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kttn.com
· 2025-12-08
Five individuals were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud for operating a tech support scam that defrauded elderly victims of at least $8 million across ten states. The scheme involved scammers posing as computer support representatives, convincing victims their financial accounts were compromised, and persuading them to transfer funds and purchase gold bars, which couriers and handlers then collected; one 82-year-old victim from St. Louis lost approximately $250,000. All five defendants face up to 30 years in prison and $1 million fines, with charges involving wire fraud conspiracy investigated by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.
womansworld.com
· 2025-12-08
Five individuals were arrested and charged with wire fraud conspiracy after stealing at least $8 million from older victims across ten states through a tech support scam that included gold bar purchases. The scammers contacted elderly victims claiming their financial accounts were compromised and directed them to transfer funds, open new accounts, and purchase gold bars that couriers then collected; one 82-year-old Missouri woman lost approximately $250,000 in the scheme. To protect against such scams, authorities advise victims and their families to report suspicious activity immediately to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scams targeting adults 60 and older resulted in $3.4 billion in losses—twice the amount of any other age group—with fraud losses increasing 14% from the previous year. Older adults face heightened vulnerability due to greater accumulated wealth and lower technological literacy, making them targets for common scams including grandparent scams, tech support fraud, sweepstakes/lottery schemes, government impersonation, fake checks, and banking account takeovers. Protective measures include staying informed about common fraud tactics, setting up account alerts, and utilizing resources like the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old homemaker from south Mumbai was defrauded of Rs 1.3 crore over more than a year through an elaborate romance scam initiated on a dating app, in which scammers posed as an American engineer, then impersonated officials from the Reserve Bank of India, Bank of America, the International Monetary Fund, and other financial institutions to extract money under false pretenses of funds transfers and customs clearance fees. The victim, who began sending bitcoins in April 2023 after meeting the scammer on International Cupid, continued paying despite receiving calls from multiple fake officials promising refunds and converting $2 million into Indian rupees, until she filed a police complaint
securities.io
· 2025-12-08
This article identifies five prevalent cryptocurrency scams targeting victims in 2024, including phishing, fake exchanges, and Ponzi schemes. According to the Better Business Bureau, approximately 80% of Americans targeted in crypto and investment scams lost money, with a median loss of $3,800, while blockchain analysts report that scammers are adapting tactics to conduct shorter-duration, more devastating schemes. The article emphasizes that the complex nature of cryptocurrency and heightened market activity create ideal conditions for fraud, with scammers using text messages, social media, and fake platforms to manipulate victims into transferring funds.
khak.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Iowa residents lost $42.6 million to various scams, with romance scams alone accounting for over $4 million in losses and representing nearly 30% of senior financial exploitation reports filed with the Iowa Insurance Division. Common scams affecting Iowans include identity theft, investment fraud, tech support scams, grandparent scams, and compromised business email schemes. The FBI's "Take A Beat" initiative recommends protecting against scams by being cautious of unsolicited contact, verifying senders, enabling two-factor authentication, avoiding sharing personal information, being wary of cryptocurrency or gift card payment requests, and reporting suspected fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center
reed.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Senator Jack Reed partnered with AARP Rhode Island and the Rhode Island State Police to hold an Elder Fraud Prevention Summit addressing the rising threat of scams targeting older adults. According to the FBI, elder fraud complaints rose 14 percent in 2023 with losses exceeding $3.4 billion nationally, including $7.4 million lost by Rhode Islanders over age sixty. The summit emphasized public education, awareness of common scam tactics (tech support, romance, investment, and data breach scams), and the importance of reporting fraud to authorities rather than remaining silent out of embarrassment.
agrinews-pubs.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece reviews common scams targeting seniors, noting that scammers are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics. The article outlines five prevalent scam types—romance scams, computer repair fraud, grandparent scams, government impersonation, and bank account fraud—and provides protective strategies such as establishing family code words, avoiding unsolicited callers, and independently verifying contact from financial institutions or authorities.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting consumers by impersonating bank representatives and convincing them to surrender their credit card chips by claiming suspicious account activity requires immediate card collection via courier. After obtaining the chip and sometimes the PIN, criminals use this information to make unauthorized purchases or steal funds from victims' accounts, sometimes waiting months before exploiting the stolen chip to avoid detection. This scam exploits the false sense of security people feel when banks request card collection, and victims may also be instructed to mail cut cards to fake processing centers instead.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Google has issued warnings about increasingly sophisticated AI-driven phishing scams targeting Gmail users, with attackers impersonating Google support personnel via phone calls following fake account recovery notifications. In one notable case, a Microsoft solutions consultant nearly fell victim to a scam where a caller claimed suspicious activity had accessed his account for 7 days, using realistic details and spoofed phone numbers that appeared legitimate to pressure the victim into revealing credentials. Google has implemented new anti-scam alliance initiatives and recommends users enroll in its Advanced Protection Program to secure high-risk accounts against these evolving threats.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are employing AI and sophisticated tactics to target victims across age groups in India, including fresh graduates (fake job offers), middle-aged parents (police threat scams), and retirees (KYC update phishing). From January to May 2024, Indian citizens filed approximately 9.5 lakh cybercrime complaints and lost around Rs 1,750 crore to various scams including TRAI impersonation, fake digital arrests, fraudulent stock trading schemes, and easy money-for-tasks schemes.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
The digital arrest scam is a rising threat in India where scammers impersonate courier service representatives and police officers to threaten victims with arrest for alleged involvement in smuggling, coercing them to share sensitive information like Aadhaar numbers and bank details. The NCR police reported 600 cases within three months with losses exceeding Rs 20 lakh each, with scammers using personal data obtained through breaches and psychological manipulation to keep victims in a constant state of fear and compliance. To protect yourself, never trust unsolicited calls from unknown numbers claiming to represent courier companies or law enforcement, and always verify by contacting official channels directly rather than providing sensitive information or following instructions to isol
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated AI-powered account takeover scam impersonated Google support staff using spoofed phone numbers and fake emails to target users, with multiple victims reporting similar incidents across Reddit and Australian scam forums. The scam involved fake account-recovery notifications followed by convincing calls from AI-generated voices claiming suspicious account activity, designed to trick users into entering credentials on cloned login portals that could bypass two-factor authentication. Security experts recommend vigilance, verification of sender details, and checking account activity logs to avoid falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated phishing schemes.
zdnet.com
· 2025-12-08
A Microsoft consultant received a sophisticated AI-powered scam targeting Gmail users that combined fake account recovery notifications, spoofed Google phone numbers and email addresses, and an AI voice impersonating a Google employee to trick users into revealing account recovery codes or visiting fake login portals. The scam was detected when the AI voice repeated "Hello" identically, prompting the victim to hang up, though red flags included unsolicited account recovery notifications, Google's policy of not calling personal users, and inconsistencies in email headers and recipient fields. Users can protect themselves by verifying suspicious communications through their account security settings, checking for recent unauthorized logins, and remembering that legitimate tech support will never contact users unprompte
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Juan Velez, a 35-year-old former Citibank personal banker, was sentenced to six months in jail (with five years probation) for stealing $166,000 from a 79-year-old client with dementia over a one-year period; Velez used the stolen funds to pay off credit cards and purchase a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, which he was ordered to surrender along with making restitution. The case underscores the vulnerability of elderly individuals with cognitive decline to financial exploitation by trusted financial professionals who have access to their accounts.
marketrealist.com
· 2025-12-08
A vigilant bank teller in Australia prevented a 70-year-old woman from losing millions in a dating scam by asking probing questions about her decision to sell her home, ultimately discovering the woman was being manipulated by an online boyfriend who claimed to need money for overseas prison bail—a classic romance scam tactic that was confirmed through a reverse image search. The article also describes a similar incident where a Scottish postal employee protected an elderly woman from a bank impersonation scam, highlighting how alert employees can serve as critical safeguards against fraud that cost consumers approximately $8.8 billion in 2022.
americanbanker.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses how banks can better protect senior customers from financial scams while maintaining efficient service. It explains that elder fraud differs from traditional fraud because victims willingly initiate transactions, making detection difficult, and recommends that banks implement targeted intervention strategies—such as requiring personal conversations with fraud specialists when suspicious transactions are detected—rather than generic alerts, while also leveraging data analytics and technology to identify and stop scams before completion.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated AI-powered phishing scam targeting Gmail users uses fake account recovery notifications, spoofed Google phone numbers, AI-generated voice calls, and email spoofing via Salesforce CRM to impersonate Google support and trick victims into confirming passwords or account access. The scam is harder to detect than traditional phishing because it combines multiple deceptive tactics including legitimate-appearing caller IDs, professional-sounding AI voices, and emails spoofed from Google domains. Users should verify requests by checking email addresses for non-Google domains, remembering that Google does not call users proactively unless they have a Business Profile, and avoiding clicking links or downloading attachments from suspicious emails.
au.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
An Australian woman nearly lost $23,000 after clicking on a fraudulent text message posing as Australia Post requesting payment for parcel redelivery. She entered her banking details on a fake website before realizing the scam and quickly freezing her accounts, avoiding financial loss. Australia Post warned the public that they never request personal or financial information via SMS or email, and urged customers to verify sender authenticity and report suspicious messages.
yourmoney.com
· 2025-12-08
UK Finance's Half Year Fraud Report 2024 revealed a 16% rise in fraud cases compared to 2023, though total losses decreased 1.5% to approximately £1.5 billion. Authorized push payment (APP) fraud cases dropped 16% to 97,344 with losses falling 11% to £213.7 million, while romance scams, investment scams, and impersonation scams also declined; however, unauthorized fraud on cards, cheques, and remote banking surged 19% to 1.5 million cases totaling £358 million. Only 59% of fraud losses were returned to victims, though banks prevented £710.
thepaypers.com
· 2025-12-08
In the first half of 2024, criminals stole £571.7 million through unauthorized and authorised fraud in the UK, a 1.5% decrease from 2023, though unauthorized fraud cases rose 19% to over 1.5 million incidents with card-not-present fraud increasing 26%. Authorised push payment (APP) fraud losses declined 11% to £213.7 million, with notable decreases in romance scams, investment scams, and impersonation fraud, and 59% of APP losses were recovered and returned to victims. Banks prevented £710.9 million in unauthorized fraud through security systems, with 98% of unauthorized fraud victims fully
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-08
In a landmark ruling, Australia's Financial Conduct Authority (AFCA) ordered HSBC to compensate a customer who lost $47,178.54 in a sophisticated "spoofing" scam where the victim was manipulated into revealing security passcodes through a fake bank text message. The decision is significant because AFCA rejected the bank's argument that the customer voluntarily disclosed codes and therefore wasn't entitled to compensation, instead finding the victim was manipulated rather than acting of free will. This ruling could reshape how Australian banks handle similar cases and supports broader sector reforms pushing financial institutions to take greater responsibility for detecting and preventing scams rather than placing the burden solely on consumers.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Bank impersonation scams, where criminals pose as bank representatives via phone, email, or message to solicit personal information or funds, are rising across Australia and caused $11 million in losses between January and September 2023, with over-55s accounting for 56 percent of impersonation scam losses. To protect yourself, independently verify any banking communication by contacting your bank directly using details from official statements or websites, and remember that legitimate banks never request passwords, security codes, PINs, or ask customers to transfer money for safekeeping over the phone.
abc17news.com
· 2025-12-08
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and experts advise consumers to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams by remembering the "three S's": stay suspicious, stop and think, and stay protected. Common scam tactics exploit fear, urgency, and money; frequent targets include seniors and vulnerable populations through robocalls, phishing emails, impersonation of authorities, and romance scams—with one 70-year-old woman losing tens of thousands over several months to a romance scammer. Experts recommend hanging up on unsolicited calls and texts, calling official numbers to verify requests, and asking trusted younger relatives to reverse-image search suspicious photos.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and security experts outline key scam prevention strategies as sophisticated fraud tactics continue to evolve. Scammers commonly exploit fear, urgency, and money as bait through phishing emails, spoofed caller IDs, robocalls, romance scams, and impersonation schemes targeting vulnerable populations including seniors and isolated individuals. The article recommends staying suspicious, stopping to think before acting, and staying protected by verifying requests through official channels and using tools like reverse image searches to identify potential fraud.
impactpub.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australia's National Anti-Scam Centre warned of increasing bank impersonation scams where fraudsters pose as bank employees via calls, emails, or messages, using tactics like fabricated account compromises or system outages to create urgency, and employing technology to spoof legitimate bank numbers and message threads. The ACCC advises consumers never to share banking credentials, click unsolicited links, or transfer funds based on phone requests, and instead to independently verify communications by calling their bank directly using trusted contact information.
nbcphiladelphia.com
· 2025-12-08
**October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and experts emphasize protecting yourself from increasingly sophisticated scams using three key tactics: stay suspicious, stop to think, and stay protected.** Common scam methods exploit fear, urgency, and money incentives—such as fake tax return errors, impersonation of authority figures, and romance scams that can last years and target vulnerable individuals including seniors. Defensive measures include avoiding robocalls and suspicious texts, verifying contacts through official numbers, and using reverse-image searches to identify stolen photos used in romance scams.
onmanorama.com
· 2025-12-08
**Digital Arrests Scam in India**
Scammers in India are conducting "digital arrest" fraud, impersonating law enforcement officers via video calls to falsely accuse victims of crimes and extort money while confining them to their homes. High-profile victims include Malayalam actor Maala Parvathi (who avoided loss) and former church leader Dr. Geevarghese Mor Coorilos (who lost Rs 15 lakh), while an atomic energy institute employee was defrauded of Rs 71.33 lakh; Kerala Police advise victims to use common sense, noting that India has no law permitting arrests over phone or
unionleader.com
· 2025-12-08
A New York man was indicted on attempted theft by deception charges for acting as a courier in a bank impersonation scam targeting a 77-year-old New Hampshire man. Scammers impersonating bank fraud department employees called the victim claiming his account was compromised and instructed him to withdraw $20,000 cash for pickup; the defendant attempted to collect at least $1,500 from the victim's home. The defendant was arrested in July and scheduled for arraignment in November.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A New York man, Wenhua Zhuo, was indicted on attempted theft by deception charges for acting as a courier in a bank impersonation scam targeting a 77-year-old New Hampshire man. Scammers posing as bank fraud department employees called the victim and instructed him to withdraw $20,000 in cash for a courier to collect, though Zhuo only obtained over $1,500 before the scheme was interrupted. Zhuo was arrested in July and was scheduled for arraignment in November.
boston25news.com
· 2025-12-08
A 48-year-old New York man was indicted for attempting to steal $20,000 from a 77-year-old New Hampshire resident as part of a bank impersonation scam, where he posed as a courier to pick up cash after a fraudster called the victim claiming his bank account was compromised. Wenhua Zhuo traveled to the victim's home in Richmond and was arrested after approaching the victim who had withdrawn over $1,500 in cash, and he faces a class A felony charge of attempted theft by deception.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A New York man, Wenhua Zhuo, 48, was indicted on attempted theft by deception for acting as a courier in a bank impersonation scam targeting a 77-year-old New Hampshire man. Scammers posing as bank fraud department officials called the victim and instructed him to withdraw $20,000 in cash for a courier to collect, and Zhuo appeared at the victim's home to retrieve at least $1,500 in cash that had already been withdrawn. Zhuo was arrested in July and was scheduled for arraignment in November.
visionsfcu.org
· 2025-12-08
"Smishing" scams impersonate Visions and other financial organizations via text messages to trick members into revealing login credentials, secure access codes, or account information through fake webpages and fraudulent phone calls. The article provides examples of common scams and prevention strategies, recommending that recipients avoid clicking links, verify sender numbers against official Visions contact information, and call the official contact center at 800.242.2120 to confirm legitimacy.
valpo.life
· 2025-12-08
**SMiShing Scam Overview:**
SMiShing is a phishing attack using text messages where scammers impersonate banks, government agencies, and other trusted sources to trick victims into clicking malicious links or revealing personal information like passwords and credit card details. Common tactics include fake bank alerts about account issues, delivery notifications, government refund claims, and prize offers—all designed to exploit urgency and fear. Red flags include unsolicited messages, generic greetings, suspicious links, and requests for sensitive information; victims should verify requests directly with their bank, avoid clicking unfamiliar links, and report suspicious texts to authorities.
ahmedabadmirror.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common online scams targeting consumers during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, including romance scams (which prey on isolated individuals over extended periods), job scams (impersonating recruiters to steal money or personal information), investment scams (get-rich-quick schemes often involving cryptocurrency), and quiz scams (harvesting personal data for account breaches). The article provides warning signs and protective measures for each scam type, such as reverse-image searching suspicious photos, verifying job offers directly with companies, researching investment opportunities independently, and avoiding online quizzes that collect personal information.
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-08
The American Bankers Association launched two public awareness campaigns warning consumers about common fraud threats. The #PracticeSafeChecks campaign encourages using digital payment methods or security measures like gel pens to prevent check washing and fraud, while the #BanksNeverAskThat campaign educates consumers about phishing scams where criminals impersonate banks to steal personal information.
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign demonstrated that OpenAI's Realtime API can be used to create AI agents capable of automating phone scams and credential theft at an average cost of $0.75 per attempt, with a 36% success rate across various scam types including bank transfers, gift card fraud, and credential exfiltration. The study revealed that these scamming agents require minimal coding (1,051 lines) and can execute complex multi-step attacks on victims, exploiting vulnerabilities in the AI model's safety controls through jailbreaking prompts. The findings highlight significant security concerns with voice-enabled AI APIs, as phone sc
the-independent.com
· 2025-12-08
A journalist was scammed out of £240 after being contacted via Facebook Messenger by someone posing as a casual acquaintance offering Coldplay concert tickets; the account had been hacked, and the fraudster exploited the victim's desire to help a friend and emotional connection to manipulate the transaction. The scam exemplifies how criminals exploit social media trust networks and personal relationships, targeting people's emotions rather than relying on obviously suspicious tactics, and demonstrates that social media platforms struggle to combat these increasingly sophisticated fraud techniques.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
In summer 2020, a 28-year-old woman lost £18,000 to a bank impersonation scam where fraudsters posed as her bank's fraud team and instructed her to move funds to a "safe" account. Though she was eventually reimbursed by her bank, the experience caused severe psychological distress including suicidal ideation. The article highlights growing evidence that fraud victims experience significant mental health impacts—with research showing 60-69% of UK fraud victims report negative effects on mental health including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem—and notes that psychological harm from scams is not simply proportional to financial loss but depends on factors like social support, existing
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old man named Dennis Jones was romantically scammed by a woman he met on Facebook who claimed to be a successful cryptocurrency investor named Jessie and offered to teach him how to profit from crypto investments. After developing trust with the scammer and hoping to leave an inheritance for his family, Dennis invested his savings, which turned out to be part of a fraudulent scheme. The devastating financial loss and emotional trauma led to Dennis taking his own life, and his son and daughter now share his story publicly to warn others about romance and cryptocurrency scams targeting seniors.
northshoredailypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Two West Vancouver residents fell victim to a phone scam in which a caller impersonated bank staff, claiming suspicious account activity and convincing them to transfer funds to a "safe" account controlled by the scammers. Police urged the public not to share personal information or transfer funds based on unsolicited calls and to report such incidents to authorities.
presidentialprayerteam.org
· 2025-12-08
The FTC reported that older adults lost over $1.9 billion to fraud in 2023, though actual losses may exceed $61.5 billion, with seniors over 80 particularly vulnerable to tech support, lottery, family impersonation, and investment scams. The FTC's Scams Against Older Adults Advisory Group, established under the 2022 Stop Senior Scams Act, is working through enforcement, rulemaking, and outreach to disrupt these scams and improve consumer education. Bank transfers and cryptocurrency were identified as the most common payment methods used by fraudsters targeting seniors.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
BBC Scam Safe Week is a multi-platform educational initiative launching programs across television, radio, and online to help the public recognize and avoid scams, which have become increasingly prevalent during the cost-of-living crisis. Expert contributors highlight that "pig butchering" romance-to-investment scams are currently the most profitable fraud scheme, with victims losing tens of thousands of pounds or more, and emphasize that people of all ages—particularly 16-34 year-olds—are vulnerable targets. The campaign stresses that self-education is essential since authorities can only convict 0.1% of fraud cases, and that scamming has become a sophisticated criminal enterprise rather than isolated incidents.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old woman in Johor Baru lost RM380,000 in a Macau scam after receiving calls from individuals posing as bank and Bank Negara Malaysia officials who claimed she had fraudulent credit card activity and instructed her to transfer funds to a "secure" account for investigation purposes. The victim made 49 transactions across six accounts on October 18-19 before the scammers blocked her number. Police are investigating under the Penal Code and advise the public to verify official contact through the Semak Mule application and report scams to the National Scam Response Centre at 997.
azfamily.com
· 2025-12-08
A Wells Fargo fraud expert warns Arizonans about evolving scams including impersonation schemes (which cost victims $2.7 billion last year), where scammers pose as bank representatives claiming card fraud and then trick victims into handing over debit cards or personal information. Additional threats include AI-powered deepfake calls mimicking family members, cryptocurrency investment scams promising quick returns, and holiday shipping scams posing as delivery services to steal tracking information.
unitedway.org
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are impersonating United Way staff to scam people through unsolicited texts and social media messages, falsely offering cash grants, financial assistance, or employment opportunities while requesting personal information such as banking details and social media passwords. United Way clarifies it never contacts people with unsolicited grant offers or accepts assistance applications via text or social media. Experts recommend being suspicious of unsolicited offers, verifying caller identity through official channels, never sharing personal information in response to such offers, and reporting scams to law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission.
dailypioneer.com
· 2025-12-08
A "digital arrest" scam is rapidly spreading across India, where fraudsters impersonate police officers and convince victims they face legal charges, demanding money to drop fabricated cases. The scheme exploits fear and confusion by using deepfake technology, fake credentials, and authoritative impersonation to appear legitimate, with Prime Minister Modi issuing a national warning and clarifying that "digital arrest" does not exist under Indian law. Victims are advised to avoid panic, record interactions when possible, and immediately report incidents to cyber helplines and local police, while the government is urged to strengthen cybersecurity efforts and enforcement to combat the growing threat.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Businesses lose billions of dollars annually to fraud, with small companies particularly vulnerable to traditional methods like check fraud, social engineering, and wire scams that often go overlooked in favor of focusing on digital security. Check fraud has surged nearly 400% since 2020, while fraudsters increasingly blend old-school techniques with modern technology to manipulate employees into unauthorized transfers or intercept and alter checks. The American Bankers Association is calling for immediate government action, including a dedicated Office of Scam and Fraud Prevention, and recommends businesses protect themselves by regularly monitoring accounts and remaining vigilant against social engineering tactics.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Scam-related complaints to Australia's Financial Complaints Authority surged 81 percent in 2023-24, with nearly 11,000 complaints filed, as Australians lost a combined $2.7 billion to various fraud schemes including phishing, spoofing, bank impersonation, romance, and investment scams. The report also found financial hardship complaints rose 18 percent amid cost of living pressures, with First Nations people experiencing disproportionate impacts due to systemic barriers including limited digital access and reduced banking services in regional areas. Many victims never recover their lost funds, and financial hardship complainants often face slow or inadequate responses from institutions.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned citizens against a sophisticated "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonate government officials via video call, falsely accusing victims of serious crimes like money laundering or drug trafficking, then extort large sums under threat of arrest. Two elderly victims from Hyderabad lost substantial amounts—a 79-year-old retired consultant transferred Rs 2 crore and an 85-year-old woman lost Rs 5.9 crore—after scammers used fake official documents and maintained intimidating video surveillance to prevent victims from seeking help. The article advises that legitimate law enforcement never conducts arrests or demands payments via video calls and recommends reporting