markets.businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Rosca Scarlato LLC, a senior investor advocacy law firm, released an educational guide titled "Recognizing and Preventing Elder Financial Abuse" to address the growing problem of financial exploitation targeting elderly Americans, particularly Baby Boomers in retirement. The guide identifies vulnerabilities that make seniors susceptible to fraud—including substantial savings, cognitive decline, and limited investment knowledge—and provides actionable advice for seniors, caregivers, professionals, and local governments to identify red flags and implement protective safeguards.
montereyherald.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational column outlines four prevalent scams targeting seniors: elder financial abuse (where trusted individuals gain unauthorized access to finances), romance scams (where online/phone relationships lead to requests for money), tech support scams (fraudulent calls claiming computer or banking problems), and bereavement scams (scammers targeting grieving family members by posing as funeral homes). The article estimates that over 10% of U.S. elderly are victimized annually and recommends protective measures including adding trusted contacts to financial accounts, establishing estate plans, verifying unexpected calls by contacting organizations directly, and reporting fraud to law enforcement.
newsismybusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Puerto Rico's Cossec (Cooperatives Supervision & Insurance Corp.) launched financial education initiatives to help elderly residents recognize and avoid financial exploitation, emphasizing preventive measures such as protecting personal information, monitoring account activity, and contacting credit unions directly about suspicious transactions. The organization highlighted that credit unions have protocols in place to assist vulnerable elderly populations and stressed the importance of institutions complying with Puerto Rico's 2010 regulation (amended in 2022) requiring detection and prevention procedures for elder financial abuse. Exploitation cases involving elderly adults—perpetrated by family members, caregivers, financial advisers, or scammers—can result in significant financial losses and are addressed through institution notification requirements and law enforcement
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A 96-year-old California woman, Violet Evelyn Alberts, was murdered in May 2022 as part of a murder-for-hire scheme orchestrated by Pauline Macareno, who had befriended the vulnerable widow and exploited her through financial fraud, forged documents, and a fraudulent reverse mortgage scheme to gain control of her property. Four suspects were arrested in connection with the case, with Macareno sentenced to six years in prison for elder abuse and fraud, while three others face murder and conspiracy charges; authorities determined the motive was to accelerate Alberts' death to fraudulently obtain her estate. Alberts was found dead from
people.com
· 2025-12-08
In May 2022, 96-year-old Violet Alberts was found dead in her Montecito, California home and ruled a homicide by asphyxiation; authorities later determined her death was part of a murder-for-hire plot following financial fraud and elder abuse. Pauline Macareno was sentenced to six years in prison for forging documents and establishing fraudulent entities to gain control of Alberts' assets, while Henry Rostomyan and Ricardo Martin Del Campo were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the scheme.
news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Violet Evelyn Alberts, a 96-year-old California widow, was murdered in May 2022 in a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated as part of a larger financial exploitation scheme. Pauline Macareno, who befriended the vulnerable elderly woman, engaged in elder abuse and fraud by forging documents to fraudulently acquire Alberts' property through a reverse mortgage scheme, then arranged her death to accelerate gaining control of her estate. Four suspects have been arrested and charged, with Macareno sentenced to six years in prison for fraud and the other three charged with murder and conspiracy to murder.
nij.ojp.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. population of adults age 60 and older grew 33% from 2010 to 2020, yet research on fraud victimization in this demographic remains limited despite older adults losing over $36 billion annually to financial fraud. Older adults face heightened vulnerability to fraud due to cognitive decline, reduced financial literacy, social isolation, and greater trustfulness, with 34.8% of those age 50+ targeted by scams in a five-year period and 2.7-6.6% experiencing fraud annually, though actual numbers are likely higher due to significant underreporting.
blog.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP is endorsing the Guardianship Grant Flexibility Act, which would help states fund legal representation programs for over 1.3 million adults living under court-ordered guardianship who cannot afford attorneys. Many guardianship arrangements have involved abuse, mismanagement, and conflicts of interest, leaving vulnerable individuals without adequate legal advocacy to protect their rights regarding finances, living arrangements, medical decisions, and voting.
wflanews.iheart.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old Hialeah man was charged with exploiting his 95-year-old mother by gaining unauthorized access to her bank account and withdrawing approximately $57,000 between March and August 2024, leaving her facing eviction. The victim, a mentally sharp widow who had previously managed her finances independently, was persuaded by her son to grant him account access under the pretense of helping her. Diaz was charged with exploitation of an elderly person, grand theft, organized fraud, and misuse of a communication device, while authorities secured emergency housing for the victim.
noozhawk.com
· 2025-12-08
The city of Goleta partnered with the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office and the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club to hold a community scam-prevention presentation called "Name that Tune, Stop that Scam!" on April 15. The program educated seniors and caregivers about current local and nationwide scams, protection strategies, and victim resources, addressing the fact that one in five seniors becomes a victim of abuse or fraud, with nearly 90% of elder abuse cases involving family members.
chicago.suntimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Helen Grace Caldwell, a 59-year-old former Citibank wealth adviser in Chicago, was sentenced to 2½ years in prison for defrauding three elderly clients of nearly $1.5 million through a scheme in which she convinced them to invest their life savings in her film production company, Canal Productions, then diverted the funds to personal expenses. Caldwell, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud, told victims their money would fund movie productions and generate profits, but instead transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to her personal accounts to pay for home renovations, car repairs, and other personal purchases. The judge rejected her plea for probation, stating that probation would be "
americanbanker.com
· 2025-12-08
FinCen's analysis of elder financial exploitation found that approximately 80% of reported cases involve scams (fraudulent transfers to strangers) while 20% involve theft by trusted individuals, with account takeover being the most common exploitation method. Warning signs include sudden changes in banking practices, unexplained large withdrawals, and abrupt changes to wills or financial documents, with approximately 10% of people aged 65 and older experiencing some form of elder abuse annually. Financial institutions play a critical role in identifying and preventing elder financial exploitation through compliance reporting and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, while research indicates that susceptibility to scams correlates with lower income, reduced cognitive function, and limited financial literacy.
law.georgia.gov
· 2025-12-08
Lawrence Montgomery, Jr. pleaded guilty to exploiting his 77-year-old mother, Ruth Montgomery, who had Alzheimer's disease, by diverting her social security checks to himself over five months (October 2019–February 2020) while she was in a nursing home, putting her at risk of discharge. He was sentenced to 10 years of probation, ordered to pay restitution, and barred from serving as a guardian or power of attorney. Georgia's Attorney General emphasized that protecting seniors from family-member exploitation remains a priority and noted that the state's Medicaid Fraud Division has secured 90 convictions for elder abuse and fraud since 2019.
abc13.com
· 2025-12-08
Regina Thomas and her son Isaiah allegedly ran a wire fraud scheme targeting seniors in Houston, stealing over $1 million from an elderly couple by impersonating a nurse and lawyer, respectively, and fabricating stories about FEMA fraud and legal troubles. Regina Thomas is currently a fugitive, prompting the FBI Houston office to offer a $10,000 reward—marking the first time they've offered a reward in an elder fraud case—while Isaiah faces federal wire fraud charges and is out on bond. Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are actively seeking Regina Thomas, also known as Nikki Laday.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly Birmingham, Alabama woman with medical needs was defrauded of over $200,000 by five individuals employed to care for her, including two live-in caretakers, a house cleaner, and a hairdresser, who were charged with wire fraud and identity theft between December 2020 and February 2022. The perpetrators used the victim's credit card information and banking services to make unauthorized purchases and transfers, with the hairdresser alone charging over $130,000 to her Square account. The case reflects a broader trend of elder financial exploitation in the U.S., with the Treasury reporting approximately $27 billion in suspicious elder fraud activity in a single year.
foxrgv.tv
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The Better Business Bureau has issued a public alert about a bail impersonation scam targeting senior citizens in which fraudsters pose as grandchildren or other relatives in legal distress and request urgent bail money via untraceable digital payment platforms like CashApp or WhatsApp. Seniors should be alert to warning signs including unsolicited calls requesting money, urgent payment demands, and pressure to act quickly; those targeted can report incidents to the BBB at 956-969-1804 or bbb.org/scamtracker.
accountingtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens lost over $3.4 billion to elder fraud in 2023, with financial abuse frequently perpetrated by family members and caregivers. Forensic accountants play a critical role in investigating these cases by analyzing financial records and transaction patterns to identify where stolen funds went, and their expert testimony carries significant weight in legal proceedings. Beyond direct theft, elder financial abuse can involve exploitation through guardianships, conservatorships, and resource depletion, with documented cases ranging from over $1 million stolen by caregivers to severe neglect and coercion affecting victims' health and living conditions.
thesuntimesnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 93-year-old woman with mild dementia became a victim of financial abuse by her youngest daughter, Joan, who siphoned an estimated $230,000 from her mother's savings, manipulated her into signing a new will naming Joan as sole heir and power of attorney, and subsequently sold the mother's condo for $400,000—leaving the three other daughters powerless to stop the exploitation while a police investigation could take up to two years. The article contextualizes this case within the broader problem of elder financial abuse, which the National Council on Aging estimates costs seniors approximately $36.5 billion annually, particularly affecting vulnerable populations including those with cognitive decline and Black seniors (
ca.sports.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Los Angeles retirees, both in their late 70s/early 80s, lost approximately $79,500 and $75,000 respectively to tech support and cryptocurrency scams in early 2024. Neal was duped into allowing remote computer access after a fake software subscription email, while Mrs. K. was tricked by a pop-up virus alert into withdrawing cash and depositing it into bitcoin machines at multiple locations. The article notes that elder fraud is widespread and sophisticated, with the FBI reporting that victims over 60 lost $3.1 billion in 2022, and recommends disconnecting from the internet when encountering suspicious pop-ups and being cautious of uns
herald-review.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
riverreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
**World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) highlights a critical public health issue affecting approximately five million older adults annually in the United States, with financial fraud being the most prevalent form, causing victims an estimated $30 billion in losses per year.** The article emphasizes that elder abuse—which includes physical, emotional, neglect, and financial mistreatment—requires community-wide prevention through awareness training, technology safeguards (bank alerts, secure document storage), and strong social networks. Older adults are advised to be cautious of unsolicited contact requesting personal information or urgent payment via unusual methods, and reporting mechanisms are available through multiple agencies with anonymity protections.
nny360.com
· 2025-12-08
During World Elder Abuse Month, New York's Department of State highlighted the growing crisis of elder fraud, noting that adults over 60 lost over $3.4 billion in 2023 (an 11% increase from 2022), with the average victim losing $33,915. State officials urged New Yorkers to educate themselves and older family members about common scam tactics, warning that scammers use increasingly sophisticated methods to steal money and personal information, and emphasized the importance of reporting suspected abuse to adult protective services.
dos.ny.gov
· 2025-12-08
The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection issued guidance on elder fraud awareness, reporting that scams targeting adults over 60 caused $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 (an 11% increase from 2022), with average victim losses of $33,915. The advisory outlined common scams affecting older adults including medical device scams, grandparent scams, identity theft targeting deceased persons, jury duty scams, and sweepstakes scams, while recommending protective measures such as avoiding unsolicited calls, not clicking unknown links, and verifying requests through trusted phone numbers.
troyrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
New York's Department of State Division of Consumer Protection released guidance on scams targeting older adults, noting that elder fraud caused over $3.4 billion in losses nationally in 2023, with the average victim losing $33,915. The advisory outlines common scams including medical device, grandparent, jury duty, funeral notification, and IRS imposter schemes, and recommends that seniors hang up on unrecognizable numbers, avoid unsolicited links, and verify requests through trusted phone numbers. Officials emphasized that elder abuse is widely underreported and urged anyone suspecting abuse to contact the New York State Adult Services Helpline at 1-844-697-3505.
fingerlakesdailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Title:** New York Department of State Warns of Elder Fraud Epidemic
The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection issued guidance on elder fraud following the FBI's 2023 report showing that scams targeting adults over 60 resulted in $3.4 billion in losses (an 11% increase from 2022), with the average victim losing $33,915. The advisory describes eight common scams affecting older adults—including medical device, grandparent, ghosting, jury duty, funeral notification, sweepstakes, IRS imposter, and free grant scams—and provides prevention tips such as resisting immediate action, verifying caller identity, an
kulr8.com
· 2025-12-08
Roxanna Rae Lewis-Stella, 60, of Billings, Montana, was sentenced to four and one-half years in prison for stealing over $700,000 from her elderly mother in Lewistown between November 2021 and July 2023 while serving as her caregiver. Lewis-Stella forged approximately 70 checks, impersonated her mother to banks, intercepted statements, and also stole jewelry and misused her deceased father's credit cards to fund personal expenses including travel, cosmetic procedures, and shopping. The victim was forced to sell her home and move into an assisted living facility after the thefts were discovered, and Lewis-
wng.org
· 2025-12-08
A 96-year-old World War II veteran lost over $322,000 of his retirement savings to Ternion Group International LLC, a fraudulent Christian investment company that promised to build a vocational school and purchase homes in Chicago, with his own son (age 70) convincing him to invest; the DOJ charged five people in April 2024, including the son, after the promised projects never materialized and contact ceased in 2020. The case highlights the rising threat of investment scams targeting seniors, with Americans over 60 losing $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, and demonstrates the particular vulnerability of elderly victims who may distrust reporting due to family involvement
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Roxanna Rae Lewis-Stella, 60, was sentenced to four and one-half years in prison for forging approximately 70 checks and stealing over $700,000 from her elderly mother in Lewistown between November 2021 and July 2023 while serving as her caregiver. Lewis-Stella also stole other assets including a silver bar, used her deceased father's credit cards, and forged a life insurance check, concealing her crimes by impersonating her mother to banks and intercepting statements. The theft forced her mother to sell her home and move into assisted living, and Lewis-Stella was ordered to pay $725,145 in restitution
dailymontanan.com
· 2025-12-08
Roxanna Rae Lewis-Stella, 60, of Billings, Montana, stole over $700,000 from her elderly mother while serving as her primary caretaker through forged checks, identity theft, and intercepting bank statements, forcing her mother to sell her home and enter assisted living. Lewis-Stella pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to four years in prison; she also misused her deceased father's credit cards and stole a life insurance check, spending the stolen funds on personal expenses including travel, clothing, and cosmetic procedures. The case highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals dependent on family caregivers and was noted as particularly eg
wiscassetnewspaper.com
· 2025-12-08
This AARP awareness piece highlights elder financial exploitation as a multi-billion dollar crime and promotes a free educational event on June 20 featuring Philip Marshall, whose grandmother Brooke Astor (a wealthy New York philanthropist) was isolated, manipulated, and financially exploited by her son in her later years. The article encourages the public to learn scam prevention through AARP's Fraud Watch Network and upcoming speaker programs.
mageenews.com
· 2025-12-08
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15, 2024) was recognized by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi to promote awareness of elder fraud and abuse. The Justice Department highlighted common scams targeting seniors—including Social Security impostor schemes, tech support fraud, and lottery scams—and emphasized that information and vigilance, along with partnerships between law enforcement and the public, are key to prevention. Resources like the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force and Senior Scam Alerts are available to help older individuals and families identify and avoid fraudulent activity.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
On June 15, 2024, U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and highlighted that financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse, costing older adults an estimated $23 billion annually. The U.S. Attorney's Office has expanded efforts to combat elder fraud through initiatives including the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, which targets foreign-based schemes, the Money Mule Initiative to disrupt fraud networks, and Senior Scam Alerts educating the public about common schemes such as Social Security impostor scams, tech support fraud, and lottery scams.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) by partnering with law enforcement agencies, AARP, Meals on Wheels, and the FBI to combat elder fraud through community education. The office hosted three public outreach events in Raleigh, Wake Forest, and Supply to help seniors recognize signs of financial scams and connect them with resources and support services. U.S. Attorney Michael Easley emphasized that seniors are frequently targeted by fraudsters and prioritized prosecuting cases involving elderly victims as part of broader efforts to protect vulnerable populations.
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2021, the FBI reported over 90,000 older adult victims of fraud losing $1.7 billion, a 74% increase from 2020, though actual numbers likely exceed reported cases due to underreporting. Financial exploitation—the most common form of elder abuse—often comes from trusted individuals and is enabled by cognitive decline with age, emotional vulnerabilities like loneliness and isolation, low digital literacy, and specific genetic risk factors associated with Alzheimer's disease. Research shows that older adults' susceptibility to deception varies based on individual characteristics (cognition, memory, mood, social support) and the method of targeting (phishing emails, fake news, deepfakes), with
phillytrib.com
· 2025-12-08
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging held an Elder Abuse Awareness Day panel discussion to address rising financial fraud against seniors, highlighting that elder abuse affects approximately 1 in 10 seniors nationally, with Pennsylvania victims losing about $12.5 million to financial exploitation. The panel discussed common fraud schemes including dishonest caregivers, unauthorized account withdrawals, and vacation rental scams, and emphasized that 60-90% of perpetrators are family members, making reporting difficult. Officials recommended protective measures such as establishing power of attorney, monitoring joint accounts, and contacting authorities like the Philadelphia District Attorney's Elder Justice Unit at (215) 686-5710 or the AARP Fraud Watch Network at (
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Research from the University of Florida shows that approximately 1 in 6 Americans aged 65+ are vulnerable targets for financial fraud, with the FBI reporting over 90,000 older victims in 2021 alone, resulting in $1.7 billion in losses (a 74% increase from 2020). Psychologists have identified that susceptibility to deception varies by individual factors—including cognitive decline, memory loss, emotional state, and social isolation—as well as the method of deception employed, with those carrying Alzheimer's risk gene variants showing particular vulnerability to phishing and fraud schemes. Financial exploitation, often perpetrated by family members, caregivers, or stran
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, major consumer protection organizations reported that elder real estate fraud losses increased 14 percent since 2022, with nearly 1,500 Americans ages 60 and older losing $65 million in real estate scams in 2023 alone. The fraud includes forged documents, Power of Attorney abuse, deed theft, and deceptive financial schemes targeting seniors' property and money. Organizations including AARP, the National Association of Realtors, and the National Consumer Law Center are urging states to implement stronger protections such as uniform power of attorney laws, multi-factor authentication, property record monitoring, and enhanced enforcement by adult protective services and law enforcement.
sebastopoltimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial exploitation of elderly residents in Sonoma County increased significantly, with Adult Protective Services reporting a 9% rise in abuse reports and 14% increase in investigations from 2022 to 2023, with 19% of over 7,800 allegations involving financial exploitation. Common scams targeting seniors include investment fraud, tech support scams, phishing schemes, and romance scams, which collectively cost victims $3.4 billion nationally in 2023, with romance scams proving particularly damaging due to the emotional manipulation involved. Experts advised seniors to avoid clicking links in suspicious emails or calls, contact companies directly to verify account issues, and be wary of requests for money from online dating
adirondackdailyenterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
Saranac Lake Police Chief Darin Perrotte provided guidance on protecting oneself from financial scams, emphasizing the importance of skepticism toward unverifiable communications and resisting artificial urgency tactics. He outlined why seniors are vulnerable targets—including accumulated assets, trusting nature, and isolation—and recommended verification strategies such as calling organizations back using independently verified numbers and questioning requests for information companies should already have on file. Perrotte stressed protecting Social Security numbers, avoiding text-based financial requests, and remaining aware that exploitation often comes from trusted individuals like family members and caregivers rather than strangers.
wmtw.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors are increasingly targeted by scammers using phone calls impersonating banks or relatives to steal personal information and money. According to FBI data, older Americans lost $1.6 billion to fraud from January-May 2024, with Maine victims alone losing $7.2 million in 2023 (397 cases averaging $18,040 per victim). Experts recommend pausing to verify unexpected urgent calls through known phone numbers and educating older adults about common scams, with organizations like Kennebunk Savings partnering with the Southern Maine Agency on Aging to provide fraud prevention resources and support.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
In observation of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts emphasized its commitment to prosecuting elder fraud and financial exploitation, noting that nearly one in 10 adults aged 60 and older experience some form of elder abuse annually. The office highlighted a recent case where Chukwunonso Umegbo was sentenced to over three years in prison for operating a romance scam that defrauded at least 45 victims of more than $568,000 between 2018 and 2019, including a senior who lost her home, car, and retirement savings. The District of Massachusetts has launched an Elder Justice Out
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis highlighted the Justice Department's multi-faceted approach to combating elder fraud, including the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force and Money Mule Initiative that target foreign-based schemes and fraud networks. The office detailed common scams affecting older Americans—including Social Security impostor schemes, tech support fraud, and lottery scams—and cited a 2023 federal conviction where a defendant defrauded an elderly widow of approximately $1.2 million by posing as her personal representative and spending her money on luxury items and lottery tickets.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reports a significant increase in elder fraud cases, with $1.6 billion in losses from January to May 2024—nearly $300 million more than the same period in 2023—and notes that Texas alone lost over $278 million in 2023. The most common schemes targeting older adults include tech support scams, romance scams, investment scams, and government impersonation scams, with investment fraud showing the sharpest growth (up 419% in losses from 2021-2023, largely due to cryptocurrency). The FBI emphasizes that seniors should verify unknown contacts, resist pressure to act quickly, avoid sharing personal information with unverified sources, and monitor their
becu.org
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud continues to rise significantly, with older Americans losing over $3.4 billion in 2023 alone—an average of $33,915 per victim and representing an 11% increase in losses from the prior year. The most common scams targeting seniors include tech support fraud (where scammers pose as legitimate companies to gain computer access), imposter scams (impersonating government agencies or financial institutions), and romance scams (criminals building fake relationships to extract money). Protective measures include avoiding unsolicited contact, never downloading software from unknown contacts, and never sharing sensitive information or credentials with unverified callers.
newsantaana.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reports that elder fraud losses reached $1.6 billion from January to May 2024, a nearly $300 million increase from the same period in 2023, with complaints rising 14% annually. Common schemes targeting older adults include tech support scams, romance scams, investment scams (which saw 419% increase in losses from 2021-2023), and government impersonation scams. The FBI recommends seniors verify unfamiliar contacts, resist pressure to act quickly, avoid unsolicited offers, never share personal information with unverified sources, and report suspected fraud to the FBI or IC3.gov.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
On June 15, 2024, the U.S. District of South Dakota joined national leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, emphasizing that one in ten older Americans are victims of elder abuse annually. The District highlighted ongoing efforts through initiatives like the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force and Money Mule Initiative to combat common schemes targeting seniors, including romance scams, tech support fraud, Social Security impostor scams, lottery scams, and IRS impersonation scams.
newstalkkzrg.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, highlighting that one in ten people over 60 experience elder abuse and an estimated $28.3 billion is lost annually to elder fraud scams. The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting elder abusers through various initiatives, including the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force and Money Mule Initiative, while providing public awareness resources on common schemes such as romance fraud, tech support scams, and Social Security impostor scams. Recent cases include the sentencing of Henry Asomani to 10 years in federal prison for a romance fraud conspiracy that stole over $3 million from more than a dozen victims.
kfiz.com
· 2025-12-08
June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, highlighting that while consumers over 60 lose money to scams less frequently than younger people, they lose significantly larger amounts when victimized—averaging nearly $1,000 compared to under $500 for those under 60. Common scams targeting seniors include grandparent scams (using impersonation and AI voice cloning), Medicare scams during enrollment periods, and tech support scams falsely claiming to be from Apple or Microsoft. The article provides prevention strategies for each scam type and guidance on how to supportively help victims by responding with empathy, listening to their experience, validating their story, and assisting with reporting and recovery steps.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by announcing a partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat fraud targeting older citizens. The agencies will hold a public town hall on June 20, 2024, to educate seniors about recognizing and preventing fraud schemes, including tech support scams, romance scams, and Social Security impostor fraud. The Justice Department emphasizes that awareness and information are key to protecting vulnerable populations from financial, physical, and psychological harm.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
On June 15, 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky observed World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, highlighting that one in ten people over 60 experiences some form of elder abuse, with an estimated $28.3 billion lost annually to elder fraud scams. In 2023, Kentucky's FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received 908 complaints from individuals over 60 reporting $12.8 million in losses, more than any other age group combined. The Justice Department brought nearly 300 criminal and civil actions against over 650 defendants in the past year who stole more than $1.5 billion from 2.4
midhudsonnews.com
· 2025-12-08
During Elder Abuse Awareness Month in June, Sullivan County officials warned of increased fraud incidents since COVID-19, highlighting common scams including romance scams, lottery schemes, and impersonations of Social Security, the IRS, and banks that pressure victims to send money via prepaid gift cards. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, elder fraud losses reached $1.6 billion from January to May 2024 (up nearly $300 million year-over-year), with 2023 reporting $3.4 billion in total losses and a 14 percent increase in elder fraud complaints. Officials advised recognizing warning signs such as isolated elderly individuals engaging in frequent online or phone
mainepublic.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, adults aged 50 and older lost at least $28 billion to fraud according to FTC data. AARP Maine hosted an educational event featuring expert panelists to discuss the prevalence of financial elder abuse, methods to identify it, and resources for seeking help. The free public program aired from Husson University and included speakers specializing in elder law, justice advocacy, and fraud prevention.
southfloridareporter.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece examines why older adults are vulnerable to financial fraud and exploitation. In 2021, over 90,000 seniors fell victim to fraud totaling $1.7 billion in losses (a 74% increase from 2020), with perpetrators often being family members, caregivers, or friends rather than strangers. Research shows that age-related cognitive decline, emotional factors (like loneliness and isolation), lower digital literacy, and reduced ability to detect deception through body signals all contribute to heightened susceptibility, with some evidence suggesting financial exploitability may be an early marker of cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's.
thetomahawk.com
· 2025-12-08
Retired social worker Nancy Wills spoke at the Johnson County Senior Center about elder abuse awareness, highlighting that financial exploitation is the fastest-growing form of elder abuse, with only one in 24 cases reported to police. Wills advised seniors to avoid answering unfamiliar phone numbers, ignore telemarketers, and verify unexpected requests for money by calling family members directly rather than complying immediately. The presentation emphasized that scams targeting seniors are nationwide, occurring in 90% of cases within victims' homes and frequently perpetrated by family members.
timesheraldonline.com
· 2025-12-08
State Senator Bill Dodd advanced Senate Bill 278 in California to strengthen protections against elder financial abuse by clarifying banks' and financial institutions' legal duties to detect and prevent fraud. The legislation would allow victims of financial elder abuse to hold institutions accountable when they negligently assisted in fraudulent transfers despite warning signs, thereby supporting victims in meeting their legal burden of proof. The bill, supported by elder rights advocates and consumer attorneys, addresses California's rising financial elder abuse cases affecting seniors across all socioeconomic backgrounds.
eapon.ca
· 2025-12-08
Financial abuse is the most common form of elder abuse, defined as improper conduct that results in monetary or personal gain for the abuser and loss for the older adult, with family members being the most frequent perpetrators. Warning signs include misuse of power of attorney, theft, unexplained account withdrawals, forged signatures, denial of access to finances, and coercion to sign documents or transfer property. Recognition of these indicators—such as sudden money disappearances, inability to pay basic expenses, or suspicious legal changes—is critical for identifying and preventing financial exploitation of seniors.
fox26houston.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the FBI, scams targeting seniors aged 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses in the past year, with no indication that fraudster activity is decreasing. A Harris County Sheriff's Office elderly abuse unit investigator was interviewed to discuss protective measures for families vulnerable to elder fraud.
havredailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Psychologists have identified that older adults, who hold significant financial assets and make important decisions, are increasingly vulnerable to financial exploitation, with over 90,000 victims losing $1.7 billion to fraud in 2021 alone. Research shows that susceptibility to deception in aging depends on both individual factors—such as cognitive decline, memory problems, emotional state, and loneliness—and contextual factors related to how victims are targeted across various platforms including emails, social media, and deepfakes. The study emphasizes that understanding these psychological vulnerabilities is critical for developing interventions to protect older adults, whose losses from fraud are typically larger and more devastating than younger victims' losses.
standard.net
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains how scammers psychologically manipulate victims by exploiting emotions like greed, fear, and need, and by impersonating trusted authorities to create artificial urgency. The piece outlines key fraudulent tactics including social engineering, building false legitimacy through fake websites and documents, and emotional manipulation, then provides protective strategies such as verifying sources independently, resisting pressure to act quickly, and maintaining healthy skepticism toward unsolicited offers.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Over a three-year period, Columbus Police Department received approximately 2,000 reports of potential elder fraud, with individual losses reaching as much as $250,000 in some cases. The majority of elder fraud in Columbus involves financial exploitation by family members (roughly 85%), though electronic scams such as tech support and phone scams are increasingly common nationally; however, cases involving international wire transfers are difficult to prosecute as they fall outside CPD's jurisdiction. The department's limited resources—with only two certified officers investigating crimes against at-risk adults—allow them to work only seven to ten cases annually, leaving most referrals (such as the five weekly referrals from Wells Fargo alone) un
mugglehead.com
· 2025-12-08
Visa Inc. is using artificial intelligence and machine learning to combat fraud, preventing $40 billion in fraudulent activity from October 2022 to September 2023 by analyzing over 500 transaction attributes in real-time to detect enumeration attacks that cost the industry $1.1 billion annually. Simultaneously, cybercriminals are increasingly leveraging generative AI, voice cloning, and deepfakes to execute romance scams, investment scams, and pig butchering schemes that are more convincing than ever, with scammers able to clone voices from less than three seconds of audio to deceive victims and banking employees.
headtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
**Case:** Vicki Gunvalson (Real Housewives of Orange County) sued for financial and elder abuse by Diane Field, a 74-year-old with a $6 million net worth. Field alleged that Gunvalson and business partner Ali Hashemian used fraudulent sales tactics to sell her a $300,000 annual life insurance policy under false pretenses (Field believed it was a one-time payment). Gunvalson has denied all allegations, claiming she followed the client's directions and acted transparently in the client's best interests.
collider.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** Vicki Gunvalson Elder Abuse Lawsuit
Vicki Gunvalson, a Real Housewives of Orange County cast member and insurance broker, was sued by 74-year-old Diane Field for financial elder abuse and fraudulent sales tactics. Field alleges that Gunvalson and business partner Ali Hashemian convinced her to purchase a $300,000 life insurance policy under false pretenses, misrepresenting it as a one-time payment when it was actually an annual fee; Field had a combined net worth of $6 million with her late husband. Gunvalson's attorney denies all allegations, claiming she followe
theblast.com
· 2025-12-08
Reality TV star Vicki Gunvalson faces a lawsuit alleging fraud and financial elder abuse from plaintiff Diane Field, who claims Gunvalson and partner Ali misrepresented insurance products and mismanaged her funds, causing significant losses on investments totaling over $600,000. Gunvalson has denied all allegations and her legal team states she acted professionally as an experienced insurance broker who respected the plaintiff's investment directions. This is her second fraud lawsuit in six years; a similar case brought against her in 2018 was dismissed after she proved her innocence in court.
sixthtone.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated antique fraud scheme targeting China's elderly through livestream shopping channels has cost victims hundreds of thousands of yuan by promising high returns on counterfeit collectibles like coins, stamps, and pottery. One victim in Shandong province lost nearly 300,000 yuan ($42,000) since March after being persuaded by livestream hosts who guaranteed buyback programs and claimed items could resell for millions. The scams have proliferated on platforms like Kuaishou, damaged family relationships as victims hide purchases and resist loved ones' warnings, and created legal challenges for authorities to recover funds, though victim support groups and legal experts are advocating for stronger platform regulations.
azpbs.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, over 101,000 reports of elder financial abuse were filed with the FBI, with victims experiencing annual losses exceeding $36 billion. Americans over 60 are particularly vulnerable to various scams including investment fraud, tech scams, romance scams, and nonpayment schemes, with financial abuse often going undetected when perpetrated by family members or caregivers who exploit declining cognitive abilities and technological unfamiliarity. Caregivers should report suspicious financial activities to Adult Protective Services, as technology-enabled scams targeting vulnerable elders continue to increase.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, over 101,000 people age 60 and older lost nearly $3.4 billion to financial exploitation, according to the FBI's Elder Fraud Report, with common scams including tech support fraud ($590 million in losses), investment fraud ($4.57 billion, up 38% year-over-year), power of attorney abuse, Medicare/Medicaid fraud, and homeowner scams. AI-driven fraud is making scams increasingly sophisticated, with criminals creating convincing fake audio and video to deceive victims. Protection requires vigilance about warning signs such as unusual account activity and suspicious communications, along with education and open family dialogue about financial security.
tribuneonlineng.com
· 2025-12-08
**Type:** Educational/Expert Interview
Anuoluwapo Ojomo, a financial services compliance expert, identifies key warning signs of elder financial exploitation including unusual account withdrawals, unpaid bills despite available funds, and sudden changes in financial decision-making, emphasizing that perpetrators range from family members to financial advisors. She notes that elder financial exploitation affects 5-10% of older people globally, with higher vulnerability among those experiencing cognitive decline, isolation, or recent loss, and stresses that prevention requires family monitoring, financial institution training, legal protections, and swift reporting to authorities when exploitation is suspected.
times-herald.com
· 2025-12-08
Southern States Bank held a community workshop led by consumer banker Tara Davis to educate seniors on identifying and avoiding financial scams, citing statistics showing 1 in 10 Americans aged 60+ experience elder abuse, with financial exploitation affecting 5.2% of older adults. The workshop covered common schemes including phishing emails, social media fraud, and impersonation scams, and highlighted a recent case where a client nearly lost $5,000 to a scammer posing as a neighbor before bank staff intervened. Davis recommended freezing credit, building relationships with bankers, and staying vigilant about reporting suspicious activities, while noting that 60% of elder abuse cases involve family members.
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies 10 common scams targeting seniors, who lose approximately $3 billion annually to fraud. The scams include romance scams, funeral fraud, grandparent impersonation schemes, phishing emails, Medicare fraud, fake tech support, and others that exploit seniors' trust, limited digital literacy, and valuable assets like homes and savings. The article provides protective advice such as setting social media accounts to private, verifying caller identities through stored contact numbers, and being skeptical of unsolicited requests for money or personal information.
saltwire.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article advises seniors on financial management and fraud prevention, emphasizing the importance of budgeting, tracking expenses, and saving for emergencies. It warns pensioners to be vigilant against common scams including investment fraud, romance scams, and financial elder abuse, recommending they only work with registered financial institutions and advisers, while noting that the Flourish 55+ Healthy Activity Centre offers seminars to help South Shore seniors protect their finances.
philomathnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors lose approximately $3 billion annually to scams, making them prime targets due to their savings, home ownership, good credit, and often lower digital literacy. The article identifies 10 common scams targeting older adults, including romance scams (fraudsters posing as romantic interests), funeral scams (exploiting grief over deceased spouses), grandparent scams (impersonating grandchildren in emergencies), phishing (fake emails from financial institutions), Medicare fraud, and tech support scams, among others. Prevention strategies include securing social media accounts, verifying contact information through reverse searches, and calling family members directly to confirm emergencies.
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide examines the psychology behind why people fall for scams, emphasizing that susceptibility is not a matter of intelligence but rather how scammers exploit psychological vulnerabilities. Key findings include that adults aged 35-44 are most likely to be deceived (though older adults remain targeted), those 18-24 lose the most money, and online fraud causes an estimated $2.7 billion in annual losses while also impacting victims' mental health. The article outlines how scammers build trust through impersonation and social engineering, and notes that common scams include phone fraud, phishing, fake job offers, and emergency schemes—increasingly enhanced by AI technology.
thestar.com
· 2025-12-08
Canadian seniors reported 17,000 fraud cases totaling $137.8 million in 2022, with financial abuse on the rise as the population ages. While seniors fall victim to various scams including romance and prize fraud, familial elder financial abuse—when family members or caregivers exploit a senior's finances—is among the most common yet underreported forms. Key protective measures include establishing powers of attorney, maintaining organized financial documents, having transparent family conversations about money, designating a trusted contact person with financial advisers, and working with professionals to monitor for suspicious spending or behavior changes.
senatedems.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan has over 73,000 older adult victims of elder abuse annually, experiencing scams, fraud, theft, and exploitation that cause serious physical and psychological harm. The Michigan Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee unanimously advanced four bills (SB 922-925) designed to strengthen protections for vulnerable adults by enhancing penalties for abuse and financial exploitation, creating personal protection orders for seniors, extending prosecutions beyond victims' deaths, and establishing multidisciplinary teams to prevent and investigate elder abuse.
qchron.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023-2024, New York City's Department for the Aging assisted over 43,000 elder abuse victims through its Elderly Crime Victims Resource Center and Elder Justice Network, which provide counseling, crisis intervention, and criminal justice support. Elder abuse takes multiple forms—including physical, sexual, emotional abuse, fraud, and financial exploitation—and can affect older adults across all demographics, prompting NYC authorities to expand police training, assign liaison officers to precincts, and hold awareness summits to help victims access resources and support.
montanafreepress.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies common scam tactics targeting older adults—including urgent payment demands, voice impersonation using AI, and financial abuse by trusted individuals—and notes that Montana has a particularly high senior population per capita. The piece advises protection measures such as ignoring unknown calls, monitoring account activity, using digital payments instead of checks, and maintaining secure personal information, while emphasizing that neither banks nor government agencies demand money or threaten account holders.
irishtechnews.ie
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece discusses the prevalence and types of online scams targeting seniors, drawing parallels between modern cyber-scammers and historical fraud schemes. In 2023, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre processed 62,365 fraud reports totaling over $554 million in losses, with seniors especially vulnerable due to their trust and familiarity with traditional communication. Common scams include phishing emails, tech support pop-ups, fraudulent government calls threatening legal action, and romance scams, with the article emphasizing that skepticism, verification of requests, and avoiding hasty responses are key protective measures.
becu.org
· 2025-12-08
Native and Indigenous elders in the U.S. face disproportionate risks of financial fraud and scams, with one documented case involving a tribal member losing $15,000 to a sweetheart scam. According to federal data, Alaska Native and Indigenous individuals are more likely to be victims of scams and less likely to report them than other groups, with approximately one million Indigenous and Alaska Native people over 65 across 574 federally recognized tribes. Community organizations are working to address this vulnerability by providing support without stigma, while recognizing that factors like regular tribal payments, Social Security, and cultural values around resource-sharing make older Indigenous people particularly attractive targets for financial exploitation.
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.
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
consumerfinancialserviceslawmonitor.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple federal financial regulators (FRB, CFPB, FDIC, FinCEN, NCUA, OCC, and state agencies) issued a joint statement providing guidance to financial institutions on identifying, preventing, and responding to elder financial exploitation, noting the practice does not create new regulatory requirements. The statement highlights that elder financial exploitation causes an estimated $28.3 billion in annual losses in the U.S., with recommended strategies including enhanced governance, employee training, transaction holds, trusted contact designations, and Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) filing.
lexology.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal financial regulators (FRB, CFPB, FDIC, FinCEN, NCUA, OCC, and state authorities) issued a joint guidance statement providing strategies for financial institutions to identify, prevent, and respond to elder financial exploitation, citing annual losses of $28.3 billion nationally. The guidance recommends practices including enhanced risk management policies, employee training on red flags, transaction holds, designated trusted contacts, and filing Suspicious Activity Reports, while clarifying these are recommended practices rather than new regulatory requirements.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal financial regulators (FRB, CFPB, FDIC, FinCEN, NCUA, OCC, and state regulators) issued a joint statement providing guidance to financial institutions on identifying, preventing, and responding to elder financial exploitation, which causes an estimated $28.3 billion in annual losses in the U.S. The agencies recommend practices including enhanced governance and monitoring, employee training on red flags, transaction holds, designated trusted contacts, and filing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) when exploitation is suspected.
breitbart.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating actor Johnny Depp on social media have defrauded elderly Americans of millions of dollars through a "pig butchering" scheme, according to 197 FTC complaints targeting primarily victims in their 60s and older. The fraudsters, who often pose as Depp or his manager, manipulate victims through false promises of romance, investment opportunities, or financial assistance, extracting funds via cryptocurrency, wire transfers, and gift cards, with documented losses ranging from $1,700 to $350,000 per victim. The scams employ sophisticated social engineering tactics including deepfake images and instructions to keep communications secret, with particularly vulnerable elderly victims—including those with
bostonherald.com
· 2025-12-08
This article argues that elder financial exploitation by family members is an underrecognized and unsupported form of caregiving, with only 1 in 44 cases receiving formal system services despite $28.3 billion lost annually to such abuse (72% from family and friends). The author contends that while illness-related caregiving receives policy support and tax credits, there are no comparable protections or recognition for family members who intervene in financial abuse cases, leaving caregivers to bear significant emotional, financial, and time costs without assistance or reward.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Financial abuse costs Australian victims an estimated $5.7 billion annually—exceeding total scam losses by $3 billion—and disproportionately affects older women through coercive control by partners or adult children. A Parliamentary inquiry released 61 recommendations in December to address this underacknowledged form of domestic and elder abuse, including nationally consistent enduring powers of attorney laws, superannuation reforms to prevent abuser access, and banking changes to facilitate victim reporting. Advocare reported that financial abuse represented 37% of their 1,649 calls in 2023, with victims often trapped in long-term relationships with limited financial access and minimal family support.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides prevention strategies against financial exploitation, citing FTC data showing $10 billion in consumer fraud losses in 2023 (a 14% increase from 2022), with investment scams accounting for nearly half of all losses. The article recommends three protective measures: enrolling in USPS Informed Delivery to monitor incoming mail, setting up transaction alerts with banks and credit card companies, and designating a trusted "watchdog" to provide input on financial decisions. These preventive approaches aim to help individuals detect and prevent exploitation early.
claconnect.com
· 2025-12-08
In December 2024, FinCEN and five federal financial regulatory agencies issued interagency guidance to help financial institutions combat elder financial abuse, which resulted in approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity reports over a one-year period ending in June 2023. The guidance recommends key practices including employee training to recognize exploitation, transaction holds and disbursement delays, trusted contact designations, timely reporting to authorities, and consumer outreach programs. Financial institutions are encouraged to implement robust governance policies and collaborate with elder fraud prevention networks to protect older adults from both stranger scams and abuse by trusted individuals such as family members and caregivers.
dfpi.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains that financial abuse is the most prevalent form of domestic abuse, affecting nearly 99 percent of domestic abuse cases and also occurring as elder abuse, with at least 1 in 10 adults over 65 experiencing it annually. The article outlines protective measures financial institutions can implement, including securing accounts with fraud alerts, setting up automatic bill pay, maintaining separate emergency funds, utilizing teller services to verify suspicious communications, and offering financial counseling to identify patterns of abuse. It provides resources for victims including the National Domestic Abuse Hotline and Adult Protective Services.
parkrapidsenterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
A WalletHub study ranking states on elder-abuse protections found Minnesota ranks 10th overall, excelling in financial crime legislation (1st) but lagging in abuse complaint reporting (27th). The article highlights a recent case in rural Douglas County where an elderly resident was defrauded of over $100,000 through a gold investment scam, and emphasizes that elder abuse—including physical, financial, emotional, and neglect—often goes unreported and can be perpetrated by family members or caregivers, requiring greater awareness and preventive measures.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A cybersecurity expert warned of three common holiday scams targeting consumers during the Christmas season: fake sales on social media platforms (where scammers pose as sellers and demand gift card payments before disappearing), impersonation scams (where criminals hijack accounts to pose as family members requesting money or information, increasingly using AI voice cloning and deepfakes), and fake prize giveaways (which collect personal information or processing fees). These schemes exploit the holiday shopping rush and emotional vulnerabilities to quickly extract financial information and money from victims.
clickondetroit.com
· 2025-12-08
An 84-year-old Canton, Michigan woman was targeted by a phone scam in December 2024 in which a caller impersonated a bank "senior fraud officer" and instructed her to withdraw cash for a supposed security purpose; the scheme succeeded twice before family members detected suspicious bank activity and alerted police. Li Biao, a 30-year-old undocumented Chinese national, was arrested on December 17, 2024, when he arrived at the victim's home to collect $25,000 in cash, and was charged with fraudulent false pretenses and resisting police. Police emphasized the importance of monitoring elderly relatives for warning signs such as sudden financial changes, large
fox2detroit.com
· 2025-12-08
A 30-year-old man was arrested in Canton, Michigan, after attempting to defraud an 84-year-old woman by posing as a bank fraud officer and convincing her to withdraw $25,000 in cash over four days. Police apprehended the suspect when he arrived at the victim's home to collect the money on December 17, preventing the theft. The suspect, identified as Li Biao, a Chinese national illegally in the United States, was charged with fraudulent false pretenses and assaulting/resisting police, held on a $100,000 cash bond.
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman named Mathis was financially exploited by her two nieces who convinced her to transfer over 70,000 Aflac shares to them under the pretense of reducing estate taxes, a form of affinity fraud that exploited the family trust and her known tax aversion. A FINRA arbitration panel awarded Mathis's estate approximately $3.3 million in compensatory damages in February 2023, though she was only able to recover about 26,000 of the transferred shares, leaving roughly 28,800 shares still with the nieces. The case illustrates the dangers of affinity fraud and highlights the importance of designating trusted contact persons at financial institutions to
10news.com
· 2025-12-08
A San Diego family's two-year effort to pass legislation protecting elderly victims of financial scams ended when Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill in 2024, citing concerns about mandatory transaction holds potentially delaying legitimate transactions. The family's push was motivated by William Bortz, an 80-year-old who lost nearly $700,000 in a fake Amazon purchase scheme, with his bank failing to question the suspicious wire transfers despite decades of patronage. Despite the veto, the family and former state senator Bill Dodd plan to reintroduce similar legislation to address the growing threat of financial elder abuse.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
On January 9, 2025, Tulare Police arrested 28-year-old Hailong He in connection with an investment scam that defrauded an elderly victim of $130,000. The suspects posed as a trading company and used a fictitious phone application to convince the victim to invest money, arranging in-person cash pickups at his home and pressuring him for an additional $90,000 under false pretenses of account closure fees. Police conducted surveillance and apprehended the suspect during a planned third transaction, charging him with Financial Elder Abuse, Theft Under False Pretenses, and Grand Theft.
goodmenproject.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses elder abuse protections across the United States, highlighting that the elderly population is projected to nearly double from 49 million to 95 million by 2060, making protective measures increasingly urgent. States like Wisconsin, Vermont, and Massachusetts rank highest in elder abuse prevention due to strong funding and robust regulations, while rural states such as South Carolina, Utah, and South Dakota lag significantly due to policy gaps and insufficient resources. Financial fraud is identified as a prevalent form of elder abuse affecting elderly individuals, with states offering stronger safeguards—such as ombudsman services and elder care organizations—demonstrating lower average financial losses per fraud case.
newsbug.info
· 2025-12-08
Oak Grove Christian Retirement Village hosted an educational presentation by DeMotte police on January 8 covering elder financial abuse, which costs seniors over $3 billion annually with more than 13% of American elders victimized yearly. The presentation outlined eleven common scam types targeting seniors (including grandparent scams, charity fraud, identity theft, and tech support scams), noting that victims aged 80-89, particularly women living alone, face the highest risk and that underreporting remains severe due to embarrassment and fear of losing independence. Key protective measures include monthly financial monitoring, verifying requests by calling contacts directly, reporting fraud to the FTC, and consulting trusted advisors before financial decisions.
newsbug.info
· 2025-12-08
Oak Grove Christian Retirement Village hosted an educational program featuring DeMotte police officials who presented information on elder financial abuse, which affects over 13% of American seniors annually and costs victims more than $3 billion yearly. The presentation covered eleven common scam types targeting seniors—including grandparent scams, charity fraud, phishing, and tax scams—while noting that victims aged 80-89, particularly women and those living alone, are most vulnerable, and that only 1 in 44 incidents are reported due to embarrassment and fear of losing independence. Attendees learned protective strategies such as verifying requests before sending money, monitoring financial statements, and reporting scams to the FTC or calling
news.jrn.msu.edu
· 2025-12-08
A Michigan man and woman were charged with financially exploiting an 87-year-old Rochester Hills resident through fraudulent power of attorney, with one defendant embezzling over $400,000 and the other stealing thousands through unauthorized checks. A Michigan State University study in rural communities found that preventative training for family caregivers and seniors, combined with caseworker follow-up visits, effectively empowers people to identify and prevent financial exploitation of older adults. Michigan reports increasing financial exploitation cases, with over 4,000 referrals in fiscal year 2024, and research shows that even basic community education can raise awareness and help prevent elder fraud.
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly widow lost approximately $8.4 million over four years when her son, Brett Thomas Graham—a securities industry-barred individual—moved money from her accounts at multiple financial firms (JPMorgan Securities, Schwab, and Francis Financial) without proper detection or intervention. The woman, who had memory loss and was living in assisted care, had invested nearly $9 million from the sale of her Upper East Side townhouse, but the financial institutions failed to implement adequate safeguards such as flagging suspicious large withdrawals, conducting proper due diligence, or contacting trusted family members to verify the transactions. Her family only discovered the fraud after she was evicted from her assiste
medicinehatnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicine Hat is experiencing rising reports of scams targeting seniors, including the Grandparent Scam, romance scams, and phishing schemes, with 78% of adults aged 65 and older having encountered at least one fraud attempt. The Veiner Centre partnered with Reality Bytes Inc. to offer a February 13 presentation on identifying and preventing fraud, and highlighted its Elder Abuse Outreach team that provides assessment, support, and case management to seniors experiencing financial abuse, some of whom have lost their life savings.
napavalleyregister.com
· 2025-12-08
The Napa County District Attorney's Office is training bank employees to identify and report suspicious transactions targeting seniors, as fraud against elderly clients continues to rise. The initiative focuses on recognizing red flags such as unusual large withdrawals, requests for cashier's checks, and transactions initiated by accompanying third parties—common tactics in lottery scams where victims are deceived into sending thousands of dollars in "good faith" money. One case illustrates the program's potential impact: a bank clerk prevented a man from wiring $10,000 to Canada after he revealed he believed he had won a foreign lottery, while another victim lost $13,000 before the perpetrators were arrested and ordered to repay her.
americanbar.org
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational piece for estate planning practitioners on protecting vulnerable clients from elder financial exploitation. The article advises practitioners to first ensure their own cybersecurity and document security measures are adequate, then implement firm-wide policies to recognize and prevent elder exploitation, including staff training to identify "procurement" schemes where beneficiaries control client access and educating aging clients about securing sensitive documents through digitization and secure storage. Key recommendations include developing protocols for suspected exploitation, obtaining trusted contact information, and incorporating security discussions into estate planning conversations to address risks from identity theft, document loss, and abuse.
bostonglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary for this content. The text provided appears to be only a navigation menu and section headers from a news website, not an actual article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse.
To help you, please provide the full article text or content that discusses a specific incident or topic related to elder fraud, scams, or abuse.
kutv.com
· 2025-12-08
Affinity fraud, where trusted community members exploit personal relationships to promote fraudulent investments, poses a particular risk in Utah's tight-knit communities, with seniors targeted due to their retirement savings. Red flags include unlicensed sellers, pressure for quick investment decisions, unrealistic return promises, and lack of written documentation. The Utah Division of Securities is combating this through enhanced penalties and educational programs like "Knights of Scamalot," which now emphasizes senior fraud awareness.
e.vnexpress.net
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old woman named Ngoc in Phan Thiet, Vietnam lost her entire life savings of VND3 billion (approximately US$117,000) to an elaborate prize-drawing scam between June 2023 and January 2024. Scammers posing as employees of a non-existent "Perfect Southeast Asia Joint Venture Shopping Center" convinced her to purchase hundreds of items at inflated prices (4-10 times their actual value) by promising high-value prizes and lucky draw codes, instructing her not to open packages; when she requested pickup of the goods in January 2024, the scammers took 36 items an
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Michigan residents reported $204 million in fraud losses—a dramatic increase from $60 million in 2020—with an 84-year-old woman losing $40,000 to a man posing as a bank employee serving as one documented case. Scams targeting older adults have diversified to include impersonation, extortion, investment fraud, tech-support schemes, and cryptocurrency fraud, with crypto scams alone affecting Michigan seniors at growing rates (141 instances in 2022 vs. 262 in 2023, with losses rising from $14 million to $24 million). AARP Michigan is responding with fraud prevention education sessions, document sh
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Research identifies loneliness and financial fragility as the two most significant risk factors for elder financial fraud victimization. Socially isolated individuals are more vulnerable to relationship-based scams (romance, pig-butchering, affinity fraud) because they lack trusted contacts to validate suspicious offers, while financial stress impairs rational decision-making and increases willingness to take risky financial gambles that fraudsters exploit.
nationalseniors.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Older Australians are disproportionately targeted by scams, accounting for 31% of losses reported to Scamwatch despite representing only 17% of the population. CommBank's "Talk to a Loved One" campaign encourages families to have open conversations about scams to raise awareness and reduce vulnerability, though research shows only 8% of Australians feel comfortable discussing their own scam experiences with family members despite 90% believing such discussions are important. The campaign recommends using the "Stop. Check. Reject." approach and highlights that confidence in recognizing scams drops from 33% for those under 60 to just over 20% for those over 60.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP offers Dr. Virginia Vincenti, a University of Wyoming professor with over a decade of research experience in elder abuse and financial exploitation, as a speaker for community events. Dr. Vincenti delivers presentations on recognizing abuse warning signs, understanding vulnerability factors, and implementing protective legal measures through power-of-attorney documents and wills. Her research-based, compassionate approach is designed to help seniors, caregivers, and professionals prevent financial exploitation and elder abuse.
wmtw.com
· 2025-12-08
Sharon Gardner, 59, of Rumford, Maine, was arrested for abusing and financially exploiting an elderly family member whom she served as primary caregiver, dividing over $1,000 from the victim's account and repeatedly using their debit card without authorization while restricting their outside contact. She was charged with two Class C felonies (endangering the welfare of a dependent person and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer) and one Class D misdemeanor (misuse of identification), with the investigation remaining active and additional charges possible.
en.as.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers increasingly use identity theft and impersonation via messaging apps (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, iMessage) to pose as friends or relatives in distress and request urgent money transfers. The Spanish National Police recommend a simple verification tactic: ask the suspicious contact a personal question only a real acquaintance would know, such as "Where did we meet?" to confirm their identity before responding to money requests. This basic security question can effectively prevent victims from falling for these emotionally manipulative scams that exploit goodwill across messaging platforms worldwide.
11alive.com
· 2025-12-08
Briauna Michelle Powell of Stone Mountain was charged with multiple counts of identity fraud and elder exploitation after allegedly using her position as a home health assistant to access elderly clients' personal information. Investigators believe Powell may have victimized multiple seniors and are seeking the public's help to identify additional victims and fraudulent activity.
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide explores the intersection of fraud and mental health, examining how the prevalence of scams—which cost Americans over $12 billion in 2024—creates psychological stress and constant vigilance in daily life. The article discusses how exposure to fraud, whether direct or indirect, can lead to anxiety, distrust, and destabilizing uncertainty, particularly as scammers increasingly use deceptive text messages, emails, and phone calls to target victims through romance scams, impersonation schemes, and fake job offers. The piece emphasizes the importance of protecting one's digital identity and provides strategies for managing the mental health impacts of living in an environment where fraudulent threats are pervasive and often difficult to distinguish
fairfaxcounty.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scam Jam 2025, held on April 30 at Northern Virginia Community College, brought together hundreds of experts in elder abuse prevention, law enforcement, and protective services to share information on safeguarding older adults from fraud and exploitation. The event featured keynote speaker Paul Greenwood, a former San Diego district attorney with experience prosecuting over 750 elder abuse cases, and screened a film highlighting Adult Protective Services efforts in protecting vulnerable populations. The annual conference, organized by AARP Virginia and Fairfax County's Silver Shield Anti-Scam Campaign, emphasized prevention, protection, and prosecution as key strategies for elder safety.
chadronradio.com
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old Nebraska woman lost over $14,000 in a "smishing" (text message scam), exemplifying a growing crisis where Americans aged 60+ lost $4.9 billion to scams in 2024, averaging $83,000 per case. Social isolation significantly increases seniors' vulnerability to fraud, as those with limited in-person contact are more likely to conduct transactions online and engage with scammers. The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance recommends preventing financial exploitation through regular contact with older relatives, educating seniors about common fraud tactics, and reporting suspected fraud to authorities through their "Make Cents Make Sense" initiative.
thecut.com
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old retired urban planner named Brian Ketcham lost significant money to romance scammers on the dating website Dream Singles, communicating with profiles of women (primarily one named "Vasilisa") who likely did not exist in real life. After his death in 2024, his children discovered hundreds of printed chat transcripts and documented evidence of the scheme, which required him to purchase credits for each message sent to the fake profiles. The article explores how his initial skepticism gradually eroded as the scammers built emotional connections with him, ultimately resulting in financial loss before his death.
lilydale.mailcommunity.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Ray, a 78-year-old retired tradesman, was financially abused by his son Peter over seven years, during which Peter stole over $152,000 in redirected pension payments and fraudulently obtained an additional $78,000 in loans using Ray's name. Peter manipulated his father by controlling his finances through a MyGov account, providing Ray with only meager allowances while creating fake government correspondence and impersonating officials to conceal the theft. Peter was eventually convicted and sentenced to four years in prison, with Ray's case highlighting the need for stronger institutional safeguards, such as direct verification with pension recipients before payment redirections, to prevent similar family-based financial abuse.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost an estimated $47 billion to scams in 2024, with investment fraud accounting for at least $5.7 billion of those losses. Contrary to common assumptions, younger adults are 34% more likely than older adults to fall victim to fraud, which takes multiple forms including impostor scams using AI voice cloning, lottery/prize schemes, and phishing attempts. To protect yourself, watch for red flags such as unsolicited contact, pressure to act quickly, promises of guaranteed returns, unusual payment requests, and demands for login credentials—and always independently verify investment opportunities through official resources like the SEC's EDGAR database before committing funds.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Alameda County's Adult and Aging Services is hosting a "Scam Jam" event on June 16th to help older adults protect themselves against increasingly sophisticated digital scams targeting seniors. The free community event at the San Leandro Senior Community Center will feature expert presenters from state agencies, consumer protection organizations, and high school students whose family members were scam victims. Older adults 60 and over can register via QR code or by calling (510) 577-3463 to learn how to recognize and prevent elder fraud.
rollingstone.com
· 2025-12-08
In July 2023, Priscilla Presley, then 77, filed a lawsuit claiming she was defrauded of over $1 million by Florida memorabilia dealer Brigitte Kruse through a "meticulously planned" elder-abuse scheme involving unconscionable contracts that gave Kruse control of her finances and publicity rights. A newly surfaced video from a January 2023 document-signing session shows Presley stating she had not read the contracts and appeared to trust Kruse, though she also confirmed signing of her own free will—evidence that complicates both sides' legal arguments in this ongoing contentious dispute.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
This article outlines six common scams targeting users of peer-to-peer payment platforms like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle, including impersonation of trusted contacts, fake "accidental" payments designed to exploit goodwill, fraudulent sellers and buyers using stolen payment methods, fake contest winnings, and impersonation of customer support teams. According to Pew Research, 13% of P2P payment app users have sent money to scammers, affecting millions of users across platforms with 92 million active users on Venmo alone. The key prevention strategies are to verify recipient identity before sending money, report unexpected payments from strangers immediately without cashing out
silversurfers.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes seven prevalent scams on social media targeting users: fake shop accounts, phishing scams with malicious links, fake giveaways, investment scams promising high returns, romance scams, impersonation scams, and charity scams exploiting crises. The article advises users to verify sources, avoid clicking unsolicited links, use strong passwords with two-factor authentication, and stay educated about evolving fraud tactics to protect themselves and report suspicious activity to platforms.
usaherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Priscilla Presley, 80, sued memorabilia dealer Brigitte Kruse for financial elder abuse, alleging Kruse gained her trust, isolated her from advisors, and manipulated her into signing away up to 80% of her earnings—totaling over $1 million. Kruse filed a countersuit claiming she was hired to rescue Presley from financial ruin and is owed compensation, while Presley's legal team describes her as a "con artist" who exploited her vulnerability following her daughter Lisa Marie's death in January 2023. The high-profile case highlights vulnerabilities facing elderly individuals, particularly wealthy and prominent figures, to financial exploitation through
davisvanguard.org
· 2025-12-08
A June 2024 Sacramento County Grand Jury report found that elder financial abuse cases have surged in the county, with Adult Protective Services confirming nearly 4,000 cases between 2019 and 2024, yet over 97% went unprosecuted due to inadequate staffing, poor data systems, and lack of specialized training in law enforcement and the District Attorney's Office. The report identified that perpetrators are typically trusted individuals (caregivers, family members, or advisors) in over 72% of cases, creating emotional barriers to reporting, and recommended increased funding for investigators, prosecutors, victim advocates, and specialized social workers to address the growing problem as Sacramento County's senior
boothbayregister.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission estimated that criminals stole approximately $61.5 billion from adults age 60 and over in 2023, with elder financial abuse coming from both known perpetrators and stranger scams. AARP highlights preventive measures including adding trusted contacts to financial accounts, freezing credit to prevent unauthorized accounts, and using robocall/text blockers to reduce exposure to phone-based scams. The article emphasizes that these proactive steps can significantly protect older adults' financial security.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services and Department of Aging marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Month in June 2025, highlighting that local agencies receive over 100 adult protective services referrals daily and that one in 10 seniors nationally experience some form of elder abuse. The state provided information on recognizing warning signs of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse as well as financial exploitation and neglect, with resources including an awareness campaign and a hotline (1-855-OHIO-APS) for reporting suspected abuse.
jfs.ohio.gov
· 2025-12-08
Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services and Department of Aging are using June's World Elder Abuse Awareness Month to encourage residents to recognize signs of elder abuse and learn reporting procedures. The awareness initiative aims to help protect seniors by increasing community vigilance and knowledge about how to identify and report suspected abuse.
einpresswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Equity Access Group highlights financial abuse risks to seniors on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15), noting that older Americans lose an estimated $36.5 billion annually to financial scams and exploitation. The company emphasizes warning signs of financial abuse—including pressure to sign documents quickly, sudden involvement of new individuals in finances, and unexplained withdrawals—and implements protective measures such as mandatory HUD-approved counseling, staff training to identify manipulation, and personal follow-up with all reverse mortgage applicants to ensure borrower safety.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission estimated criminals stole $61.5 billion from adults age 60 and over in 2023, with financial abuse coming from both known perpetrators like family members and strangers carrying out scams. To prevent elder financial exploitation, AARP recommends adding trusted contacts to financial accounts, freezing credit to prevent unauthorized accounts, and using robocall and text message blockers to reduce exposure to phone-based scams. Victims should report scams to local law enforcement or contact AARP's Fraud Watch Network at 1-877-908-3360.
lockhaven.com
· 2025-12-08
Centre County reported over 350 cases of elder abuse in 2024, a five-fold increase over the past decade, with financial exploitation now surpassing self-neglect as the most commonly reported abuse type. Sophisticated scams using AI-generated deepfakes, voice spoofing, and impersonation have stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from local seniors, with statewide estimates between $260 million and $2.1 billion stolen from Pennsylvania residents over 60 in 2022. The Centre County Office of Aging is hosting educational initiatives and encouraging victims to report scams to local law enforcement to prevent further exploitation.
financialpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial abuse is the most common form of elder abuse in Canada, with experts warning of rising vulnerability as the country's aging population holds over $1.1 trillion in assets. While digital scams targeting seniors are increasing, the greater threat comes from trusted individuals—family members, friends, and those with power of attorney—who exploit their positions, with approximately 81 percent of reported cases perpetrated by someone the victim knows. Seniors with cognitive decline, women, and those from marginalized communities face heightened risk, and many victims remain silent to avoid disrupting family relationships.
wbrc.com
· 2025-12-08
In observance of World Elder Abuse Day, the IRS Criminal Investigation Field Office in Atlanta highlighted that millions of seniors are victimized annually by financial scammers who exploit their trust, with the FBI reporting that seniors lost $8.4 billion to scams in 2024. The IRS provided information on common schemes targeting older adults, including romance scams, lottery scams, government imposter scams, grandparent scams, and tech support scams, and encouraged oversight of seniors' finances by multiple trusted individuals. Resources for fraud prevention and reporting include the National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311), the FBI's Internet Crime Center, the Pass It On
wsfa.com
· 2025-12-08
The Alabama Securities Commission reported a record 200 elder fraud cases since January, with women aged 71-90 being disproportionately affected, and identified social isolation as a key vulnerability factor that scammers exploit during periods of grief or health crises. Fraudsters use social media information and infiltrate senior groups to build trust, with exploitation ranging from online romance scams to financial abuse by family members and caregivers. The ASC recommends maintaining regular contact with seniors, adding "trusted contacts" to financial accounts, and sharing fraud awareness information to reduce vulnerability to these increasingly sophisticated schemes.
deccanherald.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old Ohio surgeon lost $1 billion to a romance scam involving a fake Ukrainian model within one month of his wife's death, while in New Delhi, a woman lost Rs 5 lakh ($6,000) when scammers impersonated her phone service provider during a family medical crisis. Globally, seniors lost $4.8 billion to cyber fraud in 2024 (US), with India projected to lose Rs 1.2 lakh crore ($14.4 billion) in 2025, driven by psychological manipulation that exploits neurobiological changes in aging brains, cultural conditioning toward authority and politeness, and widesprea
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the U.S. Department of Justice announced reinvigorated prosecutorial efforts against transnational and domestic elder fraud schemes that cost seniors billions of dollars annually, highlighting recent cases involving romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. A notable Montana case resulted in the arrest of a man involved in an India-based scheme impersonating U.S. Marshals that defrauded an elderly victim of over $1 million. The DOJ emphasizes the importance of community vigilance, victim restitution efforts, and encourages seniors and their families to contact the free National Elder Fraud Hotline for assistance with
bethesdamagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Montgomery County held a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event highlighting scams targeting seniors, including tech support impersonation, government impostor schemes, and gold bar frauds. Maryland reported 1,385 complaints of tech support and government imposter scams in 2024 with nearly $30 million in losses—up 41% in complaints and 15% in losses over three years—while 84% of financial exploitation perpetrators were family members. Officials emphasized prevention through account monitoring, power of attorney transparency, and assertiveness in refusing suspicious requests, noting that recovery of scammed funds is rarely possible.
mycitylogan.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A Queensland parliamentary inquiry heard testimony from Tara Brussell about her father's experience with elder abuse during his marriage breakdown, in which his ex-wife and her family allegedly depleted his pension and superannuation, leaving him with $4, while denying his financial contributions to their shared property. Brussell criticized the inadequacy of the elder abuse hotline and called for more comprehensive support services. The inquiry, which has been examining elder abuse across Queensland since February, heard from experts that one in six older people experience elder abuse—often perpetrated by family members—and that reporting rates remain low due to shame and family dynamics, with recommendations for holistic centralized services, improved education, and better monitoring of cases
myfox28columbus.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece highlights that approximately 1 in 10 seniors experiences elder abuse, with Ohio alone receiving over 40,000 abuse referrals in the past year. The Franklin County Office of Aging director emphasizes the importance of recognizing warning signs to protect vulnerable seniors during World Elder Abuse Awareness Month.
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the FBI's annual internet crime report, seniors lost nearly $5 billion to scams last year and are disproportionately targeted by scammers who view them as wealthy, not feeble-minded. The article identifies two major red flags for potential scams: feeling panicked and experiencing pressure to make fast decisions, and recommends that seniors slow down, create mental space to think, and independently verify claims before acting. Various protective services and apps have been developed to help seniors guard against financial exploitation.
amac.us
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource presents a chart detailing common scams targeting consumers, including AI scams (deepfake impersonations), bank text scams (phishing for account information), billing/invoice scams (fake invoices demanding payment), brushing scams (unsolicited items to boost reviews), and charity scams. The guide identifies shared scammer tactics such as impersonation, creating urgency, and pressuring victims to share personal information, while offering specific identification and prevention strategies for each scam type. The material encourages sharing this information with friends and family as a primary defense against fraud.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors lost nearly $5 billion to scams last year and remain prime targets due to their concentrated wealth, according to the FBI. The article identifies five red flags indicating a potential scam: feeling panicked, pressure to make fast decisions, unsolicited contact, requests for personal information, and reluctance to verify claims—noting that scammers rely on emotional manipulation and time pressure to override victims' judgment. Experts advise pausing to think critically when experiencing these warning signs, as scammers count on immediate reactions rather than careful consideration.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies five red flags that warn seniors they may be targeted for scams, emphasizing that older adults lose nearly $5 billion annually and are targeted because they hold roughly half of U.S. wealth. The first two red flags discussed are feeling panicked (as in grandparent scams demanding immediate bail) and pressure to make fast decisions (such as investment opportunities or fake retail websites), with experts advising victims to slow down, create mental space, and independently verify claims rather than acting immediately.
yankton.net
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for South Dakota designated June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month to highlight the widespread impact of elder fraud and abuse, which affects millions of seniors annually by compromising their finances, security, and dignity. Warning signs of elder fraud include unexplained bank withdrawals, suspicious signatures on financial documents, abrupt changes to wills, and unpaid bills despite adequate funds, while common scams involve impersonation (kidnapping/arrest claims), romance fraud, and gift card schemes. The Justice Department provides resources including Senior Scam Alerts and a dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-FRAUD-11) for reporting and assistance.
danvillesanramon.com
· 2025-12-08
The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office hosted a workshop on real estate fraud targeting older adults, led by Supervising Deputy District Attorney Dana Filkowski as part of Elder Abuse Awareness Month outreach efforts. The workshop educated community members including attorneys, financial professionals, and residents aged 50+ about fraud prevention, noting that older adults are vulnerable due to high property equity, increased trust in others, and limited digital literacy. Filkowski emphasized that while real estate fraud is difficult to investigate and undo, prevention through education and resources like the District Attorney's Fraud Hotline (925-957-8705) is crucial to protecting seniors from financial exploitation.
localnewsmatters.org
· 2025-12-08
The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office hosted a workshop during Elder Abuse Awareness Month to help residents identify and prevent real estate fraud schemes targeting adults aged 50 and older, who are vulnerable due to higher home ownership, trust in others, and limited digital literacy. Supervising Deputy District Attorney Dana Filkowski emphasized that while real estate fraud is difficult to investigate and remedy once it occurs, prevention through education about notarized signatures, fraud notification programs, and common scam tactics is essential. The office operates a Fraud Hotline and continues community outreach efforts in partnership with the Family Justice Center to combat elder financial abuse.
pasadenanow.com
· 2025-12-08
Huntington Health is hosting a free virtual educational event on July 9 to help community members recognize and prevent financial elder abuse, which affects over 6% of elderly Americans and costs seniors nearly $36.5 billion annually. The presentation will cover common scams targeting older adults and protective strategies, led by an elder abuse prevention advocate, and reflects urgent national trends showing that only 1 in 24 cases of elder exploitation reach authorities, with nearly 47% of incidents involving family members as perpetrators.
fdic.gov
· 2025-12-08
Financial exploitation costs seniors an estimated $27 billion annually and can occur through theft by family members, caregivers, or scammers. Key prevention strategies include monitoring bank and credit accounts regularly, protecting personal financial information, carefully selecting powers of attorney, reviewing credit reports, taking time with major financial decisions, and remaining alert to common scams like grandparent fraud and fake check schemes. Additional protections include registering with the Do Not Call Registry, avoiding unsolicited deposit requests, and limiting personal information shared on social media.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Tucoemas Federal Credit Union partnered with Carefull, an AI-powered financial safety platform, to protect its older members and their families from fraud and scams through real-time transaction monitoring, credit activity alerts, and suspicious message analysis, backed by $1M in identity theft insurance. The partnership complements Tucoemas' existing PrimeTimers program for older adults and reflects the credit union's commitment to serving its growing population of members over 65 in California.
intelligentcio.com
· 2025-12-08
Tucoemas Federal Credit Union partnered with Carefull, an AI-powered financial safety platform, to provide real-time fraud detection and elder exploitation prevention for its older members and their families. The partnership enhances Tucoemas' existing PrimeTimers program by offering suspicious transaction monitoring, credit activity alerts, a secure document vault, scam analysis tools, and $1 million in identity theft insurance to help protect against the growing threat of elder financial abuse. This initiative reflects Tucoemas' commitment to serving California's rapidly growing population of adults over 65 with proactive financial security and family involvement in fraud prevention.
indiablooms.com
· 2025-12-08
A UN human rights expert warns that financial abuse of elderly persons is widespread but largely underreported, frequently perpetrated by family members through exploitative transactions involving undue influence, fraud, or lack of informed consent. The expert notes that most cases go undetected due to scarce data and victims' reluctance to report abuse out of embarrassment or fear of losing care and affection. She urges older people and their advocates to report suspected abuse to authorities as a critical step in combating this growing problem.
greenwichsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
At a July 2 Retired Men's Association meeting, computer expert Aaron Woodin presented "Don't Fall for It! Recognizing and Avoiding Scams," detailing how scammers exploit trust through tactics like false urgency, emotional manipulation, and enforced isolation. He identified common digital threats including fake event invitations and invoices, scam pop-ups, social media impersonations, phone-based impersonations of tech companies and government agencies, grandparent/romance scams, and SIM Swap attacks. Woodin advised victims to verify contact information independently, shut down suspicious screens, avoid calling numbers on suspicious invoices, add cyber fraud insurance riders, and contact mobile
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office warned of rising scams targeting older adults in the region, including grandparent scams, government imposter schemes, tech support fraud, and sweepstakes scams that aim to steal money and personal information. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Report, Americans over 60 lost $1.7 billion to fraud in the previous year, with Lyon County seniors being frequent targets due to their trust, limited tech skills, and fear of reporting. The sheriff's office is offering community presentations on fraud prevention and recommends residents use the STOP, LEAVE, ASK, WAIT, ACT protocol to identify and avoid suspicious calls.
tucson.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old Tucson man drained his 75-year-old wife's $250,000 retirement account after developing an online romance with a woman claiming to be a chef, whom he met on Facebook and sent money to over several months for various fabricated needs including job fees and taxes. The couple also took out a loan on their vehicle and considered a home equity loan to continue funding the scam, which ended when the account was depleted and the scammer stopped contact. Arizona has the highest rate of elder fraud in the nation at 289 cases per 100,000 seniors, with authorities reporting that social media romance scams, phishing, and AI-
kolotv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office issued a scam alert after handling numerous identity theft and phone scams, warning that seniors are frequently targeted by fraudsters impersonating government officials or offering financial assistance. Americans over 60 lost $1.7 billion to fraud in the past year according to the FBI, with seniors vulnerable due to trust in authority figures, substantial savings, limited tech literacy, and reluctance to report being scammed. Common scams affecting Lyon County seniors include grandparent scams, government imposter schemes, financial abuse by trusted individuals, tech support fraud, and lottery scams.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating artists and messaging people on social media asking to use their photos for "art projects," then requesting personal information like full names and email addresses under the pretense of sending e-checks for commissions. The scheme is a variant of the common fake check scam, where fraudsters send counterfeit checks that appear legitimate, ask victims to wire back excess funds, and use the collected personal information for future fraud. The Federal Trade Commission warns this tactic is widespread and advises victims to report incidents to the FTC or Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker.
theportager.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article warns older adults to recognize signs of financial exploitation by family members or caregivers, noting that the FBI reported nearly $4.9 billion stolen from seniors last year with investment scams causing the largest losses at $1.8 billion. The piece outlines warning signs of exploitation—such as sudden asset transfers, forged signatures, and unexplained disappearances of funds—and directs Ohio residents to report suspected elder abuse to Adult Protective Services at 330-296-2273. The article also provides information about the Summer Crisis Cooling Program to help seniors aged 60 and older pay electric bills if they meet income requirements.
bizzbuzz.news
· 2025-12-08
BreadXPay is a fraudulent fintech platform orchestrated by Joshua Sneider that targets retirees worldwide with promises of cross-border payment solutions and high investment returns (up to 10% monthly). The scam operates through shell companies registered in jurisdictions like Canada and the UK with puppet directors, funneling victim deposits through offshore accounts where they disappear; one documented case involved a 72-year-old Florida teacher who lost her $25,000 life savings after receiving fabricated account statements and being blocked from withdrawals. Elder financial abuse through schemes like this costs seniors over $28.3 billion annually globally.
independent.com
· 2025-12-08
Julie Westerfield, heiress to the Jergens hand cream fortune, won a jury verdict on May 5 against her former babysitter Jordana Snider, who had been legally adopted by Westerfield at age 51 and subsequently received a $2.2 million Ojai property gift. The jury unanimously found Snider guilty of financial elder abuse, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty, determining the gifts were made during Westerfield's early dementia diagnosis in 2022, and ordered Snider to return the property (now valued at $4 million) plus $150,000 in punitive damages and approximately $320
witn.com
· 2025-12-08
Five people in Craven County, North Carolina were formally charged with a total of 139 felonies in connection with a financial exploitation scheme targeting an elderly couple that began in November 2023, with two of the suspects serving as in-home caregivers to the victims. The charges include identity theft, forgery, larceny, fraud, and elder exploitation, with lead suspect Ashley Berry facing 90 felony counts. Police urge family members and caregivers to monitor for financial exploitation involving in-home caregivers and contact Adult Protective Services with any suspicious activity.
centralnews.co.za
· 2025-12-08
DIRCO spokesperson Clayson Monyela warned South Africans against fake foreign job offers promoted on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which are fronts for human trafficking networks that exploit victims through forced labor and illegal schemes. The warning follows multiple documented cases where South Africans were lured abroad with promises of jobs in Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia, only to be trapped in cyber-scam operations or forced labor with confiscated passports; DIRCO has successfully repatriated numerous victims but others remain missing. The scam particularly targets vulnerable young people and job seekers amid South Africa's high unemployment rates, and authorities recommend verifying offers through official channels such as embassies or
thesource.com
· 2025-12-08
Shannon Amos filed a lawsuit against her brother K.C. Amos and others, alleging elder abuse, fraud, and wrongful death against their father, legendary actor John Amos, who died in August 2024 at age 84. The suit claims K.C. isolated John from family, pressured him to sign documents transferring estate control, and impersonated him via text and email beginning in 2019, with the assistance of former caretaker Belinda Foster and associate Eugene Brummett. Shannon was not informed of her father's death for 45 days and learned of it through social media; K.C. was previously arrested in 2023
suggest.com
· 2025-12-08
A 66-year-old California woman lost her home and life savings after falling victim to an AI deepfake romance scam in October 2024. The scammer used artificial intelligence to create realistic video impersonations of soap opera actor Steve Burton and convinced Abigail Ruvalcaba they were in a romantic relationship, ultimately extracting over $81,000 in cash and checks, then pressuring her to sell her condo for $350,000 and surrender $70,000 of those proceeds. After the house-flipping company that purchased her home below market value refused to reverse the sale despite pleas from her family and attorneys, Abigail now faces eviction an
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-07
Financial exploitation of older adults is rising at epidemic rates through scams, family manipulation, and digital illiteracy, with the FBI reporting over 100,000 victims age 60+ in 2023 and total losses exceeding $3 billion (averaging $35,000 per person). Older adults are particularly vulnerable due to trust, isolation from face-to-face interaction, and a digital divide, with those age 80+ suffering the highest median losses. Common schemes include tech support, grandparent scams, government impersonation, romance scams, and increasingly sophisticated AI-generated voice clones, while many cases go unreported due to shame or involvement of trusted family members
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Regions Bank associates supported seniors in their community through two initiatives on National Senior Citizens Day (August 21). One team assembled care kits with household supplies and personal messages for distribution through the United Way Area Agency on Aging, which serves nearly 11,000 seniors annually; another team delivered homemade cards, treats, and information about elder fraud to residents at an elder-care facility. The efforts focused on combating senior isolation and promoting financial wellbeing and independence among older community members.
oag.dc.gov
· 2025-12-07
The DC Attorney General sued Athena Bitcoin, Inc., one of the largest Bitcoin ATM operators in the U.S., for charging undisclosed fees (up to 26%) on deposits and failing to implement adequate anti-fraud safeguards while maintaining a strict no-refund policy for scam victims. According to the investigation, 93% of Athena BTM deposits in DC were scam-related, with victims having a median age of 71 and median loss of $8,000 per transaction (one victim lost $98,000 across 19 transactions). The lawsuit alleges Athena knowingly facilitates fraud, illegally profits from hidden fees, and violates
americanbanker.com
· 2025-12-07
Illinois passed a new law in 2024 allowing credit unions to contact a client's "trusted contact" (typically a family member) when fraud is suspected, enabling faster intervention in time-sensitive scams that cost American seniors $4.9 billion that year. While this approach can effectively stop scams more quickly than traditional legal channels, experts caution that banks must carefully request trusted contact information to avoid offending customers and must be aware that scammers are sometimes family members themselves. Financial institutions are advised to frame the conversation around sophisticated scamming tactics rather than the customer's vulnerability, and to establish trusted contact lists before fraud occurs.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
The Financial Exploitation Prevention Act, reintroduced in September by Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), would empower financial institutions to detect and delay suspicious transactions targeting seniors, particularly those involving securities and real estate. Financial exploitation costs U.S. seniors approximately $27 billion annually, and the bill seeks to close existing protection gaps by requiring the SEC to recommend legislative and regulatory changes to combat senior financial abuse, including romance scams and fraudulent home-related transactions.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
The Financial Exploitation Prevention Act, a bipartisan bill reintroduced in Congress, seeks to empower banks and financial institutions to detect and halt suspicious activities targeting seniors and vulnerable adults. Financial abuse costs seniors $27 billion annually, and the bill would allow investment companies to delay redemptions during suspected fraud investigations and prevent losses from scams like fake contractor or refinance schemes. The legislation has received bipartisan support, including unanimous approval from the House Financial Services Committee, and experts emphasize that family involvement through regular check-ins, direct deposit setup, and recognizing red flags remains critical to protecting seniors' financial security.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-07
Financial management difficulties can be an early warning sign of dementia, with common indicators including missed payments, unexplained cash withdrawals, unusual purchases, and trouble with online banking. A neuropsychologist from the University of Miami notes that while normal aging causes occasional memory lapses, regularly missing payments and confusion about time or people warrant medical evaluation. To protect seniors with cognitive decline, families should set up automated bill pay, use spending trackers with fraud alerts, enable power of attorney arrangements, and remain vigilant against sophisticated scams targeting the elderly.
techxplore.com
· 2025-12-07
Aberystwyth University, Dyfed-Powys Police, and PEGS launched a new guide to combat technology-enabled abuse of people over 60, which includes monitoring via smart devices, mobile tracking, and unauthorized access to accounts. The guide, based on police data and case studies, reveals that 14% of older parents supported by PEGS experienced digital abuse from family members, with one case involving £20,000 stolen through unauthorized smartphone access and another involving stalking via fake social media profiles and Ring doorbell cameras. Between May 2024 and April 2025, over 950 domestic abuse cases involving older victims were reported in Dyfed-Powys
einpresswire.com
· 2025-12-07
Pilot Michael Bremner is conducting a record-setting flight around the Hollywood Sign to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's research and combat elder abuse, inspired by his own family's experience with elder financial exploitation. The FBI reports that $4.8 billion was stolen from seniors in 2024, with over half committed by family members, and individuals with Alzheimer's disease are particularly vulnerable to scams and exploitation because cognitive decline removes their defenses against abuse. The nonprofit Elder Abuse Air Force aims to raise $5,000 for Alzheimer's research during the flight while pushing for systemic legal changes to treat elder abuse with the same seriousness as other major crimes.
kgw.com
· 2025-12-07
Oregon is experiencing a troubling rise in financial scams targeting its rapidly aging population, with reports of seniors losing $10,000 or more increasing more than fourfold between 2020 and 2024, while scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated through artificial intelligence and impersonation tactics. Beyond fraud, older Oregonians face compounding vulnerabilities including housing insecurity and homelessness, with seniors on fixed incomes averaging about $1,950 monthly in Social Security struggling to afford rent. Experts emphasize the need to reduce stigma around fraud victimization, increase reporting through services like the Aging and Disability Resource Connection helpline, and invest in supportive housing and renter assistance
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-07
Financial exploitation and elder abuse are widespread problems affecting 10% of seniors living at home and up to 50% of those with dementia, with warning signs including unexplained financial transactions, suspicious changes to estate documents, isolation, and over-involvement by caregivers or relatives in financial decisions. Families and estate planners can prevent abuse through regular financial monitoring, private client meetings, documentation, and screening tools, while legal remedies such as conservatorships, restraining orders, and litigation for restitution are available when abuse is suspected.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Internet scams have evolved from crude 1990s email cons like Nigerian prince schemes to sophisticated AI-powered deepfakes that can convincingly impersonate voices and faces, with phishing attacks emerging in the early 2000s as online banking adoption grew. Despite technological advances making fraud more convincing and difficult to detect, successful scams continue to rely on exploiting fundamental human emotions—greed, fear, compassion, and loneliness—through predictable psychological manipulation patterns that create urgency and isolate victims from support systems. Understanding how scam tactics have evolved reveals that technological complexity often masks simple psychological manipulation, and recognizing consistent underlying patterns can help potential victims identify manipulation attempts regardless of delivery method.