Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 26,669 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
8,640 results
in Phishing
thehackernews.com
Law enforcement in Spain, Estonia, France, and the United States dismantled a cryptocurrency investment fraud ring in Operation Borrelli that defrauded over 5,000 victims of €460 million ($540 million) globally, with five suspects arrested in June 2025. The scheme used romance baiting tactics to build trust with victims before directing them to fake crypto platforms, then laundered funds through Hong Kong-based banking networks and multiple international payment gateways. The operation highlights the growing sophistication of transnational cyber fraud, increasingly augmented by artificial intelligence, which authorities warn is outpacing legal systems designed to combat it.
hindustantimes.com
A retired Indian senior scientist and widow, Dr. Usha Goswami, lost her entire life savings to cybercriminals who conducted a "digital arrest scam" involving video calls impersonating law enforcement officials. The scammers accused her of money laundering and human trafficking, presented fabricated documents, and psychologically coerced her into transferring all her savings over several days while keeping her isolated and threatened. Her daughter shared the case publicly to raise awareness about this sophisticated scam that targets educated, elderly people living alone using fear and psychological manipulation as primary weapons.
news18.com
Dr. Usha Goswami, a retired Indian senior scientist, lost her entire life savings to a "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonated law enforcement officials via video call, falsely claiming her Aadhaar number was linked to money laundering and human trafficking. The scammers used fake documents, manipulated videos, and psychological coercion over several days to force her to transfer funds, targeting her as an elderly, educated, law-abiding citizen. The family has reported the case to authorities and is pursuing legal action while raising public awareness about this sophisticated cybercrime targeting vulnerable seniors in India.
ckpolice.com
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.
hklaw.com
This article describes trademark scams that impersonate the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) through emails claiming trademarks are at risk of being claimed by competitors, demanding immediate action or payment to retain rights. The scams use phishing tactics to obtain personal or financial information by creating false urgency and mimicking official government communications. The article provides guidance on identifying these scams (checking domain names, spotting typos, noting missing information) and clarifies that the genuine USPTO will never contact applicants about competing filings, request personal information via email, or ask for payment through these channels.
khou.com
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.
wdrb.com
A recent survey found that 96% of Americans are targeted by scams through calls, emails, or texts weekly, with emails being the most common method. Top scams include highway toll/ticket schemes, fake Amazon shipping notifications, and increasingly sophisticated grandparent scams using AI voice cloning to impersonate family members claiming to need money. Experts advise awareness and vigilance as scam tactics continue to evolve with advancing technology.
katc.com
A resurfacing text message scam falsely claims recipients owe Louisiana state traffic ticket fees and directs them to click a suspicious link for payment. The Louisiana State Police and governor's office warn that the state Department of Motor Vehicles never collects fees via text message, and law enforcement agencies across the state are actively sharing alerts about this years-old fraud scheme.
wafb.com
The Better Business Bureau of South Central Louisiana warns of a rising surge in employment scams involving fraudulent text messages and emails impersonating legitimate companies, which promise quick, flexible, high-paying work to job seekers. Scammers typically request upfront payments or banking information and direct victims to communicate via WhatsApp or Telegram. Job seekers are advised to verify companies through official websites only, never pay upfront fees, and report suspicious offers to the BBB ScamTracker or FTC.
fisherinvestments.com
Scammers are employing updated tactics during summer to defraud investors and steal personal information through two primary schemes: a modernized "pump and dump" stock manipulation where fraudsters pose as financial advisers on social media to recruit victims into buying penny stocks (particularly U.S.-listed Chinese companies) before artificially inflating and dumping them; and Social Security fraud involving false benefit applications. The article advises investors to avoid unrealistic get-rich-quick opportunities, base stock decisions on fundamental company analysis rather than tips or hot tips from unverified sources, and ignore unsolicited financial pitches from strangers on social media and messaging apps.
investopedia.com
This educational article identifies common travel scams targeting tourists in popular cities including Riga, Istanbul, Budapest, Bangkok, and Barcelona, with schemes ranging from inflated taxi fares and fake tours to pickpocketing and restaurant surcharges. The article advises travelers to research local scams, use secure payment methods, verify pricing beforehand, and avoid carrying all valuables to protect themselves from scammers who exploit the confusion and crowding typical of tourist environments.
yahoo.com
A 28-year-old Fort Worth teacher lost his entire $32,000 life savings after scammers impersonating Chase Bank representatives convinced him via text and phone calls to transfer his funds to a "secure account." When he reported the incident to Chase Bank, the bank classified it as a scam rather than fraud and returned only $2,000, leaving him unprotected by fraud coverage policies. Leahy is now sharing his experience publicly to warn others about phishing scams, which commonly trick victims into revealing sensitive financial information through impersonation of legitimate institutions.
foxnews.com
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.
wafb.com
Fraudulent text messages impersonating Louisiana's Office of Motor Vehicles are circulating among state residents, claiming recipients have unpaid traffic tickets and threatening vehicle registration suspension and prosecution. Officials advise recipients not to click links or share personal information via these unsolicited texts, and to report suspected scam messages to reportfraud.ftc.gov.
cbs4local.com
A scam targeting seniors in Washington state has stolen over $7 million, with individual losses ranging up to $870,000, affecting nearly 50 reported cases since February 2024. Scammers impersonate trusted entities (government agencies, banks, tech companies) via phone, email, text, or pop-ups, convincing victims their accounts are compromised and demanding they withdraw cash to purchase gold or place money in boxes for courier pickup. King County prosecutors note these scams exploit trust and fear while being difficult to investigate and prosecute once victims have been compromised.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
In response to a surge in "digital arrest" scams targeting senior citizens in Goa, police have directed banks to implement protective measures including scrutinizing unusual transactions by elderly customers and contacting them before completing large transfers. Fraudsters in these schemes impersonate law enforcement or government officials (police, CBI, RBI, TRAI) to coerce victims into transferring money by falsely accusing them of illegal activities like money laundering. Banks have been instructed to train staff to recognize warning signs, conduct senior-focused awareness campaigns, establish dedicated helplines, and display in-branch warnings about these scams.
pondolandtimes.co.za
South African SASSA social grant beneficiaries, particularly elderly and vulnerable recipients, face escalating fraud threats through ten common scams including fake SMS messages, ATM card swaps, bogus home visits by impersonators, phishing emails, and social media fraud—all targeting desperate individuals relying on government assistance. Scammers employ tactics such as posing as SASSA officials, creating fake reapplication websites, and requesting fees to "fast-track" grants or "fix" unpaid payments, costing victims their essential monthly income. The advisory urges beneficiaries to verify information only through official SASSA channels, protect their cards and PINs, and report frau
pymnts.com
The FBI warned of cyberattacks resembling Scattered Spider targeting the aviation industry, with confirmed sightings also reported by Google's Mandiant and Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42. Scattered Spider, a group of younger hackers using social engineering and phishing, has previously conducted high-profile breaches including the 2023 MGM Casinos attack and a 2024 Marks & Spencer breach that resulted in over $807 million in market capitalization loss. The advisory notes that airlines, vendors, and contractors across the aviation ecosystem face heightened risk, particularly as third-party breaches have doubled to represent 30% of data breaches in the past year.
khak.com
33-year-old Ridwan Adeleke Adepoju, a Nigerian scam mastermind, was captured in the UK and extradited to the United States, where he pleaded guilty to operating a years-long fraud scheme involving phishing scams, romance scams, and fraudulent tax returns targeting multiple victims. He was sentenced to 3.5 years in federal prison by a U.S. judge in the Northern District of Illinois.
yespunjab.com
A 24-year-old cyber fraudster, Malya Das, was arrested in New Delhi after evading police for four years for orchestrating a KYC phishing scam that defrauded senior citizens of Rs 1.51 lakh in 2021. Das tricked victims into clicking malicious links via SMS warnings about SIM blocking, installed remote access software to steal OTPs, and laundered stolen funds through online gaming platforms and bank accounts totaling Rs 27 lakh. The arrest followed a reinvigorated investigation that used technical surveillance to trace the money trail through RummyCircle accounts and ATM withdrawals.
jom.media
I cannot provide a summary of this article because the full content is not available—only the subscription page and article titles are shown. To summarize the content for the Elderus database, please provide the complete article text or transcript.
jmu.edu
James Madison University staff warned students, staff, and recent graduates about scams targeting the campus community, particularly job and internship fraud schemes designed to steal personal information or money. The university's Career Center recommends verifying employer legitimacy through resources like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and the Better Business Bureau, and advises students to trust their instincts and be alert to red flags such as requests for banking information, wire transfer payments, unprofessional communications, or contact via text rather than official channels. Students are encouraged to take time during job searches, ask clarifying questions, and network with alumni to confirm job opportunities are legitimate.
chronline.com
Washington residents lost $38.2 million to fraud in the first quarter of 2025, with people ages 80 and over experiencing the highest median losses of $1,286; "government imposters" represent the most common scam type, including fake DMV text messages demanding payment for traffic violations and romance scams targeting seniors. The FBI reported over 7,600 people age 60 or older lost approximately $389 million in romance scams in 2024, while cryptocurrency kiosk scams cost Washington state $142 million in 2023. Law enforcement agencies advise residents to verify requests independently using official phone numbers, avoid untypical payment methods like cryptocurrency or peer-to
bitdefender.com
**Summary:**
A coordinated cybercriminal operation used over 140 malicious Facebook ads featuring Pi2Day branding (an event celebrated June 28) to target Pi Network cryptocurrency users globally with two main scams: phishing pages mimicking Pi Wallet that harvest 24-word recovery phrases, and fake mining apps containing malware (Generic.MSIL.WMITask and Generic.JS.WMITask) that compromise user devices and wallets. The attacks exploited the appeal of Pi Network's easy smartphone mining model among inexperienced crypto users through social pressure tactics including limited-time offers and countdown timers, with evidence suggesting a single threat actor group orchestrated the parallel campaigns across Meta
foxnews.com
A sophisticated PayPal phishing scam is exploiting PayPal's own email system to send fraudulent alerts that appear completely legitimate, bypassing security filters by originating from PayPal's official servers. The scam uses urgency tactics (claiming unauthorized address changes or payments) and may include phone numbers directing victims to fake PayPal representatives who trick them into downloading remote access malware that compromises their devices. This attack is particularly dangerous because it weaponizes PayPal's legitimate infrastructure to establish trust, making it difficult for even security-conscious users to detect, and reportedly affects numerous users across Reddit and cybersecurity forums.
komonews.com
A sophisticated scam targeting seniors in Washington state has stolen over $7 million, with individual losses reaching as high as $870,000. Scammers impersonate trusted entities like government agencies, banks, and tech companies via phone, email, text, or pop-ups to convince victims their accounts or identities have been compromised, then pressure them to withdraw cash or purchase gold to be picked up by a "courier." King County prosecutors report nearly 50 cases since February 2024 and note these crimes are difficult to investigate and prosecute once victims have transferred their money.
cbs8.com
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer alert warning communities about "notario fraud," an immigration scam where unlicensed individuals fraudulently offer immigration legal services by exploiting confusion about what a "notario" is—particularly among Spanish-speaking immigrants who believe it means attorney as it does in their home countries. Only licensed lawyers and accredited representatives can legally provide immigration advice or represent clients in court; victims may end up improperly filing documents or being flagged by ICE. Californians are advised to verify credentials through the American Bar Association, avoid sharing money or personal information with unsolicited contacts, and report scams to the California Department of Justice or local authorities, with free legal assistance
dallasnews.com
Complaints from adults aged 60 and older targeting online scams increased 46% from 2023 to 2024, with that age group losing over $4.8 billion to internet crimes in 2024, according to the FBI. Scammers target older adults for their assets through various schemes including romance cons, cryptocurrency investment fraud ("pig butchering"), and intermediary money-transfer operations, with criminals often establishing trust through social media before requesting payments. The article emphasizes that while cognitive aging increases vulnerability, everyone is at risk due to advancing AI technology, and recommends family members, friends, and service providers watch for unusual financial activity and intervene diplomatically.
deccanchronicle.com
A 75-year-old resident of Hyderabad lost Rs 1.28 lakh after clicking a phishing link in a text message impersonating an Indian oil company offering reward points, then sharing an OTP with a fraudster who claimed it was for a Rs 399 transaction. Police recommend verifying offers through official channels, never clicking suspicious links, and not sharing OTPs with anyone.
thisdaylive.com
Digital fraud analyst Oluwole Asalu warns that AI-driven autonomous agents pose an emerging cybersecurity threat more sophisticated than traditional attacks, capable of independently planning, executing complex tasks, and replicating successful attacks at scale without human intervention. Organizations are advised to strengthen conventional cybersecurity protocols while developing new defenses specifically designed to counter AI-led intrusions, and policymakers are urged to overhaul national cybersecurity frameworks to address agentic AI risks. This represents a shift from viewing AI primarily as a business efficiency tool to recognizing it as a significant security threat requiring boardroom-level attention.
abc7chicago.com
Travel scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers using cloned websites, fake apps, and social media ads to trick travelers into booking non-existent flights, hotels, and vacation rentals. Cybersecurity experts warn that artificial intelligence is making it easier for fraudsters to create convincing fake travel booking sites, often using social media ads with artificial urgency (limited-time sales) to pressure quick bookings. To protect yourself, verify exact domain names, avoid clicking links in ads, and instead use trusted apps or type website addresses directly into your browser.
wsbtv.com
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.
abc11.com
Scammers are using stolen identities and AI-generated deepfakes to create "ghost students" who fraudulently obtain federal student aid before disappearing, leaving victims with damaged credit scores and fraudulent debt. Criminals obtain personal information through data breaches and phishing, then use AI bots to enroll in classes and trigger financial aid disbursements, while also impersonating FAFSA representatives to steal login credentials and Social Security numbers. To protect against this fraud, students should monitor credit regularly, enable two-factor authentication, and guard sensitive personal information closely.
spokesman.com
Government agencies across Washington and Idaho are warning residents about multiple active scams, including government imposter schemes, fake DMV text messages demanding payment for traffic violations, romance scams, and cryptocurrency kiosk fraud. In early 2025, Washington fraud victims lost $38.2 million with people ages 80 and older experiencing median losses of $1,286, while Idaho residents lost over $63 million to cybercrimes in 2024, with seniors being predominately targeted. Authorities advise residents never to respond to unsolicited demands for payment and to independently verify any claims by contacting the legitimate agency using official phone numbers rather than information provided by the scammer.
northyorks.gov.uk
This educational advisory warns that fraudsters increasingly impersonate enforcement officers to target council tax and business rate payers. The guidance advises verifying the identity of anyone claiming to be an official, avoiding disclosure of sensitive information in unsolicited calls, and not clicking links in suspicious emails or texts, with instructions to report suspected scams to local authorities.
chronline.com
In the first quarter of 2025, Washington fraud victims lost $38.2 million, with people ages 80 and over suffering the highest median loss of $1,286; "government imposters" remain the most prevalent scam type. Regional law enforcement agencies warned residents about evolving fraud schemes including fake DMV text messages demanding payment, cryptocurrency kiosk scams (which cost Washington $142 million in 2023), and romance scams that defrauded seniors 60+ of $389 million nationally in 2024. Authorities advise residents to verify claims directly with agencies using official contact information and avoid unusual payment methods like cryptocurrency, Venmo, or Pay
tribtoday.com
American seniors aged 60 and older reported $4.8 billion in losses to scammers in 2024, making them the primary targets for cybercriminals operating globally, with fraudulent wire transfers often routing through Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Mexico. Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to cultural tendencies to trust, limited technological sophistication, and the fact that they control over 70% of American wealth. The FBI advises that education and awareness are the best defenses, recommending seniors verify unsolicited contacts independently, avoid sending money or gift cards in response to urgent requests, and stay informed about common scam tactics.
citizensvoice.com
Pennsylvania officials warned of an email scam targeting older residents, in which fraudsters impersonate state employees and claim recipients have inherited large sums from distant foreign relatives, then request hundreds of thousands of dollars in upfront fees to release the funds. The scammers use spoofed email addresses resembling official state accounts and create false urgency to pressure victims into quick payments. Officials advise recipients to verify sender email addresses (legitimate PA state emails end in @pa.gov), avoid responding to unsolicited money offers, and contact trusted family members or local Area Agencies on Aging before engaging with unknown individuals making financial offers.
cleveland.com
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
finance.yahoo.com
McAfee's 2025 Safer Summer Travel Report found that one in five Americans has fallen victim to travel scams while booking trips, with 23% of victims losing money—including 13% who lost over $500 and 5% who lost more than $1,000. Younger adults (ages 18-34) are more vulnerable to these scams than older generations, with common tactics including fake booking sites, malicious confirmation links, and AI-manipulated travel photos designed to exploit budget-conscious travelers seeking deals.
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A 57-year-old widow, Laura Kowal, was defrauded of approximately $1.5 million by two Nigerian scammers (Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu) operating a romance scam using the fake persona "Frank Borg," a Swedish investment adviser they met on Match.com over a two-year period. The scammers coerced Laura into establishing fraudulent companies and bank accounts for money laundering, and her daughter Kelly discovered a suicide note before Laura's body was found in the Mississippi River in August 2020; the case was part of a larger criminal scheme responsible for at least $3.5 million
vietnam.vn
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.
justice.gov
Pradip Parikh, 67, and Alpesh Patel, 40, were convicted for operating an India-based call center scam that defrauded millions of Americans, predominantly elderly victims, by impersonating Social Security Administration officials and threatening arrest to pressure victims into transferring funds to bank accounts they controlled. Victims testified to losing significant sums, including a 70-year-old who transferred over $600,000 and a widowed mother of eight who lost more than $300,000, with the defendants retaining thousands for themselves before laundering the remaining funds. Both were convicted of money laundering and conspiracy charges, with Patel also convicted of wire fraud conspiracy
coastalbreezenews.com
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
ca.news.yahoo.com
Scammers are using artificial intelligence to impersonate senior government officials and business executives via phone calls and text messages to Canadian and American targets, requesting urgent money transfers or prompting victims to open malicious links that install malware or steal sensitive information. In the first three months of 2025 alone, Canada's Anti-Fraud Centre received nearly 13,000 fraud reports resulting in over $165 million in losses across 9,092 victims. Security experts advise recipients of suspicious urgent requests from authority figures to verify the caller's identity by hanging up and calling back using a known contact method, as AI-generated voices and spoofed numbers make these impersonations increasingly difficult to detect.
www2.ljworld.com
Scammers have been impersonating Senior Resource Center employees and attempting to sell burial plots to Douglas County residents, prompting the center's director to warn the public that the organization does not sell anything. The FBI reports that cybercriminals stole over $16 billion from Americans in 2024, with people over 60 losing nearly $5 billion; experts recommend the "Stop, Verify and Report" approach—stopping the conversation, verifying legitimacy through trusted sources, and reporting suspected scams to the Kansas Protection Report Center at 1-800-922-5330.
foxnews.com
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.
wrex.com
Since 2022, businesses across North America have experienced a surge in sophisticated scams—including impersonations, data theft, and fraudulent services—resulting in billions of dollars in losses, according to Better Business Bureau data showing over 3,600 BBB reports and 74,489 FBI reports between 2022-2024. Experts warn that AI-generated fake videos and emails are increasingly used in scams, and the true scale of incidents is likely much higher due to underreporting. Businesses are advised to implement security measures such as employee training, secure payment procedures, firewalls, multifactor authentication, and verification of requests through alternate channels to protect against these threats.
news5cleveland.com
Job scams targeting recent graduates have surged dramatically, with FTC reports showing losses increasing from $90 million to $501 million between 2020 and 2024. Common tactics include fake job postings impersonating trusted entities, unsolicited contact with unrealistic offers (high pay, no interview), requests for upfront payments for equipment, and phishing links designed to steal personal information. Job seekers should verify company websites, scrutinize sender email addresses, and report suspected scams to the FTC, BBB, or Ohio Attorney General.
consumer.ftc.gov
Prize scams trick victims with unsolicited calls or texts claiming they've won money, cars, or other valuable items, then demand upfront payment for taxes, processing fees, or shipping. Scammers impersonate legitimate companies like Publishers Clearing House and create urgency to prevent victims from thinking critically about the offer. Legitimate sweepstakes never require payment to claim prizes; any demand for money is a clear indicator of fraud.