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yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are increasingly targeting Social Security recipients with cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) fraud schemes, contributing to the $12.5 billion in fraud losses reported by the FTC in 2024. The Social Security Administration warns recipients to watch for four red flags: being told they must apply for COLA (which is automatic), unsolicited calls/texts/emails claiming to be from SSA, requests for Social Security numbers or banking information, and threats or pressure tactics claiming benefits will be cut off. Recipients should remember that the SSA communicates primarily through mailed letters and will never demand personal information over the phone or threaten immediate action.
dallasnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Tejasvi Manoj, a 17-year-old from Collin County, Texas, was named Time magazine's 2025 Kid of the Year for developing Shield Seniors, an AI-powered platform designed to help seniors identify, analyze, and report online scams. Inspired when her grandfather nearly fell victim to a scam impersonating a family member, Tejasvi created the application to educate older adults about cybersecurity, addressing a critical problem where seniors lose more money to scams than any other age group, with internet crime losses exceeding $16 billion annually.
starexponent.com
· 2025-12-07
A Maryland man named James Smith, 30, of Gaithersburg was arrested after scamming a 90-year-old Culpeper, Virginia woman out of $26,000 in a sophisticated scheme involving impersonation of U.S. Treasury Department agents who threatened her with criminal charges unless she provided cash. Smith was charged with money laundering, conspiracy to commit felony, and obtaining money by false pretenses, and is being held without bond.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-07
Actor-director Upendra and his wife Priyanka fell victim to a WhatsApp account takeover scam involving a fake delivery call from Dubai; when Priyanka clicked a malicious link and shared a WhatsApp linking code with the scammers, they gained access to her account and sent fraudulent money requests to her contacts using AI-cloned voice technology. Cybersecurity experts explain these scams exploit human behavior rather than technical vulnerabilities, with fraudsters posing as delivery agents, merging calls to capture WhatsApp codes, and impersonating victims to their networks. To protect against such fraud, users should never merge calls with strangers, avoid clicking unknown links, enable
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Dennis and Carole received a phishing email impersonating Sam's Club, offering a $100 reward for completing a survey; Carole clicked through and entered her email address but no credit card information. Although no immediate financial risk exists, scammers now have her active email address and may target her with more sophisticated phishing attempts or sell it to spam lists. The article recommends running antivirus scans, reporting the email as phishing, and considering data removal services to reduce future targeting.
inkl.com
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
This educational article identifies nine common email scams targeting retirees, including fake account lockouts, Social Security verification requests, Medicare renewal threats, suspicious activity alerts, unpaid invoices, delivery notifications, payment updates, prize offers, and tax return warnings. The article explains that scammers use urgency, official-looking logos, and authority figures to manipulate victims into clicking malicious links or providing sensitive data. The key defense strategies are to recognize panic-inducing language, verify communications through official channels rather than email links, and remember that legitimate institutions rarely request sensitive information via unsolicited emails.
dallasexpress.com
· 2025-12-07
Tejasvi Manoj, a 17-year-old high school senior from Frisco, Texas, was named 2025 TIME Kid of the Year for creating Shield Seniors, a website that helps older adults identify and report fraudulent emails and texts. Inspired by her 85-year-old grandfather nearly falling victim to an email spoofing scam requesting $2,000, Manoj developed the platform in response to FBI data showing seniors lost nearly $5 billion to scams in 2024. The website, still in private preview, aims to reduce stigma around elder fraud victimization and empower seniors to report scams.
futurism.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are increasingly using "SMS blasters"—portable cell-tower devices that send massive volumes of phishing texts to phones in their vicinity (500-2,000 yards away)—to conduct large-scale fraud campaigns. These devices can send 100,000 texts per hour, impersonate any sender, and downgrade phones to less secure 2G connections in under 10 seconds, operating outside legitimate mobile networks where providers cannot monitor or stop them. The technology, first seen at scale in Asia-Pacific regions, has now spread to Western Europe and South America, with arrests reported in the UK and Thailand, though the actual scams still rely on victims clicking malicious
ksby.com
· 2025-12-07
According to Pew Research, 73% of Americans receive scam attempts daily, with PayPal users being particularly targeted. Common 2025 scams include phishing emails claiming account problems, fake promotional offers, prize notifications requiring upfront fees, and seller fraud involving rerouted packages with false non-delivery claims. Experts recommend users avoid clicking email links, log in directly through PayPal's official website or app, use only verified addresses for shipping, and avoid unprotected "Friends and Family" payment options.
ic3.gov
· 2025-12-07
The FBI warns that threat actors are creating spoofed websites impersonating the legitimate FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov to steal personal information and money from unsuspecting victims. The fake sites use slightly altered domain names or misspelled words to deceive users into entering sensitive data like addresses, phone numbers, and banking information. The FBI recommends typing the official URL directly into your browser, avoiding sponsored search results, verifying the .gov domain, and never sharing sensitive information with unverified websites, while reporting any suspected spoofing to the genuine IC3 website.
civilbeat.org
· 2025-12-07
A Kailua woman received a voicemail from someone claiming to represent Hawaiian Electric Company, warning that her home utilities would be disconnected unless she called back immediately—a common scam tactic that exploited her vacation anxiety and inability to verify the claim. The article discusses how artificial intelligence and readily available personal information are making it increasingly easier for scammers to create sophisticated frauds, including voice-cloning technology that impersonates trusted contacts, with particular vulnerability among seniors and young people.
salemreporter.com
· 2025-12-07
In September, thieves stole approximately $188,000 in food and cash benefits from 424 low-income Oregonians enrolled in SNAP and TANF assistance programs using debit card skimmers placed on payment machines at retail stores, with an average loss of $450 per account. The theft rate more than doubled compared to July and August combined, with criminals testing small transactions before emptying entire account balances, and targeting low-income recipients because their cards lack the security features of credit cards. While the state can replace stolen TANF funds, it cannot replace SNAP benefits due to exhausted federal funding, and victims are also being targeted through phishing emails, texts, and fraudulent websites imperson
newser.com
· 2025-12-07
A Reuters investigation found that major AI chatbots (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Meta AI, and DeepSeek) can be easily manipulated into generating convincing phishing emails targeting seniors, despite their stated safety guidelines. Using simple workarounds such as claiming research purposes or instructing the bots to disable safety filters, researchers generated phishing emails that successfully deceived 11% of a test group of 100 senior volunteers into clicking malicious links. The findings highlight that AI tools are becoming increasingly valuable to scammers as elder fraud continues to rise.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A 78-year-old Rochester-area man lost $30,000 to a Publishers Clearing House prize scam that operated over six months, during which con artists repeatedly promised a $2.5 million prize while extracting fees under various pretenses. The article highlights that this case is representative of thousands of elder fraud crimes nationally, with federal authorities recently arresting eight people for defrauding 139 Western New York seniors of over $11 million through romance scams, imposter schemes, and identity theft. Common scams targeting seniors in the region include romance fraud, imposter scams impersonating government or businesses, and tech phishing, with scammers increasingly using AI and deep
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
A Malwarebytes survey of 1,300 adults across five countries found that iPhone users are more susceptible to online scams than Android users, not due to device differences but rather behavioral choices—53% of iPhone users reported falling for scams compared to 48% of Android users, with iPhone owners less likely to use security software, set strong passwords, or avoid suspicious deals and sellers. The research demonstrates that overconfidence in Apple's security reputation leads many iPhone users to take riskier online behaviors, emphasizing that device safety depends on user habits rather than the phone's built-in protections.
kfiz.com
· 2025-12-07
PayPal scams remain common, with scammers attempting to steal money and personal information through fraudulent invoices, overpayment schemes, and requests for unusual fees. Consumers should verify unfamiliar PayPal communications independently through official PayPal channels, avoid clicking links in suspicious messages, and never send money for purchases they didn't make or fees that seem unusual.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A national poll found that three in four adults ages 50-80 experienced scam attempts in the last two years, with approximately 30% losing money to fraud. The article identifies the most common scams targeting Western New York seniors, including romance scams, sweepstakes scams, imposter scams (government/business officials), grandparent scams, and tech phishing scams, and advises victims to disengage from suspicious contacts, verify requests independently, and report losses to the Federal Trade Commission, state Attorney General, or New York State Office of Victim Services.
pbcommercial.com
· 2025-12-07
The city of Pine Bluff issued a public warning about fraudulent emails and text messages impersonating the Pine Bluff Planning and Zoning Commission. Residents received reports of these scam communications, prompting city officials to alert the community to the impersonation scheme.
timesofmalta.com
· 2025-12-07
A Maltese woman lost €170,000 over seven years attempting to purchase a non-existent dog, while another victim lost his entire life savings to a romance scammer posing as a Canadian woman, and a third sent her pension to a scammer impersonating Pope Leo XIV on Facebook. These cases exemplify a wave of sophisticated online scams sweeping Europe that affect educated, high-earning individuals—with research showing 40% of Malta's highest earners have lost money to such schemes. Experts warn that scammers use psychological manipulation and emotional investment to exploit victims, and the financial losses are compounded by severe mental health consequences.
bu.edu
· 2025-12-07
Boston University students lost $624,300 to scammers between January and September, with 90 percent of losses occurring in four cases involving impostors posing as Chinese police or officials. The BUPD reports 29 total larceny scams occurred through multiple channels, with job/employment scams being most common among students, while authorities also warned of nationwide fraud schemes involving fake apartment rentals, fraudulent identity theft reports, and immigration-related extortion targeting international students. Key prevention advice includes not answering calls from unknown numbers, verifying direct contact with authorities through official channels, and never providing payment or personal information before viewing rental properties in person.
wealthmanagement.com
· 2025-12-07
Since 2024, seniors in the United States have lost over $1 billion to increasingly sophisticated scams that employ technology, psychology, and artificial intelligence to target victims. Common schemes include tech support hoaxes, fake bank fraud calls, and government impersonations, now enhanced by AI tools such as voice cloning and personalized phishing that make fraudulent contact more convincing. The article recommends key defenses including verifying caller identity through independent phone numbers, never sharing sensitive information, remaining skeptical of urgent demands, and reporting suspicious activity to financial institutions and the Federal Trade Commission.
knue.com
· 2025-12-07
According to a Federal Trade Commission report, young adults aged 20-29 in Texas are losing more money to scams than seniors aged 70-79, contrary to common assumptions. Young Texans are frequently targeted by phishing scams, fake job listings, and rental scams, particularly when they are time-pressured while searching for employment or housing. The report recommends that all age groups avoid sharing personal information online and verify the legitimacy of requests before sending money.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-07
Crime reporter Michael Wilson, an experienced scam observer, was nearly defrauded by scammers posing as Chase Bank employees using a spoofed phone number and social engineering tactics. The scammers attempted to trick him into sending $2,100 through Zelle by claiming fraudulent transfers had occurred on an account he never opened, using pressure tactics and a fake "supervisor" to build legitimacy. Wilson's skepticism—particularly when asked to meet in person to resolve the issue—broke the scam after 16 minutes, though the incident revealed that multiple people had fallen victim to the same scheme.
koreaherald.com
· 2025-12-07
South Korean police dismantled the Longge Company, a Korean crime syndicate based in Pattaya, Thailand, that defrauded 878 victims of 21 billion won ($15 million) through various schemes including voice phishing, bogus investments, romance scams, and "no-show" scams. Twenty-five suspects were arrested, with 21 in custody in South Korea and nine others, including alleged ringleader "Jaryong," detained in Thailand awaiting extradition. The investigation involved coordinated raids with Thai authorities and resulted in the closure of multiple operations run by the syndicate.
fox13now.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are increasingly using text messages and voice-cloning technology to target consumers, particularly the elderly, through sophisticated schemes such as fake toll notices, USPS delivery delays, and grandparent scams where AI-generated voices impersonate relatives claiming to be in jail. According to Utah's Division of Consumer Protection director Katie Hass, artificial intelligence has made scams more convincing by gathering personal information from social media and the web while eliminating typical red flags like spelling errors and poor grammar. To protect themselves, consumers should establish family passwords or safe words, avoid responding to unknown numbers, and take a moment to verify callers' identities before taking action.
rstreet.org
· 2025-12-07
A House Financial Services Committee hearing highlighted that fraud and scams cost Americans over $2 billion weekly, with the FTC reporting $12.5 billion in annual losses for 2024, though experts believe the true figure is significantly higher due to lack of unified tracking mechanisms. The testimony and accompanying research emphasize that combating this fragmented, internationally-organized problem requires a comprehensive national strategy with coordinated buy-in from social media companies, telecommunications firms, financial institutions, law enforcement, and government agencies, along with legal protections allowing institutions to share fraud data. Key scams affecting Americans include romance, sextortion, "pig butchering," AI-generated voice calls impersonating family members
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational article explains how fraudsters exploit social media platforms through fake accounts and purchased verification badges to deceive users. The piece outlines why social media is vulnerable to scams—including speed of information sharing, weakened verification systems, and users' tendency to lower their guard—and provides practical protective steps such as scrutinizing profiles before engagement, avoiding suspicious links, and using reverse image searches to verify authenticity.
whec.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages to New York residents claiming they need to take action to receive state inflation refund checks, using tactics like fake Philippine phone numbers and urgent time-sensitive demands to trick recipients into sharing banking information. At least one person fell victim and entered her card number; authorities advise that the state will automatically send refund checks to those who filed 2023 taxes and residents should never click links in unsolicited texts or provide financial information without verifying the source.
nbcdfw.com
· 2025-12-07
A North Texas small business owner fell victim to a sophisticated impersonation scam in which a caller posed as a Denton County Sheriff's officer, claiming she had a warrant for arrest related to COVID-19 pandemic relief loan fraud. The scammer used forged court documents, a convincing Texas accent, and panic tactics to convince her to pay a $3,500 bond through a payment app before her bank flagged and ultimately released the fraudulent transfer. Experts warn that AI voice-cloning technology and readily available personal information are making scams increasingly convincing and sophisticated.
berawangnews.com
· 2025-12-07
An 85-year-old woman from the South Shore lost over $10,000 in an "Apple Security" scam after receiving a phone call from someone impersonating an Apple representative who claimed suspicious activity on her account and pressured her to act quickly. The scam exploits elderly individuals' trust and unfamiliarity with technology through urgency tactics, requests for personal information, and follow-up calls. Police recommend preventive measures including education about common scams, verification techniques (such as hanging up and calling official company numbers), avoiding sharing personal information over the phone, and using only official channels to access accounts.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
Kimberly Stamps, owner of a mass-mailing prize notice fraud scheme, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud after defrauding thousands of elderly and vulnerable consumers of over $15 million between 2012 and 2018. The scheme involved sending millions of fraudulent notices claiming victims had won large cash prizes if they paid $20-$50 fees, then inundating responsive victims with additional fraudulent mailings while delivering only worthless trinkets or sweepstakes reports. Stamps has been sentenced as the third conspirator to plead guilty, and the Justice Department urges seniors to disregard unsolicited prize notifications and contact the National Elder Fraud Hot
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-07
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) warned the public against phishing scam e-mails with subject line "Refund Ticket" that falsely claim recipients are eligible for tax refunds due to overpayment. The scam e-mails contain malicious links directing users to phishing websites; Iras emphasized it never sends e-mails about tax refunds and automatically credits legitimate refunds directly to registered bank accounts or PayNow. In 2023, at least 52 people in Singapore lost approximately $2.3 million to similar Iras impersonation scams, with 79 percent involving fraudulent refund offers.
valuethemarkets.com
· 2025-12-07
A cryptocurrency hacker who illegally minted $48 million in UXLINK tokens fell victim to a phishing scam that tricked them into revealing sensitive wallet information, resulting in the loss of their stolen assets. The incident demonstrates how phishing attacks exploit human error rather than technical vulnerabilities, and highlights that even experienced cybercriminals are susceptible to sophisticated social engineering tactics. The case underscores the persistent threat of phishing schemes in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, where stolen funds often become targets for subsequent attacks.
coinfomania.com
· 2025-12-07
A hacker who stole over 542 million UXLink tokens (worth tens of millions of dollars) from the platform's multi-signature wallet subsequently fell victim to a phishing scam themselves, losing all stolen funds to a group called Inferno Drainer after unknowingly approving a malicious contract. The incident demonstrates that phishing attacks in cryptocurrency remain a widespread threat, affecting even experienced attackers who exploit similar vulnerabilities, and highlights the irony that sophisticated hackers are not immune to common Web3 security exploits.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-07
A Stark County man fell victim to a romance scam in which he sent hundreds of gift cards worth thousands of dollars to scammers, prompting the Sheriff's Office to issue a public warning. Additionally, Norton police reported a fake invoice scam targeting residents via email, with one applicant receiving a fraudulent invoice from someone impersonating the city's planning and zoning department for nearly $7,000.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-07
Two U.S. senators, Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), demanded that Match Group detail its fraud prevention efforts across its dating platforms (Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid) by October 15, citing concerns that the company's algorithmic design enables romance scammers to exploit user trust. Romance scams, which typically involve fake profiles that lure victims into relationships before requesting money or gifts, cost victims globally over $16 billion in cybercrime losses last year, with hundreds of millions attributed to romance scams specifically. Match Group responded that it has invested significantly in fraud detection and safety features, including a "
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-07
Two U.S. senators are demanding that Match Group, the parent company of Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid, provide records of fraudulent activities on its platforms and explain its fraud prevention measures, expressing concern that the apps' algorithms are vulnerable to romance scams. Romance scams on dating apps reached a record high in 2022, with 70,000 Americans reporting $1.3 billion in collective losses, averaging $4,400 per victim, with older adults particularly targeted. The senators cited multiple FTC complaints alleging the company enabled fraud through its business practices and algorithmic design.
einpresswire.com
· 2025-12-07
Kimberly Stamps, an Arizona woman, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for operating a mass-mailing prize notice scheme that defrauded thousands of elderly and vulnerable consumers of over $15 million between 2012 and 2018. The scheme involved sending fraudulent notices claiming victims had won cash prizes, requiring fees of $20-$50 to claim their winnings, with victims receiving only worthless trinkets or sweepstakes reports instead. Stamps, who violated a prior postal service cease-and-desist order, is the third and final defendant to plead guilty in the conspiracy.
thesylvaherald.com
· 2025-12-07
Thirteen individuals were arrested in a transnational elder fraud scheme that affected over 400 victims and caused more than $5 million in losses. These "emergency" or "grandparent" scams manipulate elderly victims by impersonating family members claiming to be in distress and requesting urgent financial assistance via payment apps or wire transfers, with perpetrators using social media research and increasingly sophisticated voice cloning technology to make their deceptions credible. To protect against these scams, victims should resist immediate action, verify stories directly with the actual family member, avoid sending money to unfamiliar payment methods, and contact police if they suspect fraudulent activity.
enews.wvu.edu
· 2025-12-07
statepress.com
· 2025-12-07
Online scams increased 33% in 2024 with losses exceeding $16 billion, with students being particularly vulnerable targets—Gen Z members are more than twice as likely to fall for scams compared to baby boomers. Students are targeted through various schemes including fake job opportunities, concert tickets, gift cards, and loan scams, primarily via mass emails and text messages, with most scams originating from outside the country. To stay safe, students should verify sender legitimacy, watch for red flags like unsolicited job offers, and utilize resources like ASU's Get Protected service and CISA advisories to stay informed about trending scam tactics.
thecharlottepost.com
· 2025-12-07
At a JPMorganChase-sponsored panel during the 2025 NABJ convention in Cleveland, financial and cybersecurity experts educated journalists about evolving fraud and scam tactics, noting that in 2024 the FTC received complaints totaling $12.5 billion in losses, with one in three Americans experiencing a scam in the past year. The panel distinguished between fraud (illegal account access) and scams (manipulation to extract personal information), and highlighted emerging threats including AI-generated impersonations that use social media information to create convincing fake communications from loved ones. Key prevention strategies include verifying sources, using two-factor authentication, and consulting trusted contacts before responding to suspicious requests.
liverpoolecho.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Evri has alerted UK customers, particularly iPhone users, about an escalating phishing scam where fraudsters send fake Evri profiles that, when downloaded, modify device settings and intercept personal information, resulting in unauthorized account withdrawals. The delivery company reports a 10% increase in phishing scams and has dismantled over 18,000 malicious scam sites and counterfeit profiles in recent months, while UK fraud victims lose an average of £765 each with 40% unable to recover any funds. Evri advises customers to watch for poor language, lack of personal details, and suspicious links when identifying delivery scams.
mitchellnow.com
· 2025-12-07
The Better Business Bureau warned South Dakotans about online used car scams after Sioux Falls resident Mike Henriksen nearly fell victim to fraudsters on social media who offered vehicles at suspiciously low prices with fake eBay payment links, claiming to be selling due to divorces or relocations. The BBB helped Henriksen identify the red flags and avoid losing thousands of dollars, advising consumers that unusually good deals on online car sales are typically fraudulent.
ksltv.com
· 2025-12-07
Personal information purchased on the dark web enables scammers to target victims with convincing phishing and fraud attempts, as data brokers and legitimate companies routinely sell consumer details to criminals. Scammers can purchase comprehensive personal profiles for minimal cost, combining information from apps, loyalty programs, and data breaches to execute romance scams, investment fraud, and account takeovers with credibility-enhancing details like names, addresses, and family information. Consumers should limit app downloads and data sharing, monitor accounts after breaches, and utilize new privacy laws allowing them to demand deletion of personal information.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Overpayment scams are rising in frequency and can leave victims thousands of dollars in debt by sending counterfeit checks for more than agreed amounts, then requesting the victim forward the difference to a third party before the fraudulent check bounces. Common variations include dog-walking services, online marketplace sales, mystery shopper jobs, rental deposits, and work-from-home equipment schemes, all following the same pattern of false urgency and fabricated legitimacy. Protection requires verifying payment methods, refusing third-party forwarding requests, using secure online payment systems, and reporting suspicious activity to the FTC and state authorities.
nationalpost.com
· 2025-12-07
Over 880,000 Canadian phone numbers and 85,000 email addresses linked to federal government accounts (CRA, Service Canada, CBSA) were stolen from multi-factor authentication provider 2Keys in August 2024, following a vulnerability exploited during a software update. Criminals used the stolen contact information to send phishing text messages directing victims to fake government websites designed to steal login credentials, though no fraudulent account access or compromised personal data was detected at the time of disclosure. The breach affected users of government web portals but did not expose sensitive personal information, as only contact details were stolen.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-07
A coordinated Interpol operation across 14 African countries resulted in the arrest of approximately 260 suspected cyber scammers involved in romance scams and sextortion between July and August. Over 1,400 victims, including many elderly individuals, lost a combined $2.8 million, with the operation also dismantling 81 cyber-crime groups and seizing numerous devices and forged documents. Ghana saw the most arrests with 68 suspects and $70,000 recovered from $450,000 in losses, while other countries like Senegal and Ivory Coast uncovered additional networks using fake profiles and blackmail tactics to defraud victims.
microsoft.com
· 2025-12-07
Researchers at University College London studied the "hi mum and dad" SMS scam, where fraudsters impersonate children to convince parents to send money urgently. Through collaboration with a UK mobile operator and undercover interactions with 711 scammers, the study identified 582 mule accounts and found scammers requested over £577,000 in a three-month period, primarily exploiting psychological principles of kindness, distraction, and time pressure. The research provides the first empirical analysis of this technique and recommends mitigations involving mobile operators and financial institutions.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Attackers are exploiting Apple's iCloud Calendar invite system to send sophisticated phishing messages that bypass spam filters by originating from Apple's official servers. The scam falsely claims unauthorized PayPal transactions and directs victims to call a fake support number, where scammers attempt to gain remote access to devices or steal sensitive financial information. Users should treat unexpected calendar invites with suspicion and verify claims directly through official company accounts rather than responding to embedded messages or calling provided numbers.