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gazettengr.com
· 2025-12-08
**Nigerian Romance/Sweepstakes Scam Targeting Elderly Americans**
Dotun Alonge, a 47-year-old Nigerian national living in Providence, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison as the fifth defendant convicted in a sophisticated fraud operation that defrauded elderly Americans across multiple states of over $1.7 million. The scam involved fabricated romantic relationships on social media and dating sites, fake sweepstakes winnings requiring upfront payments, and fraudulent rental property schemes to extract money from victims. Four other co-conspirators received sentences ranging from time served to 42 months, with joint restitution ordered at approximately
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old man from Mumbai lost Rs 3.69 crores in an investment scam operating through WhatsApp groups that promised stock market training and high returns between May and October. Mumbai police arrested one suspect, Ketab Biswas, and recovered Rs 2.20 crores; the scam involved luring victims with fake earnings displayed on a fraudulent app, then demanding large "tax" payments before allowing withdrawals. The operation is believed to be run by a gang based in eastern India, and police are continuing their investigation.
vancouver.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
The Vancouver Police Department is hosting free scam prevention workshops for seniors, with the first session on February 28, 2024, covering phone scams, bail money scams, distraction thefts, and cybercrime. The initiative follows recent scams in the region, including a bail money scam targeting a Vancouver senior, a $7.5 million cryptocurrency scam affecting a Burnaby senior, and an AI-enabled grandparent scam in Richmond. Monthly workshops will continue through June at various community locations, including sessions in multiple languages.
wfmz.com
· 2025-12-08
A 71-year-old woman in Longswamp Township, Pennsylvania was defrauded of $20,000 in February after receiving a call from someone impersonating "Agent Garcia" from the Federal Trade Commission, who falsely claimed her Amazon and bank accounts were compromised. The scammer directed her to move her money to a Bitcoin ATM, where the funds were stolen. Police warn residents not to share account numbers or sensitive information over the phone.
calgaryherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Nishaan Singh Sandhu pleaded guilty to his role in a grandparent scam targeting 81-year-old Calgary senior John Roy, who lost $12,000 after being told his grandson was in jail in Philadelphia and needed bail money. When the judge indicated a custodial sentence was appropriate and rejected a probationary proposal, Sandhu's lawyer sought to withdraw the guilty plea; the case returns to court March 15 to determine if the plea can be vacated or proceed to sentencing. Sandhu was arrested at Roy's home while posing as "Michael Lee" to pick up the fraudulent payment, though the Crown did not allege he was involved in the
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Investment scams continue to victimize Malaysians across all education and income levels, with recent cases including a trader losing RM6.2 million to a fake investment scheme and an elderly woman losing over RM10 million to a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. Phone scammers posing as officials also defrauded senior citizens of RM3.83 million in retirement funds and savings. Between 2019 and 2023, Malaysia recorded 14,488 investment-related fraud cases totaling RM1.34 billion in losses, prompting police and the Securities Commission to increase collaboration efforts to combat such crimes.
kpmg.com
· 2025-12-08
Canadian organizations of all sizes face evolving fraud risks driven by technological advances like generative AI, cryptocurrency, and digital payment systems, with SMBs particularly vulnerable due to limited fraud prevention resources and awareness. Fraudsters employ increasingly sophisticated tactics including crypto scams, online payment fraud, social engineering attacks targeting elders, and ESG misrepresentation, with 88% of victimized Canadian SMBs experiencing internal fraud and 75% experiencing external fraud over the past five years. Organizations must strengthen their fraud prevention strategies through risk assessment, robust controls, and cross-sector partnerships to effectively counter these threats.
aithority.com
· 2025-12-08
GetSetUp, an educational platform for older adults, launched a Cyber Safety and Fraud Hub in response to rising AI-driven scams targeting seniors, including voice cloning and deepfake fraud. The initiative, developed with support from the White House National Security Council and federal agencies, provides educational classes, articles, checklists, and resources accessible to millions of older Americans through partnerships with healthcare plans and government websites. The program aims to equip seniors with skills to recognize and avoid AI-powered fraud while protecting their personal information in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
scriptype.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a community announcement for the Richfield Senior Center featuring upcoming activities and services. A notable event is scheduled for March 7 at 10:30 a.m., when Detective Sergeant Ryan Kellackey from the Richfield Police Department will present a Zoom presentation on elder fraud and discuss an active fraud website scam case, followed by a Q&A session. The senior center offers meals for $3 per day, recreational activities including yoga, games, dancing, and bingo, and is open Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
dailyfly.com
· 2025-12-08
Dr. Thomas Andrew Webster pled guilty to conspiring to accept kickbacks in a telemarketing and medical supply fraud scheme operating between May 2021 and September 2023 across Washington and other states. The scheme involved obtaining Medicare and TRICARE beneficiary information through telemarketers, creating fraudulent medical records and durable medical equipment orders that Webster signed, resulting in over $13.7 million in fraudulent billings and Webster personally receiving at least $839,565 for fake doctor visits that never occurred. Webster agreed to forfeit assets and faces sentencing on June 26, 2024.
mha.gov.sg
· 2025-12-08
During Singapore's 2024 budget debate, the government announced a comprehensive anti-scam strategy in response to scam cases increasing nearly 50% in 2023, driven primarily by social engineering and deception targeting money transfers. Key initiatives include the "Add, Check, Tell" public awareness campaign, targeted programs for vulnerable groups like the elderly through Silver Generation Ambassadors, a consolidated one-stop anti-scam information portal, and enhanced community partnerships to build cyber vigilance. The government is also introducing legislation to deter misuse of local SIM cards for scams, requiring online platforms to implement stronger user verification and anti-scam measures, and pursuing international cooperation through participation in the Global
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FTC reported over 2 million fraud cases in the U.S. resulting in $10 billion in losses, with the most common scams being imposter calls, online shopping fraud, prize/sweepstakes scams, investment schemes, and fake job listings. The FTC advises consumers to watch for red flags such as unsolicited requests for money, promises of guaranteed or unusually high investment returns, and notifications about winnings from contests never entered, and recommends verifying contacts by calling them directly rather than using numbers provided by callers.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Vancouver police held anti-fraud workshops for seniors after a Broadway Lodge resident lost approximately $5,000 to phone scammers, highlighting the need for fraud prevention education. The workshops cover common scams including grandparent scams (which cost victims over $10 million in 2022), bail scams, distraction theft, and cybersecurity threats, with officers noting that fraudsters are increasingly using artificial intelligence and social media to target vulnerable seniors. Police emphasize that prevention through education is critical since recovering stolen funds—often sent overseas—is extremely difficult.
pembinavalleyonline.com
· 2025-12-08
The Grandparent Scam, currently prevalent in Manitoba, involves criminals calling seniors pretending to be relatives who need bail money for a supposed arrest, then arranging cash pickup at the victim's home. RCMP Sergeant Joanne Ryll advises recipients to hang up, verify the story by calling other family members, never share personal information, and establish a family safety word, noting that fraudsters often make multiple calls requesting additional money once they identify a vulnerable victim. Recovery of money lost to these scams is nearly impossible once handed over to the criminals.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this article because only the title and a list of video listings were provided, not the actual article content. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the full text of the "VPD warns seniors about new twist on scams" article, including details about what the scam involves, who was affected, and any specific warnings or outcomes mentioned.
Please provide the complete article text.
jocoreport.com
· 2025-12-08
A 76-year-old Cleveland-area woman lost $20,000 after receiving a Facebook message promising her $150,000 in exchange for purchasing Apple gift cards; she provided the card numbers to the scammer but never received the promised payment. This case reflects a broader trend of advance-fee/romance scams targeting seniors, with FBI data showing elder fraud has increased 74 percent and elderly victims lost approximately $1.7 billion to scams in 2021.
panow.com
· 2025-12-08
Leo Ekhaguere, president and CEO of Lions Security Incorporated in Prince Albert, conducted an educational workshop at Points West Living to teach seniors how to identify and report scams. Ekhaguere emphasized that while everyone faces scam risks, seniors are specifically targeted by cyber criminals and remain particularly vulnerable to fraud schemes.
localnewsmatters.org
· 2025-12-08
San Ramon police investigated multiple phone scams targeting elderly residents in which callers impersonated Publishers Clearing House representatives and claimed victims had won prizes requiring upfront tax payments via cashier's check. Police emphasized that legitimate businesses never solicit money over the phone and urged residents to avoid providing funds, financial information, or computer access to unsolicited callers.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Jean Richard Audate, a 38-year-old New York City man, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his role in a grandparent scam conspiracy that defrauded elderly victims across the United States of over $867,000. Audate traveled to multiple locations, including Rhode Island, to collect cash that victims had been tricked into sending after receiving phone calls from scammers posing as grandchildren or lawyers claiming a relative needed bail money. The scammers also falsely invoked "gag orders" to prevent victims from discussing the requests with others.
thebamabuzz.com
· 2025-12-08
Alabama college students are vulnerable to common fraud schemes including fake apartment listings, online marketplace scams, dating app fraud, and credit card loan scams that specifically target their lifestyle needs and desires. A banking fraud expert emphasizes that scammers use phishing via email and text to initiate contact, then tailor their approach based on publicly available personal information, making password management, multi-factor authentication, and privacy settings critical defensive measures.
decrypt.co
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering" romance scams using cryptocurrency surged 85 times higher from 2020 to 2023, with revenue doubling between 2022-2023, according to Chainalysis research. These scams involve fraudsters building fake romantic relationships before tricking victims into cryptocurrency investments they don't understand, resulting in an average loss of $4,593 per victim in 2023—the highest financial impact of any scam type. The scammers, often organized criminal groups, frequently operate through human trafficking networks in Southeast Asia and use sophisticated money laundering techniques to hide their activity, though a December 2023 Interpol operation arrested 3,500
chinadaily.com.cn
· 2025-12-08
Qilu Bank partnered with the Jinan Elderly University to establish 41 educational schools offering courses designed for seniors, including anti-telecommunications fraud awareness training alongside health and lifestyle classes. The bank also implemented digital monitoring systems and staff protocols to identify and prevent fraud attempts among its 1.7 million elderly customers, successfully blocking telecommunications fraud totaling 3.89 million yuan in 2023.
law.com
· 2025-12-08
A Navy commander's niece is appealing the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking to hold banks responsible for transferring $3.68 million from her uncle's accounts in alleged scams, while simultaneously praising Virginia lawmakers for passing legislation to strengthen financial exploitation protections for seniors. The case highlights the need for greater bank accountability in preventing elder financial fraud.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Dr. Osama Nahas and medical assistant Isabel Pruneda were convicted of healthcare fraud, kickback conspiracy, and identity theft for operating a multimillion-dollar scheme at an adult daycare in the Rio Grande Valley from 2016-2017, in which they ordered unnecessary lab tests and prescriptions for elderly patients, forged consent forms, and misappropriated medications while receiving tens of thousands in kickbacks from testing companies and bribing daycare facility owners. Both face up to 10 years in federal prison, with Pruneda facing an additional mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft, plus potential fines up to $250,000 each.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 66-year-old woman in Seremban lost RM173,500 in a phone scam involving callers impersonating a courier company and police officer who falsely claimed she was involved in money laundering and had an arrest warrant issued against her. The victim transferred her savings into accounts provided by the scammers before realizing the fraud when she could no longer contact them. Police are investigating the case and remind the public to verify suspicious calls through official channels.
ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
During National Consumer Protection Week (March 2-8, 2024), the Federal Trade Commission and partner organizations hosted multiple virtual and in-person events across the United States to educate consumers about avoiding scams, identity theft, and fraud. The events included webinars, podcasts, social media outreach, and community presentations targeting specific populations such as college students, older adults, small business owners, and multilingual communities, with free educational materials distributed at various locations.
dcsheriff.net
· 2025-12-08
Douglas County law enforcement agencies announced the arrest of 26-year-old Sagar Patel for scamming a 79-year-old Highlands Ranch resident out of over $120,000 in gold bars through a months-long investigation involving cell phone and credit card records. Multiple police departments partnered to launch a public awareness campaign promoting the SCAM acronym (Stop, Call, Ask, Make informed decisions) and provided education on common scam tactics, emphasizing that victims should watch for pressure to act quickly, requests for unusual payment methods, and demands for secrecy.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2020, scammers perpetrated a sweepstakes fraud against a Hennepin County couple in their 80s, stealing over $110,000 by convincing them to pay upfront taxes on a fake prize, with the perpetrators never identified and funds never recovered. AARP Minnesota is advocating for legislation to create a state-level restitution fund for fraud victims, funded by civil penalty payments from consumer fraud cases, as Americans reported 2.5 million fraud cases in 2022 totaling $9 billion in losses. The organization is also pushing to ban long-term real estate contracts (like those offered by MV Realty) that bind home
coloradocommunitymedia.com
· 2025-12-08
A 79-year-old Highlands Ranch woman lost approximately $120,000 after clicking a popup on her computer and calling the provided number, where she was deceived into purchasing gold bars in a scam. Law enforcement officials from Douglas County and surrounding areas reported widespread scam activity targeting elderly residents, including over $800,000 in cryptocurrency-related fraud losses in Parker alone over six months, and emphasized that victims should contact authorities immediately as time is critical for potential recovery.
ctnewsjunkie.com
· 2025-12-08
The Connecticut legislature's Aging Committee is considering three bills to protect elderly residents, including House Bill 5210, which would establish an elder justice unit within the Division of Criminal Justice to investigate and prosecute crimes against seniors, with $2 million in requested funding. The committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 156, which would require nursing homes to allocate 80% of state Medicaid reimbursements to direct resident care, and a third bill addressing nursing home quality of life issues. While advocates like AARP Connecticut support the elder justice unit—citing a recent case where perpetrators stole nearly $480,000 from an elderly victim—Chief State's Attorney Patrick Griffin expressed concerns about current funding an
winnipeg.ca
· 2025-12-08
Fraud Prevention Month 2024 highlights the importance of education and awareness in combating scams targeting Canadians, particularly seniors through schemes like the grandparent scam. In 2022, Canada reported 70,878 frauds affecting 37,047 victims with total losses of $529.3 million, while Manitoba alone experienced 1,850 scams resulting in $10.4 million in losses across 1,011 victims. Law enforcement agencies, including the Winnipeg Police Service, are promoting fraud prevention throughout March via radio panels, community events, educational articles, and social media campaigns focused on cryptocurrency, grandparent, bank investigator, and sextortion frau
nbcwashington.com
· 2025-12-08
Virginia passed legislation ("Larry's Law") to establish uniform training guidelines for banks and credit unions to better identify and report financial exploitation of elderly and vulnerable adults, inspired by the case of Navy veteran Larry Cook who lost over $3 million in an alleged wire fraud scheme involving nearly 75 overseas transfers in 2022 despite his cognitive impairment from a stroke. The measure provides legal protection to financial institutions that undergo the training and report suspected exploitation to authorities or trusted contacts, with guidelines to be developed by January 2026. This action comes amid national concern, with over 88,000 seniors reporting combined losses of $3.1 billion to elder fraud in 2022 alone.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
An identity fraud victim lost $11,300 when someone impersonated them at a bank branch and withdrew funds from their checking account. Despite taking standard security precautions—strong passwords, credit freezes following the Equifax breach, and account alerts—these safeguards did not prevent the fraud, as the perpetrator used personal information already circulating on the dark web from past data breaches. The victims recovered their full loss within 36 hours, filed a police report (resulting in a Class D felony classification due to the amount stolen), and learned that recovering from identity fraud requires significant time and effort beyond prevention alone.
castanet.net
· 2025-12-08
**Fraud Landscape and Impact:**
Canadian fraud and cybercrime losses reached $530 million in 2022, a 40% increase from 2021, with AI and emerging technologies enabling criminals to create personalized scams and voice replications. While young adults (20-29) report fraud most frequently, older adults suffer substantially larger financial losses, exemplified by cases including a 68-year-old losing $3,000 to cryptocurrency fraud and an 80-year-old losing $5,000 in a grandparent scam.
**Key Prevention Strategy:**
Experts recommend four protective measures: remain alert to red flags and share scam awareness with
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Wayne County, Ohio is launching a free scam education and awareness program for residents ages 60 and older through a partnership between the Gilcrest Center, county commissioners, and Job and Family Services, funded by an Ohio Department of Aging grant. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to online financial scams due to declining cognitive abilities, lower technology familiarity, and susceptibility to tactics using fear or urgency, with common 2023 scams including COVID-19 fraud, fake medical equipment sales, and bogus genetic testing. The program emphasizes protective measures such as verifying sender identity, avoiding suspicious links, and protecting personal information to help seniors safely navigate digital transactions.
the-daily-record.com
· 2025-12-08
Wayne County, Ohio has launched a free scam education and awareness program for residents ages 60+ with incomes below 300% of the poverty line, partnering the Gilcrest Center with county commissioners and Job and Family Services through an Ohio Department of Aging grant. The initiative addresses the growing vulnerability of older adults to sophisticated online scams, including COVID-19 fraud, medical equipment sales, and phishing schemes, by providing mentoring and practical safety tips such as verifying sender identity, avoiding suspicious links, and protecting personal information.
nationalaccordnewspaper.com
· 2025-12-08
Six members of a fraud enterprise were arrested between October 2020 and February 2021 for orchestrating business email compromise scams, romance fraud targeting vulnerable elderly victims, and fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications, collectively controlling over 45 bank accounts with approximately $55 million in deposits. The defendants used spoofed emails, fake online identities, and fraudulent Small Business Administration loan applications to deceive victims and divert funds to accounts they controlled. Authorities seized luxury vehicles purchased with fraud proceeds, and the defendants face prosecution in federal court by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigations division.
khmoradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI has issued a warning to Missouri residents about 13 active scams currently targeting the state, including adoption fraud, investment schemes, business email impersonation, charity fraud, elder fraud, romance scams, ransomware attacks, and skimming at ATMs and gas stations. The advisory emphasizes that elderly Missourians are particularly vulnerable targets and recommends citizens verify legitimacy before responding to unsolicited contacts, providing funds, or clicking links from unknown sources.
ladailypost.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI El Paso Cyber Task Force held its second annual Cyber Symposium, bringing together over 120 participants from law enforcement and the private sector to discuss cybercrime threats including cyber-enabled elder fraud, malware analysis, and cryptocurrency scams. The two-day event featured briefings, training sessions, and a simulated network intrusion exercise, emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships in combating cyber threats. FBI leadership stressed that protecting the nation from cybercriminals requires collaborative engagement across all sectors and sizes of business.
kiow.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece promotes Iowa State University Extension's "Spot, Stop and Avoid Fraud" workshop, which teaches adults 60+ and caregivers how to identify and protect themselves from common scams and financial crimes. The workshop emphasizes that older Americans face heightened fraud risk, with elder financial fraud being the most common form of elder abuse affecting over 50 million Americans aged 62+. Free resources and community workshops are available through local Extension offices and the Federal Trade Commission.
theorcasonian.com
· 2025-12-08
The Orcas Senior Center, in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission, is offering educational resources and an in-person workshop during National Consumer Protection Week (March 3-9, 2024) to help seniors protect themselves from fraud, identity theft, and scams. FTC Northwest Region Assistant Director Jennifer Tourjé, an Orcas resident and former prosecutor, will lead a discussion on March 6 at 1:00 pm about avoiding scams and recovering from identity theft, with free consumer education materials available through the FTC website.
chronicleonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Congressman Gus Bilirakis organized two public forums in Florida that attracted over 600 seniors to address scams targeting elderly people, advances in medical technology for age-related diseases, and community resources for independent living. The forums featured presentations from federal agencies including the FTC, FCC, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on fraud prevention, along with medical experts and local service providers discussing health conditions, insurance counseling, and daily living support services.
kyoutv.com
· 2025-12-08
Wapello County, Iowa receives at least one scam report weekly, with senior citizens being the primary targets. Sheriff Don Phillips reported a notable case involving two Chinese nationals who scammed a local farmer out of $1 million through a "pig butchering" scam that began on Instagram, with the case involving federal authorities including the Department of Homeland Security. To address the growing problem, the Iowa Fraud Fighters—a coalition of AARP, the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services, and the Iowa Attorney General's Office—held a public awareness event to educate residents on scam prevention tactics.
deccanchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Hyderabad is investigating a sheep purchase scam involving government fund diversion within the animal husbandry department, with multiple officers already interrogated and two key accused (Syed Mohidoddin and Syed Ikramuddin Ahmed) absconding after allegedly offering bribes to create fake accounts. The scam occurred during a period when a senior official was minister of animal husbandry, and the investigation expanded after farmers from Andhra Pradesh reported non-payment for cow purchases, revealing the broader fraud scheme.
ahmedabadmirror.com
· 2025-12-08
Three elderly citizens in India fell victim to ATM card swapping scams between March 2-3, 2025, losing a combined Rs 1.57 lakh (approximately $1,890 USD). In each incident, perpetrators distracted victims through various pretexts—claiming to deposit cash, offering assistance, or requesting transaction slips—and swapped their ATM cards to fraudulently withdraw funds ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1.23 lakh. Police identified ATM card swapping as an increasingly common fraud targeting elderly people and advised victims to avoid allowing strangers into ATMs, maintain close watch of cards, and report incidents immediately.
spacecoastdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Launch Credit Union's Fraud Manager provided educational guidance on current fraud trends and protective measures for consumers. Key advice includes recognizing spoofed calls impersonating legitimate organizations, never sharing digital banking credentials or personal information with unsolicited callers, refusing remote access requests, and remaining skeptical of phishing emails and AI-generated scam communications, with particular emphasis on educating seniors about fraud risks including romance scams and unsolicited offers.
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this article because the text provided is only a website navigation menu and header structure without the actual article content. To summarize the piece titled "Working to educate seniors on scams," I would need the full article text describing what educational efforts are being undertaken, which seniors are being targeted, and what types of scams are being addressed.
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-08
In January 2024, a federal district court dismissed Jody Kanter-Doud's lawsuit against Wells Fargo, in which she alleged the bank facilitated elder abuse after she fell victim to a Microsoft impersonation scam in 2021 that resulted in unauthorized wire transfers from her account. The court found that while Wells Fargo employees may have had reason to suspect fraudulent activity, the bank did not meet the legal standards for direct or indirect elder abuse under California law because it neither took property from Kanter-Doud nor had actual knowledge of the third-party scammers' conduct. The court also dismissed her Unfair Competition Law claim, though Kanter
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2025-12-08
An 85-year-old Atlanta man claims his stepson forged his signature on three deeds filed between July and September to illegally transfer ownership of his home, in which he had invested over 50 years of equity. The forged deeds were notarized despite signatures not matching Robert Elder's authentic signature on official documents, exploiting a Georgia law that does not require identification to file property paperwork. The case highlights deed theft as a widespread crime in Georgia and underscores vulnerabilities in the notarization process.
jcitytimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old Jersey City man, Sagar Patel, was arrested and extradited to Colorado, where he faces grand theft charges for scamming a 79-year-old woman out of $120,000 in gold bars. Patel was taken into custody in February and now faces 4 to 12 years in prison if convicted.