Palm Beach Seniors Targeted With New Scams
Over the past month or so, seniors in Palm Beach County have faced threats from many new scams. Whether you’re trying to enjoy your retirement or you’re concerned about the well-being of your senior loved one, it makes sense to keep a close eye on these new scams. Families might also want to consider speaking with experienced Palm Beach County elder law attorneys to assess asset protection strategies.
Bitcoin Scam Causes Senior to Lose Over $20,000
Recently, WPTV reported that a senior in Palm Beach County had lost $22,000 due to a Bitcoin scam. The senior initially saw a fake Amazon fraud alert on his device, which led to a conversation with a man impersonating an FTC agent. This fraudster then told the senior to transfer $22,000 in Bitcoin because he was under investigation for money laundering, which he did.
Because of the nature of crypto fraud, there was no way to get the money back or trace it. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), crypto-related fraud resulted in almost $3 billion in losses for seniors in the United States last year.
Palm Beach County Authorities Raise Alarm Over Property Deed Fraud
Palm Beach County officials are also becoming increasingly concerned about the rising threat of property deed fraud. As a result, authorities are urging seniors to sign up for a free program that will alert them if anyone tries to gain ownership of their home through this type of fraud. Within the space of a few years, the number of property deed fraud cases in this county has risen exponentially from a handful to almost 200.
If this scam is successful, scammers can literally steal seniors’ homes from right underneath them. Once they gain legal ownership of the properties, these criminals can take out new mortgages or sell the homes.
New “Phone Hijack Scam” Shocks Palm Beach County Residents
At around the same time, authorities announced that a woman in Palm Beach County had been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a “phone hijack” scam. This woman tricked seniors into sharing verification codes while impersonating as an AT&T worker. Once she had the verification numbers, the scammer was able to access the seniors’ accounts and drain their financial resources.
While the authorities were eventually able to catch this individual, many other scammers get away with their crimes. Seniors and their families may want to consider additional steps to protect assets, such as trusts or guardianships.
Can a Palm Beach County Elder Law Attorney Help Me?
A Palm Beach County elder law attorney may be able to help seniors and their loved ones learn more about fraud and scams, including new strategies that can catch people off guard. More importantly, an elder law attorney could potentially help families put asset protection strategies in place that preserve life savings. Continue this conversation with Kitroser Lewis & Mighdoll today to learn more.
Sources:
cbs12.com/news/local/palm-beach-woman-gets-20-years-for-masterminding-nationwide-phone-hijack-scam-florida-news-palm-beach-county-news-crime-e-sim-scam-scam-alert-apple-find-my-friends-icloud-december-18-2025
palmbeachpost.com/story/news/crime/2025/12/17/property-title-deed-fraud-ai-scams-palm-beach-county/87802883007/
wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/west-palm-beach/west-palm-beach-man-loses-22-000-in-bitcoin-scheme-as-police-warn-of-holiday-fraud-surge
