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in Scam Awareness
au.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 60-year-old Cairns woman lost $200,000 to a romance scammer who built trust with her through fake social media profiles before requesting money. Cairns Police have issued a warning about romance scams, which typically involve scammers posing as genuine individuals who gradually build relationships and convince victims to send funds via cash, bank transfers, or cryptocurrency. Police advise potential victims to verify the identity of online contacts before making any financial transactions and recommend contacting banks, blocking scammers, and changing passwords if victimized.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A 60-year-old woman from Cairns lost over $200,000 to an online romance scam after months of contact with a man claiming to be deployed in overseas military service who repeatedly requested money for various needs. Police say it is unlikely the victim will recover any funds, and the scam only ended when authorities intervened after receiving reports of suspicious activity. According to experts, romance scammers typically use profiles claiming military or business travel backgrounds, often operate from overseas to evade jurisdiction, and employ sophisticated emotional manipulation tactics, though victims are advised to report incidents to police, contact their bank, and use services like Scamwatch.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This alert describes 10 common scams targeting middle-aged and elderly people, including digital arrest threats, fake family member arrests, fraudulent stock trading schemes promising 30-40% returns, easy money offers, customs parcel interception claims, unauthorized credit card issuance, fake money transfer notifications, expired KYC update requests, and bogus tax refund calls. Each scam is accompanied by protective notes advising victims to verify claims directly with family members or institutions, avoid clicking suspicious links, check bank accounts independently, and recognize that schemes offering unusually high returns or easy money are typically fraudulent.
sbsun.com
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering" romance scams are siphoning millions of dollars from Californians annually through sophisticated cons where scammers build fake romantic relationships with victims before manipulating them into sending money. The scheme has devastating consequences, including destroyed families, erased retirement plans, and some victims driven to suicide, according to state officials working to combat the fast-growing fraud.
advantagenews.com
· 2025-12-08
During Medicare open enrollment season, scam artists target seniors through unsolicited emails, texts, and calls impersonating government agencies to steal personal information for identity theft or fraudulent medical billing. The Better Business Bureau advises seniors to be cautious of such contacts and directs them to bbb.org for resources on avoiding and reporting healthcare scams.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
A Revolut customer lost £165,000 in February after scammers bypassed the app's security measures by impersonating Revolut support, tricking him into authorizing payments to fraudulent accounts he believed were legitimate. The BBC investigation found that Revolut received more fraud reports than major UK banks in the last financial year, with the customer claiming the company failed to prevent the breach through inadequate ID verification, delayed account freezing (23 minutes), and insufficient monitoring of 137 suspicious transactions made within one hour. Revolut has refused to refund the stolen money and maintains it has robust security controls.
upi.com
· 2025-12-08
Following hurricanes Helene and Milton, federal agencies and NGOs warn of a surge in disaster-related fraud targeting victims during rebuilding efforts. Common scams include fraudulent contractors requesting upfront payments, fake charities soliciting donations, and scammers claiming to help secure FEMA funding for fees, with an estimated $9.3 billion lost annually to post-disaster fraud. Experts recommend homeowners verify contractors are licensed and bonded, review all insurance documents before signing agreements, avoid pressure tactics, and never sign blank contracts to protect themselves from fraudsters.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are employing AI and sophisticated tactics to target victims across age groups in India, including fresh graduates (fake job offers), middle-aged parents (police threat scams), and retirees (KYC update phishing). From January to May 2024, Indian citizens filed approximately 9.5 lakh cybercrime complaints and lost around Rs 1,750 crore to various scams including TRAI impersonation, fake digital arrests, fraudulent stock trading schemes, and easy money-for-tasks schemes.
wcpo.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are exploiting donations to Hurricane Helene and Milton relief efforts by creating fraudulent charities that mimic legitimate organizations like the Red Cross and FEMA. To donate safely, consumers should avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts, instead visiting charity websites directly through a web search or typed URL, and should be cautious of donation requests shared on social media from unknown sources. Donating physical items to local organizations you trust or giving directly to verified charities ensures your contribution reaches actual victims in need.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Cyber criminals in Kanpur impersonated law enforcement officers to defraud a retired police inspector and his son in a "digital arrest" scam. The criminals called the son claiming he was under arrest for drug trafficking, then contacted the father demanding Rs 50,000 for his release; the father transferred the money via RTGS before discovering the fraud when he later spoke with his son. A complaint was filed at Jajmau police station.
corporate-adviser.com
· 2025-12-08
Research from WEALTH at Work found that 13% of UK adults fell victim to pension scams in the past year, part of a total 6.2 million people affected by financial fraud overall, with victims losing an average of £1,000. Pension scams typically involved fake promises of guaranteed returns or early access to pensions, while other prevalent scams included purchase scams (27%), investment scams (19%), romance scams (14%), and tax refund scams (10%). The research emphasizes that fraudsters use professional-looking materials and multiple contact methods to appear legitimate, and recommends that people verify company registration with the Financial Conduct Authority, never rush financial decisions, and follow the
asiaone.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old woman in Singapore lost $197,000 to a technical support scam after clicking a pop-up prompting her to contact "Microsoft," which led scammers to impersonate a Singapore Police Force cybercrime officer and gain access to her bank accounts via screen-sharing software. Singapore and Hong Kong police collaborated to successfully recover the full amount from a Hong Kong-based bank account. The police advised the public to use protective apps like ScamShield, verify suspicious contacts through official sources, and immediately report fraudulent transactions to banks and authorities.
articles.listnr.com
· 2025-12-08
A 60-year-old woman lost $200,000 to a romance scammer who built trust with her through fake social media profiles before requesting money transfers. Police warn that romance scams typically begin with unsolicited messages from fake accounts that move conversations to other platforms, and scammers use fabricated stories about financial difficulties to solicit payments via bank transfers or cryptocurrency. Authorities advise victims and their families to verify in-person before sending money, immediately contact financial institutions if compromised, and report the scam to cybercrime units.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
The digital arrest scam is a rising threat in India where scammers impersonate courier service representatives and police officers to threaten victims with arrest for alleged involvement in smuggling, coercing them to share sensitive information like Aadhaar numbers and bank details. The NCR police reported 600 cases within three months with losses exceeding Rs 20 lakh each, with scammers using personal data obtained through breaches and psychological manipulation to keep victims in a constant state of fear and compliance. To protect yourself, never trust unsolicited calls from unknown numbers claiming to represent courier companies or law enforcement, and always verify by contacting official channels directly rather than providing sensitive information or following instructions to isol
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated AI-powered account takeover scam impersonated Google support staff using spoofed phone numbers and fake emails to target users, with multiple victims reporting similar incidents across Reddit and Australian scam forums. The scam involved fake account-recovery notifications followed by convincing calls from AI-generated voices claiming suspicious account activity, designed to trick users into entering credentials on cloned login portals that could bypass two-factor authentication. Security experts recommend vigilance, verification of sender details, and checking account activity logs to avoid falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated phishing schemes.
chicoer.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary for this content. The text appears to be a header or navigation element for a news website rather than an actual article about a scam, fraud, or elder abuse incident. It only contains publication information and contact details for reporting scams, with no substantive content to summarize.
If you have an actual article about a specific scam or fraud case, please share that and I'll be happy to summarize it for the Elderus database.
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
The Oregon Department of Human Services' Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program is offering free help during Medicare Open Enrollment (October 29 - December 7, 2025) to assist beneficiaries in comparing and changing plans, understanding new 2025 Medicare benefits like lower drug cost maximums ($2,000) and expanded coverage for weight loss drugs and mental health services, and detecting Medicare scams. SHIBA certified counselors provide assistance via phone (800-722-4134), virtual, and in-person appointments and can help report common scams that target seniors seeking free medical equipment or genetic testing by attempting to obtain Medicare numbers for billing fraud.
finextra.com
· 2025-12-08
Social media platforms, particularly Meta, face increasing pressure to combat fraud after a new UK Authorized Push Payment reimbursement scheme took effect in October, with Revolut reporting that over 60% of APP fraud victims in the first half of 2024 originated on Meta platforms. The article outlines six prevalent social media scams: romance scams (building trust before requesting money), job scams (fake postings requesting upfront fees or personal information, with finance roles most targeted at 35.45%), marketplace scams (rental and ticket fraud), phishing links, cryptocurrency/investment scams, and celebrity impersonation schemes. Payment service providers and social media companies are debating responsibility, with critics arguing
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
A senior citizen from Berea, Ohio lost nearly $20,000 to a tech support scam after clicking on a fake Microsoft popup warning. The scammer gained remote access to her computer, then convinced her to withdraw cash from two PNC Bank locations and convert it to Bitcoin at a gas station ATM while staying on the phone with her throughout the process. The Federal Trade Commission advises never calling numbers on popups, shutting down your computer immediately, and reporting such scams to help investigate these widespread criminal networks.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns of increased healthcare scams during Medicare and Affordable Care Act open enrollment periods (October 15-December 7 and November 1-January 15, respectively). Scammers pose as government officials or healthcare advocates and contact consumers via unsolicited phone calls, emails, or in-person visits requesting personal information like Social Security numbers and medical IDs in exchange for gifts or better deals. Consumers should verify contact legitimacy by checking official websites ending in ".gov," remembering that legitimate navigators never charge for assistance, and hanging up on unexpected calls.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, American consumers lost an average of over $1,500 to holiday shopping scams, with half of targeted adults falling victim. Experts recommend protecting against fraud by shopping only with trusted retailers, avoiding public Wi-Fi for purchases, verifying website URLs start with "https://," and being cautious of unsolicited emails and texts, as scammers frequently create fake websites mimicking legitimate retailers.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses the growing threat of real-time video deepfakes used for fraud, describing how Reality Defender and other companies are developing detection tools to combat the problem. Recent cases include a US Senate chairman being deceived by a fake Ukrainian official video call and an engineering company losing millions to deepfake video fraud, with romance scams also employing the technique. Multiple approaches are being developed, including Reality Defender's planned Zoom plug-in and academic research on challenge-based authentication, though these detection tools remain unavailable to the general public.
wmar2news.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
This article describes a "brushing" scam where unsolicited packages containing inexpensive items like ping pong balls or seeds are sent to consumers without their knowledge or order. Scammers use these shipments to generate fake positive reviews and boost seller credibility on online retail platforms, and may subsequently contact recipients demanding payment. Victims should not pay for unsolicited items, secure their personal information on online retailer accounts, and report the scam to the Better Business Bureau.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Security experts are warning that AI-driven phishing scams targeting Gmail accounts have become increasingly sophisticated, using fake Google notifications, convincing AI-generated phone calls, and counterfeit Google pages to deceive users. High-profile targets including Microsoft security experts and tech executives have recently fallen victim to these attacks. Google is addressing the threat through a new Global Signal Exchange launched with partners including Amazon and Meta to track scam URLs and phishing attempts, while recommending users familiarize themselves with anti-phishing policies and consider using Advanced Protection Program features like hardware security keys.
zdnet.com
· 2025-12-08
A Microsoft consultant received a sophisticated AI-powered scam targeting Gmail users that combined fake account recovery notifications, spoofed Google phone numbers and email addresses, and an AI voice impersonating a Google employee to trick users into revealing account recovery codes or visiting fake login portals. The scam was detected when the AI voice repeated "Hello" identically, prompting the victim to hang up, though red flags included unsolicited account recovery notifications, Google's policy of not calling personal users, and inconsistencies in email headers and recipient fields. Users can protect themselves by verifying suspicious communications through their account security settings, checking for recent unauthorized logins, and remembering that legitimate tech support will never contact users unprompte
beincrypto.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 perpetrators (21 men and 6 women, mostly university graduates in digital media) operating a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded approximately $46 million from men across Asia between October 2023 and September 2024. The scammers used deepfake AI technology to create fake female personas who engaged victims in romantic conversations, building trust before convincing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms from which funds could not be withdrawn. This case exemplifies the growing trend of AI-enabled romance scams (also called "pig-butchering" schemes), which have caused over $75 billion in global losses since 2020, with deepfake-specific sc
advertiserandtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Two romance scams targeted Lymington residents, with fraudsters posing as Brad Pitt to contact a woman in her 70s via Facebook, and another scammer using a dating website to target a man in his 20s who lost £1,300. These incidents follow previous celebrity impersonation scams in the New Forest area, including a woman in her 90s who lost £13,000 to a fake Sir Tom Jones account and a man in his 60s who lost £910 to a Celine Dion impersonator. Hampshire police urged the public to recognize that wealthy celebrities would never request money from strangers online and encouraged vulnerable individuals and their relatives to exercise caution when
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 people involved in a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded victims from multiple countries of $46 million between October 2023 and the investigation's conclusion. The syndicate used AI-generated photos and deepfake technology to pose as attractive women in online relationships, convincing victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms while showing fabricated transaction records and discussing false future plans. The operation was highly organized with specialized roles in scamming, technical support, and accounting, with individual fraudsters earning tens of thousands of dollars monthly.
firstpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police dismantled a deepfake romance scam that defrauded victims across multiple countries of $46 million, arresting 27 suspects including college graduates who used AI-generated images of attractive women to build romantic relationships with victims before luring them into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. The organized syndicate operated from an industrial unit in Hong Kong for approximately one year, using a detailed manual to manipulate victims' emotions and present fake profit records until victims discovered they could not withdraw funds. Police recovered over 100 cell phones, $26,000 in cash, and luxury watches during the raid, with the investigation ongoing.
decrypt.co
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police dismantled a deepfake romance scam that defrauded victims across Hong Kong, Singapore, and mainland China of approximately $46 million between October 2023 and the investigation's conclusion. The multinational fraud syndicate used AI-generated images and deepfake technology to pose as women in online relationships, eventually convincing victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms with falsified transaction records showing profits, then preventing withdrawals. Authorities arrested 27 individuals, including university graduates and suspected triad members, who operated specialized roles in the scheme and earned tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars monthly.
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 people for operating a romance scam ring that used AI-generated photos and deepfake face-swapping technology to defraud victims of $46 million across Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, India, and Singapore. The syndicate operated from a headquarters in Hung Hom and recruited university graduates to create fake trading platforms and cryptocurrency investment schemes, with scammers using deepfake technology during video calls to impersonate attractive individuals and gain victims' trust. Police seized computers, phones, and approximately $25,750 in suspected proceeds.
wfsb.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Connecticut impersonated the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging to target grieving seniors, using the agency's trusted name to pressure victims into revealing credit card information for fake funeral and burial contracts. The fraudsters identified vulnerable seniors by monitoring obituaries and exploiting their recent losses. Officials warn that legitimate organizations will never pressure callers for immediate payment and encourage seniors to report such scams to the national elder fraud hotline at 833-FRAUD-11.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 29-year-old Bengaluru businessman lost Rs 14.57 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonated officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and CBI, falsely claiming his phone number was linked to money laundering and threatening legal consequences. The scammers pressured the victim to transfer 80% of his bank balance to a supposedly secure RBI account for "verification" after having him download Signal to record a fake video statement. The article advises victims to verify caller claims directly with organizations, avoid sharing personal information or transferring funds in response to unsolicited calls, be cautious of urgency-inducing tactics
autogpt.net
· 2025-12-08
AI-enhanced phishing scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect, with cybercriminals using AI to create convincing emails, messages, and voice calls that mimic legitimate services like Gmail account recovery requests. Google is combating this threat through initiatives like the Global Signal Exchange—a collaborative platform that detects and blocks scam patterns in real time—and the Advanced Protection Program for high-risk users, which uses passkeys and stronger authentication methods. Users are advised to verify contact information through official channels, remember that Google never initiates account recovery contacts directly, and remain vigilant about suspicious details like unnatural voice patterns that may indicate AI involvement.
fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
Tolulope Samuel Bodunde, a 33-year-old Nigerian citizen, was sentenced to two years in prison for participating in a multi-country business email compromise scheme that defrauded multiple victims including Connecticut, Colorado, Alaska, and New York-based companies. Bodunde specifically exploited elderly women through romance scams to serve as unwitting money mules and was ordered to pay $494,939 in restitution to three victims. The criminal network, led by co-conspirator Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, operated over several years by impersonating legitimate entities in electronic communications to trick victims into transferring money to accounts controlled by the conspirators.
lexology.com
· 2025-12-08
The UK's Payment Services Regulations 2017 came into force on October 7, 2024, to combat Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, where victims are tricked into sending money to fraudsters; APP fraud cost the UK £459.7 million in 2023. Under the new rules, eligible consumers, microenterprises, and charities can claim reimbursement for fraudulent payments up to £85,000 within 5 days (or up to 35 days for complex cases), with costs shared 50:50 between sending and receiving banks, though claimants deemed grossly negligent or acting fraudulently may be denied compensation.
securitybrief.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Bitdefender launched Scam Copilot, an AI-powered platform designed to detect and prevent online scams across multiple communication channels and devices. The platform addresses a critical need—the Global Anti-Scam Alliance reported over $1 trillion in global scam losses in 2023, with 78% of surveyed individuals experiencing at least one scam—by offering real-time monitoring, geo-specific alerts, and tailored protections for vulnerable populations including seniors. Scam Copilot integrates AI and threat intelligence to counter increasingly sophisticated scams, including text message and phishing attacks enhanced by Large Language Models, and is now available in Bitdefender's Ultimate and Premium Security packages
marketrealist.com
· 2025-12-08
A vigilant bank teller in Australia prevented a 70-year-old woman from losing millions in a dating scam by asking probing questions about her decision to sell her home, ultimately discovering the woman was being manipulated by an online boyfriend who claimed to need money for overseas prison bail—a classic romance scam tactic that was confirmed through a reverse image search. The article also describes a similar incident where a Scottish postal employee protected an elderly woman from a bank impersonation scam, highlighting how alert employees can serve as critical safeguards against fraud that cost consumers approximately $8.8 billion in 2022.
wktv.com
· 2025-12-08
I don't have sufficient content from this article to provide a meaningful summary. The provided text only contains the page header, title, weather information, and footer details from a news website. The actual article content about how Herkimer County seniors can avoid scams is not included. Please provide the full article text so I can create an accurate summary for the Elderus database.
americanbanker.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses how banks can better protect senior customers from financial scams while maintaining efficient service. It explains that elder fraud differs from traditional fraud because victims willingly initiate transactions, making detection difficult, and recommends that banks implement targeted intervention strategies—such as requiring personal conversations with fraud specialists when suspicious transactions are detected—rather than generic alerts, while also leveraging data analytics and technology to identify and stop scams before completion.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies six warning signs of student loan forgiveness scams, which have increased amid confusion about federal student loan programs and recent forgiveness announcements. The FTC fined student loan scammers over $1 million in 2021 and issued refunds to thousands of victims, highlighting the prevalence of these schemes. Key red flags include promises of immediate relief, upfront payment requests, demands for personal information like FSA IDs, and false claims of government affiliation.
ksat.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Comal County, Texas are calling residents impersonating sheriff's office employees and demanding payments for fake warrants, claiming citations exist for failing to appear before a grand jury and threatening to issue warrants if payment is not made. The Comal County Sheriff's Office clarified that it does not accept warrant payments over the phone and advises residents to verify calls by independently contacting the agency at 830-620-3400.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
Online shoppers are being targeted by a scam in which fraudsters use a "card declined" message to trick consumers into re-entering payment information, allowing scammers to capture credit card details and run up fraudulent charges. The scam is particularly active during the holiday shopping season when consumers are making frequent online purchases and may be less vigilant about payment security.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Insurance fraud scams cost approximately $40 billion annually in the U.S., with household costs reaching $400-$700 per year. Consumers should be aware of four common home and auto insurance scams: unsolicited contractor offers (particularly after natural disasters), fraudulent "free" windshield repair claims, phishing calls and emails posing as insurance companies to steal personal information, and exaggerated damage or injury claims. Protecting yourself involves obtaining multiple contractor estimates, verifying licensing, contacting your insurance company directly before authorizing repairs, and being cautious of unsolicited contact offering suspicious deals.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages claiming recipients are not registered to vote, directing them to fake websites like all-vote.com and votewin.org to harvest personal information including names, addresses, emails, dates of birth, and phone numbers. Election officials in Michigan and Pennsylvania warned voters to be cautious of these messages, which can be identified as scams by their unsolicited nature, suspicious domains, requests for unnecessary personal data, and grammatical errors. To verify voter registration safely, Americans should use the official government website vote.gov rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts.
fox5atlanta.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI has alerted the public to a rising trend of AI-assisted scams using deepfake videos of celebrities and organizations to defraud victims of thousands of dollars. A tech-savvy individual named Austin Ennis lost $4,000 after scanning a QR code from a fake Elon Musk video promoting a cryptocurrency giveaway, which directed him to a fraudulent website. The FBI recommends verifying website legitimacy through WHOIS domain lookups and remaining vigilant about suspicious phishing emails, noting that scammers typically operate from overseas.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This article explains Zelle, a peer-to-peer payment service vulnerable to fraud because transfers are often irreversible. According to a congressional investigation, customers at Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo disputed $166 million in Zelle fraud in 2023, but only 38% was reimbursed; from 2021-2023, the three banks rejected approximately $560 million in scam disputes. The article outlines seven common Zelle scams including account takeover, employment schemes, charity fraud, marketplace and rental scams, and impersonation scams, providing awareness and protective guidance for users.
indiatvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A surge in online scams targeting senior citizens has resulted in significant financial losses, exemplified by a woman in her 60s from Noida who lost Rs 50,000 after a caller impersonated a client of her husband and convinced her to transfer funds under false pretenses. Scammers exploit urgency, false familiarity, and social engineering across multiple channels including phone calls, phishing messages, fake e-commerce sites, and investment schemes. To protect themselves, seniors should verify caller identities through official channels, never share OTPs or passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and report suspicious activities immediately to their bank or cybercrime authorities.
tricountynews.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an announcement for an educational webinar on financial scams targeting older adults, not a news article about a specific fraud incident. The webinar, presented by Catholic United Financial on October 24, aims to help seniors and their families identify and avoid common scams. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, losses to people over 60 exceeded $3.4 billion in the previous year, representing an 11 percent increase from the prior year, demonstrating the growing sophistication and prevalence of schemes targeting this demographic.
thedickinsonpress.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP warns of a significant rise in Medicare fraud during the 2024 open enrollment period (October 15 - December 7), with the FTC reporting a 30% increase in scams during this time. Fraudsters impersonate insurance representatives and Medicare officials via unsolicited calls, phishing emails, and fake websites to steal personal information, with older adults losing approximately $121 million to such schemes in 2021 alone. AARP recommends protecting yourself by verifying identities directly with Medicare, never sharing personal information unsolicited, and reporting suspicious activity to the AARP Fraud Watch Network or FTC.