Vulnerability Vultures: How Scammers Entice Targets Via Impersonation and Fictional Financial Aid Offers

Online scam networks increasingly exploit trusted institutions, social platforms, and AI-generated content to target vulnerable populations, particularly older adults. The report documents cross-platform fraud operations that impersonate organizations such as the FBI and promote fake financial aid, home repair, and debt relief programs. Attackers build credibility through cloned websites, official branding, and manipulated media, then move victims into private channels to collect sensitive data or payments. The analysis highlights scalable fraud ecosystems using automation, disposable accounts, and global operators to evade moderation and repeatedly target victims.