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ktvu.com
· 2026-09-02
Zi Le, a 35-year-old from Fremont, was arrested and charged with stealing $20,000 from an elderly Ventura County resident through a computer scam. The victim received a fake pop-up claiming to be Microsoft and was told a fraudulent $25,000 charge for child pornography had been made, then instructed to withdraw cash and purchase gift cards. Le was apprehended during an undercover operation when he arrived to collect an additional $20,000, and authorities believe he operated as a courier for scammers targeting elderly residents.
upnorthnewswi.com
· 2026-09-02
Wisconsin seniors lost over $92 million to scams in the past year, with AI-powered scams using deepfake videos and spoofing techniques becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly targeting those ages 60 and older through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Scammers use AI-generated deepfake ads directing seniors to fake websites and chatbots that collect personal information, often exploiting seniors' lower digital literacy and preference for speaking with live representatives. Meta reportedly generates approximately $16 billion (10% of its ad revenue) from scam advertisements, despite having review teams and policies designed to prevent such content from appearing on its platforms.
foxla.com
· 2026-09-02
A 35-year-old Fremont man, Ze Li, was charged with stealing $20,000 from an elderly Ventura County resident through a computer scam involving a fake Microsoft pop-up warning and false claims of fraudulent charges for child pornography. Li, who posed as "Damian Myers," convinced the victim to withdraw cash and purchase gift cards, which he collected as a courier for perpetrators operating outside Ventura County. He was arrested during a controlled operation and charged with multiple felonies including grand theft from an elder and conspiracy to commit a crime.
nantucketcurrent.com
· 2026-09-02
This article covers a Democratic primary election for Cape and Islands District Attorney, not a scam or fraud incident. It reports that incumbent Rob Galibois defeated challenger Mike Giardino, with Galibois highlighting his office's focus on addressing root causes of crime and tackling elder fraud as a priority. This content is not relevant to the elder fraud research database and contains no information about actual scams, fraud cases, or victims.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-02
A caretaker named Sarah Smalls, hired to care for 75-year-old Robert Rowland in South Carolina, exploited her position by having him moved to a senior facility, gaining power of attorney, transferring his home deed to herself for $5, and withdrawing money from his accounts—ultimately moving into his house after his death and leaving no trace of him. When Robert's daughter Nora discovered the scheme and broke in through a window to investigate, she was arrested for trespassing while Smalls accused her of breaking in, forcing Nora to pursue a civil lawsuit to recover her father's assets. This case exemplifies elder financial exploitation, which affects seniors over 60 who collectively lose
tovima.com
· 2026-09-02
Greece's Citizen Protection Minister announced plans to upgrade phone and digital scams targeting elderly people from misdemeanors to felonies, describing the crimes as an "epidemic" occurring almost daily in dozens of incidents. The government is establishing a specialized unit within its organized crime directorate to combat these scams, which typically exploit banking and utility company channels to defraud seniors of money.
maysville-online.com
· 2026-09-02
The Mason County Public Library is hosting a financial literacy scavenger hunt called "Dash for the Stash" (deadline May 15) with a $1,000 prize for the state-wide winner, jointly sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions to educate the public about savings and investing. The library is also offering a free fraud prevention program on April 4 presented by U.S. Bank, specifically addressing the rising problem of elder fraud and vulnerable adult fraud, with tips on avoiding identity theft and scams.
ktvu.com
· 2026-09-02
A Fremont man, Ze Li, was arrested and charged with defrauding an elderly Ventura County resident of $20,000 in a computer scam involving a fake Microsoft pop-up warning about fraudulent charges for child pornography. Li, posing as "Damian Myers," convinced the victim to withdraw cash and purchase gift cards, which were handed over during a meeting. Li faces multiple felony charges including grand theft from an elder and conspiracy to commit a crime, and is believed to have acted as a courier for a larger scam operation targeting elderly residents.
nbcmiami.com
· 2026-09-02
Rafael Evelio Barcelo, 67, of Hialeah, is accused of stealing approximately $86,000 from his elderly parents' savings account—leaving them with only $7,000—by withdrawing $52,000 himself and distributing $34,000 to his son. The exploitation of his 88-year-old mother and 90-year-old father (who has since died) occurred while Barcelo had financial management access and was serving as a partial caregiver. Barcelo faces charges including exploitation of an elderly person over $50,000, grand theft from a person over 65, and organized scheme to defraud.
wsmv.com
· 2026-09-01
The FBI Nashville Field Office is warning older Americans about common financial scams including romance scams, tech-support scams, grandparent scams, and government impersonation schemes that disproportionately target seniors who have accumulated savings. The FBI recommends independently verifying the identity of unexpected callers, avoiding pressure to act quickly, and never sending money, gift cards, or personal information to unverified individuals. Victims or those who suspect fraud should report incidents to IC3.gov and consult trusted family members before responding to suspicious requests.
hoodline.com
· 2026-09-01
Ventura County District Attorney Chief Investigator Scott Whitney participated in a statewide law enforcement conference discussing elder fraud and cryptocurrency scams, including recent cases from his office. His bureau recently charged a Simi Valley man with felony theft after he stole nearly $100,000 in cryptocurrency from an 89-year-old victim. The conference, drawing 500-600 prosecutors and investigators across California, featured educational sessions covering cold cases, digital fraud schemes, and cryptocurrency "pig butchering" scams.
statenews.org
· 2026-09-01
An 80-year-old Ohio woman lost approximately $80,000 to a romance scam after being deceived by someone posing as "Brian Kean" on Facebook in 2023, exemplifying a broader problem where Ohioans lost over $41 million to romance scams last year according to FTC data. The Ohio Attorney General's Office launched a new state-sponsored hotline (1-855-961-SCAM) in July to help residents identify romance scammers early by providing intelligence workups on suspicious dating profiles and social media contacts. Romance scams targeting vulnerable seniors, particularly those who are widowed or isolated, have become increasingly sophisticated over the past 20 years, with
yen.com.gh
· 2026-09-01
The FBI is actively searching for four Nigerian nationals—Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh, Felix Osilama Okpoh, Nnamdi Orson Benson, and Micheal Olorunyomi—indicted for a Business Email Compromise scheme that defrauded over 70 American businesses of more than $6 million. Uzuh orchestrated the fraudulent emails and wire transfers, Okpoh provided hundreds of bank accounts to launder proceeds exceeding $1 million, Benson assisted in the conspiracy, and Olorunyomi additionally ran a separate romance scam targeting elderly and widowed individuals that extracted over $1 million.
legit.ng
· 2026-09-01
The FBI has publicly identified four Nigerian nationals as suspects in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded over 70 American businesses of more than $6 million through spoofed emails and fraudulent wire transfers. The suspects coordinated a complex operation involving money laundering, romance scams targeting elderly victims for over $1 million, and the use of hundreds of bank accounts to receive stolen funds. All four men remain at large in Nigeria with federal arrest warrants issued against them.
cachevalleydaily.com
· 2026-08-31
Utah's Attorney General has launched the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC) to coordinate investigations across jurisdictions and financial institutions, targeting identity theft, account takeovers, romance scams, elder fraud, cryptocurrency schemes, and money laundering. Utahns have lost approximately $450 million to financial crimes since 2020, with $108.4 million lost in 2025 alone and nearly $60 million reported so far in 2026. The FCIC will bring together investigators, prosecutors, and financial analysts to identify fraud patterns, connect related cases, and provide specialized training and resources to law enforcement and financial institutions statewide.
abc3340.com
· 2026-08-31
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is conducting outreach visits to senior centers to educate residents about common scam tactics, including impersonation schemes that use urgency and fear to pressure victims into quick financial decisions. Deputies are teaching seniors a four-step prevention approach: Stop, Call, Ask, and Make Informed Decisions, while emphasizing that legitimate contacts will not demand immediate payment or discourage verification with trusted sources.
fincrimecentral.com
· 2026-08-31
Five men were charged with laundering over $7.4 million stolen from at least 77 elderly fraud victims through a network of 21 shell businesses registered in Washington State between October 2024 and March 2026. The defendants used false identities, fictitious business descriptions, and commercial mailboxes to obscure the flow of funds obtained through tech-support and impersonation scams that targeted seniors nationwide. The money was deposited into accounts and quickly dispersed through domestic and international wire transfers, ATM withdrawals, and money orders to conceal its criminal origin.
americascreditunions.org
· 2026-08-31
This article discusses credit union advocacy meetings with policymakers during congressional recess, not an actual fraud case or scam. The article mentions that credit unions raised fraud concerns, including elder fraud schemes, as a policy priority during meetings with representatives from Virginia, Alabama, Texas, North Carolina, and Illinois, but does not describe a specific fraud incident or victim impact.
kvnutalk.com
· 2026-08-31
Utah's Attorney General's Office launched a Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC) to investigate and prosecute financial crimes across the state, citing that Utahns have lost nearly $450 million to fraud and scams since 2020, with $108.4 million lost in 2025 alone and nearly $60 million reported so far in 2026. The FCIC will coordinate investigations across jurisdictions involving identity theft, romance scams, elder fraud, cryptocurrency schemes, and other financial crimes by bringing together investigators, prosecutors, financial analysts, and financial institutions to identify larger criminal networks. Attorney General Derek Brown emphasized that financial criminals are increasingly sophisticated and target various victims including business owners, investors, and financial
foxnews.com
· 2026-08-31
A Chrome extension called "Enable Right Click & Copy - Smart Unlock + OCR" with approximately 70,000 users was compromised by threat actors and used to deliver fake browser update warnings and malicious payloads, including credential theft and cryptocurrency wallet draining. The malicious extension was part of a larger campaign involving 19 Chrome and Edge extensions and was delisted from the Chrome Web Store on August 14 after security researchers flagged it as dangerous. Users are advised to avoid suspicious update pop-ups and instead update Chrome through the browser's built-in update feature rather than clicking on web-based alerts.
turnto23.com
· 2026-08-31
The Better Business Bureau warns of rising scams targeting consumers seeking affordable GLP-1 weight loss drugs, including fraudulent websites, unauthorized charges, and fake celebrity endorsements using AI-generated deepfakes. Victims report losses ranging from $40 to over $300, with scammers either charging without delivering products or sending ineffective counterfeit medications. Red flags include ads claiming no prescription is needed, demands for payment via cash app or wire transfer, and fake endorsements from celebrities and doctors.
utahnewsdispatch.com
· 2026-08-31
Utah has established a new Financial Crimes Intelligence Center in the attorney general's office to combat increasingly sophisticated scams, with state residents losing $108 million to financial crimes last year and nearly $60 million so far this year. The center, funded at $1.7 million annually, aims to connect disparate reports from banks, police departments, and victim hotlines to identify patterns and organized crime rings, utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance detection capabilities. The center's team includes prosecutors, investigators, a forensic accountant, and other specialists working to return restitution to victims and prevent future fraud.
ksl.com
· 2026-08-31
Utah launched its first Financial Crimes Intelligence Center with $1.7 million in annual funding to investigate and prosecute financial fraud after the state experienced a five-fold increase in fraud losses over five years, reaching $108 million in the past year and $59.8 million already in the current year. The center will coordinate with federal agencies and financial institutions to investigate identity theft, elder fraud, romance scams, investment scams, and other financial crimes that are often perpetrated by sophisticated international crime rings. Howard Headlee, executive director of the Utah Bankers Association, noted that consumers nationwide reported losing over $20 billion to online scams last year, with three in four adults experiencing some form of online scam
lexingtonchronicle.com
· 2026-08-31
This article announces September programming at Lexington County libraries and senior centers, including Library Card Sign-Up Month activities and educational programs. The Gilbert-Summit Senior Center will host an FBI-led elder fraud awareness presentation for seniors from six county centers, covering recognition of scams, pressure tactics, protective measures, and reporting resources. The article does not describe any specific fraud incidents or financial losses.
inkl.com
· 2026-08-30
A Florida man was stopped by Nassau County Sheriff's deputies in a Lowe's parking lot before he could purchase $14,000 in gift cards after his wife overheard a phone scammer pressuring him to buy the cards within two hours or face account compromise. The scammer had instructed the victim to provide gift card codes, a common fraud tactic, but law enforcement intervened and educated the man about the scheme. Nassau County has seen fraud cases surge 80% since 2021, with 174 complaints already filed in 2025, reflecting a national trend of gift card payment scams.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2026-08-30
A Florida man nearly lost $14,000 to phone scammers who pressured him to buy gift cards within two hours, but his wife's suspicion led her to alert deputies who intercepted him in a Lowe's parking lot before he could complete the purchase. The scammer had threatened to hack the victim's accounts if he didn't meet the deadline. Nassau County has seen an 80 percent surge in fraud cases since 2021, with authorities warning residents about common scam tactics including artificial urgency, threats of legal action, and requests for payment via gift cards or digital transfers.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-30
An Alva police officer and his wife are charged with exploiting an 82-year-old elderly man by siphoning over $74,000 from his bank accounts and through unauthorized Cash App transfers after he allowed them to live in his home and granted the officer power of attorney. Andrew McVicker, 28, and Abbigale McVicker, 24, face felony charges of exploitation of an elderly person and conspiracy, with the alleged thefts occurring between January 2024 and May 2026. McVicker has been placed on administrative leave from the Alva Police Department pending the investigation's outcome.
foxnews.com
· 2026-08-30
A cyberattack on CareCloud, a company providing electronic medical records technology to healthcare providers, exposed personal information and medical records of over 3.75 million people after hackers gained unauthorized access to an Amazon Web Services environment between March 10-16, 2026. The stolen data included Social Security numbers, financial information, and medical records, putting victims at risk for identity theft, financial fraud, and medical identity theft. Affected individuals may have been exposed through their healthcare provider's use of CareCloud's services, even if they never directly created an account with the company.
foxnews.com
· 2026-08-30
Identity theft has evolved beyond simple credit card fraud to include account takeovers, SIM swaps, and multi-vector attacks using personal information from data breaches to impersonate victims across banking, phone, and social media accounts. Modern identity theft protection services should monitor multiple account types including banks, credit cards, phone services, and detect unauthorized access or transfers, while also providing guidance on how to respond when fraud occurs. The article recommends consumers evaluate protection services based on coverage areas, alert quality, and recovery support rather than credit monitoring alone.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-30
A man captured on surveillance camera withdrew cash using a stolen debit card at an ATM in the 10500 block of Culebra Road on August 12, and Bexar County deputies are seeking the public's help identifying him and locating the dark-colored SUV he fled in. The suspect, described as a Black male wearing a Jordan tank top, green pants, and light brown hat, faces potential charges under Texas law that carry sentences up to two years in state jail, or significantly longer if the victim is 65 or older. Deputies did not disclose the cardholder's identity or the amount withdrawn, nor explain how the debit card was originally stolen.
1news.co.nz
· 2026-08-30
Cambodia's government claims to have completely eliminated online scam compounds that have operated across the country, announcing the eradication at a meeting with foreign diplomats; however, independent anti-trafficking experts and organizations express skepticism, asserting that significant scamming operations and recruitment of foreign workers continue. These scam operations—primarily "romance" and cryptocurrency scams involving thousands of trafficked foreign nationals working under near-slavery conditions—caused an estimated US$88.3 billion to US$114.1 billion in losses globally in 2025, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
theguildng.com
· 2026-08-30
INTERPOL's eight-month Operation Jackal IV (November 2025-June 2026) arrested 58 people and identified 263 suspects across 22 countries involved in West African organised crime networks perpetrating romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, investment scams, and business email compromise. Key operations included dismantling a €143 million investment scam in Romania, seizing $2.67 million in South Africa from romance and investment fraud targeting retirees, and uncovering a €845,000 money-laundering network in Italy. The investigation also exposed emerging threats including sextortion schemes targeting minors as young as 14 years old via social media.
ekathimerini.com
· 2026-08-30
Three suspects in western Greece were identified for a phone scam targeting an elderly woman who lost €76,500 in savings after being deceived by callers posing as electricity company employees. In a similar scheme on Crete, five suspects were arrested for defrauding nine elderly people of €21,450 in cash and €38,000 in jewelry using the same method of impersonating utility workers. These scams, which persuade victims to leave valuables at their home entrances for false safety reasons, remain effective despite public awareness campaigns.
kitchener.citynews.ca
· 2026-08-30
Guelph Police have warned of a banking scam targeting seniors in which callers impersonate bank or credit bureau officials, claiming suspicious account activity, and then request card numbers and PINs. A person then arrives at the victim's home to collect the cards under the pretense of replacement, after which scammers use the stolen information to charge thousands of dollars to victims' accounts. Police advise residents to verify such calls directly with their bank using trusted contact numbers rather than information provided by the caller.
newsmakerslive.org
· 2026-08-30
A federal jury in Puerto Rico convicted Nigerian national Oluwasegun Baiyewu for his role in a money-laundering conspiracy that processed proceeds from romance scams, pandemic unemployment fraud, and business email compromise schemes targeting elderly and vulnerable Americans between 2020 and 2021. Baiyewu and four co-defendants laundered funds generated from victims across multiple states through hundreds of financial transactions, using some proceeds to purchase vehicles shipped to Nigeria. The case marks the fifth conviction in the conspiracy, with sentencing pending before U.S. District Judge Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach.
noticias.foxnews.com
· 2026-08-30
Meta has agreed to a landmark child-safety settlement requiring a default two-hour daily usage limit for Facebook and Instagram users under 18, along with blocking most app access from midnight to 6 a.m. and muting notifications during school hours (8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays), with most requirements taking effect over the coming months. The agreement, approved by a judge on August 27, gives parents stronger control over settings while allowing teens to disable limits only with parental permission, addressing concerns about teen screen time and social media addiction.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-29
Two Los Angeles men, Sergio Romero and Franklin Florez, have been charged with elder fraud and related felonies after targeting seniors aged 60-80 at ATMs in Lemon Grove and across Southern California by swapping their debit cards for fake ones while watching them enter their PINs. The pair bilked at least five Lemon Grove victims of nearly $6,000, with investigators linking them to approximately 15 similar crimes in San Diego County and an estimated $120,000 in total losses across Southern California, including incidents in Orange, Los Angeles, and potentially other counties.
loudounnow.com
· 2026-08-29
Virginia seniors reported losses exceeding $220 million in 2025, part of a $7.7 billion total in fraud losses among Americans aged 60 and older—a 59 percent increase from the previous year. Scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence, particularly voice-cloning technology, to make traditional impersonation and urgency-based schemes more convincing, with AI-related fraud accounting for over $352 million in losses among seniors. The article recommends five protective habits including enabling two-factor authentication, independently verifying urgent callers, establishing family passwords, and automating security updates to combat these evolving threats.
thegardenisland.com
· 2026-08-29
The Legal Aid Society of Hawai'i is hosting a free Kaua'i Elder Law Fair on September 4, 2026, to provide seniors and their families with information on elder abuse, financial scams, and estate planning. The event will feature presentations from AARP elder fraud expert Paul Greenwood, an estate planning attorney, and local social service agencies offering resources and guidance to help kupuna protect themselves from exploitation.
crypto.news
· 2026-08-29
A 22-country INTERPOL operation arrested 58 suspects and identified 263 additional individuals involved in West African organized crime networks running romance scams, fake cryptocurrency investment schemes, and money laundering operations, resulting in $2.67 million seized. The eight-month Operation Jackal IV targeted criminal groups including Black Axe, with major enforcement actions in South Africa (39 arrests), Argentina (17 arrests), and Romania (11 arrests), dismantling call centers and Crime-as-a-Service networks that defrauded victims globally of approximately €143 million.
kucoin.com
· 2026-08-29
INTERPOL's Jackal IV operation, conducted across 22 countries from November 2025 to June 2026, resulted in 58 arrests and 263 identified suspects targeting online financial crimes including romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and investment schemes. Major actions included South African police seizing $2.67 million from romance and investment scams targeting retirees, Argentine dismantling of a Crime-as-a-Service network with 17 arrests, and Romanian authorities shutting down an investment fraud syndicate. Italian authorities also identified a suspect involved in a €845,000 money laundering operation across Europe.
yahoo.com
· 2026-08-29
Five men have been indicted for laundering $7.4 million stolen from at least 77 elderly victims through tech support scams and impersonation schemes in Washington state. The defendants created 21 shell companies and 44 bank accounts to receive victim funds via cashier's checks and money orders, then rapidly transferred the money through wire transfers to accounts in Hong Kong and China. Trial is scheduled for November 9, with charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering by concealment and spending, each carrying sentences up to 20 years in prison.
kiro7.com
· 2026-08-29
Five men have been indicted for laundering $7.4 million stolen from at least 77 elderly victims through tech support scams and impersonation schemes in Washington state. The defendants allegedly created 21 shell companies and opened 44 bank accounts to receive victims' funds via cashier's checks and money orders, then rapidly transferred the money to accounts in Hong Kong and China. The operation occurred between October 2024 and March 2026, with a trial scheduled for November 9.
cubaheadlines.com
· 2026-08-29
Alejandro Díaz Torriente, 67, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for exploiting a 94-year-old Miami woman by impersonating her son, gaining access to her home valued at over $600,000, and diverting her social security benefits while stealing approximately $20,000 in cash. The scheme also included fraudulently adding himself as a co-owner of her property with survivorship rights. The fraud was discovered by the woman's court-appointed legal guardian and led to Torriente's arrest in November 2023 after a four-month investigation by the Elder and Vulnerable Adult Exploitation Task Force.
njoag.gov
· 2026-08-28
Patricia Lindo-Ahono, 60, a nursing director at Crystal Lake Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in New Jersey, pleaded guilty to assaulting a 77-year-old resident by striking him with a broom on June 24, 2023, and attempting to conceal the assault by tampering with witnesses. She will permanently lose her nursing license and faces three years of non-custodial probation with mandatory anger management classes and 50 hours of community service.
investmentnews.com
· 2026-08-28
Two men were arrested for defrauding over 26 women out of $1.3 million through a romance scam where one posed as a San Francisco 49ers player and the other as his financial advisor, using fake investment accounts and dating apps to gain victims' trust across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. Daejon Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, used mobile applications to create fictitious bank and investment balances, convincing victims their money was being invested while some were pressured to take out personal loans; no victims received any returns or account information. The pair were arrested in Boise on August 24 and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud
news.immigration.gov.tw
· 2026-08-28
Taiwan's 165 Anti-Fraud Hotline has identified five prevalent scams in 2026, including fake investment schemes, AI deepfakes, romance scams, impersonation of police or prosecutors, and phishing messages, with scammers using various deception tactics to gain trust and solicit money or personal information. The hotline advises the public to verify suspicious requests, stay calm when asked to transfer funds or provide sensitive data, and contact 165 for assistance when encountering potential fraud.
eu.36kr.com
· 2026-08-28
A criminal gang in China used AI-generated images of wealthy, eligible men to scam middle-aged and elderly women through fake matchmaking services, defrauding at least 50 victims of over 1 million yuan in total. One victim paid 2,000 yuan for matchmaking services and was given a fake contact for an AI-generated man named "Brother Li" who could never be reached. Police arrested 28 suspects after discovering the company used AI images in live streams with carefully scripted interactions designed to manipulate victims.
dakotanewsnow.com
· 2026-08-28
The Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a "courier cash" scam targeting senior citizens, in which scammers call victims, pressure them to withdraw large amounts of cash, deceive bank staff, and direct the funds to addresses controlled by criminals. The scam is rapidly growing in the area, and law enforcement is urging community members to discuss the scheme with elderly loved ones to help prevent victimization.
abcnews.com
· 2026-08-28
Cambodia's government claims it has eliminated all online scam compounds after a major crackdown that investigated 793 suspected locations, raided 624 sites, and detained nearly 30,000 suspects from 39 nationalities between July 2025 and August 2026. These compounds were responsible for estimated losses of $88.3 billion to $114.1 billion in 2025 through romance and cryptocurrency scams, while also engaging in human trafficking of thousands of foreign workers. However, independent anti-trafficking experts remain skeptical of the government's claims, noting credible indicators that significant scamming operations and worker recruitment continue despite reported decreases in trafficking victim reports.