#grandparent-scams

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Retirement
fromwww.housingwire.com
18 hours ago

Reverse mortgages should reenter retirement plans amid policy risk

Older Americans are delaying retirement and shifting investments due to increased financial uncertainty and anxiety about policy changes.
#fraud
Privacy professionals
fromArs Technica
1 day ago

Your tech support company runs scams. Stop-or disguise with more fraud?

Tech Live Connect defrauded Americans of $8 million through a fraudulent payment processing scheme over four years.
US news
fromSFGATE
1 week ago

Man from viral YouTube video pleads guilty in $27M fraud targeting seniors

Jiandong Chen pleaded guilty to his role in a $27 million fraud scheme targeting elderly victims in the U.S.
Privacy professionals
fromArs Technica
1 day ago

Your tech support company runs scams. Stop-or disguise with more fraud?

Tech Live Connect defrauded Americans of $8 million through a fraudulent payment processing scheme over four years.
US news
fromSFGATE
1 week ago

Man from viral YouTube video pleads guilty in $27M fraud targeting seniors

Jiandong Chen pleaded guilty to his role in a $27 million fraud scheme targeting elderly victims in the U.S.
California
fromABC7 San Francisco
5 days ago

California officials charge 21 people in hospice fraud ring exceeding $250 million

California officials uncovered a multimillion-dollar scheme involving stolen identities to fraudulently bill for hospice services through government insurance.
#hospice-fraud
Healthcare
fromLos Angeles Times
5 days ago

Colossal hospice scheme cost California millions, officials say amid intensifying Trump feud

Twenty-one individuals are charged in a hospice fraud scheme that defrauded California's medical system of $267 million.
California
fromCalifornia Post
3 weeks ago

House Oversight Committee launches probe into 'rampant' hospice fraud in California

California is under investigation for hospice fraud costing taxpayers over $100 million, involving ghost hospices billing Medicare from non-existent locations.
Healthcare
fromLos Angeles Times
5 days ago

Colossal hospice scheme cost California millions, officials say amid intensifying Trump feud

Twenty-one individuals are charged in a hospice fraud scheme that defrauded California's medical system of $267 million.
California
fromCalifornia Post
3 weeks ago

House Oversight Committee launches probe into 'rampant' hospice fraud in California

California is under investigation for hospice fraud costing taxpayers over $100 million, involving ghost hospices billing Medicare from non-existent locations.
UK news
fromIndependent
1 week ago

Gardai target 'bogus company' linked to Black Axe romance fraud after elderly woman scammed out of six-figure sum

Two men arrested in Clondalkin as part of a crackdown on the Black Axe crime network linked to romance fraud.
World news
fromWIRED
5 days ago

China Is Cracking Down on Scams. Just Not the Ones Hitting Americans

Governments struggle to combat industrial-scale scamming operations linked to organized crime, causing billions in losses, particularly affecting foreign victims.
Apple
fromTechRepublic
5 days ago

New Apple Scam Hits Millions of iPhone Users Worldwide, Draining Bank Accounts

Apple warns iPhone users about a surge in social engineering scams targeting bank accounts through panic-inducing messages.
fromwww.housingwire.com
6 days ago

Reverse mortgage brokers say lender contracts help with limits

Programs work by preventing lenders' retail teams from contacting borrowers who are already in a broker's active pipeline, automatically routing these customers back to their original advisers. They also monitor common refinance intent signals such as payoff requests and add the brokerage firm's contact information to borrowers' statements.
Real estate
Mental health
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

I felt ashamed and scared': how an online friendship became a sextortion nightmare

Online friendships can lead to severe risks, including sextortion, which can have devastating emotional consequences.
Information security
fromTechCrunch
1 day ago

FBI announces takedown of phishing operation that targeted thousands of victims | TechCrunch

The FBI dismantled a global phishing operation, W3LL, targeting over 17,000 victims and facilitating over $20 million in fraud.
Privacy professionals
fromMail Online
1 day ago

Warning to iPhone users over iCloud storage scam exposing bank details

A new email scam targets iPhone users, posing as iCloud notifications to steal personal and banking information.
#scams
Parenting
fromSlate Magazine
1 week ago

My Mom Got a Call That I Was in a Horrific Accident. What She Did Next Can't Be Undone.

Scammers exploit emotional vulnerabilities, making it crucial to educate and protect against future scams.
Boston
fromBoston.com
3 weeks ago

Don't be fooled by this fake court notice scam in Mass., NH, authorities warn

Authorities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire warn about fake court notices sent by scammers, urging the public to verify unexpected communications.
Retirement
fromwww.housingwire.com
4 days ago

As retirement slips further away, workers prioritize stability and senior home equity

Workers prioritize job security over new opportunities, with many delaying retirement due to rising living costs and health care expenses.
#phishing
Information security
fromThe Hacker News
1 day ago

FBI and Indonesian Police Dismantle W3LL Phishing Network Behind $20M Fraud Attempts

The FBI and Indonesian National Police dismantled a global phishing operation using the W3LL toolkit, preventing over $20 million in fraud.
Information security
fromSecuritymagazine
2 weeks ago

Tax Season Means Phishing Season: How Individuals and Businesses Can Protect Themselves

Phishing attacks during tax season have become more sophisticated, leveraging generative AI to impersonate trusted entities like the IRS.
#scam
Apple
fromMail Online
6 days ago

Warning to all iPhone users over new scam draining bank accounts

iPhone users are warned about a scam involving fake Apple Pay alerts that drain bank accounts.
Apple
fromMail Online
6 days ago

Warning to all iPhone users over new scam draining bank accounts

iPhone users are warned about a scam involving fake Apple Pay alerts that drain bank accounts.
Careers
fromZDNET
2 weeks ago

3 red flags that job posting is a scam - and how to verify safely

Job scams are on the rise, exploiting vulnerable job seekers with vague offers and promises of high pay for little work.
California
fromCalifornia Post
1 week ago

Elderly victim lured into car, robbed of life savings in sick lottery scam

An elderly woman was robbed of $45,000 in a lottery scam targeting seniors in Santa Ana.
Digital life
fromTODAY.com
2 weeks ago

Send This to Your Boomer Parents: Avoid AI Scams With 1 Trick From a Deepfake Expert

Artificial intelligence is rapidly improving at creating realistic fake media, leading to increased vulnerability to scams, especially among older adults.
fromLos Angeles Times
1 week ago

SoCal hospice owners bilked taxpayers for millions in false claims, federal officials say

Eight individuals were arrested and 15 charged in a scheme to defraud Medicare of over $50 million by running sham hospice facilities across Southern California. Federal officials described the actions as brazen efforts to commit fraud, with many billed patients not being terminally ill.
Healthcare
Relationships
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

Friendship fraud: warnings of rise in insidious' scam targeting older people

Friendship fraud targets older individuals, exploiting their loneliness and leading to significant financial losses through small, repeated requests for money.
Cryptocurrency
fromCointelegraph
3 weeks ago

How a 'Wrong Number' Message Turned Into a $3.4M Crypto Scam

This $3.4 million scam illustrates the rise of social engineering in crypto fraud, focusing on emotional manipulation over technical exploits.
#cybersecurity
fromNextgov.com
1 week ago
Information security

Government official impersonation scam complaints doubled in 2025, FBI report shows

Complaints of government impersonation scams nearly doubled from 2024 to 2025, resulting in approximately $800 million in losses.
fromTheregister
3 weeks ago
Information security

Voice phishing skyrockets as smooth crims talk their way in

Voice phishing became the second most common method for cybercriminals to gain access to IT systems in 2025.
Information security
fromNextgov.com
1 week ago

Government official impersonation scam complaints doubled in 2025, FBI report shows

Complaints of government impersonation scams nearly doubled from 2024 to 2025, resulting in approximately $800 million in losses.
Media industry
fromwww.independent.co.uk
4 weeks ago

Warning after pensioner loses 4,000 in cruel' friendship scam

Criminals exploit elderly and vulnerable people through online "friendship fraud," building trust to extract money over extended periods or in single transactions.
#romance-scam
Careers
fromAol
3 weeks ago

Pennsylvania retiree lost $221K to a remote 'task scam' job approving fake hotel reviews. Here are the FTC's 3 red flags every job seeker must know

A Pennsylvania retiree lost over $220,000 in a sophisticated task scam promising easy online earnings.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
4 weeks ago

My Husband's Fear of Identity Theft Is Making Our House Unlivable

Pre-approved credit card offers contain insufficient information for identity theft; shredding all junk mail is unnecessary, though tearing by hand adds minimal extra security.
#grandparent-caregiving
Parenting
fromBusiness Insider
4 weeks ago

I'm raising my grandson alone in my 70s and can't afford to retire. With gas prices rising, I worry about finances every day.

A 73-year-old grandmother in Alabama works full-time and raises her 14-year-old grandson alone, unable to retire as her Social Security covers housing and rising expenses deplete her savings.
Canada news
fromBusiness Insider
1 month ago

I'm 63 and raising four of my grandchildren. Money is very tight, and I haven't once thought about retiring.

A 63-year-old grandmother in Canada's Yukon Territory is raising four grandchildren while working full-time with no retirement plan, after her daughters struggled with addiction and were unable to care for their children.
Parenting
fromBusiness Insider
4 weeks ago

I'm raising my grandson alone in my 70s and can't afford to retire. With gas prices rising, I worry about finances every day.

A 73-year-old grandmother in Alabama works full-time and raises her 14-year-old grandson alone, unable to retire as her Social Security covers housing and rising expenses deplete her savings.
Canada news
fromBusiness Insider
1 month ago

I'm 63 and raising four of my grandchildren. Money is very tight, and I haven't once thought about retiring.

A 63-year-old grandmother in Canada's Yukon Territory is raising four grandchildren while working full-time with no retirement plan, after her daughters struggled with addiction and were unable to care for their children.
Online marketing
fromZDNET
1 month ago

Watch this, get rich, lose it all - 8 ways to spot and avoid investment scams on Meta

A Russian-speaking cybercriminal network operates 300+ malvertising campaigns across 25 countries using fake Meta ads impersonating trusted media brands and celebrities to lure victims into investment scams.
fromFast Company
1 month ago

Online scam centers in Cambodia targeted with new legislation setting hefty fines and prison time

This law is the most important legal instrument for Cambodia in combating scams online, fighting money laundering and demonstrating that Cambodia is not a paradise or a safe haven for criminals. The new legislation approved by the Cabinet sets five to 10 years in prison and a fine of 500 million to 1 billion riels for organizing or directing a technology fraud site.
World news
#online-scams
Privacy professionals
fromThe Mercury News
1 month ago

Larry Magid: Beware of online scams

Americans lost at least $16.6 billion to scams in 2024, with older adults over 60 losing more than $4.8 billion, primarily through phishing and romance scams that exploit trust and technology unfamiliarity.
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

The 49 driller killer': steps to avoid locksmith scams

Rogue locksmiths use bait-and-switch tactics, advertising low prices online then charging 10 times more upon arrival, exploiting vulnerable customers locked out of their homes.
Miscellaneous
fromMoneywise
1 month ago

PA Retiree Loses $221K in Remote Work Task Scam

A Pennsylvania retiree lost over $220,000 in a sophisticated task scam involving fake hotel review work that used escalating deposit requirements and false withdrawal obstacles to extract money.
Parenting
fromBusiness Insider
1 month ago

I'm 83 and raised my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I work part-time for extra money and hope to retire by 90.

Sue Miller, 83, raised seven family members across three generations while working multiple jobs, and continues working as a lunch lady despite cancer, driven by her resilience and desire to live until 100.
Retirement
fromBuzzFeed
1 month ago

32 Older People Are Sharing The Issues They Face That Aren't Talked About Enough

Older Americans face overlooked challenges including disrespect from younger generations, lack of formal address etiquette, and senior women experiencing homelessness due to insufficient retirement savings and inflation.
Miscellaneous
fromHoodline
1 month ago

NYPD Warns Of Jewelry-Swapping Scam In Brooklyn

Brooklyn thieves swap real jewelry for fake by distracting victims and gaining close physical access, targeting seniors through emotional manipulation and false blessings.
fromSFGATE
1 month ago

Bay Area police warn of men with Irish accents running 'aggressive' scam

Once on the roof, the scammers intentionally cause damage - such as removing structural blocks or cutting holes. Residents have been defrauded of anywhere from $10,000 to $450,000. This is a predatory crime that exploits the trust of our most vulnerable neighbors. We urge all residents to talk to their elderly family members and neighbors about these tactics.
East Bay real estate
#atm-fraud
#social-engineering
fromSilicon Canals
2 months ago
Psychology

I'm a retired Boomer and I just watched my smartest friend lose everything to a scam-here are 9 ways they got to him that could get to anyone - Silicon Canals

fromSilicon Canals
2 months ago
Information security

The phone call scam targeting grandparents that sounds so real even cautious people fall for it - Silicon Canals

fromSilicon Canals
2 months ago
Psychology

I'm a retired Boomer and I just watched my smartest friend lose everything to a scam-here are 9 ways they got to him that could get to anyone - Silicon Canals

fromSilicon Canals
2 months ago
Information security

The phone call scam targeting grandparents that sounds so real even cautious people fall for it - Silicon Canals

#phone-scams
fromZDNET
1 month ago
Information security

Why scammers call you and say nothing - and how to respond safely

fromZDNET
1 month ago
Information security

Why scammers call you and say nothing - and how to respond safely

Public health
fromBuzzFeed
2 months ago

20 Older People Are Sharing The Issues They Face That Aren't Talked About Enough

Older Americans face persistent, underreported problems including workplace ageism, mobility decline, inadequate women's health research, excessive telemarketing, and patronizing treatment.
fromReadWrite
2 months ago

Jamaican national charged in sweepstakes elder fraud scheme

Court documents unsealed in New Haven lay out allegations that Richard Murray and several others operated the scheme beginning as early as 2018. Investigators say victims were contacted by phone and told they had won a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. However, authorities allege that before collecting any supposed prize money, the winners first had to send in fees and taxes.
Law
Wellness
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Fitness fraud: gym goers warned over fake deals on memberships and personal trainers

Scammers exploit New Year fitness promotions with cloned ads, fake trainers, and counterfeit apps to steal payments and harvest user data.
E-Commerce
fromPractical Ecommerce
2 months ago

The Fraud Hiding in Email Signups

Fake but valid email accounts enable card testing and coupon abuse, causing chargebacks, revenue and inventory loss, and jeopardizing merchant payment relationships.
Miscellaneous
fromwww.berkeleyside.org
1 month ago

Police warn of aggressive' door-to-door contractor scam targeting older Berkeleyans

Sophisticated scam groups target Berkeley residents with fraudulent roofing and masonry services, causing losses between $10,000 and $450,000 per victim.
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 months ago

Home seller impersonation fraud case stamped out in Nevada

Seeing your property listed for sale online without your knowledge is a tremendous violation and a blatant attempt at theft, Adams said.
Real estate
Relationships
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Romance fraud: warning over scam that turns victims into insurance cheats

Scammers recruit romantic partners into staged accidents or fake insurance claims to exploit victims' identities and trigger fraudulent payouts, harming victims' insurance and credit records.
fromPCWorld
1 month ago

Phishing scammers weaponize ICE ragebait

The email seen by at least some customers of the Emma email platform was a phishing scam. Hackers hoped to inspire instant panic with the words, 'As part of our commitment to supporting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), we will be adding a Support ICE donation button to the footer of every email sent through our platform.'
Information security
Retirement
from24/7 Wall St.
1 month ago

The Top Scams Retirees Fall For Every Time

Retirees aged 65 and over are primary targets for scammers exploiting technological gaps and accumulated savings through schemes like grandparent scams and romance fraud.
Law
fromThe Mercury News
2 months ago

Saratoga residents bilked out of almost $33,000 in 2 separate incidents

Saratoga residents experienced multiple frauds totaling about $35,485, including identity theft and wire-transfer scams that resulted in at least $22,885 stolen.
Privacy professionals
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

Help! We Just Dodged an Obvious Scam Call. But One Thing the Scammer Said Has Us Extremely Worried.

A man is falsely credited as the named creator of an Islamophobic book under his name, risking career and reputation; he seeks removal.
Information security
fromZDNET
1 month ago

The average tax scam victim loses $1,020 - and they're younger than you'd think

Tax scams are increasingly sophisticated and widespread, with 82% of Americans concerned about tax fraud, 23% having fallen victim, and average losses reaching $1,020.
fromBuzzFeed
2 months ago

"It's The Biggest Scam Of Our Generation": 30 Adults Share The Common Habits That Are Bullsh*t

Looking for work to do. Not like a job, but my parents and older family all complain constantly they have no free time. But all they do is make themselves work. Cut down some trees, rearrange the entire house, dig up the yard. Just always making themselves work.
Relationships
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 months ago

Financial planners overlook reverse mortgage line of credit

Many retiring homeowners could benefit from reverse mortgage lines of credit, yet advisors often overlook housing wealth due to perception and knowledge gaps.
fromBusiness Insider
1 month ago

I'm raising my four-year-old granddaughter on my own in my 60s. I expect to work until I die.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dorenne Simonson, 66, who is her granddaughter's kinship care provider in New Jersey. Simonson has parented her since she was two months old. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. I've always been in a situation where I had to spend whatever I made. There's no retirement account when you're single and raise five kids by yourself.
Parenting
California
fromwww.ocregister.com
2 months ago

Man scams elderly California resident out of nearly $2 million, leaving him homeless

John Tamahere McCabe received four years in federal prison and $1.8 million restitution for defrauding an elderly man of nearly $2 million.
Relationships
fromBusiness Insider
2 months ago

I raised my grandchildren after my daughter and son-in-law died. Now 87, it wasn't how I expected retirement to be.

An 87-year-old raised her grandchildren after both parents died while still working, facing emotional strain and generational caregiving challenges.
Information security
fromTravel + Leisure
1 month ago

This New Travel Con Is So Real Looking It's Tricking Even the Most 'Scam Aware' Travelers-Here's How to Stay Safe

Urgent, personalized texts impersonating airlines or hotels trick travelers into clicking counterfeit links or calling scammers to steal login, payment, and travel-identifying information.
Information security
fromFortune
1 month ago

A widow lost $39,000, her house, and six dogs after a scam. 'If the story wasn't so horrible, people wouldn't pay attention.' | Fortune

Emotional manipulation in online relationships leads victims to share money or account access, causing catastrophic financial and personal losses.
Information security
fromZDNET
2 months ago

No, the IRS didn't text or email you - 3 ways to protect yourself from scams

Messages claiming you're due a tax refund are scams aiming to steal bank or Social Security numbers; report them and delete without responding.
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