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Search across 22,013 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
nbcmontana.com
· 2025-12-08
Missoula Aging Services reported a surge in phone scams where callers impersonate Medicare, government agencies, banks, and tech support to extract victims' personal information including Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, and bank account details using high-pressure tactics. The organization urges consumers to be suspicious of unsolicited calls requesting personal information and recommends verifying caller identity by independently contacting the organization, then reporting suspicious calls to Montana Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-551-3191 or the Federal Trade Commission.
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission held a roundtable in Cleveland where community leaders shared personal scam experiences to raise awareness, with Ohioans reporting 30,000 fraud cases and nearly $100 million in losses so far that year. Discussed scams included gas station card skimming, targeting of refugee communities via fraudulent Zoom meetings, EBT card hacking, and imposter scams demanding payment through cryptocurrency, cash, wire transfers, or gift cards—none of which legitimate businesses or government agencies use for payment requests.
bristolpost.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Journalist Moira Stuart fell victim to a sophisticated bank impersonation scam approximately three years ago in which a caller claimed to be from her bank, alleging fraudulent activity and instructing her to withdraw cash from an alternative branch while remaining on the phone. The scam was thwarted when a vigilant bank teller questioned her actions and advised her it "doesn't sound right," prompting her to report the incident to the bank's anti-fraud team. Stuart has since partnered with BT Group and AbilityNet to educate older adults about common scams including delivery fraud, family impersonation schemes, and bank/email fraud, emphasizing that scammers are sophisticated enough to target
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Users on TikTok and other platforms are receiving fraudulent text messages claiming to be from TikTok's HR department, offering £200-£500 daily salaries for easy remote work. These messages are part of a "task scam" variant where victims download an app, complete limited free tasks, then are pressured to pay upgrade fees to continue earning, with no ability to actually withdraw any winnings. TikTok has issued an official warning urging users to be vigilant and verify the authenticity of job opportunities before sharing personal information or sending money.
moroccoworldnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Spanish police arrested five suspects who scammed two women out of €325,000 by impersonating actor Brad Pitt on social media and messaging apps, convincing them they were in romantic relationships and had investment opportunities. The perpetrators targeted vulnerable women experiencing depression, conducted psychological profiling through social networks, and maintained the deception through WhatsApp and email. Police recovered €85,000 of the stolen funds and seized evidence including phones, computers, and records of fraudulent phrases used in the scheme.
foxcarolina.com
· 2025-12-08
Foreign scammers operating from countries like Morocco create fake patriotic Facebook pages featuring AI-generated images of wounded soldiers and military personnel to lure American engagement, particularly from older women. When victims comment on these posts, imposters posing as U.S. military generals initiate private messages and eventually request money, with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division reporting hundreds of fake impersonator accounts monthly. The scam exploits patriotic sentiment and leverages AI-generated content with telltale errors (extra fingers, garbled text, impossible scenes) to build trust before extracting financial information from vulnerable Americans.
uppermichiganssource.com
· 2025-12-08
Delta County retirees attended an AARP-sponsored fraud awareness workshop where law enforcement identified romance scams and IRS impersonation scams as the top threats targeting Upper Peninsula residents. Scammers use emotional manipulation—such as fake online dating profiles or threatening calls about back taxes—with artificial urgency to pressure victims into sending money, though the IRS does not initiate contact by phone. Authorities advised residents to hang up on suspicious callers, limit personal information on social media, avoid stranger friend requests, and contact local law enforcement if money is involved.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
West African "Yahoo boys" operating from Ghana conduct large-scale romance and computer repair scams, targeting vulnerable Americans (particularly widowers and elderly victims) and stealing billions in fraudulent wire transfers and gold purchase schemes. A 92-year-old retired nurse lost significant portions of her life savings to a gold scam despite repeated warnings, leading to lawsuits against banks like Charles Schwab for allegedly ignoring red flags on suspicious transactions. U.S. consumers reported over $10 billion in fraud losses in 2023—a 14% increase from 2022—as overseas-based scams exploit weak bank safeguards and psychological manipulation to drain American accounts.
montclairlocal.news
· 2025-12-08
Montclair Police warn residents of sextortion scams where fraudsters email victims claiming to have installed malware and threatening to release compromising videos unless payment is made in Bitcoin, using publicly available information like phone numbers and home addresses to appear credible. Police advise residents to never provide personal information, financial details, or payments via Bitcoin, wire transfer, or gift cards, and to be aware that caller ID can be spoofed; victims should contact Montclair Police at (973) 744-1234 if targeted.
psychologytoday.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article examines how scammers use fear and psychological manipulation to exploit victims through sophisticated online extortion scams. The author explains that scammers deliberately trigger fight-or-flight responses to bypass critical thinking, and notes that the FTC reported $10 billion in fraud losses nationally in 2023, with success rates dependent on sending mass emails to hundreds of millions of people. The article advocates for corporate accountability while recommending awareness-building, FTC resources, and educational content from fraud educators as tools to counter these tactics.
candgnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office is holding educational events in October to help seniors recognize and prevent fraud, including scams involving impersonation of police officers, fake technical support invoices, and AI-generated voice calls from supposed relatives. Free presentations and "S.C.A.M.S." prevention booklets will be available at events on October 9 at Macomb Community College and October 17 at the Sterling Heights Fall Senior Expo, with the office advising seniors to avoid sharing personal information with unknown callers or emailers.
kelly.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
During a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly discussed the escalating threat of sophisticated fraud targeting seniors, including AI-generated voice cloning, cryptocurrency schemes, and "pig butchering" scams orchestrated by organized crime networks operating internationally, with reported losses totaling $100 billion. Law enforcement and consumer advocates emphasized the need for increased investigative resources, industry engagement, and a comprehensive national strategy to combat these crimes. Kelly highlighted his legislative efforts to protect seniors, including the Stop Senior Scams Act (2022) and the EdCOPS Act (2024), while discussing successful collaborative models like San Diego's Elder Justice Task Force.
kpbs.org
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational event hosted by Osher at SDSU featuring Assistant U.S. Attorney Oleksandra Johnson, who specializes in elder fraud prosecution. The presentation covers methods criminals use to perpetrate elder financial abuse (mail, phone, computer, in-person, and media), current trending scams in Southern California including grandparent scams, romance scams, and investment scams, and warning signs of financial abuse with prevention strategies.
thehindu.com
· 2025-12-08
A 45-year-old businessman in Hyderabad lost ₹28.5 lakh in an online investment scam orchestrated through a WhatsApp group that impersonated ABML stocks & securities and used a fake investment app. The scammers lured the victim with promises of high returns on stocks and IPOs, then coerced him into taking a loan and deposited the funds into a fraudulent account showing fabricated profits, ultimately preventing any withdrawals. The Hyderabad cyber crime unit filed a case after the victim reported the fraud.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Moira Stuart, a 75-year-old BBC News presenter, fell victim to a sophisticated phone scam where fraudsters impersonated her bank and instructed her to transfer money to catch an alleged "inside job" at her branch. A vigilant bank cashier prevented her from losing thousands of pounds by questioning the transaction and alerting the bank's anti-fraud team. Stuart publicly shared her experience to combat the shame surrounding fraud victimization and to raise awareness, noting that nearly three million instances of bank fraud costing £1.2 billion were recorded the previous year, with authorized fraud victims losing an average of nearly £2,000.
wlbt.com
· 2025-12-08
Foreign scammers operating from countries like Morocco use AI-generated photos of fake wounded soldiers and military personnel on patriotic Facebook pages to lure American commenters, particularly older women and widows. When victims engage with the posts, imposters posing as U.S. military generals contact them in private messages and solicit money, with the Army reporting hundreds of fake imposter accounts monthly. The scam exploits patriotic sentiment through obviously flawed AI images (soldiers with six fingers, flags with wrong star counts, garbled name tapes) that nonetheless generate thousands of followers and engagement.
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2025-12-08
An investigation uncovered thousands of AI-generated photos of fake wounded soldiers, veterans, and military families posted on Facebook pages with patriotic names like "Proudly American," which are actually managed by users in Morocco and other foreign countries. Scammers use these fake images to lure patriotic comments from older Americans, who are then targeted by imposters posing as U.S. military generals requesting private messages, a scheme the Army reports receiving hundreds of complaints about monthly. The fake photos contain obvious AI errors such as soldiers with six fingers, extra hands, garbled name tapes, and uniforms with incorrect flags, yet Facebook has not labeled them as AI-generated content.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bedford County resident received multiple calls claiming he had won a $2.5 million Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes and was asked to pay $4,850 upfront in taxes before receiving the prize. The victim's contact with the actual Publisher's Clearing House company confirmed he was not a winner, as the legitimate company never calls winners and instead delivers prizes in person. This scam is part of a broader fraud epidemic in Pennsylvania, where the FTC reported over 14,800 fraud complaints in the first half of 2024, with sweepstakes and lottery scams accounting for 618 of those reports.
milwaukeeindependent.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, a crisis-level problem projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology increase vulnerability and perpetrator access. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and underfunded, with relatively few scammers caught or convicted, stolen funds rarely recovered, and many victims reluctant to report crimes—illustrated by an Ohio case where an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer threatening to extract $12,000 in supposed bond money, while the actual perpetrator remained at large. Key challenges include difficulty investigating overseas fraud, rapid conversion of funds to cryptocurrency, some police dismiss
click2houston.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Houston and nationwide are increasingly using cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, to defraud victims through fake law enforcement calls claiming warrant arrests related to missed jury duty. Lt. Abraham Alanis of the Harris County Sheriff's Office reports receiving daily complaints about these calls, where criminals use spoofed phone numbers and real officer names to pressure victims into sending untraceable Bitcoin payments. According to the FBI, cryptocurrency scams resulted in 69,468 complaints nationwide in 2023 with $5.6 billion in losses, with Texas accounting for 4,770 complaints and approximately $411.9 million in losses.
medicalnewstoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare scam calls are fraudulent attempts to steal seniors' Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, bank account information, and other personal data by impersonating government agencies or Medicare representatives. Scammers use pressure tactics such as threatening benefit cancellation, promising free services, or offering plan upgrades to manipulate victims into disclosing sensitive information. Medicare and Social Security never make unsolicited calls requesting personal information; recipients should hang up immediately and contact Medicare directly at 800-633-4227 to report suspicious calls.
wdbj7.com
· 2025-12-08
Foreign scammers operating from countries like Morocco create thousands of AI-generated fake photos of wounded soldiers and military families, posting them on fraudulent patriotic Facebook pages to lure comments from unsuspecting Americans. Once victims engage with the posts, imposters posing as U.S. military generals initiate private messages and requests for money, exploiting patriotic sentiment to defraud widows and elderly women. The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division reports hundreds of fake military accounts monthly, while Meta describes the scheme as "engagement bait" that spreads faster than the company can remove it.
milwaukeeindependent.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, with the problem projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology make fraud easier to perpetrate and harder to prosecute. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and under-resourced, with perpetrators rarely caught or convicted, and victims—particularly older adults—often unable to recover stolen funds from romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud. The article illustrates the crisis through cases including an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer, while the perpetrator remained at large, highlighting how inadequate law enforcement
bernews.com
· 2025-12-08
Three senior citizens in Bermuda were defrauded of approximately $685,000 through a combination of social media impersonation and phone scams. One victim received a Facebook message appearing to be from someone they knew, instructing them to purchase Apple gift cards and share redemption codes, while two others received unsolicited calls from scammers posing as bank employees requesting account information or computer remote access. Police advised seniors to avoid responding to unsolicited requests for gift cards or personal information, verify caller identity by contacting their bank directly, and report suspected fraud immediately.
royalgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Three senior citizens in Bermuda were defrauded of approximately $685,000 in separate incidents involving Facebook impersonation, fake bank calls, and gift card scams. The scams employed tactics including requests to purchase Apple gift cards and provide remote computer access or bank information. Police urged seniors and their relatives to remain vigilant, verify caller identities independently, and report suspected fraud immediately.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans received over 4.4 billion robocalls in April, with scam calls surging 73% to 710 million, primarily featuring fraudulent tax relief schemes promising to eliminate or make tax debt "non-collectible." These scams target people with tax obligations by requesting upfront fees and personal information while delivering nothing in return. The article recommends protecting oneself through data removal services, screening unknown calls, verifying caller identity, and reporting suspicious calls to authorities.
lawrencekstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister conducted a community presentation warning residents about common scams after a local family lost $90,000, noting that scammers typically operate outside U.S. jurisdiction making fund recovery nearly impossible. Scammers use emails, phone calls, social media, and mail to target victims by spoofing phone numbers, impersonating government agencies or financial institutions, and creating emotional urgency through threats or too-good-to-be-true offers. Armbrister recommends verifying suspicious calls by hanging up and calling trusted numbers, watching for red flags like immediate threats and AI-enhanced voice spoofing, and never providing personal or banking information to unsolicited callers
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam text message circulated in York, Pennsylvania, claiming recipients owed parking violation fees (ranging from $4.15 to $35) and directing them to click a malicious link. York City officials warned residents via Facebook that the text was fraudulent and advised anyone receiving suspicious parking-related communications to contact the York City Parking Bureau directly at 717-849-2230 rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages.
fox7austin.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating a Hays County Sheriff's Office lieutenant using the phone number 512-877-1299, claiming callers have outstanding warrants and demanding payment to resolve them over the phone. The Hays County Sheriff's Office advises residents not to answer calls from this number, not to call back, and not to provide any personal information to the callers.
kaaltv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office reported an increase in "grandparent scams" targeting senior citizens in North Iowa, where callers falsely claim a relative has been arrested and demand cash payment delivered by a courier to the victim's home. Law enforcement identified a suspect as a well-dressed Black male driving a dark four-door SUV with possible Minnesota plates, and advised seniors to hang up, verify information independently, and report suspicious calls to local police. The FTC recommends protecting yourself by remembering that legitimate businesses don't demand immediate payment via wire transfer or gift cards, law enforcement won't threaten arrest over the phone, and government agencies won't solicit sensitive information through unsolicite
couriernews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Russellville Police Department warns that elderly individuals are increasingly targeted for financial crimes, with an estimated 37 percent of telemarketing fraud victims being seniors. The article attributes this trend to the growing aging population and seniors' accumulated resources, while advising elders to report crimes, remember that "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," and contact local police before committing to suspicious offers.
pulse.com.gh
· 2025-12-08
A student attempting to upgrade his iPhone 7 to an iPhone XR at Circle, a known marketplace, was scammed and received a tile instead after handing over his phone and 300 Ghanaian cedis. The incident highlights Circle's reputation as a hotspot for phone swap scams where fraudsters pose attractive deals but deliver counterfeit or non-functional items, leaving victims without functional devices and out of pocket.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A buyer lost £615 to a Facebook Marketplace scam when purchasing a second-hand bicycle; the seller requested payment via PayPal's friends and family option (which lacks buyer protection) and never delivered the item or responded to messages. After intervention, PayPal refunded the full amount, and the article warns that scammers increasingly exploit the friends and family payment method to avoid refunds, with Facebook scam losses rising 366% from £7 million in 2020 to £32.6 million in 2022. The advice recommends paying by cash in person when possible, or using protected payment methods like PayPal's standard goods and services option rather than bank
citynewsokc.com
· 2025-12-08
Tech support scams involve fraudsters posing as representatives from Microsoft, Dell, or other legitimate companies, calling consumers unsolicited and claiming their computers have been hacked or infected with viruses. The scammers use remote access to take control of victims' computers and pressure them to provide credit card information, resulting in losses of $50-500 per victim plus potential data theft and computer lockouts. These operations, primarily based in India, use telemarketing boiler rooms and deceptive advertising to target English-speaking consumers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and other countries, though the FTC has pursued enforcement action against multiple scam operations.
headtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
David Checkley, a romance fraudster, was jailed again after previously defrauding Sharon Shearer, 70, of over £200,000 during a three-year relationship that left her bankrupt and homeless. The article also reports a significant rise in various fraud schemes in the UK, including an 43% increase in banking complaints about denied refunds (8,700 cases between April-June), a 34% surge in purchase scams totaling £85.9 million in 2023, and a 31% increase in romance scam payments reaching £36.5 million—the highest ever recorded. Common scams highlighted include marketplace fraud, fake ticketing schemes,
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Tennessee man's wife fell victim to a sophisticated scam where thieves posed as bank representatives following a legitimate fraud alert text, tricking her into revealing the answer to her account's security question. Using this information, the scammers disabled notifications, transferred funds between accounts, and set up an ACH withdrawal—though the victim's daily account monitoring allowed her to catch the fraud quickly and recover most funds through her bank and IC3 reporting. The incident illustrates how scammers exploit trust and use security question answers to bypass account protections, and highlights the importance of verifying caller identity and being cautious about sharing personal information even when requests seem legitimate.
cbs8.com
· 2025-12-08
According to a 2024 Truecaller/Harris Poll report, Americans lost $25.4 billion to communication fraud and robocalls annually, with Hispanic communities facing disproportionate targeting and twice the victimization rate compared to other groups. Fraudsters exploit Hispanic populations through immigration scams, identity theft, and jury duty schemes, highlighting the need for enhanced vigilance and protective measures like call-filtering apps to combat these threats.
cadillacnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel met with over 70 senior citizens in Cadillac to educate them about emerging scams, including phishing, smishing, identity theft, grandparent scams, and "pig butchering" scams—a long-term fraud where perpetrators build false relationships with victims via social apps before stealing money or personal information. Nessel highlighted how artificial intelligence is increasingly being used by scammers to create personalized, convincing fraud schemes, including deepfake audio and video to impersonate family members, and directed residents to the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection website for scam information and alerts.
kkco11news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Delta County Sheriff's Office reported receiving multiple scam calls from an individual impersonating law enforcement officers, specifically claiming to be Lt. Burris from the warrant division, who targets senior citizens by threatening arrest and demanding payment via phone. The scammer uses the phone number (970) 624-0293 or spoofs DCSO's number, employing a fake southern accent to appear credible. Law enforcement clarified that legitimate agencies will not call citizens about warrants or demand bond payments over the phone.
cbs8.com
· 2025-12-08
Vista resident Jan Hoops lost approximately $24,000 in a gift card scam after a pop-up alert directed her to call a fake Microsoft number; the scammer convinced her that her accounts had been hacked, instructed her to withdraw cash from her credit union and purchase Lowes gift cards, then obtained the card numbers by having her read them aloud. Employees at both the credit union and store warned Hoops about the scam, but the fraudster kept her on the phone and instructed her not to trust them, ultimately deceiving her into providing the gift card information needed to cash them in. The recommended defense is to hang up on unsolicited calls about account breaches and independently verify concerns
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bengaluru man lost Rs 59 lakh in a sophisticated online scam involving fluent English-speaking fraudsters who impersonated police officers, CBI officials, and a judge to convince him he was under "digital arrest" for money laundering and Aadhaar misuse. The scammers used automated calls, WhatsApp video calls, fake courtroom theatrics, and round-the-clock surveillance via Skype to psychologically manipulate the victim into transferring funds across multiple bank accounts before abruptly disconnecting. The victim reported the incident to police after realizing the deception.
wpbf.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office warned residents of a phone scam in which callers impersonate deputies and threaten arrest to extort money from victims. Scammers request payment through various methods including Bitcoin, PayPal, Zelle, and gift cards; law enforcement advises that no legitimate government official will call demanding payment. Residents with information about the scam are urged to contact the sheriff's office or call Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bengaluru man named KJ Rao lost Rs 59 lakh in an elaborate online scam involving fraudsters who impersonated police, CBI officials, and a judge to convince him he was under "digital arrest" for money laundering and misuse of Aadhaar details. Using multiple deceptive tactics including fake video calls, fabricated courtroom proceedings, and continuous surveillance via Skype, the scammers pressured Rao to transfer Rs 50 lakh and Rs 9 lakh to separate bank accounts under the pretense of court orders. Rao reported the scam to local police after the scammers abruptly ended contact
kttc.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office warned of a "grandparent scam" targeting senior citizens in north Iowa, where scammers called victims claiming a relative had been arrested and needed cash for bail, then sent a courier to collect money from victims' homes. Authorities identified a suspect—a well-dressed Black man driving a black or dark-colored 4-door SUV with possible Minnesota plates, potentially accompanied by a woman—and urged seniors never to give cash or personal information to unknown persons and to report such contacts to law enforcement.
mcknightsseniorliving.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FTC reported $10 billion in total consumer fraud losses (up $1 billion from 2022), with older adults losing $3.4 billion according to FBI data, driven primarily by imposter scams, investment fraud (up 400% since 2021), and tech support scams despite scam types remaining largely consistent with previous years. The Senate Special Committee on Aging released its ninth annual fraud book highlighting that common scams targeting seniors include imposter, sweepstakes, lottery, cryptocurrency, and AI-enabled schemes, with tech support scams causing nearly $590 million in losses and investment scams topping $1.2 billion. Between June
knews.kathimerini.com.cy
· 2025-12-08
A criminal network of Roma individuals is defrauding elderly Greeks by impersonating utility company employees from DEI and OTE, often combining these scams with false claims that a family member has been in an accident to gain trust and steal money. A notable case involved a decorated police officer from Patras who stole €40,000 from an elderly victim, prompting Greek Police to launch a public awareness campaign warning seniors that utility workers do not enter homes beyond the meter and that unsolicited callers asking about household composition are likely scammers.
kttc.com
· 2025-12-08
A Rochester, Minnesota woman lost $2,000 in a virtual kidnapping scam after a Spanish-speaking caller claimed to have abducted her daughter and demanded ransom money transferred to a Mexico account. The scammer used personal information about the victim and her daughter to make the threat credible and kept the woman on the phone while directing her to a local market to complete the transfer. The daughter was unharmed and returned home from school; the Rochester Police Department is investigating the case.
miltontimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Investment fraud losses exceeded $4.5 billion in 2023, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Report. Common scams include cryptocurrency schemes promoted via social media, dubious investment programs claiming "proven" get-rich strategies, fraudulent real estate development offerings, and precious metals sales using pressure tactics and false guarantees. Protection measures include verifying that investment professionals are registered with FINRA, avoiding pressure to make quick decisions, being skeptical of "risk-free" claims, and researching companies online before investing.
seehafernews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating law enforcement officers from multiple Wisconsin agencies, including the Fond du Lac Police Department, Manitowoc Police Department, and Winnebago County Sheriff's Office, using spoofed phone numbers and posing as specific officers. The scams involve false claims of arrest warrants and requests for DNA samples or large cash payments via Bitcoin, with perpetrators demonstrating detailed knowledge of DNA procedures to increase credibility. Law enforcement agencies warn that legitimate police will never request DNA samples or cryptocurrency payments and urge citizens to report such calls.
livingsnoqualmie.com
· 2025-12-08
The Snoqualmie Police Department is warning residents about a "Pegasus" sextortion scam variation where attackers send threatening emails claiming to possess explicit photos or videos and include personal details like Google Maps photos of victims' homes, demanding ransom payment within 24 hours. Law enforcement advises residents not to respond to or pay these scams and to delete the emails immediately, as the threats are false and information often comes from public sources or past data breaches. The FBI recommends avoiding compromising photos, suspicious email attachments, and leaving webcams exposed to prevent victimization.