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Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.

7,257 results in General Elder Fraud
wisn.com · 2025-12-08
A gold bar scam has defrauded 49 Wisconsin residents of approximately $13 million, with victims averaging losses exceeding $250,000 each. Scammers impersonate bank officials and federal authorities, convincing victims their accounts are hacked and instructing them to purchase gold bars for "protection," then deploy couriers to collect the gold before disappearing with it. Two couriers, Gourav Patel and Junjie Liang, have been arrested in connection with the scheme, which operates across the upper Midwest.
cbs12.com · 2025-12-08
Despite government efforts to reduce robocalls, phone calls remain scammers' preferred method for targeting victims, with older adults being disproportionately targeted because "criminals go where the money is," according to AARP's Director of Fraud Victim Support. In one Florida case, an elderly man with dementia lost $10,000 after receiving a scam call with an 833-area code and withdrawing cash to mail to scammers in New Jersey—though this victim was fortunate when law enforcement recovered the money before delivery, a rare outcome. Experts recommend not answering calls from unknown numbers, silencing unknown callers on smartphones, and blocking suspicious area codes commonly used by scamm
timesofindia.indiatimes.com · 2025-12-08
**Phone Scams: AI-Powered Defense** UK telecom company O2 launched "Daisy," an AI-powered scambaiter designed to impersonate an elderly grandmother and waste scammers' time by engaging them in lengthy, meaningless conversations about fictional activities. Developed in collaboration with experienced scambaiters, Daisy has successfully kept fraudsters occupied for up to 40 minutes while providing fake information, disrupting their operations and preventing them from targeting real victims. The initiative is part of O2's broader "Swerve the Scammers" campaign, which aims to educate the public about scam tactics and encourage reporting of suspicious
wktn.com · 2025-12-08
The Marion County Sheriff's Office is hosting a free public educational training program on scams and fraud on November 21 from 6-7 pm at 100 Executive Drive in Marion, with a particular focus on residents aged 55 and older who are at higher risk. Interested attendees can register or obtain more information by contacting Deputy Jesse Allen at [email protected].
mid-day.com · 2025-12-08
**Geeta Patel, a 64-year-old repeat offender from Bhayandar, was arrested after attempting to steal a gold chain worth ₹1.5 lakh from an 80-year-old man in Borivli.** Patel's modus operandi involved approaching senior citizens (ages 65-80) on the streets, fabricating sympathetic personal stories to gain their trust, then either snatching their jewelry during an embrace or threatening them with false accusations if they refused to help her. Ten cases have been registered against Patel by elderly victims, and she had previously been arrested in 2015 for a similar
timesofindia.indiatimes.com · 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old retired engineer in New Delhi was defrauded of over Rs 10.3 crore in a digital arrest scam between September 25 and October 14, during which scammers impersonated Mumbai Police and CBI officials via video calls, falsely accusing him of money laundering and threatening legal action while demanding he transfer funds in three installments. The victim was isolated for 19 days under threats not to contact family, only realizing the fraud when his brother intervened and convinced him he was being scammed. Delhi Police's IFSO unit is investigating the case.
shorenewsnetwork.com · 2025-12-08
A 51-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested in Galloway Township, NJ after attempting to collect over $60,000 from an elderly couple in a phone scam where he impersonated a federal agent and falsely claimed fraudulent bank accounts had been opened using their Social Security number. Police apprehended the suspect at the victims' home after the couple's daughter alerted authorities, and officers set up surveillance to intercept the cash pickup. The case highlights the importance of recognizing red flags such as demands for cash withdrawals and verifying suspicious calls directly with financial institutions or law enforcement.
browndailyherald.com · 2025-12-08
In early March, a Warwick grandparent couple lost $18,000 to a "grandparent scam" in which fraudsters impersonated their grandson needing bail money; when asked for an additional $40,000, the couple recognized the scheme and contacted police, leading to the arrest of two out-of-state men who were found with $60,000 in cash and allegedly collected $230,000 from similar schemes. Rhode Island has experienced a 22% growth rate in elder fraud cases between 2022 and 2023—the third-highest in the nation—prompting increased law enforcement investigations, legislative proposals to combat scams, and awareness campaigns by organizations like
scoop.co.nz · 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old UK national, Jack Dylan Hennessy, was sentenced to three years and three months imprisonment for his role as a cash courier in a fake police scam that defrauded Auckland residents of $337,700. The scam involved criminals cold-calling victims while posing as police officers, convincing them to withdraw cash under the pretense of assisting a covert operation, then collecting the money in person. Two other men face ongoing court proceedings for their alleged involvement in related scam activities across New Zealand.
cleveland19.com · 2025-12-08
A 76-year-old South Euclid woman lost $23,000 in an elaborate scam that began with a fraudulent email claiming to be from Discover and involved impersonators posing as a LifeLock customer service representative, bank fraud expert, and FBI agent. Within 90 minutes, the scammers convinced the victim to withdraw the entire amount from her checking account across three bank locations and hand over the cash to a man in a Starbucks parking lot. Police emphasize that legitimate federal agents never ask victims to provide their own money during investigations, and recommend contacting authorities, family, or an attorney before responding to unsolicited requests for funds.
newsbreak.com · 2025-12-08
3K
The Rocklin Police Department warned of increasing financial scams targeting seniors that use computers and phones to deceive victims. The department advised seniors to avoid responding to urgent emails, pop-ups, or phone calls requesting immediate action; never provide login credentials via email; enable two-factor authentication; and recognize red flags such as requests to withdraw money, lie about transactions, or pay via gift cards or cryptocurrency.
thetimes.com · 2025-12-08
A woman in her sixties from England lost nearly £20,000 to an AI-generated romance scammer posing as a US Army colonel named "Mike Murdy" on Tinder. The scammer used deepfake videos and personalized messages to build trust before claiming a life insurance briefcase worth £607,000 needed processing fees, extracting multiple payments from the victim under false pretenses. The US Embassy has issued warnings about fraudsters impersonating US soldiers using this high-tech romance scam method.
aarp.org · 2025-12-08
AARP ElderWatch, a joint program between AARP and the Colorado Attorney General, surveyed 907 Colorado residents in June 2024 and found that fraud and scam concerns have reached crisis levels, with 75% of adults viewing these issues as a critical problem. Identity theft incidents among Coloradans increased from 15% in 2020 to 21% in 2024, with financial losses nearly doubling from 12% to 23%, though younger adults using online accounts and P2P payment platforms (89% usage) are less vigilant about account monitoring compared to older adults. The survey recommends continued education and awareness, noting that residents prefer phone contact with specialists
mashable.com · 2025-12-08
UK telecom provider Virgin Media O2 developed "Daisy," an AI bot designed to impersonate an elderly woman and keep phone scammers on the line for extended periods, with the system successfully detaining fraudsters for up to 40 minutes per call. The bot, created in collaboration with YouTuber Jim Browning, uses conversational AI to generate rambling responses about family and hobbies while providing false personal information, reducing scammers' time targeting actual victims. This approach addresses a significant problem: elderly individuals are disproportionately targeted by phone scams, with people over 60 accounting for 58 percent of impersonation scam losses in the U.S. (
popsci.com · 2025-12-08
US consumers lost a record $10 billion to fraud in the past year (a 14% increase), with scammers increasingly targeting older adults via phone—over two-thirds of UK residents over 75 surveyed reported experiencing at least one fraud attempt in six months. In response, UK mobile operator Virgin Media O2 created "Daisy," an AI-powered grandmother chatbot that wastes scammers' time by providing false information and engaging in lengthy, meandering conversations, with some interactions lasting over 40 minutes. While Daisy aims to reduce real victim targeting, scammers are simultaneously deploying AI voice-cloning technology to perpetrate new frauds including imp
staradvertiser.com · 2025-12-08
Two Aiea, Hawaii women were federally charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy for stealing a credit card number and check from a man in his 90s between February and March, using them to make over $20,000 in unauthorized purchases at spas, car dealerships, jewelry stores, and other businesses. Kalehuaiwilliamekamaile "Maile" Montez and Totie Tauala also allegedly used stolen identities of a California woman and an Arizona woman to facilitate the fraudulent transactions. The scheme was discovered when the victim's caregiver and daughter were contacted by a credit card company
Identity Theft General Elder Fraud Financial Crime Cryptocurrency Wire Transfer Gift Cards
cbsnews.com · 2025-12-08
Henry Aragon, a 54-year-old Golden resident and one of six Coloradans indicted, was sentenced to repay over $19 million in a nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme that victimized more than 150,000 Americans and generated $300 million over two decades. The scheme deceived elderly and vulnerable victims into approving magazine subscription renewals through false claims about reducing costs or calling from existing subscription companies, when perpetrators were actually fraudulently charging them for new subscriptions. Sixty individuals across 14 states and two Canadian provinces were involved in the operation, with Aragon credited as the scheme's deviser and operator.
benzinga.com · 2025-12-08
A University of Michigan study found that seniors experiencing undiagnosed memory decline lost an average of $31,000 over two years due to poor investment decisions and susceptibility to scams, while those aware of their cognitive decline limited losses to about $5,400 by delegating financial decisions to trusted advisors. Over 60% of Americans age 50 and older experienced some memory decline, but only 20% of those with significant loss were aware of it, making them vulnerable to risky financial choices and fraud schemes that cost older adults more than $36 billion annually. The article advises seniors to seek professional help if experiencing memory issues, involve trusted family members or financial advisors in financial decisions, an
fallriverreporter.com · 2025-12-08
A 30-year-old New York man, Xuejian Wu, was arrested after defrauding a North Reading, Massachusetts elderly resident of more than $10,000 through a sophisticated online scam involving remote computer access, threats, and Bitcoin transactions. Wu was apprehended when he appeared at the victim's home impersonating a federal agent to attempt collecting additional funds, and he was charged with multiple counts of larceny and conspiracy. The case highlights the targeting of seniors through technology-based fraud and the importance of reporting suspected scams to law enforcement promptly.
abc7chicago.com · 2025-12-08
A Wisconsin woman lost $433,279.53 in a gold bar investment scam after scammers impersonated Apple and FTC officials, falsely claiming her identity was stolen and bank account hacked. Across Wisconsin, 49 people reported similar scams to the FBI, losing approximately $13 million total, with couriers like Gourav Patel and Junjie Liang arrested for collecting the purchased gold bars from victims' homes. The scam operates by convincing victims their accounts are compromised and instructing them to buy gold bars supposedly for protection at the Federal Reserve, which couriers then collect and never return.
abc.net.au · 2025-12-08
An educational video game called "Dodgy or Not?" is teaching Australian primary school students to identify online scams and deepfake fraud by analyzing real-world messages and social media posts in real time. The game addresses the growing sophistication of cyber criminals using AI-generated deepfakes, with Australia losing $3-4 billion annually to reported online fraud, and educators warning that emerging threats like sextortion targeting young people are increasing globally.
mirror.co.uk · 2025-12-08
A woman in her sixties from England lost nearly £20,000 to an AI-generated romance scammer posing as a US Army colonel named "Mike Murdy" on Tinder. The scammer used deepfake videos, images, and AI-synthesized voice and text to build a convincing romantic relationship, eventually convincing the victim to pay money under the pretense of unlocking a briefcase containing £607,000 in cash and accessing a life insurance payout. Financial authorities have issued warnings about this emerging AI-powered romance scam trend targeting vulnerable individuals seeking romantic connections.
dailystar.co.uk · 2025-12-08
A UK carer named Mary lost £20,000 to a sophisticated romance scam involving a fake AI-generated US Army colonel named "Mike Murdy" on Tinder who used deepfake videos, audio messages, and physical items to build trust over several months. The scammer convinced Mary to pay fees under the guise of unlocking a military briefcase allegedly containing £607,000, but she ultimately received only blank sheets of paper. Halifax bank is reviewing her case for reimbursement under Payment Systems Regulator fraud protection rules, as fraud experts warn of increasing AI-enabled romance scams.
justice.gov · 2025-12-08
Three New York residents—Rohan Lyttle (97 months), Caron Pitter (66 months), and Charlene Marshall (34 months)—were sentenced to prison for their roles in a Jamaican lottery scam targeting elderly Americans between 2017 and 2020. The defendants received and laundered funds from victims who were falsely told they had won Publisher's Clearing House prizes and needed to prepay taxes, with victims losing over $1.1 million collectively through cash packages, wire transfers, and fraudulent credit card and ATM withdrawals in Jamaica; each defendant was ordered to pay $245,147.98 in restitution.
Lottery/Prize Scam Phishing Money Mule / Laundering Robocall / Phone Scam General Elder Fraud Wire Transfer Cash Payment App Check/Cashier's Check Money Order / Western Union
dataconomy.com · 2025-12-08
O2 developed "dAIsy," an AI chatbot that mimics an elderly woman to engage scammers in lengthy conversations, wasting their time and preventing them from targeting real victims—sometimes keeping scammers occupied for up to 40 minutes. The tool uses advanced AI technologies including large language models, voice synthesis, and diffusion models to create lifelike interactions, addressing a critical fraud crisis where Americans over 60 lost nearly $3.4 billion to telephone scams in 2023 and 69% of Britons report being targeted by scammers. O2 encourages the public to report suspicious calls to 7726 and share their experiences to combat increasingly
firstpost.com · 2025-12-08
Virgin Media O2 developed Daisy, an AI chatbot designed to mimic an elderly British woman and engage scammers in lengthy conversations to waste their time and prevent them from targeting real victims. Created with input from YouTube scambaiter Jim Browning, Daisy can autonomously hold scammers on the phone for up to 40 minutes by engaging them with fictional stories about family and hobbies, and has already wasted hundreds of hours of scammers' time while collecting data for law enforcement.
thesun.co.uk · 2025-12-08
An elderly carer lost £20,000 to an elaborate romance scam involving an AI-generated US Army colonel who contacted her on Tinder and promised her £607,000 in life insurance money. The scammer used hyperrealistic AI-generated videos, personalized messages claiming to love her, and physical gifts to build trust, eventually convincing her to pay nearly £10,000 for delivery and £10,000 to unlock a briefcase that contained only a blank sheet of paper. The National Fraud Helpline is assisting in recovery, with officials noting this as one of the most sophisticated scams they have encountered due to its combination of AI technology and physical misdirection.
everythingzoomer.com · 2025-12-08
Fraud is now the leading crime against seniors in Canada, with scammers increasingly using advanced technology like voice simulation, AI, and fake profiles to perpetrate sophisticated schemes. Common scams targeting seniors include grandparent fraud (2,494 Canadian victims lost $9.4 million), romance scams (Canadians lost $59 million in 2022), and phishing attacks (approximately $58 million in losses in 2022). Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to social isolation, limited digital literacy (only 26% feel very confident with technology despite 67% using the internet), and accessible savings, making protection strategies essential as emotional manipulation often overrides caution.
newsbreak.com · 2025-12-08
4K
A 26-year-old Minnesota man, Benjamin Yakah, was arrested following a five-month investigation by the Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit for stealing over $100,000 from a 77-year-old Bradenton widower through a romance scam. The victim was deceived by a fake Facebook profile using photos stolen from a West Virginia woman, with the scammer posing as "Julia" and convincing the victim to send money for an alleged debt settlement in Minnesota. The victim's children discovered the fraud in June 2024, and Yakah is currently awaiting extradition to Manatee County; investigators believe there may be additional victims in other
Romance Scam General Elder Fraud Financial Crime Check/Cashier's Check Money Order / Western Union
thesun.co.uk · 2025-12-08
A woman named Mary lost £10,000 to a romance scam involving a fake AI-generated US Army Colonel named "Mike Murdy" on Tinder who used deepfake videos and sent physical gifts to build trust. The scammer claimed to have a £607,000 life insurance payout and convinced Mary to pay £10,000 for an access code to unlock a briefcase allegedly containing the funds, but she received only blank papers. The case illustrates how modern scams use AI-generated images and videos to impersonate romantic interests and exploit victims who are often reluctant to report due to shame.
justice.gov · 2025-12-08
A Bronx man, Bashiru Ganiyu, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for his role in an international fraud and money laundering scheme that targeted elderly victims through romance scams between 2020 and 2022. Ganiyu received nearly $12 million from over 40 victims into bank accounts he controlled, deceiving them into sending money under the false pretense of romantic relationships, then laundering the proceeds to co-conspirators based in Ghana. He was ordered to forfeit over $11.7 million and pay restitution of approximately $7.7 million.
nypost.com · 2025-12-08
A UK woman in her 60s lost approximately $25,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a US Army colonel named "Mike Murdy" on Tinder, using hyperrealistic AI-generated videos and messages to build trust before requesting money for a fake life insurance payout scheme. The scammer sent convincing video messages personalized with the victim's name and details from their conversations, along with physical gifts, before ultimately delivering an empty briefcase filled with blank paper. This case represents an emerging threat as fraudsters increasingly leverage sophisticated AI technology to create deepfakes that are difficult for victims—especially those unfamiliar with AI—to distinguish from authentic communications.
pandasecurity.com · 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested nearly 30 members of a criminal organization that used AI-generated deepfake profiles of attractive women to defraud approximately 400 middle-aged men across Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India in a romance scam totaling $46 million. Victims were lured into fake romantic relationships, manipulated into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms, and unable to withdraw their funds. The article advises victims to watch for red flags such as investment solicitation from new online contacts and signs of manipulated media including unnatural body postures, flat-toned audio, and mismatched facial features.
timesnownews.com · 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old retired engineer in Delhi lost over Rs 10.3 crore in a "digital arrest" scam that spanned 19 days, beginning in late September 2024. Scammers posing as courier company staff and a Mumbai Police officer manipulated him by claiming a banned substance parcel contained his Aadhaar details, then convinced him to transfer money to "safe accounts" under threat of arrest. Police managed to freeze Rs 60 lakh of the stolen funds, with recovery efforts ongoing.
aol.com · 2025-12-08
A 60-something UK woman lost approximately $25,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a US Army colonel on Tinder using AI-generated videos, images, and voice messages to build trust before requesting money for a supposed life insurance payout and briefcase delivery scheme. The scammer, claiming to be "Mike Murdy," sent hyperrealistic AI videos personalized with the victim's name and details from their conversations, along with physical gifts, to convince her of his legitimacy until she discovered a briefcase filled with blank paper. This case represents an increasingly sophisticated form of romance fraud that combines AI technology with traditional romance scam tactics to exploit vulnerable individuals.
nationalseniors.com.au · 2025-12-08
National Seniors Australia's "Keep Scam SAFE" campaign, in partnership with CommBank, provides educational resources and workshops to help older Australians protect themselves from rising scams and fraud online. The campaign highlights common scam tactics including fake emails with urgent language, parcel delivery text messages (affecting 75% of scam targets), and voice cloning calls, while recommending protective strategies such as the "Stop, Check, Reject" approach, using Confirmation of Payee technology, regularly changing passwords, and accessing free digital literacy training through the Be Connected initiative.
miragenews.com · 2025-12-08
A 46-year-old woman was charged with 52 offences, including fraud and larceny, for allegedly stealing over $18,000 from an 89-year-old nursing home resident through 311 fraudulent transactions while employed as a caregiver. The investigation began in October 2024 following a report to Camden Police, and the suspect was arrested in November 2024 and remanded in custody pending trial scheduled for January 2025.
thetimes-tribune.com · 2025-12-08
An 86-year-old Peckville man was scammed out of $9,500 in a "grandparent scam" when he received calls on May 31 from people impersonating his grandson claiming he needed money after a traffic accident. Iris Alvarez and Alfonso Camareno, both of Flushing, New York, are charged with operating a corrupt organization and theft; police used surveillance video, rental car tracking data, and Cash App records to link them to the crime, with evidence suggesting they led a crew that routinely targeted elderly victims. Both suspects remain at large, and the investigation is ongoing with potential for additional arrests.
states.aarp.org · 2025-12-08
Identity theft and fraud affect Americans at alarming rates, with the FTC estimating true losses at $137 billion in 2022 despite only $9 billion being officially reported, prompting AARP to urge stronger consumer protections before Capitol Hill lawmakers. Veterans face particular vulnerability, with one in three targeted by scammers who impersonated the VA or pitched fraudulent investments, resulting in $477 million in reported losses in 2023. The article provides practical prevention advice for common scams including holiday shopping fraud, solar panel schemes, and veteran-targeted impersonation scams, recommending consumers type website addresses directly, verify offers through trusted sources, and research companies before providing personal information or
fox13memphis.com · 2025-12-08
An educational meeting was held in Memphis where the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs taught seniors about common scams targeting older adults. Key advice included being skeptical of unsolicited calls, never sharing personal or financial information with unknown callers, and hanging up on suspicious contacts. The top scams affecting seniors include government imposter calls (especially during Medicare enrollment), fake tech support, sweepstakes scams, and grandchild-in-distress schemes, with scammers exploiting emotional manipulation and targeting older adults for their typically greater assets.
gmtoday.com · 2025-12-08
Investment scams remain the highest risk for adults over 55, followed by online purchase scams and romance scams, according to the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker Risk Report. The article provides consumer protection guidance including: avoiding unsolicited calls (especially from spoofed numbers), recognizing red flags like pressure to act quickly or requests for unusual payment methods, hiring only licensed contractors after thorough vetting, being alert to emergency scams targeting grandchildren, and avoiding Medicare fraud schemes involving "free" medical equipment.
mariettatimes.com · 2025-12-08
The Washington County Sheriff's office warned senior citizens about a sweepstakes scam in which fraudsters contact victims claiming they won the "American Senior Citizen Association Sweepstakes" and demand payment via cashier's check to claim their prize. The sheriff's office urged seniors not to provide money or personal information to the scammers and provided resources for reporting the fraud to the Ohio Attorney General's Fraud Division or the sheriff's office directly.
General Elder Fraud Scam Awareness Check/Cashier's Check
thereflector.com · 2025-12-08
Seniors are increasingly targeted by phone scams, particularly those using artificial intelligence to mimic loved ones and request money or personal information. In 2023, the FBI reported over 101,000 elder fraud victims aged 60+ lost an average of $33,915 each, with Battle Ground police documenting an 85.3% surge in fraud cases between October 2023 and October 2024. Experts advise seniors to hang up on any unsolicited caller requesting money or sensitive data, verify requests independently through official phone numbers, and avoid untraceable payment methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency.
consumer.ftc.gov · 2025-12-08
During Medicare's Open Enrollment Period (October 15 - December 7), scammers impersonate Medicare representatives to steal personal information and money by falsely claiming beneficiaries need to provide Medicare, Social Security, or bank account numbers for new cards or medical equipment claims. Medicare never unexpectedly contacts beneficiaries by phone, email, text, or social media to request personal information, sell coverage, or collect payment for cards. Beneficiaries should hang up on suspicious calls, verify directly with Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE, and report scams to the same number or their local Senior Medicare Patrol.
aarp.org · 2025-12-08
An AARP Fraud Watch Network survey of 1,869 U.S. consumers found that 82 percent experienced or were targeted by holiday-related scams in the past year, with similar rates among adults 65 and older (80 percent), including delivery fraud notifications (up to 56 percent from 29 percent in 2022), online shopping scams, fake charity requests, and gift cards with no balance (29 percent). Only 28 percent of survey respondents answered seven or more of ten fraud-prevention knowledge questions correctly, indicating that while fraud remains rampant, consumer awareness and protective knowledge are not improving.
crypto.news · 2025-12-08
The FBI is investigating a crypto romance scam that defrauded at least 71 victims of nearly $5 million, with federal prosecutors in North Carolina seeking to seize $4.99 million in recovered Tether cryptocurrency. Scammers posed as romantic interests on social media platforms using fake identities to lure victims into fake investments on a fraudulent exchange called Bitkanant, then froze accounts and demanded additional fees; two victims alone lost $2.75 million. The operation targeted seniors, particularly those over 60, reflecting a broader trend of crypto scams that exceeded $5.6 billion in losses during 2023.
africa.businessinsider.com · 2025-12-08
The FBI targeted a romance scam operation linked to $5 million in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes affecting approximately 71 victims, including a 60-year-old from North Carolina and an 83-year-old from Minnesota. Scammers used fake identities on social media to build romantic relationships with victims before directing them to invest in a counterfeit cryptocurrency platform called Bitkanant, after which they cut off contact and disappeared with the funds. The U.S. Attorney's office seized nearly $5 million in Tether cryptocurrency in August, with one victim losing an entire retirement account, and the FBI is working to identify perpetrators and return assets to victims.
bxtimes.com · 2025-12-08
Bashiru Ganiyu, a 39-year-old Bronx man, was sentenced to 13 years in prison and ordered to pay $11.7 million in forfeiture plus nearly $8 million in restitution for operating an international romance fraud scheme based in Ghana that defrauded over 40 victims—primarily vulnerable, elderly adults—out of nearly $12 million between 2020 and 2022. Co-conspirators assumed false identities and contacted victims via email, text, and dating apps, convincing them to send money that Ganiyu funneled through 10 bank accounts he controlled in the Bronx.
shorenewsnetwork.com · 2025-12-08
The Fair Lawn Police Department held an educational session at the local Senior Center to teach older residents how to identify and avoid common scams, with officers highlighting tactics such as urgent money requests, demands for gift cards or wire transfers, and attempts to obtain personal information. The department advised seniors never to share financial or personal information unless certain of the caller's identity, and encouraged residents to verify suspicious requests by contacting police at 201-796-1400.
General Elder Fraud Scam Awareness Wire Transfer Gift Cards
drippingspringsnews.com · 2025-12-08
A panel of Hays County experts presented on fraud tactics to the Wimberley Chamber of Commerce, covering telephone scams (including fake sheriff's office calls and "grandma scams" using AI voice cloning), financial fraud schemes (fake bank employee calls, cryptocurrency conversion scams, and romance scams targeting elderly people on social media), and phishing/computer threats. The experts advised listeners to hang up and verify directly with legitimate institutions, use strong unique passwords and two-factor authentication, avoid clicking suspicious links or popups, and be wary of requests for immediate payment or sensitive information.
Phishing Grandparent Scam Robocall / Phone Scam General Elder Fraud Scam Awareness Cryptocurrency Payment App Check/Cashier's Check