Elder Fraud & Scams
Latest in Elder Fraud & Scams· Nov 8
Scammers are running advance-fee schemes on online classifieds by posing as piano sellers, often claiming to be widows liquidating a deceased spouse's instrument. The fraud exploits the niche piano market where buyers cannot inspect goods before purchase and depend on seller reputation signals that fraudsters easily fabricate. After collecting down payments, the scammers disappear. Consumer protection agencies report this as part of a wider pattern of online marketplace fraud targeting older buyers unfamiliar with digital transaction risks.
Scams, fraud schemes, and financial exploitation targeting elderly individuals and their families, including romance scams and investment fraud.
11 events tracked
- Single source4 days ago
Scammers pose as widow offering deceased husband's piano
Scammers pose as piano sellers online, collecting deposits for instruments never delivered, targeting music enthusiasts.
The Guardian
- Single source11 days ago
Scammers exploit birthdays to impersonate banks and steal identities
The Guardian warns that sharing birthdays online increases identity theft and fraud risk, affecting consumer security practices.
The Guardian
- Single source16 days ago
Ghana twins and American woman admit to $9m romance fraud scheme
Three defendants pleaded guilty to defrauding elderly victims in the US and Europe by posing as romantic interests and extracting money transfers.
BBC News
- Single source21 days ago
Seniors lost $3 billion to fraud in 2025, with major cases dominating
The FTC found that older Americans accounted for 70% of $3 billion in total fraud losses, with $2.1 billion coming from cases exceeding $100,000 each.
CNBC
- Single source25 days ago
Trading standards: AI amplifies scam tactics via deepfakes and fraudulent sites
BBC publishes guide on identifying and defending against AI-enabled scams targeting consumers.
BBC News
- Single source25 days ago
Citizens Advice identifies door-to-door roofing fraud as top scam targeting homeowners
Roofing scam targets UK homeowners with upfront payments and no work completion, raising consumer fraud concerns.
The Guardian
- Single sourceabout 1 month ago
UK data regulator probes surge in fraudulent recruitment robo calls
UK authorities to investigate WhatsApp scam calls impersonating banks and services to steal credentials and money.
BBC News
- Single sourceabout 1 month ago
Former intelligence officer admits to orchestrating $200 million fraud scheme
Former US intelligence officer admits to $200 million scam involving gold bars hidden at home.
BBC News
- Single sourceabout 1 month ago
Disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker dies at 86 after fraud conviction
US televangelist Jim Bakker, convicted of fraud decades ago, dies at 86.
BBC News
- Single sourceabout 1 month ago
Older adults face heightened financial fraud risk from emotional manipulation tactics
MarketWatch examines risk factors that make older adults more vulnerable to financial scams.
MarketWatch
- Single sourceabout 2 months ago
MarketWatch offers advice for shielding aging relatives from financial fraud
MarketWatch publishes guidance on protecting elderly parents from financial scams.
MarketWatch