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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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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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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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Dare County
· 2024-09-09
Ashley Lamb from the Area Agency on Aging presented information about the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program, which has operated since 2003 under North Carolina's Department of Insurance. The program aims to empower seniors aged 60 and older and their caregivers to prevent healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse through education and outreach, utilizing trained SHIP volunteers to provide free counseling and assistance across a 10-county region.
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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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CBS Chicago
· 2024-09-12
A nationwide Medicare fraud scheme involving a medical supply company in Roselle, Illinois resulted in over $100 million in fraudulent claims, with scammers ultimately making approximately $3 billion in fake Medicare billing before being caught. The small office, which normally submitted less than $8 million annually in claims, suddenly submitted over $260 million in just a few months, primarily for urinary catheters that had no legitimate purpose for the products listed. Federal investigators were observed conducting raids on the office as part of the investigation into this Medicare fraud ring.
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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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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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NBC10 Boston
· 2024-11-01
During Medicare open enrollment season, scammers impersonate Medicare representatives and insurance agents to trick people into revealing personal information such as Social Security numbers, banking details, and Medicare ID numbers through unsolicited calls, texts, and phishing emails. The BBB has received frequent reports of these fraudulent schemes, which target millions of people seeking insurance plans and can result in identity theft or sale of personal data on the black market. Consumers should verify contacts by hanging up and calling official numbers directly, be wary of anyone offering limited-time enrollment offers, and avoid sharing personal information with unsolicited callers.
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FOX4 News Kansas City
· 2024-12-20
During open enrollment season, scammers are targeting people with unsolicited robocalls and text messages offering free incentives like groceries or housing to enroll in health insurance, then requesting personal and financial information to "confirm eligibility." KC Care warns consumers to avoid these scams by only initiating enrollment themselves and working with licensed, trained insurance navigators rather than responding to unsolicited contacts, with free navigator services available through official channels like GetCovered.org (Kansas) and ShowMeCoverage.org (Missouri).
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wgaltv
· 2025-01-03
Medicare fraud was identified as the top scam of 2024, with scammers impersonating Medicare representatives via unsolicited phone calls to request personal information under false pretenses, such as offering cancer screening kits in exchange for Medicare numbers. A viewer named Donna received such a call but avoided providing her information, demonstrating that awareness helps prevent victimization. Medicare fraud costs taxpayers between $60-100 billion annually, and authorities emphasize that legitimate Medicare communications arrive by mail first and that the agency never calls uninvited requesting personal or health insurance details.
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IRSvideos
· 2025-01-06
This is an educational webinar presented by the IRS and FTC during National Tax Security Awareness Week that covers common identity theft and tax-related scams, methods for identifying and reporting fraud, the IRS Identity Protection PIN program, and resources for protecting against identity thieves. The 75-minute presentation includes technical guidance for participants and a live Q&A session to address audience questions about fraud prevention and recovery.
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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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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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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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TMJ4 News
· 2025-05-21
AARP hosted a "Scam Jam" educational event at Oak Creek Community Center in Wisconsin to help residents identify and prevent fraud. The event featured Tony Lup sharing his personal experiences being targeted by multiple scams including prize/trip offers and fake emergencies, emphasizing that anyone can be victimized but everyone can protect themselves by following advice like verifying unexpected calls and hanging up on suspicious requests.
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Island News
· 2025-06-08
During Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, Hawaii advocates warned seniors—a particularly vulnerable population—about scams targeting the state. In 2023, Hawaii residents reported losing more than $52 million to internet scams, with impostor scams and identity theft identified as the most common fraud types. Advocates emphasized awareness and prevention efforts to protect seniors and safeguard Medicare's financial integrity as Hawaii's aging population continues to grow.
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FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
· 2025-08-05
An expert discusses how scams and fraud are defined as attempts to steal personal information or money through deception. Scammers obtain victims' information from multiple sources including shady websites, data breaches, and purchased lists from legitimate sources like mall registrations, then use this information to target potential victims through unsolicited calls and messages.
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KOAA 5
· 2025-08-26
Scammers impersonating Medicare representatives increased calls and messages to seniors during Medicare's open enrollment period (October 15–December 7), according to the Colorado Senior Medicare Patrol. Red flags include callers claiming to be Medicare officials, requesting personal information, and failing to identify their actual company; seniors are advised to verify calls directly with Medicare and remain vigilant against fraud attempts during this vulnerable enrollment window.
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Sunrise
· 2025-08-27
Australians lost $175 million to scams in the first half of the year, with fraudsters increasingly using artificial intelligence to create highly convincing schemes targeting everyday people. Common scams impersonate government services like Services Australia, MyGov, Centerlink, and Medicare to trick victims into revealing personal and financial information through malicious links and phishing emails. To protect yourself, recognize that scammers often use sophisticated tactics to get you to click links or provide sensitive data, and be cautious of unsolicited communications claiming to be from government agencies.
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WMAR-2 News
· 2025-09-11
A Parkton woman received unsolicited medical braces (knee, wrist, and back) that she never ordered and her doctor never prescribed, only to discover that fraudulent companies billed Medicare approximately $1,100 for a back brace worth $25 on eBay, with Medicare covering nearly $400 of the fraudulent charge. The companies involved were difficult to reach and unresponsive when contacted, raising concerns about how they obtained the victim's personal health information to perpetrate the Medicare fraud scheme.
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FOX Carolina News
· 2025-09-13
South Carolina ranks disproportionately high in scam calls and texts compared to other states and previous months, according to TrueCaller's monthly data tracking. Scam activity shows seasonality patterns, with increased fraud attempts during severe weather events like hurricanes and coastal damage. The caller ID and spam-blocking service provider attributes the targeting to both predictable seasonal trends and state-specific vulnerabilities.
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ABC15 Arizona
· 2025-09-22
Medicare scams are flooding seniors with phone calls and emails, with the Department of Justice estimating $60 billion in annual Medicare fraud losses. Scammers impersonate Medicare representatives and use threats (such as losing coverage) or offers of new Medicare cards to extract seniors' Medicare numbers, which they then use to fraudulently bill the program. Experts advise that Medicare will not contact beneficiaries by phone requesting personal information or offering to mail new cards.
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ABC News
· 2025-09-25
A 91-year-old woman named Shirley Morrow lost $9,000 in a "grandparent scam" after receiving a phone call from someone posing as her grandson, claiming he was in jail following a car accident and needed bail money. The scam involves fraudsters impersonating a grandchild in distress and requesting immediate payment, with tens of thousands of cases reported nationwide targeting senior citizens. Scammers use voice mimicking technology and social engineering tactics to convince victims to withdraw cash before they realize they've been deceived.
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KOCO 5 News
· 2025-10-07
Oklahoma seniors are receiving fraudulent Medicare enrollment postcards that appear official but are scams designed to trick them into calling unknown numbers during the Medicare open enrollment period. The Oklahoma State Insurance Department reports multiple scam types targeting seniors in October-December, including fake enrollment cards and unauthorized charges for medical devices appearing on Medicare statements, with similar fraudulent mailers also reported in Kansas and Louisiana. Seniors are advised to independently verify government agency phone numbers rather than calling numbers on suspicious mailers.
capecodtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Robert Tobey, a Connecticut man with early-stage dementia, lost at least $5,000 to phone scammers between late 2018 and early 2019 who posed as friends, manipulating him into sending gift cards and money transfers and compromising his Social Security account. The article reports that scams affecting Cape Cod residents include romance scams, government impersonation schemes, sweepstakes scams, and grandchild-in-jail scams, with the National Council on Aging estimating five million older Americans lose $36.5 billion annually to fraud. Law enforcement warns that scams are constantly evolving and advise victims to hang up on suspicious calls
gulfcoastmedia.com
· 2025-12-08
The North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau are hosting a free "Protect Yourself Against Scammers Summit" on March 7 for senior citizens in Bay Minette, Alabama. The educational event will cover major fraud schemes including government impostor scams, romance scams, identity theft, investment fraud, cryptocurrency scams, and Medicare fraud to help seniors recognize and avoid becoming victims.
messagemedia.co
· 2025-12-08
The Senior LinkAge Line offered two educational classes on March 13 covering healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse prevention, teaching participants how to detect and report fraud, protect their Medicare information, and identify scams targeting older adults. The free online classes, based on the Senior Medicare Patrol federal program, were available to Minnesota seniors and caregivers through pre-registration and offered continuing education credits.
thefederalist.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers have targeted Medicare's catheter benefit program in a massive fraud scheme, with beneficiary accounts billed for catheters rising ninefold from 50,000 to 450,000 in a single year, resulting in billions of dollars in fraudulent claims. Seniors reported being billed for catheters they never received or needed, yet despite complaints to Medicare from private entities, physicians, and state insurance offices dating back to July, the federal government failed to investigate or stop the fraud in a timely manner. The incident highlights systemic weaknesses in Medicare's fraud detection capabilities, particularly the program's reliance on private organizations to identify suspicious spending patterns rather than proactive government oversight.
fox5atlanta.com
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old business manager at Countryside Healthcare in Buchanan, Georgia, Johnna Hannah, was arrested and charged with 78 counts of fraud and elder abuse after stealing over $53,000 from at least 39 patients' accounts between June 2023 and February 2024. Hannah used fraudulent invoices, company checks, debit cards, and mobile banking to drain patient accounts, including those of eight deceased residents; police discovered the scheme after a questionable $880 withdrawal was reported, prompting a forensic audit. She was released on a $50,000 bond, and authorities indicate additional charges are likely pending a second audit.
healthjournalism.org
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud schemes—including grandparent scams, romance scams, and government impersonation scams—have become increasingly sophisticated through AI technology like deepfake videos and robocalls, making them difficult to distinguish from legitimate communications. In 2022 alone, approximately 88,000 people aged 60 and older lost $3.1 billion to fraud, with victims over 70 losing an average of nearly $42,000; scammers typically exploit emotions rather than intelligence, and experts advise victims and their families to watch for financial requests as the key indicator of fraud. The AARP Fraud Watch Network received nearly 100,000 calls last year from victims of all
wgmd.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating Medicare officials by calling seniors and claiming they need to verify identity information to send a new plastic Medicare card with special features, but all legitimate Medicare cards are paper. Victims who fall for this scam risk having their personal and financial information stolen. Anyone receiving such calls should contact the Delaware Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-223-9074.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Dr. Thomas Andrew Webster of Ohio pleaded guilty to conspiring to accept kickbacks in a fraudulent telemarketing and medical supply scheme that victimized Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries in Eastern Washington and other states between May 2021 and September 2023. Webster signed fake medical records and durable medical equipment orders created by telemarketers who obtained patient information through cold calls, resulting in over $13.7 million in fraudulent billings to Medicare and TRICARE, with Webster personally receiving at least $839,565 for fictitious doctor visits that never occurred. As part of his guilty plea, Webster agreed to forfeit assets representing his criminal proceeds, with sent
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Clayton Yorks, 44, of Battle Creek, Michigan was charged with embezzling $1,000-$20,000 from his elderly father, a vulnerable adult in assisted living, by using the father's debit card for personal expenses from November 2021 to September 2022 without legal authority. Yorks was arraigned on the five-year felony charge and released on a $5,000 bond, with preliminary examination scheduled for March 20, 2024. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel emphasized that vulnerable adults' finances are protected under law and encouraged reporting suspected elder abuse through the state's Elder Financial Exploitation complaint webform.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It is a community events listing for Danbury, CT that includes activities like library programs, sports games, and holiday celebrations. It contains no information about scams, fraud, elder abuse, or elder safety concerns.
dailyfly.com
· 2025-12-08
Dr. Thomas Andrew Webster pled guilty to conspiring to accept kickbacks in a telemarketing and medical supply fraud scheme operating between May 2021 and September 2023 across Washington and other states. The scheme involved obtaining Medicare and TRICARE beneficiary information through telemarketers, creating fraudulent medical records and durable medical equipment orders that Webster signed, resulting in over $13.7 million in fraudulent billings and Webster personally receiving at least $839,565 for fake doctor visits that never occurred. Webster agreed to forfeit assets and faces sentencing on June 26, 2024.
chinadaily.com.cn
· 2025-12-08
Qilu Bank partnered with the Jinan Elderly University to establish 41 educational schools offering courses designed for seniors, including anti-telecommunications fraud awareness training alongside health and lifestyle classes. The bank also implemented digital monitoring systems and staff protocols to identify and prevent fraud attempts among its 1.7 million elderly customers, successfully blocking telecommunications fraud totaling 3.89 million yuan in 2023.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Dr. Osama Nahas and medical assistant Isabel Pruneda were convicted of healthcare fraud, kickback conspiracy, and identity theft for operating a multimillion-dollar scheme at an adult daycare in the Rio Grande Valley from 2016-2017, in which they ordered unnecessary lab tests and prescriptions for elderly patients, forged consent forms, and misappropriated medications while receiving tens of thousands in kickbacks from testing companies and bribing daycare facility owners. Both face up to 10 years in federal prison, with Pruneda facing an additional mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft, plus potential fines up to $250,000 each.
webcenterfairbanks.com
· 2025-12-08
Two phone scams are circulating in Fairbanks, Alaska: a Medicare scam where callers impersonate Medicare representatives to obtain Medicare or Social Security numbers, and a hospital scam where fraudsters pose as Fairbanks Memorial Hospital demanding payment on overdue accounts. Residents are advised to hang up on unsolicited callers, independently verify phone numbers before returning calls, and never provide Medicare or Social Security numbers to callers they did not contact, as legitimate Medicare will not request this information unprompted.
chronicleonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Congressman Gus Bilirakis organized two public forums in Florida that attracted over 600 seniors to address scams targeting elderly people, advances in medical technology for age-related diseases, and community resources for independent living. The forums featured presentations from federal agencies including the FTC, FCC, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on fraud prevention, along with medical experts and local service providers discussing health conditions, insurance counseling, and daily living support services.
wdio.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the Federal Trade Commission, older adults are increasingly targeted with scam calls and texts, with those aged 70 and older experiencing significantly higher median losses compared to younger adults, despite young adults reporting fraud losses more frequently. Experts recommend that older adults protect themselves by recognizing emotional manipulation tactics in messages (such as urgent language or threats), verifying sender identities, and having conversations about financial management, as awareness of scams helps reduce vulnerability. The Senior Linkage Line is offering free online classes on detecting and reporting Medicare fraud and healthcare scams targeting seniors.
welivesecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, seniors over 60 reported $3.1 billion in cybercrime losses to the FBI across 88,262 incidents, representing an 82% year-on-year increase, though many cases remain unreported. Digital fraudsters increasingly target senior citizens, believing they have more savings but less digital awareness to recognize scams. Common schemes include phishing, romance scams ($734 million in 2022), Medicare impersonation, tech support fraud, online shopping scams, robocalls, government impersonation ($1 billion in combined losses in 2022), and lottery fraud.
mcknights.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses increasing federal enforcement actions against nursing homes for fraud, abuse, and controlled substance diversion, with the Justice Department partnering with state and local law enforcement to pursue criminal charges against facility operators and leaders. The piece expresses concern that aggressive prosecution efforts—including new strike forces and additional DOJ attorneys—may unfairly target well-intentioned providers while high-profile cases like the Skyline Healthcare executive case result in relatively lenient sentences despite serious allegations. The author questions whether the government's expanded investigative powers and resources will effectively hold truly culpable actors accountable or will primarily burden compliant facilities through broad enforcement approaches.
midmichigannow.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan state health and insurance officials warned seniors about Medicare scams coinciding with the December 7 Open Enrollment deadline, where fraudsters impersonate Medicare representatives to steal personal information like Medicare ID numbers and Social Security numbers to make unauthorized plan changes. The agencies advised seniors never to share personal information with unsolicited callers, visitors, or online contacts, and to contact Medicare directly at 1-800-633-4227 or Medicare.gov for legitimate coverage questions, noting that Medicare never calls or visits homes requesting personal information.
lohud.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the Hudson Valley region experienced over $2 million in losses from online purchase scams alone, where fraudsters used fake checks and refund requests, with over 1,000 cases reported. The region also faced nine other major scam types including employment scams ($692,389 lost), investment scams ($1.2 million lost), advance fee loan scams ($281,474 lost), and various imposter schemes targeting government agencies and healthcare programs, collectively affecting thousands of residents across the Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
Prince Oduro of Westerville was sentenced to 102 months in prison for wire fraud and money laundering schemes spanning multiple years, including stealing bank customer information while employed at JPMorgan Chase Bank and operating online romance scams that defrauded victims of over $1.8 million. Oduro continued committing romance fraud even after his initial arrest, causing an additional $709,500 in losses, and was ordered to pay approximately $1.8 million in restitution. Victims were deceived by elaborate stories involving medical emergencies, military service, overseas construction projects, and inherited assets, with one victim alone losing $390,300.
marionrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud targeting area seniors involves billing schemes for medical items not received, particularly urinary catheters; in recent cases documented by county aging officials, one senior's fraudulent claim involved 2,000 catheters with Medicare paying $14,613.80 to a fraudulent supplier while the senior's out-of-pocket cost reached $3,728. Similar scams originating from companies in New York, Texas, and Illinois have also targeted seniors with false claims for back braces and other medical supplies. Authorities urge seniors to review Medicare correspondence carefully and report fraudulent activity to Medicare at (800) 633-4227 or Kansas Senior Medicare Patrol at (800) 432-
peabodykansas.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud schemes targeting area seniors have included falsified claims for medical supplies, particularly urinary catheters that beneficiaries never received or needed; in one documented case, Medicare paid $14,613.80 to a fraudulent supplier (G&I Ortho Supply based in New York) for 2,000 catheters, leaving the senior responsible for $3,728 in out-of-pocket costs. Seniors are urged to carefully review their Medicare explanations of benefits and report suspicious claims to Medicare at (800) 633-4227 or to Senior Medicare Patrol in Kansas at (800) 432-3535, while also being warned about separate Social Security imposter
govexec.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece highlights warning signs of government imposter scams, particularly targeting Social Security beneficiaries and federal employees. The author shares a personal near-miss with a gift card scam impersonating a local NARFE president, then outlines four key red flags scammers use (impersonation, claiming problems/prizes, demanding immediate action, and requesting specific payment methods) and lists tactics Social Security will never employ, such as threatening arrest, demanding gift cards, or pressuring immediate payment. The article warns against a fraudulent phone number (888-353-9450) being used by scammers targeting federal employees and annuitants.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Joseph Vaske, 33, of Lima, Ohio, was charged with first-degree felony theft from a protected class for allegedly illegally appropriating over $150,000 in Social Security checks belonging to his father by cashing them and depositing the funds into his own account. A special agent with the Ohio Attorney General's Office testified at a suppression hearing regarding the investigation and Vaske's voluntary recorded interview, after his attorney challenged whether his constitutional rights were violated during questioning. The case is scheduled for jury trial on April 9.
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ca.movies.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults in Modesto lost thousands of dollars to fraud in 2022, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting a 30% increase in fraud losses nationwide and 3,500 reported incidents in the county. Three prevalent scams targeting seniors locally are romance scams (exploiting social isolation), banking scams (where fraudsters pose as bank IT to gain phone access), and solar scams (linked to the unregulated PACE program). The average loss for victims age 80 and over is $1,500, more than six times the average loss for younger victims, with scammers specifically targeting vulnerable populations including the recently widowed, lonely, or isolated.
oilcity.news
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Wyoming residents and companies lost $13.7 million to scams, with investment fraud being the costliest at $5.7 million, followed by business email compromise ($2.3 million) and data breaches ($1.5 million), according to the CyberWyoming Alliance's annual report. Extortion, tech support, and non-payment scams affected the most victims, while impersonation of companies like PayPal, Geek Squad, and Kohl's and spoofing of individuals were common tactics. The report recommends that business leaders educate employees to verify unusual requests through alternative channels before acting on them.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
A Spring Hill, Florida couple, Wendy and Samuel Bunner, defrauded an elderly Berkeley County man with dementia of over $1.9 million by fraudulently obtaining cashier's checks, emptying bank and investment accounts, and opening credit cards in his name. The couple used the stolen funds to purchase homes, vehicles, campers, and consumer goods for their personal benefit, with Wendy pleading guilty to money laundering and Samuel previously pleading guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft; they face up to 10 and 30 years in prison respectively.
reviewjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational piece warning Medicare beneficiaries about phone scams falsely claiming to represent Medicare and offering new plastic cards with chips. The article advises that legitimate Medicare will never call requesting personal information, recommends using a safety script to refuse unsolicited callers, and directs fraud victims to report scams to the Senior Medicare Patrol at 877-808-2468.
ktar.com
· 2025-12-08
Heritage Village Assisted Living in Mesa was sued by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes for abuse and consumer fraud, with allegations that owners Gary Langendoen and Matthew Arnold falsely marketed the facility as capable of providing specialized care while consistently understaffing it and failing to provide proper physician evaluations for vulnerable residents. The facility's license was revoked by the Arizona Department of Health Services in January 2024 due to repeated violations, and the attorney general requested that the court appoint a receiver to take over operations and remove the owners from control to protect the approximately 150 residents, including many who are bedbound.
vindy.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a community announcement listing local senior services and events in the Mahoning County, Ohio area. Highlights include free AARP tax preparation for seniors, a P.E.R.I. meeting featuring a presentation on preventing healthcare fraud and medical identity theft, meal programs, job training opportunities for low-income seniors age 55+, and various social and recreational activities. No specific fraud incidents or financial losses are reported.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Shannon and Kit Abell are retired professionals in Roanoke County, Virginia who volunteer as fraud prevention educators through the Triad program, a partnership between AARP, law enforcement, and community groups designed to reduce crime against older adults. Shannon delivered 52 fraud prevention presentations in 2023 covering scams such as romance fraud, identity theft, and grandparent scams, while the Triad program has expanded from over 200 Virginia locations at its peak to 59 chapters, with AARP and state officials working to revitalize participation. The program emphasizes peer-to-peer education and local law enforcement involvement to build community trust and help victims connect with appropriate resources.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell established a new Elder Justice Unit to combat the frequent and pervasive fraud targeting older residents, with director Mary Freeley coordinating resources across multiple bureaus to enhance prosecution and education. In 2023, Massachusetts consumers reported over 87,000 fraud cases resulting in $142.3 million in losses, though experts note significant underreporting due to shame and lack of awareness. Common scams include impostor fraud targeting bank and government agency impersonation, grandparent scams, and cryptocurrency schemes, with prevention experts recommending victims slow down and avoid emotional reactions that bypass logical thinking.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors on Medicare are being targeted by "phantom billing" scams in which fraudulent health care providers and medical equipment companies submit unauthorized charges—such as urinary catheters—to Medicare accounts. Cases documented include Ann Midkiff of Indianapolis who was billed over $3,000 for catheters she never requested, and the scam has grown dramatically, with catheter charges jumping from affecting 40,000 patients in 2021 to over 450,000 by 2023. Experts recommend seniors regularly review their Medicare statements and immediately report suspicious charges by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, as such fraud costs the Medicare system approximately $60 billion annually.
amac.us
· 2025-12-08
Medicare scams involve fraudsters impersonating government representatives to trick older Americans into providing personally identifiable information such as Social Security numbers, Medicare numbers, and bank account details. Common schemes include false refund offers, free medical equipment promotions, and new card notifications, with government impersonation fraud losses exceeding $136 million in 2022 alone. To protect themselves, Medicare enrollees should verify caller identity through official channels and never provide personal or financial information in response to unsolicited contacts.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP South Carolina is launching a fraud prevention education initiative to help members protect themselves from financial exploitation. The organization offers resources on preventing elder abuse, identifying Medicare and veterans scams, and evaluating suspicious calls at aarp.org/scfraud, along with a series of upcoming fraud prevention events featuring former prosecutor Paul Greenwood, who specializes in elder fraud cases.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security scams targeting the 68 million American beneficiaries use five common tactics: impersonating SSA officials to steal personal information, falsely claiming benefits have been suspended, alleging overpayment and threatening legal action, promising automatic benefit increases that require activation, and offering fraudulent investment schemes to multiply benefits. The Social Security Administration advises recognizing scams by the four "P"s—scammers pretend to be official, present problems or prizes, pressure immediate action, and request specific payment methods—and remembers that SSA will never threaten arrest, demand personal information to activate benefits, or pressure immediate payment.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Yolanda Brooks, a 52-year-old Medicaid Supervisor in Indianapolis, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud for stealing approximately $920,148.51 in checks intended for healthcare reimbursements. Between March 2018 and July 2021, Brooks deposited roughly 486 checks into two personal bank accounts opened under her maiden name, falsely representing herself as authorized to negotiate them, and spent the stolen funds on personal expenses including shopping, gambling, and vacations. The court ordered Brooks to pay full restitution of $920,148.51 and serve three years of supervised release following her prison term.
maryvilleforum.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a community newsletter from Grant City, Missouri, not an article about elder fraud. The only fraud-related content is a brief announcement that the Young at Heart organization is holding an educational meeting on April 18 at 10 a.m. to help attendees detect, prevent, and report Medicare fraud, identity theft, and other scams. The remainder of the newsletter discusses weather, local events, and social activities.
capenews.net
· 2025-12-08
This educational article discusses aging in place and the rising threat of elder fraud, reporting that seniors age 60+ filed 88,262 fraud complaints in 2022 resulting in $3.1 billion in losses—an 82% increase from 2021. Scammers target older adults due to accumulated savings, daytime availability, lower tech literacy, and potential cognitive vulnerabilities, with the five most common scams being government imposter schemes (Medicare, IRS, Social Security), sweepstakes/lottery fraud, phishing/vishing/smishing, tech support scams, and grandparent scams. The article emphasizes that seniors may underreport scams due to fears
fool.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies five common Medicare scams targeting seniors: unsolicited contact from fake Medicare representatives, false claims that Medicare plans have been canceled, offers of free products or services not covered by Medicare, requests to replace or activate Medicare cards, and pressure to switch to alternative plans during enrollment periods. The article advises seniors to verify information independently through Medicare.gov, never respond to unsolicited contact, protect personal information like Medicare and Social Security numbers, and call Medicare directly with questions rather than trusting solicitors.
grandrapidsmn.com
· 2025-12-08
The Senior LinkAge Line® offered two educational classes on May 8, 2024, teaching older adults how to detect, prevent, and report healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse. Participants learned to identify potential Medicare scams, protect their beneficiary numbers, and review suspicious Medicare paperwork through online instruction via Microsoft Teams.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Miami home healthcare worker, Dahamara Cuervo Alonso, 48, was charged with grand theft, exploitation of the elderly, and organized fraud after fraudulently transferring an 86-year-old woman's condominium to herself through deceptive document signing. Cuervo Alonso exploited her position as caregiver to vulnerable clients—an elderly woman with cognitive impairment and her disabled son who spoke only Spanish—by having them sign English-language documents they could not read under the pretense of verifying work hours, ultimately stealing the home they both owned and relied on for their future security. The fraud was discovered when the son saw a YouTube video about
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Linda Laird, 59, and her father James Blizzard, 80, of Cordova, Maryland, were indicted on charges including Social Security fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, and financial exploitation of an elderly person. Beginning in November 2017, the defendants fraudulently obtained guardianship and conservatorship of an 81-year-old cognitively impaired nursing home resident, then diverted over $21,000 in Social Security benefits and $85,000 from the victim's bank account for their personal use instead of applying the funds toward her care. Both defendants were released pending trial in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
en.as.com
· 2025-12-08
The Senior Medicare Patrol warns that Medicare scams are increasing, with fraudsters exploiting beneficiaries' failure to review account statements by charging for unrequested items like urinary catheters, diabetes supplies, and COVID-19 test kits. To protect themselves, Medicare beneficiaries should carefully review their monthly Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) or Explanations of Benefits (EOB), treat their Medicare card like a credit card, and report suspected fraud to the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468 or 855-613-7080. Medicare will never contact beneficiaries unsolicited by phone to issue new cards or other services.
mcknights.com
· 2025-12-08
Healthcare providers paid nearly $2 billion to resolve False Claims Act allegations in 2023, marking a historic annual record with 543 settlements and judgments involving federal investigations. The Department of Justice is intensifying efforts to investigate elder abuse and fraud in nursing homes, particularly targeting facilities providing substandard care and engaging in fraudulent billing practices, with notable cases including a $7.1 million settlement against a New York nursing home for worthless services and safety violations. Federal agencies are expanding enforcement actions across long-term care and Medicare Advantage plans, signaling that investigations and recoveries are likely to increase significantly in coming years.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using caller ID spoofing to impersonate Medicare, Social Security, and doctors' offices in order to steal seniors' personal and medical identity information. The New York StateWide Senior Action Council highlighted this as its April Medicare Fraud of the Month, recommending seniors hang up on unexpected calls, verify caller identity through trusted numbers, never share personal information with unsolicited callers, and regularly review Medicare statements for suspicious claims. Medicare fraud costs taxpayers over $60 billion nationally per year.
ktvq.com
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old Billings resident received a fraudulent Medicare impersonation call from someone claiming to be with Medicare who possessed his personal information including date of birth and address. The scammer was exposed when the caller provided an incorrect date for when Kunnemann received his Medicare card, prompting him to verify with the legitimate Medicare hotline and confirm it was a scam. Kunnemann's warning emphasizes that Medicare and other government agencies will not initiate calls requesting personal information unless the agency has been breached or the recipient contacted them first.
thedesertreview.com
· 2025-12-08
Congressman Raul Ruiz, in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission, Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, and Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, hosted a Senior Fraud Workshop on April 24, 2024, in El Centro, California to educate seniors about recognizing and avoiding scams. The workshop covered identity theft, Medicare fraud, and other schemes targeting seniors, with experts providing practical advice on warning signs and steps for reporting suspected fraud to law enforcement.
themountaineer.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A free educational program titled "Medicare 101" is being offered on April 25 at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville, hosted by certified counselor John Chicoine. The presentation covers Medicare basics, supplements, Advantage plans, prescription plans, and includes information about Medicare scams to help those approaching Medicare age navigate their options.
latimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating Medicare and conducting a growing phone scam targeting Medicare beneficiaries, falsely claiming to issue new cards and requesting verification of Medicare numbers and personal information. Victims report receiving numerous unsolicited calls daily, with scammers using professional tactics and detailed personal information to build trust. Medicare clarifies that it does not call beneficiaries, already has their information, and completed distribution of new Medicare cards by January 2019; the public should report suspected fraud to the California Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-855-613-7080.
kxoradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz is hosting a senior fraud awareness workshop on Wednesday in El Centro with representatives from the Federal Trade Commission, Social Security Administration, IRS, and Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program. The workshop will educate seniors on recognizing and avoiding common scams including identity theft and Medicare fraud, while providing guidance on steps to take if they suspect they are victims of fraud.
kpax.com
· 2025-12-08
Aging services agencies in Montana are warning Medicare enrollees about a scam where fraudsters pose as government officials and offer free medical equipment (such as catheters) in exchange for Medicare numbers, which are then used to commit identity theft and fraud. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General reports that scammers contact victims via phone, email, or social media claiming to represent Medicare or state health departments, requesting personal information under false pretenses like settling debts or providing grants. Medicare beneficiaries are advised to hang up immediately on unsolicited offers of free equipment, never provide their Medicare number to callers, review Explanation of Benefits statements, and report suspected fraud to the H
law.georgia.gov
· 2025-12-08
Lawrence Montgomery, Jr. pleaded guilty to exploiting his 77-year-old mother, Ruth Montgomery, who had Alzheimer's disease, by diverting her social security checks to himself over five months (October 2019–February 2020) while she was in a nursing home, putting her at risk of discharge. He was sentenced to 10 years of probation, ordered to pay restitution, and barred from serving as a guardian or power of attorney. Georgia's Attorney General emphasized that protecting seniors from family-member exploitation remains a priority and noted that the state's Medicaid Fraud Division has secured 90 convictions for elder abuse and fraud since 2019.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal and Montana aging services are warning Medicare enrollees of a scam where fraudsters impersonate government officials and offer free medical equipment or services in exchange for Medicare numbers. Scammers use phone calls, emails, and social media to solicit personal, medical, and financial information, which they then use to steal money or commit identity fraud. Victims are advised to hang up immediately if offered free medical equipment in exchange for their Medicare number and to report suspected fraud to the HHS OIG Hotline at 1-800-447-8477.
mtpr.org
· 2025-12-08
Organizations in Montana are warning of increased scams targeting Medicare enrollees, where fraudsters solicit victims' Medicare numbers by offering free services, gift cards, or medical equipment. Scammers then use stolen numbers to bill Medicare fraudulently before disappearing. Montana's Senior Medicare Patrol advises Medicare recipients to never share their numbers with unknown callers and to regularly review their Medicare summary notices for unrecognized providers or services.
wdbj7.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud losses reached a record $10 billion in 2023, representing a 317% increase from $2.4 billion in 2019, with seniors frequently targeted through phone, email, mail, and in-person scams. AARP recommends seniors protect themselves by placing credit freezes with all three major credit bureaus using their social security number, birth date, and past addresses, and recording their PIN for future reference. Those who suspect fraud can contact the Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360 to report incidents.
pottsmerc.com
· 2025-12-08
The Association of Health Care Journalists reported that elder scams have become increasingly sophisticated through artificial intelligence, making them harder to distinguish from legitimate interactions. The AARP Fraud Watch Network received nearly 100,000 calls in 2023, and the National Council on Aging documented 88,000 fraud victims age 60+ in 2022 alone, losing $3.1 billion collectively. Common schemes include the grandparent scam (impersonation requesting wire transfers), romance scams (nearly 70,000 reported in 2022 with $1.3 billion in losses), government impersonation, tech support fraud, and voice recording scams, with
ivpressonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Congressman Raul Ruiz held a senior fraud awareness seminar in El Centro after his own mother nearly fell victim to a "grandparent scam" in which a scammer impersonated a relative in Mexico requesting $5,000 for bail. The event highlighted that fraud is a national epidemic affecting seniors, with Ruiz noting that 198 fraudulent cases were reported in the prior year (likely representing only a fraction of actual incidents due to underreporting caused by embarrassment and fear), and emphasized the importance of reporting scams to law enforcement and sharing fraud prevention information within communities.
theelectricgf.com
· 2025-12-08
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is warning Medicare enrollees of increasing scams where fraudsters offer free services, medical equipment, or gift cards in exchange for Medicare numbers to commit fraud. Aging Services agencies advise Medicare beneficiaries to never share their Medicare number unsolicited, carefully review their Medicare statements for discrepancies, and hang up immediately on suspicious offers, as compromised information can be used in multiple fraudulent schemes.
Gift Cards
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Criminologist David Maimon's research team at Georgia State University has documented extensive criminal activity on the dark web, where organized groups anonymously buy and sell stolen personal information, forged checks, and hacked financial accounts at minimal prices. The research reveals that stolen personal identification data is often more valuable to criminals than cash itself, as it enables them to open fraudulent bank accounts, obtain fake documents, and commit various financial crimes. Dark web criminals also engage in romance scams, mail theft using stolen postal keys, and bank fraud, operating through sophisticated networks that steal billions of dollars annually.
messagemedia.co
· 2025-12-08
The Senior LinkAge Line offered two educational classes on May 8 covering health care fraud, waste, and abuse prevention for older adults. Attendees learned to detect and report Medicare fraud and scams, protect their Medicare beneficiary numbers, and review their Medicare paperwork, with instruction provided by the Senior Medicare Patrol federal education program.
marketrealist.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI issued a warning to Houston residents about a hospice care scam in which fraudsters illegally enroll seniors in Medicare's $22 billion hospice program without their knowledge or consent, then bill insurance thousands or tens of thousands of dollars before victims realize what happened. The scam involves doctors, recruiters, and company employees working together, and can prevent victims from accessing end-of-life care with providers of their choice when they actually need it. The FBI recommends residents avoid sharing personal information with strangers, hang up suspicious calls, and report them to authorities; meanwhile, Medicare has increased oversight in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas, and recently convicted a California hospice company owner who
hilinetoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is warning Medicare enrollees of a rising scam in which fraudsters offer free services, medical equipment, or gift cards in exchange for sensitive Medicare numbers to commit fraud. The Statewide Senior Medicare Patrol Program advises recipients never to share their Medicare numbers with unsolicited callers and to hang up immediately if approached with such offers.
Gift Cards
nbcmontana.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare beneficiaries in Missoula are being warned of a rising genetic testing scam where fraudsters pose as representatives offering free DNA and cancer screenings, then use victims' Medicare numbers to file unauthorized claims that appear on Medicare statements. Senior Medicare Patrol advises beneficiaries to consult their own doctors rather than unknown phone contacts, carefully review Medicare statements for suspicious service codes like "gene analysis" or "molecular pathology," and report suspicious requests for health information to their local Senior Medicare Patrol office.
jcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Jeremy Cook, a security officer with Exchange Bank, presented information on financial fraud prevention to seniors at the Jones County Senior Center on April 17, covering common scams including government imposter, grandparent, charity, romance, and technical support scams. Cook advised attendees to ignore unknown callers, never share personal information or send wire transfers, verify charities before donating, and conduct transactions in person when possible, while noting that romance scams alone generated $2.1 billion nationally in 2022. The presentation materials were designed for distribution at churches and other community venues to raise awareness among seniors about financial security threats.
wtsp.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida woman received an unsolicited genetic testing kit with her Medicare information and was contacted by someone claiming to represent the lab offering "free" testing covered by Medicare—a common healthcare fraud scheme. Scammers target seniors at public venues and through mail to obtain Medicare numbers for identity theft and fraudulent billing, with false claims sometimes reaching thousands of dollars; Medicare only covers genetic testing when ordered by a patient's physician and deemed medically necessary. Victims are protected from liability if investigations confirm their non-participation, with the burden shifting to the fraudulent provider instead.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This AARP educational article outlines three major scams targeting homeowners and consumers, particularly older adults: contractor fraud involving upfront payment demands and shoddy work; digital package delivery scams using fake text messages from shipping companies to steal personal information and payment details (which cost Americans $330 million in 2022); and Medicare scams including false billing for unreceived services, fraudulent "free" product offers, and genetic testing schemes designed to obtain Medicare numbers. The article recommends getting multiple contractor estimates, avoiding upfront payments, ignoring unsolicited messages, verifying package issues directly with retailers, and carefully reviewing Medicare statements while protecting Medicare numbers from unauthorized parties.
insurancenewsnet.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (June 3-9) educates beneficiaries, caregivers, and families on how to prevent fraud that costs Medicare beneficiaries their medical identity, time, and stress. Common Medicare fraud schemes include charging for services not provided, misrepresenting diagnoses, and prescribing unnecessary tests, which can be prevented by opening and reading Medicare statements, reporting suspected fraud to the NY Senior Medicare Patrol (1-800-333-4374), and detecting unrecognized providers or services. The New York Senior Medicare Patrol provides free resources including My Health Care Trackers and certified counselors to help Medicare beneficiaries and their support networks protect against fraud, errors
sandhillsexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nebraska identified an impersonation scam using U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr's name, image, and title in fraudulent emails requesting payment from victims; several concerned citizens reported receiving the emails, but no financial losses occurred. The office advises recipients to avoid opening attachments or sharing personal information, and to report such emails to the FBI Tip Line and FTC Fraud Line, noting that the U.S. Attorney's Office only collects money for court-ordered restitution in criminal cases.
thecyberexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Malachi Mullings, 31, from Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering and conspiracy related to a fraud network that defrauded over $4.5 million from victims through business email compromise attacks, romance scams, and healthcare benefits fraud, including $310,000 diverted from a state Medicaid program and $260,000 from romance scam victims. Mullings was part of a 10-person conspiracy that caused more than $11.1 million in total losses by targeting Medicare, Medicaid programs, private health insurers, and vulnerable individuals. FBI data shows elder fraud complaints increased 14% in 2023
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Georgia resident Malachi Mullings received a 10-year prison sentence for laundering $4.5 million in proceeds from business email compromise (BEC) attacks targeting healthcare providers and romance scams targeting individuals, including numerous elderly victims, between 2019 and July 2021. Mullings used multiple bank accounts under his company name to conceal the fraud, purchasing luxury items including a Ferrari with stolen funds; one romance scam victim alone lost $260,000. He pleaded guilty to eight charges including money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of a larger scheme involving nine other suspects across Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia that defrauded state Medicaid programs
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Malachi Mullings was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for laundering over $4.5 million obtained through romance fraud scams and business email compromise schemes that targeted elderly victims and companies from 2019 to July 2021. Operating under the fake company name "The Mullings Group LLC," Mullings opened 20 bank accounts to conceal fraud proceeds, including $310,000 diverted from a state Medicaid program and $260,000 obtained from an elderly romance scam victim, which he used to purchase luxury items including a Ferrari. The case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice's Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force and involved investigation by
pagosasun.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational awareness piece announcing a Medicare fraud prevention event scheduled for June 6 at the Pagosa Senior Center, presented by the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office and San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging. Medicare fraud costs the program an estimated $60 billion annually and has devastating impacts on beneficiaries, families, and caregivers through lost time, stress, and compromised medical identities. The article provides practical prevention advice for beneficiaries, caregivers, families, healthcare providers, and community members, including monitoring insurance statements, protecting Medicare numbers, reviewing statements for unauthorized medical equipment shipments, and reporting concerns to the Senior Medicare Patrol program.
boothbayregister.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
AARP warns of three prevalent Medicare scams in 2024: false billing for services not rendered (such as diabetes treatments for non-diabetic patients), fraudulent "free product" offers that deliver cheap or no items, and free genetic testing schemes at health fairs designed to steal Medicare numbers. Consumers should protect themselves by carefully reviewing Medicare statements, never sharing their Medicare number with unsolicited callers, and reporting suspicious activity to local law enforcement or AARP's Fraud Watch Network.
marketrealist.com
· 2025-12-08
Malachi Mullings, 31, from Sandy Springs, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for laundering over $4.5 million stolen through business email compromise (BEC) scams, romance fraud, and healthcare benefits fraud. Mullings opened approximately 20 shell company bank accounts between 2019 and 2021 to launder the proceeds, which he spent on luxury items including a Ferrari purchased with $260,000 fraudulently obtained from an elderly romance scam victim. His criminal network targeted businesses, healthcare programs, and vulnerable elderly individuals across the United States.
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Malachi Mullings of Sandy Springs was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for laundering over $4.5 million obtained through romance fraud and business email compromise schemes between 2019 and 2021. Mullings opened 20 fraudulent bank accounts to hide proceeds from scams targeting elderly victims and private companies, using stolen funds to purchase luxury items including a Ferrari bought with $260,000 stolen from an elderly romance fraud victim. He was ordered to pay restitution to victims and serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults, despite 88% using the internet, are increasingly targeted by scammers who exploit fears and lack of technical knowledge to steal identities and money. The author, a 50-year finance professional, fell victim twice to tech support scams that tricked him into providing sensitive information including his Social Security number and credit card details. FBI data shows elder fraud complaints rose 14% recently with victims averaging losses of $33,915, and common scams targeting seniors include fake tech support calls, Medicare/health insurance fraud, internet pop-up viruses, and telemarketing schemes.
wsbradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Malachi Mullings, a Sandy Springs man, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for laundering over $4.5 million stolen from romance fraud schemes and business email compromise scams between 2019 and 2021. Mullings operated 20 fraudulent bank accounts under a fake company name to hide proceeds from schemes targeting elderly victims and healthcare programs, using some stolen funds to purchase luxury items including a Ferrari purchased with $260,000 taken from an elderly romance fraud victim. He was ordered to pay restitution and faces three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP Virginia identifies three prevalent Medicare scams in 2024: false billing for unreceived diabetes treatments and devices, offers of free products (typically cheap or nonexistent) in exchange for Medicare numbers, and free genetic testing at health fairs designed to harvest Medicare information. Seniors are advised to scrutinize monthly Medicare statements, only share their Medicare number with legitimate healthcare providers, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or AARP's Fraud Watch Network.
messagemedia.co
· 2025-12-08
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ca.movies.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Minal Patel, a Georgia man who owned LabSolutions in Atlanta, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for orchestrating a $463 million Medicare fraud scheme involving unnecessary genetic cancer tests. Patel used telemarketing calls to recruit Medicare beneficiaries, paid kickbacks and bribes to patient brokers and telemedicine companies to obtain fraudulent doctor's orders, and submitted claims to Medicare from 2016 to 2019, resulting in $187 million in actual payouts to his company, of which Patel personally received over $21 million. The case was part of a larger federal investigation that charged 35 people involved in billing billions in fraudulent
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Leslie Smith, a 63-year-old licensed attorney and office manager at an Indianapolis podiatry practice, was sentenced to five and a half years in federal prison and ordered to pay $2,341,655.08 in restitution after pleading guilty to healthcare fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. Over several years, Smith submitted approximately 288 fraudulent Medicaid claims for oxygen monitoring devices totaling $1.75 million, fraudulently obtained COVID-19 mortgage assistance funds using a deceased relative's property, sold a jointly-owned home without consent by forging her co-owner's signature, and failed to file federal income tax returns from 2018-2
herald-review.com
· 2025-12-08
A Mount Zion woman was charged with stealing over $100,000 in cash and property from an elderly female victim between May 2022 and July 2023. Ali L. Fisher, 31, faces two counts including financial exploitation of an elderly person and obtaining control of property through deception, with the alleged theft totaling more than $40,000 in additional cash. Fisher was arrested on May 14 and released on pretrial release pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 24 in Macon County Circuit Court.
thehackernews.com
· 2025-12-08
Malachi Mullings, 31, of Georgia was sentenced to 10 years in prison for laundering over $4.5 million obtained through business email compromise (BEC) schemes targeting healthcare programs and companies, as well as romance scams targeting elderly victims, between 2019 and 2021. Mullings opened 20 fraudulent bank accounts under a fake company name to conceal the proceeds and used funds to purchase luxury items, including a Ferrari bought with $260,000 from a romance scam. The case highlights ongoing efforts to prosecute money launderers facilitating cyber fraud schemes.
au.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
An Australian businesswoman fell victim to a phishing text scam impersonating Coles supermarket, which lured her to a fake website by claiming her loyalty rewards points were expiring soon. The scam, which has been circulating for months and targeting multiple Australian loyalty programs (Coles, Qantas Frequent Flyer, and Telstra), is designed to steal personal information like passwords and banking details for fraudulent activities. Scamwatch received 209 reports of this scam in four months, with authorities warning Australians not to click links in unsolicited messages claiming to be from major retailers or loyalty programs.
azag.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Ariell Dix, age 37, was convicted of two felonies related to illegal control of an enterprise and sentenced to three and a half years in prison for her role in an Arizona Medicaid (AHCCCS) fraud scheme. Dix helped establish fraudulent clinics, obtained patient lists for illegal billing, and falsified records to enable the scheme, which defrauded the state of tens of millions of dollars between January 2019 and September 2021.
crestviewbulletin.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (observed around June 5) educates Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, families, and healthcare providers on protecting themselves from fraud, errors, and abuse through monitoring statements, protecting Medicare numbers, and reporting suspicious activity. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program offers free resources like My Health Care Trackers and educational support to help individuals detect and prevent Medicare fraud, which causes significant harm to both beneficiaries and the Medicare program.
insurancenewsnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week educates beneficiaries, caregivers, families, healthcare providers, and community members on protecting themselves and others from Medicare fraud, which costs the program an estimated amount annually. Key prevention strategies include monitoring Medicare statements for unauthorized services, safeguarding Medicare numbers, reviewing medical equipment shipments, and reporting suspicious activity to the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), which provides free resources and educational services to detect and report fraud, errors, and abuse. Individuals can contact the SMP at 1-800-963-5337 for questions and assistance with potential Medicare fraud concerns.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Medicare is a frequent target for criminal scammers, with the Senior Medicare Patrol reporting three prevalent scams in 2024: false billing for diabetes treatments and devices that were never received, offers of free products that are either never delivered or of poor quality, and fraudulent free genetic testing at health fairs used to obtain Medicare numbers. To protect themselves, beneficiaries should carefully review their monthly Medicare statements for unauthorized charges, never share their Medicare number with anyone except healthcare providers, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Three trending Medicare scams in 2024 include false billing for diabetes treatment and devices not received, fraudulent offers of free products that are cheap or never delivered, and fake genetic testing schemes at health fairs designed to steal Medicare numbers. Seniors are advised to scrutinize monthly Medicare statements, never share their Medicare number with unsolicited offers, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
nationalseniors.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are targeting Australian Age Pension recipients with social media messages and online advertisements promising non-existent "bonus" payments of up to $1,800 from Centrelink, directing victims to fake websites designed to steal personal information. Services Australia warns seniors to only use official government websites and highlights multiple active scams affecting older Australians, including MyGov impersonation, Medicare fraud, fake disaster relief, COVID-19 schemes, and deepfake investment scams that have caused significant financial losses. The Australian government has allocated $67.5 million over four years to combat scamming, but individuals must remain vigilant about unsolicited messages and suspicious links.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece highlights World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15), which aims to raise global awareness about physical, emotional, and financial exploitation of older adults. AARP and Florida organizations are hosting multiple virtual and in-person events throughout June to educate seniors and caregivers on fraud prevention, scam recognition, and elder protection resources, with information available on the Florida Fraud Resource Page.
kenbridgevictoriadispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
Three prevalent Medicare scams in 2024 include false billing for diabetes treatment and devices on statements of non-diabetic beneficiaries, fraudulent offers of free products that are either never delivered or of poor quality, and fake free genetic testing solicitations at health fairs that require Medicare numbers. Consumers are advised to carefully review monthly Medicare statements, report false charges, and avoid sharing their Medicare numbers with anyone other than legitimate healthcare providers.
kauainownews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Medicare Fraud Prevention Week Educational Piece**
Senior Medicare Patrol Hawai'i is promoting Medicare fraud awareness during June 3-9, highlighting that Medicare loses an estimated $60 billion annually to false claims. The organization recommends beneficiaries use a free "My Health Care Tracker" booklet to log health services and cross-check against billing statements, monitor for unauthorized use of their Medicare number, and never share their Medicare number with unsolicited callers—while caregivers, families, and community members should watch for suspicious medical equipment deliveries and encourage loved ones to protect their Medicare information as they would a credit card number.
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior Medicare Patrol Hawaii is hosting Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (June 3-9) to educate the public about Medicare fraud schemes, offering a free webinar on June 8 and providing resources like the "My Health Care Tracker" booklet to help seniors detect fraudulent claims. Medicare loses approximately $60 billion annually to false claims, and the program teaches seniors and their caregivers how to prevent, detect, and report fraud by monitoring billing statements, protecting their Medicare numbers, and reporting suspected identity theft.
news.blueshieldca.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** Blue Shield of California Medicare Fraud Prevention Week Alert
Blue Shield of California warned Medicare beneficiaries during Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (June 3-9, 2024) about scams targeting seniors seeking personal, financial, and health plan information. Healthcare fraud costs the U.S. up to $300 billion annually, with older adults accounting for 40% of call center fraud complaints and 58% of losses—nearly $770 million in 2023, more than all other age groups combined. The organization recommends seniors protect themselves by never sharing personal information, verifying callers through official numbers like 1-800-MEDICARE, reviewing Explanation of Benefits statements
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Blue Shield of California issued a Medicare Fraud Prevention Week alert warning seniors about scammers targeting personal and financial information, noting that healthcare fraud costs up to $300 billion annually in the U.S. and that older adults lost nearly $770 million to call center schemes in 2023—more than all other age groups combined. The health plan recommends Medicare beneficiaries protect themselves by never sharing personal information unsolicited, refusing free offers for medical care, and contacting Medicare directly at 1-800-633-4227 if they suspect fraudulent activity.
magnoliabannernews.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud costs the system an estimated $60 billion annually and directly harms beneficiaries through stolen medical identities, increased stress, wasted time navigating fraudulent claims, and potential health complications. Perpetrators exploit the Medicare system to commit identity theft and financial crimes that extend beyond monetary losses to affect seniors' medical records and care.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud costs an estimated $60 billion annually and affects beneficiaries through loss of medical identity, time, stress, and potential health consequences. The Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol launched Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (June 5-6) to educate beneficiaries, caregivers, families, and healthcare providers on protective measures such as monitoring insurance statements, verifying medical equipment orders, safeguarding Medicare numbers, and reporting suspicious activity.
ncnewsonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud costs the government billions annually and affects beneficiaries through fraudulent billing schemes ranging from unnecessary medical tests to identity theft using stolen Medicare numbers. Senior Medicare Patrols (SMPs) work to help beneficiaries and caregivers prevent and detect fraud, with Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (held annually in June) providing education on common scams including unwanted COVID-19 test kits, genetic testing, and durable medical equipment schemes. Beneficiaries can protect themselves by monitoring Medicare statements, refusing unsolicited offers for free services or equipment, and immediately reporting suspicious charges to Medicare.
uppermichiganssource.com
· 2025-12-08
The Ishpeming Multi-Purpose Senior Center hosted a free scam awareness presentation featuring Michigan's Assistant Attorney General Kristen Stinedurf, who addressed phishing, AI scams, and fraud warning signs across calls, texts, mail, and email. The presentation, held in partnership with the Tri-County Office on Aging, targeted seniors new to Medicare and technology who receive frequent scam-related communications, aiming to help attendees recognize and avoid fraud.
caswellmessenger.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey warned residents about door-to-door scammers impersonating N.C. Department of Insurance agents to sell fake insurance policies. At least two recent incidents were reported, marking the fourth occurrence since 2020, with fraudsters sometimes presenting fake business cards bearing the department's logo. The department clarified that it does not sell insurance and urged consumers to report such impersonation attempts to law enforcement.
ncdoj.gov
· 2025-12-08
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein released a resource card in June 2024 to help seniors and families navigate long-term care options and understand available health insurance plans, addressing concerns about costs, staffing, and residents' rights in care facilities. The initiative, part of Elder Abuse Awareness Month, connects residents with state and federal agencies and includes the Department of Justice's Medicaid Investigations Division, which has recovered over $1 billion in restitution and penalties since 1979 and investigates fraud and abuse in Medicaid-funded facilities.
publicnewsservice.org
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud costs the nation $60 billion annually, with Michigan experiencing a rise in scams targeting the 22% of its population enrolled in Medicare. Common scams include imposters claiming to be from Medicare calling to verify personal information and healthcare providers billing for unnecessary services; seniors are advised to hang up on any calls claiming to be from Medicare, monitor their Explanation of Benefits monthly, and report suspicious charges. Last year, 23 Michigan home health-care operators were charged with Medicare fraud totaling over $61 million in fraudulent billings.
chicago.suntimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a personal essay by columnist Mary Mitchell about retirement planning and lifestyle, not a news article about fraud or elder abuse. While the piece briefly mentions that scammers target seniors and that elder fraud resulted in $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 (an 11% increase), the main focus is Mitchell's advice on avoiding depression, staying active, protecting finances from scams, decluttering thoughtfully, and appreciating retirement privileges. The fraud reference serves as one of five general retirement tips rather than detailing a specific scam incident.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
On June 15, 2024, U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and highlighted that financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse, costing older adults an estimated $23 billion annually. The U.S. Attorney's Office has expanded efforts to combat elder fraud through initiatives including the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, which targets foreign-based schemes, the Money Mule Initiative to disrupt fraud networks, and Senior Scam Alerts educating the public about common schemes such as Social Security impostor scams, tech support fraud, and lottery scams.
supertalk.fm
· 2025-12-08
The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting senior citizens nationwide, including in Mississippi, where fraudsters pose as government officials to steal personal information and money. These scams use tactics such as fabricating urgent debts or prize claims, threatening arrest or deportation, and demanding payment through untraceable methods like gift cards and cryptocurrency. The IRS advises seniors to hang up on unexpected calls claiming to be from the agency and to report suspected scams to the IRS at 1-800-366-4484.
katc.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors nationwide, particularly in Louisiana, where fraudsters pose as government officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and text messages. Scammers use advanced tactics including spoofed caller IDs, fabricated debt claims, and pressure for immediate payment via gift cards or wire transfers to exploit victims. The IRS recommends hanging up on unexpected calls about tax issues and verifying legitimacy by calling official IRS customer service at 800-829-1040.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning on June 12, 2024, about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors who are deceived by fraudsters posing as IRS or other government agency representatives. Scammers use manipulated caller IDs, fabricated urgent scenarios, and pressure victims to make immediate payments via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to steal personal information and money. The IRS recommends that anyone receiving unsolicited calls from alleged IRS representatives should hang up immediately and verify legitimacy by calling the official IRS customer service line at 800-829-1040.
chicagocrusader.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about impersonation scams targeting seniors in Illinois and nationwide, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use tactics such as spoofed caller IDs, fabricated urgent scenarios (false tax debts or refunds), threats of arrest or deportation, and demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The IRS recommends hanging up on unexpected calls claiming to be from the IRS, never returning calls using provided numbers, and verifying legitimacy by contacting IRS customer service at 800-829-1040.
carolinajournal.com
· 2025-12-08
North Carolina's Senior Consumer Fraud Task Force held a press conference highlighting the rising epidemic of elder fraud, with statistics showing that approximately 1 in 10 seniors becomes a victim, resulting in $3.1 billion in losses nationwide in 2022 (an 84% increase from 2021), with individual victims losing an average of $40,000. The task force identified five major scam types targeting seniors: sweetheart scams, sweepstakes scams, impostor scams, tech support scams, and grandparent scams, while warning that scammers increasingly use AI to replicate voices. Victims can report fraud to local authorities, the FBI's Internet Crime
wdam.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting Mississippi seniors, where fraudsters pose as IRS or government agency representatives to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and text messages. Scammers use pressure tactics, fake urgency, and demand payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, often spoofing caller IDs to appear legitimate. The IRS advises that anyone receiving an unexpected call claiming to be from the IRS should hang up immediately and not return the call, as the IRS initiates contact by mail about account issues.
effinghamradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about impersonation scams targeting seniors in Illinois and nationwide, where fraudsters pose as IRS or other government agency officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use tactics such as spoofed caller IDs, fabricated urgent scenarios (false tax debts or refunds), threats of arrest, and demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to pressure victims into immediate action. The IRS advises recipients of unsolicited calls claiming to be from the IRS to hang up immediately and contact legitimate IRS customer service at 800-829-1040 to verify any communications.
wgem.com
· 2025-12-08
Quincy Police arrested a suspect for residential burglary at a retirement home who allegedly stole credit and debit cards from elderly residents' apartments. Police and senior advocates warn that criminals target seniors due to their trust and desire for connection, though most crimes against the elderly involve scams conducted via phone, online, or mail. Authorities recommend family members help protect seniors by reviewing their mail and accounts for suspicious charges, discussing scam recognition, monitoring for unauthorized contact, and maintaining regular check-ins to catch fraud early.
bctv.org
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting senior citizens, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use high-pressure tactics and spoofed caller IDs to demand immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency for fictitious tax debts or false refunds. The IRS advises recipients of unexpected calls claiming to be from the agency to hang up immediately and instead contact IRS customer service directly at 800-829-1040 to verify any legitimate tax issues.
federalnewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating federal agencies caused Americans to lose approximately $1.3 billion in the past year, with financial losses surging over sevenfold since 2019. Generative AI technology, particularly voice cloning, has made these impersonation scams more convincing and successful, with criminals posing as Medicare, IRS, law enforcement, and other federal officials to pressure victims into disclosing sensitive information or paying fraudulent fees. The article emphasizes that federal agencies need enhanced tools and tactics to combat these evolving threats, as these scams exploit public trust in government institutions.
wect.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS issued a warning about impersonation scams targeting older adults in North Carolina, where fraudsters pose as government officials or businesses to steal personal information and pressure victims into making payments via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Common tactics include fabricating urgent tax debts or refund claims, spoofing caller IDs, and threatening arrest or deportation to create a sense of urgency. The IRS recommends hanging up on unexpected calls and verifying communications through official channels (800-829-1040) or their online account portal.
postandcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
In observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the IRS Criminal Investigation's Charlotte Field Office is promoting fraud awareness to combat the rising tide of financial crimes against seniors. According to the FBI's 2023 Internet Crimes Report, individuals aged 60 and above filed 101,068 complaints and sustained $3.4 billion in losses from scams including tech support fraud, government impersonation, phishing, and romance schemes. The IRS employs education, criminal investigations, and public-private partnerships to combat elder fraud, with recent prosecutions including a home health care operator sentenced to 45 months for stealing over $1 million from elderly clients and an investment fraudster sentenced to
hayspost.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting senior citizens in Kansas and nationwide, where fraudsters pose as government officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use tactics including caller ID spoofing, fabricated tax debts or refunds, threats of arrest or deportation, and demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The IRS advises recipients of suspicious calls claiming to be from the IRS to hang up immediately and contact IRS customer service at 800-829-1040 to verify any legitimate tax issues.
cpapracticeadvisor.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS has renewed warnings about impersonation scams targeting older adults, where fraudsters pose as government officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and text messages. Scammers use tactics including spoofed caller IDs, fabricated urgent debts or prize claims, threats of arrest or deportation, and demands for immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The IRS advises recipients of unexpected calls claiming to be from the IRS to hang up immediately and verify legitimacy by calling the official IRS number (800-829-1040) rather than using any number provided by the caller.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting senior citizens, in which fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and text messages. Scammers use tactics including caller ID spoofing, false claims of tax debt or prize winnings, threats of arrest or deportation, and demands for immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The IRS advises seniors to hang up on unexpected calls claiming to be from the IRS, verify communications through official channels at 800-829-1040, and report suspicious activity.
kfiz.com
· 2025-12-08
June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, highlighting that while consumers over 60 lose money to scams less frequently than younger people, they lose significantly larger amounts when victimized—averaging nearly $1,000 compared to under $500 for those under 60. Common scams targeting seniors include grandparent scams (using impersonation and AI voice cloning), Medicare scams during enrollment periods, and tech support scams falsely claiming to be from Apple or Microsoft. The article provides prevention strategies for each scam type and guidance on how to supportively help victims by responding with empathy, listening to their experience, validating their story, and assisting with reporting and recovery steps.
cedars-sinai.org
· 2025-12-08
Healthcare scams targeting vulnerable populations—including older adults, new mothers, surgery patients, and people with chronic conditions—have caused Americans to lose $10.3 billion to internet fraud in 2022 alone. Common scams involve impersonators contacting victims via phone, text, or email to steal personal information, banking details, or convince them to wire money by creating a sense of panic about their healthcare coverage. To protect yourself, verify caller identity before sharing sensitive information, read communications carefully for red flags, avoid clicking suspicious links, and contact your healthcare provider directly if you're unsure about any request.
abccolumbia.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS has issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting South Carolina seniors, in which fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) or businesses to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and text messages. Scammers use tactics including caller ID spoofing, fabricated claims of debts or prizes, pressure for immediate action with threats of arrest or deportation, and demands for payment through cryptocurrency, wire transfers, gift cards, or payment apps. The IRS advises recipients of unexpected calls to hang up immediately, avoid returning calls to provided numbers, verify communications directly with the IRS at 800-829-1040, and report suspected sc
stuttgartdailyleader.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors, in which fraudsters pose as government officials from the IRS, Social Security Administration, and Medicare to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use tactics such as spoofed caller IDs, fabricated urgent scenarios (false tax debts or prize claims), and demands for immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to pressure victims into quick compliance. The IRS recommends that anyone receiving unexpected calls from alleged IRS representatives should hang up immediately and verify any claims by calling the official IRS customer service line at 800-829-1040.
post-journal.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare will never initiate calls to you—if you receive an unsolicited call claiming to be from Medicare, it is a scam. The NY Statewide Senior Action Council and NYS Senior Medicare Patrol offer educational resources and fraud detection assistance to help seniors protect their Medicare information and identify potential scams. A Senior Safety Summit held in Chautauqua County on June 21 provided seniors an opportunity to connect with representatives from law enforcement, consumer protection, social services, and elder law organizations to learn fraud prevention strategies and address personal safety concerns.
enquirerjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
North Carolina's Senior Consumer Fraud Task Force released a new 23-minute fraud prevention video and expanded resources to combat rising scams targeting seniors, following World Elder Abuse Day in June. According to the FTC, Americans lost a record $10 billion to fraud in 2023 with a median loss of $500, with scammers increasingly targeting smaller amounts to avoid law enforcement detection. The state now offers simplified reporting through a dial-211 hotline, the N.C. Attorney General's fraud hotline, and AARP's Fraud Watch helpline to help victims recognize and report fraud without shame.
thesylvaherald.com
· 2025-12-08
North Carolina's fraud watchdogs warned of rising scams targeting seniors, with particular focus on financial elder abuse during World Elder Abuse Month in June. The N.C. Senior Consumer Fraud Task Force released a 23-minute fraud prevention video and streamlined reporting resources, including a new 2-1-1 hotline for victims to access appropriate assistance and a Department of Justice no-scam line (1-877-5-NO-SCAM) for reporting fraud. Officials emphasized that scammers impersonate government, law enforcement, and family members to steal money and information, and urged older adults to verify identities before sharing information over phone, email, text, or
theitem.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service warned South Carolina seniors about a rising trend of impersonation scams targeting older adults who are deceived by fraudsters posing as government officials or IRS agents. Scammers use manipulated caller IDs, fabricated claims of tax debts or lottery winnings, and pressure tactics demanding immediate payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to steal personal information and money. The IRS advises recipients of suspicious calls to hang up immediately and verify legitimacy by calling official IRS customer service at 800-829-1040 rather than returning the scammer's call.
messagemedia.co
· 2025-12-08
The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) to steal personal information and money through pressure tactics and threats of arrest or deportation. Scammers demand immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or payment apps while manipulating caller IDs to appear legitimate; the IRS emphasizes it never demands immediate payment through these methods and advises recipients of suspicious calls to hang up and contact IRS customer service directly at 800-829-1040 to verify legitimacy.
lexingtonchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors in South Carolina, where fraudsters pose as IRS or other government agency representatives to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and text messages. Scammers use tactics such as caller ID spoofing, fabricated urgent scenarios (false tax debts or refunds), threats of arrest or deportation, and demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to pressure victims into immediate action. The IRS advises that legitimate tax issues are initiated by mail, and anyone receiving unexpected calls from alleged IRS agents should hang up immediately and report the incident.
postandcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors in South Carolina, where fraudsters pose as IRS or other government officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use tactics including spoofed caller IDs, false claims of tax debts or prizes, pressure for immediate payment via gift cards or wire transfers, and threats of arrest or deportation. The IRS advises that it does not initiate contact via phone, email, or text about tax issues, and victims should hang up immediately and verify communications by calling 800-829-1040.
lexingtonchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting senior citizens in South Carolina, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) to steal personal information and money. Scammers use tactics such as caller ID spoofing, fabricated urgent debts or prize claims, threats of arrest or deportation, and demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to pressure victims into immediate action. The warning is part of broader World Elder Abuse Awareness Day efforts and the IRS's ongoing Security Summit partnership to educate seniors and protect them from these schemes.
mishtalk.com
· 2025-12-08
AI tools like ChatGPT are enabling scammers to create convincing phishing emails, imitate voices and identities, and automate fraud schemes that bypass traditional red flags like poor grammar. Criminals can now use AI to target larger groups with personalized information, forge identification documents, and rapidly test stolen passwords across multiple platforms, making these scams significantly harder for individuals and banks to detect. Financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase are deploying AI-based fraud detection systems and increasing customer education, while experts recommend protective measures such as credit freezes and password hygiene to mitigate risk.
thetomahawk.com
· 2025-12-08
Retired social worker Nancy Wills spoke at the Johnson County Senior Center about elder abuse awareness, highlighting that financial exploitation is the fastest-growing form of elder abuse, with only one in 24 cases reported to police. Wills advised seniors to avoid answering unfamiliar phone numbers, ignore telemarketers, and verify unexpected requests for money by calling family members directly rather than complying immediately. The presentation emphasized that scams targeting seniors are nationwide, occurring in 90% of cases within victims' homes and frequently perpetrated by family members.
yourdailyjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
The Department of Insurance reports a spike in insurance fraud cases affecting all consumers through increased premiums, with particular targeting of seniors through door-to-door fake insurance sales, deceptive annuity/investment schemes, prescription fraud, and staged accident claims. The department received over 10,000 Medicare fraud complaints in 2023 involving unauthorized billing for medical supplies and duplicate charges, and provides 14 protective tips including verifying agent credentials, obtaining written estimates, protecting personal information, and reviewing explanation of benefits statements.
nj.gov
· 2025-12-08
On June 14 in Ewing Township, New Jersey's Attorney General's Office, Medicaid Fraud Unit, Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, and Elder Protection Task Force honored Certified Volunteer Advocates (CVAs) for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. CVAs work with the Long-Term Care Ombudsman to regularly visit nursing homes statewide, engage with residents, and advocate for their rights and interests.
minotdailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (held in June) raises awareness about preventing Medicare fraud, which costs the program an estimated $60 billion annually and affects beneficiaries through identity theft, stress, and health risks. The North Dakota Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) educates beneficiaries, caregivers, families, and healthcare providers on how to detect and prevent fraud, including monitoring insurance statements, refusing unsolicited medical equipment shipments, protecting Medicare numbers, and reporting suspicious activity. Prevention strategies emphasize year-round vigilance, including reviewing Medicare.gov accounts, registering on do-not-call lists, and community members watching for suspicious purchasing patterns among older adults.
fedweek.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
In 2023, the FBI reported an 11 percent overall increase in fraud complaints, with a 14 percent surge in scams targeting adults 60 and older, who lost $3.4 billion of the $12.5 billion in total reported losses. Tech support fraud was the leading crime affecting seniors with nearly 18,000 complaints and $600 million in losses, while investment scams proved costliest at over $1.2 billion, and call center schemes disproportionately impacted older adults who lost almost $770 million—more than all other age groups combined, with some victims reportedly taking their own lives. The FBI recommends resisting pressure to
theintermountain.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS has issued a warning about impersonation scams increasingly targeting seniors, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) via phone calls, emails, and text messages to steal personal information and money. Scammers use pressure tactics, fake caller IDs, and demands for payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, often threatening arrest or deportation to coerce immediate compliance. The IRS advises seniors to hang up on unexpected calls claiming tax issues, verify communications directly at 800-829-1040, and never provide sensitive information or make payments without confirming legitimacy through official channels.
valleytimes-news.com
· 2025-12-08
Police Chief Denise McCain and representatives from the FBI, Better Business Bureau, and other agencies presented at an East Alabama Regional Planning Commission Summit to educate seniors about fraud targeting older adults. The presentation covered common scams including jury duty imposters, tech support blackmail, grandparent scams using AI-generated voices, lottery scams, and IRS fraud, emphasizing that older adults with good savings and credit are lucrative targets who often delay reporting due to shame or uncertainty about where to report. Key prevention advice included never providing information over the phone, calling loved ones directly to verify requests, and immediately reporting blackmail to police.
candgnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido held an educational workshop in June to inform the public—particularly seniors—about common scams and fraud tactics, highlighting how personal information shared online is often sold to third parties and exploited by scammers. The workshop identified four key components scammers use (pretend, payment, prize/problem, and pressure) and covered various fraud methods including spoofing, phishing, vishing, and impersonation of authorities, banks, and tech support. Lucido recommended using "opt out" selections when filling out forms and published a 30-page guide called "S.C.A.M.S." to help prevent identity theft and financial fraud in
cfpublic.org
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice charged 193 people nationwide in a health care fraud crackdown targeting elderly and disabled beneficiaries, including several Central Florida residents. The defendants included individuals who filed bogus medical equipment claims totaling millions in Medicare fraud ($9.3 million and $3.4 million in two cases), a nurse practitioner who illegally prescribed 1.5 million Adderall pills and received $800,000, and a hospital nurse accused of stealing fentanyl from patient IV bags. The cases involved conspiracy to commit health care fraud, illegal drug distribution, and theft of controlled substances from medical facilities.
lawrencecountypress.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS warned Mississippi seniors about rising impersonation scams where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) via phone calls, emails, and texts to steal personal information and money. Scammers pressure victims into immediate payments using unconventional methods like gift cards, wire transfers, and cryptocurrency by creating false urgency through threats of arrest, deportation, or claims of unpaid taxes. The IRS advises recipients of unsolicited calls to hang up immediately, verify communications through official channels at 800-829-1040, and report scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
wsiltv.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults are frequently targeted by scammers who impersonate government officials, bank employees, Medicare representatives, or tech company workers to steal personal information. The Better Business Bureau recommends protecting seniors by establishing open communication with loved ones and including their caregivers in conversations about fraud awareness.
grandrapidsmn.com
· 2025-12-08
The Senior LinkAge Line offered educational classes on August 14, 2024, teaching older adults how to detect, report, and prevent health care fraud, waste, and abuse. Participants learned to identify potential Medicare errors and scams, protect their Medicare beneficiary numbers, read Medicare paperwork, and report fraudulent activity through the federally supported Senior Medicare Patrol program.
jewishaz.com
· 2025-12-08
The National Council on Aging identifies five major scams responsible for over 65% of reported incidents targeting seniors, including government impersonation, sweepstakes/lottery schemes, robocalls, grandparent scams, and romance scams—with emerging threats like deepfake technology and pandemic-related fraud. Protection strategies include verifying caller identity, avoiding personal information sharing, and staying informed through resources like the FTC's "Pass It On" campaign and AARP Fraud Watch Network, while community education and family communication serve as the most effective defenses.
hometownfocus.us
· 2025-12-08
The Senior LinkAge Line® is offering two online educational classes on Wednesday, August 14 to teach seniors how to identify and prevent health care fraud, waste, and abuse. The classes are designed to help older adults protect themselves from fraudulent billing practices and unnecessary medical expenses.
nerdwallet.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines key strategies for avoiding financial scams, noting that 54% of Americans have experienced scam attempts in the past two years, with 18% losing money (median loss of $325, though 32% lost $1,000 or more). Experts recommend four main protective measures: hanging up and contacting companies directly using verified numbers, enabling multifactor authentication and monitoring accounts weekly, familiarizing yourself with common scam types, and recognizing that anyone—regardless of education or income level—can fall victim to fraud.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Telehealth fraud, identified as the New York StateWide Senior Action Council's Medicare Fraud of the Month for July 2024, typically involves telemarketers obtaining seniors' Medicare information, paying providers to sign unnecessary orders without proper patient interaction, and submitting false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for durable medical equipment, lab services, or pharmaceuticals. The Council advises seniors to schedule telehealth appointments directly with their providers, guard their Medicare cards, reject unsolicited offers for free services, and review billing statements for suspicious charges, with Medicare fraud estimated to cost taxpayers over $60 billion nationally per year.
valleybreeze.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors, where fraudsters pose as government officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers pressure victims into immediate payments via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency by fabricating urgent scenarios like fake tax debts or promises of refunds, often using spoofed caller IDs to appear legitimate. The IRS advises seniors to hang up on unexpected calls claiming to be from the agency and verify contact directly at 800-829-1040 rather than using numbers provided by callers.
newsmirror.net
· 2025-12-08
Seniors lost over $3 billion to scams in 2023, with losses reaching $1.6 billion in just the first five months of 2024, representing a significant increase year-over-year. Older adults are particularly vulnerable targets because they tend to be trusting, have financial savings, and good credit, making them attractive to con artists. Common scams targeting seniors include romance scams (where scammers pose as romantic partners to extract money) and tech support scams (where fake pop-ups trick victims into calling numbers and granting remote computer access).
azbigmedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Up to 20% of older Americans fall victim to elder fraud annually, with losses totaling over $3.4 billion in 2023 and averaging $34,000 per victim, using methods like deceptive emails, phone calls, and impersonation scams. Common schemes include government impersonation, sweepstakes scams, robocalls, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams targeting seniors due to isolation and limited technical knowledge. Prevention strategies include staying informed about evolving scams, monitoring accounts regularly, maintaining open communication with family about finances, reporting suspicious activity immediately, and pausing before responding to urgent requests for money or personal information.
greenwichsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting senior citizens, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security, Medicare) or businesses to steal personal information and money. Scammers use pressure tactics, fake caller IDs, and demands for immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to exploit victims. The IRS advises that it does not initiate contact by phone, email, or text about tax issues, and victims should hang up on unexpected calls and report scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
oag.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
Dr. Magaly Mercedes Velasquez and two employees of her Riverside County dental practice were sentenced for fraudulently billing California's Medi-Cal program approximately $800,000 between 2017 and 2019. Velasquez and her spouse Maria Jose Talavera each received 364 days in jail and were ordered to pay $770,238 in restitution, while billing manager Jessica Monique Perez received two years of probation. The scheme involved falsely splitting dental services across multiple days to maximize reimbursements from Medi-Cal, which should have reimbursed only for actual services provided rather than per-day billing.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens lose approximately $3 billion annually to elder fraud, with scammers increasingly targeting seniors due to their financial security and trusting nature. The article identifies eight common scams affecting elderly individuals, including tech support/home repair fraud, grandchild impersonation schemes, government agency impersonation, fake sweepstakes, phishing emails (particularly fake Geek Squad invoices), overpayment scams, and unsubscribe email phishing attempts. Key prevention strategies include verifying caller identities independently, confirming stories with family members before sending money, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and researching companies before making purchases.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article describes 12 common scams targeting seniors, including government impersonation (IRS, Medicare, Social Security), fake charity donations, lottery/sweepstakes schemes, phishing emails, voice recording scams, grandchild emergency requests, computer repair scams, and romance scams. The article advises seniors to verify requests independently, never provide personal information to unsolicited callers, hang up without responding to suspicious calls, and confirm the identity of family members before sending money.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A Louisiana physician, Adrian Dexter Talbot, was convicted of illegally distributing over 1.8 million doses of Schedule II opioids and defrauding health care programs of more than $5.4 million. Talbot operated a clinic that dispensed prescriptions for cash without proper patient examinations, pre-signed prescriptions while working elsewhere, falsified patient records, and allowed individuals to bill Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield for prescriptions written without medical necessity. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each count and sentencing is scheduled for October 23.
jcsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elder fraud reports to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center rose 14 percent, with over 101,000 victims aged 60 and older losing more than $3.4 billion—an average of $33,915 per victim. The most common scams included tech support fraud, investment schemes (costing $1.2 billion alone), government impersonation, romance scams, and cryptocurrency fraud, with scammers often using spoofed caller IDs and posing as agencies like the IRS and Social Security Administration. TARCOG hosted a Fraud & Scam Summit in Alabama to educate the community about these schemes and provide resources to
irontontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud costs the program an estimated $60 billion annually and can result in identity theft and financial loss for beneficiaries. Common scams include unsolicited contacts requesting personal information, fake websites, pressure to act quickly, and unauthorized billing for services never received. The article recommends protecting yourself by sharing Medicare and Social Security numbers only with trusted individuals, carrying your Medicare card selectively, reviewing statements carefully, and reporting suspected fraud to the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-488-6070 (extension 4 in Ohio).
tribdem.com
· 2025-12-08
The "plastic Medicare card" scam continues to target Medicare beneficiaries who receive unsolicited calls claiming a new chip-enabled Medicare card will arrive, but the card never materializes. Medicare and Social Security will never call beneficiaries requesting personal information, and there is no new plastic Medicare card with a chip—the current card remains unchanged since its 2018 update. Victims should report fraud to Social Security's Senior Medicare Patrol at 877-808-2468 or online, and protect themselves by not sharing personal information with unsolicited callers and following a safety script.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Healthcare fraud costs tens of billions annually in the U.S., with identity theft occurring every 2.2 seconds. While young adults (18-24) are typically the most targeted demographic, seniors are also vulnerable; victims should watch for red flags in official-looking documents like grammatical errors and should independently verify contact information rather than using numbers provided in suspicious communications. Georgia has reduced identity theft cases through stricter felony laws targeting exploitation of senior citizens, and resources like BBB survival kits are available to help victims resolve fraud.
kcentv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Temple Police Department reported a surge in phone and online scams targeting Central Texas residents, including Microsoft, IRS tax, Social Security/Medicare, and law enforcement impersonation schemes. One victim received a call from someone posing as a Bell County Sheriff's deputy demanding several thousand dollars for a fake failure-to-appear warrant, using real names of county officials to appear credible. Police advise residents to verify caller identities independently, never share personal or financial information unsolicited, and report suspected scams immediately.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI received more than 147,000 reports of scams and fraud targeting Americans ages 60 and older in 2024, with reported losses exceeding $100,000 more than tripling since 2020. Seniors are targeted because they control over 60% of the nation's wealth, and scammers use sophisticated impersonation, phishing, vishing, and smishing tactics to steal personal and financial information. The article advises awareness of these common scam types and recommends working with financial advisors to identify and protect against fraudulent schemes.
kaco.org
· 2025-12-08
Kentucky's Attorney General's Office released an updated 2024 Elder Abuse Prosecution Manual to be distributed to all local prosecutor offices, providing best practices for prosecuting cases involving personal, financial, and medical abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults. The office received nearly 1,300 elder abuse referrals in 2023, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem in the state. The manual represents an effort to enhance prosecution capabilities and protect Kentucky seniors from abuse and exploitation.
reviewjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
A Medicare card scam continues to target seniors by impersonating Medicare officials via phone calls to verify personal information and claim new plastic cards with chips will arrive. Medicare and Social Security never initiate calls requesting personal or banking information; instead, they communicate through official letters, so recipients should immediately contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report compromised information and set up fraud alerts. The article provides protective guidance including never sharing Medicare or Social Security numbers with unsolicited callers and being wary of "free" offers, noting that Medicare and Medicaid fraud costs taxpayers over $100 billion annually.
kentuckytoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman released a revised 2024 Elder Abuse Prosecution Manual—a comprehensive 256-page resource first published in 2006—to guide prosecutors in handling cases involving personal, financial, and medical abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults. The manual is being distributed to all 57 Commonwealth's Attorney Offices and 120 County Attorney Offices across Kentucky, reflecting the state's recognition of elder abuse as a serious issue, with the AG's Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control receiving nearly 1,300 referrals in 2023.
wrat.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article from the Federal Trade Commission outlines common online scams and fraud schemes affecting consumers. Key scams discussed include spoofing (falsifying caller ID to impersonate legitimate organizations), the 809 scam (international callback schemes with high rates), catfishing (creating fake online identities for romance or exploitation scams), cramming (unauthorized small charges on bills), and family emergency scams (targeting grandparents with urgent requests for money). The article advises consumers to hang up on unsolicited callers, verify numbers independently, never share personal information with unknown callers, and be cautious of suspicious requests—noting that while younger adults report romance scams more frequently, older consumers typically lose
highlandcountypress.com
· 2025-12-08
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program empowers Medicare beneficiaries to prevent and report healthcare fraud, particularly medical identity theft where fraudsters use personal information to bill for unauthorized services. In 2023, the nationwide SMP program reached 1.2 million people through outreach events, assisted over 270,000 beneficiaries with fraud-related issues, and helped Medicare recoup more than $111 million in fraudulent billings while identifying 26 emerging fraud schemes.
timesgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a national program that educates Medicare beneficiaries and their families about detecting and reporting healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse, with particular focus on medical identity theft—when fraudsters use personal information like Medicare numbers to bill for unauthorized services. In 2023, the SMP program reached 1.2 million people through outreach events, assisted over 270,000 beneficiaries with fraud complaints, identified 26 emerging fraud schemes, and helped Medicare recover more than $111 million in fraudulent billings. The Ohio SMP, operated by Pro Seniors Inc., encourages beneficiaries to report suspicious activity and offers resources to protect Medicare information.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Christopher Parks, Christopher Noah Parks, and Stephen Miller operated a fraudulent medical debt collection scheme through companies Assured Collections LLC and Assured Financial LLC, sending thousands of false debt collection notices nationwide to veterans and older Americans demanding payment for medical devices they either did not owe or had never received. The scheme, which Parks directed while incarcerated for prior healthcare fraud charges, caused consumers to pay debts that were largely illusory, leading a federal court in Oklahoma to issue permanent injunctions on August 2 barring the defendants from engaging in any future billing or debt collection activities.
kxeo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The Mexico Chamber of Commerce warns that during Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7, 2024), seniors will receive increased unsolicited calls from illegal call centers attempting to obtain Medicare Beneficiary Identification (MBI) numbers through deceptive tactics. Scammers target low-income and elderly individuals by claiming superior plans or new benefits exist, then use stolen MBI numbers to commit fraud or fraudulently change insurance coverage. The Chamber advises seniors to protect their MBI like a credit card number, hang up on suspicious callers, report door-knockers to police, and contact the Chamber for vetted licensed insurance agents.
journalrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
Fake tax scams impersonating IRS and other government agencies increasingly target older adults by using caller ID manipulation and creating false urgency to pressure victims into providing personal information or making payments via gift cards or wire transfers. Legitimate tax authorities initiate contact by mail, not phone or email, and victims can verify claims by calling the IRS directly at (800) 829-1040 or reporting scams to the Treasury Inspector General at (800) 366-4484. Those who have fallen victim to elder fraud can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at (833) 372-8311.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program educates Medicare beneficiaries on preventing health care fraud, with particular focus on medical identity theft schemes involving unauthorized use of names and Medicare numbers to bill for services or supplies. In 2023, the SMP program reached 1.2 million people through outreach events, assisted over 270,000 beneficiaries with fraud complaints, identified 26 emerging fraud schemes, and helped Medicare recoup over $111 million in fraudulent billings.