Identity Theft and Fraud Can Be Devastating. Here’s How to Avoid It
A federal judge called the case “Kafkaesque.” In January 2025, Matthew David Keirans, 59, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on federal charges of aggravated identity theft and making false statements. But this was no ordinary identity theft case: Keirans had so thoroughly assumed the identity of his victim, William Woods, whom he’d met…
Update: Man Sentenced for $174 Million Conspiracy
In an update to a May 21, 2024, story, Jamie P. McNamara was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Read a Department of Justice press release.
The National Veterans Golden Age Games are free, no matter what scammers say
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hosts free events like the National Veterans Golden Age Games to encourage older adults in the veteran community to get active for better health and wellness. But veterans are reporting finding websites or pages on social media that charge a fee to register for the games. These are fakes. Whether you’re…
Scammers Use Financial Grooming, Known as ‘Pig Butchering,’ to Steal Victims’ Savings
Her name, she said, was Jessie. Dennis Jones, 82, met her on Facebook. The divorced, beloved grandfather and father had chatted online with Jessie for months, and he felt close to her, even though they’d never met. On a family vacation, he revealed to his son and daughter that he was exploring a major cryptocurrency investment opportunity.…
Scam Calls Jump
For many older Americans, scam calls often start early, around 7 a.m., and don’t let up until dinner. While many people think of scams as purely financial threats, Medicare fraud can affect a senior’s actual medical care. Fake diagnoses, incorrect allergy information, or fraudulent hospice enrollment can delay or block legitimate care. Read a story on Yahoo…
FTC warns businesses about fake reviews
Whether you’re hiring a contractor, looking for an apartment, or shopping online, chances are you check out online reviews first. Many people use reviews to see the honest opinions of other buyers — and companies rely on reviews to stand out from the crowd. But some companies write, post, or pay for fake reviews —…
How to Spot Investment Fraud
The phone rings, and a friendly, energetic-sounding stranger is on the line asking if you have a minute to learn how to triple your money in just six months by investing in gold and silver mines. Or maybe you get an email urging you to buy shares of a company whose stock price is sure…
Man Sentenced in $172 Million Scheme
Aaron Neil Williamsky was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for conspiring to defraud Medicare of $172 million, commit money laundering, and pay kickbacks and bribes. To generate fraudulent orders, Williamsky and his co-conspirators hired marketing companies to make unsolicited calls offering elderly patients free orthotic braces. In exchange for each patient who…
Influencers are pushing this illegal trick to “fix” your credit report
Looking for some life hacks or advice about managing money? There’s no shortage of online influencers ready to help. But not all advice is good advice (or truthful). And in some cases, what they’re telling you might be more than a bad idea — it might be illegal. CONTINUE
What to Know About Cryptocurrency Scams
Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, ethereum, solana and hundreds may be touted as an exciting, new commodity. But many people have experienced dramatic losses, some through bogus investment platforms touted by scammers as sure moneymakers. CONTINUE
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