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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud victims, particularly older adults, face a "double whammy" of financial losses when they liquidate retirement accounts to pay scammers, as they incur both the theft and unexpected IRS tax liabilities on the withdrawn funds. In the past year, 880,418 fraud complaints reported losses exceeding $12.5 billion, with current tax law treating stolen funds as taxable income rather than deductible losses. Lawmakers and advocacy groups like AARP are pushing for legislative changes to allow defrauded taxpayers greater tax deductions, and experts urge brokers and banks to better screen for unusual withdrawal requests that may indicate scam activity.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont, partnering with federal law enforcement agencies, conducted outreach events at senior centers in advance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15, 2024) to educate older adults about financial fraud and elder abuse. The outreach highlighted prevalent scams targeting seniors including government imposter schemes, tech support fraud, romance scams, grandparent scams, and lottery schemes, while emphasizing that elder abuse remains often overlooked and underreported.
wsbt.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal officials, including the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI, are warning that phone scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers using advanced software to spoof local phone numbers and impersonate law enforcement officers, judges, and federal officials to demand money via gift cards, bitcoin, or bank information under threat of arrest. The key prevention strategy emphasized by authorities is public awareness, as reporting suspicious calls to local law enforcement or the FBI helps track scammers, though officials note they can never completely control fraudulent calls and emails.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI and Identity Theft Resource Center report thousands of toll road scams targeting drivers since March, using text messages claiming small unpaid toll balances and directing victims to fake websites that closely resemble legitimate state toll services. If victims click the links and enter payment information, scammers can steal credit card details and personal information, potentially using credential harvesting to access financial accounts at banks and investment firms. To protect against the scam, consumers should ignore unsolicited toll payment messages, never click suspicious links, use unique passwords for each account, and enable two-factor authentication on financial accounts.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
Phishing scams reached record highs in 2023 and continued rising in 2024, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence to eliminate traditional red flags like spelling and grammar errors, making fraudulent messages more convincing and harder to detect. Once victims click malicious links in these deceptive texts or emails, scammers gain access to personal information to open fraudulent credit accounts, take out loans, or sell the data. The Better Business Bureau recommends only trusting account notifications you have explicitly signed up for and watching for red flags such as urgent language, requests for financial information, generic logos paired with suspicious messages, and unexpected account problems.
wtop.com
· 2025-12-08
Following a severe storm in Montgomery County, Maryland that damaged homes and trees, residents are warned about "storm chaser" scammers—unlicensed contractors who target vulnerable people with inflated repair costs while performing little to no work. The county's Office of Consumer Protection advises residents to verify contractor credentials, obtain multiple estimates, check reviews, and never pay more than one-third of contract costs upfront, as Maryland law requires written contracts and manufacturer warranties.
fox47news.com
· 2025-12-08
A wave of virtual kidnapping scams has targeted international students aged 18-22 in Australia, with at least four confirmed cases since August 2023. Scammers manipulate victims into staged kidnapping scenarios using fake photos and videos, then extort parents with demands exceeding $100,000 in some cases by threatening deportation or imprisonment. The FBI warns these schemes have evolved beyond traditional geographic hotspots and now affect victims across the U.S., exploiting family separation and the difficulty of verifying victims' safety remotely.
microsoft.com
· 2025-12-08
Pig butchering scams are romance and cryptocurrency fraud schemes where scammers build trust with victims through fake personas on social media or messaging apps before directing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms. After the victim deposits money into fake investment apps that show fake profits and allow small withdrawals to build confidence, scammers disappear with the funds. To protect against these scams, victims should verify identities through reverse image searches, maintain privacy, avoid discussing finances with new online contacts, and be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities.
wfmd.com
· 2025-12-08
Frederick Police reported 163 fraud cases in the area so far this year, with scammers targeting residents through phishing emails posing as banks and phone calls impersonating law enforcement claiming arrest warrants exist. Authorities advise citizens to avoid clicking suspicious links, never provide personal information, delete fraudulent emails, verify sender identity by calling institutions directly, and report incidents to police, noting that legitimate police never request money or call about warrants.
nbcwashington.com
· 2025-12-08
A wave of robocalls impersonating the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and D.C. Police scammed residents by claiming they needed to report to headquarters or face arrest, then directing victims to pay via cryptocurrency gift cards or mobile apps. At least one person lost hundreds of dollars in the scam, which generated hundreds of reports within 24 hours of beginning mid-week. Law enforcement officials stressed that legitimate police never request payment, cryptocurrency, bank information, or social security numbers, and urged residents to report any similar calls immediately.
wfmj.com
· 2025-12-08
An 85-year-old Boardman man was targeted in a grandparent scam where a caller impersonating his grandson claimed to be in jail, and a second caller posing as an attorney requested $9,500 to resolve the situation. The victim withdrew cash and attempted to ship it via UPS to Connecticut before his daughter discovered the fraud and contacted UPS to stop the delivery. This scam is part of a broader pattern tracked by the FBI, which received over 195 grandparent scam complaints from January through September 2023, resulting in at least $1.9 million in losses.
publicnewsservice.org
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud costs the nation $60 billion annually, with Michigan experiencing a rise in scams targeting the 22% of its population enrolled in Medicare. Common scams include imposters claiming to be from Medicare calling to verify personal information and healthcare providers billing for unnecessary services; seniors are advised to hang up on any calls claiming to be from Medicare, monitor their Explanation of Benefits monthly, and report suspicious charges. Last year, 23 Michigan home health-care operators were charged with Medicare fraud totaling over $61 million in fraudulent billings.
fox5ny.com
· 2025-12-08
New York residents lost over $30.2 million to romance scams in 2023, with 819 victims reporting an average loss of $36,931 each, according to a Social Catfish study. Scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to conduct convincing video calls while impersonating celebrities or wealthy individuals, often directing victims toward cryptocurrency investments with no recovery options. The study recommends reverse image searches, video chat verification, avoiding rapid declarations of love, and never sending money to online contacts to prevent victimization.
wgrz.com
· 2025-12-08
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a warning about rising online romance scams across the state, where fraudsters use dating apps, social media, and text messages to build trust with victims before convincing them to invest money or make purchases—a scheme known as "pig butchering." The Attorney General's office provided guidance to avoid these scams, including not wiring money to unknown persons, researching profiles for signs of fraud or AI-generated images, and being suspicious of individuals who avoid video calls, isolate victims from family, or pressure quick investments. Victims are encouraged to report suspected scams to their state Attorney General's office or law enforcement while preserving all communications as evidence.
fingerlakesdailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
New York's Attorney General issued a consumer alert about "pig butchering" romance scams, in which fraudsters befriend victims on dating apps, social media, and text messages before directing them to fake investment platforms. Scammers build trust over time, send fake screenshots of trading profits and luxury lifestyle images, then convince victims to invest tens of thousands to over a million dollars in cryptocurrency or foreign currency schemes before cutting off contact and making funds irretrievable. The alert advises New Yorkers to avoid wiring money to unknown contacts, verify identities through reverse image searches, be suspicious of excuses to avoid video calls or requests to use encrypted platforms, and never rush into investments.
daytondailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
An elder victim in Kettering, Ohio lost over $36,000 after clicking a phishing email and providing personal information to scammers posing as tech support personnel; she made payments totaling $5,000 by mail, $18,000 in cash, and $1,000 was stolen electronically before police arrested suspect Karan Karan during an attempted in-person money collection. The case exemplifies tech support scams, which the FBI reports were the leading type of elder fraud in 2023, causing victims 60+ over $3.4 billion in losses that year with an average loss of $33,915 per victim.
castanet.net
· 2025-12-08
A Kelowna businessman received a phone call from someone impersonating a FortisBC representative claiming his company owed over $900 in unpaid bills, using high-pressure and aggressive tactics to pressure him into immediate payment. Elliott avoided falling for the scam by repeatedly requesting to speak with a manager until the fraudsters hung up on him. FortisBC has confirmed this is a recurring scam where imposters use professional-sounding calls and aggressive pressure tactics to trick victims into paying fake utility bills.
bbc.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 19-year-old from Nottingham purchased Lantern Festival UK tickets as a birthday gift for her mother but became concerned about potential fraud after the June 1st Birmingham event was cancelled with only a week's notice. The festival has faced widespread scam allegations on social media, and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute launched an investigation in April; the organizer claims the cancellation was due to thunderstorm forecasts and has rescheduled the event for July 13th in Dudley, though the customer now doubts the festival will actually take place and fears losing her refund.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Joe John, an Ontario business owner and TD Bank customer, lost $38,300 after checks from his account were duplicated and fraudulently deposited through a mobile account in September 2023. Although the bank initially withdrew $60,800 and launched an investigation, it refunded only two of eight fraudulent checks and refused to reimburse the remaining amount, citing a 48-hour reporting deadline that John claims he was not aware of. The unresolved fraud has forced John to consider shutting down his business.
fintechnews.sg
· 2025-12-08
ASEAN's banking sector has experienced a significant surge in phishing and fraud scams, with over 200 DBS Bank customers in Singapore losing S$446,000 to SMS phishing in early 2024, and OCBC experiencing losses exceeding S$13 million in a 2021-2022 SMS phishing scheme. Singapore's scam and cybercrime cases increased by 49.6% to 50,376 in 2023, driven by rapid digital banking adoption, low digital literacy among elderly customers, and the cross-border nature of scams. Banks are strengthening defenses through biometric verification, AI-driven fraud analytics, and multi-layere
ag.ny.gov
· 2025-12-08
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert warning New Yorkers about "pig butchering" scams, in which fraudsters use dating apps, social media, and text messages to build romantic relationships with victims before manipulating them into fake investment schemes, often involving cryptocurrency or foreign currencies. Victims typically see fake account balance increases that encourage larger deposits, ranging from tens of thousands to over a million dollars, before scammers cut off contact and prevent withdrawals or demand prepayment of fees. The Attorney General recommends avoiding money transfers to unknown individuals, researching online profiles for authenticity, and reporting suspected scams to both the platform and law enforcement.
riverreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert about "pig butchering" romance scams, where fraudsters use dating apps, social media, and text messages to build trust with victims before convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency or foreign currencies. Victims are shown fake account statements showing gains, but cannot withdraw funds once they deposit substantial sums, at which point the scammers disappear. The Attorney General's Office encourages reporting suspected scams to the relevant platforms and law enforcement at 1-800-771-7755.
brooklyneagle.com
· 2025-12-08
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert warning of "pig butchering" scams, in which fraudsters use dating apps, social media, and text messages to build romantic relationships with victims before convincing them to invest money in fraudulent schemes. The scammers typically move conversations to encrypted platforms like WhatsApp or WeChat to hide their identities, gradually building trust before requesting investments. The Attorney General advises New Yorkers to vet recipients before sending money, research online profiles for AI-generated images, and be alert to sudden requests to use encrypted messaging.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Digital payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal are increasingly targeted by scammers, with customers at three banks losing over $870 million to Zelle fraud since 2017. Common scams include cash flipping schemes, phishing attacks, fake item sales, counterfeit tickets, software update tricks, and rental deposit frauds—all designed to trick users into sending irretrievable payments to criminals. To protect yourself, never click links from unsolicited emails, avoid paying sight unseen, use official app stores for updates, and verify requests directly through the payment app's customer service.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned in June of a rising work-from-home job scam where fraudsters contact victims with offers of simple remote work (like rating restaurants), show fake earnings on a fake interface, then demand cryptocurrency payments to "unlock" additional work—with payments going directly to the scammer. Red flags include job postings that overuse the word "optimization" and don't require references, and victims should be cautious of any employer demanding cryptocurrency as a condition of employment.
sent-trib.com
· 2025-12-08
The Perrysburg Township Police Department warned residents of phone scams targeting elderly people, citing an incident where a woman was nearly defrauded of $10,000 after being instructed to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM. The department emphasized that legitimate businesses never request payment via Bitcoin or gift cards, and cautioned against allowing anyone remote access to computers or bank accounts under the guise of IT security.
elkhornmediagroup.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Portland Division reported an increase in government impersonation scams where fraudsters pose as FBI or other federal agents and demand payment via cash, gold, or courier pickups, using intimidation tactics and threatening arrest. In 2023, 14,190 people nationally reported being victims of these scams with losses exceeding $394 million, with the Portland Division alone losing $1.7 million; adults over 60 accounted for 40% of victims but suffered 58% of national losses, with some experiencing home foreclosures, emptied retirement accounts, and suicides due to financial devastation. The FBI advises that legitimate federal agencies never call demanding money or threatening arrest, an
mysuncoast.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, the Bradenton Police Department investigated elder fraud cases resulting in nearly $2 million in losses, prompting the creation of a dedicated Elder Fraud Unit to combat these crimes. Recent cases include a woman who lost $50,000 after clicking a phishing scam on Facebook that directed her to call a fraudulent assistance number, with social media emerging as a particularly effective platform for scammers to target seniors. Police recommend that residents verify requests by calling companies directly rather than clicking links or responding to unsolicited messages, and warn that losses are expected to increase throughout the year.
fingerlakesdailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Title:** New York Department of State Warns of Elder Fraud Epidemic
The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection issued guidance on elder fraud following the FBI's 2023 report showing that scams targeting adults over 60 resulted in $3.4 billion in losses (an 11% increase from 2022), with the average victim losing $33,915. The advisory describes eight common scams affecting older adults—including medical device, grandparent, ghosting, jury duty, funeral notification, sweepstakes, IRS imposter, and free grant scams—and provides prevention tips such as resisting immediate action, verifying caller identity, an
troyrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
New York's Department of State Division of Consumer Protection released guidance on scams targeting older adults, noting that elder fraud caused over $3.4 billion in losses nationally in 2023, with the average victim losing $33,915. The advisory outlines common scams including medical device, grandparent, jury duty, funeral notification, and IRS imposter schemes, and recommends that seniors hang up on unrecognizable numbers, avoid unsolicited links, and verify requests through trusted phone numbers. Officials emphasized that elder abuse is widely underreported and urged anyone suspecting abuse to contact the New York State Adult Services Helpline at 1-844-697-3505.
messenger-inquirer.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP's Scam Prevention Guide addresses the growing threat of fraud targeting seniors through increasingly sophisticated schemes including fake pop-up warnings, romance scams on social media, grandparent scams involving multiple perpetrators, home repair fraud, and impersonation of government agencies like the IRS. The guide emphasizes that seniors are vulnerable to these scams because scammers exploit emotions like fear, loneliness, and the desire to help family members, with perpetrators using personal information and legitimate-sounding tactics to build trust. Protection strategies include not answering calls from unknown numbers, verifying social media profiles before accepting requests, and remembering that legitimate agencies like the IRS contact people by mail, not phone
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau reported a record-high 9,000 phishing scam reports in 2023, nearly doubling from the previous year, with scammers increasingly using text messages and other new technologies to target victims. Red flags include unsolicited emails, texts, and calls claiming suspicious account activity or requesting confirmation of financial information via links. The BBB advises consumers to verify the source of communications and avoid clicking links, noting that banks rarely contact customers via text or email except for fraud alerts, with younger adults (18-24) particularly targeted by text scams and seniors by phone calls.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old man from the US lost approximately $716,212 (Rs 6 crore) in a "pig butchering" romance scam after meeting a scammer posing as a wealthy Chinese woman named Violaine Chen on LinkedIn. The scammer built romantic trust over time, then convinced the victim to invest in a fake trading platform (Fuex) that showed false returns, and blocked withdrawal attempts while demanding additional fees. Despite FBI reporting, the victim was unable to recover his funds and suffered significant emotional and financial consequences.
malaysiakini.com
· 2025-12-08
A 60-year-old retired police officer in Batu Pahat lost over RM310,000 to a phone scam in which the caller impersonated a police officer from Perak police headquarters. The scammer convinced the victim through a fraudulent phone call, exploiting her trust in law enforcement authority to facilitate the financial loss.
wtsp.com
· 2025-12-08
Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida's "Protection of Specified Adults" bill into law, which allows banks to delay disbursing funds for up to 15 days if employees suspect seniors aged 65 and older or vulnerable adults are being scammed. Florida seniors reported nearly $300 million in losses from scams, the second-highest in the nation, with cases ranging from phone impersonation schemes to elaborate financial exploitation; the law takes effect in January 2025. Experts recommend protecting against scams by hanging up on suspicious calls, avoiding unverified links, and verifying requests directly with official sources rather than numbers provided by potential scammers.
uppermichiganssource.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan's Assistant Attorney General Kristen Stinedurf held a Zoom presentation at the Ishpeming Senior Center to educate seniors about evolving scam tactics, including urgency tactics, secrecy demands, and gift card scams. Attendee Joe Ellen Yeadon reported her bank account had been targeted three times, reflecting a broader community problem. Stinedurf advised seniors to hang up calls or delete texts when offers seem too good to be true.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Ishpeming Multi-Purpose Senior Center, in partnership with the Tri County Office of Aging, is hosting a free educational event to teach seniors and caregivers how to prevent fraud and scams targeting phone, text, and email. The event includes trained staff who help identify fraud, prevention strategies, and reporting procedures, with the center extending outreach to seniors with limited technology access throughout Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
broadbandbreakfast.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults' losses to fraud and scams have increased significantly, from $1 billion in 2021 to approximately $1.8 billion in reported losses in 2023, with the FTC estimating actual losses may reach as high as $48 billion when accounting for unreported cases. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to business impersonation scams (especially Amazon impersonation), romance scams, tech support scams, and investment scams involving fake cryptocurrency opportunities. Government agencies, tech companies, and nonprofit organizations are working to combat fraud through education, awareness tools, and new coalitions like Tech Against Scams, while also recognizing the significant mental and emotional health impact on scam
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
Two emerging scams exploit people's willingness to help others: the "borrow your phone" scam, where strangers ask to use your phone and secretly transfer money from payment apps to their accounts (stealing $150-$200 or more), and the "accidental deposit" scam, where scammers claim they mistakenly sent you money via Venmo and request you send it back, potentially involving fraudulent transactions. Experts recommend never handing phones to strangers and verifying overpayment claims directly with payment app customer support rather than trusting unsolicited requests.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
In January 2023, a Massachusetts workers union was defrauded of $6.4 million through a business email compromise (BEC) scheme in which scammers spoofed an investment consulting firm's email address (changing one letter) to request a payment information change. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture action to recover approximately $5.3 million in traced proceeds that were transferred through multiple intermediary accounts in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, and Nigeria before being seized from seven domestic bank accounts.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI issued a public service announcement warning of a surge in fraudulent work-from-home scams that pose as legitimate job opportunities, luring victims with promises of easy tasks and using tactics like impersonating reputable companies, requesting cryptocurrency payments, and displaying fake earnings on phony interfaces. Red flags include unsolicited job offers with simplistic descriptions, demands for upfront cryptocurrency payments, and no reference checks, while the FBI advises people to avoid sending money to unfamiliar entities and protect personal financial information. Experts emphasize trusting one's instincts about suspicious job offers and recognizing warning signs like confusing payment structures, particularly as remote work becomes more normalized.
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Portland Division reported an increase in scammers impersonating federal agents and government officials to extort cash and gold from victims, with couriers collecting payments directly from homes. Seniors over 60 are the primary targets, and in 2023, government impersonation scams resulted in over 14,190 victim reports nationally with losses exceeding $394 million, including $1.7 million in Oregon alone. The FBI emphasized that legitimate federal agencies never call or email threatening arrest or demanding money, and encouraged victims to report suspicious contacts to local law enforcement and the IC3 at ic3.gov.
heraldnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Washington residents lost approximately $250 million to fraud in 2023, with 53,269 complaints filed to the Federal Trade Commission—roughly $3.2 million per 100,000 residents. Imposter scams (22% of cases) and identity theft (14% of cases) were the most common fraud types, followed by online shopping fraud, bank and lender scams, and prize/sweepstakes schemes. Victims are advised to report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and avoid providing personal information to unknown callers, even those claiming to be legitimate authorities.
wfmynews2.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial exploitation represents the most common form of elder abuse in the U.S., with losses exceeding $28 billion annually, with the majority perpetrated by people known to the victim rather than strangers. AARP emphasizes that older adults' trusting nature makes them vulnerable to scams and fraud through email and phone calls. The organization is promoting World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2024, with a community event in Kernersville featuring education, document shredding, and medication disposal services to help combat financial exploitation.
spectrumnews1.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 140 million American adults have been victims of fraud according to AARP's Fraud Watch Network. Patricia Kaster lost approximately $1.7 million in a 2023 impersonation scam where fraudsters posed as her bank's fraud department and the FTC, convincing her to liquidate assets and sell her house by falsely accusing her of money laundering. The FTC reported that consumers lost $10 billion to fraud in 2023, and AARP recommends hanging up on unsolicited calls and avoiding providing money or information to unknown callers as key fraud prevention strategies.
ca.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
During Melbourne's lockdown, Australian comedian Michelle Brasier transferred $500 AUD to a man named Jacob on Facebook Marketplace for a discounted Pilates Reformer that was never delivered; when Jacob blocked her after refusing a refund, she tracked down his contact information and confronted him, discovering he had scammed multiple people. Rather than pursue legal action, Brasier chose to befriend Jacob after suspecting he was in personal distress, eventually establishing an ongoing relationship based on empathy and radical forgiveness.
thenevadaglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
A North Las Vegas woman lost approximately $9,000 in a sophisticated phone scam where a caller impersonated her bank, reported fraudulent charges, and convinced her to surrender her debit card to a fake courier who arrived at her door. The scammer used urgent pressure tactics, spoofed caller ID, and already possessed personal details like her address, ultimately gaining access to her account information after the victim handed over her card. The victim has filed a police report and contacted her bank, though recovery of the stolen funds remains uncertain.
indy100.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old pensioner lost his entire life savings of $715,000 in a romance scam after connecting with someone claiming to be a 37-year-old Chinese woman on LinkedIn. The scammer built an emotional relationship with the victim over months, using flattery and guilt-tripping messages to convince him to transfer his money, then disappeared once the transaction was complete. The victim reported the case to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
intouchweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams, which exploited approximately 70,000 Americans in 2022 resulting in $1.3 billion in losses (a 78% increase from 2020), typically begin on social media platforms (40% of cases) or dating apps where scammers build trust before requesting money for investments, emergencies, or travel. Older adults aged 65 and above are the most frequently targeted demographic and suffer the highest financial losses, with victims experiencing not only severe financial consequences but also profound emotional trauma including shame, betrayal, and lasting psychological harm.
fscs.org.uk
· 2025-12-08
This article from the Financial Conduct Services (FSCS) outlines common financial scams targeting their customers as of September 2025, including fraudulent compensation claims for failed firms like MH Carbon Ltd, London Court Ltd, and various investment companies. Key warning signs include unsolicited calls from non-FSCS numbers, requests for upfront payments, screen-sharing requests, emails with suspicious domains (not @fscs.org.uk), and mentions of URNs or compensation entitlements. FSCS emphasizes that legitimate claims are completely free and advises customers to verify communications directly through official channels and check the FCA register before providing any personal financial information.