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in Robocall / Phone Scam
fox13now.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Heber City, Utah received a fraudulent call on March 11 impersonating her bank, claiming fraudulent activity on her account and successfully obtaining her username and account details before her husband, a police chief, recognized the scam and advised her to hang up and verify directly with the bank. The couple lost no money and shared their experience to raise awareness that such phishing scams can target anyone, emphasizing the importance of independently verifying suspicious calls rather than following caller-provided instructions.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old contractor in Kangar, Malaysia lost RM1,448,000 to an impersonation scam in which fraudsters posing as Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and police officers convinced her that her phone number was linked to fraud and drug cases. The victim was instructed to open bank accounts and make 10 transfers over several days before discovering the scam on April 14 and filing a police report. An investigation was opened under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.
munsifdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
A Maharashtra government employee, Shridhar Mahuli, lost Rs 2 lakh (approximately $2,400 USD) after a scammer impersonating an AU Small Finance Bank representative called claiming a health insurance payment needed to be linked to his credit card. The fraudster obtained Mahuli's card details through the fake call and made multiple unauthorized transactions, highlighting the sophistication of identity spoofing tactics used by modern scammers targeting financial information.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Zak Coyne, 24, from Huddersfield, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison for operating LabHost, a sophisticated subscription-based website that enabled over 2,000 cybercriminals to defraud approximately one million victims across 91 countries of at least £100 million (with £32 million from the UK alone). LabHost hosted phishing pages mimicking 185 major banks and commercial websites, allowing subscribers to steal login credentials from unsuspecting victims, and Coyne personally profited around £200,000 in cryptocurrency from the criminal subscriptions before the platform was shut down in April 2024
ca.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre announced a "Stop Scamming Seniors Act" to combat telephone and online fraud targeting Canadian seniors, who lost over $137 million to scams in 2022. The proposed legislation would mandate real-time fraud detection by banks and telecoms, impose fines up to $5 million per violation, create mandatory jail terms up to five years for million-dollar frauds, and introduce a new criminal offense for executives who knowingly allow fraud to continue. Poilievre also highlighted emerging threats like AI-generated voice scams and proposed additional senior-focused measures including a 15% income tax cut for older Canadians.
publicnewsservice.org
· 2025-12-08
Policy changes to Social Security's appointment requirements have created confusion among Virginians that may increase vulnerability to scams, which typically begin with urgent-sounding phone calls, texts, or emails falsely claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. Over 1.6 million Virginians depend on Social Security benefits, and proposed in-person-only signup requirements would have particularly burdened seniors, especially the 9% of Virginia seniors living more than 45 miles from the nearest Social Security office.
investigatetv.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are increasingly using "accidental text" scams, sending unsolicited messages that appear to be misdirected personal texts to trick recipients into responding and revealing personal information. The Better Business Bureau reports that scam victims lost 30% more money in 2024 than 2023, with experts advising people not to respond to unknown numbers, avoid clicking links, and delete suspicious messages. The FTC recommends keeping important contacts saved in your phone to identify unfamiliar senders as potential scams.
sec.gov
· 2025-12-08
The SEC launched an anti-fraud public service campaign warning investors about relationship investment scams, in which perpetrators build trust through online romantic or friendship connections to solicit money for fraudulent investments. The campaign includes educational videos, resources, and guidance advising investors to ignore unsolicited messages, be skeptical of investment opportunities from unknown contacts, and immediately stop communication with suspected scammers while reporting them to the SEC.
wowt.com
· 2025-12-08
Experts warn that "accidental text" scams are intentional fraud schemes designed to appear as innocent misdials, with Americans receiving 19.2 billion spam texts in March 2025 alone. Scammers use this tactic to exploit people's natural kindness—when recipients respond politely, fraudsters attempt to build fake relationships and extract personal or financial information. Experts recommend not responding to unknown numbers, never clicking links from unfamiliar senders, and checking contacts before engaging with unsolicited messages.
wwnytv.com
· 2025-12-08
Experts warn that "accidental text" messages claiming to be sent to the wrong number are increasingly used as a deliberate scam tactic to exploit people's natural helpfulness and curiosity. Scammers aim to initiate conversations that lead to building trust before stealing personal information, with Americans receiving 19.2 billion spam texts in March 2025 alone. The BBB reports that scam victims lost 30% more money in 2024 than 2023, and experts recommend not responding to unknown numbers, avoiding clicking links from unfamiliar senders, and only communicating with contacts saved in your device.
cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission reported $470 million in consumer losses from text message scams in 2024—nearly five times the 2020 amount—with fake package delivery alerts being the most common scam, followed by fake job offers, fraudulent bank alerts, and romance/investment scams. The FTC advises consumers to avoid clicking or responding to unexpected texts, instead contacting companies through verified channels and reporting suspicious messages to 7726 (SPAM) or through their messaging apps.
komu.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season scams spike around Tax Day, with fraudsters impersonating IRS officials, posing as "ghost preparers," and using phishing emails and threatening calls to target filers. The IRS reminds taxpayers that legitimate communication comes only via U.S. mail, never through unsolicited calls, texts, or emails, and the agency never demands payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency. Filers should work with reputable tax professionals, verify charity solicitations with the IRS, and those needing more time can file for an extension by April 15 to gain until October 15 to complete their return.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
**Social Security Imposter Scams on the Rise**
Government imposter scams, particularly those posing as Social Security Administration officials, represent one of the most common fraud schemes targeting consumers, with the Social Security OIG receiving 73,626 reports in 2023—a 13.7% increase from the previous year. Scammers contact victims via phone, text, or email claiming account problems, benefit suspensions, or legal threats, then demand immediate payment or personal information through threats of arrest or account seizure. The Social Security Administration never initiates contact unexpectedly, communicates changes by mail, and never demands immediate payment via gift card, cryptocurrency, or cash—
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
American consumers lost $470 million to text message scams in 2024, a 26% increase from 2023 and five-fold jump from 2020, according to FTC data. The most common scams involved package-delivery impersonation, fake job offers, fraudulent fraud alerts, and romance schemes, with criminals exploiting the difficulty of detecting scam links in text messages compared to emails. Consumers are advised to avoid clicking unsolicited links, use text filters, and report suspicious messages to their carriers and the FTC.
cordcuttersnews.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP, Amazon, Google, and Walmart launched the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center (NEFCC), a public-private partnership designed to combat elder fraud through coordinated investigation, pattern identification, and prosecution of fraud rings targeting older Americans. The FTC estimated elder fraud cost older consumers $61.5 billion in 2023—approximately $117,000 per minute—with common scams including robocalls, tech support schemes, and deceptive location data collection. Led by former FBI Supervisory Special Agent Brady Finta, the NEFCC will share resources across sectors to help law enforcement agencies identify and shut down larger fraud operations while returning stolen assets to victims.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud losses nationwide reached $12.5 billion in 2024, with New York State accounting for $534 million in losses across 118,933 reported cases; older adults were disproportionately affected, with those over 50 reporting 28,578 fraud cases totaling $159 million in losses. AARP New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and local officials launched "The Big Shred NY!" — a statewide initiative offering 27 free document shredding locations through May 10, 2025, to help residents safely dispose of personal documents containing sensitive information that could be used for identity theft.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and city officials launched "The Big Shred NY!" initiative, offering 27 free document shredding locations across New York State through May 2025 to help residents safely dispose of personal documents and prevent identity theft. Fraud targeting Americans reached $12.5 billion in 2024—a 25% increase from 2023—with New York State accounting for $534 million in losses, and older adults particularly vulnerable with $159 million lost among those over 50. The program aims to combat the rising sophistication of scams targeting seniors through document destruction as a preventive measure against financial fraud.
easttexasnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A writer's Facebook account was hacked by criminals from Nigeria who used it to post fake car and trailer advertisements, gaining access through a rarely-contacted friend's account. The author lost access to their 17-year-old account and experienced a fraudulent charge on an associated bank card; meanwhile, local police report that elderly victims in their area have lost entire life savings to similar scams, with approximately 300,000 Facebook accounts hacked daily. The author recommends updating privacy settings, removing personal information from profiles, and limiting social media exposure as preventive measures.
harlemworldmagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and other officials launched "The Big Shred NY!" initiative, offering 27 free document shredding locations across New York State through May 2025 to help residents safely dispose of personal documents and prevent identity theft. Fraud targeting Americans reached $12.5 billion in 2024—a 25% increase from 2023—with New York State accounting for $534 million in losses, and adults over 50 reporting $159 million in losses from 28,578 documented fraud cases.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old man from China named Dongyi Guo was sentenced to 21 months in prison and ordered to repay $95,000 after stealing that amount from a 79-year-old Missouri woman as part of a coordinated wire fraud conspiracy. Guo and his co-conspirators posed as financial institution and Social Security representatives, falsely claiming the victim's accounts were compromised and pressuring her to withdraw cash in multiple pickups between March 4-7, 2024. The victim's daughter reported in court that her mother died seven months later, stating the crime "unquestionably contributed" to her death, as the victim became mentally
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, a 53-year-old Oklahoma woman, created multiple fake male personas (Jason Morris, Edward Lotts, Glenn Goadard) to conduct a months-long romance scam that defrauded four senior women ages 64-79 of $1.5 million. The victims were manipulated into sending money under false pretenses (oil rig rescue, financial portfolio management, relationship promises), with one woman selling her paid-off home and sending over $600,000; Echohawk laundered the funds through multiple bank accounts, cryptocurrency, and gift cards until MidFirst Bank flagged a suspicious transaction in January 2025, leading to her
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "The Surprising Truth About the Age Group Most Likely to Fall for Financial Fraud"
Recent FTC data reveals that younger adults (ages 20-29) are losing money to scams at nearly twice the rate of older adults, with 44% experiencing financial losses compared to 24% of those aged 70-79. Younger adults are primarily targeted through online scams including fake shopping sites, cryptocurrency fraud, and social media job offers, with their "digital native" status and tendency toward impulsive decision-making making them particularly vulnerable despite overconfidence in their tech savviness. The study emphasizes that scammers exploit age-specific psychological factors and online
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old Oklahoma woman, Christine Joan Echohawk, posed as multiple men (Jason Morris, Edward Lotts, and Glenn Goadard) in an elaborate romance scam that defrauded four senior women, ages 64-79, of $1.5 million between late 2024 and January 2025. The victims were manipulated into sending money under false pretenses including oil rig rescues and financial portfolio management, with one victim selling her paid-off home to send over $600,000; Echohawk laundered the funds through multiple accounts, cryptocurrency, and gift cards before being caught when a bank flagged a suspicious transaction. She
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old Oklahoma woman, Christine Joan Echohawk, posed as multiple men (Jason Morris, Edward Lotts, and Glenn Goadard) in an elaborate romance scam that defrauded four senior women aged 64-79 of $1.5 million between late 2024 and January 2025. The victims were manipulated into sending money under false pretenses including oil rig rescues, financial portfolio management, and promises of future cohabitation; Echohawk laundered the funds through multiple bank accounts, cryptocurrency, and gift cards before being caught when a $120,000 transaction was flagged by MidFirst Bank. She now
lexology.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, text message scams caused $470 million in reported losses to consumers—more than five times the 2020 amount—according to FTC data, with the top five scams being fake package delivery notices, phony job offers, fraudulent fraud alerts, bogus toll notifications, and "wrong number" romance/investment schemes. These scams employed tactics such as impersonating legitimate companies, stealing financial information through fake fees, and building fake relationships to manipulate victims into transferring money. The FTC recommends consumers avoid clicking links or responding to unsolicited texts and use blocking tools to prevent fraud.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, text message scams cost U.S. consumers an estimated $470 million, five times the losses from 2020, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The most common scams involved fake package delivery notices, bogus job opportunities, fraudulent bank alerts, and romance scams, all initiated via text message. The FTC recommends consumers forward suspicious texts to 7726, report them through their messaging apps, avoid clicking links or responding, and contact companies directly using verified numbers.
thv11.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using AI voice-cloning technology to create deepfakes that impersonate loved ones in emergency scams, asking victims to send money immediately. Consumer Reports found that four of six popular voice-cloning apps lacked meaningful consent protections, allowing users to clone voices without permission, and experts say these deepfakes are becoming difficult to distinguish from real audio. Protection measures include recognizing deepfake scams exist, enabling two-factor authentication on financial accounts, being suspicious of unsolicited requests for personal or financial information, and applying critical thinking before responding to unexpected calls or messages.
ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, reported text scam losses reached $470 million—more than five times the amount from 2020—according to the FTC's Data Spotlight. Common text scams targeting businesses include fake fraud alerts redirecting victims to move money to scammer-controlled accounts, bogus toll notices designed to collect financial information, and phony job offers impersonating legitimate companies. The FTC recommends verifying unexpected texts by contacting businesses directly through official channels, avoiding clicking links or calling numbers provided in texts, and pausing before responding to urgent demands.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using fake banking apps that mimic legitimate platforms to defraud sellers in person, showing fake payment confirmations while stealing goods worth thousands of pounds. Two victims—Anthony Rudd (who lost £1,000 in power tools) and John Reddock (who lost a £2,000 gold bracelet)—were deceived when buyers appeared to transfer funds via the fraudulent apps before fleeing with merchandise. Approximately 500 such crimes have been reported to Action Fraud over three years, with these fake apps available for direct download to Android phones outside official app stores.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Two professionals in Hyderabad lost a combined 67 lakh rupees to separate cyber fraud schemes in early 2025: a microbiologist lost 39.7 lakh to scammers operating a fake stock trading platform via Instagram and WhatsApp between January and April, while a software engineer lost 28 lakh within two days to fraudsters posing as a cryptocurrency trading company that initially advertised part-time work on WhatsApp. Both victims were asked to make additional payments before being denied access to their accounts, leading to cases filed under the IT Act by Cyber Crime Police in Cyberabad.
ksdk.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages in the St. Louis region claiming residents owe unpaid tolls and must pay immediately, with links directing victims to fake payment websites. If clicked, these links harvest personal and financial information to commit identity theft and fraud. Recipients should block the sender and delete the message without responding, and those who entered payment information should contact their bank or credit card company immediately.
blog.knowbe4.com
· 2025-12-08
**Cash Bag Scamming**
Thousands of victims are currently being defrauded through "cash bag scamming," where scammers impersonate federal law enforcement (FBI, CIA, IRS, etc.) or retail companies like Amazon to convince victims their accounts are compromised by terrorists and their money is at risk. Victims are instructed to withdraw large sums of cash from their banks, avoid telling family members, and hand over their life savings to strangers, with scammers using social engineering tactics like fake official paperwork, coached bank withdrawal instructions, and isolation tactics to manipulate victims into complying.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI seized $8.2 million in cryptocurrency connected to the "pig butchering" dating scam, which affected more than 30 victims who were manipulated into transferring money or investing in crypto schemes after being emotionally groomed through fake romantic relationships. One victim, a Cleveland woman, liquidated her retirement savings and transferred over $650,000 in digital assets. The FBI's use of blockchain intelligence to trace funds across multiple platforms is considered a breakthrough that will help authorities pursue similar romance scams in the future.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warned of a surge in Real ID scams as the May 7th deadline approached, with scammers using calls, texts, emails, and fake websites to impersonate government employees and steal personal information such as bank account numbers and identity details. The BBB advised that no government agency contacts people directly about Real ID and recommended not clicking links or providing information unless on official government websites, and reporting suspicious communications to the BBB.
myupnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a scam awareness roundup highlighting major fraud schemes targeting state residents, including disaster relief and charity scams, government imposter fraud, phishing/smishing attacks, cryptocurrency "pig butchering" romance scams, and data breach identity theft. The advisory recommends consumers verify charity legitimacy before donating, never click suspicious links or provide personal information to unsolicited contacts, monitor credit reports regularly through AnnualCreditReport.com, and implement security measures like two-factor authentication and password changes following data breaches.
nbcchicago.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warned of a surge in Real ID scams as the May 7 deadline approached, with fraudsters using phone calls, text messages, emails, and fake websites to impersonate government officials and steal personal information. These scams exploited the urgency of the federally mandated deadline to trick victims into revealing sensitive data that could be used for identity theft and financial fraud. The BBB emphasized that legitimate government agencies do not contact people unsolicited about Real IDs and advised individuals to watch for suspicious URLs and messages.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 60,000 complaints were filed with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center about unpaid toll text scams, with scammers using location data and fake domains to impersonate state toll services and trick recipients into clicking malicious links. One Massachusetts resident received both legitimate and fraudulent toll texts, ultimately falling victim to confusion between the two and facing collection agency action before resolving the debt. The FBI advises people to avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, verify company contact information independently, and recognize that legitimate toll agencies do not request payments via text.
ic3.gov
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns of an ongoing impersonation scam in which criminals pose as Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) employees to defraud victims, with over 100 reports received between December 2023 and February 2025. Scammers contact victims via email, phone, social media, or forums claiming to recover previously lost funds, then use this pretext to extract financial information and revictimize them. The FBI emphasizes that it never initiates contact with individuals through these channels, does not request payment for fund recovery, and urges victims to report suspicious activity to ic3.gov or the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline.
newstalkkzrg.com
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old Chinese national, Dongyi Guo, was sentenced to 21 months in prison and ordered to repay $95,000 after stealing cash from a 79-year-old Missouri woman as part of a conspiracy targeting elderly victims. The scammers posed as financial institution and Social Security officials, claiming her accounts were compromised and instructing her to withdraw cash for an FDIC employee to collect; Guo made three pickups totaling $95,000 in March 2024 before his arrest. The victim's family reported that the trauma from the fraud contributed to her death seven months later, as she stopped eating, taking medication, and engaging in
fox10phoenix.com
· 2025-12-08
Apache Junction police arrested two men accused of defrauding an 86-year-old woman of $82,000 through an email scam that began in March. The suspects posed as customer service representatives, claiming the victim had accidentally received a refund and pressured her to withdraw cash to repay them, eventually collecting money in person until police intervened. Both suspects were booked for conspiracy, money laundering, and fraud, with investigators indicating they may have been part of a larger operation based in California and suspecting additional victims exist.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
One in eight romance scam victims are in an existing relationship when they fall victim to fraudsters, according to research by the National Fraud Helpline, with the vast majority meeting scammers on dating sites like Match.com and Tinder. Scammers typically target vulnerable individuals by building emotional connections over months before requesting money through elaborate false scenarios. A 68-year-old retired care worker was defrauded of £22,000 by a scammer posing as a widower from Cambridge, who used stolen photographs and fabricated emergencies to manipulate her into sending money between June and November.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
An Ojai, California resident lost his life savings after scammers posing as U.S. Marshals Service agents called him and instructed him to send money to an out-of-state location. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office issued a warning about this government impersonation scam, which is part of a nationwide trend; in 2023 alone, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported a 60% spike in such scams that defrauded over 14,000 people (mostly older adults) of more than $390 million. The article advises victims to act quickly by contacting their financial institutions, freezing credit, and reporting to authorities,
dailyutahchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
Phishing and email scams pose growing cybersecurity risks to college students, with scams becoming increasingly sophisticated and sometimes targeting students directly through fake payment links and malicious emails. University of Utah IT officials and students recommend strategies to reduce vulnerability, including avoiding suspicious links, using password managers with unique passwords, reviewing cookie policies, utilizing pop-up blockers, and reporting suspicious activity to IT support. The article emphasizes that even tech-savvy individuals can fall victim to phishing scams, highlighting the importance of vigilance and awareness when handling online communications and data collection.
firstalert4.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2020, Michele Miller, the mother of missing St. Louis woman Bre'ayn Miller, fell victim to an extortion scam in which a caller claimed to be holding her daughter and demanded $7,000; Miller gathered approximately $3,000 before the scammer lowered demands to gift cards and eventually $20, causing significant emotional trauma. The scammer obtained her phone number from missing persons posters and instructed her not to contact police, threatening harm to her daughter. According to the Better Business Bureau, such scams are becoming increasingly common, with scammers using artificial intelligence to mimic victims' voices and exploit families during vulnerable times.
nltimes.nl
· 2025-12-08
Bank helpdesk fraud in the Netherlands declined significantly in 2024, with reported victims dropping 30% to approximately 6,900 people and total losses falling 20% to €23 million. Despite this improvement, the Dutch Banking Association warned that scammers continue evolving their tactics—including coaching victims to ignore legitimate bank warnings and exploiting social media platforms—and stressed the need for ongoing consumer vigilance and stronger identity verification measures by digital service providers.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
Indian telecom companies Vodafone-Idea and Bharti Airtel are deploying AI-powered systems to combat the rising threat of cyber fraud, including digital arrest scams and AI voice-cloning calls. Vi's Spam SMS solution has flagged over 250 million suspicious messages using machine learning to detect phishing and scam attempts in real-time, while Airtel's spam detection network identified nearly one million spammers daily and flagged 8 billion spam calls and 0.8 billion spam SMS messages within 2.5 months, resulting in a 12% decline in suspicious contact attempts.
mitrade.com
· 2025-12-08
Local law enforcement in Lincoln and Lancaster County have reported a significant surge in digital asset scams targeting elderly residents since 2020, with victims losing millions of dollars—including individual losses up to $1.5 million. Scammers use forged arrest warrants and jury duty impersonation schemes combined with sophisticated social engineering tactics to coerce victims into sending Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, with the funds rarely recovered. Banks and law enforcement are now implementing fraud detection training and urging regulators to address crypto scams, particularly those involving Bitcoin ATMs, as the number of reported incidents continues to rise.
leeds-live.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Barclays reported a 20% surge in romance scams during the first quarter of 2025 compared to 2024, with victims losing an average of £8,000—up from £5,800 in 2023. These scams predominantly originate from social media and dating platforms, where fraudsters exploit emotional vulnerability to manipulate victims into transferring money. Barclays and 76% of surveyed consumers are calling for tech companies to implement stronger safeguards to prevent scammers from operating on their platforms.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Secret Service seized the website NFT-UNI.com, which was used in a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam that defrauded victims of over $4.5 million from November 2023 to March 2024, including a New York victim who lost $172,405.61. In pig butchering scams, fraudsters build trust with victims through fake online relationships before directing them to fraudulent crypto investment platforms where funds are laundered and disappear. Older Americans are particularly targeted, with the FBI reporting that individuals over 60 lost $3.4 billion to investment fraud in 2023, with cryptocurrency schemes representing $2
en.as.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers increasingly use identity theft and impersonation via messaging apps (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, iMessage) to pose as friends or relatives in distress and request urgent money transfers. The Spanish National Police recommend a simple verification tactic: ask the suspicious contact a personal question only a real acquaintance would know, such as "Where did we meet?" to confirm their identity before responding to money requests. This basic security question can effectively prevent victims from falling for these emotionally manipulative scams that exploit goodwill across messaging platforms worldwide.