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forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-five Canadians were arrested in a joint Canadian-American law enforcement operation and charged with operating a grandparent scam from call centers in Montreal that defrauded elderly victims in 45 American states of $21 million between 2021 and 2024. The scammers used voice-over-internet protocol technology to mask their locations and employed a multi-step operation where "openers" called elderly victims claiming a grandchild needed bail money, then passed them to fake attorneys and sent couriers or mail-based collection schemes to retrieve funds, which were laundered through cryptocurrency conversion. The article notes that scammers exploit psychological vulnerabilities in older adults and advises families to
dfpi.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies four common types of tax-related fraud and scams: identity theft (where stolen SSNs are used to file fraudulent returns), ghost preparers (unlicensed tax preparers who charge fees but disappear without filing or file inaccurate returns), phishing/smishing attempts (fraudulent emails and texts impersonating the IRS), and social media scams (misinformation about tax laws and services). The article recommends protecting yourself by filing early, using electronic filing through secure channels, employing professional tax services with verified credentials, and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts.
cryptoninjas.net
· 2025-12-08
A 29-year-old San Francisco man was sentenced to 87 months in prison for using Bitcoin to launder earnings from selling MDMA on the dark web, converting cryptocurrency proceeds through multiple financial accounts to hide their illegal origins. His case was part of Operation Crypto Runner, a multi-agency federal initiative launched in November 2022 targeting cryptocurrency-based money laundering and financial crimes. The conviction reflects a broader law enforcement concern: cryptocurrency laundering exceeded $40 billion globally in 2024, with drug trafficking organizations increasingly exploiting digital assets' anonymity and ease of transfer, including international partnerships between Mexican cartels and Chinese money laundering networks.
rcmp.ca
· 2025-12-08
Canadian fraud and cybercrime losses exceeded $638 million in 2024, a significant increase from $578 million in 2023, with investment scams accounting for $311 million of losses, according to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre. Beyond financial damage, victims report severe emotional and psychological harm including feelings of betrayal, shame, anxiety, and depression, which can be compounded by victim-blaming from others. Experts emphasize that fraud's impact extends across all demographics and fraud types, and that supportive responses from those victims confide in are critical to their healing.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, faces a 21-count federal indictment for wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death related to alleged "romance scams" targeting older men, as well as state charges in Benton County for a 2019 incident involving drugging a woman and fraudulently using her credit card to make over $5,000 in unauthorized charges. Phelps was arrested and imprisoned in Guadalajara, Mexico, and her trial has been repeatedly delayed since August 2023, with her next scheduled appearance set for August 13, 2025, pending her return to the United States. The case represents a pattern of
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Richard Robinson, a serial romance fraudster who operated under the alias "Gary Rogers," conned 68-year-old Yvonne and at least one other woman out of more than £210,000 between 2017 and 2018 by posing as a wealthy, charming motor dealer. After being sentenced to 10 years in prison in July 2020, Robinson was released after serving just four years, prompting Yvonne to flee the UK due to fear for her safety, having lost over £115,000 and suffered physical violence including attempted strangulation. The case illustrates the growing threat of romance fraud in the UK, which increased 27% between
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season 2025 has become a prime target for AI-powered fraud, with cybercriminals using generative AI, deepfakes, and voice cloning to create highly convincing phishing emails, fake IRS calls, and impersonations of tax professionals and agents. The IRS identified over $37 billion in tax and financial crimes in fiscal year 2023, with fake IRS calls using voice cloning jumping 150% in 2025, affecting individuals, small businesses, tax professionals, and large firms through personalized attacks that bypass traditional security defenses. Criminals are also creating synthetic identities to file fraudulent returns and claim illegitimate refunds, while deepfake videos
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, consumers lost $5.7 billion to investment scams—the highest amount for any fraud type and a 24% increase from 2023—with the typical victim losing over $9,000, according to FTC data. Common schemes include "pig-butchering" scams where fraudsters build trust through relationships before pitching high-return investments in cryptocurrency, often using AI-generated deepfakes and operating from organized crime centers in Southeast Asia. Consumers can reduce their risk by being skeptical of pitches with urgency, unusual payment methods (especially cryptocurrency), and attempts to isolate them from telling others.
howtogeek.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece warns about a prevalent TikTok scam offering $750 for completing simple tasks, which actually steals personal information through surveys and free trial sign-ups. Scammers create legitimacy through fake influencer endorsements, FOMO tactics ("limited slots"), bot-generated comments, and sending real payments to initial participants to lure victims. The primary dangers include identity theft and sale of personal data (phone numbers, emails, Social Security numbers, credit card details) to other criminals or advertisers.
fandomwire.com
· 2025-12-08
Stan Lee, the legendary comic book author, allegedly experienced elder abuse during his final years, with business partner Keya Morgan accused of exploiting Lee's deteriorating mental state by pocketing approximately $222,000 through forced autograph-signing sessions. Morgan was charged with theft, embezzlement, forgery, and false imprisonment of an elder adult, but a judge dropped the charges in 2022 after a jury vote split 11:1 in favor of acquittal. A new documentary is being crowdfunded to expose the exploitation Lee allegedly suffered, with filmmaker Jon Bolerjack claiming Lee gave him permission to unveil the truth.
ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
I appreciate you sharing this, but these appear to be news headlines about weather in Alberta, a historic building in Istanbul, and the Chernobyl nuclear situation—none of which relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.
For the Elderus database, I need articles specifically about:
- Scams targeting seniors
- Elder fraud cases
- Elder abuse incidents
- Financial exploitation of older adults
- Scam awareness/prevention advice
Could you provide an article related to elder fraud or elder abuse that you'd like summarized?
mitrade.com
· 2025-12-08
Malaysian authorities warned of a surge in cryptocurrency investment scams targeting professionals and seniors, with one 74-year-old victim's family losing tens of millions of ringgit to a fraudulent syndicate. Phone scams impersonating tax officers, banks, and law enforcement remain prevalent, often using AI and deepfake technology to appear legitimate and pressure victims into transferring funds to fake "safe accounts." Malaysian police arrested over 23,000 suspects in financial scams last year and are using AI and blockchain technology to combat these evolving threats.
thenationonlineng.net
· 2025-12-08
This article covers a political dispute rather than elder fraud. Governor Ademola Adeleke petitioned the EFCC alleging that former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola misappropriated a $20 million World Bank health grant while serving as Osun State governor. Politician Abiola Ogundokun dismissed the allegation as politically motivated shadow-chasing ahead of the 2026 governorship election, defending Oyetola's integrity and urging Adeleke to focus on governance instead of pursuing what he characterized as frivolous accusations.
tuko.co.ke
· 2025-12-08
Jared Otieno Owi, a Seventh Day Adventist church elder and long-serving accountant for the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Migori branch, was arraigned in March 2025 facing 10 counts of fraud totaling KSh 9.76 million, including charges of conspiracy to defraud, forgery, and abuse of office committed between January and November 2024. He allegedly forged cheques presented to banks and misappropriated funds by depositing money into accounts of individuals falsely claimed to be SACCO members. Owi was released on a KSh 1 million bond, and one
startribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Minnesota lawmakers are proposing to expand the state's Medicaid fraud control unit from 32 to 41 investigators and increase penalties for health and elder-care providers who defraud Medicaid, with fines up to $100,000 and prison sentences up to 20 years for thefts exceeding $35,000. The $390,000 annual expansion is justified by the fraud unit's track record of recovering $53 million in civil penalties and criminal restitution over six years while costing the state $6 million. Attorney General Keith Ellison argues the expansion is critical to protect Medicaid's integrity and preserve public support for the program serving 1.4
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Marcie Jean Doty, an Operations Manager in Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for stealing approximately $1.8 million from her employer between May 2017 and June 2022 through 99 unauthorized ACH transfers ($503,151.59) and 279 unauthorized checks ($1,300,314.79), while falsifying accounting records to conceal the theft. She also willfully failed to report approximately $1.79 million in fraudulent income on her tax returns for 2018-2022, and was ordered to pay $2,517,343.05 in restitution.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams targeting unemployed individuals have surged dramatically, with reported losses exceeding $220 million in the first half of 2024—a more than threefold increase since 2020. Scammers use text messages and messaging apps to lure victims with fake remote job offers promising unusually high pay ($100-$500/day), often pivoting to "task scams" where victims are asked to invest their own money to complete work, with cryptocurrency becoming the primary payment method and accounting for $41 million in losses in early 2024 alone. The FTC warns that these scams typically start with vague job offers, show small initial payments to build trust, then request personal
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonate law enforcement officials via phone calls, using spoofed numbers, fake police station backgrounds, and psychological manipulation tactics to convince victims they face arrest or legal penalties unless they immediately pay fines or verify financial information. The scam exploits fear and urgency to extract personal and financial data through untraceable payment methods, and notably affects educated and tech-savvy individuals who are caught off-guard by the perpetrators' sophisticated use of authority, firm tones, and high-pressure tactics. Investigators and psychologists attribute the scam's effectiveness to psychological exploitation rather than victim naiveté, as scammers deliberately create panic and confusion that prevents victims from
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman reported a fraud case to police after falling victim to a scam in which fraudsters impersonated law enforcement officers, using spoofed phone numbers and psychological tactics to pressure her into providing personal and financial information. Authorities traced the financial transactions, detained the individuals involved, and issued warnings urging the public to remain vigilant and never share personal details or grant remote device access to unsolicited callers. Police emphasized that legitimate law enforcement and government officials never request such information, and advised citizens to report suspicious calls to UIDAI's helpline at 1947.
aba.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. What you've shared appears to be a navigation menu or table of contents from a banking organization's website, not an article or transcript about elder fraud, scams, or abuse.
To help you, please provide:
- An actual article text or transcript about a specific scam, fraud case, or elder abuse incident
- A news story with details about what happened, who was affected, and the outcome
Once you share the relevant content, I'll be happy to create a concise 2-3 sentence summary for the Elderus database.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Oleg Beretsky was arrested and indicted in Brooklyn federal court for operating a healthcare fraud scheme from January 2017 to April 2024, in which he exploited elderly Medicare patients—particularly immigrants from the former Soviet Union—by referring them to doctors in exchange for kickbacks and bribes totaling over $12 million. Beretsky, owner of Obest, Inc., conspired with healthcare providers to bill Medicare for unnecessary or non-performed services while pocketing the proceeds through his fraudulent referral operation. He faces charges including healthcare fraud conspiracy, Anti-Kickback Statute violations, and money laundering conspiracy.
cbs6albany.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elder financial fraud cost New York State over $200 million, with 4,300 residents aged 60 and older losing an average of $47,000 each, ranking the state fourth nationally in such losses. Governor Hochul and AARP New York are urging state legislators to pass budget measures that would train bank employees to identify financial exploitation and allow financial institutions to place holds on suspicious transactions. The proposed legislation aims to empower the financial sector to prevent fraud and protect older New Yorkers' accumulated savings from scammers.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, over 4,300 New Yorkers age 60 and older lost more than $203 million to financial scams, averaging $47,000 per victim, prompting AARP New York and state legislators to call for enhanced consumer protections including bank teller training to identify exploitation signs. Common scams targeting seniors include the "grandparent scam," where fraudsters pose as relatives requesting emergency money via untraceable payment methods like cash or gift cards. Governor Hochul's proposed budget includes measures to equip financial institutions to recognize and prevent elder financial fraud through employee training and transaction monitoring.
daily-tribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Data breaches and financial scams targeting seniors have reached all-time highs, with scammers exploiting seniors' perceived wealth, politeness from older generations, and limited technological skills to commit fraud. The article recommends protective measures including regularly reviewing credit reports from all three bureaus, placing credit freezes, seeking technology safety education, and screening phone calls from unknown numbers to reduce vulnerability to scams.
phila.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonate government tax agents via mail, phone, and email to pressure taxpayers into providing personal information or making immediate payments, particularly during tax season. To protect against tax scams, taxpayers should recognize warning signs like threatening language, urgent payment demands, and promises of unusually large refunds, and should never share sensitive information like Social Security numbers or passwords unless they can verify the requester's identity through official channels. The Philadelphia Department of Revenue advises verifying any notices through your online tax account, reporting suspicious contacts, and obtaining tax information only from official government websites.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers exploit psychological vulnerabilities and human behavior to deceive victims, using tactics like "spray and pray" messaging to catch people when distracted, tired, or stressed. The FTC received 2.6 million fraud reports in 2024 resulting in $12.5 billion in losses, with research showing that nine in ten Americans have been targeted by fraud attempts, and cognitive impairment—whether temporary or chronic—significantly increases susceptibility to scams. Key protective insights include recognizing that truth bias makes people inherently inclined to believe what others tell them, and that remaining alert and verifying requests independently are essential defenses against fraud.
cruiseradio.net
· 2025-12-08
A UK couple in their 60s fell victim to SIM-jacking fraud while on a P&O cruise in October 2024, losing control of their mobile phone numbers and facing unauthorized bank withdrawals, overdrafts, and a £25,000 fraudulent loan from HSBC. Fraudsters used stolen personal data to impersonate them to their mobile provider, transferring their phone numbers to new SIM cards and then bypassing two-step verification security to access their accounts. The couple's quick action in alerting their bank and mobile provider iD Mobile prevented further losses, with the fraudulent transactions canceled and charges reversed.
e.vnexpress.net
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old woman named Ngoc in Phan Thiet, Vietnam lost her entire life savings of VND3 billion (approximately US$117,000) to an elaborate prize-drawing scam between June 2023 and January 2024. Scammers posing as employees of a non-existent "Perfect Southeast Asia Joint Venture Shopping Center" convinced her to purchase hundreds of items at inflated prices (4-10 times their actual value) by promising high-value prizes and lucky draw codes, instructing her not to open packages; when she requested pickup of the goods in January 2024, the scammers took 36 items an
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
Identity theft remains the most common fraud, but real estate fraud is rapidly increasing, with the industry losing $500 million annually to business email compromise scams. Wire fraud particularly threatens homebuyers and sellers during transactions, with 25% of consumers targeted and 1 in 20 falling victim, resulting in 27% of victims unable to recover their funds. Key protection strategies include verifying wire transfer instructions directly with lenders or title companies using independently confirmed phone numbers, avoiding reliance on email instructions, and confirming property listings are legitimate by visiting in person.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Patricia Hutchins, 53, of Brockport, NY, was charged with bank fraud and making false statements after being caught in multiple wire fraud schemes, including elder fraud totaling at least $25,100 to an elderly victim. After pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in May 2024 and facing sentencing, Hutchins claimed she gave her home sale proceeds to someone she believed was Kenny Chesney for investment purposes, then spent approximately $23,500 on gift cards instead of paying court-ordered restitution, leading to new charges in December 2024.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP New York is advocating for stronger anti-fraud protections after over 4,300 older New Yorkers lost more than $200 million to scams in 2023, making New York the fourth-highest state for elder fraud losses. Governor Hochul's executive budget proposes training bank employees to identify and halt suspicious transactions to combat this growing problem affecting seniors' quality of life.
cbs12.com
· 2025-12-08
Sarah Works, a 28-year-old Port St. Lucie woman, was arrested following a SWAT raid after an investigation revealed she had fraudulently gained the trust of an elderly victim by posing as a caregiver, then exploited that position to access the victim's bank accounts, credit cards, and personal identification. The fraud was discovered when a family member living out of state noticed suspicious bank activity and alerted authorities; Works also fraudulently obtained power of attorney documents that the victim unknowingly signed. Works is being held without bond on charges including scheme to defraud, fraudulent use of credit cards, and criminal use of personal identification, and this represents her third arrest in two
fingerlakes1.com
· 2025-12-08
Governor Hochul's budget proposal includes training for bank employees to detect and report financial scams targeting older New Yorkers, with State Police support citing $203 million in losses to seniors in 2023. The measure aims to enable early law enforcement intervention before scammers access victims' funds, though it was initially excluded from Senate and Assembly budgets, possibly due to financial industry concerns. Advocates stress the urgency given New York's growing senior population and increasing financial exploitation.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Phillip Priolo, a 61-year-old from Florida, was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and four counts of mail fraud for operating a mass mailing scheme from March 2015 to December 2016 that defrauded thousands of elderly victims. The scheme involved sending millions of personalized-appearing notices falsely claiming recipients had won a cash prize and requesting an upfront fee to collect it; victims who paid never received the promised prize. Priolo faces up to 20 years in prison per count, with sentencing to be scheduled later in 2022.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Police in Montreal have dismantled multiple international grandparent scam networks that defrauded hundreds of American seniors out of over $21 million USD. The scams involved organized call centres where operators posed as grandchildren requesting emergency funds from elderly victims in the United States, with two major operations—led by Anthony David Di Rienzo (2019-2021) and Gareth West (2021-2024)—operating with similar structures, victim-targeting methods, and U.S.-based collection teams, suggesting connections to organized crime.
buckscountyherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers target seniors of all financial means, exploiting their politeness and vulnerability through schemes like grandparent scams, credit card theft, investment fraud, and romance scams. National fraud losses reached $12.5 billion last year, with Pennsylvania ranking sixth in fraud reports; AARP's Consumer Issues Task Force, staffed by 15 volunteers including former postal inspector Tony Wolchasty, educates seniors about common scams and advises victims to report to local police and contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360.
bucks.crimewatchpa.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece from a Bucks County Sheriff addresses the rising threat of fraud targeting seniors, particularly grandparent scams, government impersonation schemes, tech support fraud, romance scams, and phishing attacks. The article emphasizes that seniors are vulnerable targets and provides concrete prevention strategies including verifying contacts independently, protecting personal information, resisting pressure tactics, and reporting suspected fraud to local police. The key message is that protecting seniors from fraud is a community-wide responsibility requiring awareness and vigilance.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Montreal-based grandparent scam network targeted thousands of American seniors between 2019 and March 2021, defrauding victims like Madeline, an 80-year-old former nurse, of their life savings by impersonating grandchildren in legal trouble and manipulating them into wire transfers. The alleged leaders, including David Anthony Di Rienzo, lived lavishly with luxury vehicles while victims suffered lasting emotional and financial devastation, with one judge noting the scammers "took their peace of mind." Multiple similar networks operated from Montreal during this period, employing emotional manipulation scripts to exploit vulnerable seniors' trust and sense of responsibility for family members.
news.wfsu.org
· 2025-12-08
While scams affect all ages, elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable due to isolation, memory issues, and embarrassment that often prevents reporting and recovery efforts. Florida attorneys report multiple active cases among their clients, with victims—especially recently widowed or cognitively declining seniors—often spending significant time and emotional energy shutting down fraudulent accounts and hiding their exploitation from family. The article highlights common scams targeting seniors including grandparent schemes, arrest warrant threats, romance scams, and toll violations, while noting that proposed Florida legislation aims to make it easier to prosecute scammers through the communication channels they use.
iecn.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old Redlands man was scammed out of $25,000 by Quan Lin, 53, who impersonated an FBI agent and threatened the victim with arrest for alleged child pornography possession. Lin returned the next day attempting to collect an additional $35,000, but was arrested before completing the second transaction when police intervened. Lin faces charges including elder abuse, grand theft, and theft by false pretenses, and has been linked to similar scams in other communities.
oag.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
California's Attorney General filed felony charges against the owner and facility manager of Granite Bay Residential Care Home for defrauding Medi-Cal of over $500,000 between January 2020 and September 2022. The defendants billed for services not provided, misappropriated funds for personal luxury purchases, and stole electronics purchased with program money. The charges include false claims, conspiracy, and grand theft by embezzlement.
whec.com
· 2025-12-08
Patricia Hutchins, a 53-year-old Brockport woman, faces additional charges of making a false statement and bank fraud after allegedly lying to the court about her financial inability to pay restitution to fraud victims. Hutchins had previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy involving unemployment insurance fraud, PPP loan fraud, and elder fraud, and agreed to pay $45,000 in restitution ($20,000 to a financial institution and $25,000 to an elderly victim), but concealed significant assets including home sale proceeds and falsely claimed to have given money to Kenny Chesney for investment. The new charges carry a maximum 30-year prison penalty, and prosecutors documented that she
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Amy Elizabeth Curry, an office manager and bookkeeper at Silver Bluff senior living facility in North Carolina, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for embezzling at least $1.5 million from the facility between December 2022 and April 2023. Curry made over 154 unauthorized bank transfers to accounts she controlled, deleted wire transfer records to avoid detection, and used the stolen funds for personal expenses including a truck purchase and over $700,000 in casino gambling. She was ordered to pay $1,469,407.24 in restitution to the facility.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Marvin Upton, a 58-year-old pastor in Crofton, Kentucky, was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in prison for defrauding an elderly parishioner with dementia between 2013 and 2016, along with filing false tax returns to conceal the scheme. Upton was ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution to the victim's estate and $222,037 to the IRS, and the case was prosecuted as part of the National Elder Justice Task Force's efforts to combat financial exploitation of older adults.
nbclosangeles.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old El Monte man, Quan Lin, was arrested in Redlands for posing as an FBI agent and defrauding a 73-year-old resident of $25,000 while attempting to extract an additional $35,000 by threatening the victim with arrest for child pornography. The victim became suspicious on the second day of the scam and alerted police, who intercepted Lin at the residence; he is being held on $250,000 bail and faces charges including elder fraud, grand theft, and theft by false pretenses. Investigators suspect Lin may be connected to similar scams in other communities.
ccpc.ie
· 2025-12-08
This Global Money Week awareness article outlines common scams targeting young people, including money mule schemes (where individuals are tricked into laundering illegal funds through their bank accounts), fake ticket sales for sold-out events, and risky cryptocurrency and forex investments that often operate as scams through romance schemes or phishing. The piece emphasizes protective measures such as never sharing bank details with untrusted parties, purchasing tickets only from official sources, and verifying investment legitimacy before committing funds.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Bank impersonation scams via text, email, and phone calls increased dramatically in 2024, with the FTC reporting these scams accounted for nearly half of all reported frauds and resulted in losses exceeding $1.1 billion—more than triple the 2020 total. Criminals use spoofing technology and sophisticated replicas of bank communications to trick victims into revealing PINs, passwords, account access codes, or moving money to "safe" accounts by creating false urgency around account security threats. Consumers should never provide account credentials or personal information to unsolicited contacts; instead, they should hang up and call their bank directly using verified contact information from official websites or statements, an
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS released its 2025 "Dirty Dozen" list of prevalent tax scams, including phishing emails, IRS impersonation calls demanding payment, fake tax preparers, fraudulent refund claims using stolen identities, and misleading social media tax advice. Taxpayers should protect themselves by verifying communications, using trusted tax software, enabling multi-factor authentication, and reporting suspected scams to authorities; victims may be eligible for theft loss deductions under certain circumstances with proper documentation.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
An Ontario senior was nearly scammed in what may have been the first known AI voice-cloning case in Canada, when fraudsters impersonated her grandson and demanded $9,000 claiming he had been arrested. The "grandparent scam" uses AI-generated deepfake voices harvested from social media to impersonate family members in crisis situations, with Canadians reporting nearly $3 million in losses to this scheme in 2024. Experts recommend establishing code words with family members to verify callers' identities, as scammers only need three to five seconds of voice samples to create convincing AI replicas.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Over four years, Montreal police arrested at least 50 people involved in three elaborate grandparent scam networks that defrauded elderly victims out of millions of dollars, with investigations requiring hundreds of hours of surveillance, wiretaps, and stakeouts. Major operations like Project Sharp in 2024 led to 14 arrests of suspects accused of defrauding Canadian seniors of over $1.2 million, and police report that increased enforcement action is beginning to reduce scam cases, with reported losses to Canadian victims dropping from $11.6 million in 2023 to $3.2 million in 2024. However, prosecuting these cases takes years due to court delays