Tag Archives for romance scams

Fraud Schemes Targeting Older Adults: Senate Aging Committee Sounds Alarm

Published in RINewsToday on July 21, 2025

“Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that you are one of our lucky winners,” read the letter.

The official-looking correspondence—purportedly from the desk of the Vice President, International Promotions/Prize Award Department of Publishers Clearing House (PCH)—continued:

“On behalf of the members and staff of PCH, the Association of North America Lottery, and Provincial Sweepstakes, we sincerely congratulate you on your grand prize winnings of $750,000… Please contact your claims agent to arrange method of payment.”

Enclosed was a check, appearing legitimate, allegedly issued by Northern Fairfield Insurance (NFI) of Danbury, Connecticut, from a Webster Bank account, in the amount of $9,700.65.

According to the letter, the check was intended to help cover taxes, handling, and processing fees related to the prize.

Northern Fairfield Insurance, established in 1998, is a small firm with just three employees, including its owner, Jim Ostrove. Nearly two weeks ago, Ostrove began receiving calls—mine among them—asking whether the PCH letter and enclosed check were legitimate.

“The volume has tapered off by the day,” he admits, noting that “we’re no longer receiving any calls.”

A quick call to NFI confirmed my suspicions: the letter, marked “Confidential,” was a scam. In conversation with Ostrove, he said, “I felt violated and angry.”

Concerned, Ostrove contacted Webster Bank—the financial institution listed on the counterfeit check—to confirm that no account had been set up in his company’s name. The bank quickly verified this, noting that the check’s routing number was invalid and had no connection to a legitimate account. “Looking closely at the PCH check, I also realized that the name of my insurance company was misspelled,” Ostrove added.

Ostrove says the bank’s fraud unit was very helpful and confirmed the check was fake. His concerns about any potential financial fallout for his business were eased, he says.

Although Ostrove filed a police report, he had no real expectation that the scammers would be caught. “I just wanted the report on file in case someone came forward about the reward and tried to hold me financially responsible,” he said.

“My report made it very clear that I was a victim of fraud,” he emphasized.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, victims reported nearly $350 million in losses to prize, sweepstakes, and lottery-related scams in 2024.

Like me, the Better Business Bureau estimates that tens of thousands of individuals will receive similar scam mailings in 2025—complete with fake prize notifications, counterfeit checks, and fraudulent requests for payment or personal information. The actual number of victims may be much higher, as many incidents go unreported.

Senate Aging Committee Puts a Spotlight on Scams and Financial Exploitation

On Feb. 12, 2016, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging announced the publication of its first full-year “Fraud Book,” Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud, covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2015. These annual reports aim to raise awareness about the growing number of fraud schemes targeting older Americans and provide specific recommendations to combat them.

The latest, published just recently, is a 40-page multi-language annual report, Age of Fraud: Scams Facing Our Nation’s Seniors (Report No. 119-35 of the 119th Congress), and was released on July 10, 2025. It highlights the many forms of fraud—including grandparent scams, tech support fraud, financial service scams, travel and timeshare fraud, romance scams, and government impersonation schemes.

“These schemes often target emotional vulnerabilities, particularly among seniors facing loneliness, isolation, or depression,” note Chairman Rick Scott (R-Florida) and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) in a statement announcing the newly released report.

The 2025 bipartisan report outlines the growing financial threats facing aging Americans and ways for seniors to identify red flags that provide warnings of scams, suggests practical tips on how to protect themselves, and how to report scams. This year’s edition underscores the alarming rise in sophisticated schemes, particularly those utilizing artificial intelligence (AI). In 2024 alone, fraud and scams cost seniors over $4.8 billion, with those aged 50–59 losing an additional $2.5 billion.

“Across our nation, older Americans are being targeted every day by increasingly sophisticated scams that rob them not only of their hard-earned savings but also of their security and peace of mind. These attacks are personal, and they are unacceptable,” says Scott, stressing that fighting fraud against older Americans will remain a top priority for the Committee.

“Through critical initiatives like National Slam the Scam Day and our toll-free Fraud Hotline, we are expanding access to education, prevention tools, and direct support to empower families to recognize fraud and respond quickly,” he says.

“This report shines a direct light on the scale and severity of the threat we’re facing, and we must be united in our determination to stay vigilant, informed, and proactive in defending our seniors,” adds Scott.

Gillibrand adds, “We must do everything we can to prevent and fight back against these scams, and that starts with monitoring fraud whenever and wherever it occurs. As Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, I’m committed to continuing the fight against fraud, and I hope this Fraud Book is a valuable resource for our aging communities.”

The report serves as a significant wake-up call to Congress. Fraud continues to skyrocket, notes the Committee. Citing FBI data, 2024 was a record year for losses reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, totaling a staggering $16.6 billion. There were 859,532 complaints that year—and over 4.2 million complaints over the past five years.

The report also emphasizes that fraud targeting older adults is growing in both complexity and financial impact, making enhanced awareness, education, and robust support systems more critical than ever.

 According to the FBI, from 2023 to 2024:

  • Overall losses increased 33%, mostly due to fraud.
  • Average loss for those age 60 and older rose to $83,000.
  • Reports for this age group increased by 43%.
  • Cryptocurrency-related losses rose by 66%.
  • Complaints involving cryptocurrency kiosks increased by 99%.

To safeguard aging Americans from fraud, scams, and financial exploitation, the Senate Aging Committee has led two bipartisan efforts: one resolution designating March 6, 2025, as National Slam the Scam Day to raise awareness and educate the public about fraud prevention, and another recognizing May 2025 as Older Americans Month. Both efforts aim to inform and protect older adults while reinforcing the committee’s commitment to combating fraud through public education, legislative action, and advocacy for stronger safeguards—ensuring seniors can enjoy their golden years with greater security and peace of mind.

From the Ocean State

According to the 2025 Fraud Report, the Federal Trade Commission reported 11,776 complaints were filed in Rhode Island in 2024.

“Our team tracks patterns of scams reported to us throughout the year,” says Timothy M. Rondeau, Communications Director for the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General. “This year, we’ve continued to see a wide range of fraudulent actors deceiving Rhode Islanders through romance scams, imposter scams, and scams involving cryptocurrency.”

According to Rondeau, while new scams aren’t necessarily emerging, the tools and methods used are evolving. “AI tools are increasingly used in imposter and romance scams, where AI-generated voices and videos deceive and manipulate victims,” he explains. “While we can’t always confirm AI involvement in each case, we know the use of AI makes it much harder—especially for older adults—to distinguish between real and fraudulent interactions.”

For more information about common scams or to file a complaint, Rhode Islanders can visit: riag.ri.gov/scams

If you or someone you know has been a victim—or suspects they’ve been targeted—please call the Senate Aging Committee’s Fraud Hotline at 1-855-303-9470 (open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time). If you’d like a member of the committee’s team to return your inquiry, please include your phone number in the web form.

Go here to read the Senate Aging Committees 2025 Fraud Report,

The US Dept. of Justice released this information in recognition of Elder Abuse Awareness Day – The Justice Department Highlights Enforcement Efforts Protecting Older Americans from Transnational Fraud Schemes in Recognition of 2025 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day contains specific information on each type of fraud and what the US Government is doing to shut it down.

AARP offers  Tips on Protecting Yourself Against Fraud.

AARP also has a Fraud Watch Network.

Older adults attract scammers with popularity of cyberdating

Published in RINewsToday on February 10, 2025

Digital technology is not just a way to find information and news, shop, or even search and apply for jobs.  For older single adults, getting back into the dating scene can be difficult. It could be after a divorce, or death of a spouse, or just deciding some years too late that having a mate is something desirable at this time of your life.

Dating rules have changed since years ago. But, since the mid-1990s, when Match.com, the world’s first online dating website was launched, millions have utilized internet dating as a way to meet potential partners without leaving their home.

Today, online dating, sometimes referred to as cyber-dating, has replaced traditional ways (like belonging to civic groups, clubs and attending church) singles use to find that special person.

Even though many might consider on-line dating a crap shoot in finding that perfect person to spend the rest of your life with, a growing number of older adults are using online dating platforms.  And many, unfortunately, are falling for online dating scams, as well.

A Snapshot of Older Online Daters

Last July, an article penned by Olivia Sidoti, research assistant, and Michelle Favero, research associate at Pew Research Center, provided an analysis of how older adults experience dating sites and apps and their views of online dating.

The data, obtained from a survey conducted in July of 2022,  was taken from a 74-page report, “From Looking for Love to Swiping the Field: Online Dating in the U.S., released on Feb. 2, 2023.

According to the Pew study, about a quarter of older Americans in their 50s have used an online dating site, compared to 14% percent in their 60s and 12% in their 70s and older.

However, just 3% of the older respondents are currently using online dating platforms or have used them with the last year, compared with 15% of those under age 50.

The Pew study found that 6% of the respondents over age 50 who were married, living with a partner or in a committed relationship, found their significant other online.

With so many dating sites and apps available to choose from, the survey findings indicate that about 1 in 5 online daters have used Tinder.

About half of the adults age 50 and over cite seeking a long-term partner or spouse as the reason they have online dated in the past year. Meanwhile, about 36% say they want to date casually, with 22% saying their motivation is casual sex.

The researchers found that women aged 50 and over are more likely than males who use a dating site or app to say their dating experiences have been negative.

About half of the online daters ages 50 and over say they have encountered someone who they thought was trying to scam them.  Furthermore, about four-in-ten online daters ages 50 and older (45%) report unwanted behaviors while seeking a date online. Specifically, they were sent sexually explicit content they didn’t ask for (33%), and 26% were continually contacted after they expressed disinterest. Seventeen percent of the older users report they were called offensive names, and 4% were physically threatened.

Protecting Yourself When Online Dating           

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one in four individuals older than age 65 are considered socially isolated. Older adults are at risk of isolation and loneliness due to living alone, loss of family and friends, chronic illness and hearing loss.  

CDC says that there are also physical health risks as well. Those dangers include significantly increased chances of an early death, 50% increased risk of dementia, 29% increase in the likelihood of developing heart disease and a 32% higher chance of having a stroke.  

There’s a Class for that!

With so many older adults not having meaningful relationships with their family or without having a significant partner, Sun City, Arizona-based Banner Olive Branch Senior Center offered a class covering the basics of finding love and companionship online.    

“We feel this is an important topic to address because there are many seniors [in our community] who are alone,” says Jackie Cromer of Banner Olive Branch and instructor of the online dating class held last April. “It’s an approach to add some fun and excitement into their lives and allow seniors to feel connected and potentially even find love,”  she said.

The class covered which dating sites to select, how to write and choose photos for your dating profile, the best ways to find and connect with potential matches, how to handle rejection, and emphasized safety tips such as not giving personal information, meeting in a public place, transporting yourself to the date and letting loved ones know your whereabouts. 

Tips on Protecting Yourself Against Romance Scams

As a growing number of older adults go online to search for that special person, scammers take advantage of these individuals. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in 2022 almost 70,000 people reported being a victim of a romance scam.

Be aware of “red flag” indicators of a potential romance scam, when approached on a dating site, warns Home Security Investigations (HSI), the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, noting that scammers seek to gain the victim’s trust and then provide false information or misrepresentation to gain a financial benefit.

Here is some advice from Home Security Investigations (HSI):

HSI urges older online daters to watch out for the following indicators of a potential romance scam, when a potential partner:  

·         Claims they live, work or are traveling abroad.

o    Lacks proper grammar, although they claim to speak English.

·         Claims to be notably younger than you.

·         Quickly professes love to you.

·         Has a story that is inconsistent.

·         Has a minimal online presence.

·         Sends general photos (mostly fake/AI generated) of themselves traveling, shopping, or dining at luxurious locations.

o    Sends or requests explicit photos or videos.

·         Mentions the idea of meeting and being together soon.

·         Provides periodic excuses for being unable to make a video call (e.g., Facetime).

o    If a video call happens, you’re unable to see their face clearly.

·         Requests to have conversations/texts be moved to a separate app (e.g., WhatsApp, Telegram).
Asks for money, often via non-traditional methods such as cryptocurrency or gift cards.

o    Asks if you’ve ever invested in cryptocurrency and/or foreign exchange market.

o  Sends a business link of a cryptocurrency and/or foreign exchange trading platform.

o    Is combative with you or tries to divert your attention when you question their intentions.

Lastly, if your bank contacts you to express concern you are being victimized, this is perhaps the most significant red flag that you are being targeted.

You can also call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360 to talk with a trained specialist about protecting yourself when seeking a relationship on a dating site.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, make me a match!

Many are now saying that the most successful way to find that appropriate partner is to be introduced to her/him by someone you know – be that family or friend. And, while not plentiful, and sometimes expensive, matchmaking services that match you up for a date, one on one, are around, even in Rhode Island. The good part is they will coach you on what to where, what to talk about if it’s been awhile since you had a date-convo, and if after the date, it doesn’t work out, they will handle the uncomfortableness of that conversation with the other party – and keep working on your behalf. Some matchmaking services advertise on local radio, and that may be a good place to start. All the rules of scams and checking out the company or person are still advisable, of course – ask for references!

And let us know how it goes – until then – Happy Valentine’s Day (week)!

___

AARP Fights Consumer Fraud – by Herb Weiss

Published in Pawtucket Times on November 30, 2020

Every year, fraudsters continue to operate government imposter scams falsely claim to be from federal agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, to get people to turn over money or personal information. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans continue to fall victim to these scams.

FTC Compiles Fraud Complaints

Last January, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released its annual report detailing data from the Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2019, continuing to put a spotlight on the impact of imposter scams and identify fraud on consumers across the nation. Expect the FTC to release its 2020 data book early next year.

The data book, initially released in 2008, includes national statistics, as well as a state-by-state listing of top report categories in each states, and a listing of metropolitan areas that generated the most complaints per 100,000 population.

According to the FTC, its 2019 database network receives reports directly from consumers, as well as from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and a number of private partners. Last year, the network received 3.2 million reports, including nearly 1.7 million fraud reports as well as identity theft and other reports.

The researchers found that younger people reported losing money to fraud more often than older people. But, when people age 70 and over had losses, the median loss was much higher, they say.  

Imposter scams, a subset of Fraud reports, followed closely behind with 657,472 reports from consumers of 2019. The most common type of fraud reported to the FTC last year was identified theft scams, with imposter scams following closely behind.    

Specifically, last year there were over 647,000 imposter scams reported to FTC’s database. Thirteen percent of those calling reported a dollar loss, totaling nearly $667 million lost to imposter scammers. These scams include, for example, romance scams, people falsely claiming to be the government, a relative in distress, a well-known business, or a technical support expert, to get a consumer’s money.

Of the 1.7 million fraud reports, 23 percent indicated money was lost. In 2019, people reported losing more than $1.9 billion to fraud – an increase of $293 million over what was reported in 2018.

Protecting Yourself Against Scammers

With the release of a new report, AARP continues its efforts to combat identify theft and imposter scams. The Washington, DC-based nonprofits continues to report on the latest scams, exploring its impact on U.S. adults age 55 and over and how technology may play a role in their ability to protect themselves from financial harm. The 16-page report, “Identity Fraud in Three Acts,” developed by Javelin Strategy & Research and sponsored by AARP, reveals that 26 percent of seniors have been victims of identity fraud. But researchers say that more are taking additional safeguards to prevent losses of personal information. Following an identity theft incident, 29 percent have placed credit freezes on their credit bureau information, and more than half have enrolled in identity protection or credit monitoring services.

“Older Americans are leading more digitally infused lives, with two-thirds using online banking weekly, so it’s encouraging to see that many are taking proactive steps to protect their identity following a data breach,” said Kathy Stokes, Director of AARP Fraud Prevention Programs in a statement announcing the release of the report. “Passwords still represent a security threat, however; using repeated passwords across multiple online accounts makes it easy for criminals to crack one of them so that all of your accounts – including financial accounts – become accessible,” says Stokes.

According to the AARP report, age 55 and over consumers call for banks to use stronger security authentication. About 90 percent support the use of more fingerprint scanning, and 80 percent view facial recognition capabilities as a reliable form of technology for financial transactions and private business matters. The report’s findings indicate that identity fraud victims age 65 and over do not necessarily change how they shop, bank or pay following a fraudulent event, with 70 percent exhibiting reluctance to change familiar habits.

“Criminals are regularly targeting age 55 and over Americans through a combination of sophisticated scams via computer malware and also through more traditional low-tech channels via telephone and U.S. mail,” says the AARP report’s author, John Buzzard, Lead Analyst, Fraud and Security at Javelin. “The combination of high-tech and low-tech strategies unfortunately gives the upper hand to the criminal — not the consumer,” he adds.

The AARP report provides these tips to older consumers to protect their pocketbooks. Just hang up on strangers. Independently verify everything.  Always adopt security practices that go beyond a single password.  Consider using a password manager tool or app to create and safely store complex passwords.  Always write down important numbers of companies you do business with rather than rely on a web search for a customer service number, as criminals post fake numbers online.  

The report also recommends securing your devices – mobile phones, laptops and tablets- with a complex password, preferably with screen locks that use a fingerprint or facial recognition and secure personal payments with digital wallets.

Be vigilant.  Don’t become a sucker for scams.  

To report a compliant, call the Consumer Sentinel HelpLine at 1.877.701.9595.

For a copy of Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2019, go to:  https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/consumer-sentinel-network-data-book-2019/consumer_sentinel_network_data_book_2019.pdf

For a copy of “Identity Fraud in Three Acts,” go to:  https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/home-and-family/family-and-friends/2020/10/aarp-Identity-fraud-report.pdf.

To learn more about AARP’s fraud prevention programs, visit aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.