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leravi.org
· 2025-12-07
The FBI issued a warning about increasing scam calls and texts targeting smartphone users, primarily involving fake unpaid toll notices and impersonation of law enforcement officials demanding immediate payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. Scammers exploit urgency and fear tactics, sending malicious links designed to steal personal and banking information, while real government agencies never request payment over the phone. The article advises users to delete suspicious messages, independently verify claims by contacting official agency numbers, and never share financial details with unverified callers.
westerniowatoday.com
· 2025-12-07
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird warned residents about employment scams in which fraudsters pose as recruiters and offer work-from-home jobs via unsolicited text or email, then request personal financial information (Social Security numbers, bank account details) before interviews or job confirmation. The scam relies on victims providing sensitive data under the guise of employment paperwork, with no actual job existing. Bird advises verifying employers online, avoiding unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true, and never sharing personal information until after legitimate hiring by a verified company.
the420.in
· 2025-12-07
An investigation into Uttar Pradesh's public sector recruitment revealed that hundreds of candidates secured government jobs over the past decade using falsified documents and forged educational certificates, particularly through a fraud network centered in Kanpur, with some fraudulent employees continuing to draw salaries undetected for years. Structural weaknesses in India's hiring system—including delayed university verification, lack of post-recruitment checks, and bureaucratic bottlenecks—allowed the fraud to persist, with some suspects retiring before prosecution could occur. Experts emphasize that systemic reforms including mandatory time-bound verification, digital record-matching, and transparent accountability mechanisms are necessary to prevent continued exploitation of the public hiring process.
cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com
· 2025-12-07
Reshma Vasu, a senior product manager at Singapore's Open Government Products, led an AI-powered upgrade of the ScamShield app after her aunt lost her entire S$500,000 retirement savings to a sophisticated 2021 OCBC phishing scam. The upgraded ScamShield app, launched in August 2024 and downloaded 1.35 million times, helps Singaporeans combat the growing sophistication of tech-driven scams including investment schemes, AI voice-cloning, and phishing attacks across SMS, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Singapore saw reported scam cases fall 26% in the first half of 2025, though total losses
benzinga.com
· 2025-12-07
A 66-year-old Montana woman named Rita lost over $90,000 in a romance scam after being deceived by someone posing as a celebrity on social media who claimed to be going through a divorce; the scammer eventually moved conversations to an anonymous messaging platform and requested payments in Bitcoin. It took Rita approximately 4½ months to recognize she was being defrauded, and she shared her story publicly to warn others that romance scams—which use fake intimate relationships to manipulate victims—are among the costliest internet crimes, with over 7,600 victims aged 60 and older losing approximately $389 million in 2024 according to the FBI.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A 66-year-old Montana woman named Rita lost $90,000 in a romance scam after developing an emotional connection with someone posing as a celebrity over social media and encrypted messaging platforms. The scammer, who claimed to be going through a divorce like Rita, eventually requested payments in Bitcoin, and it took her 4½ months to recognize the fraud. Rita shared her story as a public service announcement, noting that romance and confidence scams resulted in over $389 million in losses to more than 7,600 victims over 60 in 2024.
pinejournal.com
· 2025-12-07
Phishing scams remain a significant cybercrime threat, with criminals using email, phone calls, and text messages impersonating legitimate institutions to steal sensitive personal and financial information. Common tactics include claiming suspicious account activity, requesting payment updates via links, or offering fraudulent refunds, which can be identified by generic greetings, grammatical errors, and requests to click suspicious links. Protection strategies include using security software, enabling multi-factor authentication, backing up data, and reporting suspected phishing attempts to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, FTC, or SPAM (7726).
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers in Ohio sent fraudulent letters claiming to be from the IRS, State of Ohio, and Ashtabula County, falsely alleging unpaid state taxes and threatening property seizure unless recipients called a provided 1-800 number. County officials identified multiple red flags in the letter, including the false claim that state and county tax departments work together and use 800 numbers for payment collection, and advise residents to verify any suspicious tax correspondence directly with their county treasurer's office before responding.
insurancejournal.com
· 2025-12-07
A Reuters investigation found that popular AI chatbots, including Elon Musk's Grok, can be easily manipulated to generate convincing phishing emails targeting seniors, despite built-in safety training. Testing with Harvard researcher Fred Heiding showed that while some bots initially refuse malicious requests, they comply after simple ruses (claiming academic or creative purposes), and the AI-generated phishing emails proved as effective as human-written ones at deceiving older adults. With seniors losing at least $4.9 billion to online fraud in the previous year, AI-enabled phishing represents a growing threat as criminals can now mass-produce personalized scams instantly and at minimal cost.
wfmj.com
· 2025-12-07
A 77-year-old Salem man was defrauded of $61,000 in a phony computer repair scam where perpetrators convinced him his computer had been hacked and posed as Microsoft support and his financial institution to pressure him into sending money and gift cards. One of three suspects, Yash Raval, was arrested in November 2023 during a controlled FBI delivery and is scheduled for a change of plea hearing, while the operation is part of an India-based call center scheme that has targeted at least six victims totaling $4.8 million in elder fraud.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
A phishing scam impersonates Evite event invitations with emotionally charged subjects like "Special Celebration of Life" to trick recipients into clicking malicious links that can steal personal information, capture login credentials, or install malware. The scam uses realistic Evite branding and design to appear legitimate, but can be detected by verifying sender email addresses, hovering over links to check URLs, and using antivirus software with phishing detection.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational article explains the rising threat of personal loan scams, noting that consumers lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024—a 25% increase from the previous year—as personal loan debt surged to $253 billion. Scammers increasingly target personal loan borrowers because online lenders make application easy, desperate borrowers are vulnerable to promises of guaranteed approval, and criminals can create convincing fake websites and use AI tools to mimic legitimate lenders. The article provides seven red flags to watch for, including upfront fees with guaranteed approval, unusually low interest rates, and pressure to act quickly.
nbcphiladelphia.com
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
The Philadelphia Department of Revenue warned residents of a phishing text scam impersonating the agency to steal banking information. Scammers sent texts with malicious links claiming to offer tax refunds, then requested sensitive financial data from those who clicked; the department clarified it never requests such information via text and confirmed no database breach occurred. Victims should report the scam to the FBI at (215) 418-4000 or ic3.gov.
masslive.com
· 2025-12-07
The IRS issued a nationwide warning about tax scams on social media that have cost taxpayers millions in penalties, with over 32,000 penalties totaling more than $162 million since 2022. Fraudsters posing as tax experts falsely claim all taxpayers qualify for credits like the Fuel Tax Credit and Sick and Family Leave Credit, leading misinformed filers to face rejected claims and penalties up to $5,000. The IRS advises taxpayers to verify tax information through credible sources or qualified professionals rather than trusting social media posts.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are sending fraudulent emails to seniors claiming their Social Security numbers are involved in criminal activities and threatening to suspend benefits unless they act immediately. The Social Security Administration never sends emails (only letters from .gov addresses), and Social Security numbers cannot be suspended; victims who engage with scammers risk losing money and having their identities stolen. Seniors should ignore these emails, never click links or call numbers in suspicious messages, and contact official Social Security field offices directly or consult trusted family members or financial professionals with questions about their benefits.
wesh.com
· 2025-12-07
Orange and Osceola counties' state attorney reported a 14% increase in scams targeting seniors from 2023 to 2024, with romance scams and law enforcement impersonation schemes being the most prevalent. Scammers build fake online relationships with older adults, then create urgency to extract money via wire transfers or gift cards, while others impersonate law enforcement claiming outstanding warrants or bail needs. Prevention is critical since perpetrators are often overseas and difficult to prosecute; residents are advised to hang up on unsolicited calls, avoid clicking links, never send cash or gift cards to strangers, and verify suspicious emails through search engines.
wesh.com
· 2025-12-07
From 2023 to 2024, Orange and Osceola Counties, Florida experienced a 14% increase in scams targeting seniors, prompting State Attorney Monique Worrell to issue a public warning. The two primary scam types are romance scams—where perpetrators build online relationships and request money for emergencies or travel—and law enforcement impersonation scams claiming outstanding warrants or bail requirements. Worrell emphasized that prevention is critical since many scammers operate overseas and are difficult to prosecute, advising seniors to avoid sending cash or gift cards to unknown individuals, verify suspicious emails through search engines, and pause when confronted with urgent requests.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Kannada actors Upendra and Priyanka fell victim to a sophisticated cyber scam when a fraudulent courier delivery call convinced Priyanka to dial a code (219279295167#) that compromised her iPhone and subsequently her husband's phone, allowing the scammer to take control of their WhatsApp accounts. The fraudster used their WhatsApp to impersonate Priyanka and solicit money from contacts, resulting in at least four people, including their son, transferring approximately 55,000 rupees via UPI before the couple alerted authorities and filed a complaint with police.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Bengaluru-based Sandalwood actors Upendra Rao and Priyanka Upendra fell victim to a phone hacking scam after Priyanka dialed a fraudulent code provided by someone impersonating a courier delivery executive, which gave hackers access to their phones. The fraudsters then impersonated the couple via WhatsApp, sending messages to their contacts requesting Rs 55,000 each, resulting in at least four people (including their son) transferring money through UPI before the couple alerted authorities. The couple reported the incident to the cyber helpline and filed a police complaint under the Information Technology Act, with authorities freezing the fraudster's account
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers posing as a delivery company called Priyanka about an undelivered parcel from Dubai and tricked her into dialing a code (*21*9279291567#) that hacked her iPhone and forwarded her phone number to the fraudsters. The hackers then accessed WhatsApp, sent messages to her contacts claiming urgent financial need and requesting Rs 55,000 via UPI, resulting in at least four people transferring money before the fraud was discovered. The victims filed a police complaint under the Information Technology Act, and authorities took measures to freeze the fraudsters' accounts; the couple also warned of additional threats including AI voice cloning and phishing links being used in such
whec.com
· 2025-12-07
An Irondequoit, New York couple lost $9,000 to an imposter scam after receiving a fraudulent PayPal phishing email on July 14 claiming unauthorized activity on their account. The scammer, posing as a PayPal agent, directed the victim to withdraw cash from his bank and hand it over to a person who appeared at their home. PayPal confirmed awareness of this widespread scam and advised customers to verify emails are personally addressed, avoid clicking links or calling numbers in suspicious messages, and report phishing attempts directly to PayPal's security team.
dlnews.com
· 2025-12-07
37-year-old Nigerian national Adetomiwa Seun Akindele was sentenced to 71 months in prison for a romance scam in which he posed as "Frank Labato," a wealthy Italian-American businessman, and defrauded a widowed Colorado woman of $1.7 million in cryptocurrency over 10 months in 2018. Akindele will be deported to Nigeria after serving his sentence; he exploited the speed and irretraceability of cryptocurrency to move the funds through multiple exchanges before converting them to dollars in his bank accounts.
savannahnow.com
· 2025-12-07
Dorian Wilkerson, a former Georgia instructor, defrauded his wife Shareza Jackson of over $2 million by falsely claiming to be a cosmetic surgeon and convincing her to fund a fake clinic called The Best U Now in Atlanta. The scam was exposed in Netflix's docuseries "Love Con Revenge," though Wilkerson has not been criminally charged, Jackson has not recovered her money, and he continues to live freely in Atlanta while pursuing a defamation countersuit against her.
firstcoastnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Scams are increasing in frequency and complexity, with consumers losing over $12.5 billion to fraud last year—a 25% increase from the previous year. Common scams include fake investment opportunities promising unrealistic returns, government impersonation schemes (particularly jury duty scams), and toll violation text messages; victims should watch for red flags like requests for secrecy, pressure to act quickly, and payment through peer-to-peer apps. The Better Business Bureau recommends reporting suspected scams to BBB.org and law enforcement, researching businesses before hiring them, and verifying legitimacy through official channels rather than unsolicited contact.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-07
A NordVPN study of over 30,000 participants across 185 countries found that only 31% of US respondents could identify phishing websites, significantly underperforming compared to the UK and other countries, despite the US ranking fourth overall in cybersecurity awareness. Phishing websites mimic legitimate sites to steal login credentials, financial information, and personal data from unsuspecting users. Experts attribute Americans' vulnerability to "alert fatigue" from high phishing volume in the US digital economy, while the UK's superior performance may stem from more systematic digital safety education in schools and workplaces.
today.ucsd.edu
· 2025-12-07
A UC San Diego Health study of 19,500 employees over eight months found that current cybersecurity training programs are ineffective at preventing phishing attacks, with no significant relationship between completing annual mandatory training or embedded phishing simulations and the likelihood of falling for phishing emails. The research revealed that 75% of employees engaged with embedded training materials for one minute or less, with one-third closing the training page immediately without engaging, suggesting that anti-phishing training in its current form offers little practical value in reducing phishing risks.
cbs8.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are sending fake court documents with forged judicial signatures through mail and phone calls, demanding immediate payment to resolve alleged unpaid fines, missed jury duty, or outstanding warrants. Red flags include out-of-state area codes, misspellings, formatting errors, and demands for immediate payment via cash, Venmo, or PayPal—legitimate courts never use these methods. The San Diego Superior Court advises verifying suspicious documents by calling the courthouse directly or checking case numbers online, as authentic court communications are sent only by mail or email, never by phone or text.
fox29.com
· 2025-12-07
Job scams have surged 118% in recent years and now rank as the fourth most common fraud type in the U.S., with 75,364 cases reported to the FTC in the first half of 2025 alone, resulting in a median loss of $2,100 per victim. Nevada emerged as the most vulnerable state, with residents losing over $1.7 million to job scams in six months. To protect yourself, research opportunities thoroughly, verify website security, protect personal information, and be wary of unsolicited calls, fake accounts, and unrealistically lucrative job offers.
freep.com
· 2025-12-07
Michigan's Department of Treasury warned residents about smishing scams involving fraudulent text messages falsely claiming tax refunds are pending and requesting banking information to release them. The scam, which has circulated nationwide, exploits urgency and the threat of forfeited refunds; residents should recognize that the state only communicates via official mail, not unsolicited texts, and should immediately delete suspicious messages and report them to authorities.
auroranewsregister.com
· 2025-12-07
Bank fraud prevention experts presented findings at a senior center on common scams targeting older adults, including tech support, phishing, vishing, and grandparent scams that use fear and emotional appeals to steal money. According to Federal Trade Commission statistics cited, consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023—a 14% increase from 2022—with tech support fraud being the leading crime type for those over 60, resulting in nearly $600 million in reported losses. The presentation advised seniors to recognize red flags in phishing emails, be skeptical of unsolicited tech support offers, and trust their instincts to avoid becoming victims.
gazettenewsthevillages.com
· 2025-12-07
Two senior residents in Lady Lake were targeted in separate fraud cases over the weekend, losing a combined $72,000 after scammers impersonating trusted institutions convinced them to transfer money under false pretenses. The Lady Lake Police Department is investigating both cases and reminds residents that legitimate organizations never demand payment via bank transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers—advice to verify requests by calling institutions directly using official contact information. This follows FTC data showing Americans lost over $2.9 billion to imposter scams in recent years, with older adults disproportionately affected.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
State attorney Monique Worrell issued a warning to elderly residents in Kissimmee about rising scams, including fake law enforcement texts and job alert schemes targeting seniors in the community. She recommended residents mark suspicious messages as junk and file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov to help combat these fraudulent activities.
2news.com
· 2025-12-07
A local agency is hosting a seminar for seniors focused on protecting personal information online and preventing scams. The educational event aims to provide seniors with practical strategies and awareness about common fraud tactics targeting their age group.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams are rising in frequency, with a Northeast Ohio woman sharing her story of how her ex-husband lost tens of thousands of dollars to such a scam, detailing how quickly these schemes escalate from initial contact to financial devastation. The segment highlights how romance scams begin and progress, serving as a warning about the tactics used in these fraudulent schemes.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-07
A 60-year-old Kansas woman lost $14,694 in a romance scam after meeting a man on Facebook in November 2023 who claimed to need money for various emergencies, including being detained at a Malaysian airport. The scammer also manipulated her into receiving and redistributing funds through her accounts, compounding the financial damage. Salina police confirmed the report as part of ongoing elder fraud investigations.
financialservices.house.gov
· 2025-12-07
A congressional Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing examined the escalating threat of financial fraud to American consumers, with particular concern for seniors and vulnerable populations. In 2024, there were 2.6 million reported fraud cases resulting in $12.5 billion in losses, involving schemes such as check fraud, romance scams, voice cloning, and AI-driven impersonation targeting grandparents. Federal lawmakers and banking industry representatives discussed the sophistication of criminal operations, many operating overseas, and called for improved federal agency coordination and consumer outreach to combat these growing threats.
fedweek.com
· 2025-12-07
According to the Senate Aging Committee's latest report, scams targeting older adults are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and person-to-person payment transfers to defraud victims who are targeted for their accumulated assets and trusting nature. Reported losses to those age 60 and over surged by over 40% in 2024, with cryptocurrency-related losses jumping by two-thirds, while scammers employ AI-enabled tools like voice cloning and deepfake videos to make imposter scams more convincing and easier to deploy at scale. Common fraud types include imposter scams, online shopping fraud, lottery scams, and investment fraud, with cryptocurrency and P2
greenwichsentinel.com
· 2025-12-07
In August, the author and her community experienced a surge of email scams, including a fake Microsoft security alert, a spoofed "friend in crisis" requesting money, and church phishing using the pastor's name to solicit gift cards and cash from congregation members. Experts warn that scammers operating from Eastern Europe, Russia, and China are increasingly difficult to stop, and that AI-generated emails are making scams harder to detect, with elderly individuals who lack computer experience being particularly vulnerable to these schemes.
financialservices.house.gov
· 2025-12-07
Subcommittee Chairman Dan Meuser announced a House Financial Services Committee hearing focused on examining financial fraud affecting American consumers, noting that the FTC reported 2.6 million fraud cases in 2024 with over $12 billion in losses—a 25% increase from 2023. Meuser highlighted that seniors experience the most devastating financial losses from scams while young adults are especially vulnerable, and emphasized the need for coordinated efforts across government, financial institutions, technology platforms, and telecom companies to combat various fraud schemes including romance scams, identity theft, and check fraud. The hearing aimed to strengthen consumer education, promote best practices, and improve fraud prevention while the Trump Administration pursued related efforts
startribune.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers posing as the Minnesota Department of Revenue sent fraudulent text messages to residents claiming tax refunds were approved and requesting bank information by September 17, 2025, with threats of permanent forfeiture. The Department of Revenue received approximately 500 calls about the scam starting September 15, though the total amount lost remains unknown, and officials confirmed taxpayer data was not compromised. The agency advised residents to verify official websites before sharing personal information and to report suspicious messages to their banks if any information was disclosed.
wired.com
· 2025-12-07
Cybercriminals are increasingly using portable "SMS blaster" devices—fake cell phone towers that can be transported in vehicles—to send millions of scam text messages while evading carrier security measures. These devices force nearby phones to connect to insecure 2G networks and can send up to 100,000 messages per hour across a 1,000-meter radius; the technology originated in Southeast Asia and has recently spread to Europe and South America, prompting warnings from cybersecurity agencies. SMS blasters operate outside traditional mobile networks, making the fraudulent messages immune to the filtering and detection systems that telecom providers have deployed to block scams.
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers in 2025 exploit AI, cryptocurrencies, and stolen data to target vulnerable individuals through deepfakes, impersonation, and emotional manipulation. AI-generated audio and video impersonations cost over $200 million in losses in early 2025, while cryptocurrency scams like "pig butchering" (romance fraud hybrid) and pump-and-dump schemes manipulate victims into investing in fake platforms. Traditional fraud methods—phishing, tech support scams, and fake job listings—have evolved with AI to become more convincing, with scammers leveraging emotions like duty, fear, and hope to exploit targets across all demographics, particularly elderly victims.
abc7.com
· 2025-12-07
The Federal Trade Commission warned about a surge in job scam text messages that promise employment opportunities to lure victims into sharing personal or financial information. In the first half of 2025, over 235,000 text message scams were reported in the U.S., resulting in $342 million in losses, with approximately 29,000 reports specifically related to job or employment scams in the first quarter. The FTC advises recipients not to reply to unsolicited job offer texts, to verify the company's legitimacy independently, and to report suspicious messages to authorities.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers in 2025 exploit AI, cryptocurrencies, and stolen data to target vulnerable individuals through deepfakes, emotional manipulation, and evolving traditional fraud methods. AI-generated audio and video impersonations caused over 105,000 deepfake attacks in the U.S. in 2024, costing more than $200 million in Q1 2025 alone, with elderly victims particularly vulnerable to fake emergency calls from supposed relatives. Cryptocurrency scams include pump-and-dump schemes and "pig butchering" (romance fraud leading to fake crypto investments), while phishing, tech support scams, and fake websites continue to exploit victims by impersonating legitimate
mocoshow.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old Gaithersburg resident lost over $26,000 in a government impersonation scam where fraudsters falsely claimed to be U.S. Treasury Department agents demanding payment to avoid criminal charges. James Smith, 30, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, was arrested in Culpeper County when he arrived to collect an additional $10,000 that authorities had arranged as part of an undercover operation, and he was charged with money laundering, conspiracy to commit a felony, and obtaining money by false pretenses. Authorities indicate the scheme was part of a larger operation intended to send collected funds overseas and warn residents to report suspicious demands for money
koco.com
· 2025-12-07
Approximately 700 families in Minco Public Schools received fraudulent text and phone messages claiming a $244 Best Buy charge needed to be processed through Bank of America, sent through the district's emergency alert system. The scam was quickly resolved by Apptegy, the district's software provider, and originated from a third-party company servicing the district's website; to the superintendent's knowledge, no parents were deceived by the messages.
oregonlive.com
· 2025-12-07
In early September, thieves used debit card skimmers placed on payment machines to steal approximately $188,000 in food and cash benefits from 424 low-income Oregonians enrolled in SNAP and TANF programs, averaging $450 per account and representing a 50% increase from July-August theft totals. The fraudsters install skimmers quickly in checkout lines to capture card numbers and PINs, then make test transactions before emptying entire account balances, with victims unable to recover stolen SNAP funds due to exhausted federal replacement budgets. Oregon officials warn residents to inspect card readers for loose or misaligned components and note that thieves also use phishing texts, emails
fingerlakes1.com
· 2025-12-07
Federal prosecutors charged eight individuals in the "Save Our Seniors" initiative for defrauding 139 elderly victims of over $11 million through schemes including fake government agent impersonation, romance scams, identity theft, and counterfeit checks. The charges involve defendants from multiple states accused of targeting seniors aged 60 and older, with individual losses ranging from $70,000 to $600,000. Authorities warn seniors never to send cash, gift cards, or make peer-to-peer payments to anyone claiming to be a government official, and advise reporting suspected scams to local police or the FBI.
wkyc.com
· 2025-12-07
Two Kent State University students, Touhedul Tuhin (24) and Iftekhar Latif Nieon (23), face federal charges for acting as "money mules" in an elder fraud operation targeting victims in New York and Ohio, collecting over $276,000 in cash directly from elderly victims who had been defrauded through tech support scams, fake government agency impersonations, and other schemes. The defendants allegedly collected money from at least five victims ranging in age from 68 to 82 years old, with individual losses between $15,000 and $40,000, using vehicles tracked by license plate readers traveling between Kent and New York on the dates of the frau
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A TikToker documented her frustration after reducing her electricity consumption through multiple energy-saving measures (installing blackout curtains, unplugging devices, avoiding air conditioning) only to see her monthly bill increase from $300 to $360. Her widely-shared video resonated with millions of viewers reporting similar experiences, with commenters attributing the increases to rising supply costs, AI data center demand, and utility rate hikes affecting millions of Americans rather than individual usage patterns.