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in General Elder Fraud
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal prosecutors charged more than two dozen Canadian nationals operating from Montreal call centers in a "grandparent scam" that defrauded over 300 elderly victims across 40+ U.S. states of more than $21 million between summer 2021 and June 2024. The scammers posed as grandchildren or lawyers claiming relatives needed bail money after accidents, used spoofed U.S. phone numbers, sent in-person "bail bondsmen" to collect cash, and sometimes targeted repeat victims ("whales") with inflated bail amounts, with proceeds laundered to Canada via cryptocurrency. Most of the 25 defendants arrested in Canada face up to 20 years in prison
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A new book by cybersecurity expert Alex East provides guidance on recognizing scams that target seniors, addressing the billions of dollars lost to fraud in recent years. The resource aims to help seniors identify warning signs and protect themselves from becoming victims of scams.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial institutions are increasingly using behavioral analytics and "smart friction" to combat escalating fraud, which costs the industry an estimated trillion dollars annually. Investment scams average $1,104 in losses while romance scams result in median losses of $1,996 and involve nearly twice as many transactions as other fraud types. Banks are adopting real-time data analysis, AI-powered pattern recognition, and inter-bank information sharing to identify suspicious transactions and strategically introduce authentication challenges that balance security with customer convenience.
nottinghammd.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A Baltimore County man, Ambrose A. Obinna Warrior, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for operating as an unlicensed money transmitter in romance, business email compromise, and investment scams from March 2018 through August 2021. Warrior transferred or attempted to transfer over $700,000 in victims' funds, with confirmed losses of at least $467,912, receiving a percentage of each transaction.
thomsonreuters.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, U.S. financial institutions filed slightly fewer Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) than in 2023, marking the first decline in SARs filings in a decade, though the decrease was minimal. The preliminary count of 3.8 million original SARs filings in 2024 is expected to reach approximately 4.5-4.6 million when amended, corrected, and continuing activity SARs are included, roughly matching the record 4.6 million filings from 2023. The top reasons for SARs filings in 2024 included suspicion of fund sources, transactions without lawful purpose, check fraud,
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Julie Anne Darrah, a 52-year-old Santa Barbara County investment advisor, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for stealing approximately $2.25 million from elderly clients between November 2016 and July 2023 through her company Vivid Financial Management Inc. Darrah gained clients' trust by posing as a caretaker figure, then obtained control of their assets through forged documents and unauthorized liquidations, using the funds for personal purchases including properties and luxury vehicles, leaving some victims unable to afford end-of-life care. She faces up to 20 years in prison and has been ordered to pay $2,416,511 in restitution.
richlandsource.com
· 2025-12-08
Star Strategies is hosting a free Financial Elder Fraud Workshop on March 28, 2025, in Wooster, Ohio, featuring FBI Cleveland Division special agents who will educate seniors and their families about current investment scams targeting older adults. The workshop will cover the evolution of sophisticated fraud schemes (which resulted in $538 million in losses to older adults in 2024 according to the FTC) and provide practical protection strategies.
boston.com
· 2025-12-08
Nearly two dozen Canadians were arrested Tuesday and charged in a "grandparent scam" conspiracy that defrauded elderly Americans in over 40 states of $21 million between 2021 and 2024. The perpetrators, operating from call centers near Montréal, called elderly victims claiming a grandchild had been arrested and needed bail money, with some posing as attorneys or bail bondsmen to collect funds that were then transferred to Canada via cash or cryptocurrency. The 25 charged individuals face up to 20-40 years in prison depending on their role in the scheme.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal prosecutors charged more than two dozen Canadian nationals in a "grandparent scam" that defrauded elderly victims of over $21 million across more than 40 U.S. states between summer 2021 and June 2024. Scammers operating from Montreal call centers impersonated grandchildren claiming to need bail money after accidents or posed as attorneys, using spoofed U.S. phone numbers and sometimes extracting multiple payments from victims by claiming bail amounts had increased; money was laundered back to Canada through various methods including cryptocurrency. Twenty-three of the 25 defendants were arrested in Canada, with two remaining fugitives facing up to 40 years in prison
ice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-five Canadian nationals were charged in Vermont federal court for operating a multi-million dollar "grandparent scam" that defrauded elderly victims across more than 40 U.S. states of over $21 million between summer 2021 and June 2024. Perpetrators operating from call centers near Montreal posed as grandchildren claiming to need bail money for fabricated arrests or as attorneys representing them, convincing victims to provide cash that was collected in person and laundered through Canada using cryptocurrency. Canadian law enforcement arrested 23 of the defendants on March 4, 2024, following search warrants executed at the call centers where they were actively making calls to elderly victims.
npr.org
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-five Canadians, mostly based in Quebec, were charged with defrauding hundreds of American seniors out of more than $21 million through a "grandparent scam" that operated from call centers in the Montreal area beginning in summer 2021. The scammers used spoofed phone numbers and fake identities (posing as grandchildren in legal trouble and attorneys) to convince elderly victims across 46 states to send money via in-person pickups, mail, or cryptocurrency, with some victims targeted multiple times and referred to as "whales." The scheme continued until June 2024 when Canadian law enforcement executed search warrants at the call centers, leading to the arrests of
substack.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly targeting Substack writers and readers through impersonation of public figures like Keanu Reeves and the author themselves, using engagement patterns and trust-building tactics to gather information before attempting to defraud victims. The author, who lost one-third of her retirement funds to a scam in 2022, warns that sophisticated scammers profile users by age, hobbies, and interactions, and notes that recent romance scams alone exceeded half a billion dollars. She urges the community to be vigilant about fake celebrity accounts and impersonators, as even highly educated individuals and tech professionals have fallen victim to these schemes.
12onyourside.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are sending text messages impersonating tolling agencies like E-Z Pass, claiming recipients have unpaid tolls and must pay immediately or face penalties to steal personal and financial information. Virginia residents including Tyler Sapp and Kim Graham received these scams, with Sapp's credit card company blocking an attempted charge after he reported it, while state agencies including the Virginia DMV and Department of Transportation are warning the public not to click links, verify messages directly with tolling agencies, and report suspicious texts to authorities.
abc7ny.com
· 2025-12-08
At least two dozen elderly and vulnerable people across multiple states lost over $1 million to a construction fraud scheme perpetrated by James Dinnigan, Martin Maughan, and recruited foreign nationals posing as legitimate home repair contractors. The scammers lured victims through false advertisements, then deliberately damaged their properties and coerced them into paying tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars for unnecessary repairs through intimidation and threats. Most victims were located in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.
therecordherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Heritage Retirement Community in Greencastle, Pennsylvania is hosting a free educational event on March 19, 2025, titled "Tips on How to Avoid Financial Scams & Identity Theft," featuring speaker Karen Metz from F&M Trust. The session will cover warning signs of scams, prevention strategies, personal information protection, and identity theft protocols, with particular emphasis on reaching senior adults and their Powers of Attorney who face heightened vulnerability to fraud.
kutv.com
· 2025-12-08
Affinity fraud, where trusted community members exploit personal relationships to promote fraudulent investments, poses a particular risk in Utah's tight-knit communities, with seniors targeted due to their retirement savings. Red flags include unlicensed sellers, pressure for quick investment decisions, unrealistic return promises, and lack of written documentation. The Utah Division of Securities is combating this through enhanced penalties and educational programs like "Knights of Scamalot," which now emphasizes senior fraud awareness.
fox29.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old woman in Washington Township, New Jersey nearly lost $24,600 in a multi-layered scam involving fake iCloud alerts, spoofed police calls, and impersonation of a banker pressuring her to withdraw cash. An alert Uber driver recognized the suspicious situation and prevented the fraud by warning the woman and returning her to the bank to re-deposit the money. Washington Township Police partnered with the FBI to hold a senior scam awareness seminar in response to the incident.
ktnv.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old Las Vegas woman, "Cozy" Giles, lost over $12,000 from her Citibank account after falling victim to a scam in January 2024, one of three fraudulent incidents targeting her savings. Despite reporting the theft to Citibank multiple times and contacting numerous agencies including the FBI, Metro Police, and the Nevada Attorney General's Office, she received minimal assistance and was told by the bank that she needed a subpoena to access her own transaction records. The case illustrates a broader problem: more than 369,000 financial abuse incidents targeting older adults are reported annually in the United States, resulting in estimated losses of $
kgw.com
· 2025-12-08
A Portland woman lost over $40,000 in a romance scam after matching with a man on Tinder who posed as a civil engineer in Turkey and used fake hospital photos and fabricated documentation to build trust over several months before requesting money. The scammer used altered images of former MLB pitcher Phil Hughes and eventually moved $750,000 into her Vanguard retirement account before the funds disappeared when red flags prompted the company to freeze the account. According to experts, romance scams are increasingly common and sophisticated, with the FTC reporting $547 million in consumer losses to such scams in 2021, aided by AI technology that allows scammers to manipulate photos and deepfakes.
investmentnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The North American Securities Administrators Association identified cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence-based scams as major threats to retail investors in 2025, with fraudsters increasingly using social media platforms (31.7% on Facebook and X, 31.3% on Telegram and WhatsApp) and AI-generated content to deceive victims with promises of unrealistic returns. Nearly 39% of state regulators expect scammers to use AI-generated videos and graphics for false credibility, while affinity and romance scams remain significant risks, with seniors losing $357 million to such schemes in 2023 alone. NASAA advised investors to verify the legitimacy of investment promoters and their registration status before investing
tricitynews.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a community events listing for the Tri-Cities area on March 6, 2025, and does not contain information about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. However, it does mention that the Coquitlam RCMP will be presenting a "Seniors Safe-Tea" educational session from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre covering fraud, scams, and elder abuse prevention for seniors in the region.
globenewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not a news report about elder fraud, but rather a press release announcing a new financial management product by Rego Payment Architectures designed to help banks and credit unions protect seniors from fraud. The product, launching March 31, 2025, enables adult children and caretakers to monitor aging relatives' accounts across multiple institutions through features like spending alerts, transaction monitoring, and fraud detection. The announcement notes that Americans over 60 lost over $38 billion to financial fraud in 2023, with elderly victims averaging $33,915 in losses according to FBI data.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reissued a consumer alert on "pig butchering" scams during National Consumer Protection Week, describing a sophisticated fraud that combines romance scams with cryptocurrency investment schemes targeting seniors. The scam typically begins with fraudsters creating fake profiles on dating apps or social media to build trust with victims before gradually introducing fake investment opportunities in cryptocurrency, often promising unrealistic returns. Nessel and AARP experts recommend consumers avoid sending money to online-only contacts, never share financial information with strangers, and be suspicious of unsolicited investment opportunities, with AARP's ElderWatch program available to help at 800-222-4444.
stocktitan.net
· 2025-12-08
Rego Payment Architectures announced a new white-label senior financial management product launching March 31, 2025, designed to help banks and credit unions protect elderly customers from financial fraud through monitoring tools for caretakers. The product addresses a critical need, as Americans over 60 lost over $38 billion to financial fraud in 2023, with victims averaging $33,915 in losses. The platform offers features including cross-account visibility, spending alerts, transaction monitoring, and fraud detection to help families oversee seniors' finances across multiple institutions.
newsday.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, New Yorkers over 60 lost more than $203 million to scams including sweepstakes, tech support fraud, and government impersonation schemes, with Long Islanders accounting for $38 million of those losses. Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed legislation that would train bank employees, brokers, and financial advisers to recognize elder exploitation and legally empower them to place temporary holds (up to 55 days) on suspicious transactions while law enforcement investigates. The bill, supported by 43 consumer protection groups including AARP, aims to prevent funds from being permanently lost to scammers before fraud can be detected and stopped.
collins.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators, including Susan Collins, Rick Scott, and Mark Kelly, designated March 6, 2025 as "National Slam the Scam Day" to raise awareness about financial scams targeting older Americans. One in four people report being scammed, with elder fraud losses exceeding $10 billion in 2023 alone, prompting the senators to emphasize public education, vigilance, and reporting suspicious activities as key prevention strategies.
khou.com
· 2025-12-08
The Houston Police Department conducted an educational outreach session at the Alief Neighborhood Center to warn seniors about rising scam activities in their community, highlighting schemes where criminals impersonate toll road authorities, parking officials, and IRS agents. HPD emphasized that seniors are particularly vulnerable to fraud due to their trusting nature and often lack of support networks to help them recognize scams. The event included an informational presentation followed by a neighborhood safety walk as part of the department's "March on Crime" initiative.
blackburn.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the bipartisan Romance Scam Prevention Act to require dating apps to notify users who have interacted with individuals removed for fraudulent activity, addressing a growing threat to senior citizens. Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022, with Tennesseans over 60 losing $43 million in 2023 alone, as scammers target recently widowed or divorced seniors through fake identities and move conversations to private platforms after account deactivation.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
As romance scams targeting seniors surge, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps to notify users if they've communicated with someone banned for fraud. According to the FTC, nearly 70,000 Americans reported romance scam victimization in 2022, with people aged 70 and older experiencing median losses of $9,475, and Tennessee seniors over 60 losing $43 million in 2023. The legislation would be enforced by the FTC and allow state attorneys general to bring civil actions, addressing a growing threat exemplified by cases like Aurora Phelps, who was charged with using dating
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
The Social Security Administration warned beneficiaries in March 2024 about scammers impersonating SSA representatives through phone, email, text, and social media to steal benefits and personal information using tactics like spoofed caller IDs, fake letterheads, and threats. Between mid-2024, nearly 45% of reported scams involved false claims about suspended Social Security numbers, with victims aged 70-84 losing an average of $11,902 compared to $2,346 for those under 29. The SSA urged citizens to hang up on suspicious contacts and report attempts to its Office of the Inspector General.
mychesco.com
· 2025-12-08
REGO Payment Architectures unveiled a senior financial management platform launching March 31, 2025, designed to help adult children and caretakers monitor elderly relatives' finances across multiple institutions and detect fraudulent activity. The product addresses a critical need, as Americans aged 60 and older lost over $38 billion to fraud in 2023, with the FBI reporting average losses of $33,915 per victim. The white-labeled solution includes features such as spending alerts, transaction monitoring, fraud detection via a proprietary Protection Score, and bill payment reminders, positioning it to capture an estimated $1 billion annual revenue opportunity for participating financial institutions.
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Lise Rossopoulos, 59, of Queens, New York, was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for her role in a nationwide scam that defrauded elderly victims of over $500,000. Working with a co-conspirator posing as a government official, Rossopoulos received wire transfers into bank accounts in her name from victims who were falsely told their identities had been stolen, including a 92-year-old Hawaii woman who lost $446,000 and an 83-year-old Kentucky man who lost nearly $102,000. She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
audacy.com
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-five Canadian nationals, mostly from Québec, were indicted for operating a "grandparent scam" that defrauded U.S. seniors in 41 states of approximately $21 million starting in summer 2021. The defendants made fraudulent phone calls from Montreal call centers posing as grandchildren or attorneys, claiming relatives needed bail money for arrests, and collected payments from victims' homes before transferring funds to Canada via cash deliveries and cryptocurrency transactions. Twenty-three suspects were arrested in Canada while two remained at large, with organizers facing up to 40 years in prison and other participants facing up to 20 years.
queensda.org
· 2025-12-08
Lise Rossopoulos, 59, of Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for orchestrating a nationwide elder fraud scheme that defrauded senior citizens of over $500,000. The scam involved co-conspirators impersonating government officials (FTC and Amazon representatives) who convinced victims to wire money to bank accounts in Queens and upstate New York that Rossopoulos controlled, with funds withdrawn immediately after each transfer. Two identified victims—a 92-year-old from Hawaii and an 83-year-old from Kentucky—lost $446,000 and $101,980 respectively between February and July
syvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Santa Maria financial advisor Julie Darrah pleaded guilty to wire fraud for stealing $2.25 million from at least nine elderly female clients between 2016 and 2023 through an investment scheme where she misappropriated funds from their brokerage and bank accounts, funneling money into her personal accounts and businesses. The scheme affected victims including an 85-year-old retired elementary school teacher, and Darrah faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, with sentencing scheduled for May 19 and restitution estimated at $7.7 million.
thefinancialbrand.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2023 MIT and AARP study found that household wealth declines by more than half—from $217,000 to $104,000—in the eight years before a dementia diagnosis, as individuals make poor financial decisions and become vulnerable to exploitation while cognitive decline goes undetected. Nearly one in ten adults over 65 have diagnosable dementia, with financial red flags like missed payments and declining credit scores appearing up to six years before diagnosis, yet most financial institutions lack adequate proactive measures to protect at-risk clients during this critical pre-diagnosis window.
news.wfsu.org
· 2025-12-08
A Florida Senate bill seeks to expand protections for elderly scam victims by allowing legal service of injunctions to anonymous online fraudsters through the platforms where they made contact, rather than requiring traditional certified mail. The measure was prompted by cases like a widow who lost $2.5 million to a romance scammer on a dating app despite family intervention and court orders to freeze assets. In 2023, Americans over 60 lost $3.4 billion to financial exploitation, with such crimes rising 11 percent from 2022.
newschannel9.com
· 2025-12-08
Tennessee seniors lost $43 million to scams in 2023, with an 18% increase from the previous year, largely driven by romance scams on dating apps where fraudsters build trust before requesting money for emergencies or loans. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act to require dating apps to notify users who have interacted with accounts banned for fraudulent activity, including the banned member's profile details and fraud warnings. The bill would be enforceable by the FTC and state attorneys general, addressing a national problem where romance scams alone cost victims $1.3 billion in 2022.
tampafp.com
· 2025-12-08
Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the bipartisan Romance Scam Prevention Act to protect dating app users, particularly seniors, from romance scams that cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022 and $43 million to Tennessee seniors over 60 in 2023 alone. The bill requires dating platforms to notify users when they have interacted with someone banned for fraud, addressing a gap where scammers shift conversations to private platforms like WhatsApp to avoid detection. Romance scam losses increased 70% between 2020 and 2022, with median individual losses of $4,400, prompting support from advocacy groups like AARP, though tech companies have raise
vvdailypress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old Apple Valley man foiled a tech support scam when he recognized a fraudulent pop-up ad claiming his information was compromised and asking him to withdraw $35,000. After reporting the scheme to the sheriff's department, the victim arranged for the suspect to pick up the money at his home, where deputies arrested 29-year-old Alex Yu of San Francisco on suspicion of attempted fraud. The incident underscores the importance of recognizing that legitimate banks and government agencies never request cash withdrawals or in-person money transfers.
denvergazette.com
· 2025-12-08
A 27-year-old man from New Jersey was sentenced to six years in prison for stealing over $120,000 from an 80-year-old Highlands Ranch woman through a fake federal agent gold bar scam in July 2023. Sagar Jayeshkuma Patel posed as law enforcement after she clicked a virus pop-up, convincing her to purchase gold bars and hand them over at a convenience store; he was caught through cellphone records, credit card records, and surveillance footage, and ordered to pay approximately $144,000 in restitution. Patel is also under investigation for similar crimes in New York and Delaware and faces an ICE hold for being an un
thestack.technology
· 2025-12-08
Senior executives across the US received extortion letters impersonating the BianLian ransomware group, demanding $250,000-$500,000 in bitcoin, but the FBI determined these were likely fraudulent and not connected to actual breaches. Red flags included the use of physical mail, QR code payment instructions, and lack of proof of data possession—tactics inconsistent with legitimate BianLian operations or typical ransomware extortion methods.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece advises families on recognizing when aging parents need help managing finances and how to assist appropriately. Key warning signs include reduced engagement with financial habits, difficulty organizing tax documents, and vulnerability to online scams and fraud. The article recommends starting conversations early, balancing autonomy with necessary safeguards, and working with financial advisors to protect seniors' retirement savings while preserving their dignity.
agrinews-pubs.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud exceeded $100 billion in fraudulent claims during one calendar year, with additional losses from identity theft and stolen financial information. Scammers employ multiple tactics to obtain Medicare card numbers and personal information, including impersonating Medicare employees, falsely claiming cards have expired (they don't), offering cheaper coverage, threatening benefit cancellation, and promising refunds or free services. Seniors should never share their Medicare card number or personal information via phone, email, or text, and should report suspected scams immediately to 1-800-MEDICARE.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Portland woman Katie Powell lost $40,000 through a romance scam on Tinder after matching with a man who claimed to be a civil engineer and convinced her to send money for a supposed medical emergency. The scammer used a fabricated hospital photo of MLB pitcher Phil Hughes and fake documentation to build trust over rapid texting conversations before the scheme unraveled when fraudulent credit card payments failed and her accounts were frozen. Cyber experts warn daters to watch for red flags including requests to move off dating apps, avoidance of video calls, sob stories, and requests for money, especially from those claiming to be abroad or traveling.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old retired care worker lost £22,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a widower named "Daniel Peeters" on Match.com over a four-month period from June to November. The fraudster used stolen photographs and fabricated increasingly elaborate stories—including a frozen bank account, a hospital accident, and marriage proposals—to manipulate the victim into making repeated wire transfers. Fortunately, solicitors from the National Fraud Helpline recovered all of the victim's lost funds through a fraud reclaim scheme.
wgnsradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams targeting seniors on dating apps have escalated significantly, prompting Senator Marsha Blackburn to introduce the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating platforms to notify users about fraudulent accounts they've interacted with. Seniors lost $1.3 billion nationally to romance scams in 2022, with Tennessee residents over 60 alone losing $43 million in 2023—an 18% increase year-over-year—as scammers exploit recently widowed or divorced individuals seeking meaningful connections.
wcyb.com
· 2025-12-08
Tennessee seniors lost $43 million to scams in 2023, with an 18% increase from the previous year, largely driven by romance scams on dating apps where perpetrators build trust before requesting money or financial access. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps to notify users if they've communicated with someone banned for fraudulent activity and include warnings about potential scam attempts. The bill would be enforceable by the FTC and state attorneys general, addressing a nationwide problem in which romance scams alone cost victims $1.3 billion in 2022.
knoe.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI issued a public service announcement warning of online scams targeting vulnerable populations including children, the elderly, and disabled individuals, though anyone can be victimized. Scammers use fake profiles and blackmail tactics—including threats to leak nude images—to extort victims, with law enforcement noting that these schemes escalate rapidly from initial contact to requests for compromising photos. Authorities recommend parents and guardians communicate openly with children and elderly relatives about online safety and recognize warning signs such as quick relationship escalation with unknown online contacts.
9news.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Denver Field Office warns of a rising cybercrime trend where criminals use free online file converter websites to install malware that steals personal information like Social Security numbers, banking details, and passwords; victims are advised to use built-in tools like "Print to PDF" instead. Colorado authorities also report ongoing "smishing" scams impersonating toll and parking agencies via text message, with Coloradans filing 44,945 fraud reports in 2024 totaling $210.7 million in losses, and experts emphasize that fraud targets people of all backgrounds and education levels.