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in Grandparent Scam
azbigmedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Up to 20% of older Americans fall victim to elder fraud annually, with losses totaling over $3.4 billion in 2023 and averaging $34,000 per victim, using methods like deceptive emails, phone calls, and impersonation scams. Common schemes include government impersonation, sweepstakes scams, robocalls, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams targeting seniors due to isolation and limited technical knowledge. Prevention strategies include staying informed about evolving scams, monitoring accounts regularly, maintaining open communication with family about finances, reporting suspicious activity immediately, and pausing before responding to urgent requests for money or personal information.
wrrv.com
· 2025-12-08
New York State Police issued a fraud alert warning older residents about a scam in which perpetrators convince victims to withdraw money from their bank accounts for the scammers to pick up. The scam has generated multiple complaints from seniors, and police emphasized that anyone contacted by phone or computer with such requests should immediately call 911 and never withdraw or surrender funds. Scams targeting New Yorkers cost the state over $10 million last year, with other common schemes against seniors including romance, investment, and "grandparents" scams.
daytonatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud is rising nationwide, costing seniors $3.4 billion annually, with Volusia County reporting $4.6 million in losses over the past year as scammers target older adults through imposter calls, investment fraud, and tech scams. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office created a three-person financial fraud unit and used a screening of the movie "Thelma"—which depicts a grandmother falling victim to an imposter scam—to educate 140+ seniors on fraud awareness and prevention. A 90-year-old attendee avoided a fake son/lawyer scam demanding $10,000 by verifying her son's location, exemplifying the importance of
legalnewsline.com
· 2025-12-08
I appreciate you sharing this content, but I'm unable to provide a meaningful summary. The text appears to be fragmented headlines and article openings from multiple unrelated stories covering child welfare law, pharmacy practices, weight loss, employment disputes, music industry litigation, and election safeguarding—none of which relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse that the Elderus database focuses on.
Please provide a complete article specifically about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse for summarization.
oig.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two Dominican nationals, Rafael Ambiorix Rodriguez Guzman and Felix Samuel Reynoso Ventura, were extradited to the United States and charged in connection with a "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans across multiple states out of millions of dollars. Operating from call centers in the Dominican Republic, the defendants allegedly impersonated attorneys, police officers, and court personnel, convincing elderly victims that their grandchildren needed emergency bail money or legal fees following arrests or accidents. Both men face charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy, with potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison per count.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens lose approximately $3 billion annually to elder fraud, with scammers increasingly targeting seniors due to their financial security and trusting nature. The article identifies eight common scams affecting elderly individuals, including tech support/home repair fraud, grandchild impersonation schemes, government agency impersonation, fake sweepstakes, phishing emails (particularly fake Geek Squad invoices), overpayment scams, and unsubscribe email phishing attempts. Key prevention strategies include verifying caller identities independently, confirming stories with family members before sending money, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and researching companies before making purchases.
wyomingnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Banking and law enforcement officials in Wyoming warn that fraud is increasingly common and takes multiple forms, including wire fraud, romance scams, and schemes targeting the elderly by impersonating lawyers or law enforcement officers claiming a family member is in trouble. Scammers use spoofed caller IDs, AI voice cloning, and legitimate-looking websites to exploit trusting people, with victims often embarrassed to report incidents and arrests remaining rare since perpetrators frequently operate outside jurisdiction. Authorities advise residents to verify caller information independently, never provide personal details over the phone, and recognize that legitimate law enforcement will not demand payment or bonds via phone calls.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article describes 12 common scams targeting seniors, including government impersonation (IRS, Medicare, Social Security), fake charity donations, lottery/sweepstakes schemes, phishing emails, voice recording scams, grandchild emergency requests, computer repair scams, and romance scams. The article advises seniors to verify requests independently, never provide personal information to unsolicited callers, hang up without responding to suspicious calls, and confirm the identity of family members before sending money.
kemmerergazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Banking and law enforcement officials in Evanston, Wyoming warn that fraud is increasingly common and takes multiple forms, including wire fraud, romance scams, impersonation of lawyers and law enforcement via spoofed caller IDs, and AI-generated voice cloning. Elderly residents are particularly targeted through calls falsely claiming relatives are in jail or in trouble, with scammers using pressure and urgency to manipulate victims into sending money via wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Law enforcement advises residents to verify calls by manually dialing official numbers, never provide personal information over the phone, and recognize that legitimate deputies will never collect money by phone.
cubaheadlines.com
· 2025-12-08
An 87-year-old and 82-year-old couple in Miami lost $18,500 in a grandparent scam where a caller impersonated their grandson claiming to be arrested, directing them to send bail money via a Lyft driver who delivered it to the perpetrator. Agustín García Marsán, 38, was arrested and faces multiple charges including elder theft and organized fraud after being linked to similar scams across Florida and North Carolina using fake identities and ride-sharing services to collect money from elderly victims.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Ahmad Ebadi, a 26-year-old from Quebec, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud for his role as a "bagman" collecting money in a grandparent scam targeting Saskatoon seniors in December 2023. The scam involved criminals posing as grandchildren and lawyers claiming family members were in legal trouble and needed bail money, with Ebadi collecting the funds in person; one couple nearly lost $9,000 before police intervened with a sting operation. Both the prosecution and defense recommended a sentence of 1.5 to 2 years, with the judge to rule later in the summer on whether Ebadi serves time in jail or in the community.
kivitv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Meridian, Idaho woman received a phone call from a scammer claiming her family member was in a car accident and demanding $2,000, threatening to hurt the victim if money wasn't sent. The victim grew suspicious when the caller couldn't answer specific questions about her family member, so she drove to verify the person's safety in person and discovered the threat was false. The scammer never obtained any money, and Meridian Police noted that attempted scams without financial loss typically don't result in formal reports, though residents should contact police if money is actually lost.
latintimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Dominican nationals, Rafael Ambiorix Rodríguez Guzmán and Félix Samuel Reynoso Ventura, were extradited to the United States and charged as part of an 11-person indictment involving a large-scale elder fraud scheme that defrauded hundreds of American seniors of millions of dollars. Operating from call centers in the Dominican Republic, the conspirators used spoofed U.S. phone numbers to impersonate grandchildren claiming to need emergency money, then posed as attorneys and officials to convince victims to wire or mail thousands in cash to couriers. Both defendants face up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines if convicted on fraud and money laundering
picketfencemedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Assemblymember Laurie Davies hosted two senior scam awareness seminars in Oceanside and Vista that drew over 300 participants, highlighting that seniors in San Diego County lost $97.3 million to scams in 2023. The article outlines six common elder fraud schemes—including tech support, romance, grandparent, government impersonation, sweepstakes, and home repair scams—and advises seniors to verify suspicious calls directly with institutions, never share financial information over the phone, and report scams to local police to increase recovery chances and help law enforcement stop fraudsters.
unionleader.com
· 2025-12-08
More than 100,000 Americans fell victim to scams in the past year, with two-thirds being seniors; in New Hampshire alone, over 400 residents aged 60+ lost more than $11 million to scams in 2023. Seniors are targeted because they are often polite, trusting, financially stable, and own homes, making them attractive to scammers who use impersonation tactics (posing as bankers, government agents, IT experts, romantic partners, and relatives) and increasingly sophisticated online methods like phishing and email scams. Tech support scams were the most common type nationally, while romance and confidence scams caused the highest losses in New Hampshire
ncnewsonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors lost over $3.4 billion to scams last year, including romance scams, grandparent schemes, and technical support fraud, with criminals exploiting internet, phone calls, texting, and social media to target vulnerable populations. The Federal Trade Commission reported total U.S. fraud losses reached $10 billion in the previous year (a 14% increase), with email displacement and phone calls becoming the most common contact methods used by scammers. The article emphasizes that banks, law enforcement, and federal agencies must coordinate better efforts to combat fraud targeting seniors, and individuals should never share sensitive personal information or transfer money in response to unsolicited contact.
courier-journal.com
· 2025-12-08
Juan Carlos Arcena Cabrera, a New York resident, was sentenced to two years and two months in federal prison for defrauding a Kentucky senior of $59,000 through a "grandparent scam" in which he posed as the victim's grandson claiming an emergency need for money. Cabrera, who pleaded guilty to targeting multiple victims over years, coordinated with others to fabricate scenarios such as car accidents or legal troubles, then repeatedly contacted victims impersonating attorneys and professionals to extract additional funds. The case is part of a national trend of grandparent scams that the U.S. Justice Department has prioritized, with some scammers using voice-cloning technology to increase authent
unionleader.com
· 2025-12-08
More than 100,000 Americans fell victim to scams in the past year, with two-thirds being seniors; in New Hampshire alone, over 400 residents aged 60 and older lost more than $11 million to fraud in 2023. Seniors are targeted because they are often polite, trusting, financially stable, and own their homes, making them attractive victims for scammers who pose as bankers, government agents, IT experts, and romantic partners. Tech support scams are the most common form of elder fraud, while romance and confidence scams result in the largest financial losses, though experts note these crimes are vastly underreported due to victims' shame and embarrassment.
unionleader.com
· 2025-12-08
More than 400 New Hampshire residents age 60 and older lost over $11 million to scams in 2023, with tech support fraud being the most common type and romance scams causing the highest financial losses. Seniors are disproportionately targeted because they are often polite, trusting, financially stable, and own homes, while scammers increasingly use online tactics like phishing and email scams targeting Baby Boomers with computer skills. Experts attribute the rise in elder fraud to increased online activity that exposes personal information, scammers' use of impersonation and research tactics, and significant underreporting due to victims' shame and embarrassment.
youarecurrent.com
· 2025-12-08
The Indiana Attorney General's office held an educational seminar at Allisonville Meadows Assisted Living to inform seniors about common fraud schemes, including high-tech theft exploiting data breaches and the grandparent scam where callers impersonate grandchildren in distress to solicit money. The presentation emphasized that people over 60 are frequent targets of fraud and recommended verifying unexpected contacts directly with banks or institutions rather than responding to suspicious emails or calls. The attorney general's office accepts consumer fraud complaints through its website (in.gov/attorneygeneral) and in-person at Government Center South.
berkshireeagle.com
· 2025-12-08
An 88-year-old Dalton man lost $10,000 in a grandparent scam when a caller impersonating a lawyer claimed his grandson had been arrested and needed bail money. The victim handed the cash to a courier who came to his door, but became suspicious when the scammer called back demanding an additional $12,000, prompting him to contact police. Officers arrested 60-year-old Deborah Andrus of Pittsfield, who arrived to pick up money the police had replaced with bread in a box; Andrus claimed she was hired as a courier unaware of the scam, while investigators continue determining her level of involvement.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational article about fraud vulnerability and evolving scam tactics. The author recounts her personal experience being scammed out of a $2,000 apartment deposit on Craigslist in New York City, which she eventually recovered, and notes that the perpetrator later escalated to defrauding multiple victims of thousands of dollars before being imprisoned. The piece emphasizes that anyone—including young people, journalists, and financial experts—can fall victim to scams, and warns that artificial intelligence is enabling increasingly sophisticated fraud methods, including voice cloning and deepfake video technology, citing examples such as a finance worker being defrauded of $25 million through AI-manipulated video conferencing
iberkshires.com
· 2025-12-08
The Berkshire District Attorney's Office reported a rising increase in scams targeting senior citizens, particularly the Grandparent Scam, in which fraudsters call claiming to be a grandchild in urgent need of money for bail or medical emergencies and request wire transfers, gift cards, or cash pickup from the home. Scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence to impersonate family members and create a false sense of urgency, making victims act without critical thinking. The DA's office advises seniors to verify claims by contacting family directly, never send money via wire transfer or gift cards in response to unsolicited calls, and report suspected fraud to law enforcement immediately, noting that legitimate agencies never request money in
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
A Nebraska middle schooler created a scam awareness flyer after his grandmother fell victim to fraud, which the Better Business Bureau expanded into a distribution campaign across senior centers in Nebraska and Kansas. The flyer, "A Senior's Guide to Scam Prevention," includes a QR code to help seniors easily report scams, addressing an issue where the BBB estimates seniors lose billions of dollars annually to fraud. According to 2023 data, adults 65+ reported a median loss of $109 per scam and were increasingly targeted through social media, phone calls, and online classifieds.
wrat.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article from the Federal Trade Commission outlines common online scams and fraud schemes affecting consumers. Key scams discussed include spoofing (falsifying caller ID to impersonate legitimate organizations), the 809 scam (international callback schemes with high rates), catfishing (creating fake online identities for romance or exploitation scams), cramming (unauthorized small charges on bills), and family emergency scams (targeting grandparents with urgent requests for money). The article advises consumers to hang up on unsolicited callers, verify numbers independently, never share personal information with unknown callers, and be cautious of suspicious requests—noting that while younger adults report romance scams more frequently, older consumers typically lose
tomsguide.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating bank employees via spoofed caller IDs, tricking victims into cutting up their debit cards while keeping the chip intact, then sending accomplices to collect the chip and coerce the PIN from victims' homes. Once obtained, the scammers use the chip and PIN to withdraw funds directly from victims' accounts in person, bypassing bank fraud detection systems. The FBI warns that to protect yourself, scrutinize the call quality and professionalism of the caller, ask verification questions, and never comply with requests to damage your debit card—legitimate banks never ask customers to do this.
northjersey.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Dominican men were extradited to New Jersey to face federal charges in a "grandparents' scam" that defrauded elderly Americans across the Northeast of millions of dollars. The defendants allegedly impersonated distressed grandchildren claiming arrest or emergency situations, convincing victims to send cash for bail or legal fees. The case involves 19 counts against 16 individuals total, with convictions carrying maximum sentences of 20 years per count plus fines.
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud cases are surging across financial institutions, with Kennebec Savings Bank in Maine tripling its fraud cases between 2021 and 2023 and preventing over $430,000 in losses in 2023 alone. Scammers increasingly use sophisticated social engineering tactics—including impersonation, phone number spoofing, and AI-generated content—to manipulate victims into voluntarily transferring funds, making it difficult for banks to prevent losses even with strong security measures. The FTC reported a 14% increase in fraud losses in 2023, with imposter scams accounting for nearly $2.7 billion of the over $10 billion in total annual frau
vaildaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud scams cause over $3.4 billion in annual losses, with the average senior victim losing $33,915, according to the FBI's 2023 report. Common scams include the "grandparent scam" (where fraudsters pose as grandchildren needing bail money) and IRS impersonation schemes that exploit seniors' trusting nature and politeness. To protect loved ones, maintain open communication, verify emergency requests with other family members, never share personal information over the phone, and report suspected fraud to relevant companies and authorities.
popculture.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
YouTuber Fuslie fell victim to a "smishing" scam impersonating USPS, clicking a malicious link in a text message and entering her credit card information multiple times before realizing the website was fraudulent. She subsequently canceled all her cards to prevent unauthorized charges. The incident highlights the prevalence of these phishing scams, which attempt to steal personal and financial information by posing as legitimate government agencies or companies.
nj1015.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Dominican Republic nationals were extradited to the U.S. and charged in a multi-state "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly victims across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts out of millions of dollars. The defendants operated call centers that impersonated family members claiming relatives needed bail money for vehicle accidents, with scammers posing as attorneys and police to pressure victims into sending thousands of dollars via courier or mail. The three men face charges including mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering as part of an 11-person indictment involving a long-running operation targeting vulnerable seniors.
oig.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Three Dominican nationals were extradited to face charges in a "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans across multiple states out of millions of dollars. The defendants operated call centers in the Dominican Republic where they impersonated grandchildren in distress, then had "closers" pose as lawyers or police to convince victims to send thousands in cash via couriers or mail. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines if convicted on charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy.
lawfaremedia.org
· 2025-12-08
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun Rao discusses the Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Branch work, which addresses the growing scale and sophistication of consumer fraud schemes, including elder fraud, that have been enabled by technological advances such as robocalls, texts, emails, and social media. The Consumer Protection Branch brings together criminal and civil cases across federal courts nationwide with nearly 250 staff members and over 100 trial attorneys, partnering with agencies like the FTC, FDA, and CPSC to protect consumer health, safety, economic security, and privacy.
thespec.com
· 2025-12-08
Hamilton police reported 465 crimes against seniors in 2023, a 127% increase from 2022, with fraud victims losing over $1 million since 2020. Grandparent scams remain a significant problem, accounting for 117 of 127 reported scams between 2022-2023, where fraudsters pose as distressed grandchildren claiming to need bail money. The rise in reported incidents is attributed both to an aging population and mandatory reporting requirements from long-term care facilities introduced in mid-2022, though police estimate only 5-10% of fraud victims report crimes to authorities.
chicagotribune.com
· 2025-12-08
**Event Type:** Scam Awareness Educational Initiative
The Palos Park Police Department held a National Night Out event to educate residents about elder fraud, highlighting that seniors in their predominantly elderly, affluent community are particularly vulnerable targets. Key scams discussed included door-to-door service schemes and "grandparent scams," with the FBI reporting that elder fraud caused $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 (up 11% from 2022), averaging $33,915 per victim, though many cases go unreported due to victim embarrassment and fear. Police advised residents to verify caller identities, trust their instincts when something feels off, and be
ktul.com
· 2025-12-08
The Wagoner County Sheriff's Office warns of multiple rising scams exploiting social media and artificial intelligence, including fake product listings, romance scams, and deepfake audio/video impersonations that target victims across all ages. Key threats include grandparent scams, charity fraud, peer-to-peer payment app scams, student loan forgiveness schemes, and cryptocurrency fraud, with scammers commonly requesting payment via untraceable methods like cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers. The sheriff's office recommends protecting oneself by adjusting privacy settings, verifying organizations independently, enabling multi-factor authentication, and avoiding unsolicited requests for money or personal information.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Beaver County woman in her 70s lost $87,000 in a phishing scam after clicking on a fake Apple security alert that froze her computer and prompted her to call a number where scammers posed as Apple support staff. The fraudsters convinced her that her banking information was compromised and instructed her to withdraw cash and deposit it through a Bitcoin machine, falsely claiming it was a federal government-funded recovery program. Detective James Degori notes that elder fraud cases are rising in the area, with phishing, romance, and grandparent scams being most common, and advises seniors to avoid clicking emails, answering unsolicited calls, and sharing personal information.
wpxi.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud cases are increasing in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, with a woman in her 70s losing $87,000 to a tech support scam in which fraudsters posed as Apple security personnel, convinced her that her computer and banking information were compromised, and directed her to withdraw cash and convert it to Bitcoin. Police Detective James Degori notes that scammers target elderly individuals because they typically have substantial savings, and the most common scams are phishing, romance, and grandparent schemes originating from outside the country. The Beaver Police Department is conducting community education seminars on fraud awareness at local venues to help prevent these crimes.
sixthtone.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated antique fraud scheme targeting China's elderly through livestream shopping channels has cost victims hundreds of thousands of yuan by promising high returns on counterfeit collectibles like coins, stamps, and pottery. One victim in Shandong province lost nearly 300,000 yuan ($42,000) since March after being persuaded by livestream hosts who guaranteed buyback programs and claimed items could resell for millions. The scams have proliferated on platforms like Kuaishou, damaged family relationships as victims hide purchases and resist loved ones' warnings, and created legal challenges for authorities to recover funds, though victim support groups and legal experts are advocating for stronger platform regulations.
hamlethub.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational event announcement rather than a news report about a specific scam or fraud case. Detective Victoria Ryan of the Ridgefield Police Department will present information to seniors on how to protect themselves from common scams including romance, grandparent, pop-up, phone, email, and text scams, as well as utility scams and local crimes such as mail theft and pickpocketing. The free hybrid event is scheduled for September 10, 2024, and will include information on reporting scams.
berkshireeagle.com
· 2025-12-08
An 88-year-old man in Dalton lost $10,000 in a "grandparents scam" where a caller posed as a lawyer claiming his grandson needed bail money, with a courier arriving at his home to collect cash; the scammer later demanded an additional $12,000, but the family alerted police who arrested the courier on attempted larceny charges. The Berkshire District Attorney's Office is educating residents on scam prevention, advising them to never give banking information or send money to unknown callers, to verify calls by requesting callback numbers and contacting family or police, and noting that official agencies never request money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency over the phone.
midhudsonnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Dutchess County officials launched the "Don't Get Burned By Fraud" initiative to educate residents about scams targeting seniors and immigrants, particularly the grandparent scam where callers impersonate friends of grandchildren and claim an emergency requiring immediate wire transfers. County Comptroller Gregg Pulver, District Attorney Anthony Parisi, and Sheriff Kirk Imperati partnered to develop community forums and educational materials, noting that victims typically cannot recover lost money and that the DA's office will establish a Consumer Fraud Unit to investigate and prosecute fraud cases.
caixinglobal.com
· 2025-12-08
A livestream shopping scam targeting elderly Chinese citizens has defrauded victims of substantial sums by selling counterfeit antiques and collectibles with false promises of high returns and buyback guarantees. Kou Shoule, a senior in Shandong province, lost nearly 300,000 yuan ($42,000) since March on fake antique livestreams, and despite his daughter's intervention efforts, he refused to cooperate with authorities to recover losses, damaging their family relationship. The scam operates on platforms like Kuaishou using dramatic narratives and manipulative language to exploit older users, with scammers continuously creating new accounts to evade detection while platforms face criticism for
recklinghausen.polizei.nrw
· 2025-12-08
Multiple scam schemes target older adults through psychological pressure and impersonation tactics. Common frauds include the "fake police officer trick" (claiming to protect savings from criminals), "shock calls" (impersonating relatives in emergencies to demand bail or medical payment), and fake bank employee schemes (requesting card and PIN under false pretenses). Police recommend hanging up immediately on suspicious calls, never admitting strangers or handing over money/banking information, and verifying identities by independently calling the relevant authority.
www3.erie.gov
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elder fraud complaints rose 14% with 101,000 victims collectively losing $3.4 billion, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. The article identifies eight common senior scams—including grandparent, medical device, IRS imposter, and sweepstakes scams—and provides prevention tips such as never sharing personal information over the phone, blocking robocalls, keeping software updated, and verifying caller identity before responding. Seniors should be particularly cautious of unsolicited calls, suspicious emails with attachments, and fraudsters impersonating government agencies.
psychologytoday.com
· 2025-12-08
AI-generated voice and video impersonation scams are making traditional emergency fraud increasingly difficult to detect, with scammers using snippets from social media or voicemail to realistically replicate loved ones' voices and deepfake technology to create convincing video calls. Notable cases include an Arizona mother who received an AI-generated call from her daughter's voice demanding $50,000 ransom and a Hong Kong finance worker who lost $25 million to scammers using deepfake video to impersonate his CFO. To protect against these scams, individuals should establish family code words, verify caller information, have a third party independently contact the loved one, and maintain emotional awareness that anyone can be
calgaryherald.com
· 2025-12-08
An article detailing the author's personal experiences with various phone scams—including fake Amazon Prime warnings, impersonation of police, grandparent scams, and suspicious robocalls—while critiquing the ineffectiveness of the Do Not Call registry. The author notes that despite over 240 million numbers on the registry since 2003, scammers continue unabated because the list exempts political parties, charities, and surveys, and explicitly does not stop illegal calls. The piece highlights common scam tactics targeting seniors and emphasizes that the recommended solution of not engaging with suspicious calls offers limited practical protection.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
Metro Detroit police report a surge in scam schemes targeting residents, in which perpetrators impersonate government agencies, tech support, or financial institutions to convince victims to withdraw large sums of cash or cryptocurrency. Victims are instructed to either hand cash to "couriers" or deposit funds into bitcoin ATMs, with one Northville Township woman in her 70s losing $300,000 through a combination of cash, bitcoin, and gold bars in summer 2024. Scammers keep victims on the phone to prevent them from seeking help and often direct them to multiple banks to avoid suspicion.
liherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Nassau County police arrested two Bronx men in July 2024 after they attempted to scam a 73-year-old East Meadow resident by falsely claiming his bank account was compromised; the investigation revealed they were responsible for numerous additional scams. The county is warning residents about prevalent scams including home improvement fraud, fake relative arrest schemes, Social Security and IRS impersonation scams, lottery fraud, and computer remote access scams, which collectively cost victims thousands of dollars. Officials urge residents, particularly seniors, to remain vigilant, verify caller identities, avoid unsolicited services, and report suspected scams to authorities immediately.
androidauthority.com
· 2025-12-08
Phone scams are increasingly sophisticated and cost US consumers $2.7 billion in reported losses in 2023 alone, with numbers rising annually. The article identifies 12 common phone and text scams including the "loved one in need" (grandparent scam), government impersonation (FBI/IRS), and other fraudulent schemes that exploit emotional pressure and official-sounding tactics. Key prevention strategies include verifying caller identity through alternative contact methods, refusing to send money to unknown callers, and being skeptical of urgent payment demands, especially via wire transfers or gift cards.