Explore the Archive

This video essay discusses political corruption allegations in India, focusing on how the BJP appears to avoid corruption charges while opposition parties face various scams and legal actions. The video then explains the 2G spectrum scam of 2008, where the Indian government allocated mobile spectrum to companies at artificially low prices through administrative allocation rather than auction, resulting in an estimated loss of 1.76 lakh crore to the national treasury—a controversy that contributed to the fall of the UPA government and led the Supreme Court to cancel 112 spectrum licenses in 2012. **Note:** This is a political commentary/educational piece rather than a scam affecting individual elders, so it falls outside the typical scope of

Crimes against senior citizens totaled over $3.4 billion in the past year, with family scams and identity theft being among the most common schemes. Family scams exploit seniors' emotions by impersonating relatives and requesting urgent money for car repairs, rent, tuition, or bail, while fishing scams use deceptive emails posing as legitimate vendors to steal personal information.

The Better Business Bureau has reported a significant uptick in text message scams where fraudsters impersonate legitimate companies like retailers, utilities, and the Postal Service to trick victims into providing personal information or making payments, with over 250 reported cases of financial losses. To protect yourself, do not respond to or click links in suspicious texts; instead, report the message using the Better Business Bureau's free scam tracker tool and delete it from your device.

An elderly woman in Asheboro was defrauded of $25,000 after scammers used fear tactics and impersonation of law enforcement to manipulate her into withdrawing cash and purchasing gift cards. The suspect met the victim at a gas station to collect a large cash withdrawal before fleeing in a white van, and Detective Marcus Pierce is actively investigating the case while advocating for awareness of common red flags like requests for gift card payments.

A Denver man lost thousands of dollars after scammers gained access to his Venmo account by using a phishing email to change his password, exploiting his recent grief over his father's death. The hackers transferred funds from his linked checking account before he regained access, and while PayPal later confirmed the breach and pledged to make things right, the incident highlights vulnerabilities across cash transfer apps including Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App. Experts recommend users enable two-factor authentication, transfer money to bank accounts promptly, change passwords regularly, and remain vigilant against common scams like "paid by mistake" schemes and pyramid schemes on these platforms.

Utility scammers pose as energy companies and create urgency by threatening immediate power shutoffs unless customers pay bills over the phone, a tactic that increases during cold winter months when people fear losing heat. Legitimate utility providers never demand immediate phone payments and will confirm account issues if you call them directly using a number you know; if forced to pay a scammer, use a credit card rather than debit or gift cards to make fraud charges easier to dispute.

The Better Business Bureau warns consumers about utility and heating scams that intensify during winter months, in which scammers impersonate technicians, electricians, and gas company representatives to pressure victims into immediate payment. The BBB recommends consumers monitor bank statements regularly, use credit cards for payments to enable chargebacks, and directly contact company customer service lines to verify any service requests before providing payment or personal information.

Scammers are impersonating PG&E by spoofing caller IDs to appear as legitimate utility company contacts and requesting immediate payment via digital apps like Zelle or Venmo. PG&E reported 26,000 potential scam reports in 2024, with 547 confirmed victims—a significant increase from 313 victims in 2021—mostly involving phone-based fraud. Consumers should disconnect any suspicious calls and independently contact their utility company to verify claims before making payments.

Scammers impersonating utility company employees contact victims by phone or door-to-door, threatening to cut off services for unpaid bills and demanding immediate payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Door-to-door scammers often work in pairs—one distracting the victim while the other steals valuables—and may falsely claim to replace faulty meters. To protect yourself, verify any service termination threat by calling your utility directly using a number you find independently, and report suspicious door-to-door visitors to police immediately.

Lincoln Electric System (LES) has reported an uptick in scams targeting its customers, with scammers sending fraudulent text messages claiming bills are due and threatening power disconnection while offering discounts and malicious links. LES advises customers to verify messages against their actual bills, avoid clicking suspicious links, never provide financial information to unsolicited contacts, and report suspected scams to the attorney general's office or local police. The utility emphasized it does not use robocalls, request gift cards or prepaid cards for payment, or contact customers via phone threatening disconnection.

The FTC has proposed expanded regulations to combat impersonation fraud, which has surged due to emerging technologies like deepfake AI. The proposed rule changes would prohibit impersonation of individuals (extending beyond current government and business protections) and hold companies liable if they knowingly provide services—such as payment processing or AI platforms—used in impersonation schemes including romance scams and grandparent scams. The rule will enter a 60-day public comment period before implementation.

Law enforcement officials report that seniors and other vulnerable populations are being targeted by sophisticated overseas scammers impersonating utility companies through fake sponsored ads on search engines and phone spoofing techniques that create urgent threats of service shutoffs to extract personal information and payments. Police acknowledge limited resources to prosecute these cases due to international jurisdictions but emphasize that the most effective defense is public education—remaining skeptical of unsolicited calls, hanging up on aggressive callers, and independently verifying company contact information before providing any personal or payment details.

A 77-year-old doctor in Delhi lost approximately Rs 3 lakh in a fake electricity bill scam after receiving a threatening message claiming to be from BSES electricity provider. The scammer posed as a utility company representative, requested Rs 10 for an upgrade, and obtained the doctor's debit card details through a fraudulent link, leading to unauthorized transactions and further compromise of his WhatsApp, e-wallet, and Aadhaar details. Police registered a case under cheating and impersonation charges after discovering at least two additional victims linked to the same mobile number, suggesting an organized fraud operation.

A 77-year-old doctor in India lost Rs 3 lakh (approximately $3,600 USD) after receiving a threatening SMS impersonating an electricity provider, which led him to share his debit card details through a fraudulent link and authorize unauthorized transactions without OTP verification. The scammer subsequently engaged in additional fraud including activating call forwarding on the victim's phone, tampering with his WhatsApp and e-wallet accounts, and misusing his Aadhaar Card details. Law enforcement is investigating this well-coordinated scam, which has affected at least three victims through the same mobile number used in the scheme.

A 77-year-old physician lost approximately Rs 3 lakh in a fake electricity bill scam after receiving a threatening message claiming to be from his electricity provider (BSES) warning of service disconnection. The scammer coerced him into paying Rs 10 for an "upgrade," then directed him to click a malicious link where he disclosed his debit card details. The article advises consumers to verify urgent bills directly with official provider contact information, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and remember that legitimate providers provide advance notice before disconnection.

Decatur Utilities issued a warning about scams targeting residents, including impersonation schemes threatening utility disconnection, and fraudulent calls about taxes, social security, and charities. Red flags include threats of service disconnection or arrest, requests for personal information, caller ID spoofing, and unrealistic offers. Customers are advised to hang up on suspicious calls and verify directly with Decatur Utilities at 256-552-1400, as the company will never request payment via credit or debit cards over the phone.

In 2023, scammers impersonating PG&E targeted nearly 43,000 customers, resulting in approximately $875,000 in fraudulent losses (averaging $785 per victim), with over 103 cases reported in Gilroy alone. The scams typically involved threats of immediate service disconnection and requests for payment via prepaid cards, gift cards, or digital payment apps—methods PG&E never uses. PG&E advises customers to hang up on suspicious calls, verify account details directly through PGE.com or official customer service, and never purchase prepaid cards to avoid service shutoff.

In 2023, PG&E customers reported a record-high 43,000 utility scams impersonating the company, resulting in nearly $900,000 in losses with an average loss of $785 per victim. Scammers typically targeted elderly and low-income customers by threatening immediate service disconnection and demanding urgent payment via prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, or payment apps. PG&E advises customers to hang up on suspicious calls, verify account details through official channels, and report suspected scams to 1-833-500-SCAM.

Bowling Green is warning residents and businesses about an escalating utility imposter scam involving individuals posing as service technicians who enter properties and demand immediate payment for utilities. The Better Business Bureau reports numerous complaints about these coordinated scams, which appear to be perpetrated by organized groups targeting the region aggressively. Residents are advised to never allow unidentified individuals entry, verify worker identity by calling the city utilities office at 419-354-6252, and report suspicious activity to police, as legitimate city employees never demand on-the-spot payments or accept gift cards.

Bowling Green is warning residents and businesses about an escalating utility impostor scam where fraudsters impersonate service technicians, physically enter properties, and demand immediate payment. The Better Business Bureau reports numerous complaints about these coordinated scams, which appear to be targeting the region heavily before moving to other areas. Residents are advised to never allow unidentified individuals into their homes, verify utility worker identities by calling the city directly, and report suspicious activity to police, as legitimate utility employees never demand on-the-spot payment or gift card payments.

In 2023, scammers impersonating Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) stole approximately $875,000 from nearly 43,000 customers across California, with an average loss of $785 per victim. The scams, which peaked in early 2024 with $67,000 stolen in January alone, targeted vulnerable populations including seniors, low-income communities, and non-English speakers through phone calls and emails demanding immediate payment via prepaid cards to avoid service disconnection. PG&E advises customers to verify bills through official channels, use only legitimate payment methods (checks, money orders, or ACH transfers), and report suspected scams to authorities or

Pig butchering scams are a sophisticated investment fraud scheme in which scammers create fake online identities to build trust with victims before stealing their money, often through fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. The scams use social engineering, AI-generated content, and emotional manipulation to exploit victims' vulnerabilities, with billions of dollars in global losses reported. To protect yourself, ignore unsolicited messages, verify financial advice independently, and immediately report any suspected scam to your bank and law enforcement.

Smishing (text message phishing) scams are widespread, with about one in three Americans having received such texts and roughly one-third falling victim without immediately realizing it. The FBI reported 298,878 phishing complaints in 2023 resulting in nearly $19 million in losses, with cybercriminals increasingly using AI to craft convincing fraudulent messages. To protect yourself, verify you've opted into bank text notifications through your official bank account settings, watch for red flags like requests for personal information or urgent calls to action, and always contact your bank directly using the number on your card rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages.

This is an educational podcast series covering consumer protection topics rather than a specific fraud or elder abuse incident. Key episodes address red flags in standard contracts, risks associated with rewards credit cards that can lead to debt, vehicle recalls affecting safety, and credit denial trends affecting consumers. The podcast provides advice on identifying problematic contract clauses, understanding credit card pitfalls, and navigating consumer financial decisions.

Oro Valley residents are being heavily targeted by scammers who initiate contact via phone, email, text, and online, then exploit fear, greed, or isolation to request payment through cryptocurrency, gift cards, or payment apps. Attendees at a local "Outsmarting Scammers" presentation shared losses ranging from $15,000 to half their fortunes, with common scams including romance schemes ("pig butchering"), tech support fraud, and grandparent impersonation scams. Law enforcement emphasized that scams follow predictable patterns and are nearly impossible to recover from, advising residents to verify suspicious emails, avoid providing remote computer access, and remain skeptical of unsolicite

Zelle, a peer-to-peer payment service owned by major U.S. banks and launched in 2017, has experienced hundreds of millions of dollars in consumer losses due to fraud since its inception. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit against Early Warning Services (Zelle's operator) in December alleging the platform failed to safeguard against fraud, with scammers exploiting the service's instant, irreversible transfers and minimal verification requirements through social engineering tactics like phishing and impersonation of banks and utilities. Protection strategies include avoiding responses to unsolicited messages and verifying requests independently by calling official bank numbers.

From June 2022 to June 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) recorded 155,415 suspicious Elder Financial Exploitation (EFE) filings totaling $27 billion, affecting victims across racial and ethnic groups. Elder financial crimes fall into two categories: elder theft (misappropriation by trusted individuals) and elder scams (deceptive transfers to strangers), with the latter predominating through schemes like tech support scams and romance scams that exploit cognitive decline, loneliness, and social engineering tactics. Victims—79.7% White, 9.5% Hispanic, and

Scammers are targeting PECO customers with sophisticated tactics, falsely claiming service disconnection is imminent unless immediate payment is made, often exploiting confusion around recent system upgrades. PECO advises customers never to share account or billing information with unverified callers, texters, or visitors, and instead to call PECO directly at 800-494-4000 to verify any service-related communications.

This podcast episode discusses job board scams and social engineering tactics targeting job seekers. The hosts highlight techniques scammers use to impersonate legitimate companies and government agencies, including spoofed phone numbers and vague claims about background investigations, and emphasize the importance of verifying caller information independently rather than calling back suspicious numbers directly.

A Mount Zion woman was charged with stealing over $100,000 in cash and property from an elderly female victim between May 2022 and July 2023. Ali L. Fisher, 31, faces two counts including financial exploitation of an elderly person and obtaining control of property through deception, with the alleged theft totaling more than $40,000 in additional cash. Fisher was arrested on May 14 and released on pretrial release pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 24 in Macon County Circuit Court.

Phishing scam reports to the Better Business Bureau nearly doubled in 2023, with scammers using email, text, and phone calls to target victims across all demographics. Common tactics include impersonating the postal service, utility companies, and businesses requesting payment or personal information, with scammers increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to make their communications more convincing. The FBI reports that businesses have lost billions over the past three years due to phishing scams, with small business owners and finance professionals being particularly vulnerable to invoice-themed phishing attacks.

A 68-year-old retired chemical engineer from Pune lost Rs 81 lakh in a sophisticated online scam involving impersonators posing as police and CBI officials who falsely accused him of illegal advertising and money laundering. The fraudsters used fake police credentials, video calls with official logos, and threats of asset freezing to manipulate the victim into transferring the funds as alleged "security deposits." The article advises citizens to verify caller identities through official channels, never share financial information with unknown callers, and report suspicious calls to authorities.

A 79-year-old Navy veteran in Poway, California, lost $15,000 in a door-to-door landscaping scam in which fraudsters quoted him $10 per bag of mulch, then inflated the invoice to $19,000 (claiming 1,900 bags) after completing the work and pressuring him into payment. The victim reported the incident to law enforcement and the Contractors License Board, and later discovered through community posts that the same scam operation, operating under the name "Danilo Martinez Landscaping," had targeted other residents in the area with identical tactics.

An individual was scammed by fraudsters impersonating an Xfinity customer service representative who collected payment information over the phone for a supposedly late bill; the scammer's fraudulent payments appeared to post initially but the account was eventually shut down, requiring multiple lengthy calls with actual Xfinity representatives to resolve. According to an FTC report, scammers impersonating major companies like Best Buy, Geek Squad, Amazon, PayPal, Apple, and Comcast/Xfinity defrauded U.S. consumers of over $200 million, using increasingly sophisticated tactics across email, text, and online channels that mimic legitimate company communications to pressure victims into quick action.

Utility scammers impersonate company representatives through phone calls, texts, emails, and in-person visits to pressure consumers into immediate payments under threat of service disconnection, often using spoofed caller IDs and fraudulent websites designed to steal money or personal information. Common tactics include demanding payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, claiming overpayment refunds, and using high-pressure language and poor grammar as red flags. Consumers should verify requests directly with their utility company by calling the official number, never provide personal or banking information over the phone, and report suspected scams to help protect their community.

Police Chief Denise McCain and representatives from the FBI, Better Business Bureau, and other agencies presented at an East Alabama Regional Planning Commission Summit to educate seniors about fraud targeting older adults. The presentation covered common scams including jury duty imposters, tech support blackmail, grandparent scams using AI-generated voices, lottery scams, and IRS fraud, emphasizing that older adults with good savings and credit are lucrative targets who often delay reporting due to shame or uncertainty about where to report. Key prevention advice included never providing information over the phone, calling loved ones directly to verify requests, and immediately reporting blackmail to police.

Wire transfers and large cash transfers are increasingly targeted by online fraudsters and should be conducted in person at bank branches rather than online, according to banking experts and the Federal Trade Commission. Common wire transfer scams include utility shut-off threats, romance scams, prize scams, family emergency scams (including AI voice cloning), and fake check schemes—all of which exploit the irreversible nature of wire transfers to steal money from victims. The FTC recommends never wiring money to anyone you haven't met in person, and emphasizes knowing both the recipient and the reason for the transfer.

Tammy Williams and Ginger Frady from United Community Bank conducted a senior fraud awareness program at Swain Senior Center, educating older adults on recognizing and avoiding scams. According to the Federal Trade Commission, older adults lost $1.6 billion to scammers in the previous year, with nearly half lost to fraudulent investments, lottery schemes, phishing, and grandparent scams being among the most common threats. The presenters advised seniors to use credit cards with low limits for online purchases, avoid clicking suspicious links, never send money for prizes they didn't win, hang up on pushy callers claiming to represent government or financial institutions, and consult with their banks when uncertain

AARP Pennsylvania has warned of an increase in utility scams targeting older adults during summer months when energy usage and bills peak, with fraudsters posing as utility company representatives and using threats of service disconnection or offers of discounts to obtain personal information or payments. A recent AARP poll found that 62% of Pennsylvania voters aged 50 and older expressed concern about fraud and scams including robo-calls and phishing emails. AARP advises residents to verify any unsolicited utility claims by contacting their utility company directly using the number on their bill, noting that legitimate companies send multiple notices before disconnection and never demand immediate payment over the phone.

Utility scammers impersonate water, electric, and gas company representatives via phone, text, or in-person visits, threatening immediate service disconnection unless customers pay outstanding bills urgently, often demanding payment through prepaid debit cards, gift cards, or wire transfers. The scams may also involve fake meter replacement offers, unauthorized home entry for "repairs" or "energy audits" to steal valuables or personal information, or promises of energy discounts to capture account details. To avoid these scams, consumers should hang up and call the utility company directly using a number from their official bill, never allow unscheduled entry into their home, request proper identification from utility workers,

Utility impostor scams involve fraudsters posing as electric, water, or gas company representatives via phone, email, or in-person visits, claiming customers have overdue bills requiring immediate payment or claiming they need home access for "repairs" or "energy audits." These scams are particularly common during extreme weather when people rely on utilities and are especially dangerous because scammers pressure victims to pay via untraceable methods like prepaid cards or wire transfers, or gain entry to homes to steal valuables and personal information. The BBB advises verifying requests by calling the utility company directly using a number from an actual bill, refusing unsolicited entry to your home, and remembering that legitimate utilities request payment

Indiana Michigan Power reported a significant surge in utility scams during the first half of 2024, receiving 240 reports by the end of June—125 more than all of 2023 combined. Scammers impersonated I&M using spoofed caller IDs and phone/text messages to demand immediate payment through various methods (prepaid cards, wire transfers, mobile apps) while threatening disconnection, requesting overpayment refunds, or claiming customers needed to pay for meter installations; some scammers also approached customers in person. The Better Business Bureau recommends verifying callers by hanging up and calling the official utility number on your actual bill, avoiding payment through prepaid cards or

This educational article from the Federal Trade Commission outlines common online scams and fraud schemes affecting consumers. Key scams discussed include spoofing (falsifying caller ID to impersonate legitimate organizations), the 809 scam (international callback schemes with high rates), catfishing (creating fake online identities for romance or exploitation scams), cramming (unauthorized small charges on bills), and family emergency scams (targeting grandparents with urgent requests for money). The article advises consumers to hang up on unsolicited callers, verify numbers independently, never share personal information with unknown callers, and be cautious of suspicious requests—noting that while younger adults report romance scams more frequently, older consumers typically lose

Utility impostor scams involve fraudsters impersonating utility company representatives via phone, email, or in-person visits, claiming customers have overdue bills that must be paid immediately to avoid service shutoff, or requesting home access under the guise of repairs or energy audits. To protect yourself, avoid paying by prepaid card or wire transfer, resist pressure to pay immediately, verify requests by calling your utility company directly using a number from your actual bill, and never allow strangers into your home without a scheduled appointment and valid identification.

This is an educational event announcement rather than a news report about a specific scam or fraud case. Detective Victoria Ryan of the Ridgefield Police Department will present information to seniors on how to protect themselves from common scams including romance, grandparent, pop-up, phone, email, and text scams, as well as utility scams and local crimes such as mail theft and pickpocketing. The free hybrid event is scheduled for September 10, 2024, and will include information on reporting scams.

This article examines the psychological and safety impacts of dating apps in India, where users are projected to reach 31 million by 2024. Key concerns include addictive patterns of use (31% of Indian users show addiction symptoms), decision paralysis from too many options (42% feel overwhelmed), and psychological harms like ghosting-related rejection anxiety (68% have been ghosted). The article also documents serious crimes associated with dating apps, including a 28% increase in cybercrimes from 2021-2023, romance scams costing users an estimated Rs 150 crore in 2023, sexual harassment (37% of female users received unsolicited explicit images), stal

A cybersecurity firm KnowBe4 discovered that a newly hired remote software engineer was a North Korean scammer operating through a U.S. laptop farm, exposed when the company laptop immediately began downloading password-stealing malware. The scheme involved multiple actors including a compromised American citizen whose identity was stolen, fake references with Gmail addresses, and inconsistencies in the hiring process that the FBI has linked to a known North Korean data-stealing operation targeting I.T. positions at American and British companies. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in remote hiring processes and the need for companies to implement stronger verification procedures, in-person interviews, and cross-referenced background checks to prevent foreign threat actors from infilt

A 48-year-old civil contractor from Pimpri lost Rs 21 lakh in an online share trading scam between July and August after responding to a stock market investment advertisement on social media. The scammer added the victim to a messenger group, promised high returns, and convinced him to transfer Rs 20.9 lakh to multiple bank accounts before becoming unresponsive and blocking contact. The Pimpri Chinchwad police registered a case after the victim filed a complaint with the cyber crime cell and are investigating using the contractor's bank transaction details.

A LinkedIn scam targeting marketing and communications agencies impersonates real Lancel employees using stolen identities to propose fake brand collaboration deals, sending convincing fake documents and requesting sensitive data or cryptocurrency investments. The perpetrators use social engineering and pretexting techniques, exploiting LinkedIn's lack of employment verification to appear credible, resulting in victims losing sensitive data and financial investments. Lancel has confirmed these contacts are unauthorized and reported the incidents to LinkedIn, highlighting the need for stronger platform verification systems and digital literacy among professionals.

Dr. Ruby Thomas, a doctor in Lucknow, fell victim to an elaborate digital arrest scam in which fraudsters impersonated Mumbai Police and CBI officials via WhatsApp and video calls, falsely accusing her of involvement in the Naresh Goyal scam and threatening execution if she didn't cooperate. After holding her in a five-hour digital hostage situation with fake arrest warrants and fabricated evidence, the scammers extracted Rs 90,000 from her before disconnecting. Similar cases targeting other high-profile professionals, including Dr. Satvika Rathore (Rs 50,000 extorted), reveal a growing trend of cyber extortion