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kotaradio.com
· 2026-08-20
Scammers exploit information shared in family group chats—combined with data available on public records sites—to impersonate relatives and conduct fraud against seniors, with criminals using personal details like travel plans, job information, and even voice clones created from family audio clips. In 2024, 72% of elder fraud cases totaling $4.2 billion in losses were enabled by victims' personal data being available online, with common scams including grandparent schemes where callers claim to be stranded relatives needing bail money or emergency assistance.
en.cibercuba.com
· 2026-08-20
A Cuban-American woman named Aniela lost $1,900 to scammers who hacked her friend's WhatsApp account and posed as her to request money for purchasing an electric bicycle and solar panel in Cuba. The criminals convinced Aniela to make two transfers ($1,400 and $500) from her Bank of America account before her husband called the friend directly and exposed the fraud. This scam follows a documented pattern where criminals trick WhatsApp users into sharing verification codes, then impersonate them to contacts abroad using items in high demand due to Cuba's energy crisis.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-20
A Louisville man lost over $1 million in a pig-butchering cryptocurrency investment scam that began with a pop-up ad and progressed through fake investment promises and fake profit displays. The scammers collected cash and physical gold across 14 in-person handoffs using couriers and demanded additional penalty payments before disappearing when the victim attempted to withdraw. The FBI reports that such schemes are increasingly using physical couriers to bypass bank fraud detection systems, with gold courier scams alone accounting for $219 million in losses nationally in 2024.
idahonews.com
· 2026-08-20
Consumers under 29 lost more than $490 million to fraud in 2025, with students particularly vulnerable to back-to-school scams including fake job offers, rental listings, scholarship scams requiring upfront payments, and phishing attempts. Scammers exploit students' financial pressures and tight deadlines, using urgency tactics to pressure victims into quickly sharing money or personal information without verification. Experts recommend slowing down, verifying contacts through official channels, and watching for red flags like pressure to act quickly before providing any sensitive information.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2026-08-20
A brushing scam involves criminals sending unwanted cheap items to your address to create fake delivery confirmations, which they then use to post fraudulent reviews for their businesses under your name. The packages may also contain QR codes linking to phishing sites designed to steal personal information like credit card numbers and passwords. Victims should report suspected brushing scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
ksat.com
· 2026-08-19
A phishing scam is targeting Medicare patients nationwide using fraudulent emails and texts impersonating MyChart, the online healthcare platform used by hospitals to manage appointments and medical records. The scam messages, labeled "Your MyChart Medicare Kit Awaits" or "Here's your senior package," attempt to trick seniors into clicking links that expose personal information and compromise their data. University Health has alerted patients to verify email addresses and avoid clicking suspicious links, as legitimate MyChart and Epic accounts do not send unsolicited offers.
cybersecurity-insiders.com
· 2026-08-19
This article explains how scams have evolved from random targeting to personalized, data-driven attacks that exploit personal information about victims, and emphasizes that reporting scams to authorities—despite confusion about where to report—feeds intelligence systems that help law enforcement shut down operations and protect others. The piece advises scam victims that their mistakes are not permanent and recommends taking action through reporting, blocking numbers, and using available tools to prevent ongoing harassment.
weau.com
· 2026-08-19
Wisconsin residents over 60 lost $46 million to cryptocurrency scams in 2025, prompting a bipartisan legislative committee to examine whether the growing cryptocurrency industry requires additional state regulation. Common scams include pig butchering schemes that use fake romantic relationships to lure victims and phishing scams with bogus websites, with criminals favoring cryptocurrency due to its permanent, fast, and anonymous transaction nature. The Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage Committee is seeking public input on potential legislation and plans to meet again on October 15.
moneymag.com.au
· 2026-08-19
In the first half of 2026, Australians reported $157 million in scam-related losses across 91,767 reports, down from $210 million the previous year, according to the National Anti-Scam Centre. Scammers are increasingly exploiting emotions like loneliness, greed, and impatience while using new technologies like AI to create more convincing messages, and they're adapting tactics to target Australians during vulnerable times such as tax season and periods of high online shopping activity. Common current scams include fake delivery notifications designed to steal login credentials and impersonation schemes where scammers pose as trusted organizations or family members to extract money or personal information.
kwhi.com
· 2026-08-19
The Austin County Sheriff's Office is warning residents of an impersonation scam where callers claiming to be police officers or court clerks demand immediate payment via cash or cryptocurrency to resolve fabricated arrest warrants for missed jury duty, unpaid traffic tickets, or federal charges. Legitimate law enforcement never demands instant payment over the phone, and victims should hang up, verify the claim through official channels, and report any contact to authorities.
wfmz.com
· 2026-08-19
Scammers on Facebook Marketplace target sellers by impersonating buyers, claiming to send payment via Venmo or Zelle, and then sending fake emails requesting the seller send money to "upgrade" their account to receive the payment—a scheme where no actual funds ever exist. The scam relies on fake buyer profiles (often using stolen photos) and fake payment confirmation emails, with victims losing real money if they send funds back to the fraudster. Sellers should verify payments directly through payment apps rather than relying on emails or screenshots, and scrutinize buyer profiles for warning signs like new accounts or minimal activity.
thediplomat.com
· 2026-08-19
Paul, a 50-year-old Nigerian, was trafficked into forced labor at a Cambodian online scam compound after seeking an admin job, where he was beaten, tortured, and forced into criminal work alongside hundreds of thousands of others. During a December 2025 Thai military airstrike on the scam hub in Choam where he was held, Paul survived by sheltering in a concrete drain while the casino and surrounding buildings were bombed repeatedly. Cambodia's scam industry, worth approximately half the country's GDP, became a target of military conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, which the Thai military framed as a "war against scammers" while Cambodia's ruling elites exploited the crackdown
wbrc.com
· 2026-08-19
An Alabama teacher lost approximately $9,000 after scammers impersonated Wells Fargo's fraud department via text and phone, convincing her to transfer money to what she believed was a secure account. The scam involved a fake debit card appearing in her Apple Wallet, and Wells Fargo has denied her fraud claim despite the incident being reported to police and the FDIC. The victim is warning others to be suspicious of unsolicited calls from banks and to verify requests independently rather than responding to pressure from callers claiming to represent financial institutions.
hollywoodreporter.com
· 2026-08-19
Scammers are impersonating famous podcasters like Nikki Glaser and Terry Gross using AI-generated, highly personalized emails to trick celebrities into sending money or providing login credentials and social media access. Broadway performer Seth Rudetsky was offered $4,000-$5,000 to appear on a fake Nikki Glaser podcast, while comedy writer Bruce Vilanch was solicited for money by someone posing as Terry Gross from NPR's Fresh Air, claiming funding cuts required donations. Multiple Hollywood figures have reported falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated impersonation scams that use detailed knowledge of targets' careers to establish credibility.
patch.com
· 2026-08-19
About 23 South Orange seniors attended a fraud prevention presentation organized by Communities First Initiative and TD Bank, where they learned to recognize and protect themselves from scams targeting older adults through phone calls, emails, and impersonation of government agencies and relatives. According to FBI data, elder fraud losses reached $3.4 billion in 2023, with reported losses totaling $1.6 billion from January through May 2024. The presentation emphasized the importance of pausing to verify unexpected requests and never sharing personal information or money based on claims of urgency.
patch.com
· 2026-08-19
This article announces a free educational seminar featuring AARP educator Dave Sapenaro discussing common scams, fraud tactics, and warning signs, with a focus on how fraudsters build trust and exploit seniors through social media and psychological manipulation. The seminar will include a firsthand account from a family member whose elderly relative fell victim to an elaborate financial exploitation scheme involving psychological manipulation, financial fraud, tax issues, and law enforcement involvement. The event is designed to help attendees recognize scam warning signs and learn protective measures for themselves and their loved ones.
patch.com
· 2026-08-19
About 23 South Orange seniors attended a fraud prevention presentation organized by Communities First Initiative and TD Bank, learning to recognize and protect themselves from scams impersonating government agencies, financial institutions, and relatives. According to FBI data cited at the event, elder fraud losses reached $3.4 billion in 2023, with reported losses hitting $1.6 billion in just the first five months of 2024. Speakers advised residents to verify unexpected requests for money or personal information before responding.
newsbreak.com
· 2026-08-19
An elderly Virginia woman lost $77,000 after scammers impersonated Amazon, Bank of America, and FTC officials to convince her that her identity was linked to criminal activity and drug trafficking. The scheme escalated over several days with false claims about a handgun purchase and threats to suspend her Social Security number, ultimately pressuring her to withdraw and send the money via cashier's check to an account in New York. The victim discovered the fraud after checking the FTC's website on July 1st and confirming the agency does not demand money from victims this way.
streamlinefeed.co.ke
· 2026-08-19
Seniors face mounting cybercrime threats, with individuals aged 60 and over losing an estimated $4.8 billion to internet fraud annually in the United States alone, through tactics including tech support scams, sweetheart scams, and malvertising. Cybercriminals exploit older adults' unfamiliarity with technology, social isolation, and accumulated wealth, while regulatory efforts primarily focus on protecting minors rather than elderly populations. Experts call for platform accountability, targeted legislation, and aggressive fraud detection systems to protect vulnerable seniors as digital adoption accelerates globally.
stategazette.com
· 2026-08-19
The Northwest Tennessee Elder Justice Coalition and District Attorney General Colin Johnson are hosting a free training conference on September 30-October 1 in Union City to educate professionals and seniors about preventing fraud and scams targeting elderly citizens. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, seniors over 60 filed over 201,000 complaints in 2025 with total losses exceeding $7.7 billion, averaging $38,000 per victim. The conference will provide training on recognizing online scams, financial exploitation, and signs of abuse, with separate programming for professionals and seniors.
abc.net.au
· 2026-08-19
The Sapphire Network, a decentralized international investment fraud operation headquartered in Israel and linked to Israeli national Shefi Goldberg, has defrauded over 4,000 Australians of hundreds of millions of dollars since 2021 through fake news articles and false AI-assisted trading platforms. Victims like Rodger (who lost $125,000) and Toby (who lost over $500,000) were lured by cloned ABC News websites and fake financial professionals who used psychological manipulation and fake trading dashboards to trap victims before disappearing with their funds. The scam network operates through dozens of companies and call centers across Israel, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Cyprus, and
singaporelawwatch.sg
· 2026-08-19
Singapore saw a 27% drop in reported scam cases and losses fell to $913.1 million in 2025 from $1.1 billion in 2024, but Senior Minister K. Shanmugam warned that internet-enabled scams and artificial intelligence pose growing threats, particularly deepfakes that enabled one victim to lose $4.9 million. The warning came as Singapore's Home Team agencies work to attract top talent through scholarship programs to combat evolving cyber threats and protect vulnerable populations from fraud.
houstonpress.com
· 2026-08-19
Romance scammers target older adults online by creating fake profiles, building emotional connections, and eventually requesting money for fabricated emergencies; Texans lost over $57 million to romance and confidence scams in 2024, with people over 60 averaging losses exceeding $38,000. The article warns daters to verify profile photos through reverse-image searches, be suspicious of overly perfect profiles or unusually fast relationship progression, and avoid sending money to people who consistently avoid in-person or video meetings.
herald-review.com
· 2026-08-19
Soyland Access to Independent Living (SAIL) is hosting a workshop in Shelbyville to educate participants about social media, communication, sweetheart, and texting scams. The article outlines common online scam types including phishing, romance scams, advance-fee fraud, and formjacking, explaining how scammers use social engineering and deception to steal personal information and money from victims.
lifehacker.com
· 2026-08-19
Meta removed 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts in the second half of 2025 due to cyber crime and digital scams, with attackers using low-tech social engineering tactics rather than sophisticated technology. Common WhatsApp scams include account hijacking through verification code theft and emergency impersonation scams where attackers access compromised accounts to solicit money from the victim's contacts. Users can protect themselves by enabling 2-step verification, never sharing verification codes, and verifying sensitive requests through direct phone calls to known contact numbers.
wgnsradio.com
· 2026-08-19
Investment and cryptocurrency fraud remains the highest-risk scam category with a median loss of $5,000, followed by employment scams ($1,000 median loss) and online purchase scams, according to the BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report. While overall scam susceptibility dropped 10% and monetary losses decreased 28%, scammers continue exploiting digital payment platforms, social media, and text messaging to target consumers, particularly those aged 25-34 and 65 and older. The report highlights PayPal as the most impersonated brand and recommends using prepaid cards or isolated payment portals to protect primary bank accounts.
saharareporters.com
· 2026-08-19
The UK government has warned British nationals about growing financial and fertility treatment scams in Nigeria, including staged fake births presented as "miracle babies," with victims facing significant financial losses. The scams target people through romance, business ventures, employment opportunities, and online interactions, with specific concerns about weak regulation of Nigeria's fertility and surrogacy sector. The advisory also cautioned against money transfer scams and reminded travelers of legal restrictions on overseas adoption from Nigeria.
yen.com.gh
· 2026-08-19
The US Embassy in Ghana warned that over 400,000 individuals from more than 70 countries have been recruited into forced labor to commit cyber scams, defrauding victims globally using sophisticated technology and personal data harvesting. Multiple Ghanaian nationals including Dada Joe Remix, Kofi Boat, and five others were arrested in 2025 for operating elaborate fraud schemes involving wire fraud, romance scams, and business email compromises that defrauded elderly victims and businesses of millions of dollars between 2013 and 2024. The US government is providing resources, technology, and specialized training to partner countries to combat these transnational cyber crime operations.
ageuk.org.uk
· 2026-08-19
AI-enabled scams are increasingly using voice cloning, deepfake videos, and fake profiles to deceive people into sending money or sharing personal information. Common scams include impersonation calls from supposed relatives or trusted organizations requesting urgent money transfers, fake celebrity endorsements promoting investment schemes or products, and romance scams using AI-generated photos and manipulated video calls. Victims can protect themselves by verifying callers through independent contact methods, checking regulatory registers before investing, and being cautious of unsolicited requests for money or urgent financial action.
ageuk.org.uk
· 2026-08-19
AI-enabled scams are increasingly used by fraudsters to impersonate trusted individuals and organizations, including voice cloning of family members or officials requesting urgent money transfers, deepfake videos of celebrities promoting fake investments and products, and AI-generated profile photos in romance scams. Age UK advises consumers to verify callers through independent contact, check financial firms on the FCA Register before investing, and avoid sending money to people they haven't met in person, noting that legitimate banks and officials will never request money transfers to "safe accounts" or demand immediate action based on threats to finances.
staysafeonline.org
· 2026-08-19
Social media account takeovers occur when cybercriminals gain unauthorized access to accounts through phishing, password reuse, data breaches, or malware, allowing them to send scam messages, steal personal information, or impersonate the user to defraud contacts. Criminals may also create fake "cloned" profiles using publicly available information to impersonate users and scam friends and family through fake investment schemes or romance scams. Protection involves using unique, strong passwords, enabling multifactor authentication, and avoiding clicking links in unsolicited messages about account problems.
mikebolhuis.co.za
· 2026-08-19
During South Africa's 2026 tax season, cybercriminals have escalated SARS impersonation scams targeting millions of taxpayers through phishing emails, SMS messages, voice calls, and profile hijacking to steal personal information and redirect tax refunds. Victims lose significant sums—including one 68-year-old who lost his entire R37,000 refund when fraudsters hijacked his eFiling profile and redirected it to a fraudulent account. These sophisticated scams, increasingly enhanced by AI-generated content, exploit tax season urgency to extract banking details and login credentials, causing widespread financial hardship and eroding public trust in SARS and financial institutions.
unionleader.com
· 2026-08-19
A Manchester couple fell victim to a government impersonation scam in March 2025 where scammers posing as a financial institution and FBI agent convinced the wife to deposit $3,900 in cryptocurrency at a bitcoin ATM as part of a fake "parallel transaction." The scam, which exploits fear and urgency through spoofed phone numbers, has affected 148 victims in New Hampshire with approximately $1.68 million in losses and $797 million nationwide in 2025. The FBI warns that it never calls citizens demanding payment and advises people to hang up, verify by calling the organization directly, and never send money via prepaid cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency ATMs.
usatoday.com
· 2026-08-18
Artificial intelligence is enabling scammers to target elderly people at scale, with fraudsters using AI to scour obituaries, research vulnerabilities, and create convincing deepfakes to impersonate trusted figures. The FBI reported over 200,000 cyber crime complaints from victims 60 and older in 2025, totaling nearly $8 billion in losses, with cases like a widow scammed out of $7,000 through false tax evasion claims and an elderly woman whose identity was stolen by her paid caregiver. Adult children are increasingly taking control of their aging parents' finances and communications to prevent fraud, adding emotional and financial strain to already-overwhelmed caregivers in the sandwich generation.
aol.com
· 2026-08-18
AI-powered scams targeting elderly Americans have surged, with scammers using artificial intelligence to research victims through obituaries, craft personalized fraud schemes, and create deepfakes to increase success rates. In 2025, seniors 60 and older reported over 200,000 cyber crime complaints totaling nearly $8 billion in losses, with one widow losing $7,000 after scammers claimed her late husband had hidden tax records. Adult children increasingly must act as financial gatekeepers for aging parents, screening communications and managing accounts, adding significant emotional and financial strain to the sandwich generation already caring for both children and aging parents.
straitstimes.com
· 2026-08-18
In 2025, Singapore saw a decline in scam cases and losses to $913.1 million from a record $1.1 billion in 2024, yet Senior Minister K. Shanmugam warned of emerging threats from internet-enabled scams and artificial intelligence, noting that deepfakes have enabled losses as high as $4.9 million. The article highlights concerns about AI-generated fraud while recognizing scholarship recipients entering the Home Team to combat these evolving security threats.
kqed.org
· 2026-08-18
A San Francisco resident lost $18,000 in an elaborate rental scam where a fraudster posed as the landlord of a Duboce Triangle apartment listed on Craigslist, even directing the victim to the legitimate open house to appear credible before requesting wire payment for first, last month's rent, and a security deposit. Experts note that while the scam was unusually sophisticated and the victim took reasonable precautions, renters can protect themselves by recognizing that legitimate landlords cannot charge more than two months' rent upfront under California law and by verifying communications directly with confirmed property owners.
cepa.org
· 2026-08-18
An Ohio woman lost approximately $663,000, including her life savings and Roth IRA, to a cryptocurrency investment scam that began with a text message from a scammer posing as a friend. The FBI now receives around 3,000 fraud complaints daily, with cyber-enabled fraud accounting for $17.7 billion in losses during 2025, prompting the U.S. government to authorize vetted private companies to conduct cyber surveillance and operations against foreign criminal organizations.
malwarebytes.com
· 2026-08-17
Facebook and other major platforms struggle to prevent scam ads from reaching users, with Meta's internal documents revealing it projected approximately $16 billion (10% of 2024 revenue) would come from ads promoting scams and banned goods. Ad blockers have become an important security tool by filtering out malicious and fraudulent advertisements alongside regular ads, but platforms like Facebook can circumvent blocking efforts by constantly changing how ads are delivered, giving them a structural advantage over open-source filter maintainers. The gap between when scammers launch campaigns and when platforms review ads allows fraudsters to exploit speed and scale, impersonating trusted brands and promoting fake investment schemes that lead users into scams.
wtop.com
· 2026-08-17
This article is an advice column about using AI tools to detect scams, not a report of a specific scam incident. It discusses how scammers increasingly use AI to create convincing fraudulent messages and recommends using free AI chatbots like ChatGPT to analyze suspicious communications rather than downloading dedicated scam detector apps. The piece notes that Americans lost nearly $16 billion to fraud in 2025 and provides guidance on how to prompt AI tools effectively to identify red flags in potentially fraudulent messages.
abc.net.au
· 2026-08-17
Scammers are using AI-generated deepfake videos featuring well-known Australians to promote fake investment schemes, with these scams costing Australians over $800 million in 2025. Australia's corporate watchdog (ASIC) reported nearly 20,000 scams taken offline in the last 12 months, a 182% increase from the previous year, with the deepfakes being difficult for people to detect as they mimic legitimate news interviews and endorsements. To protect themselves, consumers are advised to verify that investments have an Australian financial services licence through ASIC's MoneySmart website before investing.
scamwatch.gov.au
· 2026-08-17
The National Anti-Scam Centre contacted over 10,000 Australians whose personal information was compromised during a UK police investigation into organized crime targeting cryptocurrency users across multiple countries. While arrests were made, affected individuals remain at risk of further scam attempts as their data may still be circulating in criminal networks. The NASC also warned of scammers impersonating government agencies to solicit money and sensitive information under the guise of assisting with investigations.
ladailypost.com
· 2026-08-17
The Los Alamos Police Department and FBI will host a community presentation on fraud and scams with a focus on elder fraud on August 18 from 4:30-6 p.m. at Fuller Lodge. The town hall format event will include a PowerPoint presentation and an opportunity for community members to ask questions and discuss fraud prevention strategies.
verafiles.org
· 2026-08-17
The author, a veteran journalist, narrowly avoided a credit card scam when she recognized a suspicious request for her CVV after clicking a link about expiring credit card points. A 2025 study found that 77% of Filipinos encountered scams in the previous 12 months with an average of 239 scam encounters per person yearly, resulting in estimated losses of ₱280 billion, with investment scams and digital wallet theft being the most common methods primarily occurring on Facebook and Telegram.
bitdefender.com
· 2026-08-17
Australian authorities are warning of AI-driven investment scams impersonating high-profile public figures like politicians and business leaders, with reports to Scamwatch involving these impersonations associated with $7.4 million in losses during the 2026 financial year. Scammers use deepfake videos, fake websites, and fabricated news articles to create an entire "web of deception" that makes fraudulent investments appear legitimate, and victims are often contacted by scripted callers posing as brokers who may make small payments to build trust before victims lose their money to overseas criminals. ASIC warns that simple online searches are no longer sufficient to verify investment opportunities, as scammers now construct convincing fake
middevonadvertiser.co.uk
· 2026-08-17
Devon and Cornwall Police have warned residents about fraudsters creating fake social media profiles impersonating celebrities like Martin Lewis, Richard Branson, and Holly Willoughby to promote cryptocurrency scams, investment schemes, fake health products, and romance fraud. The scammers use copied photographs and AI-generated content to make fake accounts appear legitimate, with common warning signs including unsolicited messages requesting money or personal information and promises of guaranteed profits. Police advise residents to verify celebrity endorsements through official sources, report suspicious accounts to social media platforms, and use caution with unexpected messages asking for financial information or investments.
witn.com
· 2026-08-17
ECU Health warned patients about phishing emails impersonating MyChart with the subject line "Your MyChart Medicare Kit Awaits," which are not from any official source. The scammers are attempting to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or sharing personal information. ECU Health urges patients to delete these emails and report them rather than engaging with any links.
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2026-08-17
Scammers are disguising phishing attacks as party invitations from platforms like Evite and Paperless Post, tricking recipients into entering passwords or verification codes by impersonating familiar hosts or compromised contacts. Once criminals obtain login credentials, they can take over email accounts, reset passwords for other services, and spread the same scam to the victim's entire contact list. The FTC warns that legitimate invitation platforms never require logins to view events and recommends verifying invitations directly with the host through trusted contact methods.
fox10phoenix.com
· 2026-08-17
An Arizona woman lost $4.3 million in a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam where fraudsters impersonated FBI agents and NYPD officers, claiming she was involved in a federal money-laundering investigation and threatening digital surveillance. The scammers used fake documents mimicking official FBI records, fake video calls with cameras off, and isolation tactics to pressure her into transferring Bitcoin, which could not be recovered due to the use of multiple cryptocurrency accounts. Authorities warn that legitimate law enforcement never requests money by phone and advise victims to hang up and independently verify caller identity through official agency numbers.