03/05/2026
Elder Fraud Alert
Elder Fraud: What You Need to Discuss With Your Parents and Grandparents
We feel compelled to post reminders like this every few months..
These scams DO happen here in Victoria as well. I’ve personally heard several stories from people in our own community.
Take a moment to talk to your parents and grandparents about this.
Unfortunately, elder fraud scams are extremely common today, and many start with something simple:
• A fake Social Security email
• A phone call from someone pretending to be a government agency
• A warning that their bank account has been “compromised”
It may sound unbelievable that someone would fall for this — but these criminals are very skilled at manipulating fear and trust, especially targeting people who may not be as familiar with technology.
Once they create panic, they convince victims to move or withdraw money immediately — sometimes draining life savings.
And this isn’t rare.
This is just one small group that was recently caught.
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Six people have been arrested in connection with an organized “gold bar” scam that defrauded elderly victims across Texas of about $2.8 million.
The scammers posed as federal employees, convincing victims their accounts were compromised and instructing them to convert their savings into gold to “protect” their money.
At least six elderly Texans were targeted.
👉 Read the story:
https://www.fox26houston.com/news/six-arrested-2-8m-texas-gold-bar-scam-targeting-elderly-victims
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Please talk to your older relatives about these scams.
A simple conversation today could prevent someone you love from losing everything.
If a caller pressures them to move money, buy gold, or keep something secret — it is almost always a scam.
Stay vigilant and look out for each other.
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