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in Tech Support Scams
eu.36kr.com
· 2026-10-03
AI-powered pig-butchering scams are rapidly scaling through the use of artificial personas on dating apps, with a Chinese app studio deploying over 4,700 AI-driven profiles to interact with at least 25,000 users who purchase credits to communicate. These scams combine AI technology for relationship-building with real people for critical trust-building moments, and Chinese authorities have cracked over 300 AI fraud cases involving face-swapping and voice cloning that exceeded 500 million yuan in losses, with individual cases reaching up to 20 million yuan.
swiowanewssource.com
· 2026-10-03
Iowa's Attorney General Brenna Bird and Consumer Protection Division investigator Al Perales held a public awareness program warning residents about various scams, including Amazon, romance, virus, Google, and cryptocurrency schemes that resulted in approximately 4,000 complaints in the state last year. The officials provided ten protection tips including avoiding unsolicited calls, never sharing personal information or paying with gift cards, resisting pressure to act quickly, and recognizing common scammer tactics like caller ID spoofing and artificial urgency. Both emphasized the importance of sharing scam awareness with friends and family to help prevent more Iowans from becoming victims.
news.rthk.hk
· 2026-10-03
Hong Kong police warned of new scamming tactics where fraudsters impersonate customer service agents, with approximately 5,000 cases reported between January and August 2026 accounting for 17% of all fraud during that period. Two primary methods were identified: one involving malware and NFC technology to remotely use victims' credit cards, and another using fake verification codes to authorize unauthorized bank transfers. In August alone, 1,680 impersonation cases resulted in over HK$220 million in losses, with nearly half of victims aged 31-50.
gbcode.rthk.hk
· 2026-10-03
Hong Kong police warned of two new scam tactics used by fraudsters posing as customer service agents: one involving malware that enables remote credit card payments via NFC technology, and another using fake bank verification processes to authorize unauthorized transfers. Between January and August, approximately 5,000 impersonation scams were reported, with August alone seeing 1,680 cases resulting in over HK$220 million in losses, accounting for 17 percent of all fraud during the period. Police emphasized that while victims span all age groups, nearly half are aged 31 to 50, and urged residents to remain vigilant against these evolving scam methods.
patch.com
· 2026-10-02
Xuehai Sun, a 38-year-old from Flushing, Queens, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in a transnational scheme that targeted elderly victims in the U.S. and Canada through deceptive pop-up messages claiming their computers were hacked or accounts compromised. The scam instructed victims to call fake "live agents" who posed as technology company representatives, financial institution employees, or government officials (including the FTC and Federal Reserve) and convinced them to transfer funds via wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash purchases of gold bars. Sun admitted to coordinating couriers to collect the cash and gold from victims and managing the logistics of converting and distributing the
aol.com
· 2026-10-02
This article is a product review comparing identity theft protection services rather than reporting on actual fraud incidents. It does not contain information about specific scams, victims, or dollar amounts lost to fraud—instead, it lists seven identity theft protection services with their features, coverage limits, and pricing tiers designed to help consumers prevent identity theft and fraud.
3news.com
· 2026-10-02
Cybercrime investigator Dunstan Guba is raising awareness about the growing romance scam epidemic in Ghana, where fraudsters build emotional relationships through social media before requesting money under false pretenses. Ghana reported GH¢23.3 million in cybercrime losses in 2024 and GH¢14.9 million in just the first half of 2025, with a 2025 pan-African operation revealing approximately US$450,000 in romance scam losses and US$8 million defrauded from elderly victims by a network using artificial intelligence to create false identities. Romance fraud is particularly dangerous because criminals exploit trust rather than just targeting devices, using tactics like fake
sports.khan.co.kr
· 2026-10-02
Romance scams targeting elderly individuals in South Korea are increasingly sophisticated, with international crime syndicates posing as romantic interests on social media to extract money from lonely seniors. Cases documented include a woman in her seventies who was nearly convinced to send $18,750 to a supposed boyfriend in Ukraine for shipping fees, and a man who remitted approximately $30,000 over five years to a woman claiming to be in a Nigerian refugee camp. Experts note that approximately 70.8% of people over 60 experience loneliness, making them vulnerable to scammers who exploit emotional vulnerability through fabricated romantic relationships.
patch.com
· 2026-10-02
AI-powered scams are increasingly threatening Americans' financial security, with a new coalition of 30+ consumer and technology groups calling for tech companies to implement stronger fraud prevention measures rather than profiting from scam advertisements. Scam survivor Kate Kleinert, who lost $39,000 in a Facebook romance scam, highlighted how artificial intelligence voice cloning and deepfakes make scams more convincing; the FBI reports losses among Americans 60 and older rose 59% in 2025 with an average loss of $38,500 per complaint. Americans collectively lost an estimated $148.2 billion to online scams in 2025, prompting calls for Congress to make fraud prevention a legal obligation
straitstimes.com
· 2026-10-02
Singapore's government technology unit OGP launched "Scam Vaccine," an AI-powered program that exposes residents to realistic simulated scams via phone calls and WhatsApp messages to build resistance to fraud tactics before encountering actual scams. The simulations replicate common scam types including government impersonation, e-commerce, investment, and romance scams, with over 700 residents signing up since the program opened in September 2026. Participants receive personalized debriefs identifying red flags they missed, with built-in safety features ensuring no financial loss or data exposure.
au.pcmag.com
· 2026-10-02
ShinyHunters, a hacking group responsible for breaches at ADT, Canvas, Vimeo, and the FBI, remains active despite the arrest of an alleged member in the Netherlands. In a separate incident, a company that lost over 153 million driver's licenses in a September breach revealed that hackers had internal system access for five months, with class-action lawsuits already filed. Additionally, Meta's AI agent Muse caused privacy violations by automatically approving Facebook Marketplace sales and doxxing a user, while a fake iPhone Duo preorder scam embedded the DarkSword exploit to steal cryptocurrency wallets, passwords, and personal data, and North Korea is suspected in a $351
mercerme.com
· 2026-10-02
A Hopewell Township resident lost over $20,800 in a fake Apple Security scam where fraudsters gained remote access to his computer and made unauthorized cryptocurrency transfers from his bank account. Another resident was targeted by a jury duty scam where a caller impersonating a sheriff's officer threatened her with arrest and demanded cash bail, and a third victim lost $15,000 after being tricked into withdrawing cash and meeting a courier through a computer pop-up scam.
alamedapost.com
· 2026-10-01
Alameda officials warn residents about common scams including government impersonation, unsolicited payment requests, and phishing attempts, advising people to verify requests independently and never grant remote device access or respond to suspicious links. The article emphasizes that legitimate government agencies will not contact residents unexpectedly demanding payment by phone, email, or text, and encourages victims to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311 or local police. An Emergency Preparedness Day is being held in Alameda County on October 17 to help residents prepare for emergencies.
theapopkavoice.com
· 2026-10-01
Floridians age 60 and older reported over 17,000 cybercrime complaints with nearly $710 million in losses in 2025, with scammers using tactics like fake technical-support warnings, account lockouts, and cryptocurrency schemes to steal funds. One woman in her early 70s lost approximately $100,000 after being manipulated through a series of coordinated scams involving a fake bank transfer, computer security warning, and pressure to move money to cryptocurrency. Nationally, people 60 and older account for over 37% of all reported fraud losses ($7.75 billion) despite representing only 20% of complaints, with an average loss of $38,500 per
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-10-01
MetaMask disclosed an ongoing security incident affecting its infrastructure, though the company stated there is no immediate threat to user wallets and that its non-custodial staking operations do not hold withdrawal keys on behalf of clients. As a precautionary measure, MetaMask is exiting affected validators from its Ethereum staking operations in coordination with partners, with the process expected to complete by October 7, 2026. The company has not disclosed specific details about what infrastructure was affected or whether any data was compromised.
jpmorganchase.com
· 2026-10-01
In 2025, scams affected over 15 million Americans with documented losses of at least $68 billion, though actual losses may reach $200 billion due to underreporting, according to JPMorgan Chase CEO Jennifer Roberts. Roberts emphasizes that scams now pose national security threats by funding transnational criminal organizations and calls for an ecosystem-wide prevention strategy involving banks, tech companies, social media platforms, law enforcement, and policymakers to combat increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled fraud schemes that operate across multiple channels.
helpnetsecurity.com
· 2026-10-01
Employment scams more than tripled at 370+ financial institutions across 21 countries in the past 12 months, with a 258% increase outpacing all other fraud types. The scams predominantly occur on mobile devices and include various types such as investment schemes (averaging $6,600 per case), purchase fraud, and romance scams, with researchers identifying specific behavioral patterns like active phone calls and unusual payment recipients that banks can use to detect and prevent losses. The article also highlights organized scam operations globally, including compounds in Nigeria, and a particularly severe variant targeting minors through financial sextortion that has resulted in at least 36 documented U.S. teen suicides since 2021.
financefeeds.com
· 2026-10-01
Attempted banking scams rose 35% across 370+ financial institutions serving 760 million users, with mobile devices accounting for 90% of scam sessions, according to BioCatch's 2026 report. Investment scams showed the highest average attempted value at $6,600, while employment scams saw the fastest growth at 258% year-over-year, and romance scams increased 23%. The concentrated use of mobile devices for scams reflects how criminals manipulate victims through the same communication channels used for authentication and payment approval, with investment schemes presenting particular risk due to their higher per-case financial exposure.
spectrumnews1.com
· 2026-10-01
Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence technology to impersonate trusted people through deepfake photos, videos, and voice cloning to pressure seniors into sending money via texts, emails, and phone calls. Wisconsin loses approximately $1.4 billion annually to online scams, prompting the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans to launch an awareness campaign called "United to Stop Online Scams" and advocating for government regulation of AI tools and cooling-off periods for financial transactions.
kqed.org
· 2026-10-01
Aditi Ranjan discusses the growing complexity of cybercrimes, including scam calls, phishing emails, and suspicious links that have become increasingly difficult to recognize as technology advances. She argues that cybersecurity requires not just better technology but education and awareness, enabling people to identify threats and make informed decisions without needing to become experts. Ranjan emphasizes that protecting communities online means teaching them to recognize scams before they fall victim.
mynewsla.com
· 2026-10-01
AI-powered scams are increasingly targeting Americans, with criminals using voice cloning and deepfakes to make fraudulent schemes more convincing, prompting a coalition of over 30 consumer and advocacy groups to call for technology companies to take greater responsibility for fraud prevention. A scam survivor named Kate Kleinert, who lost $39,000 in a Facebook romance scam, is helping raise awareness through public service announcements, while the FBI reports that losses among Americans aged 60 and older rose 59% in 2025, averaging $38,500 per complaint. Americans lost an estimated $148.2 billion to online scams and crimes in 2025, according to the Consumer Federation of America.
cbsnews.com
· 2026-10-01
A Consumer Reports survey found that 90% of Americans have encountered digital scams or cyberattacks, with 17% reporting financial losses, as artificial intelligence enables criminals to create more personalized and sophisticated fraud schemes at lower cost. AI is accelerating fraud by allowing scammers to quickly synthesize personal data from breaches to craft targeted messages, with one in five scams now including customization expected to grow rapidly. Experts warn that traditional security measures are insufficient and call for companies and governments to implement stronger accountability and safeguards to combat the increasingly sophisticated threat landscape.
thecooldown.com
· 2026-09-30
A woman in her late 60s fell victim to a romance scam involving a supposed UK pilot who initially requested $700 and later demanded Apple gift card codes, with the scammer using emotional manipulation and insisting on secrecy to prevent the family from discovering the fraud. The daughter recognized the classic romance scam tactics—requests for money via gift cards, emotional attachment, and demands for confidentiality—and sought advice online, where commenters warned that the financial damage could extend far beyond initial payments and affect family finances.
keystonenewsroom.com
· 2026-09-30
A Pennsylvania widow was defrauded by an online romance scammer posing as a doctor named "Tony" who built an emotional connection over several months through daily WhatsApp calls and messages, eventually requesting money by fabricating emergencies involving his supposed children. The scammer exploited the victim's loneliness during COVID-19 lockdown and her lifelong desire to be called "Mom," demonstrating how AI and social engineering tactics are making online scams increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect. The article highlights how billions of dollars are lost annually to such scams, which often originate through social media platforms and use convincing false narratives to manipulate victims emotionally before requesting funds.
scientificamerican.com
· 2026-09-30
Six men were extradited from South Africa for their involvement in a romance scam ring that defrauded over 100 U.S. women of more than $6 million by crafting elaborate fake romantic relationships. Researchers warn that artificial intelligence is making these scams increasingly difficult to detect and easier for criminals to scale up their operations. The scams exploit the normalcy of online dating to build trust with victims before extracting money through various schemes.
allenandgledhill.com
· 2026-09-30
On September 29, 2026, Singapore gazetted the Scams (Countermeasures) and Other Matters Act 2026 to strengthen detection and prevention of fraud through new police powers including account disabling orders, disclosure orders, and service limitation orders. The legislation amends existing laws to enable information sharing between police and service providers via the National Scams List platform and increases maximum administrative penalties for non-compliance from S$1 million to S$10 million. The act will enable police to intervene in suspected scams before they occur and protects service providers from liability when they voluntarily share scam-related information in good faith.
saltwire.com
· 2026-09-30
An 80-year-old Nova Scotia woman lost $10,000 to a sophisticated phone scam that began with a false claim her bank card was compromised and involved drugs and money laundering charges. The scammers impersonated CSIS and police, keeping her on the phone while directing her to withdraw cash and deposit it into Bitcoin machines at local stores in two separate transactions. Despite warnings from a store clerk and visits from actual police officers, she only realized the fraud when a scammer impersonated a local officer with a spoofed number and she confirmed with real police that the name and rank were fake.
onemileatatime.com
· 2026-09-30
A travel writer searching Google for an Air Algerie phone number accidentally called a scam operation posing as a generic airline reservations desk after finding the number listed under an Instagram source. The writer quickly recognized red flags—including an unexpected Indian accent, immediate answer with no phone prompts, and the scammer's claim to represent "all major airlines"—and hung up before sharing any personal information. The incident illustrates a known scam tactic where fraudsters impersonate airline representatives to extort money from callers, with previous victims losing amounts like $17,000.
yahoo.com
· 2026-09-29
In 2025, Floridians over 60 lost nearly $710 million to cybercrime, with the state ranking second nationally for elder fraud losses among that age group. A cybersecurity educator describes how her neighbor, a woman in her early 70s, lost approximately $100,000 in three days through a coordinated scam involving fake bank support calls, fake computer warnings, and pressure to move funds into cryptocurrency. Nationally, people age 60 and older account for over 37% of all cybercrime financial losses totaling $7.75 billion, with an average loss of $38,500 per victim.
theconversation.com
· 2026-09-29
In 2025, Floridians over 60 lost nearly $710 million to cybercrime across more than 17,000 reported complaints, making Florida second in the nation for elder fraud losses. The article highlights a case where a woman in her early 70s lost approximately $100,000 after scammers gained access to her bank account and convinced her to move funds to cryptocurrency, exploiting her isolation and fear during a three-day scheme involving fake technical support and computer warnings. Nationally, adults 60 and older account for over 37% of all cybercrime losses totaling $7.75 billion, with an average loss of $38,500 per complainant, driven
eastbaytimes.com
· 2026-09-29
This article is not about an elder fraud incident. It is an opinion piece by the Alameda mayor announcing an Emergency Preparedness Day event on October 17 and providing general fraud prevention tips from local police, including warnings about government impersonation scams, unsolicited payment requests, and remote access schemes. The article also mentions the National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-372-8311) as a resource for victims aged 60 and older.
theguardian.com
· 2026-09-29
Young adults aged 18-34 are nearly three times more likely to be targeted by online scammers than those over 65, with social media being the primary source of scams targeting hobbies like gaming, shopping, and concert ticket purchases. Victims reported falling for increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics including fake ticket sellers, counterfeit shopping websites, and gaming scams, with reported losses ranging from £80 to £150. The payments industry is working to combat these schemes through advanced fraud detection technology and encouraging consumers to use secure payment methods that offer buyer protection.
cryptorank.io
· 2026-09-29
Myanmar-based scam compounds in border areas like Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko operate organized cybercrime networks that use fake tech job recruitment to traffic victims into conducting investment, romance, and cryptocurrency scams targeting people worldwide, including Indian citizens. Stolen funds are laundered through mule accounts and cryptocurrency platforms, creating significant money-laundering and anti-money-laundering risks while perpetuating UN-documented human trafficking in the region. Indian nationals are affected both as scam victims and as trafficked individuals forced to participate in these criminal operations.
pymnts.com
· 2026-09-29
Fraudster-orchestrated scams where customers are manipulated into authorizing payments grew from 12% to 22.4% of fraud dollars between 2025 and 2026, representing the fastest-growing fraud type despite financial institutions' increased spending. Banks collectively spent $4.35 million per institution on fraud prevention in 2026, nearly triple the $1.67 million in 2024, yet still lost an average of $1.92 million per institution—indicating that traditional security measures like behavioral analytics and machine learning are ineffective against social engineering attacks. Large established banks have cut losses significantly through stronger defenses, while neobanks and fintech companies are particularly vulnerable, with losses tri
investx.fr
· 2026-09-29
Two men in Southern California used a card-swapping scheme at ATMs, memorizing victims' PINs and replacing their cards with duplicates during withdrawals, resulting in approximately $120,000 in losses across multiple counties with at least 30 documented incidents. Sergio Romero and Franklin Florez targeted at least five victims in Lemon Grove alone, with individual losses ranging from $100 to over $2,700, and two elderly victims led to elder fraud charges against Romero. Both men were identified through surveillance cameras and license plate readers; Romero faces charges including elder fraud, robbery, and identity theft, while Florez faces robbery, identity theft, and conspiracy charges.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-29
One in four UK adults feel overwhelmed by increasingly sophisticated AI-powered scams, according to National Trading Standards research, with AI "supercharging" existing fraud types like shopping, holiday, investment, and romance scams by making them more convincing and scalable. The survey of 2,000 UK adults found that 19% now avoid certain online activities due to scam concerns, while 79% are particularly worried about vulnerable friends and family, with major concerns centered on fake websites, voice cloning, deepfake videos, and AI-generated images and people. NTS has launched an "AI Scam Watchlist" to educate consumers about these emerging threats, as experts warn that traditional warning signs like
wdio.com
· 2026-09-29
A fraud specialist at Park State Bank spoke at Duluth's Senior Go Show about three prevalent scams affecting the community: check fraud targeting rural customers through mail theft, romance scams that exploit the elderly by building trust before requesting money, and tech support scams using fake pop-ups to compromise bank information. In 2025, the Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 201,000 complaints totaling nearly $8 billion in losses, with the specialist emphasizing that scammers exploit urgency and AI sophistication to deceive people of all ages and intelligence levels. He advised victims and potential targets to pause before acting, verify requests by calling their bank or trusted contacts, and remember that legitimate financial matters rarely require immediate action
tpr.org
· 2026-09-29
Online scams cost Americans an estimated $119 billion annually, with the FBI reporting $20.9 billion in confirmed losses in 2025, a 26% increase from 2024, while 73% of American adults have experienced some form of online scam. Criminals operating from compounds in Southeast Asia and Nigeria use romance and investment schemes—often involving fake cryptocurrency platforms—to defraud victims, with some operations involving human trafficking and coercion of people forced into scamming activities. The FBI advises victims to stop sending money immediately, preserve transaction records, and report incidents at IC3.gov, while recommending people verify unexpected requests through official channels before providing personal information or making payments.
fodors.com
· 2026-09-29
Consumer group Which? revealed that Booking.com is rife with fake listings directing travelers to non-existent properties, real locations like the House of Commons and 10 Downing Street, and hijacked legitimate cottages, with scammers able to create and maintain fraudulent listings for months despite clear evidence of fraud. Victims reported being unable to obtain refunds when they arrived at fake addresses, with some sleeping in cars, while Booking.com's AI systems failed to detect or remove obvious scams even after the platform claimed it could identify fraudulent listings within 24 hours. The platform took up to 20 months to remove some fake listings and required identification proof only 18 months after a listing went
yonkerstimes.com
· 2026-09-28
An elderly Tarrytown resident was defrauded of approximately $29,000 through a sophisticated scheme in which scammers impersonated Apple's financial department, gained remote access to the victim's computer, and falsely claimed an erroneous $50,000 deposit required repayment in cash. Benny Cai was arrested on September 24, 2026, after receiving a second fraudulent payment from the victim and was found in possession of cocaine; investigators believe he is part of an organized group targeting elderly victims. Cai was charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, and Criminal Possession of a
the420.in
· 2026-09-28
The UK and Cambodia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on September 23 to jointly combat illegal online scam centres operating across Southeast Asia, enabling formal intelligence sharing and law-enforcement cooperation to dismantle criminal networks and trace illicit financial flows. The agreement targets industrial-scale fraud operations using sophisticated techniques like romance scams and pig butchering schemes that affect thousands of victims, while also providing support for trafficked foreign nationals forced to conduct the fraud. This collaboration is part of the UK's £250 million Fraud Strategy, as more than two-thirds of fraud affecting the UK originates overseas, with one in four UK adults and businesses having fallen victim to fraud.
guardian.ng
· 2026-09-28
Access Bank launched a financial crime awareness campaign called "Spot the Scam" targeting Nigerian students to educate them on identifying and avoiding fraud schemes, which commonly include fake giveaways, job offers, celebrity impersonation, and investment scams. The campaign, running through December 2026, was prompted by concerns about young Nigerians' involvement in financial crimes, including a December 2024 incident where 792 young people were arrested for romance scams, hacking, and money laundering targeting overseas victims. The initiative includes nationwide financial education and a debate competition for secondary schools in Lagos State to help young people avoid becoming victims or perpetrators of financial crimes.
savingadvice.com
· 2026-09-27
Adults over 60 reported $2.4 billion in fraud losses in 2024, with scams ranging from gift card fraud to cryptocurrency schemes, prompting adult children to seek ways to protect vulnerable parents. While you cannot unilaterally control a competent adult's finances, families can implement protective measures with the parent's cooperation, including transaction alerts, trusted contacts on investment accounts, and financial powers of attorney. Legal options vary by state and account structure, so consulting with financial institutions and elder-law attorneys is recommended to balance fraud protection with preserving the parent's financial independence.
tovima.com
· 2026-09-27
Voice cloning scams are increasingly targeting families through deepfake technology, with scammers using just seconds of audio from social media to impersonate relatives and conduct virtual kidnapping schemes that pressure victims into sending money. Greek police reported a case where a 14-year-old was deceived by callers using a cloned recording of her father, and one in four Americans report receiving deepfake voice calls in the past year. Experts recommend families establish a "secret word" or phrase that only they know to verify identity during suspicious calls, combined with a backup plan to call or message the person back through verified contact information.
watfordcitynd.com
· 2026-09-26
Americans over age 60 filed more than 201,000 internet-crime complaints in 2025 with losses exceeding $7.7 billion, representing a 37% increase in complaints and 59% increase in losses compared to 2024, with average losses of $38,000 per victim. Scammers target seniors through various schemes including grandparent scams, fake law enforcement calls, technical support fraud, and romance scams, often manipulating caller ID and using urgency to prevent victims from verifying requests. North Dakota residents and authorities have reported increasing incidents of these fraud schemes, and law enforcement urges families to establish safeguards and teach seniors that legitimate government agencies will never demand immediate
ca.finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-26
A Keanu Reeves romance scam targeting a Canadian woman was exposed in a viral Reddit post, where the victim was deceived by someone impersonating the actor and sent money and cellphones before the family discovered the fraud. The scammer used classic manipulation tactics including fake passports, AI-generated media, and private messaging apps to build an emotional connection with the vulnerable victim. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, romance scams drain tens of millions of dollars annually from Canadians, with victims often vulnerable due to loneliness and the difficulty of breaking through the emotional manipulation.
money.ca
· 2026-09-26
A Canadian mother fell victim to a celebrity romance scam where a fraudster impersonated actor Keanu Reeves, convincing her to send money and cellphones while moving their communication to private WhatsApp chats. The scammer used fake passports and AI-generated content to establish credibility, exploiting the victim's loneliness and the actor's well-known generous reputation. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, romance scams drain tens of millions of dollars annually from Canadians, with experts recommending victims report incidents to police, freeze accounts, and approach affected family members with empathy rather than confrontation.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-09-26
A sophisticated tech support scam delivered through Google ads froze Windows and Mac screens with fake security warnings, directing users to call a bogus call center where they would be pressured to pay fees, grant remote access, or share personal information. Between August 31 and September 14, security firm Netskope detected malicious ads across over 284 legitimate publisher sites that affected users from 619 organizations (62% in the US), though Netskope's blocking prevented actual fraud in their monitored cases. The scam used deceptive tactics like disabling browser exit keys and degrading performance to create the illusion of infection, exploiting users with limited technical knowledge.
minotdailynews.com
· 2026-09-26
Approximately 80% of North Dakota veterans and military personnel are targeted by scammers, with roughly 40% losing money, according to AARP data. Fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated tactics including fake government postcards, AI-generated voices, deepfake videos, and phishing texts to steal veterans' benefits, direct deposit information, and banking details. AARP is hosting free educational "Lunch and Learn" events in Grand Forks and Minot on September 29-30 to help veterans and military families recognize and avoid these evolving scams.
channelnewsasia.com
· 2026-09-26
In July, Malaysian police arrested 335 people in raids on alleged online scam operations at Forest City development, seizing computers and phones from syndicates involved in cryptocurrency fraud and romance scams targeting overseas victims. The raids and discovery of illegal gambling operations and unlicensed businesses have damaged the mega-project's reputation as it attempts to rebrand as an investment destination and Special Financial Zone, with concerns raised about property values, resident safety, and business confidence.