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WFMY News 2
· 2025-09-19
Job scam reports tripled between 2020 and 2023, reaching over $220 million in the first half of 2024, with nearly 40% of all fraud reports tied to fake job offers. The surge is attributed to the shift to remote work, which allows scammers to operate more easily, and the use of AI to improve communication quality and automate attacks at scale. To protect themselves, job seekers should be cautious when contacted by recruiters and verify job opportunities through official company channels rather than external recruiting sites.
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FTCvideos
· 2025-09-22
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) encourages consumers to report fraud and scams, including deceptive business practices, identity theft, sweepstakes fraud, unauthorized charges, and phishing schemes. Reporting these incidents to the FTC helps the agency identify and stop scammers and fraudsters who victimize consumers.
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ABC15 Arizona
· 2025-09-22
Medicare scams are flooding seniors with phone calls and emails, with the Department of Justice estimating $60 billion in annual Medicare fraud losses. Scammers impersonate Medicare representatives and use threats (such as losing coverage) or offers of new Medicare cards to extract seniors' Medicare numbers, which they then use to fraudulently bill the program. Experts advise that Medicare will not contact beneficiaries by phone requesting personal information or offering to mail new cards.
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WBNS 10TV
· 2025-09-23
A local man lost approximately $800,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam after befriending someone online who promised investment returns and pressured him to continue investing or lose everything. Federal authorities located the funds but they remain frozen, and the victim is fighting to recover his money while investigators work to prevent others from falling victim to the same scheme.
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NBC News
· 2025-09-25
The FBI reports a growing scam involving fake apartment listings on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where scammers impersonate real estate agents and repost legitimate property videos with artificially low rental prices to lure renters into paying upfront application fees. A 28-year-old victim paid a $350 application fee for what appeared to be a Manhattan apartment advertised at $1,100 monthly when the actual rent was $12,000, losing money to fraudsters who misrepresented licensed agents' credentials and photos. Renters are advised to be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true and to verify listings directly with licensed real estate agents.
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ABC News
· 2025-09-25
**Grandparent Scam - Voice Technology Fraud**
Scammers are using advanced voice technology to impersonate grandchildren in what the FBI identifies as an escalating problem targeting older adults. A 91-year-old victim (Shirley Morrow) was convinced by a call mimicking her grandson's voice that he was in legal trouble and needed $9,000; older adults collectively lost $4.9 billion to these scams, which typically involve fraudsters posing as family members in supposed emergencies to pressure immediate payment.
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ABC News
· 2025-09-25
A 91-year-old woman named Shirley Morrow lost $9,000 in a "grandparent scam" after receiving a phone call from someone posing as her grandson, claiming he was in jail following a car accident and needed bail money. The scam involves fraudsters impersonating a grandchild in distress and requesting immediate payment, with tens of thousands of cases reported nationwide targeting senior citizens. Scammers use voice mimicking technology and social engineering tactics to convince victims to withdraw cash before they realize they've been deceived.
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WTNH News8
· 2025-09-28
Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection is addressing rising scams across the state through enforcement and consumer protection measures. Commissioner Brian Cafferelli discussed the department's role in ensuring a fair marketplace, protecting consumer health and safety, and licensing nearly 300,000 businesses annually through occupational and professional divisions.
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NowMedia Group
· 2025-10-03
Police in Kelowna issued a warning about a grandparent scam in which a fraudster called elderly victims claiming to be a lawyer, stating their grandchild had been arrested, and demanding $5,000 in cash to secure their release. The suspect then visited homes in person to collect the money, with two successful visits occurring on the same day in the 600 block of San Michelle Road and 1300 block of Cao Road. The RCMP urged the public to discuss scam awareness with elderly family members and provided a description of the suspect: a light-skinned male approximately 6 feet tall with dark slicked-back hair, long sideburns, and not
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CTV News
· 2025-10-04
A Winnipeg family lost $200,000 in two consecutive scams: first, a fraudulent investment scheme on social media promising returns on Netflix and Tesla stocks, followed by a second scam involving a fake UK-based lawyer who claimed to recover their losses. The initial scam used pressure tactics and threats of legal action, while funds were converted to cryptocurrency making recovery nearly impossible.
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Yahoo Finance
· 2025-10-04
An educational alert reports that 73% of US adults have experienced online scams, with reported fraud losses reaching $12.5 billion in 2024 according to FTC data. The article highlights common scam types, including dating scams where fraudsters pose as romantic interests and trick victims into clicking malicious "verification" links that capture payment information and enroll them in unauthorized recurring billing services.
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WFXR NEWS
· 2025-10-08
The Better Business Bureau warned of increased scam activity during government shutdowns, particularly government impersonation scams where criminals pose as federal agencies to steal money or personal information. Common shutdown-related scams include fake passport expedited services, fraudulent messages claiming benefits are at risk unless payment is made, and impersonation of the IRS, Social Security, or law enforcement. The shutdown makes these scams more effective because confusion about which services remain open allows criminals to exploit victims, and official fraud reporting websites like the FTC's are offline, preventing victims from easily reporting incidents.
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KOAA 5
· 2025-10-07
A Colorado Springs woman lost her $37,000 inheritance to a fake cryptocurrency investment scam after seeing what appeared to be an investment opportunity posted by a close friend on Facebook. The friend's account had been hacked, and scammers used it to lure Suzanne Pence into the fraudulent scheme, stripping away the funds her father had left behind.
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CBC News
· 2025-10-10
**Scam Type:** Romance/Investment Fraud
**Victim:** Marcel Desan (Ontario, Canada)
**Perpetrator:** Mariam Chan (operating under fake identity "Mary")
**Amount Lost:** $3,500
A scammer using a fake identity and stolen photos defrauded Marcel Desan of $3,500 through an online romance scheme. When Desan discovered the fraud and confronted the perpetrator (identified as Mariam Chan on social media), recorded calls captured the scammer's abusive responses and threats. The investigation traced the stolen funds being used by the fraudster to finance a lavish lifestyle while the
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KGW News
· 2025-10-10
Oregon is experiencing a growing crisis affecting its expanding senior population, with scams and housing insecurity among the pressing issues. AARP estimates that within five years, one in five Oregonians will be 65 or older, and seniors already outnumber those 18 and younger in the state. The discussion highlights how many elders are overlooked, isolated, and in need of community support and solutions to help them thrive safely.
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FOX 32 Chicago
· 2025-10-14
The FTC warns of increasingly sophisticated scams targeting older Americans, with criminals impersonating officials like IRS agents and stealing thousands via phone calls and online fraud. In response, AARP launched a program called Senior Planet to teach seniors how to recognize red flags and avoid scams, exemplified by one case where a victim lost over $2,500 in gift cards to a grandparent impersonation scam.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content because it is not an article about a scam, fraud, or elder abuse. What you've shared appears to be a navigation menu/homepage structure from the AARP website, listing various sections and resources available to users (health, money, caregiving, games, travel, etc.).
To create a summary for the Elderus database, please provide an actual article or transcript that discusses a specific scam incident, fraud case, or elder abuse situation.
itbrief.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Netsafe, a New Zealand charitable organization, launched Get Set Up for Safety, a nationwide educational program designed to help senior citizens protect themselves from online fraud and shopping scams through free guides, videos, and practical resources. The program, developed with partner Chorus and senior sector organizations, addresses a significant need identified in surveys showing nearly half of New Zealanders over 70 want to learn more about online safety and many require assistance with digital devices. Resources will be freely available through the Netsafe website, public libraries, community groups, and other public organizations.
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
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Four California men have been indicted for operating a nationwide tech support fraud scam targeting elderly victims, with one indictment originating from a case involving a 78-year-old Missouri man and his 76-year-old wife who were defrauded of $88,000. The scheme involved scammers posing as tech support workers who convinced victims their computers were infected or compromised, then used recruited couriers to collect cash payments; approximately $7 million in fraudulent transactions occurred between March 2020 and July 2023. Two defendants have been arrested, one remains in custody, and one is still being sought.
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
deseret.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting frustrated travelers on social media by posing as airline representatives, requesting personal and financial information through direct messages under the guise of helping rebook flights. Major airlines including JetBlue, United, and Southwest have acknowledged the problem and recommend customers verify account authenticity (looking for official checkmarks), use private messaging when contacting airlines, and report fraudulent accounts to social media platforms. Common travel scams also include "free" vacation offers requiring upfront fees and illegal robocalls promoting discounted travel deals.
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.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, consumers lost a record $10 billion to fraud, with imposter scams being the most prevalent, affecting nearly 854,000 people and resulting in $2.7 billion in losses at an average of $800 per victim. Imposter scams involve criminals posing as trusted entities (government agencies, companies, relatives, or romantic interests) via email, phone, text, or social media to steal money or personal information, with emerging technologies like AI and voice cloning making these frauds increasingly convincing. Older adults, particularly those 80 and over, experience significantly higher median losses ($1,450) and are particularly vulnerable to "phantom hacker" tech-
theweek.com
· 2025-12-08
The UK government launched the "Stop! Think Fraud" campaign to address the £6.8 billion annual cost of fraud, which accounts for 40% of crime and 3.2 million offenses in England and Wales. The campaign consolidates fraud prevention advice from multiple agencies and directs victims to support resources, while highlighting key scams including parcel delivery tricks, loan fee fraud, and authorised push payment (APP) scams that stolen £239.3 million in the first half of 2023.
thecut.com
· 2025-12-08
A journalist who lost $50,000 to an imposter scam in October shares lessons learned about sophisticated fraud tactics, interviewing victims and experts to understand how scams work. The article explains that anyone can be vulnerable to scams regardless of prior caution, and details how scammers use tactics like spoofed calls from government agencies, appeals to authority, and publicly available personal information to establish credibility and manipulate victims. Key prevention strategies include not answering calls from unknown numbers, recognizing fear-based and opportunity-based scam categories, and understanding that scammers exploit hardwired instincts to trust authority figures.
yakimaherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams have increasingly targeted younger age groups (people in their 20s and 30s) across dating apps and social media platforms, with reported losses reaching $469.9 million in 2023—a 104% increase from 2019. Scammers use fake profiles and AI-generated photos to build romantic connections before requesting money or personal information, exploiting victims' emotional vulnerability. To avoid romance scams, people should be wary of requests for money or banking details, watch for requests to switch communication platforms, and verify suspicious requests before responding.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
Four California men were indicted in a nationwide tech support scam targeting elderly victims, with one serving as a courier collecting cash from victims under false pretenses of criminal prosecution. The scheme defrauded victims of millions of dollars between 2020-2023, including an $88,000 loss from a Missouri couple who became suspicious and alerted police; Yu-Chieh Huang (the courier) has been arrested, Liang Jin and Tsz Yin Kan have been apprehended, and Kaiyu Wen remains at large.
reverejournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Revere police officers Kenan Resic and Pheachey Chhom prevented a $6,500 theft targeting a senior citizen couple through a "grandparent scam" where the perpetrator impersonated their grandson, claimed to be in jail, and requested bail money. The officers successfully identified and apprehended the courier (a hired Lyft driver) and recovered the stolen funds after the elderly couple provided vehicle information and surveillance video. The incident highlights the rising threat of elder fraud in the region, prompting the Suffolk County District Attorney's office to launch the Suffolk County Fraud Fighters program, a multi-agency initiative designed to educate and protect vulnerable residents across Boston,
gcsynod.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported 680 Arizona victims lost over $25.4 million to romance scams, with senior citizens accounting for 379 victims and $17.7 million in losses. Romance scams involve fraudsters building fake relationships to trick victims into sending money, personal information, or valuables. The FBI recommends verifying online suitors' identities, never sharing financial information or money with people met online, and watching for red flags such as reluctance to meet in person, requests to go offline quickly, or pressure to share inappropriate content.
ktre.com
· 2025-12-08
Homeland Security Investigations raised awareness about the growing threat of romance scams, which targeted approximately 70,000 victims in the U.S. in 2023, with 90% being adults over 60. Scammers typically initiate contact online, build trust over 1-3 months, then request money, often operating from overseas locations where law enforcement has limited recourse. The agency recommends protecting personal information, verifying identities through image searches, and reporting suspicious activity to local law enforcement.
starherald.net
· 2025-12-08
Kate Kleinart, a 70-year-old victim, lost tens of thousands of dollars to a romance scam, reporting that the emotional loss of the fabricated relationship hurt more than the financial loss. The FTC received over 64,000 romance scam reports in the past year totaling $1.14 billion in losses, with scammers typically targeting lonely individuals by building false romantic connections before requesting money under false pretenses. Experts recommend protecting against these scams by: identifying red flags (exceptionally attractive profiles, quick romantic escalation, requests to use private messaging apps), using reverse image searches to verify photos, maintaining open family conversations about scams using an informative rather than authoritative
cbs2iowa.com
· 2025-12-08
Steve Deines of Marion, Iowa lost thousands of dollars to overseas scammers who used phone harassment and pressure tactics to convince him to send money via gift cards and grant remote computer access. Local police emphasize that recovered funds are virtually impossible once transferred overseas, and they stress public education as the best prevention, advising people to avoid paying anyone with gift cards, ignore scare tactics and urgency demands, and verify requests through trusted contacts before taking action.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial columnist Charlotte Cowles lost $50,000 to an elaborate scam that began with a fake Amazon customer service call in October 2023, escalating through impersonation of FTC and CIA officials who convinced her that her identity had been stolen and she faced arrest warrants. The scammers persuaded her to withdraw cash from her savings account and hand it to an undercover "agent" by creating an increasingly elaborate false narrative with fabricated evidence. Cowles' experience serves as a cautionary tale that fraud targets people across all demographics and education levels, countering the stereotype that only vulnerable populations fall victim to such schemes.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Liza Likins, a former backup singer for Stevie Nicks, lost over $1 million in a romance scam on Facebook Dating after connecting with a man claiming to be named Donald living in Australia; she eventually sold her house to send him bail money before realizing it was a fraud. The scammer used photos stolen from German life coach Raho Bornhorst, who has discovered his images were used to create over 100 fake profiles targeting women. The FTC reported 70,000 romance scams in 2022 with $1.3 billion in losses, and experts advise users to avoid sending money to online contacts and to be suspicious of anyone
thecut.com
· 2025-12-08
In October, the author—a financially literate journalist and New York Times columnist—fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam that cost her $50,000 in savings. After an initial fraudulent Amazon customer service call, she was transferred to a scammer posing as a federal agent who claimed her identity had been compromised and her home was being monitored, pressuring her to withdraw cash and leave it on the street in a shoebox without telling anyone. The article challenges common stereotypes about scam victims, noting that younger adults are actually 34% more likely to report fraud losses than seniors, and that intelligence, education, and financial literacy provide no protection against sophisticated psychological manipulation tactics.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a fraud alert after scammers sent phishing emails impersonating her, claiming to help recipients whose tax refunds were being stolen but actually attempting to collect personal information. The fraudulent emails, sent from fake Gmail accounts with broken English and poor grammar, falsely claimed to address tax refund complaints and asked recipients for sensitive details. Nessel reminded consumers that government agencies do not collect federal tax debt via email or phone, and the IRS never demands immediate payment, threatens arrest, or requests personal information electronically.
vindy.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating utility company employees contact victims by phone or door-to-door, threatening to cut off services for unpaid bills and demanding immediate payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Door-to-door scammers often work in pairs—one distracting the victim while the other steals valuables—and may falsely claim to replace faulty meters. To protect yourself, verify any service termination threat by calling your utility directly using a number you find independently, and report suspicious door-to-door visitors to police immediately.
vancouver.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Port Moody police reported three "grandparent" scams in a single day in February 2024, resulting in $12,000 in losses, where callers impersonated grandchildren claiming to need money for car repairs or legal fees. Victims were instructed to withdraw cash from banks and meet the suspects in person to exchange money, with police noting an additional incident the previous week where an elderly couple lost $21,000 under similar circumstances. Law enforcement warned that these scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers using artificial intelligence to alter voices and impersonate family members more convincingly.
scdemocratonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Jeff Bank leaders discussed the rising prevalence of fraud and scams targeting their customers, particularly elderly individuals who are being defrauded of substantial sums of money. The bank has increased staff training on scam detection and conducted community outreach to vulnerable populations, while noting that scams often go undetected until money has already been sent. Common scams include the Microsoft pop-up scam, lottery fee schemes, the "grandma scam" involving emergency situations, and unsolicited requests for money through electronic channels or phone calls.
emissourian.com
· 2025-12-08
Three suspects were indicted in federal court in St. Louis for operating a nationwide tech support fraud scam targeting elderly victims, including a scheme where a 69-year-old Missouri couple was deceived into believing their computer was infected and coerced into paying $99,000 to prevent criminal prosecution. A related case involved a man posing as an FBI agent who defrauded an elderly Union man out of nearly $50,000 in gold by claiming his identity had been stolen, with similar scams occurring across Colorado and Oregon.
kttn.com
· 2025-12-08
Four California men have been indicted for operating a nationwide tech support fraud scheme targeting elderly victims, with Yu-Chieh Huang arrested as a courier after attempting to pick up $88,000 from a Missouri couple who were told their computer contained evidence of a crime. The scam, which operated from 2020 to 2023, involved Liang Jin and Kaiyu Wen directing couriers and recruiting individuals to fraudulently open bank accounts, resulting in approximately $7 million in fraudulent transactions before authorities intervened. One suspect, Kaiyu Wen, remains at large.
staysafeonline.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common election-related scams and fraud tactics targeting voters, including phishing emails impersonating campaigns or election authorities, spoofed government websites designed to steal data or collect fraudulent donations, voter suppression schemes spreading misinformation about polling locations and voting dates, fake voter registration drives collecting personal information, and robocalls spreading false election information or soliciting unauthorized donations. The article provides protective measures such as verifying sender legitimacy, using only official government websites with secure connections, consulting federal resources for voter registration and election information, and reporting suspicious activities to election authorities.
wcnc.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax scammers target vulnerable consumers, particularly those who cannot afford paid preparers, by promising inflated returns or free money. Tax officials and community organizations in Charlotte urge people to avoid unqualified preparers and recognize warning signs such as promises that seem too good to be true, requests for unorthodox payments, and artificial urgency. Community Link and other nonprofits offer free tax preparation services to residents with household incomes of $64,000 or less as a preventative measure against fraud.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scam victims lost over $10 billion—a 14% increase from 2022 and a new record—with the FTC receiving 2.6 million fraud reports where one in four people lost money (median loss of $500). Investment scams caused the largest losses at $4.6 billion (21% increase), followed by imposter scams at $2.7 billion, with the FTC advising consumers never to share private information with unsolicited callers and to be skeptical of unrealistic financial promises.
ncdoj.gov
· 2025-12-08
Imposter scams, where criminals pose as government agencies, law enforcement, or companies to threaten victims with arrest or legal consequences, cost Americans $2.7 billion last year. The article provides protective measures against these scams, emphasizing that legitimate government officials never contact people via phone or text demanding money or personal information, and warns that requests for payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency are clear red flags indicating fraud.
kens5.com
· 2025-12-08
Business impersonation scams have surged since the pandemic, with scammers creating fake customer service numbers that appear at the top of Google search results, costing consumers $670 million in reported losses between 2022-2023 (a 48% increase). The author's 90-year-old mother nearly became a victim when the author called what they thought was her cable provider's legitimate customer service number found through Google and provided a credit card number to a scammer posing as a representative. To protect yourself, go directly to a company's official website to find verified contact information rather than relying on internet search results, and report any fraud to your bank, the FTC, the BBB
krgv.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Americans $547 million in reported losses in one year, with scammers creating fake profiles to build trust before requesting money, often via gift cards or wire transfers. Red flags include no profile pictures, pressure to move relationships quickly, inability to meet in person, and requests for payment; victims should stop contact immediately and report to the FTC or the dating platform.
ntd.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned Americans to exercise caution when scanning QR codes, as cybercriminals tamper with them to steal login credentials, financial information, and device access through malware. Scammers use malicious QR codes to direct victims to fake websites, redirect payments, or compromise personal devices, with no guarantee of fund recovery once stolen. The FBI recommends verifying URLs after scanning, checking for physical tampering on codes, avoiding app downloads via QR codes, and manually entering trusted URLs for payments instead of scanning unfamiliar codes.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
A freelance finance writer fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam in which scammers posing as an Amazon employee, FTC official, and CIA agent convinced her to withdraw and hand over $50,000 in cash to a stranger, using threats of arrest warrants and asset freezes to manipulate her into isolation and compliance. Security experts note that professional scammers use sophisticated social engineering tactics—including fear for family safety, appeals to emotion, and knowledge of personal details like Social Security numbers—to override victims' skepticism, and that anyone, regardless of sophistication, can be targeted by such schemes.