Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
10,158 results
in Scam Awareness
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a political news article about the 2004 California gubernatorial recall election, not an elder fraud case. The article describes Republican candidate Larry Elder preemptively claiming voter fraud before the election results were known, using unsubstantiated statistical analyses to suggest fraud occurred. This does not involve elder fraud, scams targeting seniors, or elder abuse, so it falls outside the scope of the Elderus database.
malaymail.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers today employ sophisticated social engineering tactics—including scripted phone calls using psychological manipulation techniques and impersonation of trusted institutions—rather than relying on victims' lack of knowledge. Common scam methods include mule account schemes targeting job seekers who are tricked into opening bank accounts and providing personal information, and APK file scams that grant scammers control of victims' mobile phones through fake job or service advertisements. Experts note that scammers may employ actual psychologists to craft these tactics, making them increasingly difficult for victims to detect regardless of their education or experience level.
foxcarolina.com
· 2025-12-08
The Asheville Police Department warned the public of scammers impersonating Chief Michael Lamb, claiming victims have active arrest warrants and threatening jail time unless they send money immediately. The APD advises residents to never pay money over the phone, ask for caller information and verify it directly with APD at (828) 252-1110, and report suspected scams through official channels.
mi-3.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian banks launched a new campaign under the Scam-Safe Accord to publicize their anti-scam protections, including payment delays, warnings, and account blocking to prevent fraudulent transfers. The campaign, led by the Australian Banking Association and involving 55 mutual banks and credit unions, reflects industry efforts to combat scams through technology and cross-sector collaboration, with early results showing scam losses decreasing for the first time in six years.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau launched an investigation into JP Morgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo (Zelle's parent companies) after reimbursement rates for disputed Zelle transactions dropped from 62% in 2019 to 38% in 2023, with bank employees given broad discretion in determining whether to reimburse consumers. Zelle argues that law enforcement and user education are the primary solutions, while congressional lawmakers introduced the Protecting Consumers from Payment Scams Act to increase financial institutions' responsibility for fraud reimbursements, as recovering money lost through payment apps remains significantly more difficult than reclaiming unauthorized credit card charges.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
**Power Bill Scam Alert:** A Nova Scotia resident was targeted by scammers operating a fake utility payment line that appeared as a sponsored search result, where the fraudster obtained his personal billing information and credit card details before the bank blocked the transaction. Nova Scotia Power reports an increasing number of similar scams using sophisticated tactics that operate briefly to evade detection.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Election officials across multiple states warned about voter registration scams ahead of the 2024 presidential election, where scammers posed as get-out-the-vote groups via text messages and other communications to trick victims into clicking malicious links or providing personal information like Social Security numbers. Voter registration fraud is one of the three most common election-cycle scams, and officials recommend verifying communications directly with local election officials and reporting suspicious contacts to the FTC. No specific dollar amounts or victim counts were reported in the warnings.
wrexham.com
· 2025-12-08
Wrexham residents are being warned about rental scams where fraudsters pose as landlords to steal money from prospective tenants through phantom listings, hijacked ads, or bait-and-switch tactics. Common warning signs include suspiciously low rent, requests for upfront payments, avoidance of in-person meetings, high-pressure tactics, and incomplete property information, with one victim losing £1,400. Residents are advised to use reputable platforms, verify landlord credentials through Rent Smart Wales, meet properties in person before paying, and report suspected scams to Citizens Advice or Trading Standards.
paulfletcher.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about elder fraud or scams. It is a TechLeaders 2024 conference speech that discusses technology's broader societal impacts, both positive and negative. While the speaker mentions romance scams, fake social media endorsements, and text-based scams ($26.9 million in losses to Australians in 2023) as examples of technology-enabled crime, the document is a general technology policy speech rather than a focused report on elder abuse or fraud.
country1037fm.com
· 2025-12-08
South Carolina ranks as the 45th safest state for online dating, with elevated risks including 396 registered sex offenders per 100,000 residents, 1,062 STD reports per 100,000 residents, and 334 fraud cases per 100,000 residents. A study by PrivacyJournal.net identified romance scams, fraud, identity theft, and violent crime as primary dangers in online dating nationwide, with Nevada ranking as the most dangerous state overall.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, over 101,000 people age 60 and older lost nearly $3.4 billion to financial exploitation, according to the FBI's Elder Fraud Report, with common scams including tech support fraud ($590 million in losses), investment fraud ($4.57 billion, up 38% year-over-year), power of attorney abuse, Medicare/Medicaid fraud, and homeowner scams. AI-driven fraud is making scams increasingly sophisticated, with criminals creating convincing fake audio and video to deceive victims. Protection requires vigilance about warning signs such as unusual account activity and suspicious communications, along with education and open family dialogue about financial security.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial institutions reported over $27 billion in elder exploitation losses between June 2022 and June 2023, with scams being the predominant form of abuse targeting individuals aged 60 and older. The FBI's 2023 report documented significant increases in elder scams, resulting in over $3.4 billion in losses to victims. Experts recommend reviewing FinCEN and CFPB guidelines to help combat financial exploitation of seniors.
myheraldreview.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans aged 60 and over lost $3.4 billion to scammers in 2023, representing an 11% increase from the prior year, with the number of fraud complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center rising 14%. Trust and romance scams were the most widely reported type of elder fraud, followed by personal data breaches, confidence scams, non-payment/non-delivery scams, and investment scams. The article provides guidance for banks on identifying suspicious account activity and recommends that customers verify contacts, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and delay transactions when uncertain.
bluenotes.anz.com
· 2025-12-08
Despite 94% of Australians surveyed feeling confident they could spot a scam, sophisticated social engineering tactics and organized criminal syndicates continue to exploit human emotions and trust, particularly targeting Australians over 55 with substantial savings. Investment scams alone resulted in approximately $79 million in losses in 2024, though reporting remains low at 3,818 cases, suggesting significant underreporting. The article advises victims to pause before acting on urgent requests, contact their bank immediately if funds are sent, and report incidents to increase awareness, noting that ANZ's fraud controls prevented over $100 million in losses during the year to March 2024.
bluenotes.anz.com
· 2025-12-08
Despite 94% of Australians surveyed feeling confident they could spot a scam, this article emphasizes that sophisticated scammers exploit human emotions and psychology, with particular targeting of Australians over 55 with substantial savings. Key scam types include romance, investment, and impersonation schemes, with investment scams alone resulting in approximately $79 million in losses in 2024, though under-reporting suggests actual numbers are higher. The article advises victims to pause before acting on urgent requests, immediately contact their bank if money has been sent, and report incidents to help raise awareness and prevent future fraud.
x1075lasvegas.com
· 2025-12-08
A study by PrivacyJournal.net ranked Nevada as the most dangerous state for online dating based on reported romance scams, fraud, identity theft, and violent crime per 100,000 residents. Nevada ranked second nationally for romance scam reports and third for fraud reports, making it a higher-risk state for online daters seeking to avoid financial and personal victimization. The analysis identified Vermont as the safest state for online dating, while other risky states included Alaska, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, and South Carolina.
welivesecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
This article outlines six common Craigslist scams to avoid: fraudsters selling non-existent items (tickets, cars, rentals, jobs) at below-market prices to solicit untraceable payments; overpayment schemes where a bounced check leaves sellers out of pocket; Google Voice verification code theft that allows scammers to create accounts linked to victims' phone numbers; phishing emails impersonating Craigslist to harvest personal information; fake cashier's checks that are easier to counterfeit than genuine ones; and fake escrow services. The article advises users to only use secure payment methods, verify items in person before payment, never share verification codes
wbckfm.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Secret Service has warned Michigan residents about "smishing"—text message phishing scams—targeting online shoppers with three main tactics: fake package tracking notifications, undelivered package alerts, and fraudulent purchase warnings, all designed to trick victims into clicking malicious links and surrendering sensitive financial information. The Secret Service recommends avoiding unsolicited messages entirely, never clicking links from unknown sources, independently verifying requests for personal information, and deleting suspicious texts rather than responding to them.
rbcroyalbank.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies five common online scams targeting young people: fake contests requiring fees or personal information, fraudulent online shopping deals that harvest credit card and shipping data, social media quizzes designed to collect personal information for password cracking, phishing and smishing scams using enticing offers or false urgency, and job scams targeting graduates through fake job postings and interviews that steal identity or financial information. The article emphasizes that while young people are digitally savvy, they tend to be trusting and vulnerable to misinformation, and recommends educating them about these risks along with key security practices like using strong passwords, questioning online content, and avoiding sharing sensitive information.
nextgov.com
· 2025-12-08
The Department of Veterans Affairs launched VSAFE.gov, a new website and call center platform designed to help veterans and their families identify, avoid, and report scams targeting benefits, identity theft, and education fraud. The initiative was spurred by a surge in predatory schemes targeting veterans following the 2022 PACT Act expansion of benefits and healthcare services, with lawmakers pressing the VA to strengthen its anti-fraud protections. The platform consolidates resources from multiple federal agencies including the FTC, FCC, and Social Security Administration to provide veterans with fraud prevention tools and reporting assistance.
wsaw.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau cautions college students to watch out for seven common scams targeting them during the school year: phishing emails impersonating the school's financial department, fake credit card offers, fraudulent rental listings, identity theft, scholarship grant scams, online shopping scams, and test preparation blackmail schemes. The BBB recommends students verify offers through official channels, check credit reports regularly at annualcreditreport.com, view apartments in person before paying, and research companies on BBB.org before engaging with them. Students are encouraged to report suspected scams to BBB's ScamTracker and contact their local BBB office with concerns.
sunshinecoastnews.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Sunshine Coast police warned residents of a sophisticated gift card scam targeting elderly residents, in which fraudsters impersonate bank or telco security staff and convince victims to purchase thousands of dollars in gift cards under the guise of conducting a "sting operation" on scammers, promising reimbursement. One incident in June 2021 resulted in a 91-year-old man losing $28,000 in gift cards purchased in a single day. Police advised the public to treat requests for gift card purchases or money transfers as red flags and to verify directly with financial institutions rather than engaging with unsolicited callers.
onlineathens.com
· 2025-12-08
The Athens Community Council on Aging is hosting "Scam Jam," a four-hour educational luncheon on August 26 to help senior citizens protect themselves from fraud, featuring presentations from local law enforcement, financial institutions, and government agencies including the FTC and Better Business Bureau. The event comes as the FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report documented 101,068 complaints from people aged 60 and over, with tech support scams and fraudulent investments causing the largest financial losses, and Georgia ranking 10th nationally in elder fraud losses.
7news.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A Washington business owner nearly fell victim to an impersonation scam when a fraudster posing as a National Australia Bank representative called his assistant, requesting banking credentials under the pretense that his business credit card had been blocked due to activity in Darwin. The scammer targeted an account containing $3 million, but the business owner and assistant recognized red flags—including the scammer's inability to provide account details or the correct banker's name—and verified the call through official channels, preventing any loss. The article notes that impersonation scams are among the most common fraud tactics, with the Australian Tax Office receiving 22,000 reports of government impersonation scams in the past year, emphasizing the importance of vigilance
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers target students and families during the academic season with scholarship scams, typically sending deceptive emails promising tuition discounts or scholarships in exchange for application or processing fees. These fraudulent schemes exploit families' financial anxieties about college costs and may also aim to steal sensitive personal data for resale; red flags include guaranteed scholarships, requests for social security numbers, upfront fees, and wire transfer or peer-to-peer payment methods. Victims should report fraud to authorities and their banks immediately to dispute charges, though recovery options may be limited depending on the payment method used.
malaysia.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam victims in Malaysia often face repeated targeting by the same scammers who retain their personal information for follow-up frauds, and many victims lack awareness of protective measures and support resources. Key vulnerabilities include poor data protection practices and low public understanding of scams, particularly among seniors and youth, while only 35% of survey respondents knew to contact the National Scam Response Centre (997) within 24 hours to report fraud. Experts recommend improved public education about specific scam types, stronger legal frameworks against mule account schemes, and collaborative community action to combat online fraud.
moroccoworldnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Israeli con artist Simon Leviev posed as a wealthy diamond heir on Tinder and defrauded multiple women, including Norwegian Cecilie Fjellhøy, of hundreds of thousands of dollars through romance fraud. Fjellhøy lost £200,000 and faced additional legal battles with four Norwegian banks over loans taken during the scam, forcing her to sell her apartment for legal representation. Though Leviev was eventually convicted and imprisoned in Israel, he served only five months before release and has since resumed a public lifestyle, illustrating both the devastating emotional and financial impact of romance scams and the challenges in prosecuting international fraud cases.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A Hyderabad businessman lost Rs 5.9 crore after being deceived by scammers posing as Goldman Sachs representatives who promoted a fake IPO investment scheme through WhatsApp and a fraudulent trading app called "GSIN." The victim transferred money across multiple transactions between January 30 and February 22 but became suspicious when asked to pay 10-20 percent of profits (Rs 1.4-2.8 crore) to withdraw his funds. The scammers funneled the money through 11 different bank accounts, making recovery difficult.
malaysia.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Modern scammers use sophisticated social engineering tactics—not victim naivety—to defraud people, employing psychological manipulation techniques and scripted interactions that mimic legitimate organizations like banks and police. Experts explain that continuous phone conversation and repeated "yes" responses create mental compliance, while common scam methods include mule account schemes (where job applicants are tricked into opening bank accounts for criminals) and APK file installation that grants remote phone access. Scammers reportedly employ psychologists and use standardized scripts refined over decades, making their operations highly organized criminal enterprises rather than isolated fraud attempts.
fox23.com
· 2025-12-08
Tulsa International Airport experienced a surge in romance scams where victims sent money (via gift cards, wire transfers, or Bitcoin) to online romantic partners for airline tickets, then waited at baggage claim for people who never arrived. Victims reported losses ranging up to $100,000, with even an 80-year-old woman among those defrauded; authorities note that recovered funds are rare. Police recommend verifying flight numbers and confirmation codes, while the Better Business Bureau advises online daters to watch for rapid relationship escalation, request video chats early, and report suspected scams to the FTC, local police, or BBB.
963kklz.com
· 2025-12-08
A study by PrivacyJournal.net ranked Nevada as the most dangerous state for online dating, based on reported incidents of romance scams, fraud, identity theft, and violent crime per 100,000 residents. Nevada ranked second nationally for romance scam reports and third for fraud reports, with Las Vegas contributing significantly to these numbers. The article advises online daters to take common sense precautions, noting that Vermont and Maine are the safest states for online dating.
moco360.media
· 2025-12-08
Montgomery County law enforcement warned residents about gold bar scams linked to international organized crime groups operating from China and India that have defrauded approximately 20 local victims of millions of dollars since July 2023. Notable cases include a 23-year-old charged with stealing over $700,000 from a mentally disabled Leisure World resident and a 19-year-old charged with swindling an 82-year-old woman of more than $900,000; police have identified seven cases totaling $6.3 million in losses. Officials advised residents to avoid clicking pop-up ads, answering unknown numbers, and liquidating assets into cash or gold for couriers, noting that while
mymcmedia.org
· 2025-12-08
Law enforcement officials in Montgomery County arrested five scammers involved in fraud schemes that defrauded four victims of an estimated $2.9 million, with three additional cases pending that could bring total losses to $6.3 million. The scammers impersonated government officials to convince victims—mostly elderly individuals aged 61-94—to convert savings into gold bars or hand over cash directly, with one victim losing $2.3 million. Officials advise the public to avoid answering calls from unknown numbers, never click pop-up ads, hang up immediately if callers demand money, and contact trusted individuals or police for verification before sending any funds.
newstalk870.am
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission warns Washington State residents about utility company barcode scams in which fraudsters impersonate utility companies via calls or messages, creating urgency around unpaid bills and directing victims to scan QR codes or barcodes to pay through Walmart, Walgreens, or other payment methods. To protect themselves, consumers should independently verify bills by contacting their utility company using official phone numbers or websites, recognize that legitimate utilities do not demand specific payment methods that prevent refunds, and immediately report suspected fraud to reverse payments if money has already been sent.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common rental scams including fake listings, unauthorized fees, and deposits for non-existent rentals, and recommends verification strategies such as viewing properties in person, verifying landlord identity and credentials, and checking county property records. The Better Business Bureau reports 2-3 rental scam complaints weekly in West Tennessee, with younger renters aged 19-29 showing 42% higher victimization rates than other age groups.
wvua23.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics including AI voice mimicry to impersonate family members and request bail money, fake law enforcement calls claiming missed jury duty or warrants, and phishing texts posing as banks with frozen accounts. The article advises consumers to verify suspicious calls independently by hanging up and calling back directly, avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts, and be skeptical of unexpected prize notifications and car warranty offers.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Jim Williams lost $25,000 to cryptocurrency fraud after being lured by a website promising high Bitcoin returns and directed to use a Bitcoin ATM with his bank debit card. His son, a pastor, attributed his father's vulnerability partly to cognitive decline and organized fraud prevention presentations at his church to educate older adults about scams and available resources. The case illustrates how even tech-savvy and financially literate seniors can fall victim to fraud, particularly when cognitive changes make them more susceptible to deception.
nj1015.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, lost $13,000 in a tech support scam on July 25 after a pop-up warning of a computer virus directed her to call a fake Microsoft support number. The scammer, posing as a TD Bank representative, convinced her to withdraw cash from her bank account to "protect" her financial information, and a male courier in his early 30s was sent to her home to collect the money. State Police are seeking the courier suspect and warn the public never to move money based on unsolicited tech support alerts or phone calls.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal and state officials highlighted that email has become the primary method scammers use to target New Hampshire seniors, with over 400 residents aged 60 and older losing more than $11 million to scams in 2023. Experts warned that artificial intelligence now enables scammers to impersonate loved ones convincingly, and advised consumers never to engage with unsolicited contacts requesting money or personal information, instead hanging up and calling back through known numbers. U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas discussed the growing threat and emphasized the need for sustained congressional resources to combat senior fraud.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
The New York StateWide Senior Action Council identified Medicare card scams as their "Fraud of the Month for August," highlighting that Medicare fraud costs taxpayers over $60 billion nationally per year. The organization provided guidance for seniors to protect themselves, including: verifying unsolicited callers before sharing personal information, reporting lost or stolen Medicare cards immediately, treating Medicare cards like credit cards, and reviewing statements regularly for suspicious activity. Seniors can report suspected fraud or compromised information to the New York Senior Medicare Patrol Helpline at 800-333-4374.
digit.in
· 2025-12-08
A woman in northeast Delhi lost Rs 2 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam in which three fraudsters posed as CBI officials, falsely claimed her husband had been arrested on rape charges, and kept her on the phone for six hours to extort the payment. The three scammers from Bihar were arrested following police raids based on technical surveillance. A "digital arrest" scam involves fraudsters impersonating law enforcement to threaten victims into transferring money by claiming legal action or public exposure, and victims can protect themselves by verifying caller authenticity through official channels and avoiding unsolicited payment requests.
wmur.com
· 2025-12-08
Merrimack County residents were targeted by AI-powered phone scams in which fraudsters spoofed caller IDs to impersonate law enforcement and family members. Scammers used artificial intelligence to manipulate voices and falsely claim warrants requiring payment or pose as relatives needing emergency money wired via Bitcoin ATMs, with at least one victim losing $5,000. Sheriff David Croft advised residents to verify callers independently and noted that legitimate law enforcement never requests money to resolve warrants.
galvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Check fraud costs the U.S. banking system $10-50 billion annually, with independent bankers arguing that major banks' failure to enforce "know your customer" requirements and adequately police accounts allows fraudsters to deposit stolen checks that are quickly withdrawn before detection. Galveston County has been particularly hard hit, with criminal enterprises stealing over $1 million in postal checks in 2022, and 90% of independent bank association members reported difficulty obtaining reimbursement from larger banks that improperly accepted fraudulent checks.
butlerradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania State Police warned residents of an increasing scam where callers impersonate Sheriff's office officials claiming victims have warrants that can be cleared through Bitcoin payments. The scammers exploit Bitcoin's difficulty to trace, though legitimate law enforcement cannot clear warrants via cryptocurrency. Residents are advised to ignore such calls and report them to their local State Police Barracks.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
The Google Voice scam involves fraudsters posing as buyers on Facebook Marketplace who request verification codes from sellers, claiming to confirm identity and prevent fraud. Once the seller provides the six-digit verification code, scammers use it to create a Google Voice account linked to the seller's number, generating a disguised phone number to conduct additional scams while leaving a trail leading to the innocent victim. The FTC first warned of this scam in 2021, and it remains the most commonly reported fraud to the Identity Theft Resource Center, accounting for 60 percent of scams reported in 2023.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
This article warns consumers about several back-to-school scams that surge in August and September, including fake websites that duplicate legitimate retailers to steal money or personal information, clickbait ads with nearly-identical URLs offering unrealistic discounts, and fraudulent payment requests. Victims often receive outdated or counterfeit merchandise, nothing at all, or lose money entirely when paying through digital platforms like Zelle that offer no fraud protection. The article advises shoppers to verify deals directly on official websites, check for red flags like suspicious URLs and missing contact information, use credit cards instead of payment apps, and contact their bank before completing questionable transactions.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
This article highlights five emerging phishing scam tactics that security experts recently identified, including state-sponsored attacks targeting 40,000 high-level business professionals using sophisticated Microsoft impersonations and multi-factor authentication bypasses, and a 183% surge in weight-loss drug scams with 176,871 phishing attempts targeting individuals seeking discounted Ozempic and similar medications. Additional tactics include tricking users into running malicious PowerShell commands through fake error dialogs, hijacking legitimate customer portals to send trusted phishing emails, and exploiting Windows Search functionality to deploy malware, demonstrating how adversaries continuously evolve their methods to evade detection.
unionleader.com
· 2025-12-08
Email has become the primary method used by scammers to target New Hampshire seniors for identity theft and financial fraud, according to federal and state officials. In 2023, over 400 New Hampshire residents aged 60 and older lost more than $11 million to scams, with criminals increasingly using artificial intelligence to impersonate trusted contacts. Experts advise consumers to never provide money or personal information to unsolicited contacts and to verify requests by calling known phone numbers directly.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 76-year-old Concord retiree lost over $190,000 in a tech support scam that began in March when a caller impersonated an Xfinity cybersecurity official, claiming his computer was hacked and crypto account fraudulently opened. The scammer escalated the scheme by posing as an FTC agent, threatening a wire fraud investigation and instructing Frilich to deposit his life savings into a "secure wallet" while monitoring him via computer camera and sending couriers to collect cash. This case exemplifies the broader elder fraud crisis, with Americans 60 and older losing over $3.4 billion to such scams in 2023, with
www3.erie.gov
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elder fraud complaints rose 14% with 101,000 victims collectively losing $3.4 billion, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. The article identifies eight common senior scams—including grandparent, medical device, IRS imposter, and sweepstakes scams—and provides prevention tips such as never sharing personal information over the phone, blocking robocalls, keeping software updated, and verifying caller identity before responding. Seniors should be particularly cautious of unsolicited calls, suspicious emails with attachments, and fraudsters impersonating government agencies.