Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 26,669 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
6,060 results
in Investment Fraud
news3lv.com
Five Chinese nationals, including Henderson resident Zao Wang, were charged as part of a multinational fraud ring that defrauded over 2,000 senior citizens out of $27 million between 2021 and 2023. The scheme operated through pop-up ads, emails, and phone calls to lure victims into contacting scam call centers, where conspirators gained remote access to their computers, built trust, and directed them to send money via wire transfers or mail, which was then laundered through cryptocurrency. All five defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering, with potential sentences of decades in prison if convicted.
eastcountymagazine.org
Five Chinese nationals were arrested in connection with a multinational fraud ring that defrauded over 2,000 seniors of more than $27 million between 2021 and June 2024. The defendants and their co-conspirators contacted elderly victims through pop-up ads, emails, and phone calls, posing as technical support, government, and bank workers to trick them into installing remote desktop software and sending money via wire transfers and express mail packages to Southern California and Nevada addresses. The defendants collected packages from retail locations using fake identities and laundered money for Indian-based scam call centers as part of an organized conspiracy involving mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
highlandcountypress.com
De-love Kofi Amuzu, 25, of Fairfield, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for laundering over $1.1 million in proceeds from a romance fraud conspiracy targeting elderly victims seeking companionship online. The scheme involved conspirators creating fake dating profiles and posing as romantic interests to convince victims to send money and valuables to accounts controlled by Amuzu, who then transferred the funds to Ghana; several victims lost so much money they were forced to declare bankruptcy. Amuzu was ordered to pay $835,487.65 in restitution.
timesofsandiego.com
Five Chinese nationals were arrested in a coordinated operation for allegedly operating a multinational fraud ring that targeted over 2,000 seniors across the U.S. from 2021 to mid-2024, resulting in losses exceeding $27 million. The defendants used unsolicited pop-up ads, emails, and phone calls to direct victims to scam call centers in India, where they impersonated technical support and government officials, installed remote access software on victims' computers, and convinced them to send money via wire transfers or cash packages to addresses in Southern California and Nevada. The defendants allegedly picked up packages containing cash from CVS locations using fake IDs as part of an international money laundering operation for an Indian sc
justice.gov
Five U.S.-based defendants were charged with money laundering conspiracy for facilitating a foreign sextortion scheme in which Nigerian nationals posed as young women online to extort sexually explicit images from teenage boys and young men, then blackmailed victims for money. The defendants controlled bank accounts receiving victim funds, kept 20% as commission, and converted the remainder to bitcoin for transfer to Nigerian co-conspirators, laundering at least $178,658 in proceeds—including funds from 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Michigan, whose death resulted from the scheme.
tv20detroit.com
Five U.S.-based men have been charged with money laundering in connection to an international sextortion ring that led to the 2022 suicide of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Michigan. The scheme, run by two Nigerian nationals who posed as a woman and extorted victims after obtaining intimate images, involved the U.S. suspects controlling financial accounts, retaining 20% of victim funds, and converting the remainder to bitcoin.
wilx.com
Five U.S. men from Georgia and Alabama were charged with money laundering conspiracy for facilitating a sextortion scheme that resulted in the suicide of 16-year-old Marquette resident Jordan DeMay. The defendants allegedly received approximately $179,000 from victims, converted funds to bitcoin, and transferred the money to Nigerian co-conspirators, with DeMay sending $300 to one defendant hours before his death. The case involves over 100 sextortion victims and represents a major breakthrough in the two-year investigation into the criminal ring.
9and10news.com
Five U.S.-based defendants were indicted on conspiracy to commit money laundering charges for facilitating a foreign sextortion scheme that resulted in the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Marquette, Michigan and targeted over 100 other victims. The defendants allegedly knowingly conducted financial transactions to conceal proceeds from the underlying sextortion crimes, which carries a maximum 20-year sentence. This case is related to the November 2022 indictment of three Nigerian nationals involved in the scheme, two of whom were extradited and pleaded guilty in 2024.
fox17online.com
Five men from Alabama and Georgia were indicted for money laundering related to a foreign sextortion scheme that resulted in the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Marquette, Michigan. The defendants allegedly laundered at least $178,658 in proceeds from the sextortion operation, with each facing up to 20 years in prison on conspiracy charges. The case highlights how U.S.-based money launderers facilitate overseas predatory crimes targeting vulnerable populations including minors and seniors.
deadlinedetroit.com
Five men from Georgia and Alabama were charged with laundering at least $178,658 for a Nigerian sextortion scheme that targeted over 100 victims, including 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Michigan, who died by suicide after being blackmailed for $300. The Nigerian scammers posed as females on Instagram, coerced victims into sending nude images, then extorted money by threatening to share the photos with contacts. The U.S. money launderers received victims' funds through cash applications, kept approximately 20 percent, converted the remainder to bitcoin, and funneled it to the Nigerian perpetrators.
al.com
Five men from Alabama and Georgia were arrested on federal money laundering charges for their role in an online sextortion scheme that targeted over 100 teenage boys and young men. The defendants controlled financial accounts used to launder at least $178,658 in extortion proceeds, converting funds to bitcoin and sending them to Nigerian co-conspirators; the scheme resulted in the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Michigan in November 2022.
business.outlookindia.com
A woman in Delhi lost over Rs 24 lakh in a fraudulent Upstox investment scam within two months after being lured through fake social media ads and WhatsApp groups promising stock tips and guaranteed returns. The article documents multiple similar cases, including a Kerala businessman who lost Rs 7.55 crores, and outlines the scammers' tactics: impersonating legitimate financial firms, directing victims to rigged apps displaying fake profits, and pressuring them to invest more while blocking withdrawals. Key warning signs include social media advertisements for high-return schemes, fake investment groups on WhatsApp/Telegram, brand spoofing, and requests for personal documents like Aadh
miragenews.com
In 2023, Australians lost $2.74 billion to scams, with older people experiencing the highest impact of any demographic group. COTA Australia and NAB's Group Security team hosted a Scams Awareness webinar designed to educate older adults on identifying common scams (investment, remote-access, and romance scams), prevention strategies, and secure online practices. The educational session aimed to provide practical guidance and expert knowledge to help vulnerable populations protect themselves against increasingly prevalent fraud.
coloradocommunitymedia.com
On July 30, a Lunch and Learn event in Commerce City educated approximately 60 seniors about financial fraud, featuring Sarah Domke, a senior deputy district attorney specializing in financial crimes, who discussed common scams including phone and computer fraud, romance scams, fake warranty schemes, and threats of legal action. Domke outlined six hallmarks of scams—unsolicited contact, promises of money, requests for personal information, upfront payment demands, wire transfers or gift card payments, and emotional manipulation—and advised attendees on warning signs and protection strategies. The event highlighted that older adults are particularly vulnerable to financial fraud and provided practical awareness to help seniors recognize and avoid becoming victims.
justice.gov
Five Chinese nationals were indicted for operating a multinational fraud ring that scammed over 2,000 seniors out of more than $27 million between 2021 and 2023. The defendants used unsolicited pop-up ads, emails, and phone calls to direct victims to scam call centers in India, then employed social engineering and remote access software to convince victims to send money via wire transfer or express mail packages to Southern California and Nevada addresses, which the defendants picked up using fake identities and laundered through cryptocurrency. Law enforcement arrested four defendants in a coordinated operation in July 2024, while the fifth was arrested in April 2024.
aol.com
The FBI received more than 147,000 reports of scams and fraud targeting Americans ages 60 and older in 2024, with reported losses exceeding $100,000 more than tripling since 2020. Seniors are targeted because they control over 60% of the nation's wealth, and scammers use sophisticated impersonation, phishing, vishing, and smishing tactics to steal personal and financial information. The article advises awareness of these common scam types and recommends working with financial advisors to identify and protect against fraudulent schemes.
m.facebook.com
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation warns that AI-powered investment scams are targeting consumers, with voice cloning being a primary technique scammers use to deceive victims into sending money. The post directs readers to additional information about other fraudulent tactics scammers employ in AI investment schemes.
cointelegraph.com
Wisconsin's Department of Financial Institutions launched a public investment scam tracker in July 2024 after Wisconsinites lost nearly $3.55 million to cryptocurrency fraud and financial grooming between January 2022 and June 2024, with most cases involving pig butchering scams or fraudulent crypto trading platforms. The searchable tracker, populated with consumer complaints, aims to alert the public and deter scammers by increasing transparency, while the DFI advises citizens to avoid sending money to unknown online contacts and to use only registered cryptocurrency services that comply with regulatory standards.
mirror.co.uk
Gianfranco Bonzi, a 59-year-old concierge from Milan, Italy, fell victim to a cryptocurrency investment scam in which a conman posed as singer Dua Lipa, convincing Bonzi to send approximately €5,000 (£4,200) in bank withdrawals. After posting a disturbing message on social media about romantic disappointment, Bonzi went missing in February and was found dead in the Adda River five months later, with police believing he died by suicide following the scam. The article also documents a separate case of Colin Palazzo, a 60-year-old from Nottingham, who lost nearly £65
news5cleveland.com
Strongsville United Methodist Church and numerous Ohio institutions were targeted by phishing scammers who obtained a 1,000-person church directory through a third party and sent fraudulent emails impersonating the pastor requesting money and gift cards. Phishing scams nearly doubled to over 9,000 last year, with Ohioans losing approximately $750,000 to these schemes, and the Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers often operate internationally, making them difficult to catch. Experts recommend protection through education and vigilance, including avoiding clicking suspicious links, being cautious about sharing email and phone numbers, and recognizing urgency tactics and unusual payment requests like gift cards.
justice.gov
Four individuals pleaded guilty to federal charges for operating an international mail and wire fraud scheme originating in Nigeria that targeted elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims for years across West Michigan and throughout the country. The defendants created fake online personas posing as romantic interests, business partners, and loan providers to defraud victims, who lost retirement savings, took home loans, and suffered financial distress; the money was funneled through bank accounts and money transfer services before being sent overseas or used to purchase vehicles for export to Nigeria. Fatai Okunola also pleaded guilty to money laundering and making false statements on his naturalization application, while Ijeoma Adeola pleaded guilty to mispr
tampafp.com
Four individuals pleaded guilty to federal charges for operating a Nigeria-based international mail and wire fraud scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims through fake online identities posing as romantic interests, buyers/sellers, and loan officers. The defendants used social media, text messages, and phone calls to convince victims to send money, with some victims losing retirement savings or taking out home loans as a result. All four defendants face sentencing on January 14, 2025, with potential prison time and restitution orders.
abc11.com
A Fayetteville woman accumulated over $60,000 in fraudulent credit card charges after being recruited into a job scam through an online romantic connection. The scammer, posing as her boss, obtained her banking and credit card information and used them to make unauthorized purchases and deposit fraudulent checks, while also reversing legitimate payments to increase her debt. Though she reported the fraud to her credit card companies, the charges remain on her accounts as her responsibility since she authorized the initial transactions.
dallasnews.com
Kelly Mitchell, 58, had her Facebook account hacked and used to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme through fake images and religious messaging—a tactic combining impersonation and "pig butchering" scams where criminals pose as trusted contacts to solicit ongoing investments. According to FTC data, cryptocurrency scams cost Americans $1.41 billion across 47,537 reports in 2023, with experts recommending basic security measures like two-factor authentication and strong passwords as essential protection against these increasingly common social media fraud attacks.
moodyonthemarket.com
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel will speak at a town hall in St. Joseph on August 4, 2024, to educate seniors about avoiding scams, following FBI data showing that elder fraud caused over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with an average victim loss of $33,915. The event, hosted by Region IV Area Agency on Aging, will address the most common scams targeting people aged 60 and older, including tech support scams (nearly 18,000 reported cases), romance scams, investment scams, and non-delivery scams. The free community event will provide consumer protection tips and scam prevention strategies.
unionleader.com
More than 400 New Hampshire residents age 60 and older lost over $11 million to scams in 2023, with tech support fraud being the most common type and romance scams causing the highest financial losses. Seniors are disproportionately targeted because they are often polite, trusting, financially stable, and own homes, while scammers increasingly use online tactics like phishing and email scams targeting Baby Boomers with computer skills. Experts attribute the rise in elder fraud to increased online activity that exposes personal information, scammers' use of impersonation and research tactics, and significant underreporting due to victims' shame and embarrassment.
unionleader.com
More than 100,000 Americans fell victim to scams in the past year, with two-thirds being seniors; in New Hampshire alone, over 400 residents aged 60 and older lost more than $11 million to fraud in 2023. Seniors are targeted because they are often polite, trusting, financially stable, and own their homes, making them attractive victims for scammers who pose as bankers, government agents, IT experts, and romantic partners. Tech support scams are the most common form of elder fraud, while romance and confidence scams result in the largest financial losses, though experts note these crimes are vastly underreported due to victims' shame and embarrassment.
cbsnews.com
A 52-year-old Maryland man was charged with operating a "Gold Bar Scam" that defrauded a 74-year-old Bethesda victim of over $1 million between May and June. The scam involved sending official-looking FTC lawsuit letters, then posing as an attorney who convinced the victim to convert his assets into gold eight separate times. Investigators believe this is part of a larger scheme affecting multiple elderly victims across Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia.
timesnownews.com
A mechanical engineer from Visakhapatnam lost Rs 28 lakh to an organized romance scam gang operating from Telangana, who created fake dating profiles, built emotional trust, and manipulated the victim into transferring money while threatening to release compromising photos. The article advises protection strategies including identity verification through reverse image searches, caution against rapid relationship escalation, safeguarding personal information, recognizing red flags like money requests and avoided video calls, and reporting suspicious profiles to platforms and authorities.
foreignaffairs.co.nz
I cannot provide a summary of this text as it is not an article or transcript about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. This appears to be only website header/footer information with navigation links and copyright details from a news website. There is no substantive content to summarize for the Elderus database.
If you have an actual article or transcript about elder fraud or abuse, please provide that text and I'll be happy to summarize it.
unionleader.com
More than 100,000 Americans fell victim to scams in the past year, with two-thirds being seniors; in New Hampshire alone, over 400 residents aged 60+ lost more than $11 million to scams in 2023. Seniors are targeted because they are often polite, trusting, financially stable, and own homes, making them attractive to scammers who use impersonation tactics (posing as bankers, government agents, IT experts, romantic partners, and relatives) and increasingly sophisticated online methods like phishing and email scams. Tech support scams were the most common type nationally, while romance and confidence scams caused the highest losses in New Hampshire
aljazeera.com
In October 2021, La Awng was trafficked from Myanmar into a cyber-scamming operation in Laukkai run by Chinese criminal networks, where he was forced to conduct "pig butchering" romance scams targeting foreign victims into fake cryptocurrency investments. The Southeast Asian scam industry has expanded dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic, with criminal syndicates generating approximately $64 billion annually in online fraud by 2023, employing hundreds of thousands of workers from over 60 countries held in prison-like conditions with threats of physical abuse and torture. La Awng's case exemplifies how vulnerable workers are deceived into trafficking situations through fraudulent job offers,
the420.in
A senior tech executive from Thrissur, Kerala, Dhanya Mohan, was arrested for embezzling Rs 20 crores from her employer Manappuram Comptech & Consultants Ltd by exploiting her access to the company's personal loan app to create fake accounts and transfer funds to personal bank accounts while deleting digital records to avoid detection. The fraud was discovered on July 23 when an Rs 80 lakh transaction was flagged, prompting Dhanya to flee; she was eventually tracked down and apprehended after police found evidence including deleted server records and bank statements. Her husband received Rs 40 lakhs in transferred funds, though his involvement in the
wcpo.com
Following the global CrowdStrike outage, security experts warn that scammers are exploiting the incident by contacting people while impersonating tech support representatives and offering assistance with the problem. Tech support scams are particularly effective because they use fear tactics and fake pop-ups to pressure victims into buying gift cards or granting remote computer access, which allows criminals to steal personal information and financial data. To protect yourself, avoid calling numbers in pop-ups, ignore unsolicited contact about device problems, and report suspected scams to local law enforcement or AARP's Fraud Watch Network.
ifamagazine.com
Research from LV= found that young adults aged 18-34 reported more scam victimization than older adults, with 3.8 million UK victims losing money to purchase fraud last year; young adults experienced higher rates across all scam types (phishing, trusted organization impersonation, refund, befriending, and investment scams) compared to those 65 and over, possibly due to greater daily online time averaging 4 hours 35 minutes. The findings highlight that despite increased financial scams over three years, many consumers lack knowledge about reporting mechanisms and that those with financial advisers were more likely to take appropriate action and understand relevant regulatory bodies like the FCA
wusa9.com
A 52-year-old Maryland man, Vipul Thakkar, was arrested and charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from at least a 74-year-old victim since March by impersonating a government official and convincing them to convert savings into gold bars for "safekeeping." At least 20 similar victims have been identified across Montgomery County, and authorities are investigating potential connections, noting that recovery of the gold is extremely difficult once transferred.
dailydodge.com
In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission received over 192,000 fraud reports from military consumers (active service members, veterans, retirees, and families), resulting in $477 million in total losses, with nearly one-third of reports involving actual financial loss. The most common scams targeting this population included imposter scams, online shopping fraud, investment schemes ($147 million from under 4,000 reports), identity theft (over 39,000 reports), housing scams, and fake government benefits schemes. Wisconsin officials emphasized that military consumers are disproportionately targeted by scammers and highlighted July as Military Consumer Protection Month to raise awareness.
asahi.com
A 39-year-old employee in Sendai, Japan was defrauded of over 1.6 million yen through a sophisticated investment scam operating on the Line messaging app. The scheme used a fake "mentor" who posted daily market commentary and held quizzes with legitimate Amazon gift card rewards to build credibility, while a fake customer support representative convinced the victim to download a fraudulent investment app that showed false profits of 10 million yen. The scam was revealed when the operator demanded an 8 percent fee to withdraw earnings; when the victim transferred 812,051 yen for this fee, the support contact stopped responding.
mugglehead.com
Visa Inc. is using artificial intelligence and machine learning to combat fraud, preventing $40 billion in fraudulent activity from October 2022 to September 2023 by analyzing over 500 transaction attributes in real-time to detect enumeration attacks that cost the industry $1.1 billion annually. Simultaneously, cybercriminals are increasingly leveraging generative AI, voice cloning, and deepfakes to execute romance scams, investment scams, and pig butchering schemes that are more convincing than ever, with scammers able to clone voices from less than three seconds of audio to deceive victims and banking employees.
wxxinews.org
The FBI is warning about a scam targeting seniors nationwide in which fraudsters impersonate bank or government officials and convince victims to withdraw cash or purchase gold bars to "protect" their accounts, then send a courier to collect the assets and disappear. From May to December 2023, the Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded losses exceeding $55 million from this scheme, with individual victims losing up to $1 million or more. The FBI advises that legitimate officials never request account liquidation and urges people to refuse requests to meet unknown individuals for cash or precious metal transfers.
clarkecountydemocrat.com
This educational article outlines three common scam types targeting consumers: investment scams that promise guaranteed returns through fake platforms, employment scams offering easy work-from-home opportunities with little effort, and impersonation scams where fraudsters pose as legitimate businesses or government agencies. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, including researching companies before committing funds, verifying job opportunities through direct company contact, and calling verified phone numbers to confirm requests for money or personal information.
spectrumlocalnews.com
From May to December, the FBI received over $55 million in complaints related to gold scams in which fraudsters impersonated government officials, falsely claimed victims' accounts were hacked, and sent couriers to collect cash or validate transactions. The agency warns that individual losses often exceed $500,000 and recommends protecting personal information, avoiding unsolicited pop-ups and unknown callers, and never allowing strangers computer access, with scam reports available at IC3.gov.
thealpinesun.com
Californians experience the highest losses nationally from online investment scams, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, with fraudsters often exploiting personal relationships and creating false legitimacy to gain victims' trust. The article provides guidance on protecting oneself from investment fraud, including verifying licenses through California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, requesting written prospectuses, consulting third-party financial professionals, and avoiding unsolicited offers promising guaranteed high returns or urgency to invest. Victims are encouraged to report scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center or local law enforcement without shame.
wtop.com
Gold bar scams have defrauded more than a dozen victims in Montgomery County, Maryland alone, with losses exceeding $1 million in individual cases, targeting primarily elderly individuals by convincing them to convert their savings into gold bars under false promises of safekeeping in government vaults. Scammers exploit economic anxiety and victims' unfamiliarity with gold purchasing by posing as financial advisors, directing victims to purchase gold through legitimate retailers before criminals take possession of the assets, which are then difficult to recover or trace once melted down. Montgomery County police have identified at least 17 victims of these schemes in the county, with the State's Attorney noting millions lost in total across the region.
openaccessgovernment.org
During the COVID-19 pandemic, cybercriminals exploited vulnerable populations through phishing emails (up 220%), fake vaccine offers, and impersonation scams, with older adults particularly targeted due to limited digital literacy and social isolation. Impersonation scam cases doubled to 39,394 in 2020, romance scams increased 38%, and investment scams rose 32%, resulting in £479 million in Authorized Push Payment fraud losses in the UK with victims recovering only £206.9 million. Financial services firms are urged to implement continuous fraud awareness campaigns and change communication practices to avoid inadvertently training customers to fall victim to scams.
nationthailand.com
The #ThaisAware campaign is a collaborative effort between TikTok and Thai government agencies (including the Bank of Thailand, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Consumer Protection Board) to combat rising online fraud through educational content and user-generated awareness videos. Thailand reported approximately 700 scams daily, with 19,960 online complaints in the first half of the year, primarily involving e-commerce fraud (43.44%), illegal websites (31.27%), and investment scams. The initiative aims to enhance digital literacy among Thai consumers to reduce vulnerability to online deception and support government efforts against cybercriminals.
punchng.com
Nigerian internet fraudster Marcel, a 26-year-old "Yahoo boy" based in Abuja, destroyed evidence by hiding his phone in a toilet pipe when Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials raided his apartment building in May following a tip-off about suspected cybercriminals in the area. Though officers searched his room and discovered his phone charger, they did not locate the hidden device, and Marcel was not arrested during the raid, though he admitted to using the phone for "bombing and grinding" (finding and defrauding online victims) for over two years.
disb.dc.gov
This educational resource from DISB (District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking) provides information on common scam types to help consumers protect themselves during financial transactions. The tracker includes detailed examples of advance fee scams, affinity scams by licensed professionals, and credit card phishing scams, with specific case narratives and protective strategies such as verifying information directly with legitimate agencies and being cautious of unsolicited financial offers.
ktvz.com
Two Toronto-area women lost a combined $76,000 to romance scams: one woman lost $62,000 to a fake cruise ship captain who claimed shipments of designer gifts were held at the Canadian border and required payment of fees, while another woman lost $14,000 to a man she had met in person four years earlier who later posed as a hedge fund manager with an investment opportunity. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, romance scams caused $52.5 million in losses to 1,190 victims in 2023, making it the third-ranked scam by dollar loss, with common warning signs including quick declarations of love, excuses to avoid in-person
illawarramercury.com.au
A former police officer turned private investigator in Australia estimates that romantic scams are significantly under-reported due to victims' shame and embarrassment, with her agency having contacted 25-30 victims who never reported losses through official channels. Her clients have lost between $100,000 and $500,000 each to romance scammers, with one 86-year-old man losing $200,000 in savings, while reported romance scam losses in Australia total approximately $200 million. She advises the public to watch for red flags including poor grammar, premature declarations of love, scripted conversations, and requests to keep the relationship secret—and to walk away if the person cannot meet in person