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paymentsjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. lacks a consistent framework to identify and address the growing scam epidemic, with 24.1 million Americans falling victim to scams in 2023—significantly more than the 15 million identity fraud victims that year. The primary obstacles to tackling this threat are the absence of standardized scam categorization across organizations and no unified system to track reports, leaving different entities using varying terminology for the same schemes and making it difficult to understand the full scope of the problem. Recent initiatives like the Federal Reserve's ScamClassifier Model offer voluntary frameworks to standardize scam documentation, which could help organizations better allocate resources to address the most prevalent threats.
kmyu.tv
· 2025-12-08
This article does not involve elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse and is therefore outside the scope of the Elderus database. The incident describes animal cruelty at an airport where a woman drowned her pet dog after being denied boarding due to missing travel documentation, then boarded her flight to Colombia. While serious, this case is unrelated to elder fraud research.
northfortynews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office highlighted nine trending scams affecting Northern Colorado residents in March 2025, including "neighbor in trouble" calls requesting bail money, stolen/altered checks, fake PayPal fraud alerts, door-to-door sales schemes, tech support scams impersonating Microsoft and Apple, and cryptocurrency investment frauds. Seniors are frequently targeted and often listed on "sucker lists" shared among scammers, making compassionate reporting and victim support critical. The advisory recommends verifying requests independently, using secure payment methods, and reporting suspicious activity to local law enforcement or the FTC.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
"Digital arrest" scams in Mumbai involve fraudsters posing as police or CBI officers via video call to coerce victims into isolation and payment through psychological manipulation and fabricated legal threats. In 2023, Mumbai police registered 195 such cases, with victims ranging from senior citizens to high-earning professionals (bankers, doctors, IT professionals, MNC directors), who lost amounts ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 32 lakh after being threatened with drug trafficking charges, harm to family members, or travel bans. Scammers exploit authority bias, create artificial urgency, leverage stolen personal data (Aadhaar, PAN numbers), and use AI-generated videos
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
CBC's Marketplace partnered with three prominent "scambusters" to create a fraud-fighting call center that has rerouted 62 active scam call centers and intercepted fraudulent calls targeting Canadian victims. The article highlights a recent AI voice-cloning grandparent scam in which an Ontario senior was nearly defrauded of $9,000 after receiving a convincing call claiming to be her grandson in legal trouble, exemplifying a scheme that cost Canadians nearly $3 million in reported losses in 2024. The piece serves as a public awareness resource about various scams and fraud prevention efforts.
outerbanksvoice.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dare County Sheriff's Office warned of two active phone scams targeting residents: scammers spoofing the Clerk of Courts' office number to solicit money for document services, and fraudsters impersonating a non-existent lieutenant to request financial information. Both agencies stressed they never call residents requesting payment or financial details over the phone, and urged the public to verify suspicious calls directly with official office numbers.
today.com
· 2025-12-08
Online scammers are targeting vulnerable seniors on dating sites, deceiving them into sending money through romance scams. Lawmakers are advancing a bipartisan bill that would require dating apps to warn users about flagged accounts, as experts warn that AI technology is making these scams increasingly difficult to detect.
pennlive.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS has released its 2025-26 "Dirty Dozen" list warning taxpayers about scams that increase during tax filing season, which peaks before the April 15 deadline. Common schemes include email phishing and text message scams (smishing) impersonating the IRS, misleading social media tax advice, fraudulent charity donations, false fuel tax credit claims, and bogus self-employment tax credit schemes that can lead to identity theft and ineligible tax deductions. The IRS emphasizes that scammers exploit tax season urgency to trick vulnerable taxpayers into providing personal and financial information or filing fraudulent claims.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly widow who had accumulated significant wealth through early Coca-Cola investments lost her entire fortune to an online scammer despite family warnings and police intervention; she now lives in assisted living on a $5,000 monthly VA pension with only $1,000 remaining after care costs. The article documents this case alongside similar romance scams targeting affluent seniors, including a 73-year-old Boeing retiree who lost over $20,000 to a scammer posing as an MSNBC anchor, and notes that banks typically cannot reimburse authorized transfers to scammers. Prevention strategies emphasized include skepticism of online offers, resistance to pressure tactics, verification of contacts, an
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
A 76-year-old retired lawyer lost $740,000 in retirement savings to con artists who posed as federal investigators, convincing him he was helping with a fraud investigation. The article notes that retirees are frequent targets due to presumed savings, trust, cognitive vulnerabilities, and isolation, and outlines common scams including phishing emails, phone impersonations, and fake online sales, while recommending verification of unexpected requests, strong passwords, and reporting fraud rather than remaining silent due to embarrassment.
okdiario.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies New Jersey as the safest U.S. state for retirees based on FBI data analysis, citing low violent and property crime rates, minimal senior involvement in fatal accidents, and strong healthcare access. The article also lists nine additional safe states for retirement (New York, Mississippi, Louisiana, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, Alabama) and warns against five states with higher risks of elder fraud, property crime, and scams (Colorado, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico).
thehindu.com
· 2025-12-08
The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau warned corporate offices and IT firms of a rising trend of impersonation scams targeting financial personnel, where cybercriminals pose as senior executives via WhatsApp, email, and SMS to trick accounts officers into transferring large sums of money. In a documented case, an accounts officer received a WhatsApp message displaying a company CMD's profile picture and was instructed to transfer funds for an urgent project, resulting in financial loss before the fraud was discovered. The TGCSB recommends companies implement multi-level approval processes, verify all financial instructions through direct voice contact with the purported sender, and conduct regular employee training to counter these sophisticated attacks.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
On March 21, 2025, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office arrested suspects in an ongoing phone scam targeting an elderly male customer who was instructed to withdraw $50,000 from Wells Fargo in Oakdale. A vigilant bank teller alerted law enforcement after the victim attempted a second large withdrawal, prompting detectives to coordinate an undercover operation that successfully apprehended the scammers at a pre-arranged collection point. The case highlights the importance of reporting suspicious requests for large cash withdrawals to authorities immediately.
hiawathaworldonline.com
· 2025-12-08
I'm unable to provide a complete summary as the article text appears to be truncated or incomplete. The excerpt shows only the headline, date (March 23, 2025), and opening statement that financial scams are increasing in the twenty-first century, but the body content describing specific scams targeting seniors is not included. Please provide the full article text for an accurate summary.
news-herald.com
· 2025-12-08
A Mentor Senior Center Recreation Manager highlighted increased inquiries from seniors about turnpike toll collection scams, emphasizing the importance of educating older adults about various fraud schemes conducted through phones, computers, and other methods. The article underscores the critical need for senior awareness programs to combat evolving scam tactics across multiple communication platforms.
news-press.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, seniors lost $3.4 billion to financial scams, with common schemes including grandparent scams, fake financial institution impersonations, tech support fraud, government impersonation, and romance scams that exploit older adults' trust and emotional vulnerabilities. The article advises seniors to be wary of anyone demanding immediate payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers, and to verify requests through official channels before sending money. These scams cause not only significant financial losses but also lasting emotional and psychological harm to victims.
lamilano.it
· 2025-12-08
Operation "Fumo del Vesuvio" (Smoke from Vesuvius), conducted by Carabinieri in Trieste, dismantled an organized elder fraud ring operating across Northern Italy, resulting in 10 arrests and 29 additional suspects reported to authorities. The scam targeted elderly victims through phone calls impersonating lawyers or police officers threatening legal consequences for accidents allegedly caused by relatives, with specialized "tax collectors" sent to victims' homes to retrieve money; investigators recovered approximately €150,000 and identified 38 completed scams. The criminal operation employed a structured network of callers ("switchboard operators"), money collectors paid €150 daily, and information specialists who gathere
the-daily-record.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is an entertainment events listing and is not relevant to elder fraud research. It announces five upcoming events in Wayne and Holmes counties, including an improv show, amusement rides, a Johnny Cash tribute, and a murder mystery party. While one event (#3) is titled "Financial Elder Fraud Workshop" featuring FBI agents discussing scams targeting seniors, the article provides no details about the workshop content, specific fraud schemes discussed, or any outcomes—only that it is free and scheduled for March 28, 2-4 p.m. at Greystone Event Center in Wooster.
devdiscourse.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is refocusing its enforcement efforts on traditional cases including elder fraud, insider trading, and individual misconduct, moving away from more creative enforcement theories under new leadership. This strategic shift also includes modified cryptocurrency policies and restructured enforcement processes requiring commission approval for formal investigations, following significant staff changes within the agency.
cslea.com
· 2025-12-08
An unlicensed room and board operator in Contra Costa County, California, was charged with felony grand theft after allegedly stealing money from an elderly resident's bank account through fraudulent withdrawals between May and September 2021 while the resident was hospitalized. The investigation, initiated by the California Department of Justice based on Adult Protective Services referral, found evidence of financial exploitation, neglect, psychological abuse, and isolation at the operator's unlicensed facilities. The defendant self-surrendered and is scheduled for arraignment on April 16, 2025.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
A former pastor in Crofton, Kentucky, Marvin Upton, was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in prison for defrauding an elderly parishioner with dementia between 2013 and 2016 through bank fraud, and for filing false tax returns that concealed the fraudulent income. Upton was ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution to the victim's estate and $222,037 to the IRS. The case was prosecuted under the Department of Justice's National Elder Justice Task Force as part of broader efforts to combat financial exploitation of seniors.
salemnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Beverly police recovered and returned more than $21,000 to elderly Essex County residents who had fallen victim to bitcoin scams, marking one of the first successful recoveries of its kind in the nation according to the Essex County District Attorney's office. The recovery effort demonstrates authorities' ability to trace and reclaim cryptocurrency fraud losses for senior victims.
rocktownnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Juliana McGrath from the Harrisonburg Police Department discussed scams targeting senior citizens during a radio segment on WSVA Radio's "Issue in Aging" program on March 24, 2025. The segment focused on raising awareness about fraudulent schemes perpetrated against older adults.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS has warned Americans about tax scams targeting older adults that surge during filing season, with IRS impersonation being the most common fraud type. Scammers pose as government agencies or tax professionals using spoofed caller IDs and high-pressure tactics demanding untraceable payments (cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers), with adults aged 65-74 most frequently targeted; a McAfee survey found 48 percent of Americans received fake IRS messages, and 79 percent of those experienced collection attempts or threats. The IRS clarified it will never demand immediate payment via prepaid cards, threaten arrest, or request sensitive financial information by phone, and warns that AI-enhanced deep
mcknightsseniorliving.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the FTC's 2024 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, while younger people (ages 20-29) report fraud more frequently than seniors, adults aged 70 and older experience significantly higher median losses, with those 80+ losing a median of $1,650 per incident and seniors collectively losing $2.3 billion in 2024. Overall fraud losses in the United States reached $12.5 billion in 2024 (a 25% increase from 2023), with business imposters and government imposters being the most common scams targeting older adults, followed by tech support and lottery scams.
msutoday.msu.edu
· 2025-12-08
Global cybercrime cost nearly $10 trillion in the previous year and is expected to rise in 2025, with scammers increasingly targeting everyday people through common fraud schemes. Michigan State University experts highlight three major scam types: package delay scams (smishing texts impersonating delivery services), romance fraud (building fake emotional relationships to extract money), and other cyber threats, offering guidance on protection strategies such as verifying official websites and recognizing common fraudster tactics like fake military profiles or stolen social media images.
clickorlando.com
· 2025-12-08
IRS impersonation scams targeting seniors have become the most common senior fraud scheme, with scammers using spoofed caller IDs to pose as IRS officials and pressure victims into immediate payments for alleged tax debt. According to former IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, seniors over 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, with these scams intensifying during tax season. The IRS never initiates contact by phone, text, or email, and legitimate tax notices always arrive by mail first—knowing this distinction is key to avoiding these fraudulent schemes.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman lost over $400,000 to online scammers who contacted her via Facebook over seven years, manipulating her into sending money through Apple gift cards and cryptocurrency while operating under various aliases. Despite her son's efforts to seek help from law enforcement and lawyers, they reported being unable to intervene, and the woman continued sending money to the fraudsters even after moving in with her son, eventually taking out loans at their urging. The article includes expert warnings about cryptocurrency scam red flags, including unsolicited crypto solicitations on social media, promises of unusually high returns, and overly friendly strangers using deepfake technology to build trust.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
A 58-year-old retired man in Mumbai lost Rs 12 lakh after being targeted through a YouTube video advertising share market investments; he was added to a WhatsApp group that promised 20% returns and instructed to download a fraudulent app, through which scammers funneled his money across multiple bank accounts. When he attempted withdrawal, the scammers demanded an additional Rs 5 lakh, prompting him to report the fraud to cyber police. The Western Cyber Region filed an FIR against unidentified individuals in March 2025 for cheating under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.
wcexaminer.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
State Rep. Tina Pickett hosted a free senior scam awareness seminar on April 25 in Sayre, Pennsylvania, led by an investor education coordinator from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. The educational event focused on identifying popular scams targeting seniors, including cryptocurrency fraud, and teaching residents how to protect themselves from financial exploitation.
bostonherald.com
· 2025-12-08
A 23-year-old New York man was charged with extorting and defrauding a 72-year-old Newton woman out of approximately $480,000 through an elaborate scheme in which he impersonated a DEA agent and claimed she was implicated in money laundering involving narcotics traffickers. The perpetrator convinced the victim she needed to transfer her assets to the U.S. Treasury by purchasing gold bars and handing them to couriers; the scheme was uncovered when her family reported it and an undercover FBI agent was able to apprehend the suspect during a gold bar handoff.
ksl.com
· 2025-12-08
A Provo man in his 70s lost $186,000 over two years in a romance scam in which a person claiming to be a woman from Maryland convinced him to send money via multiple cash app accounts for an inheritance claim and promised relocation to Utah, with investigators believing a video call between them may have been AI-generated. Provo police used the case to warn of increasing online scams targeting seniors, including impersonation schemes (law enforcement, banks, utilities), tech support fraud, and kidnapping hoaxes, recommending that victims hang up on unsolicited callers and verify requests through official channels.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
West Virginians reported over $27 million in fraud losses in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission, as scams continue to rise across the state through phone calls, emails, and text messages. The article outlines common scam tactics including IRS/Social Security impersonation, romance scams, tech support scams, and phishing emails, and advises consumers to watch for red flags such as urgent language, requests for payment via gift cards or wire transfers, and unfamiliar contact information. Key protective measures include not answering unknown numbers, never clicking suspicious links, verifying charities before donating, and reporting suspected scams to authorities.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
American adults lost $47 billion to identity fraud and scams in 2024, a $4 billion increase from 2023, according to a Javelin Strategy & Research report cosponsored by AARP. The losses included $27 billion from traditional identity fraud affecting 18 million people and $20 billion from scams using social engineering, with criminals deliberately targeting older adults perceived as having significant savings and less technological comfort. Account takeover fraud and new-account fraud are growing problems, reaching $15.6 billion and $6.2 billion respectively in 2024, driven partly by technological gaps in security and weak privacy laws that allow data breaches and unauthorized data sharing.
oakdaleleader.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly male customer in Oakdale was targeted in a phone scam instructing him to withdraw $50,000 from Wells Fargo; a vigilant bank teller detected the suspicious transaction and alerted authorities. The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department coordinated an undercover operation with the victim's cooperation, apprehending the suspects when they arrived to collect the funds at a pre-arranged location. The department urges residents to be cautious of scams requesting large cash withdrawals or personal information, particularly warning elderly individuals and their families to report suspected fraud to law enforcement immediately.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
A free educational seminar on phishing and fraud prevention for seniors will be held on Tuesday, April 1, at Smith Village in Chicago, featuring Katherine Walsh from the Cook County Sheriff's Office. The seminar will cover common scams targeting older adults including phishing calls, text smishing, and pharming attacks, such as impersonations of the IRS, Social Security Administration, grandparent scams, and fraudulent service solicitations. The event is part of a broader awareness effort, as Americans lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2023, a 25 percent increase from the previous year.
altoonamirror.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania State Police presented a seminar on scams targeting seniors, noting that older adults lost over $1 billion to cybercrimes in 2023, with common schemes including government imposter scams, grandparent scams, and tech support fraud. One victim paid $500 for fake tech support and later wired $65,000 to the same scammers after they gained remote access to her device, highlighting how emotional manipulation and technology exploitation are used to defraud older adults.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Idaho passed HB 323 into law, enabling financial institutions to temporarily pause suspicious transactions for up to 15 days to investigate potential fraud, addressing a critical gap that left the state's seniors vulnerable to financial crimes. In 2024 alone, Idaho seniors reported 18,447 scam cases resulting in over $53 million in losses. The "Report and Hold" authority law, effective July 1, 2025, empowers financial institutions and law enforcement to better identify and stop financial crimes against vulnerable Idahoans.
mychesco.com
· 2025-12-08
A 58-year-old former business office coordinator at two senior living facilities in Pennsylvania was indicted on eight counts of wire fraud for allegedly stealing approximately $122,941 from elderly residents' trust accounts at one facility between March 2020 and August 2023, and repeating the scheme at a second facility from April to July 2024. Hardy allegedly exploited her access to the Resident Fund Management Service system by issuing fraudulent checks to herself, family members, and associates, forging resident signatures, and making unauthorized cash withdrawals. Prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of up to $366,000, and if convicted on all charges, Hardy faces up to 160 years in prison
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Luis Alfonso Bisono Rodriguez, a 34-year-old Cleveland resident, was indicted on federal charges for participating in a grandparent fraud scheme that operated across Pennsylvania and Ohio between October 2024 and January 2025. The organized crime group defrauded at least five elderly victims in Western Pennsylvania of over $50,000 by impersonating grandchildren in crisis situations and requesting immediate money transfers; Rodriguez received the stolen funds via rideshare drivers and transferred much of it to the Dominican Republic through wire transfers. The FBI indicates there are likely additional victims across multiple states and requests that anyone with information report it through the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
midmichigannow.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly targeting older adults, particularly those over 75, with sweepstakes, impersonation, and text message scams. Law enforcement agencies recommend that seniors use the "Five P's" framework (Pretend, Problem, Prize, Pressure, Pay) to identify scams, hang up on pressuring callers, and verify claims with family and trusted sources before taking action. Authorities stress the importance of reporting fraud to local police or AARP's Fraud Watch Network at 877-908-3360, even when victims feel embarrassed.
upi.com
· 2025-12-08
Luis Alfonso Bisono Rodriguez, a 34-year-old Cleveland resident, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for operating a grandparent fraud scheme targeting elderly victims across Pennsylvania and Ohio from October through January. The organized crime operation involved scammers calling seniors impersonating grandchildren in crisis situations to solicit emergency funds, with money collected in Pennsylvania transported via rideshare drivers to Rodriguez, who then wired over $50,000 to the Dominican Republic; at least five elderly individuals were victimized, though authorities believe the actual number is higher.
ksfa860.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Texas seniors experienced an 11% increase in fraud losses, with one notable case involving a man sentenced to eight years in prison for stealing $300,000 from a Georgetown woman as part of an international scheme. Investigators identified a scam ring originating from India that targeted 21 victims across the country for nearly $6 million total by impersonating U.S. Government officials to extort money and personal information. AARP recommends victims speak up about fraud rather than remaining silent, as reporting can help protect others, and provides a helpline at 877-908-3360 for suspected scams.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 34-year-old man was indicted in a grandparent scam that targeted at least five Pittsburgh-area seniors, resulting in over $50,000 in losses between October and January, with investigators suspecting many more victims across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other states. The organized crime group operated by having callers impersonate grandchildren claiming to need emergency money for arrests or accidents, with money collected from victims delivered via ride-share drivers to northern Ohio where the defendant was captured on surveillance. The FBI estimates grandparent scams and similar elder fraud schemes cost seniors over $3 billion annually, targeting them because they are typically trusting, polite, and have significant financial resources.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Luis Alfonso Bisono Rodriguez, a 34-year-old Cleveland resident, was indicted by federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh on charges related to his role in an organized "grandparent scam" operating across Pennsylvania and Ohio. Rodriguez and his crime group defrauded at least five elderly victims out of more than $50,000 between October 2024 and January 2025 by impersonating grandchildren in crisis situations, collecting payments via Lyft and Uber drivers, and funneling proceeds to the Dominican Republic through wire transfers and bank deposits. Investigators believe there are additional victims across multiple states and are seeking information from the public through the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
eastidahonews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Provo man in his 70s lost $186,000 over two years in a romance scam in which someone claiming to be a woman from Maryland promised a romantic relationship and help claiming an inheritance, but the two never met in person and a video call may have been AI-generated. The case, discovered only when the man's son intervened, exemplifies a broader problem affecting seniors nationally, with other common scams including impersonation of law enforcement, banks, and utility companies; tech support schemes; and "grandparent in jail" fraud. Police and the FBI recommend hanging up on calls demanding urgent payment, independently verifying callers' identities, watching for cryptocurrency requests, and family members monitoring elderly relatives
wagner.house.gov
· 2025-12-08
Congresswoman Ann Wagner and Congressman Josh Gottheimer reintroduced the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act to protect seniors from financial scams and fraud. The legislation would empower the financial industry with tools to identify and delay suspicious transactions involving seniors, and require the SEC to recommend additional protections, addressing the fact that approximately 1 in 5 senior investors are victimized by financial fraud, resulting in an estimated $3.4 billion in annual losses.
bgindependentmedia.org
· 2025-12-08
The Wood County Retired Teachers Association is hosting an educational meeting on April 3 featuring Pam Rybka from the Better Business Bureau of Toledo to discuss senior scams. Ironically, the organization's own Facebook account was recently compromised, with scammers falsely advertising sweatshirts for sale. The event is open to all Wood County retired teachers and will be held at the Senior Center in Bowling Green.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
Hector Claveria, 51, of New York, was sentenced to two years in federal prison in March 2025 for laundering $20,000 in proceeds from elder fraud and computer service scams that targeted victims nationwide. The schemes deceived elderly individuals and computer users into sending payments by falsely claiming they owed money to government agencies, businesses, or tech companies. Claveria served as a money mule, collecting cash from these frauds and transferring funds to foreign accounts to obscure their illegal origin, and was also ordered to forfeit $20,000 and serve three years of supervised release.
orlandosentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Suspended Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill faced a court hearing on charges including elderly exploitation, where she contested claims that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) manipulated the alleged victim's testimony. Hill was indicted one year prior and is scheduled to stand trial in May 2025 on fraud and elder abuse charges.