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From: "hal.bookbinder@ucla.eduTo: "'leadership@iajgs.org'" <leadership@iajgs.org>
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Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:52:17 +0000
Subject: [IAJGS Leadership] "FBI Warning of scams targeting seniors"
Dear IAJGS Leaders,
The FBI is warning about the Phantom Hacker Scam which is specifically targeting seniors and has raked in over a billion dollars in the past couple of years. They first warned about this scam two years ago. This summer they reiterated their warning that it remains active and dangerous, noting that less than 15% of the folks who are scammed are able to get their stolen money back. This has special relevance to our fellow genealogists, many of who fall into the target demographic. "FBI Warning of scams targeting seniors" discusses this scam, how to recognize it, and steps to take to avoid becoming a victim. It also stresses that even if we would never fall for it, unsuspecting friends and relatives might. So, we need to look out for one another.
"FBI Warning of scams targeting seniors" can be found in the Practicing Safe Computing compendium, which has been published on the JGSCV website and is freely available at https://tinyurl.com/
IAJGS Leaders are reminded that they are free share any of its articles, with appropriate attribution.
Best,
Hal
Hal Bookbinder
Oak Park, California
