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local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Georgia has implemented new fraud training requirements for police officers to identify fraud, abuse, and neglect of older adults and people with disabilities, with legislation requiring specialized dementia training for first responders. Georgia residents age 60 and over reported losing more than $92 million to fraud in 2023, up from $33.5 million in 2021, with over one-third of the state's 28,546 abuse reports in 2024 involving financial exploitation. These initiatives represent increased collaboration among law enforcement, advocates, and government agencies to protect Georgia's growing elderly population, which is projected to comprise more than 1 in 5 residents by 2030.
tampafp.com
· 2025-12-08
Five individuals were sentenced in federal court for conspiring to defraud retirement accounts of elderly and retired Florida school district employees between January and March 2022. Ringleader Ronald Vargas, a retirement specialist, exploited his position to access personal information of retirees and deceased individuals, which he provided to accomplices who created fraudulent withdrawal requests; the scheme targeted 25 different 401(k) accounts and resulted in a net loss of $1.1 million. The defendants received sentences ranging from 6 months to 87 months in federal prison, with Floyd Bostic receiving the longest sentence for his role as money launderer.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Five defendants were sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and identity theft targeting elderly retired Florida school district employees' 401(k) retirement accounts between January and March 2022. The conspirators, including a retirement specialist with inside access to personal information, fraudulently withdrew approximately $1.1 million from 25 different accounts, some belonging to deceased individuals, with sentences ranging from 6 months to 87 months in federal prison. The scheme involved creating fake withdrawal forms, processing them through the company's system, and laundering the stolen funds through various bank accounts.
koaa.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, scammers stole $243.5 million from Colorado victims and over $16 billion nationwide, according to FBI data—a $56 million increase in Colorado compared to 2023. Seniors aged 60 and older reported 3,125 complaints involving $74.5 million in losses, with the most costly schemes being investment fraud ($90 million), business email compromise ($48 million), and personal data breaches ($23 million). The FBI warns that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using social media, dating sites, and text messages to build trust before pitching fraudulent cryptocurrency and other investment schemes, with recovery of stolen funds typically
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Eau Claire Police Department warned of a social media scam falsely claiming a local police officer was missing, presented as a silver alert to encourage sharing. The scam circulates initially as a missing person post before being changed to a survey offering cash prizes, designed to trick people into providing personal information for identity theft. Detective Justin Greuel advised the public to verify requests independently, note inconsistencies (such as silver alerts being for elderly persons only), and avoid sharing suspicious posts, as trusted sources sharing the content can lower people's guard against the fraud.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A 42-year-old Hawaii man pleaded guilty to wire fraud for defrauding a 78-year-old Orange County victim of approximately $1.8 million through false promises to broker the sale of his yacht and fraudulent transfer of his home into a controlled LLC. McCabe used fabricated documents to steal yacht ownership, diverted the proceeds to his personal account, and obtained $1 million in loans against the victim's residence, ultimately causing the home to be foreclosed and leaving the victim homeless. McCabe faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison at his October 16 sentencing hearing.
cw34.com
· 2025-12-08
Five fraudsters were sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to steal over $1.1 million from retired Florida school employees' 401(k) retirement accounts, with sentences ranging from 6 months to 87 months. The scheme was orchestrated by Ronald Vargas, a retirement specialist who stole funds and transferred them to accomplices including Lambert Aguebor, Floyd Bostic, Grace Aguebor, and Sarina Levy, who then laundered the money through personal accounts, businesses, and real estate purchases. The court ordered all five defendants to pay $1 million in restitution to victims and serve supervised release periods following their imprisonment.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, a 47-year-old man from Bessemer, Alabama, was sentenced to 50 months in prison for defrauding an elderly family member with dementia of $550,000 between September and December 2023. Pruitt executed a fraudulent Power of Attorney, became a joint account holder, altered beneficiaries, and transferred funds to his personal accounts without the victim's knowledge or permission. His sentence was enhanced due to perjury committed during his trial testimony.
abc3340.com
· 2025-12-08
Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, a 47-year-old from Bessemer, Alabama, was sentenced to 50 months in prison for defrauding an elderly family member with dementia of $550,000 between September and December 2023. Pruitt obtained a Power of Attorney without the victim's knowledge, made himself a joint account holder, altered beneficiary designations, and transferred funds to personal accounts, later providing inconsistent explanations when confronted. His sentence was enhanced due to perjury committed during his trial testimony, and he was convicted on two counts of wire fraud.
wtsp.com
· 2025-12-08
A 92-year-old Tampa Bay-area man lost over $800,000 in a romance and financial fraud scam perpetrated by Otiz Swinton Jr., 37, a repeat offender arrested in Orlando who posed as a woman online to gain access to the victim's investment accounts, subsequently draining funds through forged checks, unauthorized card use, cryptocurrency transactions, and identity theft between June 2022 and his arrest. Swinton had been released from prison just months prior after serving seven years for defrauding over 50 people of $1 million in a similar scheme, and authorities warn that isolated seniors are particularly vulnerable to such scams and should never grant financial access to
abcactionnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 37-year-old convicted felon, Otiz Swinton Jr., was arrested in Orlando for defrauding a 92-year-old Sun City Center man of over $800,000 through a romantic deception scheme involving bank fraud. The perpetrator drained the victim's accounts through multiple methods including cryptocurrency transfers, ATM withdrawals, and counterfeit checks totaling $14.3 million, and was apprehended after being caught on camera using the victim's Wells Fargo card at a Publix store. Swinton Jr. was charged with multiple counts including fraudulent use of personal information of an elderly person, credit card fraud, and ut
upi.com
· 2025-12-08
Five individuals were sentenced to federal prison for defrauding retired Florida school district employees through identity theft and unauthorized withdrawal of retirement funds. The conspiracy, which involved a retirement specialist who worked at a company administering 401(k) accounts, resulted in the theft of $1.1 million from 25 different retirement accounts; sentences ranged from six months to 87 months, and all defendants were ordered to pay restitution.
rmpbs.org
· 2025-12-08
An 86-year-old Colorado resident named Beverly Russman has been repeatedly targeted by multiple scams over several years, including fake urgent payment demands, ATM withdrawal schemes, and the "Grandparent Scam," which nearly cost her thousands of dollars before bank tellers and family intervention stopped her. According to the FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report, Colorado ranks seventh nationwide in senior fraud complaints, with scammers stealing over $54 million from seniors that year, with perpetrators often using personal information gleaned from social media and obituaries to target victims. Experts note that seniors are prime fraud targets due to their financial assets, and victims can report fraud to the FTC but
newsandsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
The First United Methodist Church in Parkersburg hosted an elder fraud awareness and prevention event attended by 56 seniors, featuring FBI Special Agents Jonas Lagergren and Aaron Lee from the FBI Pittsburgh Division. The agents presented updated data on common fraud schemes from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center Annual Report and provided guidance on protecting against fraudulent activity and reporting procedures to the FBI.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Terrance Pruitt, a 47-year-old from Bessemer, Alabama, was sentenced to 50 months in prison for defrauding an elderly family member with dementia in 2023. Pruitt fraudulently obtained power of attorney, became a joint account holder, and transferred $550,000 from the victim's bank accounts to his own personal accounts, using the funds for personal benefit. He was convicted on two counts of wire fraud in December 2024.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 21-year-old international student, Kishan Kumar Singh, was arrested in Guilford County, North Carolina, after attempting to scam a 78-year-old Stokesdale woman by impersonating law enforcement officers and federal agents. The scammers falsely claimed the victim's name was linked to criminal activity and her bank accounts were compromised, pressuring her to withdraw money for "safekeeping" during an investigation. Singh was apprehended when he arrived at the victim's home to collect the money and is being held on a $1 million bond facing charges of felony attempting to obtain property by false pretenses and felony exploitation of an elder adult.
wbrc.com
· 2025-12-08
A 47-year-old Bessemer man, Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, was sentenced to 50 months in prison for defrauding an elderly family member with dementia by fraudulently obtaining power of attorney, becoming a joint account holder, and transferring approximately $550,000 from the victim's bank accounts to his own between September and December 2023. Pruitt was convicted of two counts of wire fraud, with his sentence enhanced due to perjury committed during trial testimony. The FBI investigated the case, and victims of financial fraud can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.
saltwire.com
· 2025-12-08
Luiggi Giovanni Yataco, 35, was sentenced for his role in the "Grandparent Scam," defrauding seniors in St. John's and Gander of nearly $27,900 in October 2023 by posing as a lawyer and claiming grandchildren needed bail money for car accidents. Yataco pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud and one count of wearing a disguise, claiming he was merely a "money mule" collecting cash envelopes, though he was arrested when police caught him attempting to pick up money from one of the victims. The scam is part of a broader pattern affecting Canadian seniors, with over $23
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Pump-and-dump stock scams, which have existed for centuries, involve fraudsters accumulating low-priced "penny stocks," artificially inflating their value through promotional campaigns (increasingly via encrypted social media platforms), and then selling their shares at peak prices, leaving other investors unable to sell as the price crashes. These schemes exploit investors' fear of missing out (FOMO) by creating artificial urgency and buzz around stocks with little public information available. Protection strategies include avoiding investment advice from strangers, being cautious of social media investment ads, and conducting thorough research before investing in low-priced securities.
unionleader.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud has become a significant threat to adults age 60 and older in the digital age, with the U.S. Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative working to educate seniors about common scams. The article outlines five major fraud schemes targeting seniors: Social Security impostor scams (falsely claiming account suspension and requesting funds via gift cards), tech support scams (claiming virus detection and requesting remote device access), lottery scams (falsely informing victims of foreign lottery winnings and demanding fees), and romance scams (exploiting victims through dating platforms to solicit money).
nujournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Six New Ulm financial institutions have formed a collaboration to combat the growing problem of financial fraud and scams in their area, which local law enforcement reports receive daily. The banks plan to share information about detected scams and educate the public through initiatives like a free "Let's Talk About Fraud" seminar scheduled for May 28, designed to help victims understand common schemes and encourage them to report fraud without shame or fear of judgment.
gistmania.com
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old Toronto man, Chimezie Nwabueze, was charged after defrauding two victims of over $610,000 between June 2021 and July 2023 through an elaborate romance scam in which he posed as a wealthy oil rig owner and gained their trust via dating platforms before fabricating financial emergencies. Nwabueze allegedly cut off contact once victims grew suspicious, and police believe he may be part of an organized group targeting older adults; he faces multiple charges including fraud over $5,000, uttering forged documents, and money laundering, and had previously been arrested in November 2023 for a similar $250
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A Cambodia-based gang with North Korean ties operating under the Huione Group has stolen billions of dollars from Americans through "pig butchering" romance scams and investment fraud since August 2021, according to federal officials. Between August 2021 and January 2025, Huione raked in at least $4 billion in proceeds, with the operation facilitating payments and cryptocurrency exchanges that enabled the scams targeting US retirees and others through dating apps and social media. The US Treasury Department has proposed a federal rule to sever Huione Group's access to the US financial system, with one victim, Beth Hyland, losing $26,000 to a Tinder sc
today.rtl.lu
· 2025-12-08
A Luxembourg physiotherapist lost nearly €30,000 to an "alloteur" phone scam in which fraudsters impersonated his bank's fraud department, convinced him his accounts were compromised, and manipulated him into providing login credentials and authorizing account transfers under the guise of recovering stolen funds. The scammers exploited a banking vulnerability by having the victim remove security safeguards, ultimately draining his accounts while the fake advisor provided false reassurances about fund recovery. Though his bank reimbursed €17,000, the victim was denied recovery of the remaining €10,000 on grounds that he had "facilitated" the fraud, and the case remained un
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old Orange County man lost nearly $2 million and his Irvine home in a fraud scheme perpetrated by John Tamahere McCabe, 42, of Hawaii. McCabe used fabricated documents to take control of the victim's yacht, diverted the sales proceeds to himself, and later convinced the victim to transfer his home into an LLC where McCabe made himself sole manager, taking out $1 million in loans against the property before defaulting on them and causing foreclosure. McCabe pleaded guilty to wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
highlandcountypress.com
· 2025-12-08
Ohio's Departments of Commerce and Aging are warning seniors about escalating financial fraud, noting a 22% increase in scam complaints in Ohio (302 in 2024 vs. 247 in 2023) and $1.6 billion in elder fraud losses nationally from January-May 2024. Scams have become increasingly sophisticated, utilizing AI voice cloning and cryptocurrency transfers, with older adults aged 60+ now 60% more likely than younger adults to lose over $100,000. The departments recommend protective measures including verifying unfamiliar contacts, resisting pressure tactics, monitoring accounts regularly, and reporting suspected fraud immediately.
newsnationnow.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old Orange County man lost nearly $1.8 million and his home to a fraud scheme orchestrated by John Tamahere McCabe, 42, of Hawaii, who used fabricated documents to gain control of the victim's yacht and home, then diverted proceeds and took out loans against the property before defaulting on them. McCabe pleaded guilty to wire fraud and faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. The victim became homeless after his residence was sold at foreclosure.
saharareporters.com
· 2025-12-08
Friday Audu was arrested in December 2024 and arraigned in May 2025 on seven counts including retention of crime proceeds, forgery, and possession of fraudulent documents involving $2.5 million and N3.5 billion. According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Audu allegedly masterminded a 792-member syndicate engaged in cryptocurrency investment and romance scams. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody pending trial, with the case adjourned to June 2025.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Older Americans (60+) lost nearly $4.9 billion to fraud in 2024—a 43% increase from the previous year—with an average loss of $83,000 per victim, according to the FBI's annual report. Investment scams were the costliest fraud type affecting seniors ($1.8 billion), followed by tech support scams ($982 million) and romance scams ($389 million), with cryptocurrency investment fraud and pig butchering schemes emerging as rapidly growing threats. The significantly higher average loss for older adults compared to the national average of $19,000 demonstrates that while fraud affects all ages, its impact on seniors is often financially catastrophic.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian national Chimezie Nwabueze, 28, was arrested by Canadian police in April 2025 for a romance scam that defrauded two victims of $610,382 between June 2021 and July 2023. Nwabueze posed as a romantic interest on dating platforms and falsely claimed to own an oil rig in the Middle East, requesting money with promises of repayment before cutting off communication once victims questioned him. This marks his second arrest for similar fraud; he was previously charged in November 2023 for defrauding another victim of over $250,000 using the same method, and investigators believe he is part of a
azcentral.com
· 2025-12-08
Kingsley Sebastian Ibhadore, a Nigerian citizen and lawful U.S. resident from Phoenix, was sentenced to federal prison for laundering approximately $4 million in proceeds from romance scams by structuring financial transactions to evade detection. The case underscores the significant impact of organized online romance fraud schemes operating across Arizona and the nation.
azag.gov
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes launched a new webpage to publicly document cases where social media companies (Instagram, Snapchat, Telegram) are named in connection with enabling illegal activities, including drug trafficking, fraud, scams, gang violence, and human trafficking. The initiative highlights research showing that up to 13% of social media posts promote illicit drug sales and 80% of teen fentanyl deaths can be traced to social media contact, while noting that Section 230 legal protections currently shield these platforms from direct liability. Since 2022, Mayes' office has seized over 25 million fentanyl pills and 405 pounds of fentanyl powder
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A 21-year-old Indian student, Kishan Kumar Singh, was arrested in North Carolina for impersonating a federal agent and attempting to defraud a 78-year-old woman by convincing her that her bank accounts were compromised and pressuring her to withdraw cash for "safekeeping"; he was apprehended when arriving to collect the money. This marks the third arrest of an Indian student in two weeks for targeting elderly Americans through similar government impersonation scams, with Singh now facing felony charges including attempted theft and elder exploitation under a $1 million bond.
wmix94.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office partnered with the Du Quoin Public Library to host a free fraud prevention seminar on May 15 aimed at educating seniors about the latest online and phone scams targeting them. The presentation covered online scams, fraud schemes specific to seniors, and federal prosecutions in Southern Illinois, while providing attendees with detection tips and guidance on contacting law enforcement if victimized.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Older Americans reported nearly $4.9 billion stolen through fraud in 2024, a 43 percent increase from the previous year, with victims 60 and older averaging losses of $83,000—significantly higher than the overall fraud average of $19,000 across all ages. Investment scams were the leading category affecting seniors, accounting for over $1.8 billion in losses, followed by tech support scams ($982 million) and romance/confidence scams ($389 million), with cryptocurrency investment fraud emerging as a rapidly growing threat often involving "pig butchering" schemes and fraudulent cryptocurrency ATMs. The actual financial impact likely exceeds reported figures due to underreporting,
northpennnow.com
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old Philadelphia woman narrowly avoided losing money to a sophisticated tech support scam that impersonated Norton antivirus, Microsoft, and her bank to pressure her into purchasing cryptocurrency, claiming she faced arrest due to child pornography on her computer. The Federal Trade Commission reported Americans lost between $23.7 billion and $158.3 billion to financial scams in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, with experts citing artificial intelligence, dark web data access, and lack of federal oversight as enabling factors that make scams increasingly convincing and difficult to report or recover from.
wpsdlocal6.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, over 859,000 Americans filed complaints with the FBI about internet scams, resulting in $16.6 billion in losses—a 33% increase from the previous year. Investment scams caused the largest losses at $6.5 billion, while seniors aged 60+ were disproportionately targeted, losing $2.5 billion to various schemes including tech support scams ($1 billion among seniors alone), business email compromise ($2.7 billion), call center scams ($1.9 billion), and grandparent scams. The FBI advises vigilance against suspicious links, unsolicited remote access requests, and urgent money transfer requests, recomm
pragativadi.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old cancer patient from Kolkata was defrauded of Rs 49 lakh by two brothers from Rourkela who posed as officials and falsely claimed she had received a parcel containing sensitive documents and foreign currency, threatening her with legal action to coerce payment. After her son in Bengaluru alerted neighbors, the victim was taken to police, leading to the arrest of 19-year-old Chandra Prakash Tulsian, while his elder brother Shivam remains at large. The arrested suspect was granted bail with conditions including daily police check-ins as authorities continue investigating the case.
ranker.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not a traditional scam news story but rather a collection of Reddit posts discussing controversial situations involving scam-adjacent behavior. The pieces highlight disputes where individuals either refused to participate in fraud (a roommate's government rental assistance scheme) or were accused of unfair dealing (an inheritance disagreement), illustrating how scam-related ethical dilemmas divide public opinion online.
odishabytes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 19-year-old BCom student from Rourkela, Odisha, was arrested for orchestrating a digital arrest scam that defrauded a 73-year-old retired government employee in Kolkata of Rs 49 lakh in February 2024. The accused and his 25-year-old brother posed as authorities, claiming they had intercepted a parcel with her documents and foreign currency, then confined her to "digital house arrest" and coerced her to transfer funds via RTGS; the scam was discovered when her concerned son in Bengaluru alerted neighbors, leading to the arrest in May after investigation by Kolkata and Uditn
indiawest.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
wjactv.com
· 2025-12-08
**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.
southwestledger.news
· 2025-12-08
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,
buckscounty.gov
· 2025-12-08
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.
thebeaconnews.org
· 2025-12-08
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.
oag.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
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.
ice.gov
· 2025-12-08
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.
ice.gov
· 2025-12-08
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
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
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