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wobm.com
· 2025-12-08
Phone scams targeting New Jersey seniors have surged significantly, with scammers using sophisticated tactics like spoofed caller IDs and emotional manipulation to exploit older adults' willingness to engage in conversation and trust callers claiming to be family members or banks. Common schemes pressure victims to act quickly without verification, and scammers exploit seniors' unfamiliarity with modern fraud tactics. Protective measures include teaching seniors not to share information with suspicious callers, verifying numbers by hanging up and calling back independently, and contacting New Jersey's consumer affairs division or local police fraud departments for assistance.
wchstv.com
· 2025-12-08
Charleston Police and Chase Bank hosted a scam awareness workshop for seniors in Charleston, West Virginia, where attendees learned to recognize common fraud schemes including E-Z Pass, jury duty, and romance scams. According to the Federal Trade Commission, West Virginia residents lost approximately $27 million to fraud and scams in 2024 and are on pace to lose more in 2025. Experts advised seniors to verify requests with trusted sources directly, avoid sharing personal information via phone or email, and report scams immediately to police and their banks, noting that once money reaches scammers—typically operating overseas—it is nearly impossible to recover.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Nearly 20 Hong Kong residents lost HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) to online romance scams over two weeks, with 40% of victims aged over 60. One notable case involved a 70-year-old man who lost HK$3 million in savings plus HK$1 million in debt after being befriended via WhatsApp by a scammer posing as a neighbor, who then gained his trust through romantic messages and convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency. Police recommend verifying identities through video calls, avoiding rushed emotional or financial commitments with online strangers, and using the "Scameter" tool to check suspicious contacts and websites.
dailydot.com
· 2025-12-08
A 5th-grade teacher received a convincing scam call from someone impersonating a sheriff's department official claiming she had failed to appear for jury duty and faced citations and arrest warrants. She avoided falling victim by questioning the caller's information and verifying with her local sheriff's department non-emergency line, which confirmed it was a scam—noting that legitimate jury duty failures are handled by mail, not threatening phone calls. The teacher's warning highlights that this scam is circulating widely, with multiple commenters reporting they experienced similar calls or were actually defrauded by the scheme.
newschannel5.com
· 2025-12-08
A Brentwood, Tennessee resident lost $648,000 in an elaborate scam after fraudsters posing as federal agents convinced him his identity was being used for money laundering and instructed him to liquidate his bank accounts and retirement savings into gold bars. The victim handed over gold worth $144,430 and $504,029 to fake couriers who arrived at his home on two separate occasions in April and May. Working with police, the victim set up a sting operation for a third pickup in July, resulting in the arrest of two suspects, Fan Zhang and Zhen Chen, who arrived in a gray Toyota van to collect what they believed was $273,895 in gold.
nbcwashington.com
· 2025-12-08
Actor Chris Carmack and his wife Erin Slaver lost $2,000 to an online shopping scam after paying for cushions that never arrived and could not recover their money once the seller disappeared. The couple publicly shared their experience on Instagram as part of a McAfee cybersecurity campaign encouraging scam victims to report their stories, noting that billions of dollars are lost annually to scams. The article emphasizes that victims should report scams to the FTC, save all documentation, and speak openly about their experiences to help others recognize warning signs.
theglobeandmail.com
· 2025-12-08
Crystal Quast, a Canadian author, lost $2,500 to an Amazon imposter publishing scam before a friend at the company revealed she was dealing with fraudsters. Canadian fraud losses reached $647 million in reported cases in 2024, up from $577 million in 2023, with an estimated 90-95 percent of fraud going unreported. As banks have strengthened defenses against unauthorized fraud, criminals have shifted to "authorized fraud" schemes like investment and romance scams that manipulate victims into voluntarily transferring funds, creating new detection challenges for financial institutions.
pressherald.com
· 2025-12-08
At least 13 Mainers reported receiving text message scams impersonating the Department of Motor Vehicles, using a fake law reference and threatening license suspension to create panic and prompt immediate payment. Maine has seen a significant rise in government impersonation scams, with 98 reported victims in 2024 compared to about 40 annually from 2020-2022, while phishing and spoofing scams jumped from fewer than 100 victims yearly to 357 victims in 2024. Experts recommend acting quickly if scammed by freezing credit with all three major agencies, monitoring financial accounts, and reporting the incident to local police and relevant companies.
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Joe Schulz, a New Jersey-based custom clothing manufacturer, received a suspicious order from a Dubai company for 200 coats and was targeted by an overpayment scam when they deposited a fraudulent check for $93,000 instead of the $14,000 owed, then requested he wire back the $79,000 difference. Schulz avoided the scam by investigating the check's origin, discovering it was fraudulently drawn on a legitimate Indiana construction company's account, and immediately contacting his bank to freeze his account. The incident illustrates how fake checks can appear legitimate and clear quickly, but may take weeks for banks to detect as fraudulent.
enquirerjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
This article documents various scam tactics—including posing as banks, government agencies, and using cryptocurrency demands—and shares personal experiences where victims avoided losses by recognizing red flags like bitcoin requests and suspicious email domains. According to AARP data, consumers lost $470 million to scams in 2024 (five times the 2020 amount), with criminals targeting text messages at high success rates; the article recommends filtering unknown numbers, verifying caller information, and deleting messages requesting urgent action or personal information.
kalb.com
· 2025-12-08
Louisiana residents are being targeted by scam text messages impersonating the Office of Motor Vehicles demanding payment for traffic violations, along with increased scam calls falsely claiming to be from law enforcement and the Department of Justice demanding money under threat of arrest. Authorities advise residents not to click links or share personal information in unsolicited messages, to verify communications directly with official sources rather than responding to the message itself, and to be aware that scammers use "spoofing" technology to make fraudulent calls appear legitimate.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
During the 2024 holiday season, phishing and spoofing scams stole over $70 million from victims, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics including legitimate-looking HTTPS encryption and URLs mimicking real websites to deceive consumers. The article provides guidance on identifying malicious links by checking URLs for suspicious indicators (such as "@" symbols, typo-squatting, or unusual domain extensions), avoiding shortened links, and being wary of urgent messaging, while warning that clicking scam links can result in financial loss, credential theft, or malware installation.
cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission warned of a phishing scam where scammers send text messages impersonating Amazon, claiming customers are entitled to refunds due to product recalls or quality issues and instructing them to click a link to claim the money. Instead of issuing refunds, the malicious links direct victims to phishing sites designed to steal personal and financial information. The FTC advises consumers not to click links in suspicious texts, to verify any account issues by visiting Amazon's official website directly, and to report scam messages to 7726 (SPAM).
wbrz.com
· 2025-12-08
Louisiana State Police and the Office of Motor Vehicles warned residents of a fraudulent text message scam claiming recipients have outstanding traffic tickets and must pay fees or face prosecution. The official agencies clarified they do not send threatening text messages or emails and advised recipients to delete suspicious messages, avoid clicking links, and report scams to the FTC rather than providing personal information or payment.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam impersonates Microsoft security alerts by sending emails with links that appear to point to legitimate platforms like Google Docs or SharePoint but actually redirect users to fake Microsoft login pages designed to steal credentials. The scam uses urgent language, vague threats about account compromise, and sometimes modifies support contact information to deceive victims into providing sensitive information. Users can protect themselves by verifying sender addresses, hovering over links before clicking, only approving two-factor authentication requests they initiated, and reporting suspicious emails to Microsoft.
ifamagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Nearly 1 in 5 UK travellers fall victim to holiday booking scams, with some losing over £500, as cybercriminals use fake accommodation listings, counterfeit travel apps, deepfake customer service agents, and QR code fraud to target holidaymakers during peak season. The article identifies six common travel scams including fake travel insurance, public Wi-Fi attacks, and fraudulent currency exchanges, with UK losses from "quishing" scams alone reaching £3.5 million last year. Key prevention measures include verifying listings and app sources, avoiding unsolicited contact, checking for HTTPS encryption, using VPNs on public Wi-Fi, and only using official
mb.com.ph
· 2025-12-08
Filipinos, including senior citizens increasingly active on social media, face a surge in scam links on platforms like Facebook, Viber, and Telegram, with suspicious links rising 28 percent to nearly 19,000 incidents in Q2 2025—driven by scammers shifting from declining SMS and call-based fraud to social media. The scams primarily target vulnerable individuals through online gambling sites, fake promotions, and loan offers, with loan-related scams accounting for nearly 10,000 cases. The article advises users to avoid clicking unfamiliar links, verify messages directly with senders, and report suspicious content, while calling on social media platforms to increase moderation and collaborate
northeastnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Regina Police Service and Moose Jaw Police Service in Saskatchewan issued warnings about a STARS Lottery scam in which victims receive calls or emails claiming they won a prize and are pressured to send money via money order or gift cards to claim the winnings. Police emphasized that legitimate lottery prizes are never claimed by sending advance payments, and any such request is fraudulent.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
An $8.8 million fraud ring targeting 235 elderly victims across multiple states was dismantled following a suspicious $250,000 transfer detected by Synchrony Bank in April 2023. The scheme involved eight suspects and three bank employees, including insider Antonio Penn, who stole customer banking data and sold it via Telegram to accomplices who opened fraudulent accounts and laundered the stolen funds. The 15-month investigation, led by the Polk County Sheriff's Office with support from the Florida Attorney General and multi-state agencies, recovered the full $8.8 million and highlighted the importance of transaction alerts, financial monitoring services, and bank fraud protections to prevent insider fraud targeting seniors.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Morgan Hill Police Department arrested one suspect and recovered $15,000 from two separate elder fraud cases reported on July 23. The first case involved a victim who lost $30,000 to a pop-up scam claiming their computer was hacked and requiring payment to fix it; the suspect was arrested on July 24 and charged with elder abuse, criminal conspiracy, and theft by false pretenses. The second case involved a victim who received a call from someone impersonating an FBI agent demanding $24,000; police intercepted $15,000 before it was shipped out of state.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman's Instagram account was hijacked and used to advertise fake Oasis concert tickets, resulting in £1,400 stolen from her friends who believed they were purchasing genuine tickets from her. The scammers impersonated her to spread the fraud and demanded £100 to return account access, while Instagram refused to recognize the account as compromised. The incident reflects a broader trend of ticket fraud, with UK Oasis fans losing over £2 million to fraudsters by March 2025, and experts recommend using two-factor authentication to prevent similar account compromises.
al.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission warned consumers about a phishing scam in which fraudsters impersonate Amazon via text message, claiming products failed quality inspections or were recalled and offering refunds through malicious links designed to steal personal information. The FTC advises consumers not to click links in unsolicited texts, instead independently verifying any issues by logging into their Amazon account directly or contacting Amazon through official channels.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
Sam responded to an unsolicited text about a marketing job opportunity and was drawn into a task-based scam after being contacted via WhatsApp by scammers posing as recruiters. The scammers lured him with promises of $900+ weekly wages for easy work, daily payments, and a paid trial, ultimately resulting in Sam losing thousands of dollars before he ended contact. The article identifies multiple red flags Sam missed, including error-riddled messages, unrealistic wages for unskilled work, requests to move communication off legitimate platforms, and pressure to proceed without standard employment verification procedures.
bywire.news
· 2025-12-08
Global cryptocurrency scams surged 456% between May 2024 and April 2025, with scammers using AI-generated deepfakes, synthetic voices, and forged credentials to impersonate trusted individuals and platforms with increasing sophistication. In 2024, fraudulent crypto operations stole over $10.7 billion globally, with the U.S. accounting for nearly $3.9 billion in losses across approximately 150,000 reported complaints, though officials estimate actual figures are significantly higher due to underreporting, particularly among older adults and immigrant communities. Law enforcement operations have begun responding—including New York's freezure of $300,000 in stolen assets and seizure
tucson.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old Tucson man drained his 75-year-old wife's $250,000 retirement account after developing an online romance with a woman claiming to be a chef, whom he met on Facebook and sent money to over several months for various fabricated needs including job fees and taxes. The couple also took out a loan on their vehicle and considered a home equity loan to continue funding the scam, which ended when the account was depleted and the scammer stopped contact. Arizona has the highest rate of elder fraud in the nation at 289 cases per 100,000 seniors, with authorities reporting that social media romance scams, phishing, and AI-
hawaiinewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
The Maui Police Department warned the public about a text message scam claiming unauthorized charges on victims' accounts, which directs them to call a number where scammers pose as legitimate representatives and convince victims they are targets of identity theft. The scammers pressure victims to withdraw large sums of money and convert it to cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, while falsely claiming the matter should not be reported to law enforcement. Police advise that legitimate financial institutions never request cryptocurrency transfers, victims should never be told to hide fraud from law enforcement, and suspicious messages should be ignored in favor of contacting banks directly with verified contact information.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
QR codes, once harmless novelties, have become targets for scammers in a fraud scheme called "quishing," where malicious QR codes redirect users to phishing websites that steal personal information or download malware. The Federal Trade Commission and state agencies have warned about fake QR codes appearing on parking meters, utility bills, and packages, with studies showing 73% of Americans scan QR codes without verification and over 26 million have been directed to malicious sites. As traditional email phishing becomes harder, cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting QR codes—now accounting for 26% of all malicious links—making this scam expected to rise further.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
"Quishing" scams exploit QR codes placed on everyday items like parking meters and utility bills to trick people into visiting malicious websites or sharing personal information, with criminals relying on victims' sense of urgency to act quickly. According to cybersecurity research, 26% of malicious links are now sent via QR code (up from 20% the previous year), and these scams are growing as hackers shift tactics away from traditional email phishing due to increased safeguards. People can protect themselves by watching for signs of physical tampering on QR codes, unusual placement, suspicious context, and pressuring language like "scan immediately to avoid fees."
fbcnews.com.fj
· 2025-12-08
Impersonation and phishing scams are increasing in Fiji, with fraudsters pretending to be trusted organizations or individuals to steal personal information and money. The Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission warns the public to be cautious of urgent requests, suspicious links, and threats, and advises verifying sender identity through official channels and avoiding unexpected links. Various phishing methods are prevalent, including Business Email Compromise, spear phishing targeting specific individuals, smishing via SMS, and whaling targeting executives, with the FCCC urging vigilance and careful verification to prevent victimization.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating artists and messaging people on social media asking to use their photos for "art projects," then requesting personal information like full names and email addresses under the pretense of sending e-checks for commissions. The scheme is a variant of the common fake check scam, where fraudsters send counterfeit checks that appear legitimate, ask victims to wire back excess funds, and use the collected personal information for future fraud. The Federal Trade Commission warns this tactic is widespread and advises victims to report incidents to the FTC or Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker.
ehextra.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued consumer alerts warning of an uptick in scams impersonating celebrities (Snoop Dogg, Garth Brooks, Kid Rock) and military leaders to steal money through romance scams, cryptocurrency/pig butchering schemes, and merchandise fraud. The scams often exploit people on dating platforms and social media by posing as celebrities to request money, investments, or personal information, with some using AI-generated deepfake audio and video to increase authenticity. Nessel and AARP recommend victims avoid sending money to online contacts, verify caller identities independently, and contact AARP's ElderWatch program at 800-222-4444 for
hackread.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated cyberattack campaign targeting German speakers uses romance and adult-themed emails to deliver malware through a legitimate traffic distribution system. Victims receive emails with links that, when clicked from Germany, trigger a 300MB ISO file download containing "lovely_photos.exe" malware, which establishes persistence on the system through a scheduled task named DragonMapper. The campaign was discovered by Sublime Security and demonstrates how attackers use geo-targeting, enticing social engineering, and multiple layers of obfuscation to bypass detection and increase infection success rates.
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
This June 2025 conversation with economic crime expert Olivier Beaudet-Labrecque examines the global scam economy, revealing how economic hardship and youth unemployment in West Africa are driving individuals into online fraud schemes including romance scams and SIM-swapping, often learned through peer networks in cyber cafes. The discussion highlights that scams harm both international victims and local communities, strain under-resourced law enforcement, and damage entire nations' digital reputations and economic access. Key takeaway: combating online fraud requires empathy, education, and technological solutions to address the socioeconomic drivers fueling the scam ecosystem.
denver7.com
· 2025-12-08
John Clark from Longmont lost thousands of dollars in a combined investment and romance scam in which fraudsters posed as an investment opportunity referral, sent fake checks to establish credibility, then shifted to romantic overtures while requesting money via Apple Cash. After his bank discovered the checks were fraudulent, Clark had already sent $3,000 in payments, and recovery is unlikely despite filing police reports. The FTC warns that romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals—particularly those who are isolated or dealing with health challenges—are increasingly common, and victims should refuse any requests for money from online romantic interests.
nj.com
· 2025-12-08
Drivers in New Jersey, California, and Maryland have received phishing text messages falsely claiming to be from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission warning of unpaid traffic tickets and threatening license suspensions and fines. The scam is a phishing attempt designed to trick recipients into clicking a malicious link and providing personal information; the actual New Jersey courts and MVC communicate only by U.S. Mail and never by text message, and legitimate traffic ticket payments go directly to municipal courts, not through the links provided in these messages.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A TikTok user warned of a scam in which fraudsters pose as artists requesting permission to use people's photos for art projects, only to later request personal information (full name and email) under the pretense of sending an e-check commission. The scheme is a variant of the common fake check scam, where fraudsters send fraudulent checks that include excess funds and instruct victims to wire the overage back, allowing scammers to access victims' personal information for future fraud while the victim ultimately loses money.
chieftain.com
· 2025-12-08
Pueblo law enforcement warned residents of multiple scams in circulation: one involving phone calls impersonating bank officials requesting Bitcoin ATM payments (sometimes claiming child exploitation on the victim's computer), and another using fake UPS text messages with malicious links claiming failed delivery attempts. Authorities advised residents never to share personal or financial information via phone, email, or text, and to report suspicious communications to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center or Federal Trade Commission.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
QR codes, once harmless novelties, have become targets for "quishing" scams where criminals place fake QR code stickers on parking meters, utility bills, and other public places to redirect users to malicious websites that steal personal information or download malware. The Federal Trade Commission and state agencies have issued warnings as 26% of malicious links are now sent via QR code, with over 26 million Americans already directed to fraudulent sites, and researchers note the scam is rising as traditional phishing safeguards improve. Security experts are developing solutions like authenticated QR codes and advise users to verify QR codes before scanning, particularly on unexpected packages or urgent-seeming
newsday.com
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece warns that television advertisements for overpriced health products—including supplements, creams, and capsules promising benefits like disease prevention, hair growth, and anti-aging effects—constitute a widespread scam bilking Americans of billions of dollars annually. The author notes that these heavily marketed products often contain ingredients available in much cheaper alternatives (such as basic multivitamins) and make health claims that legitimate research facilities cannot support, relying on misleading pricing and credentials to convince consumers of efficacy.
longisland.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old Port Jefferson Station woman lost $15,000 to scammers who impersonated Apple, claiming fraudulent charges on her account, then convinced her to withdraw cash and hand it to a person at her home. Suffolk police's financial crimes unit is investigating the case, and the victim is warning other seniors that this scam is occurring frequently and can target anyone.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
An adult daughter in Australia discovered that her elderly father in California was being targeted by multiple romance and lottery scams, including a catfishing scheme involving a woman named "Bomba" who posed as a wealthy widow, and a subsequent lottery scam promising $580 million. The father, in his early 70s and struggling with physical disability, substance abuse issues, and financial decline, believed the scams were real despite his daughters' attempts to convince him otherwise and refused to admit whether he sent money to the fraudsters. The account illustrates how loneliness, past trauma, and the desire for financial recovery made the father vulnerable to elaborate deception schemes.
pennlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Rosemary Grogan, an 82-year-old Pennsylvania resident, discovered $50,000 missing from her bank account due to fraud in 2024, a experience shared by growing numbers of elderly victims targeted by sophisticated scammers. U.S. cybercrime losses have surged from $4.2 billion in 2020 to $16.6 billion in 2024, yet small police departments lack resources to pursue international criminal networks, leaving most victims unable to recover stolen funds. Community leaders are calling for a coordinated federal response, including better data sharing and a national cybercrime task force, as current state-level and FBI resources address only large-scale patterns
shreveporttimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Kenneth G. Akpieyi, 44, from Georgia, was convicted in July 2025 on charges of mail fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering for operating a "fake Romeo" romance scam that defrauded multiple women of over $3 million. Operating under the alias "Phillip Anderson," Akpieyi used social media platforms to build fake romantic relationships with victims, then convinced them to send money for fabricated reasons such as charitable work or family emergencies, funneling the funds through his auto brokerage company to obscure their movement. Eight victims testified during trial, with sentencing scheduled for November 2025.
wltx.com
· 2025-12-08
"Quishing" scams use fake QR codes to direct victims to malicious websites or steal personal information, with over 26 million Americans already having scanned compromised codes. To protect yourself, avoid scanning random QR codes in public places like parking meters and package labels, and verify that website addresses appear legitimate before clicking through.
williamsmullen.com
· 2025-12-08
Email payment scams involving last-minute changes to payment methods and destinations cost parties significant sums, including a $475,000 settlement in Thomas v. Corbyn Rest. Dev. Corp where defendants' attorney wired funds to an imposter's account after receiving a fraudulent email requesting a change from check to wire transfer. Courts have held the party in the best position to prevent fraud—typically through verifying requests via independent phone contact and scrutinizing suspicious email addresses and sudden payment term changes—liable for losses. The key defense against these schemes is to assume the worst when receiving unexpected payment modification requests and verify all changes through established, verified communication channels rather than relying on email alone.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Job Scams Targeting Military Veterans and Job Seekers**
FTC reports on job scams have tripled from 2020 to 2024, with reported losses increasing from $90 million to $501 million, as scammers target transitioning military personnel and job seekers through online job sites, social media, and direct unsolicited messages requesting personal information or payment. The article provides preventive guidance including using trusted job search platforms, researching companies thoroughly, consulting trusted contacts before applying, and never paying fees to secure employment.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
PayPal and Venmo have launched AI-powered scam alerts for Friends and Family payments that use machine learning to detect fraud risks in real time and escalate warnings based on transaction likelihood of fraud, with the system now live globally on PayPal and across the United States on Venmo. The dynamic alerts adapt to current scam patterns and recipient behavior rather than using generic warnings, and may automatically block high-risk payments. Beyond these new protections, users should strengthen security by using unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, monitoring accounts regularly, keeping devices updated, avoiding public Wi-Fi for financial transactions, and staying vigilant against phishing attempts.
unionrecorder.com
· 2025-12-08
A new Medicare scam targets seniors through door-to-door solicitors posing as Medicare representatives who offer free hospice services in exchange for personal information. Medicare does not offer unsolicited free services and will never call or knock on doors requesting personal or banking information; seniors should refuse all such solicitations, report suspected fraud to 1-800-MEDICARE, and contact the Senior Medicare Patrol at 877-808-2468 for assistance.
nbcpalmsprings.com
· 2025-12-08
A Long Island woman lost $15,000 in a text phishing scam that impersonated Apple Pay and directed her to fraudulent payment links. Suffolk County Police are warning residents about rising phishing schemes targeting victims through deceptive text messages. The scam highlights the increasing sophistication of digital fraud targeting consumers, particularly seniors.