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npr.org
· 2025-12-08
A New Orleans bar owner's Facebook account was compromised by scammers who used it to fraudulently sell items like golf carts and trucks to her contacts. The incident illustrates a broader cybersecurity problem: small businesses are targeted and fall victim to cyberattacks at roughly four times the rate of large enterprises, with approximately 20% of affected small and medium-sized businesses forced to close or file for bankruptcy as a result.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Microsoft 365 and Outlook users are being targeted by a phishing scam that injects fake billing alerts directly into calendars via meeting invites, bypassing traditional email filters. The scam uses official-looking payment failure or account suspension notices, sometimes with malicious attachments, and exploits default calendar settings to appear without user interaction, creating urgency and panic. Users should avoid interacting with suspicious calendar events and verify their subscription status independently rather than responding to or deleting invites, as these actions may confirm their email is active to scammers.
inquirer.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams have surged dramatically, with reported losses exceeding $220 million in the first half of 2024—more than triple the losses from 2020. These scams typically begin with personalized texts or WhatsApp messages offering easy remote work (such as liking videos or rating products), display fake earnings on platforms, and ultimately ask victims to deposit their own money in cryptocurrency before disappearing with the funds. Job-seekers new to the workforce, career re-entrants, and immigrants are particularly vulnerable, and experts advise rejecting unsolicited job offers, never paying upfront fees, and being skeptical of positions requiring online ratings without legitimate product use.
consumerbankers.com
· 2025-12-08
Consumer Bankers Association Vice President Brian Fritzsche argues that while banks invest in fraud prevention technologies and coordinate with law enforcement, combating financial fraud and scams requires a broader, coordinated national response involving government agencies, telecommunications providers, social media platforms, and fintech companies. Fritzsche emphasizes that modern fraud schemes are sophisticated criminal enterprises using AI voice cloning, phishing emails, and social media manipulation that extend beyond traditional banking channels, affecting hundreds of thousands of Americans annually with significant financial and psychological impacts, including reported suicidal ideation among identity crime victims.
jec.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
Senator Maggie Hassan's Joint Economic Committee announced a major initiative to combat financial scams, which stole an estimated $1 trillion globally in 2024—exceeding the global drug trade. The effort highlights that Americans aged 60 and over lost an average of $80,000 each to scams, and the Committee will launch investigations into scam drivers while collecting public survey data to inform solutions targeting payment platforms, spam communications, and AI-enabled fraud threats.
cybersecuritydive.com
· 2025-12-08
Mobile phishing scams targeting executives and employees via text and voice messages pose an increasingly serious threat, with 77% of companies experiencing at least one attack in the past six months, yet only half of security leaders express concern about the risk. Hackers use impersonation techniques—including AI-generated voice cloning—to trick employees into revealing passwords and granting network access, with notorious groups like Scattered Spider exploiting these social-engineering methods to infiltrate corporate systems. Organizations lack adequate visibility into these attacks and should implement real-time monitoring, mobile-focused security awareness training, and judgment-free reporting systems to address this vulnerability.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Smishing (SMS phishing) scams appear to be increasing as fraudsters use artificial intelligence to craft convincing text messages and exploit data from security breaches, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and Competition Bureau. While reported cases declined from 7,380 in 2022 to 886 in the first half of 2025, experts estimate only 5-10% of victims report incidents, suggesting actual scam volume is much higher; experts warn that AI-generated messages now often lack spelling mistakes that previously helped identify fraud, making smishing harder to detect.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers monitor social media job announcements and impersonate new employers to target recently hired workers, requesting gift cards, financial information, or personal details before employment begins. The article advises never buying gift cards or sharing PINs/personal information in response to unsolicited employer contact, verifying requests directly with your new boss through known channels, and reporting suspected scams to the FTC or identity theft authorities.
nzz.ch
· 2025-12-08
Professional scammers based in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, operate organized "pig butchering" romance scams that target lonely men on dating apps, using fake identities and fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes to steal entire savings. These industrial-scale fraud centers, which expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and often involve forced labor, emotionally manipulate victims by building trust through small early profits before extracting large sums. One victim, a 29-year-old Swiss man, lost all his savings within two weeks of matching with a fake profile, illustrating how the scheme exploits emotional vulnerability rather than outright naivety.
vocfm.co.za
· 2025-12-08
A University of the Western Cape research study on cybercrime against seniors emphasizes that older individuals are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, with isolation being a key risk factor for victimization. The university calls for increased awareness, clearer guidance, and stronger support systems to protect seniors from online threats, while stressing that scam victims should not blame themselves and are encouraged to report incidents to protect themselves and others.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
Three major U.S. banks—Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, and Bank of America—denied reimbursement claims from customers who lost funds to sophisticated scams, including impersonation fraud ($20,000), phishing and malware attacks, and a taxi fraud scheme ($450). The cases highlight gaps in fraud prevention and reimbursement policies, as banks rely on transaction verification methods that scammers increasingly bypass through social engineering and malware, leaving victims with limited recourse despite clear evidence of fraud.
kdhlradio.com
· 2025-12-08
A gold investment scam has resurfaced in Platteville, Wisconsin, targeting elderly residents by impersonating government employees who claim victims have arrest warrants and can settle them by purchasing gold. At least two people have fallen victim to this scheme, which instructs targets to withdraw large sums of money, purchase gold from local dealers, and hand it over to a supposed intermediary who never returns. The Platteville Police Department warns residents to educate elderly family members about this fraud, as scammers use urgency and panic tactics to manipulate vulnerable populations.
wsoctv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Chime user, who works for a bank, lost $600 to an imposter scam after receiving a text appearing to be from Chime asking about a withdrawal attempt. The scammer called posing as a Chime representative, used personal information to build credibility, and convinced the victim to transfer money to another account under the pretense of protecting her funds from criminals—a variation of the "me to me" scam. Chime did not reimburse the victim, and the Financial Technology Association advises consumers to pause before sending money and contact companies only through verified channels on official apps or websites.
cvillerightnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal Trade Commission data estimates fraud theft in the United States reached $158.3 billion in 2023, with imposter scams, romance scams, tech scams, and investment scams being the most common types, typically beginning with phishing attempts via email, text, phone, or QR codes. AARP Virginia warns that AI technology is making scams increasingly convincing, particularly grandparent scams using synthesized voice calls, and recommends victims and witnesses report fraud to local law enforcement or contact AARP's Fraud Watch Network at 1-877-908-3360.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Tampa homeowners Larry and Dreama Bilby discovered criminals attempting to steal their home through a "title piracy" scheme involving a fraudulent quitclaim deed while their house was undergoing repairs after being damaged by a fallen tree. After setting up security cameras and registering for property record alerts, they were notified that Michelle Cherry and Victor Rodriguez had filed a quitclaim deed to transfer ownership of the Bilbys' home without their knowledge. This scam exploits legal documents typically used for legitimate property transfers between family members to fraudulently steal homes from unsuspecting owners.
sidneydailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial scams targeting elderly residents in Shelby County, Ohio have become increasingly sophisticated, with people age 60 and over losing a combined $3.4 billion to fraud worldwide in 2023 alone. Scammers employ methods including Social Security imposter scams, grandparent schemes (enhanced by AI-generated voices and videos), and fake law enforcement threats to extract personal information and money from victims. Elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable due to accumulated wealth, health-related sensory impairments, and reluctance to report fraud due to embarrassment or fear of losing independence.
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting senior citizens with phishing emails and texts impersonating the Social Security Administration, using alarming language about suspected criminal activity to pressure victims into clicking malicious links or providing personal information. To protect themselves, seniors should verify sender contact information, avoid clicking unverified links, ignore requests for urgent action or gift cards, use separate email accounts for different purposes, and maintain strong, unique passwords across all accounts.
devdiscourse.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2025 study published in Security Journal reveals that cybercriminals strategically exploit ageism and socioeconomic vulnerabilities to defraud seniors, with the global population aged 65+ projected to reach 1.6 billion by 2050. The research identifies that older adults face increased risk due to cognitive decline, social isolation, financial insecurity, and high institutional trust, while cybercriminals target both wealthy and low-income seniors through tech support fraud, romance scams, and fake investment schemes. The authors recommend structural reforms including redesigned digital policy frameworks, tailored cybersecurity education, and adoption of classification systems that distinguish crimes by socioeconomic motivation to better protect an
timesofmalta.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines how modern fraud affects individuals and organizations across all demographics through sophisticated digital tactics including phishing, deepfakes, and romance scams. It emphasizes that cybercriminals use AI, public information, and impersonation to deceive victims, with goals ranging from financial theft to data breaches and ransomware attacks. The article advocates for defense through education, technology investment, personal vigilance, and coordinated efforts across financial institutions, law enforcement, and government to combat the growing threat.
govtech.com
· 2025-12-08
This article highlights the prevalence of cryptocurrency scams targeting investors, despite rising Bitcoin prices and mainstream crypto adoption. Recent cases include a $650 million OmegaPro multi-level marketing scheme promising 300% returns, a Chicago-area veteran defrauded of $10,000 by an Elon Musk impersonator, and a Secret Service operation that seized nearly $400 million in crypto assets stolen through various scams. The article warns that scammers exploit legitimate market enthusiasm and media coverage to lure victims into fraudulent investment platforms that vanish with deposits once initial profits are shown.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
A diplomatic cable revealed that someone used AI to impersonate U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio by generating deepfake voicemails and text messages to reach high-level officials and foreign ministers, sparking global alerts about AI-enabled fraud. The incident reflects a broader rise in deepfake scams since 2023, with criminals increasingly using tools like "FraudGPT" to efficiently manufacture phishing attacks and other frauds, raising questions about whether law enforcement has adequate tools to combat this evolving threat.
observer.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Fraud has evolved from rare, high-profile crimes into a pervasive problem affecting all age groups, with the UK experiencing 4.1 million fraud incidents in the year ending 2024—a 33% increase from the previous year—and identity fraud alone costing the nation approximately £1.8 billion annually. Contrary to stereotypes, younger people (18-24) are slightly more vulnerable than seniors, likely due to greater online activity, though common fraud types now include identity theft, purchase scams, authorized push payments, and romance scams. Modern criminals exploit technological advantages including malware, cryptocurrencies, AI deepfakes, and organized "scam factories" operating
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A Houston man lost $20,000 after receiving a phone call from someone posing as a Wells Fargo representative who claimed fraudulent charges were on his account. The scammer provided legitimate transaction details to build credibility, then sent a woman to his home who collected his physical bank card, cut it in half, and drove away with it—leading to over $20,000 in ATM withdrawals within 90 minutes. The incident reflects a rising trend in imposter scams, with the FTC reporting $12.5 billion in total fraud losses in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, with imposter scams being the most commonly reported frau
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Multiple business owners in Toronto's east end, particularly in the Beaches neighborhood, lost thousands of dollars in a "point of sale" (POS) scam where thieves either guessed default passwords or physically swapped terminals to issue themselves refunds. At least seven businesses were affected, with losses ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 per incident, prompting the Beach BIA to warn business owners about inadequate POS security settings. Toronto police and cybersecurity experts recommend that business owners change default passwords, disable refund permissions, and keep terminals out of customer reach.
ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
I'm unable to provide a summary of this article because the text provided contains only navigation links and shopping content headers, not the actual article content about AI-fueled text scams. Please provide the full article text so I can generate an accurate summary for the Elderus database.
montrealchildrenshospital.ca
· 2025-12-08
Fraudulent job offer scams impersonating McGill University Health Centre and Montreal Children's Hospital are targeting job seekers, particularly those outside Canada, through emails, legitimate job websites, and professional networks like LinkedIn. Scammers use false job promises to collect personal information or money from applicants. Job seekers should research organizations before applying, avoid sharing personal details early in the process, and report suspicious offers that seem too good to be true.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are sending fake emails to Amazon Prime members claiming subscription price increases and directing them to click "cancel" buttons that lead to phishing pages designed to steal login and payment details. Amazon warned its 200+ million global Prime members about the surge in these impersonation scams and advised customers to ignore suspicious emails, verify account status directly through the Amazon app or website, and enable two-step verification for added security.
detroitnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams targeting work-seekers have surged dramatically, with reported losses exceeding $220 million in the first half of 2024—more than triple the losses from 2020—according to the FTC. These scams typically begin with personalized text or WhatsApp messages from fake recruiters offering easy online tasks (like liking videos or rating images) that promise commissions; victims are shown fake earnings tallies before being asked to deposit their own money in cryptocurrency to withdraw their nonexistent pay. The scammers disproportionately target vulnerable populations including new job-seekers, people re-entering the workforce, and immigrants, exploiting economic uncertainty and the appeal of remote work
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Singapore police investigated 536 people for their suspected involvement in scams and unlicensed moneylending activities totaling over $12.2 million in losses during a June 30-July 11 enforcement operation by the Bedok Police Division. Of those under investigation, 391 suspects were linked to more than 2,400 cases including e-commerce, investment, job, rental, and phishing scams, while 145 were implicated in loan scams and unlicensed moneylending involving over $250,000. The operation resulted in 36 arrests, with the suspects ranging in age from 16 to 81 years old.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
Two senior executives of cryptocurrency company MoonPay—co-founder Ivan Soto-Wright and CFO Mouna Ammari Siala—were defrauded of $250,300 through a sophisticated email spoofing scheme in which scammers impersonated real estate developer Steve Witkoff using nearly-identical email addresses with typosquatted domains. The stolen cryptocurrency (USDT) was traced to a wallet associated with Nigerian citizen Ehiremen Aigbokhan in Lagos, with the US Department of Justice filing to recover the frozen funds. This incident demonstrates that even security-aware professionals and industry leaders remain vulnerable to social engineering tactics that exploit
euronews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers used AI voice cloning technology to impersonate U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in messages sent via Signal to foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress, with authorities investigating whether the fraudster sought to manipulate officials for access to information or accounts. Voice cloning fraud works by capturing a person's speech patterns, accent, and breathing from as little as three seconds of audio—often sourced from social media—to create realistic voice and text message replicas. Experts recommend verifying callers through independent contact methods, avoiding reliance on caller ID, checking for subtle alterations in names or URLs, and limiting personal information shared online to prevent becoming
cyprus-mail.com
· 2025-12-08
Since early 2025, Cyprus has experienced a surge in cyber fraud cases, including a Limassol man who lost €56,283 to a cryptocurrency investment scam and a 55-year-old woman who lost €230 to a phishing email impersonating Etsy. Scammers employ sophisticated tactics such as impersonating government officials, creating fake websites, and using urgent messaging with links to fraudulent sites, while exact figures on total reported scams remain unavailable from police. Experts advise the public to recognize warning signs including urgency, spelling errors, requests for personal information, and unfamiliar senders, though vigilance alone provides only partial protection against increasingly professional frau
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
Two high-ranking executives from crypto payment company MoonPay were defrauded of $250,000 through a sophisticated scam impersonating a fake Trump inauguration fund, with the perpetrators using political symbolism and a fraudulent email posing as a Trump associate named Steve Witkoff to gain trust. The incident, disclosed by the Department of Justice, demonstrates that even experienced crypto industry professionals are vulnerable to social engineering tactics that exploit familiarity with political figures and well-crafted deceptive communication.
nar.realtor
· 2025-12-08
More than 60 real estate agents nationwide have lost a combined $15 million in "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, where fraudsters build trust with agents through social media or text, pose as clients or financial advisors, and gradually coax them into investing on fraudulent crypto platforms before disappearing with the funds. The scams often exploit agents' access to MLS databases and their familiarity with large financial transactions, with victims like Tennessee agent Teri Radcliff losing over $200,000 and a North Carolina agent's family losing $815,000. The perpetrators frequently use deepfakes or video impersonation and withdraw victims' money through fake platforms before requesting additional security
dallasnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This article reflects on how scams have evolved over the past 20 years, using a 2006 book called "Scamorama" as a reference point. The classic Nigerian 419 scam—featuring poorly written letters promising large sums of money in exchange for small fees—was relatively easy to identify and became the subject of "scam baiting," where victims would intentionally waste scammers' time with absurd requests. Today's scams are far more sophisticated, utilizing artificial intelligence to eliminate grammatical errors and leveraging modern technologies like text messaging, social media, and cryptocurrency, making them significantly more difficult to detect and more effective at defrauding victims.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
PayPal issued a warning about increasingly sophisticated AI-driven phishing scams that use generic greetings, false urgency, and fake support phone numbers to trick users into downloading malware or divulging personal information. The scams impersonate PayPal with emails claiming unauthorized charges (e.g., $700 iPhone purchases, $599 Bitcoin transactions) and direct victims to call numbers where scammers pose as PayPal representatives and request downloads that grant full device access. PayPal recommends verifying alerts by logging directly into PayPal.com and never entering personal information through email links or calling numbers provided in unsolicited messages.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonate FEMA officials after natural disasters, calling, texting, or visiting people to solicit cash upfront for fake disaster grants, home inspections, or assistance services. FEMA never charges for disaster assistance or requests money, banking information, or personal data, so anyone making such requests is fraudulent. To protect yourself, verify identity through official FEMA badges, avoid responding to unsolicited communications, and contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-3362 if uncertain about a representative's legitimacy.
staysafeonline.org
· 2025-12-08
Smishing is a text message-based scam where cybercriminals impersonate banks, delivery services, government agencies, or other trusted entities to trick recipients into clicking malicious links, sharing personal information, or downloading malware. Common smishing tactics include fake delivery updates, account alerts, prize giveaways, government impersonations, and job offers that create artificial urgency to bypass critical thinking. To avoid smishing scams, recipients should pause before clicking unfamiliar links, verify unexpected messages directly with the claimed sender, and look for suspicious domain names or grammatical errors in the text.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated fraudsters in Kerala are targeting elderly pensioners through phone scams impersonating government officials, using stolen personal data (pension details, Aadhaar numbers, nominee information) to build trust before requesting OTPs to access bank accounts. Kerala's Cyber Operations Division reports 2,000-2,500 daily fraud complaints with approximately 125 resulting in cases, causing an estimated loss of ₹1-1.5 crore daily, though 90% of losses are under ₹1 lakh per victim. The Pension Directorate has warned pensioners that legitimate government officials never contact them by phone or online to update life certificates, and victims should report frau
tnp.sg
· 2025-12-08
A 64-year-old Singaporean retiree discovered that $459 of his $800 in printed SG60 vouchers had been fraudulently used by an unknown person on July 3, 2024, one day after he collected them from a community club, with only $42 legitimately spent by him and his wife. Upon filing a police report and checking his Singpass account, Mr. Lee found that nearly half his vouchers had been redeemed without his knowledge despite the physical vouchers remaining in his possession. Police have warned the public to be vigilant against phishing scams related to SG60 voucher claims.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about fraud, scams, or elder abuse. This is a cookie consent and privacy notice from Yahoo's website. It does not contain information relevant to the Elderus fraud research database and therefore cannot be summarized for that purpose.
prweb.com
· 2025-12-08
A July 2025 survey of 2,034 U.S. adults found that 39% have received fake job offer texts, with 14% engaging with the scams—particularly younger men, among whom up to 31% of millennials interacted with fraudulent offers. Of those who engaged, victims lost money through direct payments to scammers (22%), unauthorized bank or credit card charges (30%), or by sharing personal information leading to identity theft (29%), with 12% losing over $1,000 each. The scams have created widespread distrust, causing 45% of recipients to become skeptical of recruiter outreach and 25% to delay responding to legitimate job
ksnblocal4.com
· 2025-12-08
Broken Bow Public Schools in Nebraska fell victim to a sophisticated phishing scam in spring 2025, resulting in a fraudulent $1.8 million ACH transfer intended for a construction contractor to an illegitimate account. The district has recovered approximately $700,000 with assistance from the FBI, Nebraska State Patrol, and U.S. Secret Service, and has implemented new financial safeguards to prevent future incidents. The construction project will continue without interruption or tax increases, and the district remains in a strong financial position.
lifehacker.com
· 2025-12-08
**Callback phishing scams** impersonate trusted companies (Microsoft, Adobe, PayPal, Norton LifeLock, DocuSign, Geek Squad) via fraudulent emails with auto-loading PDFs containing company logos and phone numbers, directing recipients to call fake tech support. Once on the phone, scammers pose as customer service representatives and extract personal information or direct victims to malicious links and downloads that steal data or install malware. These scams exploit urgency and emotion to bypass critical thinking; recipients should verify requests by contacting companies directly through official channels and be wary of unsolicited emails with attachments, links, or QR codes.
floridarealtors.org
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary because the article content is not available—only an "expired content" message is displayed. Please provide the full text of the article you'd like me to summarize.
dos.ny.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection warns that the military community lost $584 million to fraud in 2024 across 99,443 reported incidents, with service members, veterans, and their families targeted at higher rates than the general population due to their steady income, benefits, and frequent relocation. Common scams include imposter fraud, online shopping scams, and investment-related schemes, though protection strategies such as placing "Active-Duty Alerts" on credit reports, using free FTC credit monitoring, and researching purchases before completing transactions can reduce vulnerability.
catholicsun.org
· 2025-12-08
Fraudulent emails and texts impersonating trusted figures like pastors, bosses, and family members—often requesting money or gift cards—are increasingly common scams. Detective Mark DiBone from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office provided awareness and protection strategies during a podcast appearance to help people recognize and defend against these frauds.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
North Carolina's Attorney General, Secretary of State, and AARP released an educational video called "Summer Scam Jam" to help residents identify and avoid seasonal scams including toll road cons, travel fraud, ticket schemes, and disaster relief scams. The initiative addresses the $12.5 billion in documented fraud losses reported in 2024, noting that for every reported senior scam case, 44 go unreported, and encourages victims to report fraud through the state's hotline and website.
heartfm.ca
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
An Oxford County resident lost $5,000 in a romance scam after developing an online relationship with a stranger who requested money for a flight home. Police warn that romance scams commonly target single individuals through deception, and advise the public to avoid sending money to unknown online contacts, verify dating website legitimacy, and refrain from sharing personal information online.
philstar.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scam hubs in Cambodia have been recruiting Filipinos through false job promises, forcing them to manage fake dating profiles and conduct love scams targeting foreigners while enduring physical abuse and intimidation. At least five Filipino trafficking victims have been repatriated from Cambodia after being lured with offers of high-paying jobs in Thailand, only to be taken to scam operations where they faced 15-hour shifts, violence, and coercion. The Bureau of Immigration is investigating the recruitment networks and coordinating with anti-trafficking agencies to dismantle these operations.