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wrtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Hamilton County libraries launched free digital literacy workshops covering cybersecurity, email, internet, mobile devices, and videoconferencing to help community members, particularly older adults, safely navigate technology. The initiative addresses a critical need, as the FBI reported online elder scams caused $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, an 11% increase from 2022. Classes meet multiple times weekly and are open to seniors and small business owners seeking to build confidence and protect themselves from fraud.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Thirty New York organizations, including AARP, have signed a letter supporting Governor Hochul's proposal to allow banks to place holds on transactions suspected of involving elder financial exploitation. According to FBI data, elder fraud complaints increased 14% nationally in 2023 with associated losses up 11%, and New York ranks among the top five states for elder fraud complaints and monetary losses. An AARP survey found 88% of New Yorkers age 45 and older support the proposed measure to protect vulnerable seniors from scammers using sophisticated methods to target older adults.
nationthailand.com
· 2025-12-08
Metropolitan Police arrested five suspects, including Chinese national "Boss Zhou" and former Thai teacher Alisa, for operating a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded victims of over 91 million baht. The operation created fake online profiles to establish romantic relationships, then coerced victims into investing in a fictitious Singaporean TikTok shop, with funds ultimately laundered through cryptocurrency exchanges. A raid on their Bang Phli residence—identified as the operation's "nerve centre"—uncovered 102 active bank accounts, 70 debit cards, and links to 132 reported fraud cases.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A speaker will present "Break Your Bank, Break Your Heart: Avoiding Romance Scams" at the La Canada Community Center on February 28, 2025, addressing the growing threat of romance scams targeting seniors. The presentation will cover the warning signs of romance scams, how to avoid them, recovery strategies, common victim characteristics, and ways to strengthen emotional resilience against these emotionally and financially devastating schemes.
royalgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Bermuda police and banking authorities issued a joint warning about romance scams following approximately 15-20 reported cases over the past year. Scammers build fake romantic relationships online before requesting money for travel costs, emergencies, or other fabricated needs, with some victims losing thousands of dollars; additional extortion variants involve demanding money in exchange for not sharing intimate photos. Authorities advise potential victims to watch for warning signs including rapid relationship progression, requests for wire transfers or cryptocurrency, inconsistencies in profiles, and claims of being stranded overseas.
moonstone.co.za
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering" is a rapidly growing romance scam that combines fake romantic connections with cryptocurrency fraud schemes, primarily targeting victims on dating platforms and social media. South Africans lost over R125 million to online dating scammers in 2022, with scammers now using AI and deepfake technology to create increasingly convincing fake profiles and lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes. These operations, run by international crime syndicates that often exploit trafficked workers, build long-term emotional trust before pressuring victims to send cryptocurrency, which is then laundered through shell companies and criminal networks.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A 30-year-old Florida man was ordered to pay over $1.1 million for operating EmpiresX, a $100 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors across 50+ countries from 2020-2021. The article explains common crypto scams including Ponzi schemes, pig-butchering scams (which combine romance fraud with fake investment schemes), and advises protection strategies such as verifying investment legitimacy, being cautious of unsolicited financial offers, and understanding that cryptocurrency transactions are difficult to reverse or recover.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency remains vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated scams as technology advances. Experts warn of two major threats in 2025: AI-driven pump-and-dump schemes where scammers use hundreds of thousands of AI agents to artificially inflate coin prices before selling off for profit, and copycat token scams where fraudsters create fake or misleading tokens mimicking legitimate projects to deceive investors seeking ground-floor opportunities. The article advises investors to be suspicious of sudden price surges without history, conduct thorough due diligence on projects and founders, and avoid rushing into investments based on FOMO (fear of missing out).
6abc.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity experts report a 77% increase in tax-related phishing attempts during the 2023-2024 filing season, with scammers impersonating IRS officials and tax preparers to steal personal information and commit identity theft or fraudulent tax filings. Americans lost $5.5 billion to tax scams in 2023, and current schemes specifically target the recovery rebate credit by claiming victims must provide personal information to receive automatic payments. Experts recommend filing taxes early, ignoring unsolicited communications, verifying preparers' credentials through IRS.gov, and reporting suspicious messages rather than engaging with them.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Queens woman lost nearly $700,000 to scammers who posed as FTC officials and claimed her Social Security number was compromised, convincing her to drain her bank accounts and purchase gold bars and coins as "asset protection." The scammers maintained contact for over a month, threatened her with surveillance and jail time to prevent disclosure, and disappeared after collecting the gold and cash via courier; her family discovered the fraud only when she posted a GoFundMe page on Facebook. This elaborate scheme involving spoofed phone numbers, fake government emails, and precious metals represents a variation of investment scams targeting seniors that the FBI has previously warned about.
vox.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message scams have become a sophisticated and growing threat, with complaints increasing 500 percent from 2015 to 2022 as scammers use AI and personal data to craft convincing, targeted messages about unpaid fines, packages, and other common scenarios. In 2024 alone, phone scammers stole over $25 billion, averaging $450 per victim, with risks increasing when messages include personal details like names or addresses. The article advises consumers to verify suspicious texts independently, avoid clicking links from unknown senders, and recognize red flags like unusual domain extensions, as human vigilance remains the most effective defense against increasingly sophisticated text fraud.
nbcphiladelphia.com
· 2025-12-08
I appreciate you sharing this, but I'm unable to provide a summary. What you've provided appears to be navigation menu and header content from an NBC10 Philadelphia webpage, rather than an actual article about a scam, fraud, or elder abuse case.
To create a summary for the Elderus database, please share the actual article text or content that discusses a specific fraud incident, scam, or elder abuse case. I'll then provide a concise 2-3 sentence summary focusing on what happened, who was affected, the type of scam, and relevant outcomes or dollar amounts.
nbcdfw.com
· 2025-12-08
Immigrants in the United States have been targeted by impostors posing as ICE agents who use phone calls, texts, emails, and in-person visits to threaten victims with arrest and deportation unless they pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in fake fees. According to the Federal Trade Commission, impostor scams resulted in $2.7 billion in losses in 2023. Legitimate ICE agents do not call to warn of imminent arrest, request financial information, or demand money to dismiss investigations.
cardrates.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that financial scams against older Americans in 2023 resulted in losses as high as $61.5 billion, with individuals over 60 reporting fraud more frequently than any other age group. Tech support fraud, where criminals impersonate legitimate tech employees to gain access to victims' accounts, is the leading fraud type targeting seniors. Huntington Bank launched a Caregiver Banking program in December 2024 that allows older adults and those needing financial assistance to securely share account access with trusted caregivers or family members to help prevent fraud exploitation.
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
43-year-old Aurora Phelps of Las Vegas was charged in a 21-count indictment for running a romance scam targeting older men through online dating services between July 2021 and December 2022, during which she allegedly drugged victims and stole from their bank accounts. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping, with a potential life sentence if convicted on all counts. The FBI is seeking additional victims and has established resources including a dedicated webpage and the National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311) for those 60 and older who may
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Five defendants were convicted in a conspiracy to steal $1.1 million in retirement funds from 25 different 401(k) accounts belonging to elderly retired Florida school district employees between January and March 2022, with insider Vargas, who worked for the retirement fund company, orchestrating fraudulent withdrawal forms faxed to the company. The conspirators face up to 20 years in prison, with four defendants facing a mandatory minimum of two years, and sentencing is scheduled for April 28, 2025.
theonlinecitizen.com
· 2025-12-08
Malaysia's Foreign Minister revealed that some Malaysians trapped in job scam syndicates operating in Myanmar and Thailand may actually hold senior positions within these criminal organizations, with authorities having rescued 271 Malaysians so far while searching for 154 others. The minister indicated that some "rescued" individuals may not wish to return home due to their managerial roles in the syndicates, and noted that job scam victims come predominantly from Johor (19%), Selangor (13%), and other states. Thailand is simultaneously repatriating 200 Chinese nationals trafficked to scam operations in Myanmar as part of a broader effort to relocate over 1,200 trafficking victims from the Thailand-Myanmar
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Middlesex County, New Jersey is hosting a free Senior Fraud Prevention Conference on March 14, 2025, in partnership with the County Prosecutor's Office to educate older adults, caregivers, and service providers about scams targeting seniors. The conference will cover common fraud schemes including online, phone, and door-to-door scams, with expert guidance from law enforcement on protecting personal information and financial security. Registration is required and closes March 10.
brandonsun.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old Winnipeg woman narrowly avoided a lottery scam when a caller claiming to represent Lotto Max offered her $150,000 and a Range Rover, then requested a $2,000-$3,000 bank draft as an upfront fee. According to TD Bank fraud data, nearly 600 Manitobans were defrauded of over $36 million in the first nine months of 2024, with 31 percent of Manitoba and Saskatchewan residents reporting victimization by financial fraud, though only 14 percent feel confident detecting scams.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Romance Scam with Drugging and Theft**
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, was indicted on 21 counts including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping for allegedly meeting older men through online dating services, drugging them, and stealing money from their financial accounts between July 2021 and December 2022. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces up to life in prison if convicted, and the FBI is actively seeking to identify additional victims through an investigative website.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Alfred's family discovered unusual bank transactions and learned that their father had fallen victim to multiple scams over several years, including romance fraud involving an impostor posing as WWE wrestler Alexa Bliss, as well as advance-fee schemes. Despite his sons' efforts to protect him, Alfred believed he was helping friends in need and paying legitimate bills, leading to family conflict and legal action between father and son over the attempts to stop the fraudulent transactions.
myfox28columbus.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams use psychological manipulation and fake online profiles to deceive victims into sending money or sharing sensitive information, typically involving scammers who maintain frequent contact, offer excessive flattery, and make excuses to avoid in-person meetings. Warning signs include profiles that seem "too good to be true," claims of military service or remote work commitments, and pressure for quick emotional connection. Zelle and other payment platforms recommend consumer education and technology-based protections to help users identify and avoid these schemes before experiencing emotional and financial losses.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Tens of thousands of people are believed to be held in illegal scam compounds operating in Myanmar near Thailand's border, run by approximately 30-40 Chinese criminal gangs that force trafficked workers from over 30 nationalities to conduct online fraud targeting victims worldwide. Thailand has launched a major crackdown, and officials estimate these operations generate $63.9 billion annually in global scam revenue, with victims subjected to violence and held against their will after being lured with false job promises. Repatriation efforts are underway, with authorities screening returnees to determine whether they are human trafficking victims or willing participants in the criminal schemes.
nbcbayarea.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting immigrants with fraudulent schemes exploiting fears about deportation and immigration enforcement, including impersonating ICE agents over the phone, demanding money, and falsely promising to expedite citizenship or immigration paperwork. One San Jose hair salon owner lost $7,000 to such a scam, and immigration attorneys report hearing about similar cases weekly. Authorities warn that ICE does not contact people directly via phone, advise verifying lawyers through the State Bar of California website, and urge victims to report financial crimes to police despite immigration concerns.
rbcwealthmanagement.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency investments carry substantial risk and have become a prime target for scammers, with crypto-related fraud losses reaching $5.6 billion in 2023, a 45 percent increase from the previous year according to the FBI. Common crypto scams include fake investment opportunities promising guaranteed returns, phishing schemes using counterfeit websites, celebrity endorsement fraud, and Ponzi schemes that recruit investors but misuse funds. Individuals considering cryptocurrency investment should familiarize themselves with these scam tactics and verify the legitimacy of any platform before providing personal information or money.
fox6now.com
· 2025-12-08
Finance professor Dan Roccato provides guidance on protecting tax refunds during tax season, when scammers employ increasingly sophisticated tactics to target taxpayers. The educational segment emphasizes the need for vigilance and protective measures during this high-risk period for fraud.
ingstadmedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Olivia Police arrested two men in connection with a phone and computer scam targeting a resident whose computer was compromised. The victim was deceived into handing over cash to a courier on February 11, and was then contacted again with a demand for an additional $40,000. Police arrested the two suspects when the courier arrived at the victim's residence on Monday, and one suspect was also flagged with an immigration hold by ICE.
digit.in
· 2025-12-08
A 40-year-old software engineer in India lost Rs 33.75 lakh in a share trading scam after being added to a messaging group where a fraudster posing as a stockbroker lured him with promises of high returns through fake trading software and IPO investments. After the victim transferred money to multiple bank accounts, the scammer prevented him from withdrawing or selling his shares. To avoid such scams, verify trading platforms through official channels, avoid unsolicited investment groups, be skeptical of unusually high returns, watch for red flags like restricted withdrawals, and report suspected fraud to authorities immediately.
realestate.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Scammers posing as landlords are targeting Victorian renters, particularly international students and young women, with fake rental listings on online platforms to steal deposit payments before disappearing. Cases include four Monash University students who lost $2,400 to a fraudster in 2023, and scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics such as stolen photos, fake agent details, and high-pressure sales tactics to force payments before property inspections. Real Estate Institute of Victoria leadership has called for a dedicated rental scam reporting platform to help authorities hold fraudsters accountable, noting that the competitive rental market and housing crisis make renters more vulnerable to these schemes.
willmarradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Two individuals were arrested in Olivia, Minnesota after attempting to collect cash from a resident through a computer and phone scam that compromised the victim's computer. The victim had already handed over an unspecified sum of cash to a courier on February 11, 2025, and the scammers subsequently demanded an additional $40,000; officers arrested both suspects at the victim's residence when the courier arrived to collect the second payment. One suspect has been flagged with an immigration hold by ICE, and the case remains under investigation by the Olivia Police Department and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
chicagotribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Naperville residents reported losing nearly $5.5 million to scams in 2024, representing a dramatic increase from previous years, according to police authorities. The most common fraud schemes included arrest warrant extortion, "pig butchering" (romance/investment scams), phishing, and online marketplace fraud, with victims ranging from age 15 to 91. Police note that actual losses likely exceed reported figures, as many victims don't report due to shame, and funds paid via gift cards or cryptocurrency are rarely recoverable.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) warned users about the "call merging scam," in which fraudsters trick victims into revealing one-time passwords (OTPs) by calling them about an opportunity, then merging the call with a fake "friend" who is actually another scammer posing as the victim's bank. Once the victim unknowingly connects to a bank verification call and shares their OTP, the scammers complete unauthorized financial transactions. To protect themselves, users should avoid merging calls with unknown numbers, verify caller identities before sharing information, remember that banks never request OTPs over phone calls, and report suspicious activity to authorities immediately.
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
A thriller writer whose husband ran a fitness company fell victim to an investment scam despite her extensive study of con artist psychology. The con artist, using a generic name and fake LinkedIn credentials, exploited the couple during a vulnerable period—the husband was financially stressed from a struggling post-pandemic business while the wife was severely ill during pregnancy. The fraudster used emotional manipulation, fabricating stories about fatherhood and sharing fake family photos, to build trust and eventually defraud them of funds for promised business expansion.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 62-year-old former Chinese businessman in Seremban lost RM4.2 million to a scam syndicate posing as police officers, who contacted him via WhatsApp claiming he was involved in a money laundering case and instructed him to make transfers and deposits to company accounts. Police data shows that from January to December the previous year, there were 105 investigation papers filed related to Macau scam cases involving RM1.89 million in losses. Authorities advise the public to be cautious of unsolicited calls or messages from individuals claiming to represent agencies and requesting payments, and to never share banking information.
moneywise.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans receive an average of two scam calls and three scam texts weekly, with reports showing $12.5 billion lost to cybercrime in 2023 alone. AI-powered scams are increasingly sophisticated, including AI-generated fake voice recordings and photos (particularly grandparent scams with fake mugshots), enhanced phishing emails with professional formatting, and counterfeit e-commerce websites using pressure tactics and chatbots to extract personal information. Protection strategies include verifying unexpected requests through independent contact, being skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true, and using security software that can detect suspicious websites and content.
americanbar.org
· 2025-12-08
This article provides guidance for seniors on safely using AI-driven dating apps, emphasizing the importance of creating authentic profiles while protecting personal privacy and recognizing common scam tactics. Key advice includes using clear photos, writing vague bios that avoid specific details, asking thoughtful questions during conversations, enabling two-factor authentication, and immediately blocking and reporting suspicious profiles—particularly those requesting money or rushing conversations off-platform. The article also addresses professional considerations for senior professionals, recommending they maintain separate personal and professional identities online.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of 23 state attorneys general in filing an amicus brief to support the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and its federal employees, following the Trump administration's directive to halt ongoing investigations into deceptive and abusive financial conduct. The CFPB has returned over $20 billion to defrauded consumers since its 2011 creation, and the coalition warns that shutting down the agency could reduce oversight of major banks and prevent consumers from reporting fraud, potentially recreating conditions similar to those preceding the 2008 financial crisis.
kyberturvallisuuskeskus.fi
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Romance scams involve criminals posing as fictitious individuals online to build emotional relationships with victims before requesting money. The NCSC-FI advises victims to immediately cease contact with the scammer, contact their bank if money was transferred, document communications, report to police, and seek support from organizations like Victim Support Finland and Nettideittiturva, emphasizing that falling victim is not the victim's fault but rather a result of systematic manipulation.
murraypioneer.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are increasing among online daters and social media users, with scammers using emotional manipulation and false affection to extract money from victims. The warning advises Riverlanders to exercise caution when forming romantic relationships online and to be alert to common tactics used by fraudsters seeking financial gain.
americanbar.org
· 2025-12-08
This article describes a romance scam targeting Casey, a lonely widower who met "Aubrey" in an online gardening chatroom and was gradually manipulated into depositing money into a joint account for cruise tickets, clothing, and a property down payment that never materialized. Research shows that older adults are particularly vulnerable to romance scams, with seniors losing approximately $139 million to this scam category in 2020, and that loneliness can impair cognitive performance and increase susceptibility. The FBI recommends protective measures against romance scams, and the publication is launching a "Scam of the Month" feature to educate readers about fraud tactics.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A widespread "smishing" scam is circulating across the U.S. via text messages impersonating legitimate toll road services like FastTrak and EZ Pass, with fake links directing victims to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal and financial information. The FBI and FTC advise recipients to avoid clicking links, verify toll balances directly through official websites or customer service, report suspicious texts, and file complaints if they have already clicked malicious links or shared information.
kkco11news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Mesa County Sheriff's Office warns residents about common cyber scams targeting hundreds of victims daily, including fraudulent calls impersonating government agencies or financial institutions, computer virus scams, and money-demanding calls. Law enforcement officials emphasize that evolving technology makes these scams difficult to investigate and recovery unlikely, and advise people to trust their instincts, disengage from suspicious communications, and report incidents immediately. The department offers a monthly fraud prevention community class series to increase awareness and prevention in the area.
kkco11news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Mesa County Sheriff's Office warns residents of common online scams, including fraudulent calls from individuals impersonating government agencies, financial institutions, or tech support claiming computer viruses. Law enforcement advises people to trust their instincts, disengage immediately if something seems suspicious, and contact police right away, while noting that prevention through awareness is the most effective deterrent since stolen money is difficult to recover due to evolving technology.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Marion Tyler from County Antrim lost £2,000 after calling a scam number she found online while trying to contact loveholidays about her holiday booking; the scammers obtained her one-time passcode and gained access to her account. The family reported a potential security loophole in loveholidays' authentication system, as the daughter-in-law was able to access Marion's account even after login details were changed, suggesting scammers could repeatedly gain entry. The case has been reported to Action Fraud and the Information Commissioner's Office, with the family working to recover the funds while loveholidays maintains that its two-factor authentication process is secure.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Two young men with Irish accents targeted multiple shops across Scotland, including Hamilton and Blackwood, attempting to use counterfeit £20 Bank of England notes that were sophisticated enough to pass UV light tests. Shop owners identified the pair through social media alerts and reported incidents at five stores, with one store manager managing to recover the fake note before the transaction completed. The National Crime Agency warned that counterfeit currency operations have evolved to use high-quality offset lithographic and digital printing methods, advising the public to check for specific security features such as the printed number "20" and small windows on authentic notes, and to report counterfeits to police.
newindianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
The call merging scam is a phishing method where fraudsters pose as acquaintances or professionals and trick victims into merging phone calls, then exploit the merged line to capture one-time passwords (OTPs) from banking apps and complete unauthorized transactions. The scam works by timing the call merge with a victim's bank OTP verification, causing the victim to unwittingly share sensitive authentication codes that enable account theft. The National Payments Corporation of India warns users to avoid merging calls with unknown numbers, never share OTPs over the phone, and immediately report suspicious OTP receipts to prevent financial loss.
islandpacket.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "What can I do about all these scams? Tips and tricks to keep you and your loved ones safe"
Beaufort County, South Carolina residents—particularly older adults—face a high risk of scams, with the state ranking seventh nationally for fraud cases. Common schemes targeting seniors include cryptocurrency scams (up 900% since 2020), contractor fraud, phone solicitation, and religious impersonation scams. The FTC advises identifying scams by recognizing when scammers impersonate legitimate organizations, create false urgency or prize claims, and pressure immediate action or unusual payment methods.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting senior citizens and pensioners through sophisticated digital scams including QR code fraud, OTP theft, fake investment schemes, malicious apps, and impersonation of bank representatives and government officials, resulting in significant losses of lifelong savings. Cybersecurity experts attribute these attacks to seniors' limited awareness of digital threats and recommend education and vigilance in identifying fraudulent tactics such as fake customer service numbers and online marketplace scams. An awareness webinar organized by FCRF and Paytm on February 24, 2025, aims to help seniors learn how to identify scams, protect their bank accounts, and report cyber fraud.
bangkokpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Malaysian authorities raided a luxury residence in Kuala Lumpur operating as an international scam call centre, arresting 42 foreign workers including six Thai nationals who were employed to conduct investment, gambling, and romance scams generating approximately 1.13 million baht daily. The suspects, aged 23-54 from multiple countries, confessed to earning around 30,080 baht monthly and targeted victims via Facebook, TikTok, WeChat, Telegram, and WhatsApp across Malaysia and internationally. Police seized 100,000 ringgit in cash along with phones, computers, and scam manuals, while the alleged syndicate leader, a Chinese national, remained at large.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams in the UK have become increasingly sophisticated and target all demographics, not just the elderly—16–34 year olds actually account for half of online fraud victims due to their frequent use of quick payment methods and distracted smartphone habits. Fraud is the UK's most common crime with an estimated nine million victims last year, yet only one in 1,000 reported cases results in conviction, with scammers employing tailored techniques ranging from AI deepfakes in video calls to romance baiting on dating apps. The article emphasizes that no online platform is safe and that even highly educated, tech-savvy individuals are vulnerable to sophisticated social engineering tactics.