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in Scam Awareness
fincen.gov
· 2025-12-08
FinCEN is alerting financial institutions to monitor for relationship investment scams as part of the multiagency #DatingOrDefrauding campaign, noting that romance and confidence scams resulted in over $650 million in losses reported to the FBI in 2023. The agency highlights that scammers use dating apps, social media, and text messages to build fake relationships and deceive victims into cryptocurrency and investment schemes, with particular vulnerability among older adults. FinCEN provides guidance on identifying "pig butchering" scams and other romance fraud patterns so financial institutions can file Suspicious Activity Reports to aid law enforcement investigations.
americanbar.org
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational piece for estate planning practitioners on protecting vulnerable clients from elder financial exploitation. The article advises practitioners to first ensure their own cybersecurity and document security measures are adequate, then implement firm-wide policies to recognize and prevent elder exploitation, including staff training to identify "procurement" schemes where beneficiaries control client access and educating aging clients about securing sensitive documents through digitization and secure storage. Key recommendations include developing protocols for suspected exploitation, obtaining trusted contact information, and incorporating security discussions into estate planning conversations to address risks from identity theft, document loss, and abuse.
loveballymena.online
· 2025-12-08
Mid & East Antrim Agewell Partnership is hosting "Challenging the Scamdemic," a free scam awareness conference on March 19, 2025, at The Braid Arts Centre in Ballymena to educate the public about recognizing, preventing, and reporting financial fraud. The event will feature industry experts, government representatives, and scam victims sharing insights, with a particular focus on protecting older and vulnerable individuals in the community who have been increasingly targeted by fraudsters.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS released its 2025 "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams, warning taxpayers about fraudulent schemes that proliferate during tax season and can delay legitimate refunds or lead to identity theft. Key scams include misleading tax advice on social media (particularly encouraging fake W-2 forms), fraudsters posing as helpers to create IRS online accounts to steal personal information, and promotion of nonexistent "self-employment tax credits" falsely marketed to gig workers and the self-employed. The IRS warns that victims risk identity theft, unauthorized bank account access, and significant civil and criminal penalties for unknowingly filing fraudulent returns.
clickondetroit.com
· 2025-12-08
Matthew Mencarelli, a 39-year-old from Kent County, Michigan, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for defrauding 15 investors of $1.6 million through a Ponzi-like scheme that began in 2018. He solicited funds from family and social acquaintances by falsely claiming to have lucrative infrastructure contracts in Traverse City, guaranteed high returns, and used the money for personal expenses including a $400,000 home while using new investor funds to pay earlier investors. When unable to repay investors, he allegedly threatened them and forged documents to perpetuate the fraud.
wnem.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly Nebraska couple nearly fell victim to a impersonation scam where a fraudster posing as a U.S. marshal texted them to trick them into withdrawing money via Bitcoin ATM. The FTC reported that Bitcoin ATM-related scams caused over $110 million in losses in 2023, with seniors being disproportionately targeted, though a Good Samaritan intervened to prevent this couple's loss.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
A PYMNTS Intelligence report reveals that approximately 30% of U.S. consumers (77 million people) lost money to scams in the past five years, with most losses exceeding $500. The research shows that scammers personalize their tactics by targeting different demographics through preferred communication channels—using social media for Gen Z, email and phone calls for older adults—and tailoring messaging to exploit specific vulnerabilities such as investment fears for high-income individuals and benefits fraud for lower-income groups. Key manipulation tactics include posing as trusted figures like employers (86% of job scam victims) or debt collectors (83% of victims), as well as using coercion through threats or financial incent
quickcountry.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Minnesota and Iowa are targeting elderly residents with a "bail scam" where they claim a family member has been arrested and demand immediate payment to secure their release. The scam escalates by claiming a gag order prevents victims from telling anyone and requesting in-person payment, making the money impossible to recover. Law enforcement urges residents to inform elderly family members and report any such calls.
tribune.com.pk
· 2025-12-08
A Chinese man identified as Liu lost approximately £22,000 (200,000 yuan) to an AI-generated romance scam involving a fictional woman named Ms Jiao, who sent him personalized messages, photos, and videos created with generative AI technology. The scammers manipulated Liu by claiming his "girlfriend" needed money for medical bills and business expenses, even fabricating medical reports to increase believability. This incident reflects a growing global trend of AI-enabled romance scams, with similar cases reported in France, the UK, and the US involving victims deceived by AI-generated personas posing as celebrities or military personnel.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 7,000 people from around the world were detained in Myanmar border towns following a coordinated crackdown on online scam centers by Thailand, Myanmar, and China. These individuals had been lured under false pretenses to work in scam operations that defrauded people globally through romance schemes, fake investments, and illegal gambling, with many trapped in conditions amounting to virtual slavery. Thailand, Myanmar, and China are coordinating repatriation efforts, though the unprecedented scale is straining resources and creating logistical challenges including identity verification delays, with humanitarian concerns growing about potential overflow if processing cannot keep pace.
the-independent.com
· 2025-12-08
A Shanghai man lost approximately £22,000 to scammers who created a fictional AI "girlfriend" named Ms Jiao, using generative AI to produce realistic videos and photos along with fake medical bills to convince him she needed financial assistance. The scammer team exploited the victim over an extended period without ever meeting him in person, representing a growing global trend of AI-enabled romance fraud that has also targeted victims in France and the United Kingdom.
the-independent.com
· 2025-12-08
A man in Shanghai lost approximately £22,000 in a romance scam after developing an online relationship with "Ms Jiao," an entirely fictional AI-generated persona created by scammers using deepfake videos, photos, and fake medical bills to convince him she needed urgent financial assistance. The scammers exploited generative AI technology to create realistic images and videos, and the victim never met the woman in person. This incident reflects a growing global trend of AI-enabled romance and impersonation scams targeting individuals for financial fraud.
sg.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Shanghai man lost approximately £22,000 in a romance scam involving an AI-generated "girlfriend" named Ms Jiao, who scammers claimed needed money for medical bills and business expenses. The scam team used generative AI to create fake photos, videos, and forged medical documents to convince the victim of the relationship's authenticity, which he never verified in person. This case exemplifies the growing use of AI technology in romance and impersonation scams targeting vulnerable individuals globally.
housebeautiful.com
· 2025-12-08
**Title Piracy Fraud** - Real estate scammers are increasingly hijacking property titles by forging deeds, forging signatures, and exploiting public records to fraudulently sell homes and vacant land, particularly targeting absent owners, out-of-town buyers, and investors. The FBI received over 9,500 title fraud complaints in 2023, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated techniques including AI-generated fake documents that can deceive banks, title officers, and real estate agents. Real estate professionals recommend in-person verification and working with vigilant title insurers to detect and prevent these fast-growing scams.
nbcbayarea.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta has alerted Facebook users to a widespread scam in which fraudsters send fake messages claiming account violations of trademark rules and directing users to click a link to file complaints. The scam aims to trick users into clicking malicious links that could compromise their accounts. Meta advises users who receive such messages to block and report the sender rather than clicking any links.
fox4now.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Punta Gorda police are warning residents about brushing scams, in which fraudsters obtain personal information and send unsolicited packages containing worthless items to create fake reviews and transaction records. A dangerous variant includes QR codes that, when scanned, can direct recipients to malicious websites or compromise personal data on their phones. Police advise residents not to open unexpected packages or scan QR codes, and to report suspicious items to local law enforcement immediately.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
The IRS released its 2025 "Dirty Dozen" list of common tax scams on February 27, 2025, warning taxpayers, businesses, and tax professionals about fraudulent schemes that peak during filing season but occur year-round. The list includes email phishing scams, text message scams (smishing), and misleading tax credit claims that can lead to identity theft and financial loss. The IRS has conducted this annual awareness campaign since 2002, working with state agencies and tax professionals to educate the public about evolving fraud threats.
wkyt.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old Kentucky woman lost her entire life savings of $180,000 in a gold coin scam after receiving a phone call from someone impersonating a Social Security Administration employee who claimed she was under fraud investigation. The scammer convinced her to drain her savings, purchase gold coins, and hand them off to a courier in a bank parking lot; after realizing the fraud, the emotional trauma led her to attempt suicide, and she remains hospitalized in critical condition. The FBI confirms a rising trend of government impersonation and precious metals scams targeting seniors, with Kentucky alone reporting 908 elder fraud complaints totaling over $12 million in 2023.
news4jax.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are sending phishing text messages to drivers claiming they owe unpaid toll fees, impersonating legitimate services like SunPass and E-ZPass to trick recipients into clicking malicious links that install malware or steal personal information. Multiple Jacksonville residents reported receiving the scam texts, which contain red flags such as misspellings and references to out-of-state toll services, though one potential victim (Rhonda Caseletto) avoided the scam by verifying through the official app. Experts warn that legitimate toll companies never demand payment via text and recommend deleting suspicious messages, changing financial passwords, and monitoring accounts if clicked, with reports able to be filed with the FBI or Florida
wmar2news.com
· 2025-12-08
A WMAR-2 News reporter received text messages from someone impersonating her HR director and news director, requesting she purchase "google certificates" from a store; she avoided the scam by verifying the sender's identity directly with the HR department. This type of social engineering fraud targets new employees at vulnerable moments by researching victims and their organizations, beginning with small requests (gift cards, certificates) that escalate to larger financial or credential demands, with scammers often using job networking sites to identify recent hires. Experts recommend verifying unexpected requests through official company directories or in-person contact, never sharing credentials or clicking links, and reporting suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) or the
wtop.com
· 2025-12-08
Vipul Thakkar, 53, of Owings Mills, Maryland, pleaded guilty to theft and conspiracy after orchestrating a gold bar scam targeting elderly residents in Montgomery County that defrauded victims of over $1.1 million between March and June 2024. Thakkar convinced victims, including a 74-year-old Bethesda man and an 82-year-old woman, to convert their bank deposits into gold bars under the false pretense of protecting their assets, then arranged pickups by accomplices; he was arrested in July 2024 during an undercover operation and faces up to 60 years in prison at sentencing schedule
oysterbaytown.com
· 2025-12-08
Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly and Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino partnered to host educational seminars in spring to help seniors and caregivers recognize and combat fraud. The seminars, held at community centers in Oyster Bay, covered topics including common scam tactics, identification methods, personal information safeguarding, and fraud reporting resources, addressing seniors' heightened vulnerability due to limited technology familiarity, loneliness, and other risk factors.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP Kentucky is hosting free "Scam Jam" educational events and document shredding in Bowling Green (September 30) and Henderson County (October 3) to combat rising fraud, which the FTC estimates affected $137.4 billion in 2022 compared to only $9 billion reported. The events aim to educate consumers about recognizing and avoiding scams, with research showing that knowing about specific scams reduces engagement risk by 80%, particularly important given that nearly two-thirds of fraud victims experience serious health or emotional impacts.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A man in Shanghai lost approximately £22,000 in a romance scam involving an AI-generated fictional "girlfriend" named Ms Jiao, who scammers claimed needed money for medical bills and business funding. The scammer team used generative AI to create fake photos, videos, and medical documents to manipulate the victim, who never met the woman in person. This case exemplifies the growing threat of AI-enabled fraud, with similar scams targeting victims worldwide using deepfakes and AI-generated personas to impersonate celebrities or create fictional romantic interests.
abc7news.com
· 2025-12-08
A 57-year-old North Bay woman lost $300,000 to a romance scam after meeting a man named "Harry Burter" on a dating app who posed as a Los Altos resident traveling for work. The scammer used romantic language and fake identification documents to build trust before gradually requesting money for various work-related expenses, exploiting the victim's loneliness following her recent divorce. Experts note that dating app platforms need stronger safety measures and cross-platform information sharing to prevent fraudsters from using the same fake identities across multiple platforms.
cpapracticeadvisor.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS's annual Dirty Dozen campaign educates taxpayers about 12 prevalent tax scams and fraudulent schemes, with email phishing and smishing (text message fraud) being among the top threats. These scams, which peak during tax filing season but occur year-round, aim to steal personal information, financial data, and money through tactics like fake IRS communications, bogus refund promises, and false legal threats. The IRS has been running this awareness effort since 2002 and works with state agencies, tax software companies, and tax professionals to protect taxpayers from identity theft and refund fraud.
humaneworld.org
· 2025-12-08
Online pet purchase scams deceive consumers into sending money for puppies that never exist, with scammers often claiming shipping delays or customs complications to extract additional payments before disappearing with victims' funds—sometimes hundreds or thousands of dollars. Legitimate online pet sales also pose risks, as many puppies come from overseas puppy mills and arrive sick or diseased, with buyers often unaware of the animals' foreign origins. Experts recommend avoiding online pet purchases entirely and instead meeting breeders in person to see breeding conditions and parent animals before committing to a purchase.
americanbar.org
· 2025-12-08
Law firms are frequent targets of sophisticated scams despite their size, as scammers exploit limited security measures and access to valuable personal information. Common schemes include voice-cloning fraud, email impersonation of attorneys to solicit unauthorized payments, and phishing attacks that compromise email systems to redirect client funds—with firms facing disciplinary action and financial losses when wire transfer instructions are not independently verified. Attorneys and staff should be cautious about clicking links in emails and verify requests through direct contact, as cybersecurity breaches can expose sensitive client data and enable ransomware attacks.
abc11.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS released its 2025 "Dirty Dozen" list of top tax scams, warning that fraudsters use tax season to trick taxpayers into identity theft and fraudulent tax credit claims. The most prevalent scams include email phishing where criminals impersonate legitimate tax and financial organizations to steal personal information, and misleading tax advice on social media that leads victims toward bogus tax avoidance strategies. The IRS emphasizes avoiding unsolicited emails and texts requesting financial or personal information as part of broader taxpayer protection efforts.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This AARP educational article provides consumer protection tips to help prevent fraud and scams. Key recommendations include using strong passwords with multi-factor authentication, avoiding suspicious links by visiting websites directly, freezing credit with major agencies, and being cautious of unsolicited offers like cruise scams and gold bar schemes where criminals impersonate authorities to steal savings. The article emphasizes that victims of repeated fraud should be supported with gentle questioning and regular family discussions about scams rather than blame.
tribtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Organized scam operations, particularly from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, are increasingly targeting older adults and professionals through sophisticated "pig butchering" schemes that involve months of psychological grooming before stealing victims' money via cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or money transfer apps. Victims—including financial advisers, bank presidents, attorneys, and even FBI agents—lose funds that are rarely recovered, with artificial intelligence making scams more effective and harder to detect. The article recommends older adults protect themselves by verifying all communications, avoiding online dating sites, limiting social media activity, refusing cryptocurrency offers, and consulting trusted contacts before sending any money.
lehighvalleylive.com
· 2025-12-08
A 24-year-old New Jersey man, Hirtik Hemchand Khatri, was arrested and faces first-degree felony charges for defrauding a 74-year-old Pennsylvania man out of approximately $688,372 through a fake bank error scheme. The scam began with a disputed PayPal charge, escalated through false claims of accidental overpayments, and ultimately involved the victim purchasing nearly $600,000 in gold bars and transferring Bitcoin, which Khatri collected in person. Authorities identified Khatri through a license plate reader and photo identification, and note that the Lehigh County Elder Abuse Task Force has
limerickpost.ie
· 2025-12-08
Two people in their 70s from Limerick fell victim to separate online scams: a man lost a substantial sum after clicking a cryptocurrency investment link and following instructions from a caller in the Netherlands, while a woman lost an application fee after applying for a travel visa on a fraudulent website. Gardaí warn against providing personal details to cold callers and advise verifying website legitimacy, never discussing financial accounts by phone, and reporting fraud immediately to both financial institutions and police.
wccbcharlotte.com
· 2025-12-08
While younger people in their 20s and 30s fall for scams at more than twice the rate of those over 60, older adults lose significantly more money when victimized—the FTC estimates seniors lost $61 billion to fraud last year compared to $158 billion total across all ages. Scammers tailor tactics by age group, targeting seniors with tech support and gift card scams while exploiting millennials through romance, shopping, and employment fraud. The key takeaway is that vulnerability to scams is not age-specific; rather, financial impact differs substantially based on available resources.
travelandtourworld.com
· 2025-12-08
During Carnival 2025, Brazilian authorities warned of an increasingly sophisticated romance scam targeting foreign travelers, particularly young male tourists and LGBTQ+ visitors, in which criminals use dating apps to lure victims, drug them, and steal their money, passports, and valuables, leaving them stranded. According to U.S. Consulate officials, American tourists have been particularly vulnerable during high-tourism periods, with similar schemes also reported in Colombia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Mexico. Security experts recommend travelers use buddy systems, avoid drinks from strangers, secure valuables in hotel safes, and employ digital safety measures like location sharing to mitigate risks in unfamiliar nightlife environments.
waka.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
While younger people (ages 20-30) fall for scams at more than twice the rate of those over 60, older adults lose significantly larger amounts of money when victimized, accounting for approximately $61 billion of the $158 billion in total consumer fraud losses last year. Scammers employ age-specific tactics, targeting seniors with computer support and gift card scams while using shopping, romance, employment, and sextortion schemes against younger demographics. The key finding challenges the common misconception that older adults are the primary scam victims, revealing instead that vulnerability varies by age group in terms of both frequency and financial impact.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
**Human Trafficking and Cyber Scams:** Vulnerable individuals from Vietnam and other regions are being trafficked to Myanmar and forced to operate cryptocurrency and romance scams that have cost Australians over $1 billion in investment losses and $190 million in romance scams over five years. Victims like Duong are deceived with false job offers, enslaved in remote compounds, subjected to physical abuse and starvation, and forced to create fake online profiles to defraud unsuspecting targets globally, with families often required to pay ransoms of $5,000-$10,000 to secure their release—amounts prohibitively expensive in countries where average monthly salaries are
cjme.com
· 2025-12-08
A 27-year-old Winnipeg man was arrested after attempting to defraud a 73-year-old Regina woman through a tech support scam on February 26, in which he posed as a Microsoft representative and falsely claimed her accounts had been hacked, then impersonated a bank employee to coerce her into withdrawing money under threat of money laundering charges. The victim became suspicious before handing over cash and contacted police, who apprehended the suspect during the planned pickup; he was charged with fraud over $5,000, extortion, and possession of fraudulent credit cards.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old Houston woman lost $2,900 in promised wages after working for months for a fraudulent company that disappeared before payday, leaving her at risk of homelessness. The scam involved a fake Amazon shipping inspection job that was actually a "reshipping scheme" used to launder illegally acquired products through multiple shipping steps. The article advises avoiding work-from-home job scams by watching for red flags such as upfront payment requests, suspiciously high pay, lack of legitimate online presence, no phone/video interviews, and negative online reviews.
moneywise.com
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old Houston woman, Mildred Bedar, lost $2,900 in promised wages after being hired by a fraudulent company claiming to offer work-from-home shipment inspection and repackaging for Amazon. The scam involved a "reshipping scheme" where illegally acquired products are laundered through multiple shipping steps, and the company disappeared before paying her, leaving her at risk of homelessness. The article outlines red flags to avoid work-from-home scams, including unrealistic pay, upfront fees, lack of legitimate online presence, and no formal interview process.
southtahoenow.com
· 2025-12-08
El Dorado County Senior Services hosted a free educational presentation on March 3 featuring local law enforcement discussing current scams affecting the area, including romance, gift card, pig butchering, arrest warrant, check fraud, and cryptocurrency schemes. The presentation highlighted that the Federal Trade Commission reported $10 billion stolen in 2023, with actual losses likely much higher due to underreporting, and encouraged seniors to protect themselves and their loved ones from these fraud types.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Fraud targeting older adults in Arizona and nationwide represents a significant crisis, with those 60 and over reporting $3.4 billion in losses nationally in 2023, including $128 million in Arizona, according to FBI data. AARP volunteer Jerry Watterworth and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes are leading prevention efforts by educating seniors about evolving scams including romance frauds, Bitcoin schemes, identity theft, and tech-support scams, emphasizing that fraudsters continuously adapt their methods and prevention through awareness of red flags is key. The article stresses that because scammers exploit human nature—the desire to trust and connect—older residents must remain vigilant across all communication
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers exploit digital payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal to steal money from users, with customers at three banks losing over $870 million to Zelle scams since 2017. Common schemes include cash flipping, phishing, fake item sales, fake tickets, software glitches, and security deposit scams, all leveraging the difficulty of reversing digital payments once sent. Users should verify requests through official app channels, never pay sight unseen, and manually update apps through legitimate app stores rather than clicking suspicious links.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This article highlights AARP Arizona's fraud prevention efforts in response to a significant crisis: people over 60 reported $3.4 billion in fraud losses nationwide in 2023, with $128 million in Arizona alone. The article details common scams targeting older Arizonans—including romance scams, Bitcoin/cryptocurrency schemes, identity theft, and tech-support fraud—and emphasizes that prevention through awareness of red flags (unsolicited contact, high-pressure tactics, requests for personal information) is essential, as scam methods continually evolve with changing technology.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Drivers nationwide have received fraudulent texts impersonating toll collection services (TxTag in Texas, EZDriveMA in Massachusetts, and FasTrak in California) claiming unpaid fees and urging immediate payment via suspicious links. Clicking these links directs victims to phishing sites designed to steal personal, financial, and identity information for identity theft and fraudulent purchases. State transportation agencies recommend drivers delete such messages immediately, report them as spam, and note that legitimate toll agencies do not send unsolicited payment demand texts.
mysuncoast.com
· 2025-12-08
Florida authorities shut down hundreds of fraudulent SunPass toll websites used in phishing scams targeting users' personal and financial information, but reports indicate scammers continue sending fake toll notice text messages. Consumers are advised to verify toll notices directly through official SunPass/E-ZPass channels, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and recognize that threats of immediate penalties are typical scam indicators.
nbcphiladelphia.com
· 2025-12-08
Thousands of people across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware have been targeted by a "smishing" scam impersonating toll authorities, with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission receiving 8,000 inquiries about fraudulent text messages in just the first two months of 2025. The scam texts falsely claim unpaid toll bills and demand immediate payment within 12 hours to avoid fees, targeting random individuals including those who don't even have driver's licenses or have never driven on toll roads. Officials advise recipients to recognize red flags—unsolicited texts, pressure tactics, and claims unrelated to their actual travel history—and note that legitimate toll authorities only contact customers via mail or online account
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS released its 2025 "Dirty Dozen" annual warning list identifying twelve common tax scams, including phishing/smishing attacks impersonating the IRS, misleading tax advice on social media, fake charity donations, ghost tax preparers, and schemes involving false fuel tax credits and inflated withholding claims. The IRS urges taxpayers to verify information through official channels, avoid unsolicited communications, use registered tax professionals, and report suspected fraud to protect against identity theft, financial losses, and legal penalties during tax season.
nbcchicago.com
· 2025-12-08
Illinois drivers have been receiving phishing text messages falsely claiming to be from the Illinois Tollway, demanding payment for alleged toll evasion or unpaid tolls and threatening to report violators to the DMV. This scam has been targeting Illinois Tollway and I-Pass customers for nearly a year, with evolving message variations using different sender names and area codes. Authorities advise recipients not to click links or provide payment information, instead verifying claims directly through the official Illinois Tollway website, app, or customer service line, and reporting suspicious texts to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.