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legit.ng
· 2026-09-01
The FBI has publicly identified four Nigerian nationals as suspects in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded over 70 American businesses of more than $6 million through spoofed emails and fraudulent wire transfers. The suspects coordinated a complex operation involving money laundering, romance scams targeting elderly victims for over $1 million, and the use of hundreds of bank accounts to receive stolen funds. All four men remain at large in Nigeria with federal arrest warrants issued against them.
independent.com.mt
· 2026-09-01
Malta's financial authorities launched scamalert.mt, a national platform developed collaboratively by the Malta Financial Services Authority, Malta Police Force, and Office of the Arbiter for Financial Services to help the public recognize, avoid, and report financial scams. The platform provides information on various scam types, warning signs, alerts, and resources to protect consumers and businesses from increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes that exploit digital channels and impersonation techniques. No specific fraud cases or dollar amounts were mentioned in the announcement, which focused on prevention and awareness as the government's coordinated response to growing financial crime.
m.rediff.com
· 2026-09-01
Text-message scams targeting Indian banks surged 146 percent between mid-2025 and mid-2026, with fraudsters using SMS to impersonate banks, government agencies, and investment platforms to steal OTPs, credentials, and money through tactics like fake trading apps, romance scams, digital arrests, and malware-laden files. Common scam types include investment fraud showing fictitious profits, UPI payment impersonation, banking OTP theft, and mule schemes disguised as work-from-home jobs, with perpetrators exploiting SMS's ability to bypass filters and borrow trust from legitimate banking communications. Users are warned to never share sensitive information via unsolicited messages, verify requests through official
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2026-09-01
Scammers are creating fake car dealership websites that clone legitimate dealerships to trick consumers into making upfront payments via wire transfer for vehicles they never receive. Victims show up at actual dealerships only to discover no record of their order or payment exists. The FTC advises consumers to avoid dealers demanding wire transfer-only upfront payments and to report suspected fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
mynewsla.com
· 2026-09-01
Eighteen months after the Eaton and Palisades Fires in California, county supervisors are implementing tighter consumer protections for vulnerable wildfire survivors who are being targeted by contractor fraud, home repair scams, and other predatory practices during the rebuilding process. The Board of Supervisors directed the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs to develop enhanced measures within 30 days and launch an expanded public awareness campaign to help residents recognize scams, select licensed contractors, and report suspected fraud. The initiative aims to prevent exploitation of fire survivors as they navigate the complex recovery and rebuilding process.
ic3.gov
· 2026-09-01
Since late 2025, cyber actors have been conducting "OAuth consent phishing" attacks targeting prominent individuals and their contacts by impersonating government officials, media personalities, and event coordinators on messaging apps to trick victims into granting account access through malicious links. Unlike traditional phishing, OAuth consent phishing allows attackers to gain persistent access to email, sensitive data, and account functions without needing passwords or being stopped by multi-factor authentication, as the access can only be revoked by the victim manually invalidating the token. The FBI urges victims to report incidents to their local field office or IC3 and recommends increased scrutiny of unfamiliar communications and independent verification of sender identity before granting any authorization.
cachevalleydaily.com
· 2026-08-31
Utah's Attorney General has launched the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC) to coordinate investigations across jurisdictions and financial institutions, targeting identity theft, account takeovers, romance scams, elder fraud, cryptocurrency schemes, and money laundering. Utahns have lost approximately $450 million to financial crimes since 2020, with $108.4 million lost in 2025 alone and nearly $60 million reported so far in 2026. The FCIC will bring together investigators, prosecutors, and financial analysts to identify fraud patterns, connect related cases, and provide specialized training and resources to law enforcement and financial institutions statewide.
fincrimecentral.com
· 2026-08-31
Five men were charged with laundering over $7.4 million stolen from at least 77 elderly fraud victims through a network of 21 shell businesses registered in Washington State between October 2024 and March 2026. The defendants used false identities, fictitious business descriptions, and commercial mailboxes to obscure the flow of funds obtained through tech-support and impersonation scams that targeted seniors nationwide. The money was deposited into accounts and quickly dispersed through domestic and international wire transfers, ATM withdrawals, and money orders to conceal its criminal origin.
americascreditunions.org
· 2026-08-31
This article discusses credit union advocacy meetings with policymakers during congressional recess, not an actual fraud case or scam. The article mentions that credit unions raised fraud concerns, including elder fraud schemes, as a policy priority during meetings with representatives from Virginia, Alabama, Texas, North Carolina, and Illinois, but does not describe a specific fraud incident or victim impact.
kvnutalk.com
· 2026-08-31
Utah's Attorney General's Office launched a Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC) to investigate and prosecute financial crimes across the state, citing that Utahns have lost nearly $450 million to fraud and scams since 2020, with $108.4 million lost in 2025 alone and nearly $60 million reported so far in 2026. The FCIC will coordinate investigations across jurisdictions involving identity theft, romance scams, elder fraud, cryptocurrency schemes, and other financial crimes by bringing together investigators, prosecutors, financial analysts, and financial institutions to identify larger criminal networks. Attorney General Derek Brown emphasized that financial criminals are increasingly sophisticated and target various victims including business owners, investors, and financial
eu.36kr.com
· 2026-08-31
This article discusses India's economic frustrations rather than elder fraud. However, if summarizing it: India is attempting to attract Japanese investment after Chinese enterprises have withdrawn due to recurring asset freezes, tax penalties, and regulatory harassment, while the government ironically promises data security guarantees despite high-profile breaches like the Tata Electronics hack affecting Apple's confidential files.
audacy.com
· 2026-08-31
Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were charged with wire fraud for operating a romance-and-investment scam that defrauded at least 26 women of approximately $1.3 million between February 2022 and August 2024. Love posed as a San Francisco 49ers player or wealthy real estate investor on dating apps, while Chan impersonated his financial adviser to show fake investment gains; victims were blocked when they ran out of money or asked questions. Both suspects were arrested on August 24 at Boise airport, and federal authorities believe there are additional victims across California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
yen.com.gh
· 2026-08-31
TrustGH identified over 6,000 suspicious phone numbers linked to fraud in Ghana, with TikTok being the primary platform used by scammers to initiate contact before moving conversations to WhatsApp, SMS, or phone calls to execute fraud. Over 90% of reported cases involved attempts to obtain Mobile Money payments or unauthorized account access, with scammers impersonating bank officials, government representatives, and other authority figures to establish trust. The scam verification platform is collaborating with Ghana's Cybersecurity Authority and Police Cyber Crime Unit to investigate the flagged numbers.
1057thepoint.com
· 2026-08-31
A man impersonated a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver and wealthy Swiss real estate mogul in a four-year romance scam targeting at least 26 women, netting approximately $1.3 million through fake social media accounts, AI-generated images, and fraudulent investment schemes. Once victims were in relationships, an alleged accomplice posed as a "wealth manager" to solicit money through fake bank accounts and high-yield investment promises, disappearing when victims ran out of funds or questioned the scheme. The scam highlights how easily criminals can fabricate credible online identities and wealth to exploit people seeking romance on dating apps.
globaldatinginsights.com
· 2026-08-31
Seeking.com reports its AI-assisted verification system has blocked over 90% of attempted scammers before they can contact users, addressing a broader issue where romance scams generated more than $1.16 billion in reported losses during the first nine months of 2025. The platform is taking a public approach by displaying images of fraudulent accounts identified by its system, departing from the typical private handling of such cases by dating platforms.
taipeitimes.com
· 2026-08-31
Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs launched a "using AI to counter AI fraud" initiative in collaboration with Meta, Google, Line, and TikTok to combat AI-generated scams through real-time intelligence sharing and automated detection systems. From March 2024 to early 2025, these platforms collectively removed millions of scam advertisements and disabled thousands of fraudulent accounts, with Meta removing 10.9 million scam ads and Line taking action against 142,006 suspect accounts. The government and platforms are implementing enhanced identity verification, expanded scam keyword databases, and real-time user warnings to address evolving digital fraud tactics.
monvalleyindependent.com
· 2026-08-31
Scammers are conducting phishing attacks targeting MyChart patient portal users in Pennsylvania by sending fraudulent emails and text messages offering a fake "MyChart Medicare Kit" reward to trick patients into clicking malicious links and revealing passwords and personal information. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday warns that no such reward program exists and advises patients to delete suspicious messages without clicking links, never reply with credentials, and only access MyChart through official channels. Those who believe they've been compromised can file complaints with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
ftc.gov
· 2026-08-31
The FTC and 22 state attorneys general sued Amazon for allegedly running a deceptive advertising auction scheme that secretly overcharged more than one million brands and sellers for ads on its platform over seven years. Amazon misrepresented its auctions as "second-price" auctions where advertisers would pay only one cent more than the next highest bidder, but actually charged advertisers their full winning bid approximately 80% of the time and added undisclosed "soft reserve price" surcharges, allegedly extracting tens of billions of dollars. The higher advertising costs were largely passed on to American consumers, affecting over 500,000 small- and medium-sized businesses.
einpresswire.com
· 2026-08-31
Utah has launched the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center to combat the state's rapidly growing fraud problem, where residents lost nearly $450 million since 2020 and $108.4 million in 2025 alone. The center brings together investigators, prosecutors, financial analysts, and financial institutions to identify fraud patterns, connect related cases, and support multi-jurisdiction investigations across the state. Attorney General Derek Brown emphasized that financial criminals are sophisticated and organized, and the center aims to help law enforcement stay ahead of evolving threats and hold criminals accountable.
ksl.com
· 2026-08-31
Utah launched its first Financial Crimes Intelligence Center with $1.7 million in annual funding to investigate and prosecute financial fraud after the state experienced a five-fold increase in fraud losses over five years, reaching $108 million in the past year and $59.8 million already in the current year. The center will coordinate with federal agencies and financial institutions to investigate identity theft, elder fraud, romance scams, investment scams, and other financial crimes that are often perpetrated by sophisticated international crime rings. Howard Headlee, executive director of the Utah Bankers Association, noted that consumers nationwide reported losing over $20 billion to online scams last year, with three in four adults experiencing some form of online scam
foxnews.com
· 2026-08-30
A cyberattack on CareCloud, a company providing electronic medical records technology to healthcare providers, exposed personal information and medical records of over 3.75 million people after hackers gained unauthorized access to an Amazon Web Services environment between March 10-16, 2026. The stolen data included Social Security numbers, financial information, and medical records, putting victims at risk for identity theft, financial fraud, and medical identity theft. Affected individuals may have been exposed through their healthcare provider's use of CareCloud's services, even if they never directly created an account with the company.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-30
A man captured on surveillance camera withdrew cash using a stolen debit card at an ATM in the 10500 block of Culebra Road on August 12, and Bexar County deputies are seeking the public's help identifying him and locating the dark-colored SUV he fled in. The suspect, described as a Black male wearing a Jordan tank top, green pants, and light brown hat, faces potential charges under Texas law that carry sentences up to two years in state jail, or significantly longer if the victim is 65 or older. Deputies did not disclose the cardholder's identity or the amount withdrawn, nor explain how the debit card was originally stolen.
nationalinsightnews.com
· 2026-08-30
Oluwasegun Baiyewu, a 40-year-old Nigerian national based in Houston, was sentenced to 95 months in prison for leading a money laundering conspiracy involving over $3.1 million in fraud proceeds from 2020-2021. The scheme involved at least six co-conspirators who used illicit funds from business email compromise, romance scams, and unemployment insurance fraud to purchase vehicles in the United States for export to Nigeria, including one case where a Puerto Rican renewable energy company was defrauded of approximately $280,000.
timeschronicle.ca
· 2026-08-30
This article addresses rising scam targeting seniors over 55 in Canada, with criminal organizations using sophisticated technology and AI to impersonate trusted entities like the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. MP Helena Konanz is hosting three educational seminars in British Columbia featuring CrimeStoppers and BC Securities experts to teach residents how to identify and protect themselves from common scams such as phishing and impersonation schemes. The article emphasizes that verification and pausing before acting are key defense strategies against increasingly realistic fraudulent messages and websites.
aljazeera.com
· 2026-08-30
Traffickers are using fraudulent job offers targeting educated, English-fluent young people to recruit them into scam compounds where they are forced to impersonate strangers online, build false romantic relationships, and deceive victims into sending money, with at least 300,000 people estimated trafficked into such operations across Southeast Asia and growing cases in Africa. Victims have their passports confiscated, face physical punishment for missing targets, and their families are extorted, while victims on the other end lose savings and have their trust exploited, generating an estimated $88-114 billion in annual losses across the Asia Pacific region. The article calls for governments to coordinate across labor, border, police and consular authorities, technology
bgdailynews.com
· 2026-08-30
The Bowling Green Police Department is hosting a scam prevention seminar on Thursday featuring law enforcement and FBI professionals to help residents identify fraud red flags and common scam tactics. The seminar comes as local agencies report increased incidents of impersonation scams, including criminals posing as police officers demanding payment via Bitcoin or gift cards for fake fines or warrants, and a recent case where a Glasgow woman lost over $150,000 to a hacking scam.
latintimes.com
· 2026-08-30
AI-powered deepfake scams targeting remittance transfers to Latin America have surged dramatically, with digital identity theft cases climbing 84 percent and account-takeover attempts in Mexico rising 324 percent between 2024 and early 2026. Criminals use AI-cloned voices and deepfake videos to impersonate family members demanding urgent wire transfers, with the FBI reporting over $350 million in AI-linked fraud losses among victims 60 and older in 2025 alone. The scams threaten the $173.7 billion in annual remittances flowing from the U.S. to Latin America, often used by families for essential expenses like rent and medicine.
vietnam.vn
· 2026-08-30
During Vietnam's holiday periods, cybercriminals impersonate banks, airlines, and travel companies through fake websites and fan pages to commit online fraud, using urgency tactics and slightly discounted prices to pressure victims into quick payments. The scammers collect deposits, send fake confirmation documents, then request additional payments or steal personal data for identity theft, with reported losses of approximately 1,500 billion VND in the first half of the year. Experts recommend victims verify information directly through official channels, avoid clicking suspicious links, and never share passwords, OTP codes, or personal identification data with unknown callers claiming to represent financial institutions or government agencies.
loudounnow.com
· 2026-08-29
Virginia seniors reported losses exceeding $220 million in 2025, part of a $7.7 billion total in fraud losses among Americans aged 60 and older—a 59 percent increase from the previous year. Scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence, particularly voice-cloning technology, to make traditional impersonation and urgency-based schemes more convincing, with AI-related fraud accounting for over $352 million in losses among seniors. The article recommends five protective habits including enabling two-factor authentication, independently verifying urgent callers, establishing family passwords, and automating security updates to combat these evolving threats.
crypto.news
· 2026-08-29
A 22-country INTERPOL operation arrested 58 suspects and identified 263 additional individuals involved in West African organized crime networks running romance scams, fake cryptocurrency investment schemes, and money laundering operations, resulting in $2.67 million seized. The eight-month Operation Jackal IV targeted criminal groups including Black Axe, with major enforcement actions in South Africa (39 arrests), Argentina (17 arrests), and Romania (11 arrests), dismantling call centers and Crime-as-a-Service networks that defrauded victims globally of approximately €143 million.
saharareporters.com
· 2026-08-29
Oluwasegun Baiyewu, a 40-year-old Nigerian national residing in Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 95 months in prison for laundering over $3.1 million in fraud proceeds through a conspiracy involving business email compromise, romance scams, and unemployment insurance fraud between May 2020 and October 2021. Baiyewu led a network of at least six co-conspirators across the U.S. and Nigeria who used encrypted messaging to coordinate the purchase of used and salvaged vehicles in America, which were then exported to Nigeria to convert the illicit proceeds into physical assets. The scheme included laundering approximately $280,000 stolen from a Puerto R
punchng.com
· 2026-08-29
Oluwasegun Baiyewu, a 40-year-old Nigerian national based in Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 95 months in prison for laundering over $3.1 million in proceeds from business email compromise, romance, and unemployment insurance fraud schemes targeting US citizens between May 2020 and October 2021. Working with at least six co-conspirators in the US and Nigeria, Baiyewu used encrypted messaging apps to coordinate the purchase and shipment of salvaged vehicles to Nigeria, including laundering $280,000 stolen from a Puerto Rican renewable energy company through a business email compromise scam.
kcra.com
· 2026-08-29
Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested and charged with wire fraud for operating a romance scam where Love posed as a wealthy San Francisco 49ers player or real estate investor on dating apps, while Chan impersonated his financial adviser to convince at least 26 women across four states to invest in fictitious opportunities. The scheme, which ran from February 2022 until their arrests in August 2026, netted approximately $1.3 million, with victims being shown fake bank accounts and investment gains through manipulated screenshots and FaceTime calls. Once victims exhausted their funds or questioned the investments, Love blocked communication and kept the money, with
yahoo.com
· 2026-08-29
Five men have been indicted for laundering $7.4 million stolen from at least 77 elderly victims through tech support scams and impersonation schemes in Washington state. The defendants created 21 shell companies and 44 bank accounts to receive victim funds via cashier's checks and money orders, then rapidly transferred the money through wire transfers to accounts in Hong Kong and China. Trial is scheduled for November 9, with charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering by concealment and spending, each carrying sentences up to 20 years in prison.
kiro7.com
· 2026-08-29
Five men have been indicted for laundering $7.4 million stolen from at least 77 elderly victims through tech support scams and impersonation schemes in Washington state. The defendants allegedly created 21 shell companies and opened 44 bank accounts to receive victims' funds via cashier's checks and money orders, then rapidly transferred the money to accounts in Hong Kong and China. The operation occurred between October 2024 and March 2026, with a trial scheduled for November 9.
newindianexpress.com
· 2026-08-29
A multi-crore cryptocurrency Ponzi scam in Tamil Nadu's Madurai and Dindigul districts defrauded hundreds of small investors, including daily-wage laborers and housewives, who were promised high returns through fake investment schemes (FQL and VG schemes) requiring initial payments of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. The scam operated for at least two years using app-based links that displayed fake account balances and offered commission tasks to lure investors; 12 people have been arrested and authorities estimate thousands of victims have lost crores of rupees. Angry victims protested and ransacked agents' homes, with police taking steps to freeze passports and
daltoncitizen.com
· 2026-08-28
"Pig butchering" scams have cost victims an estimated $75 million over the last four years by building trust through romantic relationships before directing victims to fake investment opportunities. Scammers initiate contact via text or social media, move conversations to anonymous messaging apps like WhatsApp, and use emotional manipulation and exclusivity claims to encourage victims to invest money through fraudulent websites or apps. Law enforcement advises victims to report the scams despite difficulty in recovering funds, as these operations typically originate outside the U.S. and are increasingly difficult to detect due to AI technology.
justice.gov
· 2026-08-28
Oluwasegun Baiyewu, a 40-year-old Nigerian national from Houston, was sentenced to 95 months in prison for laundering over $3.1 million in fraud proceeds from business email compromise, romance, and unemployment insurance scams targeting U.S. citizens between May 2020 and October 2021. Baiyewu led a conspiracy with six co-conspirators to convert the illicit funds into used cars and ship them to West Africa, including in one instance laundering approximately $280,000 stolen from a Puerto Rican renewable energy company through a business email compromise scheme.
thebiglead.com
· 2026-08-28
A 35-year-old man was charged with federal crimes for impersonating a San Francisco 49ers player and allegedly defrauding 26 women out of $1.3 million through romance and investment scams over four years. The perpetrator, using aliases including Daejon Love, created a fake Instagram profile and used AI-generated content to enhance his false NFL persona, meeting victims through dating apps and convincing them to send money directly or take out personal loans. An 18-year-old accomplice posed as his financial advisor, and the FBI believes there may be additional victims beyond the 26 identified women from California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
foxnews.com
· 2026-08-28
Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were charged with wire fraud conspiracy for allegedly defrauding 26 women out of approximately $1.3 million across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. Love posed as a San Francisco 49ers player using fake videos, custom helmets, and fictitious investment accounts, while Chan posed as his financial advisor to convince victims to send money. Neither Love nor Chan had legitimate NFL employment, and investigators found no identifiable income sources supporting their claimed lavish lifestyle.
channelnewsasia.com
· 2026-08-28
Muhammad Firdaus Abdul Rahman, a 37-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced to 60 months' jail for participating in a Cambodia-based organized scam syndicate that defrauded at least 14 Singapore victims of nearly S$656,800 through government official impersonation scams. Firdaus worked in a Cambodia office with about 60 scammers (including those running romance fraud operations) making fraudulent calls claiming to be from Singapore's Cyber Emergency Response Team, and later collected money packages in Singapore on behalf of the syndicate while knowing they were proceeds from crime. He re-offended during his remission period from a previous cheating conviction, resulting in
news.immigration.gov.tw
· 2026-08-28
Taiwan's 165 Anti-Fraud Hotline has identified five prevalent scams in 2026, including fake investment schemes, AI deepfakes, romance scams, impersonation of police or prosecutors, and phishing messages, with scammers using various deception tactics to gain trust and solicit money or personal information. The hotline advises the public to verify suspicious requests, stay calm when asked to transfer funds or provide sensitive data, and contact 165 for assistance when encountering potential fraud.
kcra.com
· 2026-08-28
Scammers are impersonating MyChart, a patient portal used to communicate with healthcare providers, through fake emails, texts, and websites to steal login credentials and financial information. Two prevalent scams include one that uses fake medical result notifications with malicious links leading to fake sign-in pages that install malware, and another offering free Medicare health kits that collect personal and credit card information. MyChart advises users to verify sender email addresses and website URLs, use official apps or bookmarks instead of clicking links in messages, and immediately reset passwords or contact banks if personal information was compromised.
abc-7.com
· 2026-08-28
Scammers are impersonating MyChart, a patient health portal, through fraudulent emails, texts, and fake websites to steal login credentials, personal information, and payment data. Two common scams identified include a fake medical results scheme that directs users to a phishing page and attempts to install malware through keyboard commands, and a fake Medicare kit giveaway that collects personal and credit card information under the guise of a free $149 health kit. MyChart advises users to verify sender addresses and website URLs, use official apps or bookmarked sites rather than clicking email links, and report suspicious messages immediately.
newson6.com
· 2026-08-28
A Tulsa woman received a text claiming to be from her bank about a fraudulent $476 transaction, followed by a call from a scammer posing as a bank representative who attempted to convince her to transfer her entire account balance via Apple Pay. Although the scammer had her personal information including the last four digits of her Social Security number, Simmons recognized the fraud before losing money and is warning others to always call their bank directly using a known number rather than responding to unsolicited fraud alerts.
community.triblive.com
· 2026-08-28
Pennsylvania patients using the MyChart patient portal are being targeted by phishing scams impersonating MyChart and offering a fake "MyChart Medicare Kit" reward to trick users into clicking malicious links and revealing passwords and personal information. Scammers are sending fraudulent emails and text messages designed to gain unauthorized access to patients' MyChart accounts and steal their personal data. The Pennsylvania Attorney General warns patients to delete suspicious messages without clicking links, never reply with passwords or verification codes, and contact their medical provider directly through official MyChart channels if unsure.
attorneygeneral.gov
· 2026-08-28
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is warning residents about a phishing scam targeting MyChart patient portal users, where scammers send emails and text messages falsely offering a "MyChart Medicare Kit" reward to trick recipients into clicking malicious links and surrendering passwords and personal information. The scam allows hackers to gain unauthorized access to victims' MyChart accounts and steal their data. Pennsylvanians who suspect they've been victimized can file complaints with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
wxyz.com
· 2026-08-28
Scammers have been impersonating Blackthorne Social Club, a tattoo shop in Washtenaw County, Michigan, on TikTok by messaging the shop's real clients to request deposits, schedule fake appointments, and collect payments while stealing the shop's photos and videos. The fraudulent activity has been ongoing for weeks and affects multiple businesses across the region. Shop owners are warning customers to verify they are communicating directly with the business before sending money or booking appointments.
mynorthwest.com
· 2026-08-28
Five men have been indicted for laundering $7.4 million stolen from at least 77 elderly victims through tech support scams and impersonation schemes operating between October 2024 and March 2026. The defendants registered 21 shell companies and opened 44 bank accounts in Washington to receive funds via cashier's checks and money orders, then rapidly transferred the money to accounts in China and Hong Kong. The men face charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering and multiple counts of money laundering, with trials scheduled for November 9, 2026.
foxnews.com
· 2026-08-27
Scammers build target lists months in advance of Medicare Open Enrollment (Oct. 15-Dec. 7) and Social Security COLA announcements to prepare for fraud campaigns in fall, using purchased consumer data to identify vulnerable older Americans. The article details a case where two former Epsilon Data Management employees sold targeted consumer lists to fraudsters who defrauded over 218,000 victims of more than $23.7 million, resulting in Epsilon paying $150 million in penalties and victim compensation. The article urges Americans to protect their data in August to avoid becoming targets for anticipated scams including fake Medicare cards and urgent Social Security warnings.