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7,397 results in Robocall / Phone Scam
kclyradio.com · 2025-12-08
A Wichita man in his mid-70s lost $15,000 to a multi-agency impersonation scam in which fraudsters posing as Amazon, Social Security Administration, and U.S. Marshals Service officials falsely accused him of money laundering and instructed him to purchase bitcoin as "proof" of innocence. Bank employees intervened before additional funds could be transferred, prompting a police report and FBI notification. Authorities warn that legitimate government agencies and major corporations never contact citizens by phone to claim account compromises or request money transfers.
wect.com · 2025-12-08
A scammer posing as a New Hanover County Sheriff's deputy targeted multiple victims in North Carolina by calling them about alleged missed jury duty and threatening arrest, demanding $2,000 be paid via a Food Lion kiosk. The victim, Eddie Keith, became suspicious when the caller used his legal name instead of his preferred name and insisted he stay on the phone and not contact an attorney. The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office warns the public that legitimate law enforcement will never demand money over the phone and advises citizens to hang up if calls create urgency or request payment.
rnz.co.nz · 2025-12-08
Doreen, a woman in her late 70s, lost approximately $100,000 in a revictimization scam after initial investment fraud losses. A caller claiming to help recover her previous losses convinced her that dormant investments worth $66,000 to $500,000+ existed in her name, requiring cryptocurrency payments for taxes and fees; she and her husband transferred funds in $20,000 chunks via cryptocurrency exchange and granted the scammer access to their digital wallet. The scammer, who instructed them to hide the scheme from family and others, continued contacting them even after they cut off contact in late December, demonstrating how revictimization scams exploit previous frau
deltapolice.ca · 2025-12-08
In September 2024, Operation DeCloak—a joint effort between Delta Police and blockchain analytics company Chainalysis—identified over 1,100 cryptocurrency fraud victims worldwide, including numerous Canadians, with estimated losses of $35 million CAD across 240 examined crypto addresses. The investigation revealed a growing tactic called "approval phishing," where scammers deceive victims via social media and investment schemes into approving malicious blockchain transactions that drain their digital wallets. Following the workshop, DPD successfully applied these techniques to recover $800,000 USD in stolen cryptocurrency from Canadian victims while working to identify additional affected individuals and seize funds for restitution.
greybullstandard.com · 2025-12-08
Scams are becoming increasingly frequent, sophisticated, and successful, with law enforcement reporting a notable uptick in impostor scams where criminals pose as government officials or law enforcement to threaten arrest and extort money—one Big Horn County resident lost over $20,000 in such a scheme. Scammers employ phishing techniques to harvest personal information from victims and social media, using these details to make fraudulent requests appear legitimate and to impersonate targets for additional scams. The FBI reported that online fraud complaints doubled from 2019 to 2023 (467,361 to 880,418 complaints) with financial losses exceeding $12.5 billion, and authorities advise
independent.co.uk · 2025-12-08
In 2024, nearly one in five UK consumers fell victim to scams, with purchase scams averaging £650 in losses and investment scams significantly higher at £15,564 per claim. The top reported scams included fake deliveries, HMRC impersonation, purchase fraud, and romance schemes, with the majority originating on social media platforms where AI-enabled tactics are making scams increasingly difficult to identify. Experts stress that consumers feel overwhelmed by evolving scam methods and call for cross-industry collaboration to combat fraud, while recommending people avoid disclosing personal details, verify company contacts, and resist pressure to make quick decisions.
newscentral.africa · 2025-12-08
Two Nigerian nationals, Olutayo Sunday Ogunlaja and Abel Adeyi Daramola, were sentenced to a combined 40 years in prison for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded an Albuquerque victim of approximately $560,000 between January 2016 and April 2017. The scheme involved creating a fake dating profile under the name "Glenn Brown" on eHarmony.com to establish a romantic relationship with the victim and convince them to send money for a fictitious Malaysian construction project. Ogunlaja and Daramola facilitated the fraud by providing bank accounts to receive and launder the stolen funds.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com · 2025-12-08
This article discusses romance scams on online dating platforms, where fraudsters create fake profiles to emotionally manipulate victims before requesting money. In 2023, the average romance scam in the UK was worth approximately £30,000, with fraudsters spending weeks or months "grooming" victims before making financial requests, resulting in nearly £6 million in attempted romance scams that year. The article provides warning signs of romance fraud (inconsistent stories, quick professions of love, requests for money) and prevention tips for online daters.
Romance Scam Robocall / Phone Scam General Elder Fraud Scam Awareness Cryptocurrency Gift Cards Check/Cashier's Check
americanbanker.com · 2025-12-08
**Scam Type:** Account takeover and wire fraud following inheritance receipt **What Happened:** An 86-year-old widow received a life insurance check after her husband's death in July. Within days, a fraudster opened two bank accounts using her name and stole the funds by transferring them between the accounts. The theft was discovered on August 11, and the money was eventually recovered with help from the U.S. Secret Service and Palm Beach County Police—a rare outcome, as most victims do not recover stolen funds. **Key Issue:** The article highlights systemic banking vulnerabilities including inconsistent anti-fraud regulations, lack of document authentication tools to detect forgeries, an
fredericton.ca · 2025-12-08
The Fredericton Police Force issued a warning about a rise in scams and fraud complaints, with 11 reports already filed since January 2024 and over 350 instances reported throughout 2024 costing residents more than $500,000. The grandparent scam, where fraudsters impersonate distressed family members requesting urgent money, is identified as particularly targeting elderly residents. The police recommend verifying caller identity, refusing requests for money from anyone claiming to be police, avoiding rushed decisions, and consulting trusted contacts before responding to suspicious communications.
theameryfreepress.com · 2025-12-08
This educational piece from the Amery Police Department warns about common holiday scams targeting vulnerable populations, including phishing emails that impersonate legitimate institutions like banks and Amazon, grandparent scams requesting gift cards or money, and fraudulent packages containing malicious QR codes. The article advises verifying email sources and URLs for suspicious details, avoiding clicking links that request personal information, never sharing banking details, and using parental controls on children's devices to prevent fraud.
paymentsjournal.com · 2025-12-08
A Fortiguard security officer discovered a sophisticated "no-phish" phishing scam that exploits PayPal's legitimate money request feature, using authentic PayPal emails and URLs to direct victims to the real PayPal site where fraudsters submit fake payment requests. The scam bypasses typical warning signs consumers are trained to identify, making it particularly dangerous; in this case, a $2,185.96 payment was requested. Security experts recommend the best defense is bypassing email links entirely and logging directly into financial accounts to verify any transaction requests.
cgsentinel.com · 2025-12-08
This educational article warns that scams occur year-round through emails, texts, and phone calls, often impersonating legitimate agencies and using threats of penalties or emotional manipulation to extract personal information and payments via gift cards, bitcoin, or money orders. The article advises verifying agency legitimacy by independently looking up contact information, bookmarking official websites, and never sharing passwords or clicking links from suspicious communications. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office specifically clarifies it will not contact residents about jury duty, request phone payments, or accept non-traditional payment methods.
Phishing Identity Theft Grandparent Scam Benefits Fraud Robocall / Phone Scam Cryptocurrency Gift Cards Money Order / Western Union
independent.co.uk · 2025-12-08
In 2024, nearly one in five UK consumers fell victim to scams, with purchase scams averaging £650 in losses while investment scams were significantly costlier at an average of £15,564 per claim. The top reported scam types included fake deliveries, HMRC impersonation, purchase scams, online marketplace fraud, and WhatsApp "Hello Mum" messages, with the majority originating on social media platforms. Experts emphasize that consumers should protect themselves by avoiding disclosure of personal details, verifying company identities, and resisting pressure to make quick decisions or payments.
wxyz.com · 2025-12-08
This article is a news roundup that does not contain elder fraud content. The piece covers the 2025 Detroit Auto Show, LA wildfires affecting a metro Detroit music producer, and Lions playoff games' economic impact. The headline references "jury duty phone scams" but the article text is cut off and does not provide details about this scam type.
forbes.com · 2025-12-08
Scammers are exploiting generosity during the California Wildfires (which began January 7th and displaced 200,000 people with $135 billion in damages) by posing as legitimate charities and FEMA officials to steal donations and charge fees for disaster assistance. Fraudsters use techniques including caller ID spoofing, AI-generated content, deepfakes, and fake charity websites to appear legitimate, making it difficult for donors to verify authenticity through phone, email, text, or social media contact. To protect themselves, donors should verify charities through Charity Navigator before giving, never provide payment information to unsolicited contacts, and avoid charities that use more than 25
states.aarp.org · 2025-12-08
A 2025 awareness article from AARP highlights that 73% of Colorado adults worry about scams and fraud, then outlines six common red flags to recognize fraud attempts, including requests for non-traditional payments, unsolicited contact, demands for personal information, artificial urgency, unrealistic offers, and lack of verifiable contact information. The article encourages individuals to trust their instincts and provides resources including the AARP ElderWatch helpline (800-222-4444) for fraud questions and assistance.
Bank Impersonation Robocall / Phone Scam General Elder Fraud Scam Awareness Cryptocurrency Wire Transfer Gift Cards Payment App
cbsnews.com · 2025-12-08
A "smishing" scam targeting Massachusetts drivers has resurfaced, with scammers sending text messages claiming unpaid E-ZPass tolls through EZDriveMA and directing recipients to click links to settle bills before late fees occur. The scam, which first appeared in June and surged again during the holidays, aims to steal personal and financial information by exploiting drivers' desire to avoid charges. MassDOT advises drivers never to click unknown links or provide personal information via text, and recommends validating toll information directly through the official website or phone number (877-627-7745); those who clicked links should contact their bank immediately and file complaints with the FBI's Internet Crime
therakyatpost.com · 2025-12-08
Between 2020 and 2024, Malaysians lost RM11.23 billion to scams, with cases increasing 53.2% from 27,323 to 41,701 annually, according to Malaysia's Commercial Crime Investigation Department. Phone scams were the most prevalent fraud type with 14,684 cases in the last year, followed by e-commerce scams (7,662 cases) and fake investment schemes (6,337 cases). In response, authorities prosecuted 40.3% of cases and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission blocked 3.1 billion suspected scam calls as of December 2024.
ottawa.citynews.ca · 2025-12-08
Ontario Provincial Police reported that scammers in the east region are using multiple fraud schemes, including a recent case where a business employee was manipulated into withdrawing cash and depositing it into a Bitcoin machine in Peterborough. The top scams targeting the region include cryptocurrency investment fraud ("get rich quick" schemes), bank investigator fraud, romance scams, and identity theft/phishing attacks, with Canadians losing an estimated $638 million to fraud in 2024, though actual losses are likely much higher due to significant underreporting.
Romance Scam Crypto Investment Scam Investment Fraud Phishing Identity Theft Cryptocurrency Crypto ATM Wire Transfer Cash
kdhlradio.com · 2025-12-08
Scam attempts in Minnesota and globally are escalating, with over $1.03 trillion lost to scammers in 2024, increasingly aided by artificial intelligence that generates convincing phishing emails, fake images, and cloned voices. High-risk scams include imposter schemes (grandparent and romance scams with median losses of $800), government imposter scams ($14,000+ median loss), cryptocurrency scams, employment scams, and task scams (which increased from 5,000 reports in 2023 to 20,000 in the first half of 2024). Scammers exploit recent disasters and events while using AI to intensify existing frau
theglobeandmail.com · 2025-12-08
In June 2021, a Toronto woman lost approximately $355,000 in a romance fraud scheme after being befriended on Facebook by a man posing as "Moshe Theodor McNigh" who convinced her to invest in bitcoin through a fraudulent website; the scammer was later identified as Nigerian national Omonkhoa Precious Afure and arrested by Nigerian authorities, resulting in the recovery of $225,000 in December 2021. Romance fraud represents the second-highest-grossing scam type in Canada with $37.2 million in reported losses as of September 2024, characterized by perpetrators grooming vulnerable victims over weeks or months, building trust, an
ktvz.com · 2025-12-08
A young couple in Lehigh Acres, Florida was scammed out of $2,650 after finding a rental property listing on Craigslist and sending payment to a fraudulent landlord who provided fake lease documents and remote access to a home via lockbox code. After moving in for a week, the couple was confronted by the legitimate property management company and technically accused of squatting, though the real estate firm ultimately waived their first month's rent and fees after learning they were victims of the scam. The incident highlights the risks of renting through third-party websites and sending money via digital payment apps without proper verification.
Robocall / Phone Scam Scam Awareness Payment App Check/Cashier's Check
wbur.org · 2025-12-08
Judith Boivin, an 80-year-old Maryland retiree, lost $600,000 of her life savings in an elaborate government impersonation scam in September 2023. Scammers posing as FBI and local police officers convinced her that her Social Security number was being used for drug trafficking and money laundering, then persuaded her to withdraw her retirement funds in cash under the guise of assisting a federal investigation. This case exemplifies a broader trend of sophisticated scams targeting well-meaning Americans, particularly those with caregiving backgrounds and strong civic values.
aol.com · 2025-12-08
A Maryland senior lost nearly $600,000 to a government impersonation scam after receiving a spoofed call from someone claiming to be an FBI agent investigating alleged drug cartel activity involving her Social Security number. Over months of contact, the scammer convinced her to withdraw cash for a "government safety locker" while maintaining her silence. Government impersonation scams remain common and cost consumers $76 million in 2023; protection involves knowing that legitimate agencies do not call unsolicited, threaten immediate payment, or request personal information over the phone.
witf.org · 2025-12-08
The Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers and credit union representatives are advocating for new legislation to protect seniors from elder financial abuse, citing tech support scams, romance scams, and investment frauds as prevalent threats. They are urging updates to Pennsylvania's Older Adults Protective Services Act to mandate reporting of suspected elder financial abuse and allow banks to place temporary holds on suspicious transactions while notifying law enforcement and aging agencies. The groups emphasize that trained bank employees can serve as critical safeguards against financial exploitation of older adults.
wpst.com · 2025-12-08
After her 85-year-old mother was targeted by phone scammers who eventually showed up at her home impersonating a bank representative, New Jersey woman Gogie Padilla created Answer Sure, a phone vetting service that re-routes incoming calls through a staffed call center or mobile app where callers must provide a correct password or phrase before being connected. The service is available for both landlines and mobile devices, with users typically seeing a significant drop in scam calls within three weeks as scammers move on to easier targets.
dailyexcelsior.com · 2025-12-08
**Article:** Rahul Dogra - 2025 Cyber Scams in India This article outlines emerging sophisticated scams in India driven by AI and deepfake technology, including KYC/bank scams where fraudsters impersonate officials to steal sensitive information, job fraud schemes demanding upfront fees for non-existent positions, and digital arrest scams using intimidation tactics to extort settlement payments. Additional scams target elderly individuals through medical emergencies and fake insurance, electricity bill scams threatening service disconnection, and romance scams, with prevention advice emphasizing direct verification with official sources, avoidance of unsolicited links, and independent research before sharing personal
northwestsignal.net · 2025-12-08
The Fulton County Sheriff's Office presented on emerging online scams targeting seniors, including impersonation schemes, grandparent scams using AI voice manipulation, counterfeit QR codes, and fake bond collection visits. Presenters advised attendees to verify caller identity through personal questions, watch for international phone numbers marked with "+," and remember that legitimate agencies never request money or warrant information by phone. A local victim lost $10,000 in a fake bail scam, though recovery occurred in this rare case.
tuko.co.ke · 2025-12-08
Kenya's Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act of 2018 addresses five types of online scams: investment scams (fake high-return schemes), phishing emails (impersonating legitimate entities), online romance scams (fraudsters building trust to solicit money), fake e-commerce deals, and SIM swap fraud (unauthorized mobile number takeovers). Authorities emphasize that while legal protections exist, vigilance through verification of legitimacy, strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and immediate reporting to the DCI Cybercrime Unit remain essential defenses against increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals targeting Kenyans.
timesleader.com · 2025-12-08
A woman from Wilkes-Barre was scammed out of $58,400 after receiving a fake Microsoft security alert on her computer; she granted the scammer remote access to her device, which allowed them to view her bank balance and convince her to transfer funds to a Bitcoin account. Wilkes-Barre Police used the incident to issue public awareness about common scams including phishing, romance, job offer, and tech support schemes, advising residents to verify the legitimacy of contacts before sharing personal information or clicking links.
usatoday.com · 2025-12-08
Scammers are exploiting the California wildfires by creating fake donation pages and impersonating charities and government agencies to steal money from people wanting to help and to target disaster victims seeking assistance. People should verify organizations through legitimate channels (such as Give.org), watch for red flags like misspelled URLs and phishing emails, and avoid clicking links from unverified social media ads or unsolicited contacts, as AI-enhanced scams are becoming increasingly difficult to detect.
newslj.com · 2025-12-08
This article compiles multiple elder fraud alerts and prevention tips: A Wyoming resident received an extortion email falsely claiming malware access (a common scare tactic), while another fell victim to a phishing email impersonating Microsoft to steal account credentials. The Identity Theft Resource Center predicts cybercrime will surge in 2025 due to reduced government resources and increased AI exploitation, while identity fraud cost Americans $43 billion in 2023—with veterans particularly vulnerable, losing $477 million that year to service-focused scams. Key prevention measures include verifying sender identities, avoiding suspicious attachments and links, using strong passwords with multi-factor authentication, and monitoring credit reports regularly.
abc7ny.com · 2025-12-08
Two families in the Peekskill School District in Westchester County received phone calls from scammers claiming to have kidnapped their children and demanding ransom, with perpetrators using AI-generated voice technology to replicate the victims' voices obtained from social media. The FBI has issued a nationwide alert about this emerging scam trend. Experts recommend families establish a verification pause and create a password or phrase to confirm legitimate calls, as the scam's success relies on pressure for immediate action.
themortgagepoint.com · 2025-12-08
Rental scams are increasingly affecting U.S. renters, with 93% believing such scams are common and 90% worried about becoming victims, according to Rently's Rental Scams and Fraud Report. Facebook hosts 88% of fraudulent listings, and victims reported significant financial losses, with 62% losing over $500, 48% losing over $1,000, and 8% losing more than $5,000 through fake deposits, application fees, and rent payments. The report calls for stronger fraud prevention measures including identity verification, secure payment systems, and public education to combat the emotional and financial harm these scams inflict on renters.
goldrushcam.com · 2025-12-08
The Kern County Sheriff's Office warned residents of a phone scam in which callers impersonate law enforcement (claiming to be "Sergeant Youngblood") and demand electronic payments via gift cards or bitcoin to resolve alleged warrants, missed court appearances, or jury duty violations, threatening arrest if payment is not made. The scammers use spoofing technology to display the Sheriff's Office callback number and may pressure victims to visit the Sheriff's Office afterward. The Sheriff's Office clarified that legitimate law enforcement never requests payment over the phone and that warrant arrests are made in person, not via phone calls.
2news.com · 2025-12-08
California's Attorney General warned of scams targeting wildfire victims and also highlighted illegal price gouging occurring during the state of emergency. The warning appears to address fraudulent schemes exploiting disaster victims seeking aid and services during wildfire recovery.
dailydodge.com · 2025-12-08
Wisconsin's Division of Trade and Consumer Protection reports an increase in impersonation scams where callers spoof law enforcement phone numbers to pressure victims into immediate payments for alleged crimes, missed jury duty, or unpaid fines. The scammers may call multiple times from different numbers and request cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrency—forms of payment that legitimate law enforcement never demands. Consumers should hang up on suspicious calls and independently verify by contacting the agency directly using a verified phone number.
desertsun.com · 2025-12-08
Los Angeles officials are warning residents affected by recent wildfires that scammers are actively targeting vulnerable victims through false job postings, impersonation of government employees and FEMA agents, phone/text phishing attempts, unsolicited in-person solicitations, and fraudulent donation schemes. Law enforcement recommends verifying credentials through official channels, avoiding sharing personal information via social media or unsolicited contacts, never paying through gift cards or cryptocurrency, and trusting your instincts if something feels suspicious. County Sheriff Robert Luna pledged that perpetrators—including those impersonating firefighters to commit burglaries—will face prosecution.
thestar.com.my · 2025-12-08
Authorities warn that scammers use multiple tactics year-round to defraud victims, including "pig butchering" investment scams where perpetrators gain trust before stealing money (with one recent case involving a 66-year-old who lost $170,000 to a fake Facebook investment banker), AI-generated travel scams that have increased 500-900% and use fake websites and phishing, and utility scams where fraudsters impersonate companies like PG&E to demand immediate payment, causing customers over $334,000 in losses in 2024 alone. Experts recommend verifying suspicious offers directly with companies, avoiding clicking unknown links, paying attention to detail inconsistencies
indeonline.com · 2025-12-08
Tax scams proliferate each season, with scammers impersonating the IRS through phone calls, emails, mail, and fake websites to steal money or personal information—tactics include demanding payment for back taxes with threats of arrest, filing fraudulent tax returns using victims' Social Security numbers, and phishing emails directing people to bogus IRS sites. To protect themselves, taxpayers should file early, use IRS Identity Protection PINs, verify caller identity independently with the IRS, watch for poor grammar in suspicious communications, use trusted tax preparers, and remember that the IRS never initiates contact via email, text, or social media requesting personal or financial information.
yahoo.com · 2025-12-08
Tax scams resurface each season with scammers impersonating the IRS through phone calls, emails, and mail to pressure victims into paying taxes owed or stealing personal information via tax identity theft and phishing schemes. Key prevention strategies include filing taxes early, obtaining an Identity Protection PIN, verifying IRS communications through official channels, and using trusted tax professionals, as the IRS never initiates contact via email, text, or social media requesting personal or financial information.
carscoops.com · 2025-12-08
An Ohio woman lost over $600 in a rental car scam after finding a fake Hertz customer service number online and being convinced by a fraudster to purchase two Walmart gift cards to resolve a payment issue on her rental. The scammer claimed the first $320 gift card wasn't the exact amount needed, then requested a second $312 card before disconnecting the line and never reactivating her vehicle. The incident underscores that legitimate companies never request payment via gift cards, and victims should always verify phone numbers through official websites rather than online searches.
abc12.com · 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned Lions fans about ticket scams ahead of the playoffs, advising buyers to purchase from reputable websites using credit cards and to avoid money transfer apps like CashApp and Venmo that offer limited fraud protection. The alert also cautioned against common scams including overpayment check schemes, impersonation calls from fake bank representatives, and unsecured websites, emphasizing that banks never request customers send money to verify transactions.
ptbotoday.ca · 2025-12-08
The Peterborough Police Service issued a warning about a phishing scam circulating in the community, wherein victims received threatening emails falsely claiming their online activity was being monitored and demanding cryptocurrency payment to prevent disclosure to contacts. Police advise residents to avoid opening suspicious emails from unknown sources, refrain from clicking links, and report such messages to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or local police.
paymentsjournal.com · 2025-12-08
Criminals have discovered a method to bypass Apple's iOS phishing protections by instructing text message recipients to reply with simple responses like "yes" or "no," which reactivates disabled malicious links. iPhone users have received fraudulent texts impersonating USPS and toll agencies using this technique, and even replying to such messages identifies the user as active to scammers for further attacks. Security experts emphasize that technology companies, telecommunications providers, and financial institutions must collaborate to prevent these increasingly sophisticated phishing schemes, which often employ AI and impersonate legitimate companies at scale.
wibx950.com · 2025-12-08
**Summary:** An upstate New York senior lost over $10,000 in a phone scam on January 12, 2025, when scammers impersonated government agencies, utility companies, tech firms, or relatives to solicit money and personal information. The New Hartford Police Department is warning residents to never send money or gift cards over the phone, hang up on suspicious callers, verify claims independently, and report suspicious activity to local law enforcement.
michigan.gov · 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned Detroit Lions fans in January 2025 to be cautious when purchasing playoff game tickets online, as scammers exploit excitement around the team's playoff run. Common ticket scams include payment app fraud (using P2P services like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle) and fake check schemes where buyers send counterfeit checks for more than the ticket price and request refunds. Nessel recommends only purchasing tickets through official sources and remaining vigilant about sharing personal information or accepting suspicious payment methods.
Government Impersonation Bank Impersonation Phishing Identity Theft Robocall / Phone Scam Cash Bank Transfer Payment App Check/Cashier's Check
classicrock961.com · 2025-12-08
Texas law enforcement is warning residents about four active scams targeting the state, with particular focus on impersonation scams where criminals falsely claim to be police officers, sometimes spoofing legitimate police phone numbers, and demand payment for alleged outstanding debts or missed court appearances to avoid arrest. One victim lost $9,500 in Bitcoin to this scam; police advise that legitimate law enforcement never requests payment by phone and recommend hanging up on suspicious callers and contacting your local non-emergency police line to verify.
newsbreak.com · 2025-12-08
3K
On January 9, 2025, Tulare Police arrested 28-year-old Hailong He in connection with an investment scam that defrauded an elderly victim of $130,000. The suspects posed as a trading company and used a fictitious phone application to convince the victim to invest money, arranging in-person cash pickups at his home and pressuring him for an additional $90,000 under false pretenses of account closure fees. Police conducted surveillance and apprehended the suspect during a planned third transaction, charging him with Financial Elder Abuse, Theft Under False Pretenses, and Grand Theft.