KINGSTON — Scammers armed with cutting-edge technology had a big year in 2025, stealing money from Pennsylvanians — including many older residents who lost their hard-earned savings, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said on Thursday.
Sunday was at the Friedman Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Kingston to talk about “senior scams” and offer advice to one of the most vulnerable groups scammers prey on.
“Artificial intelligence has really changed the game and made scams more difficult to detect, so National Identity Theft Awareness Week is the perfect time to spread the word that education and awareness are power,” he said.
This week is National Identity Theft Awareness Week. Sunday said he and David Shallcross, director of the OAG Senior Protection Unit, delivered an informative program to about 50 seniors gathered at the JCC.
The presentation educates older Pennsylvanians and their families throughout the Commonwealth on crime prevention.
“Our goal is to make Pennsylvania’s older population aware of the threat of fraud to the elder community, teach them how to avoid being victimized, and to make sure they know who they should call when they are concerned about their safety and well-being,” Sunday said.
Sunday and Shallcross provided information about scams in 2025, including the most common scam types, the number of scams reported, and the amount of money lost.
They advised the audience on how to defend themselves against identity thieves — discussing trending scams, how scammers were successful in 2025, and how targets can protect themselves.
Sunday and Shallcross said the advancement of technology, including artificial intelligence, has resulted in more sophisticated scams — and bigger payouts for criminals. They offered some staggering statistics.
“Last year, the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau Consumer Protection’s Scam Team received more than 4,000 scam-related complaints,” Sunday said. “Pennsylvanians lost more than $76 million in 2025 to scammers.”
AG Sunday’s first case
Sunday began his presentation by telling the crowd about his first case as a young prosecutor in York County. He said an elderly man with dementia was visited at his home by a man offering to seal the man’s driveway.
“To show you how nefarious these scammers are, the man just dumped some dirty water on the victim’s driveway, took a check, and went on his way,” Sunday said. “The next day, the same person returned with the same offer — to seal the man’s driveway. He did it again with dirty water and received another check. This went on for 15 straight days — each time the same dirty water treatment and the victim paid by check.”
Sunday said the victim’s son found the multiple payments while reviewing his father’s checkbook and contacted police. Eventually, the AG said a neighbor came forward, confirmed the scam, and testified in court, and the scammer was convicted.
Scammers are out there 24/7
Sunday said scammers are working around the clock and can be very persuasive. They present themselves as authentic representatives of people’s banks, family members, and more.
“My advice is don’t answer your phone,” Sunday said. “Let it go to voicemail. If they get you on the phone, the next thing you know is your money is gone.”
Sunday and Shallcross said the top scam types were phishing scams and government imposter scams. The most common methods of loss by victims were wire transfers and Bitcoin or crypto payments.
In some circumstances, they said the Bureau of Consumer Protection was able to recover funds for reported fraud, and immediate reporting of a scam increases the chances for recovery.
“Most scams are never reported,” Sunday said. “I urge you to report them. Don’t be ashamed that you were a victim.”
Common senior scams
Shallcross said scammers often use high-pressure tactics and emotional triggers to pressure victims into making hasty decisions, including:
• AI voice cloning/grandparent scams — he said criminals use AI to mimic the voice of a loved one in a fake emergency call, making the scam highly believable.
• Government impostors: Shallcross said fraudsters pose as representatives from government agencies (like the IRS or local sheriff’s office), often demanding immediate payment or personal information.
• Tech support scams: Shallcross said scammers call victims claiming their computer has a virus and gain remote access to their devices or demand payment for bogus services.
• Romance/confidence scams: Shallcross said these fraudsters create fake online profiles to build trust and affection, eventually using the false relationship to steal funds or information.
AG Sunday said the OAG is expanding its efforts to protect older Pennsylvanians by launching its Elder Exploitation Section.
“At the Attorney General’s Office, we constantly field calls and complaints, dozens of them every month, about seniors being harmed or possibly harmed in acts of fraud, theft, and abuse,” Sunday said. “Now more than ever, seniors need strong advocates.”
The AG said the new section will focus on cases involving financial exploitation, deception, and theft. He said most of these cases are caused by someone the victim knows.
Key signs to watch for
AG Sunday and Shallcross emphasized several key warning signs to watch out for:
• Unexpected contact: Be extremely cautious if you are contacted unexpectedly via email, phone call, or in person.
• Aggressive pressure: If someone is aggressive and tells you that you must act “now,” hang up or shut the door. Legitimate organizations do not demand immediate action.
• Untraceable payment methods: Never use gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to pay a stranger. These transactions are nearly impossible to trace and recover.
• Requests for personal information: Legitimate entities you already do business with will already have your information and won’t ask for it unexpectedly.
• Secrecy: Scammers often swear victims to secrecy to prevent them from consulting a trusted friend or family member.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Click Here For The Original Source.
