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aol.com
· 2025-12-07
This 2025 awareness article outlines emerging identity theft tactics enhanced by generative AI, including AI-powered phishing emails, voice cloning scams (which affect 1 in 4 people according to McAfee), deepfake videos, and synthetic identity creation. The article describes how criminals use these technologies to make fraudulent communications and fake identities increasingly difficult to detect, and advises readers to watch for warning signs such as unfamiliar account charges, unexpected credit accounts, credit score drops, and suspicious mail patterns.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Internet scams have evolved from crude 1990s email cons like Nigerian prince schemes to sophisticated AI-powered deepfakes that can convincingly impersonate voices and faces, with phishing attacks emerging in the early 2000s as online banking adoption grew. Despite technological advances making fraud more convincing and difficult to detect, successful scams continue to rely on exploiting fundamental human emotions—greed, fear, compassion, and loneliness—through predictable psychological manipulation patterns that create urgency and isolate victims from support systems. Understanding how scam tactics have evolved reveals that technological complexity often masks simple psychological manipulation, and recognizing consistent underlying patterns can help potential victims identify manipulation attempts regardless of delivery method.
themirror.com
· 2025-12-07
Social Security Administration officials warned of a scam targeting seniors that uses forged letters with fake U.S. Supreme Court letterhead claiming recipients are subjects of legal proceedings and have had their Social Security numbers compromised. The scam solicits personal information and money by falsely claiming the Supreme Court has frozen the recipient's assets and imposed limits on bank balances and investments. The OIG advised seniors to disregard such communications, verify information with others before responding, and report suspicious letters, texts, and calls to ssa.gov/scam.
wifr.com
· 2025-12-07
The Better Business Bureau warns job seekers to avoid employment scams, which ranked as the third most reported scam type from May to September 2025. Scammers use tactics including AI-generated communications, fake video interviews requesting personal information, and text messages claiming job selection to target vulnerable applicants; text message scams alone caused over $420 million in losses nationwide in 2024. The BBB recommends verifying companies through official websites, ignoring unsolicited job communications, and reporting suspected scams to the BBB Scam Tracker.
wlbt.com
· 2025-12-07
I don't have access to the full article content from this webpage. The text provided only shows the navigation menu, header information, and publication details for a WLBT news story titled "Department of Revenue warns of nationwide text phishing scams" (published October 11, 2025), but the actual article body is missing.
To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, please share the complete article text or body content.
13wham.com
· 2025-12-07
A Canandaigua woman fell victim to a Medicare card scam after receiving a call from someone posing as a University of Rochester Medical Center employee, to whom she disclosed her Medicare number, name, and benefit start date before hanging up when asked medical questions. The University of Rochester and Thompson Health are investigating the incident, which mirrors similar scams where callers offer to laminate Medicare cards, and authorities remind the public never to provide Medicare information unless they initiate the call to a medical provider.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are sending fake letters with forged U.S. Supreme Court letterhead to Social Security recipients, impersonating government officials and falsely claiming recipients are involved in criminal proceedings to coerce them into providing personal information and money. The letters, often followed by text messages and phone calls, threaten to freeze bank accounts and warn against holding more than $10,000 in savings. Seniors should disregard such communications, report them to authorities, and verify any Social Security-related claims through official channels or trusted contacts.
wlbt.com
· 2025-12-07
The Mississippi Department of Revenue has warned residents of an ongoing nationwide text phishing scam impersonating state government agencies, with fraudulent messages falsely claiming unpaid traffic violations, toll charges, or fines and requesting personal banking or credit card information. The department emphasized it does not send payment or personal information requests via text and advised recipients to delete such messages, avoid clicking links, and not respond to them.
cnhi.com
· 2025-12-07
Older adults aged 60-plus lost $3.4 billion globally to financial scammers in 2023, with fraudsters targeting this population because they believe older adults have substantial savings and are less likely to report crimes. The article describes five common scams targeting seniors: grandparent scams (emotional manipulation using impersonation), financial services scams (impersonating banks or debt collectors), tech support scams (the most frequently reported type), government impersonation scams (IRS/Social Security threats), and romance scams, all of which exploit trust, fear, or emotion to extract money or personal information.
komonews.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are conducting robocall campaigns claiming to approve loans of $150,000-$180,000 from fake lenders to consumers who never applied, attempting to extract Social Security numbers and bank account information when victims call back. The Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau report consumers are receiving aggressive "bursts" of these calls from different numbers daily, with fraudsters using convincing, friendly scripts that suggest an established relationship. Victims should hang up without responding, never call back, and can report suspicious calls to the BBB Scam Tracker or FTC.
techcrunch.com
· 2025-12-07
ZoraSafe, a startup founded by sisters Catherine Karow and Ellie Karow King, is developing a mobile app designed to protect older adults from scams and fraud while teaching cybersecurity through gamified learning. The app, launching within a month at $12.99/month, will feature QR code scanning for malware, SMS/email verification, community threat sharing, and future AI-powered detection of scam and deepfake calls with educational follow-up explanations. The company prioritizes privacy with 85% on-device processing and plans to expand to children, schools, and multiple languages.
dailyinterlake.com
· 2025-12-07
A free two-hour educational seminar titled "Scam Smart: Protecting Seniors from the Newest Scams" is scheduled for October 21 in Kalispell, Montana, hosted by state officials and community organizations to help older adults recognize and prevent fraud. The program will cover emerging scams including AI-generated calls, text phishing, cryptocurrency schemes, and investment fraud, providing practical strategies to protect personal information and finances. Seniors, caregivers, and community members are invited to attend free of charge, with advance registration required due to limited space.
abc6onyourside.com
· 2025-12-07
An 82-year-old in Northern Virginia was nearly scammed out of over $20,000 by a fraudster posing as a lawyer claiming to represent their son in a criminal case, complete with a crying man in the background for authenticity. The victim's family intervened before money was lost, and law enforcement coordinated a fake cash pickup that led to the arrest of Yordanys Rodriguez, 33, of the Bronx, who was found to be impersonating a law enforcement officer and is now facing charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining money by false pretenses.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Cybersecurity professionals are warning of an increase in scams targeting seniors, particularly pop-up and text message schemes that steal money and compromise victims' devices. The alert highlights the growing threat these digital scams pose to older adults' financial security and personal device safety.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-07
Employment fraud luring Cambodian victims has surged dramatically in Cambodia, with reports increasing from 4 in 2021 to 330 by August 2024, primarily targeting South Korean nationals through false job advertisements on Telegram and job sites promising high income. Victims are coerced into illegal online scams including voice phishing and romance fraud, with criminal gangs also targeting Korean nationals at restaurants to steal bankbooks and passports for money laundering. The Korean Embassy has limited ability to assist victims directly and recommends contacting local police via Telegram hotline 117, though rescued victims face detention and deportation after months of investigation for their involvement in financial crimes.
bbb.org
· 2025-12-07
Scammers create fake passport renewal websites that closely mimic official government sites, tricking consumers into paying fees to fill out renewal forms that are actually free on the legitimate state.gov website. Victims unknowingly provide personal and financial information on unsecured sites and may be charged multiple times ($68 reported in one case) before realizing they've been defrauded. To avoid these scams, consumers should verify they're on the official .gov website, research renewal processes in advance, and allow adequate time for legitimate renewals to reduce pressure to use fraudulent expedited services.
cantonrep.com
· 2025-12-07
Holiday decoration scams involve fraudulent online retailers advertising discounted decorations through social media and websites that deliver substandard miniature products or fail to deliver altogether, leaving consumers unable to contact the company or receive refunds. Reported losses range from $53 to $257 per victim. To avoid these scams, consumers should research unfamiliar vendors before purchasing, be skeptical of prices that seem too good to be true, avoid impulse buying on social media ads, and always use credit cards for online purchases to enable charge disputes.
wjla.com
· 2025-12-07
An 82-year-old in Northern Virginia nearly lost over $20,000 to a fake lawyer scam in October, where a caller claimed the victim's son needed legal representation and used emotional manipulation (including recorded crying) to pressure payment. Quick intervention by a family member and coordinated law enforcement stopped the fraud; investigators identified the scammer as Yordanys Rodriguez, 33, of New York, who used the name of a deceased attorney and was arrested in Pennsylvania on charges of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretenses, and was also found to be impersonating a law enforcement officer.
wlox.com
· 2025-12-07
Mississippi residents are being targeted by phishing text scams impersonating the Department of Revenue and Department of Motor Vehicles, with messages falsely claiming unpaid tolls, fines, or traffic violations and demanding immediate payment. The Mississippi Department of Revenue warns that these scams are designed to steal personal information, banking details, and credit card numbers, and emphasizes that the department never requests payment via text message. Residents are advised to delete such messages and not respond or click on any links.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-07
Online and text message scams are increasing in frequency and sophistication, with seniors being disproportionately targeted. Common scams include pop-up warnings that trick users into downloading viruses and calling fake tech support numbers, as well as text messages falsely claiming users owe money, offering jobs, or demanding toll payments. Experts recommend avoiding clicking links, refusing to share personal information, and using strong, unique passwords to protect against these evolving threats.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are targeting New Yorkers with text messages impersonating the Department of Taxation and Finance, falsely claiming recipients are eligible for "inflation refunds" and requesting personal and financial information. While New York State is legitimately issuing one-time inflation refund checks ($150-$400) to eligible taxpayers, the state explicitly does not contact people via text and will not request additional information; victims should report these scam texts to the Tax Department rather than responding to them.
themanchestermirror.com
· 2025-12-07
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office warns of increased phone and email scams in the region where callers impersonate law enforcement and claim victims have warrants or that their relatives are in jail, demanding immediate payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. The sheriff's office emphasizes that legitimate law enforcement never demands payment over the phone and advises recipients to hang up, avoid providing personal information, resist pressure for immediate action, and verify claims by calling Metro Dispatch directly at 734-994-2911.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-07
Qantas was among dozens of companies affected by a Salesforce cyberattack in October 2025, where hackers exposed passenger information on the dark web after a ransom was not paid. Affected customers are at risk of spear-phishing attacks, account fraud, and identity theft, with experts warning that criminals may use the exposed data months later to file fraudulent loans or impersonate banks and government agencies. Protection measures include enabling multi-factor authentication, updating passwords, monitoring financial statements, placing credit suspensions, and ignoring requests to download leaked files, which may contain malware.
crawfordcountynow.com
· 2025-12-07
First Federal Community Bank is promoting cybersecurity awareness during October, warning the public about the "I-shing family" of digital scams—phishing (fake emails), smishing (text messages), and vishing (phone calls)—which use artificial urgency to trick victims into sharing personal data. The bank emphasizes that legitimate companies do not pressure customers and is providing resources including printable guides and weekly online safety tips covering passwords, multi-factor authentication, device security, and protection for seniors and children.
betanews.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, cybercrime complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reached 859,532 with reported losses of $16.6 billion—a 51-fold increase in complaints and 2,400-fold increase in losses since 2000. Seniors were disproportionately affected, filing 147,127 complaints and losing $4.8 billion, while investment scams caused the highest financial losses at $6.6 billion despite phishing generating more complaints overall. Corporations have faced even larger aggregate losses exceeding $128 billion from major incidents over the past 37 years, with ransomware attacks causing the greatest corporate damage at over $6
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are impersonating the New York State Tax Department via calls, texts, and emails to trick residents into providing personal information under the false premise that they need to submit payment details to receive legitimate inflation refund checks. The phishing campaigns use urgency tactics and fake websites to steal sensitive data like Social Security numbers and banking information for identity theft, though eligible residents are automatically sent refunds without needing to provide any information or take action.
azcentral.com
· 2025-12-07
Phishing scams use fake urgent documents—purporting to be contracts, invoices, or banking forms—to create anxiety and prompt victims to click malicious links without thinking. Red flags include mismatched sender domains, suspicious links, generic wording, and pressure tactics like threats of account suspension. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links or attachments, verify sender authenticity by checking email headers (SPF, DKIM, DMARC results) or contacting the organization directly through official channels, and remember that legitimate documents should be expected before arriving.
kcra.com
· 2025-12-07
Delivery text scams impersonate legitimate shipping companies and toll agencies to pressure recipients into clicking malicious links or providing personal and credit card information by creating false urgency around package delays or missed toll payments. Scammers exploit convincing-looking messages that may install malware or steal financial data when clicked. To protect yourself, ignore unexpected texts if you're not expecting a package or haven't used tolls, verify sender legitimacy before clicking links, contact companies directly through official channels, and use official carrier apps to track packages independently.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-07
A Chinese court recently sentenced 11 people to death for operating an illegal scam network along the Myanmar border, but experts warn this represents only a fraction of a multibillion-dollar "pig-butchering" fraud industry spanning Southeast Asia and beyond. The schemes victimize two groups: those defrauded by romance or business scammers, and trafficked workers forced to perpetrate crimes in prison-like compounds under threat, torture, and modern slavery conditions. An estimated 220,000 people have been trafficked into online scam centers in Myanmar and Cambodia alone, with operations now identified in Serbia, Peru, Pakistan, and Africa, exploiting deepfake technology and evading enforcement through corrupt
blog.knowbe4.com
· 2025-12-07
A new report found a significant spike in SMS phishing (smishing) scams targeting Americans aged 18-29, with 30 percent of cyberattack victims reporting attacks began via text message or messaging apps in the past year, up from 20 percent previously. Nearly half of American consumers experienced a cyberattack or scam, with phishing being the most common type, and about 1 in 10 Americans overall losing money to scams. Security experts recommend protecting against these attacks through strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and privacy-protecting browsers.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
**Scam Type:** Fake settlement claim websites and phishing emails
Scammers are creating fraudulent websites and sending deceptive emails impersonating legitimate data breach settlement payouts (such as Facebook's $725 million and AT&T's $177 million settlements) to steal victims' Social Security numbers, banking information, and other personal data. To protect yourself, verify settlements through the FTC's official ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds site, watch for red flags like requests for complete SSNs, processing fees, urgent language, misspelled URLs, and grammar errors, and consider mailing claims directly rather than using links in emails.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-07
Online job postings in South Korea continue to recruit people for high-paying "telemarketing" positions in Cambodia, despite documented cases of Koreans being kidnapped, imprisoned, and tortured after accepting such jobs. The postings, offering salaries of 15-30 million won monthly, use reassurances about worker safety to counter awareness of these crimes, while related recruitment on platforms like Telegram and Carrot Market explicitly seek people to create fake bank accounts and transport fraudulent documents—indicating involvement in voice phishing and romance scams. South Korean police announced plans to block these suspicious job advertisements through cyber investigation.
maltatoday.com.mt
· 2025-12-07
A 70-year-old Maltese woman named Maria lost €568,000 in a romance scam after meeting a man on Facebook who claimed to be a surgeon in Gaza; over six months, she made 39 bank transfers to various accounts and even mailed €8,000 cash in a teddy bear to Germany before customs intercepted it. Her case exemplifies a surge in online fraud affecting Malta, with Bank of Valletta alone reporting €5.3 million in losses to clients by September 2024 (double the 2024 total), while an additional €2.2 million was prevented from being fraudulently transferred. Experts note that reported figures likely represent
switzer.com.au
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, Australians lost over A$2.03 billion to scams across 494,732 reported cases, with most enabled by technology through online or phone contact. Scammers exploit universal psychological principles—including need, greed, authority, distraction, and social proof—that are similar to legitimate persuasion techniques used in advertising and marketing, making everyone vulnerable regardless of expertise or background. Understanding these manipulation tactics can help people recognize and resist scams by questioning whether they're being rushed, whether claims seem too good to be true, and whether the request matches legitimate practices.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-07
Shruti Kaushik, a Senior Manager on TD Bank's cybercrime team, leads efforts to detect and shut down phishing, smishing, and vishing scams that fraudsters use to steal sensitive information from customers. The article highlights how cybercrimes are becoming increasingly automated and sophisticated, with particular concerns around fake text messages and spoofed calls, and emphasizes that customers should avoid acting on urgent requests and ignore suspicious communications rather than engaging with them.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-07
Crypto ATM machines at convenience stores across the U.S. have become primary tools for scammers targeting Americans, particularly seniors, who are tricked into depositing cash to resolve fabricated legal or financial emergencies. In one Arizona location alone, at least a dozen victims lost $118,000 in a year, including four people defrauded of a combined $54,000 in just four days. The crypto ATM companies profit significantly from these frauds through 20-30% markups on cryptocurrency transactions while largely failing to implement fraud-prevention measures, refusing victim refunds, and lobbying against protective legislation—with the FBI reporting Americans lost approximately $240 million to such scams in
patch.com
· 2025-12-07
The City of Temecula and Assemblymember Kate Sanchez are hosting a free "Senior Scam Symposium" on November 20 to educate older adults on identifying and preventing scams, including internet fraud, phishing, identity theft, and fraudulent phone calls. The event will feature keynote speakers from law enforcement, the FBI, and county officials who will discuss scam prevention strategies, legislative updates, and available resources to protect seniors and their families.
amac.us
· 2025-12-07
Inheritance scams deceive victims into believing a deceased relative left them money, then request payment for taxes or fees that never result in any funds being returned. A 41-year-old Nigerian man, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, pleaded guilty to defrauding over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans of more than $6 million through personalized letters falsely claiming to be a Spanish bank representative; he and eight co-defendants received prison sentences. To protect against these scams, seniors should recognize red flags like unsolicited claims, requests for personal information or unusual payment methods, and pressure tactics, and should report suspected fraud immediately to the FTC or law enforcement.
wglt.org
· 2025-12-07
The Better Business Bureau of Central Illinois reports a 70% increase in scam reports year-to-date (roughly 100,000 compared to 58,000 last year), with seniors age 65 and older being the hardest hit, experiencing median losses of over $6,000 from romance/friendship scams and sometimes losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. To address this rise, BBB leader Jessica Tharp is launching the Senior Scam Stop 2025 education series to combat the stigma around victimization and empower seniors with knowledge about common scams (including romance plots, grandparent scams, and Medicare fraud) and protective strategies.