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Denver7
· 2025-01-20
The City and County of Denver issued a warning about a text message scam falsely claiming recipients had unpaid parking invoices. The scam messages, which appeared official with Denver logos and branding, attempted to collect personal and financial information from residents; Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure confirmed it only notifies residents of unpaid parking tickets by mail, never by text.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-01-17
A victim lost over $137,000 in life savings after receiving an email falsely claiming her social security number was used for drug trafficking, demonstrating how sophisticated social engineering scams exploit fear and panic rather than relying solely on cyber tactics. According to the FTC, Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023—the highest amount ever recorded—with scammers increasingly using organized crime networks, technology, and social manipulation to target victims through emails, texts, and social media.
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WGN News
· 2025-01-07
The Better Business Bureau released its top 10 local scams of 2024, with online purchases through fake websites ranking as the #1 threat, followed by phishing scams, employment scams, debt collection scams, and social media shopping scams involving counterfeit products. Consumers are advised to verify companies through the BBB before providing personal or financial information, avoid clicking suspicious links in emails or social media ads, be wary of unsolicited urgent requests, and recognize that legitimate debt collectors must notify in writing before taking action.
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ET Now
· 2025-01-06
Digital arrest scams are rapidly proliferating in India, with victims including influencer Ankush Bahuguna (held virtually for 40 hours), a 50-year-old businesswoman (lost 1.6 crore rupees), and a 65-year-old woman (lost 46 lakh rupees). In 2024 alone, Indians lost approximately 120 crore rupees across multiple states, with Karnataka reporting 109 crore rupees in losses from 641 cases. The scam operates through video calls where criminals impersonate authorities and coerce victims into believing they are under digital arrest, demanding payment to resolve fabricated legal issues.
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IRSvideos
· 2025-01-06
This is an educational webinar presented by the IRS and FTC during National Tax Security Awareness Week that covers common identity theft and tax-related scams, methods for identifying and reporting fraud, the IRS Identity Protection PIN program, and resources for protecting against identity thieves. The 75-minute presentation includes technical guidance for participants and a live Q&A session to address audience questions about fraud prevention and recovery.
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ABC11
· 2025-01-01
**Summary:**
Experts warn that scammers are increasingly using generative AI in 2025 to create more realistic fraudulent websites, deepfake videos and audio, and fake social media content, making scams harder to detect. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, consumers lost over $1 trillion to scams in 2024, and the FBI has issued alerts about criminals exploiting AI to commit fraud at larger scales and increase the believability of their schemes. Consumers are advised to remain vigilant in protecting their money and personal information as scam tactics continue to evolve.
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CNN-News18
· 2024-12-26
Cyber crimes in India surged dramatically in 2024, with the tech-driven region of Hyderabad experiencing a 64% rise in overall crime and an 882% increase in digital arrest scams, reaching losses of 80 crores compared to 6.2 crores the previous year. Cyber fraud cases accounted for 11,900 incidents (23% of all crimes in the region), with citizens losing over 700 crores to fraudsters through job scams, trading frauds, and SMS phishing schemes. The segment emphasizes the importance of avoiding calls from unidentified numbers and highlights ongoing efforts to combat the escalating digital crime problem across the nation.
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WHNT News 19
· 2024-12-23
This educational segment from News 19 highlights increased scam risks during the holiday season when people shop online and donate to charities. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to verify website URLs carefully (scammers often alter one or two letters), use credit cards instead of debit cards for added protection, and research charities before donating to ensure legitimacy and proper fund disclosure. The BBB offers a free Scam Tracker tool with customized survival kits to help victims of identity theft and account compromise take appropriate next steps.
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Scripps News
· 2024-12-22
In 2024, scammers are targeting all demographics with increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, as reported losses reached $10 billion—the highest annual total on record. The most common scams include impostor schemes, online shopping fraud, fake job opportunities, and investment scams, with 80% of investment scam victims losing money. The piece highlights how scammers exploit personal information and worst fears, noting that artificial intelligence is making these schemes even more difficult to detect and avoid.
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KHON2 News
· 2024-12-18
The Better Business Bureau identified 12 common holiday scams, with misleading social media ads and imposter websites being the most prevalent. The list includes phishing emails, fake charities, puppy scams, unsafe holiday apps, and counterfeit product sales. To protect themselves, consumers should avoid interacting with unsolicited messages, only shop from trusted businesses, verify website authenticity, report scams to the BBB and financial institutions, and contact local law enforcement if money is lost.
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WPLG Local 10
· 2024-12-04
The FBI Miami issued a holiday season warning about the rise of online scams, which increased 22% between 2022 and 2023, with South Florida's online investment fraud losses jumping from $12 million to $300 million. Elderly individuals are particularly targeted for romance fraud, tech support fraud, and impersonation schemes, with AI increasingly used to facilitate scams; charity fraud also peaks during the holidays. The agency advises consumers to be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true, as billions of dollars are lost annually to fraud schemes nationwide.
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CBS Miami
· 2024-11-28
As the holiday shopping season begins, cybersecurity experts warn consumers about increased scam activity targeting online shoppers. Scammers use copycat websites, unsolicited emails with malicious links, unrealistically low prices, and fake delivery company text messages to steal personal information, email addresses, and financial data. Consumers should navigate directly to legitimate company websites rather than clicking email links and be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true.
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This Morning
· 2024-11-27
Gift card scams are a major fraud threat during the holiday season, with Action Fraud reporting losses of £13.5 million to gift card scams in the previous year. Scammers target these popular gifts through various methods including impersonation fraud via WhatsApp, Facebook, email, and text messages, with elderly people being particularly vulnerable. Gift cards are attractive to fraudsters because of their high monetary value and ease of transfer, making it essential for consumers to be cautious when purchasing or gifting them.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2024-11-07
**Summary:**
Scammers target veterans by impersonating government representatives and fraudulently offering loan forgiveness, mortgage aid, or grants in exchange for upfront processing fees. Veterans and their spouses experience higher median losses to scams than average consumers, particularly through employment scams that exploit frequent military relocations. The BBB advises veterans to never pay upfront for loans or grants, never share personal information with unsolicited callers, and remember that the government communicates via mail only—never by phone, email, or social media.
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FOX31 Denver
· 2024-10-31
Halloween spending reached a record $12.2 billion last year, but experts warn consumers to beware of scams including fake sweepstakes texts and deceptive giveaways that trick people into sharing personal information. When purchasing costumes, consumers should buy from reputable retailers that verify products meet safety standards and are non-flammable, and should check tags for material listings to avoid allergen exposure, particularly latex allergies.
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NOLA.com
· 2024-10-17
AARP Louisiana hosted a fraud awareness townhall event featuring nationally recognized fraud expert and former prosecutor Paul Greenwood to educate seniors about scams targeting older adults. The event aimed to provide practical protection strategies and highlight how fraud impacts seniors beyond financial loss, including emotional and trust-related consequences. AARP encourages seniors to utilize resources like their FraudWatch Network to stay informed about emerging scams and safeguard personal information.
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NOLA.com
· 2024-10-17
AARP Louisiana hosted an educational presentation titled "Unmasking Fraud" featuring nationally recognized fraud expert and former prosecutor Paul Greenwood to address senior fraud targeting older adults in Louisiana. The event emphasized that fraud against seniors impacts not only financial security but also causes lasting emotional and psychological harm, and provided practical strategies for protection. AARP directs people to its Fraud Watch Network resource for current scam information and personal data protection guidance.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-10-16
The IRS warned taxpayers against scams targeting hurricane relief seekers in the aftermath of Hurricanes Milton and Helen in the Southeast. Scammers are exploiting disaster victims seeking charitable assistance, with variations targeting both those affected by the storms and unaffected taxpayers attempting to claim fraudulent charitable deductions. Consumers should verify relief organizations' legitimacy and be cautious of unsolicited aid offers.
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CBS News
· 2024-10-14
The FBI warns of a surge in post-disaster fraud following hurricanes in the Southeast, reporting over 26,000 complaints resulting in more than $312 million in losses over the past 5 years. Common scams include imposters posing as FEMA inspectors demanding fees, fraudsters claiming to be insurance companies fishing for personal information, and other tactics using text, email, and door-to-door contact. Victims should remember that legitimate government officials and FEMA workers never request payment or banking details.
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CFPBLive
· 2024-10-09
This is an introductory webinar hosted by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau on payments industry practices for combating elder financial exploitation. The session provides participants with access to slides, resources, and a discussion platform to explore strategies and tools for preventing elder financial abuse within the payments sector.
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FTCvideos
· 2024-10-08
Impersonation scams involve fraudsters contacting victims via phone, email, text, mail, or social media while pretending to represent legitimate companies (PayPal, Amazon, Microsoft, government agencies) or trusted contacts. Scammers create urgency by falsely claiming account problems to pressure victims into providing personal information or money, exploiting panic to bypass critical thinking.
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KHON2 News
· 2024-10-02
Employment scams in Hawaii have cost job seekers over $86,000 in losses since the beginning of 2027, with the Better Business Bureau warning of fake job opportunities that increasingly impersonate legitimate companies. Common scam tactics include fake onboarding processes that steal personal information, fraudulent reshipping jobs involving stolen goods, and "task optimization" schemes where victims pay upfront fees for tasks and are tricked into depositing increasingly larger amounts before losing access to their accounts. To protect themselves, job seekers should avoid any employer requesting payment, verify company legitimacy through official websites and BBB.org, and be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true.
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KFOR Oklahoma's News 4
· 2024-09-29
In 2023, nearly 1,000 Oklahomans aged 60 and older lost over $22 million to fraud, with scams targeting seniors increasing 15% in Oklahoma compared to 11% nationally. Tech support scams and sweepstakes prize frauds are among the most common schemes, with one Oklahoma couple nearly falling victim to a $500,000 sweepstakes scam before becoming suspicious of personal questions. The FBI emphasizes the importance of reporting scams without shame and advises seniors to be cautious about unsolicited contacts and requests for personal financial information.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-09-19
Senator Bob Casey led a Senate Aging Committee hearing on fraud targeting older Americans, during which the committee released its annual "Fighting Fraud" resource book. The hearing addressed multiple scam types affecting seniors including grandparent scams, investment fraud, government impostor schemes, lottery scams, and tech support scams, while noting that scammers have become increasingly sophisticated in their tactics over recent years. The committee discussed both fraud prevention strategies and how federal law enforcement agencies respond to fraud reports.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-09-17
Senator Helmy discusses the urgent problem of elder fraud with committee experts, noting that New Jersey seniors reported over $1 million in losses to scams and fraud according to the FBI's IC3 Elder report. He raises concerns about a major data breach at background company National Public Data that exposed approximately 2.9 billion personal records containing names, addresses, and Social Security numbers, which he believes was underreported and could facilitate further fraud targeting vulnerable elderly populations.
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NBC10 Boston
· 2024-09-17
Bitcoin ATM scams are increasing at an alarming rate, with fraud losses exceeding $65 million in the first half of 2024 according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers use government impersonation, business impersonation, and tech support tactics to trick consumers into depositing cash into Bitcoin ATMs by claiming it will protect their money or resolve fake security problems, with one victim losing $34,000. Consumers should hang up suspicious calls, verify contacts independently, and be cautious of these sophisticated schemes.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2024-09-13
Kate Kleiner became a victim of a romance scam in 2020 when she accepted a Facebook friend request from someone claiming to be "Tony," a surgeon working for the UN in Iraq. The scammer built an emotional connection with Kleiner by mirroring her interests and eventually manipulating her into sending money. According to the Federal Trade Commission, romance scams stole $1.14 billion from Americans last year, though experts believe the actual figure is significantly higher due to underreporting from embarrassed victims.
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WYFF News 4
· 2024-09-09
This segment from WYFF News Four's "For the Record" series features Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride discussing the growing scam problem affecting community members of all ages, though elderly victims are particularly targeted. The sheriff highlights multiple prevalent scam types including Facebook Marketplace deposit schemes (where sellers request $250-$1,000 deposits for vehicles that don't exist), fake jury duty calls falsely claiming to be from law enforcement demanding payment or gift cards, and other phone and internet-based fraud tactics that exploit personal information obtained from legitimate people-search websites.
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WYFF News 4
· 2024-09-09
Bill Vickery, owner of Just Call, provides elder fraud prevention advice, emphasizing that most scams begin with phone calls, texts, or emails targeting seniors unfamiliar with modern technology. Key prevention strategies include not answering calls from unknown numbers, hanging up immediately if feeling suspicious, avoiding saying "yes" (which scammers may record and manipulate), and never verifying personal information over the phone with unknown callers. Vickery advocates for a proactive, educational approach to help seniors and their families recognize and avoid scams before they occur.
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FOX8 WGHP
· 2024-09-03
An elderly woman in Asheboro was defrauded of $25,000 after scammers used fear tactics and impersonation of law enforcement to manipulate her into withdrawing cash and purchasing gift cards. The suspect met the victim at a gas station to collect a large cash withdrawal before fleeing in a white van, and Detective Marcus Pierce is actively investigating the case while advocating for awareness of common red flags like requests for gift card payments.
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WGN News
· 2024-08-31
Federal Trade Commission data shows American consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with digital platforms making it easier for scammers to target victims. Common scams include romance/relationship scams on Facebook where perpetrators build trust before requesting money, "pig butchering" investment schemes promising fake returns, and grandparent scams, with reported losses ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Protection strategies include verifying urgent requests by hanging up and calling back the person directly, avoiding quick money transfers, researching websites and investment opportunities, and reporting scams to law enforcement and platforms to help track and recover stolen funds.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2024-08-29
The FBI warns that scammers are targeting older adults by posing as police, the FTC, or bank representatives and convincing them to cash out retirement accounts like 401(k)s and convert the funds into gold or bitcoin. From May to December 2023, this scheme resulted in over $55 million in losses, with scammers either claiming to hold the gold for safekeeping or pressuring victims to convert it into cryptocurrency. Authorities advise verifying any urgent financial requests by independently contacting your bank and discussing suspicious calls with trusted family members.
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NEWS CENTER Maine
· 2024-08-27
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is warning the public about emerging scam tactics including "smishing" (fraudulent text messages claiming to be from USPS requesting address confirmation through malicious links) and "vishing" (spoofed voicemails impersonating government employees with fake callback numbers). To protect themselves, recipients should avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages and instead call official government phone numbers directly rather than using numbers provided in suspicious communications.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2024-08-22
Bait-and-switch scams on social media exploit emotional posts about missing children or lost pets by using localized Facebook groups with minimal oversight. Scammers edit these posts to redirect users to sales listings, rental scams, job opportunities, or donation requests, then manipulate victims' social networks when they share the content. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to watch for red flags including urgent emotional language, disabled comments, missing contact information, and newly created profiles, and to report suspected scams to both the BBB Scam Tracker and Facebook directly.
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FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
· 2024-08-20
**Summary:**
This is an educational piece from IRS Commissioner Danny Worel explaining how to recognize tax scams that operate year-round, not just during filing season. The IRS warns that scammers impersonating the agency typically demand immediate payment via phone calls, texts, or emails and threaten legal action or deportation—tactics the real IRS never uses, which instead communicates through official letters to homes or businesses.
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FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation
· 2024-08-19
The FBI and Connecticut Attorney General warn of three prevalent scams targeting elders: grandparent scams requesting bail money, fake bank security calls, and impersonation of the IRS demanding immediate tax penalty payments. These scams manipulate victims emotionally through urgency, secrecy, and threats, often resulting in loss of life savings. The agencies advise victims to pause, verify with trusted contacts, research details, and never send money or information in response to unsolicited requests.
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NewsNation
· 2024-08-16
**Graceland Fraud Scheme**
A Missouri woman, Lisa Janine Finley, was arrested by the Department of Justice for allegedly attempting to defraud Elvis Presley's family of millions of dollars and steal their ownership interest in Graceland. Finley falsely claimed that Elvis's daughter Lisa Marie had pledged the Memphis home as collateral for a $3.8 million loan, and she forged loan documents, a deed of trust, and filed false claims in California court in an attempt to foreclose on the property while posing as multiple fictitious lenders.
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CBC News
· 2024-08-16
This article discusses Canada's temporary foreign worker program, which approved 240,000 workers in the past year—double the number from two years prior—while 1.4 million Canadians remain unemployed. Economists argue the program, originally designed as an emergency measure with a 7% approval rate, has evolved into a permanent solution with a 97% approval rate, particularly in low-wage sectors like restaurants and retail, raising concerns about negative impacts on young Canadian job seekers.
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NBC4 Washington
· 2024-08-13
Scammers impersonating law enforcement are targeting seniors in Montgomery County and the DC area, convincing them to convert large sums of money into gold bars and surrender them for "safekeeping." Authorities have charged four men in connection with these scams, which have affected approximately 20 victims ranging from 61 to 94 years old, with losses totaling millions of dollars and a single largest loss of $2.3 million.
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WENY TV NEWS
· 2024-08-07
This educational episode of The Senior Notebook Show features Stacy Pierce, a member service specialist with Corning Credit Union, discussing fraud prevention for seniors. Pierce identifies seniors over 60 as primary fraud targets because they are more likely to be home, answer phone calls, and open mail, and emphasizes that fraud affects people of all races and backgrounds without discrimination. The discussion provides awareness about who is vulnerable to scams and encourages seniors to be informed about fraud risks.
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Lawfare
· 2024-08-07
This is a podcast introduction featuring Arun Rao, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ's Consumer Protection Branch, discussing the growing sophistication of fraud schemes targeting consumers and elders. Rao explains how technological advances such as robocalls, text, email, and social media have enabled fraudsters to refine their tactics and target victims with greater precision. The discussion covers the DOJ's consumer protection work, cybercrime, elder fraud, and data privacy issues.
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WGN News
· 2024-07-31
A Chicago widow lost over $100,000 in an online romance scam after meeting a man named "Gregory" on a dating site who gradually requested increasing amounts of money under various pretexts, eventually stopping contact once she ceased sending funds. The victim, living on a fixed income, cashed out an annuity to meet his escalating demands despite growing suspicions, driven by fear of losing the promised relationship and money. The case highlights how romance scams—which reported nearly 1.3 billion in losses nationally in 2022—use emotional manipulation and increasingly sophisticated AI-altered photos and videos to deceive victims, with arrests remaining rare and funds rarely recovered.
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WAAY 31 News
· 2024-07-30
The Alabama Regional Council of Governments is hosting an educational event to help senior citizens protect themselves from online scams, which affect thousands of Alabama seniors annually. The event will feature presentations from the Huntsville Police Department, Better Business Bureau, and Alabama Securities Commission discussing current fraud schemes and practical prevention strategies, designed to be accessible to seniors regardless of their technology proficiency level.
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WESH 2 News
· 2024-07-24
The IRS flagged nearly 2 million tax returns for potential identity theft during the tax season and warned about ongoing impersonation scams targeting vulnerable populations, including the elderly. Scammers impersonate IRS agents via calls, emails, and texts, threatening non-existent tax debts and demanding payment via credit cards or prepaid debit cards, while also using social media to promote fake "life hacks" for obtaining non-existent IRS credits. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel advised the public that the IRS communicates by mail, never demands immediate payment by credit card, and does not threaten repossession or deportation.
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Central Florida Public Media
· 2024-07-19
Volusia County Sheriff's Office partnered with a free community screening of the film "Thelma"—which depicts a 93-year-old grandmother being scammed—to raise awareness about elder fraud, which costs older Americans billions of dollars annually and significantly affects Central Florida seniors. Law enforcement officers provided prevention advice to attendees, emphasizing strategies such as not answering unknown phone numbers, ignoring unfamiliar text messages, and contacting police or trusted neighbors when uncertain.
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KRQE
· 2024-07-17
This New Mexico news podcast episode features an educational discussion on avoiding financial scams, hosted by Gabrielle Burkhart with guest Brian Watson, a former federal law enforcement officer who spent 28 years investigating financial crimes, including work as an IRS criminal investigator. The segment addresses how scams—particularly phishing and online fraud—affect people across demographics, including older adults, and aims to help listeners and their families recognize red flags and protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams.
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CBS4 Indy
· 2024-07-16
During Amazon Prime Day, scammers use over 1,200 fake Amazon copycat websites and fraudulent emails to steal login credentials and payment information from shoppers. To protect themselves, consumers should verify URLs carefully, use strong passwords, avoid sharing unnecessary personal information, and use credit cards instead of debit cards for online purchases due to stronger fraud protections.
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WCBD NEWS 2
· 2024-07-09
The City of Charleston is working to protect senior citizens from phone and online scams through educational workshops that teach seniors to recognize common fraud tactics and warning signs. Scams targeting elderly people cost the United States $36 billion annually, with seniors being particularly vulnerable due to their trusting nature; the city's initiative focuses on raising awareness about scam types and advising victims on appropriate responses.
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WCBD NEWS 2
· 2024-07-09
The City of Charleston is hosting educational workshops to protect seniors from phone and online scams, which generate $36 billion annually in the United States with older adults as primary targets. The initiative focuses on teaching seniors to recognize common scams—such as lottery/prize winnings requiring upfront payments—and know what steps to take if targeted, as demonstrated by one senior who avoided losing money to a fake lottery scheme promising half a million dollars.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2024-06-28
Gino Reaves was convicted of defrauding an elderly woman of over $1 million for a home remodel that was never properly completed, exploiting her loneliness and medication-induced confusion to manipulate her into the scheme. Evidence revealed minimal work was done despite the massive payment, and the victim eventually lost control of her assets after being moved to a nursing home, where a public administrator discovered the fraud. The judge sentenced Reaves, calling his actions "evil, callous and egregious," while prosecutors work to recover the stolen funds.