new! fraud awareness network
Virtual or by phone Peer-to-Peer Program for Survivors of Fraud & Scams
Tuesdays, 10 - 11 am
(1) weekly, but attend as often as you want; (2) can remain anonymous; (3) facilitated by Lifespan’s Fraud/Scam Prevention team; (4) can live anywhere, not limited to NYS.
Flyer with details - please share with others. For more details please email or call: fraudnetwork@lifespanrochester.org; 585-626-0250 or 585-244-8400.
grand larceny arrest - power of attorney related!
Read NYS AG Letitia James press release and Times Union article
swindled savings - nyt article
After They Were Scammed, Another Rude Surprise: Victims owe IRS on retirement fund withdrawn to pay fraudsters
Resources & References:
April 2024 Senate Special Committee on Aging Report
2023 FBI Internet Crime Report
NYT Swindled Savings 5-Part Series
How One Man Lost $740,000 to Scammers Targeting His Retirement Savings (NYT July 2024)
How to Avoid Online Scams & What to Do if You Become a Victim (NYT Aug 2024)
Lured by a Promising Job, He Was Forced to Scam People (NYT Sept 2024)
They’re Giving Scammers All Their Money. The Kids Can’t Stop Them. (NYT Nov 2024)
e-zpass texting scam alert
This scam has returned and many people in NYS received the text messages recently.
Read article with very important details & ways to report
Be Scams Smart - Scams Web page on NYS Office for the Aging Website
Link to Web page for guidance & resources
Including Scam Series PSA videos - learn about common scams and how to avoid them (Gift Card, Charity, Parcel, Government Imposter, Tech, and Romance Scams). NYSOFA and Lifespan will be featuring the short videos on social media and elsewhere. Everyone is encouraged to do the same - please share the videos and play them often. The more people hear the warnings, the less likely they will fall victim to a scam!
NYSOFA's Don't Get Scammed Guide
Live with Greg
Older Adults: Avoiding Scams & Fraud
YouTube link
Updated Scams Resource Sheet
Lifespan Scams Programs Flyer
Frauds & Scams, Social Security Number and Card
What You Can Do To Protect Your Personal Information
Advice from the Social Security Administration related to news about various SSN data breaches - not related to internal SSA data, which has not been not compromised. (One correction to note - a credit freeze requires notifying all 3 credit bureaus individually.)
AARP Scams & Fraud Web Page
Too many resources to highlight. Check it out!
Link to all the great information
us doj and fbi ic3 psa - plus warning from romance scam victim
Please go to Helpful Resources & Links page under Tools for details.
Year-long CBS News Investigation
Return of the Romance Scams
Time for a reminder from the 2024 year-long CBS News investigation.
Anything for Love: Inside the Romance Scam Epidemic
CBS press release (see below for note) - National & local news coverage special series in April 2024. Some links below are related stories with added variations or from different programs or cities.
Widow’s tragic story
Money mules
Dangerous world
FBI warns of new tactics
Manipulation
Vulnerable victims
Federal investigations
AI videos, crypto-related
Investment scams, AI
AI makes it easier
Dating apps
LE struggles to prevent
Summary overview
Note! Links in CBS press release article don’t work anymore but read it for background. Click on CBSnews.com link at the end.
Search romance scam = 284 very interesting results from multiple years (many recent ones - and many with arrests & prison time); “romance scam epidemic” search = 10 results from 2024 series.
CNN article - June 17, 2024
Killed by a Scam: A father took his life after losing his savings to international criminal gangs. He’s not the only one.
Read CNN June 17, 2024 article