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pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal financial regulatory agencies released guidance recommending that banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions implement risk management practices to combat elder financial exploitation, which cost older adults over $27 billion in suspicious activity during a 12-month period ending June 2023. The recommended practices include employee training, transaction monitoring, establishing trusted contact processes, and timely reporting to FinCEN. The guidance comes as elder fraud complaints increased 14% in 2023 with associated losses rising 11%, driven partly by increased online banking among seniors and baby boomers.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Victor Anthony Valdez, a 40-year-old New York man and Social Security Administration employee, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for serving as a courier in a transnational "grandparent scam" operated from Dominican Republic call centers between August 2020 and August 2021. The scheme targeted elderly American victims by falsely claiming their grandchildren had been arrested and needed bail money, with Valdez and other couriers collecting tens of thousands of dollars from victims' homes in New York and New Jersey. Valdez faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at his April 2025 sentencing.
fdic.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Title:** Agencies Issue Interagency Statement on Elder Financial Exploitation
**Summary:**
Seven federal financial regulatory agencies (FRB, CFPB, FDIC, NCUA, OCC, FinCEN, and state regulators) issued a joint statement providing supervised financial institutions with best practices for identifying, preventing, and responding to elder financial exploitation—the illegal or improper use of older adults' funds by unauthorized recipients. The statement recommends strategies including enhanced risk-based monitoring, employee training, designated trusted contacts, transaction holds when appropriate, and coordination with Adult Protective Services and law enforcement, without imposing new regulatory requirements.
ncua.gov
· 2025-12-08
On December 4, 2024, five federal financial regulatory agencies, FinCEN, and state regulators issued guidance to financial institutions on combatting elder financial exploitation, which a FinCEN analysis found was linked to approximately $27 billion in reported suspicious activity over a one-year period ending June 2023. The statement recommends practices such as staff training on recognizing exploitation, establishing trusted contact processes, implementing transaction holds, and timely reporting to law enforcement and Adult Protective Services to help identify and prevent financial crimes against older adults.
fincen.gov
· 2025-12-08
FinCEN and five federal financial regulatory agencies, along with state regulators, issued guidance to financial institutions on best practices for identifying and preventing elder financial exploitation. A FinCEN analysis found that approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity was linked to elder financial exploitation over a one-year period ending in June 2023, highlighting the significant financial harm older adults face from such schemes.
fdic.gov
· 2025-12-08
Five federal financial regulatory agencies and FinCEN issued guidance to help financial institutions combat elder financial exploitation, which a FinCEN analysis found was linked to approximately $27 billion in reported suspicious activity over a one-year period ending in June 2023. The statement recommends practices including employee training, transaction monitoring, trusted contact designations, timely reporting to authorities, and consumer outreach to help identify and prevent exploitation that can devastate older adults' financial security.
consumerfinance.gov
· 2025-12-08
Five federal financial regulatory agencies and FinCEN issued guidance to help supervised financial institutions combat elder financial exploitation, noting that older adults can lose their life savings through these crimes. A FinCEN analysis identified approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity linked to elder financial exploitation over a one-year period ending in June 2023. The statement recommends practices including employee training on recognizing exploitation, establishing trusted contact designations, filing timely suspicious activity reports, and coordinating with law enforcement and elder protection services.
gizmodo.com
· 2025-12-08
A "pig butchering" romance scam targeting elderly people involves fraudsters impersonating actor Johnny Depp on Facebook, then moving conversations to messaging apps to convince victims to send money via cryptocurrency, gift cards, and other payment methods. The FTC received 197 complaints over one year from victims across the country, many in their 60s who lost thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars from retirement accounts, with one Minnesota woman losing $1,700 before her bank intervened. The scammers exploit emotional vulnerability and loneliness by posing as Depp or associates like his fictional "manager Jack Wingham," using flattery and false promises of romance or investment returns.
92moose.fm
· 2025-12-08
**Scam Type:** Phishing/SMS fraud targeting Camden National Bank customers in Maine.
**What Happened:** Belfast Maine Police Department reported a scam involving fraudulent text messages claiming to be from Camden National Bank, stating the recipient's account has been placed on hold due to a security threat and requesting they click a link to restore access. The messages and links are entirely fraudulent and designed to steal personal information.
**Advice:** Financial institutions never request sensitive information via text message; customers should contact their bank directly by phone or in-person if they receive such messages and report them to local police.
northwestsignal.net
· 2025-12-08
Pam Rybka of the Better Business Bureau of Toledo educated retired teachers on common senior scams, noting that loneliness and trust make older adults vulnerable targets. Key fraud prevention tips included: never say "yes" to telemarketers, use indelible black gel pens when writing checks to prevent check-washing scams, mail checks at post offices rather than leaving them in mailboxes, be aware that the IRS and Social Security Administration never initiate calls, and verify charities through the BBB website.
americanbanker.com
· 2025-12-08
Six federal banking agencies issued guidance to banks and credit unions outlining nine strategies to identify, prevent, and respond to elder financial exploitation, including establishing trusted contact procedures, implementing transaction holds, and reporting suspected fraud to law enforcement and adult protective services. Elder financial exploitation comprises elder scams (approximately 80% of cases), where elderly persons are tricked into transferring money to strangers, and elder theft (20% of cases), involving theft by trusted individuals. The guidance represents the latest federal regulatory effort to combat elder financial exploitation, a concern that has attracted interagency attention for over a decade.
rocklanddaily.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans aged 60 and older lost $3.4 billion to scammers, according to FBI data. To address this crisis, the Rockland County District Attorney's Office hosted a scam prevention event at a senior center in Suffern, where officials educated attendees about various fraud schemes and advised victims to contact family members or law enforcement if targeted. The office plans to continue holding prevention events across multiple neighborhoods to help protect seniors from fraud.
gilavalleycentral.net
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes addressed seniors in Safford about the rising scam epidemic affecting older adults, noting that Arizona had the nation's highest senior fraud victimization rate at 289 per 100,000 population in 2023. She warned about emerging threats including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams on social media, and AI voice-cloning schemes that impersonate family members to solicit money, recommending families establish secret passwords and watch for warning signs like unexplained financial secrecy, unusual withdrawals, and changed spending patterns. The Attorney General's Office can be reached at 602-542-5763 to report suspected fraud.
wjla.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary for this content. The text provided is a website navigation menu and header structure from a news website, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse.
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justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky presented 2024 Law Enforcement Excellence Awards to ten federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals for their outstanding work on priority cases including violent crime, drug trafficking, elder fraud, COVID fraud, government fraud, public corruption, and child exploitation. United States Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV recognized these officers and organizations for their dedicated investigative efforts that contributed to successful federal prosecutions.
koat.com
· 2025-12-08
Four caregivers in New Mexico were criminally charged with elder and resident abuse within a year after multiple complaints were filed with the state Department of Justice's Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Division. The cases involved physical and verbal abuse of vulnerable victims—including a 7-year-old autistic student, disabled waiver recipients, and elderly nursing home residents—who lacked the capacity to report the abuse themselves; notably, Salomon Sanchez, who pleaded guilty to abusing a student in 2023, was subsequently hired at a disability group home where he allegedly assaulted a wheelchair-bound resident. All four defendants face potential sentences of up to 6 months in prison if convicte
signalscv.com
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old Newhall resident lost $54,000 in a grandparent scam between July 22-23 when a caller impersonating an attorney claimed his grandson was in jail and needed bail money, instructing him to place cash in boxes for Lyft drivers to collect. The victim later discovered his grandson had not been in an accident or incarcerated, and despite detective investigation tracking the Lyft drivers through security footage, no arrest has been made. Sheriff's officials emphasize that law enforcement never solicits money by phone and advise victims to verify custody claims directly through the LASD custody records website or by calling their local station.
weau.com
· 2025-12-08
Local financial professionals in Eau Claire, Wisconsin report an increase in elderly financial abuse cases, particularly during the holiday season, with seniors targeted through romance scams, government impostor schemes, and prize/sweepstakes fraud. Scammers exploit vulnerabilities in older adults, such as loneliness and access to larger bank accounts, often directing victims to send money via gift cards or cryptocurrency. Experts advise seniors to avoid responding to unknown contacts and to verify suspicious requests with trusted family members, friends, or local authorities before taking action, noting that recovering lost funds is extremely difficult once scammers have obtained them.
theroanokestar.com
· 2025-12-08
As holiday shopping season approaches with record-breaking online sales predicted, scammers are deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics to defraud consumers. Virginia Tech cybercrime expert Katalin Parti outlines key warning signs and prevention strategies, including: avoiding unsolicited requests for payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, being skeptical of high-return investment ads, verifying company contact information through official websites rather than provided links, and remaining cautious of romance scams, job scams, and fake charitable solicitations. Consumers should also monitor financial statements for fraud, keep software updated, verify website URLs, and be aware that scammers can now spoof voices and area codes to impersonate trusted contacts.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
Bashiru Ganiyu, 39, of the Bronx, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for operating romance scams targeting primarily elderly victims from 2020 to 2022 as part of a Ghana-based criminal enterprise; he defrauded over 40 victims of nearly $12 million and was ordered to forfeit $11.7 million and pay $7.6 million in restitution. Ganiyu used fraudulent online personas to gain victims' trust before convincing them to wire money to bank accounts he controlled, then funneled the stolen funds to co-conspirators domestically and abroad.
ketv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Omaha Police Department and Douglas County Sheriff's Office are combating a spike in cryptocurrency scams targeting vulnerable people and retirees, including recent cases where a couple lost $38,000 and another victim lost $6,000 after being deceived into depositing cash into crypto ATMs. Law enforcement warns that scammers impersonate legitimate entities to direct victims to these machines, where funds are quickly moved overseas and become unrecoverable. The city has enacted an ordinance requiring warning placards on all cryptocurrency kiosks stating that government agencies will never request money via cryptocurrency, with non-compliance resulting in a $500 fine by December 10.
digitalinformationworld.com
· 2025-12-08
"Malvertising" (malicious digital advertisements) is rapidly increasing as a scam vector, with a 42% month-over-month increase in US cases in 2023 and 41% growth from July-September 2024, primarily originating from Vietnam and Pakistan. Scammers use these deceptive ads in search results to distribute malware, conduct investment scams, credit card fraud, phishing attacks, and romance scams, with ads disguised as legitimate businesses that steal victim information when clicked. Internet users across all websites are at risk, as malvertising is difficult to detect and remove; Google blocked 5.5 billion ads in 2023 but sc
daily-tribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Chatsworth Police Chief Josh Etheridge warned residents of an uptick in international scams targeting elderly victims through robocalls and fraudulent emails, noting that once victims purchase gift cards and provide the card numbers, the money cannot be recovered. The scammers often impersonate government agencies or trusted organizations to pressure victims into immediate payment, exploiting the elderly population who are viewed as trusting and less aware of modern fraud tactics. Police urge residents to report suspected scams and provided warning signs including requests to pay via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, as well as pressure to act immediately without verification.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Delaware County, Pennsylvania is hosting "Scam Jam," a free educational event on Friday at the Springfield YMCA designed to help seniors identify and avoid common fraud schemes. The event features representatives from the Delaware County District Attorney's Office, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, and local police who will provide information and tips to help seniors protect themselves from becoming victims.
thethomasvilletimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Southwest Alabama RSVP, Cadence Bank, and the Area Agency on Aging co-hosted a fraud awareness seminar at the Thomasville Civic Center to educate senior citizens about common scams. Speakers discussed various scamming tactics targeting seniors, reviewed real scam attempts made at Cadence Bank, and advised attendees to protect their Medicare information and regularly monitor their statements for unauthorized charges.
13wmaz.com
· 2025-12-08
A Chinese national, Xiao Kun Cheung, was arrested and charged for his role in a scam that defrauded elderly people across the U.S. of $1.2 million through fake pop-ups and phone calls claiming computer or financial account compromises. Cheung and his co-conspirators convinced victims to withdraw money to purchase gift cards and gold bars, which were then collected by conspirators posing as government agents; victims in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee were affected. Cheung faces up to 20 years in prison and was charged with wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and drug possession charges.
wjcl.com
· 2025-12-08
Chinese national Xiao Kun Cheung was federally indicted for operating a scheme targeting senior citizens in Savannah and Pooler, Georgia; he was arrested while attempting to pick up approximately $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler.
dailysentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2019 Financial Advisor article by Karen DeMasters, citing Comparitech research, reveals that elder financial abuse in the United States is vastly underreported—with actual cases potentially reaching 5 billion annually costing $27.4 billion, compared to the previously reported 200,000 cases and $1.7 billion. One in ten Americans over 65 experience financial abuse, with an average loss of $2,415, perpetrated primarily by trusted family members or acquaintances who exploit victims' reluctance to report due to shame, fear, or lack of awareness, though telephone scams are expected to increase significantly.
consumerfinancialserviceslawmonitor.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple federal financial regulators (FRB, CFPB, FDIC, FinCEN, NCUA, OCC, and state agencies) issued a joint statement providing guidance to financial institutions on identifying, preventing, and responding to elder financial exploitation, noting the practice does not create new regulatory requirements. The statement highlights that elder financial exploitation causes an estimated $28.3 billion in annual losses in the U.S., with recommended strategies including enhanced governance, employee training, transaction holds, trusted contact designations, and Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) filing.
lexology.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal financial regulators (FRB, CFPB, FDIC, FinCEN, NCUA, OCC, and state authorities) issued a joint guidance statement providing strategies for financial institutions to identify, prevent, and respond to elder financial exploitation, citing annual losses of $28.3 billion nationally. The guidance recommends practices including enhanced risk management policies, employee training on red flags, transaction holds, designated trusted contacts, and filing Suspicious Activity Reports, while clarifying these are recommended practices rather than new regulatory requirements.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal financial regulators (FRB, CFPB, FDIC, FinCEN, NCUA, OCC, and state regulators) issued a joint statement providing guidance to financial institutions on identifying, preventing, and responding to elder financial exploitation, which causes an estimated $28.3 billion in annual losses in the U.S. The agencies recommend practices including enhanced governance and monitoring, employee training on red flags, transaction holds, designated trusted contacts, and filing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) when exploitation is suspected.
fintech.global
· 2025-12-08
Federal financial regulators and FinCEN issued guidance to combat elder financial exploitation, citing FinCEN analysis showing $27 billion in suspicious activities linked to financial abuse of older adults in the year ending June 2023. The statement recommends that banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions implement risk management strategies including employee training, transaction monitoring, trusted contact processes, and prompt reporting to authorities and law enforcement. These measures aim to protect elderly account holders from financial exploitation while helping institutions strengthen their defenses against this form of abuse.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Alfred Mancinelli, a 79-year-old widower, lost approximately $1 million in savings over several years to romance scammers posing as professional wrestler Alexa Bliss and other characters who exploited his loneliness and desire for companionship. When his son Chris attempted to protect his remaining $100,000 by securing it in an account, Alfred sued him, demonstrating how romance scam victims often reject intervention and become emotionally ensnared by their fraudsters. The case illustrates a broader problem: Americans lost $652 million to romance fraud in 2023 alone, with older adults and isolated individuals particularly vulnerable to scammers who manipulate emotional
news.uthsc.edu
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common red flags across multiple scam types—including romance, delivery, grandparent, and tech support scams—and provides prevention strategies. Key advice includes not responding to unexpected texts, hanging up and calling back through verified numbers, establishing family safe words, refusing suspicious payment methods (gift cards, crypto, wire transfers), and being cautious on social media and dating apps. The article recommends victims stop payment immediately, take screenshots for evidence, and report incidents to their bank, local police, or relevant authorities.
amny.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams surge during the holiday season as fraudsters exploit loneliness and generosity, particularly targeting vulnerable populations including older adults through online dating platforms and social media. In 2022, older Americans lost nearly $240 million to romance scams according to the FTC, and a free educational webinar on December 10 featuring Homeland Security Investigations and AARP New York will provide tools to recognize scam tactics, verify identities, and access victim support resources.
dailygazette.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly Montgomery County resident lost $40,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam where the suspect posed as customer service and falsely claimed the victim's activity was being monitored. When the suspect, Zixiong Wang, 27, of Flushing, attempted to collect additional funds at a predetermined location in Amsterdam, New York State Police arrested him on charges of third-degree attempted grand larceny and criminal possession of cocaine; investigators also discovered he was wanted in Delaware for similar crimes against an elderly victim.
missioncityrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. The text provided is a website navigation menu and homepage layout for a news website, not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. To create a summary for the Elderus database, please provide the actual article content about a fraud, scam, or elder abuse incident.
wkzo.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple financial scams targeting older adults in Portage, Michigan involved callers impersonating family members claiming distress, posing as tech support or bank representatives, and using couriers to collect cash payments. The Portage Department of Public Safety is investigating the incidents and asking anyone with information to contact local authorities.
cbs6albany.com
· 2025-12-08
A 27-year-old man from Flushing, NY was arrested after defrauding a Montgomery County senior of over $40,000 through a fake cryptocurrency scam involving fraudulent emails and threatening phone calls. The suspect, Zixiong Wang, was apprehended during an arranged money exchange in Amsterdam and was also found to be wanted in Delaware for similar crimes against an elderly victim. Wang was remanded to jail without bail, with authorities noting additional suspects may be involved in the ongoing investigation.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Xiao Kun Cheung, 58, a Chinese national, was indicted for his role in a multi-state elder fraud conspiracy that targeted seniors up to age 92 across Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee, swindling over $1 million through phone calls and pop-up messages falsely claiming compromised accounts, then persuading victims to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars. Cheung was arrested in March 2024 while attempting to collect approximately $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler, Georgia, and faces charges including wire fraud and extortion with potential penalties up to 20 years in prison. The case
cachevalleydaily.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not about elder fraud or abuse. Governor Spencer Cox's proposed 2026 Utah state budget includes the WISE Initiative, which would eliminate the state tax on Social Security benefits for over 150,000 seniors and make targeted investments in senior services including home-based care, food access, and fraud prevention protections. The article focuses on general budget recommendations and senior support policies rather than reporting on specific fraud incidents or elder abuse cases.
wtoc.com
· 2025-12-08
A Chinese national was indicted for operating an elder fraud scheme targeting victims in Savannah and Pooler. The indictment indicates a coordinated fraud operation that specifically preyed on elderly residents in the Georgia area, though specific dollar amounts and detailed scheme methods were not provided in the available headline information.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Xiao Kun Cheung, 58, was formally charged with wire fraud, conspiracy, extortion proceeds receipt, and drug possession for orchestrating a multi-state elder fraud scheme targeting seniors aged up to 92 in Savannah, Pooler, Naples, and Cleveland. The scam involved phone calls and pop-up messages falsely claiming victims' computers or accounts were compromised, then persuading them to withdraw cash, buy gift cards, or purchase gold bars under the guise of government safekeeping; Cheung was arrested in March attempting to collect over $130,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison
wtoc.com
· 2025-12-08
Xiao Kun Cheung, a 58-year-old Chinese national, was indicted for his role in a multi-state elder fraud conspiracy that defrauded senior citizens (up to age 92) of over $1 million across Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. The scheme involved contacting victims by phone or pop-up messages claiming their computers or accounts were compromised, then convincing them to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars; Cheung was arrested in March while attempting to collect approximately $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler, Georgia. He faces charges including wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud, carrying up to 20 years in federal
timesherald.com
· 2025-12-08
The City Controller's Office Community Affairs Division hosted a senior awareness seminar in Philadelphia addressing the growing problem of elder financial abuse, which the FBI estimates costs seniors billions of dollars annually. The presentation covered why seniors are targeted by scammers (isolation, trust, cognitive vulnerabilities), common scam tactics (phone/internet fraud, IRS impersonation, lottery schemes, and family/caregiver exploitation), and protective measures including trusting instincts, avoiding suspicious links, and verifying unsolicited calls directly with institutions. Key advice emphasized vigilance and awareness of red flags such as unusual bank withdrawals, suspicious credit card activity, and changes in beneficiaries or demeanor, along with contact information for reporting concerns
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI has warned of increased cyber scams during the holiday season, and CNET senior cybersecurity reporter Bree Fowler provides guidance on protecting oneself from these threats. The video segment offers cybersecurity advice and protective measures specifically tailored to the holiday shopping and online activity period.
connecticut.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
Brooklyn artist Douglas Newton lost over $120,000 in a cryptocurrency scam after being contacted on LinkedIn by fraudsters who promised high returns from NFT sales of his artwork through a fake website impersonating the legitimate OpenSeas platform. The Brooklyn DA's office identified 40 similar scam sites targeting artists and linked the stolen funds to Nigeria; the office has handled over 150 such cases totaling $40 million in losses from the borough alone and successfully seized the fraudulent websites. Authorities advise verifying cryptocurrency site URLs, avoiding high-pressure sales tactics, and protecting seed phrases and personal IDs, with victims encouraged to contact the DA's office to verify legitimate crypto platforms.
news4jax.com
· 2025-12-08
Xiao Kun Cheung, 58, was charged in Georgia for operating a multi-state elder fraud scheme that extorted over $1 million from seniors up to 92 years old through phone calls and pop-up messages falsely claiming their accounts were compromised. Cheung convinced victims to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, and buy gold bars under the pretense of government safekeeping, and was arrested attempting to collect $132,000 in gold bars from one victim. The case highlights the broader crisis of elder fraud, with Americans over 60 suffering $3.5 billion in losses in 2023, including $92 million in Georgia alone.
brooklyn.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
Brooklyn artist Douglas Newton lost over $120,000 in a cryptocurrency scam involving fake NFT sites; scammers contacted him via LinkedIn, posed as legitimate NFT affiliates, and promised profits of $310,000 to convince him to send money that was ultimately traced to Nigeria. The Brooklyn DA's office identified 40 fraudulent websites targeting artists and linked over $40 million in losses from more than 150 cases in the borough, with funds often routed to Nigeria, Russia, China, and Latin America. The DA warns consumers to verify cryptocurrency site URLs, avoid high-pressure sales tactics, never share seed phrases or personal IDs, and contact the DA's office to verify if sites are legitimate before engaging
losaltosonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Los Altos crime prevention officer Rod Sayre visited a senior center to warn homeowners about spring-season scams targeting seniors, noting that scam artists become more active during this time of year alongside seasonal pest problems. The article emphasizes the need for senior homeowners to be vigilant and informed about fraud risks, though specific scam details are not provided in the available excerpt.