FamilyDefender: phone scam cases and guidesReal phone scam cases targeting older Americans and how to avoid them.https://familydefender.app/AI Voice Clone Scam: A Mother Paid $15,000 “Bail” After Hearing Her Daughter Cryhttps://familydefender.app/articles/ai-voice-clone-bail-scam/https://familydefender.app/articles/ai-voice-clone-bail-scam/A Florida mother heard what sounded like her daughter sobbing, then paid $15,000 in cash bail to a courier. How the AI voice scam worked and how to stop it.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBitcoin ATM Scams and Seniors: Why a Caller Wants You at a Crypto Kioskhttps://familydefender.app/articles/bitcoin-atm-scam-seniors/https://familydefender.app/articles/bitcoin-atm-scam-seniors/No real business or agency asks for payment through a Bitcoin ATM. What the D.C. lawsuit and FBI data show about crypto kiosk scams targeting older adults.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTCaller ID Spoofing: Why the Number on Your Screen Can Liehttps://familydefender.app/articles/caller-id-spoofing-explained/https://familydefender.app/articles/caller-id-spoofing-explained/Scammers can make any name or number show up on caller ID, including your bank, a government agency or a local number. Here’s how spoofing works and what to do.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTFake Bank Fraud Call: How a Scammer Sent Rideshare Drivers to Collect Victims’ Cashhttps://familydefender.app/articles/fake-bank-fraud-call-rideshare-cash-courier/https://familydefender.app/articles/fake-bank-fraud-call-rideshare-cash-courier/A man posing as bank fraud investigators told victims to withdraw cash so it could be “safeguarded,” then sent rideshare drivers to collect it. He got 3 years.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTFake FTC Agent Scam: Gold Bars, Crypto and a 14-Year Prison Sentencehttps://familydefender.app/articles/fake-ftc-agents-gold-crypto/https://familydefender.app/articles/fake-ftc-agents-gold-crypto/Callers posing as FTC agents told an older victim to buy crypto and gold to “protect their assets.” A Georgia man who picked up the gold got 168 months.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTFake FTC Call Says Your Phone Number Will Be Deactivated: It’s a Scamhttps://familydefender.app/articles/fake-ftc-call-deactivate-phone-number/https://familydefender.app/articles/fake-ftc-call-deactivate-phone-number/A new FTC impostor script: your number is tied to crimes abroad, a fake police officer takes a report, then you’re told to pay a “security deposit.” It’s all fake.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTFake Publishers Clearing House Call: How a $22 Million “Prize” Cost a Woman Her Homehttps://familydefender.app/articles/fake-publishers-clearing-house-prize-call/https://familydefender.app/articles/fake-publishers-clearing-house-prize-call/A caller posing as Publishers Clearing House told a 73-year-old woman she won $22 million. She sent over $600,000 in “taxes and fees.” Here is how it worked.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrandparent Scam With Cash Couriers: How a Bronx Man Was Charged for Collecting Fake Bailhttps://familydefender.app/articles/grandparent-scam-cash-couriers/https://familydefender.app/articles/grandparent-scam-cash-couriers/Federal prosecutors charged a Bronx man with picking up cash from grandparents told their grandchild was in jail. How the scam works and the warning signs.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow to Report a Phone Scam: Where to Go and What to Includehttps://familydefender.app/articles/how-to-report-a-phone-scam/https://familydefender.app/articles/how-to-report-a-phone-scam/Report phone scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, online fraud and losses at ic3.gov, unwanted sales calls at DoNotCall.gov, and forward scam texts to 7726.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow to Tell if a Call Is Really From Your Bankhttps://familydefender.app/articles/how-to-tell-if-call-is-really-from-your-bank/https://familydefender.app/articles/how-to-tell-if-call-is-really-from-your-bank/You can’t tell from caller ID. Hang up and call the number on the back of your card. Banks don’t call to have you move money to protect it or read back a code.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTIRS Impersonation Scam: A Runner for an India-Based Call Center Gets 30 Monthshttps://familydefender.app/articles/irs-impersonation-scam-runner-sentenced/https://familydefender.app/articles/irs-impersonation-scam-runner-sentenced/Callers posing as IRS officials threatened arrest over “back taxes.” Over 2,700 victims paid more than $2.4 million. A Nevada runner was sentenced in 2024.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTJury Duty Scam Calls: “You Missed Jury Duty and Will Be Arrested” Is a Scamhttps://familydefender.app/articles/jury-duty-arrest-warrant-scam-calls/https://familydefender.app/articles/jury-duty-arrest-warrant-scam-calls/Callers posing as U.S. Marshals or police say you missed jury duty and must pay now to avoid arrest. Courts don’t collect fines by phone. Here’s what to do.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTMedicare Open Enrollment Scam Calls: The “New Medicare Card” Call Is Fakehttps://familydefender.app/articles/medicare-open-enrollment-scam-calls/https://familydefender.app/articles/medicare-open-enrollment-scam-calls/During Medicare Open Enrollment, scammers call claiming you need a new Medicare card and ask for your numbers. Medicare cards are free and mailed automatically.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTPhantom Hacker Scam: How Victims Lost Over $6 Million in Gold Barshttps://familydefender.app/articles/phantom-hacker-gold-bars/https://familydefender.app/articles/phantom-hacker-gold-bars/A pop-up, a fake Microsoft call, a fake bank and a fake government agent: how the phantom hacker scam took gold from victims aged 61 to 80.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow to Protect Elderly Parents From Phone Scams: 8 Steps That Workhttps://familydefender.app/articles/protect-elderly-parents-from-phone-scams/https://familydefender.app/articles/protect-elderly-parents-from-phone-scams/Agree on a family code word, hang up and call back, and never move money on a caller’s say-so. Practical steps to protect an older parent from phone scams.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTRecovery Scams: When Someone Offers to Get Your Money Backhttps://familydefender.app/articles/recovery-scams-get-your-money-back/https://familydefender.app/articles/recovery-scams-get-your-money-back/After a scam, fake “recovery” agents, law firms and even fake FBI staff call to promise a refund for a fee. Real agencies don’t charge to get your money back.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTSocial Security Impersonation Scam: Two Convicted in a Call Center Schemehttps://familydefender.app/articles/social-security-impersonation-call-center-scam/https://familydefender.app/articles/social-security-impersonation-call-center-scam/Callers posing as Social Security employees said victims’ numbers were tied to crimes. A 70-year-old woman sent over $600,000. Two men were convicted in 2025.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTTech Support Refund Scam: The Fake Overpayment Behind $42 Million in Elder Fraudhttps://familydefender.app/articles/tech-support-refund-scam/https://familydefender.app/articles/tech-support-refund-scam/Pop-ups sent people to fake Microsoft and McAfee support, then a fake refund “overpaid” them. How the tech support refund scam works and how to stop it.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTUtility Shutoff Scam Calls: “Pay Now or We Cut Your Power” Is a Scamhttps://familydefender.app/articles/utility-shutoff-scam-calls/https://familydefender.app/articles/utility-shutoff-scam-calls/Callers posing as the power, gas or water company threaten a shutoff unless you pay now. Utilities don’t take gift cards or crypto. Hang up and call the bill’s number.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat to Do if Your Parent Was Scammed: Steps by Payment Typehttps://familydefender.app/articles/what-to-do-if-your-parent-was-scammed/https://familydefender.app/articles/what-to-do-if-your-parent-was-scammed/Act fast and start with how the money was paid: bank, card, gift card, wire, crypto or mailed cash. Then report it and support your parent without blame.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT