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Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
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in Scam Awareness
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KSHB 41
· 2025-05-02
Kansas City seniors are participating in the "Show Me Seniors Digital Literacy Cohort," a new educational program designed to teach them computer skills and how to recognize digital scams. According to the FTC, the number of older adults losing $100,000 or more to fraud has tripled since 2020, with investment scams being the most common type targeting seniors. The program aims to protect seniors' financial security while improving their overall digital literacy and quality of life.
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KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas
· 2025-05-07
A Sun City Anthem senior was scammed over nearly two years after initially being defrauded while purchasing light bulbs online, ultimately losing approximately one-quarter of her net worth. When the victim stopped making payments, scammers escalated their tactics by harassing her with incessant calls and threats of bodily harm, eventually threatening her granddaughter's safety to extort additional payments. While the district attorney intervened to prevent further losses, the stolen funds were never recovered, reflecting a broader national crisis in which seniors lost $12.5 billion to scams in the previous year according to the Federal Trade Commission.
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KTVN 2 News Nevada
· 2025-05-07
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office and Better Business Bureau are hosting a free senior scam awareness seminar on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Douglas County Community and Senior Center in Gardenerville. The seminar is open to seniors, caregivers, friends, and families and will provide tips on avoiding scams and protecting seniors from fraud.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-05-07
The Silera Community Center in Henderson hosted a fraud prevention seminar called "Robbery Not Reported" to educate Las Vegas Valley seniors on protecting themselves from scams targeting their money, data, and identity. Attendee Paul Block shared that he lost $3,000 to a cryptocurrency scam and knows someone who lost $100,000 to a romance scam, emphasizing the importance of seniors openly discussing their experiences with fraud to reduce shame and help others learn from these mistakes.
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CBS Pittsburgh
· 2025-05-09
This educational piece highlights key strategies to protect against increasingly sophisticated scams that target people of all ages. Common scams include grandparent scams, fake tech support, and gift card scams, all designed to steal money or personal information. Experts from law enforcement and the FBI recommend pausing before acting on urgent requests, verifying caller identity through independent family contacts, and remembering that legitimate creditors never demand payment via gift cards.
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wgaltv
· 2025-05-10
This educational piece advises scam victims to overcome shame and seek help by reporting the crime to police and using the Better Business Bureau's Scam Survival Toolkit, which creates personalized recovery plans. The article emphasizes that National Scam Survivor Day (second Thursday in May) aims to reduce stigma around reporting scams, particularly romance scams affecting older adults, and notes that reporting can prevent further losses.
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WFMY News 2
· 2025-05-09
Scammers send fake toll payment notices via text claiming vehicle registration will be suspended and credit scores damaged if payment isn't made, with the goal of obtaining credit card numbers rather than the small fee itself. If victims provide credit card information, scammers use it for unauthorized charges such as internet gambling, potentially costing thousands of dollars. Legitimate toll texts come from non-phone number sources, while fraudulent texts originate from 10-digit phone numbers or email addresses and include links or phone numbers for payment.
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Dayton 24/7 Now
· 2025-05-13
Millions of elderly Americans fall victim to financial scams annually, with the most common targeting seniors being investment/cryptocurrency scams, home improvement scams, romance scams, and online purchase scams. Phone fraud is also prevalent, where scammers impersonate government agencies or bank officials, using either polite or threatening tactics to manipulate victims into sending money. To protect seniors, awareness of these common scam types and verification tactics is essential.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-05-14
Scammers are targeting Medicare patients by posing as durable medical equipment companies or pharmacies and enrolling them in unwanted remote patient monitoring devices and services, often unapproved by the FDA, then billing them monthly fees. Victims may receive no equipment at all, unauthorized equipment, or have their Medicare information stolen for additional fraud. The Department of Health and Human Services advises seniors to consult their doctor before enrolling in any healthcare services, hang up on unsolicited medical device offers, refuse unordered deliveries, and report scams to the HHS hotline.
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Spectrum News
· 2025-05-13
A widow named Kathy Stevens (pseudonym) lost $500,000 to a romance scam after meeting a man on a dating app who claimed to be an Italian-Australian scuba diver and oil rig worker with properties in Florida and Wisconsin. Over the course of their online relationship, the scammer built trust through daily conversations and a video call before requesting money, exploiting Stevens's loneliness following her husband's death. The case illustrates the vulnerability of grieving seniors to romance fraud schemes that use fabricated personas and emotional manipulation.
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NBC 7 San Diego
· 2025-05-16
Carlsbad Police shut down an elaborate fraud scheme targeting elderly residents that stole over $145,000 in cash and gold bullion. Scammers used fake computer popups and impersonated Apple and Wells Fargo representatives to convince victims to liquidate assets, which were then packed into shoebox parcels for courier pickup; in one case, a victim lost $130,000 before police made an arrest during a second pickup. A separate incident involved an elderly resident losing $10,000 to someone impersonating an FTC investigator using authentic-looking agency letterhead and logos.
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CBS4 Indy
· 2025-05-16
Indiana State Police report a surge in AI-enhanced romance scams targeting Hoosiers, with victims losing up to $200,000 per case. Scammers use artificial intelligence to improve their language skills and create realistic profile photos, making them harder to detect as they build relationships over weeks or months before requesting money through untraceable payment methods. Police advise victims to watch for red flags such as requests for gift cards, scrutinize AI-generated photos for imperfections, and trust their instincts, as romance scams have become the third riskiest scam type according to the Better Business Bureau.
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FOX59 News
· 2025-05-16
Indiana State Police are reporting a sharp increase in romance scams on dating websites where criminals use artificial intelligence to create more convincing fake profiles and messages, with victims losing up to $200,000 in some cases. The AI technology allows scammers to improve their English and create realistic photos, making it harder for people to detect fraudulent accounts, and perpetrators typically spend weeks or months building relationships before requesting money through untraceable payment methods like gift cards. Police advise potential dating app users to watch for red flags such as requests for money, unusual photo details (asymmetrical faces, incomplete glasses, odd fingers), and to verify profiles independently before engaging with matches.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2025-05-19
According to FBI figures, scammers defrauded seniors of $4.8 billion in 2024. The Mentor Police Department in Northeast Ohio is increasing scam prevention outreach through workshops at senior centers and assisted living facilities in response to rising fraud targeting older adults. One victim, Jack Hines, nearly fell for a phishing email scam but caught himself before losing money.
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therhodeshow
· 2025-05-20
This educational segment discusses common senior scams affecting millions of Americans annually, including identity theft schemes, grandparent scams (falsely claiming a relative needs bail money), tech support scams, and romance scams. Key prevention strategies include educating seniors about scam tactics, maintaining regular involvement in their financial affairs, and reporting suspected fraud to state police or adult services, while noting that many scams go unreported due to victim embarrassment.
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TMJ4 News
· 2025-05-21
AARP hosted a "Scam Jam" educational event at Oak Creek Community Center in Wisconsin to help residents identify and prevent fraud. The event featured Tony Lup sharing his personal experiences being targeted by multiple scams including prize/trip offers and fake emergencies, emphasizing that anyone can be victimized but everyone can protect themselves by following advice like verifying unexpected calls and hanging up on suspicious requests.
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NBC10 Boston
· 2025-05-23
Massachusetts consumer protection officials warn residents to stay alert against increasingly common scams, noting that older Americans lost nearly $5 billion to fraud in the past year. Key red flags include social media scams that create urgency, unsolicited phone calls, tech support scams, romance scams, and cryptocurrency schemes, with protective measures including ignoring unknown callers, using two-factor authentication, and regularly changing passwords.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2025-05-30
Congressman Sanford Bishop questioned SEC Commissioner Atkins about investor protection for elderly Americans, noting that investor advocacy legal clinics assisting seniors defrauded by brokers and advisors have declined from 24 clinics to only 10 across the country due to depleted funding from FINRA and state regulators. Bishop asked what the SEC can do to prevent further clinic closures and promote resources to at-risk populations, with Atkins indicating support for expanding these consumer protection initiatives.
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CBS Evening News
· 2025-06-01
A 26-year-old U.S. Navy electrician named Thomas Xiao admitted to passing sensitive military documents to a Chinese intelligence officer who posed as an investor and researcher on the Chinese social media app WeChat between 2021 and 2023. Chinese intelligence operatives are increasingly using social media and virtual contact to recruit U.S. military personnel and extract classified information, as traditional in-person espionage has become more difficult.
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WFRV Local 5
· 2025-06-03
The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau warns that investment and cryptocurrency scams are the most prevalent frauds targeting adults 55 and older. The BBB recommends being cautious of phone fraud with spoofed caller IDs, avoiding pressure to act immediately, and verifying unusual claims by calling official sources directly rather than trusting the caller's information.
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FTCvideos
· 2025-06-03
This educational piece advises consumers preparing for hurricane season to incorporate fraud prevention into their emergency planning. Key recommendations include reviewing insurance coverage, documenting household inventory with photos, securing important documents and cash in a fireproof box, and vetting home repair contractors in advance by requesting referrals and searching online for complaints or scams.
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CTV News
· 2025-06-03
Employment scams are rising dramatically, with reported losses reaching nearly $23 million in the first three months of 2025, up from $7 million in 2022. Job seekers like Kelsey Burgess fall victim after being recruited through social media for work-from-home positions, where scammers send fake checks and ask victims to purchase gift cards, resulting in personal financial losses when the checks don't clear. These scams target job seekers broadly by offering unrealistic salaries and legitimate-appearing opportunities, with no specific demographic being singled out.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-06-04
Cyber criminals use phishing emails impersonating Facebook to steal login credentials by falsely warning users that their page violates copyright laws and threatening immediate account loss. To protect yourself, be suspicious of unsolicited emails, only log in through official websites or apps, avoid clicking links in emails claiming to be from social media platforms, and watch for spelling and grammar errors in impostor emails.
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Island News
· 2025-06-08
During Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, Hawaii advocates warned seniors—a particularly vulnerable population—about scams targeting the state. In 2023, Hawaii residents reported losing more than $52 million to internet scams, with impostor scams and identity theft identified as the most common fraud types. Advocates emphasized awareness and prevention efforts to protect seniors and safeguard Medicare's financial integrity as Hawaii's aging population continues to grow.
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CBS Philadelphia
· 2025-06-09
Scammers are impersonating customer service representatives to steal money from consumers who search for legitimate company support numbers online. Helen Knop lost over $3,000 from her checking account after calling what she believed was a Walmart customer service number found through Google; the fraudsters collected her personal and banking information under the guise of resolving a dishwasher installation issue. To protect yourself, verify customer service numbers directly through official company websites rather than relying on search results, and be cautious about sharing banking information over the phone.
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WPLG Local 10
· 2025-06-13
Federal authorities warned of a 43% increase in elder fraud victim losses nationwide, with Florida ranking third in both losses and victims. FBI Miami highlighted rising impersonation fraud schemes—including immigration-related scams—that target seniors through phone calls and text messages, exploiting their politeness, desire for companionship, and lower technological literacy.
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WJZ
· 2025-06-16
Maryland state leaders and AARP launched "Protect Week," a public education campaign coinciding with World Elder Abuse Day, to help older adults and families avoid financial exploitation and scams. In Maryland alone, over 3,200 people aged 60+ lost approximately $80 million to scams in the previous year, with fraud often originating from both strangers online and trusted individuals. The campaign emphasizes that scammers exploit elders' vulnerability and trusting nature through increasingly sophisticated schemes that create artificial urgency.
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FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
· 2025-06-17
Congress held a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to address the growing threat of sophisticated online scams targeting older Americans, with lawmakers focusing on international crime networks and legal loopholes that hinder victim recovery. The hearing highlighted cases such as grandparent scams where seniors voluntarily send money based on fraudulent emergency claims, and revealed systemic issues including victims being denied support by local authorities and difficulty recovering stolen funds. Lawmakers aim to close legal gaps that currently allow scammers to evade prosecution and make it harder for elderly victims to reclaim their money.
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4 News Now
· 2025-06-23
Scammers are impersonating banks and financial institutions by sending fraudulent fraud alert texts with malicious links designed to steal banking information. Using advanced AI technology and voice cloning, fraudsters are even posing as law enforcement using real phone numbers to manipulate victims into quickly providing account access. The key defense is to slow down and critically evaluate suspicious communications before responding, especially those from unfamiliar numbers or those that pressure immediate action.
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Channel 3000 / News 3 Now
· 2025-06-24
Walmart agreed to pay a $10 million fine to the Federal Trade Commission for allegedly enabling wire fraud through its in-store money transfer services by failing to implement adequate anti-fraud safeguards, employee training, and customer alerts. The FTC reported that hundreds of millions of dollars were lost in schemes using Walmart's services, and the settlement requires Walmart to implement fraud prevention measures and cease processing transfers for telemarketing scams involving upfront loan or credit payment requests.
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CTV News
· 2025-06-26
A Manitoba senior lost his entire life savings of $2 million in a cryptocurrency investment scam involving a fake website called "Fargo Investor" created using artificial intelligence. Scammers, reportedly operating from outside Canada, used social media ads featuring celebrity endorsements to promote the unregistered investment opportunity, which the Manitoba Securities Commission warns is part of a rising trend of fraud targeting seniors.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2025-06-27
A new Better Business Bureau report examines sophisticated business scams where fraudsters impersonate vendors, access computer systems, and obtain sensitive data through breaches. The FBI reports $1.4 billion in losses from data breaches over three years, with IBM estimating average breach costs of nearly $5 million per business in 2024. The BBB recommends businesses implement multi-factor authentication, conduct cybersecurity training for employees, and establish unique passwords across all devices to protect against these increasingly complex attacks.
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LEX18
· 2025-06-30
A Lexington woman narrowly avoided a jury duty scam in June when a caller impersonating a county sheriff's deputy contacted her claiming she had failed to appear for jury duty. The scammer used sophisticated tactics including a real deputy's name, local area code, actual county address, and the victim's personal information to establish credibility, though he never requested payment and instead asked her to come to the sheriff's office in person. The woman's skepticism and decision to verify the claim prevented her from becoming a victim of what could have escalated to financial loss or worse.
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11Alive
· 2025-07-02
A Georgia woman lost nearly $30,000 in a "task scam" after responding to a text about a part-time remote job. The scammers posed as a legitimate company, provided fake credentials, paid her for initial training tasks to build trust, then demanded she invest her own money to continue work, ultimately revealing the entire job opportunity was fraudulent. The Federal Trade Commission reports that such schemes are surging, typically starting with text messages promising work like app optimization or product boosting, using small initial payouts to establish credibility before escalating financial demands.
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Local 3 News
· 2025-07-04
During Amazon Prime Day sales events, scammers use fake emails, texts, and websites to trick shoppers into sharing personal information and credit card details by impersonating Amazon. Common scams include fake order confirmation/delay notifications, gift card prize offers, and fake price adjustment refunds—tactics designed to target millions of Prime members during high-volume shopping periods. Consumers should verify communications directly through official Amazon channels and avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages.
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NBC4 Columbus
· 2025-07-08
Online shopping scams surge during major sales events like Amazon Prime Day and retailer promotions, with over 30% of scam reports involving online purchases and 87% of victims losing money. Scammers create fake websites mimicking legitimate retailers' logos and professional appearance to deceive shoppers. To protect yourself, avoid clicking social media links and ads, navigate directly to official websites, and use credit cards for purchases to enable dispute protection.
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Hindustan Times
· 2025-07-10
A U.S. Senate hearing examined cryptocurrency industry practices and potential scams, with lawmakers expressing concern that weaker crypto regulations compared to traditional financial rules may enable fraud. The testimony highlighted that retail investors have lost money on certain cryptocurrency projects while industry leaders and associates profited significantly, underscoring the need for stronger consumer protections and securities oversight in the crypto sector.
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FOX 4 Now
· 2025-07-11
Active duty military members in Florida reported 50% higher losses to scammers in 2024 compared to other Americans, affecting approximately 62,000 service members in the state. Scammers primarily target military consumers through online purchases, fake job postings, cryptocurrency investments, home improvements, and vacation deals, exploiting vulnerabilities created by frequent relocations and deployments. Protective measures include avoiding unsolicited links and attachments, being skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true, and using secure payment methods while avoiding cryptocurrency transfers.
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WREG News Channel 3
· 2025-07-16
Military families should watch out for three scams: job scams targeting military spouses with promises of remote work and easy money (red flags include unsolicited checks and requests for personal information before interviews), identity theft during military moves when financial documents are vulnerable (freezing credit or placing an active duty fraud alert is recommended), and fraudulent VA benefit overpayment letters claiming money is owed. The VA offers free repayment assistance, so individuals should verify claims directly through VA.gov rather than responding to suspicious letters.
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NBC4 Columbus
· 2025-07-16
A woman in central Ohio fell victim to a Publishers Clearing House imposter scam after receiving a TikTok message claiming she had won a truck and $1 million. Scammers contacted her posing as PCH representatives, requesting payment for prize delivery, and the scheme escalated when they obtained her phone number and sent fraudulent badges and documentation. The victim shared her story to warn others about this widespread sweepstakes scam affecting people across the United States.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-07-17
The Federal Trade Commission reported that U.S. consumers lost over $12 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, with 80% of financial scams originating from organized crime groups in Southeast Asia and romance scams primarily from Nigeria. To protect against fraud, consumers should treat financial security with the same rigor as home security by using strong passwords, maximizing social media privacy settings, and monitoring credit reports. Reporting scams to law enforcement and federal agencies is critical, as actual fraud losses exceed $158 billion annually—more than 15 times the reported amount—allowing criminals to target additional victims when incidents go unreported.
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News 19 WLTX
· 2025-07-21
**Summary:**
The FBI is warning the public about a rise in government impersonation scams in which callers using spoofed phone numbers impersonating the FBI inform victims they have missed jury duty or have an arrest warrant, then demand payment to avoid arrest. The FBI reminds the public that it never demands payment over the phone or requests personal or financial information, and victims should hang up and contact their local FBI office directly if they receive such calls.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-07-22
The FBI is warning of a spike in elder scams across the Las Vegas Valley, with scammers targeting retirement communities through various schemes including government impersonations, fake notices from Clark County, impersonation of police officers, and in-person fraud. FBI officials attribute the vulnerability of elderly victims to their trusting nature and note that common scam types include investment fraud and phishing emails designed to appear legitimate. The FBI emphasizes the importance of reporting scams and warns scammers that they will be tracked down and prosecuted.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-07-22
According to a Better Business Bureau annual scam tracker report, consumers aged 65 and older lost the most money to scams last year, averaging $160 per incident, primarily through cryptocurrency ripoffs, while young adults (18-24) lost around $150 mostly to employment scams. The report also found that nearly 10% of children were targeted by scammers through social media and gaming platforms, and women experienced scams more frequently than men but lost significantly less money per incident ($12 versus $200).
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19 News
· 2025-07-23
A 66-year-old woman from Mentor, Ohio lost over $400,000 in a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment scam after being contacted by a scammer posing as an online friend offering investment advice. The scammer displayed fake returns to lure her in, then demanded six-figure fees to withdraw her funds—a classic fraud tactic. The victim is one of nearly 30 people across multiple states targeted by this same scam operation.
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Al Jazeera English
· 2025-07-24
**Cyber Kidnapping Scams Target Chinese International Students**
Chinese international students worldwide are falling victim to "cyber kidnapping" scams where fraudsters impersonate authorities and coerce victims into staging fake abductions to extract ransom payments from their families, with demands reaching $1 million. A notable case involved 17-year-old exchange student Kai Wang, who went missing in Utah in December 2023 after being targeted by scammers threatening violence. Victims experience significant financial losses and psychological trauma from these sophisticated schemes that exploit their trust in authority figures.
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WENY TV NEWS
· 2025-07-25
Pennsylvania State Representative Tina Picket held an annual senior expo in Athens, Bradford County, to educate elderly residents about protecting themselves from scams targeting their finances and identities. The event featured speakers on topics including healthcare benefits, secure banking, and Medicare, along with booths offering information on local services and a free document shredding service to reduce identity theft risk.
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KOAA 5
· 2025-07-25
A Colorado author lost over $100,000 in a combined romance and cryptocurrency investment scam after meeting someone on a dating app who convinced him to invest in what appeared to be a legitimate cryptocurrency opportunity. The incident is part of a larger trend in Colorado, where residents lost more than $240 million to scams in the previous year according to FBI data. The scammer used video calls and seemingly normal conversation tactics to build trust before pivoting to the fraudulent investment scheme.
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NBC4 Washington
· 2025-07-25
Grey's Anatomy actor Chris Carmack and his wife, musician Aaron Slaver, publicly shared their experience as scam victims to reduce stigma around fraud. Aaron lost $2,000 after purchasing cushions on an online platform (Betsy) that were never delivered and the seller disappeared before the platform could assist them. The couple is part of a McAfee cybersecurity campaign using #mycamstory to encourage others to openly discuss their scam experiences.
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TODAY
· 2025-07-29
Summer scammers exploit seasonal activities by targeting travelers and vacationers through fake rental listings on platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Facebook Marketplace. Key summer scams identified by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners include travel-related fraud, and consumers are advised to be cautious when booking vacation properties and purchasing concert tickets during the season.