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shorenewsnetwork.com
Lise Rossopoulos, 59, of Queens, New York, was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for her role in a nationwide scam that defrauded elderly victims of over $500,000. Working with a co-conspirator posing as a government official, Rossopoulos received wire transfers into bank accounts in her name from victims who were falsely told their identities had been stolen, including a 92-year-old Hawaii woman who lost $446,000 and an 83-year-old Kentucky man who lost nearly $102,000. She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
mychesco.com
REGO Payment Architectures unveiled a senior financial management platform launching March 31, 2025, designed to help adult children and caretakers monitor elderly relatives' finances across multiple institutions and detect fraudulent activity. The product addresses a critical need, as Americans aged 60 and older lost over $38 billion to fraud in 2023, with the FBI reporting average losses of $33,915 per victim. The white-labeled solution includes features such as spending alerts, transaction monitoring, fraud detection via a proprietary Protection Score, and bill payment reminders, positioning it to capture an estimated $1 billion annual revenue opportunity for participating financial institutions.
whio.com
Ohio residents have been targeted by a nationwide texting scam impersonating the Ohio Turnpike to solicit payment for alleged unpaid tolls. The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission clarified that it does not send text messages for toll collection and instead mails invoices, advising recipients to verify any collection agency contact through official channels before making payments.
yahoo.com
Multiple Chicago residents fell victim to a street-based charity donation scam between June 2024 and November 2024, where con artists used emotional stories (such as raising funeral funds or awareness for causes) to gain trust, then charged victims thousands of dollars through Apple Pay and other digital payment methods when they believed they were donating only small amounts. The Illinois attorney general's office received approximately 10 complaints about this scheme, though one victim, Eliazar Rodriguez, was charged $3,000 for a carpet purchase after believing he donated $15, and he eventually recovered his funds after disputing the charge with his bank.
foxnews.com
As romance scams targeting seniors surge, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps to notify users if they've communicated with someone banned for fraud. According to the FTC, nearly 70,000 Americans reported romance scam victimization in 2022, with people aged 70 and older experiencing median losses of $9,475, and Tennessee seniors over 60 losing $43 million in 2023. The legislation would be enforced by the FTC and allow state attorneys general to bring civil actions, addressing a growing threat exemplified by cases like Aurora Phelps, who was charged with using dating
blackburn.senate.gov
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the bipartisan Romance Scam Prevention Act to require dating apps to notify users who have interacted with individuals removed for fraudulent activity, addressing a growing threat to senior citizens. Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022, with Tennesseans over 60 losing $43 million in 2023 alone, as scammers target recently widowed or divorced seniors through fake identities and move conversations to private platforms after account deactivation.
ghanaweb.com
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) announced a significant rise in romance scams, with 107 active cases currently under investigation. EOCO is collaborating with international partners including the FBI and the Financial Intelligence Center to combat the fraud, and recovered approximately GH¢2 million in 2024 as part of these efforts.
citinewsroom.com
Ghana's Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has been investigating at least 107 romance scam cases since 2021, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence to deceive victims, and recovered approximately 2 million Ghana cedis in 2024 alone. EOCO launched a fraud reporting campaign in partnership with the UK's National Crime Agency to combat romance fraud through whistleblower mechanisms and international cooperation, emphasizing the need for cross-border collaboration among law enforcement agencies. The campaign encourages public reporting of suspicious activities to help protect victims from the devastating financial and emotional effects of romance scams.
newsday.com
In 2023, New Yorkers over 60 lost more than $203 million to scams including sweepstakes, tech support fraud, and government impersonation schemes, with Long Islanders accounting for $38 million of those losses. Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed legislation that would train bank employees, brokers, and financial advisers to recognize elder exploitation and legally empower them to place temporary holds (up to 55 days) on suspicious transactions while law enforcement investigates. The bill, supported by 43 consumer protection groups including AARP, aims to prevent funds from being permanently lost to scammers before fraud can be detected and stopped.
stocktitan.net
Rego Payment Architectures announced a new white-label senior financial management product launching March 31, 2025, designed to help banks and credit unions protect elderly customers from financial fraud through monitoring tools for caretakers. The product addresses a critical need, as Americans over 60 lost over $38 billion to financial fraud in 2023, with victims averaging $33,915 in losses. The platform offers features including cross-account visibility, spending alerts, transaction monitoring, and fraud detection to help families oversee seniors' finances across multiple institutions.
globenewswire.com
This is not a news report about elder fraud, but rather a press release announcing a new financial management product by Rego Payment Architectures designed to help banks and credit unions protect seniors from fraud. The product, launching March 31, 2025, enables adult children and caretakers to monitor aging relatives' accounts across multiple institutions through features like spending alerts, transaction monitoring, and fraud detection. The announcement notes that Americans over 60 lost over $38 billion to financial fraud in 2023, with elderly victims averaging $33,915 in losses according to FBI data.
investmentnews.com
The North American Securities Administrators Association identified cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence-based scams as major threats to retail investors in 2025, with fraudsters increasingly using social media platforms (31.7% on Facebook and X, 31.3% on Telegram and WhatsApp) and AI-generated content to deceive victims with promises of unrealistic returns. Nearly 39% of state regulators expect scammers to use AI-generated videos and graphics for false credibility, while affinity and romance scams remain significant risks, with seniors losing $357 million to such schemes in 2023 alone. NASAA advised investors to verify the legitimacy of investment promoters and their registration status before investing
blueprint.ng
Jude Okoye, former manager of the music duo P-Square, was granted bail of N50 million after being charged by Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with stealing $1 million and £34,537 from the group. Okoye pleaded not guilty to the four-count theft charges filed against him and his company, Northside Music Ltd., with the trial set to begin in May. The court imposed strict conditions including submission of citizenship documents, passport withholding, and requirement that his sureties provide proof of employment and three years of tax payments.
cnbc.com
Cybercrime marketplaces are dramatically lowering the barriers to entry for fraud, enabling less-skilled individuals to conduct sophisticated scams through "cybercrime-as-a-service" platforms that sell malicious tools, stolen data, and hacking expertise. These organized underground markets—including darknet sites and public platforms like Huione Guarantee—operate with corporate-like structures and cryptocurrency payments to facilitate illicit activities, with vendors on major platforms processing billions in transactions. Experts warn this professionalization and accessibility of cybercrime resources poses unprecedented global cybersecurity and fraud threats.
blog.ssa.gov
The Social Security Administration and its Office of Inspector General launched the sixth annual "Slam the Scam" Day on March 6 to combat Social Security imposter scams, where fraudsters pressure victims into sharing personal information or making payments by claiming to fix alleged Social Security number problems. These scams affect all age groups and remain among the most commonly reported government imposter frauds to the FTC, with victims tricked through sophisticated tactics including caller ID spoofing, fake documents, and fraudulent letterhead. The agencies emphasized that Social Security will never suspend numbers, demand immediate payments, threaten arrest, or request gift cards or wire transfers, and urged citizens to report attempts to oig.ssa.gov
ksltv.com
Romance scammers increasingly target lonely individuals on dating apps and social media using stolen photos and AI-generated deepfakes to establish fake identities. A Utah woman lost $187,000 to a cryptocurrency investment scam, another became an unwitting money mule, and innocent West Haven resident Justin Yoder faced harassment after his photos were stolen and used to defraud victims. Reverse image searches and awareness of common tactics—such as targeting vulnerable individuals and gradually building trust before requesting money—can help people identify catfishing attempts before falling victim.
abc7ny.com
At least two dozen elderly and vulnerable people across multiple states lost over $1 million to a construction fraud scheme perpetrated by James Dinnigan, Martin Maughan, and recruited foreign nationals posing as legitimate home repair contractors. The scammers lured victims through false advertisements, then deliberately damaged their properties and coerced them into paying tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars for unnecessary repairs through intimidation and threats. Most victims were located in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.
cbc.ca
A massive data leak exposed an international crypto scam operation with call centers in Georgia, Israel, Spain, Cyprus, Ukraine, and Bulgaria that defrauded at least 32,000 victims of over $275 million USD. The scammers used fake news articles on social media featuring celebrities like Kevin O'Leary and Elon Musk to lure victims into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, then deployed "recovery scammers" (using stolen identities) to extract additional payments from desperate victims—including a Canadian factory foreman who lost $200,000 and was later targeted for an additional $3,500. The leaked internal records, including over one million call recordings and 20,
theweeklyjournal.com
A Chinese man lost approximately $27,000 in a romance scam orchestrated using artificial intelligence, where criminals created a completely virtual girlfriend with AI-generated photos and videos convincing enough to deceive him into believing she was real. The scammers used the fabricated relationship to convince the victim that his fake girlfriend was an entrepreneur needing investment capital for a business and medical expenses, leading him to transfer funds to a provided bank account. The scam was executed with meticulous detail, including forged documents and sustained technological deception, with the victim never meeting his girlfriend in person.
npr.org
Twenty-five Canadians, mostly based in Quebec, were charged with defrauding hundreds of American seniors out of more than $21 million through a "grandparent scam" that operated from call centers in the Montreal area beginning in summer 2021. The scammers used spoofed phone numbers and fake identities (posing as grandchildren in legal trouble and attorneys) to convince elderly victims across 46 states to send money via in-person pickups, mail, or cryptocurrency, with some victims targeted multiple times and referred to as "whales." The scheme continued until June 2024 when Canadian law enforcement executed search warrants at the call centers, leading to the arrests of
ice.gov
Twenty-five Canadian nationals were charged in Vermont federal court for operating a multi-million dollar "grandparent scam" that defrauded elderly victims across more than 40 U.S. states of over $21 million between summer 2021 and June 2024. Perpetrators operating from call centers near Montreal posed as grandchildren claiming to need bail money for fabricated arrests or as attorneys representing them, convincing victims to provide cash that was collected in person and laundered through Canada using cryptocurrency. Canadian law enforcement arrested 23 of the defendants on March 4, 2024, following search warrants executed at the call centers where they were actively making calls to elderly victims.
usatoday.com
Federal prosecutors charged more than two dozen Canadian nationals in a "grandparent scam" that defrauded elderly victims of over $21 million across more than 40 U.S. states between summer 2021 and June 2024. Scammers operating from Montreal call centers impersonated grandchildren claiming to need bail money after accidents or posed as attorneys, using spoofed U.S. phone numbers and sometimes extracting multiple payments from victims by claiming bail amounts had increased; money was laundered back to Canada through various methods including cryptocurrency. Twenty-three of the 25 defendants were arrested in Canada, with two remaining fugitives facing up to 40 years in prison
boston.com
Nearly two dozen Canadians were arrested Tuesday and charged in a "grandparent scam" conspiracy that defrauded elderly Americans in over 40 states of $21 million between 2021 and 2024. The perpetrators, operating from call centers near Montréal, called elderly victims claiming a grandchild had been arrested and needed bail money, with some posing as attorneys or bail bondsmen to collect funds that were then transferred to Canada via cash or cryptocurrency. The 25 charged individuals face up to 20-40 years in prison depending on their role in the scheme.
richlandsource.com
Star Strategies is hosting a free Financial Elder Fraud Workshop on March 28, 2025, in Wooster, Ohio, featuring FBI Cleveland Division special agents who will educate seniors and their families about current investment scams targeting older adults. The workshop will cover the evolution of sophisticated fraud schemes (which resulted in $538 million in losses to older adults in 2024 according to the FTC) and provide practical protection strategies.
yahoo.com
Julie Anne Darrah, a 52-year-old Santa Barbara County investment advisor, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for stealing approximately $2.25 million from elderly clients between November 2016 and July 2023 through her company Vivid Financial Management Inc. Darrah gained clients' trust by posing as a caretaker figure, then obtained control of their assets through forged documents and unauthorized liquidations, using the funds for personal purchases including properties and luxury vehicles, leaving some victims unable to afford end-of-life care. She faces up to 20 years in prison and has been ordered to pay $2,416,511 in restitution.
thomsonreuters.com
In 2024, U.S. financial institutions filed slightly fewer Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) than in 2023, marking the first decline in SARs filings in a decade, though the decrease was minimal. The preliminary count of 3.8 million original SARs filings in 2024 is expected to reach approximately 4.5-4.6 million when amended, corrected, and continuing activity SARs are included, roughly matching the record 4.6 million filings from 2023. The top reasons for SARs filings in 2024 included suspicion of fund sources, transactions without lawful purpose, check fraud,
pymnts.com
Financial institutions are increasingly using behavioral analytics and "smart friction" to combat escalating fraud, which costs the industry an estimated trillion dollars annually. Investment scams average $1,104 in losses while romance scams result in median losses of $1,996 and involve nearly twice as many transactions as other fraud types. Banks are adopting real-time data analysis, AI-powered pattern recognition, and inter-bank information sharing to identify suspicious transactions and strategically introduce authentication challenges that balance security with customer convenience.
aol.com
Federal prosecutors charged more than two dozen Canadian nationals operating from Montreal call centers in a "grandparent scam" that defrauded over 300 elderly victims across 40+ U.S. states of more than $21 million between summer 2021 and June 2024. The scammers posed as grandchildren or lawyers claiming relatives needed bail money after accidents, used spoofed U.S. phone numbers, sent in-person "bail bondsmen" to collect cash, and sometimes targeted repeat victims ("whales") with inflated bail amounts, with proceeds laundered to Canada via cryptocurrency. Most of the 25 defendants arrested in Canada face up to 20 years in prison
radio.wpsu.org
Twenty-five Canadians, mostly based in Quebec, were charged with operating an elaborate "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans across 46 states of more than $21 million between summer 2021 and June 2024. The scheme involved call centers in the Montreal area using spoofed technology to impersonate relatives in distress, claiming bail money was needed, with victims often targeted multiple times and referred to as "whales" if they provided substantial funds. All 25 defendants face conspiracy to defraud charges carrying up to 20 years in prison, with five also charged with money laundering conspiracy.
business-standard.com
A 26-year-old man named Priyesh Giri was arrested by Delhi Police for defrauding multiple senior citizens by posing as a health insurance agent and collecting renewal fees under false pretenses. A 74-year-old victim lost Rs 95,000 after receiving a fake insurance policy, prompting her complaint that led to Giri's arrest through online tracking; he confessed to cheating more than five seniors over the past year and reportedly had an accomplice still being sought. The case reflects India's broader surge in fraud, with cybercrime cases increasing by over 100% in early 2024, including investment and trading scams affecting thousands of victims.
thelogicalindian.com
Meenu Rani from Greater Noida lost ₹51.5 lakh in a stock trading scam that began with a ₹1,000 Amazon gift voucher used to build trust before scammers lured her into investments through a fake trading app displaying fabricated profits. When she demanded her money back, the scammers stopped responding; police have registered a case under the IT Act and recovered ₹4.8 lakh so far. The incident exemplifies the growing threat of cyber scams in India targeting individuals through social media and messaging platforms, with authorities advising victims to verify investment opportunities through regulatory bodies like SEBI and avoid sharing financial details online.
justice.gov
Julie Anne Darrah, a Santa Maria investment advisor and president of Vivid Financial Management Inc., pleaded guilty to wire fraud for stealing approximately $2.25 million from elderly clients between November 2016 and July 2023 by obtaining unauthorized control of their assets and liquidating their holdings without consent. Darrah exploited her clients' trust by convincing them to grant her power of attorney and trustee status, then used the stolen funds for personal expenses, property purchases, and luxury vehicles, leaving some victims unable to afford end-of-life care; she also defrauded an acquiring investment firm of $5.4 million through misrepresentation. She faces up to
presstelegram.com
Two Southern California men were arrested for operating a $10 million fraud and money laundering scheme targeting over 100 victims, predominantly elderly individuals. Using fake identification documents and shell companies, the defendants posed as law enforcement and company employees via phone and email to convince victims their accounts were compromised, then redirected them to fraudulent accounts controlled by the perpetrators; they also posed as real estate sellers to solicit wire transfers and checks. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted of money laundering conspiracy.
justice.gov
Ambrose A. Obinna Warrior, 44, of Maryland, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business that facilitated romance, business email compromise, and investment scams from March 2018 through August 2021. Warrior transmitted or attempted to transfer over $700,000 in fraudulent proceeds by depositing victims' funds into bank accounts and shell companies, retaining approximately 20% in fees while distributing the remainder to other scheme participants, with documented victim losses of at least $467,912.
vermontbiz.com
On February 20, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted 25 Canadian nationals for operating a "Grandparent Scam" from call centers in Montreal that defrauded elderly victims in Vermont and 40+ other states between summer 2021 and June 2024. Scammers posed as arrested grandchildren or their attorneys, convincing elderly victims to provide bail money (totaling over $21 million) that was then laundered to Canada through cash deliveries and cryptocurrency; 23 defendants were arrested in Canada on March 4, 2025, while two remain at large.
dailynews.com
An "anti-poverty advocate" named Joseph Sanberg was arrested by federal prosecutors in connection with an alleged fraud scheme that cost investors $145 million. The article indicates charges were filed against Sanberg and at least one other person, though specific details about the fraud mechanism are not provided in the excerpt.
ocregister.com
An anti-poverty advocate named Joseph Sanberg was arrested in connection with an alleged investment fraud scheme that cost investors $145 million, according to federal prosecutors. The charges were announced in March 2025, though specific details about the fraud mechanism and victim demographics were not included in the available excerpt.
wral.com
Michon Griffin, 46, of Wake County was sentenced to two years in prison for her role as a money mule in a $2 million international romance scam, where she received and laundered fraudulent funds through 16 financial institutions before wiring them to coconspirators in Nigeria. Griffin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and making false statements on her tax returns, earning $300,000 in commissions that she failed to report, and was ordered to pay $109,119 in restitution to the IRS.
punchng.com
A 47-year-old Nigerian national, Darlington Akporugo, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy for operating a nationwide romance scam from Houston that defrauded more than 25 elderly and retired victims of over $3 million. Operating over seven years, Akporugo and co-conspirators used fake identities on social media to build trust with victims, then manipulated them into sending money for fictitious business ventures and emergencies, with much of the stolen funds funneled overseas. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine at sentencing scheduled for June 6.
thenationonlineng.net
A 47-year-old Nigerian national, Darlington Akporugo, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy charges for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded over 25 elderly and retired Americans of more than $3 million across multiple states. Akporugo used fake identities on social media to manipulate victims into sending money, opening lines of credit in his name, and purchasing luxury items, and now faces up to 20 years in federal prison with sentencing scheduled for June 6, 2025.
foxsanantonio.com
A USAA customer was targeted by scammers who spoofed the bank's caller ID and posed as the fraud department to warn her about unauthorized charges. The scammers manipulated her into transferring $3,400 through Apple Cash by claiming to help secure her compromised account, ultimately stealing the funds before disappearing when she discovered the deception. The case highlights a growing imposter scam trend affecting bank customers nationwide, with such scams resulting in $2.7 billion in annual losses, and demonstrates how criminals exploit familiar bank names and personal information to build false trust.
states.aarp.org
According to the FBI's 2024 Elder Fraud Report, elder fraud complaints increased 46% with losses rising 43%, while New York ranked fourth nationally in complaints and monetary losses among seniors over 60. The median loss for victims aged 60+ exceeded $83,000, with investment scams causing the highest losses at $6.6 billion overall and New York seniors losing $257.7 million in 2024. AARP warns that holiday season scams are escalating, particularly gift card fraud, phishing, and delivery scams, and recommends shopping directly from official websites, purchasing gift cards only from authorized locations, and being wary of urgent requests for payment via gift cards or
murrayledger.com
A resurgence of toll-charge texting scams is circulating, where recipients receive messages claiming unpaid tolls in states they may or may not have visited, with links directing them to fake websites requesting payment. Law enforcement officials note that scammers increasingly replicate legitimate toll company messaging (like FastTrak or EZ Pass) and create sophisticated fake websites, making scams harder to identify, though legitimate toll agencies never request payment via text and instead send physical mail with license plate photos. Police advise recipients to verify they actually visited the state in question and to research any suspicious requests before responding, as scammers are becoming increasingly skilled at mimicking legitimate communications across multiple platforms including email and phone calls.
finance.yahoo.com
**Summary:**
A Bankrate Financial Fraud Survey found that 34% of U.S. adults experienced financial fraud or scams in the past 12 months, with 37% of victims losing money to schemes ranging from fake prize claims to job recruitment and investment scams. Of Americans scammed in the past year, 90% had their personal financial information accessed or targeted, though 57% of those attempts were unsuccessful; baby boomers and Generation X experienced the highest lifetime fraud rates at 73% and 71% respectively, and experts warn that economic stress and the pending wealth transfer of baby boomers may embolden scammers.
evertiq.com
Two Swedish high school students, Henning Lindeberg and Erik Apelqvist, are developing a mini-computer device designed to detect phone scams by identifying words commonly associated with fraud and alerting users in real-time. The invention was motivated by personal experience—both students' grandparents were targeted by scammers—and addresses a significant problem in Sweden where nearly 30,000 phone scams were reported in 2023, resulting in approximately 66 million dollars in losses primarily targeting elderly individuals. The students aim to complete a fully functional prototype by their summer graduation.
myjoyonline.com
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps to meet at least four older men in 2021-2022, then drugged them with sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars through a scheme that resulted in at least three deaths. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death, with prosecutors alleging she stole vehicles, drained bank accounts, sold stock worth $3.3 million, and purchased luxury items using her victims' accounts.
edmontonjournal.com
Edmonton lost approximately $48.1 million to fraud in 2024, with investment scams being the largest category at $14.1 million, followed by romance, employment, and identity fraud scams. Edmonton Police Service launched Fraud Prevention Month to educate the public on common tactics used by increasingly sophisticated scammers, including phone spoofing, phishing, social engineering, grandparent scams, and person-in-authority scams that exploit psychological manipulation and urgency to steal money and personal information.
edmonton.citynews.ca
In 2024, Edmonton residents lost over $48 million to fraud, with investment scams leading at $14.1 million, followed by romance scams at $1.7 million and employment fraud at $1.3 million. Police highlighted the emotional toll of these crimes, featuring the case of Heather Robicheau, who lost money to a year-long romance scam involving a fake cheque and false emergencies. During fraud prevention month, Edmonton Police and community partners urged residents to avoid sharing personal or financial information and to be skeptical of unsolicited requests for money, particularly those involving emotional manipulation or crisis scenarios.
viconsortium.com
During National Consumer Protection Week (March 2-8, 2025), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service warned of rising imposter scams in which fraudsters pose as trusted entities like family members, banks, or government agencies to manipulate victims into revealing personal information or sending money. The USPIS advises consumers to avoid responding to pressure tactics, verify contacts independently before sharing information, be cautious of grandparent and romance scams, ignore unsolicited USPS messages, and register with the National Do Not Call Registry. Suspected fraud can be reported to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 or online at www.uspis
yahoo.com
A man was sentenced to over eight years in prison for his role in an international fraud scheme originating from India that targeted older Americans, including a Georgetown woman who lost $300,000, with 21 identified victims losing nearly $6 million total. The scheme involved impersonating U.S. government officials to convince victims to transfer money from retirement and savings accounts, part of a growing problem highlighted by FBI data showing an 11% increase in financial losses for people over 60 in 2023. AARP Texas is advocating for increased law enforcement funding and expansion of the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center to combat online fraud schemes that disproportionately impact older adults who have accumulated significant lifetime savings