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in General Elder Fraud
paymentsjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
A Fortiguard security officer discovered a sophisticated "no-phish" phishing scam that exploits PayPal's legitimate money request feature, using authentic PayPal emails and URLs to direct victims to the real PayPal site where fraudsters submit fake payment requests. The scam bypasses typical warning signs consumers are trained to identify, making it particularly dangerous; in this case, a $2,185.96 payment was requested. Security experts recommend the best defense is bypassing email links entirely and logging directly into financial accounts to verify any transaction requests.
psychologytoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Rural Americans face unique vulnerabilities to fraud due to geographic isolation, limited access to resources, and higher concentrations of older adults who report larger financial losses to scams. Rural residents are more reliant on online services for shopping, may turn to online dating platforms due to limited in-person social opportunities, and often encounter barriers to reporting scams including decreased government trust, lack of support services, and social stigma. Scammers exploit these vulnerabilities through various schemes including online shopping fraud, romance scams, and disaster relief impersonation, yet rural fraud trends remain largely undocumented because most consumer protection agencies do not differentiate data by population density.
wxyz.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is a news roundup that does not contain elder fraud content. The piece covers the 2025 Detroit Auto Show, LA wildfires affecting a metro Detroit music producer, and Lions playoff games' economic impact. The headline references "jury duty phone scams" but the article text is cut off and does not provide details about this scam type.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
A 2025 awareness article from AARP highlights that 73% of Colorado adults worry about scams and fraud, then outlines six common red flags to recognize fraud attempts, including requests for non-traditional payments, unsolicited contact, demands for personal information, artificial urgency, unrealistic offers, and lack of verifiable contact information. The article encourages individuals to trust their instincts and provides resources including the AARP ElderWatch helpline (800-222-4444) for fraud questions and assistance.
kdhlradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam attempts in Minnesota and globally are escalating, with over $1.03 trillion lost to scammers in 2024, increasingly aided by artificial intelligence that generates convincing phishing emails, fake images, and cloned voices. High-risk scams include imposter schemes (grandparent and romance scams with median losses of $800), government imposter scams ($14,000+ median loss), cryptocurrency scams, employment scams, and task scams (which increased from 5,000 reports in 2023 to 20,000 in the first half of 2024). Scammers exploit recent disasters and events while using AI to intensify existing frau
newsregister.com
· 2025-12-08
This opinion column discusses the widespread problem of consumer fraud in America and globally, noting that the FTC estimated over $10 billion in U.S. consumer fraud in 2024 while worldwide losses exceeded $1.03 trillion. The piece highlights that elderly people are particularly vulnerable due to their trust, but cautions that even cautious individuals can fall victim to increasingly sophisticated scams involving AI deepfakes, impostor schemes, romance fraud, and investment fraud. The author emphasizes that people should be vigilant about sharing personal information, clicking suspicious links, and falling for phishing emails, as scams can cause life-altering financial damage within hours.
theglobeandmail.com
· 2025-12-08
In June 2021, a Toronto woman lost approximately $355,000 in a romance fraud scheme after being befriended on Facebook by a man posing as "Moshe Theodor McNigh" who convinced her to invest in bitcoin through a fraudulent website; the scammer was later identified as Nigerian national Omonkhoa Precious Afure and arrested by Nigerian authorities, resulting in the recovery of $225,000 in December 2021. Romance fraud represents the second-highest-grossing scam type in Canada with $37.2 million in reported losses as of September 2024, characterized by perpetrators grooming vulnerable victims over weeks or months, building trust, an
wbur.org
· 2025-12-08
Judith Boivin, an 80-year-old Maryland retiree, lost $600,000 of her life savings in an elaborate government impersonation scam in September 2023. Scammers posing as FBI and local police officers convinced her that her Social Security number was being used for drug trafficking and money laundering, then persuaded her to withdraw her retirement funds in cash under the guise of assisting a federal investigation. This case exemplifies a broader trend of sophisticated scams targeting well-meaning Americans, particularly those with caregiving backgrounds and strong civic values.
observer-reporter.com
· 2025-12-08
CHROME Federal Credit Union launched the Trusted Contact program in late 2024, a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau-recommended service that allows members to designate a trusted contact without granting financial access, enabling the credit union to reach out if potential fraud is detected. The initiative responds to a documented surge in elder fraud, with $3.4 billion in losses reported in 2023 and elder fraud complaints rising 14% year-over-year. CHROME, which serves approximately 14,000 members across eight Southwestern Pennsylvania counties, positioned the program as a critical protection tool amid growing fraud and scam awareness concerns.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A Maryland senior lost nearly $600,000 to a government impersonation scam after receiving a spoofed call from someone claiming to be an FBI agent investigating alleged drug cartel activity involving her Social Security number. Over months of contact, the scammer convinced her to withdraw cash for a "government safety locker" while maintaining her silence. Government impersonation scams remain common and cost consumers $76 million in 2023; protection involves knowing that legitimate agencies do not call unsolicited, threaten immediate payment, or request personal information over the phone.
cookcountynews-herald.com
· 2025-12-08
The Senior LinkAge Line will host a virtual presentation on February 12, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to address health care fraud, waste, and abuse prevention for seniors. The educational event aims to help older adults recognize and prevent fraudulent health care schemes.
malaymail.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Malaysia's Commercial Crime Investigation Department reported 770 love scam cases resulting in RM45.9 million in losses, with elderly women aged 61 and above representing the highest demographic affected at 173 victims. Approximately 75.6% of all love scam victims were women, with syndicates primarily using Facebook and WhatsApp to identify and manipulate emotionally vulnerable targets through increasingly sophisticated tactics.
etvbharat.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens and retired officials in Kashmir are falling victim to a social media extortion scam in which scammers—often posing as young women on Facebook—befriend older men under the guise of career guidance, then record private conversations to blackmail and extort money. Police report that victims are reluctant to file formal complaints due to shame and embarrassment, allowing the scheme to continue unchecked. Cyber Police Kashmir recovered Rs 4.72 crore from online scam victims in the previous year, and authorities warn that cybercriminals continue to develop new tactics to manipulate vulnerable populations.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
This article announces Sheryl Harris, Director of the Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs in Ohio, as the recipient of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection Partner Award for her long-standing work combating scams and elder fraud. Harris leads the Scam Squad initiative, which coordinates multiple agencies to alert residents about scams, encourage reporting, and share information with appropriate law enforcement, while also championing the Consumer Sentinel Network database and using innovative communication methods like text alerts to reach communities. Her contributions include creating plain-language scam alerts, collaborating on the Stop Senior Scams Act working committees, and establishing herself as a trusted voice on consumer protection through her journalism and community engagement efforts.
witf.org
· 2025-12-08
The Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers and credit union representatives are advocating for new legislation to protect seniors from elder financial abuse, citing tech support scams, romance scams, and investment frauds as prevalent threats. They are urging updates to Pennsylvania's Older Adults Protective Services Act to mandate reporting of suspected elder financial abuse and allow banks to place temporary holds on suspicious transactions while notifying law enforcement and aging agencies. The groups emphasize that trained bank employees can serve as critical safeguards against financial exploitation of older adults.
wpst.com
· 2025-12-08
After her 85-year-old mother was targeted by phone scammers who eventually showed up at her home impersonating a bank representative, New Jersey woman Gogie Padilla created Answer Sure, a phone vetting service that re-routes incoming calls through a staffed call center or mobile app where callers must provide a correct password or phrase before being connected. The service is available for both landlines and mobile devices, with users typically seeing a significant drop in scam calls within three weeks as scammers move on to easier targets.
dailyexcelsior.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** Rahul Dogra - 2025 Cyber Scams in India
This article outlines emerging sophisticated scams in India driven by AI and deepfake technology, including KYC/bank scams where fraudsters impersonate officials to steal sensitive information, job fraud schemes demanding upfront fees for non-existent positions, and digital arrest scams using intimidation tactics to extort settlement payments. Additional scams target elderly individuals through medical emergencies and fake insurance, electricity bill scams threatening service disconnection, and romance scams, with prevention advice emphasizing direct verification with official sources, avoidance of unsolicited links, and independent research before sharing personal
northwestsignal.net
· 2025-12-08
The Fulton County Sheriff's Office presented on emerging online scams targeting seniors, including impersonation schemes, grandparent scams using AI voice manipulation, counterfeit QR codes, and fake bond collection visits. Presenters advised attendees to verify caller identity through personal questions, watch for international phone numbers marked with "+," and remember that legitimate agencies never request money or warrant information by phone. A local victim lost $10,000 in a fake bail scam, though recovery occurred in this rare case.
newslj.com
· 2025-12-08
This article compiles multiple elder fraud alerts and prevention tips: A Wyoming resident received an extortion email falsely claiming malware access (a common scare tactic), while another fell victim to a phishing email impersonating Microsoft to steal account credentials. The Identity Theft Resource Center predicts cybercrime will surge in 2025 due to reduced government resources and increased AI exploitation, while identity fraud cost Americans $43 billion in 2023—with veterans particularly vulnerable, losing $477 million that year to service-focused scams. Key prevention measures include verifying sender identities, avoiding suspicious attachments and links, using strong passwords with multi-factor authentication, and monitoring credit reports regularly.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
The Kern County Sheriff's Office warned residents of a phone scam in which callers impersonate law enforcement (claiming to be "Sergeant Youngblood") and demand electronic payments via gift cards or bitcoin to resolve alleged warrants, missed court appearances, or jury duty violations, threatening arrest if payment is not made. The scammers use spoofing technology to display the Sheriff's Office callback number and may pressure victims to visit the Sheriff's Office afterward. The Sheriff's Office clarified that legitimate law enforcement never requests payment over the phone and that warrant arrests are made in person, not via phone calls.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A senior citizen in Ipoh lost approximately RM974,000 in an investment scam after being recruited through Facebook and added to a WhatsApp group promoting a fake "Nasional Malaysian Finance Management Association." The victim was deceived into downloading a fraudulent app (PGLO.PRO) that promised 20% returns and made 16 transactions before discovering the scheme's non-existence. Police advise the public to verify investment opportunities through official regulatory bodies like the Securities Commission, Bank Negara, and Companies Commission before investing.
westerniowatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Rural seniors are frequent targets of scammers, particularly through the Grandparent Scam, where fraudsters request money in non-traditional forms. According to Michelle Reinen of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, establishing a secret family passcode can serve as an effective protection measure to prevent seniors from sending money to scammers impersonating grandchildren or other family members.
mychesco.com
· 2025-12-08
State Representative Chris Pielli and the Housing Authority of Chester County organized a free "Scam Jam" educational event on January 16 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, to teach seniors how to recognize and avoid fraud. The event featured experts from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, the Attorney General's Office, the District Attorney's Office, and local police who discussed evolving scam tactics and strategies for protecting personal information.
wpbf.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in South Florida are targeting elderly residents with fake McAfee security alerts that appear on computers, instructing victims to call a number and authorize "transfer tests" into their bank accounts, then manipulate them into withdrawing cash to be picked up by couriers. Two victims lost a combined $57,000 ($40,000 and $17,000), and while one courier was arrested in Martin County, no money was recovered; authorities encourage reporting through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311, as many cases go unreported due to victim embarrassment or fear.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Maryland senior, Judith Boivin, lost nearly $595,000 to a government impersonation scam in which fraudsters posed as FBI agents and Rockville Police, claiming her Social Security number was involved in a federal drug investigation and asking her to move funds to a "government safety locker" for protection. The scammers used spoofed caller IDs, fake FBI email addresses with .com domains, assigned case IDs, and maintained contact over months to build trust and credibility. Government impersonation scams—where criminals pose as FBI, IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare, or other agencies to pressure victims into immediate payments or asset transfers—are widesprea
abcnews.go.com
· 2025-12-08
As wildfires devastated Los Angeles County, authorities warned the public about scammers creating fraudulent charities and nonprofits to exploit donors' generosity, with elderly individuals, immigrants, and non-English speakers identified as particularly vulnerable targets. Officials recommended verifying organizations through sites like Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau, using traceable payment methods instead of cash, and reporting suspected fraud to law enforcement, emphasizing that perpetrators would face prosecution.
paymentsjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals have discovered a method to bypass Apple's iOS phishing protections by instructing text message recipients to reply with simple responses like "yes" or "no," which reactivates disabled malicious links. iPhone users have received fraudulent texts impersonating USPS and toll agencies using this technique, and even replying to such messages identifies the user as active to scammers for further attacks. Security experts emphasize that technology companies, telecommunications providers, and financial institutions must collaborate to prevent these increasingly sophisticated phishing schemes, which often employ AI and impersonate legitimate companies at scale.
sundayworld.com
· 2025-12-08
Patrick Wall, a 24-year-old Irish man, was arrested in Nassau County, Long Island, and released on bail after allegedly defrauding elderly homeowners of approximately $100,000 through a home repair scam spanning from September 2023 to his arrest. Wall would pose as a masonry worker, identify repair needs at elderly victims' homes, then deliberately cause additional damage and inflate repair costs to extract inflated payments and cheques. He faces charges of larceny, conspiracy, fraud, and criminal mischief, with police seeking additional victims to come forward.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
A family friend scammed British Columbia seniors out of $300,000 in what authorities are investigating as a financial exploitation case. The incident highlights the vulnerability of seniors to fraud perpetrated by individuals within their trusted social circles.
wibx950.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
An upstate New York senior lost over $10,000 in a phone scam on January 12, 2025, when scammers impersonated government agencies, utility companies, tech firms, or relatives to solicit money and personal information. The New Hartford Police Department is warning residents to never send money or gift cards over the phone, hang up on suspicious callers, verify claims independently, and report suspicious activity to local law enforcement.
lpheralddispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot summarize this content. The text provided is simply a list of country names and their official designations, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse.
To create a summary for the Elderus database, please provide an actual article or transcript about elder fraud, scams, or abuse that contains information about what happened, who was affected, the type of scam involved, and relevant details like dollar amounts or outcomes.
consumerfinance.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed a rule to ban financial companies from using contract clauses that strip consumers of fundamental rights, including waivers of legal protections, suppression of speech, unilateral contract changes, and forced confessions of judgment. The rule specifically protects elder fraud protections and other statutory rights while preventing companies from punishing customers for negative reviews or political speech, with enforcement authority extended to state Attorneys General. Comments on the proposed rule are due by April 1, 2025.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
On January 9, 2025, Tulare Police arrested 28-year-old Hailong He in connection with an investment scam that defrauded an elderly victim of $130,000. The suspects posed as a trading company and used a fictitious phone application to convince the victim to invest money, arranging in-person cash pickups at his home and pressuring him for an additional $90,000 under false pretenses of account closure fees. Police conducted surveillance and apprehended the suspect during a planned third transaction, charging him with Financial Elder Abuse, Theft Under False Pretenses, and Grand Theft.
abc7.com
· 2025-12-08
Following wildfires in Los Angeles, California issued emergency protections against price gouging through January 2026, limiting price increases to 10% on housing, materials, and services. State Attorney General Rob Bonta warned of multiple scams targeting displaced residents, including fake charities, contractor fraud demanding deposits, and impersonation schemes targeting elderly individuals, immigrants, and non-English speakers; violators of price gouging laws face up to $10,000 in fines and jail time.
nij.ojp.gov
· 2025-12-08
A National Institute of Justice-funded analysis of seized scammer databases containing records on over 1.3 million victims from 1999-2018 found that older adults experienced disproportionate harm from mail fraud compared to younger victims. Victims in their 70s and 80s suffered more fraud incidents and lost significantly more money, with those in their 80s accounting for nearly 30% of total losses despite representing fewer than 15% of victims. The study also found that older adults were more likely to become repeat victims, with those in their 70s and 80s being 9% more likely to be defrauded again compared to victims in their 50s
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A West Delhi man lost Rs 9 lakh after fraudsters posing as electricity department officials called him, initially requesting a small payment of Rs 13, then tricked him into downloading a malicious app that gave them remote access to his smartphone and bank account. Between December 29-31, the scammers conducted multiple unauthorized transactions, which the victim discovered and reported to police. The scam employed a common tactic of building trust through small initial payments and personal details before deploying malware to gain device access.
bethesdamagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old Rockville man, Ravinklejeet Mathon, was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in a gold bar scam targeting a 94-year-old Silver Spring resident who nearly lost $230,000. Mathon posed as a federal agent, convincing the victim his identity had been stolen and directing him to purchase gold bars for safekeeping; detectives disrupted the scheme by substituting metal tools for the gold bars during a sting operation and arrested Mathon when he attempted to pick up the package. This was Montgomery County's first conviction in a local gold bar scam, and the case reflects a broader pattern of organized international fraud targeting elderly victims.
siouxfallslive.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
This is a personal essay by an 81-year-old former reporter reflecting on the vulnerability of older adults to financial scams. The author discusses why seniors are targeted—they tend to have accumulated savings, grew up in an era of greater trust, and often lack confidence with technology—while noting that many fall victim through confusion, desire to help others, or emotional manipulation rather than greed. The piece emphasizes that scams undermine societal trust and suggests that older adults should be slower to trust and quicker to question, particularly in the digital realm.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The New York StateWide Senior Action Council identified Medicare Prescription Drug Cap Scams as its January fraud alert, warning seniors about schemes exploiting the new $2,000 annual out-of-pocket prescription drug limit that began January 1, 2025. Common tactics include unsolicited calls requesting personal information, demands for upfront "processing fees" to access benefits, and claims that beneficiaries need additional cards or documentation. The council advises seniors to never share personal information with unsolicited callers, verify Medicare statements, and report suspected fraud to the NYS Medicare Fraud Helpline at 800-333-4374.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
As of January 1, 2025, Medicare implemented a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap for prescription drugs under Part D, but scammers are exploiting this new benefit through fraudulent schemes including unsolicited calls requesting personal information, demands for upfront "processing fees" to qualify for the cap, and false claims requiring extra documentation or cards. The New York StateWide Senior Action Council warns seniors not to share personal information with unsolicited contacts, to verify Medicare statements, and to report suspected fraud to the NYS Medicare Fraud Helpline at 800-333-4374, noting that Medicare fraud costs taxpayers over $60 billion annually.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens in Northeast Ohio are increasingly targeted by imposter scams, with scammers using fear tactics like false emergency claims to pressure victims into immediate payment. Many victims avoid reporting due to shame or fear of losing independence, but authorities urge reporting to prevent future scams and access support services. Resources like the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging and Cuyahoga County Scam Squad are available to help victims and educate seniors on recognizing and responding to fraud.
patriotledger.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article warns about "smishing" scams—fraudulent text messages that trick recipients into clicking malicious links or providing personal information. Digital coach Grace Buscher recommends that targets question unexpected messages, verify requests through official channels, delete suspicious texts, and report them to authorities and their service providers. The article provides guidance for seniors and the general public to protect themselves from this growing scam threat.
wtsp.com
· 2025-12-08
Andrew Leisenring was sworn in as the 20th police chief of the Venice Police Department, bringing 18 years of law enforcement experience from his tenure with the department since 2007. Among his key priorities is combating elder-targeted fraud and internet scams affecting Venice's senior population, a problem the department is addressing through community outreach and a dedicated elder fraud investigator position added last year to prevent residents from losing their life savings.
financebuzz.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational piece examining disadvantages of retiring to Florida, rather than an elder fraud or abuse case. It advises prospective retirees to consider practical challenges before relocating, including high housing costs and insurance premiums, hurricane risks, extreme heat and humidity that can worsen health conditions, high summer utility bills, overburdened healthcare systems in popular areas, and limited public transportation options.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Three Chinese nationals pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their roles in a large-scale scheme that obtained fraudulent gift cards through hacking, romance scams, and elder fraud schemes, then used them to purchase approximately $4.8 million in Apple products for export to China and Southeast Asia. Naxin Wu, Mengying Jiang, and Mingdong Chen were members of a New Hampshire-based cell that deliberately operated in states without sales tax to maximize profits, with Wu responsible for $1.4 million, Jiang for $3 million, and Chen for $400,000 in fraudulent gift card purchases. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2025, with
journal-news.net
· 2025-12-08
Joseph Beach, 55, of Inwood, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining $253,867.12 from his elderly father while serving as his court-appointed fiduciary, misusing the father's veterans disability, retirement, and Social Security benefits. Beach pleaded guilty to wire fraud in March 2024 and was ordered to pay full restitution of $253,876.12. The case highlights financial exploitation by family members, which the National Coalition on Aging identifies as one of the most common forms of elder abuse, causing an estimated $28.3 billion in annual losses nationwide.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Joseph Beach, age 55, of West Virginia, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for wire fraud after fraudulently obtaining $253,867.12 from his elderly father while serving as the father's fiduciary. Beach misappropriated his father's veteran's disability, retirement, and social security benefits for personal use, and was ordered to pay full restitution and serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
miamiherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors, particularly homeowners age 62 and older who control approximately $14 trillion in housing wealth, lose around $28.3 billion annually to financial exploitation from various perpetrators including family members (who commit two-thirds of verified cases), contractors, loan brokers, and caregivers. Common scams involve fraudulent reverse mortgages, home equity loans, and home improvement schemes, with notable cases including a loan broker exploiting a widow with dementia and a hairstylist depleting three women's assets. Family members and friends should discuss major financial decisions with elderly relatives, ask critical questions about who benefits from transactions, and watch for red flags like isolation from family, missing statements
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2025-12-08
A 93-year-old Georgia resident lost $109,000 after a scammer gained remote computer access by posing as an old friend, convincing him he needed to return an accidentally deposited $100,000. While Georgia's 2023 SPEAR Act allows the state to delay suspicious transactions for up to 25 days and has been used over 550 times, most banks remain under federal regulation and are not required to implement similar protections, leaving seniors vulnerable as Congress debates stronger federal safeguards.
fairfaxcounty.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly hiding malicious links in QR codes placed in unexpected locations to trick people into compromising their personal information or accounts. The article provides protective measures including verifying QR code sources before scanning, avoiding codes in unsolicited messages, using secure QR scanners, and maintaining strong security practices on devices. Victims of "quishing" (QR code phishing) scams should contact local police and file reports through the Financial Crimes Information and Online Reporting System (FiCOR).