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gulfcoastmedia.com
· 2025-12-08
The North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau are hosting a free "Protect Yourself Against Scammers Summit" on March 7 for senior citizens in Bay Minette, Alabama. The educational event will cover major fraud schemes including government impostor scams, romance scams, identity theft, investment fraud, cryptocurrency scams, and Medicare fraud to help seniors recognize and avoid becoming victims.
wcnc.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, 70,000 Americans lost a record $1.3 billion to romance scams—nearly double the $547 million lost in 2021—with scammers increasingly using AI, deepfakes, and voice cloning to deceive victims. North Carolina ranked 9th nationally, with 422 victims losing $18 million that year, including a Hickory therapist who sent $50 to a scammer posing as an African man seeking help before recognizing manipulation tactics like emotional appeals, requests for money, and guilt-tripping. Key warning signs include requests for unorthodox payments, emotionally manipulative pitches, false urgency, an
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
A Scottish car expert fell victim to a used car financing scam after purchasing a vehicle with an outdated V5 registration document; the seller retained the current document and used it to refinance the car while the expert owned it, allowing the scammer to profit from both the sale and the finance company. When the expert later sold the car to a friend, the friend discovered an outstanding loan against the vehicle and faced potential liability for thousands in repayments. To protect against this scam, buyers should use the DVLA's online V5 transfer tool immediately after purchase, conduct HPI checks, and verify the vehicle's MOT and tax status through official channels.
abc13.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers are using AI-generated images and deepfake videos to defraud vulnerable victims seeking online relationships, with one man losing nearly $60,000 after being convinced to make an investment by a fake AI woman. Experts recommend detecting AI-generated scammers by asking personalized follow-up questions, looking for unnaturally smooth speech patterns, paying attention to inconsistencies in appearance (too-perfect skin, looping backgrounds), and noting reluctance to engage in real-time video calls or off-the-cuff conversations. If suspicions arise, victims should disengage gradually using vague language rather than directly calling out the scammer, to avoid providing feedback that could help frau
theautopian.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial advice columnist Charlotte Cowles lost $50,000 to a sophisticated phone scam in which callers impersonated Amazon, the Federal Trade Commission, and the CIA, using personal information to convince her to withdraw cash and hand it to an undercover "CIA agent." The scammers obtained her Social Security number and family details, and instructed her not to tell anyone, ultimately leading her to place $50,000 in a shoebox and hand it through a car window. Cowles publicly shared her experience to raise awareness about how scams can target anyone, regardless of financial literacy or expertise, and to help prevent others from falling victim to similar schemes.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
Imposter scams are rising sharply, with people losing $2.7 billion to this fraud type in 2022 (up 14% overall from the previous year), as exemplified by financial columnist Charlotte Cowles who was scammed out of $50,000 by imposters posing as Amazon and CIA officials. The FTC has proposed new protections against impersonation fraud and warned that AI-generated deepfakes are making these scams increasingly sophisticated and convincing. Consumers are advised to monitor accounts regularly, never confirm personal information over unsolicited calls, and report suspected scams to the FTC.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Howell Township police warned residents of a surge in telephone scams targeting senior citizens, with scammers using common stories about unpaid bills (IRS or utilities) or relatives in legal or medical trouble to pressure victims into sending money via gift cards or arranging in-person cash pickups. Police emphasized that funds lost to these scams are typically unrecoverable and urged residents to be cautious and contact law enforcement if suspicious.
seattletimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Charlotte Cowles, a finance advice columnist at New York Magazine, fell victim to a $50,000 scam involving fraudsters impersonating Amazon, the Federal Trade Commission, and the CIA who convinced her to withdraw money for "safekeeping" due to alleged identity theft and fraudulent accounts. The article debunks the scammers' tactics by confirming that Amazon never transfers customers to the FTC, the FTC never provides badge numbers or asks for financial information, and the CIA does not conduct domestic fraud investigations. The piece serves as an educational guide highlighting red flags and advising consumers to hang up on suspicious calls and contact companies directly through official channels.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
According to Experian's 2024 fraud report, AI-generated deepfakes, identity theft, and fake charity schemes are among the year's biggest scams targeting consumers and businesses, with nearly 70% of businesses reporting increased fraud losses and over half of consumers feeling more vulnerable to fraud than the previous year. The report identifies five major fraud threats: AI scams and deepfakes, weaker in-person bank identity verification, retail return fraud, synthetic identity fraud, and fake charitable campaigns—with deepfakes particularly empowering fraudsters to conduct more accessible and convincing attacks.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
The Orange County Sheriff's Department issued a February 2024 awareness advisory warning residents about romance scams and various other fraud schemes, noting that scammers manipulate victims into believing they're in committed relationships to steal money and that criminal tactics evolve constantly. The advisory identified eight common scam types including text phishing, online employment fraud, tech support scams, and impersonation schemes (involving fake tax, utility, warrant, and arrest claims), and advised victims of financial fraud to immediately report incidents to their financial institutions and request new accounts.
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Singapore reported a record high of 46,563 scam cases with victims losing $651.8 million, marking a 46.8 percent increase in cases from 2022 despite public warnings. Job scams were the most prevalent fraud type, followed by e-commerce scams (which more than doubled), with 73 percent of victims aged below 50, contrary to assumptions that elderly people are most vulnerable. The police attributed most scams to organized criminal groups operating transnationally and noted that 19 scam syndicates were dismantled in 2023 through international cooperation.
channelnewsasia.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, approximately 1,899 Android malware scams affected Singaporean victims, resulting in losses of at least S$34.1 million (average S$17,960 per victim). The majority of victims were aged 30-49 and were targeted on Facebook and Instagram through fake service advertisements that prompted them to download malicious apps, which then compromised their banking credentials and enabled unauthorized fund transfers, including CPF savings withdrawals. After authorities and banks implemented anti-malware measures starting in August 2023, cases declined significantly from 933 in Q3 to 279 in Q4.
todayonline.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scam cases in Singapore surged 49.6 percent to 50,376 total cases, with Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram identified as the primary platforms used by scammers to contact victims. Job scams became the most prevalent type with 9,914 cases (up 52.7 percent from 2022), followed by investment scams, while adults aged 30-49 represented the largest victim demographic; notably, despite increased case numbers, total losses decreased slightly to S$651.8 million (down 1.3 percent) and average loss per case dropped 32.8 percent to S$13,999.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
A New York nurse, Avalon Grimes, lost over $20,000 from her Chase bank account after receiving a call from someone impersonating the bank who claimed fraud had been detected on her account. The scammer used a spoofed phone number matching her Chase card and tricked Grimes into wiring money and revealing a security code sent to her phone. Chase is working to help recover the funds and has warned customers about increasingly sophisticated scams involving voice cloning technology and impersonation of banks and government agencies.
yaledailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Yale Law School's Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy hosted a panel discussion on February 16 addressing elder fraud and abuse in America, where one in ten Americans over 60 have experienced some form of exploitation. The event featured lawyers, medical experts, and Senator Richard Blumenthal discussing innovative prevention mechanisms, including screening tools, domestic violence initiatives, and financial monitoring apps, while emphasizing the need for bipartisan federal action, stronger nursing home oversight, and AI regulation to protect seniors from online exploitation.
wtop.com
· 2025-12-08
A financial planner in Prince George's County, Maryland, warned about tax season fraud scams, noting that scammers impersonate the IRS by phone to steal money, and that the IRS flagged over one million tax returns for identity fraud last year with 12,617 confirmed identity theft cases. Key advice includes protecting Social Security numbers and sensitive information, filing taxes early to prevent identity theft, organizing tax forms in advance, and verifying dependent eligibility before filing to avoid losing credits.
kpq.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece warns consumers that Google search results increasingly contain fraudulent advertisements mixed with legitimate ones, particularly for diet supplements and products with celebrity endorsements. The article advises users to be skeptical of low-quality celebrity videos, products with unrealistic reviews, and unfamiliar product categories, and notes that scammers exploit Google's search algorithm to direct people to fake endorsement sites and counterfeit news articles designed to deceive buyers.
pembinavalleyonline.com
· 2025-12-08
**Grandparent Scam Alert from Winkler Police**
Winkler Police Service reports an increasing number of scams over the past five years, with the grandparent scam emerging as a recent variation targeting elderly residents. Scammers pose as grandchildren or their representatives claiming to be in trouble (car accidents, arrests) and requesting money for bail or emergencies, often using spoofed local phone numbers and information gathered from social media to appear credible. Police recommend hanging up, verifying the claim with family members or local police, and contacting the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center if targeted—noting that legitimate police requests differ significantly from scammer tactics.
businesstimes.com.sg
· 2025-12-08
DBS Foundation launched educational getai (traditional street performances) events to teach seniors about digital literacy and scam prevention, drawing approximately 2,800 participants across seven events since the initiative's pilot in August. The effort responds to rising scam incidents in Singapore, where over 46,000 scam cases were reported in 2023 with malware scams alone resulting in S$34.1 million in losses; DBS plans to expand anti-scam education through TikTok campaigns and an interactive quiz targeting 30,000 people over the next year in partnership with government agencies.
nbc16.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly Eugene couple nearly lost $4,500 after scammers posing as a Lane County Sheriff threatened arrest, claiming the husband had ignored a jury duty summons, and directed the wife to deposit cash at a Coinstar machine. A Safeway manager's intervention prevented the transaction, and the couple escaped financial loss. The incident highlights key prevention tactics: verify caller information by contacting law enforcement directly, understand that seniors are exempt from jury duty, and avoid responding to unsolicited calls from unknown numbers.
thenelsondaily.com
· 2025-12-08
"Sugar dating" scams target young people seeking financial support by luring them with promises of allowances and gifts; scammers typically pay victims with fraudulent cheques and then request donations to fake charities they control, leaving victims unable to recover funds when cheques bounce. A Pitt Meadows post-secondary student was approached on Instagram by someone claiming to be a wealthy sugar momma offering $500 weekly in exchange for phone calls, but became suspicious when pressured to donate to an orphanage. The Better Business Bureau recommends potential sugar dating participants set clear boundaries, verify payment methods in advance, diversify income sources, and recognize red flags like pressure tactics and suspicious charity requests.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, consumers reported losing a record $10 billion to fraud and scams—a 14% increase from 2022—according to FTC data, with 2.6 million fraud reports filed nationwide and approximately 700,000 people reporting financial losses. Common scams included romance fraud, fake bank and tech support calls, and impersonation schemes, with criminals exploiting digital payment methods including bank transfers ($1.86 billion) and cryptocurrency ($1.41 billion). Michigan consumers alone lost $151.7 million to fraud in 2023, with a median loss of $410 per victim.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Donna Kendall from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, lost over $1 million to a romance scam after becoming lonely following her husband's dementia diagnosis in 2022. She was deceived by someone claiming to be a wealthy businessman named Martin Erickson who posed as a romantic interest and requested money for shipping equipment, leading her to make multiple wire transfers and eventually sell her home. The scam strained her relationship with her son Ken Martasin, who was unable to convince her of the fraud despite intervention from specialists and authorities, and she died at a hotel shortly after the incident.
kvue.com
· 2025-12-08
I appreciate you providing this text, but this appears to be a technical instruction or app promotion rather than an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. There is no information about what happened, who was affected, scam types, or financial impacts to summarize for the Elderus database.
If you have an actual article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse you'd like summarized, please share that and I'll be happy to help.
marketing-interactive.com
· 2025-12-08
Singapore reported 46,563 scam cases in 2023, a 50% increase from 31,728 cases in 2022, with job scams (9,914 cases) and eCommerce scams (9,783 cases) being the most common types. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp were the primary platforms used by scammers, accounting for the majority of social media-based fraud, while victims spanned all age groups with adults aged 30-49 comprising the largest proportion at 43.1%. Despite the surge in cases, the average loss per scam decreased 32.8% to SG$13,999 in 2023,
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Between October 2023 and January 2024, 3,066 victims in Singapore lost over $45.7 million to job scams, according to police reports. Scammers used dating apps, messaging platforms, and social media to recruit victims, offering commissions for tasks like boosting social media engagement, completing surveys, or affiliate marketing, then pressuring them to transfer money to bank accounts or cryptocurrency wallets via fake websites or investment schemes. Police warned the public to verify job offers through official channels, avoid unknown links and apps, and use privacy settings on messaging platforms to prevent unsolicited recruitment into chat groups.
businesstimes.com.sg
· 2025-12-08
Singapore reported a record 46,563 scam cases in 2023, representing a 46.8% increase from 2022, with victims losing S$651.8 million. Job scams were the most prevalent (9,914 cases; S$135.7 million lost), primarily targeting those aged 30-49 through WhatsApp and Telegram offers of work-from-home tasks, while fake friend call scams surged to 6,859 cases (S$23 million lost), disproportionately affecting adults aged 50-64. Contrary to common assumptions, 73% of victims were under age 50, with malware scams
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
A Chicago woman drained her savings account, cashed out her 401(k), and took loans against her paid-off car after being scammed by someone posing as actor Taylor Kinney from NBC's Chicago Fire over the course of more than a year. The scammer, whom she met through an online fan page, used romantic language mixed with emotional manipulation and guilt-tripping to repeatedly request money under various pretexts. The case reflects a broader trend: the Federal Trade Commission reported that over 64,000 people fell victim to romance scams in 2023, losing a combined $1.1 billion.
marketrealist.com
· 2025-12-08
In October 2023, Charlotte Cowles, a New York Times financial columnist, was scammed out of $50,000 by perpetrators posing as Amazon customer service, FTC, and CIA officials who convinced her that her identity had been stolen and used to purchase vehicles and properties, with warrants allegedly issued for her arrest. The scammers used social engineering tactics including spoofed government phone numbers, fake badge numbers, and threats of home raids to build credibility and pressure her into withdrawing cash. Cowles ultimately handed over $50,000 in a shoe box to a stranger, despite her professional expertise in personal finance and skepticism about the claims.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Two older Pittsburgh women lost a combined $29,000 in a tech support scam where fraudsters impersonated Apple customer service representatives and convincing them their devices were hacked, pressuring them to purchase Bitcoin at local convenience stores. A 70-year-old victim withdrew $22,000 and a 72-year-old victim purchased $7,000 in Bitcoin after being transferred between scammers posing as Apple and bank fraud specialists. Pittsburgh police are investigating and warn the public that legitimate tech companies never contact customers about device problems or ask them to call numbers or click links, recommending victims report incidents to local police or the FTC.
baltictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Approximately 350 romance scam cases were recorded in Lithuania in 2023, with victims attempting to transfer over 1 million euros to fraudsters, though banks were able to stop some transactions. Vulnerable victims included lonely individuals and those with poor digital hygiene skills, particularly elderly women seeking relationships online who were targeted by scammers impersonating military personnel. Banks report that recovery is difficult because victims often delay reporting due to shame and embarrassment, and experts recommend vigilance against money transfer requests from online contacts as a key prevention measure.
wftv.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A central Florida woman's elderly mother lost approximately $600,000 in a romance scam that began on social media, where a scammer impersonated Elon Musk and convinced her she was engaged and investing money with him. The victim made large wire transfers exceeding $100,000 and daily $3,000 ATM withdrawals for gift cards before her daughter discovered the fraud in early 2023. The FTC reported $1.3 billion in romance scam losses nationally in 2022, with experts noting such scams disproportionately target older, divorced women seeking companionship.
ky3.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational awareness piece about romance scams. The article alerts viewers to how scammers use romantic relationships and emotional connections to defraud victims, though specific case details or dollar amounts are not provided in the excerpt.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Canadian victims over $50 million in 2023, with fraudsters building trust over weeks to years before requesting money for emergencies, business ventures, or cryptocurrency investments. While seniors are frequently targeted, anyone—particularly those who are lonely or vulnerable—can fall victim to these scams that occur across dating apps and social media platforms. Key prevention strategies include being cautious of quick professions of love, avoiding in-person meetings, refusing personal information requests, and understanding that sent money is often irretrievable.
messagemedia.co
· 2025-12-08
The Senior LinkAge Line offered two educational classes on March 13 covering healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse prevention, teaching participants how to detect and report fraud, protect their Medicare information, and identify scams targeting older adults. The free online classes, based on the Senior Medicare Patrol federal program, were available to Minnesota seniors and caregivers through pre-registration and offered continuing education credits.
royalexaminer.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides guidance on recognizing common social media scams targeting users of all ages. It identifies six key red flags including suspicious links in messages, personal information-gathering quizzes, duplicate friend requests from fake accounts, attempts to move conversations to private platforms, money-related requests, and unrealistic online deals. The article advises users to exercise caution, avoid impulsive clicking, and consult IT specialists for additional device security.
fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
Connecticut State Police are investigating multiple "bail scams" in which victims received phone calls falsely claiming a family member was arrested and needed bail money, with a person posing as a bail bondsman collecting cash in person. At least three incidents have been reported in East Haddam and Somers, with police seeking a Black male in his late 20s, approximately 6'3", described as the person of interest. State police warn that bail scams often target seniors but can affect anyone, and advise never providing personal or financial information without verifying the request's legitimacy.
thefederalist.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers have targeted Medicare's catheter benefit program in a massive fraud scheme, with beneficiary accounts billed for catheters rising ninefold from 50,000 to 450,000 in a single year, resulting in billions of dollars in fraudulent claims. Seniors reported being billed for catheters they never received or needed, yet despite complaints to Medicare from private entities, physicians, and state insurance offices dating back to July, the federal government failed to investigate or stop the fraud in a timely manner. The incident highlights systemic weaknesses in Medicare's fraud detection capabilities, particularly the program's reliance on private organizations to identify suspicious spending patterns rather than proactive government oversight.
candgnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel will host a free educational presentation on February 26 at the Madison Heights Active Adult Center to address common scams targeting senior citizens. The discussion covers imposter scams where con artists pose as relatives, utility workers, government officials, or romantic interests, often using artificial intelligence and creating false urgency to pressure victims into sending money via untraceable methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Authorities recommend seniors verify caller identities through independent contact information, never share personal financial details without confirmation, and report suspected scams to local police or the Federal Trade Commission.
nbcconnecticut.com
· 2025-12-08
Connecticut State Police are investigating multiple bail bond scams across East Haddam, Somers, and other towns where a man (described as approximately 6'3", late 20s) posed as a bail bondsman representative and collected cash directly from residents' homes after convincing them a family member needed bail money. At least three incidents occurred within one week, with victims withdrawing cash from their banks before someone arrived at their homes to pick up the money in person. State police advise residents to verify claims about family members in custody by contacting relatives directly and to be alert for warning signs such as being told not to discuss the request with others.
proactiveinvestors.com
· 2025-12-08
Tinder launched advanced ID verification across the US, UK, Brazil, and Mexico requiring video selfies matched against government-issued IDs to combat surging romance scams, with verified profiles receiving blue checkmarks. Romance scams increased 22% in the UK in 2023 with average losses of £6,937 per victim, while the US saw nearly 70,000 reported cases in 2022 with losses exceeding $1.3 billion, a problem compounded by AI-generated fake profiles. Though the verification tool showed a 67% increase in matches during Australian and New Zealand trials, the FTC notes that 40% of romance scam victims report initial contact occurred on
hawaiipublicradio.org
· 2025-12-08
Multiple Hawaiian residents received calls from imposters claiming to be deputy sheriffs, demanding electronic payment to dismiss alleged outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court. The Department of Law Enforcement clarified that legitimate sheriffs do not contact people by phone to collect warrant-related fees, and advised residents to never provide financial or personal information to unsolicited callers claiming to represent law enforcement agencies.
mynews13.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Florida ranked fifth nationally for fraud losses, with residents losing $451.8 million across 288,263 fraud reports—an average of $1,567 per report and representing a 5.2% increase from 2022. Nationwide, consumers filed 1.8 million fraud reports in the first nine months of 2023, totaling $7 billion in losses, with investment-related fraud and imposter scams being among the most reported fraud types, and social media scams causing $1 billion in losses.
abc7chicago.com
· 2025-12-08
A Joliet family lost access to a $10,000 federal tax refund after scammers gained access to their H&R Block online account and filed a fraudulent tax return in their names, using the family's personal information and their children's Social Security numbers. The scammers filed early online after obtaining credentials from a previous year's tax filing, and despite the family reporting suspicious access attempts to H&R Block, the company failed to prevent the fraudulent filing. The IRS instructed the family to file a paper return to resolve the issue, but the process is lengthy, forcing the family to take out personal loans to cover expenses they expected the refund to cover.
6abc.com
· 2025-12-08
A Brooklyn-based financial advice columnist for New York Magazine lost $50,000 to an elaborate phone scam in October in which fraudsters impersonated Amazon, the FTC, and a CIA agent over a five-hour call, ultimately convincing her to withdraw cash and hand it to a stranger. The scammers used personal details about her and her family to build credibility and pressure her into believing she faced arrest and identity fraud. According to the FTC, such government impersonation scams are widespread, with Americans losing $2.7 billion annually to these schemes.
wqow.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Chippewa County experienced a dramatic increase in fraud, with 212 residents losing over $1.19 million—nearly double the 111 victims and $791,000 lost in 2022. Contrary to past assumptions, victims now span all age groups, with younger people (18-24) falling victim more frequently than seniors. One case involved Lisa Stalson, who lost over $3,000 to a rental scam on Facebook after paying fees to a fraudulent property agent named "Tanya's Property."
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Charlotte Cowles, a financial columnist for New York Magazine's The Cut, lost $50,000 in a sophisticated phone scam that began with a fraudulent Amazon customer service call on October 31, 2023. The scammers used personal details about her family and threats of surveillance to manipulate her over five hours, employing the tactic of "blocking the exits" to prevent her from reaching out to trusted contacts. Cowles publicly defended her story by emphasizing that scam victims come from all walks of life—including financial professionals, doctors, and lawyers—and advised others to identify trusted people to contact and create exit strategies when feeling pressured.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A South Hills woman lost $10,000 in a sophisticated Bitcoin scam after receiving a fake "hacking alert" pop-up that directed her to call a number where scammers impersonating Microsoft and bank representatives claimed her account was compromised and threatened her with child pornography charges. Pittsburgh police reported at least three victims in total, including two women in their 70s who lost $22,000 and $7,000 respectively through the same scheme, which exploited urgency and fear to pressure victims into withdrawing cash and purchasing Bitcoin. Police warned that scammers use legitimate-sounding company names and call transfers to appear credible, and advised that once cryptocurrency money is transferred, recovery
1011now.com
· 2025-12-08
Lincoln Electric System (LES) has reported an uptick in scams targeting its customers, with scammers sending fraudulent text messages claiming bills are due and threatening power disconnection while offering discounts and malicious links. LES advises customers to verify messages against their actual bills, avoid clicking suspicious links, never provide financial information to unsolicited contacts, and report suspected scams to the attorney general's office or local police. The utility emphasized it does not use robocalls, request gift cards or prepaid cards for payment, or contact customers via phone threatening disconnection.
wesh.com
· 2025-12-08
Katie Little of Orlando received a call from someone impersonating an Orange County Sheriff's deputy threatening arrest, but she refused to comply with demands for a money order. However, approximately one hour later, $900 disappeared from her bank account, which Little believes the scammer obtained through voice verification used for fraudulent transfers. The Orange County Sheriff's Office warns that law enforcement and courts never demand money over the phone and advise residents to protect their personal information.