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Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
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in Robocall / Phone Scam
okcfox.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old Piedmont, Oklahoma woman lost approximately $52,000 in a phone scam where callers impersonated Social Security Administration officials and a local police officer, claiming her accounts were compromised and convincing her to withdraw cash for a man who collected it in person. The victim is now facing financial hardship including potential inability to pay rent and nursing home expenses for her husband, and authorities are investigating the case while she seeks public assistance through a GoFundMe page.
cbs19.tv
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The Smith County Sheriff's Office is warning of telephone scams in which callers impersonate law enforcement officers, specifically claiming to be Sgt. Tim Jones or Sgt. Justin Hall from the civil processing division, to pressure victims into sending money. These scams prey on elderly and vulnerable people through scare tactics, though legitimate law enforcement will never call demanding payment; residents can verify suspicious calls by contacting the sheriff's office non-emergency line.
abc11.com
· 2025-12-08
During tax season, scammers targeted taxpayers through phishing emails, texts, and phone calls impersonating the IRS, with the FTC reporting $4.2 million in losses to IRS imposters the previous year. One Raleigh resident, Teresia Porter, fell victim to a fraudulent tax preparer (D&V Taxes) who promised inflated refunds using incorrect deductions, leaving her owing the money back; the preparer subsequently faced over two dozen charges for preparing fraudulent state income tax returns. Authorities advise taxpayers to verify tax preparers' reputations, remember that the IRS never threatens immediate payment or demands gift cards/wire transfers, an
cavazossentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Military personnel, veterans, and their families can protect themselves from scams by using strong passwords, password managers, two-factor authentication, and separating work and personal accounts. The most rapidly growing scams targeting this population are confidence and romance scams, along with online impersonation accounts (often impersonating high-ranking officials), credit repair schemes, cryptocurrency fraud, social media account takeovers, and extortion attempts involving compromised photos. Awareness of common tactics—such as requests for gift cards or money from supposed military officials via text, fake investment opportunities posted from hacked accounts, and suspicious website URLs—can help individuals avoid becoming victims.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A major telemarketing scam targeting American timeshare owners, operated by Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has defrauded thousands of victims—many elderly—of hundreds of millions of dollars over the past decade. The scheme, which began in Puerto Vallarta and expanded to Cancún and other resort areas, uses fake offers to buy timeshares at inflated prices, then extracts fees for taxes and other costs that are never refunded; one victim lost nearly $1.8 million across multiple transactions. U.S. government officials believe the cartel now profits more from timeshare fraud than drug trafficking, though the operation remains difficult to prosecut
coshoctontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, consumers lost a record $10 billion to scams—$1 billion more than the previous year—with approximately 2.6 million reports filed to the FTC, including one in four people experiencing losses with a median of $500 each. The top three scam types were imposter scams ($2.7 billion in losses), investment scams (with median losses rising from $5,000 to $7,700), and social media scams ($1.4 billion total losses). Consumer protection agencies like the FTC and Ohio Attorney General's Office educate the public on recognizing scams targeting specific groups—such as older adults, college students, an
inews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Chris Pitt, head of First Direct bank, fell victim to fraud five years ago when £250 in unauthorized betting transactions appeared on his account, illustrating how fraud affects people across all backgrounds despite awareness. UK Finance data shows fraud remains prevalent with £580m stolen in the first half of 2023, while average losses per case have increased to £3,589 at HSBC, with romance scams averaging £69,164 and investment scams averaging £27,680. The article emphasizes common scam types (phone, online, mobile, APP fraud, and romance scams) and advises consumers to question uninvited contact, never share personal information or passwords, an
goodmorningamerica.com
· 2025-12-08
A financial advice columnist fell victim to an elaborate phone scam that resulted in losses exceeding $50,000. The incident highlights how sophisticated scams can target even financially knowledgeable individuals who work in the financial industry.
bocanewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
A South Palm Beach County woman shared her experience on social media about falling victim to a tech support scam where fake pop-up warnings claiming her account was hacked directed her to call a number, and scammers attempted to manipulate her into purchasing bitcoin. The woman avoided financial loss by hanging up and contacting her bank and trading accounts directly. The article warns that posting about scams publicly with personal information increases risk of being targeted repeatedly by fraudsters.
fox13seattle.com
· 2025-12-08
Brian Davie, a former Wells Fargo branch manager in Battle Ground, Washington, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison after stealing $1,279,840 from elderly and vulnerable customers between March 2014 and June 2019 through unauthorized withdrawals, transfers, and checks. One victim lost $566,000 from her retirement accounts, and Wells Fargo partially reimbursed victims while a federal judge will determine additional restitution amounts. Law enforcement and fraud prevention experts urge victims to report incidents immediately to banks and law enforcement, and recommend seniors use online banking, set up account alerts, and monitor transactions to prevent similar exploitation.
gna.org.gh
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money from romance scams targeting elderly Americans from 2013 onward. She agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces up to five years in prison, with sentencing scheduled before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
gnnliberia.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Reall) pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money in a $2 million romance scam targeting older Americans, where she controlled bank accounts that received fraudulent funds obtained through fake romantic identities. She agreed to forfeit and make restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces up to five years in prison upon sentencing by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty. The scam, which exploited vulnerable elderly victims through false pretenses including fake gold transport payments and FBI investigation claims, resulted in her extradition from the United Kingdom in May 2023.
gbcghanaonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection with romance scams targeting vulnerable elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She faces up to five years in prison and has agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41. The criminal conspiracy specifically targeted older Americans through fake online romantic relationships to steal their money.
valdostatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Georgia residents lost $234.3 million to fraud in 2023 across 65,825 reported incidents to the FTC, ranking the state 15th most defrauded nationally. The three most common scam types were Credit Bureaus/Information Furnishers (25% of reports), Identity Theft (23%), and Imposter Scams (9%), with victims advised to monitor credit reports, avoid sharing personal information unsolicited, and never send money to unknown parties.
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
The Brazos County Sheriff's Office and College Station Police Department warned residents about a rising trend in phone and internet scams, including impersonation calls falsely claiming to be from law enforcement and demanding payment via digital payment apps. Deputy Christopher Searles emphasized that legitimate law enforcement agencies will never call demanding money or request personal information like Social Security numbers or bank details over the phone, and advised residents to hang up on suspicious calls, verify sender identities by hovering over email addresses, and contact agencies directly if uncertain. Victims of scams are encouraged to report incidents to local law enforcement.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A YouTube content creator operating under the pseudonym "Neld Harris" poses as an elderly, tech-illiterate widow to infiltrate and expose scam operations targeting vulnerable seniors. Through his ScamSandwich channel, which has garnered over 8 million views since launching in January 2023, he lures scammers into elaborate traps, takes control of their computers, and publicly reveals their identities, locations, and tactics. This "scambaiting" effort addresses a significant problem: the AARP reports Americans over 60 lose $28.3 billion annually to scams, with only 1 in 10 cases reported to authorities.
publicnewsservice.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP Connecticut is launching a new educational series to address the growing complexity of scams targeting older adults, with 400 different scam types reported in 2022. Seniors are frequently targeted because they tend to have more financial resources, and losses can range from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars, with emotional and psychological impacts extending beyond financial harm. The free online series will cover topics including artificial intelligence and voice cloning scams, with a Connecticut man recently indicted for defrauding Wisconsin seniors of $200,000 through grandparent impersonation scams.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office partnered with Winchester and Waltham Police Departments to host financial fraud awareness seminars for older adults, featuring presentations from federal prosecutors, the IRS, and U.S. Postal Service on common scams and protective measures. According to FBI data, victims over 60 experienced an 84% increase in losses from 2021 to 2022, totaling over $3 billion, with nearly 5,500 victims losing more than $100,000 each to schemes including tech support, romance, and sweepstakes scams.
wnem.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel conducted an educational outreach event at a senior center in Mt. Morris to teach seniors how to identify and avoid scams, emphasizing that while AI-generated deepfakes and voice-emulation scams are real threats, education is the best defense. Nessel stressed that seniors are disproportionately impacted by scams and advised vigilance against criminals posing as banks, government agencies, and other trusted entities through email and phone calls. She encouraged victims to report scams to local police.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A YouTuber operating the "ScamSandwich" channel poses as an elderly widow to expose and disrupt online scammers, gaining over 90,000 subscribers since January 2023. By gaining remote access to scammers' computers, he reveals their locations (primarily in India and West Africa), deploys disruptive viruses, and publicly humiliates them on camera, sometimes prompting expressions of remorse and reports to authorities. While his videos provide entertainment and awareness, they highlight the serious problem of elder fraud, with Americans over 60 losing billions of dollars annually to scams.
wftv.com
· 2025-12-08
Sherry Hawkins of Sumter County lost several thousand dollars to scammers impersonating CashNetUSA while seeking a loan to pay for her father's funeral in January 2024. The fraudsters used a fake website and bogus loan paperwork (including a counterfeit BBB logo), instructing her to deposit fake funds into her account and return the money via Cash App and wire transfers. The Better Business Bureau has received over 100 complaints about this same advance-fee loan scam impersonating CashNetUSA over more than a decade, and warns consumers to avoid any lender requesting upfront payment via wire transfer, payment apps, or gift cards.
marketplace.org
· 2025-12-08
Financial advice columnist Charlotte Cowles lost $50,000 to an elaborate scam in which fraudsters impersonated Federal Trade Commission and CIA officials; she withdrew the cash from her Bank of America account before realizing the scheme later that day. Banks have limited tools to prevent such scams, with policies varying by institution—some tellers may offer alternatives like cashier's checks or wire transfers, while others simply warn customers—and the FTC reported consumers lost $8.8 billion to scams in 2022, a 30% increase from the previous year.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reissued a tax identity theft alert in February 2024, urging residents to file taxes early to prevent criminals from using stolen personal information to claim fraudulent refunds. The alert provides guidance on protecting Social Security numbers, using secure filing methods, and recognizing IRS scams, while advising victims of tax-related identity theft to contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit and file an FTC complaint.
citizensadvice.org.uk
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide describes common scams affecting people in Scotland, including phishing emails and texts impersonating TV Licensing, HMRC, PayPal, banks, and Ofcom, as well as dating and romance scams. The advice emphasizes verifying sender information, avoiding clicking suspicious links, never providing personal or financial details to unsolicited contacts, and immediately contacting your bank and police (101) if details have been compromised. Key prevention strategies include checking official websites for legitimate communication, using trusted contact methods, and consulting trusted friends or relatives when suspicious of a scam.
montereyherald.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational column outlines four prevalent scams targeting seniors: elder financial abuse (where trusted individuals gain unauthorized access to finances), romance scams (where online/phone relationships lead to requests for money), tech support scams (fraudulent calls claiming computer or banking problems), and bereavement scams (scammers targeting grieving family members by posing as funeral homes). The article estimates that over 10% of U.S. elderly are victimized annually and recommends protective measures including adding trusted contacts to financial accounts, establishing estate plans, verifying unexpected calls by contacting organizations directly, and reporting fraud to law enforcement.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy related to romance scams targeting elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She knowingly received stolen funds from vulnerable victims and was arrested abroad; she faces up to five years in prison and must forfeit and pay restitution of approximately $2.16 million.
fijitimes.com.fj
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022, with scammers creating fake online identities through social media to exploit victims emotionally and financially. Perpetrators gradually build trust with targets before requesting money under various pretexts (medical emergencies, travel costs, promised packages), and they commonly avoid video calls or in-person meetings. The scam affects people of all ages and backgrounds globally, with women reported as particularly vulnerable, though many cases remain underreported.
telluridenews.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudulent calls, texts, and phishing scams targeting bank customers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers operating from organized call centers rather than acting individually. Alpine Bank and Community Banks of Colorado recently warned customers to avoid disclosing confidential banking information in response to unsolicited communications, as these operations often employ multiple employees who sound professional.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
North Fayette police warned residents of a tech support scam that targeted two victims for a combined $67,000, in which victims received fake security alerts on their computers claiming to be from Microsoft and were instructed to pay for repairs. One victim transferred over $20,000 to a Bitcoin account, while the other handed cash to someone posing as a Federal Reserve official; police urge residents to call 911 if they receive suspicious alerts or calls.
steinbachonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Steinbach RCMP responded to four grandparent scam incidents in two days, with two victims losing money. Scammers called elderly residents impersonating relatives in legal trouble and requesting bail money, which victims were instructed to hand over to couriers at their homes. Police advise recipients to hang up, verify the story by calling the alleged family member, never share personal information, and establish a family safety word to prevent falling victim to this fraud.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Artificial intelligence is enabling cybercriminals to create increasingly sophisticated scams, including deepfake voice and video fraud that can be generated in real-time using minimal audio or video clips from social media. Security experts warn that criminals need only about three seconds of audio to recreate someone's voice with 70% accuracy, and traditional fraud detection methods may no longer be sufficient against AI-generated attacks. To protect themselves, people should watch for unnatural language patterns, unusually quick responses, lack of empathy, and can ask specific open-ended questions or request predetermined code words to detect whether they're communicating with a scammer using deepfake technology.
newindianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2018, India's Rajya Sabha Committee on Government Assurances summoned banking officials and CBI representatives to provide testimony on major financial scams affecting the Indian banking sector. As of March 2018, bank fraud cases exceeded Rs 1,000 crore across multiple institutions, with 292 cases under CBI investigation involving 44 prominent banks including SBI, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank, with some cases implicating bank officers themselves. The parliamentary inquiry aimed to ensure accountability and address the systemic fraud issues that had compromised public sector and private banks nationwide.
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-08
A Hong Kong company lost HK$200 million (A$40 million) when an employee was deceived by scammers using deepfake technology to impersonate senior officials in a video conference call and direct a funds transfer. The article explains that current legislation does not clearly establish liability for deepfake fraud victims seeking compensation from social media platforms, banks, or AI tool providers, though regulatory frameworks in jurisdictions like Australia and the UK are beginning to address these gaps. Legal responsibility remains unclear, with potential future requirements for platforms to remove fraudulent deepfakes, banks to reimburse victims, and AI providers to implement safeguards against misuse.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season scams commonly target vulnerable people through three main schemes: criminals impersonating the IRS via phone, email, or mail to steal personal information like Social Security numbers and bank details; fraudsters filing fake tax returns in victims' names to claim their refunds; and scammers offering fraudulent tax preparation services. The IRS advises people to never click links in unsolicited communications, avoid sharing personal data over the phone, file taxes early to prevent refund theft, and verify any IRS contact directly through official channels like 1-800-829-1040 or the IRS website.
wcti12.com
· 2025-12-08
Carteret County, North Carolina is experiencing a surge in elder scams involving cryptocurrency and phone-based fraud, including impersonation of law enforcement, fake bail/accident schemes, and romance scams. County officials warn against sending money to unknown contacts claiming legal authority, investing in cryptocurrency without research, clicking suspicious links, and falling victim to online relationship scams, while noting that cryptocurrency and gift cards are preferred by scammers because they are difficult for law enforcement to trace. Residents are advised to verify suspicious claims with local law enforcement before sending any funds.
healthjournalism.org
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud schemes—including grandparent scams, romance scams, and government impersonation scams—have become increasingly sophisticated through AI technology like deepfake videos and robocalls, making them difficult to distinguish from legitimate communications. In 2022 alone, approximately 88,000 people aged 60 and older lost $3.1 billion to fraud, with victims over 70 losing an average of nearly $42,000; scammers typically exploit emotions rather than intelligence, and experts advise victims and their families to watch for financial requests as the key indicator of fraud. The AARP Fraud Watch Network received nearly 100,000 calls last year from victims of all
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Generation Z falls for online scams at more than three times the rate of baby boomers, with a 2023 Deloitte report highlighting younger adults' vulnerability to social media-based investment scams and get-rich-quick schemes tailored to their platforms. Consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023—a 14% increase from 2022—with experts warning that risks will intensify as scammers employ more sophisticated tactics, including AI-generated impersonations and exploitation of younger adults' greater trust in online information and reliance on digital banking.
orilliamatters.com
· 2025-12-08
The Huronia West Ontario Provincial Police arrested two individuals (ages 24 and 25) in late February after investigating a grandparent scam in which a suspect impersonated a police officer and falsely told a victim their grandson was in jail, demanding money for legal fees; the suspect visited the victim's home three times to collect cash before police intervened on the third visit. Both suspects were charged with fraud over $5,000, with the 24-year-old also charged with resisting a peace officer. The OPP provided guidance on protecting against emergency/grandparent scams, emphasizing verification of callers through independent contact information and warning that legitimate law enforcement will never request payment by
mainichi.jp
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, social media scammers defrauded residents of Osaka Prefecture out of 4.9 billion yen ($32.6 million) through remote investment scams and international romance schemes, with victims in their 40s and 50s losing an average of 10 million yen ($66,500) each. The 256 investment scam cases resulted in 3.18 billion yen in losses, while 163 romance scams—often combining romantic manipulation with investment pitches—caused 1.72 billion yen in damages, with the largest single loss reaching 234 million yen ($1.55 million). Instagram was the primary
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
Investigators traced nearly $100 million in cryptocurrency payments to a criminal scam compound in Myanmar (KK Park) operating pig butchering romance scams and worker trafficking ransoms over less than two years. Two cryptocurrency addresses linked to a Chinese front company received $24.2 million from known scam wallets and additional funds from ransoms, with families often extorted for $30,000+ to secure trafficked workers' release. The investigation reveals how romance scams and ransom extortion are interconnected operations generating significant profits for organized crime syndicates in Southeast Asia.
local10.com
· 2025-12-08
The Broward Sheriff's Office warned the public about an impersonation scam in which callers falsely claim to represent local police departments and demand money to place arrest warrants on hold. A woman in her 20s nearly fell victim after receiving a spoofed call claiming she missed jury duty and owed thousands in bond money, with the caller instructing her to withdraw funds via a pharmacy kiosk; she avoided the scam after a family member exposed it. While this victim escaped financial loss, seniors have accounted for $13 million in losses to similar scams in Miami-Dade County alone, with authorities reporting 650 instances over the past year and urging the public to report
ksdk.com
· 2025-12-08
St. Louis County residents fell victim to an AI-generated phone scam where callers impersonated their children in distress, claiming a car accident occurred and demanding money (up to $2,000) or threatening kidnapping, with scammers using as little as 3 seconds of voice samples from social media to synthesize convincing audio. One victim avoided losing money when police arrived at a Walmart before she could wire funds, though authorities noted other local cases resulted in thousands of dollars in losses. Experts recommend families establish safe words or questions to verify identity, and victims should contact the threatened family member directly, report to police, and file a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General's Office.
dojmt.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Montana Department of Justice's Office of Consumer Protection is warning of a cryptocurrency scam targeting PPP loan recipients, in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement and threaten arrest for unpaid loans to extort victims into sending money via bitcoin ATMs. Scammers exploit publicly available PPP loan data and confusion about loan forgiveness, using threats and forged documents to coerce victims into irretrievable cryptocurrency transfers. The agency advises that legitimate government agencies never demand payment over the phone and urges victims to report attempts to authorities.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly and vulnerable adults often overpay for utilities, internet, mobile services, and subscriptions due to lack of digital literacy, difficulty navigating cancellations, and targeted predatory marketing—with an estimated $8-28 billion stolen annually from people 60+ through scams and exploitative business practices in the US alone. The article provides guidance for family members to help protect elderly relatives by opening non-judgmental conversations about finances, shopping around for better deals, and reporting suspicious activities, while noting that pushy sales tactics often mirror scam tactics used to create false urgency.
pennwatch.org
· 2025-12-08
The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities is hosting multiple educational presentations throughout March 2024 to help seniors and the public protect themselves from financial fraud and identity theft. Topics include recognizing elder financial abuse (which is the #1 reported issue to Adult Protective Services), avoiding identity theft, cybersecurity best practices, investment fraud awareness, and common scam tactics, with sessions offered both in-person and virtually across the state.
todayonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Love scams in Singapore are increasing despite public awareness, with 913 cases reported in 2023 compared to 868 in 2022, and average losses rising to S$43,677 per victim. Contrary to assumptions that only older people are vulnerable, 73 percent of victims are aged 49 and under, and scammers now employ sophisticated tactics including AI-generated profiles and deepfake videos to create convincing fake identities. To protect yourself, stay informed about scam tactics, scrutinize online profiles using reverse image searches and AI detection tools, and remain vigilant for inconsistencies in language, photos, and behavior that may indicate a fraudulent romance.
gmanetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
A 37-year-old Philadelphia tech professional lost $450,000 in a "pig butchering" romance scam involving a fake online suitor who used deepfake videos and sophisticated social engineering to build romantic trust before directing her to a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment app. The scammer, operating from Southeast Asia as part of an organized crime syndicate, convinced the victim to invest her savings and retirement funds by showing fake profitable trades and gradually escalating pressure to invest more. This type of romance-based cryptocurrency fraud has resulted in billions of dollars in losses across the United States with minimal victim recovery options.
wgmd.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating Medicare officials by calling seniors and claiming they need to verify identity information to send a new plastic Medicare card with special features, but all legitimate Medicare cards are paper. Victims who fall for this scam risk having their personal and financial information stolen. Anyone receiving such calls should contact the Delaware Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-223-9074.
netnewsledger.com
· 2025-12-08
The Thunder Bay Police Service warned of persistent grandparent scams targeting seniors in the community, with one victim losing $3,000 after receiving a call from someone impersonating a lawyer representing her grandson who allegedly needed bail money. The scam typically involves fraudsters calling from private numbers, sometimes playing background voices to create credibility, and requesting urgent fund transfers via email or gift cards. The police recommend protective measures including hanging up on suspicious calls, independently verifying claims with family members, being alert to pressure tactics, reporting suspicious activity, and staying informed through resources like the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Video call scams are fraudulent schemes conducted via platforms like WhatsApp where scammers use impersonation, deepfakes, and emotional manipulation to target victims through four main methods: blackmail (threatening to release recorded calls), investment fraud, tech support deception, and romance schemes. India's CERT-In recommends safeguards including avoiding video calls from unknown contacts, not sharing personal information, verifying identities, using secure platforms, and maintaining restricted privacy settings on social media.