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Scams increased 34% year-over-year leading up to tax season, with the Colorado Public Interest Research Group warning consumers to remain vigilant. Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics including calls, texts, and impersonation of family members, with an 81% of Americans expressing concern about personal data misuse. Consumer protection experts advise sharing minimal personal information, ignoring unsolicited urgent money requests, and placing credit freezes with the three major credit bureaus to prevent identity theft and fraudulent account creation.

A Denver family had their bank account completely drained after their credit card information was stolen, though the method of theft remains unknown. Colorado law enforcement warns that scammers are using increasingly sophisticated skimming devices—including pinhole cameras and barely visible overlays on payment terminals—to capture card and PIN information at gas pumps and public payment stations. To protect themselves, consumers should shield their PIN when entering it, use contactless payment methods like Apple Pay or Google Pay, pay at staffed customer service desks rather than unattended terminals, and regularly monitor accounts for unauthorized charges.

A Denver couple lost $30,000 in a business email compromise scam days before closing on their home, when scammers impersonated their lender and title company to redirect closing funds. The FBI reports this real estate fraud scheme is increasingly common, with Colorado experiencing over $57 million in losses to similar business email compromise scams last year. The scammers obtained legitimate emails, inserted themselves into the couple's email chain, and conducted real-time conversations to convince them to wire closing costs to a fraudulent account.

Romance scams rank among the top 20 most reported scams in the US, with victims losing $652 million nationally in 2023 and $10 million in Colorado alone. Scammers create fake online dating profiles to build relationships with victims and manipulate them into sending money under false pretenses. Experts recommend using established matchmaking services as a safer alternative to online dating apps.

Beverly Rusman, an 86-year-old from Fort Collins, Colorado, received a "grandparent scam" phone call in which someone impersonated her grandson claiming to be in trouble in Canada and requesting money. Colorado elder adults are targeted by various fraud schemes including grandparent scams and fake prize/service offers, with scammers using psychological pressure and specific instructions (such as directing victims not to enter banks) to manipulate victims into withdrawing thousands of dollars.

An 86-year-old Colorado resident describes experiencing "grandparent scams" and other fraud attempts targeting seniors, including impersonators claiming to be family members in distress requesting money and fake promotional offers luring victims to withdraw cash from banks. The scammers use psychological tactics like creating urgency and fear, instructing victims to avoid bank staff and keep perpetrators on the phone during transactions. The piece highlights how elder fraud remains a persistent problem in Colorado, affecting multiple seniors across the state.

A senior couple in Colorado lost $20,000 in a gift card scam after receiving a fraudulent email claiming they owed money for an unauthorized phone purchase. The scammer, posing as a federal agent named Rebecca, convinced them to purchase multiple gift cards and provide PIN codes, with the scammer eventually admitting to the theft when contacted by police. The couple, now in their mid-70s, must rebuild their savings from scratch, highlighting the devastating impact of these scams run by international criminal networks.

A Colorado author lost over $100,000 in a combined romance and cryptocurrency investment scam after meeting someone on a dating app who convinced him to invest in what appeared to be a legitimate cryptocurrency opportunity. The incident is part of a larger trend in Colorado, where residents lost more than $240 million to scams in the previous year according to FBI data. The scammer used video calls and seemingly normal conversation tactics to build trust before pivoting to the fraudulent investment scheme.

Scammers impersonating Medicare representatives increased calls and messages to seniors during Medicare's open enrollment period (October 15–December 7), according to the Colorado Senior Medicare Patrol. Red flags include callers claiming to be Medicare officials, requesting personal information, and failing to identify their actual company; seniors are advised to verify calls directly with Medicare and remain vigilant against fraud attempts during this vulnerable enrollment window.

Malcolm Walker, a man with nearly 80,000 Facebook followers, is accused of defrauding families across multiple states, including a 77-year-old Douglas County woman and her son who claim he took significant money from them while promising to promote their product line and arrange meetings with business coaches in Colorado that never materialized. Walker has been the subject of multiple investigations by Fox 5 News throughout the year, with victims in other Georgia counties also reporting similar schemes involving unfulfilled promises and financial loss.

A Colorado Springs woman lost her $37,000 inheritance to a fake cryptocurrency investment scam after seeing what appeared to be an investment opportunity posted by a close friend on Facebook. The friend's account had been hacked, and scammers used it to lure Suzanne Pence into the fraudulent scheme, stripping away the funds her father had left behind.

I cannot provide a meaningful summary as the text provided is only a navigation menu and header structure from a CBS News webpage, not an actual article. The only substantive information visible is the headline "Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022" with a subtitle noting that scammers continue using romance tactics beyond Valentine's Day. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, please provide the full article content.

Three suspects were indicted in federal court in St. Louis for operating a nationwide tech support fraud scam targeting elderly victims, including a scheme where a 69-year-old Missouri couple was deceived into believing their computer was infected and coerced into paying $99,000 to prevent criminal prosecution. A related case involved a man posing as an FBI agent who defrauded an elderly Union man out of nearly $50,000 in gold by claiming his identity had been stolen, with similar scams occurring across Colorado and Oregon.

Fraudulent calls, texts, and phishing scams targeting bank customers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers operating from organized call centers rather than acting individually. Alpine Bank and Community Banks of Colorado recently warned customers to avoid disclosing confidential banking information in response to unsolicited communications, as these operations often employ multiple employees who sound professional.

Douglas County law enforcement agencies announced the arrest of 26-year-old Sagar Patel for scamming a 79-year-old Highlands Ranch resident out of over $120,000 in gold bars through a months-long investigation involving cell phone and credit card records. Multiple police departments partnered to launch a public awareness campaign promoting the SCAM acronym (Stop, Call, Ask, Make informed decisions) and provided education on common scam tactics, emphasizing that victims should watch for pressure to act quickly, requests for unusual payment methods, and demands for secrecy.

This educational guide advises international students on recognizing and protecting themselves from five common scam types: threatening calls impersonating government officials, employment scams with suspicious job offers, requests for gift card payments, phishing emails/texts, and caller ID spoofing. The resource recommends reporting any scams to local police and federal agencies like the FTC or Colorado Attorney General, and directs victims who shared personal information to on-campus support services including victim assistance and counseling.

A 26-year-old Jersey City man, Sagar Patel, was arrested and extradited to Colorado, where he faces grand theft charges for scamming a 79-year-old woman out of $120,000 in gold bars. Patel was taken into custody in February and now faces 4 to 12 years in prison if convicted.

This is an educational piece by KKTV news examining common scams affecting Colorado Springs and the broader region. The report features anchor Katie Pelton interviewing experts to identify warning signs and provide protection strategies, though specific scam types and dollar amounts are not detailed in the summary provided. The piece highlights that scammers continue to cause significant financial and emotional harm to residents across southern Colorado and beyond.

Colorado-based companies (Patriots Dynasty, Patriots Future, and USA Patriots) scammed thousands of people, including seniors, by selling "Trump Bucks" — novelty checkbooks, coins, and commemorative currency featuring Donald Trump's likeness — with false promises that these items could be cashed in for substantial sums if Trump returned to office or as rewards for loyalty. Victims spent anywhere from $1,500 to thousands of dollars on products that banks and retailers explicitly stated they would not honor, with at least one FTC complaint filed and all three companies receiving "F" ratings from the Better Business Bureau.

This article appears to be a news homepage or aggregator showing multiple unrelated stories, rather than a single coherent article about fraud or elder abuse. The stories cover fentanyl warnings, a memorial ceremony, a fire rescue, a cultural project, and a shooting investigation—none of which directly relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. Without a specific fraud-related article to summarize, I cannot provide a relevant summary for the Elderus database.

In 2023, U.S. consumers lost $4.6 billion to investment scams—a 21% increase from 2022, with $1.4 billion lost on social media platforms alone. The most common schemes include cryptocurrency investment scams (featuring fake websites and fabricated profit statements), romance scams ("pig butchering" where scammers build relationships before soliciting money), and real estate scams (fraudulent property developments). The Colorado Division of Securities urges consumers of all ages to verify investment opportunities and report suspected fraud to protect themselves from these increasingly prevalent online schemes.

Scams in Colorado increased 34% year-over-year leading up to the April 15 tax deadline, with the FTC reporting that Coloradans lost $164 million to fraudsters in the previous year. Experts advise consumers not to respond to urgent money requests via messages and recommend freezing credit with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to protect against identity theft, which can take years to recover from.

A 2023 QRFY study found that Colorado ranked seventh in the nation for fraud losses, with residents losing $161.2 million total ($2.8 million per 100,000 residents) across 40,625 reported scams to the FTC. Imposter scams were the leading fraud type at 19% of incidents, followed by identity theft at 17%, with scammers commonly posing as banks, utilities, or police to trick victims into sending money or purchasing gift cards via phone, email, or text.

This is a program announcement from Apex Active Adult Programs in Arvada, Colorado, listing recreational and educational activities for April 2024, including billiards, bingo exercise classes, movie nights, museum trips, and a job expo for adults 50+. The programs are hosted at the Community Recreation Center and include a free AARP presentation on scam and fraud protection targeting older Coloradans, designed to educate seniors about common schemes.

I cannot provide a summary of this content because the text provided is only navigation menu items and headers from a CBS News webpage, not an actual article about a tax scam. To summarize the tax scams article mentioned in the headline, please provide the full article text describing what the IRS's "dirty dozen" tax scams are and what details are included about them.

A Colorado woman lost $158,162 in Ethereum cryptocurrency in a 2022 scam after being deceived by a fake Instagram account impersonating Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin, which promised to double any cryptocurrency sent to it. Federal Secret Service agents, assisted by a private cryptocurrency forensics firm, were able to freeze an account containing approximately $17,000 of the stolen funds, though the suspected scammer is believed to be located in Kazakhstan and the case is not prosecutable locally. Experts note that such scams typically target people unfamiliar with cryptocurrency and that cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed once completed.

This article explains two common email and phone scams: spoofing (impersonating trusted sources by disguising email addresses, phone numbers, or URLs) and phishing (using spoofed communications to trick victims into revealing sensitive information like passwords or financial data). The FBI notes that phishing has evolved into variations including vishing (phone calls), smishing (text messages), and pharming (malicious code redirecting to fake websites). Protection strategies include verifying requests independently, examining sender details carefully, enabling multi-factor authentication, avoiding unsolicited attachments, and limiting personal information shared online.

John Kyle Muller of Boulder, Colorado pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for operating a prize notice scam from 2012 to February 2018 that defrauded thousands of consumers, predominantly elderly victims, of over $15 million. The scheme involved mailing millions of fraudulent notices claiming recipients had won cash prizes, then charging $20-$50 fees to claim non-existent rewards, while victims received only worthless reports or trinkets. Muller and his co-conspirators were shut down in February 2018 through U.S. Postal Inspection Service search warrants and a federal court order.

Colorado residents lost more than $187 million to cybercriminals in 2023, an increase of nearly $9 million from 2022, with investment fraud ($60 million), business email compromise ($57 million), and tech support scams ($23 million) being the top three fraud types reported in the state. Nationally, seniors were the most victimized age group with over 100,000 complaints totaling more than $3 billion in losses, while those over 60 accounted for more than half of tech support scam losses. The FBI received over 880,000 cybercrime complaints nationwide in 2023 with potential losses exceeding $12.5

Internet scammers targeted over 10,000 Coloradans in the past year, stealing $187.6 million, with investment fraud, business email compromise, and tech support scams causing the largest losses statewide. People 60 and older were the most victimized group and suffered the greatest financial losses, while tech support scams and extortion schemes saw notable increases; nationally, phishing, personal data breaches, and cryptocurrency investment fraud (up 50% in losses) emerged as significant threats.

San Miguel County is experiencing a significant increase in scam victimization, with the Sheriff's Office warning residents about sophisticated fraud schemes targeting the area. Common scams include cryptocurrency fraud, inheritance scams with fake legal notifications requesting upfront fees, and increasingly AI-enabled schemes that impersonate authorities and create personalized content. Colorado residents lost $196.5 million to scams in 2022, with investment fraud victims typically between ages 30 and 68, and the Sheriff's Office advises victims to report compromised accounts to financial institutions and contact law enforcement rather than engaging with scammers.

A widow lost $1.5 million to a romance scam before her death, with her daughter now publicly sharing the story as a cautionary tale to raise awareness and advocate for systemic change to prevent similar fraud cases.

I cannot provide a summary because the text provided appears to be a website navigation menu and header structure rather than an actual article content. While the title mentions "How AI is revolutionizing Internet fraud and romance scams" and includes a reference to a 10-year prison sentence and $2 million restitution order, the full article text is not included. Please provide the complete article content for an accurate summary.

I cannot provide a summary of this content because the text provided appears to be only a navigation menu and header structure from a CBS News webpage, not an actual article with substantive content about romance scams or fraud. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, please provide the full article text, including the body content that discusses the romance scam investigation challenges, specific cases, or statistics mentioned.

The FBI Internet Crime Center has issued a warning about fraudulent SMS texts impersonating toll services like Colorado's ExpressToll, which request recipients to pay outstanding tolls to avoid late fees and direct them to fake payment websites. The Colorado Transportation Investment Office (CTIO) does not use text messaging for toll collection, and while no complaints have been filed locally, the FBI has received over 2,000 complaints about this toll fraud scheme nationwide. Recipients are advised to verify toll balances through official websites, report suspicious texts to the FBI's IC3, and secure their personal information if they clicked any links or provided details.

I cannot provide a summary of this article because the text provided only contains website navigation menus and headers, not the actual article content. To summarize the piece about romance scam victims for the Elderus database, please provide the full article text or transcript, including the details shared by Jim Axelrod about the victims' experiences.

I cannot provide a summary of this content as it appears to be a navigation menu and header structure from a CBS News webpage rather than a complete article. The only substantive information provided is a headline stating that elder fraud targeting people over 60 is rising in the U.S., with $3.4 billion stolen in the last year according to an FBI report, but the actual article body is missing. Please provide the full article text for a complete summary.

In 2023, scammers stole $188 million from over 11,000 victims across Colorado, with Summit County experiencing 80 fraud reports so far this year totaling tens of thousands in losses. Common scams include phone and email schemes where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement, the IRS, tech support, or claim urgent family emergencies or warrant arrests. Victims are advised to be suspicious of unsolicited messages offering unrealistic rewards, report suspicious activity to law enforcement, and file complaints with StopFraudColorado.gov or IC3.gov, though most stolen funds are unrecoverable once scammers operate from overseas jurisdictions.

A Colorado homebuyer lost nearly $100,000 in down payment savings to a wire transfer scam after receiving a realistic-looking email that appeared to be from his bank requesting the transfer to complete his home purchase; the scammers had gained access to his emails and included accurate account information to make the request seem legitimate. The FBI received over 2,000 wire fraud complaints daily in 2023, with Americans losing $311 million total to wire transfer scams according to the FTC. To protect themselves, homebuyers should verify wire transfer requests by calling their bank directly using a number they find themselves, use secure portals through title companies, and never send funds without direct verbal confirmation from the intende

Joseph Tyler and his wife Amelia Tyler were sentenced for operating a tree-trimming scam targeting 50 residents across six Colorado counties, primarily elderly victims over age 80. Joseph Tyler received an eight-year prison sentence and was ordered to repay $23,000 after pleading guilty to two felony theft counts, while Amelia Tyler received three years probation; the couple would solicit tree-trimming work, collect payment by cash or check, and abandon the job after completing minimal work between February 2020 and their arrest in October 2022.

This educational article highlights five emerging scams targeting Colorado seniors and emphasizes the importance of awareness to prevent fraud. The piece stresses that as technology evolves, criminals are developing increasingly sophisticated methods to target older adults, and encourages seniors and their families to stay informed rather than avoid technology entirely. The article references AARP resources as a valuable tool for seniors to learn about current scams and protect themselves.

This educational article highlights five emerging scams targeting Colorado seniors and emphasizes the importance of awareness to prevent fraud. The piece stresses that as technology evolves, criminals develop increasingly sophisticated tactics that exploit older adults' unfamiliarity with digital schemes, and recommends that seniors and their families stay informed about these threats rather than avoiding technology altogether.

I cannot provide a summary of this content. What you've shared appears to be a table of contents or index page listing various news articles and topics from a regional publication, rather than a specific article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse. While I notice one item titled "Arizona group warns of romance scams, offers tips," the actual content of that article is not included. To help with your request, please provide: - The full text or content of a specific article about fraud/scams/elder abuse, or - A link to the article you'd like summarized I'm ready to create an Elderus database summary once you share the actual article content.

Scammers across Colorado are using phone calls, texts, and emails impersonating law enforcement, the IRS, tech support, and other trusted entities to defraud victims of thousands of dollars. In 2023, Colorado reported $188 million in losses across 11,000+ victims, ranking 7th nationally per capita, with Summit County Sheriff's Office reporting 80 fraud cases so far this year totaling tens of thousands in losses. Authorities advise remaining skeptical of urgent requests, offers that seem too good to be true, and unsolicited contact, and recommend reporting suspicious activity to StopFraudColorado.gov or IC3.gov, noting that once funds are

Dean Morgan and John McNamara, two Irish men, were charged with racketeering and theft in Denver, Colorado after allegedly defrauding elderly homeowners by convincing them their roofs required expensive emergency repairs due to infestations of insects, squirrels, or raccoons between April and May. The pair, arrested in New York City before fleeing the country, left some victims with damaged roofs and large financial losses; they are also under investigation for similar allegations in California.

Two Irish nationals, John McNamara and Dean Morgan, were arrested in New York City and charged with four counts of theft and one count of racketeering for operating a roofing scam targeting elderly Denver residents between April and May 2024. The men allegedly defrauded homeowners by falsely claiming their roofs were infested with pests and required urgent repairs, leaving some properties damaged; both men are also under investigation for similar offenses in California.

Two Irish nationals, Dean Morgan and John McNamara, were arrested at JFK Airport after running a roofing scam targeting Denver residents, primarily older homeowners, between mid-April and May. The scammers approached homeowners claiming to have spotted roof damage, then planted worms under shingles and falsely claimed they were maggots requiring immediate paid repairs, resulting in victims losing thousands of dollars for work never completed. The investigation expanded from initial reports of three Denver victims to an international case after CBS News Colorado's coverage prompted additional victims to come forward, with prosecutors investigating potential scams in other states including California.

Two Irish nationals, Dean Morgan and John McNamara, were arrested at JFK Airport after being identified in a roofing scam targeting Denver residents, particularly older homeowners in the Congress Park area. The scam involved the men approaching homeowners, claiming to spot roof damage, then planting worms under shingles and falsely presenting them as maggots requiring immediate paid repairs; victims lost over $10,000 each, with some having their roofs deliberately damaged. The investigation expanded from an initial three confirmed victims to a wider international case after CBS News Colorado's report generated community leads, with prosecutors believing the men may have perpetrated similar scams in California and other states.

A Colorado woman who co-owned a jewelry store was defrauded of over $700,000 over two years after meeting a man on Instagram who posed as a legitimate gold jewelry seller; she discovered the items she purchased were cheap silver worth approximately $4 each made to look like gold. After traveling to India to confront the scammers, she contacted authorities, and while one man involved in creating fraudulent authenticity documents was arrested, the father-and-son perpetrators remained at large as of June 2024.

**Note:** This article is not related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a personal essay about a solo cross-continental bike trip where the author encountered "trail angels"—kind strangers who offered assistance and encouragement along the way. The piece focuses on themes of human kindness, adventure, and personal growth rather than fraud or elder-related issues, and would not be appropriate for the Elderus fraud research database.