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in Robocall / Phone Scam
iomtoday.co.im
· 2025-12-08
An Isle of Man Bank customer lost nearly £200,000 after fraudsters impersonated the bank's fraud team and convinced the victim to purchase gold and send it via mail to London; the scam succeeded because it coincided with the customer's genuine card problems, making the call seem legitimate. The Cyber Security Centre's report for late 2024 also documented additional fraud cases including a £200,000 cryptocurrency scam, sextortion attempts, smishing schemes, and fake Facebook travel offers, with 2,721 suspicious emails reported to authorities and recommendations emphasizing independent verification and family communication about financial matters.
amp.scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
An 18-year-old University of Hong Kong student lost HK$9.2 million (US$1.1 million) in a phone scam in which fraudsters impersonated a mobile phone company worker and a Shanghai public security officer, convincing her she was involved in a money laundering case and directing her to make 14 transfers between December 2 and January 4. Police launched a manhunt for at least two suspects, and the incident reflects a sharp rise in scams targeting university students, with monthly victims increasing from 24 to 91 between September and October.
vanguardngr.com
· 2025-12-08
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra narrowly avoided falling victim to an AI-based voice impersonation scam in which fraudsters used deepfake technology to mimic a foreign leader's voice in phone messages and voice clips. She became suspicious when a follow-up message falsely claimed Thailand was the only ASEAN country that hadn't made a donation, and a subsequent text message requested a bank transfer outside Thailand. The incident highlights the growing sophistication of call center scams in Thailand, where fraudsters commonly impersonate government officials, police, or bank staff using automated robocalls and AI-generated voices.
tribuneonlineng.com
· 2025-12-08
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra received AI-generated voice messages mimicking a world leader requesting financial donations, with the scammer claiming her country was the only ASEAN nation that hadn't contributed. She became suspicious when the voice seemed artificial and the request escalated, highlighting the growing threat of AI-powered voice cloning technology being used in Southeast Asian scams, a region increasingly targeted by transnational cybercrime organizations.
goodmenproject.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses elder abuse protections across the United States, highlighting that the elderly population is projected to nearly double from 49 million to 95 million by 2060, making protective measures increasingly urgent. States like Wisconsin, Vermont, and Massachusetts rank highest in elder abuse prevention due to strong funding and robust regulations, while rural states such as South Carolina, Utah, and South Dakota lag significantly due to policy gaps and insufficient resources. Financial fraud is identified as a prevalent form of elder abuse affecting elderly individuals, with states offering stronger safeguards—such as ombudsman services and elder care organizations—demonstrating lower average financial losses per fraud case.
english.elpais.com
· 2025-12-08
A Swedish man named Daniel lost €40,000 in a "pig butchering scam," a romance-based fraud scheme where a fake woman named Adele lured him into cryptocurrency investments through dating apps and WhatsApp. The scams, which generated $72 billion between 2020 and 2024, are operated from Southeast Asian compounds by crime syndicates with Chinese roots, where tens of thousands of trafficking victims—potentially 100,000 in Cambodia and 120,000 in Myanmar—are forced to impersonate romantic interests and financial advisors to defraud victims globally.
discovermagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida woman was convicted and pleaded guilty to laundering over $2.7 million in an online romance scam ring, exemplifying a growing problem where the FTC reported consumers lost $8.8 billion to scams in 2022—a 30 percent increase from 2021. Scammers employ sophisticated social engineering tactics including romance cons, fake investments, deepfake videos, and manufactured crises, with adults 60 and older being 73 percent more likely to fall victim to such schemes. Research reveals scammers exploit psychological principles like reciprocity (building trust through small gifts) and crisis manipulation (creating urgent financial emergencies) to manipulate victims into sending money
wiscassetnewspaper.com
· 2025-12-08
This AARP alert warns consumers about counterfeit concert ticket scams that exploit high demand and digital-only ticketing systems. The advisory recommends purchasing tickets only from verified, legitimate vendors; avoiding social media and online marketplace offers; and using credit cards instead of peer-to-peer payment apps to maintain consumer protections. No specific victim cases or dollar amounts are mentioned, as this is a preventative awareness piece.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
This article announces a WIRED livestream discussion on AI-powered financial scams, featuring an anecdote where Katie Drummond's father received a call from a scammer using AI voice cloning to impersonate her (no money was lost). The discussion covered deepfake video scams, social engineering tactics like creating urgency, and concerns about AI financial advisers that prioritize high-fee products over genuine financial help, with recommendations to use secret passcodes for authentication and maintain skepticism of AI-based financial services.
cgsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office issued an alert warning residents about an impersonation scam in which fraudsters pose as law enforcement and claim victims have arrest warrants or missed jury duty, demanding money or gift cards as "bail" while creating false urgency to pressure quick payment. Legitimate law enforcement never demands payment over the phone to resolve legal matters. Victims should hang up immediately and can verify caller information by contacting the sheriff's dispatch center at 541-440-4471 or report the scam to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This AARP educational article outlines five common scams targeting consumers and provides prevention strategies: credit repair scams exploit financial stress with upfront fees and false promises; social media ad scams deceive over one-third of U.S. adults who shop online by directing them to counterfeit retailer websites; utility scams use urgent threats of service shutoff to panic victims into immediate payment; concert ticket scams involve counterfeit digital tickets sold through unverified resellers; and unsolicited calls from unknown numbers may initiate fraud schemes. The article recommends verifying claims through official channels, researching company legitimacy with the Better Business Bureau, using secure payment methods, and avoiding clickable links in
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Australians reported 249,448 scams totaling $318.7 million in losses to the ACCC's Scamwatch, with investment scams being the most damaging at $192.3 million (median loss $9,500), followed by romance and phishing scams. People over 65 were worst affected financially with a median loss of $1,000, while men overall lost more money than women, with email being the most common contact method used by scammers. Key warning signs include promises of easy money, requests from unknown contacts, links in messages, and pressure to act quickly.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra received a sophisticated scam call impersonating a world leader using AI-generated voice technology, which escalated to requests for donations and bank transfers before she recognized it as fraudulent. The incident highlights Southeast Asia's emergence as a major hub for telecom and online fraud, where hundreds of thousands of trafficked individuals are forced into "pig-butchering scams" that have cost Americans alone $3.5 billion in 2023, prompting calls for regional cooperation to combat the threat.
svalleynow.com
· 2025-12-08
The Marion County Sheriff's Department warned the public about a sophisticated caller ID spoofing scam targeting debit card holders. A scammer posed as a bank fraud department representative, using a spoofed caller ID matching the victim's bank, citing suspicious out-of-state charges, and requesting the victim's PIN number under the guise of card deactivation—a request legitimate banks never make. The victim avoided financial loss by refusing to provide the PIN and contacting their bank directly, which confirmed they would never request such information and canceled the card as a precaution.
taipeitimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In the fourth quarter of last year, Taiwan reported NT$37.19 billion (US$1.23 billion) in fraud losses, with investment scams accounting for 56.9 percent of total losses and affecting 1,242 victims, predominantly women over 50 (516 cases). Criminals used social media advertisements and messaging apps to recruit victims into fake investment groups, while romance scams and impersonation schemes targeting bank/government officials also contributed significantly to losses, with victims taking 2 months to 2 years to discover they had been defrauded.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The NYPD issued a warning about romance scams targeting online dating app users ahead of Valentine's Day, noting that scammers typically profess love quickly, claim to be overseas, and request money for emergencies or travel through various payment methods including Venmo, Zelle, wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. The alert advises people to be cautious when dating online and provides contact information for reporting suspected scams to the NYPD SCAM ALERT hotline.
thefintechtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Revolut introduced an in-app calling feature for personal customers to combat impersonation scams, where fraudsters impersonate banks or trusted authorities. The feature creates a secure communication channel within the app that external parties cannot replicate, allowing customers to verify they are speaking with legitimate Revolut representatives. Impersonation scams among Revolut customers have declined to their lowest levels in nearly two years despite the company's user growth.
androidpolice.com
· 2025-12-08
AI technology is making scams increasingly convincing and harder to detect, with fraudsters using voice cloning, deepfakes, fake investment schemes, phishing emails, and romance scams to target victims. The article outlines seven types of AI-powered scams and provides prevention strategies, including verifying caller identities with security questions, scrutinizing deepfake videos for unnatural movements or audio-visual mismatches, consulting registered investment advisors, and avoiding clicking suspicious links or sharing sensitive information with unverified sources.
indeonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Weight loss product scams exploit New Year's resolutions by making false promises of rapid fat loss through vitamins, supplements, and dubious products like body wraps and skin patches, often using fake celebrity endorsements and fabricated "Shark Tank" claims. Consumers should avoid products claiming miraculous results without diet or exercise, verify ingredients with the FDA, research companies before purchasing, and be cautious of free trial offers that may result in unauthorized charges or difficult refund policies. The article advises checking for red flags such as missing ingredient lists, unsubstantiated testimonials, and subscription traps that lock consumers into recurring charges.
island.lk
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Sri Lanka are sending fraudulent text messages and making phone calls claiming to offer cash prizes, gifts, discounts, or job opportunities to trick victims into sharing personal information that could lead to financial fraud or identity theft. The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team urges the public to verify authenticity of such claims, avoid engaging with suspicious messages, and report fraudulent activity to authorities.
island.lk
· 2025-12-08
Sri Lanka's Computer Emergency Response Team warned the public about fraudulent text messages and phone calls falsely offering money, gifts, prizes, discounts, and job opportunities designed to trick victims into sharing personal information that could lead to financial fraud or identity theft. The agency urged recipients to verify authenticity and avoid engaging with suspicious messages, and encouraged reporting of fraudulent activity.
(Note: The second article about University of Peradeniya flooding is not elder fraud-related and falls outside the scope of Elderus database summarization.)
pasadenanow.com
· 2025-12-08
**Disaster Recovery Insurance Scam Alert**
Following the Eaton Fire, city officials warned homeowners of increased scam targeting through unsolicited door-to-door visits, phone calls, and emails, with scammers impersonating insurance adjusters and exploiting vulnerable disaster victims. The California Department of Insurance advises survivors to verify adjuster credentials through their official website, carefully review contracts, and understand fee structures before signing any agreements. Residents can report suspected scams by calling (626) 744-4241.
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
· 2025-12-08
The South Korean government warned the public against an anticipated surge in text message scams (smishing) ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, launching a 24-hour monitoring system in response. Common scams include messages impersonating public institutions demanding vehicle fine payments, fake holiday gift notifications, fraudulent tax refunds, and QR code scams ("quishing") that distribute malicious apps. Between 2022-2024, authorities reported 2.72 million smishing cases, with 59.4% impersonating public institutions and a growing number targeting elderly individuals through fake financial institution requests.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 60-year-old Bengaluru man lost Rs 2.8 crore in November-December 2024 after scammers posing as Citibank representatives contacted him via WhatsApp and sent him a free Redmi smartphone and SIM card, claiming he needed to update his phone number to activate a credit card. Once the victim set up the compromised device and entered his banking details, pre-installed malware allowed the fraudsters to clone his sensitive information, bypass security measures, and transfer the funds without authorization. The article advises never trusting unsolicited device offers, avoiding sharing banking details with unknown callers, being cautious of WhatsApp communications from
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This article outlines seven AI-powered scams that are becoming increasingly difficult to detect: voice cloning, deepfake impersonation, investment fraud, phishing, romance scams, and others. The article explains how scammers use AI technology to create convincing fake voices, videos, and messages to manipulate victims into sending money, revealing personal data, or clicking malicious links. It provides practical prevention tips for each scam type, including verifying caller identities with security questions, scrutinizing video quality and facial movements in deepfakes, verifying investment advisors, and avoiding suspicious links and downloads.
chinadailyhk.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong authorities are implementing anti-fraud measures targeting mainland students after an 18-year-old University of Hong Kong student lost HK$9.2 million ($1.18 million) to phone scammers posing as government officials in a money laundering scheme. New requirements include mandatory fraud prevention questionnaires for mainland students applying to study in Hong Kong, anti-scam lectures, and educational kits, with over 60 HKU students having lost more than HK$60 million to various scams recently. Multiple Hong Kong universities have adopted mandatory anti-fraud quizzes and questionnaires, with early results showing reduced fraud victimization rates among students who
koamnewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
**Online Romance Scams Warning (January 20, 2025)**
The Better Business Bureau issued a warning to consumers about online romance scams. The alert advises awareness of this fraud scheme, though the article excerpt provided does not contain specific details about affected victims, dollar amounts, or particular incidents.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
A French woman named Anne lost $850,000 to a romance scammer who used AI-generated deepfake images of Brad Pitt to pose as the actor on Facebook Messenger beginning in 2023. The scammer initially pretended to be Pitt's mother, then Pitt himself, and manipulated Anne with promises of love and marriage while requesting money for fabricated financial troubles and cancer treatment, ultimately leading her to divorce her millionaire husband. Experts warn that AI-enabled romance scams are increasingly common and effective because they target emotional vulnerabilities rather than logical reasoning, with victims often overlooking red flags in their desire for companionship and connection.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
Three defendants were charged by federal grand jury for operating PageTurner, a fake book publishing scheme that defrauded over 800 elderly authors of approximately $44 million between September 2017 and December 2024. The scammers, including Gemma Traya Austin of Chula Vista and two Philippine-based executives, contacted victims unsolicited and falsely promised that their books would be published or turned into films if they paid upfront fees for taxes and transaction costs. All three defendants were arrested in December 2024 and face charges including mail and wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
cityofpasadena.net
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:** Disaster victims are at risk of fraud from scammers posing as contractors, adjusters, or repair workers who contact them via door-to-door visits, phone calls, or emails. Survivors should verify any adjuster's credentials through the California Department of Insurance website, carefully review contracts, and understand fee structures before signing, with a dedicated hotline (626-744-4241) available to report suspected fraud.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
An uptick in jury duty scams has been reported across multiple U.S. locations, where scammers impersonate court officials or police officers and threaten victims with fines or arrest for allegedly missing jury duty, demanding immediate payment via gift cards or wire transfers. Incidents have been documented in Elkhart County, Indiana and Hopkinsville, Kentucky, with authorities emphasizing that legitimate courts communicate about jury duty through official mail only and never solicit payments or personal information by phone or email. Citizens should verify caller claims independently, avoid immediate payments, and report suspicious calls to local law enforcement or the court clerk's office.
manchesterjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Vermont's Attorney General reported 3,533 scam reports in 2024, with "Computer Tech Support" scams leading at nearly 30% of reports—a position it has held for four consecutive years—followed by identity theft and law enforcement imposter scams. Email extortion scams made a concerning return after a four-year absence, now featuring screen-captured images of victims' homes to increase pressure for compliance. The state is strengthening consumer protection by merging its scam alert system with Vermont's existing emergency alert infrastructure, which will reach approximately 72,000 users and offer real-time notifications to help residents identify and avoid fraud.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS Criminal Investigation unit uncovered over $9.1 billion in tax fraud and financial crimes in 2024, with scams expected to peak during the 2025 tax-filing season. Common tactics include scammers impersonating IRS agents or tax preparers to claim taxpayers owe additional taxes or are due larger refunds, with threats of arrest or requests for bank details to steal information. Retired taxpayers and those nearing retirement are frequent targets, and experts recommend taking time to verify communications and avoiding pressure from scammers rather than responding immediately.
govtech.com
· 2025-12-08
State Rep. Chris Pielli and the Housing Authority of Chester County hosted an educational "Scam Jam" program featuring experts from law enforcement and banking agencies to inform residents about common fraud schemes targeting seniors. The program highlighted various scams including grandparent scams using emotional manipulation and AI voice mimicry, elder financial abuse by caregivers, romance scams, and phishing schemes like fake EZ Pass notifications, emphasizing that scammers exploit social media information and that even intelligent people can be deceived.
edmondlifeandleisure.com
· 2025-12-08
**Title:** Get Ready for Scams in the Digital Age
Adults aged 60 and older reported over 100,000 complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2023, resulting in losses exceeding $3.4 billion—an 11% increase from 2022. Common scams targeting seniors include phishing, Medicare and health insurance fraud, and tech support scams. Protection strategies include staying skeptical of unexpected communications, avoiding sharing personal information online, monitoring finances for unauthorized activity, and reporting suspected fraud immediately to relevant authorities including the FTC, Medicare, or financial institutions.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Chicago-area residents involved in a romance scam network that bilked victims of over $3.5 million were sentenced, with one receiving probation and two receiving 10 and 20-year prison sentences respectively. The case centered on 57-year-old Laura Kowal from Illinois, who sent nearly $2 million to a fraudulent online persona called "Frank Borg" over almost two years before her death; the scammers, based in West Africa, used the defendants as "money mules" to launder the stolen funds. The sentencing highlighted the growing use of accomplices to facilitate romance scams and the devastating impact on victims and their families.
tcpalm.com
· 2025-12-08
Two individuals were arrested as "couriers" in gold bar scams that defrauded at least three Indian River Shores residents of nearly $2 million in early 2024. The scams involved fake government officials calling victims and instructing them to purchase gold bars, which couriers then collected in person; one 77-year-old woman lost $156,000 across two separate meetings, handing over gold bars worth approximately $72,904 and $83,000. Rakeshbhai Harshadbhai Patel, 35, was arrested in January 2025, and Syed Makki, 36, was arrested in Colorado and awaits ext
newsbug.info
· 2025-12-08
Oak Grove Christian Retirement Village hosted an educational presentation by DeMotte police on January 8 covering elder financial abuse, which costs seniors over $3 billion annually with more than 13% of American elders victimized yearly. The presentation outlined eleven common scam types targeting seniors (including grandparent scams, charity fraud, identity theft, and tech support scams), noting that victims aged 80-89, particularly women living alone, face the highest risk and that underreporting remains severe due to embarrassment and fear of losing independence. Key protective measures include monthly financial monitoring, verifying requests by calling contacts directly, reporting fraud to the FTC, and consulting trusted advisors before financial decisions.
10tv.com
· 2025-12-08
An Ohio woman lost nearly $5,000 in a "mule scam" after being hired by fraudulent company "Skyline Deliveries" to print shipping labels and return packages for promised monthly payments that were never deposited. The Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio warns job seekers applying for remote work to watch for red flags such as upfront payment requests and vague job responsibilities, as scammers use these employment schemes to recruit people to unknowingly transport stolen merchandise.
sooleader.com
· 2025-12-08
The Michigan State Police Alpena Post issued a warning about rising online and phone scams, noting that the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received 880,418 complaints with losses exceeding $12.5 billion in 2023. Common scams reported locally include computer antivirus pop-up scams requesting financial information or remote access, and threatening extortion emails demanding payment via bitcoin or gift cards. The MSP advised citizens never to make payments through cash apps or gift cards to unknown sources, never share banking information over the phone, and never click links in suspicious emails.
metro.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Wayne Westhead, a 65-year-old British Army veteran, lost £152,000 to a fraudulent Bitcoin investment scheme advertised on Facebook using Sir Rod Stewart's image, which targeted him while he was caring for his wife with breast cancer and later grieving her death. The scammers used fake investment returns and pressure tactics to convince him to invest over four years, with funds going to a "ghost account" rather than actual Bitcoin holdings. Westhead eventually recovered his £152,000 plus £45,000 in interest after his lawyers successfully argued that Nationwide building society had failed to protect him from financial exploitation during his vulnerable circumstances.
wibx950.com
· 2025-12-08
The New York State Thruway Authority is warning residents of a phishing scam targeting EZ Pass and Tolls by Mail customers through text messages and emails that falsely claim an outstanding balance. The fraudulent messages prompt victims to click links and enter sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and credit card details. The authority recommends verifying suspicious messages directly with official channels, reporting phishing attempts to the FTC and US-CERT, and contacting the Tolls by Mail Customer Service Center at 1-844-826-8400 if victimized.
mainlinemedianews.com
· 2025-12-08
State Rep. Chris Pielli and the Housing Authority of Chester County hosted a "Scam Jam" educational program featuring experts from state and local law enforcement to help residents identify and avoid fraud targeting vulnerable populations, particularly seniors. The program covered multiple scam types including grandparent scams using emotional triggers, caregiver fraud involving isolated victims, romance scams, and impersonation schemes that exploit technology and social media information.
wnyt.com
· 2025-12-08
A Glenmont man's Facebook account was hacked during the holidays, and scammers used it to post fake Buffalo Bills season ticket listings. A Slingerlands woman, believing she was messaging her Facebook friend, sent $880 total through Apple Cash and bank transfer ($380, $500, and $300 for supposed parking and transfer fees) before becoming suspicious when the Bills box office confirmed they don't charge transfer fees. The victim filed a police report and is disputing the charges with her bank, while the account owner reported the incident to the FTC and New York Attorney General's Office.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Beauty expert Molly fell victim to a sophisticated Amazon account scam in which a caller impersonating an Amazon fraud team member placed multiple iPhone 16 orders in her basket to establish credibility, then requested a one-time verification code to "close" her account—a tactic designed to gain unauthorized access. After the scammer hung up mid-call, the fraudulent orders disappeared, forcing Molly to cancel all her bank cards and change her passwords as a precaution. The incident highlights how scammers can manipulate even security-conscious individuals by exploiting trust and urgency, prompting wider awareness among social media users who shared similar experiences.
pembinavalleyonline.com
· 2025-12-08
The Winkler Police Report documented three fraud incidents during the holiday season: a male resident lost money to an online investment scam after downloading a fraudulent app and providing sensitive personal information; an elderly woman was targeted in a grandparent scam where a caller claimed to be her grandson needing bail money and fraudulently accessed her bank account; and another male victim sent multiple payments to a scammer posing as a lawyer who promised to recover funds from a fraudulently opened Bitcoin account. Police advised victims to report incidents to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, contact their banks, and protect their personal information to prevent further losses.
seacoastonline.com
· 2025-12-08
In Hampton, residents lost approximately $1 million to phone, email, text, and social media scams over a 13-month period ending January 2025, with many involving cryptocurrency. Police Chief Alex Reno noted that reported losses likely represent only a fraction of actual fraud losses, as victims often do not report incidents due to embarrassment.
fosters.com
· 2025-12-08
Hampton residents lost nearly $1 million to phone, email, text, and social media scams over 13 months, with many involving cryptocurrency, according to Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno—though he notes this represents only reported cases. One particularly devastating case involved a "pig butchering scheme" where a resident lost $480,000 after a scammer built trust through social media before introducing a fraudulent investment opportunity. The Hampton Police Department has become New Hampshire's first law enforcement agency to open a Coinbase account to potentially freeze and recover stolen cryptocurrency, and the chief urges residents to contact police before sending money rather than after they've been victimized.
abc7news.com
· 2025-12-08
A Walnut Creek senior was targeted in a "grandson scam" where a caller impersonating her grandson said he was in jail and needed $7,500 in bail money; she withdrew the cash and gave it to a courier at her gated community, then was asked for an additional $5,000. This was the second such incident at Rossmoor in four months, and bank employees attempted to intervene both times by questioning the large cash withdrawals. Walnut Creek police recommend verifying emergency calls with other family members and establishing a family password to prevent such fraud.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Seniors in Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia are being targeted by a fake Seniors Card scam operating through the fraudulent website www.theseniorsassistant.com, which illegally charges fees for free government services. The article also highlights other concurrent scams, including a letterbox cash collection scheme and a romance scam where an 81-year-old woman lost over $50,000 to an online fraudster after taking out a loan against her home.