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Nearly 150,000 West Virginia households rely on SNAP benefits, with the state ranking third nationally for participation. The USDA reported over $220 million in stolen SNAP benefits nationally in 2024, with West Virginia experiencing $92,000 in theft from 171 families through card skimming—where devices capture card data and PIN codes from ATMs and terminals. State officials are advising SNAP recipients to block out-of-state transactions, inspect card readers for suspicious devices, update PINs monthly before benefits are issued, and note that fraudulent withdrawals typically occur between midnight and 6 a.m. on benefit distribution days.

**Social Security Imposter Scams on the Rise** Government imposter scams, particularly those posing as Social Security Administration officials, represent one of the most common fraud schemes targeting consumers, with the Social Security OIG receiving 73,626 reports in 2023—a 13.7% increase from the previous year. Scammers contact victims via phone, text, or email claiming account problems, benefit suspensions, or legal threats, then demand immediate payment or personal information through threats of arrest or account seizure. The Social Security Administration never initiates contact unexpectedly, communicates changes by mail, and never demands immediate payment via gift card, cryptocurrency, or cash—

Attorney General Kris Mayes joined 20 other states in filing an amicus brief opposing mismanagement at the Social Security Administration, which has resulted in service disruptions affecting millions of beneficiaries. Arizona received nearly 300 complaints from residents reporting website outages, phone service failures, and payment delays, while approximately 2,800 SSA employees have taken early retirement or buyouts and further staff cuts are planned despite the agency's administrative costs being only 0.5% of its budget. The brief challenges claims of widespread fraud and improper payments—the SSA Inspector General found less than 1% of benefits paid between 2015-2022 were improper—and argues that

Scammers are stealing Social Security account credentials through phishing attacks and selling full access on the dark web, then rerouting benefit payments to fraudulent accounts—with the SSA reporting cases involving monthly benefits of $1,855 or more being diverted. The Social Security Administration is implementing new in-person identity verification requirements starting April 2025, though this faces criticism due to concurrent staffing cuts of nearly 12%. Protection strategies include enabling two-factor authentication, regularly monitoring accounts, avoiding phishing links, freezing credit, and reporting suspected fraud to the SSA Office of the Inspector General.

**Summary:** The Government Accountability Office called for better federal coordination in countering scams, finding that while 13 agencies have anti-scam roles, they operate independently without a comprehensive government-wide strategy. The report noted that common scams include impersonations of federal agencies (particularly SSA, IRS, and DHS), tech support, and family members in crisis, and recommended developing unified strategies, national scam estimates, and measurement of consumer education effectiveness.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) and Pension Scams Action Group (PSAG) are using technology and multi-agency collaboration to combat pension scams, having reviewed 830 websites, removed 29 high-risk sites, and made 94 referrals to partner agencies. A new Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting and Analytics Service will replace Action Fraud later this year, improving intelligence gathering and police investigation timelines. Only 11% of pension schemes correctly understood that scams should be reported to Action Fraud, highlighting the need for continued education and reporting compliance.

A 56-year-old lost £114,000 ($147,000) in an investment scam promising unrealistic returns shortly before planned retirement, illustrating why people nearing retirement age are prime targets for fraud. Seniors face heightened vulnerability due to pressure to boost savings quickly and emotional vulnerabilities around life transitions, with investment frauds costing consumers $5.5 billion globally in 2024 alone. The article advises verifying firms with regulatory bodies like the FCA, diversifying investments across multiple low-risk options, and avoiding schemes promising high returns without risk.

Research shows veterans and active-duty military service members are nearly 40 percent more likely than civilians to fall victim to fraud, with scammers frequently impersonating Department of Veterans Affairs officials to exploit confusion surrounding government benefits programs. AARP Wisconsin is launching multiple initiatives to combat this threat, including a Veterans Fraud Center workshop, regional "Scam Jams" events, and a new Southeastern Wisconsin AARP Veterans Advisory Council to provide resources and fraud protection education. Scammers have particularly targeted veterans since 2022 regarding PACT Act benefits through email, phone, and social media schemes.

A widespread phishing campaign is targeting mobile users across the U.S. with text messages impersonating toll agencies (E-ZPass, FasTrak, etc.) and state DMVs, warning of unpaid tolls and license suspensions to pressure victims into clicking links that steal personal and financial information. The scam uses sophisticated tactics including mobile-only fake websites, exploitation of iMessage and RCS systems, and phishing-as-a-service platforms like Lucid and Darcula that enable criminals to send thousands of messages daily while evading detection. Consumers should assume all unsolicited payment texts are scams, avoid clicking links or replying, and use call/

A phishing campaign impersonating toll agencies like E-ZPass, FasTrak, and Florida Turnpike has surged recently, sending thousands of iMessage and SMS texts with urgent language claiming unpaid tolls to trick recipients into clicking malicious links that steal personal and credit card information. The scam uses automated attacks bypassing anti-spam filters, with some users receiving up to 7 messages daily; victims are advised to avoid responding, block the numbers, and check toll balances directly on official websites rather than through text links.

An 18-year-old aspiring mechanic from North Yorkshire, Kieron Mullins Bunn, died by suicide in February 2024 after falling victim to a financial scam; an inquest concluded that the emotional shock and financial panic from the scam directly contributed to his decision. The tragedy underscores the UK's escalating scam crisis, with one in five Britons (9 million people) victimized by financial scams in 2024, resulting in over £11.4 billion in total losses, with common schemes including investment fraud, fake debt assistance, and impersonation scams targeting people via social media.

A webinar session featured industry experts and Chris Bell from City of London Police discussing pension scam prevention efforts by PSAG and introducing a new fraud reporting service replacing Action Fraud. The session emphasized the importance of reporting suspected pension scams and fraud, and included a Q&A addressing common questions about these issues.

The FCC has issued alerts about multiple common scams targeting consumers, including port-out fraud (where scammers use personal information to hijack mobile phone numbers and access financial accounts), grandparent scams (fraudsters impersonating relatives in crisis situations to solicit money), and spoofed mortgage relief calls (criminals posing as lenders to extract fraudulent payments). These scams leverage personal data from social media and cyber theft, use caller ID spoofing, and often request payment through hard-to-trace methods like wire transfers or gift cards.

The VA has released a fraud prevention toolkit highlighting common scams targeting veterans, including postcards falsely promising extra VA benefits or Social Security credits, phishing texts impersonating the IRS or Netflix, and requests for payment via untraceable methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The toolkit advises veterans to never share banking information, verify identities of requesters, avoid suspicious links, use trusted payment methods, and be cautious of social media contact from alleged military connections.

This article describes four common scams targeting seniors: Social Security Administration impostor scams that use caller ID spoofing to trick victims into moving money to gift cards; tech support scams where criminals pose as representatives from recognized companies to gain remote device access and obtain banking information; lottery scams where perpetrators impersonate officials and extract fees from supposed foreign lottery winners; and romance scams conducted through dating sites and social media where scammers build relationships to solicit money. These represent a small fraction of the scams seniors face, with detailed information available through the Department of Justice's elder justice resources.

The Social Security Administration is eliminating phone-based identity verification for retirement, survivor, and family benefit applications starting April 14, requiring most beneficiaries to apply online or in person instead—a change intended to combat fraud but which advocates warn will disproportionately burden elderly, disabled, rural, and technology-limited populations who lack smartphones, internet access, or valid identification. The policy excludes disability insurance, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income applicants, who may continue filing by phone, but will affect approximately three-quarters of Social Security beneficiaries who are retirees and grieving families seeking survivor benefits.

Starting April 14, the Social Security Administration will eliminate phone-based identity verification for most retirement and family benefit applicants, requiring them to apply online or in person at field offices instead—a change that advocates warn will disproportionately burden elderly, rural, and less tech-savvy beneficiaries who lack internet access, smartphones, or proper identification. The policy, implemented as part of an anti-fraud initiative, exempts disability insurance, Medicare, and SSI applicants from the requirement but will affect approximately three-quarters of Social Security beneficiaries and grieving families applying for survivor benefits, who previously could complete applications entirely by phone.

Financial scams in Maharashtra have surged dramatically, with share investment fraud losses multiplying from Rs 62.2 crore in 2023 to Rs 1,047.3 crore in 2024, affecting victims across age groups through stock market schemes, cryptocurrency scams, employment fraud, and gift parcel scams. Experts identify inadequate research, over-reliance on social media, and the desire for quick gains as primary vulnerabilities, with senior citizens comprising 60% of victims who lose life savings. Key prevention measures include verifying investments through registered brokers, avoiding unverified social media offers, and conducting proper market research before committing funds.

Elder fraud cases, including pension fraud, increased 84 percent in 2022 with losses in the tens of billions of dollars, driven by vulnerabilities in digitized pension systems and delayed death record updates that allow criminals to divert benefits to fraudulent recipients. Advanced digital identity verification technology, including AI-powered cross-referencing of personal data and biometric markers, offers pension operators a proactive defense mechanism to authenticate beneficiaries and verify death status before approving transactions. Enhanced identity verification measures are essential for government pension programs to safeguard retirees' financial security and maintain public trust in these systems.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is implementing stronger identity verification procedures effective March 31, requiring beneficiaries who cannot use the online "my Social Security" tool to visit local offices in person to prove their identity for benefit claims and direct deposit changes. The agency is making these changes to safeguard Social Security records and benefits against fraud, while also expediting direct deposit change requests from 30 days to one business day. The SSA serves 73 million retired and disabled Americans and recommends scheduling appointments in advance to avoid long office lines.

A Montreal-based grandparent scam network targeted thousands of American seniors between 2019 and March 2021, defrauding victims like Madeline, an 80-year-old former nurse, of their life savings by impersonating grandchildren in legal trouble and manipulating them into wire transfers. The alleged leaders, including David Anthony Di Rienzo, lived lavishly with luxury vehicles while victims suffered lasting emotional and financial devastation, with one judge noting the scammers "took their peace of mind." Multiple similar networks operated from Montreal during this period, employing emotional manipulation scripts to exploit vulnerable seniors' trust and sense of responsibility for family members.

Scammers, believed to be linked to Chinese criminal gangs, have sent millions of fraudulent text messages impersonating E-ZPass toll services, with cybersecurity firms reporting a 900% increase in such texts over three months and identifying over 60,000 associated domains across multiple states. While victims may pay small toll fees ($3), scammers primarily target valuable personal information that can be used for additional fraud, and they have successfully circumvented Apple and Android security features while using AI to generate more convincing messages. Experts advise recipients never to respond to or click links in such texts, as engagement confirms the phone number is active.

This is an informational resource from the Insurance Fraud Unit describing three main types of insurance fraud: workers' compensation fraud (fabricating injuries, exaggerating disabilities, employer misstatements), automobile insurance fraud (staged accidents, claim padding, theft rings), and organized automobile fraud. Auto insurance fraud alone costs consumers $15-20 billion annually, with an estimated one-third of all bodily injury claims containing some element of fraud; those suspecting fraud can report it to the unit via phone, fax, email, or online complaint form.

Elon Musk claimed he could cut up to $700 billion in fraud and waste from Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, but independent evidence does not support this assertion. Social Security's Office of Inspector General reported approximately $72 billion in improper payments between 2015-2022 (about 1% of total benefits), while Medicare and Medicaid combined made roughly $100 billion in incorrect payments in 2023, totaling approximately $170 billion across all three programs—far below Musk's claims. Achieving Musk's stated goals would likely require slashing benefits for recipients rather than eliminating fraud alone, as most program spending goes directly to benefici

**SNAP Benefit Fraud Case:** A Columbus, Ohio mother of five lost her entire $950 monthly SNAP benefit when her EBT card was fraudulently used for three transactions at a Chicago grocery store hours after her benefits deposited. As of December, the federal government stopped reimbursing victims of SNAP benefit scams, leaving Johnson with no recourse to recover her funds and unable to feed her family for the month. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services recommends SNAP users protect themselves by using the secure ConnectEBT app with card lock features, creating unique PINs changed monthly, checking card readers for skimming devices, and covering keypads

This educational article identifies six Social Security scams targeting Baby Boomers in 2025, including cost-of-living adjustment schemes, fake benefits applications, malicious security update tools, benefit suspension threats, and phony information update requests. According to the Office of the Inspector General, government impostors scammed Americans out of $577 million in the previous year, with approximately 61% of Social Security scams involving claims about SSN or benefits issues. The article advises recipients to verify communications directly through official SSA channels, avoid clicking suspicious links, and remember that the SSA will not demand money or threaten legal action via unsolicited contact.

A man in Shanghai lost over $26,000 in an AI-powered romance scam where he believed he was in a genuine relationship with a woman who was actually a sophisticated artificial intelligence program. The scammers used AI-generated photos and videos, fabricated medical reports and identity documents, and created false scenarios requiring financial assistance to manipulate the victim into transferring approximately 200,000 yuan. The case illustrates the growing threat of AI-enabled fraud and highlights the emotional and financial devastation these scams inflict on victims seeking genuine human connection.

The Social Security Administration warned beneficiaries in March 2024 about scammers impersonating SSA representatives through phone, email, text, and social media to steal benefits and personal information using tactics like spoofed caller IDs, fake letterheads, and threats. Between mid-2024, nearly 45% of reported scams involved false claims about suspended Social Security numbers, with victims aged 70-84 losing an average of $11,902 compared to $2,346 for those under 29. The SSA urged citizens to hang up on suspicious contacts and report attempts to its Office of the Inspector General.

The Social Security Administration and its Office of Inspector General launched the sixth annual "Slam the Scam" Day on March 6 to combat Social Security imposter scams, where fraudsters pressure victims into sharing personal information or making payments by claiming to fix alleged Social Security number problems. These scams affect all age groups and remain among the most commonly reported government imposter frauds to the FTC, with victims tricked through sophisticated tactics including caller ID spoofing, fake documents, and fraudulent letterhead. The agencies emphasized that Social Security will never suspend numbers, demand immediate payments, threaten arrest, or request gift cards or wire transfers, and urged citizens to report attempts to oig.ssa.gov

A 46-year-old nurse from North West province, South Africa, lost R520,000 from her FNB account in November 2022 after being romantically scammed by a man claiming to be "Ivan Tusiime" from Kenya. The funds were withdrawn from an FNB branch in Johannesburg that the victim had never visited, and a funeral policy was fraudulently opened in her name during the same transaction. Despite reporting the matter to police and FNB multiple times, the investigation was closed in November 2023 with no leads pursued, leaving the victim without resolution or recovery of her pension money.

National Slam the Scam Day (March 6, 2025) is an awareness initiative by Social Security's Office of the Inspector General to combat government imposter scams, where fraudsters impersonate officials from trusted agencies like the SSA and IRS to steal money and personal information. The advisory highlights the "4 P's" of scams—pretend, problem, pressure, and payment demand—and emphasizes that legitimate government agencies never request payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or other untraceable methods. Individuals are urged to stay alert, hang up on suspicious contacts, guard personal information, and report suspected fraud to the appropriate authorities.

In 2024, 53% of men and 47% of women experienced romance scams in online dating environments, with scammers impersonating military personnel or celebrities to build trust before requesting money or personal information from victims. The FBI reported that over 64,000 romance scams were reported in 2023 alone, resulting in $1.14 billion in losses. Veterans are advised to verify identities of new online contacts, protect sensitive information, be cautious of financial requests, trust their instincts, and report suspicious activity to relevant authorities including the FTC or VA benefits hotline.

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This educational article outlines key strategies for retirees to protect themselves from AI-powered banking scams that increasingly target seniors. The recommended preventive measures include staying informed about current scam tactics, using strong mixed-character passwords with two-factor authentication, monitoring accounts regularly, verifying claims directly with financial institutions before sharing information, avoiding sharing personal details online, and installing antivirus software on devices.

**Cybercrimes against India's elderly population surged 86% between 2020 and 2022 as seniors increasingly adopted digital platforms, with phishing scams, fraudulent advertisements, and privacy breaches being the primary threats.** Nearly half of surveyed seniors struggle to identify scams, and 45% of those over 70 now use mobile phones, making them vulnerable to messaging app and email-based fraud. Experts recommend enhanced digital literacy campaigns, user-friendly interfaces, and stronger cybersecurity frameworks to protect this growing demographic, as India's senior population is projected to reach 193 million by 2031.

A PYMNTS Intelligence report reveals that approximately 30% of U.S. consumers (77 million people) lost money to scams in the past five years, with most losses exceeding $500. The research shows that scammers personalize their tactics by targeting different demographics through preferred communication channels—using social media for Gen Z, email and phone calls for older adults—and tailoring messaging to exploit specific vulnerabilities such as investment fears for high-income individuals and benefits fraud for lower-income groups. Key manipulation tactics include posing as trusted figures like employers (86% of job scam victims) or debt collectors (83% of victims), as well as using coercion through threats or financial incent

In 2024, romance scams affected 53% of men and 47% of women in online dating environments, with scammers creating fake personas to build trust with victims—often impersonating military personnel or celebrities—before requesting money or personal information. The FTC reported over 64,000 romance scams in 2023 alone, resulting in $1.14 billion in losses. Veterans are advised to verify identities of new online contacts, avoid sharing financial information, be cautious of unsolicited messages and monetary requests, trust their instincts, and report suspicious activity to the FTC or relevant authorities.

Social Security scams are increasing in Washington State, with fraudsters impersonating the SSA through phone calls, emails, and text messages to threaten arrest, demand immediate payment, or steal personal information like Social Security numbers and bank details. The SSA never threatens, demands payment, or requests sensitive information via phone or email, so residents should hang up on suspicious calls and verify any claims directly through ssa.gov or the official customer service number. Victims should report incidents to the SSA's Office of the Inspector General and the FTC, monitor their accounts and credit reports, and use the secure "My Social Security account" portal to safely access their information.

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting senior citizens and pensioners through sophisticated digital scams including QR code fraud, OTP theft, fake investment schemes, malicious apps, and impersonation of bank representatives and government officials, resulting in significant losses of lifelong savings. Cybersecurity experts attribute these attacks to seniors' limited awareness of digital threats and recommend education and vigilance in identifying fraudulent tactics such as fake customer service numbers and online marketplace scams. An awareness webinar organized by FCRF and Paytm on February 24, 2025, aims to help seniors learn how to identify scams, protect their bank accounts, and report cyber fraud.

A 65-year-old Fort Myers woman was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud involving a 19-year scheme to fraudulently obtain $338,364.66 in Department of Veterans Affairs survivor's benefits intended for her deceased mother. Laurie Ann Roszell forged her mother's signature on documents, impersonated her mother's voice during calls with the VA, and made false statements to federal agents claiming her mother was alive and living with her. The court ordered her to forfeit the full amount of stolen benefits.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is seeking access to Social Security Administration data to identify and combat fraud, with White House officials claiming potential savings of over $1 trillion over a decade through crackdowns on entitlement system fraud. Elon Musk has posted claims of massive fraud in Social Security, citing data showing more eligible social security numbers than U.S. citizens, though a 2023 SSA audit found that nearly 19 million records for people over 100 with active numbers receive almost no benefits. The push for data access has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers concerned about potential data breaches, and reportedly led to the departure of SSA acting commissioner Michelle

This educational piece identifies the ten states with the strongest elder-care protections based on metrics including elder fraud rates, prevention expenditures, and care organizations. Massachusetts ranked first in the WalletHub analysis, and the article highlights that federal protections have expanded, such as the Senior Safe Act (signed May 24, 2018) which provides liability immunity for reporting senior exploitation. The article advises financial advisors to understand their states' elder-abuse laws, fraud prevention services, and long-term care resources as their clients age.

A 61-year-old Huddersfield man lost £3,250 of his inheritance to a deep fake Elon Musk scam in 2023 after seeing a convincing Facebook video promoting an AI trading platform. The scammer used a fake account manager to build trust through small withdrawals and apparent profits displayed on MetaTrader 5, then refused withdrawals once the victim's account allegedly reached $10,000. The victim is now pursuing recovery through National Fraud Helpline solicitors against his banks Santander and Chase.

Medicine Hat is experiencing rising reports of scams targeting seniors, including the Grandparent Scam, romance scams, and phishing schemes, with 78% of adults aged 65 and older having encountered at least one fraud attempt. The Veiner Centre partnered with Reality Bytes Inc. to offer a February 13 presentation on identifying and preventing fraud, and highlighted its Elder Abuse Outreach team that provides assessment, support, and case management to seniors experiencing financial abuse, some of whom have lost their life savings.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has announced enhanced efforts to combat pension scams through strengthened multi-agency collaboration, including embedding intelligence experts within the City of London Police and National Economic Crime Centre to improve information sharing and disrupt scams before they occur. The initiative builds on previous successes such as the ScamSmart campaign and industry pledges, while emphasizing that industry members and savers must report suspected scams to Action Fraud to help build critical intelligence for identifying emerging pension fraud threats.

The Department of Justice filed civil actions against five telecom companies and three individuals for facilitating hundreds of millions of fraudulent robocalls originating primarily from India, targeting elderly and vulnerable Americans with government and business imposter scams. Despite repeated warnings, the defendants continued operating VoIP carrier services that enabled foreign-based fraud schemes involving fake Social Security, IRS, and tech-support calls designed to extort large sums of money from victims. A temporary restraining order was granted against Global Voicecom defendants, with the DOJ pledging to pursue both criminal and civil remedies against those knowingly facilitating these predatory calls.

A 27-year-old man in Lancaster, California was charged with stealing over $4,000 and attempting to steal over $13,000 in public benefits using fraudulent EBT cards obtained through skimming devices at an ATM. The suspect allegedly used nine different cloned cards and possessed multiple skimming devices, pinhole cameras, and re-encoded gift cards in what authorities describe as a sophisticated operation targeting vulnerable benefit recipients. The case highlights California's broader EBT fraud crisis, with over $100 million in stolen funds reported statewide in the past year, primarily in Los Angeles County.

In May 2024, an 86-year-old man nearly fell victim to an impersonation scam requesting a fraudulent electronic funds transfer, an experience that inspired his 15-year-old granddaughter, Tejasvi Manoj, to develop Shield Seniors—a web application designed to protect senior citizens from cyber fraud. The platform features educational content, an AI chatbot, email/text analysis tools, and scam reporting resources, all with senior-friendly design elements, and earned an honorable mention in the Congressional App Challenge in November 2024. Cyber fraud cost elderly Americans over $3.4 billion in 2023, with romance scams alone accounting for $

A Norton study reveals that while 60% of online daters encounter AI-generated responses and many welcome AI tools for dating profiles, AI also enables increasingly sophisticated scams. Dating app users face significant threats: 40% have been targeted by scams with 41% of those becoming victims, including catfishing (55%), romance scams (34%), and sextortion (31%), while only 46% of users can identify fake AI-generated images and 27% have had their photos stolen without permission. Norton launched Genie, a free AI-powered scam detection app, to help users identify fraudulent profiles and protect themselves against these evolving threats.

James Henley, 35, of Greenwood, Indiana, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for orchestrating complex fraud schemes over three years that defrauded homeowners, government agencies, a bank, and an attorney of approximately $2.9 million. His crimes included COVID-19 unemployment fraud ($1.1 million), home title theft (5 homes stolen and sold), mortgage fraud, and auto loan fraud, all facilitated through five fake businesses used to mask his identity and launder proceeds. Henley was ordered to pay $1,887,426.63 in restitution, with co-conspirators including his wife and an associate also facing