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azfreenews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2024 analysis by the Common Sense Institute projects that Arizona residents will lose over $4 billion to financial fraud in 2025, with reported losses alone estimated at $558 million plus $3.4 billion in unreported incidents—representing a 384 percent increase in reported fraud losses since 2020. Adults 60 and older are disproportionately affected, accounting for two-thirds of internet-based fraud losses, while the average loss per incident in Arizona ($6,270) is 30 percent higher than the national average. The report warns that fraud creates broader economic damage costing the state approximately 45,000 jobs and reducing GDP by $5.2
wbay.com
· 2025-12-08
During back-to-school shopping season, scammers are targeting online shoppers through fake websites and social media ads offering counterfeit or non-existent items at appealing prices. The Better Business Bureau reports numerous complaints including cases where consumers lost money purchasing counterfeit Labubbi dolls ($88) and fake brand-name shoes, with some websites disappearing after the transaction. Consumers are advised to verify website legitimacy, use credit cards for protection, research sellers and reviews, examine URLs carefully, and report suspicious activity to the BBB Scam Tracker or FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
gulfcoastnewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
A Cape Coral resident fell victim to a text message scam impersonating the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, claiming he owed $6.69 for a toll violation and threatening license revocation. Over 12,000 similar government impersonation scams were reported in Florida this year, resulting in losses exceeding $26 million. Authorities advise verifying such messages by contacting toll agencies directly, avoiding clicking links or sharing financial information, and reporting suspicious messages to the Federal Trade Commission.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
This article explains how scammers exploit Google Forms to conduct phishing attacks by creating authentic-looking forms that mimic legitimate organizations and request sensitive information like login credentials or payment details. The scam typically begins with a phishing email (sometimes from a compromised legitimate account) directing victims to a Google Forms link, which bypasses security protections because it uses Google's genuine servers and URL. Protection requires verifying unexpected requests by contacting the sender directly, avoiding entering passwords or payment information into any Google Form, and recognizing red flags like basic formatting or Google's disclaimer messages at the bottom of forms.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A financial expert shares insights on common scams targeting individuals and businesses, with particular focus on the "emergency bank fraud" call scam where fraudsters impersonate bank employees to trick victims into moving funds to fraudulent accounts. One client lost $25,000 after receiving such a call, while another lost $50,000 due to password reuse that allowed scammers access to multiple accounts. The expert recommends protection measures including unique passwords managed through password managers, multifactor authentication on all accounts, and staying informed about current scam tactics to recognize red flags before falling victim.
theriverbanknews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article reports that scams cost Americans $16.6 billion in 2024, with 73 percent of U.S. adults experiencing online scams or attacks. The piece outlines common red flags—unsolicited contact, promises of easy money, requests for personal information or upfront payments—and describes prominent scam types including counterfeit merchandise, charity fraud, cryptocurrency investment schemes, bogus debts, home repair scams, and emergency/grandparent scams that particularly target elderly individuals.
escalontimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article reports that online scams caused a record $16.6 billion in losses in 2024, with 73% of U.S. adults experiencing some form of online scam or attack. The article outlines common scam tactics (unsolicited contact, promises of easy money, requests for personal information or upfront payments) and describes six prevalent scam types including counterfeit merchandise, charity fraud, cryptocurrency investment fraud, bogus debts, home repair scams, and emergency/grandparent scams that specifically target seniors. Awareness of these warning signs can help individuals avoid becoming victims.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Phishing scams are increasingly using fake DocuSign emails impersonating major companies like Apple to trick victims into calling fraudulent support numbers. These convincing emails include fabricated receipts, order IDs, and DocuSign links with security codes, but scammers use the provided phone numbers to steal personal information, banking details, or convince victims to download remote access software. Users can protect themselves by verifying sender email addresses, knowing that legitimate companies do not send receipts through DocuSign, and avoiding clicking suspicious links or calling numbers in unsolicited emails.
moneycontrol.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse. The content provided is a website header and cookie/consent policy for Moneycontrol, a financial news and information platform. It does not contain any fraud-related information suitable for the Elderus database.
komando.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam operations in Southeast Asia have become a massive $19 billion underground industry where victims are trafficked into compounds and forced to perpetrate scams under threat of violence, with some dying during escape attempts. Scammers are now targeting children through AI-generated deepfake explicit content used in sextortion schemes, leading to youth suicides. Protection strategies include recognizing emotional manipulation tactics, avoiding clicking unknown links, and educating family members—particularly tweens and teens—about these threats, as reducing victim compliance reduces scam profitability.
techradar.com
· 2025-12-08
AI impersonation scams have surged 148% in 2025, with cybercriminals using voice cloning and deepfake video technology to impersonate trusted individuals—family members, executives, and officials—through calls, video meetings, messages, and emails to solicit urgent payments or sensitive information. Notable cases include a $25 million fraud targeting UK engineering firm Arup employees who were deceived by a deepfake CEO impersonation, and scammers successfully evading detection in nearly 48% of AI-generated phishing attempts. Experts recommend independent identity verification and multi-factor authentication as key defenses against these increasingly sophisticated scams.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating HMRC through emails, texts, and automated calls claiming recipients have overpaid taxes and are owed refunds, or conversely owe money, with urgent deadlines to create panic. HMRC received over 170,000 scam reports in the year to July 31st, with more than 47,000 involving fake refunds, and victims are directed to click malicious links that mimic official gov.uk websites to steal personal and banking information. The agency advises never clicking links in unsolicited messages, verifying requests through your official tax account, and reporting suspected scams to HMRC directly.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Scott Kelley, a 51-year-old former US Postal Inspection Service team leader who oversaw the Mail Fraud Unit from 2015-2023, was indicted on 45 counts for stealing more than $330,000 from packages sent by elderly scam victims (average age 75) and using the funds for personal expenses including home renovations, escorts, and vacations. Kelley allegedly manipulated postal workers into intercepting approximately 1,950 packages flagged as belonging to lottery scam victims, then laundered the stolen cash through money orders and multiple bank deposits while never returning any funds to the victims. He faces up to 20 years in prison on
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam text messages originating from China have reached epidemic levels worldwide, using disguises like missed package alerts and unpaid tolls to steal passwords and money through five primary schemes: package delivery fraud, fake job offers, phony fraud alerts, toll payment scams, and romance/investment scams. Apple's new iOS 26 feature addresses the problem by filtering suspected spam messages into a separate folder that blocks links and prevents replies, while the FTC advises consumers to avoid clicking links, replying to unknown texts, and to verify requests through independently confirmed contact information.
wifr.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to remain vigilant against seasonal scams during the Labor Day weekend, noting that scammers exploit holiday distractions and increased spending activity. Common Labor Day scams include fake vacation rental listings, counterfeit event tickets, fraudulent websites mimicking legitimate sales, phishing emails and texts, door-to-door contractor schemes, and fake charities. The BBB recommends verifying vendors and websites, booking through trusted platforms, using official ticket vendors, researching charities before donating, and avoiding unsolicited ads and links.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A Western Australian resident lost nearly $250,000 in a sophisticated phone scam where someone impersonated the Australian Cyber Security Centre, convincing the victim their money was at risk and using remote access software to control their computer over several months from January to December 2024. The scammers, believed to be based overseas, used a local contact to meet the victim in person and facilitate cash transfers, ATM withdrawals, and gift card purchases, a tactic that experts note is becoming increasingly common as victims grow more aware of traditional email and phone scams. Police are investigating the case as part of a broader trend in Australia, where nearly 250,000 scams were reported in 2024
cordcuttersnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Phantom Hacker Scam, enhanced by artificial intelligence, has defrauded seniors across the United States of over $1 billion since 2024 through a three-phase scheme: scammers posing as tech support gain remote computer access, then impersonate bank representatives to convince victims to transfer funds to fake "secure" accounts, and finally pose as government officials to move money into "alias" accounts. AI enables criminals to personalize attacks using social media information, making detection difficult and often resulting in complete loss of victims' retirement savings and life savings. Experts recommend family education, verification of unsolicited contacts, and avoiding remote access software as protective measures.
ktvq.com
· 2025-12-08
An 85-year-old Billings woman lost $130,000 in a PayPal scam that began in April when she received a fraudulent email claiming fraudulent activity on her account; the scammer, posing as "Mark," convinced her to withdraw cash from ATMs multiple times by claiming he needed to credit back money to her account. The FBI reported that over 147,000 elderly Americans lost more than $4.8 billion in elder-abuse related scams last year, and experts note that scammers target seniors by building trust, isolating them from others, and exploiting their politeness and tendency to follow instructions. Prevention efforts are underway, including scam awareness workshops being hel
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scott Kelley, a 51-year-old former U.S. Postal Inspection Service team leader who oversaw the Mail Fraud Unit, was charged with stealing over $330,000 from packages sent by elderly scam victims (averaging age 75) and laundering the money for personal use including home renovations, vacations, and escort services. Between 2019 and 2023, Kelley allegedly deceived postal employees into intercepting approximately 1,950 packages from victims of a Jamaican lottery scam, opened them without authorization, and stole the cash inside—none of which was recovered by the victims. Kelley faces up to 20 years
channelnewsasia.com
· 2025-12-08
In the first half of 2025, Singapore reported 19,665 scam cases with S$456.4 million in losses—a 26% and 12.6% decrease respectively from the same period in 2024. The top scams include phishing (up 134% in losses), government official impersonation (cases tripled), investment scams (highest losses at S$145.4 million), and a newly identified insurance services scam (791 cases, S$21.3 million lost), where fraudsters impersonate insurance employees to extract personal details and payments.
asiaone.com
· 2025-12-08
Singapore reported a 12.6% decrease in total scam losses ($456.4 million in H1 2025 vs. $522.4 million in H1 2024) and a 26% decline in overall scam cases (19,665 vs. 26,563), marking the first decline since 2021. However, the median loss per case increased to $1,500, and elderly victims (age 65+) who comprised 15% of cases suffered the highest per-victim losses at $33,672, with government impersonation scams nearly tripling to 1,762 cases and phishing scams seeing losses jump 134% to $
globalvoices.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Brazilian scammers used deepfake videos impersonating well-known TV journalists and broadcasters to promote a fake government program called "Resgata Brasil," claiming victims of data breaches or people with forgotten bank funds could receive up to 7,000 reales (approximately $1,300 USD) in compensation. The phishing scheme tricked victims into clicking malicious links and surrendering personal data, with journalist Sandra Annenberg among those whose images and voices were illegitimately used in the fraudulent videos. The scam reflects a broader digital security crisis in Brazil, where nearly one-quarter of citizens over 16 fell victim to digital fraud schemes between
tampafp.com
· 2025-12-08
**Scam Type:** Mail interception fraud and money laundering related to Jamaican lottery scheme targeting elderly victims
**What Happened:** Former U.S. Postal Inspector Scott Kelley, 51, was arrested and indicted on 45 counts for allegedly stealing over $330,000 in cash from approximately 1,950 packages sent by elderly victims of a Jamaican telemarketing scam between 2019-2023. Kelley, who led the Mail Fraud Unit tasked with investigating scams targeting seniors, allegedly used his position to intercept victim mail, launder proceeds through money orders and multiple bank deposits, steal $7,000
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Former U.S. Postal Inspector Scott Kelley, 51, of Massachusetts, was indicted on 45 counts for stealing over $330,000 in cash from packages mailed by elderly victims of a Jamaican lottery telemarketing scam between 2019 and 2023. Kelley, who led the Mail Fraud Unit investigating senior citizen scams, used his position to intercept approximately 1,950 flagged packages, launder the proceeds through money orders and multiple bank accounts, and even framed a subordinate for a separate $7,000 evidence locker theft. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each wire fraud and mail frau
koreatimes.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
South Korea launched a five-month nationwide crackdown on phishing crimes beginning in August, following a 95% year-over-year surge in losses to 799.2 billion won ($575 million) across 16,561 cases in the first seven months of the year. Criminal tactics have become increasingly sophisticated, targeting victims through investment fraud (343.8 billion won in losses), romance scams (70.5 billion won), and fake e-commerce schemes, with perpetrators using mass texts, fake identities, and impersonations to create urgency and steal personal data. The police response includes over 400 officers in newly formed special units across multiple provinces, targeting not only ph
zamin.uz
· 2025-12-08
Cyber fraud takes multiple forms with gender-based vulnerability patterns: women are disproportionately targeted by romance scams (54.9% of victims, 75.3% of financial losses), while men over 30 are more susceptible to investment and cryptocurrency fraud schemes. Other prevalent scams include fake online stores, technical support impersonation (which particularly affects older adults), with protection requiring caution against promises of quick profits or online emotional intimacy.
inquisitr.com
· 2025-12-08
A widespread scam targets Social Security recipients, particularly vulnerable seniors living alone and dependent on benefits for survival. Scammers impersonate Social Security Administration officials via phone calls, texts, or emails, falsely claiming account problems or requesting verification of information to obtain personal data (Social Security numbers, bank details) or money directly through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The key warning signs include unsolicited contact, payment demands, pressure tactics, and suspicious links or misspellings; the legitimate SSA communicates only by postal mail and does not solicit sensitive information unsolicited.
wnegradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The BBB warns of an ongoing phishing scam where callers impersonate process servers, claiming victims have unpaid debts, liens on their homes, or are involved in fictitious court cases to pressure them into revealing sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers and dates of birth. Scammers use intimidation tactics, threats of arrest, and claims of imminent home visits to create urgency, sometimes also targeting family members and friends; their goal is identity theft rather than legal service. Consumers should be wary of unsolicited calls with scare tactics and verify claims independently through official channels before providing any personal information.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
AI impersonation scams have surged 148% in 2025, using voice cloning and deepfake video technology to fraudulently impersonate trusted contacts—including family members, executives, and government officials—across calls, video meetings, emails, and messaging apps. Notable cases include cybercriminals posing as a UK engineering company's CFO to trick employees into authorizing $25 million in wire transfers. Security experts recommend independently verifying identities through alternate contact methods and implementing multi-factor authentication as key defenses against these increasingly sophisticated frauds.
mytotalretail.com
· 2025-12-08
Back-to-school shopping season creates a surge in retail fraud activity, with fraudsters exploiting the high volume, time pressure, and omnichannel complexity of the period through return fraud, refund abuse, fake storefronts, phishing, and account takeovers. Retailers lost an estimated $101 billion to return-related fraud and abuse in 2024, with nearly 75 percent of retail executives citing this as their top operational concern during peak shopping periods. To combat these schemes, merchants are implementing real-time fraud detection across unified commerce channels, monitoring suspicious patterns in customer behavior, and empowering teams to act quickly on suspicious transactions.
palletenterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
AI-powered scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with criminals using AI to craft convincing phishing emails, deepfake videos, and imposter messages targeting personal and financial accounts. Common 2025 scams include AI-generated phishing, imposter fraud on social media, and phone-based attacks like SIM swapping and rigged QR codes. Protection strategies include verifying sender information before responding, enabling two-factor authentication, using strong unique passwords, regularly monitoring account access, and contacting organizations directly to verify suspicious requests.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP Maine offers a free monthly virtual scam-awareness series called "Fraud Watch with Phil and Pam," held via Zoom on the second Thursday of each month for 30 minutes. The October session focuses on cybersecurity and is led by retired journalist Phil Chin and retired educator Pam Partridge, with registration available at states.aarp.org/maine/monthly-fraud-watch.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating local law enforcement officials in a jury duty fraud scheme, calling victims with claims of missed jury duty and threatening arrest warrants to extort payment via wire transfers or gift cards. The scam targets vulnerable individuals by using personal information and blocked numbers to appear credible, though legitimate jury summonses are always delivered by mail. Key protections include never trusting unknown callers demanding payment, verifying claims directly with official court or police numbers, and recognizing that government agencies never request payment through gift cards or cryptocurrency.
tradingview.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are exploiting the UK's upcoming corporate transparency reform by sending phishing emails and making fraudulent calls to company directors, falsely claiming to represent Companies House and requesting personal information like dates of birth under the guise of identity verification requirements. Starting November 18, 2025, an estimated 6-7 million UK directors and significant shareholders must verify their identity through official GOV.UK channels, but Companies House has warned the public that only GOV.UK should be used for verification and to disregard unsolicited requests. The new identity verification system aims to improve corporate record integrity, though it faces early cyber security challenges as fraudsters exploit the reform announcement.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
A new Social Security scam targets seniors by impersonating Social Security Administration officials through phone calls, texts, and emails, claiming victims must verify their details to receive Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) benefits or face account suspension. Scammers use pressure tactics and threats of benefit loss to extract personal information like Social Security numbers and bank details, or to pressure victims into sending money via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The SSA never initiates unsolicited contact requesting sensitive information; legitimate COLA notices are delivered by official mail or through secure online accounts, and victims should hang up, verify the caller independently, and report suspicious contact directly to the SSA.
losaltosonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Los Altos, where over 20% of the population is age 65+, has experienced significant elder fraud and abuse in recent years, with the police department responding to 12 elder abuse cases resulting in charges, 23 Adult Protective Services reports, and 17 identity theft and check fraud cases involving elderly victims since the beginning of the year. Most elder financial abuse involves strangers using email/text scams impersonating legitimate companies, phishing links, ATM card theft through distraction tactics, and emerging technologies like AI voice cloning and cryptocurrency schemes. Law enforcement emphasizes that seniors should avoid clicking suspicious links, verify caller identities through independent contact, remain cautious of emerging scam technologies
kpel965.com
· 2025-12-08
The "Phantom Hacker" scam has stolen over $1 billion from Americans since 2024, primarily targeting seniors age 60+ in Louisiana and nationwide. The sophisticated three-phase operation uses impersonators posing as tech support, bank officials, and government employees to gain access to victims' computers and financial accounts, often resulting in complete loss of retirement and savings accounts. Scammers now employ AI technology to personalize attacks through social media analysis, making their schemes more convincing.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
A PYMNTS Intelligence study of 10,103 U.S. consumers found that approximately 77 million adults (3 in 10) lost money to scams over the past five years, with many losing more than $500. Modern scammers use mass personalization to tailor fraud schemes by age, income, and habits—targeting Gen Z through social media, older adults via email and phone calls, and selecting contact channels that feel legitimate to each demographic. The study reveals that scams now account for 27% of U.S. financial institutions' fraud losses in 2024 (up from 12% in 2023), highlighting the need for dynamic defenses including behavioral monitoring
pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams resulted in $9.3 billion in reported losses in 2024, with $5.8 billion specifically from investment fraud schemes; seniors over 60 suffered approximately $2.8 billion in losses. Scammers increasingly use AI-generated deepfakes of celebrities and trusted contacts to convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrencies or surrender wallet access. The article advises investors to verify the legitimacy of coins and sources, never share private wallet information, use multi-factor authentication, and carefully examine exchange website URLs before investing.
pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article addresses the widespread problem of spam calls in the US, noting that over 40% of Americans never answer unknown calls due to spam concerns. The piece provides practical guidance on blocking unwanted calls using built-in features on Android and iOS devices, as well as carrier-specific tools like AT&T's ActiveArmor and Verizon's Call Filter, many of which are available for free or at a low monthly cost.
wafb.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational awareness piece highlights two prevalent scams targeting consumers: Amazon smishing, where scammers text victims impersonating Amazon to trick them into entering personal and purchasing information through fraudulent links under the guise of refunds or recalls; and fake sports gambling sites, where scammers operating unsecured platforms steal users' private information and refuse payouts or demand money after losses. The article recommends avoiding unexpected message links, using official Amazon customer service channels, and relying only on licensed sportsbooks when gambling online.
live5news.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly sophisticated in crafting deceptive texts and emails, with the typical American receiving nearly 63 spam texts in August 2025, and many now using AI to improve message quality. The primary defense is to avoid engaging with suspicious messages, trust your instincts, contact your financial institution directly through official channels rather than responding to the message, and be cautious about verifying sender email addresses, as they often appear suspicious despite polished message content. Additional protective steps include limiting personal information shared on social media, refraining from posting travel plans, shredding financial documents, and switching to digital statements to prevent scammers from using personal data to target individuals or their loved ones.
wwnytv.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers increasingly use sophisticated techniques, including AI-generated messages, making it harder to identify fraud through traditional red flags like typos. Key prevention strategies include trusting your instincts when messages seem suspicious, contacting financial institutions directly rather than responding to unsolicited communications, avoiding posting personal information on social media, and securely disposing of financial documents. Being skeptical and cautious about unsolicited messages—even from seemingly legitimate sources—is the most effective defense against modern scams.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Police and councils have issued fresh warnings about rising parking scams, which include fake text messages demanding payment for unpaid tickets with malicious links, tampered parking machines with skimming devices that steal card details, and fraudulent parking notices lacking required details like vehicle registration and location. The article provides four protective measures: verify genuine fines contain vehicle registration, offense time, and location; avoid clicking links in unsolicited payment texts; restart devices and change passwords if a suspicious link is clicked; and inspect parking machines for physical tampering before using contactless payment.
themarketperiodical.com
· 2025-12-08
A Venus Protocol user lost $27 million in cryptocurrency through a phishing scam that tricked them into approving a malicious token transfer, prompting the decentralized finance platform to pause operations for security review and investigation. Phishing scams have caused over $1 billion in losses in 2024 alone, with crypto theft and hacks exceeding $2.7 billion in the first half of 2025, surpassing the prior year's total losses of $2.42 billion. Venus Protocol clarified the incident resulted from user error rather than a smart contract vulnerability and stated it would remain paused to prevent further fund transfers to the attacker.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. This is a cookie consent notice from Yahoo explaining how they use cookies and personal data for authentication, analytics, and advertising purposes. It does not contain information relevant to the Elderus fraud research database.
kcaw.org
· 2025-12-07
A Sitka elder lost $40,000 after receiving a fraudulent call from someone claiming to be a Wells Fargo fraud investigator who convinced her to mail cash to him. Police Chief Chad Goeden emphasized that legitimate financial institutions never request payment via cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, and advised residents to hang up suspicious calls, independently verify the caller's identity, and discuss these scams with elderly family members.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-07
Financial exploitation of older adults is rising at epidemic rates through scams, family manipulation, and digital illiteracy, with the FBI reporting over 100,000 victims age 60+ in 2023 and total losses exceeding $3 billion (averaging $35,000 per person). Older adults are particularly vulnerable due to trust, isolation from face-to-face interaction, and a digital divide, with those age 80+ suffering the highest median losses. Common schemes include tech support, grandparent scams, government impersonation, romance scams, and increasingly sophisticated AI-generated voice clones, while many cases go unreported due to shame or involvement of trusted family members
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, consumers lost over $1.4 billion to cryptocurrency scams, according to the FTC, prompting AARP Pennsylvania to alert residents to fraud schemes involving fake investment opportunities and romance scams that direct victims to deposit money into crypto ATMs. Scammers contact victims via text, email, or social media claiming guaranteed profits or threatening legal action, then direct them to send cryptocurrency through ATMs or other untraceable methods. AARP urges consumers to verify investment sources, resist pressure to act quickly, and never send money or cryptocurrency to unknown contacts.
wtoc.com
· 2025-12-07
Post-disaster cyber scams cost Americans $9.3 billion annually, with fraudsters increasingly using artificial intelligence to create convincing fake FEMA websites, charity scams, and phishing messages that exploit urgency and fear during natural disasters. Experts recommend verifying contractor licenses, donating only to trusted charities, avoiding unsolicited requests for money or personal information, and independently confirming information rather than relying on calls, texts, or emails from unknown sources. Those targeted by disaster fraud can report it to the Justice Department's Disaster Fraud Hotline (866-702-5721) or FEMA's hotline (866-720-5721).