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in General Elder Fraud
fundraising.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
UK charities became eligible to reclaim funds lost to fraud through their banks via a mandatory reimbursement scheme starting October 7, covering up to £85,000 per incident, yet awareness remains low among the affected organizations. The scheme, regulated by the Payments Systems Regulator, applies to charities with annual incomes under £1 million and covers over 95% of UK charities, with banks required to process valid claims within five working days. Fraud recovery law firm National Fraud Helpline solicitors emphasizes that banks should better publicize this protection, as charities remain vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated scams.
stalbertgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
A St. Albert senior nearly lost over $7,000 to a resurfacing "Grandparent scam" in which a caller impersonated their grandson and requested bail money, though RCMP intervention prevented the loss. The scam typically involves fraudsters contacting victims via phone, email, or social media, posing as a distressed family member needing urgent money for bail or medical expenses, and demanding payment through wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or cash courier pickup. St. Albert RCMP warns that these sophisticated criminal operations are convincing and can target anyone, and recommends victims report incidents to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Chinese nationals pleaded guilty to wire fraud for operating a gift card scam cell in Concord, New Hampshire that stole $4.8 million in Apple products. The scheme involved hacking U.S. companies and targeting American citizens through romance and elder fraud schemes to obtain gift card numbers, which were then used to purchase electronics that were shipped overseas to China and Southeast Asia. Wu, Jiang, and Chen each face up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000, with sentencing scheduled for April.
lamilano.it
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old man fell victim to an impersonation scam when a caller posing as his daughter claimed to need money for a new cell phone, resulting in a €300 loss. The investigation of this single complaint led authorities to identify nine suspects who had perpetrated over 30 similar scams across central Italy using the same technique, defrauding elderly victims of more than €50,000 total. All suspects were referred to judicial authorities for fraud charges.
thv11.com
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old caregiver in North Little Rock, Arkansas pleaded guilty to elder abuse after striking an 82-year-old dementia and Alzheimer's patient at a senior living facility, leaving her with facial and forearm bruises. McClendon was sentenced to five years of probation and a $1,000 fine in Pulaski County Circuit Court.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Three defendants—Gemma Traya Austin of Chula Vista and Michael Cris Traya Sordilla and Bryan Navales Tarosa of the Philippines—were charged with operating a book publishing scam that defrauded more than 800 elderly authors of approximately $44 million between September 2017 and December 2024. The scammers falsely represented that their company, PageTurner, could publish victims' books or sell them to major studios and streaming services, but demanded upfront payments for taxes and fees before any publication or optioning could occur. All three defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, with
townline.org
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine, AARP Maine, and the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention launched the Maine Rx Elder Fraud Program, a collaborative awareness initiative that will distribute educational brochures about fraud recognition and reporting through Hannaford Supermarkets' 60 in-state pharmacies. The program addresses a significant problem: in the prior year, 397 Mainers filed fraud complaints totaling over $7.1 million in losses, while nationally, Americans aged 60-plus lost $3.4 billion to scams, with actual losses likely higher due to underreporting.
oig.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Joseph Beach, a 55-year-old West Virginia man, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for wire fraud after stealing $253,867.12 from his elderly father by misusing veteran's disability, retirement, and Social Security benefits that he managed as his father's fiduciary. Beach pleaded guilty in March 2024 and was ordered to pay full restitution plus serve three years of supervised release.
postindependent.com
· 2025-12-08
This piece contains two separate letters: the first urges donations to California wildfire relief efforts through organizations like the California Community Foundation and American Red Cross; the second outlines characteristics of grandparent scams targeting elderly people, including frequent calls, fabricated emergencies, urgency tactics, and requests for wire transfers or gift cards, and recommends verifying claims directly with family members, reporting to law enforcement and the FTC, and establishing family code words as prevention.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old French interior decorator lost €850,000 ($850,000) to scammers who impersonated actor Brad Pitt using fake social media accounts, AI-generated images, and fabricated stories about kidney treatment and frozen bank accounts due to divorce proceedings. After the victim appeared on French television to share her story, she faced severe online harassment and mockery, prompting the network to remove the interview from its platforms to protect her wellbeing. The case illustrates how romance scams, increasingly sophisticated through AI technology, continue to target vulnerable individuals, with romance fraud losses in the U.S. exceeding $1 billion in 2023.
bangkokpost.com
· 2025-12-08
True Corporation is partnering with the Royal Thai Police to establish a joint "War Room" at police headquarters to combat call centre scams targeting Thai citizens. The initiative will integrate data from both organizations to identify and dismantle criminal networks using Simbox devices, irregular call patterns, and fraudulent SMS schemes through AI technology and advanced analytics. True Corporation has also implemented stricter SIM registration procedures, deployed the "True CyberSafe" alert system, and established a specialized fraud prevention team, while police launched the Cyber Check app to help the public verify suspicious phone numbers and bank accounts.
saga.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Investment scams cost UK victims over £612 million in 2023, with people aged 55-64 being disproportionately targeted and losing more than £133 million collectively; the average loss per victim was £25,000, though some lost significantly more. Scammers exploit older adults by targeting those with disposable income and leveraging fears about retirement, inheritance tax, and social care, often attempting multiple frauds against the same victims. Red flags include unsolicited contact, promises of unrealistic returns, and pressure to make quick decisions, with experts advising victims to seek independent financial advice before investing.
senatenj.com
· 2025-12-08
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs held an educational seminar for over 150 senior residents at Holiday City Berkeley on January 14, providing information on scams and fraud targeting seniors along with state program resources. The event, organized at the request of state legislators, distributed three informational guides on identity theft, consumer shopping, and disaster-related scams. The 9th District Delegation has also introduced legislation (S-1887 and A-4593) to create a new criminal offense for financial exploitation of the elderly, with the Senate having unanimously passed S-1887.
kxxv.com
· 2025-12-08
IRS tax debt scam calls are circulating in Central Texas, with scammers posing as IRS agents and requesting personal information, bank details, and payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency. Temple Police reported 142 scams since 2021 (62 in 2024 alone), and authorities warn residents to never provide personal information to callers, hang up suspicious calls, and contact agencies directly using official website contact information rather than numbers provided by callers. The legitimate IRS does not collect payments over the phone.
bernama.com
· 2025-12-08
Two senior citizens in Pahang were defrauded of RM327,829 (approximately USD 72,000) in an impersonation scam where fraudsters posed as Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) officials. The scam involved impersonation tactics to trick the victims into transferring money to the perpetrators' accounts. Police have been investigating the case.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
On January 15, 2025, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody held a Senior Scam Seminar attended by over 500 seniors in Marion County and released a new educational resource called "Scams at a Glance: Grandparent Grifts" to help seniors identify and report grandparent scams. Grandparent scams involve imposters posing as family members claiming to be in emergency situations to solicit money, with victims often unable to recover funds; the resource provides tips including verifying claims directly with family, avoiding wire transfers and gift cards, and contacting law enforcement if an in-person payment meeting is requested. Since 2019, Attorney General
witl.com
· 2025-12-08
Two impersonator scams are currently active in Michigan targeting residents. The first involves a scammer posing as "Sgt. Common" claiming to represent law enforcement and requesting callbacks about "confidential legal matters," while the second involves someone named "Isaac Miller" impersonating Publishers Clearing House and demanding $500 upfront for a fake "claimer's card" to collect a nonexistent prize. The Ingham County Sheriff's Office advises residents not to engage with these callers and to contact legitimate authorities directly, noting that real law enforcement and prize notifications never demand upfront payment.
hoodline.com
· 2025-12-08
Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, a 36-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud as part of a sophisticated inheritance scam that defrauded over 400 U.S. victims, many elderly, of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending fraudulent letters posing as Spanish bank representatives claiming recipients were entitled to inheritances, then extracting upfront fees and taxes. Ogbata faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing in April 2024, and six international co-conspirators from the United Kingdom, Spain, and Nigeria have also been convicted in the international operation.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Chinese nationals pleaded guilty to running a scheme in 2023 that defrauded elderly Americans out of approximately $100 million through romance and elder fraud scams, using stolen gift cards to purchase Apple products that were stockpiled in a New Hampshire warehouse and shipped to China and Hong Kong for resale. The operation was part of a larger network of similar cells operating across the U.S., with investigators recovering $8 million in Apple products and additional counterfeit electronics during a warehouse search. This case demonstrates how proceeds from elder fraud and other scams fund organized crime operations abroad and fuel additional fraud schemes, including return fraud that costs retailers over $100 billion annually.
consumerfinancemonitor.com
· 2025-12-08
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule banning companies from using contract clauses that waive consumer legal rights, suppress free speech, allow unilateral contract changes, or bypass judicial oversight—protections that specifically include elder fraud safeguards. The rule targets practices like "confessions of judgment" that force consumers to forfeit rights without due process, and would empower state attorneys general to enforce prohibitions against national banks. However, the rule's future is uncertain as the incoming Trump Administration has opposed aggressive CFPB regulation.
local10.com
· 2025-12-08
A South Florida woman received a fraudulent letter claiming she inherited millions from a late relative and was instructed to pay taxes and delivery fees to claim it; approximately 400 victims lost roughly $6 million in this transnational inheritance scam. Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, identified as a member of the crime ring operating across the United Kingdom, Spain, Nigeria, and Portugal, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing on April 14. Six other co-conspirators have already been convicted and sentenced in connection with the scheme.
chulavistatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Three individuals—Gemma Traya Austin (Chula Vista), Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, and Bryan Navales Tarosa (Philippines)—were arrested and federally charged for orchestrating a publishing fraud scheme that defrauded over 800 senior authors of nearly $44 million between 2017 and 2024. Operating through PageTurner Press and Media LLC and Innocentrix Philippines, the defendants solicited victims with false promises of publishing deals and Hollywood film adaptations, then convinced them to pay upfront fees for taxes and processing that were never legitimate. All three face charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Mark Steven Diamond, a Chicago businessman, was sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison for defrauding more than 100 elderly homeowners through a reverse mortgage and home repair scheme in which he tricked them into obtaining reverse mortgage loans and pocketed the proceeds without performing promised repairs. Diamond was ordered to pay $2.7 million in restitution, and four co-conspirators involved in originating loans and facilitating the fraud also pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A French woman lost over $850,000 to a scammer who used AI deepfake technology to impersonate Brad Pitt over an 18-month period, convincing her they were in a romantic relationship and that he needed money for cancer treatment. Brad Pitt's spokesperson issued a statement warning against responding to unsolicited online messages from celebrities, particularly those not active on social media. Romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals—especially older adults—cost victims $1.14 billion in 2023, with scammers exploiting emotional loneliness and leveraging sophisticated AI technology to create convincing fake communications.
wltx.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old French woman lost her life savings of $850,000 to scammers posing as Brad Pitt through fake social media accounts, AI-generated images, and WhatsApp messages, who claimed the actor needed money for medical treatment. After revealing her story on French television, she faced severe online harassment and mockery, prompting the network to withdraw the interview to protect the vulnerable victim. The case illustrates how artificial intelligence has increased the sophistication of romance scams, with the FTC reporting over $1 billion in romance scam losses affecting 64,000 Americans in 2023 alone.
geaugamapleleaf.com
· 2025-12-08
The Ohio Attorney General's Office provided guidance on recognizing common scams that disproportionately target seniors, who represent 15% of the population but account for more than 30% of reported fraud. Key red flags include requests for wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or immediate payment; unsolicited calls creating urgency or fear (such as impersonating the IRS or Social Security); phishing for personal information; and contractor scams requiring large upfront payments. The office recommends verifying caller identity independently, remembering that scammers can spoof phone numbers, and following the principle that if something sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Grandparent scams are becoming increasingly prevalent and difficult to detect. The RCMP provides guidance on protecting seniors from these schemes, which typically involve fraudsters impersonating grandchildren to request urgent financial transfers. The article emphasizes the importance of family education and verification protocols to prevent elderly relatives from falling victim to these manipulative scams.
uexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly homeowners, who control approximately $14 trillion in housing wealth, are prime targets for financial exploitation, with older adults losing around $28.3 billion annually to fraud according to AARP, and banking institutions filing over 155,000 elder financial victimization reports in the 12-month period ending June 2023. Perpetrators range from family members (who commit two-thirds of verified cases) to unscrupulous loan officers, contractors, and professionals who exploit seniors through reverse mortgages, fraudulent loans, and asset mismanagement. Family members and friends of elderly individuals should actively discuss financial decisions with seniors—particularly regarding home equity loans, reverse mortgages, an
crimestoppers.ns.ca
· 2025-12-08
Halifax Regional Police are warning seniors about an ongoing bail bond scam in which callers impersonate family members claiming to be in jail and demand bail money, with suspects sometimes arranging in-person pickups at victims' homes. Police are seeking public assistance identifying a suspect described as a man aged 30-40 wearing black clothing and a mask, possibly traveling in a white SUV, and remind the public that law enforcement will never collect bail money in person and to hang up on such calls without providing financial information.
hoodline.com
· 2025-12-08
Boston Police District D-4 held an elder fraud prevention presentation at the Susan Bailis Assisted Living Community, educating residents on recognizing and avoiding scams through emails, phone calls, and mail. The session covered how to identify financial abuse and potential abusers, with police encouraging seniors and families to contact local authorities with fraud concerns.
police.boston.gov
· 2025-12-08
District D-4 officers conducted an elder fraud prevention presentation at Susan Bailis Assisted Living Community, covering financial abuse tactics including mail, email, phone, and in-person scams. The presentation provided seniors with strategies for identifying potential abusers and recognizing warning signs of financial fraud. Community members are encouraged to contact their local Boston Police District Office with questions about fraud or suspected scams.
bostonglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
The Boston Globe is seeking stories from Massachusetts residents aged 65 and older who have been victims of financial fraud, particularly schemes involving fake online romances or cryptocurrency ATM deposits. The publication is collecting accounts directly from victims and their families to understand the impact of these scams and has established confidential reporting channels through data reporter Scooty Nickerson and journalist Adria Watson.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A 42-year-old Vermont woman pleaded guilty to wire fraud for defrauding an elderly victim of over $84,000 by building a false friendship, obtaining power of attorney, and misappropriating funds from the victim's home sale to purchase a house and vehicle in her own name. Russell used manipulation tactics including calling the victim "mom" and falsing claims about losing a child to gain the victim's trust as the victim's health declined. Sentencing is scheduled for June 12, 2025.
bangkokpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers created fake websites impersonating the Bangkok Post and CP Group senior chairman Dhanin Chearavanont to lure victims into investment fraud schemes, using doctored news content and social media posts promising high returns. Both organizations filed formal complaints with Thai police and reported the fraudulent accounts to Facebook, warning the public to avoid unverified financial advertisements and offering reporting hotlines for suspicious activity. The investigation is ongoing with evidence submitted to authorities demonstrating the scams were conducted by criminal groups unaffiliated with either organization.
bangkokpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers created fake websites impersonating the Bangkok Post and CP Group's senior chairman Dhanin Chearavanont to perpetrate investment fraud schemes, using doctored news articles and social media posts to lure victims with promises of high returns. Both organizations filed formal complaints with Thai police and reported the fraudulent accounts to Facebook, warning the public to avoid unverified advertisements and financial offers. Victims are urged to contact the Cyber Police Hotline at 1441 or file reports with local police.
thesun.my
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to elder fraud research. It is a news aggregation page featuring Malaysian news stories about investment, politics, elections, sports, and tourism. While one headline mentions "Online scams cost Malaysians over RM2.7 billion," the actual article content is not provided, and the page primarily covers unrelated topics such as industrial park launches, border tensions, and sporting events.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Two senior citizens in Johor Baru lost approximately RM960,888 (nearly one million) to investment scams in late 2024 using identical methods: fraudulent mobile apps promising extraordinarily high returns. An 84-year-old businessman lost RM500,000 through the "DIGZAXXCE" app after joining a WhatsApp investment group offering 100% share returns, while a 61-year-old accountant lost RM460,888 through a fake Bitcoin platform called "PFOU" and app "UVKXE" that displayed phantom profits. Both victims discovered the fraud when attempting to withdraw funds or upon financial review, and authorities
thehindu.com
· 2025-12-08
A 67-year-old man in Hyderabad lost ₹2.17 lakh to cybercriminals who contacted him via Instagram claiming he had won a ₹5 lakh prize in the Kerala lucky draw lottery, then demanded processing fees before disappearing. The Hyderabad cybercrime police registered a case and began investigating after the victim realized he had been defrauded across multiple bank transfers. Authorities stressed that legitimate lottery organizations never require winners to pay fees or share personal information to claim prizes.
villages-news.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a retrospective statement from Florida's Attorney General highlighting departmental accomplishments rather than reporting on a specific fraud case or scam. Key elder fraud prevention efforts mentioned include: strengthening consumer and elder protection laws, creating a Senior Protection Team, hosting training seminars on common scams, launching a Consumer Alert program, and distributing educational materials about fraud recognition. The statement also notes the creation of Florida's first Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit, which froze scammers' cryptocurrency accounts and secured millions in restitution for cybercrime victims.
eastcobbnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Joe Gavalis, a retired federal law enforcement investigator and prominent elder abuse advocate, has died at age 77. Gavalis founded the North Georgia Task Force on Elder Abuse and served on multiple boards including the Cobb Elder Abuse Task Force, earning the Georgia Council on Aging's Distinguished Older Georgian award in 2021 for his decades of work combating elder fraud, exploitation, and abuse through law enforcement training and public education. He also led the unsuccessful East Cobb Cityhood movement from 2018-2022 and continued speaking to seniors about scam prevention into 2022.
goodmenproject.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses elder abuse protections across the United States, highlighting that the elderly population is projected to nearly double from 49 million to 95 million by 2060, making protective measures increasingly urgent. States like Wisconsin, Vermont, and Massachusetts rank highest in elder abuse prevention due to strong funding and robust regulations, while rural states such as South Carolina, Utah, and South Dakota lag significantly due to policy gaps and insufficient resources. Financial fraud is identified as a prevalent form of elder abuse affecting elderly individuals, with states offering stronger safeguards—such as ombudsman services and elder care organizations—demonstrating lower average financial losses per fraud case.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
This article announces a WIRED livestream discussion on AI-powered financial scams, featuring an anecdote where Katie Drummond's father received a call from a scammer using AI voice cloning to impersonate her (no money was lost). The discussion covered deepfake video scams, social engineering tactics like creating urgency, and concerns about AI financial advisers that prioritize high-fee products over genuine financial help, with recommendations to use secret passcodes for authentication and maintain skepticism of AI-based financial services.
tampafp.com
· 2025-12-08
Jessica Russell, 42, of Barre, Vermont, pleaded guilty on January 17, 2025, to two counts of wire fraud for defrauding an elderly Vermont resident of more than $84,000. Russell gained the victim's trust by posing as a sympathetic friend after the victim's son died, obtained power of attorney, and then used funds from the victim's home sale to purchase a house ($68,000) and a vehicle ($16,000) that she fraudulently registered in her own name. Russell faces sentencing on June 12, 2025, where she may receive prison time, fines, and restitution payments.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old retired merchant navy employee from Alibaug, India lost Rs7.16 crore (approximately $860,000 USD) in a shares investment fraud scheme between December 10-17. The victim was added to a WhatsApp group impersonating a known acquaintance that promoted share investment tips, and was directed to download a fraudulent trading app, through which he made eight online transfers to the scammer's accounts. The fraud was discovered when the victim contacted the actual person whose identity had been stolen, leading to a cyber crime case registered under identity theft and cheating charges.
svalleynow.com
· 2025-12-08
The Marion County Sheriff's Department warned the public about a sophisticated caller ID spoofing scam targeting debit card holders. A scammer posed as a bank fraud department representative, using a spoofed caller ID matching the victim's bank, citing suspicious out-of-state charges, and requesting the victim's PIN number under the guise of card deactivation—a request legitimate banks never make. The victim avoided financial loss by refusing to provide the PIN and contacting their bank directly, which confirmed they would never request such information and canceled the card as a precaution.
moneywise.com
· 2025-12-08
An 84-year-old Canton, Michigan woman was scammed out of $65,000 after receiving a cold call from someone posing as a senior fraud officer at her bank, who falsely claimed she owed money due to an account error and convinced her to make three withdrawals. Canton police conducted a sting operation and arrested one suspect before the final $25,000 could be stolen, though an accomplice remains at large. The article also notes that research indicates financial literacy and cognitive engagement may help seniors resist scams and maintain financial independence as they age.
island.lk
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Sri Lanka are sending fraudulent text messages and making phone calls claiming to offer cash prizes, gifts, discounts, or job opportunities to trick victims into sharing personal information that could lead to financial fraud or identity theft. The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team urges the public to verify authenticity of such claims, avoid engaging with suspicious messages, and report fraudulent activity to authorities.
island.lk
· 2025-12-08
Sri Lanka's Computer Emergency Response Team warned the public about fraudulent text messages and phone calls falsely offering money, gifts, prizes, discounts, and job opportunities designed to trick victims into sharing personal information that could lead to financial fraud or identity theft. The agency urged recipients to verify authenticity and avoid engaging with suspicious messages, and encouraged reporting of fraudulent activity.
(Note: The second article about University of Peradeniya flooding is not elder fraud-related and falls outside the scope of Elderus database summarization.)
newskarnataka.com
· 2025-12-08
A 67-year-old Bengaluru retiree lost ₹35.3 lakh to scammers impersonating income tax officials who called claiming he owed back taxes and threatened arrest. The fraudsters used fake documents, intimidation tactics, and threats involving his family to coerce him into transferring funds across multiple accounts before he discovered the deception. Bengaluru police advise citizens to verify official communications directly with authorities, avoid sharing personal information with callers, and report suspicious calls immediately, as this "digital arrest" scam represents an evolving cybercrime threat against older adults.
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
· 2025-12-08
The South Korean government warned the public against an anticipated surge in text message scams (smishing) ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, launching a 24-hour monitoring system in response. Common scams include messages impersonating public institutions demanding vehicle fine payments, fake holiday gift notifications, fraudulent tax refunds, and QR code scams ("quishing") that distribute malicious apps. Between 2022-2024, authorities reported 2.72 million smishing cases, with 59.4% impersonating public institutions and a growing number targeting elderly individuals through fake financial institution requests.