877-908-3360.
nzz.ch
· 2025-12-08
Professional scammers based in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, operate organized "pig butchering" romance scams that target lonely men on dating apps, using fake identities and fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes to steal entire savings. These industrial-scale fraud centers, which expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and often involve forced labor, emotionally manipulate victims by building trust through small early profits before extracting large sums. One victim, a 29-year-old Swiss man, lost all his savings within two weeks of matching with a fake profile, illustrating how the scheme exploits emotional vulnerability rather than outright naivety.
cybersecuritydive.com
· 2025-12-08
Mobile phishing scams targeting executives and employees via text and voice messages pose an increasingly serious threat, with 77% of companies experiencing at least one attack in the past six months, yet only half of security leaders express concern about the risk. Hackers use impersonation techniques—including AI-generated voice cloning—to trick employees into revealing passwords and granting network access, with notorious groups like Scattered Spider exploiting these social-engineering methods to infiltrate corporate systems. Organizations lack adequate visibility into these attacks and should implement real-time monitoring, mobile-focused security awareness training, and judgment-free reporting systems to address this vulnerability.
fdic.gov
· 2025-12-08
Financial exploitation costs seniors an estimated $27 billion annually and can occur through theft by family members, caregivers, or scammers. Key prevention strategies include monitoring bank and credit accounts regularly, protecting personal financial information, carefully selecting powers of attorney, reviewing credit reports, taking time with major financial decisions, and remaining alert to common scams like grandparent fraud and fake check schemes. Additional protections include registering with the Do Not Call Registry, avoiding unsolicited deposit requests, and limiting personal information shared on social media.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
The RCMP arrested Gareth West, 38, on July 4 in Quebec, alleging he was the ringleader of a grandparent scam that defrauded American seniors of $21 million between summer 2021 and June 2024. West and 24 other Canadians operated call centers near Montreal, impersonating grandchildren in distress and lawyers to convince elderly victims in 40+ U.S. states to send bail money, which was then transferred to Canada via cash delivery and cryptocurrency. West faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted and is being held pending possible extradition to the United States.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old Ohio woman with no criminal history, Ann Mayers, robbed a credit union at gunpoint in April 2024 after losing her life savings to an online scam in which a fraudster posing as a U.S. Customs official convinced her to send thousands of dollars; she also borrowed $65,000 from a friend to cover what she believed were legitimate fees. Mayers was arrested within two hours, confessed immediately, and was sentenced to 4–5.5 years in prison after pleading guilty, highlighting how financial fraud can drive vulnerable individuals to desperate and criminal actions.
ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
This article does not appear to contain content relevant to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The article headlines cover topics including police investigations into violent incidents, homelessness policy, healthcare access, building restoration, and nuclear safety—none of which relate to fraud or elder exploitation. Unable to provide an Elderus-relevant summary.
pa.gov
· 2025-12-08
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.
local10.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. State Department is investigating an impersonation scam in which someone falsely posed as Secretary of State Marco Rubio via Signal messaging to contact three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress. Cybersecurity experts warn that AI-generated voice cloning technology makes high-level impersonation increasingly sophisticated and accessible, with potential targets ranging from government officials to elderly individuals and law firms holding escrow funds. Experts recommend verifying communications through official channels and maintaining skepticism of both written and audio communications, as "seeing is no longer believing" in the age of AI-generated content.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Adults over 60 lost over $4.9 billion to scams in 2024, with impersonation, romance, tech support, and emerging "grandparent scams" using AI voice cloning being the most common threats. The article provides six protective practices: avoid unknown calls/texts, never share personal information with unsolicited callers, recognize urgency and emotional manipulation tactics, and refrain from sending money to unknown contacts via any payment method.
signalscv.com
· 2025-12-08
Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a 41-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming to represent Spanish banks and promising nonexistent inheritances, then convincing victims to send upfront fees for taxes and delivery costs through a network of U.S.-based intermediaries. Akhimie faces a maximum 20-year prison sentence, and the case highlights the broader crisis of elder fraud in the U.S., with 147,127 complaints totaling $4.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A UK poll of 1,000 respondents found that 41% of those with older loved ones believe they would fall for a scam if targeted, with 26% of older Brits having already experienced a scam and 21% falling victim to financial fraud. Common risky online behaviors among seniors include clicking suspicious links (68%), answering unknown calls (60%), oversharing personal information (55%), using weak passwords (51%), and poor password management practices such as writing them down or reusing them across accounts. Experts emphasize that online safety education and intergenerational conversations about cyber security are critical to protecting vulnerable older adults from increasingly sophisticated threats.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Gareth West, a Canadian man accused of orchestrating one of North America's largest cross-border "grandparent scams," was arrested by the RCMP in Quebec on July 4. Operating call centers in the Montreal area, West led a network that stole at least $30 million from elderly victims across 46 US states by posing as grandchildren in distress and pressuring seniors to send bail money, while using fraudulent proceeds to fund a lavish lifestyle. He faces charges of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy and could receive up to 40 years in federal prison if convicted in the United States.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Gareth West, the Canadian ringleader of a grandparent scam network that defrauded seniors across 46 U.S. states of approximately $30 million, was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at the request of U.S. authorities. The scam involved callers impersonating grandchildren in distress to pressure elderly victims into sending money through fake lawyers, bail agents, and courier services, with West operating call centers in Montreal using spoofed American phone numbers. West faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering carrying up to 40 years in federal prison, and 23 co-conspirators had been arrested prior to his apprehension
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Gareth West, a Canadian man, was arrested as the ringleader of a $30 million grandparent scam network that victimized seniors across 46 states by having callers impersonate their grandchildren in distress and demand urgent cash transfers. West operated call centers in Montreal with dozens of employees who spoofed American phone numbers, connected victims to fake lawyers and bail agents, and facilitated money transfers while West used the proceeds for luxury cars, properties, and travel. He faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering carrying up to 40 years in federal prison, with 23 other network members arrested prior to his custody.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Gareth West, the alleged leader of Canada's largest grandparent scam network, was arrested in Quebec after months of eluding police; he is accused of orchestrating a fraud scheme that defrauded approximately $30 million from American seniors through dozens of call centre employees in the Montreal area. West has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering and faces up to 40 years in prison if extradited to the U.S. and convicted. Twenty-three other alleged network members were previously arrested, though one conspirator remains at large.
paloaltoonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Palo Alto and Santa Clara County law enforcement hosted educational seminars in spring to help seniors recognize and prevent scams, as the country experienced a record $16.6 billion in scam losses in the previous year—a 33% increase. The top five scams targeting seniors involve impersonation: grandparent scams (fake emergencies using AI voice replication), financial services impersonation, government imposter scams, tech support fraud, and romance scams, with warning signs including rushed calls demanding secrecy and threats. Experts advise seniors to hang up on suspicious calls, verify requests directly with the entity, and remember that legitimate institutions never request sensitive information or demand immediate
paloaltoonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Palo Alto police and FBI officials held an educational seminar at Mitchell Park Community Center to help seniors prevent scams, as the nation faced a record $16.6 billion in scam losses in the previous year—a 33% increase. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, led by Deputy Bob Yee, is expanding fraud prevention seminars throughout the region, teaching participants to identify the five most common senior scams involving impersonation: person-in-need/grandparent scams, financial services fraud, government impersonation, tech support scams, and romance scams. Experts advise seniors to hang up on suspicious callers, verify requests by contacting organizations directly, and remember
echopress.com
· 2025-12-08
**More than 200 seniors attended the Alexandria Senior Expo on June 26, where law enforcement officials and banking professionals educated attendees on recognizing and preventing phone, internet, and mail-based scams.** The event, hosted by Triad (a partnership of Douglas County Senior Services, Sheriff's Office, and Alexandria Police), featured 30 vendor tables, breakout sessions, and a keynote speaker from the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Attendees shared personal experiences with scams, including a fake utility bill for $53.24, grandson scams, and tech support scams, highlighting the importance of discussing fraud experiences to help others avoid similar victimization.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Joseph Badu Boateng, a prominent Ghanaian businessman known as "Dada Joe Remix," was extradited to the United States on July 1, 2025, to face charges of wire fraud and money laundering for operating a romance and inheritance scam targeting elderly Americans. Between 2013 and March 2023, Boateng and his co-conspirators defrauded US victims of millions of dollars by falsely claiming to possess gold and jewels that required payment of taxes and fees to release. He is one of ten Ghanaians pursued by US authorities as part of a broader crackdown on transnational fraud schemes, with arrests coor
wpsdlocal6.com
· 2025-12-08
SOMA Cyber Inc., a Paducah-based cybersecurity company, is hosting a free cyberfraud and scam awareness session on July 25 aimed at educating elderly individuals about identifying and avoiding common online scams. Executive Vice President Johnny Sanders emphasized that AI tools like ChatGPT have made phishing emails easier to create, and stressed the importance of recognizing that cyber threats affect local communities, not just distant cities. Sanders recommends using multi-factor authentication, being cautious with payment information, avoiding suspicious messages that seem too good to be true, and having conversations with older family members about scam prevention.
ckpolice.com
· 2025-12-08
This document provides guidance on two distinct fraud threats: counterfeit currency and grandparent scams targeting seniors. For counterfeit notes, individuals should stop the transaction, contact police, and verify authenticity by checking security features against known genuine notes. Grandparent scams exploit seniors' concern for family members through urgent phone calls claiming financial emergencies; victims should verify the caller's identity with actual relatives before sending money via untraceable methods like wire transfers or gift cards, and report suspected scams to local police and financial institutions immediately.
khou.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans are being targeted by scams at unprecedented rates, with 96% receiving fraudulent calls, emails, or texts weekly, according to a CNET report. The most prevalent scams include highway toll/ticket schemes, shipping notification frauds, and the "grandparents scam" where callers impersonate family members claiming to be in trouble and demanding money immediately. Experts warn that rising AI and voice-cloning technology will likely increase these impersonation scams, and recommend remaining vigilant by avoiding responses to unsolicited messages and verifying caller identity.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman from Hampton, Virginia fell victim to a sophisticated Facebook account takeover scam in which a scammer impersonated her friend, used fake video calls and personal details to gain her trust, and tricked her into sending a recovery code that gave them access to her account. The scammer changed her email and password, locked her out, compromised three Facebook groups she administered, and attempted to purchase $17,000 in bitcoins on her account before she recognized a follow-up scam demanding money. The article provides recovery steps for compromised Facebook accounts and advises victims to report incidents to IC3.gov and Facebook's official support channels rather than third-party support numbers.
newuniversity.org
· 2025-12-08
Orange County officially recognized June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day through a Board of Supervisors resolution, highlighting that 14.3% of county residents are age 65 and older and that Adult Protective Services received over 2,500 abuse reports in 2024. Financial exploitation accounts for 40% of these reports, with common schemes including IRS impersonation scams, grandparent scams, and romance scams that deplete victims' savings. The California Department of Justice estimates that only one in six instances of elder abuse is reported statewide, and experts recommend never sharing financial information with unsolicited callers regardless of claimed identity.
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines seven common Zelle scams and protective measures. Zelle, a money-transfer service used by major U.S. banks, is generally secure but vulnerable to scammer exploitation; the platform announced in November 2023 it would refund victims of certain imposter scams (financial institution, government, and Zelle refund impersonators) but not others like friend/family or romance impersonators. Users are advised to verify the identity of anyone requesting money transfers, use reverse phone lookup tools, and remember that legitimate institutions never request money via phone, text, or email.
cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Sen. Jon Husted introduced bipartisan legislation called "The Preventing Deep Fake Scams Act" to establish a task force that will examine how financial institutions can use AI to protect against fraud, particularly deep fake scams where fraudsters impersonate family members to steal money. According to Federal Trade Commission data, fraudsters stole over $12.5 billion from consumers in 2024—a 25% increase from 2023—with an AARP study finding that 77% of older adults worry they may become targets of AI-related fraud. The bill, endorsed by AARP and co-sponsored by Georgia Democrat Raphael Warnock, would require the
vietnam.vn
· 2025-12-08
Gen Z individuals in Hanoi fell victim to sophisticated impersonation scams despite growing up with digital literacy. Multiple cases involved fraudsters posing as police officers or bank employees, using psychological pressure and panic tactics to convince victims to transfer money; a 20-year-old lost 1.6 billion VND, another lost nearly 1 billion VND to fake police calls, and a 30-year-old lost 145 million VND total to a fake bank employee scam. The article highlights that scammers succeed not just through deceiving awareness but by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities and crisis-response confusion with constantly evolving scenarios and impersonation tactics.
coastalbreezenews.com
· 2025-12-08
Lunch with Friends hosted over 100 seniors on June 18th at Marco Lutheran Church, where Lieutenant Joseph Belardo from the Marco Island Police Department presented on elder fraud prevention. Lt. Belardo warned that scammers stole $3.4-$6.1 billion from older Americans last year, with tech support scams, government impostor scams, and AI-powered voice cloning being among the most common threats; he advised seniors to be skeptical of unsolicited calls/texts/emails, avoid clicking suspicious links, and verify requests by calling trusted phone numbers directly. The presentation also covered ransomware, malware, and deepfakes, with recommendations to update security software, use V
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The New York State Police warned residents of Jefferson and Lewis counties about scams targeting elderly people, including impersonation of law enforcement conducting financial investigations and grandparent scams where callers pose as lawyers demanding money for a grandchild's legal troubles. These scams commonly use spoofed phone numbers, text apps, pop-up messages, and create urgency while demanding secrecy, often requesting payment via gift cards or cash sent through the mail. Law enforcement reminded the public that legitimate officers and lawyers never request payment through gift cards or cash, and advised residents to verify suspicious contact through independent phone calls to known contacts.
evanstonroundtable.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Evanston seniors fell victim to scams in recent months: a 76-year-old woman lost over $102,350 after being tricked into transferring funds to Bitcoin by someone impersonating a Microsoft employee, and an 83-year-old woman nearly lost $12,500 in a Publisher's Clearinghouse sweepstakes scam before loss prevention staff at Jewel-Osco intervened. Police emphasized that prevention requires education, as most scammers operate internationally making arrests rare, and urged families to discuss common scam tactics with vulnerable relatives, particularly impersonation schemes involving grandchildren, financial institutions, tech support, and government agencies.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Jensen Beach, Florida, lost $800 to a Facebook scam in which a fraudster impersonating Elon Musk promised her a Tesla and $250,000 in cash, then repeatedly requested Apple Gift Card payments for supposed delivery fees. The scammer used a fake profile with copied images and AI-generated content, moved the conversation to WhatsApp, and exploited urgency and flattery to manipulate the victim into sending multiple payments before she recognized the pattern. Gift cards are favored by scammers because they are untraceable, fast, and nearly impossible to recover once redeemed.
newsfilecorp.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior Scam Alerts, a new free weekly newsletter launched in June 2025, aims to educate older Americans about fraud prevention through coverage of scam types, detection methods, and reporting procedures. According to FBI data, seniors aged 60+ lost nearly $4.9 billion to scams in 2024—a 43% increase from the previous year with an average loss of $83,000 per victim—prompting this educational initiative drawing from trusted sources like the FBI and Department of Justice.
theglobeandmail.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior Scam Alerts, a free weekly newsletter, launched in June 2025 to educate older Americans about fraud prevention following a crisis year in which Americans aged 60+ lost nearly $4.9 billion to scams in 2024—a 43% increase from the prior year with average losses exceeding $83,000 per victim. The newsletter covers various scam types including health insurance fraud, pig butchering, smishing, and grandparent scams, providing prevention tips, real-life case studies, and reporting resources drawn from trusted sources like the FBI and Department of Justice.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies five red flags that warn seniors they may be targeted for scams, emphasizing that older adults lose nearly $5 billion annually and are targeted because they hold roughly half of U.S. wealth. The first two red flags discussed are feeling panicked (as in grandparent scams demanding immediate bail) and pressure to make fast decisions (such as investment opportunities or fake retail websites), with experts advising victims to slow down, create mental space, and independently verify claims rather than acting immediately.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors lost nearly $5 billion to scams last year and remain prime targets due to their concentrated wealth, according to the FBI. The article identifies five red flags indicating a potential scam: feeling panicked, pressure to make fast decisions, unsolicited contact, requests for personal information, and reluctance to verify claims—noting that scammers rely on emotional manipulation and time pressure to override victims' judgment. Experts advise pausing to think critically when experiencing these warning signs, as scammers count on immediate reactions rather than careful consideration.
amac.us
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource presents a chart detailing common scams targeting consumers, including AI scams (deepfake impersonations), bank text scams (phishing for account information), billing/invoice scams (fake invoices demanding payment), brushing scams (unsolicited items to boost reviews), and charity scams. The guide identifies shared scammer tactics such as impersonation, creating urgency, and pressuring victims to share personal information, while offering specific identification and prevention strategies for each scam type. The material encourages sharing this information with friends and family as a primary defense against fraud.
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the FBI's annual internet crime report, seniors lost nearly $5 billion to scams last year and are disproportionately targeted by scammers who view them as wealthy, not feeble-minded. The article identifies two major red flags for potential scams: feeling panicked and experiencing pressure to make fast decisions, and recommends that seniors slow down, create mental space to think, and independently verify claims before acting. Various protective services and apps have been developed to help seniors guard against financial exploitation.
kcbx.org
· 2025-12-08
State Senator Monique Limón is hosting a free Senior Scam Prevention Seminar in Goleta on June 27 to educate older adults about protecting themselves from fraud, following warnings from law enforcement in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties about recent scam calls impersonating officers. Experts from the California Department of Insurance, Consumer Affairs, and Department of Justice will present information on common scam tactics including fake tech support, grandparent scams, fake lottery winnings, and phony home repair offers that frequently target seniors.
tcsheriff.org
· 2025-12-08
Travis County Sheriff's Office warns residents about phone scams impersonating law enforcement and financial institutions to demand immediate payment via untraceable methods like cryptocurrency, wire transfers, and gift cards. Common scams include jury duty fines, grandchild-in-jail schemes, and fake bank fraud alerts that trick victims into withdrawing money or providing personal information. Residents should never send money over the phone to unknown callers and should independently verify requests by contacting official agencies directly rather than calling back spoofed numbers.
wdrb.com
· 2025-12-08
A Louisville woman lost $9,000 to a "grandparent scam" in which a caller impersonated her grandson claiming he needed bail money, leading to the identification of a delivery person via doorbell camera footage. The arrest of the suspect at a local hotel within 36 hours initiated a nationwide investigation that ultimately resulted in six federal convictions and exposed an international call center network operating from Canada, Colombia, and Panama that had stolen over $3 million from elderly victims across the U.S. The victim has since recovered approximately half of her lost money and now recognizes such scams.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A Philadelphia man lost over $1 million in two consecutive scams orchestrated by a fraudster posing as "Daisy" from Apple customer support. The scam began when he called a fake Apple support number, and evolved from a customer service fraud (where he was tricked into buying gift cards) into a romance scam that built trust over months of daily communication, ultimately resulting in him handing over $780,000 in precious metals to a money mule. The article warns consumers to watch for red flags including fake customer support numbers, lookalike websites, unsolicited contact, and suspicious requests for money or assets.
wnegradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Justice Department announced increased prosecution efforts against elder fraud schemes, which cost victims billions of dollars annually and often deplete life savings. The Northern District of Georgia has prosecuted multiple cases including an Indian call center scam where perpetrators impersonated government officials to fraudulently obtain funds, resulting in convictions and money laundering charges against Pradip Parikh, Alpesh Patel, and others. The Justice Department employs a two-pronged approach combining criminal prosecution with community outreach and education about common elder fraud schemes including romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams.
liherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Nearly 25 seniors at General Douglas MacArthur Village in Hempstead attended a scam awareness workshop presented by the Office of Crime Victim Advocate on June 9, where they learned to recognize and avoid common fraud schemes including romance scams, identity theft, deed theft, and "grandparent scams." The training, which covered tactics like phishing and bogus official calls that create artificial urgency, statistically reduces victimization risk by 80 percent according to studies. The New Greater Hempstead Chamber of Commerce Committee on Aging continues to provide resources and will host another awareness workshop in September.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Garrett County Sheriff Bryson Meyers issued a public awareness reminder about common scams targeting residents in the area, including tech support fraud, grandparent scams, government impersonation, romance scams, investment fraud, AI voice cloning, jury duty scams, and law enforcement impersonation. Residents are advised never to send money or personal information to unknown callers, avoid unsolicited pop-ups, and be alert to payment requests via Bitcoin or prepaid cards, as legitimate officials do not solicit payments by phone.
dentonrc.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article presents a quiz-format overview of common elder fraud schemes and prevention strategies, based on insights from a Texas Elder Justice Coalition summit. Key scams covered include romance/pig butchering scams, tech support fraud, impersonation scams using AI, fake lottery schemes, and caregiver theft, with recommendations including reporting to IC3.gov, using family code words, and recognizing warning signs like secretive apps and unusual bank activity.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced increased efforts to combat elder fraud schemes—including romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandpament scams—that cost victims billions of dollars and deplete life savings. The office employs a two-pronged approach: prosecuting domestic and foreign criminals involved in elder fraud and money laundering, and conducting outreach to law enforcement and community groups on prevention and detection. The National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-372-8311) provides free support to seniors age 60 and older who have experienced financial fraud, offering victim assessment, reporting assistance,
local10.com
· 2025-12-08
A 48-year-old Miami man was arrested in Standish, Maine after flying to New England to collect money from an elderly woman who had been victimized by a "grandparent scam." The woman had withdrawn $9,500 believing she was paying legal fees for her grandson's arrest, but Bighoro was the in-person collector for the fraud scheme. He faces charges of theft by deception and operating with a suspended license.