A Long Island senior lost $15,000 in a text phishing scam. Learn exactly how it happened and the steps Canadians can take to protect themselves.
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Why This Scam Matters
A 78-year-old Long Island woman recently lost $15,000 to a sophisticated text phishing scam—also known as smishing. The fraud started with a fake alert about an Apple Pay charge and ended with the victim handing over her life savings to a scammer posing as a trusted authority.
While this case happened in the U.S., Canadians face similar text-based scams every day. Knowing the details of how this scheme unfolded can help you and your loved ones avoid becoming the next target.
The Scam: Step-by-Step Breakdown
According to KTVZ/CNN (source), here’s exactly what happened:
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The Initial Text—The victim received a message saying, “You have been charged $126 via Apple Pay.”
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Follow-Up Calls—Even though she deleted the text, she was contacted by people claiming to be from her bank and Apple support.
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They issued a fake security warning, informing her that they had compromised her bank account and urging her to take immediate action.
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Cash Withdrawal—Under instruction, she withdrew $15,000 from her savings, telling the teller she needed it for movers.
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Handoff to the Scammer—She was asked to put the cash in a box at home. A man arrived, gave her a password, took the box, and vanished.
Why This Scam Works
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Authority Impersonation – Scammers pretend to be from trusted companies.
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Urgency & Fear – Victims are told immediate action is needed.
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Step-by-Step Control – The scammer directs each action, leaving no time to think.
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Pretext for Cash Withdrawal – Coaching the victim on what to tell the teller avoids raising suspicion.
Expert Warnings & Law Enforcement Advice
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Suffolk County Police Financial Crimes Unit: This scam is part of a growing trend of senior-targeted text fraud.
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported a five-fold increase in text-based scams last year, resulting in losses totaling about $470 million, and many more cases remain unreported.
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Litigation Attorney Andrew Leib: Once the money is gone, legal remedies are limited, especially if scammers operate overseas—”You can’t get blood from a stone.”
Why Seniors Are Often Targeted
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Seniors tend to have a greater trust in authority figures.
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Seniors tend to have a lesser familiarity with digital fraud tactics.
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Desire to resolve problems quickly.
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Potential lack of immediate tech support from family.
Lessons for Canadians
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Do not respond to unexpected texts — especially those about financial transactions.
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Verify through official channels — call your bank or Apple directly using known numbers.
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Never withdraw cash on the advice of an unsolicited caller.
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Discuss suspicious messages with a family member or trusted friend before acting.
How to Report Text Scams in Canada
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Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC): 1-888-495-8501 or Report Online
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RCMP: Contact your local detachment.
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Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM)—a free service from Canadian carriers to help block future scams.
