Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 26,669 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
8,014 results
in Financial Crime
newsbreak.com
Lance Norman, 36, of Queens, was arrested for operating a Publishers Clearing House scam targeting a Columbia County resident who lost approximately $62,000 in cash across two in-person meetings in Hudson. Norman was located in Westchester County with a large sum of cash in his vehicle and was charged with grand larceny and conspiracy, both felonies. New York State Police urged the public to be cautious of prize or sweepstakes scams demanding upfront payments and to report suspicious financial activity targeting older adults.
morganlewis.com
The U.S. Department of Justice announced revised criminal enforcement priorities on May 12, 2025, continuing to prioritize prosecution of fraud and abuse of government programs including Medicare, Medicaid, and healthcare fraud, as well as complex frauds such as Ponzi schemes, investment fraud, elder fraud, and securities fraud. The new policy emphasizes three core tenets—focus, fairness, and efficiency—while balancing effective prosecution of corporate and white-collar crimes with minimizing unnecessary burdens on American businesses. The memorandum also reiterates the importance of corporate compliance programs in determining appropriate enforcement actions.
koaa.com
A Colorado couple nearly lost $75,000 in a real estate scam when they attempted to purchase a five-acre property in Park County through what appeared to be a legitimate real estate transaction. The scammer had impersonated the actual property owner and worked through a deceived real estate agent via email and phone, but was caught when a title company closer noticed red flags including the seller's unavailability by phone and insistence on using an out-of-state notary. The fraud was prevented before any money changed hands, and the couple is now warning others about seller identity fraud in real estate transactions.
states.aarp.org
Former San Diego Deputy District Attorney Paul Greenwood shared insights on elder fraud at the 8th Annual Fairfax Scam Jam, highlighting why victims often remain silent—including impairment, isolation, shame, loyalty to abusers, fear of losing independence, dependence on caregivers, and retaliation fears. Greenwood advocates for a proactive community approach to fraud prevention, including training notaries to recognize fraud signs, public awareness campaigns, and educating the public about misconceptions such as ageism affecting investigations and the false belief that giving someone money cannot constitute a crime.
neworleanscitybusiness.com
A 69-year-old Philadelphia woman nearly fell victim to a sophisticated tech support scam in which fraudsters posed as Norton antivirus, Microsoft, and her bank, threatening her with arrest and claiming hackers had transferred $18,000 to Russian accounts unless she purchased cryptocurrency. She avoided losing money after recalling that a friend had lost $800,000 to a similar scam and hung up the phone. Experts note that artificial intelligence, dark web data access, and lack of federal oversight have made financial scams increasingly believable and effective, with Americans losing between $23.7 billion and $158.3 billion to such schemes in 2023-2024.
recorderonline.com
Vikki Ann Cervantes, 50, a former Porterville librarian, was arrested on felony charges of grand theft, identity theft, and elder abuse after a yearlong investigation revealed she misappropriated thousands of dollars from an elderly victim's bank account without permission. The victim had granted Cervantes access to her account in 2024 to help pay bills following a medical condition, but Cervantes used the funds for her own personal expenses and opened additional accounts to continue accessing the victim's money. Cervantes turned herself in and was released on her own recognizance; a forensic audit found no evidence of theft from city library funds.
justice.gov
Kenneth Richmond, a 64-year-old New Orleans resident, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for a 2022 scheme in which he and an accomplice used fake and stolen personal information to fraudulently purchase vehicles from a local dealership, including financing a Dodge Challenger with a victim's stolen identity. The fraud caused approximately $124,031.41 in losses to the dealership, with several financed loans defaulting. Richmond faces up to 20 years in prison plus a mandatory consecutive 2-year sentence, with sentencing scheduled for August 14, 2025.
cantonrep.com
The Better Business Bureau warns new college graduates to be cautious of four main scam types during their transition to post-college life: fake student loan forgiveness programs that charge fees for services, fraudulent tuition collection schemes demanding immediate payment via wire transfer, deceptive job offers promising high pay for remote entry-level positions while requesting personal/banking information or training fees, and fake graduation gifts or scholarships requesting personal information or processing fees. Graduates are advised to understand their actual loan terms, verify communications directly with institutions, research companies before applying for jobs, and be skeptical of unsolicited offers.
sandiegoreader.com
AARP California hosted a free educational event on June 20, 2025, in San Diego featuring expert speakers from law enforcement, protective services, and advocacy organizations to raise awareness about scams and financial exploitation targeting older adults. The presentation, held in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, included representatives from the Elder Justice Task Force, District Attorney's Office, FBI, Adult Protective Services, and the Identity Theft Resource Center.
bristolpost.co.uk
Romance scams targeted 29% of people seeking relationships online in the UK, with 51% of those targeted agreeing to send money to someone they hadn't met in person; these scams stolen £31.3 million from victims in 2022, with fraudsters using emotional manipulation and false pretenses (medical emergencies, travel costs) to build trust before disappearing with the money. Nationwide warns that recovered funds are unlikely and advises victims to contact their bank immediately with evidence, while recommending potential dating app users stay on legitimate platforms, avoid pre-meeting money discussions, verify profiles through reverse image searches, consult trusted friends, and watch for generic script language and investment solicitation tactics.
bristolpost.co.uk
Romance scams targeted 29% of people seeking relationships online in the UK, with 51% of those asked actually sending money to fraudsters they had not met in person. According to UK Finance, these scams stole £31.3 million in 2022, with victims unlikely to recover their funds once transferred. Nationwide advises staying on trustworthy dating platforms, avoiding money discussions with unmet contacts, researching potential partners through reverse image searches, and consulting trusted loved ones to identify scammers who use emotional manipulation and generic scripts to exploit victims.
devonlive.com
Romance scammers defraud victims by building trust-based online relationships and requesting money with emotional manipulation tactics; in 2022, romance scams stole £31.3 million from British victims, with 51% of those asked for money by online contacts agreeing to send it. Once money is sent to scammers, recovery is typically impossible as the fraudster disappears. Nationwide recommends staying on legitimate dating platforms, avoiding financial discussions before meeting in person, researching potential partners' backgrounds, consulting trusted loved ones, and being alert to scripted messaging and investment schemes.
bristolpost.co.uk
Nationwide warned that romance scams affected 29% of people seeking partners online, with 51% of those targeted agreeing to send money to someone they hadn't met in person. These scams stole £31.3 million from British victims in 2022, with fraudsters using emotional manipulation to build trust before requesting funds, after which money is rarely recovered. The bank advised protective measures including staying on legitimate dating platforms, avoiding money discussions before meeting in person, researching potential partners' authenticity, and consulting trusted contacts before sending funds.
mk.co.kr
Fraud crimes in South Korea have surged dramatically, with "other cyber fraud" types increasing sevenfold from 3.1% to 21.7% of all fraud between 2014 and 2023, while arrest rates for these crimes simultaneously declined to 47.4% in 2023. Emerging scams like "team mission" fraud—which deceives victims into depositing money under the guise of product review jobs—and hybrid scams combining multiple fraud methods are outpacing law enforcement's ability to classify and respond to them. Experts recommend establishing an integrated fraud prevention system with a dedicated "fraud response control tower" involving police, financial authorities, and victim support organizations to detect
newsbreak.com
A Midwest woman fell victim to two interconnected online scams that have left her facing 29 years in prison and thousands in fines. She first lost thousands of dollars in a romance scam on Words with Friends, then unknowingly became a "money mule" transferring $300,000 in illegally obtained funds for cybercriminals. The scammers exploited her trust by moving conversations to untraceable messaging platforms, creating artificial urgency, and isolating her from verification opportunities, while she now faces legal consequences while the actual criminals remain at large.
finance.yahoo.com
In 2024, fraud cost Americans $12.5 billion with a median loss of $1,500 per victim, with many incidents involving imposters posing as banks, retailers, or government agencies. Common scams include fraudulent bank charge texts, arrest threat calls demanding payment to avoid police action, fake USPS or Amazon messages requesting payment details, and official-looking property tax bills targeting recent homebuyers. Consumers should verify suspicious communications by contacting official numbers or agencies directly rather than using contact information from the suspicious message itself.
cnet.com
CNET advises fraud victims to report scams to the Federal Trade Commission and FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, even if no money was lost, as these reports help authorities identify trends, educate the public, and build cases against criminals. The FTC received over 3.4 million complaints last year with only 38% involving monetary losses, and victims can also take steps like freezing credit, contacting their bank, or using identity theft protection services to mitigate damage.
consumerfinance.gov
Five federal financial regulatory agencies and FinCEN issued guidance to help banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions combat elder financial exploitation, which affected approximately $27 billion in reported suspicious activity over a one-year period ending in June 2023. The statement recommends risk management practices including employee training on recognizing exploitation, establishing trusted contact processes, implementing transaction holds when appropriate, and timely reporting to law enforcement and Adult Protective Services. These measures aim to help supervised institutions identify, prevent, and respond to elder financial exploitation that can cause older adults to lose their life savings and financial security.
cbsnews.com
A retired IRS agent, 81-year-old Elana Cohen-Roth, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded a Sonoma County elderly woman of $1 million in life savings between 2013 and 2019. Cohen-Roth, who had gained the victim's trust while preparing her taxes, promised guaranteed 10% returns on bogus investments and used funds from multiple victims to pay off earlier "investors" while financing her own lavish lifestyle. The victim, age 73 at the time the scheme collapsed in 2020, went from owning a home and having $1 million in investments to financial
wired.com
This article is not about elder fraud. It covers cybersecurity and immigration policy issues, including CBP's face recognition expansion, data breaches affecting a messaging app used by government agencies, and a hack of a deportation airline that revealed flight manifests. These topics fall outside the scope of elder fraud research and do not involve scams targeting older adults or elder abuse.
gulfcoastnewsnow.com
The Cape Coral Police Department is warning residents about courier scams in which imposters pose as police officers, federal agents, IRS officials, or bank employees via phone, email, or text to pressure victims into withdrawing large sums of money by creating false urgency and threats of arrest. Police emphasize that legitimate institutions never contact people this way and advise residents to never open suspicious links or withdraw money based on unsolicited contact, and to report such attempts to the non-emergency line at 239-574-3223.
mashable.com
Scammers are sending fraudulent emails impersonating Geek Squad, claiming victims owe $300-$500 for fake subscription renewals to pressure them into calling the provided number or clicking links. Once victims engage, scammers use social engineering tactics to steal personal information like credit card or Social Security numbers, or trick them into installing remote access software. To protect yourself, ignore these emails entirely and contact Geek Squad directly through Best Buy's official website if you need legitimate support.
wjla.com
A Rockville, Maryland resident lost $400,000 after scammers used phishing tactics—posing as a trustworthy Canadian business via email, text, or phone—to convince the victim to send multiple checks. Police arrested a suspect in Ontario, Canada in March after tracking the funds to Canadian bank accounts and coordinating with banks to shut down the fraudulent accounts, with the investigation ongoing. Montgomery County officials are warning residents that phishing scams are increasingly sophisticated and urging people to be wary of urgent or threatening communications requesting money or personal information.
jamestownsun.com
Following a joint investigation, Western Union agreed to pay $586 million and admitted to aiding wire fraud, with the U.S. Department of Justice using these funds to refund victims of various scams (employment, romance, grandparent, advance fee loan, and timeshare schemes) who transferred money through Western Union between January 1, 2004, and January 19, 2017. Fraud victims have until May 31 to file claims for refunds, though the verification and payment process may take up to a year, and refunds will depend on the amount lost and the total number of valid claims submitted.
whiznews.com
Ohio's Department of Commerce and Department of Aging are raising awareness about the growing number of scams targeting seniors, noting that scammers exploit older adults due to perceived vulnerability and financial stability, while victims often avoid reporting due to shame and fear. Key fraud threats include voice-cloning scams using AI technology, romance scams that exploit emotional connections to steal tens of thousands of dollars, and unsolicited contact attempts. The state recommends seniors avoid responding to unknown contacts, verify identities before sharing information, resist high-pressure tactics, and utilize available resources from the Department of Aging to protect themselves.
theaugustapress.com
A 41-year-old North Augusta man, Chad Adams, is wanted for allegedly defrauding a disabled 77-year-old man by cashing a blank check for $20,000 without authorization or completing promised home improvement work. Adams faces charges of theft by conversion and exploitation of an elderly or disabled person for an incident occurring in December, which the victim reported in March. The unlicensed contractor is described as 6 feet tall, 250 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, and authorities are actively seeking his location.
2news.com
Three suspects were arrested and booked into Douglas County Jail for conducting elder fraud and extortion schemes in which they collected money from victims using scam-based tactics. The article does not specify the number of elder victims affected, dollar amounts stolen, or detailed charges against the suspects.
da.sonomacounty.ca.gov
Elana Cohen-Roth, an 81-year-old retired IRS agent, was sentenced to 12 years in state prison after a jury convicted her of 23 felony counts of financial fraud. Over a seven-year period (2013-2019), Cohen-Roth exploited her professional and personal relationship with an elderly Sonoma County victim to defraud her of approximately $1 million through a Ponzi scheme, promising guaranteed 10% returns on fake real estate investments while using the funds to support her lifestyle and pay earlier investors. The victim, who began with $1 million in investments and her own home, was left financially destit
justice.gov
Rachel Watts Sanders, a 40-year-old mail contractor from Louisiana, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and mail theft after stealing over 40 checks from U.S. mail, forging endorsements, and depositing them into her personal bank account. She faces up to 20 years imprisonment for wire fraud and 5 years for mail theft, plus potential fines of up to $250,000 per count. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General.
justice.gov
Mohammed Asif, a 34-year-old Indian national, was indicted for operating American Labworks LLC, a fraudulent diagnostic testing laboratory in Everett, Washington, that billed Medicare over $8.7 million for COVID-19 and respiratory tests that were never ordered or performed, resulting in $1.1 million in fraudulent payments. Medicare received over 200 complaints from beneficiaries reporting they were billed for tests they never received, with some billing records showing tests billed for deceased individuals or by deceased physicians. Asif was arrested in April 2025 while attempting to board an international flight after withdrawing $260,000 from the company account in May 2
malwarebytes.com
Between December 2023 and February 2025, the FBI received over 100 reports of scammers impersonating FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) employees to defraud victims via email, phone, social media, and online forums. The scammers typically claim to have recovered lost funds or offer recovery assistance, then request upfront "recovery fees," sensitive personal and financial information (including Social Security numbers, bank account details, and cryptocurrency credentials), or payment for fake "extraction software." Victims can protect themselves by recognizing red flags such as spoofed email addresses, urgent language, unsolicited requests for sensitive data, and suspicious attachments or links, and by reporting fraudulent
wral.com
The Wake County Sheriff's Office is investigating a scam where callers impersonate law enforcement officers, claiming victims have outstanding warrants or missed jury duty and demanding money or gift cards over the phone. The sheriff's office has documented three active cases with numerous additional reports over several months, though no victims have reported losing money. The agency advises residents that legitimate law enforcement will never request payment by phone and recommends hanging up and independently contacting the agency to verify caller identity.
kvoa.com
Kingsley Sebastian Ibhadore, a 40-year-old Nigerian national in Glendale, Arizona, was sentenced to 17 months in prison for laundering over $500,000 in romance scam proceeds through 24 bank accounts using false identities between July 2019 and March 2020. Acting as a "money mule," Ibhadore structured withdrawals below federal reporting thresholds and continued transferring funds even after confirming their fraudulent origins, with the U.S. Secret Service ultimately identifying him through bank surveillance footage across Arizona.
freep.com
Online scammers stole a record $12.5 billion from consumers in 2024, with text message scams alone accounting for $470 million in losses and phone scams averaging $1,500 per victim. Michigan Legacy Credit Union partnered with Wayne State University's Institute of Gerontology to train employees in fraud prevention, enabling staff to identify and stop scams through careful questioning—such as one incident where a teller prevented a woman from withdrawing $20,000 after confirming her daughter was not actually in jail. The initiative focuses on educating consumers and front-line workers to recognize common impersonation schemes involving government agencies like the IRS, Social Security Administration, and local
aikenstandard.com
Financial crime specialists from SRP Federal Credit Union presented information to the Aiken Senior Men's Club about recognizing and reporting online scams targeting seniors. The presentation covered major scam types including investment scams, imposter scams, and romance scams, noting that reported consumer losses from scams totaled $12.54 billion in 2024, and identified red flags such as unsolicited contact, urgent pressure, requests for personal information, and unconventional payment methods.
katv.com
A 68-year-old Little Rock man, David Nelson, was arrested for operating a sweepstakes scam that defrauded an Ohio senior citizen of over $89,000. Nelson posed as a Publishers Clearing House employee and convinced the victim she had won $3 million, then persuaded her to send personal checks for taxes before claiming the prize. He faces felony theft charges in Franklin County, Ohio, and is currently awaiting extradition from an Arkansas jail.
sierradailynews.com
Three individuals were arrested in Douglas County for extortion schemes targeting local residents through fraudulent emails impersonating companies like Microsoft, with two suspects apprehended in Genoa on May 2 (Junyan Wu, 22, and Lirui Diao, 21) and a third arrested in Gardnerville Ranchos on May 7 (Quan Fu Ma, 45). All three face charges including extortion, exploitation of the elderly, and conspiracy, with bail ranging from $52,509 to $100,000. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with the FBI and other agencies, hosted a free Senior Scam Seminar to educate residents on
chicagocrusader.com
Over 75 seniors and family members attended a Fraud and Scam Prevention Seminar in Chicago on May 6, presented by JPMorgan Chase, the Chicago Police Department, and Chicago Commons, to learn protective strategies against financial fraud targeting older Americans. Illinois residents lost over $324 million to scams in the previous year, with seniors remaining highly vulnerable, and the event educated participants on common tactics including romance fraud, fake IRS calls, tech support scams, and impersonation schemes using the "Four Ps" framework (Pretend, Problem/Prize, Payment, Pressure). Attendees received practical guidance on fraud prevention, including setting up account alerts, using unique passwords, enabling
steil.house.gov
In 2024, 2.6 million Americans lost over $12.5 billion to scams, prompting Congressmen Steil, Harder, and Meuser to introduce a bipartisan resolution designating May 8th as National Scam Survivor Day. The resolution aims to reduce stigma around victimization, encourage survivors to share their experiences for awareness, and foster collaboration between government, private sector, and nonprofits to prevent future scams targeting seniors, veterans, and other vulnerable populations.
welivesecurity.com
Jury duty scams involve fraudsters impersonating government officials or court workers who contact victims by phone, email, or text claiming they missed jury service and must pay a fine immediately or face arrest. Scammers use threatening language, phishing tactics, requests for personal information (like Social Security numbers), and demand payment via untraceable methods such as cryptocurrency, gift cards, or payment apps. Legitimate courts never request payment over the phone for missed jury service, and actual summonses and notices are only sent via USPS mail with fines issued only after repeated ignored notices.
aol.com
According to the FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Report, Americans over 60 lost approximately $4.885 billion to cybercrimes in 2024—about 40% of all reported cybercrime losses—averaging $83,000 per victim, representing a 46% increase in complaints from the prior year. Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to declining digital literacy and financial awareness, with investment scams, tech support scams, and romance scams causing the largest losses, often involving cryptocurrency. The most common cyberattacks targeting this demographic include phishing, spoofing, extortion, sextortion, and personal data breaches, with criminals exploiting loneliness and trust
aol.com
According to the FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Report, Americans aged 60+ reported approximately 147,000 cybercrimes totaling $4.885 billion in losses, averaging $83,000 per victim—representing 40% of all cybercrime losses despite being a portion of complainants. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to phishing, tech support scams, investment fraud, and romance scams due to declining digital literacy and social isolation, with investment scams causing the largest financial losses for this age group.
ice.gov
A Cameroonian criminal organization operating across southern California defrauded at least 100 elderly victims of over $10 million through phone and email scams impersonating law enforcement and bank employees, as well as fake real estate sales schemes. Leslie Kibula Bongajum, 34, is wanted on money laundering charges after three co-conspirators were arrested in February 2024; the group created 36 shell companies, 145 fraudulent bank accounts, and 32 fake mailboxes to launder stolen funds and facilitate their asylum system abuse. The conspiracy operated from at least November 2021 to the present, with victims tricked into transferring money to accounts controlled by
ice.gov
A Nigerian national, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for his role in an international inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending fraudulent letters falsely claiming victims were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased overseas relatives, then convincing them to send money for delivery fees and taxes that never resulted in any actual inheritance payments. The investigation was conducted by ICE, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and international law enforcement agencies from the UK, Spain, and Portugal.
oag.ca.gov
A California caretaker was charged with felony embezzlement and theft from a dependent adult after stealing over $400,000 from a Pechanga Band of Indians citizen between October 2018 and January 2021. The caretaker used the victim's monthly tribal funds for personal expenses including vacations, dining, and mortgage payments. The California Attorney General's Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse filed charges for embezzlement, theft from a dependent adult, and grand theft exceeding $100,000.
thebeaconnews.org
An 85-year-old Kansas woman named Shirley Crow died in November 2024 after her family reported suspected neglect by her caretaker to Adult Protective Services on October 5, 2024, alleging missed medications and missed medical appointments. The case remained open eight months later with minimal investigation progress, as the assigned caseworker carried a caseload of 70 other cases; the Kansas Department for Children and Families does not publicly share investigator caseload data, though analysis suggests investigators in some regions handle 12-14 new cases monthly, and proposed federal cuts threaten to further weaken the adult protective services system.
buckscounty.gov
A Bucks County resident fell victim to an impersonation scam in which a caller falsely claimed there was an arrest warrant and threatened immediate arrest unless payment was made; the scammer reinforced the deception by sending a fabricated arrest warrant photo via text, causing the frightened victim to comply and pay money. The Bucks County District Attorney's Office and local police are investigating the case, which exemplifies how scammers use fear and urgency to manipulate victims into sending funds.
southwestledger.news
Christine Joan Echohawk, 54, of Pawnee, Oklahoma was charged with five felonies for laundering approximately $1.5 million obtained through online romance scams targeting four elderly women (ages 64-79) in Florida, Utah, and Texas between September and December 2024. The victims, who believed they were in romantic relationships with a man using the alias "Maurice Dinero," sent funds via Apple gift cards, cash, checks, and wire transfers to accounts Echohawk controlled, which she converted to cryptocurrency and forwarded to an unknown suspect. If convicted, Echohawk faces 24 to 62 years in prison and up to $260,
wjactv.com
**Summary:**
Windber Police Chief Andy Frear warned of increased phone scams targeting older adults in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, after two recent victims lost tens of thousands of dollars. Scammers use various pretexts—claiming loved ones have been arrested or accounts have been hacked—and request money or gift cards, with older people being the primary targets. Chief Frear urges family members to alert elderly relatives about these scams and recommends calling police immediately or contacting their bank if they suspect fraud.
indiawest.com
A 21-year-old Indian student, Kishan Kumar Singh, was arrested in North Carolina for impersonating a federal agent to defraud a 78-year-old woman into withdrawing money under the false claim her bank accounts were compromised. Singh faces felony charges including elder exploitation and is being held on a $1 million bond, part of a growing pattern of Indian students involved in elder fraud schemes targeting seniors nationwide.