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Search across 22,013 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
weirdkaya.com
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old retired Singaporean woman lost S$100,000 (approximately RM324,000) to a multi-stage scam just three days after retiring. The scammers impersonated Shopee customer service, a bank employee named "Jason," and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, falsely claiming her bank account was involved in money laundering and instructing her to transfer funds to a GXS bank account for safekeeping. The woman completed two transfers totaling S$100,000 over a four-hour period before her niece intervened and discovered the fraud; police investigations are ongoing.
newschannel20.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Illinoisians lost nearly $19 million to romance scams, in which criminals create fake online identities to build trust with victims and steal money or personal information. The FBI identifies common red flags including requests to move communication off dating platforms, rapid professions of love, requests for money, and canceled in-person meeting plans, and recommends victims go slow, verify identities independently, never send money to online-only contacts, and report suspected scams to law enforcement.
boston25news.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams and fraud losses reached over $1.03 trillion globally in 2024, with scammers increasingly leveraging new technology to evolve their tactics. Key emerging threats for 2025 include AI-powered scams (using deepfakes, AI-generated images, and synthetic voices to enhance phishing and imposter schemes), traditional imposter scams (including grandparent and romance scams, with median losses of $800 in 2023 and $14,740 for government imposter scams), and a shift toward email and text-based contact methods rather than phone calls. Learning about these developments helps potential victims stay ahead of scammers who aim to steal personal information
wsoctv.com
· 2025-12-08
Over $1.03 trillion was lost to scams globally in 2024, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence, imposter tactics, and evolving technology to deceive victims. Key emerging threats include AI-powered phishing, deepfake videos, and voice cloning, alongside traditional imposter scams (including grandparent and romance scams) where median losses reached $800-$14,740 depending on the scam type. Scammers are shifting from phone calls to email and text messages as their primary contact method, making it essential for people to remain skeptical of unsolicited communications.
tomsguide.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission issued a warning about evolved "brushing" scams, where fraudsters send unsolicited packages to victims using stolen personal information, but now include malicious QR codes on cards or notes that direct recipients to phishing websites designed to steal credentials, financial information, and device data through malware infection. While victims can legally keep the unwanted packages, the FTC advises protecting oneself by avoiding unknown QR codes, using strong unique passwords with multi-factor authentication, monitoring credit reports, and installing antivirus software. This scam indicates personal information compromise and increased exposure to identity theft.
wrhi.com
· 2025-12-08
Smishing (SMS phishing) is a scam where fraudsters send text messages impersonating legitimate organizations like banks or delivery companies to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or sharing sensitive information such as passwords and credit card numbers. Common smishing schemes include fake bank alerts, delivery notifications, and gift card offers that create urgency to bypass critical thinking. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts, verify sources directly with official company numbers, enable two-factor authentication, and report suspicious messages to your carrier (7726) or the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
ksl.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens in Utah are increasingly targeted by sophisticated scams including romance fraud and AI-generated impersonation calls, with 19% of those over 60 reporting fraud to police (though actual rates are likely higher due to underreporting driven by shame). Authorities recommend creating shame-free environments for reporting, establishing family verification code words, and recognizing warning signs such as rushed requests for money, demands for cryptocurrency or credit card numbers, and quick declarations of love without effort to meet in person.
hoodline.com
· 2025-12-08
An Ashford senior lost thousands of dollars to fraudsters posing as FDIC representatives who convinced her that her bank account had been hacked and persuaded her to withdraw $25,000 for transfer to a "secure account." Law enforcement conducted a sting operation that intercepted the cash and arrested the courier, while investigators determined the scam was connected to a larger criminal network. The Pierce County Sheriff's Department is urging seniors to be wary of unsolicited financial calls, trust their instincts, and communicate with family members about such scams.
limerickleader.ie
· 2025-12-08
An elderly man in his 80s in Limerick lost money after receiving a cold call from a scammer impersonating his bank, who claimed a bogus overpayment had occurred and persuaded him to transfer funds. Gardaí issued public warnings advising people never to discuss financial accounts over the phone with callers claiming to be from financial institutions, and recommended verifying caller identity by hanging up and calling the company back using a self-sourced number. Victims should immediately change passwords, contact their bank, and report the fraud to gardaí.
cbr.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Actor Dean Norris' X account was hacked by scammers who promoted a fraudulent memecoin called "$Dean" that reached a $7 million market value before crashing 90% when Norris revealed the scam. Norris clarified in videos and posts that he had no involvement in the cryptocurrency promotion and blamed his account compromise on hackers, while also criticizing online critics who had accused him of wrongdoing.
wjcl.com
· 2025-12-08
At least two people in Chatham County fell victim to a kidnapping phone scam in which callers claimed a family member had been kidnapped and demanded ransom payments. Scammers used spoofed numbers appearing to come from family members and enhanced the deception with sounds of crying or threats of violence in the background. Police advise victims to immediately hang up and directly call the family member to verify their safety, and to never provide banking information or agree to deliver cash or gift cards.
trinidadexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old grandmother from Sangre Grande was reported missing after traveling to Brazil to meet a man posing as the Crown Prince of Dubai via Facebook and WhatsApp in a romance scam; the same week, a French interior decorator lost €830,000 to someone impersonating Brad Pitt. Romance scams exploit victims' emotional needs for connection and intimacy through careful trust-building, with scammers using fabricated stories to request money; in Trinidad and Tobago alone, over 100 people lost more than $2.3 million to suspected romance scams between 2020 and 2021.
e.vnexpress.net
· 2025-12-08
On Wednesday, police in Dak Lak province, Vietnam arrested four individuals (H'Nguyen, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Nguyen Tran Trung Hieu, and Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc) for operating a large-scale fraud network that accessed personal information of 50,000 people and made over 100,000 scam calls daily, stealing an estimated trillions of Vietnamese dong (with the Dak Lak group receiving over VND200 billion). The scammers used multiple tactics including posing as TikTok representatives offering "appreciation gifts," promoting work-
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS is sending legitimate $1,400 Economic Impact Payments to eligible individuals by late January 2025, but scammers are impersonating the IRS via text messages to trick recipients into clicking malicious links and revealing personal information like Social Security numbers and addresses. The IRS never initiates contact via text, email, or social media to request personal information, so recipients should ignore these scam texts and verify eligibility directly through irs.gov to protect themselves from identity theft and fraudulent tax returns filed in their names.
wydaily.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides fraud prevention guidance covering five key areas: strengthening online security through strong passwords and multi-factor authentication while avoiding public Wi-Fi; donating safely by verifying charities and using credit cards; utilizing wireless provider scam protection features like robocall blocking; monitoring package deliveries with tracking and smart cameras; and staying informed through resources like the FTC and reporting suspicious activity. The article emphasizes that scammers operate continuously and offers practical steps individuals can take to protect themselves from phishing, identity theft, charitable fraud, robocalls, and package theft.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters in the Midlands have been impersonating police officers via phone calls and doorstep visits, claiming to investigate bank fraud and requesting victims to transfer money or share banking details; West Mercia Police received two reports in south Worcestershire, while similar scams in Hertfordshire, Suffolk, and Cumbria resulted in losses including one victim losing £110,000. Police advise the public never to provide payment, transfer money, or share bank details with callers claiming to be officers, and recommend hanging up, waiting ten minutes, then calling the organization directly using a publicly-listed number to verify the contact's legitimacy.
kfiz.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scammers are targeting older adults through calls, texts, emails, and door-to-door visits, falsely offering free in-home services like cooking and cleaning while actually attempting to fraudulently enroll them in Medicare hospice care to bill for unnecessary services. Legitimate hospice care requires doctor certification that a patient has six months or less to live, and improper enrollment can negatively affect future Medicare coverage. Consumers should never share their Medicare number for "free" services, agree to hospice enrollment for gifts or money, or provide information to anyone claiming to be from Medicare at their door.
mustsharenews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old retired woman in Singapore was scammed out of S$100,000 by criminals posing as Shopee customer service, a bank employee, and a Monetary Authority of Singapore officer during a four-hour phone call on January 9. The scammers claimed her bank account was involved in money laundering and instructed her to transfer funds to a digital bank account to "protect her funds," ultimately leading to two unauthorized transfers of S$75,000 and S$25,000 from her account. The woman made a police report and took precautionary measures after her niece intervened and ended the call, though the funds had already been transferred out.
mothership.sg
· 2025-12-08
Singaporeans lost at least S$385.6 million to various scams in the first half of 2024, including e-commerce fraud, job scams, investment schemes, and government impersonation scams. The article highlights specific cases such as a luggage scam that defrauded 19 victims of S$7,000 and a Facebook egg scam that cost a family their life savings of S$150,000. Singapore's response includes the ScamShield app and helpline (1799) designed to identify scam messages and calls, block fraudulent numbers, and provide immediate assistance to potential victims.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Lloyds Bank is warning customers never to share one-time passcodes, passwords, or activation codes, as fraudsters are impersonating bank staff over the phone to steal account access and funds. Criminals use stolen personal details to appear legitimate and employ tactics like claiming they need codes to cancel fraudulent payments or secure accounts, though legitimate banks never request such information unsolicited. The warning comes as unauthorized fraud losses reached £358 million in the first half of 2024, with cases rising 19% year-on-year to over 1.5 million incidents.
amp.scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 300 mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong lost HK$230 million (US$29.5 million) to phone scams in the previous year, with scammers impersonating mainland law enforcement or government officials. In January alone, police recorded 16 additional cases resulting in HK$20 million in losses, including an 18-year-old HKU student defrauded of HK$9.2 million through a money-laundering scam. Hong Kong's security chief emphasized that anti-scam awareness campaigns and questionnaires could help students recognize and avoid such schemes.
dailycardinal.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department received three reports of scammers impersonating UWPD officers and calling parents demanding bail money for their detained students via PayPal, Venmo, or ApplePay. No parents were defrauded after verifying the calls with actual UWPD. Police advise hanging up on callers claiming to be law enforcement demanding money and never sharing personal or financial information with random callers.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
An E-ZPass scam text claims recipients have unpaid tolls and threatens fines or license suspension, directing them to click a malicious link. The scam texts typically originate from Philippine phone numbers (+63 country code) and use urgent language and suspicious URLs to deceive victims. The Federal Trade Commission advises recipients not to click links, contact their tolling agency directly to verify, and report/delete the messages, as clicking could expose personal information and enable identity theft.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Drivers across multiple states are being targeted by a phishing scam impersonating EZDriveMA, Massachusetts' electronic toll collection system, with fraudulent texts claiming small unpaid tolls of $6.99 that direct victims to fake websites to steal personal and financial information. The scam has generated thousands of complaints to the FBI, with Massachusetts residents as primary victims, though texts have been sent nationwide, prompting alerts from highway authorities across six New England states and New York. Authorities advise recipients never to click links in such messages, as the legitimate EZDriveMA system never requests payment by text and only communicates through www.EZDriveMA.com.
dakotanewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in the Sioux Falls region are impersonating law enforcement and the IRS to defraud residents through phone calls and text messages. In one recent case, a 64-year-old woman lost $2,000 after a caller falsely claimed she had outstanding warrants and threatened immediate jail if she visited the sheriff's office in person. Experts advise that these scams exploit fear and authority, use pressure tactics to cloud judgment, and often involve requests to pay money upfront—a red flag since legitimate government agencies never contact people unsolicited via phone, text, or social media to demand payment.
clickondetroit.com
· 2025-12-08
A "smishing" scam is circulating nationwide, with criminals sending text messages impersonating state tolling agencies and claiming recipients owe overdue tolls, with the goal of obtaining one-time bank verification codes to fraudulently enroll stolen credit cards in Apple Pay or Google Pay. The scam software was built in China and sold to criminal gangs worldwide, and multiple Local 4 News staff members received these fraudulent messages. Experts recommend immediately blocking such messages, reporting them as spam, and never clicking links or providing one-time verification codes.
wxii12.com
· 2025-12-08
Davidson County Sheriff's Office warns residents of phone scams where fraudsters impersonate sheriff's office or court officials, claiming victims have outstanding warrants or missed court dates and demanding payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cash. Sheriff Richie Simmons emphasized that his office never requests money from citizens and noted that elderly individuals have lost significant sums to these scams, with some victims giving "their last dime." Simmons recommends victims pause before responding, consult trusted sources or contact the sheriff's office directly to verify claims, as scammers are often located outside the country and recovery is nearly impossible.
slguardian.org
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams targeting new investors are rising, including pump-and-dump schemes on meme coins, romance scams (causing $185 million in losses from 2021-2022), and fraudulent investment schemes promising unrealistic returns ($575 million in losses). Protection strategies include never sending crypto to strangers, verifying contact sources before engagement, and avoiding blackmail attempts, as cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible.
mynorthwest.com
· 2025-12-08
Lynnwood Police arrested a 41-year-old man in California in December for allegedly stealing over $600,000 from retired victims through an impersonation scam involving fake calls from a 1-800 number posing as a U.S. Treasury Agent demanding payment. The suspect was extradited to Washington and charged with first-degree theft and first-degree criminal impersonation. Police emphasized that legitimate federal agencies never call demanding money and urged the public to hang up on such calls and report them immediately.
walkermn.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams targeting Americans 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with imposter fraud rising significantly. The article provides seven protective strategies for older adults, including: ignoring unsolicited offers, avoiding suspicious links, being wary of pressure tactics, verifying remote access requests, withholding sensitive information, refusing to send money to unknown individuals, and designating a trusted contact at financial institutions.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old retired Kerala High Court judge lost over Rs 90 lakh after joining a fraudulent WhatsApp group impersonating Aditya Birla Money, where scammers promised 850% returns on investments and disappeared with his funds. According to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Indians lost over Rs 120 crore to investment scams in Q1 2024 alone, with over 81,000 fake investment groups operating on WhatsApp. Investment scams typically involve fraudsters building trust through fake credentials, professional-looking platforms, and fabricated success stories, gradually escalating victim investments before vanishing with the funds.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Scam calls impersonating HMRC have increased by 84% since December, with fraudsters using automated messages in American-accented voices to threaten taxpayers with legal action and financial penalties ahead of the self-assessment deadline. Victims reported receiving intimidating calls claiming incorrect tax returns or demanding immediate payment, with scammers becoming aggressive when questioned. HMRC has warned the public never to share login details with unsolicited callers and provided red flags to identify fraudulent communications, noting that HMRC will never threaten legal action or arrest via voicemail.
abc7ny.com
· 2025-12-08
A Queens woman lost $700,000 in a gold bar scam after criminals installed malware on her computer and impersonated federal agents, convincing her that her bank accounts were hacked and she was under surveillance. The scammers manipulated her over two months through emails, phone calls, and texts, first draining her checking account with a $20,000 cash drop-off, then instructing her to purchase gold bars and coins from a Jackson Heights store in three separate transactions totaling nearly $700,000. The Nassau County District Attorney has arrested at least one alleged courier involved in this scam, which is occurring across the country.
democratandchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Customs and Border Protection warned New Yorkers of a rise in two phone scams: one using caller ID spoofing to impersonate Border Patrol agents and claim the recipient is in the country illegally, and another using pre-recorded messages or live callers claiming drugs and money addressed to the victim have been intercepted. Both scams attempt to extract personal identifying information or banking details by pressuring victims. The agency advises residents to hang up immediately, note the caller's number, and report suspected scams to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
wkbw.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a warning about two phone scams: one using spoofed Border Patrol numbers claiming the victim is in the country illegally and requesting Social Security numbers and dates of birth, and another involving scammers posing as CBP officers with pre-recorded or live calls claiming a package containing drugs and money was intercepted and requesting banking information. CBP emphasized that the agency does not solicit money or conduct enforcement over the phone, and urged residents to hang up and report such calls to the Federal Trade Commission.
wsaw.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection outlines key strategies to prevent scams targeting older adults. While people in their 20s report scams most frequently, older adults experience the largest financial losses due to factors including unfamiliarity with technology and age-related cognitive conditions. The article recommends protecting yourself by securing social media privacy, avoiding engagement with scammers, verifying website legitimacy, and reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement or DATCP, while emphasizing the importance of supporting scam victims without blame.
techradar.com
· 2025-12-08
Sextortion scams are evolving to use personalized intimidation tactics, including victims' home addresses, phone numbers, and images of their neighborhoods in emails to create a false sense of immediate threat. Scammers now exploit invoicing platforms to bypass email security filters, claim devices are infected with malware like Pegasus, and demand cryptocurrency payments while threatening public humiliation or physical visits. Organizations and individuals can reduce vulnerability through robust email filtering and user education about these sophisticated social engineering tactics.
nbcmiami.com
· 2025-12-08
South Florida residents received phishing text messages claiming unpaid toll deadlines and threatening late fees or legal action, with fake links mimicking SunPass (a toll agency) to steal banking information and personal data. The scam targets toll customers nationwide and uses urgency tactics to prevent victims from verifying legitimacy. Authorities advise recipients to avoid clicking links, verify messages through official SunPass channels (786727 number or official email addresses), check accounts directly on sunpass.com, and report suspected scams to their messaging app or by forwarding to 7726.
ladailypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Los Alamos is launching the S.A.F.E. (Scam Awareness For Elders) initiative, a community-wide effort to combat the rising prevalence of scams targeting elderly residents. The program, supported by a $9,000 grant from the Non-Metro New Mexico Agency on Aging, will provide educational programs, training workshops, and outreach activities, including a kickoff event on January 29 featuring an FBI presentation on scam prevention. Planned activities include a February workshop on romance scams and a monthly book club beginning in March to help older adults recognize and avoid fraudulent schemes.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Fei Liang and Ziguang Li were sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for laundering over $6 million in proceeds from a nationwide "tech support" elder fraud scheme. The conspirators opened fictitious business bank accounts used to receive victim wire transfers after scammers falsely convinced elderly targets that they had criminal or technical account issues requiring immediate payment. Law enforcement recovered evidence from Li's residence including lists of fictitious businesses, victims' personal information, and bank account details for at least 25 entities involved in the money laundering operation.
lakeexpo.com
· 2025-12-08
Russell Jason "Rusty" Rahm, a Lake of the Ozarks powerboater, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison in January 2025 for his role as a scheme leader in what federal prosecutors call the largest elder fraud incident in U.S. history. The 20-year magazine subscription fraud targeted 183,000 elderly victims who lost an estimated $335 million, with Rahm ordered to pay over $103 million in restitution. Rahm was one of 61 conspirators and must report to prison by March 11, 2025, despite his legal team's arguments that he suffers
kcentv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Temple Police Department is hosting a free Senior Scam Awareness Session on February 5 to educate community members about common scams targeting seniors, including Microsoft scams, IRS tax scams, Social Security/Medicare scams, and phishing schemes that typically request payment via prepaid cards, Bitcoin, or wire transfers. The session provides practical advice such as never sharing financial information with unverified callers, verifying contacts directly with banks, and checking official government websites for scam alerts. The event is open to all community members and aims to increase awareness of prevalent online and phone fraud tactics in Central Texas.
nwmissourinews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating Evergy electric utility have targeted Nodaway County residents since January, calling from cloned numbers and threatening immediate service disconnection unless customers purchase prepaid cards from Walmart to pay bills. Evergy warns that legitimate utility companies never demand immediate payment through gift cards, prepaid cards, or other untraceable methods, and advises customers to verify calls by contacting the company directly and avoiding suspicious links and emails. The scams particularly target vulnerable populations including elderly customers, and victims should report fraud to their bank and the utility company immediately.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 44-year-old woman in Hyderabad lost Rs 77 lakh of her family's life savings to a multi-stage crypto investment scam that began with a fake part-time job offer on Telegram in December 2024. The scammers built her trust through small initial payments, then lured her into a fraudulent "VIP programme" where a fake platform showed profit on her crypto investments while blocking her withdrawal attempts and continuously demanding larger deposits. The woman became suspicious only after repeated denials of access to profits and requests for additional fees and taxes, at which point she contacted police who are now investigating the case.
arynews.tv
· 2025-12-08
A 60-year-old IT expert in Bengaluru lost Rs90 million (approximately Rs28 million according to conversion noted in the article) after falling victim to a free mobile phone scam where he purchased a SIM card to receive a "free" phone that was pre-loaded with malware and spyware. The scammer used the infected device to steal the victim's banking credentials, OTPs, and passwords, then drained his accounts—a fraud he only discovered when his bank called to alert him.
deccanherald.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bengaluru-based chartered accountant lost Rs 23.20 lakh in a stock investment scam that used deepfake videos of billionaires Mukesh Ambani, Narayana Murthy, and Sudha Murty to appear legitimate. After encountering the manipulated videos on Facebook in October 2024, the victim provided personal details, registered on a fraudulent website, and made multiple transfers between October and December 2024, only to be denied withdrawal requests and asked for additional payments. Police registered the case in January 2025 and are investigating the money trail and tracing the involved banks.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Imposter scams using AI and deepfake technology are among the most prevalent forms of fraud in 2024, with Floridians reporting approximately 35,000 complaints to the FTC between January and September. Scammers impersonate government officials, celebrities, and tech support representatives to steal money and personal information through spoofed calls, texts, emails, and convincing video calls. The article provides red flags to recognize these scams—such as demands for cryptocurrency payments, unsolicited security alerts, and threats of arrest—and advises victims to report incidents to law enforcement or the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Halifax police issued warnings about two suspects involved in multiple "grandparent scams" targeting seniors in the area, where callers impersonated arrested family members and demanded bail money, arranging to collect cash in person or via mail. Police emphasize that law enforcement and court officials never collect bail money at residences and urge seniors to hang up on such calls, avoid providing personal information, and verify caller identity before responding to money requests.
stomp.straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Two elderly victims lost a combined $5.9 million ($1 million and $4.9 million) in December 2024 to scammers who impersonated overseas police officers in a multi-step scheme involving fake telecom officials, forged documents, and local cash mules. The scammers convinced victims their phone numbers were involved in criminal activity abroad, then posed as foreign law enforcement to pressure them into withdrawing cash for "safekeeping." Singapore police clarified that foreign law enforcement cannot conduct investigations in Singapore and that local police never request cash withdrawals or send identification card images for verification.
lamilano.it
· 2025-12-08
The Municipality of Bari approved the "Prevention of Fraud against the Elderly 2025" project, funded by the Ministry of the Interior with €60,532, to protect the over-65 population (approximately 75,000 residents) from scams via phone, in-person, and online. The initiative includes the "I won't fall for it" awareness campaign, a network of "Security Sentinels" for listening and support, and information distribution through community centers, banks, and other local organizations.