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arstechnica.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal prosecutors charged five men operating the cybercriminal group Scattered Spider for running a sophisticated phishing scheme that compromised hundreds of companies nationwide and stole millions in cryptocurrency and sensitive data. The group was responsible for a major breach of MGM Resorts that cost the company $100 million in damages and disruptions, as well as breaching authentication provider Twilio to gain access to additional targets. Authorities emphasized that the phishing attacks were highly methodical and difficult to detect, resulting in the theft of tens of millions of dollars in intellectual property and personal information from hundreds of thousands of individuals.
westfaironline.com
· 2025-12-08
A 24-year-old Bengali national living in New York on a student visa, Mazharul Islam, was arrested and charged with conspiracy and wire fraud for operating a Geek Squad auto-renewal scam targeting elderly victims in Orange County and Ohio. In the first case, Islam posed as a courier and collected $35,000 in cash from a 73-year-old Warwick man who was tricked into believing he had accidentally authorized a $41,999 charge; police arrested Islam during a subsequent sting operation involving a decoy $22,000 payment. Islam admitted to working as a courier for an operation based in India, earning $2,000 per
nbc-2.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Florida business owner was arrested for defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of $250,000 by impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and convincing her to invest in his businesses with promises of a $55 million return. The victim may have actually lost as much as $600,000, and investigators suspect additional victims exist. The case is part of a broader pattern, with Florida's Elder Fraud Unit handling nearly $3 million in losses from seniors in 2024 alone.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
An Orange County Sheriff's Department employee pleaded guilty to bank fraud and identity theft for forging over 20 checks and fraudulently using credit cards in her 75-year-old grandmother's name, stealing approximately $59,000 between December 2015 and March 2020. Roxana C. Laub deposited forged checks totaling $45,000 into her own account, impersonated her grandmother when calling the bank, and charged thousands more on her grandmother's credit cards for personal expenses including dining, bars, and travel. She faces up to 30 years in federal prison and has agreed to repay all stolen funds.
fox26houston.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old man in Florida was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of up to $600,000 over several months starting in 2023. Jeffrey Moynihan, Jr. posed as Musk, built a daily friendship with the victim, and convinced her to invest in fake business ventures by promising a $55 million return, with at least $250,000 confirmed transferred to accounts he controlled. Moynihan claimed his girlfriend was the mastermind behind the scheme.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial scams affect millions of Americans annually, with one in five adults losing money to online fraud, including romance scams, investment schemes, and identity theft. Beyond financial losses, scam victims often experience significant emotional trauma including feelings of betrayal, powerlessness, and reduced self-esteem, with effects extending to mental health, physical health, and personal relationships. Mental health organizations and fraud protection technologies are increasingly working to support victims and detect fraudulent activity, though scams continue to evolve with tools like AI-generated videos making deception more convincing.
podcastingtoday.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scam Detectors is a new educational podcast hosted by BBC technology journalist Jane Wakefield that aims to raise awareness about rising scams and provide consumer protection tips. The inaugural episode focuses on romance scams, featuring a case study of an individual who lost nearly $60,000 through a dating app scammer, alongside research showing that 30% of UK adults and 30% of US consumers have been fraud victims, with romance scams causing average losses of $2,000 and accounting for the largest financial impact among fraud types.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Dongyi Guo, a 28-year-old from China, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after scamming a 79-year-old Missouri woman out of $95,000 in March 2024. Guo and his co-conspirators impersonated representatives from financial institutions and the Social Security Office, falsely claiming the victim's accounts were compromised, then arranged for Guo to collect cash in person over multiple days ($40,000, $35,000, and $20,000) before his arrest on March 7 during an attempt to collect an additional $15,000. Guo faces up to 20 years in prison
westfaironline.com
· 2025-12-08
A 24-year-old Bengali student in New York on a student visa, Mazharul Islam, was arrested and charged with operating a Geek Squad auto-renewal scam that defrauded elderly victims of significant sums. Islam posed as a Best Buy employee, sending phishing emails to trick victims into believing they needed to renew service contracts, then directed them to fake refund links and convinced them they had overpaid, coercing them to withdraw cash; he personally served as the courier in at least two cases, collecting $35,000 from a 73-year-old Warwick man and $20,000 from an Ohio victim before being caught by police. Islam pleade
wealthmanagement.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly individuals are increasingly targeted by sophisticated internet scams, with the FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report documenting over 880,000 complaints from those over 60 totaling $3.4 billion in losses—an 11% increase from 2022. Notable cases include a 76-year-old retired lawyer (Barry Heitin) who lost approximately $740,000 after being manipulated into thinking he was assisting a government investigation, and a 79-year-old man (Alfred Mancinelli) who lost nearly $1 million in a romance scam. Tech support fraud generates the most complaints, followed by romance, cryptocurrency, and investment sc
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Roxana C. Laub, a 33-year-old Orange County Sheriff's Department employee, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and identity theft for forging her 75-year-old grandmother's checks (totaling approximately $45,000) and fraudulently using her credit cards for personal expenses between 2015 and 2022 without authorization. Laub also impersonated her grandmother during bank calls and used her grandmother's bank account to pay off the fraudulent credit card charges. She faces up to 30 years in federal prison and has agreed to repay all stolen funds, with sentencing scheduled for April 9, 2025.
rfa.org
· 2025-12-08
South Korean police arrested members of a scam syndicate that operated in Cambodia after relocating from Laos's Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone to escape intensified crackdowns. The group deceived approximately 66 South Korean victims through "pig butchering" romance scams and fake investment schemes promoted via manipulated YouTube videos, stealing 11.16 billion South Korean won (US$8 million). The operation lured victims to Laos with promises of short-term profits, then forced them into fraudulent activities before relocating to Cambodia as authorities shut down illegal scam centers in the region.
click2houston.com
· 2025-12-08
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee launched the "Scam Free HC" initiative to combat a surge in holiday-season fraud, warning that thousands of Houston residents fall victim annually to scams including gift card schemes, spam calls, and contractor fraud. A notable case involved former police officer Julia Marino, who lost $16,200 in a deposit to A & L Sheds, a company accused of defrauding over 100 victims totaling $1.1 million; the company postponed her shed project 27 times without delivering services or refunds. The initiative provides educational resources and a reporting platform as Texas ranks as the 4th most scammed state in the country with $
southeastiowaunion.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "Senior Citizens Targeted by Technology Scams: How to Identify and Protect Against Fraud" by Beth Swift, Washington Evening Journal
Senior citizens are increasingly targeted by technology scams including impersonation fraud, prize/sweepstakes schemes, tech support scams, charity fraud, and IRS threats, with older adults disproportionately victimized because they typically have savings and good credit. The article identifies key warning signs—unsolicited contact, artificial urgency, requests for money or personal information, unrealistic offers, and poor communication quality—and advises seniors to verify caller identity independently, never share sensitive information, consult trusted contacts before responding to requests
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
AARP Minnesota is advocating for legislation (SF 447/HF 1392) to establish a Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund that would redirect civil penalty payments from fraud cases won by the state Attorney General's office to compensate fraud victims, particularly older adults. Minnesotans reported losses totaling $144.6 million in fraud cases in 2024, and the proposed fund would be especially crucial for cases where perpetrators are overseas or bankrupt, while incentivizing both law enforcement action and crime reporting.
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.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 31-year-old woman in Bengaluru lost ₹1.1 lakh after being falsely accused of uploading child pornography in a "digital arrest" scam. Scammers impersonated a mobile service provider and then a Mumbai cybercrime officer, threatening her with arrest and demanding money for a fake "virtual investigation." Police registered a case under the Information Technology Act and warned the public about similar scams, with authorities noting that legitimate investigative agencies never conduct inquiries via phone or video calls.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Facebook scammer posing as a ticket reseller named "Denise" defrauded over 200 residents in the Burlington, Ontario area of more than $300,000 by promising Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets that were never delivered. The scammer gained trust by claiming access to corporate tickets and citing mutual acquaintances as references, leaving victims without tickets or refunds as the November 15 concert date approached. Halton Regional Police are investigating the scam and authorities advise the public to verify ticket sellers through official channels.
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.
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.
villagelivingonline.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau identified twelve holiday season scams consumers should avoid, including misleading social media ads, social media gift exchanges (pyramid schemes), fraudulent holiday apps, phishing emails offering free gift cards, fake job postings, and impostor scams. The BBB advises exercising caution with unsolicited messages and payment requests via wire transfer, third parties, or prepaid cards, and recommends verifying business legitimacy through BBB.org before making purchases or sharing personal information.
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.
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.
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.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Robert Namath Emory, 54, of Lancaster, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for embezzling nearly $5 million from his employer, Mar Mac Protective Apparel, where he served as head of accounting. Emory exploited a flaw in the company's invoice payment system from January 2016 onward by doubling vendor invoices, making electronic payments to vendors, and then writing physical checks to himself using the company's check numbers. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, restitution, and supervised release.
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.
entergynewsroom.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece identifies ten common impostor utility scams, including disconnection threats demanding prepaid card payments, fake billing routing numbers, bogus equipment fees, overpayment refund requests, and post-disaster power restoration charges. The article notes that the Better Business Bureau reported a median loss of $463 per victim in 2023 and advises customers that legitimate utilities send written disconnection notices, offer multiple payment methods, handle equipment upgrades proactively, process refunds via mail or account credits, and do not charge for disaster-related power restoration.
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.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
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
energized.edison.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece advises consumers to remain vigilant against evolving fraud tactics, particularly during International Fraud Awareness Week. Southern California Edison received 1,562 fraud complaints in 2023 totaling $251,000 in losses, with scammers increasingly targeting churches through fake past-due bill alerts and fraudulent barcodes; the article provides protective measures including verifying secure websites, safeguarding personal information, and using only authorized payment methods. The positive trend shows a 54% drop in fraudulent complaints between 2022-2023, attributed to improved customer awareness.
bankrate.com
· 2025-12-08
A J.D. Power survey found that 29 percent of bank customers experienced fraud on their accounts in the past 12 months, with younger customers (under 40) experiencing higher rates at 42 percent. While 92 percent of customers remained loyal to their banks after fraud was resolved, the study revealed that only 20 percent or fewer customers actively use fraud prevention methods like two-factor authentication or biometric verification. Key recommendations include setting up account alerts, enabling two-factor authentication, using biometric authentication, regularly monitoring accounts, and locking debit cards when not in use.
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.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Terrence Bender, a 32-year-old Chicago rap artist and barber known as "Blends," pleaded guilty to participating in a nationwide wire fraud conspiracy that operated from March 2017 to November 2018, causing over $103,000 in losses. The conspiracy used stolen payment card information to fraudulently purchase high-end goods and services such as private jets, luxury hotels, designer puppies, and exotic cars, with businesses unknowingly processing the transactions before cardholders disputed the charges. Bender and five co-defendants, including music promoter Antonio Strong (who received a 3-year prison sentence), were held accountable for their roles, with Bender
tori.ng
· 2025-12-08
Patrick Akpoguma, a 28-year-old Nigerian internet fraudster, admitted to conducting romance scams, identity theft, and cryptocurrency fraud over three years, accumulating over $500,000 in illicit gains. He operated by impersonating high-profile individuals (including a U.S. Army officer and cryptocurrency expert) using fake accounts and a purchased silicone face mask to deceive victims into sending cryptocurrency payments, and later attempted to bribe police with $100,000 to avoid arrest. Akpoguma was arrested following complaints from residents in Lagos and faces court arraignment.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
Greg Hancell, a fraud expert at Lynx Tech, warns that QR code scams are rapidly growing and now account for over 20% of online scams, making them harder to identify than traditional phishing because victims cannot see the destination link before scanning. Fraudsters typically replace legitimate QR codes with counterfeit ones in public spaces like parking lots and restaurants to trick people into sharing sensitive data and payment information. To protect themselves, consumers should look for physical tampering signs (like stickers or damage), verify QR code sources, check URLs before proceeding, and use verification tools, while banks can provide financial protection through AI-powered fraud detection systems.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Dr. Ruchika Tandon, a 44-year-old Indian neurologist, lost approximately 25 million rupees ($300,000) to an elaborate "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials coerced her through video calls into believing she was under federal investigation for money laundering and trafficking. Over a six-day period, the scammers maintained constant surveillance via video call, manipulating her into draining her family's savings from multiple accounts including banks, mutual funds, and insurance policies. According to official figures, Indians lost over 1.2 billion rupees to this type of scam between January and April 2024, with over
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.
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.
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.
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
krone.at
· 2025-12-08
A 60-year-old woman from Salzburg lost 65,000 euros to a fake police officer who called claiming her son was in prison and needed bail to avoid incarceration. The perpetrator attempted to extort an additional 50,000 euros, but the scam was discovered when the woman contacted her son directly and learned he was not in legal trouble. Police warn against this bail scam tactic and advise verifying caller identities, refusing to be pressured, avoiding strangers, and contacting emergency services to confirm claims.
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
verifythis.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary for this request. The content provided is a corporate website for TEGNA (a media company) listing their broadcast stations, advertising services, and organizational structure. This does not contain any information about scams, fraud, elder abuse, or related incidents that would be relevant to the Elderus fraud research database. Please provide an article or transcript that discusses an actual fraud case or elder abuse incident.
thesun.ng
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old internet fraudster, Patrick Akpoguma, was arrested in Lagos after police rejected his $100,000 USD (N174 million) bribe offer during investigation into his crimes. Akpoguma confessed to operating romance scams, identity theft, cryptocurrency fraud, and other cyber crimes over three years, during which he allegedly defrauded victims of over $500,000 USD and used proceeds to purchase multiple properties including houses and a vehicle worth N100 million.
thenationonlineng.net
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old internet fraudster named Patrick Akpoguma was arrested in Lagos after defrauding multiple victims through romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and identity theft, earning over $500,000 in three years by impersonating prominent figures like a U.S. Army Colonel and cryptocurrency expert using fake social media accounts and masks. During his arrest on November 7, 2024, Akpoguma attempted to bribe police with $100,000 to secure his release, but officers rejected the bribe, documented it as evidence, and proceeded with prosecution.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Bank fraud affected 29% of bank customers in the past year, with 45% of those victims experiencing multiple incidents, according to a J.D. Power study. Fraud proliferates through peer-to-peer payment apps, data breaches that expose personal information to scammers, and social engineering tactics where fraudsters impersonate banks. Experts recommend customers proactively protect accounts through security centers, complex passwords, and fraud alerts rather than only reactively monitoring transactions.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
A J.D. Power study found that 29% of US bank customers and 22% of credit card users experienced fraudulent activity on their accounts within the past 12 months, with only 46% and 40% respectively reporting they were asked to take fraud prevention measures in the last 90 days. The study indicates that financial institutions have an opportunity to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty by better handling fraud cases and educating customers on protection measures. Additionally, regulators and major banks issued warnings about "quishing"—a QR code phishing scam where criminals embed malicious codes in emails and PDFs to steal passwords, financial details, and personal information.
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.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A California man lost $20,000 to a tech support scam after receiving a pop-up warning that his account was compromised and being instructed to withdraw cash and mail it to a New York City address. NYPD Detective Justin Guzman intervened quickly upon the victim's report, intercepting the package at a Bayside, Queens apartment before the scammers retrieved it and successfully returning the funds. The case illustrates how scammers evolve tactics—when gift card fraud failed, they pivoted to requesting actual cash—and highlights the importance of police responsiveness in combating these schemes.
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