Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
7,397 results
in Robocall / Phone Scam
oklahoman.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article warns holiday shoppers about increased scam risks during the busy shopping season, noting that scammers exploit distracted consumers and higher transaction volumes. The piece highlights that U.S. consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023, and an estimated $1.03 trillion was stolen globally, while also detailing common holiday scams (fake toy listings, package notification phishing, charity fraud, job scams, gift card schemes) and providing protective measures such as verifying retailer legitimacy, researching charities, avoiding unsolicited links, and comparison shopping before purchases.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
During the holiday shopping season, the IRS warned consumers about increased scam activity, particularly targeting gift card fraud and fake delivery alerts. Scammers impersonate IRS officials and government agents demanding immediate payment via gift cards, prepaid debit cards, or wire transfers—tactics the IRS stated it would never employ—while others send phishing emails claiming package delivery issues to steal personal information. Consumers are advised to avoid clicking suspicious links, verify package status directly through official shipping websites, and report suspected scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters increasingly use AI-generated deepfakes and voice cloning to impersonate family members in scams demanding urgent money for emergencies like kidnappings or accidents. The FBI and banks now recommend families create secret passphrases to verify identity during suspicious calls or messages, using unique phrases unrelated to publicly available personal information and kept strictly private. While family passphrases offer a useful defense layer, experts caution that victims in genuine emergencies may struggle to remember them due to panic or adrenaline.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Between April and June 2024, Australia's National Anti-Scam Centre reported 1,962 Australians lost money to social media scams totaling $64.2 million, making social media the most effective scam channel despite fewer overall reports compared to email, text, and phone scams. While telephone scams affected fewer victims, they resulted in larger individual losses ($23.9 million from 588 calls), and scammers commonly used fake profiles, fake job offers, investment schemes, and too-good-to-be-true purchase offers to target people online. The centre advises Australians to verify social media profiles, research job offers and investment opportunities thoroughly, an
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 41-year-old bank clerk in Malaysia lost ₹20.29 lakh (RM115,950) in a Macau scam between September and November when fraudsters impersonating police officers and prosecutors convinced her to open a new bank account and transfer funds under the guise of an investigation into alleged money laundering. The victim filed a police report in December 2024, and authorities are investigating. Similar digital arrest scams are rising in India, where criminals impersonate telecom and police officials to pressure victims into transferring money by falsely claiming their phone numbers are being misused for illegal activities.
saanichnews.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. This appears to be a website homepage or navigation menu listing various news sections and article headlines, rather than an actual article or transcript about elder fraud, scams, or abuse. To create an Elderus database summary, please provide the full text of an article related to elder fraud, scams, or abuse.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
The jury duty summons scam, in which callers impersonate police officers and threaten victims with arrest for missing court summons, is becoming increasingly common and convincing, with the FTC reporting over 560,000 fraud cases in Q3 2024 alone. Victims are pressured to withdraw cash from ATMs or purchase gift cards to pay fake fines, with scammers using official-looking forged court documents and aggressive threats to coerce payment. Key warning signs include unsolicited calls demanding immediate payment and threats of arrest—legitimate law enforcement communicates via mail or in-person service, never by phone with demands for immediate payment.
buckscountyherald.com
· 2025-12-08
This op-ed advocates for updated Pennsylvania legislation to better protect older adults from financial exploitation, which takes multiple forms including tech support scams, romance scams, investment fraud, and abuse by trusted individuals. The authors call for amendments to the state's Older Adults Protective Services Act to mandate reporting of elder financial abuse and allow banks to temporarily hold suspected fraudulent transactions while notifying authorities. Bank employees are identified as key defenders against elder financial exploitation, and the authors urge older Pennsylvanians to remain vigilant during the holiday season when scammers are particularly active.
scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
A Taiwanese son recovered approximately US$21,000 (NT$700,000) that his father lost to online investment scammers by devising a counter-scam in which he posed as three different people to convince the criminals he would make additional investments. The father had initially fallen victim to a romance and investment scam after being flattered by a scammer posing as a woman online and was persuaded to install a suspicious app on his phone. The son's ingenious scheme successfully manipulated the scammers into returning the stolen funds.
leadertelegram.com
· 2025-12-08
Charlotte Siverling of Cadott and Nancy Wheeler of Ladysmith both nearly fell victim to tech support scams involving fake Microsoft alerts and fraudulent bank representatives who gained remote computer access and demanded thousands of dollars in wire transfers or gift cards. While Siverling avoided loss by calling her son and hanging up, Wheeler nearly transferred money before recognizing the manipulation, though she had to compromise her bank account security. Both women's cases highlight how scammers use fear tactics—including false claims of hacking, child pornography charges, and unauthorized withdrawals—combined with pressure to act quickly to manipulate victims regardless of education level or technical literacy.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
New South Wales has the highest reported rates of dating and romance scams in Australia, with victims—predominantly aged 50-80—losing hundreds of thousands of dollars to fraudsters posing as romantic interests. One victim lost $400,000 over years of repeated scams, while a private investigator's clients have collectively lost $2.9 million, though cyber fraud remains significantly under-reported with victims often reluctant to come forward due to embarrassment and denial. Families frequently intervene on behalf of affected loved ones, and support from trusted people is crucial in encouraging victims to report scams to authorities.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
A reformed Nigerian romance scammer named Chris Maxwell, who defrauded dozens of women of $70,000 between 2016 and 2021 primarily using fake military profiles, now works as a consultant educating the public on how to avoid such schemes. He advises people to be wary of social media profiles with few photos, reluctance to video call or meet in person, and to never send money or gifts to unverified online contacts. The FTC reported 42,399 romance scam complaints in 2024 with a median loss of $1,901 per victim, and Americans collectively lost $823 million to such fraudsters that year.
bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters in Bengaluru are circulating fake links to a counterfeit PM Kisan Yojana app on social media platforms, targeting vulnerable farmers and others who download the malicious APK file, which grants hackers unauthorized access to phones and sensitive financial data. While APK and OTP-related cybercrimes declined from 1,860 cases in 2022 to 893 in 2024, police warn of this resurgent threat, citing a case where a traveler lost ₹87,125 after being tricked into downloading an APK and granting screen mirroring access. Authorities urge citizens to verify app authenticity through official
wcyy.com
· 2025-12-08
A scam impersonating "The Tax Center" has been targeting Maine residents, falsely claiming they owe back taxes and offering a fraudulent "Complete Tax Forgiveness Program" to eliminate the debt. Senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to this and similar schemes conducted via spoofed phone calls, texts, and malicious links, making it essential to never share personal information with callers and to verify tax matters directly with official government sources.
news4jax.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2024 study by NumberBarn found that Americans lost over $1 billion to robocalls and scam texts, with Jacksonville ranking 4th nationally for complaints (6,305 cases) and Florida 12th overall (160,000 cases). Seniors aged 60 and older were disproportionately affected, losing $405 million to phone scams and $130 million to text scams. Experts recommend avoiding unsolicited calls and texts requesting sensitive information, staying silent if answering suspicious calls, and reporting incidents to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
cfjctoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old woman in Salmon Arm, B.C. lost $9,000 after clicking a fraudulent Facebook link that displayed a fake security warning claiming she had been hacked and would be reported for accessing illegal content. She was manipulated into purchasing Apple iTunes gift cards and providing the codes to scammers, who could not be traced due to the California-based phone number used in the scheme.
vernonnow.com
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old Salmon Arm woman lost $9,000 after clicking a Facebook link that displayed a fake security warning claiming she had accessed child pornography and needed to call a number immediately. She purchased iTunes gift cards and provided the card numbers to scammers, despite being warned by a retail clerk about the scam. The RCMP advised victims to attend fraud awareness presentations and have computers professionally reformatted.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
This is an informational resource page from the Michigan Department of Attorney General detailing senior protection services. The Health Care Fraud Division investigates fraudulent activity by health care providers in the Medicaid program, including misappropriation of patient trust funds and identity theft in care facilities, while the Elder Abuse Task Force works to prevent financial exploitation of nursing home residents. The page provides contact information for multiple state agencies and resources available to report fraud and abuse or seek assistance.
shreveporttimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message scams are increasing drastically, with common types including fake shipping notifications (claiming failed package deliveries), fraudulent banking alerts, prize/sweepstakes offers, impersonated government agency messages, and fake fraud alerts designed to trick recipients into clicking links or providing personal information. To protect yourself, never respond to or click links in suspicious texts, avoid calling numbers in the messages, and instead contact companies directly through official websites; suspicious texts can be reported to the FCC at SPAM (7726) or the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
mlive.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Postal Service is warning about "smishing"—a scam where criminals send unsolicited text messages claiming a package cannot be delivered, then direct victims to click malicious links to steal personally identifiable information like Social Security numbers, passwords, and card details. The USPS advises recipients not to click links in unsolicited texts, as the Postal Service only sends text updates to customers who have specifically opted in; suspected smishing messages should be reported to the Postal Inspection Service.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message scams are increasing in volume, with common schemes including fake shipping notifications claiming failed deliveries, fraudulent banking alerts about locked accounts, prize/sweepstakes offers, impersonated IRS/government agency demands for taxes, and fake fraud alerts. To protect yourself, never respond to, call numbers in, or click links from suspicious texts; instead, contact companies directly through official channels, and report scams to the FCC (7726) or FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
belfasttelegraph.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between November 2023 and October 2024, the PSNI received over 5,200 fraud reports totaling £19 million in losses across Northern Ireland, including a £50,000 romance scam where a victim was deceived into transferring money for a fake business opportunity and a £100,000+ bank impersonation scam. Common fraud methods involved investment scams, ticket scams, and impersonation schemes conducted via phone, social media, email, and text, with criminals targeting individuals through sophisticated tactics to steal personal and financial information.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 30-year-old IT professional and a civil services candidate in India fell victim to romance scams on dating apps, losing Rs 55,000 and over one lakh rupees respectively. The first victim was lured to an expensive restaurant where his date disappeared after a inflated bill, while the second was manipulated by a fake suitor who promised government job assistance before requesting money under false pretexts. According to a McAfee study, 39% of Indians surveyed reported experiencing online dating scams, which exploit emotional vulnerability through fake personas and social engineering tactics targeting younger people, professionals, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A Gold Coast couple lost $250,000 of their home deposit in a "spear phishing" scam after transferring funds to a fraudulent account based on emails that appeared to be from their conveyancer but contained a slightly altered email address. The scam was not discovered until the day before their property settlement when their conveyancer could not locate the second deposit in the trust account. Queensland Police transferred the investigation to Victoria Police after identifying the scam account holder as a university student in Melbourne, and experts note that such highly-targeted, personalized scams are becoming increasingly common as criminals shift from mass phishing attacks to high-value transactions.
messengernews.net
· 2025-12-08
Multiple sheriff's departments in north central Iowa are warning residents of a "grandparent scam" in which callers impersonate family members claiming to be arrested and needing bail money, resulting in victims losing tens of thousands of dollars. Scammers coach victims to lie to banks about withdrawal reasons and arrange for accomplices to collect the cash in person. Law enforcement urges residents to warn elderly and vulnerable family members about this predatory scheme.
makeuseof.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies six prevalent scams to watch for in 2025: IRS impersonation scams using phishing emails and calls; credit card fraud through skimmers and data breaches; cryptocurrency scams exploiting market hype and fake giveaways; employment scams (which surged 118% in 2023) targeting job seekers; post-holiday prize draw scams requesting payment or personal information; and package delivery scams using phishing links. The article recommends monitoring financial statements, verifying message sources, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and learning to identify fraudulent communications to protect yourself against these evolving threats.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides an overview of the spam and scam call problem affecting US consumers and discusses potential solutions. According to 2023 data, American consumers received an average of eight spam calls per week, with victims losing an average of $2,257 per scam—a 527% increase from the previous year. While the FCC has implemented technologies like Stir/Shaken and passed regulations to reduce unwanted calls, experts indicate these measures are inadequate, and the article advises consumers to employ defensive strategies such as not answering calls asking for confirmation or using call-blocking services.
latimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers sent phishing text messages to Southern California Metro ExpressLanes users and non-users, threatening legal action and excessive late fees to coerce payment of fake FasTrak tolls through malicious links. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority confirmed no customer data was compromised and warned the public never to respond to, click links in, or use contact information from such messages. Similar phishing campaigns targeting FasTrak users have been reported across California since at least March.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
While this article primarily focuses on teen vulnerabilities rather than elder fraud, it documents a significant scam trend: teens lost 2,500% more money to scams over a five-year period compared to a baseline, driven by emerging tactics including influencer impersonation, romance scams, sextortion, and fake game rewards schemes. The article emphasizes that open communication between parents and children, coupled with verification practices (reverse image searches, official app stores only), are critical protective measures, as scammers exploit trust and manipulate young people into sharing personal information, money, or explicit images for blackmail purposes.
fraservalleytoday.ca
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old woman in Salmon Arm lost $9,000 after clicking a Facebook link that displayed a fake security alert claiming she had been hacked and threatened with child pornography charges. She was then manipulated by scammers into purchasing iTunes gift cards and providing the details to them, with RCMP unable to recover the funds as they traced to a California phone number. RCMP issued a warning to seniors about this type of fraudulent scheme.
pressdemocrat.com
· 2025-12-08
A 20-year-old man was arrested in Sonoma County for his role in a sophisticated elder-fraud scheme targeting a 78-year-old woman who was tricked into withdrawing $40,000 over two days after scammers impersonated Redwood Credit Union and Federal Reserve representatives. The suspect, Yung-Wen Kuan, allegedly acted as a courier to collect the fraudulent withdrawals and is facing charges of grand theft, elder financial abuse, and conspiracy. Authorities are urging seniors to verify calls from financial institutions by contacting their banks directly and to report similar scams to law enforcement.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Wisconsin residents shared their experiences with tech support scams. Charlotte Siverling of Cadott received a fake warning claiming her computer was hacked and was pressured to withdraw $8,300 from Walmart after being falsely accused of possessing child pornography, but avoided losing money by calling her son who confirmed it was a scam. Nancy Wheeler of Ladysmith nearly fell victim to a similar scheme where a scammer gained remote access to her computer, manipulated her bank balance to appear as $3,000 owed, and pressured her to buy gift cards, though she ultimately hung up and avoided financial loss but had to replace her compromised bank account.
macaubusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Five Macau residents fell victim to human trafficking orchestrated by criminal groups who lured them with fake job advertisements and promises of high salaries to Taiwan and Cambodia; four victims were forced into telecommunications and Internet fraud operations before being detained, while the fifth, a 38-year-old woman, escaped from Cambodia. The trafficking occurred as part of a larger regional scheme where hundreds of thousands of people, primarily Chinese nationals, are trafficked to Southeast Asia to conduct online fraud against compatriots, with at least 120,000 trafficked to Myanmar and 100,000 to Cambodia. Macau experienced a significant surge in telecom and Internet scams in 2023, with 1,306
colitco.com
· 2025-12-08
Sarah and Laine Robinson lost $250,000 of their home deposit in a spear phishing scam when fraudsters impersonated their conveyancer via a fake email address (missing ".au" at the end) and redirected their funds to a scam account. Although their bank ANZ recovered $82,000, the couple faced devastating financial and emotional consequences as they prepared to purchase their dream home on the Gold Coast. The case highlights the growing sophistication of targeted phishing attacks, which leverage personalized details and AI technology to deceive victims during high-value transactions.
rnz.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Sarah and Laine Robinson lost $252,000 of their home deposit in a "spear phishing" scam after unknowingly transferring funds to a fraudulent account based on forged emails appearing to be from their conveyancer—the scam was only discovered the day before their property settlement when the funds failed to appear. The scammers had impersonated their conveyancer with near-perfect detail, including correct fee amounts, but used an email address missing the ".au" domain extension; ANZ Bank recovered only $82,000 of the lost amount, and the case was transferred to Victoria Police after discovering a Melbourne university student owned the recipient account. This attack exemplifies a shift
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
St. Clair County authorities warned residents of a scam involving unsolicited Amazon packages containing QR codes that install malware designed to steal personal and financial information when scanned. The scheme used fake diamond ring shipments to trick residents into scanning the malicious QR code. Authorities recommend contacting local police upon receiving suspicious packages.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly man in his 80s lost £7,450 on Christmas Eve after a fraudster posing as a police officer convinced him to withdraw the money as part of a bogus "undercover operation" targeting bank employees, which he then handed to a courier. South Yorkshire Police reported five similar scams in the preceding week and warned that this type of fraud, which typically involves impersonating police or bank officials and requesting cash for supposed investigations, disproportionately targets vulnerable and elderly individuals. Police advised victims to hang up suspicious calls, verify numbers independently using trusted sources, and never hand over bank cards to strangers.
wpxi.com
· 2025-12-08
The Washington County Sheriff's Office warned the public about scammers impersonating deputies, specifically claiming to be "Deputy Tony Androns" and requesting return calls to 724-409-8449 regarding a "confidential matter." This was the second such impersonation scam targeting the area within a month, and officials emphasized that law enforcement never calls to collect money. Residents who receive these calls are urged to contact their local police department.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
"Brushing" scams are targeting Australians who receive unsolicited packages containing worthless items like ripped fabrics, socks with holes, or stuffed animals, often originating from a PO Box in Dingley Village, Victoria. Scammers use these packages for two purposes: to trick recipients into scanning QR codes that lead to fake delivery websites, or to fraudulently boost their own business ratings by using the recipient's name to post fake reviews. The ACCC advises consumers to never click delivery links in unsolicited messages and instead verify packages independently through official Australia Post or courier websites.
en.cibercuba.com
· 2025-12-08
Two young Cuban women (ages 20 and 23) fell victim to a "ring scam" in Guantánamo when strangers approached them claiming to have found a 14k gold ring and offered to trade it for their gold chains; the victims later discovered the ring was made of cheap gold-like metal rather than genuine gold. The article also documents a broader rise in fraud cases across Cuba, including dollar-trading scams, impersonation schemes, and the spread of false information via social media about such incidents.
clickondetroit.com
· 2025-12-08
An 84-year-old Canton, Michigan woman was targeted by a phone scam in December 2024 in which a caller impersonated a bank "senior fraud officer" and instructed her to withdraw cash for a supposed security purpose; the scheme succeeded twice before family members detected suspicious bank activity and alerted police. Li Biao, a 30-year-old undocumented Chinese national, was arrested on December 17, 2024, when he arrived at the victim's home to collect $25,000 in cash, and was charged with fraudulent false pretenses and resisting police. Police emphasized the importance of monitoring elderly relatives for warning signs such as sudden financial changes, large
marbleheadcurrent.org
· 2025-12-08
Two elder fraud attempts were reported in Marblehead during December 5-17, 2024. On December 5, a resident received a fraudulent DocuSign/Norton Antivirus email and granted scammers remote computer access; they fabricated fake subscription charges ($299.99 and $399.99) and a false $3,999.99 credit to pressure the victim into buying CVS gift cards, but the resident recognized the scam before losing money. On December 13, another resident fell victim to a fraudulent travel documentation scheme via a fake "UK-ETA.com" website, submitting passport information before realizing the site was fraudulent; the victim pro
wgem.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the Better Business Bureau, online purchase scams represent nearly one-third of all reported scams since 2019 and remain the most common fraud reported. Scammers increasingly use cell phones and digital communications—including emails, texts, and phone calls—to target victims. The BBB regional director advised consumers in 2025 to think critically about unfamiliar online messages and help one another identify scams to reduce fraud success.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two people in Perth County, Ontario lost over $10,000 total in a grandparent scam in which they received phone calls claiming a family member was in jail and needed bail money, then an imposter posing as a bondsperson visited their homes to collect cash ($5,000 and $5,500 respectively). Police warn that scammers may claim the "grandchild" has a broken nose to explain voice differences, and advise people to hang up on unsolicited calls requesting personal information or payments via gift cards and cryptocurrency.
hometownsource.com
· 2025-12-08
The Senior LinkAge Line is offering a free virtual educational presentation on January 8 covering health care fraud, waste, and abuse prevention, with instruction on detecting and reporting scams that increasingly target older adults. The presentation, delivered via Microsoft Teams in partnership with the Senior Medicare Patrol, requires pre-registration through Eventbrite or by calling 800-333-2433, and accommodations are available upon request.
wcbi.com
· 2025-12-08
The Lee County Sheriff's Office warned the public about scams targeting seniors in which scammers contact victims via unsolicited emails, texts, or phone calls directing them to fake websites resembling legitimate financial institutions. The scammers falsely claim account issues and pressure victims to withdraw cash and deposit it into Bitcoin or ATMs, threatening financial or criminal consequences if they refuse. The sheriff's department advised residents to ignore unsolicited communications, never send funds to unknown recipients, and verify any account concerns directly with their bank through official channels.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
Boston police issued a warning about a series of cellphone thefts that resulted in victims experiencing fraudulent charges and unauthorized fund withdrawals from compromised financial accounts. Police recommended security measures including using passcodes, enabling app-level authentication, avoiding stored passwords, and signing out of apps, with instructions to immediately enable lost mode and wipe data if a phone is stolen.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two people in Perth County, Ontario lost over $10,000 in a grandparent scam where they were called by someone posing as a lawyer claiming a family member was in jail and needed bail money, then a person posing as a bondsperson collected $5,000 and $5,500 in cash from their homes. Police warn that scammers may claim a voice sounds different due to a broken nose, and remind people not to provide personal information or make payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency to unsolicited callers.
kktv.com
· 2025-12-08
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser warned residents about emerging AI-enabled fraud schemes that use voice recordings to create convincing fake calls claiming victims or loved ones need money, often impersonating law enforcement or creating "grandparent scam" scenarios. Common red flags include requests for gift cards or wire transfers, and Weiser advised victims to verify calls by contacting official numbers from organizations' websites rather than using numbers provided by callers. Coloradans who suspect they've been targeted by these scams can file complaints with the attorney general's office.