Senior Online Scam Alerts – July 2026
Recent senior-scam news from July 2026: 69 stories from across the United States, tagged by state, scam type, story kind, and AI. Click a tag to open the related page on this site, or use the filters below.
Expert: AI voice cloning is making grandparent and impersonation scams more convincing
At a fraud-prevention session, a consumer-protection expert explained how AI is raising the stakes on scams that already target seniors: fraudsters can pull audio from social media to clone a family member's voice for a fake emergency call, and use AI to alter faces and voices on video calls to look and sound legitimate. He said government agencies never initiate contact by phone, so any call claiming to be the IRS, Social Security, or the FBI is a scam, and that any request to pay through a cryptocurrency ATM is always a scammer. Other advice: legitimate tech companies do not send pop-up warnings with a phone number to call, so restart your computer instead of clicking a link or handing over remote access; use unique passwords and multi-factor authentication; and place a security freeze on your credit report. According to FTC data cited at the session, Americans reported losing a record $15.9 billion to fraud and scams in 2025, an all-ages figure that is separate from the FBI's own reporting on losses to adults 60 and older.
Senate Aging Committee hears bankers' testimony on AI-enabled fraud targeting seniors
The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on July 29, 2026 on AI-generated fraud targeting older Americans. A witness from the American Bankers Association testified that artificial intelligence is amplifying fraud schemes rather than creating new ones, saying a criminal can now create a convincing fake voice, video, photo, text message, ad, or online persona with little skill or cost. He recommended that Congress create a National Office for Scam and Fraud Prevention to provide accountable national leadership, along with strengthening telecommunications safeguards, improving how fraud information is shared to help recover stolen funds, and modernizing identity and authentication systems. He also noted that banks already use AI, advanced analytics, employee training, and consumer education to help spot suspicious activity. The hearing is a reminder that as scams become more convincing, the same basic defense still works: slow down and verify independently before sending money.
FBI: older Americans lost nearly $8 billion to scams last year; here's how to protect yourself
The FBI says Americans 60 and older lost nearly $8 billion to scams last year, and ABC11 lays out practical ways to protect yourself: verify any unsolicited call, text, or email independently by going directly to the institution's real website rather than clicking a link or calling a number it provides, and treat any unexpected contact with skepticism even if it looks legitimate. Scammers often use personal details found on social media to sound credible, then work to build trust before asking for money, and increasingly target investment accounts and home equity, not just checking accounts. The core habit that protects you: slow down, verify through a source you look up yourself, and never let anyone rush you into moving money.
Free StarComm workshop in Clinton, North Carolina teaches seniors to spot scams
Star Communications is hosting a free workshop on August 12 in Clinton, North Carolina to help seniors recognize and avoid scams, protect personal information, and stay safer online. The session covers password security, how to spot a fake email by checking the real sender address, common impersonation tactics, phone scams that use voice-imitation technology, and the social-engineering tricks scammers use to draw out personal details. The event includes a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session, with seating limited to about 50 people; registration is available in person, online, or by phone.
Fake pop-up warning led a Ventura County, California senior to hand $14,000 to a courier
A Thousand Oaks, California senior clicked a link while deleting spam email and got a pop-up warning that her computer was infected, telling her not to shut it off and to call the number on screen, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office. The call was transferred to someone posing as an FTC officer who falsely said she was a suspect in a money-laundering investigation, then to a fake Treasury Department threat that her accounts would be frozen unless she withdrew cash immediately. Staying on the phone the entire time, the caller directed her to withdraw $14,000 from her bank, return home, and hand the cash to a stranger who arrived with a password to 'prove' she was legitimate. No real government agency will ever tell you to withdraw cash, hand it to a courier, or keep the call secret from your family, so the safe move is to slow down, hang up immediately, especially if a caller stresses urgency or secrecy, and verify by calling the agency back using a number you look up yourself.
Security footage shows a rental scam that sent two women to a stranger's occupied home
Security footage from a home in Abilene, Texas shows what a rental scam looks like when it goes wrong: two older women showed up to view a house they had found in an online listing, only to be greeted by the actual homeowner's partner, who asked through a doorbell camera, 'What are you guys doing?' Local police and the Better Business Bureau say scammers are posting fake rental listings, often on sites like Facebook Marketplace, using real addresses without the owner's knowledge, and asking for a deposit before a would-be renter can even see the inside. The BBB warns never to send money through a payment app before viewing a property in person, and recommends checking BBB Scam Tracker to see whether a listing has already been reported. If a landlord pressures you to pay quickly or won't let you see a place first, treat it as a red flag and verify the listing independently before sending anything.
Bradenton, Florida police break down the 'Five P's of Fraud' seniors should know
Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit, a specialized team formed in early 2024 that focuses only on financial crimes against residents 60 and older, is teaching Suncoast seniors to recognize the 'Five P's of Fraud': scammers Pretend to be a trusted organization, claim a Problem exists, dangle a Prize, apply Pressure to act immediately, and specify how to Pay. The unit has investigated cases totaling more than $11.4 million in losses to Bradenton seniors in 2024 and 2025, and says cryptocurrency scams are a growing threat because that money can be difficult or impossible to recover. The department has put together a free, large-print resource guide available at bradentonpd.com. If any of the Five P's shows up in a call, text, or visit, slow down and verify before doing anything.
Alabama's TARCOG to hold a free Fraud and Scam Summit in Guntersville for older adults
The Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG), the region's Area Agency on Aging, is holding a free Fraud and Scam Summit for older adults, caregivers, and professionals on August 25, 2026 in Guntersville. Past summits in the series have brought in speakers from the Alabama Securities Commission and local law enforcement to cover common scams, identity theft, and financial exploitation. Registration is required and available through TARCOG's website or by phone. Free, local events like this give older adults and their families a chance to learn current scam warning signs and ask questions directly.
Former FBI investigator warns East Texas seniors about common scam tactics
At a presentation in Hudson, Texas, a former FBI investigator walked older residents through the scams most likely to reach them: unsolicited calls or texts posing as a bank or government agency, romance schemes, a 'grandchild in trouble' asking for a rushed wire transfer, fake prize notifications, phony charities, and investment pitches promising guaranteed returns. His advice: never send money to someone you have never met in person, mail checks at the post office rather than a street mailbox, review bank statements regularly, and simply hang up on a call that pressures you to act fast or share sensitive information.
Bipartisan 'Senior Chatbot Protection Act' would require AI chatbots to disclose they aren't human
U.S. senators from Arizona and West Virginia have introduced a bipartisan bill, the Senior Chatbot Protection Act, that would require AI chatbot and voice-assistant companies to clearly disclose when a user is talking with AI rather than a person, and would ban chatbots from falsely claiming to be a licensed professional. The bill would add extra warnings for sensitive topics like health care and estate planning, limit how a user's conversations can be used for advertising, and direct federal standards-setters to develop guidance for AI systems used by older adults. Sponsors point to the FBI's finding that adults 60 and older filed more than 201,000 fraud complaints and reported $7.7 billion in losses in 2025 as the backdrop for the bill. It's a reminder that when a call, chat, or voice feels convincing, it is still worth slowing down and verifying who, or what, you are really talking to.
National Police Association endorses the STOP Scams Against Seniors Act
The National Police Association has endorsed the STOP Scams Against Seniors Act, a bipartisan federal bill that would let local, state, and federal law enforcement combine resources through new elder justice task forces, using Department of Justice grant funding to bring prosecutors, Adult Protective Services, and victim-support programs together alongside police. Backers say the goal is to give agencies more capacity and coordination to investigate crimes against older adults, which often cross city, county, and state lines. The bill is a reminder that reporting a suspected scam, even a small one, helps build the case history that makes these coordinated investigations possible.
College student runs free seminars teaching Mississippi seniors to spot AI deepfake scams
A college computer-science student is running free seminars at senior centers across Madison County, Mississippi to teach older residents how to recognize AI-generated deepfakes and online scams, after hearing that a senior had lost $30,000 investing in a scheme built around a deepfake video of a famous tech entrepreneur. She has already reached about 100 residents across seven sessions, with more scheduled through mid-August. Attendees have asked detailed questions and taken notes, a reminder that awareness events like this make it easier to slow down and question a video or voice that seems too convincing before acting on it.
Researchers: AI voice calls and fixed incomes put older adults at greater risk of financial scams
Criminology researchers say older adults face particular scam risk because of a lifetime of accumulated savings, dependence on a fixed retirement income, and age-related health changes, and that AI is adding a constant, overwhelming new dimension to these schemes. They say education is the strongest defense available right now, including teaching younger generations about elder financial exploitation so they can help older relatives. Their advice for anyone facing a pressured, urgent request: stop, slow down, and check with a trusted contact before sending any money.
Florida warning: fake bank employees are visiting homes to 'collect' debit cards
In Palm Beach County, Florida, an older woman got a call from someone claiming to be with her bank, who said a representative would come to her home because of suspected fraud on her account. A man in business attire arrived, said he needed to collect her debit card to protect it, cut it up in front of her, and had her sign an envelope, but nearly $2,400 had already been withdrawn from her account by the time she checked with her actual bank branch. A real bank will never send someone to your home to collect a card, so if you get a call like this, hang up and go to your bank in person or call a number you look up yourself. Scammers may already know details about you or your family to sound convincing, so treat any unexpected, urgent request as a red flag and check it with someone you trust before acting.
FBI and GBI warn Georgians as cryptocurrency scams surge, with seniors losing the most
The FBI and Georgia Bureau of Investigation are warning residents about a rise in cryptocurrency scams after a retired Georgia couple lost nearly $800,000 this year when contacts made through WhatsApp convinced them to move their savings into a fake crypto investment account. Investigators say these schemes often start with an unsolicited text, social media message, dating app conversation, or fake job offer from a stranger who spends weeks or months building trust before pushing a cryptocurrency investment. Georgians reported more than $400 million in cybercrime losses last year, with crypto investment scams accounting for nearly half of that total, and officials say AI is making the fake messages, voices, and investment platforms harder to spot. If you lose money, reporting it to local law enforcement within 24 to 48 hours gives investigators the best chance of intercepting the payment, and the safe habit going forward is to never send cryptocurrency to someone you have only met online and to research any investment independently before sending money.
Vancouver, Canada police warn of a 'blessing scam' after a senior loses $23,000
Vancouver, Canada police are asking people to talk to their elderly relatives about a 'blessing scam' that has already been used more than a dozen times in the city this year, most recently costing an East Vancouver senior about $23,000. In this well-documented scheme, strangers typically approach an older person with an urgent story, such as a sick relative or a spiritual danger to the family, then offer to 'bless' cash or jewelry to protect against it, and swap the bag for a worthless one or simply walk off with it while the person is distracted. Investigators are still looking for those responsible. If a stranger ever asks you to hand over cash or valuables for any reason, including a blessing, ritual, or protection from harm, say no and walk away, then tell a family member or call police right away.
Indiana outlet lists Medicare and senior-scam tactics, from fake hospice enrollment to AI voice cloning
The Pendleton Times Post is warning Madison County, Indiana seniors about a range of Medicare and financial scams, including fraudulent hospice enrollment, cold calls pushing an unnecessary Medicare plan switch, unsolicited pressure to sell a home, fake tech-support pop-ups, and calls that use AI-cloned voices to make a family member sound like they are in an emergency. Indiana residents 60 and older lost more than $81 million to fraud in 2025, according to federal data. The advice: never share banking or Medicare details over the phone, verify a relative's emergency by calling them back directly, and slow down before acting on pressure from an unexpected call, text, or pop-up.
St. Charles County, Missouri police report a rise in scams targeting seniors
St. Charles County, Missouri police say scam investigations involving older residents are up significantly this year, with tactics ranging from fake package-delivery texts to romance schemes to cash deposits at cryptocurrency kiosks. In one recent close call, an 82-year-old resident got a text about an order she never placed, and when she responded, a caller claiming to be a federal official told her to withdraw money to 'protect' it; she hung up instead. Police say the common thread is urgency, and that residents who report a suspected scam right away give officers a much better chance of recovering the money, as in one case that recovered $50,000 for a victim. If an unexpected call or text pressures you to move money fast, slow down and verify through a number you look up yourself before doing anything.
Montana's Elder Justice Summit focuses on scam prevention and education for seniors
Montana's Department of Justice held an Elder Justice Summit in Kalispell, bringing together state and local officials and an elder-justice unit, along with a scam survivor who now advocates for other victims, to share warning signs and prevention tips with about 70 attendees. Officials emphasized red flags like pressure to act urgently and requests for payment through gift cards, and the survivor urged people not to feel ashamed and to speak up if something feels wrong, since these schemes are often underreported. She lost $240,000 to a scam in 2022 and recovered $50,000 of it through the state's restitution assistance fund, a reminder that reporting quickly can open the door to real help. Older adults remain the most-targeted age group for fraud nationally, so awareness events like this give families a chance to learn the warning signs before a scam reaches them.
Palos Park, Illinois police to hold two scam-prevention seminars for seniors
The Palos Park Police Department in Illinois is holding two free scam-prevention seminars for older residents on August 4, 2026, covering phishing, smishing, vishing, fraudulent tax schemes, and identity theft, along with how to recognize warning signs and respond safely. The department points to the FBI's 2025 elder fraud data showing seniors lost about $7.7 billion to scams nationwide, affecting more than 200,000 people, a 37 percent increase in complaints from the year before. Free, local sessions like this give older adults and their families a chance to ask questions and build habits that make it easier to slow down and verify before acting on an unexpected call, text, or email.
U.S. Marshals warn Nevada residents of callers posing as federal officers
The U.S. Marshals Service in Nevada is warning residents about callers who impersonate deputy marshals, claiming the person has a fake warrant, missed jury duty, or a pending subpoena, then demand payment by cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfer, or bitcoin to make it go away. The Marshals Service says it will never request payment over the phone in any of these forms. If you get a call like this, hang up, never share financial or personal information, and report it to your local FBI office, the FTC, or the DOJ Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 (1-833-FRAUD-11).
Kinston, North Carolina police host a senior scam-prevention town hall
The Kinston Police Department is holding a community town hall at the Neuse Regional Library for seniors, caregivers, and family members to learn about recognizing common scams, preventing financial exploitation, and protecting older adults from fraud and elder abuse. Attendees can ask questions and raise concerns directly with officers. Free, local events like this give older adults and their families a chance to stay current on the scams active in their area and to slow down and ask questions before a real threat reaches them.
Opinion: San Diego must treat elder fraud as the crisis it has become
In a Times of San Diego opinion piece, an aging-services advocate argues that elder fraud should be treated as the public crisis it has become, not hidden as a private embarrassment, because it thrives on silence, confusion, and delay. The piece calls for faster, better-coordinated prevention: clearer authority for banks to pause a withdrawal when exploitation is suspected, and families agreeing on a simple safe word or phrase to confirm whether an urgent call, text, or email is really from someone they trust. The core advice holds for any scam: slow down and verify before sending money, sharing a password, or agreeing to keep something secret.
FBI warns scammers are impersonating its own IC3 fraud-reporting center to re-target past victims
The FBI says criminals are posing as its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and even senior FBI officials, using fake IC3 websites and AI-generated videos, to contact people who already lost money to a scam and offer to help recover it. These re-targeting attempts often start with an unsolicited email, call, message, or social media post claiming a case can be reopened for a fee or personal information. The real IC3 has no social media presence and never initiates contact this way, so always type www.ic3.gov directly into your browser rather than clicking a link, and slow down before responding to any unexpected offer to recover money you have lost. The DOJ Elder Fraud Hotline, 1-833-372-8311, is another way to check whether a recovery offer is legitimate.
Dearborn, Michigan police warn of a surge in door-to-door home repair scams targeting seniors
Police in Dearborn, Michigan are warning residents, especially older homeowners with well-kept houses, about con artists going door-to-door claiming urgent repairs are needed, then demanding full payment upfront before doing shoddy work or none at all. Officers say warning signs include an unprofessional appearance, pressure to pay immediately, and claims that a repair is a safety emergency. The safe move is to never pay upfront, ask for identification and proof of a contractor license, get a written price quote, and slow down by checking with a trusted family member or the company's real license before agreeing to any work.
Suffolk County, Massachusetts prosecutors warn seniors about AI voice cloning and deepfake scams
At a fraud-prevention workshop in Dorchester, Massachusetts, prosecutors warned residents that AI tools now let scammers clone a family member's voice for fake emergency calls, generate realistic fake photos and personas for romance scams, and produce convincing deepfake videos in minutes. They described one case in which a retiree lost more than a million dollars after being drawn into a fake online relationship and a bogus cryptocurrency investment. Their advice: block and delete suspicious messages, never use a phone number from a text or call, always dial the number on the back of your bank card instead, and independently verify any request from a 'family member' by contacting them directly before sending money.
Riverside, California widow loses about $425,000 to an online dating scam
A 76-year-old widow in Riverside, California lost roughly $425,000 over about two years after meeting a man on a dating app who said he was a widower working on an oil rig and promised marriage. He claimed he needed money to release a multimillion-dollar fortune frozen by a tax lien, so she wired funds repeatedly and eventually sold her home, still below market value, to keep paying. Police say romance scams remain the most common fraud reported by adults 65 and older, and that friends and family are often better positioned than the person being targeted to spot the warning signs. If an online partner you have never met in person keeps asking for money, slow down, talk to someone you trust, and stop sending funds.
Dallas seniors take free tech classes to learn how to spot scam emails
At the Singing Hills Senior Center in South Dallas, Texas, older residents are taking free technology classes that teach how to spot fraudulent emails and suspicious links, alongside everyday skills like using medical and pharmacy apps. One participant described how a deceptive email that looked like it came from a friend ended up compromising her computer, a reminder of how convincing these messages can look. The program also provides free computers and tablets to seniors who need one. Building comfort with technology, and learning to slow down before clicking an unexpected link, is one more way older adults can protect themselves online.
Florida elder-law and aging advocates share eight ways seniors can guard their savings
Southwest Florida elder-law attorneys and aging-services advocates are sharing practical ways older adults can protect their retirement savings, prompted in part by a case in which a woman was deceived by someone posing as a well-known TV actor in a romance scam. Their advice includes pausing to verify before sending money, watching bank and property records for unauthorized activity, staying socially connected since isolation increases vulnerability, having a trusted person review any contract before signing, and setting up powers of attorney and other legal protections early. Free help is available through legal aid and local Area Agency on Aging offices for anyone who wants a second opinion before signing something or sending money.
Ohio experts share practical steps to help seniors and families spot scams
On Ohio public radio, a consumer-law professor and a state consumer-affairs director walked through the scams most likely to reach older adults: fake emergency calls from a 'grandchild,' romance schemes that now use voice cloning and deepfakes, callers posing as Medicare or the IRS, and fake QR codes placed over real ones on parking meters and payment signs. Their advice: set a family code word that is never posted online, let unknown calls go to voicemail, and verify anyone claiming to be a company or agency using a number you look up yourself, not one they give you. Slow down before sending money, cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to anyone you have not independently verified.
Burlington, Ontario senior loses roughly $360,000 to a fake Crown attorney caller
A 75-year-old woman in Burlington, Ontario lost roughly $360,000 over about two and a half months after callers posing as an official from a Crown attorney's office reached her by phone and messaging app. Over time they gained her trust and guided her into a pattern of frequent bank withdrawals and a large purchase of gold that was then handed over, her family says. Real prosecutors and government offices never direct someone to withdraw cash, buy gold, or hand valuables to a courier, so the safe move is to slow down, hang up, and verify by calling the office back using a number you look up yourself.
New data shows where older Americans are most often targeted by scams
A new analysis of Federal Trade Commission fraud reports finds Arizona has the highest rate of scam reports among adults 60 and older, at about 7 per 1,000 seniors, followed by Delaware, Colorado, and Washington; North Dakota had the lowest rate. Across most states the most common scheme was a 'business imposter' scam, someone posing as a company or online retailer, though government-impersonation scams topped the list in a handful of states including Alaska, Iowa, Maryland, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia. Wherever you live, the same defense works: slow down before acting on an unexpected call or message claiming to be from a business or agency, and verify by contacting them directly using a number you look up yourself.
Georgia's new law lets banks pause suspicious withdrawals to protect older customers
A Georgia law that took effect July 1, 2026 gives banks and credit unions the authority to briefly pause a transaction when they reasonably suspect a customer age 65 or older, or an adult with a qualifying condition like dementia, is being financially exploited. The initial hold can last up to 15 business days and be extended another 15 if concerns continue, giving families and investigators time to step in before money leaves the account. Georgia joins more than 30 other states with similar transaction-hold laws, adding one more tool alongside the standard advice to slow down and verify any unexpected request for money through a number you look up yourself.
Unity Bank hosts a fraud-prevention seminar for Lake Hiawatha seniors in New Jersey
Unity Bank held a fraud-prevention lunch-and-learn for a senior group in the Lake Hiawatha section of Parsippany, New Jersey, walking attendees through the warning signs of common phone, mail, and online scams. Bank staff shared practical steps for protecting personal and financial information, and local officials joined to support the effort. Events like this give older adults and their families a chance to ask questions and build habits that make it easier to slow down and verify before acting on an unexpected call or letter.
Senior Medicare Patrol warns New Jersey seniors about 'free' genetic-test and Medicare 'chip card' scams
At a Montville Township Public Library presentation, New Jersey's Senior Medicare Patrol warned older residents about 'free' genetic-testing offers that can end up billed at $13,000 to $15,000 and are rarely covered by Medicare. The group also flagged a scam in which calls, texts, or emails claim a Medicare card needs a new 'chip' and press for a Medicare number; that program does not exist and the message should not be answered. The safe move is to slow down, never hand over a Medicare number for an unsolicited test or call, and check claims through an online Medicare.gov account rather than waiting for a mailed statement.
Relyance Bank warns Arkansas seniors of impostor scammers now showing up at their door
Relyance Bank in Arkansas is warning customers that bank-impersonation scams have taken a more aggressive turn: callers posing as bank employees are now sometimes showing up in person at a customer's home to collect a debit card or a large amount of cash. In one case, a customer was talked into withdrawing about $20,000 to mail out of state. Arkansas Attorney General data shows more than $7.3 million in fraud losses across 250 victims in 2026, with the average victim around 63 years old. A real bank will never call, show up at your home, or ask you to hand over cash or a card, so the safe move is to slow down, hang up, and verify by calling the bank back on a number you look up yourself.
Alachua County, Florida sheriff warns of rising scams using AI voices and fake photos
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office in Florida is warning residents, more than half of local scam victims are 60 or older, about callers who impersonate law enforcement, courts, or the IRS and use AI-generated photos or manipulated audio to sound more convincing. These callers pressure people to pay in cash, gold, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to avoid a supposed arrest or fine. Real law enforcement will show up in person for legal matters and never asks for payment that way, so the safe move is to slow down, hang up, and verify by calling the sheriff's office back on a number you look up yourself.
Fresno launches free digital literacy classes to help seniors spot online scams
The City of Fresno's parks department is offering free technology classes to help older adults use computers and phones with confidence. The Tech Easy Digital Literacy Program covers basic skills like email and file navigation alongside how to recognize a safe website, so participants can better protect their finances from fraud and scams. New month-long sessions begin in July and September, with in-person registration at a local community center. Building comfort with technology is one more way to slow down and verify before clicking a link or sharing information online.
West Virginia deputies warn that scammers may record a senior's voice to fake calls to family and banks
Law enforcement officials in Taylor County, West Virginia visited a local senior center this week to warn residents about a rise in scams, including romance schemes, government impersonation, and tech support cons. Officials said scammers now use spoofing apps to mirror real phone numbers and names, and warned that if a scammer keeps someone on the phone long enough, they may record the person's voice and later use AI to imitate them in calls to family members or a bank. The advice: never share personal or financial information on an unexpected call, keep any conversation with a suspected scammer short, and slow down to verify by calling the agency or family member back using a number you look up yourself.
Suffolk County officials warn of a growing gold bar scam targeting Long Island seniors
Suffolk County officials are warning Long Island residents about a 'gold bar scam' that has turned up in more than a dozen cases so far this year. Scammers posing as government officials, tech support agents, or bank employees keep victims on the phone for hours, convince them their money is at risk, and pressure them to withdraw savings, convert it into gold bars, and hand the gold to a courier for 'safekeeping.' No legitimate agency or bank will ever ask someone to buy gold or hand valuables to a stranger, so the safe move is to slow down, hang up, and verify by calling the agency or bank back using a number you look up yourself.
Bipartisan STOP Senior Fraud Act introduced to let banks pause suspicious withdrawals
Two members of Congress introduced the STOP Senior Fraud Act, a bipartisan bill that would let banks and credit unions temporarily delay a transaction when they reasonably believe an older customer is being financially exploited, giving staff time to contact a trusted family member and involve law enforcement before money leaves the account. Supporters, including national banking and credit union groups, say the tool is meant to close a gap where scammers rush victims into wiring or withdrawing funds before anyone can intervene. Families can reinforce the same idea at home: encourage older relatives to slow down and verify with someone they trust before moving money on a stranger's instructions.
Missouri police warn of a fake 'online store' side-income scam with a recovery follow-up
Police in Marshall, Missouri are warning residents about a scam that starts with a social media ad promising easy extra income by setting up an online store. After providing personal information, the target got calls from people posing as company representatives who talked them into installing remote-access software, paying fees, and applying for new credit cards, and the victim lost thousands of dollars. A second caller then falsely claimed to be a former employee who could recover the lost money for another fee. The safe move is to slow down, never install remote-access software for a stranger who contacted you first, and verify any income opportunity by researching the company independently before paying anything or sharing account details.
Opinion: Elder abuse demands the attention of Ohio's next attorney general
In a Cincinnati Enquirer opinion piece, Ohio's state auditor argues that elder abuse, from financial exploitation and cyber fraud to neglect and family-member manipulation, deserves serious, sustained attention from the state's next attorney general. The piece describes scammers who impersonate government agencies, banks, charities, tech companies, romantic partners, or even a distressed grandchild, using fear, urgency, and secrecy to steal money and personal information. It calls for stronger coordination among sheriffs, prosecutors, Adult Protective Services, victim advocates, and financial institutions, and for making it easier for every Ohioan to report suspected abuse and have it taken seriously. The message for families: recognize these tactics early, slow down before acting on an urgent or secretive request for money, and report suspected exploitation rather than staying silent out of embarrassment.
A simple 'scam script' can help seniors handle unexpected calls
A growing number of older adults now keep a few ready-made replies by the phone so they never have to think on the spot when an unexpected caller starts applying pressure. The idea is to slow down and fall back on set lines like 'I do not share personal or financial information over the phone,' 'I will call the company back using the number on my statement,' and 'I never make money decisions during a surprise call.' Having the words ready removes the panic that scammers count on and buys time to check who is really calling.
Western Iowa station warns seniors and veterans of a summer wave of scams
A western Iowa news station is urging older adults and veterans to watch for scams that pick up over the summer, from online-dating and sweepstakes schemes that always end with a request for money to card skimmers at gas pumps, fake utility-bill threats, and phony government-benefit offers aimed at veterans. The common thread is pressure to act fast or to pay in an unusual way. The advice is to slow down and confirm any bill, prize, or benefit by contacting the company or agency through a number you look up yourself.
Bay Area police warn of a fake 'FBI sting' scam that asks seniors for cash
Police in Fremont, California are warning residents after an older person lost several thousand dollars to scammers who claimed the victim could help with a federal 'sting operation.' In this scheme, callers posing as federal agents pressure the target to withdraw cash and hand it to a courier who comes to the door, describing it as a way to catch criminals or to keep the person's money safe. No real law-enforcement agency asks the public to withdraw cash or pass money to a courier, so the safe move is to slow down, hang up, and call the agency back using a number you look up yourself.
Elderly Wisconsin couple lose over $431,000 to a fake sweepstakes scam
An elderly Wisconsin couple lost more than $431,000 over about eight months after callers convinced them they had won Publisher's Clearing House and Mega Millions prizes but needed to pay taxes and fees first. The couple handed over cash, bought gift cards, and had money withdrawn from their checking account before anyone realized it was a scam. A real sweepstakes never asks a winner to pay anything upfront, so the safe move is to slow down and verify any prize claim by contacting the company directly through a number you look up yourself.
New York Daily News: a former investigator on protecting seniors from financial fraud
A 23-year law-enforcement veteran writes in the New York Daily News about protecting older adults from fraud after his own father lost most of his parents' life savings: a fake invoice led him to call a bogus 'customer service' number run by a criminal syndicate. The lesson is that anyone can be caught, so verify any unexpected invoice or support number through the company's real, published contact details.
FBI warns of a surge in AI-driven scams reaching Alabama seniors
The FBI reports a sharp rise in artificial intelligence fraud across North and Central Alabama, with criminals using cloned voices, fake identification documents, and convincing videos of public figures or loved ones to make their schemes look real. Officials urge anyone who receives an unexpected call, message, or video to slow down and confirm it by contacting the business or agency through a phone number they look up themselves, never one supplied in the message, and to report suspected fraud at IC3.gov.
'Meta Verified' phishing scam pressures Facebook users with a fake deletion threat
A phishing scam uses a lookalike 'Meta Verified' account on Messenger to claim a person's Facebook account will be closed within 24 hours over supposed fraud or hacking, then pushes them to open an attachment or link and enter their password and security codes on a fake support page. Telltale signs include a misspelled sender name, vague accusations with no specifics, and any request for a login code. The safe response is to slow down, ignore the message, and check your account only inside Facebook's official app.
Idaho officials urge awareness after an older woman nearly loses $25,000
An older Idaho woman came close to losing about $25,000 to scammers before her son intercepted the package she had been told to send, officials said, calling it a reminder of how elder fraud works. If someone pressures you to mail cash or a package, slow down and check with a trusted family member first.
Western Massachusetts prosecutors warn seniors about AI-driven, high-tech scams
District attorneys in Western Massachusetts are warning older residents and their families that AI and other high-tech tools are making scams more convincing and harder to spot, and are urging people to guard their online and bank accounts and report anything suspicious quickly. When in doubt, slow down and verify before you act.
Older South Dakota resident loses more than $200,000 to a fake 'fraud department' scam
A South Dakota resident who reported computer trouble was contacted by someone posing as a bank fraud department, then as an FDIC official, who directed a series of wire transfers totaling more than $200,000 over several weeks behind a false home-remodeling cover story. Real banks and the FDIC never ask you to move money to protect it, so treat any such call as a scam and verify through a number you look up yourself.
U.S. Virgin Islands police warn seniors and caregivers of a phone scam
The Virgin Islands Police Department is urging older residents and their caregivers to stay alert after reports of a phone scam targeting seniors, with callers posing as trusted contacts. Slow down on any unexpected call that pressures you to send money or share personal details, and check it with someone you trust first.
Washington Post: three steps to halt the surge in elder fraud
In a Washington Post opinion piece, HCSK director Yuksel Aydin argues that the government already has a tool to claw back stolen money, but too few cases reach it in time, and lays out three simple steps to close that gap. It is a plain-language case for making reporting and recovery faster and easier for older victims.
San Francisco rolls out new tools to fight scammers who impersonate city government
San Francisco has launched new tools to counter scammers who pose as city government to defraud residents, including older adults. Impersonation of trusted agencies is one of the most common scam tactics, so verify any official-sounding demand for money or information through a phone number you look up yourself, never one a caller gives you.
Ohio's Wood County brings 'Spot Them and Stop Them' scam talks to senior centers
Through July and August, Wood County's sheriff and prosecutor are presenting 'Frauds and Scams: Spot Them and Stop Them' at senior centers across the county, starting with more than 20 residents in Rossford. Free, local sessions like these are a practical way for older adults and caregivers to keep up with current scams.
How seniors and their caregivers are staying safe as AI scams turn more convincing
As AI-powered scams grow more realistic, an in-home senior-care company and a cybersecurity expert told ABC57 the fakes can now fool even careful people, partly because scammers harvest the personal details we post online. Their advice: let family and caregivers help check anything unexpected, and treat a message or voice that feels urgent or too real as a reason to slow down and verify.
Macomb County offers free telephone town halls on senior fraud prevention
The Macomb County (Michigan) Prosecutor's Office is hosting free telephone town halls in July so residents can learn to prevent scams and financial exploitation and ask experts questions from home. Local, plain-language sessions like these are an easy way for older adults and caregivers to keep up with the scams active in their area.
Indiana state cybersecurity blog offers a five-step checklist for 'scam-proofing' the golden years
Indiana's state cybersecurity office published a plain-language checklist to help older residents avoid online fraud: be wary of unsolicited messages asking for personal or financial information, verify anyone's identity through a channel you trust rather than the one they give you, use strong passwords and two-factor authentication, check financial accounts regularly for unauthorized activity, and research an unfamiliar business before buying anything online. The piece notes that Americans 60 and older filed about 201,266 fraud complaints and reported $7.75 billion in losses in 2025, a 37 percent increase in complaints from the year before, with investment scams causing the largest losses. The core message: slow down before responding to an urgent request, since that pressure is exactly what scammers rely on.
U.S. House passes bill to let investment funds freeze suspicious withdrawals from seniors
On June 25 the House passed the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act (H.R. 2478), which would let mutual funds and ETFs pause suspicious redemptions for up to 25 business days when they believe an older customer is being exploited. Supporters pointed to the FTC's finding that scams cost adults 60 and older $2.4 billion in 2024. A companion bill now awaits the Senate.
Ontario couple loses more than $90,000 to fraud, and they say the bank hasn't offered any help
An Ontario couple lost more than $90,000 to fraud and say their bank has not offered any help recovering the money.
Scammers took $300,000 from a Florida woman, then called back for another $30,000
Scammers stole $300,000 from a Florida woman by phone, then called back demanding another $30,000 from the same victim.
Florida deputies: cash 'couriers' helped scammers drain $3.5 million from 40-plus older victims
Manatee County investigators say scammers posed as FBI or FTC agents, told older residents they faced an emergency, and sent couriers to collect cash and gold from their homes, taking more than $3.5 million from over 40 victims across Florida. Real agencies never demand cash or send someone to pick it up; slow down and verify using a phone number you look up yourself.
Cross-border scam that stole $3.5 million from older victims ends in a sentencing
A cross-border scheme that defrauded older victims of about $3.5 million has resulted in a criminal sentence. Many scams aimed at seniors are run from outside the victim's country, so treat any urgent request to move money as a warning sign and check it through an independent, trusted channel first.
Senior targeted in $12,000 bank fraud scam in Durham Region
A senior lost more than $12,000 after a fake bank email led a fake courier to collect their bank cards at home.
How scams and exploitation start, and what you can do about it
Scams against older adults often begin with a friendly helper who slowly crosses boundaries; experts share ways families can protect loved ones.
Fraud is stealing billions from Americans. Here's how seniors fight back
Fraud costs Americans billions each year; this piece shares practical steps older adults can take to recognize and resist scammers.
Card skimmer scams at gas pumps and payment terminals
Thieves hide tiny card skimmers on gas pumps and payment terminals to steal your card details when you pay.