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sundayworld.com
Patrick Wall, a 24-year-old Irish man, was arrested in Nassau County, Long Island, and released on bail after allegedly defrauding elderly homeowners of approximately $100,000 through a home repair scam spanning from September 2023 to his arrest. Wall would pose as a masonry worker, identify repair needs at elderly victims' homes, then deliberately cause additional damage and inflate repair costs to extract inflated payments and cheques. He faces charges of larceny, conspiracy, fraud, and criminal mischief, with police seeking additional victims to come forward.
yahoo.com
Tax scams resurface each season with scammers impersonating the IRS through phone calls, emails, and mail to pressure victims into paying taxes owed or stealing personal information via tax identity theft and phishing schemes. Key prevention strategies include filing taxes early, obtaining an Identity Protection PIN, verifying IRS communications through official channels, and using trusted tax professionals, as the IRS never initiates contact via email, text, or social media requesting personal or financial information.
indeonline.com
Tax scams proliferate each season, with scammers impersonating the IRS through phone calls, emails, mail, and fake websites to steal money or personal information—tactics include demanding payment for back taxes with threats of arrest, filing fraudulent tax returns using victims' Social Security numbers, and phishing emails directing people to bogus IRS sites. To protect themselves, taxpayers should file early, use IRS Identity Protection PINs, verify caller identity independently with the IRS, watch for poor grammar in suspicious communications, use trusted tax preparers, and remember that the IRS never initiates contact via email, text, or social media requesting personal or financial information.
thestar.com.my
Authorities warn that scammers use multiple tactics year-round to defraud victims, including "pig butchering" investment scams where perpetrators gain trust before stealing money (with one recent case involving a 66-year-old who lost $170,000 to a fake Facebook investment banker), AI-generated travel scams that have increased 500-900% and use fake websites and phishing, and utility scams where fraudsters impersonate companies like PG&E to demand immediate payment, causing customers over $334,000 in losses in 2024 alone. Experts recommend verifying suspicious offers directly with companies, avoiding clicking unknown links, paying attention to detail inconsistencies
wpbf.com
Scammers in South Florida are targeting elderly residents with fake McAfee security alerts that appear on computers, instructing victims to call a number and authorize "transfer tests" into their bank accounts, then manipulate them into withdrawing cash to be picked up by couriers. Two victims lost a combined $57,000 ($40,000 and $17,000), and while one courier was arrested in Martin County, no money was recovered; authorities encourage reporting through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311, as many cases go unreported due to victim embarrassment or fear.
desertsun.com
Los Angeles officials are warning residents affected by recent wildfires that scammers are actively targeting vulnerable victims through false job postings, impersonation of government employees and FEMA agents, phone/text phishing attempts, unsolicited in-person solicitations, and fraudulent donation schemes. Law enforcement recommends verifying credentials through official channels, avoiding sharing personal information via social media or unsolicited contacts, never paying through gift cards or cryptocurrency, and trusting your instincts if something feels suspicious. County Sheriff Robert Luna pledged that perpetrators—including those impersonating firefighters to commit burglaries—will face prosecution.
evoke.ie
A man in his 30s, dubbed the "Tinder Swindler" by victims, was arrested in Dublin on suspicion of romance fraud targeting women on dating apps, allegedly scamming hundreds of euros from victims by posing as a wealthy Oxford graduate and businessman before requesting money for fake banking emergencies. The suspect, who operates under multiple aliases and has been active for at least eight years, also allegedly engaged in blackmail and insurance fraud; he was released after questioning and gardaí are appealing for additional victims to come forward. Multiple women reported falling victim to his scheme, with estimates suggesting hundreds of potential victims across various dating platforms.
2news.com
California's Attorney General warned of scams targeting wildfire victims and also highlighted illegal price gouging occurring during the state of emergency. The warning appears to address fraudulent schemes exploiting disaster victims seeking aid and services during wildfire recovery.
goldrushcam.com
The Kern County Sheriff's Office warned residents of a phone scam in which callers impersonate law enforcement (claiming to be "Sergeant Youngblood") and demand electronic payments via gift cards or bitcoin to resolve alleged warrants, missed court appearances, or jury duty violations, threatening arrest if payment is not made. The scammers use spoofing technology to display the Sheriff's Office callback number and may pressure victims to visit the Sheriff's Office afterward. The Sheriff's Office clarified that legitimate law enforcement never requests payment over the phone and that warrant arrests are made in person, not via phone calls.
newindianexpress.com
Hyderabad police arrested 23 persons, including a 60-year-old woman operating an NGO, for involvement in 359 cybercrime cases across India. The primary case involved Kamlesh Kumari, who siphoned Rs 1.90 crore from a 70-year-old victim through unauthorized transactions and used her NGO's bank account for illegal financial activities; authorities froze the stolen funds after the victim reported the fraud. Additional arrests included individuals involved in a Rs 2.95 crore trading fraud targeting investors in fake schemes.
usatoday.com
Scammers are exploiting the California wildfires by creating fake donation pages and impersonating charities and government agencies to steal money from people wanting to help and to target disaster victims seeking assistance. People should verify organizations through legitimate channels (such as Give.org), watch for red flags like misspelled URLs and phishing emails, and avoid clicking links from unverified social media ads or unsolicited contacts, as AI-enhanced scams are becoming increasingly difficult to detect.
northwestsignal.net
The Fulton County Sheriff's Office presented on emerging online scams targeting seniors, including impersonation schemes, grandparent scams using AI voice manipulation, counterfeit QR codes, and fake bond collection visits. Presenters advised attendees to verify caller identity through personal questions, watch for international phone numbers marked with "+," and remember that legitimate agencies never request money or warrant information by phone. A local victim lost $10,000 in a fake bail scam, though recovery occurred in this rare case.
dailyexcelsior.com
**Article:** Rahul Dogra - 2025 Cyber Scams in India
This article outlines emerging sophisticated scams in India driven by AI and deepfake technology, including KYC/bank scams where fraudsters impersonate officials to steal sensitive information, job fraud schemes demanding upfront fees for non-existent positions, and digital arrest scams using intimidation tactics to extort settlement payments. Additional scams target elderly individuals through medical emergencies and fake insurance, electricity bill scams threatening service disconnection, and romance scams, with prevention advice emphasizing direct verification with official sources, avoidance of unsolicited links, and independent research before sharing personal
etvbharat.com
Senior citizens and retired officials in Kashmir are falling victim to a social media extortion scam in which scammers—often posing as young women on Facebook—befriend older men under the guise of career guidance, then record private conversations to blackmail and extort money. Police report that victims are reluctant to file formal complaints due to shame and embarrassment, allowing the scheme to continue unchecked. Cyber Police Kashmir recovered Rs 4.72 crore from online scam victims in the previous year, and authorities warn that cybercriminals continue to develop new tactics to manipulate vulnerable populations.
justice.gov
Jennifer Lynn Horton, 49, of Kentucky, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for wire fraud after stealing over $1.1 million from her employer, a family-owned contracting company in Indiana, between 2016 and 2022. Using her position as office manager, Horton inflated her salary by $515,000, fraudulently added her husband to payroll for $107,000, redirected customer credit card payments totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars to her personal account, and misused company credit cards for personal purchases including vehicles and a house. She concealed the theft by manipulating payroll data and accounting records, and was ordered to forfeit four vehicles an
substack.com
Thomas F. Clasby, Jr., former Director of Quincy's Department of Elder Services, was indicted for embezzlement, mail and wire fraud, and interstate transportation of stolen property after allegedly misappropriating city funds for personal expenses from 2019 through April 2024. Clasby billed the city for numerous personal purchases totaling tens of thousands of dollars, including $8,950 for music studio recording, $2,236 for steak tips, $4,800 for a Toyota Prius, and $1,658 for a self-portrait, falsely categorized as departmental expenses. The case represents a significant breach of trust within the city's elder services department
newportdispatch.com
Between December 30 and January 5, Needham Police responded to multiple fraud incidents including check fraud, identity fraud on Elder Road, credit card fraud on Hunnewell Street, bank fraud, and a gift card scam, along with reports of suspicious communications and a stolen mailbox. While specific dollar amounts were not disclosed, the department advised victims on how to proceed and continues investigating the cases. The police encourage residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
justice.gov
This press release does not summarize a scam, fraud case, or elder abuse incident suitable for the Elderus database. Instead, it announces the retirement of James M. Warden, the longest-serving Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Indiana's 97-year history. While the release mentions various prosecutions Warden handled throughout his nearly 40-year career—including bank fraud, money laundering, public corruption, and bank robbery—it is a personnel announcement rather than coverage of a specific fraud or elder abuse case.
wbur.org
Judith Boivin, an 80-year-old Maryland retiree, lost $600,000 of her life savings in an elaborate government impersonation scam in September 2023. Scammers posing as FBI and local police officers convinced her that her Social Security number was being used for drug trafficking and money laundering, then persuaded her to withdraw her retirement funds in cash under the guise of assisting a federal investigation. This case exemplifies a broader trend of sophisticated scams targeting well-meaning Americans, particularly those with caregiving backgrounds and strong civic values.
theglobeandmail.com
In June 2021, a Toronto woman lost approximately $355,000 in a romance fraud scheme after being befriended on Facebook by a man posing as "Moshe Theodor McNigh" who convinced her to invest in bitcoin through a fraudulent website; the scammer was later identified as Nigerian national Omonkhoa Precious Afure and arrested by Nigerian authorities, resulting in the recovery of $225,000 in December 2021. Romance fraud represents the second-highest-grossing scam type in Canada with $37.2 million in reported losses as of September 2024, characterized by perpetrators grooming vulnerable victims over weeks or months, building trust, an
ottawa.citynews.ca
Ontario Provincial Police reported that scammers in the east region are using multiple fraud schemes, including a recent case where a business employee was manipulated into withdrawing cash and depositing it into a Bitcoin machine in Peterborough. The top scams targeting the region include cryptocurrency investment fraud ("get rich quick" schemes), bank investigator fraud, romance scams, and identity theft/phishing attacks, with Canadians losing an estimated $638 million to fraud in 2024, though actual losses are likely much higher due to significant underreporting.
tribuneindia.com
A 53-year-old disbarred Indian-origin South African attorney, Prelyn Mohanlall, was arrested after scamming at least 17 couples by taking advance payments for wedding venues she had no connection to, leaving couples with deserted, non-functional spaces on their wedding days. The fraud spanned multiple provinces and included at least R226,000 in confirmed losses, with Mohallall having a 20-year history of scams and prior fraud convictions. Her attorney has offered full restitution to victims, which may result in reduced jail time or sentencing leniency.
michigan.gov
Frank Andrew Stevens, 62, a former Colorado oil and gas company owner, pleaded guilty to defrauding the State of Michigan by submitting false sales reports in 2016, underreporting his company's oil sales by nearly $34,000 ($77,852 actual vs. $43,951 reported). As part of the plea agreement, Stevens agreed to pay $15,000 in restitution to Michigan and faces sentencing in December 2025, following completion of a 15-month federal prison sentence for related tax evasion charges.
justice.gov
Philip C. Pulley, 62, of Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to three years' probation, 100 hours of community service, a $9,500 fine, and a special assessment for multiple election fraud offenses. Pulley registered to vote in three counties (Montgomery, Broward, and Philadelphia) using false information and voted twice in the 2022 general election, violating federal election law.
newscentral.africa
Two Nigerian nationals, Olutayo Sunday Ogunlaja and Abel Adeyi Daramola, were sentenced to a combined 40 years in prison for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded an Albuquerque victim of approximately $560,000 between January 2016 and April 2017. The scheme involved creating a fake dating profile under the name "Glenn Brown" on eHarmony.com to establish a romantic relationship with the victim and convince them to send money for a fictitious Malaysian construction project. Ogunlaja and Daramola facilitated the fraud by providing bank accounts to receive and launder the stolen funds.
greybullstandard.com
Scams are becoming increasingly frequent, sophisticated, and successful, with law enforcement reporting a notable uptick in impostor scams where criminals pose as government officials or law enforcement to threaten arrest and extort money—one Big Horn County resident lost over $20,000 in such a scheme. Scammers employ phishing techniques to harvest personal information from victims and social media, using these details to make fraudulent requests appear legitimate and to impersonate targets for additional scams. The FBI reported that online fraud complaints doubled from 2019 to 2023 (467,361 to 880,418 complaints) with financial losses exceeding $12.5 billion, and authorities advise
deltapolice.ca
In September 2024, Operation DeCloak—a joint effort between Delta Police and blockchain analytics company Chainalysis—identified over 1,100 cryptocurrency fraud victims worldwide, including numerous Canadians, with estimated losses of $35 million CAD across 240 examined crypto addresses. The investigation revealed a growing tactic called "approval phishing," where scammers deceive victims via social media and investment schemes into approving malicious blockchain transactions that drain their digital wallets. Following the workshop, DPD successfully applied these techniques to recover $800,000 USD in stolen cryptocurrency from Canadian victims while working to identify additional affected individuals and seize funds for restitution.
wect.com
A scammer posing as a New Hanover County Sheriff's deputy targeted multiple victims in North Carolina by calling them about alleged missed jury duty and threatening arrest, demanding $2,000 be paid via a Food Lion kiosk. The victim, Eddie Keith, became suspicious when the caller used his legal name instead of his preferred name and insisted he stay on the phone and not contact an attorney. The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office warns the public that legitimate law enforcement will never demand money over the phone and advises citizens to hang up if calls create urgency or request payment.
nbcboston.com
Tom Clasby, former director of elder services for Quincy, Massachusetts, was indicted on federal charges of embezzlement, mail and wire fraud, and transporting stolen property for stealing tens of thousands of dollars in city funds between 2019 and 2021. His personal expenditures included $8,950 for a music studio recording session, $2,236 for 153 pounds of steak tips, $4,800 for a Toyota Prius, and $1,658 for a framed self-portrait, along with arranging a fraudulent $38,000 consulting contract that funneled money back to him through cash handoffs at rest stops an
capecodtimes.com
Thomas Clasby, the fired director of Quincy's Elder Services Department, was indicted on federal charges of embezzling public funds between 2019 and 2024, including approximately $17,644 spent on personal items such as a framed self-portrait, steak tips, music studio recordings, and a Toyota Prius, plus $38,000 funneled through a consulting company owned by a friend. Clasby also allegedly stole cash receipts from the Kennedy Center where Elder Services operated, betraying the trust of vulnerable seniors he was sworn to serve. He pleaded not guilty and faces up to 20 years in prison, potential fines totaling $750
cdispatch.com
A woman in New Hope became the victim of a romance scam after sending her entire life savings ($20,000) via FedEx to an online boyfriend who did not actually exist. Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins highlighted this case while warning the public about multiple prevalent scams, including phone spoofing schemes impersonating the sheriff's office, utility companies, and government agencies, as well as employment, cryptocurrency, lottery, and tech support scams. Hawkins emphasized that scammers are sophisticated professionals and advised victims to hang up and call official numbers directly rather than staying on suspicious calls.
regtechtimes.com
Cristine Petitfrere, a 30-year-old from Miramar, Florida, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiring to launder over $2.7 million stolen from romance scam victims. She helped funnel money from these schemes to international criminals and kept $203,815.59 for herself, which she was ordered to forfeit as part of her sentence. Romance scams—where fraudsters create fake online personas to deceive victims into sending money—disproportionately affect vulnerable populations including the elderly who lose savings and retirement funds.
beincrypto.com
A 24-year-old Dutch law student was arrested for operating a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that defrauded approximately 300 victims of €4.5 million ($4.6 million), with investigators finding he continued recruiting new investors even as the scheme collapsed. The student required minimum investments of €5,000 and took 50% profit fees while using new investor funds to pay earlier participants. The arrest reflects a broader trend of escalating crypto fraud, with 2024 losses reaching $2.3 billion—a 40% increase year-over-year—driven by bull market conditions and increasingly sophisticated scams including fake tokens, phishing schemes, and AI-enabled deepf
theguardian.com
This article is not about elder fraud or scams targeting seniors. Instead, it discusses the Jellycat plush toy phenomenon, including its massive popularity online, soaring sales (£200m in revenue), and the secondary market for rare collectibles. The article notes that the high resale value of limited-edition Jellies has made them theft targets, leading retailers to implement extensive security measures including CCTV, security tags, and facial recognition software to combat what may be organized shoplifting operations.
**Note:** This content falls outside Elderus's focus on elder fraud and abuse and should not be included in the database.
cbsnews.com
A Chicago couple was scammed for $4,500 at a Target store when two men posing as panhandlers soliciting donations for a funeral manipulated the Apple Pay feature on one man's iPhone, entering $4,500 instead of the requested $20 donation. When the victim chased the scammers to their car, he was thrown from the moving vehicle in the parking garage, resulting in a fractured rib and punctured lung; he was able to dispute the charge and recover the funds, though no arrests were made.
channelnewsasia.com
An 18-year-old student on a social visit pass to Singapore was arrested after being manipulated by scammers into assisting with an impersonation fraud targeting an elderly woman, who lost S$290,000 after being deceived into believing her identity had been misused in China. The teenager herself had been a prior victim of the same scam and was tricked into believing she was helping with official investigations. She now faces potential imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine if convicted of cheating.
news18.com
Social media influencer Ankush Bahuguna fell victim to a digital arrest scam in which fraudsters posed as law enforcement officials via WhatsApp video call, falsely accused him of money laundering and illegal package delivery, and held him in psychological captivity for 40 hours while coercing him to make financial transactions and isolating him from contacting others. After publicly sharing his experience to raise awareness, Bahuguna responded to critics by emphasizing that scammers conduct personal research to exploit victims' vulnerabilities, and urged people to educate others about the scam rather than dismiss victims as foolish.
in.mashable.com
31-year-old YouTuber Ankush Bahuguna lost Rs 2.5 lakhs in a "digital arrest" scam that began with a fake automated call about a cancelled courier delivery. After pressing zero to connect with "customer service," scammers fabricated claims of illegal items in a package allegedly sent by him, then transferred the call to WhatsApp video where an impersonator dressed as a police officer accused him of money laundering and drug trafficking while threatening his family and keeping him under "self-custody" surveillance for 40 hours. Bahuguna was freed from the ordeal only when a concerned friend alerted him to similar cases circulating online.
cbsnews.com
Cristine Petitfrere, a 30-year-old South Florida woman, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for laundering over $2.7 million from romance scam victims, keeping a portion for herself while transferring the remainder to overseas conspirators. Romance scams involve fraudsters establishing fake online relationships to manipulate victims into sending money under false pretenses such as emergencies or investment opportunities. Petitfrere was ordered to forfeit $203,815.59 in personal proceeds.
nbcmiami.com
Cristine Petitfrere, a 30-year-old Miramar woman, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for laundering over $2.7 million stolen through romance scams, keeping hundreds of thousands in fees while funneling the remainder to overseas conspirators. Romance scams, which involve fraudsters creating fake personas to exploit victims' trust and finances, cost Americans $1.14 billion in 2023, with elderly individuals representing a significant portion of victims. Petitfrere was ordered to forfeit $203,815.59 in personal proceeds from the scheme.
azfamily.com
Robert Giuliano, an alleged multi-state romance scammer with a New York felony warrant for forgery, grand larceny, and identity theft, was arrested in Scottsdale but released from jail on parole in January after extradition to New York. Victims of his romance scams expressed frustration over his release, while a judge determined that his non-violent charges and limited criminal history warranted bail; Giuliano is scheduled for a parole revocation hearing in April and has reportedly contacted some victims promising repayment.
nasdaq.com
Cristine Petitfrere, a Florida resident, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for laundering over $2.7 million from romance scams, earning hundreds of thousands in fees while working with a co-conspirator. Romance scams caused Americans $1.14 billion in losses in 2023, with elderly and vulnerable individuals disproportionately affected by both the financial losses and emotional harm.
wsvn.com
Cristine Petitfrere, a 30-year-old from Miramar, Florida, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for laundering over $2.7 million in proceeds from romance scams that defrauded American victims. She pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was ordered to forfeit $203,815.59 in personal profits after funneling victim funds to overseas co-conspirators through schemes involving fake online personas used to solicit money for false emergencies and investment opportunities.
vpnranks.com
Elder fraud losses reached $3.4 billion in 2023 with over 101,000 victims aged 60 and older reporting fraud, representing an 11% increase in losses and 14% increase in complaints compared to 2022. Tech support scams are the most commonly reported fraud type affecting seniors, while investment scams cause the highest financial damages at over $1.2 billion. Projections estimate elder fraud losses could rise to $4.47 billion by 2025 with approximately 121,229 victims, underscoring the need for stronger awareness and protective measures.
foxnews.com
The FBI warns that criminals are increasingly using generative AI and deepfakes to exploit victims through 17 common techniques, including voice cloning, fake video calls impersonating authority figures, and phishing emails designed to manipulate people into revealing personal information or transferring funds. These tactics exploit emotional manipulation during crises and use AI-generated content that mimics trusted individuals and public figures. Individuals should remain vigilant by verifying identities through independent contact methods and remaining skeptical of unsolicited urgent requests for money or sensitive information.
siliconvalley.com
The article outlines three major scams that persist year-round, particularly during the holiday season. "Pig butchering" scams involve fraudsters slowly building trust with victims before stealing money through fake investment schemes, often cryptocurrency-based; Santa Clara County prosecutors charged two suspects in a case where a 66-year-old man lost $170,000 after being targeted by a fake investment banker on Facebook. Travel scams have increased 500-900% with AI-generated fake booking websites, phishing emails, and fraudulent reviews, while utility scams cost PG&E customers over $334,000 in 2024 through threats of service disconnection and demands for immediate payment via prep
abc7chicago.com
The Better Business Bureau released its 2024 annual Scam Tracker report showing that online shopping scams remained the top fraud scheme for the fifth consecutive year, followed by phishing and employment scams. Scammers increasingly exploit new technologies like AI and deepfake video to impersonate legitimate organizations, conduct fake interviews, and use emotional manipulation and urgency tactics to target victims across all age groups. The BBB emphasizes that vigilance and refusing to engage with fraudsters is essential to combating these schemes.
startribune.com
Russell Rahm, leader of a telemarketing scheme spanning two decades (2000-2020), was sentenced to 10 years in prison for defrauding 183,000 elderly and vulnerable victims of approximately $335 million through fake magazine subscription sales. The conspiracy involved 61 defendants across the U.S. and Canada who used fraudulent scripts and lead lists to trick victims into unwanted subscriptions, with some victims charged up to $1,000 monthly by multiple phony companies simultaneously; Rahm was ordered to pay full restitution.
justice.gov
Julia Renae Mullinax, 43, of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina, was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison for wire fraud conspiracy involving the fraudulent purchase of items from Lowe's Home Improvement stores across the Southeast. Mullinax and accomplices posed as authorized representatives of local businesses to make unauthorized purchases on their commercial credit accounts between 2023 and 2024, causing $47,234.10 in losses to Lowe's. She was ordered to pay full restitution and serve three years of court-ordered supervision following her prison term.
vermontbiz.com
This article announces the resignation of United States Attorney Nikolas Kerest, effective January 20, 2025, following a typical transition with a new presidential administration. While primarily focused on administrative transition, it notes that during Kerest's three-year tenure, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Vermont prosecuted elder financial fraud cases including those against Nicholas Melanson and Nasir Hussain, and partnered with federal agencies to provide education to Vermont's elder community on fraud prevention.