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in Financial Crime
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old male in Wilkes-Barre, PA was defrauded of $2,500 after receiving a call from someone impersonating a Luzerne County Sheriff's Office official who claimed an outstanding arrest warrant existed against him. The scammer convinced the victim to transfer money from his bank account to resolve the false warrant, and the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department is actively investigating the case.
securityboulevard.com
· 2025-12-08
North Korean hackers posed as American IT workers to secure remote positions at over 300 U.S. companies, including Fortune 500 firms in technology, aerospace, and entertainment sectors, using stolen identities and laptop farms to funnel salaries into Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program while potentially installing malware on company networks. Two conspirators were arrested—Oleksandr Didenko (Ukrainian, facing up to 67 years) and Christina Chapman (Arizona, facing up to 97 years)—with the latter operating a laptop farm containing over 90 computers from her home, while authorities continue searching for additional foreign co-conspirators and offer a $5 million reward for information
michigansthumb.com
· 2025-12-08
McKhaela McNamara (Flint, Michigan) and Jmyla White (Florida) were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an international wire fraud conspiracy targeting senior citizens across multiple states, with McNamara receiving 51 months and ordered to pay $693,073 in restitution, while White received 97 months and was ordered to pay $3.2 million. The scam began with fake virus warnings on victims' computers, prompting them to call numbers where perpetrators impersonated tech company representatives or federal agents, then convinced victims to withdraw cash, make wire transfers, or purchase gift cards through various ruses involving compromised bank accounts, infected computers, or criminal
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two Florida and Michigan residents were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an international fraud conspiracy that defrauded senior citizens of millions of dollars. The scheme involved fake tech support warnings that led victims to surrender cash, wire transfers, and gift cards through various ruses, including impersonation of federal agents and false claims of compromised bank accounts; White was sentenced to 97 months and ordered to pay $3.2 million in restitution, while McNamara received 51 months and must pay $693,073 in restitution. One West Michigan victim lost $398,000 to the conspiracy, which operated with scammers based in India and used U.S.-based oper
kitv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Honolulu resident received a scam call from someone impersonating an HPD officer claiming she had a bench warrant for missing jury duty, using spoofed caller ID to appear legitimate. The Hawaii State Judiciary warned that scammers are posing as law enforcement and judiciary employees to threaten arrests and demand upfront fees, though courts never contact people about jury duty bench warrants by phone or email. The victim avoided becoming a victim by independently researching the scam, highlighting the importance of verification, especially for vulnerable older adults who may lack computer access or live alone.
wnem.com
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old Flint woman was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for her role in an international fraud scheme that targeted senior citizens across multiple states, including Michigan. The scammers used fake tech support warnings to convince victims to call numbers where operators posing as Microsoft or Apple employees intimidated them into transferring money through various methods including wire transfers, cash deliveries, and gift cards. One Michigan victim lost $398,000, and McNamara was ordered to pay over $693,000 in restitution to victims.
secretservice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, in partnership with the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and FDIC Office of Inspector General, launched the Money Mule Initiative to identify and prosecute individuals who transfer stolen funds from fraud victims to international criminals. The initiative targets money mule networks that facilitate various scams affecting older Americans, including lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams, with some money mules unknowingly recruited as victims themselves or through fake work-at-home job offers. Law enforcement has brought criminal charges against multiple defendants, including cases involving multi-continent money laundering schemes and bank impersonation plots targeting small business owners.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida announced a Money Mule Initiative in partnership with the FBI, Secret Service, and FDIC-OIG to identify, disrupt, and prosecute networks that facilitate fraud schemes targeting older Americans, including lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams. Money mules—individuals who receive and transfer stolen funds—are recruited either as unwitting victims of scams or through fake work-at-home job offers, and law enforcement is pursuing criminal prosecution against those knowingly assisting fraudsters, with recent cases involving defendants laundering between $1.5 million and $9.5 million in fraud proceeds.
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Houston Field Office reported a concerning 400% increase in elder scams since 2021, with victims losing $1.2 billion in 2023, including cases where elderly people lose life savings, retirement funds, and homes. Five individuals were arrested for defrauding a 92-year-old World War II veteran out of $300,000 through Ternion Group International LLC, a fraudulent investment scheme that promised $13 million returns and involved establishing power of attorney and creating legal documents to control the victim's assets. The FBI emphasizes that elder fraud involves grooming victims to build trust relationships and advises victims to contact their financial institutions and law enforcement immediately.
cbs12.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal law enforcement agencies in Florida are prosecuting money mules—individuals who transfer stolen funds from fraud victims to international scam operators—as part of a multi-agency initiative involving the FBI, U.S. Attorney's Office, Secret Service, and FDIC. Three Florida residents laundered between $1.5 million and $9.5 million by impersonating bank representatives to steal small business owner information and move funds, with one defendant sentenced to 46 months in prison and another awaiting sentencing; a separate case involved a man who recruited others to open bank accounts and withdraw money from victims defrauded on eBay, Booking.com, and Airbnb. The DOJ emphas
floridatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida opinion piece highlights the prevalence of elder fraud targeting Space Coast seniors, featuring the case of 80-year-old Judy Kirk who nearly fell victim to a tech support scam demanding $25,000. According to FBI data, seniors over 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, with Florida ranking second nationally; common scams affecting state residents include tech support, investment, romance, gift card, and roofing schemes. The article emphasizes that while Kirk avoided financial loss by sensing something wrong at the last moment, many of her peers were successfully scammed, underscoring the need for elder awareness and vigilance.
nerdwallet.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults are increasingly targeted by financial scams, with losses reaching $3.4 billion in the past year—an 11% increase from the previous year, with an average loss of $33,915 per victim. Scammers target this demographic because they typically have savings and assets, are more trusting, and less likely to report fraud, with tech support scams, personal data breaches, and romance scams being most common. Protective measures include adopting basic data hygiene practices (using secure websites, strong passwords, two-factor authentication), verifying unsolicited contacts directly with known sources, establishing multiple trusted contacts to monitor accounts, and reducing stigma around reporting scams.
cbs6albany.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Albany residents, Amber Diacetis (30) and Devin Zielinski (33), were arrested for allegedly stealing over $200,000 from an 86-year-old state pensioner by becoming his live-in caregiver and convincing him to let them manage his bills, which they failed to pay for four years while using the money for personal expenses. The victim's home went into foreclosure, his vehicle was repossessed, and he lived without utilities or plumbing while isolated and unaware of the theft. The case highlights a broader problem, as people over 60 experienced $3.4 billion in elder fraud losses in 2023, an 11%
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Losses from scams targeting adults age 60 and older reached $3.4 billion last year—an 11% increase from the prior year—with an average loss of $33,915 per victim, according to FBI data. Older adults are frequently targeted through tech support scams, personal data breaches, and romance scams because they often have substantial assets and may be more trusting and less likely to report fraud. Experts recommend protective measures including strong data hygiene practices, using credit cards for online purchases, verifying unsolicited communications directly with trusted sources, establishing account oversight with multiple trusted contacts, and fostering open conversations about scams to reduce shame and encourage reporting.
dailyinterlake.com
· 2025-12-08
The third annual Senior Fraud Protection Summit, held May 18 in Kalispell, Montana, brought together organizations including AARP, Glacier Bank, and Merrill Lynch to educate seniors on recognizing and protecting themselves from fraud scams. The event featured Financial Abuse Specialist Chris McConnell from the Montana Office of Securities as keynote speaker, along with presentations on common senior-targeted scams, prevention strategies, and available resources for victims.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elderly Americans lost over $3.4 billion to fraud, with the FBI reporting an 11% increase in elder fraud losses compared to 2022, and the DOJ charging 16 defendants in April 2024 connected to a scam defrauding hundreds of seniors. Common schemes include tech support fraud, government impersonation, and "grandparent scams" where perpetrators use spoofed phone numbers to impersonate distressed relatives or officials, convincing victims to wire money. To mitigate losses, experts recommend regular elder check-ins with financial account monitoring, restricting wire transfers by amount or location, and implementing verbal verification protocols before funds are transferre
lasvegassun.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** Opinion: Elder fraud case is as tragic as it is infuriating
A 75-year-old man, Robert McClanahan, lost over $1 million to his financial adviser, 40-year-old Eddy Blizzard, who used signed blank checks to steal funds for personal expenses while McClanahan fell behind on mortgage payments and eventually lost his home. McClanahan, who never learned to read or write and had worked 40 years to build his retirement savings, died shortly after the foreclosure with his assets depleted. Blizzard was convicted of bank fraud, sentenced to 42 months in prison, and ordered to pay $
abc12.com
· 2025-12-08
McKhaela Katelynn McNamara (28, Flint) and Jmyla Elaine Sha'Taria White (29, Florida) were sentenced to 51 and 97 months in federal prison respectively for operating a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme targeting senior citizens. The scam involved fake virus warnings and compromised bank account alerts designed to trick victims into withdrawing cash and handing it over; one West Michigan victim lost nearly $400,000, and the perpetrators were ordered to pay over $3.8 million combined in restitution.
khou.com
· 2025-12-08
A 92-year-old World War II veteran in Houston lost over $300,000 to a fraudulent investment scheme operated by Ternion Group International LLC, a fake "Christian" company that promised high returns on construction and job training projects but never delivered any funds. Five defendants from Florida and Alabama were arrested and charged with wire fraud and conspiracy, with one defendant allegedly manipulating the victim into changing his will and granting power of attorney. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP Illinois is hosting a monthly virtual fraud prevention series featuring expert speakers including the Better Business Bureau, with the first session on May 28 addressing general fraud protection strategies and upcoming sessions covering specific scam types such as travel fraud, mail fraud, internet fraud, romance scams, healthcare scams, and holiday scams. The program aims to educate participants on recognizing and avoiding common fraud schemes to protect their personal information and financial security.
money.com
· 2025-12-08
Young job seekers, particularly students seeking remote work, are being targeted in "money mule" scams where fraudsters trick them into transferring stolen money through their bank accounts, digital wallets, or cryptocurrency accounts. These scams often originate from lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams, and unwitting participants can face identity theft and potential criminal charges for money laundering. The Justice Department took action against over 3,000 money mules in the past year, with criminal charges brought against more than 20 serious offenders, including a case involving three people charged for recruiting college students to launder approximately $7 million from elderly tech fraud victims over three years.
wusa9.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Sunyu Qian, 31, from Fairfax, Virginia, pleaded guilty to defrauding elderly people of approximately $1.1 million through gift card scams between November 2020 and August 2023, as part of a larger criminal organization that used the cards to purchase electronics. In a separate scheme from April 2023 to March 2024, Qian used counterfeit price tags to purchase baby formula at deep discounts from retailers, defrauding them of $124,000. Qian pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with sentencing scheduled for September 18 and a
collins.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are impersonating U.S. Marshals and federal officials by spoofing their phone numbers to target Maine residents, claiming they must pay fines to avoid arrest or promising payments that require upfront fees. The scammers use convincing tactics such as publicly available personal information, fake badges, and case numbers to appear credible. Victims are urged to report suspected scams to the FBI or FTC, and to avoid taking immediate action on unsolicited calls demanding payment or personal information.
bbc.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
This is a documentary series titled "Scams & Scandals" that covers various UK frauds, scams, and scandals across multiple episodes. Episodes feature investigations into diverse crimes including a £50 million benefit fraud scheme, £5 million golden toilet theft, government loan fraud involving millions of pounds, fake medical procedures, ticket fraud, cyberattacks, and online exploitation cases. The series follows victims attempting to recover money and authorities uncovering the truth behind these schemes.
chicago.suntimes.com
· 2025-12-08
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau distributed $15 million in compensation checks to 13,413 Illinois residents who were victims of an online lending scam by Texas-based company Think Finance, which collected payments on loans that were legally void under state interest rate caps and licensing requirements. The settlement, part of a larger $384 million payout across 17 states to 191,000 victims, resulted from a 2017 lawsuit against Think Finance for making illegal electronic withdrawals and debt collection calls on non-existent debts. Affected Illinois residents received an average of $1,100 per check from the CFPB's victims relief fund.
newlinesmag.com
· 2025-12-08
A 36-year-old Indian woman named Jhumpa Biswas was targeted by a romance scammer posing as "Mark Anthony," a Scottish cosmetic surgeon who initiated contact via Instagram with flattering messages. Over weeks of increasingly intimate communication across social media and WhatsApp, the scammer built emotional trust through romantic gestures, personal attention, and carefully crafted backstory, exploiting Biswas's limited romantic experience and emotional vulnerability. The article details how the scammer's grooming tactics—including flattery, validation, and demonstrations of care—set the stage for financial exploitation that would follow.
miaminewtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, romance scams resulted in over 64,000 reports and $1.1 billion in losses, predominantly affecting elderly victims who were deceived by scammers posing as romantic partners on dating apps and social media. Cristine Petitfrere, a 30-year-old from Florida, was arrested and sentenced to 30 months in prison for laundering nearly $3 million from romance scams by funneling money to Ghana; she personally facilitated transfers from three elderly victims in their 60s-70s who lost over $158,000 combined. Federal law enforcement has intensified prosecution efforts against romance scam networks, with romance fraud losses increasing
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Approximately 191,000 consumers who were fraudulently induced by Texas-based online lender Think Finance to repay loans they did not owe are receiving $384 million in restitution through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's victims relief fund, with distributions beginning May 14, 2024. The CFPB, which has distributed over $19 billion to more than 195 million defrauded consumers since 2010, is providing compensation through its Civil Penalty Fund after law enforcement stopped the company's operations.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Five members of Ternion Group International LLC, a religious-based company, were charged with wire fraud conspiracy for defrauding a 92-year-old World War II veteran of over $300,000 from his retirement account. The scheme promised the victim $13 million in returns and ownership stakes in purported construction and job training projects, but he received nothing and one defendant allegedly used legal documents to gain power of attorney and control over the victim's accounts and property. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison and $250,000 in fines per count if convicted.
natlawreview.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice charged 16 defendants in April 2024 for a scam that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans out of millions of dollars using impersonation tactics. In 2023, individuals over 60 reported losses exceeding $3.4 billion from elder fraud—an 11% increase from 2022—with common scams involving investment fraud, tech support impersonation, and government impersonation. To prevent losses, experts recommend regular financial account monitoring, setting wire transfer restrictions, and establishing verbal verification processes before sending money.
boston25news.com
· 2025-12-08
A 25-year-old Massachusetts woman, Rachel Chen, was charged with stealing $20,000 from a 75-year-old New Hampshire resident through an online support scam that impersonated Microsoft and the victim's bank, instructing the victim to withdraw cash for supposed FBI pickup. Chen allegedly received the box of money in person while working with unknown accomplices and faces charges of theft by deception with potential penalties of 7½ to 15 years in prison and a $4,000 fine.
kttn.com
· 2025-12-08
Seven California residents were federally indicted for operating a conspiracy that defrauded elderly Americans nationwide using fraudulent Taiwanese passports, fake bank accounts, and money mules to collect victim funds through tech support scams, romance fraud, and imposter schemes. The scheme generated over $7 million in fraudulent deposits, with individual defendants depositing between $440,000 and $1.3 million into criminal accounts. The case was part of the Money Mule Initiative, which resulted in action against over 3,000 money mule networks in the year of prosecution.
cbs12.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Annual Report documented a significant surge in financial exploitation of Americans over 60, who reported losses exceeding $3.4 billion—an 11% increase from 2022. Tech support fraud was the most commonly reported scam type, while investment schemes caused the largest financial losses; Florida ranked second nationally with seniors losing over $90 million to investment scams, $51.5 million to tech support fraud, and $40 million to romance scams. The FBI emphasizes the importance of timely reporting despite victims' reluctance due to shame, and encourages affected individuals to contact local FBI offices or the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Seven members of a nationwide elder fraud ring—including three California residents charged in May—were indicted on conspiracy charges for defrauding elderly people through tech support scams, fake immigration documents, and fraudulent bank accounts. The scheme collected over $7 million from victims, including an elderly Missouri couple who were threatened with prosecution unless they paid $88,000 after seeing a fake virus pop-up warning. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri as part of the Department of Homeland Security's Money Mule Initiative targeting elder fraud networks.
fox13news.com
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old Bradenton veteran was defrauded of $1.5 million in a multi-state gold bar scheme in which scammers impersonated federal agents, gained his trust over weeks, and manipulated his military patriotism to convince him to transfer his retirement funds. Swetaben Patel, 42, was arrested as an alleged "mule" in the operation, which involved multiple perpetrators across several states and coordinated drop-off locations. The Bradenton Police Department reports that elder fraud cases in their jurisdiction have increased 50% this year, with the FBI noting that Americans 60 and older lost over $3.4 billion to
buckscountycouriertimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Crystal Bianca Brito, a 29-year-old health aide at Lutheran Community of Telford personal care home, was charged with 127 felony and misdemeanor charges for stealing debit and credit cards from at least three elderly residents and making over $5,800 in unauthorized purchases between November and January. The victims, aged 79 to 90, had their cards used for in-person and online transactions primarily in the Allentown and Macungie areas, with surveillance footage and testimony from staff confirming Brito's involvement. Brito was arrested in January and is currently free on $50,000 unsecured bail pending a preliminary hearing.
mlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Kari Melissa Morales, a 51-year-old Michigan woman, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud for her role in an IRS/FBI impersonation scam targeting at least one victim. Morales and co-conspirators attempted to extort $60,000 by presenting fake FBI arrest warrants and IRS receipts, with Morales carrying a loaded firearm and fraudulent badge during the money exchange; the scheme was discovered when a text meant for the victim was accidentally sent to a Kent County officer. If convicted, Morales faces up to 20 years in prison.
tradingview.com
· 2025-12-08
A cryptocurrency investor lost $71 million in Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) in a May 3 wallet poisoning scam, where an attacker created a near-identical wallet address and the victim mistakenly transferred funds after only checking the first and last characters. The thief unexpectedly returned all $71 million worth of Ether on May 12, possibly after being identified by on-chain security firms investigating the attack and potentially facing legal consequences based on IP analysis linking them to Hong Kong.
ilmattino.it
· 2025-12-08
A woman from Summonte, Italy, posted used furniture for sale online but was defrauded by a fake buyer who posed as an interested purchaser and convinced her to transfer €550 to a prepaid card. The Carabinieri identified and charged a 55-year-old man from Macerata province with fraud following the victim's report. The police issued a warning about this emerging scam targeting online sellers who are deceived into sending money by individuals posing as buyers.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Seven California residents were federally indicted for operating a sophisticated fraud scheme targeting elderly victims nationwide through tech support scams, romance fraud, and imposter schemes, using fraudulent Taiwanese passports and fake immigration documents to open bank accounts that funneled over $7 million in victim cash through money mules. Three additional conspirators—Bowen Chen, Jiacheng Chen, and Vianne Chen—were added to the indictment on May 8, joining four others previously charged, with the largest deposits ($1.3 million, $615,000, and $440,000 respectively) traced to specific defendants. The case was part of a federal Money Mule Initiative that prosecut
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Dongyi Guo, a 27-year-old Chinese national, was indicted on wire fraud conspiracy charges for his role as a cash courier in a scheme targeting elderly victims. Guo collected $95,000 in total from a 79-year-old Missouri woman over four days in March after scammers impersonated financial institutions and Social Security representatives, falsely claiming her accounts were compromised. He was arrested on March 7 while attempting to collect an additional $15,000, and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reported a 14% increase in elder fraud complaints in 2023, with seniors over 60 losing $3.4 billion across 101,000 reported cases, averaging $33,000 per victim. In Texas alone, over 7,000 seniors lost $278 million, with investment scams, government impersonation schemes, and romance scams showing the largest growth; investment scams averaged $270,000 per victim in Texas. The FBI advises seniors to avoid trusting unknown contacts, verify caller identities independently, and report fraud to enable broader conspiracy investigations.
highlandcountypress.com
· 2025-12-08
Brenda Cowden, 55, a senior service provider employee in Hamilton County, was indicted on 10 felony charges for allegedly defrauding a 79-year-old isolated victim by befriending her, obtaining a fraudulent Power of Attorney, and stealing $13,600 while gaining control over $1 million of the victim's assets through unauthorized account modifications. The fraud was discovered when credit union investigators froze the accounts, preventing Cowden from inheriting the victim's entire estate upon her death. Cowden faces up to 61 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
phillyburbs.com
· 2025-12-08
Crystal Bianca Brito, 29, a former health aide at Lutheran Community of Telford personal care home, was charged with 127 felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly stealing debit and credit cards from at least three elderly residents and making over $5,800 in unauthorized purchases between November and January. The victims—ages 79 and 90—had their cards used for in-person and online transactions in the Allentown and Macungie areas where Brito lives, with surveillance footage and matched transactions linking her to the thefts. Brito is currently free on $50,000 unsecured bail and scheduled for a preliminary hearing.
ca.movies.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Stan Lee's former manager, Keya Morgan, was charged with elder abuse against the Marvel Comics co-creator, facing five counts including false imprisonment, fraud, and forgery. Court documents alleged that Morgan isolated Lee by controlling his Hollywood Hills home, hiring security to keep away family and friends, and moving him to an unfamiliar residence following the death of Lee's wife. Lee died in November at age 95, months after a temporary restraining order was issued against Morgan based on abuse allegations.
krcgtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Three California residents—Bowen Chen (21), Jiacheng Chen (19), and Vianne Chen (41)—were charged in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud senior citizens, including a Missouri couple. The scheme involved creating fake student checking accounts using fraudulent immigration documents to launder money stolen through scams, with the three defendants depositing a combined $2.355 million in illicit funds. The investigation was triggered when a 78-year-old Missouri man nearly fell victim to an extortion scam demanding $88,000 under false pretenses; his suspicions prevented the loss, leading to arrests as part of the Department of Justice's Money Mule Initiative.
baytobaynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Delaware lawmakers unanimously advanced House Bill 317 in May, a consumer protection measure requiring retailers to display warnings about gift card scams at point of sale. Delaware reported 6,742 fraud cases in the prior year with a median loss of $700 per person, with older adults particularly vulnerable—those aged 70-79 lost a median of $800 and those over 80 averaged $1,500 per incident, as scammers increasingly pose as government agencies to trick victims into purchasing gift cards as untraceable payment.
mymotherlode.com
· 2025-12-08
Canada experiences significant fraud across multiple schemes, including identity theft, phone scams impersonating government officials, and mortgage fraud, with Canadian authorities estimating over $30 million lost since 2014 from RCMP impersonation and tech support scams combined. A survey found 34 percent of Canadians have experienced at least one type of fraud, with experts recommending protective measures such as creating unique passwords, screening calls, shredding personal documents, and using licensed professionals for financial transactions. Mortgage fraud has risen dramatically in Canada due to vulnerabilities in the borrowing process that rely heavily on borrower-provided information, making it easy for fraudsters to submit false details about income, employment, or
ca.movies.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A study of 644 older adults in the Chicago area found that 16.4% were vulnerable to government imposter scams, falling for a fictitious Social Security and Medicare benefits fraud attempt by providing personal information or Social Security numbers, while an additional 15.1% engaged but remained skeptical. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, revealed that vulnerability to fraud affects many seniors regardless of cognitive status, though those with lower financial literacy and scam awareness were most susceptible. The findings underscore that elder fraud poses significant public health and economic threats, with victimization potentially leading to serious consequences including hospitalization and depression.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 92-year-old South Carolina woman combated relentless scam callers by responding to their pitches with absurd nonsense—including claims she would be "raptured" and requests for senior discounts—which repeatedly frustrated the scammers into hanging up. Her granddaughter documented these interactions in videos, showcasing how humor and distraction can be an effective defense against fraud attempts, though the article notes that elderly people remain particularly vulnerable to scams, with nearly 70,000 people losing $1.3 billion to romance scams alone in 2022.