Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 22,013 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
4,725 results
in Government Impersonation
ourtownny.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI and FTC reported that romance scams cost Americans $740 million to $1.3 billion in 2022, with 19,000 to 70,000 reported cases involving victims who were manipulated into sending money to online romantic partners they never met in person. Scammers use fake personas tailored to victims' preferences and employ various pretexts—including fake emergencies, investment opportunities, and shipping fees—to extract money, relying on anonymity and victims' emotional vulnerability to evade law enforcement. The FBI advises online daters to verify profiles, watch for isolation tactics and money requests, and cease communication immediately with suspicious contacts.
lafocusnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FTC reported nationwide fraud losses reached an all-time high of $10 billion—14% more than 2022—driven primarily by larger per-victim losses rather than increased report volume, with a median loss of $500 per consumer. The top scam categories were imposter schemes (particularly business and government imposters), online shopping fraud, prizes/lotteries, investment fraud, and job opportunities, with investment scams generating the highest total losses at $4.6 billion despite being ranked fourth in frequency. The FTC warned that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence for voice cloning and deepfakes to impersonate trusted contacts, and advised consumers to be
capecodtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Robert Tobey, a Connecticut man with early-stage dementia, lost at least $5,000 to phone scammers between late 2018 and early 2019 who posed as friends, manipulating him into sending gift cards and money transfers and compromising his Social Security account. The article reports that scams affecting Cape Cod residents include romance scams, government impersonation schemes, sweepstakes scams, and grandchild-in-jail scams, with the National Council on Aging estimating five million older Americans lose $36.5 billion annually to fraud. Law enforcement warns that scams are constantly evolving and advise victims to hang up on suspicious calls
flackbroadcasting.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is pushing for stronger protections against scams targeting senior citizens, who lost approximately $5 billion of the $16 billion Americans lost to fraud last year. Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics, including AI and voice deepfakes, to target older adults, with more than four in ten Americans reporting losses to scams. Gillibrand introduced bipartisan legislation called the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act to create a coordinated federal approach to combating these crimes, particularly during the holiday season when scams increase.
americanbazaaronline.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal authorities arrested 25-year-old Indian student Samyag Uday Doshi in Massachusetts for operating as a cash courier in an elder fraud scheme that targeted seniors across Rhode Island, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in losses. The scam involved con artists posing as federal agents who convinced elderly victims they were under investigation for money laundering, then manipulated them into withdrawing cash, making transfers, and attempting large purchases like gold bars. Seniors should be wary of unsolicited calls claiming to be from authorities demanding immediate payment or transfers, and should hang up and contact official agencies directly using verified phone numbers to confirm any such claims.
4ni.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Northern Ireland's Economy Minister is warning consumers about increased fraud during the Christmas shopping season, particularly online scams where fraudsters target busy holiday shoppers by stealing payment details, selling counterfeit goods, or taking money for undelivered items. To stay safe, consumers should only purchase from trusted sellers, exercise caution before sharing payment details, and take extra time to verify transactions before completing purchases online.
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Apache released an urgent warning about two critical security flaws in its Tika metadata tool, with the newer CVE-2025-66516 rated 10.0 (the highest severity) allowing attackers to exploit PDF files through XML injection attacks. Users of Tika are at risk if they haven't updated both the tika-parser-pdf-module and tika-core to version 3.2.2 or later, as Apache's initial fix was incomplete and didn't address all vulnerable code components. The actionable advice is to immediately update Tika to the latest patched versions, particularly if your organization processes or ingests PDF files and other document formats.
amac.us
· 2025-12-07
Inheritance scams deceive victims into believing a deceased relative left them money, then request payment for taxes or fees that never result in any funds being returned. A 41-year-old Nigerian man, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, pleaded guilty to defrauding over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans of more than $6 million through personalized letters falsely claiming to be a Spanish bank representative; he and eight co-defendants received prison sentences. To protect against these scams, seniors should recognize red flags like unsolicited claims, requests for personal information or unusual payment methods, and pressure tactics, and should report suspected fraud immediately to the FTC or law enforcement.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-07
A 76-year-old man from Kolkata was defrauded of Rs 57.2 lakh by scammers who posed as senior government officials using fake social media profiles and specialized apps, employing a combination of investment and digital arrest scams with forged documents. The fraudsters threatened the victim when he discovered the deception, and police initiated an investigation with cyber cell assistance to trace the perpetrators and recover the funds. The incident highlights how elderly individuals' unfamiliarity with digital platforms, trust in authority figures, and emotional vulnerabilities make them particularly susceptible to such targeted fraud schemes.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-07
Shruti Kaushik, a Senior Manager on TD Bank's cybercrime team, leads efforts to detect and shut down phishing, smishing, and vishing scams that fraudsters use to steal sensitive information from customers. The article highlights how cybercrimes are becoming increasingly automated and sophisticated, with particular concerns around fake text messages and spoofed calls, and emphasizes that customers should avoid acting on urgent requests and ignore suspicious communications rather than engaging with them.
irishtimes.com
· 2025-12-07
A woman in her 60s was victimized in a romance scam after joining a dating site in late 2023 and meeting a man claiming to be named Donald, who quickly professed feelings and moved their conversation to WhatsApp. The scammer, posing as a telecommunications executive working in Germany with a fabricated professional website, convinced her to make bank transfers on his behalf under the pretense of equipment payment issues, resulting in significant financial losses and debts. Despite her family's warnings and her own growing doubts, she continued the relationship until eventually recognizing the deception, but not before suffering major financial and legal consequences.
kcra.com
· 2025-12-07
Delivery text scams impersonate legitimate shipping companies and toll agencies to pressure recipients into clicking malicious links or providing personal and credit card information by creating false urgency around package delays or missed toll payments. Scammers exploit convincing-looking messages that may install malware or steal financial data when clicked. To protect yourself, ignore unexpected texts if you're not expecting a package or haven't used tolls, verify sender legitimacy before clicking links, contact companies directly through official channels, and use official carrier apps to track packages independently.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are impersonating the New York State Tax Department via calls, texts, and emails to trick residents into providing personal information under the false premise that they need to submit payment details to receive legitimate inflation refund checks. The phishing campaigns use urgency tactics and fake websites to steal sensitive data like Social Security numbers and banking information for identity theft, though eligible residents are automatically sent refunds without needing to provide any information or take action.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers in Jessamine County, Kentucky impersonated law enforcement to target elderly residents by claiming they owed debts, had outstanding warrants, or needed to report for jury duty, with the goal of extracting money from victims. The Jessamine County Sheriff's Office warned that legitimate law enforcement agencies will never contact citizens about warrants or request payment by phone. Multiple arrests related to similar impersonation scams have been made across Kentucky in recent years.
crawfordcountynow.com
· 2025-12-07
First Federal Community Bank is promoting cybersecurity awareness during October, warning the public about the "I-shing family" of digital scams—phishing (fake emails), smishing (text messages), and vishing (phone calls)—which use artificial urgency to trick victims into sharing personal data. The bank emphasizes that legitimate companies do not pressure customers and is providing resources including printable guides and weekly online safety tips covering passwords, multi-factor authentication, device security, and protection for seniors and children.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-07
Qantas was among dozens of companies affected by a Salesforce cyberattack in October 2025, where hackers exposed passenger information on the dark web after a ransom was not paid. Affected customers are at risk of spear-phishing attacks, account fraud, and identity theft, with experts warning that criminals may use the exposed data months later to file fraudulent loans or impersonate banks and government agencies. Protection measures include enabling multi-factor authentication, updating passwords, monitoring financial statements, placing credit suspensions, and ignoring requests to download leaked files, which may contain malware.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are targeting New Yorkers with text messages impersonating the Department of Taxation and Finance, falsely claiming recipients are eligible for "inflation refunds" and requesting personal and financial information. While New York State is legitimately issuing one-time inflation refund checks ($150-$400) to eligible taxpayers, the state explicitly does not contact people via text and will not request additional information; victims should report these scam texts to the Tax Department rather than responding to them.
wjla.com
· 2025-12-07
An 82-year-old in Northern Virginia nearly lost over $20,000 to a fake lawyer scam in October, where a caller claimed the victim's son needed legal representation and used emotional manipulation (including recorded crying) to pressure payment. Quick intervention by a family member and coordinated law enforcement stopped the fraud; investigators identified the scammer as Yordanys Rodriguez, 33, of New York, who used the name of a deceased attorney and was arrested in Pennsylvania on charges of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretenses, and was also found to be impersonating a law enforcement officer.
bbb.org
· 2025-12-07
Scammers create fake passport renewal websites that closely mimic official government sites, tricking consumers into paying fees to fill out renewal forms that are actually free on the legitimate state.gov website. Victims unknowingly provide personal and financial information on unsecured sites and may be charged multiple times ($68 reported in one case) before realizing they've been defrauded. To avoid these scams, consumers should verify they're on the official .gov website, research renewal processes in advance, and allow adequate time for legitimate renewals to reduce pressure to use fraudulent expedited services.
atholdailynews.com
· 2025-12-07
Between 2023 and May 2025, the FBI's Boston Division documented 103 courier-based fraud schemes targeting elderly residents, resulting in over $26 million in losses, with 59 Massachusetts victims losing $18.6 million combined—98% of losses reported by people over 60. The scams typically involved impersonation (grandparent, government, or tech support) to convince victims to either transfer funds to fake government accounts or hand cash and gold bars to couriers; nationally, the FBI documented 1,737 similar instances totaling approximately $186.2 million in losses. The FBI advises the public to discuss these schemes with elderly relatives and warns that the government
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-07
Employment fraud luring Cambodian victims has surged dramatically in Cambodia, with reports increasing from 4 in 2021 to 330 by August 2024, primarily targeting South Korean nationals through false job advertisements on Telegram and job sites promising high income. Victims are coerced into illegal online scams including voice phishing and romance fraud, with criminal gangs also targeting Korean nationals at restaurants to steal bankbooks and passports for money laundering. The Korean Embassy has limited ability to assist victims directly and recommends contacting local police via Telegram hotline 117, though rescued victims face detention and deportation after months of investigation for their involvement in financial crimes.
abc6onyourside.com
· 2025-12-07
An 82-year-old in Northern Virginia was nearly scammed out of over $20,000 by a fraudster posing as a lawyer claiming to represent their son in a criminal case, complete with a crying man in the background for authenticity. The victim's family intervened before money was lost, and law enforcement coordinated a fake cash pickup that led to the arrest of Yordanys Rodriguez, 33, of the Bronx, who was found to be impersonating a law enforcement officer and is now facing charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining money by false pretenses.
techcrunch.com
· 2025-12-07
ZoraSafe, a startup founded by sisters Catherine Karow and Ellie Karow King, is developing a mobile app designed to protect older adults from scams and fraud while teaching cybersecurity through gamified learning. The app, launching within a month at $12.99/month, will feature QR code scanning for malware, SMS/email verification, community threat sharing, and future AI-powered detection of scam and deepfake calls with educational follow-up explanations. The company prioritizes privacy with 85% on-device processing and plans to expand to children, schools, and multiple languages.
cnhi.com
· 2025-12-07
Older adults aged 60-plus lost $3.4 billion globally to financial scammers in 2023, with fraudsters targeting this population because they believe older adults have substantial savings and are less likely to report crimes. The article describes five common scams targeting seniors: grandparent scams (emotional manipulation using impersonation), financial services scams (impersonating banks or debt collectors), tech support scams (the most frequently reported type), government impersonation scams (IRS/Social Security threats), and romance scams, all of which exploit trust, fear, or emotion to extract money or personal information.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are sending fake letters with forged U.S. Supreme Court letterhead to Social Security recipients, impersonating government officials and falsely claiming recipients are involved in criminal proceedings to coerce them into providing personal information and money. The letters, often followed by text messages and phone calls, threaten to freeze bank accounts and warn against holding more than $10,000 in savings. Seniors should disregard such communications, report them to authorities, and verify any Social Security-related claims through official channels or trusted contacts.
13wham.com
· 2025-12-07
A Canandaigua woman fell victim to a Medicare card scam after receiving a call from someone posing as a University of Rochester Medical Center employee, to whom she disclosed her Medicare number, name, and benefit start date before hanging up when asked medical questions. The University of Rochester and Thompson Health are investigating the incident, which mirrors similar scams where callers offer to laminate Medicare cards, and authorities remind the public never to provide Medicare information unless they initiate the call to a medical provider.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-07
On October 16, 2025, AARP Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Elder Justice Coalition hosted a Scam Jam educational event at UW-Green Bay to inform attendees about current fraud schemes and connect them with anti-fraud professionals. The event featured a resource fair with multiple Wisconsin organizations dedicated to combating elder fraud, including AARP's Fraud Watch Network, the Better Business Bureau, state consumer protection agencies, and victim support services, all providing free educational materials, complaint filing assistance, and community presentations.
themirror.com
· 2025-12-07
Social Security Administration officials warned of a scam targeting seniors that uses forged letters with fake U.S. Supreme Court letterhead claiming recipients are subjects of legal proceedings and have had their Social Security numbers compromised. The scam solicits personal information and money by falsely claiming the Supreme Court has frozen the recipient's assets and imposed limits on bank balances and investments. The OIG advised seniors to disregard such communications, verify information with others before responding, and report suspicious letters, texts, and calls to ssa.gov/scam.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old resident of Kolkata lost Rs 33 lakh over two weeks in a digital arrest fraud scheme where three individuals impersonated CBI officers and convinced him he was "digitally arrested," causing him to transfer funds via RTGS out of fear of legal consequences. Police recovered Rs 8 lakh and are continuing investigations under multiple BNS sections, with authorities emphasizing that elderly people are particularly vulnerable to such scams due to limited digital literacy, trust in authority figures, and social isolation.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Internet scams have evolved from crude 1990s email cons like Nigerian prince schemes to sophisticated AI-powered deepfakes that can convincingly impersonate voices and faces, with phishing attacks emerging in the early 2000s as online banking adoption grew. Despite technological advances making fraud more convincing and difficult to detect, successful scams continue to rely on exploiting fundamental human emotions—greed, fear, compassion, and loneliness—through predictable psychological manipulation patterns that create urgency and isolate victims from support systems. Understanding how scam tactics have evolved reveals that technological complexity often masks simple psychological manipulation, and recognizing consistent underlying patterns can help potential victims identify manipulation attempts regardless of delivery method.
devdiscourse.com
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
A 71-year-old retired judge from Maharashtra lost Rs 31 lakh in a digital arrest scam in September when an anonymous caller falsely accused him of sending obscene messages and money laundering, then impersonated a law enforcement official via video call to coerce fund transfers. The victim eventually recognized the deception and filed a complaint with Amravati cyber police, who launched an investigation into the sophisticated scam.
bnnbloomberg.ca
· 2025-12-07
Canada's Ontario Securities Commission has identified seven prevalent investment scams targeting victims in autumn, including romance scams (fraudsters gaining trust online before pitching fake investments), cryptocurrency scams (requesting additional funds before allowing withdrawals), affinity fraud (targeting social groups with Ponzi schemes), pump-and-dump schemes (artificially inflating stock prices before selling), boiler room operations (fake trading platforms), AI voice scams (deepfakes impersonating relatives or celebrities), and exempt securities fraud (misrepresenting fraudulent investments as legitimate exclusive opportunities). The advisory emphasizes that common red flags include unsolicited contact about investment tips, requests for money from online contacts never met in person, an
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational piece outlines how to identify and respond to social media scams targeting users. Common scams include fake celebrity accounts, phishing links, romance scams, fraudulent job offers, giveaway schemes, and investment fraud—all designed to steal personal information, credentials, or money through deceptive friend requests and messages. The article recommends verifying profiles for authenticity, reporting suspicious accounts, blocking scammers, and maintaining strong privacy settings to protect against these threats.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-07
The Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General issued an alert about a government imposter scam using forged Supreme Court letterhead and signatures of justices John Roberts and Sonia Sotomayor to target seniors receiving retirement benefits. The fraudulent letters falsely claim recipients are suspects in criminal proceedings, allege identity theft of their Social Security numbers, and pressure victims to send money and share personal information under threat of frozen assets and account balance restrictions. Victims are advised to ignore the communications, report them to the FTC or SSA OIG, and take immediate steps to freeze accounts and monitor credit if they have already provided information or funds.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-07
**Scam Jam Educational Event - October 16, 2025**
AARP Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Elder Justice Coalition hosted a Scam Jam awareness event at UW-Green Bay to educate attendees about current scams and connect them with fraud-fighting professionals. The event featured a resource fair with multiple Wisconsin organizations including AARP's Fraud Watch Network, the Better Business Bureau, state consumer protection agencies, and local support services, all offering free fraud prevention information, complaint filing assistance, and community presentations.
royalexaminer.com
· 2025-12-07
Shawn Smith, Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol Director, warned seniors at the Front Royal/Warren County TRIAD Senior Expo about three major Medicare scams: government impostors, durable medical equipment fraud, and genetic testing scams, which collectively cost Medicare $60-$80 billion annually. Smith advised attendees to avoid unsolicited calls, never disclose Medicare numbers, scrutinize medical offers, and regularly review Medicare statements for fraudulent charges, noting that the Senior Medicare Patrol offers free assistance through 1-800-938-8885 to help seniors report suspicious activity and protect themselves from becoming unwitting accomplices to fraud.
troopers.ny.gov
· 2025-12-07
New York State Police warn of a phone scam targeting senior citizens in which callers falsely claim identity theft has occurred and pressure victims to withdraw large sums of money or purchase gold bars for "safekeeping," with scammers then sending couriers to collect the funds. In one documented case in Tompkins County, victim(s) lost $500,000 in gold bars across two incidents in 2024, leading to the indictment of Akash B. Thakkar, age 41, on Grand Larceny charges after investigators identified him as a courier who picked up the gold bars. Authorities advise victims to hang up and contact trusted family members rather than comply with such demands
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Cybercriminals are increasingly using sophisticated phishing emails impersonating trusted coworkers and employers to trick recipients into opening malicious attachments or clicking fraudulent links, with AI-generated content making these scams harder to detect. A Texas resident nearly fell victim to such a scam when she received a suspicious email appearing to come from her employer but containing an unopened attachment; she protected herself by changing her password, running virus scans, and enrolling in identity theft protection. To fully protect against these workplace email scams, individuals should review login histories for unauthorized access, enable two-factor authentication on critical accounts, alert their IT department of suspicious emails, and keep all software updated to prevent malware exploitation.
indystar.com
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
During government shutdowns, scammers target federal employees, contractors, and benefit recipients with fraudulent calls and emails impersonating Social Security, Medicare, and other agencies, falsely claiming benefits are suspended unless fees are paid or personal information is verified. Common tactics include phishing emails with subject lines like "Government Shutdown Notice," fake relief programs requiring wire transfers or gift cards, and malware-laden links designed to steal credentials. Authorities stress that most federal benefits continue during shutdowns and the government never demands payment or sensitive information via phone or email; victims should report fraud to their state attorney general or the FTC.
oig.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-07
The U.S. Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General is warning the public about a government imposter scam using forged U.S. Supreme Court letterhead and fake signatures of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sonia Sotomayor to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information. The scam letter falsely claims the recipient is a criminal suspect whose Social Security number has been compromised, that their assets have been frozen by the Supreme Court, and that they cannot maintain over $10,000 in bank accounts or $80,000-$100,000 in investments, with follow-up contact typically made via text or phone. Recipients are advised to disregard the letter
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Adva Lavie is wanted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for a series of burglaries targeting older men in the Los Angeles area. She allegedly used dating apps and social media to pose as a romantic interest, gaining access to victims' homes before burglarizing them, and is known to use aliases including Mia Ventura, Shoshana, and Shana. Law enforcement is seeking information from the public and warns that she may be driving a black Porsche SUV or white Mercedes-Benz.
bgindependentmedia.org
· 2025-12-07
In October 2024, the Ohio Department of Commerce warned Ohioans about rising cyber threats during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, noting that internet crime complaints reached nearly 860,000 nationwide with losses exceeding $16 billion in 2024—a 33% increase from the prior year, with Ohio ranking 7th in the nation with 25,000 complaints. Common scams include one-time passcode interception, cryptocurrency "pig butchering" schemes, financial institution impersonation, government imposter scams, and AI-fueled fraud, with the FTC reporting $12.5 billion in total consumer fraud losses in 2024, including $2
deloitte.com
· 2025-12-07
The FBI has highlighted "phantom hacker scams," where fraudsters impersonate tech support, banks, and government agents to manipulate victims—particularly seniors—into voluntarily transferring money directly to scammers' accounts. These scams are part of a broader category called authorized push payment (APP) fraud, which is rapidly growing; the Deloitte Center for Financial Services estimates APP fraud losses in the U.S. could reach $14.9 billion by 2028 (up from $8.3 billion in 2024), with investment scams like "pig butchering" driving the majority of growth, fueled by increasingly sophisticated AI-generated deepfakes and social engineering
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Senior citizens receiving Social Security benefits are being targeted by scammers who send fake letters using fabricated U.S. Supreme Court letterhead and forged signatures of justices, claiming recipients are criminal suspects with frozen financial assets and restrictive account limits. The Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General warns recipients to avoid clicking links, verify claims through official government websites, and report suspicious letters to the FTC or SSA-OIG. To protect themselves, people should stay informed about scam tactics, as over 70 million Americans receive Social Security benefits and are potential targets.
stomp.sg
· 2025-12-07
An elderly resident raised concerns about fraudulent job opportunity advertisements targeting seniors on Facebook, noting that multiple ads direct applicants to identical forms requesting personal information, with AI analysis flagging them as likely scams. The inquiry highlights the prevalence of job scams among the top five scam types affecting consumers, alongside investment scams and phishing schemes, and questions why such advertisements remain visible on the platform.
koaa.com
· 2025-12-07
A Colorado Springs woman lost her entire $37,000 inheritance to a cryptocurrency investment scam after seeing a fraudulent post from a hacked friend's Facebook account. The scammers used a sophisticated multi-layered approach, including fake Bitcoin wallet instructions and a spoofed cryptocurrency website, to make the scheme appear legitimate and promise returns of $194,000. The victim, who was grieving her recently reconnected father, received nothing when she attempted to withdraw her funds, illustrating how investment fraud remains the top scam in Colorado with nearly 15,000 reports in 2024.
pressherald.com
· 2025-12-07
Dalinda Carpenter, a widowed senior in Standish living on Social Security, lost $14,003 to a scam in July when she called a number from fraudulent Apple Pay alert messages and allowed a caller to remotely access her phone, convincing her that hackers were targeting her accounts and that she needed to transfer funds via Western Union to catch them. The scammer made nine transfers of over $1,500 each between July 8-14, leaving Carpenter in financial hardship with mounting debts and no recovery despite reporting the crime to law enforcement and seeking legal assistance.
info.gov.hk
· 2025-12-07
In Hong Kong during the first eight months of 2025, police reported 184 telephone scam cases targeting local tertiary students and 86 cases targeting Mainland students, resulting in approximately $32 million and $75 million in losses respectively. The government has implemented fraud prevention measures under the Theft Ordinance with penalties up to 14 years imprisonment, and is consulting with educational institutions and authorities to strengthen anti-scam awareness programs among students through seminars and enhanced promotional efforts.
taxlawcenter.org
· 2025-12-07
The IRS has assessed over $160 million in penalties related to fraudulent tax scams promoted on social media, with the problem expected to worsen due to new tax law complexities that create opportunities for scammers. Misleading claims by government officials about the new law's provisions—particularly regarding tax elimination on tips, overtime, Social Security benefits, and auto loan interest—are fueling confusion and making vulnerable populations including older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income workers susceptible to illegitimate tax-saving schemes. The IRS's reduced capacity to combat scams through guidance, education, and prosecution enforcement compounds the risk.
fox13news.com
· 2025-12-07
During a government shutdown, scammers exploited public confusion about federal benefits by impersonating government officials and contractors via unsolicited calls, emails, and texts, targeting millions of Americans relying on Social Security, Medicare, and SNAP. Consumer protection officials warned the public to avoid sending money via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, and to ignore any demands for payment, as legitimate government agencies never contact people this way. Those believing they were scammed were advised to contact local police, their banks, and file a complaint with the FBI's Crime Complaint Center.