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in Scam Awareness
hellorayo.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams across the UK resulted in £6.8 million in losses over 12 months, with North Yorkshire police warning that 65% of people believe it won't happen to them despite the significant threat. Scammers typically build trust through fake profiles and emotional manipulation, sometimes persuading victims to sell assets or homes based on false promises, with losses ranging from hundreds to millions of pounds. Police advise against sharing personal information online, sending money to unknown contacts, moving conversations off legitimate dating platforms, or accepting money transfers that could constitute money laundering.
chroniclelive.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Santander reported that UK customers lost £3.8 million to romance scams in the past six months (a 27% increase), with victims averaging £4,500 lost each across ages 18 to 93. Criminals build emotional relationships with victims before manipulating them into sending money through fabricated emergencies, with the bank noting that 65% of surveyed customers believed they would never fall victim despite half receiving suspected scam messages. Santander recommends performing reverse image searches on photos, refusing video call refusals as red flags, never sending money to online-only contacts, and removing emotion from financial decisions by consulting trusted friends before giving money.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams targeting UK bank customers increased 27% in six months, with Santander reporting £3.8 million stolen from victims aged 18-93, averaging £4,500 per person. Scammers primarily operate on Facebook and Instagram, building emotional connections before requesting money for flights, medical expenses, or gifts, with nearly a third of victims willing to provide financial support to partners known for less than six months. Beyond financial losses, victims face significant emotional trauma and isolation, though 65% of British adults believe such fraud will never happen to them.
dailystar.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between March and August 2024, Santander UK customers lost £3.8 million to romance scams, representing a 27% increase from the previous six months, with victims ranging in age from 18 to 93 and losing an average of £4,500 each. A survey found that nearly one-third of respondents would send money to someone they've known for less than six months, while half had received suspicious romantic messages online. The bank advises potential victims to remove emotion from financial decisions, verify photos through reverse image searches, request video calls, and never share personal or banking information with new online contacts.
irvinetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Santander UK customers £3.8 million in the six months from March to August 2024, a 27% increase from the previous period, with victims aged 18 to 93 losing an average of £4,500 each. Research found that 50% of people have received suspected scam messages, yet 65% believe they would never fall victim, while nearly 30% would offer financial help to someone they've known less than six months. Santander recommends removing emotion from financial decisions, verifying photos through reverse image searches, being wary of those who avoid video calls, and never sharing money or personal details with online-only contacts.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Abilash Kurien, Vice President of International Cargo Airline Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, was sentenced to 32 months in prison for his role in a decade-long fraud scheme that defrauded the company of more than $32 million in revenue. Kurien personally received over $7 million in kickbacks from vendors in exchange for ensuring they received favorable business arrangements, and was ordered to forfeit $7.2 million and pay $23 million in restitution. The scheme involved at least 10 senior executives and employees at Polar and its vendors and operated from 2009 through July 2021.
futurescot.com
· 2025-12-08
Research in Scotland revealed that 400,000 older people have been targeted by online scams, prompting the Cyber and Fraud Centre to relaunch a safety guide addressing cryptocurrency scams, fake calls/emails, and text message fraud. The Cyber and Fraud Hub has handled approximately £250,000 in cryptocurrency fraud cases across all age groups while preventing around £60,000 from reaching scammers, with older adults identified as particularly vulnerable due to lower technology familiarity and greater trust in unsolicited contacts. The guide recommends that seniors remain cautious of unexpected communications, protect personal information, be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true, and discuss finances with trusted individuals.
insidenova.com
· 2025-12-08
Dumfries town officials signed a TRIAD charter with Virginia's Attorney General on September 26 to protect seniors from online scams and fraud. TRIAD is a collaborative program involving law enforcement, community members, and seniors that aims to reduce crime victimization through awareness campaigns, education, and resource-sharing about local scams and available support services. Virginia has over 200 signed TRIAD agreements and is recognized nationally for having the highest number of active local TRIAD groups.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old woman in Malaysia lost over RM670,000 in a Macau scam after criminals deceived her into believing her identity had been used for criminal activities, then visited her home to steal her savings and jewelry. The incident highlights how scammers deliberately target elderly individuals with limited cybercrime awareness, as younger generations are more resistant to such deception.
nola.com
· 2025-12-08
Georges Media Group and AARP Louisiana are hosting "Unmasking Fraud," a free public educational event on October 15 in New Orleans featuring AARP Fraud Ambassador Paul Greenwood, a retired prosecutor with 22 years of experience leading elder abuse prosecution, along with local law enforcement and legal experts who will discuss fraud prevention tactics and resources. The event includes a resource fair, stakeholder roundtable, and will be livestreamed, with AARP reporting that an estimated 141.5 million U.S. adults have been targeted by fraud, emphasizing the need for community-wide prevention efforts and the AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline at 877
wthr.com
· 2025-12-08
The Indianapolis FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association is hosting a free elder fraud awareness workshop on October 8, featuring forensic accountants and consumer protection officials to educate the community about fraud schemes. The event is being held in response to findings that Indiana seniors lost over $37.8 million to elder fraud in 2023, with Indiana ranking 25th among U.S. states and territories for elder fraud losses.
wdtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Following Hurricane Helene, West Virginia's Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau warned residents about charity and disaster scams, in which fraudsters solicit donations for fake charities that redirect funds to personal use rather than relief efforts. To protect themselves, donors should verify charities' legitimacy through established databases, avoid cash or wire transfers, pay by credit card, and research organizations independently before giving. Residents who encounter suspected fraudulent charities can report them to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 800-368-8808.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
In the first six months of 2024, Americans lost $65 million to Bitcoin ATM scams, with losses increasing nearly 10-fold since 2023. Scammers use various tactics—such as impersonating law enforcement and threatening arrest—to manipulate victims into depositing cash at Bitcoin ATMs; one Houston man lost nearly $60,000 after being told he had an active warrant. The median loss across all ages is $10,000, though consumers over 60 are more frequently targeted, and the FTC warns that if anyone directs you to use a Bitcoin ATM, it is a scam.
therakyatpost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 50-year-old contractor from Johor Bahru lost RM688,000 in an online investment scam that promised 410% returns over three months, after being lured through a Facebook advertisement and WhatsApp group where scammers posed as investment educators and sent a fake guarantee letter along with a fraudulent mobile app. The victim made 17 transfers between July and September, received an initial return of RM64,000 to build confidence, but had his account frozen when he refused to invest additional funds, ultimately discovering the supposed investment company did not exist. Police are investigating under cheating laws and probing whether money mule accounts were involved in the fraud.
ibsintelligence.com
· 2025-12-08
A Social Market Foundation report found that one in five adults (21%) across 15 countries experienced fraud in the last three years, with the UK alone losing over £9 billion from 10 million victims averaging £907 each in losses. The global fraud crisis costs affected economies £420 billion when including indirect costs like lost productivity, and beyond financial harm, 40% of victims reported reduced trust in others and 12% decreased their use of online technology. The report recommends the UK government lead international cooperation efforts through comprehensive agreements, cross-departmental coordination, enhanced law enforcement resources, and legal obligations for private sector organizations in the fraud prevention chain.
lawyer-monthly.com
· 2025-12-08
Wire transfer scams cost Americans $343.7 million in 2023, with fraudsters impersonating trusted contacts to redirect payments to their accounts through compromised emails, fake documents, or intercepted communications. Wire transfers are nearly impossible to reverse once processed, making them the scammer's preferred method; one victim lost his entire $900,000 life savings intended for a home down payment when scammers hijacked his email conversation with his real estate agent. Common wire transfer scams include real estate fraud, advance-fee loan schemes, fake checks, family emergency impersonations, rental fraud, tech support scams, and business email compromise attacks.
pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
As Election Day approaches, scammers are impersonating political campaigns and organizations through text messages to steal personal information and money using three main tactics: fake voter registration alerts with malicious links, fraudulent polling requests, and donation solicitation scams. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links from unknown senders, verify voter registration through official state websites only, and never respond to unsolicited political texts; additionally, enable spam filtering on your phone by using built-in settings like "Filter Unknown Senders" on iPhones or spam protection features on Android devices.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old South Sound woman lost nearly $140,000 to a Microsoft tech support scam after a remote access scammer convinced her to send two $69,000 cashier's checks to Georgia under false pretenses. The victim delayed reporting the fraud due to shame and fear of judgment, highlighting how cybercrime victims experience different treatment than victims of violent crime. According to the FBI, tech support scams are the top reported cybercrime among seniors aged 60+, with 18,000 victims losing $3.4 billion in the past year, and resources like AARP's Fraud Watch Helpline (877-908-3360) are available to provide
kiro7.com
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old South Sound woman lost nearly $140,000 to a Microsoft tech support scam in which a scammer gained remote access to her computer, faked an overpayment error, and instructed her to send two $69,000 cashier's checks to Georgia. According to the FBI, tech support scams are the number one reported cybercrime among seniors 60+, with 18,000 victims losing $3.4 billion last year, and victims often experience shame and hesitation to report the crime due to societal blame rather than receiving the empathy given to violent crime victims.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old California widow lost her entire $720,000 life savings to an online scammer on WeChat who used "pig butchering" tactics to build trust and convince her to invest in cryptocurrency between August and September 2022. After JPMorgan Chase Bank failed to flag the suspicious transactions despite red flags and her long account history, Lin sued the bank and successfully prevented its dismissal of the case; her experience prompted California State Senator Bill Dodd to introduce Senate Bill 278, which would require banks to implement emergency contact programs and delay suspicious transactions over $5,000 for three business days for elderly customers.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Tonya Denise Brown, a 48-year-old licensed practical nurse at Tangipahoa Parish Jail, was indicted on nine federal counts in September 2024 for defrauding vulnerable populations. Her schemes included soliciting money under false promises of assistance with criminal cases and disaster benefits (targeting hurricane victims), misusing a notary's identity to defraud FEMA rental assistance and HUD's Restore Louisiana programs, and illegally selling controlled substances including oxycodone online. Additionally, she was charged with making false statements to the FBI and lying to a judge, with potential sentences ranging from 5 to 30 years depending on the charges.
thewesterlysun.com
· 2025-12-08
Two individuals, Jirui Liu (22, Canada) and Kush J. Patel (22, Connecticut), were charged with wire fraud and money laundering in separate but similar schemes targeting Rhode Island seniors. Liu's scheme defrauded a 79-year-old victim of $35,000 in cash and $130,000 in gold bars through fake pop-up warnings about illegal activity, while Patel's scheme extracted approximately $363,090 in gold bullion from another victim using the same tactics; both defendants were arrested when law enforcement arranged controlled deliveries of counterfeit items.
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs warns residents to be vigilant against post-Hurricane Helene scams, including fraudsters impersonating FEMA and utility companies to steal personal information through unsolicited calls. The department reminds the public that legitimate government agencies never charge for disaster relief and advises verifying charitable organizations before donating, with resources available through the Secretary of State's office or by calling 1-888-CHARITI.
elmoreautauganews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to avoid fraudulent charity scams following Hurricane Helene, as scammers create fake donation websites, social media campaigns, and crowdfunding pages to exploit donors' generosity. The BBB recommends verifying charities through trusted sites like Give.org and Charity Navigator, donating directly through official websites using credit cards, and avoiding unsolicited requests via social media or payment apps. The advisory provides a list of verified national and state-specific relief organizations where donations can be made safely.
npr.org
· 2025-12-08
Cambodian investigative reporter Mech Dara was arrested and charged with incitement to commit a felony for social media posts, facing up to two years imprisonment. Dara is known for exposing online scams, human trafficking at scam compounds, and corruption across Cambodia—including "pig butchering" romance scams where victims are defrauded of large sums. His arrest has been condemned by international press freedom organizations and the U.S. State Department, which previously honored him for his anti-trafficking work.
wdsu.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational alert warns consumers about three common online shopping scams to watch for during major retail sales events (Target Circle Week, Amazon Prime Day, and Walmart's shopping holiday). The scams include: phishing emails/texts falsely claiming account issues and requesting payment updates; fake social media ads directing users to fraudulent websites that mimic legitimate retailers; and untrustworthy third-party sellers who attempt to move transactions off official platforms. Consumers are advised to access company websites directly, verify HTTPS security in URLs, research sellers, and never make payments outside official retail sites.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta has partnered with Australian banks through the Fraud Intelligence Reciprocal Exchange (Fire) program to combat celebrity deepfake investment scams, removing over 17,000 fraudulent pages and scam posts in its first six months. Australians reported $43.4 million in social media scam losses to Scamwatch from January to August 2024, with nearly $30 million attributed to fake investment schemes featuring manipulated images of public figures. The initiative enables direct information sharing between Meta and seven major banks to identify and block scams more rapidly, though the program's impact remains limited compared to the overall volume of reported losses.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal officials are warning Hurricane Helene victims of an anticipated surge in fraud schemes, including fake charities, identity theft, and fraudulent contractor scams targeting vulnerable disaster survivors. The National Center for Disaster Fraud has received over 220,000 complaints since 2005, and authorities say criminals exploit disaster victims before, during, and after storms by impersonating government officials, soliciting fake donations, and committing price gouging. Experts advise survivors to verify the identities of helpers, avoid sharing sensitive information, obtain multiple repair estimates, and report suspected scams to FEMA or local authorities.
independent.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams in the UK surged 27% in the first half of 2024, with Santander UK customers losing nearly £4 million (average £4,500 per victim), affecting people aged 18 to 93. Key warning signs include rapid declarations of love, avoidance of in-person meetings, vague backstories (often military or overseas workers), requests for financial help during emergencies, and suspicious or unverifiable profile images. Victims should use reverse image searches to verify identities and never send money via untraceable methods like wire transfers or gift cards.
newpelican.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece by attorney Tara David discusses preventing elder financial abuse through careful fiduciary planning and monitoring. Key recommendations include thoughtfully selecting trustees and power-of-attorney agents, reviewing these designations periodically, and revoking documents if agents become untrustworthy—with formal notification to both the agent and financial institutions. The article also advises monitoring elderly individuals' financial statements for suspicious activity, watching for new relationships (particularly remote ones, given that Florida seniors lost over $40 million to romance scams in 2023), and contacting authorities if exploitation is suspected, with guardianship available as a legal recourse for incapacitated individuals.
perspectivemedia.com
· 2025-12-08
The UK government proposed legislation extending the window for banks to delay suspicious payments from one business day to up to 72 hours, allowing more time to investigate potential fraud and block high-risk transactions. The measure aims to combat authorized push payment (APP) fraud, romance scams, and purchase scams that cost hundreds of millions of pounds annually, with banks required to compensate customers for any interest or late fees resulting from delays.
gov.uk
· 2025-12-08
The UK government proposed new legislation extending the time banks can delay suspicious payments from one business day to up to 72 hours to investigate potential fraud and protect consumers. This measure aims to address the £460 million lost to fraud annually, particularly from romance scams and purchase scams targeting vulnerable people, by giving banks time to contact customers and intervene before money reaches scammers. Banks must have reasonable grounds to suspect fraud, inform customers of delays, and compensate them for any resulting fees or interest.
metro.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Co-operative Bank experienced a widespread outage of its mobile app and online banking services beginning around 1:30pm, preventing customers from accessing their accounts and prompting complaints on social media; the bank apologized and stated it was working to resolve the issue. The article also covers unrelated banking news including proposed government measures to extend fraud investigation time for suspicious transactions to 72 hours to better protect consumers from scams like romance fraud.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse—it is an English language learning resource from SBS Learn English that uses online scams as the topic to teach English vocabulary, grammar (passive voice), and conversational phrases to non-native speakers in Australia. While it includes educational dialogue about recognizing phishing emails and reporting scams to authorities, it is pedagogical material rather than news reporting or fraud research content suitable for the Elderus database.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A retired Brigadier from Panchkula, Haryana, lost Rs 4.2 crore after downloading a phishing app from a WhatsApp link promising stock market investment opportunities; he and his wife were deceived into transferring funds across multiple accounts before being asked to pay an additional Rs 65 lakh commission to withdraw their money. The investigation revealed the scam was orchestrated by an international network based in the United States and United Kingdom, which used Indian bank accounts from rural border villages to launder the stolen funds, compensating account holders with small commissions.
winnipegfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly Winnipeg couple in their 70s lost $32,700—over one-third of their retirement savings—to a "church peer" scam in September 2024, where a fraudster impersonated a trusted church member and directed them to purchase Apple gift cards as "processing fees" for a fake $150,000 federal senior grant. Though the couple reported the crime to police and recovered $700, the remaining funds are unlikely to be returned, and they now fear their retirement security is jeopardized. The incident reflects a growing trend of fraud targeting seniors in Manitoba, with the Winnipeg Police Service reporting 4,851 fraud cases in 2023 and a low
liherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Darren Saunders of Brooklyn was arrested on October 2 for elder fraud and grand larceny after calling a 73-year-old Inwood woman and impersonating a bank fraud department employee to convince her to surrender her credit card. The victim reported the scam to police before any money was lost, and officers arrested Saunders, who was found in possession of a fraudulent driver's license and credit card.
liherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Darren Saunders of Brooklyn was arrested on October 2 on three charges including elder scam and grand larceny after allegedly impersonating a bank fraud department employee to convince a 73-year-old Inwood woman to surrender her debit card. The victim contacted police, who arrested Saunders and found him in possession of a fraudulent driver's license and credit card. He was scheduled for arraignment in Hempstead on October 3.
dhs.gov
· 2025-12-08
HSI arrested two men in Rhode Island in connection with elder fraud schemes targeting seniors through online pop-up scams. Jirui Liu, 22, of Canada was charged after allegedly defrauding a 79-year-old man of $30,000 in cash and $130,000 in gold bars by impersonating federal authorities and falsely claiming his assets were compromised; a 72-year-old victim lost nearly $200,000 in a similar scheme involving Kush J. Patel, 22, of Connecticut, who posed as an FTC agent directing the victim to purchase and deliver gold bullion.
wsaz.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud scams cost Americans over $3.4 billion in 2023, with the average victim losing $34,000. Social media expert Marcy Thornhill advises families to have sensitive conversations with aging parents or grandparents about securing their finances, including organizing legal paperwork, gathering passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and monitoring credit card statements and credit reports for unauthorized activity. She emphasizes framing these discussions as protective rather than controlling to encourage elderly relatives' cooperation and maintain their sense of empowerment.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans over age 60 lost more than $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, with 101,000 complaints filed—a 14.5% increase from 2022. Tech support scams were the most common fraud type, while data brokers' sale of personal information increasingly enables criminals to target seniors. The article recommends protective measures including monitoring financial accounts, using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, limiting personal information sharing, and considering data removal services.
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
Contrary to the stereotype of elderly victims, research shows younger people report losing money to scams more frequently than older adults, with those under 21 experiencing the largest surge in online fraud losses and 18-24 year-olds losing a median of $200 per scam. However, older adults suffer larger individual losses, with those aged 70-79 losing a median of $800 and those 80+ losing $1,500, reflecting how scams are tailored to different generations—younger people are targeted primarily on social media (40% of cases for ages 18-29) while older adults are targeted via phone (40% for those 80+). Different age groups face distinct
clintonherald.com
· 2025-12-08
The Iowa Department of Public Safety warned of an emerging trend in which scammers are demanding gold bars, coins, and bullion as payment instead of traditional methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency. Common scam types—including government impersonation, tech support, and romance scams—have shifted to this new payment method, with one central Iowa resident losing $305,000 in gold and silver to a fake Microsoft representative in June 2024, and the FBI reporting $55 million in precious metals losses nationwide during the second half of 2023.
japantimes.co.jp
· 2025-12-08
Investment fraud and romance scams conducted via social media tripled in the first eight months of the year, with 6,868 reported cases resulting in approximately ¥88 billion ($600 million) in losses, compared to 2,008 cases and ¥21.1 billion the previous year. Scammers employed two primary methods: posing as trusted investors or celebrities in investment fraud schemes, and courting victims through dating apps to solicit money in romance scams. The National Police Agency issued the warning to raise public awareness about these escalating threats.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
**Not a fraud/elder abuse article**
This is a personal essay about the author's experience with modern dating apps—not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. It discusses the evolution of online dating from 2007 to present, the author's feelings about current dating app quality and user experience, and broader cultural commentary on dating. While the author mentions that apps are "overrun with scams," the article does not detail specific scam incidents, victims, or fraud schemes relevant to an elder fraud database.
fdic.gov
· 2025-12-08
This announcement promotes a National Town Hall on Scams & Older Adults, jointly hosted by the CFPB, AARP, and FDIC on October 30, 2024. The online event will educate older adults, families, and professionals on why scams succeed, share victim experiences, introduce the Money Smart for Older Adults program, and provide five practical protection strategies. The webinar is designed for banks, credit unions, educators, and community organizations working to prevent financial exploitation of older adults.
techradar.com
· 2025-12-08
Travel booking scams have surged dramatically, with Booking.com reporting a 500-900% increase in travel scams over 18 months and Lloyds Bank noting a 7% spike in holiday purchase scams, where victims lost an average of £765. Scammers use social engineering tactics including vishing (voice phishing), smishing (SMS phishing), and AI-powered impersonation to trick travelers into revealing sensitive personal information such as payment details, passport numbers, and one-time passwords. Security experts recommend two-factor authentication and call for travel brands to prioritize mobile app security, as nearly 70% of working adults have encountered vishing attacks that exploit human psychology an
wymt.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud cost Americans over $3.4 billion in 2023, with victims losing an average of $34,000 each, according to FBI and NCOA data. A social media expert recommends families have sensitive conversations with aging parents or grandparents about financial management, including reviewing bank accounts together, establishing power of attorney, setting up two-factor authentication, and monitoring credit statements and reports for unauthorized activity. These protective steps should be framed as supportive rather than controlling to encourage elderly relatives to accept help securing their finances.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Revolut criticized Meta on Thursday for inadequate fraud prevention measures, arguing the tech giant should directly compensate victims of scams originating on its platforms rather than simply sharing data with banks. Revolut's report found that 62% of fraud reported on its platform originated from Meta services (39% from Facebook, 18% from WhatsApp), and the company contends that social media platforms lack incentive to combat fraud since they bear no financial responsibility for victims. New U.K. regulations effective October 7 will require banks and payment firms to compensate authorized push payment fraud victims up to £85,000, but Revolut maintains that Meta and similar platforms must also share in reimbursement
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre data shows fraud losses exceeded $554 million last year, a 40% increase from 2021, with underreporting masking the true scale of the problem. Fraudsters are increasingly using sophisticated technologies, including AI-generated deepfakes and impersonations, to deceive victims across multiple scam types including job scams, which typically involve unsolicited job offers followed by requests for upfront payment for training or uniforms. Financial institutions and individuals can reduce risk through cyber literacy training, skepticism toward offers that sound too good to be true, and verification of job opportunities through official company channels.