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in Scam Awareness
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2021, gift cards were the top payment method used by scammers, resulting in $148 million in stolen funds from consumers. Scammers tamper with physical gift cards on store display racks by removing protective film, recording card and PIN numbers, and covering their tracks, then use computer programs to drain funds when victims activate the cards. Unlike credit and debit cards, gift cards lack protections under the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, making it difficult for consumers to recover fraudulently used funds, and experts recommend buying cards from the back of display racks, under cashier supervision, online from reputable retailers, or giving cash instead.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals have used fake job advertisements to scam thousands of internet users in 2024, with over 20,000 fraudulent postings reported in just six months compared to 5,000 in all of 2023. The scams typically involve unsolicited text messages promising work completing "app optimization" or "product boosting" tasks, followed by requests to purchase equipment (often an Apple computer) that will supposedly be reimbursed—with victims losing an average of $2,000, including a college student who lost her entire $2,230 savings via Venmo. The FTC reports $41 million in cryptocurrency losses to job scams in the first half
king5.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old Marysville, Washington woman lost at least $20,000 to a romance scam involving an imposter posing as MSNBC anchor Ari Melber on a fake Facebook profile. Over four months, the scammer convinced Patricia that they were in love and would marry, sent her a counterfeit ring, and manipulated her into sending money by claiming his dog was dying and he lacked access to funds; the situation escalated when she boarded a plane to New York to meet him, prompting her family to intercept her during a layover. The case highlights a broader problem: the FBI reported over 101,000 people aged
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple residents at NYC Housing Authority's New Lane complex in Staten Island have fallen victim to scams targeting electronic benefit transfer (EBT) accounts, with scammers exploiting seniors' difficulty navigating smartphone EBT apps. Local officials held a press conference to raise awareness and call for stronger law enforcement action, noting that underreporting is common because victims can recoup funds through a lengthy process, and state legislators indicated they would pursue harsher penalties for crimes targeting seniors. Victims are urged to file police reports and contact the relevant scam hotline for assistance.
kgw.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old Marysville, Washington grandmother was defrauded of at least $20,000 by a scammer impersonating MSNBC anchor Ari Melber through a fake Facebook profile, who convinced her to send money for his sick dog and later claimed to be in love with her, even sending a fake engagement ring and AI-generated voice messages. The scammer had manipulated Patricia over four months and nearly convinced her to travel to New York to meet him in person before her family intercepted her during a layover in Portland. The case reflects a broader trend, with the FBI reporting over 101,000 people age 60 and older fell victim
vancouver.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Vancouver Police reported a scam targeting seniors in December 2024 in which fraudsters impersonated bank representatives via phone calls, claiming irregular account activity and convincing victims to surrender personal information and bank cards to couriers. Two seniors lost approximately $40,000 combined—a 72-year-old lost $30,000 and an 81-year-old lost $6,500—after being manipulated into providing passwords, PINs, and home addresses. Police advised the public that legitimate financial institutions never send couriers to collect bank cards and recommend hanging up on such calls and verifying directly with their bank.
kitchener.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Spectrum, a 2SLGTQ+ advocacy organization, was targeted by a sophisticated donation scam in late November 2024 involving a fabricated story of a 95-year-old lesbian widow leaving a $25,000 estate gift. The scammers sent a fraudulent bank draft for $65,000 with forged insurance documentation, which would have resulted in a $40,000 wire transfer loss had the organization deposited it; the scheme was detected and reported to regional police before any funds were transferred. The organization's leadership felt deliberately targeted by the elaborate fraud, which included multiple fake email accounts and FedEx-delivered documents designed to exploit their emotional investment in supporting elderly qu
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC warns that "gamified" online task scams distributed via text and WhatsApp are rising dramatically, with reports increasing from zero in 2020 to 20,000 complaints in the first half of 2024, resulting in over $220 million in losses. These scams lure victims with promises of easy money for tasks like rating videos or liking images, then request cryptocurrency deposits that are never returned, with scammers sometimes using fake testimonials to re-engage hesitant targets. The FTC advises consumers to ignore unsolicited job messages, never pay money upfront, and report fraud at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
theverge.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC warned Americans about "game-like task scams" that lured victims with promises of online income but actually defrauded them of money, often in cryptocurrency. In the first six months of 2024, these scams generated over $220 million in losses from 20,000 reported incidents—a dramatic increase from 5,000 reports during 2020-2023—and accounted for 40 percent of all scam reports that year. The FTC advised avoiding unexpected job offers via text or WhatsApp, never paying upfront to receive earnings, and rejecting requests to be paid for rating or liking content online.
recordnet.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article warns consumers about holiday-season scams, noting that fraudsters exploit busy shoppers and high transaction volumes to commit fraud. Key concerns include fake advertisements offering deep discounts, porch theft (with $76 billion in packages vulnerable), fake package notifications, gift card scams, and social media schemes, with the Better Business Bureau reporting a 125% rise in scam reports. The article provides protective tips including verifying legitimate retailers, researching charities, avoiding unsolicited emails and texts, and using package tracking and home security measures.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting older adults by offering free in-home services like cooking and cleaning in exchange for their Medicare numbers, then fraudulently enrolling them in hospice care to bill Medicare. Only a doctor can certify hospice eligibility for terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of six months or less, and improper enrollment can negatively affect future Medicare coverage. To protect yourself, never share your Medicare number for free services, never agree to hospice enrollment for gifts or perks, and remember that Medicare representatives will not visit your home to sign you up for services.
wmar2news.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using cryptocurrency across multiple fraud schemes including investment scams, tech support fraud, romance scams, and employment schemes, exploiting victims' fear of missing out and unfamiliarity with the technology. In Maryland, reported losses from cryptocurrency-related employment scams surged dramatically from $32,033 in 2023 to $3.8 million between January and October 2024, with victims losing an average of $15,000–$20,000 each; scammers use fake cryptocurrency exchanges and work-from-home schemes requiring deposits to "unlock" higher-paying work that victims cannot ultimately access. While cryptocurrency transactions are instant and irreversible, the FBI
kxii.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message scams, known as "smishing," are increasing in frequency and effectiveness by impersonating legitimate companies like Amazon and USPS, particularly during the holiday shopping season. These fraudulent messages prompt recipients to click links or confirm personal information, potentially leading to malware installation and theft of sensitive data including credit card numbers, passwords, and social security numbers. Scammers operate this as a high-volume, low-risk numbers game targeting no specific demographic, making it highly profitable; experts recommend avoiding clicking links and instead visiting company websites directly to track packages.
ivoox.com
· 2025-12-08
A former Australian politician, Donna Nelson, was sentenced to six years in jail in Japan after being manipulated by a romance scammer into transporting 2kg of methamphetamine. Over $201 million was reported lost to romance scams last year, with scammers building relationships with vulnerable people before exploiting them into sending money or carrying packages across borders. To protect against such scams, experts recommend verifying identity through video chat, meeting in neutral locations, trusting your instincts, never sending money, and refusing to transport items for others.
americanbanker.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, while overall fraud rates decreased, financial exploitation of seniors emerged as a growing concern for regulators and state authorities seeking to combat it. The year saw notable fraud incidents including a pig butchering scam that contributed to a regional bank's failure and a viral check fraud scheme on Chase Bank, highlighting evolving scam tactics targeting both consumers and financial institutions.
newpittsburghcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
kroc.com
· 2025-12-08
A fake PayPal invoice scam is circulating in Minnesota, with fraudsters sending official-looking emails claiming payment is owed for unauthorized purchases and threatening account suspension to pressure victims into calling fake customer service numbers or clicking malicious links. The scam exploits holiday season distractions and mimics legitimate PayPal formatting to trick recipients into divulging financial information or compromising their accounts. The article advises verifying claims directly through PayPal's official website/app, avoiding links and phone numbers in suspicious emails, and reporting phishing attempts to PayPal.
wmar2news.com
· 2025-12-08
Ronald Russell fell victim to an online dog adoption scam in Pennsylvania where he paid a deposit via PayPal for a Miniature Pinscher that did not exist, losing a few hundred dollars. The Better Business Bureau reports that pet adoption scams commonly result in losses exceeding $1,000, with scammers demanding additional payments for veterinary care, airport fees, or transit costs via wire transfer or gift cards. Russell advises potential pet adopters to never pay upfront, perform reverse image searches on photos, and complete transactions only in person after seeing the animal.
1350kman.com
· 2025-12-08
A Dollar Tree employee in Riley County fell victim to a telephone scam on December 10 posing as an asset protection measure, resulting in a loss of approximately $1,200 through theft by deception. The incident occurred at 11:44 PM in the 300 block of Southwind Road, and no arrests have been made.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
The "digital arrest" scam, which has cost Indians ₹120 crore in the first four months of 2024, involves fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials via phone calls to falsely accuse victims of crimes like money laundering and extort money by threatening immediate "digital arrest"—a term that does not exist in Indian law. The scam targets individuals across all sectors, including professionals, by creating psychological pressure through urgency, threats of isolation, and demands for confidentiality, and can be identified by suspicious unofficial contact numbers, pressure tactics, and threats against disclosure to family members.
zeenews.india.com
· 2025-12-08
A man from Tripunithura, Kerala lost Rs 4.05 crore after being contacted on WhatsApp by a scammer posing as a financial services representative who persuaded him to download a malicious investment app called "Br-Block Pro." Over two and a half months (September 26 to December 9), the victim made multiple deposits expecting returns, but was denied withdrawal access when attempting to retrieve funds, leading him to report the fraud to cyber police. The scam exemplifies a growing trend in India where fraudsters use WhatsApp to lure victims with fake success stories and promises of guaranteed profits.
moco360.media
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old Rockville man was sentenced to five years in prison (10 years with suspension) for his role in a gold bar scam targeting a 94-year-old Silver Spring resident who nearly lost approximately $230,000. Mathon posed as a federal agent, convincing the elderly victim that his identity had been stolen and he needed to purchase gold bars for safekeeping, but law enforcement interrupted the scheme with a sting operation that caught Mathon attempting to collect the package. This marks Montgomery County's first conviction in a local gold bar scam case, which prosecutors note involves organized, international criminal networks that specifically target vulnerable elderly victims.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Chinese-backed organized crime networks are operating a nationwide gift card scam where "mules" shoplift cards from retailers, which are then tampered with and reshelved for unsuspecting consumers to purchase; the proceeds fund illegal activities including fentanyl production, human trafficking, and smuggling. Law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations' Project Red Hook, have arrested multiple perpetrators across Texas and beyond, discovering thousands of stolen gift cards worth millions of dollars in single operations.
shu.edu
· 2025-12-08
Smishing—a phishing scam conducted via SMS text messages—is surging among Android and iOS users, with cybercriminals impersonating banks, government agencies, and retailers to steal personal information, trigger identity theft, or install malware. The FBI urges users to avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from unknown numbers and recommends enabling multi-factor authentication, accessing official websites directly, and reporting suspicious texts to carriers. Common smishing tactics include fake bank alerts, false tax refunds, account suspension warnings, fraudulent delivery notices, and unrealistic prize offers.
fox6now.com
· 2025-12-08
Holiday scams targeting shoppers, donors, and job seekers have increased significantly, with the FBI and Better Business Bureau warning consumers about fraudulent schemes across online shopping, social media, and charitable giving. Key scams include fake retailer ads and non-delivery schemes (which caused $92 million in losses in 2023), social media gift exchanges and puppy sales (totaling $5.6 million in 2024 complaints), fake charities, impostor websites, and seasonal job listings requiring upfront fees. Consumers are advised to verify businesses and charities through official sources, avoid unsolicited links and deals that seem too good to be true, and report suspected fraud to their financial institution an
salinapost.com
· 2025-12-08
This FTC educational article explains how to identify and avoid phishing scams, which use deceptive emails and text messages impersonating trusted companies or acquaintances to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or downloading attachments. Phishing attempts aim to steal personal information such as Social Security numbers, credit card details, or bank account numbers, or to install malware on devices. The article advises verifying unexpected messages by contacting companies directly through known phone numbers or websites, and confirming surprising invitations with friends through separate communication channels.
ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Task-based online job scams have surged dramatically, increasing from zero reports in 2020 to approximately 20,000 in the first half of 2024, accounting for nearly 40% of all job scam complaints. These scams typically begin with unsolicited text or WhatsApp messages offering vague online work, build credibility through small initial payouts, then pivot to requesting victims' own money upfront under false promises of higher returns, with cryptocurrency being the preferred payment method and resulting in $41 million in losses in just the first six months of 2024. The FTC advises consumers to ignore generic job recruitment messages, never pay money to receive earned income
abc7chicago.com
· 2025-12-08
During the 2024 holiday shopping season, criminals are targeting consumers through multiple scam methods including phishing emails and texts impersonating retailers, fraudulent social media shopping ads (which use AI-generated imagery to appear legitimate), cloned websites mimicking trusted brands, and gift card theft schemes. The Federal Trade Commission reported consumers lost approximately $217 million to gift card scams in 2023, while experts recommend consumers verify websites directly, use credit cards for disputes, research companies before purchasing, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited communications. Additional threats include charity scams, with authorities advising consumers to independently verify charitable organizations before donating.
2gb.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers exploit emotional connections to manipulate victims into becoming unwitting drug mules, as exemplified by former Greens candidate Donna Nelson, who received a six-year jail sentence in Japan after being duped into transporting 2kg of methamphetamine by an online romance scammer. Over $201 million was reported lost to romance scams last year, with scammers building trust with vulnerable people over time before requesting money or package transport. To protect against such schemes, individuals should insist on video verification, meet in person in neutral locations, trust their instincts, never send money, and refuse to carry items for others.
wmur.com
· 2025-12-08
Two New Hampshire-based suspects, Naxin Wu and Mingdong Chen, reached a plea deal to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of a sophisticated international gift card scheme. The criminal ring obtained gift cards through illegal means including theft, romance scams, and elder fraud, then used them to purchase Apple products for resale overseas, while also returning counterfeit Apple goods to stores for additional cards; a warehouse search uncovered nearly $2 million in fake iPhones and iPads. Wu and Chen each face up to 20 years in prison.
latimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 66-year-old San José man lost $170,000 in a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam, where scammers posed as investment advisors over Facebook and attempted to extract an additional $348,000 for fraudulent overseas taxes. Two Southern California residents, Liu Hong and Yalin Li, were arrested after law enforcement set up a sting operation at a bank parking lot; the case is notable because the victim realized the fraud while still in contact with the scammers, allowing authorities to intervene. Pig butchering scams cost Americans approximately $1 billion annually and typically involve multiple perpetrators, often including human trafficking victims forced to participate from Southeast Asia.
theworld.org
· 2025-12-08
Online romance scams and investment fraud schemes increasingly originate from Southeast Asia, with some perpetrators operating under coercion at gunpoint. The article highlights the story of one man who was captured and forced to participate in these scam operations, illustrating how victims of human trafficking are exploited to commit financial fraud against unsuspecting targets worldwide.
wsiltv.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office warned southern Illinois residents of imposter scams targeting older Americans, where criminals pose as PayPal representatives and fraudulent federal agents to convince victims their accounts are compromised, then pressure them to withdraw savings for "secure custody." Three Chinese nationals face federal wire fraud charges after an elderly couple in Williamson County lost $121,000 in the scam; the suspects were arrested in October when attempting to collect the cash from the victims' residence.
signalscv.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple U.S. regulatory agencies reported in December that elder financial exploitation costs Americans over $28 billion annually, with over 155,000 cases reported between June 2022 and June 2023 linked to approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity. The FBI documented over 101,000 elder fraud complaints in 2023, with victims over 60 losing an average of $33,915—nearly 270% higher than 2020—primarily through investment scams, business email compromise, romance scams, and government impersonation schemes. Regulatory agencies urged financial institutions to strengthen protections by increasing account oversight, training employees to recognize exploitation, and coordinating with law enforcement and elder
wbay.com
· 2025-12-08
The Outagamie County Sheriff's Office reported a rise in phone scams targeting elderly victims in the area, with multiple law enforcement agencies collaborating on investigations. Scammers falsely claim that victims' loved ones are in jail or have been in accidents, then pressure them to withdraw $5,000 to $45,000 in cash to be picked up by a fake "courier/bondsman" to post bail. Law enforcement urges residents not to engage with scammers and to report suspected incidents to local authorities.
businessjournalism.org
· 2025-12-08
Nearly 1 in 3 Americans experienced scams in the past year, with consumers reporting over $10 billion in fraud losses to the FTC in 2023—a 14% increase from the previous year. While scammers target all age groups through different methods (younger adults face online shopping and cryptocurrency scams, while older adults are vulnerable to tech support and imposter scams), seniors are particularly lucrative targets due to their collective wealth of $84 trillion. As scammers become increasingly sophisticated using AI-powered techniques like voice cloning, deepfakes, and convincing phishing schemes, awareness and education remain the most effective defenses against fraud.
woodlandsonline.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines six strategies for protecting seniors from online threats on social media platforms. According to the FBI, seniors over 60 lost approximately $3.4 billion to online scams in 2023, with average losses of $34,000 per victim, with common threats including phishing scams, romance scams, misinformation, and privacy violations. The recommended protective measures include understanding online risks, promoting digital literacy education, implementing strong security practices (passwords, two-factor authentication), monitoring suspicious activity, and encouraging healthy social media habits.
turnto23.com
· 2025-12-08
Phishing scams impersonating delivery services like USPS are prevalent during the holiday season, with scammers sending text messages with malicious links designed to steal personal information or install malware. The IRS also warns of fraudulent emails falsely claiming tax refunds or bills, while the Better Business Bureau advises consumers to avoid clicking suspicious links and never pay with Bitcoin or gift cards, using bank or credit cards instead. One victim in the Central Virginia area lost $22,000 after being tricked into purchasing Bitcoin, illustrating the serious financial consequences of falling for these scams.
fox43.com
· 2025-12-08
Montgomery County's Office of Consumer Protection warns residents about SMS phishing scams targeting holiday shoppers, wherein scammers send text messages impersonating USPS or other mail carriers with fraudulent links claiming package delivery issues to steal personal and financial information. To protect themselves, consumers should avoid clicking unsolicited message links, verify delivery issues directly with official company websites, never provide sensitive information via text or email, and report suspicious messages to their carrier by forwarding to 7726 (SPAM).
wusa9.com
· 2025-12-08
Montgomery County's Office of Consumer Protection warned residents about text message phishing scams targeting holiday shoppers, in which scammers impersonate USPS and other mail carriers to trick victims into clicking malicious links that steal personal and financial information. The advisory recommends verifying delivery issues directly with official company websites, avoiding clicking unsolicited links, and reporting suspicious texts to carriers to protect against these schemes that exploit the increased package deliveries during the holiday season.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned consumers about AI-enabled scams during the holiday season, specifically targeting voice cloning fraud where scammers impersonate loved ones in distress to demand money through untraceable payment methods. Nessel recommends establishing family verification phrases, not trusting caller ID, verifying suspicious calls through known numbers, and being wary of unusual payment requests. Victims should report incidents to local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission (877-382-4357), their bank, or the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team (877-765-8388).
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Blockchain and cryptocurrency scams are increasingly common and exploit victims through deceptive schemes such as "Pump and Dump" price manipulation, fraudulent Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), phishing attacks, fake giveaways, and cloned platforms. Key warning signs include unsolicited contact promising easy returns, pressure to act quickly, requests for upfront payment, and suspicious links designed to steal credentials. Understanding these red flags and recognizing common scam tactics can help individuals protect themselves from losing money or digital assets to cryptocurrency fraud.
ksltv.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, financial scammers increasingly target consumers through sophisticated social media advertisements, with the FBI and FTC reporting approximately 880,000 cyber fraud complaints in 2023 and online scammers stealing $12.5 billion from consumers that year. A prevalent holiday scam involves fake personalized merchandise sellers on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok who take orders but deliver inferior or non-existent products, then become unreachable after complaints. Consumer protection experts recommend practicing "WISE" shopping habits—watching for red flags, investigating companies, setting spending boundaries, and examining claims carefully—to avoid falling victim to these increasingly realistic scams.
amny.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams increase during the holiday season when scammers target vulnerable individuals, particularly older adults, through online dating sites and social media by exploiting feelings of loneliness and generosity. The webinar features experts from Homeland Security Investigations and AARP New York providing tools and knowledge to recognize and avoid romance scams.
ici.radio-canada.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto resident who lost $355,000 in a romance cryptocurrency scam beginning in June 2021 has recovered $225,000 following a three-year international investigation. The victim was deceived by a scammer posing as "Moshe Theodor McNigh" on Facebook who encouraged investment in cryptocurrency through a fraudulent website; a suspect was arrested in Nigeria and Nigerian courts ordered the recovery of funds. The case involved collaboration between Toronto police, Ontario Provincial Police, the RCMP, and Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
securitybrief.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australians are being warned of twelve categories of holiday season scams as cyber-security experts anticipate increased fraud risk during peak shopping periods, with previous festive seasons resulting in AUD $50 million in losses. Common scams include parcel delivery fraud, reward point exploitation, fake tax refund schemes, marketplace scams, romance scams, and AI-deepfakes, with New South Wales and Victoria reporting the highest state losses at AUD $13 million and AUD $15 million respectively. To protect themselves, consumers should verify URLs, enable two-factor authentication, keep detailed records of transactions, and stay informed through official scam alerts.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old North Bay woman lost $20,000 to scammers impersonating Redwood Credit Union and Federal Reserve System employees who convinced her they were protecting her finances and instructed her to withdraw cash and hand it to a fake federal marshal. When the scammers attempted to collect an additional $20,000 the next day, law enforcement was conducting a sting operation and arrested 20-year-old Yung-Wen Kuan, believed to be a courier for an organized fraud ring, on charges of grand theft, elder financial abuse, and conspiracy.
montgomeryadvertiser.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Alabama residents lost $96.4 million to online scams across 5,763 victims, ranking the state 27th nationally for scam susceptibility. The article identifies rising threats including AI-generated deepfakes (which accounted for 39% of national scam losses), look-alike fraudulent websites, and untraceable payment methods like cryptocurrency and gift cards, with scammers predominantly operating overseas where U.S. law cannot reach them and 95.7% of stolen money goes unrecovered.
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-08
"Fraud as a service" is a growing criminal business model where perpetrators offer tools and infrastructure to commit fraud, recruiting unwitting "money mules" to transfer funds through their bank accounts. Financial losses from fraud targeting seniors over 60 have surged from $500 million in 2018 to $3.5 billion in 2023, with schemes also prevalent on social media platforms targeting younger demographics and even infants through synthetic identity fraud. Banks have a critical 72-hour window to recover fraudulent funds before money leaves accounts, and implementing name-matching verification and monitoring for suspicious transaction patterns like unusual velocity or peer-to-peer transfers can help prevent fraud.