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cnbc.com
QR codes, once harmless novelties, have become targets for scammers in a fraud scheme called "quishing," where malicious QR codes redirect users to phishing websites that steal personal information or download malware. The Federal Trade Commission and state agencies have warned about fake QR codes appearing on parking meters, utility bills, and packages, with studies showing 73% of Americans scan QR codes without verification and over 26 million have been directed to malicious sites. As traditional email phishing becomes harder, cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting QR codes—now accounting for 26% of all malicious links—making this scam expected to rise further.
nbc26.com
A Kansas City man discovered someone had attempted to fraudulently sell his undeveloped property after a realtor contacted him about a suspicious transaction. The scammer used convincing forged documentation including a fake driver's license, but the scheme was stopped before the property changed hands. Real estate professionals report this type of identity theft and property fraud is increasing, and recommend property owners watch for red flags such as sellers who only communicate virtually and use apps, and consider enrolling in county land sale alert programs.
whio.com
In 2024, U.S. consumers lost $5.7 billion to investment scams—a 24% increase from 2023—prompting Ohio's Department of Commerce Division of Securities to issue warnings to state investors. Common tactics include promises of guaranteed high returns with minimal risk, pressure to act quickly, and recruitment through social media and online ads, with scammers often using fake success stories to deceive victims into investing in fraudulent or unregistered securities. The Division recommends verifying that promoters are licensed through FINRA, researching investments thoroughly, and consulting independent professionals before committing funds.
tucson.com
A 74-year-old Tucson man drained his 75-year-old wife's $250,000 retirement account after developing an online romance with a woman claiming to be a chef, whom he met on Facebook and sent money to over several months for various fabricated needs including job fees and taxes. The couple also took out a loan on their vehicle and considered a home equity loan to continue funding the scam, which ended when the account was depleted and the scammer stopped contact. Arizona has the highest rate of elder fraud in the nation at 289 cases per 100,000 seniors, with authorities reporting that social media romance scams, phishing, and AI-
indianexpress.com
Between 2023 and July 2025, Chandigarh police registered 23 FIRs for "digital arrest" scams, with 13 cases reported in the first half of 2025 alone, indicating a rising trend. Fraudsters impersonate government officials (CBI, ED, NCB) via WhatsApp or video calls to convince victims—primarily elderly individuals—that they are under investigation, then coerce them into transferring money to fake "safe government accounts"; notable victims include a retired Colonel who lost Rs 3.41 crore, an 82-year-old woman who lost Rs 2.5 crore, and others.
bywire.news
Global cryptocurrency scams surged 456% between May 2024 and April 2025, with scammers using AI-generated deepfakes, synthetic voices, and forged credentials to impersonate trusted individuals and platforms with increasing sophistication. In 2024, fraudulent crypto operations stole over $10.7 billion globally, with the U.S. accounting for nearly $3.9 billion in losses across approximately 150,000 reported complaints, though officials estimate actual figures are significantly higher due to underreporting, particularly among older adults and immigrant communities. Law enforcement operations have begun responding—including New York's freezure of $300,000 in stolen assets and seizure
vocal.media
This article is not relevant to elder fraud research. It is promotional content about Ukraine dating websites and apps, designed to market online dating platforms. While the article mentions "avoiding scams and fake profiles" in dating contexts, it does not document actual elder fraud cases, scams targeting seniors, or abuse of elderly individuals. This appears to be commercial advertorial content rather than news reporting or educational material about elder exploitation.
abc.net.au
Sam responded to an unsolicited text about a marketing job opportunity and was drawn into a task-based scam after being contacted via WhatsApp by scammers posing as recruiters. The scammers lured him with promises of $900+ weekly wages for easy work, daily payments, and a paid trial, ultimately resulting in Sam losing thousands of dollars before he ended contact. The article identifies multiple red flags Sam missed, including error-riddled messages, unrealistic wages for unskilled work, requests to move communication off legitimate platforms, and pressure to proceed without standard employment verification procedures.
ainvest.com
A woman's Instagram account was hijacked and used to advertise fake Oasis concert tickets, resulting in £1,400 stolen from her friends who believed they were purchasing genuine tickets from her. The scammers impersonated her to spread the fraud and demanded £100 to return account access, while Instagram refused to recognize the account as compromised. The incident reflects a broader trend of ticket fraud, with UK Oasis fans losing over £2 million to fraudsters by March 2025, and experts recommend using two-factor authentication to prevent similar account compromises.
newsweek.com
Americans age 60 and older lost more than $745 million to scams in the first quarter of 2025—nearly $200 million more than the same period in 2024—with losses increasing across all age groups, according to FTC data. Adults ages 60-69 reported the most incidents (60,379 cases, $355 million in losses), while those 80 and older had fewer cases but higher median losses around $1,900. The FTC and FBI recommend reporting scams through reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov, and encourage families to discuss common scam tactics with older relatives.
turlockjournal.com
A San Gabriel man, Yuwen Zheng, was arrested near a Turlock senior's home after allegedly conducting an elaborate fraud scheme in which he and accomplices posed as representatives from legitimate companies and government agencies to convince the victim to withdraw thousands of dollars in cash over several weeks. Zheng was taken into custody before collecting a second payment and was charged with theft by false pretenses and elder abuse; authorities suspect additional victims may exist and warn the public against common scam tactics including urgent secrecy demands, unusual payment methods, and impersonation of authority figures.
wgxa.tv
An 83-year-old Peach County, Georgia man nearly lost $20,000 in cash after scammers posing as Bank of America convinced him he was involved in a money laundering investigation and instructed him to mail the funds to Miami. His son Keith intercepted the package through connections with law enforcement before it could be delivered on Monday, recovering the money safely. The incident highlights the prevalence of elder fraud, with the FBI reporting millions of seniors fall victim annually, losing an estimated $3 billion, and elder fraud complaints rising 14% as of 2023.
2news.com
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office warned of rising scams targeting older adults in the region, including grandparent scams, government imposter schemes, tech support fraud, and sweepstakes scams that aim to steal money and personal information. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Report, Americans over 60 lost $1.7 billion to fraud in the previous year, with Lyon County seniors being frequent targets due to their trust, limited tech skills, and fear of reporting. The sheriff's office is offering community presentations on fraud prevention and recommends residents use the STOP, LEAVE, ASK, WAIT, ACT protocol to identify and avoid suspicious calls.
aol.com
An $8.8 million fraud ring targeting 235 elderly victims across multiple states was dismantled following a suspicious $250,000 transfer detected by Synchrony Bank in April 2023. The scheme involved eight suspects and three bank employees, including insider Antonio Penn, who stole customer banking data and sold it via Telegram to accomplices who opened fraudulent accounts and laundered the stolen funds. The 15-month investigation, led by the Polk County Sheriff's Office with support from the Florida Attorney General and multi-state agencies, recovered the full $8.8 million and highlighted the importance of transaction alerts, financial monitoring services, and bank fraud protections to prevent insider fraud targeting seniors.
mb.com.ph
Filipinos, including senior citizens increasingly active on social media, face a surge in scam links on platforms like Facebook, Viber, and Telegram, with suspicious links rising 28 percent to nearly 19,000 incidents in Q2 2025—driven by scammers shifting from declining SMS and call-based fraud to social media. The scams primarily target vulnerable individuals through online gambling sites, fake promotions, and loan offers, with loan-related scams accounting for nearly 10,000 cases. The article advises users to avoid clicking unfamiliar links, verify messages directly with senders, and report suspicious content, while calling on social media platforms to increase moderation and collaborate
the420.in
A 56-year-old retired Indian Army Colonel in Pune was defrauded of ₹5.3 lakh by scammers posing as spiritual service providers on Facebook who lured him through fake online pooja services and repeatedly demanded payments over three weeks. When the victim attempted to recover his losses by contacting what he believed was PayPal customer care, additional fraudsters convinced him to download malicious software, resulting in another ₹48,000 being stolen from his bank account. The case highlights a growing trend of cybercriminals exploiting religious sentiments through social media platforms to target elderly and retired individuals.
gilmermirror.com
Romance scams are among the costliest fraud schemes, with victims reporting over $1.3 billion in losses in 2022, targeting people seeking relationships online through fake profiles and emotional manipulation to solicit money, gift cards, or personal information. Scammers typically establish trust quickly, claim emergencies or hardships, avoid in-person meetings, and pressure victims to keep the relationship secret. Protection strategies include moving slowly in relationships, verifying identities through reverse image searches, refusing money requests, consulting trusted friends or family, and reporting suspicious profiles to the FTC and BBB Scam Tracker.
abc.net.au
Donna Nelson, a Western Australian woman serving a six-year sentence in Japan for drug smuggling, appealed her conviction with expert testimony from romance scam researcher Monica Whitty, who concluded Nelson was likely a victim of organized crime that manipulated her through a romance scam into becoming an unwitting drug mule. The court rejected the appeal despite Whitty's evidence suggesting Nelson had been victimized by a sophisticated romance scam operation.
palestineherald.com
Romance scams are among the costliest fraud types, with victims reporting over $1.3 billion in losses in 2022. Scammers create fake profiles on dating apps and social media to build trust before requesting money for fake emergencies, using emotional manipulation to steal funds, personal information, and identities. Victims can lose money through wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, and bank account compromises.
ifamagazine.com
Nearly 1 in 5 UK travellers fall victim to holiday booking scams, with some losing over £500, as cybercriminals use fake accommodation listings, counterfeit travel apps, deepfake customer service agents, and QR code fraud to target holidaymakers during peak season. The article identifies six common travel scams including fake travel insurance, public Wi-Fi attacks, and fraudulent currency exchanges, with UK losses from "quishing" scams alone reaching £3.5 million last year. Key prevention measures include verifying listings and app sources, avoiding unsolicited contact, checking for HTTPS encryption, using VPNs on public Wi-Fi, and only using official
foxnews.com
A phishing scam impersonates Microsoft security alerts by sending emails with links that appear to point to legitimate platforms like Google Docs or SharePoint but actually redirect users to fake Microsoft login pages designed to steal credentials. The scam uses urgent language, vague threats about account compromise, and sometimes modifies support contact information to deceive victims into providing sensitive information. Users can protect themselves by verifying sender addresses, hovering over links before clicking, only approving two-factor authentication requests they initiated, and reporting suspicious emails to Microsoft.
wbrz.com
Louisiana State Police and the Office of Motor Vehicles warned residents of a fraudulent text message scam claiming recipients have outstanding traffic tickets and must pay fees or face prosecution. The official agencies clarified they do not send threatening text messages or emails and advised recipients to delete suspicious messages, avoid clicking links, and report scams to the FTC rather than providing personal information or payment.
cleveland.com
The Federal Trade Commission warned of a phishing scam where scammers send text messages impersonating Amazon, claiming customers are entitled to refunds due to product recalls or quality issues and instructing them to click a link to claim the money. Instead of issuing refunds, the malicious links direct victims to phishing sites designed to steal personal and financial information. The FTC advises consumers not to click links in suspicious texts, to verify any account issues by visiting Amazon's official website directly, and to report scam messages to 7726 (SPAM).
cnet.com
During the 2024 holiday season, phishing and spoofing scams stole over $70 million from victims, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics including legitimate-looking HTTPS encryption and URLs mimicking real websites to deceive consumers. The article provides guidance on identifying malicious links by checking URLs for suspicious indicators (such as "@" symbols, typo-squatting, or unusual domain extensions), avoiding shortened links, and being wary of urgent messaging, while warning that clicking scam links can result in financial loss, credential theft, or malware installation.
kalb.com
Louisiana residents are being targeted by scam text messages impersonating the Office of Motor Vehicles demanding payment for traffic violations, along with increased scam calls falsely claiming to be from law enforcement and the Department of Justice demanding money under threat of arrest. Authorities advise residents not to click links or share personal information in unsolicited messages, to verify communications directly with official sources rather than responding to the message itself, and to be aware that scammers use "spoofing" technology to make fraudulent calls appear legitimate.
enquirerjournal.com
This article documents various scam tactics—including posing as banks, government agencies, and using cryptocurrency demands—and shares personal experiences where victims avoided losses by recognizing red flags like bitcoin requests and suspicious email domains. According to AARP data, consumers lost $470 million to scams in 2024 (five times the 2020 amount), with criminals targeting text messages at high success rates; the article recommends filtering unknown numbers, verifying caller information, and deleting messages requesting urgent action or personal information.
abc7amarillo.com
Amarillo Police issued a warning about a scam targeting Amarillo National Bank members, in which scammers impersonate the bank's card center and attempt to obtain customers' full card numbers or PINs. The bank emphasized that legitimate representatives will never request this sensitive information and advised customers to hang up and call the official number (806) 378-8000 if they suspect fraudulent contact.
nypost.com
Scammers exploited a system error in NYC's Summer Youth Employment Program debit cards between July 11-13, fraudulently withdrawing $17 million from ATMs citywide by accessing limits up to $40,000 per card instead of the intended several hundred dollars per week. Young people posted videos on social media advertising the scheme, and investigators from NYPD and the Department of Youth and Community Development are working to identify those involved and determine how many cards were compromised. The case raised questions about accountability, as city officials stated no tax dollars were lost, leaving unclear who will cover the fraudulent withdrawals.
nasdaq.com
Joe Schulz, a New Jersey-based custom clothing manufacturer, received a suspicious order from a Dubai company for 200 coats and was targeted by an overpayment scam when they deposited a fraudulent check for $93,000 instead of the $14,000 owed, then requested he wire back the $79,000 difference. Schulz avoided the scam by investigating the check's origin, discovering it was fraudulently drawn on a legitimate Indiana construction company's account, and immediately contacting his bank to freeze his account. The incident illustrates how fake checks can appear legitimate and clear quickly, but may take weeks for banks to detect as fraudulent.
pressherald.com
At least 13 Mainers reported receiving text message scams impersonating the Department of Motor Vehicles, using a fake law reference and threatening license suspension to create panic and prompt immediate payment. Maine has seen a significant rise in government impersonation scams, with 98 reported victims in 2024 compared to about 40 annually from 2020-2022, while phishing and spoofing scams jumped from fewer than 100 victims yearly to 357 victims in 2024. Experts recommend acting quickly if scammed by freezing credit with all three major agencies, monitoring financial accounts, and reporting the incident to local police and relevant companies.
theglobeandmail.com
Crystal Quast, a Canadian author, lost $2,500 to an Amazon imposter publishing scam before a friend at the company revealed she was dealing with fraudsters. Canadian fraud losses reached $647 million in reported cases in 2024, up from $577 million in 2023, with an estimated 90-95 percent of fraud going unreported. As banks have strengthened defenses against unauthorized fraud, criminals have shifted to "authorized fraud" schemes like investment and romance scams that manipulate victims into voluntarily transferring funds, creating new detection challenges for financial institutions.
nbcwashington.com
Actor Chris Carmack and his wife Erin Slaver lost $2,000 to an online shopping scam after paying for cushions that never arrived and could not recover their money once the seller disappeared. The couple publicly shared their experience on Instagram as part of a McAfee cybersecurity campaign encouraging scam victims to report their stories, noting that billions of dollars are lost annually to scams. The article emphasizes that victims should report scams to the FTC, save all documentation, and speak openly about their experiences to help others recognize warning signs.
chronline.com
An Eastern Oregon woman in her 60s lost $600,000 to scammers posing as federal agents who instructed her to purchase gold bars and transfer ownership to them for "safekeeping," though intervention by state officials prevented an additional $300,000 loss. A second woman in the region also lost $60,000 in a similar silver bar scam. Oregon Department of Justice officials warn that government agencies, banks, and tech companies never request customers buy precious metals or transfer ownership, and advise people to hang up on unsolicited callers and report suspicious activity to authorities.
dailydot.com
A 5th-grade teacher received a convincing scam call from someone impersonating a sheriff's department official claiming she had failed to appear for jury duty and faced citations and arrest warrants. She avoided falling victim by questioning the caller's information and verifying with her local sheriff's department non-emergency line, which confirmed it was a scam—noting that legitimate jury duty failures are handled by mail, not threatening phone calls. The teacher's warning highlights that this scam is circulating widely, with multiple commenters reporting they experienced similar calls or were actually defrauded by the scheme.
koaa.com
A Colorado author lost nearly $160,000 to a combined romance and investment scam in 2024, first depositing over $100,000 into a cryptocurrency platform recommended by a woman he met on a dating app, then losing an additional $50,000 to a fake scam recovery service when he attempted to retrieve his funds. After filing reports with the FBI, Colorado Attorney General's office, and FTC, Kern received no response and is now focused on repaying his parents, whose retirement funds he borrowed from to pay the fraudulent recovery service. The case exemplifies how romance scams—which ranked in the top 10 FBI complaints for 2024—often escalate into secondary frau
thestar.com.my
Nearly 20 Hong Kong residents lost HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) to online romance scams over two weeks, with 40% of victims aged over 60. One notable case involved a 70-year-old man who lost HK$3 million in savings plus HK$1 million in debt after being befriended via WhatsApp by a scammer posing as a neighbor, who then gained his trust through romantic messages and convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency. Police recommend verifying identities through video calls, avoiding rushed emotional or financial commitments with online strangers, and using the "Scameter" tool to check suspicious contacts and websites.
wchstv.com
Charleston Police and Chase Bank hosted a scam awareness workshop for seniors in Charleston, West Virginia, where attendees learned to recognize common fraud schemes including E-Z Pass, jury duty, and romance scams. According to the Federal Trade Commission, West Virginia residents lost approximately $27 million to fraud and scams in 2024 and are on pace to lose more in 2025. Experts advised seniors to verify requests with trusted sources directly, avoid sharing personal information via phone or email, and report scams immediately to police and their banks, noting that once money reaches scammers—typically operating overseas—it is nearly impossible to recover.
miamitimesonline.com
U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in sending a letter to federal officials demanding coordinated efforts to combat international financial scams targeting seniors, which cost victims over $3.4 billion annually. The letter, signed by senators including Rick Scott, Mark Kelly, and Kirsten Gillibrand, requested enhanced investigations, increased foreign law enforcement partnerships, public awareness campaigns, and improved interagency coordination. Moody, a member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, has prioritized senior fraud issues, previously recovering millions of dollars for victims as Florida's Attorney General and supporting the designation of National Slam the Scam Day.
donalds.house.gov
Congressman Byron Donalds announced a free, in-person scam awareness workshop in Bonita Springs, Florida, co-hosted with regional FBI partners for constituents of Florida's 19th Congressional District. The workshop aims to educate attendees about common scams and elder fraud prevention strategies.
weny.com
Pennsylvania State Representative Tina Pickett held an annual Senior Expo in Athens to educate seniors on protecting themselves from scams, featuring speakers on healthcare, benefits, secure banking, and Medicare, as well as free document shredding services. According to the National Council on Aging, seniors over 60 lost $3.4 billion combined to scams in 2023, with fraud threats including identity theft and financial exploitation that can damage victims' credit and finances.
wobm.com
Phone scams targeting New Jersey seniors have surged significantly, with scammers using sophisticated tactics like spoofed caller IDs and emotional manipulation to exploit older adults' willingness to engage in conversation and trust callers claiming to be family members or banks. Common schemes pressure victims to act quickly without verification, and scammers exploit seniors' unfamiliarity with modern fraud tactics. Protective measures include teaching seniors not to share information with suspicious callers, verifying numbers by hanging up and calling back independently, and contacting New Jersey's consumer affairs division or local police fraud departments for assistance.
ama-assn.org
Two federal agencies—the DEA and CMS—issued warnings about scams targeting physicians that impersonate government officials to fraudulently obtain medical records, personal information, or payments. The DEA alerts physicians to impersonation schemes claiming to investigate their practices via phone or letter, while CMS warns of fraudulent requests for medical records or alleged Medicare debt payments. Both agencies emphasize that their personnel do not initiate contact via unsolicited calls, emails, or faxes demanding information or payment, and recommend reporting suspicious incidents to the FBI or Federal Trade Commission.
news.ua.edu
Scammers are posing as University of Alabama students on GroupMe, Snapchat, and other social media platforms to sell fake football tickets, requesting untraceable payments through Venmo, CashApp, or Apple Pay before blocking victims and disappearing with their money. To protect against this fraud, the university recommends using official platforms like MyTickets or SeatGeek, avoiding social media ticket sales, meeting sellers in person at safe locations, and never sharing personal information or using untraceable payment methods. Victims should immediately report scams to University Police at 205-348-5454.
forbes.com
A surge in SMS phishing scams impersonating Amazon has increased more than 5,000% since July 8, with attackers sending millions of text messages claiming refunds or delivery issues to lure users to fake Amazon websites designed to steal login credentials. The scam targets Amazon users indiscriminately based on the high likelihood that recipients have made recent purchases, with organized criminal gangs operating at industrial scale from beyond U.S. law enforcement reach. Amazon advises recipients to delete suspicious texts immediately, verify accounts through official channels, and enable two-factor authentication, while the company reported taking down over 55,000 phishing websites and 12,000 phone numbers used in impersonation schemes
wect.com
The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office warned of a phone scam targeting family members of detained individuals, in which a caller impersonating an officer requested $800 for "ankle monitor hookup fees" to secure a detainee's release. The victim's husband had not actually been served with a warrant or had release conditions set at the time of the fraudulent call. Law enforcement clarified that officers never solicit money by phone for release and directed residents to report such calls to the sheriff's office.
westernunion.com
This is a navigation page and "About Us" header for a money transfer service's fraud awareness section, not a specific article about a scam or fraud incident. The page displays menu options and links to educational fraud prevention resources covering topics like puppy scams, identity theft, military scams, romance scams, and telemarketing scams, but contains no actual content, case study, or data to summarize.
consumer.ftc.gov
Scammers are sending text messages impersonating Amazon, claiming items failed quality inspection or were recalled and offering refunds via suspicious links—a phishing scheme designed to steal personal information and money. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts, verify any concerns by logging directly into your Amazon account through official channels, and report suspicious messages to 7726 (SPAM) or your carrier's junk reporting feature.
dailyamerican.com
Scammers employ constantly evolving tactics including fake emails, texts, and social media profiles to deceive victims, with Pennsylvanians losing approximately $400 million through text messaging scams alone. To avoid becoming victims, consumers should guard credit and debit cards, avoid clicking links from unknown senders, verify company contact information independently, refrain from posting vacation photos on social media, and be cautious during high-risk periods like summer travel and back-to-school shopping when scams increase. Victims can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission or FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
app.com
A phishing scam impersonating the New Jersey DMV has circulated since at least May, sending text messages threatening vehicle suspension, credit score damage, and prosecution for alleged unpaid traffic tickets to pressure recipients into clicking malicious links and providing personal financial information. The NJMVC clarified it only sends text messages for appointment reminders and never requests services or payments via unsolicited communications. Victims should verify claims directly with official websites and report such SMiShing attempts to the FTC and FBI.