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in Scam Awareness
dicksoncountysource.com
· 2025-12-08
During Medicare's Open Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7), scammers impersonate Medicare representatives to steal personal information and money by falsely claiming they need Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, or bank account details for new cards or fake medical equipment claims. Medicare never unexpectedly contacts beneficiaries to request personal information, sell coverage, or charge for cards, and consumers should hang up suspicious calls and verify by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or report scams to that same number.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Bengaluru traffic police uncovered a sophisticated extortion scam where fraudsters used Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications to spoof official police phone numbers and demand payments from victims under false claims of traffic violations and hit-and-run cases. The scammers targeted approximately 20 individuals across multiple cities by impersonating senior traffic police officials, though no confirmed losses have been reported as victims contacted police when contacted. Police are working to obtain data from VoIP app operators to trace the perpetrators, and have clarified that the traffic department only communicates violations through mail, formal notices, or official websites.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Bengaluru police are investigating sophisticated VoIP scams where fraudsters impersonate traffic police officers using spoofed official phone numbers to falsely accuse victims of traffic violations or hit-and-run cases, threatening digital arrest and demanding money. While no financial losses have been reported yet, victims describe receiving calls in multiple languages claiming rental vehicles registered to their Aadhaar cards were involved in accidents, with callers pressuring them to visit police stations or provide personal details. Authorities warn that these scams are particularly convincing because they use official department numbers, and advise the public to verify any such calls directly with police stations.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Google identified five common online scams affecting its billions of users: deepfake content impersonating public figures to promote investment fraud, cryptocurrency investment schemes promising unrealistic returns, fake banking apps and websites designed to steal personal information, cloaking attacks that show different content to users than to Google's security systems, and fraudulent event ticketing pages that mirror legitimate sites to sell fake merchandise and tickets. The company recommends users verify app sources, examine URLs and website details carefully, watch for unnatural expressions in videos, avoid investment offers that seem too good to be true, and enable browser protections to identify malicious sites.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Farmer Alan Steven lost £28,000 total (£12,000 to a contractor and £16,000 to a grain merchant) after scammers hacked his email account and cloned invoices from his legitimate suppliers, changing only the bank details. Invoice fraud targeting farmers is rising sharply, with Action Fraud reports jumping 54% from 35 cases in 2022 to 54 in 2023, and agricultural insurers now paying out triple the fraud claims compared to previous years, with individual losses often reaching tens of thousands of pounds that can devastate small farm operations.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This column warns readers about the prevalence of holiday-season scams, which range from fake delivery notifications and fraudulent timeshare exit schemes to tech support scams and gift card draining. According to fraud prevention experts, sophisticated international criminal syndicates are targeting consumers through multiple channels, with older adults suffering particularly high losses despite millennials reporting fraud more frequently; one notable case involved an 85-year-old woman who lost $80,000 between Thanksgiving and Christmas to a fake virus warning scam. The article advises consumers to be vigilant when making purchases, booking travel, donating to charities, and handling gift cards, as stolen money is often transferred overseas and virtually impossible to recover.
vancouver.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Vancouver police warned the public about ticket scams targeting Taylor Swift Eras Tour attendees, advising buyers to use only verified ticketing platforms and trusted resellers. A Toronto woman lost $600 after being defrauded by an online scammer posing as a teenage girl on TikTok and Instagram who sold her fake concert tickets via PayPal, leaving her and her friend with only one ticket instead of two.
gbnews.com
· 2025-12-08
ITV Love Island star Amy Hart lost £5,000 to a sophisticated phone scam in 2022 when fraudsters impersonated her bank's fraud team, demonstrated knowledge of her finances, and used high-pressure tactics to manipulate her into authorizing unauthorized access to her account. Hart has since spoken publicly about her experience to reduce stigma around victimization and encourage other victims to come forward, emphasizing that scammers are professionals who exploit psychological pressure rather than victim negligence.
sheppnews.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A woman lost money to a sophisticated two-stage scam that began with a fraudulent call claiming to be from NBN offering an internet refund, which gained remote access to her computer via AnyDesk software. The scammers then impersonated her bank's fraud department, using the continued remote access to move funds between her accounts and authorize an unauthorized transfer, which she discovered only after visiting her bank branch the next day. The article highlights red flags including unsolicited direct contact from NBN, requests for remote computer access, and fraudulent claims of being a bank representative needing device access—legitimate banks never require remote access to verify accounts or detect fraud.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending fraudulent emails impersonating the TSA PreCheck program to trick travelers into enrolling through fake websites and stealing their personal information. The TSA and FTC warn that legitimate PreCheck enrollment requires in-person payment at an airport enrollment center, never online, and users should only visit the official tsa.gov/precheck website to avoid falling victim to these schemes.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Des Healey, a kitchen fitter from Brighton, lost £75,000 to a Facebook investment scam that used AI-generated deepfake videos falsely showing money-saving expert Martin Lewis and Elon Musk endorsing a bitcoin scheme. After initially investing £1,000 through a fraudster posing as financial adviser "Carl," Des was manipulated into taking out four loans totalling £70,000 to keep investing, only discovering the scam when his son heard suspicious background noise during a call with the scammer. Martin Lewis highlighted that scammers use psychological manipulation and urgency tactics, and emphasized that falling victim to scams does not indicate a lack of
globenewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
This article announces The Assembly Caribbean 2024, a virtual anti-financial crime conference hosted by ACAMS on December 5-6, 2024, featuring over 40 experts and regulatory officials addressing compliance challenges in the Caribbean region. The conference will cover fraud risks including elder fraud, romance scams, and "pig butchering" schemes, alongside discussions of money laundering, sanctions enforcement, virtual assets regulation, and the fentanyl crisis. The event aims to provide compliance professionals with practical strategies to detect financial crimes and implement effective anti-money laundering measures tailored to the Caribbean's unique AFC landscape.
nationalpost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Florida man, Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr., was arrested and charged with grand theft for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook to scam a 74-year-old Texas woman out of $250,000 (with her husband reporting the actual total may reach $600,000) by convincing her to invest in fake business opportunities. Moynihan established rapport with the victim over several months in 2023 by referencing real Musk social media posts, eventually persuading her that she had legitimately invested with the tech billionaire; police also discovered evidence he used false identities of actors Johnny Depp and Lionel Richie, an
brobible.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Florida man was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of approximately $600,000 by posing as the billionaire and promising massive returns on fake investments. Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr. befriended the victim over several months, using real posts from Musk's social media accounts to appear authentic, and directed the money to bank accounts he controlled. The case highlights a broader epidemic of celebrity impersonation scams targeting elderly victims across the United States.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are using AI-generated phishing emails claiming that recipients' Apple IDs have been suspended, creating false urgency especially during Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season to trick users into clicking malicious links and surrendering account credentials. The scams target Apple's 2 billion+ users by impersonating legitimate Apple communications, sometimes including sophisticated 2FA-bypass methodologies, and exploiting the affluent Apple user demographic. Apple advises users to verify sender email addresses, avoid clicking suspicious links, recognize that Apple never requests passwords or authentication codes via email, and contact Apple directly through its official website if they suspect account issues.
securitybrief.com.au
· 2025-12-08
During Australia's end-of-year shopping season, online scams pose increased risk as consumer spending surges, with over 11% of Australians experiencing scams or card fraud in 2022/2023 and Westpac reporting a 47% rise in buying and selling scams in 2023. Common tactics include misleading sales promotions, non-delivery of products, fake shipping notifications, and SMS phishing, with scammers targeting consumers during the forecast $11.8 billion holiday gift-spending period. Experts recommend consumers and retailers employ security measures such as navigating directly to retailer websites, using secure payment methods (PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay),
we-ha.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and AARP Connecticut Director Nora Duncan held a press conference to warn consumers about increasing fraud and scams, particularly during the holiday season when shopping, travel, and charitable giving increase. According to an AARP report, approximately 82% of U.S. consumers have experienced attempted fraud in the past year, with scams becoming increasingly sophisticated through phishing emails about delivery problems, counterfeit products, and fake charities. Officials urged awareness and caution, recommending that people report suspicious activity to the AARP Fraud Watch Network (877-908-3360), the Federal Trade Commission, or the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
ucf.edu
· 2025-12-08
Scammers stole over $1.6 billion from victims in the first five months of 2024—a 20% increase from 2023—though actual numbers are higher due to underreporting. Researcher Nichole Lighthall at UCF's Adult Development and Decision Lab found that while most older adults recognize scams as a problem, they feel disempowered to prevent them, and scams range from minor losses of $50 to financially catastrophic amounts. Lighthall's research aims to empower seniors with knowledge and solutions, noting that modern scammers use increasingly relentless tactics like impersonation texts, robo-calls, and social engineering because
federalwaymirror.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal Way Police Department community engagement coordinator Tiffany Clemmings presented crime prevention education to local seniors at a November 13 meeting, covering situational awareness, vehicle theft prevention, home safety, and common scams. The presentation emphasized that while criminals need desire, ability, and opportunity to commit crimes, individuals can reduce criminal opportunities through crime prevention awareness and situational awareness. Key information included that tech support scams, government imposter scams, grandparent scams, and romance scams are the top threats to seniors, and that Federal Way experienced a 50% decline in auto thefts in 2024 compared to 2023.
dailystar.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A UK survey reveals that nearly one in three Brits worry about falling victim to purchase scams during Christmas shopping, with four in ten experiencing increased scam attempts during the festive season. UK Finance reported that a record £85.9 million was stolen through 156,516 purchase scams last year, with 92% occurring online—a 34% increase from 2022. The most common scams target high-demand items including phones (26%), tickets (23%), gift cards (23%), laptops (21%), and clothing (19%), typically involving fake products, counterfeit goods, or non-delivery after payment on fraudulent websites or social media ads.
pressdemocrat.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to be vigilant about online shopping scams during the holiday season, reporting that online fraud rose nearly 125% in 2023 with projections of over $240 billion in U.S. online sales expected in 2024. Scammers target all demographics through fake advertisements offering unrealistic discounts on viral items, beauty products, athletic shoes, and animals, with over 80% of reported fraud victims losing money last year. The BBB recommends researching companies and items beforehand, using credit cards instead of debit cards, avoiding suspicious social media ads, and reporting fraud immediately rather than feeling embarrassed.
advocacy.consumerreports.org
· 2025-12-08
Consumer Reports investigation found that wire transfer scams targeting bank customers are increasingly common, with victims rarely reimbursed—major banks like JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America reimbursed customers at rates of only 2-24 percent in 2023. The scams exploit banks' security gaps using readily available "phishing-as-a-service" kits sold on Telegram and the Dark Web for as little as $150 monthly, with phishing complaints to the FBI more than doubling since 2019 to nearly 300,000 reports annually. Consumer Reports is calling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to investigate these scams and support reforms including stronger account authentication, security
consumerreports.org
· 2025-12-08
Bank imposter fraud targeting customers is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers using phishing schemes, hacked personal data, and affordable "phishing-as-a-service" cybercrime kits (costing as little as $150/month) to steal billions from Americans' bank accounts. Major banks like Wells Fargo have faced multiple class-action lawsuits, with documented losses exceeding $700,000 in individual cases, yet banks frequently deny reimbursement claims citing the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, which does not require them to reimburse customers who are tricked into authorizing fraudulent transfers. Key advice includes being skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming to be from banks,
wfsb.com
· 2025-12-08
An AARP report found that 82% of consumers fell victim to fraud in 2024, with online holiday shopping scams including gift card fraud, counterfeit products, and fake deliveries being the most prevalent. While elderly consumers are typically targeted with investment scams, younger adults aged 18-24 are losing the most money overall, particularly through employment scams involving fake work-from-home opportunities. The report recommends verifying company websites, researching before purchases, checking charities before donating, and reporting scams to the Better Business Bureau.
fincen.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has joined a multi-sector national task force convened by the Aspen Institute to develop a comprehensive strategy for preventing fraud and scams. FinCEN will participate in working groups alongside financial services, technology companies, consumer advocacy groups, and federal agencies to create cross-sector recommendations for combating fraud. This initiative expands FinCEN's public-private partnerships in addressing fraud, cybercrime, and illicit finance risks.
ogletree.com
· 2025-12-08
Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams involve criminals spoofing legitimate email addresses to trick victims into sending wire transfers, with Real Estate Wire Fraud (REWF) targeting property buyers into wiring funds to fraudulent accounts. Between 2013 and 2022, the FBI documented over 211,000 BEC complaints totaling approximately $30.4 billion in losses, with REWF complaints surging 27% from 2020 to 2022 and losses jumping 72% to $446.1 million. The FBI recommends verifying payment requests independently through known contact information, avoiding unsolicited links, and confirming any account or procedural changes directly
gvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses pig butchering, a evolving romance scam variation that originated in China where fraudsters build fake romantic relationships with victims (called "pigs") to eventually swindle them out of money. The piece, written by a Community Outreach Specialist with R.O.S.E. (Resources/Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly), alerts readers—particularly older adults—to this emerging fraud threat and directs them to roseadvocacy.org for information on the latest scams targeting seniors.
examiner.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Over 260 people were arrested in Manila, Philippines during a raid on a romance scam operation that targeted Australian men over 35 through dating apps and social media. The scammers, working in shifts aligned with Australian time zones, built trust with victims before directing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platforms. Australian Federal Police worked with Philippine authorities to gather intelligence on the scam's structure and money laundering operations, with plans to identify victims and shut down similar operations globally.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old woman from Staffordshire was targeted by a romance scammer posing as a widower named "John" who claimed to be a civil engineer in Dubai and eventually requested £100 in gift cards after fabricating a story about being shot and hospitalized. The victim became suspicious and did not send money, contacting authorities instead. This case exemplifies the surge in dating scams reported to Action Fraud, which received 4,109 dating fraud reports in the first six months of 2024—a 56% increase from the same period in 2019—as fraudsters emotionally manipulate vulnerable people online into sending money.
fingerlakesdailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Schuyler County officials issued a holiday season warning about gift card scams targeting seniors and consumers. Scammers impersonate government agencies, financial institutions, or legitimate companies via phone, email, or text to pressure victims into purchasing gift cards (Amazon, Walmart, Apple, etc.) and providing the card numbers and PIN codes. County officials emphasize that no legitimate business or government agency requests payment via gift card, and urge victims to report suspected fraud immediately to law enforcement, the gift card issuer, and keep receipts, as some companies may issue refunds.
barbadostoday.bb
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece discusses the vulnerability of elderly adults to digital scams and fraud, particularly in the Caribbean context. The author highlights that seniors aged 60 and older lost over US$3.4 billion to scams in 2023 according to FBI data, with the average victim losing US$33,915, and notes that older adults are targeted due to their trusting nature, substantial savings, technological inexperience, and emotional vulnerabilities exploited through tactics like grandparent scams and romance fraud. The article emphasizes that data breaches exposing personal information increase seniors' risk, and that most cannot recover financially from these losses due to their inability to re-enter the workforce.
saultstar.com
· 2025-12-08
Sault Ste. Marie Police Services is warning residents about an increase in "grandparent scams," where fraudsters contact seniors by phone impersonating grandchildren in legal trouble or their lawyers, typically demanding $5,000 to $10,000 in cash delivered by a fake courier. Police recommend that seniors pause and verify such claims by asking personal questions, contacting family members directly using known phone numbers, and never sharing money or personal information over the phone.
sootoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is warning seniors about a surge in grandparent scams, where fraudsters call posing as grandchildren or their lawyers and request $5,000-$10,000 in cash under the guise of an emergency, with a courier collecting the money in person. Police advise victims to pause when pressured, verify callers through personal questions, independently confirm stories by contacting family directly, and report suspicious calls to the police or Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
al.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to remain vigilant during Black Friday shopping, as scammers increasingly exploit the holiday season using fake websites, phishing emails, counterfeit products, and deceptive deals to steal personal and financial information. The BBB recommends safe shopping practices including verifying secure websites (HTTPS), avoiding suspicious links, comparing prices, researching businesses, using credit cards for better fraud protection, and planning purchases in advance. These precautions apply to both online and in-store shopping to help consumers protect themselves and their wallets during the busy retail period.
fox13news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office warns that scammers are placing fake QR codes over legitimate ones to trick people into downloading malicious apps or visiting fraudulent websites that mimic legitimate sites, particularly during the holiday travel season. The scam works by displaying urgent messages (such as account lockouts or parking tickets) that pressure victims into quickly scanning the code and providing payment or personal information. Authorities recommend typing URLs directly into browsers, pausing when prompted for immediate action, and freezing credit with major bureaus to prevent identity theft.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Tracey Watkins, a 42-year-old accountant from Cardiff, lost £52,000 (her savings plus her daughter's savings and unauthorized loans) after being approached via WhatsApp by a scammer posing as an investment firm representative who promised to triple or quadruple her money through bitcoin investments. After granting remote access to her phone via the AnyDesk app under the pretense of facilitating the investment, the scammer used her device to authorize loans and drain her accounts, then disappeared; her bank and the Financial Ombudsman Service denied recovery because she had granted permission through the app. Citizens Advice warns against investment scams on social media, advising people
stimson.org
· 2025-12-08
Cyber scams targeting Americans represent a significant national security threat, with nearly a quarter of Americans victimized in 2023 and collective losses reaching $159 billion. Criminal networks operating from scam compounds in Indo-Pacific countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines) coordinate these operations while also engaging in modern slavery, with global annual profits from scams and fraud exceeding $3 trillion. The U.S. lacks coordinated government efforts to counter these operations and requires a whole-of-government approach including a national command center, improved interagency collaboration, and international partnerships to address this growing threat.
huntsvillebusinessjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau president identified five prevalent scams affecting consumers in 2023: investment/cryptocurrency schemes (averaging $3,800 in losses), employment fraud involving fake job postings and counterfeit checks, online purchase scams where goods don't arrive or misrepresent quality, and home improvement fraud targeting storm-damaged properties. The BBB recommends verifying secure websites (https), using credit cards for online purchases, researching businesses on bbb.org, and being skeptical of promises that seem too good to be true.
thefintechtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In the past 12 months, 6.6 million UK adults lost money to online scams, with nearly 75% of victims reporting fraud on platforms that signed the Online Fraud Charter—a voluntary agreement by tech giants like Facebook, Google, Amazon, and TikTok to remove fraudulent content. Despite the charter's promises, one in five people encountered suspicious ads or messages daily, with social media platforms (particularly Facebook at 37%) being the most common venues for investment fraud, fake product offers, and other scams. Consumer trust in online platforms has declined rather than improved since the charter's implementation, prompting calls for the government to urgently enforce the Online Safety Act to hold tech companies account
euroweeklynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Spanish National Police warned of a surging WhatsApp scam where fraudsters impersonate contacts to trick victims into sharing six-digit verification codes, gaining control of their accounts. Once compromised, scammers send urgent money requests to the victim's contacts via Bizum (Spain's money transfer service), sometimes using AI voice-cloning technology to make pleas seem more credible, resulting in financial losses that cannot be recovered. The police recommend not sharing verification codes, enabling two-step verification, verifying urgent money requests independently, and reporting suspicious activity immediately.
travelandtourworld.com
· 2025-12-08
AI-powered travel scams have surged 900% in the past 18 months, with US travelers losing $265,000 in 2023 and nearly 1 in 4 losing $1,000 or more per scam. Scammers use AI to create fake booking websites, fraudulent chatbots, convincing phishing emails, and fake reviews to exploit holiday travelers, with defenses including verifying URLs, avoiding suspicious links, and cross-checking reviews across multiple platforms.
yourmoney.com
· 2025-12-08
Despite signing the Online Fraud Charter one year ago, major tech platforms have failed to reduce online scams, with 6.6 million UK adults losing money to fraud in the past 12 months—75% of whom were scammed on platforms that pledged to combat fraud. Social media platforms (Facebook, Google, Instagram) remain primary vectors, with one in five adults encountering suspicious ads daily. Which? is calling for urgent implementation of the Online Safety Act and earlier accountability measures, as consumer trust in online platforms has declined significantly with only 3% feeling more confident than a year ago.
advocate.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam targeting members of the trans community in Washington, D.C. attempted to redirect employee payroll by sending fraudulent emails impersonating workers and requesting banking information changes. At least two individuals—SC Nealy, founder of LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative, and SK Smigiel, a content creator—were targeted, with Nealy falling victim after providing banking details based on a convincing fake email. The scammers reportedly gathered personal information from social media to craft targeted messages, highlighting how phishing scams evolve and exploit vulnerable communities.
wtsp.com
· 2025-12-08
Local law enforcement agencies across the Tampa Bay area are warning that elderly fraud has reached epidemic levels, particularly during the holiday season when seniors are vulnerable to scams involving romance, fake investments, and impersonation schemes. The Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit has investigated cases resulting in nearly $3 million in losses this year, including a case where a 56-year-old man scammed a Texas woman of approximately $600,000 by impersonating billionaire Elon Musk via Facebook over several months. Authorities advise seniors to verify identities by calling contacts directly, hang up on suspicious calls, and recommend family members stay involved in elderly relatives' financial and digital activities.
tristatealert.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission approved final amendments to the Telemarketing Sales Rule extending coverage to inbound calls for technical support services, a major source of fraud targeting older adults. Consumers aged 60 and older reported over $175 million in losses to tech support scams last year, with scammers using deceptive pop-up alerts and pressure tactics to sell unnecessary services paid via untraceable methods like wire transfers, gift cards, and cryptocurrency. The rule, effective 60 days after publication, aims to hold tech support scam businesses accountable and recover funds for defrauded consumers.
barbadostoday.bb
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece examines the escalating problem of elder fraud in the digital age, highlighting how seniors are disproportionately targeted by scammers who exploit their trusting nature, financial assets, and technological vulnerabilities. The 2023 FBI report revealed that seniors aged 60 and older lost over $3.4 billion to fraud, with individuals losing an average of $33,915, while data breaches exposing personal information make them prime targets for sophisticated, personalized attacks. The article emphasizes that common scams include tech support fraud, romance scams, and emergency/grandparent scams, and stresses the urgent need for awareness and protective measures given seniors' limited ability to recover
wvva.com
· 2025-12-08
During the holiday season, seniors are being warned about phishing scams, particularly text messages impersonating postal services and shipping companies that trick recipients into clicking malicious links to "confirm delivery." State Senator Chris Head and local aging advocates are urging seniors to avoid clicking unsolicited links, verify requests independently, and never share personal information via text messages, as these scams are actively circulating and targeting vulnerable populations.
ktnv.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors with cognitive decline from Alzheimer's or dementia face significant financial risks beyond traditional scams, including unauthorized charges, forgotten recurring payments, and neglected account monitoring. Nevada ranks third nationally for senior fraud, and financial experts warn that memory loss-related financial mismanagement can deplete decades of savings within a year. Experts recommend caregivers maintain regular contact, establish powers of attorney, educate seniors on common scams, and monitor accounts vigilantly.
wfmd.com
· 2025-12-08
Carroll County Sheriff Jim DeWees warns that senior citizens are increasingly targeted by scammers, particularly during the holidays, due to their substantial savings, home ownership, and good credit. Recent scams affecting Maryland seniors include a gold bar scheme that cost seven residents $6.3 million, as well as fake check and phishing scams, with the FBI reporting that people over 60 lost more than $3.4 million to fraud in 2023, an 11 percent increase from 2022. DeWees recommends seniors verify unsolicited communications independently, never share personal information, stay informed about scam tactics through trusted sources, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 35-year-old Oakland man, Zhongqiang Chen, was arrested on November 14 after scamming an elderly Stanislaus County woman out of $30,000 through a fake McAfee antivirus email that gave him remote access to her computer. Chen transferred $60,000 from her money market account, convinced her she owed him that amount, and collected an initial $30,000 payment before being arrested in an undercover operation when he arrived to collect the remaining $30,000. The case remains under investigation to determine if there are additional victims.