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KVUE
· 2024-02-19
Romance scams typically begin online through dating platforms, social media, or messaging apps, with scammers' goal being financial gain. Red flags include declarations of love very quickly, elaborate backstories (such as working in oil/gas or military deployment) to explain communication gaps, and reluctance to video chat; scammers may spend months or even years building trust before requesting money. People should recognize these warning signs early to avoid becoming victims of these prevalent scams.
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FOX 13 Seattle
· 2024-02-23
Former Wells Fargo branch manager Brian Davy was sentenced to over three years in federal prison for stealing nearly $1.3 million from elderly customers in Clark County over a five-year period through unauthorized withdrawals, transfers, and fraudulent checks. Davy specifically targeted vulnerable populations including elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and those who spoke different languages, with one victim losing $566,000 from her retirement accounts. Federal prosecutors partnered with the FBI and Wells Fargo to investigate and prosecute the case, highlighting the serious threat of financial abuse by trusted financial professionals.
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WHNT News 19
· 2024-03-02
**Romance Scams: Protection Advice**
Romance scams, where online dating contacts request money, gift cards, or wire transfers, are on the rise according to the Better Business Bureau, with median losses increasing from $900 in 2021 to higher amounts by 2022. Scammers use emotional manipulation tactics like "love bombing" followed by fabricated emergencies (health issues, family deaths) to pressure victims into sending money, and elderly individuals should be particularly cautious. To protect yourself, avoid sending money through gift cards or wire transfers, never share credit card or banking information, and be skeptical of online contacts who quickly request financial assistance.
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KPAX-TV
· 2024-03-21
Montana's Commissioner of Securities and Insurance is conducting community education on scams targeting seniors, who are particularly vulnerable because they typically have accumulated more wealth through paid-off homes and mature investments. The office has identified a rising trend of "pig butchering" schemes—a cryptocurrency-based variation of romance scams where scammers initiate contact through text messages, social media, or dating apps, build a relationship, and then solicit money or fraudulent investment advice, resulting in significant financial losses.
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The Deshbhakt
· 2024-04-02
This video essay discusses political corruption allegations in India, focusing on how the BJP appears to avoid corruption charges while opposition parties face various scams and legal actions. The video then explains the 2G spectrum scam of 2008, where the Indian government allocated mobile spectrum to companies at artificially low prices through administrative allocation rather than auction, resulting in an estimated loss of 1.76 lakh crore to the national treasury—a controversy that contributed to the fall of the UPA government and led the Supreme Court to cancel 112 spectrum licenses in 2012.
**Note:** This is a political commentary/educational piece rather than a scam affecting individual elders, so it falls outside the typical scope of
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WAAY 31 News
· 2024-04-11
A 92-year-old Lauderdale County man lost approximately $4,000 to a driveway paving scam in which fraudsters promised work but never completed it. Care experts from the American Senior Assistance Program advise that elderly individuals are frequent scam targets due to their trusting nature, and recommend families maintain communication with seniors, watch for red flags like unexplained spending and wire transfers, verify businesses through the Better Business Bureau, and avoid paying upfront costs.
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WAAY 31 News
· 2024-04-11
A 92-year-old Lauderdale County man lost $3,600 in a home repair scam after a man named Jack Ivill Jr. promised to pave his driveway but never completed the work. Ivill was arrested and charged with financial exploitation of the elderly and home repair fraud. Senior assistance leaders advise never paying for work upfront and to verify credentials before hiring contractors.
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Eyewitness News WTVO WQRF (MyStateline)
· 2024-04-12
I cannot provide a summary of elder fraud, scams, or abuse from this text. The provided content is a weather forecast broadcast from WTVO news dated April 12th, 2024, which discusses temperatures, wind conditions, and weather predictions for the Rockford, Illinois area. It does not contain information relevant to the Elderus database's focus on elder fraud or abuse.
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CityNews
· 2024-04-18
A multi-million dollar "grandparent scam" targeting Canadian seniors has been shut down after defrauding over 100 grandparents of $2.2 million. Scammers impersonated police officers, judges, lawyers, and family members, calling seniors on landlines claiming a grandchild needed bail money, exploiting their desire to help family in distress. Fourteen suspects operating from the Montreal area have been arrested and charged in a joint investigation by Ontario and Quebec police.
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CTV News
· 2024-04-18
A Canadian crime syndicate was dismantled following a multi-province investigation, resulting in the arrest of 14 suspects in the Montreal area for conducting grandparent scams that defrauded seniors of at least $2.2 million. The organized criminals contacted seniors via landlines, impersonating police officers, judges, lawyers, and family members to convince victims that grandchildren needed emergency financial help, ultimately victimizing 126 people across Canada, including 15 who were scammed multiple times.
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WENY TV NEWS
· 2024-04-25
This is an educational interview featuring Sheila Brewer-Montero, a scams prevention coordinator from Lifespan of Greater Rochester, discussing fraud schemes targeting older adults. The conversation introduces the top scams affecting seniors in the Southern Tier area, with government impersonator scams (Social Security Administration and IRS) identified as a primary threat, though the full details of prevention strategies and other scam types are cut off in the provided transcript.
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WHNT News 19
· 2024-04-30
Online romance scammers target people on dating sites like Zoosk using emotional manipulation tactics such as claims of illness or financial hardship to extract money. Red flags include rapid relationship escalation, requests to move conversations off the dating platform to less traceable channels, and requests for payment via untraceable methods like gift cards or wire transfers. The Better Business Bureau advises caution, noting that one Madison County victim lost $105,000 to a romance scammer.
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ABC News
· 2024-05-01
The Department of Justice charged 16 suspects in a multinational "grandparent scam" operating between the Dominican Republic and the United States, in which scammers called senior citizens claiming a loved one needed thousands of dollars for emergency expenses like car accidents, then collected cash via couriers or mail. Senior citizens lost $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, up from $3.1 billion in 2022, with this particular scheme stealing millions of dollars and highlighting the FBI's warning about the explosion of fraud targeting elderly Americans.
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CBS Evening News
· 2024-05-01
The FBI reported that elder fraud complaints among Americans over 60 jumped 14% last year with total losses ballooning 11%, resulting in $3.4 billion stolen across more than 100,000 complaints filed to federal law enforcement. Scammers use tactics such as fake computer warning messages to trick victims into transferring thousands of dollars, with organized criminal networks operating from West Africa and Asia driving much of the fraud. AARP estimates the actual annual losses from elder fraud may exceed $28 billion, prompting a nationwide public awareness campaign to protect seniors.
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FOX NASHVILLE
· 2024-05-04
Romance scams are targeting hundreds of people in Middle Tennessee, with scammers building trust through daily messaging on platforms like LinkedIn before directing victims to invest money in fraudulent schemes involving gold trading, banking, finance, and cryptocurrency. Once victims send money to these scammers, recovery is nearly impossible. The schemes typically involve scammers posing as trustworthy individuals from overseas who gradually shift conversations from personal matters to investment opportunities.
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WLOS News 13
· 2024-05-04
According to an FBI report, elder fraud targeting people aged 60 and older increased by 14% in 2023, resulting in over $3 billion in losses with an average victim loss of $33,900. The five most common fraud types against seniors include personal data breaches, confidence and romance scams, non-payment or non-delivery scams, and investment scams, with non-payment scams being particularly prevalent in the Asheville area, where the police department received 48 elder abuse or fraud cases from Adult Protective Services in the year to date.
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wgaltv
· 2024-05-05
Tech support fraud is the most commonly reported scam targeting older Americans, where scammers impersonate tech support to gain access to sensitive information, though investment scams result in the greatest financial losses (over $50 million reported annually). In Pennsylvania specifically, common scams include tech support fraud, personal data breaches, and delivery scams. To protect yourself, avoid unsolicited contacts, never download attachments from unknown sources, refuse to share personal information or money with unverified people, and resist pressure to act quickly, as scammers use urgency to manipulate victims.
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CBS Miami
· 2024-05-05
Florida ranks second-highest in the nation for elderly fraud, with adults over 60 reporting nearly $3.5 billion in losses nationally and approximately $300 million in Florida losses, according to FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data. Tech support scams led fraud cases in 2023, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence to disguise their identities. Law enforcement advises seniors not to answer calls from unknown numbers and to be aware that legitimate authorities will not call ahead to warn of warrants or missed jury duty.
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10 Tampa Bay News
· 2024-05-06
According to an FBI report, Florida seniors over age 60 lost more than $290 million to fraud in 2023, ranking the state second worst in the nation, with scams targeting this age group increasing 11% from 2022 and averaging nearly $34,000 per victim. The most common fraud schemes include investment scams, fake tech support, online romance scams, and law enforcement impersonation schemes, with many cases going unreported due to victim shame.
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NBC4 Columbus
· 2024-05-07
According to the FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Annual Report, seniors over 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud and scams in that year, a nearly 11% increase from the previous year, with Ohio seniors alone reporting over $64 million in losses across nearly 3,300 cases. Tech support fraud emerged as the leading scam targeting older Americans, exploiting their increasing use of technology and computers.
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KETV NewsWatch 7
· 2024-05-09
A middle school student named Parker Cusimano created an informational flyer about elder scams based on a school essay, which he initially distributed to five senior living homes in the Omaha metro area in late March. The Better Business Bureau was impressed with his work and partnered with him to expand the effort, planning to distribute his flyer to every senior living home throughout Nebraska to help protect seniors from fraud.
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WETM 18 News
· 2024-05-10
This educational piece highlights that scams disproportionately target older Americans and provides key protective strategies. Authorities recommend not sending money to anyone without verification, avoiding urgency-based pressure tactics, and hanging up on suspicious callers, while local law enforcement and aging departments use social media to alert the community about prevalent scams.
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CBS 17
· 2024-05-11
An FBI report revealed that elder fraud complaints increased 14% and financial losses to seniors rose 11% in the previous year, with people over 60 disproportionately targeted by scammers. In response, Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Garner hosted a community shredding day to help seniors safely dispose of documents containing personal information that could be used for identity theft and fraud.
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FOX NASHVILLE
· 2024-05-11
In Tennessee, 1,577 seniors over age 60 lost a combined $43 million to fraud in one year, according to the FBI. A retired insurance salesman fell victim to a sophisticated impersonation scam where fraudsters posing as Amazon and Social Security Administration officials convinced him his identity had been compromised and involved in money laundering. Remarkably, this victim recovered his stolen money—an extremely rare outcome in elder fraud cases.
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FOX 13 Tampa Bay
· 2024-05-15
An 80-year-old veteran in Braton lost $1.5 million in a multi-state scam involving impersonators posing as federal agents who claimed to need his help with a Social Security fraud sting operation. Over the course of a month, the scammers convinced him to transfer his retirement funds into gold bars and conduct organized drop-offs at multiple locations, ultimately leading to the arrest of one woman allegedly connected to the operation. Police report this is a trending scheme affecting multiple states and have launched a new unit to combat elder fraud.
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wgaltv
· 2024-05-15
FBI reports on elder fraud increased 14% last year with actual losses rising 11% to $3.4 billion, with tech support scams being the number one threat targeting seniors. In this scheme, scammers send fake emails claiming computer protection charges (such as $549) and gain remote access to victims' computers and bank accounts when they call seeking refunds. Key protective measures include resisting pressure to act quickly, avoiding unsolicited communications and requests for gift cards or wire information, not opening unknown email attachments, and having open conversations with elderly family members about their online and phone interactions.
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News 4 (WOAI) San Antonio
· 2024-05-18
The FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report reveals that Texas has the third-highest rate of elder fraud in the nation, with over 7,000 complaints from seniors age 60+ resulting in nearly $300 million in losses. One elderly couple lost approximately $170,000-$200,000 to a computer popup scam, and local authorities report that in the prior year nearly 300 elderly residents in Bexar County fell victim to various scams including identity theft, wire fraud, and forgery, with 91 additional cases reported in the current year.
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WTHR
· 2024-05-24
American Senior Communities partnered with U.S. Attorney Zachary Meers to educate seniors about elder fraud, defined as any deceptive act targeting older adults. Common scams exploit emotions by falsely claiming loved ones need bail money, posing as romantic interests, offering fake investment opportunities, or claiming the victim has won money. The organization hosts educational events to help residents and families identify and protect themselves against these schemes.
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FOX59 News
· 2024-05-24
Elder fraud scams targeting seniors in Indiana have increased in sophistication, with over 1,100 victims age 60 and older reporting approximately $26 million in losses last year. Scammers are leveraging evolving technology—including AI-generated voices and deepfakes—alongside traditional techniques to make frauds more convincing, with common red flags including artificial urgency and unsolicited requests for personal information like Social Security numbers or bank account details. The FBI Indianapolis and Citizens Academy Alumni Association are hosting a free workshop on June 10th at Westfield High School to educate the public on recognizing and preventing these scams.
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First Alert 6
· 2024-05-24
A Nebraska eighth grader partnered with the Better Business Bureau to raise awareness about senior scams after his grandmother fell victim to fraud. The student wrote an essay on the topic and created prevention flyers, which he distributed to local senior centers, inspiring a collaboration aimed at preventing others from experiencing similar scams.
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News 5 WCYB
· 2024-05-27
According to the FBI, financial scams targeting senior citizens are rising, with 80,000 seniors losing $3.1 billion in 2022. The Smyth County Chamber of Commerce hosted an educational event where Virginia's Attorney General and local law enforcement warned seniors about common scams (phone, computer, and mail-based) and emphasized the importance of never sharing personal or financial information unsolicited, as legitimate institutions like banks and the Social Security Administration will never request such details over the phone.
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WTHR
· 2024-05-29
A free elder fraud workshop is being held Monday, June 10th in Westfield, sponsored by the FBI Indianapolis Citizens Academy alumni association, with registration closing Friday. The workshop will educate seniors on evolving scams, with a particular focus on how artificial intelligence can be used against older adults, given that scams targeting people 60 and older caused over $3.4 billion in losses last year alone.
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WFMY News 2
· 2024-06-05
This is an educational segment featuring AARP representatives discussing elder fraud and abuse prevention, with a focus on the Piedmont Triad Area Agency on Aging's Elder Abuse Awareness Day event scheduled for June 15th at Triad Park. The free event will include document shredding, medication disposal, and informational vendors to help seniors and families protect themselves against financial elder abuse and fraudulent activities.
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KTSM 9 NEWS
· 2024-06-16
The FBI reports a significant surge in elder fraud cases, with older Americans losing over $1.6 billion to financial scams from January to May 2024—a nearly $300 million increase compared to the same period in 2023. The most common schemes targeting seniors include tech support scams, romance/confidence schemes, investment fraud, and government impersonation scams, with Texas alone reporting $278 million in losses and the nation totaling $3.4 billion in 2023.
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KTSM 9 NEWS
· 2024-06-17
The FBI El Paso office reports a double-digit increase in elder fraud cases, with the most common schemes involving tech support scams, romantic/confidence scams, investment fraud, and government impersonation. The agency recommends elders verify unknown contacts through independent online research, be wary of unsolicited phone calls and mailings, and never share personally identifiable information.
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WTRF
· 2024-06-17
Elder fraud is rising, with elderly victims increasingly targeted through phone, email, and romance scams in which scammers pose as romantic partners to convince victims to send money for purported investments. US Attorney William Enfeld notes that victims often resist intervention even from bank officials and law enforcement, as they believe the relationships are genuine and are emotionally invested. Early reporting to the US Attorney's office is critical, especially for victims experiencing cognitive decline, to prevent complete depletion of savings.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2024-06-20
This educational piece from the Better Business Bureau provides prevention strategies for older adults and caregivers to protect against scams. Key recommendations include verifying requests with trusted contacts before sharing personal information, never voluntarily providing Social Security or Medicare numbers to unsolicited callers, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and being cautious of urgent language designed to pressure quick decisions. Caregivers should watch for warning signs such as increased junk mail, secretive behavior, unexpected account charges, or sudden financial difficulties, while also helping reduce solicitations by registering on do-not-call and do-not-mail registries and screening incoming calls.
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CBS 8 San Diego
· 2024-06-21
The U.S. Attorney's Office in San Diego and the FBI recovered $3.3 million for elderly fraud victims through a coordinated task force that began in January, freezing accounts and seizing transferred funds before criminals could access them. U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath emphasized that victims who report fraud within 12 hours have the best chance of fund recovery, while noting that San Diego County alone loses between $3-6 million monthly to elder fraud, with California statewide experiencing $2.1 billion in losses last year.
Cryptocurrency
Gift Cards
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KMOV St. Louis
· 2024-06-24
This appears to be a casual podcast or talk show transcript rather than a formal news article. The content discusses a survey of 2,000 Americans showing that 55% of people feel older than their actual age, primarily due to joint pain, fatigue, and reduced activity levels, with Generation X and older generations reporting the most significant misalignment between their perceived and actual age. The transcript does not contain information about elder fraud and appears to be incomplete or poorly transcribed.
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NBC4 Columbus
· 2024-06-25
According to the FBI's 2023 Internet Crime Complaint Center report, seniors over 60 reported approximately $3.4 billion in losses to fraud and scams in the past year. Common scams targeting older adults include tech support fraud, investment scams, and grandparent scams, which continue to exploit the nation's senior population. The article highlights the ongoing problem of elder financial exploitation and emphasizes the need for awareness and prevention strategies to help protect vulnerable seniors from becoming victims.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2024-06-28
Gino Reaves was convicted of defrauding an elderly woman of over $1 million for a home remodel that was never properly completed, exploiting her loneliness and medication-induced confusion to manipulate her into the scheme. Evidence revealed minimal work was done despite the massive payment, and the victim eventually lost control of her assets after being moved to a nursing home, where a public administrator discovered the fraud. The judge sentenced Reaves, calling his actions "evil, callous and egregious," while prosecutors work to recover the stolen funds.
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WCBD NEWS 2
· 2024-07-09
The City of Charleston is hosting educational workshops to protect seniors from phone and online scams, which generate $36 billion annually in the United States with older adults as primary targets. The initiative focuses on teaching seniors to recognize common scams—such as lottery/prize winnings requiring upfront payments—and know what steps to take if targeted, as demonstrated by one senior who avoided losing money to a fake lottery scheme promising half a million dollars.
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WCBD NEWS 2
· 2024-07-09
The City of Charleston is working to protect senior citizens from phone and online scams through educational workshops that teach seniors to recognize common fraud tactics and warning signs. Scams targeting elderly people cost the United States $36 billion annually, with seniors being particularly vulnerable due to their trusting nature; the city's initiative focuses on raising awareness about scam types and advising victims on appropriate responses.
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FOX23 News Tulsa
· 2024-07-10
A scam targeting seniors uses fake romantic relationships to manipulate victims into making fraudulent investments. According to cybersecurity experts, crimes against seniors increased 11% in the past year, resulting in $3.4 billion in losses, with victims averaging $34,000 lost each; scammers pose as wealthy individuals on dating sites, build trust over time, and eventually pressure victims to invest in fake schemes.
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NBC 7 San Diego
· 2024-07-11
San Diego seniors lost approximately $100 million to scams in the past year, with the District Attorney's office tracking nearly $98 million in elder-related fraud across the county—a figure that excludes unreported cases. Common scams target seniors' lifetime savings through tactics like fake tech support pop-ups on computers, and scammers exploit seniors' vulnerability and lack of technical knowledge. The San Diego County Elder Task Force reports a 70% increase in elder fraud cases and emphasizes that these scams devastate victims' ability to pay basic living expenses like rent, mortgage, and food.
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FOX 26 Houston
· 2024-07-15
Following Hurricane Beryl's power outages in the Pasadena area, scammers targeted senior citizens by advertising fake hotel room bookings through fraudulent websites impersonating legitimate booking platforms like Booking.com. Affected seniors reported being quoted low rates (such as $27 for two nights) with incorrect hotel phone numbers, leaving them without actual accommodations during the disaster when they were seeking shelter from the heat and power loss.
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KRQE
· 2024-07-17
This New Mexico news podcast episode features an educational discussion on avoiding financial scams, hosted by Gabrielle Burkhart with guest Brian Watson, a former federal law enforcement officer who spent 28 years investigating financial crimes, including work as an IRS criminal investigator. The segment addresses how scams—particularly phishing and online fraud—affect people across demographics, including older adults, and aims to help listeners and their families recognize red flags and protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams.
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KOAA 5
· 2024-07-18
Seniors are increasingly vulnerable to scams delivered through suspicious texts and calls, with police noting that the high volume of daily attempts contributes to successful fraud. Some seniors have lost their entire savings to scams impersonating Microsoft, banks, law enforcement, and retailers like Amazon, with loneliness and a generational tendency to trust authority figures making older adults particularly susceptible to manipulation.
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WFXR NEWS
· 2024-07-18
In May 2023, a 72-year-old Lynchburg, Virginia woman named Marsha Burks had over $8,000 stolen from her credit card by her in-home caregiver. The incident highlights a broader problem: Virginia reported over 2,000 complaints of elder financial fraud in 2023 with victims losing over $90 million. The case prompted the family to advocate for "Larry's Law," which took effect in the state to prevent elder financial abuse by allowing financial institutions to contact emergency contacts when fraudulent charges are suspected.
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Central Florida Public Media
· 2024-07-19
Volusia County Sheriff's Office partnered with a free community screening of the film "Thelma"—which depicts a 93-year-old grandmother being scammed—to raise awareness about elder fraud, which costs older Americans billions of dollars annually and significantly affects Central Florida seniors. Law enforcement officers provided prevention advice to attendees, emphasizing strategies such as not answering unknown phone numbers, ignoring unfamiliar text messages, and contacting police or trusted neighbors when uncertain.
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WGN News
· 2024-07-31
A Chicago widow lost over $100,000 in an online romance scam after meeting a man named "Gregory" on a dating site who gradually requested increasing amounts of money under various pretexts, eventually stopping contact once she ceased sending funds. The victim, living on a fixed income, cashed out an annuity to meet his escalating demands despite growing suspicions, driven by fear of losing the promised relationship and money. The case highlights how romance scams—which reported nearly 1.3 billion in losses nationally in 2022—use emotional manipulation and increasingly sophisticated AI-altered photos and videos to deceive victims, with arrests remaining rare and funds rarely recovered.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2024-07-31
Strongville United Methodist Church in Ohio became a target of phishing scams when cybercriminals impersonated Reverend Abby Almond in emails sent to congregation members, requesting money and gift cards. Phishing scams have nearly doubled to over 9,000 reports annually in the Better Business Bureau's Northeast Ohio region, ranking as the second-most common scam type locally.
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WHNT News 19
· 2024-08-02
The Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments is hosting a Senior Fraud and Scam Summit on Thursday, August 8th at the Bob Harrison Wellness Center in Huntsville to educate seniors about common scams and fraud prevention strategies. The event features speakers from the Alabama Securities Commission, Huntsville Police Department, the Better Business Bureau, and a local attorney, with limited seating for 150 participants available by calling 256-830-0818. This educational initiative addresses the rising prevalence of identity theft and scams targeting seniors in the Tennessee Valley region.
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Lawfare
· 2024-08-07
This is a podcast introduction featuring Arun Rao, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ's Consumer Protection Branch, discussing the growing sophistication of fraud schemes targeting consumers and elders. Rao explains how technological advances such as robocalls, text, email, and social media have enabled fraudsters to refine their tactics and target victims with greater precision. The discussion covers the DOJ's consumer protection work, cybercrime, elder fraud, and data privacy issues.
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WENY TV NEWS
· 2024-08-07
This educational episode of The Senior Notebook Show features Stacy Pierce, a member service specialist with Corning Credit Union, discussing fraud prevention for seniors. Pierce identifies seniors over 60 as primary fraud targets because they are more likely to be home, answer phone calls, and open mail, and emphasizes that fraud affects people of all races and backgrounds without discrimination. The discussion provides awareness about who is vulnerable to scams and encourages seniors to be informed about fraud risks.
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WNEM TV5
· 2024-08-08
A Senior Fraud Alert Protection Workshop was held at the Community Action Center where dozens of seniors received educational training from Huntington Bank on recognizing and avoiding scams, along with guidance from the CAC on saving money on Medicare. The event, supported by the Sagen Housing Commission's Family Self-Sufficiency department, aimed to help seniors protect their finances and understand available resources to prevent scammers from exploiting their hard-earned money.
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WHNT News 19
· 2024-08-08
Elder fraud reports to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center rose 14% in 2023, with the trend continuing upward. The Alabama Securities Commission held a fraud and scam summit to educate community members about common scams targeting seniors in the state, including utility scams offering discounts before requesting financial information and phone scams that have compromised bank accounts at alarming rates. Experts and law enforcement emphasized the importance of seniors sharing their experiences to help prevent others from becoming victims.
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WHNT News 19
· 2024-08-08
The Alabama Securities Commission held a Fraud and Scam Summit in Huntsville to educate seniors about common scams targeting older adults, with elder fraud reports rising 14% in 2023. A local woman, Theresa Hazard, shared her experience of losing $700 after clicking on a fraudulent Netflix phishing email and providing her credit card information, though her bank recovered the funds. The summit covered topics including cybersecurity, consumer fraud definitions, and legal implications, emphasizing the importance of seniors reporting scams to law enforcement to help authorities track perpetrators.
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FOX54 News Huntsville
· 2024-08-09
Elderly individuals remain primary targets for scams delivered through digital means including emails, text messages, phone calls, and computer popups. Law enforcement officials recommend avoiding clicking suspicious links, refusing to share personal information over the phone, and reporting incidents to police without embarrassment or delay.
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FOX54 News Huntsville
· 2024-08-10
This educational piece advises seniors on protecting themselves from scams through awareness and caution. Key recommendations include: never share personal information (Social Security numbers, Medicare details, bank information) over the phone or via unsolicited contact; avoid clicking links in suspicious text messages; and recognize that offers that sound too good to be true usually are. The resource notes that seniors are frequently targeted through digital means like phone calls, emails, texts, and pop-ups, and encourages people to contact local authorities or organizations like TAROG for guidance on unfamiliar scams.
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ABC 7 News - WJLA
· 2024-08-12
Maryland authorities arrested five people for operating a gold bar scam that targeted elderly residents in Montgomery County, with at least 20 victims losing millions of dollars combined. Notable victims include an 81-year-old woman who lost over $900,000 and a 74-year-old man who lost $240,000, with some victims now at risk of losing their homes. Law enforcement believes this organized criminal enterprise has affected many more cases beyond those identified so far.
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News 4 Tucson KVOA-TV
· 2024-08-20
Arizona Attorney General Chris Mayes issued a warning to senior citizens about cryptocurrency scams that commonly target vulnerable populations through social media, dating apps, and fake investment advisor schemes promising unrealistic returns. Scammers typically pose as trusted contacts or investment professionals and pressure victims to send Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency as payment. The Attorney General advises seniors to verify claims with independent sources, avoid using scammer-provided contact information, and report suspicious activity, noting that legitimate businesses never demand cryptocurrency-only payments.
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FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation
· 2024-08-20
Connecticut residents lost over $1 billion to online scams in 2023, affecting victims across all age groups and professions. Common scam tactics include unexpected contact that builds rapport, followed by requests for personal information or money accompanied by urgency, secrecy demands, or threats. Law enforcement advises protecting personal information and money by recognizing these warning signs and consulting IC3.gov for protection resources.
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FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
· 2024-08-20
**Summary:**
This is an educational piece from IRS Commissioner Danny Worel explaining how to recognize tax scams that operate year-round, not just during filing season. The IRS warns that scammers impersonating the agency typically demand immediate payment via phone calls, texts, or emails and threaten legal action or deportation—tactics the real IRS never uses, which instead communicates through official letters to homes or businesses.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2024-08-22
Bait-and-switch scams on social media exploit emotional posts about missing children or lost pets by using localized Facebook groups with minimal oversight. Scammers edit these posts to redirect users to sales listings, rental scams, job opportunities, or donation requests, then manipulate victims' social networks when they share the content. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to watch for red flags including urgent emotional language, disabled comments, missing contact information, and newly created profiles, and to report suspected scams to both the BBB Scam Tracker and Facebook directly.
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ABC7 News Bay Area
· 2024-08-24
The FBI launched a "Take a Beat" awareness campaign to educate the public about common fraud and scam tactics that exploit people's emotions through urgent phone calls, texts, and emails requesting money or passwords. The campaign highlights scams such as impersonation of bank fraud departments, with one victim losing $950 after a caller claiming to be from her bank convinced her to transfer funds and disclose banking information.
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Eyewitness News WEHT WTVW
· 2024-08-26
Crimes against senior citizens totaled over $3.4 billion in the past year, with family scams and identity theft being among the most common schemes. Family scams exploit seniors' emotions by impersonating relatives and requesting urgent money for car repairs, rent, tuition, or bail, while fishing scams use deceptive emails posing as legitimate vendors to steal personal information.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2024-08-29
The FBI warns that scammers are targeting older adults by posing as police, the FTC, or bank representatives and convincing them to cash out retirement accounts like 401(k)s and convert the funds into gold or bitcoin. From May to December 2023, this scheme resulted in over $55 million in losses, with scammers either claiming to hold the gold for safekeeping or pressuring victims to convert it into cryptocurrency. Authorities advise verifying any urgent financial requests by independently contacting your bank and discussing suspicious calls with trusted family members.
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WGN News
· 2024-08-31
Federal Trade Commission data shows American consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with digital platforms making it easier for scammers to target victims. Common scams include romance/relationship scams on Facebook where perpetrators build trust before requesting money, "pig butchering" investment schemes promising fake returns, and grandparent scams, with reported losses ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Protection strategies include verifying urgent requests by hanging up and calling back the person directly, avoiding quick money transfers, researching websites and investment opportunities, and reporting scams to law enforcement and platforms to help track and recover stolen funds.
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WFMJ
· 2024-09-03
U.S. seniors lost over $3 billion to scammers in the past year. Common scams targeting elderly individuals include relationship scams where fraudsters impersonate family members (grandchildren, nieces, nephews) claiming urgent financial needs such as bail, rent, or tuition, often using personal information gathered from social media to appear credible. Experts recommend awareness and education to help protect seniors from these emotionally manipulative schemes.
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FOX8 WGHP
· 2024-09-03
An elderly woman in Asheboro was defrauded of $25,000 after scammers used fear tactics and impersonation of law enforcement to manipulate her into withdrawing cash and purchasing gift cards. The suspect met the victim at a gas station to collect a large cash withdrawal before fleeing in a white van, and Detective Marcus Pierce is actively investigating the case while advocating for awareness of common red flags like requests for gift card payments.
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WMTW-TV
· 2024-09-05
The Maine RX Elder Fraud Program, a partnership between Hannaford pharmacies, the U.S. Attorney's Office, AARP, and the Maine Council for Elder Abuse, launched an educational initiative distributing informational brochures about elder fraud prevention in prescription bags starting this month. The effort aims to reach older Mainers with awareness about common scams and 10 protective strategies, following data showing that in the prior year, 397 Maine residents aged 60+ filed fraud complaints for losses totaling over $7.1 million, part of a national trend affecting more than 101,000 seniors defrauded of $3.4 billion.
Cryptocurrency
Money Order / Western Union
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NEWS CENTER Maine
· 2024-09-05
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Maine announced the Maine RX Elder Fraud Program, an initiative to combat elder fraud by distributing informational brochures at 60 Hanford pharmacy locations across the state. The brochures, attached to prescription drug bags, educate seniors on recognizing common scams and reporting fraud, with the program beginning this month. According to the FBI, Maine residents filed 397 elder fraud complaints in the previous year, resulting in losses exceeding $7.1 million.
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NEWS CENTER Maine
· 2024-09-05
The US Attorney's office in Maine launched a new initiative to combat elder fraud, following FBI reports that 397 Maine residents aged 60 or older filed complaints reporting losses exceeding $7 million, with experts noting the actual number of victims is likely much higher due to underreporting. The program distributes informational brochures through pharmacy prescription bags statewide to educate older adults about common scam warning signs and how to report elder fraud, recognizing that sophisticated criminal networks conduct ongoing attacks against vulnerable populations.
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WHO13
· 2024-09-08
Congressman Zach Nunn introduced legislation to combat "pig butchering" scams, which target elderly victims into investing in fraudulent opportunities; authorities seized $300 million in stolen funds from these schemes in 2023 alone. The bill would provide federal grant funding to local and state law enforcement agencies to investigate these fraud cases. Iowa's Attorney General's office reported receiving over 13,000 fraud complaints related to these scams.
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WYFF News 4
· 2024-09-09
Bill Vickery, owner of Just Call, provides elder fraud prevention advice, emphasizing that most scams begin with phone calls, texts, or emails targeting seniors unfamiliar with modern technology. Key prevention strategies include not answering calls from unknown numbers, hanging up immediately if feeling suspicious, avoiding saying "yes" (which scammers may record and manipulate), and never verifying personal information over the phone with unknown callers. Vickery advocates for a proactive, educational approach to help seniors and their families recognize and avoid scams before they occur.
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WYFF News 4
· 2024-09-09
This segment from WYFF News Four's "For the Record" series features Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride discussing the growing scam problem affecting community members of all ages, though elderly victims are particularly targeted. The sheriff highlights multiple prevalent scam types including Facebook Marketplace deposit schemes (where sellers request $250-$1,000 deposits for vehicles that don't exist), fake jury duty calls falsely claiming to be from law enforcement demanding payment or gift cards, and other phone and internet-based fraud tactics that exploit personal information obtained from legitimate people-search websites.
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13News Now
· 2024-09-11
Elder fraud complaints increased 14% in 2023, with Americans losing $1.6 billion to scams nationally and Virginia residents losing $265 million, according to FBI data. Virginia reported approximately 2,700 elder fraud complaints in 2023, with investment scams being the most common type targeting seniors with regular income by exploiting their loneliness or desire to earn additional money. The FBI emphasizes that scammers are skilled manipulators who deliberately identify and exploit vulnerable elderly individuals.
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Which?
· 2024-09-15
I cannot provide an accurate summary of this article. The text appears to be a garbled or poorly OCR-scanned transcript of a consumer advice program introduction that repeatedly duplicates phrases and lacks coherent content about specific scams or fraud prevention tips. While it mentions that scams are becoming more sophisticated and references a discussion about ticket scams, the actual substantive advice or details about scams are not clearly present in the provided text. A proper summary would require a clearer, complete version of the source material.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-09-17
Senator Katie Britt discusses the surge of financial scams targeting seniors, noting that nationwide elder fraud losses exceeded $1 billion last year, with Alabama experiencing $74 million in losses (up from $55 million the previous year). She highlights that elder fraud cases in Alabama have increased dramatically, from 23 cases in 2016 to over 250 cases in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, and emphasizes the need for better education about common scams including romance schemes, sweepstakes scams, and impersonation fraud.
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WTAJ News
· 2024-09-17
Representative Mike Armanini is hosting two Senior Scam Jam educational events for older adults—one at Parkside Community Center in Dubois and another at Ridgeway Senior Junction in Elk County, both from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The seminars will teach older Pennsylvanians and their families how to protect themselves from scams and how to report suspected fraud cases.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-09-18
The House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on romance confidence scams (also called "pig butchering"), examining this multi-billion dollar fraud scheme that targets everyday Americans. The scam operates by building trust with victims over weeks or months before exploiting that confidence to extract money, with text-based contact attempts increasing dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic.
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WJZ
· 2024-09-18
Baltimore's State's Attorney's Office launched a dedicated Elder and Disabled Persons Unit in September to prosecute financial crimes targeting vulnerable adults, fulfilling a campaign promise by State's Attorney Ivan Bates. The office has begun holding offenders accountable, including prosecuting a former contractor accused of taking tens of thousands of dollars from 15 victims for incomplete home improvement projects, with officials noting that such crimes often involve perpetrators known to the victims and are discovered when bank accounts become depleted.
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WMAR-2 News
· 2024-09-18
Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates restored an economic crimes unit focused on prosecuting financial predators targeting seniors and older adults. The unit investigates cases including a granddaughter who allegedly stole $48,000 from her 90-something-year-old grandmother through forged checks and unauthorized ATM withdrawals, and a home improvement contractor who defrauded 15 elderly victims of approximately $300,000 and received a three-year prison sentence.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-09-19
Senator Bob Casey led a Senate Aging Committee hearing on fraud targeting older Americans, during which the committee released its annual "Fighting Fraud" resource book. The hearing addressed multiple scam types affecting seniors including grandparent scams, investment fraud, government impostor schemes, lottery scams, and tech support scams, while noting that scammers have become increasingly sophisticated in their tactics over recent years. The committee discussed both fraud prevention strategies and how federal law enforcement agencies respond to fraud reports.
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KXAN
· 2024-09-20
An elderly Austin woman lost thousands of dollars in a warrant scam when a caller impersonating a sheriff's department official claimed she had missed jury duty and faced arrest, instructing her to withdraw cash and convert it to Bitcoin at an ATM. The FBI reports that Texans over age 60 collectively lost billions of dollars to elder fraud schemes last year, with scammers continuing to demand additional payments after initial contact.
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KGUN9
· 2024-09-20
Scammers stole over $100 million from older Americans last year, with Arizona ranking sixth nationally for elder fraud according to the FBI. A 77-year-old Arizona woman hired a landscaper who worked one day, then disappeared after she gave him a check and gift card—he never completed the job and she had to stop payment at her bank. Experts note that older adults are vulnerable because they tend to trust people who make promises, and it's difficult to change that mindset, making them targets for financial scams involving home services and other schemes.
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CBS 8 San Diego
· 2024-09-20
A Harris poll report reveals that Hispanic Americans are being disproportionately targeted by phone scams and are twice as likely to fall victim compared to other populations, contributing to the $25 billion in annual losses Americans collectively suffer from communications fraud and robocalls. The report highlights this emerging trend alongside the continued vulnerability of seniors, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and protective measures across vulnerable communities.
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WTRF
· 2024-09-24
Senior Services of Belmont County created "Fraud Bingo" as an innovative educational program to raise awareness about common scams targeting seniors, after residents in the area lost significant amounts of money, property, and in one case, a home to fraud. The program used bingo cards featuring different fraud and scam scenarios to engage hundreds of attendees in a format more appealing than traditional lectures. Local vendors donated prizes and participated in the event to increase both awareness and attendance.
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ABC7 News Bay Area
· 2024-09-25
Police report that business email compromise scams are stealing tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims, including a San Jose case where a suspect posed as a business employee to reroute a $500,000 wire transfer to a personal account. Pennsylvania resident Ala Torres was identified as the primary suspect in that case, with most funds recovered and an arrest warrant issued as police investigate other victims. Law enforcement advises that this growing fraud scheme operates both locally and nationally with multiple perpetrators, many of them international.
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CBS News
· 2024-09-27
Young men operating out of underground "boiler rooms" in Accra, Ghana run sophisticated romance scams targeting elderly Americans through online dating sites, creating fake identities to build romantic relationships and extract victims' life savings. Led by syndicate bosses like "Voodoo," these criminal operators use tactics including hiring porn stars for video calls to maintain deceptions with victims. The scams break hearts and empty bank accounts of American seniors who believe they are in genuine romantic relationships.
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CBS Mornings
· 2024-09-27
A CBS News investigation spanning three continents uncovered internet romance scams originating in Ghana, where criminal syndicates operating from underground "boiler rooms" in Accra target elderly Americans by creating fake romantic profiles and manipulating victims into sending money. The investigation tracked criminal operations run by syndicate bosses who train young men to pose as romantic interests online, stealing victims' life savings through sophisticated schemes that exploit emotional connections.
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CBS Evening News
· 2024-09-27
A U.S. man lost $700,000 in an elaborate romance scam orchestrated by criminal syndicates operating from underground "boiler rooms" in Ghana. The scammers pose as romantic partners to gain the trust of elderly Americans and convince them to send money, devastating victims both emotionally and financially. The investigation revealed that unemployed youth in Ghana are recruited into these operations, viewing the scams as an alternative to other forms of theft or crime.
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WPRI
· 2024-09-30
Two men face federal charges for defrauding Rhode Island seniors through online popup ad schemes. Jeru Louu, 22, is charged with scamming a 79-year-old Narragansett man out of $35,000 in cash and $130,000 in gold bars, while Kush Patel, 22, defrauded a 72-year-old victim; both face multiple charges including wire fraud.
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CBS News
· 2024-10-04
Overseas scammers defrauded a 92-year-old woman in Los Angeles of her life savings by impersonating IT experts and government officials, convincing her that her computer had been hacked and pressuring her to withdraw funds to purchase gold as a "safer investment." The scammers instructed the victim to keep the scheme secret, and despite her daughter's attempts to alert her bank (Charles Schwab) to the suspicious large transactions and wire transfers, the funds were lost. This case exemplifies a widespread epidemic affecting tens of thousands of Americans who fall victim to similar overseas fraud schemes operating through impersonation and deception tactics.
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CFPBLive
· 2024-10-09
This is an introductory webinar hosted by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau on payments industry practices for combating elder financial exploitation. The session provides participants with access to slides, resources, and a discussion platform to explore strategies and tools for preventing elder financial abuse within the payments sector.
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CBS Evening News
· 2024-10-11
A 92-year-old woman in Los Angeles lost her life savings to overseas scammers who impersonated IT experts and government officials, convincing her that her computer had been hacked and pressuring her to withdraw funds to purchase gold as a "safer investment." The scam involved large wire transfers from her Charles Schwab investment account, and the perpetrators instructed her to keep the scheme secret from her family. This case exemplifies a broader epidemic of multi-million-dollar fraud targeting Americans by overseas criminals operating tech support and investment scams.
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CTV News
· 2024-10-11
A Newfoundland senior lost $20,000 in gift cards to a romance scam after a man contacted her on Facebook, claimed to be a widow her age, expressed his love, and gradually requested money. The victim was particularly vulnerable as a recent widow undergoing cancer treatment. Romance scams remain among Canada's top three frauds, with Canadians losing over $52 million annually, often targeting lonely individuals through social media.
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WPRI
· 2024-10-10
According to the FBI, scammers stole more than $3.4 billion from over 100,000 seniors in 2023, with Rhode Islanders age 60+ losing $7.4 million. Common tactics include creating a sense of panic or urgency, impersonating government agencies like the IRS, and using AI technology to clone the voices of loved ones. State leaders emphasize that public education and awareness are key prevention strategies, advising seniors to verify unexpected calls independently rather than responding to urgent requests.
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WKRN News 2
· 2024-10-17
Senior fraud represents a $3 billion problem, with scammers primarily targeting individuals aged 55-64 through contractor scams, Medicare fraud, Bitcoin investment schemes, romance scams, phone fraud, and phishing attacks. Phishing scams work by casting a wide net through texts, emails, and social media to trick victims into clicking malicious links or participating in fake surveys and contests that download malware and compromise personal information.
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NOLA.com
· 2024-10-17
AARP Louisiana hosted an educational presentation titled "Unmasking Fraud" featuring nationally recognized fraud expert and former prosecutor Paul Greenwood to address senior fraud targeting older adults in Louisiana. The event emphasized that fraud against seniors impacts not only financial security but also causes lasting emotional and psychological harm, and provided practical strategies for protection. AARP directs people to its Fraud Watch Network resource for current scam information and personal data protection guidance.
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NOLA.com
· 2024-10-17
AARP Louisiana hosted a fraud awareness townhall event featuring nationally recognized fraud expert and former prosecutor Paul Greenwood to educate seniors about scams targeting older adults. The event aimed to provide practical protection strategies and highlight how fraud impacts seniors beyond financial loss, including emotional and trust-related consequences. AARP encourages seniors to utilize resources like their FraudWatch Network to stay informed about emerging scams and safeguard personal information.
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wgaltv
· 2024-10-22
An FTC report on elder fraud reveals that while older adults reported losing $1.9 billion to fraud in 2023, the actual total may be as high as $61.5 billion due to significant underreporting—primarily because seniors fear embarrassment, family judgment, and loss of independence. Seniors who do report fraud lose an average of $918 per case compared to $432 for younger victims, with the most common scams being tech support fraud, lottery/sweepstakes schemes, and romance scams, typically executed through bitcoin or gift card payments.
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Click On Detroit | Local 4 | WDIV
· 2024-10-31
**Summary:**
Three men operating a home repair scam targeted seniors in the Taylor, Michigan area, specifically around Mason and Bailey streets, by posing as workers and entering homes without permission to solicit repair services. When an 81-year-old homeowner discovered one of the men inside his home offering driveway crack-sealing services, he confronted the intruder, leading to a physical altercation in which the homeowner was thrown to the ground. Police are seeking the three suspects who drive a dark blue Chevy Equinox.
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Brut India
· 2024-11-05
Seven Indian men were lured to Cambodia under the pretense of IT jobs in Thailand, paying 540 dollars (approximately 45,000 rupees) to a fraudulent employment agency that promised monthly salaries of 1 lakh rupees. Upon arrival, they discovered the operation was a cyber-scam center in Poipet, Cambodia, where they were forced to participate in extortion and online banking fraud targeting elderly Indian citizens by impersonating SBI bank employees to steal money. The Indian Embassy in Cambodia rescued the men, and authorities identified a network of fraudsters operating across Southeast Asian countries orchestrating similar schemes.
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WIRED
· 2024-11-05
This WIRED article features "Scammer Payback," a YouTube scam-baiting channel, answering audience questions about common fraud tactics and red flags. The content identifies three major warning signs of scams: scammers pressuring victims to make quick decisions (especially involving gift cards or Cash App transfers), requests for remote access to computers or phones, and demands for untraceable payment methods like Bitcoin or wire transfers. The educational piece emphasizes that time pressure is a deliberate tactic scammers use to prevent victims from consulting family members or others who might intervene.
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KGUN9
· 2024-11-08
Elderly fraud cases in Arizona increased 36% from 2022 to 2023, prompting the Pima County Sheriff's Department to host "Fight Fraud Day" in Green Valley, a retirement community frequently targeted by scammers. The presentation educated residents about common scams including lottery prizes, telemarketing schemes, and attempts to access bank accounts and credit cards, with law enforcement emphasizing that education and awareness are key to preventing victimization.
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WREG News Channel 3
· 2024-11-13
Three Nigerian men in their 40s were sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating romance and investment scams that targeted victims across America from 2017 to 2021, including a Western Tennessee resident who lost $400,000. The perpetrators used fake identities on social media and dating sites, posing as romantic partners and repeatedly requesting emergency financial assistance from victims. Law enforcement urges scam victims to report incidents to police, as victims of romance scams often face additional risks including identity theft when they unknowingly share personal information with fraudsters.
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WXYZ-TV Detroit | Channel 7
· 2024-11-16
An 85-year-old Lapeer County man received a deceptive email about a Bitcoin purchase he never made and was pressured by a scammer via phone to withdraw $24,500 in cash to cancel the transaction. Through intervention by bank staff and law enforcement, the victim was able to recover all of his money, though the scammer's typical success rate suggests most victims do not recover their losses.
Cryptocurrency
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First Alert 6
· 2024-11-21
This educational segment highlights that older adults face increased financial scam risks during the holiday season because they typically have savings, home equity, and good credit—making them attractive targets—while also experiencing social isolation and loneliness that scammers exploit. Three common holiday scams targeting seniors include charity fraud, where scammers impersonate legitimate organizations soliciting donations via calls, emails, or texts.
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FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
· 2024-11-22
A 74-year-old woman from Frisco was scammed out of $600,000 by 56-year-old Jeffrey Monahan Jr., who impersonated Elon Musk and befriended her on Facebook in 2023, promising a $55 million return on investment in Musk's business ventures. Monahan has been charged with Grand Theft, and financial records showed the funds were directed to his painting business; he claimed his online girlfriend was the mastermind behind the scheme.
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NBC 7 San Diego
· 2024-11-26
Holiday fraud increases significantly in December, with scammers targeting busy shoppers through identity theft, credit card fraud, package theft, and fake social media ads selling counterfeit goods. Law enforcement and the Better Business Bureau warn that common holiday scams have become more sophisticated and high-tech, including fake toll collection texts and counterfeit items sold online, and advise consumers to remain vigilant during the busy shopping season.
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WBIR Channel 10
· 2024-11-26
Ghanaian national Wigbert Bandy was sentenced to more than five years in prison after pleading guilty to a $2 million romance scam targeting senior citizens on dating sites and social media. The scam defrauded 11 victims, with one East Tennessee resident losing over $280,000, and Bandy was ordered to repay approximately $2.2 million in restitution.
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This Morning
· 2024-11-27
Gift card scams are a major fraud threat during the holiday season, with Action Fraud reporting losses of £13.5 million to gift card scams in the previous year. Scammers target these popular gifts through various methods including impersonation fraud via WhatsApp, Facebook, email, and text messages, with elderly people being particularly vulnerable. Gift cards are attractive to fraudsters because of their high monetary value and ease of transfer, making it essential for consumers to be cautious when purchasing or gifting them.
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12NewsNow
· 2024-12-03
The FBI warned the public about an increase in holiday season scams, including cryptocurrency investment schemes, tech support fraud, social media scams with fake contests, and charity scams targeting older adults. According to FBI official Connor Hagen, seniors are particularly vulnerable during the holidays when they are more likely to give gifts and donate to charities, though scammers also target younger people through social media ads and fake contests. Victims are advised to contact local law enforcement if they believe they have been defrauded.
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Denver7
· 2024-12-04
A 92-year-old pastor in Highlands Ranch and his wife nearly fell victim to a sophisticated scam after a pop-up appeared on their computer warning of a problem; when the pastor called the number in the link, scammers falsely claimed his credit card was used to purchase child pornography in China and pressured him to transfer money to a new bank account. The incident illustrates the heightened fraud risk during the holiday shopping season, with the FBI reporting $39 million in consumer losses to scams in 2023 and an additional $173 million in credit card fraud losses.
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KVUE
· 2024-12-06
As holiday shopping moves online, fraud experts warn consumers—particularly older adults with significant assets—to be vigilant against scams, as approximately one-third of consumers fall victim to online fraud during this season. Key risks include fraudulent social media ads, fake package delivery texts with links to copycat websites, and tech support scam pop-ups; experts recommend shopping only at trusted retailers, avoiding suspicious links, and going directly to carrier websites to check package status rather than clicking links in messages.
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ABC11
· 2024-12-09
Fraud experts warn consumers that approximately one-third of online shoppers fall victim to scams during the holiday shopping season, with older adults at particular risk despite being statistically less likely to be defrauded than younger adults—a concern because seniors typically have more assets to lose. Key scam tactics include fraudulent social media ads, fake package delivery texts from carriers like UPS and FedEx that direct users to copycat websites, and tech support scam alerts that appear on computer screens. Experts recommend shopping directly from trusted retailers' websites, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and going directly to carrier websites to check package status rather than clicking notification links.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2024-12-18
Monica Roose lost $4,000 to an online contractor scam while seeking help with a home improvement project in Northeast Ohio. FBI Special Agent Edgar Kobe reports that elder populations are especially vulnerable to scams perpetrated by organized crime groups operating from West Africa and India, and he is working to prevent victims from losing money to these international fraudsters who operate remotely.
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Scripps News
· 2024-12-22
In 2024, scammers are targeting all demographics with increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, as reported losses reached $10 billion—the highest annual total on record. The most common scams include impostor schemes, online shopping fraud, fake job opportunities, and investment scams, with 80% of investment scam victims losing money. The piece highlights how scammers exploit personal information and worst fears, noting that artificial intelligence is making these schemes even more difficult to detect and avoid.
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News 4 Tucson KVOA-TV
· 2024-12-30
Two men, Ahmed Sayed (57) and Rupesh Chintakindi (27), were charged in Tucson Federal Court for operating a nationwide elder fraud scheme using fraudulent pop-up ads claiming victims had computer viruses, then instructing them to wire money. If convicted, both defendants face up to 20 years in prison on money laundering conspiracy charges.
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ABC11
· 2025-01-01
**Summary:**
Experts warn that scammers are increasingly using generative AI in 2025 to create more realistic fraudulent websites, deepfake videos and audio, and fake social media content, making scams harder to detect. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, consumers lost over $1 trillion to scams in 2024, and the FBI has issued alerts about criminals exploiting AI to commit fraud at larger scales and increase the believability of their schemes. Consumers are advised to remain vigilant in protecting their money and personal information as scam tactics continue to evolve.
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We Are Iowa Local 5 News
· 2025-01-04
Iowa Attorney General Brena Bird warned of a rising trend of "grandparent scams" targeting older adults, in which scammers impersonate grandchildren and claim to be in accidents, hospitalized, or jailed, then request money. Bird advised seniors to hang up and verify such claims directly with trusted family members and to report suspected scams to local law enforcement.
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WWLTV
· 2025-01-09
AI-enabled voice cloning tools are being used by scammers to impersonate loved ones and target senior citizens, who were defrauded of approximately $3.4 billion in 2023 according to FBI data. Criminals typically pose as family members claiming an emergency requiring immediate cash payment. To protect yourself, establish a family safe word or phrase (not easily found online) that can be used to verify callers' identities during unexpected requests for money.
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WPBF 25 News
· 2025-01-12
Authorities in Martin County, Florida are reporting a rising scam targeting elderly residents, in which scammers pose as tech support by displaying fake McAfee virus alerts and convincing victims to grant remote computer access. The scammers then manipulate victims into withdrawing cash from their banks under the false pretense of account security testing, with two known victims losing a combined $57,000 ($40,000 and $17,000 respectively) before couriers collected the cash. Law enforcement advises families to check with elderly loved ones about recent cash withdrawals or money transfers to help identify and investigate cases.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-01-17
A victim lost over $137,000 in life savings after receiving an email falsely claiming her social security number was used for drug trafficking, demonstrating how sophisticated social engineering scams exploit fear and panic rather than relying solely on cyber tactics. According to the FTC, Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023—the highest amount ever recorded—with scammers increasingly using organized crime networks, technology, and social manipulation to target victims through emails, texts, and social media.
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WWLP-22News
· 2025-01-21
An elderly couple in Westfield was defrauded of $10,000 after receiving a call from someone posing as a lawyer who claimed a family member had been arrested and needed bail money. The victims withdrew cash and delivered it to a suspect at Worcester Fair shopping plaza. Westfield Police are seeking the public's help in identifying the suspect involved in this elder fraud scheme.
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FOX 13 Seattle
· 2025-01-25
A 74-year-old woman lost $620,000 in a sophisticated gold investment scam that began with a fake Charles Schwab pop-up on her computer, followed by scammers posing as federal agents convincing her to liquidate her stocks and investments. Suspect 42-year-old Zcha Wong was arrested after meeting the victim in person, impersonating a federal agent with a gun, and taking possession of eight gold bars representing her life savings; investigators found this scam matched similar recent schemes targeting senior citizens in the area involving phony alerts, failed cryptocurrency transfers, and in-person handoffs.
Cryptocurrency
Wire Transfer
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KOMO News
· 2025-01-28
An elderly man from Shoreline lost $435,000 in a home repair scam perpetrated by brothers Patrick and Matthew McDonna, who used high-pressure tactics and false claims about roof and foundation damage to convince him to pay for materials they never purchased. The suspects, who targeted multiple victims across the Northwest, are now in federal prison, and the victim's family hopes sharing his story will warn others about this common construction scam.
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Lakeland PBS
· 2025-02-05
Law enforcement in Grand Rapids arrested an out-of-state suspect accused of running bail scams targeting three residents, including an elderly couple who lost $17,000 after being told their grandson was arrested and needed immediate bail payment. The suspect was found with over $42,000 in cash during the investigation.
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CTV News
· 2025-02-08
Two healthcare workers employed in Richmond Hill—a registered nurse and a personal support worker—were arrested and charged with fraud after allegedly stealing nearly $1 million from an elderly patient they were hired to care for by gaining unauthorized access to the victim's banking information. Police believe there may be additional victims and have charged both suspects with fraud, theft over $5,000, and money laundering.
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KFOR Oklahoma's News 4
· 2025-02-15
**Summary:**
Romance scams increase around Valentine's Day, with scammers creating fake online identities on dating apps to build trust and manipulate victims into sending money via gift cards or cryptocurrency or stealing personal information. The Better Business Bureau warns that older adults and lonely individuals are particularly vulnerable targets, and advises people to be suspicious of quick relationship progression, requests for financial help, and unusual payment methods, while encouraging people to check on vulnerable loved ones.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2025-02-18
Online romance scams caused $823 million in losses last year according to the Federal Trade Commission, with losses expected to grow due to increasing use of AI technology that makes fraudulent conversations sound authentic and personalized. Older adults are disproportionately targeted because scammers assume they are financially stable with steady retirement income. Red flags include rapid relationship progression, avoidance of in-person meetings, requests for secrecy, and requests for money; victims should report suspected scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
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WRTV Indianapolis
· 2025-02-20
Hamilton County Library is offering digital literacy workshops to help older adults and others gain confidence with technology, addressing a growing problem of internet scams targeting seniors. The FBI reported that elder fraud caused $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, an 11% increase from 2022, making these educational programs—which teach skills like identifying trustworthy links and email safety—increasingly vital for the community.
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The Online Citizen
· 2025-02-27
Rachel Ong called for strengthened mental health support for seniors in Singapore's Budget 2025 debate, highlighting that seniors aged 60 and above account for nearly 30% of suicide cases despite being least likely to seek help. She emphasized that seniors face profound grief, loss, and life changes while lacking adequate access to healthcare professionals and informal support networks, requiring urgent targeted interventions. Ong also referenced the need to address scam distress as part of comprehensive senior mental health support.
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NEWS CENTER Maine
· 2025-02-27
Maine State Police report a rising trend of scams targeting senior citizens, particularly courier impersonation schemes where fraudsters pose as delivery drivers to collect money directly from victims' homes, and grandparent scams involving fake relatives requesting funds via wire transfer or mail. Law enforcement and organizations like the Eastern Area Agency on Aging are urging seniors to stay vigilant and analyze suspicious situations carefully, as these evolving scams exploit seniors' perceived lack of technological knowledge.
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Click On Detroit | Local 4 | WDIV
· 2025-03-03
An 86-year-old Detroit senior had her bank account hacked and emptied by scammers who obtained her PIN and personal information, cloned her debit card, and withdrew funds from local ATMs and made unauthorized purchases. The victim, who relies on a walker and rarely leaves her home, lost all her money needed to pay bills. The scam is affecting multiple victims across Metro Detroit, targeting both banks and credit unions through card cloning and fraudulent ATM withdrawals.
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CTV News
· 2025-03-04
According to 2024 data from the Better Business Bureau, Canadians aged 25-34 reported the highest median financial losses to scams, followed by those 18-24, contrary to common assumptions about senior vulnerability. Investment and cryptocurrency schemes were the leading scam type, with employment scams, home improvement fraud, online purchase scams, and advance fee loan scams also prevalent; notably, women are more frequently targeted but lose less money per incident, while men experience higher dollar losses when victimized.
Cryptocurrency
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CBS4 Indy
· 2025-03-04
A cybersecurity survey reveals that many Americans are overconfident in their ability to avoid online scams, with over a third believing victimization only occurs from oversharing and nearly half thinking misspellings easily identify scams—misconceptions that no longer hold true as scammers increasingly sophisticate their tactics. Despite 75% of respondents agreeing scams should be reported, actual reporting rates are significantly lower, dropping to 14% for romance scams, while seniors remain the most targeted demographic though younger age groups are experiencing the fastest growth in scam victimization.
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Denver7
· 2025-03-10
According to FBI data, elder scams cost Americans $3.4 billion annually, with reports increasing yearly. Older adults are targeted due to cognitive decline, loneliness, trustfulness, and perceived savings, with scammers exploiting these vulnerabilities through text messages, emails, social media, and impersonation (including AI-generated voices). Families can help prevent fraud by maintaining open conversations about finances, encouraging early financial safeguards, and offering supportive monitoring of transactions.
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KIII 3 News
· 2025-03-15
A woman in Kingsville is impersonating a life insurance company employee and going door-to-door to defraud elderly residents. At least six victims have been scammed of $20 to over $200 each, with police investigating what they believe is a third-degree felony involving exploitation of the elderly and possible fraud against government assistance programs.
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FOX59 News
· 2025-03-18
Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from $10 billion in 2023, according to the FTC's annual report. While the number of fraud reports remained stable at 3.7 million, the percentage of reports resulting in actual financial loss increased from 27% to 38%, and median losses per victim rose significantly since 2020. The rise in fraud losses is attributed partly to AI-enabled scams, with government imposter scams, online shopping fraud, and email-based schemes being particularly prevalent, though notably young people are now losing more money than senior citizens.
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WHNT News 19
· 2025-03-19
The Colbert County Sheriff's Office held a scam awareness presentation at the East Colbert Senior Center to educate seniors about fraud prevention. Sheriff Eric Valentine warned attendees to be cautious of suspicious calls, texts, and emails, and emphasized never sharing banking information over the phone, noting that scam victims in the area have lost between $4,000 and $10,000, with recovery being nearly impossible once funds are sent.
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WHNT News 19
· 2025-03-19
The Colbert County Sheriff's Office reported a recent surge in phone and text scams targeting senior citizens in the area, with reported losses reaching approximately $60,000. Common scams include impersonation of grandchildren claiming emergency money is needed and fraudsters posing as law enforcement demanding payment; the sheriff emphasized that legitimate law enforcement will never call requesting money and advised seniors to use common sense and contact the sheriff's department if uncertain about a call's legitimacy. The office hosted scam prevention presentations at senior centers to educate residents on recognizing and avoiding these schemes.
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CBC News
· 2025-03-19
Police in Montreal arrested 23 people in June operating an elaborate grandparent scam network targeting American seniors, allegedly defrauding them of $21 million USD ($30 million CAD) through coordinated call centers. The scam typically involved one caller impersonating a grandchild in financial distress, followed by another impersonating a police officer directing victims to wire money (usually around $10,000). Montreal has emerged as a major hub for these large-scale grandparent scam operations, which cause significant financial loss to vulnerable elderly victims in the United States.
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CBC News
· 2025-03-21
Three prominent online fraud fighters—Jim Browning, Kitboga, and Pleasant Green—collaborated to infiltrate and disrupt scammer call centers targeting North American victims. Through real-time interception, they successfully prevented multiple fraud attempts including one targeting a woman threatened with legal trouble, coordinating with banks and law enforcement to protect victims from losing thousands of dollars. The operation demonstrated tactics used by scammers and highlighted how these vigilantes have collectively disrupted hundreds of scam centers and prevented hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses over nearly a decade.
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60 Minutes
· 2025-03-23
This 60 Minutes segment examines why investment fraud and Ponzi schemes continue to thrive despite public awareness of high-profile cases like Bernie Madoff's multi-billion dollar fraud. The piece features expert Ricky Jay discussing how con artists exploit human psychology—including greed and excessive trust—and identifies key warning signs such as dealings with well-established figures who rely on exclusive affiliations to build credibility. The segment highlights that despite financial disasters and skepticism, investors remain vulnerable to sophisticated scams, a phenomenon regulators refer to as "ponzi-monium."
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WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando
· 2025-03-24
**IRS Impersonation Scams Target Seniors**
Scammers impersonate IRS officials via phone calls, emails, and texts claiming seniors owe back taxes or have filing problems, using spoofed caller IDs to appear legitimate and demanding fast payment through gift cards or prepaid debit cards. Seniors over 60 lost a combined $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, with IRS impersonation scams being the most common type. The actual IRS initiates contact only through mailed letters and never uses phone calls, text messages, pre-recorded messages, or requests for immediate payment via gift cards or other non-standard methods
Gift Cards
Check/Cashier's Check
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FOX 4 Now
· 2025-03-24
The IRS is warning Americans about tax scams increasing as the filing deadline approaches, with $5.5 billion lost to such scams in 2023 and one in four Americans targeted. Scammers are using text messages falsely claiming to be from the IRS and offering stimulus payments of up to $1,400, with older Americans being particularly vulnerable targets. Experts advise that the IRS typically communicates by mail and only contacts via phone or text if prior permission was given, so unsolicited messages should be distrusted.
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WFSU Public Media
· 2025-03-26
Florida residents, particularly seniors, are experiencing widespread scam calls and text messages, including toll balance fraud and unsolicited calls from unknown numbers. According to board-certified elder law attorney Jana McConna, vulnerable seniors—especially those who are isolated, lonely, recently widowed, or experiencing memory issues—are actively being targeted, with scammers exploiting emotional vulnerability and cognitive decline to financially manipulate victims. McConna emphasizes that isolation and loneliness are key risk factors that make seniors susceptible to fraud schemes.
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CBS Philadelphia
· 2025-03-27
Washington Township Police Department in New Jersey partnered with the FBI to host an educational seminar teaching seniors and families how to recognize and avoid scams, prompted by recent major fraud cases in their community. Scammers commonly use fear, urgency, and confusion to target seniors through IRS scams, grandparent scams, tax support scams, online banking scams, and EasyPass billing scams, with recent local cases involving losses of $100,000 or more. Police emphasize that recognizing red flags through education is the most effective way to prevent seniors from losing their savings to fraud.
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Mid-Michigan now on FOX66 & NBC25
· 2025-03-27
Scammers are increasingly targeting older adults, particularly those over 75, using sweepstakes, impersonation, and text message scams to steal money and personal information. Law enforcement agencies recommend treating all unsolicited communications as potential scams and emphasize that education and skepticism are the best defenses against these frauds, with experts advising never to trust unexpected offers or requests for personal information.
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WXYZ-TV Detroit | Channel 7
· 2025-03-26
A 68-year-old Oxford woman lost her home, car, and life savings to a romance scam in which a scammer impersonated actor Mark Harmon. The case sparked broader community awareness about online fraud, with psychologists and victims sharing warning signs of romance scams and money transfer app fraud, which continue to affect numerous people including the elderly.
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CBS Philadelphia
· 2025-03-27
The FBI and Washington Township Police hosted a fraud awareness seminar at a senior center in Gloucester County, New Jersey, prompted by an incident where a 78-year-old resident nearly lost over $244,000 to scammers. The event aimed to educate seniors about common scam tactics and help prevent fraud in the community.
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CBS6 Albany
· 2025-03-30
Medicare watchdog groups are warning seniors about genetic testing scams in which fraudsters offer free or low-cost genetic tests claiming they can detect diseases, cancers, and autoimmune conditions, with costs ranging from $900 to $11,000. Medicare rarely covers these tests, and seniors are advised to consult with their personal physicians before undergoing any genetic testing rather than responding to unsolicited offers.
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FOX 4 Now
· 2025-04-03
Lee County Sheriff's Office reported approximately 20 fraud cases daily in 2024, with 2,400 total reported cases—60% resulting in losses exceeding $10,000 each. The most common scam involved fraudsters impersonating law enforcement and claiming victims missed court dates, demanding payment via untraceable methods like Bitcoin or gift cards, though recent high-dollar wire fraud cases totaled $395,000, $475,000, and $158,000. Most suspects operate outside the United States, making recovery of stolen funds difficult once money is transferred overseas.
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WFTV Channel 9
· 2025-04-05
Seminal County Sheriff's Office in Florida reported a surge in sophisticated scams targeting residents, with one victim, Shirley, receiving multiple fraudulent letters impersonating FedEx and a company called Investment Specialist Incorporated, with bills escalating from $68 to thousands of dollars. Law enforcement noted an increase in scam-related crimes since 2020, as criminals increasingly favor scams over other crimes due to lower risk of identification and arrest. Authorities advise consumers to verify suspicious messages before responding, as scammers often use urgency and official-looking documentation to deceive victims.
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WMBD News
· 2025-04-06
Local organizations in Bartonville held a "Safety of Seniors" awareness event at Limestone Community High School featuring 40 vendors and informational presentations to educate older adults about rising scams targeting seniors. The Bartonville Police Chief emphasized the importance of educating citizens about various scams and helping them recognize warning signs, noting that the police department often serves as a first point of contact for victims.
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Click On Detroit | Local 4 | WDIV
· 2025-04-08
A Macomb County senior citizen lost over $30,000 in a Bitcoin internet service scam after receiving an email about home internet security protection she did not sign up for. When she called to cancel, scammers posing as customer service representatives gained access to her personal and banking information, ultimately tricking her into sending money via Bitcoin. The scam targeted seniors looking to save money and appears to have affected multiple victims in the local area.
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News Channel 3-12
· 2025-04-08
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department held a community presentation in Carpinteria to warn residents about a dramatic increase in scams, including prize/giveaway scams, romance fraud, and other schemes designed to extract money or personal information from victims. While scams affect people across all demographics, seniors are disproportionately targeted, and attendees learned to recognize red flags and protect themselves from various fraud tactics.
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KPAX-TV
· 2025-04-11
A Helena, Montana resident nearly fell victim to an impersonation scam when a caller posing as a sheriff's office representative threatened arrest for missed jury duty and demanded $5,000 payment. The victim avoided losing money by contacting his bank, Opportunity Bank of Montana, whose employees verified the scam and confirmed the fraudster had spoofed the sheriff's department's phone number. The transcript emphasizes common tactics scammers use—fear and urgency—and recommends pausing to verify information before responding to suspicious communications.
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8 News Now — Las Vegas
· 2025-04-12
Experts and law enforcement in Nevada are warning seniors about a surge in scams targeting the state's 480,000 Social Security recipients, with seniors losing a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024. Key protective measures include ignoring unsolicited calls, texts, and emails requesting personal information; changing passwords regularly; and verifying links before clicking. One senior shared her experience with an email impersonation scam attempting to solicit Apple gift cards, highlighting the importance of verifying sender information.
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CTV News
· 2025-04-14
Police in Ontario are warning of a fake gold investment scheme that has defrauded at least three elderly residents of approximately $1.3 million. Scammers impersonate bank or security officials, claiming victims' bank accounts have been compromised, then convince them to purchase large quantities of gold as a security measure—gold that is never actually picked up. Police emphasize that legitimate banks never ask customers to withdraw funds and buy gold, nor do they request customer participation in investigations.
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CTV News
· 2025-04-15
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled a proposed crackdown on senior fraud, noting that Canadian seniors are 33% more likely to lose money in scams than other age groups. His proposed measures include requiring banks and telecom providers to detect and block fraud in real-time, implementing 24-hour delays on high-risk transactions from senior accounts, creating new criminal offenses for executives who enable senior scams, and imposing harsher penalties for fraudsters. The proposal responds to thousands of Canadian seniors losing millions to scams in recent years, including phishing texts and robocalls targeting those over 65.
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WBNS 10TV
· 2025-04-20
**Summary:**
Ohio seniors received scam prevention training as scammers become increasingly sophisticated, particularly targeting older adults over 65 who are less digitally savvy. According to the National Council on Aging, seniors aged 60 and over lost $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, with attorney Carlos Crawford advising people to watch for red flags like misspelled words, suspicious email addresses (such as Gmail addresses impersonating government agencies), and to trust their instincts when something feels off.
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ABC News
· 2025-04-23
The FBI reported that Americans lost a record $16.6 billion to scams last year, a 33% increase from the previous year, with seniors aged 60 and older being disproportionately targeted and losing nearly $5 billion. Scams targeting seniors included impersonation schemes (fake coworkers, tech support), with criminals posing as tech support claiming to remove viruses for a fee. The FBI urged consumers to "check, call, and wait"—verify email addresses and phone numbers, confirm authenticity by calling, and wait before sending money to verify legitimacy.
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NewsChannel 5
· 2025-04-29
Rob Naylor of AARP Tennessee discusses how elder scams have evolved from traditional mail and door-to-door tactics to primarily email and text message schemes that seek personal information including names, addresses, and social security numbers. He raises awareness about Real ID scams targeting people in states with Real ID campaigns, noting that unsolicited requests for Real ID information are likely fraudulent, especially from non-.gov email addresses or text messages with suspicious formatting; Tennessee has not yet reported Real ID scams.
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KPRC 2 Click2Houston
· 2025-04-29
**Article Type:** Educational/Protective Advice
Seniors aged 60 and older lost nearly $3.5 billion to scams in 2023, with impersonation fraud (such as fake bank calls and text messages) being the most common type. The article recommends three protective measures: set up bank alerts for transactions over a certain amount, avoid writing checks and verify check images online if necessary, and establish direct contact information with your bank before a problem occurs.
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10 Tampa Bay News
· 2025-05-02
**Summary:**
A 92-year-old Tampa Bay-area man was defrauded of $800,000 in an elaborate romance scam involving 37-year-old Otis Swinton Jr., who posed as a woman online to gain the victim's trust before manipulating him into transferring funds to accounts under the scammer's control. The stolen funds were accessed through forged checks, ATM withdrawals, credit cards, cryptocurrency, and identity theft. Swinton Jr., a career criminal recently released from prison in March after serving seven years for similar crimes targeting over 50 people, was arrested in Orlando and now faces fraud charges; authorities indicate there may be additional victims.
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News4JAX The Local Station
· 2025-05-06
The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers frequently target older adults through telemarketing fraud by spoofing caller ID to impersonate trustworthy sources like government agencies or banks. Key red flags include unsolicited calls and pressure to make quick decisions; legitimate agencies will not contact you unexpectedly or rush you into action. To reduce scam calls, seniors should register their phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.
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KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas
· 2025-05-07
A Sun City Anthem senior was scammed over nearly two years after initially being defrauded while purchasing light bulbs online, ultimately losing approximately one-quarter of her net worth. When the victim stopped making payments, scammers escalated their tactics by harassing her with incessant calls and threats of bodily harm, eventually threatening her granddaughter's safety to extort additional payments. While the district attorney intervened to prevent further losses, the stolen funds were never recovered, reflecting a broader national crisis in which seniors lost $12.5 billion to scams in the previous year according to the Federal Trade Commission.
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KTVN 2 News Nevada
· 2025-05-07
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office and Better Business Bureau are hosting a free senior scam awareness seminar on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Douglas County Community and Senior Center in Gardenerville. The seminar is open to seniors, caregivers, friends, and families and will provide tips on avoiding scams and protecting seniors from fraud.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-05-07
The Silera Community Center in Henderson hosted a fraud prevention seminar called "Robbery Not Reported" to educate Las Vegas Valley seniors on protecting themselves from scams targeting their money, data, and identity. Attendee Paul Block shared that he lost $3,000 to a cryptocurrency scam and knows someone who lost $100,000 to a romance scam, emphasizing the importance of seniors openly discussing their experiences with fraud to reduce shame and help others learn from these mistakes.
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KTVN 2 News Nevada
· 2025-05-08
Three men were arrested in Douglas County on elder fraud and extortion charges: 22-year-old Junian Woo and 21-year-old Lu Dao were apprehended in Genanoa after attempting to collect money from a homeowner, followed by the arrest of 45-year-old Juan Fuma in Gardnerville under similar circumstances. The article does not specify dollar amounts or whether money was successfully obtained from the victims.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2025-05-08
Ohio is observing Older Ohioans Month while state agencies raise awareness about scams targeting seniors, a growing problem in the state. Scam and fraud-related complaints from older adults increased 22% year-over-year, though actual incidents are likely higher due to underreporting. State officials advise seniors to treat all unsolicited contact via phone or text as potential fraud and recommend utilizing resources from the Ohio Attorney General's office and Ohio Department of Aging for protection.
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CBS 8 San Diego
· 2025-05-09
San Diego County seniors lost $100 million to scams in the past year, with one victim paying $1,700 in gift cards after a phone scammer impersonated a court official threatening arrest. A seminar in North County drew 250 seniors and local officials to educate the community on increasingly sophisticated scam tactics including fake court documents and deceptive pop-ups, as FBI data shows seniors nationally lost $4.8 billion to internet scammers in 2024—a 43% increase from the prior year.
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WXYZ-TV Detroit | Channel 7
· 2025-05-12
A 25-year-old Toledo man was arrested for defrauding an elderly couple in their 80s in Shelby Township out of $50,000 through a multi-layered email and phone scam. The scam began with a fraudulent email claiming unauthorized charges on the victims' credit card for a Geek Squad subscription, but when the husband called the provided number, the scammer claimed to discover an additional $50,000 in charges from a child pornography website to pressure the victims into paying. Police indicate there were other targets of this scheme.
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Dayton 24/7 Now
· 2025-05-13
Millions of elderly Americans fall victim to financial scams annually, with the most common targeting seniors being investment/cryptocurrency scams, home improvement scams, romance scams, and online purchase scams. Phone fraud is also prevalent, where scammers impersonate government agencies or bank officials, using either polite or threatening tactics to manipulate victims into sending money. To protect seniors, awareness of these common scam types and verification tactics is essential.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-05-14
Scammers are targeting Medicare patients by posing as durable medical equipment companies or pharmacies and enrolling them in unwanted remote patient monitoring devices and services, often unapproved by the FDA, then billing them monthly fees. Victims may receive no equipment at all, unauthorized equipment, or have their Medicare information stolen for additional fraud. The Department of Health and Human Services advises seniors to consult their doctor before enrolling in any healthcare services, hang up on unsolicited medical device offers, refuse unordered deliveries, and report scams to the HHS hotline.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-05-15
An elderly woman named Joanne McGordy lost $11,860 to a bitcoin scam that began with a fraudulent text claiming unauthorized Apple account charges. After calling the number provided in the text, a scammer convinced her to withdraw money from her bank and convert it to bitcoin at a gas station for "protection." A good samaritan gas station manager intervened by asking if she needed help, which led to the scam being identified and stopped before she lost her entire retirement savings.
Cryptocurrency
Crypto ATM
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NBC 7 San Diego
· 2025-05-16
Carlsbad Police shut down an elaborate fraud scheme targeting elderly residents that stole over $145,000 in cash and gold bullion. Scammers used fake computer popups and impersonated Apple and Wells Fargo representatives to convince victims to liquidate assets, which were then packed into shoebox parcels for courier pickup; in one case, a victim lost $130,000 before police made an arrest during a second pickup. A separate incident involved an elderly resident losing $10,000 to someone impersonating an FTC investigator using authentic-looking agency letterhead and logos.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2025-05-19
According to FBI figures, scammers defrauded seniors of $4.8 billion in 2024. The Mentor Police Department in Northeast Ohio is increasing scam prevention outreach through workshops at senior centers and assisted living facilities in response to rising fraud targeting older adults. One victim, Jack Hines, nearly fell for a phishing email scam but caught himself before losing money.
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therhodeshow
· 2025-05-20
This educational segment discusses common senior scams affecting millions of Americans annually, including identity theft schemes, grandparent scams (falsely claiming a relative needs bail money), tech support scams, and romance scams. Key prevention strategies include educating seniors about scam tactics, maintaining regular involvement in their financial affairs, and reporting suspected fraud to state police or adult services, while noting that many scams go unreported due to victim embarrassment.
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WTAJ News
· 2025-05-23
The Cambria County Area Agency on Aging hosted an educational luncheon at the Johnstown Senior Center where speakers from the Attorney General's Office and local police taught seniors how to recognize and report fraud schemes. Presenters emphasized that older adults are losing substantial sums—sometimes resulting in loss of their homes—often through scams where they believe they are helping someone and will be repaid, and highlighted that financial exploitation is the fastest-growing crime affecting seniors.
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NBC Montana
· 2025-05-27
Three Chinese nationals were sentenced in federal court for operating a sophisticated gift card fraud scheme that targeted elderly and lonely Americans through fake online relationships, as well as unsuspecting retail shoppers. The criminals stole gift card codes by removing security coverings, then quickly spent the funds on high-value electronics like Apple products that were warehoused and shipped to China, exploiting New Hampshire's tax-free retail environment to maximize profits. Law enforcement warns this type of multilayered criminal enterprise remains a threat and could easily occur again.
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ABC 10 News
· 2025-05-29
A Carlsbad couple nearly lost $50,000 in a sophisticated scam that began with a fraudulent text about a $499 Norton purchase. When the senior called the provided number, a polished and professional scammer named "Roger" convinced him to enter $500 to reverse the charge, but the amount mysteriously changed to $50,000 in his bank account. The FBI has warned of increasing scams targeting elderly residents in the county using tactics that exploit trust and create a false sense of urgency.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2025-05-30
Congressman Sanford Bishop questioned SEC Commissioner Atkins about investor protection for elderly Americans, noting that investor advocacy legal clinics assisting seniors defrauded by brokers and advisors have declined from 24 clinics to only 10 across the country due to depleted funding from FINRA and state regulators. Bishop asked what the SEC can do to prevent further clinic closures and promote resources to at-risk populations, with Atkins indicating support for expanding these consumer protection initiatives.
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CBS Evening News
· 2025-06-01
A 26-year-old U.S. Navy electrician named Thomas Xiao admitted to passing sensitive military documents to a Chinese intelligence officer who posed as an investor and researcher on the Chinese social media app WeChat between 2021 and 2023. Chinese intelligence operatives are increasingly using social media and virtual contact to recruit U.S. military personnel and extract classified information, as traditional in-person espionage has become more difficult.
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WFRV Local 5
· 2025-06-03
The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau warns that investment and cryptocurrency scams are the most prevalent frauds targeting adults 55 and older. The BBB recommends being cautious of phone fraud with spoofed caller IDs, avoiding pressure to act immediately, and verifying unusual claims by calling official sources directly rather than trusting the caller's information.
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The Dallas Morning News
· 2025-06-05
Two Keller, Texas residents—Felix Clark and Esther Ampiel—pleaded guilty to federal charges for operating a romance scam that targeted elderly victims across the United States between June and September 2022. The scheme used fake online dating profiles to deceive vulnerable seniors, including recent widows, into sending money under false pretenses such as claims about accessing gold in Ghana, with funds subsequently transferred abroad. Clark pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud, while Ampiel pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitter business.
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KPRC 2 Click2Houston
· 2025-06-10
A 65-year-old Vietnamese American man in Houston lost his entire life savings of $500,000 in an elaborate elder fraud scheme that began with a legitimate IRS identity theft letter. Scammers posing as Vietnamese embassy officials then contacted him via phone calls in Vietnamese, claiming his identity was being used to launder money overseas, and convinced him over nearly five months to send money by using AI-generated videos and fake documents impersonating government officials. The victim, now forced to continue working past retirement age, is seeking assistance to recover from the fraud.
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KGUN9
· 2025-06-10
Arizona Attorney General Chris Mace is conducting statewide educational outreach on elder fraud targeting the state's growing senior population, noting that one in ten older adults will experience abuse or exploitation. The transcript highlights a voice cloning scam in which a woman received a fraudulent call claiming her daughter was in danger, with AI-generated voice technology making the deception particularly convincing. Mace emphasizes that seniors are targeted because they often have substantial savings, and education is the primary tool to help people recognize and prevent such scams.
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WPLG Local 10
· 2025-06-13
Federal authorities warned of a 43% increase in elder fraud victim losses nationwide, with Florida ranking third in both losses and victims. FBI Miami highlighted rising impersonation fraud schemes—including immigration-related scams—that target seniors through phone calls and text messages, exploiting their politeness, desire for companionship, and lower technological literacy.
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News4JAX The Local Station
· 2025-06-15
The FBI reported a 43% surge in elder fraud in 2024, with nearly 150,000 complaints from seniors resulting in almost $5 billion in losses. Scammers target older adults through calls, texts, and emails by exploiting their likelihood to answer phones and using psychological manipulation tactics to execute convincing cons. The article recommends using verification platforms and awareness to protect elderly loved ones from these increasingly sophisticated schemes.
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FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
· 2025-06-17
Congress held a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to address the growing threat of sophisticated online scams targeting older Americans, with lawmakers focusing on international crime networks and legal loopholes that hinder victim recovery. The hearing highlighted cases such as grandparent scams where seniors voluntarily send money based on fraudulent emergency claims, and revealed systemic issues including victims being denied support by local authorities and difficulty recovering stolen funds. Lawmakers aim to close legal gaps that currently allow scammers to evade prosecution and make it harder for elderly victims to reclaim their money.
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WFXR NEWS
· 2025-06-18
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to address the rising epidemic of online scams targeting seniors, with lawmakers seeking to close legal loopholes that enable scammers to evade prosecution and complicate victim recovery efforts. The FBI reported nearly $5 billion in fraud losses from elderly Americans in the past year—a 40% increase from 2023—with common schemes including grandparent scams where victims are deceived into sending money for false emergencies. Lawmakers noted that many victims receive no legal recourse despite losing their savings, leaving them feeling abandoned and ashamed.
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NewsX Live
· 2025-06-19
Two Indian nationals studying in the United States were sentenced to federal prison for phishing scams impersonating US government officials to defraud elderly Americans. Kishan Rajkumar Patel, age 20, targeted at least 25 elderly victims and caused $94,156 in losses, while another Indian student named Muhammad was sentenced to 8 years in prison for a similar scheme that defrauded elderly Americans of nearly $6 million.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2025-06-20
Senator Chuck Grassley questioned law enforcement experts about scam calls targeting elder citizens, focusing on gaps in information sharing between federal, state, and local agencies during elder fraud investigations. An expert testified that fragmented investigations across multiple agencies fail to identify coordinated criminal enterprises, citing San Diego County as an example where 12 independent law enforcement agencies did not share data and missed connections between victims across different cities targeted by the same criminals, and that national coordination is necessary to effectively combat this growing crime.
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23ABC News | KERO
· 2025-06-20
This awareness piece from Bakersfield highlights the prevalence of elder abuse in California, where an estimated 202,549 cases are reported annually, with 6,985 cases in Kern County alone in 2024—though experts note actual numbers are likely much higher due to underreporting. A certified nursing assistant and psychiatric technician emphasizes the importance of treating elders with respect and caution, as caregivers are entrusted by families to provide proper care, and abuses of that power cause significant harm.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2025-06-20
This is a Senate hearing transcript excerpt in which a junior senator with experience as a federal prosecutor, judge, and state attorney general expresses frustration that anti-fraud experts are identifying systemic coordination and information-sharing problems rather than simply requesting additional funding to combat elder fraud. The senator emphasizes that existing resources appear underutilized and suggests the solution lies in reorganizing how federal agencies approach and share information about scams, rather than increasing budgets.