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in Robocall / Phone Scam
berkshireeagle.com
· 2025-12-08
A two-stage phone scam is circulating where criminals first defraud victims, then pose as FTC agents claiming to recover their money while stealing additional personal information and funds. The scam exploits victims' desperation to recover losses and uses fake badges and official-looking credentials easily created from internet images. The FTC warns that legitimate agents never call unsolicited, request money, or ask for personal information—victims should hang up and call agencies directly to verify identity, avoid payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and report suspected scams to local police and the FTC.
shreveportbossieradvocate.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (held annually in early June) educates older adults and healthcare providers about common fraud schemes targeting seniors, including romance scams where fraudsters pose as companions and gradually request money, diabetic supply buyback scams advertised on roadsides that endanger victims' health, and phone scams using numbers similar to legitimate healthcare providers. Experts emphasize the importance of removing stigma around fraud victimization so seniors report scams quickly, and warn that legitimate healthcare providers never request financial information over the phone.
explodingtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2025, scams affect billions globally: approximately 608 million people fall victim to scams annually worldwide, while in the US alone, 34% of adults experienced scams in the past year with losses exceeding $12.5 billion (a 25% increase year-over-year). The most common scam methods are phone calls and SMS messages, followed by email, with romance scams causing the highest average losses at $2,000 per victim, while identity theft remains the most prevalent scam type in the US.
wilcosun.com
· 2025-12-08
The Williamson County Sheriff's Office warned residents about imposter scams where fraudsters falsely claim to be law enforcement, using real employee names and fake local phone numbers to appear credible. Legitimate sheriff's offices never request money, threaten arrest, or demand personal information via phone; scammers commonly use pressure tactics, robocalls, and request payment through untraceable methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or bitcoin. Residents should hang up on suspicious calls immediately and contact the sheriff's office directly, and should be alert to common scam variations including debt collection fraud via text, sweepstake scams, and emergency schemes involving fake relatives.
wbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Catawba County woman lost over $160,000 to a government impersonation scam after being deceived by someone posing as a Department of Justice investigator who claimed she was under a gag order. Government impersonation crimes affected 17,367 people in 2024 with losses exceeding $405 million, while romance scams resulted in over $670 million in losses that year. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson emphasized the importance of reporting fraud quickly to enable money recovery and highlighted his office's success in prosecuting scammers, including cryptocurrency fraud cases, with recent convictions resulting in lengthy prison sentences and millions of dollars recovered.
scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
The US Treasury Department sanctioned Philippine tech firm Funnull Technology Inc. and Chinese administrator Liu Lizhi for providing infrastructure that supported over 332,000 domains used in "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scams that defrauded victims of approximately $200 million total, with individual losses averaging $150,000 each. The scams used fake cryptocurrency platforms to systematically target vulnerable individuals, with internal documents showing the company deliberately distributed domains to cybercriminals for fraudulent schemes including phishing and online gambling.
newtownpanow.com
· 2025-12-08
Between May 27-29, Newtown Township and Wrightstown Township police reported multiple scams targeting residents. Two gift card scams resulted in losses totaling $7,000—one involving a fake YouTube TV account cancellation threat and another using a fraudulent Netflix billing increase email. Additionally, residents received text messages impersonating the Pennsylvania Court system demanding payment for alleged traffic violations through a scam URL. Police emphasized that legitimate businesses and government agencies never request payment via gift cards or unsolicited electronic transfers, and advised residents to verify contact through official channels before providing any payment information.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
A Texas teenager created an app called Shield Seniors after her 86-year-old grandfather nearly fell victim to an impersonation scam in which a caller posing as a family member requested $2,000. Unable to find existing online resources to help protect her grandfather, Tejasvi developed the app to help seniors recognize common scams, report fraud, and receive real-time advice through AI chatbots.
echopress.com
· 2025-12-08
Douglas County is hosting a free Senior Expo on June 26 to educate older adults about current fraud and scams targeting seniors, featuring law enforcement presentations on phishing schemes, financial fraud, and bank security measures. The event, coordinated by the Sheriff's Office, Alexandria Police Department, and Senior Services through the TRIAD program, will include vendor booths, breakout sessions, attendee testimonials, and complimentary lunch, with pre-registration available by calling 320-762-3047.
portal.ct.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Connecticut DMV warned residents on June 3, 2025, about a scam involving text messages and phone calls falsely claiming unpaid traffic violations or toll bills and threatening vehicle registration suspension by June 5. The DMV clarified that it does not contact residents via text or phone about outstanding issues and advised recipients to delete such messages without clicking links.
azfamily.com
· 2025-12-08
According to a CNET survey, 96% of U.S. adults receive at least one scam email, text, or phone call weekly, with Americans losing $470 million to text scams alone in 2024. Scammers use urgent messaging tactics around bills, packages, and banking to trick victims, and their tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated with AI. To protect yourself, experts recommend filtering messages to known senders only, using carrier spam-blocking tools, and never responding to or clicking links in suspicious messages.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes in real-time video calls to conduct romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and other schemes, with experts reporting a dramatic rise from approximately 4-5 cases monthly in 2023 to hundreds per month currently. Notable victims include a Hong Kong finance worker who lost $25 million to a deepfaked CFO impersonation and a New Zealand retiree defrauded of $133,000 through a cryptocurrency scam using a deepfaked government official. As AI tools become more accessible and capable of creating realistic faces and voices, deepfake fraud is expanding to encompass job interview scams, identity theft for banking and housing
nbcconnecticut.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Cybercriminals use "smishing" (SMS phishing) to send deceptive text messages impersonating legitimate organizations like the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, attempting to extract sensitive personal information from recipients. Scammers create fake accounts on text message servers to send mass messages using phone numbers obtained through predictable patterns or internet scraping, and experts advise recipients to avoid clicking on suspicious links in text messages.
blog.google
· 2025-12-08
A 2025 survey conducted with Morning Consult reveals that U.S. consumers are increasingly aware of rising online scams, with over 60% perceiving an increase in scam attempts and one-third having experienced a data breach, while the FBI reported online scams reached a record $16.6 billion in losses the previous year (up 33% annually). The study found that security practices vary significantly by generation, with older Americans (Gen X and Baby Boomers) relying on traditional passwords and two-factor authentication, while Gen Z is adopting more modern authentication methods like passkeys and social sign-ins that offer better protection against phishing and data breaches.
ia.acs.org.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian police warned of a surge in cryptocurrency ATM scams, with 150 reported incidents in 2024 resulting in approximately $3.1 million in losses, averaging over $20,000 per scam. Investment scams were the most common type, with 72 victims aged over 51, and one elderly man lost $1.4 million in a romance scam involving crypto ATMs. In response, financial watchdog AUSTRAC implemented new regulations including $5,000 transaction limits, mandatory scam warnings, and enhanced customer due diligence requirements for crypto ATM operators.
spectrumnews1.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Wisconsin are impersonating the Wisconsin Department of Transportation DMV by sending text messages claiming unpaid traffic violations or final notices, attempting to trick recipients into revealing personal information or clicking malicious links. The Wisconsin DMV received a large volume of complaints on June 2 and noted similar scams had recently targeted Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. The DMV advises residents not to respond to unsolicited texts, avoid clicking links, and warns to be suspicious of communications requesting money or creating urgency.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A Google and Morning Consult survey found that over 60 percent of Americans report increased scam attempts in the past year, with email and text being primary channels; the FBI has documented a 33 percent year-over-year spike in online scams. Google is combating this threat with AI-powered detection tools that block 99.9 percent of phishing attempts, expanded scam flagging on Android, and safer login options like passkeys and two-factor authentication. Consumers can further protect themselves by enabling two-factor authentication, using password managers, and learning to identify red flags such as urgent language and suspicious links.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old woman from Beed lost Rs 83 lakh in a digital arrest scam when fraudsters impersonating Mumbai police claimed her Aadhar card was used for money laundering and terrorism financing, then coerced her into transferring funds across multiple bank accounts over nine days. Mumbai police have registered 84 digital arrest cases this year, with 23 detected and 30 perpetrators arrested; charges filed include cheating and identity theft under Indian law.
wpst.com
· 2025-12-08
A scammer in Mercer County, New Jersey impersonated a Lieutenant from the Prosecutor's Office, calling a victim and claiming a family member had an outstanding warrant requiring a $10,000 Bitcoin ATM deposit. The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office warns that legitimate law enforcement will never request money, financial information, or personal details over the phone, and advises residents to hang up and report suspicious calls immediately.
wave3.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP hosted its Summer Scam Jam event in Louisville, Kentucky to educate seniors about rising fraud schemes, as reported losses reached $12.5 billion in 2024. One victim, Mary Ellen Strange, lost approximately $378,000 over seven weeks to an Amazon impersonation scam that used fear tactics and false law enforcement claims, leaving her facing additional IRS debt. Common fraud schemes include impersonation scams (family members, law enforcement, and customer service representatives), and AARP stressed that anyone regardless of education level can become a victim.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Nirav Patel was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his role in an imposter scam that defrauded multiple elderly victims across the Midwest of thousands of dollars in life savings. Patel, operating from Chicago, would collect money and gold from victims after scammers impersonating federal agents threatened them with identity theft and legal consequences, sometimes calling up to 12 times daily; the collected funds were then sent to accounts in India. In 2024, gold bar schemes similar to this operation stole $219 million nationally, making imposter scams the most common type of criminal scheme as of March 2025.
charkoosta.com
· 2025-12-08
The Montana Department of Justice is hosting an educational class on "Elder Scam and Exploitation Self Defense" on June 11 in St Ignatius, where an Elder Justice Prosecutor and Investigator will teach participants how to identify and avoid telephone and internet scams, recognize financial exploitation, and respond if they or someone they know becomes a victim. The free class is open to all community members.
leaderadvertiser.com
· 2025-12-08
The Montana Department of Justice is offering a free educational class on June 11 at the First Christian Church of St. Ignatius to help seniors recognize and avoid telephone and internet scams, as well as financial exploitation. An Elder Justice prosecutor and investigator will provide information on identifying scams, protecting oneself, and reporting exploitation if it occurs.
news.wfsu.org
· 2025-12-08
A 92-year-old man lost over $800,000 in a cryptocurrency and Bitcoin scam operated by Florida prison inmates who used smuggled phones and drones to contact seniors and solicit money. Nearly $13 million has been stolen from multiple victims through these schemes, with only $1.4 million recovered, prompting law enforcement officials to call for legislation to block drone signals and eliminate contraband communications in prisons.
saltwire.com
· 2025-12-08
Whitbourne RCMP reported two grandparent scam attempts targeting elderly victims in June 2025, in which scammers impersonated police and family members to request emergency funds. One victim lost $20,000 after being told her grandson needed bail money and was coached on how to withdraw cash discreetly; a second attempted scam was prevented when a family member intervened after the victim was pressured to purchase gift cards. The RCMP warns that scammers use fear-based tactics and advises residents to verify claims directly with sources and never share personal information.
ffxnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Fairfax County leaders are advocating for a coordinated regional approach to combat senior fraud, noting that inconsistent messaging across jurisdictions weakens prevention efforts. The county's Silver Shield campaign has reached over 60,000 residents since 2017, but data shows the problem remains significant—the county's Financial Exploitation Task Force handled nearly 160 cases in fiscal year 2024 involving $19 million in losses, with only about 20% recovered. County officials plan to work with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to develop consistent anti-fraud messaging across the D.C. region and potentially statewide.
pajaronian.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors in three California communities attended a town hall meeting where Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell and Sheriff Chris Clark provided guidance on current scams targeting older adults, including phone, text, postal service, credit card, and door-to-door fraud schemes. Law enforcement advised residents to hang up on unrecognized callers, request suspicious in-person transactions occur at a police station, verify government contacts use official domains (not .com or .net), use credit cards instead of debit cards, and refuse unsolicited door-to-door offers. The presentation emphasized that legitimate businesses rarely conduct transactions at someone's home, and residents should report scams to the Federal Trade Commission or local authorities.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message job scams have surged dramatically, with reported losses reaching $470 million in 2024—five times the 2020 amount—making job offers the second most common scam after fake package delivery. Scammers pose as recruiters from well-known companies, using increasingly sophisticated AI-crafted messages to lure vulnerable job seekers with unrealistic offers, then steal personal information (Social Security numbers, IDs, bank details) or trick victims into sending money for supposed work equipment. The problem is expected to worsen as economic uncertainty and remote work demand increase, making people more susceptible to these plausible-seeming frauds.
goerie.com
· 2025-12-08
Police are warning the public about a widespread DMV text message scam that threatens to suspend vehicle registration unless victims click malicious links and pay fake fines, with reports across multiple states including Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, and New Jersey. The scam is part of a broader wave of "smishing" (SMS phishing) attacks designed to steal personal and financial information by creating panic and prompting immediate action. To protect yourself, do not click links in unsolicited DMV texts, report suspicious messages to the FTC and your wireless provider, and verify any requests directly through your state's official DMV website or phone number.
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article from Verywell Mind explains that phishing scams and fraud are widespread in the digital age, using psychological manipulation tactics that can deceive even intelligent individuals. The piece emphasizes that banks never initiate contact about suspicious account activity, and advises readers that falling victim to scams is not a reflection of intelligence or gullibility but rather a result of sophisticated criminal tactics. It also stresses the importance of self-compassion for scam victims and introduces a series covering common fraud types, psychological vulnerabilities exploited by scammers, and prevention strategies.
torontoguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022, with nearly 70,000 people reporting losses, according to recent findings. Contrary to common assumptions, adults aged 18-59 are 13% more likely to fall victim than those over 60, though older victims typically lose nearly twice as much money per scam. Romance scammers employ sophisticated tactics including creating fake personas (military personnel, offshore workers, or those with emergencies), moving conversations to private messaging apps, and gradually requesting financial assistance, with half of 2023 fraud cases originating on mainstream social media rather than dedicated dating sites.
roanoke-chowannewsherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Detective Darrell Rowe of the Northampton County Sheriff's Office presented at an Elder Abuse Awareness event to educate older adults about financial exploitation, which includes family members misusing benefits or bank accounts and strangers conducting home repair scams, grandchild bail scams, and IRS impersonation scams. Rowe emphasized that victims are often reluctant to report abuse due to shame and that it is difficult to recover lost money, recommending community members verify suspicious calls with family and report potential scams to law enforcement or DSS before sending any money.
richlandsource.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece announces a June 10th elder fraud awareness event in Galion, Ohio, highlighting the evolving tactics used to scam seniors. Rather than distant phone scammers, the real danger comes from local perpetrators impersonating authority figures (sheriffs, tax officials) or loved ones to pressure victims into handing over cash or medications in untraceable transactions. The key prevention strategy is education and awareness to help seniors and their families recognize and resist these schemes before falling victim.
wusf.org
· 2025-12-08
A 92-year-old Florida man lost over $800,000 in a cryptocurrency and romance scam operated by inmates using smuggled cellphones, representing one of several victims in a scheme orchestrated from within state prisons. Florida law enforcement officials reported that nearly $13 million has been stolen through these coordinated scams with only $1.4 million recovered, and are calling for legislation to block drone signals and eliminate contraband communications in prisons.
westsidespirit.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines scam prevention strategies shared at a training session in New York targeting older adults. Key advice includes slowing down, consulting friends or neighbors before responding to suspicious requests, and avoiding sharing personal information—as scammers rely on speed and isolation to succeed. Common scams affecting seniors include romance scams, postal fraud, charitable giving scams, and text message schemes, with perpetrators often prioritizing theft of personal data (like Social Security numbers or credit card information) over individual payments.
fox13memphis.com
· 2025-12-08
Tennessee law enforcement agencies warned residents about fraudulent text messages impersonating the Department of Motor Vehicles, claiming recipients have outstanding traffic tickets and threatening driver's license or registration suspension unless fines are paid via fake websites. The scammers use official-looking messages and links to trick victims into providing payment information. Authorities advised residents to avoid clicking suspicious links, verify contact information directly through official channels, and report scam messages to the Federal Trade Commission or Internet Crime Complaint Center.
wwltv.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in New Orleans are targeting families of recently arrested individuals by using spoofed caller IDs to impersonate law enforcement and electronic monitoring companies, convincing victims to pay bail or monitoring fees via Bitcoin ATMs and Cash App. At least two victims—Marcus Downs ($2,000) and a New Orleans mother ($1,045)—lost money after receiving calls within hours of their relatives' arrests, suggesting the fraudsters have access to confidential law enforcement data such as arrest information and hospital visits. The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office has made these cases a priority and is investigating how scammers are obtaining sensitive information about newly detained individuals.
nbcphiladelphia.com
· 2025-12-08
Joe Subach lost over $1 million after calling a fake Apple customer service number found through an online search, which connected him to a scammer posing as "Daisy from Apple." The scam evolved from a fake account breach alert (requesting gift card purchases) into a romance scam, eventually leading Subach to surrender $780,000 in gold and silver to someone claiming to pick them up at his home. The FBI noted this case is unusual for combining financial, romance, and in-person theft elements, and emphasized that individuals are the best protectors of their own assets.
nwestiowa.com
· 2025-12-08
Four Sioux Center banks—American State Bank, Northwest Bank, Peoples Bank, and Primebank—are partnering with local police to present a free fraud awareness education event on June 11, aimed at helping community members recognize and prevent scams. While the presentation targets the 55+ demographic, organizers emphasize that all age groups are vulnerable to fraud, with data showing adults 18-59 are actually 34 percent more likely to report fraud losses than older adults. The event will address common scam tactics including impostor scams, romance scams, and cryptocurrency fraud, teaching attendees to recognize red flags like urgency, unnerving pressure, and unexpected contact.
westsidespirit.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines scam prevention strategies for seniors based on a training session at the JCC Marlene Myerson Center in New York. Key scam types targeting older adults include romance scams (exemplified by a woman who sold her house after being deceived by a fake Amnesty International worker), postal fraud, charitable giving scams, and text message schemes originating from the Philippines. The training recommends three defense strategies: slowing down decision-making, consulting friends or neighbors before acting, and avoiding any response, payment, or personal information disclosure, as scammers rely on speed and isolation to succeed.
boredpanda.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman fell victim to a romance scam when an online boyfriend requested $10,000, but she initially rejected her coworker's warning and only recognized the deception when unable to provide the money. The article highlights that romance scams cost victims over $1.14 billion in 2023, with scammers building trust over time before requesting money, and recommends warning signs include unsolicited contact, requests for funds, reluctance to meet in person, and profiles that seem too good to be true.
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 57-year-old Malaysian retiree lost RM161,000 (approximately $49,000) to an online romance/financial scam after responding to a social media advertisement claiming a woman in Hong Kong needed a sperm donor and would pay HK$2 million. The victim was deceived into making multiple payments for purported air tickets, protection services, and medical monitoring, despite warnings from his bank and police, and never met the scammer or the woman in person. The scammer likely used stolen photos of an unwitting woman to perpetrate the fraud.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
Consumer Protection WA warned of escalating scratchie mail scams involving fake scratch-off tickets offering $US240,000 prizes sent via registered post from Kuala Lumpur, which request personal identification details and payment to claim winnings. Five West Australians lost $30,550 total to these scams over the past year, with scammers using collected personal information for identity theft, loans, and other fraudulent purposes. Since 2020, Australians have lost more than $5.8 million to unexpected winnings scams overall, and authorities advise recipients to never share ID documents and remember that legitimate prizes never require payment to claim.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam DMV text messages circulating recently likely obtained phone numbers through data brokers who purchase and sell personal information harvested from public records, social media, retail transactions, and corporate partnerships. The largely unregulated data broker industry collects and resells sensitive data including phone numbers, location history, and family information, with only a handful of states requiring brokers to delete consumer data upon request. Experts warn this practice poses significant risks beyond spam texts, including national security concerns, as demonstrated by 2023 research showing data brokers sold detailed information about active-duty service members and their families.
kdhlradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Minnesota Department of Public Safety issued a warning about scam text messages threatening residents with fines and license suspension for alleged outstanding traffic tickets. The texts falsely claim to be from the "Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles" or "DPSMN," include fake official language and links to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal information, and demand payment via wire transfer or similar methods. Officials recommend not responding to or clicking links in these messages, deleting them, and contacting Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) directly through drive.mn.gov if verification is needed; anyone who has already provided information or money should contact their bank and report the incident to law enforcement.
boothbayregister.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission estimated that criminals stole approximately $61.5 billion from adults age 60 and over in 2023, with elder financial abuse coming from both known perpetrators and stranger scams. AARP highlights preventive measures including adding trusted contacts to financial accounts, freezing credit to prevent unauthorized accounts, and using robocall/text blockers to reduce exposure to phone-based scams. The article emphasizes that these proactive steps can significantly protect older adults' financial security.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Barclays UK released research revealing the top 10 scams affecting British consumers in 2024, finding that one in five people were scammed and a third know someone who was. The most common scams include fake delivery notifications (51%), HMRC impersonation (42%), purchase fraud (40%), and online marketplace scams (38%), with the bank advising consumers to verify companies, avoid pressure tactics, and be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true. Barclays and tech companies like Google are implementing better detection tools, though consumers must remain vigilant with strong passwords and skepticism to protect themselves.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
A victim in Mumbai lost ₹2.89 crore ($345,000 USD) to fraudsters who impersonated FedEx, CBI, and RBI officials using screen-sharing software and intimidation tactics, claiming he was under investigation for money laundering and convincing him to transfer his savings to a fake "safe RBI account" between January and March. Police registered an FIR and launched a probe to trace the funds, which included the victim's retirement and life savings, while authorities urged the public—especially senior citizens—to avoid engaging with unsolicited legal threat calls and report incidents immediately on cybercrime.gov.in.
inforum.com
· 2025-12-08
As summer travel increases, scammers are targeting vacation planners with fraudulent hotel deals that exploit people's excitement and desire for affordable getaways. Experts recommend booking directly through official hotel websites, researching thoroughly before providing payment information, checking the BBB website for legitimacy, using credit cards instead of debit cards, and being wary of deals offering discounts significantly higher than 10-15% off normal rates or websites with spelling errors and unclear policies.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The FBI issued a warning about phone spoofing scams in which impersonators pose as government agents or law enforcement to coerce victims into sending money by threatening imminent arrest or legal penalties. These scams employ intimidation tactics, demand various payment methods (prepaid cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency), and instruct victims to keep demands secret; the FBI advises hanging up immediately and reporting such calls to ic3.gov, as legitimate law enforcement will never demand money by phone or text.