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in Scam Awareness
abcmoney.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides guidance on protecting oneself from delivery scams, which exploit the prevalence of online shopping and home deliveries. Common delivery scam tactics include fraudulent emails or messages impersonating delivery services (with phishing links), fake delivery personnel demanding payment for non-existent packages, and credit card data breaches. The article recommends four key protective measures: verify delivery notifications through official tracking information, use official communication channels to confirm suspicious messages, request and validate official identification from delivery personnel, and shop only on reputable online marketplaces with robust security measures.
wmar2news.com
· 2025-12-08
The "Phantom Hacker" scam has cost Marylanders millions of dollars through a multi-layered scheme where scammers pose as government officials (CIA, FBI, Treasury, etc.) and convince victims their identities have been stolen and accounts compromised. Victims are instructed to withdraw large sums of cash or purchase precious metals to "protect" their assets, which are then handed over to couriers; between May and December 2023, the FBI's IC3 received reports of over $55 million in losses nationwide, including $3.8 million from 7 Maryland victims, with one individual losing over $2 million.
natlawreview.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC has proposed expanded regulations to combat impersonation fraud, which has surged due to emerging technologies like deepfake AI. The proposed rule changes would prohibit impersonation of individuals (extending beyond current government and business protections) and hold companies liable if they knowingly provide services—such as payment processing or AI platforms—used in impersonation schemes including romance scams and grandparent scams. The rule will enter a 60-day public comment period before implementation.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Noel Chimezuru Agoha, age 40, of Baltimore, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for orchestrating business email compromise (BEC) and romance scams that defrauded victims of over $1.5 million between 2015 and 2018. Operating with co-conspirators, Agoha used fraudulent emails impersonating business contacts and fake dating profiles to trick victims into transferring funds to drop accounts he controlled, personally obtaining approximately $111,242 in BEC proceeds and over $1 million in dating scam proceeds, and was ordered to pay $1 million in restitution.
khou.com
· 2025-12-08
A financial advice columnist lost $50,000 to a scam, illustrating that fraud victims span all demographics and expertise levels. According to Deloitte research, Gen Z actually reports higher rates of identity theft, romance scams, phishing, and social media hacking than older generations, likely due to their comfort with online engagement and reduced exposure to internet safety warnings compared to earlier generations.
primepublishers.com
· 2025-12-08
The Middlebury Senior Center (located at 1172 Whittemore Rd., open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Friday) is hosting an Elder Fraud Prevention Lunch & Learn at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, presented by Brandon Ross, Financial Crimes Officer at Ion Bank. The free program will cover elder financial exploitation, common scams, identity theft safeguards, and prevention strategies, with registration required by calling 203-577-4166.
palmcoastobserver.com
· 2025-12-08
The Ormond Beach Police Department reported 246 fraud cases in 2024, with victims losing thousands of dollars in schemes including fake investments (Belgian mine), romance scams (Gaza war), and tech support fraud using gift cards and cryptocurrency. Elderly victims over 60 are disproportionately targeted, with national data showing losses increased 84% and cryptocurrency-related losses surged 350%, with victims averaging $35,101 in losses. Police note that cryptocurrency fraud cases have grown from roughly one per month to several per week, as criminals increasingly exploit digital payment methods and cryptocurrency ATMs to evade detection.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It is a community events listing for Danbury, CT that includes activities like library programs, sports games, and holiday celebrations. It contains no information about scams, fraud, elder abuse, or elder safety concerns.
vancouver.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
The Vancouver Police Department is hosting free scam prevention workshops for seniors, with the first session on February 28, 2024, covering phone scams, bail money scams, distraction thefts, and cybercrime. The initiative follows recent scams in the region, including a bail money scam targeting a Vancouver senior, a $7.5 million cryptocurrency scam affecting a Burnaby senior, and an AI-enabled grandparent scam in Richmond. Monthly workshops will continue through June at various community locations, including sessions in multiple languages.
entergynewsroom.com
· 2025-12-08
Consumer fraud reached a record $10 billion in losses in 2023, with about 1 in 5 people losing money to imposter scammers, according to the FTC. Entergy identified four common utility scam tactics—caller ID spoofing, in-person imposters, fraudulent websites, and threats of service disconnection—and advises customers to verify caller identity independently, never share personal information with unsolicited contacts, confirm official websites directly, and ignore demands for immediate payment. Customers should report suspected scams to Entergy at 1-800-ENTERGY and to authorities like the FTC or Better Business Bureau.
wndu.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in the Michiana region are impersonating court officials, claiming targets have missed jury duty and are in contempt of court, using personal information like names, phone numbers, and addresses to appear credible. The fraudsters use urgency-based language and request payment via gift cards or prepaid cards, which makes the money irretrievable once compromised. Indiana State Police advise that legitimate law enforcement will not call about warrants and recommend contacting the actual police agency if you receive such calls to verify their authenticity.
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Honolulu Zoo is warning the public about an online scam selling discounted fake tickets through fraudulent websites that mimic legitimate zoo sites, claiming tickets are valid for one year and tied to the zoo's 40th anniversary. The zoo has received multiple complaints about the scam, which first appeared on social media, and officials advise purchasing tickets only at the zoo's front entrance or through the official HonoluluZoo.org website. Similar ticket scams have been reported at zoos across the country.
fcpdnews.wordpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers contact victims by phone, email, or in person impersonating police or government officials, using intimidation tactics and false urgency to demand money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or gold by threatening arrest or claiming a family member has been arrested or injured. Legitimate law enforcement never calls to demand immediate payment, drop charges for money, or request sensitive information over the phone. Victims should verify caller identity independently, stay skeptical of pressure tactics, guard personal information, and report suspicious activity to local authorities.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams have nearly tripled since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with the FTC receiving nearly 61,000 complaints in the first nine months of 2023 alone, resulting in losses exceeding $186 million. Scammers create fake LinkedIn accounts and job listings to impersonate recruiters and steal personal or banking information from job seekers. Red flags include requests for upfront payment, pressure to move conversations off LinkedIn, unrealistic job offers, immediate job offers without interviews, and receiving checks before employment begins.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Government imposters posing as "Agent John Williams" scammed thousands of Facebook users out of nearly $67 million by offering fake federal grants that required upfront payment in gift cards. A suburban Chicago man lost over $2,000 after being lured by the promise of a $200,000 grant, falling for fabricated videos of supposed winners and photos shared by family members, though at least 575 Facebook accounts used the same scammer name. The FTC confirmed the widespread fraud, and Meta removed the accounts after being alerted, though the company acknowledged failures in catching multiple accounts using identical photos and information.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 50-year-old dairy farmer from Gurgaon, India lost Rs 22,000 in an online cow purchase scam after finding a fraudulent website advertising four cows at Rs 35,000 each. The scammers sent photos via WhatsApp, convinced him to pay in installments by citing transport and formality fees, then went silent after extracting the full advance amount. Police froze the associated Axis Bank account and filed a case of cheating and breach of trust while investigating.
gobankingrates.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated phone scam cost journalist Charlotte Cowles $50,000 after scammers impersonating Amazon customer service, an FTC investigator, and a CIA agent convinced her that her identity had been compromised and linked to illegal activities. The perpetrators manipulated her through fear and urgency, instructing her to withdraw cash and hand it over to an unknown individual, falsely promising it would be secured and returned as a Treasury check. The article emphasizes the importance of skepticism toward unsolicited calls, verifying caller identities through official channels, and resisting pressure tactics commonly used by scammers.
twistedsifter.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bank of America customer named Jeffry received a sophisticated phone scam call from someone impersonating the bank, claiming his account was compromised and his Zelle account had been used fraudulently. The scammer used caller ID spoofing to make the number appear to be from Bank of America and instructed Jeffry not to log into his account—a major red flag that alerted him to the scam. Jeffry shared the warning on TikTok to alert others about this technique and advise people never to follow instructions from callers telling them to avoid accessing their own accounts.
entergynewsroom.com
· 2025-12-08
Entergy issued consumer protection guidance recognizing that utility imposters continue scamming customers by impersonating company representatives to obtain money or personal information. The FTC reported consumer fraud losses reached a record $10 billion in 2023, with 1 in 5 people victimized by imposter scammers using phone calls, texts, emails, and in-person visits. Entergy advised customers to avoid sharing information with unsolicited callers, verify identities independently, watch for fraudulent websites, be skeptical of disconnection threats, and report suspected scams to Entergy, their bank, or authorities like the FTC and Better Business Bureau.
foxcarolina.com
· 2025-12-08
The McDowell County Sheriff's Office issued a warning after receiving multiple reports of scammers impersonating IRS agents and law enforcement officials, threatening residents with arrest over unpaid taxes and demanding payment. The IRS typically initiates contact through mail notices rather than unsolicited phone calls, and residents are advised to verify caller legitimacy before providing personal information and to report suspected scams to the sheriff's office.
citizensbank.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, cybercrime losses exceeded $12.5 billion across over 800,000 FBI complaints, representing a 22% increase from the prior year. The article provides guidance on identifying common scams including impersonation calls from fake banks requesting passwords or transfers, phishing emails and texts with malicious links or requests for personal information, and fraudulent messages from fake charities or financial institutions. Key protective measures include verifying caller identity through official bank numbers, hovering over links to check URLs before clicking, and refusing to share confidential information via email or text.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Steven Lukens, CEO of Gulf Atlantic International Supply, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for submitting substandard materials and 191 forged quality control documents to a NASA contractor for the Space Launch System at Kennedy Space Center. Lukens defrauded the contractor of $271,024.35 through fraudulent Certificates of Compliance, Pressure Testing Certificates, and test reports, and faces up to 20 years in federal prison with forfeiture of the fraudulent proceeds.
kpmg.com
· 2025-12-08
Canadian organizations of all sizes face evolving fraud risks driven by technological advances like generative AI, cryptocurrency, and digital payment systems, with SMBs particularly vulnerable due to limited fraud prevention resources and awareness. Fraudsters employ increasingly sophisticated tactics including crypto scams, online payment fraud, social engineering attacks targeting elders, and ESG misrepresentation, with 88% of victimized Canadian SMBs experiencing internal fraud and 75% experiencing external fraud over the past five years. Organizations must strengthen their fraud prevention strategies through risk assessment, robust controls, and cross-sector partnerships to effectively counter these threats.
aithority.com
· 2025-12-08
GetSetUp, an educational platform for older adults, launched a Cyber Safety and Fraud Hub in response to rising AI-driven scams targeting seniors, including voice cloning and deepfake fraud. The initiative, developed with support from the White House National Security Council and federal agencies, provides educational classes, articles, checklists, and resources accessible to millions of older Americans through partnerships with healthcare plans and government websites. The program aims to equip seniors with skills to recognize and avoid AI-powered fraud while protecting their personal information in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
mha.gov.sg
· 2025-12-08
During Singapore's 2024 budget debate, the government announced a comprehensive anti-scam strategy in response to scam cases increasing nearly 50% in 2023, driven primarily by social engineering and deception targeting money transfers. Key initiatives include the "Add, Check, Tell" public awareness campaign, targeted programs for vulnerable groups like the elderly through Silver Generation Ambassadors, a consolidated one-stop anti-scam information portal, and enhanced community partnerships to build cyber vigilance. The government is also introducing legislation to deter misuse of local SIM cards for scams, requiring online platforms to implement stronger user verification and anti-scam measures, and pursuing international cooperation through participation in the Global
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FTC reported over 2 million fraud cases in the U.S. resulting in $10 billion in losses, with the most common scams being imposter calls, online shopping fraud, prize/sweepstakes scams, investment schemes, and fake job listings. The FTC advises consumers to watch for red flags such as unsolicited requests for money, promises of guaranteed or unusually high investment returns, and notifications about winnings from contests never entered, and recommends verifying contacts by calling them directly rather than using numbers provided by callers.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Vancouver police held anti-fraud workshops for seniors after a Broadway Lodge resident lost approximately $5,000 to phone scammers, highlighting the need for fraud prevention education. The workshops cover common scams including grandparent scams (which cost victims over $10 million in 2022), bail scams, distraction theft, and cybersecurity threats, with officers noting that fraudsters are increasingly using artificial intelligence and social media to target vulnerable seniors. Police emphasize that prevention through education is critical since recovering stolen funds—often sent overseas—is extremely difficult.
pembinavalleyonline.com
· 2025-12-08
The Grandparent Scam, currently prevalent in Manitoba, involves criminals calling seniors pretending to be relatives who need bail money for a supposed arrest, then arranging cash pickup at the victim's home. RCMP Sergeant Joanne Ryll advises recipients to hang up, verify the story by calling other family members, never share personal information, and establish a family safety word, noting that fraudsters often make multiple calls requesting additional money once they identify a vulnerable victim. Recovery of money lost to these scams is nearly impossible once handed over to the criminals.
jocoreport.com
· 2025-12-08
A 76-year-old Cleveland-area woman lost $20,000 after receiving a Facebook message promising her $150,000 in exchange for purchasing Apple gift cards; she provided the card numbers to the scammer but never received the promised payment. This case reflects a broader trend of advance-fee/romance scams targeting seniors, with FBI data showing elder fraud has increased 74 percent and elderly victims lost approximately $1.7 billion to scams in 2021.
panow.com
· 2025-12-08
Leo Ekhaguere, president and CEO of Lions Security Incorporated in Prince Albert, conducted an educational workshop at Points West Living to teach seniors how to identify and report scams. Ekhaguere emphasized that while everyone faces scam risks, seniors are specifically targeted by cyber criminals and remain particularly vulnerable to fraud schemes.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Jean Richard Audate, a 38-year-old New York City man, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his role in a grandparent scam conspiracy that defrauded elderly victims across the United States of over $867,000. Audate traveled to multiple locations, including Rhode Island, to collect cash that victims had been tricked into sending after receiving phone calls from scammers posing as grandchildren or lawyers claiming a relative needed bail money. The scammers also falsely invoked "gag orders" to prevent victims from discussing the requests with others.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Undercover video obtained by software engineer Jim Browning reveals a "pig butchering" scam operation based in Dubai employing hundreds of people, including real models, to pose as glamorous individuals on dating apps and romance-bait victims into fake cryptocurrency investment schemes. The scammers use VPNs, multiple messaging platforms, and scripts to target victims globally across countries ranging from South America to Central Asia, with workers operating from eight-story buildings under exploitative conditions. The operation, run primarily by Chinese nationals using migrant workers from North Africa and Southeast Asia, commits romance and investment fraud to extract large sums of money from unsuspecting victims worldwide.
beincrypto.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams have surged 85-fold since 2020, with scammers using fabricated personal narratives and cryptocurrency to steal millions from vulnerable victims seeking companionship. Notable cases include an Indian software engineer losing $120,500 to a fake investment scheme on a matrimonial website and a Myanmar operation ("KK Park") linked to over $100 million in stolen funds through "pig butchering" scams that exploit victims' emotional vulnerabilities. Cryptocurrency's anonymity features make it the preferred payment method for scammers, with scam wallets accumulating at least $4.6 billion in 2023, though actual losses are likely much higher due to undetecte
inews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece from Which? highlights that fraud is the most common crime in England and Wales (40% of all crimes), with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics including fake celebrity endorsements, "recovery" scams targeting previous victims, advert cloaking, and recurring payment traps ("scamscriptions") that victims may not notice for months or years. The author advocates for a coordinated national response including appointing a dedicated fraud minister, strengthening the Online Safety Act, and requiring banks to reimburse victims of authorized push payment fraud, while consumers can protect themselves by staying informed about emerging scam tactics.
indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 50-year-old dairy farmer from Gurugram named Sukhbir lost Rs 22,000 in January 2024 after responding to a YouTube advertisement offering four cows for Rs 95,000 (below market rate); he made payments in four installments before realizing the fraudsters never intended to deliver the animals. The article also highlights a similar 2023 case where a Gwalior farmer lost Rs 87,000 attempting to purchase a buffalo through Facebook, with scammers using escalating demands and false excuses to extract repeated payments, illustrating an ongoing pattern of livestock purchase scams targeting farmers in India.
thebamabuzz.com
· 2025-12-08
Alabama college students are vulnerable to common fraud schemes including fake apartment listings, online marketplace scams, dating app fraud, and credit card loan scams that specifically target their lifestyle needs and desires. A banking fraud expert emphasizes that scammers use phishing via email and text to initiate contact, then tailor their approach based on publicly available personal information, making password management, multi-factor authentication, and privacy settings critical defensive measures.
decrypt.co
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering" romance scams using cryptocurrency surged 85 times higher from 2020 to 2023, with revenue doubling between 2022-2023, according to Chainalysis research. These scams involve fraudsters building fake romantic relationships before tricking victims into cryptocurrency investments they don't understand, resulting in an average loss of $4,593 per victim in 2023—the highest financial impact of any scam type. The scammers, often organized criminal groups, frequently operate through human trafficking networks in Southeast Asia and use sophisticated money laundering techniques to hide their activity, though a December 2023 Interpol operation arrested 3,500
channelnewsasia.com
· 2025-12-08
Singapore's Minister of State for Home Affairs criticized Meta for repeatedly refusing to implement government-recommended safety features on Facebook, despite the platform accounting for nearly half of the 9,783 e-commerce scams reported in 2023, which resulted in S$13.9 million (US$10.3 million) in losses—more than double the prior year. Meta has rejected recommendations including government ID verification and secured payment options for Marketplace users, causing Facebook to rank lowest (one tick) in Singapore's E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings for the second consecutive year, while competitors like Shopee and Carousell have cooperated and seen scam reductions of up to 71
northfortynews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece describes the widespread "scam-demic" of computer fraud, emphasizing that intelligent, trusting people fall victim to scams daily through sophisticated social engineering rather than technical hacking. Common scams include fake refund/receipt emails (impersonating companies like Amazon) and fraudulent tech support calls (posing as HP, Microsoft, or other companies), where scammers trick victims into providing financial information or remote computer access. The author stresses that scammers succeed by manipulating human psychology rather than exploiting computer security, comparing their tactics to convincing someone to unlock their front door rather than picking the lock.
chinadaily.com.cn
· 2025-12-08
Qilu Bank partnered with the Jinan Elderly University to establish 41 educational schools offering courses designed for seniors, including anti-telecommunications fraud awareness training alongside health and lifestyle classes. The bank also implemented digital monitoring systems and staff protocols to identify and prevent fraud attempts among its 1.7 million elderly customers, successfully blocking telecommunications fraud totaling 3.89 million yuan in 2023.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Dr. Osama Nahas and medical assistant Isabel Pruneda were convicted of healthcare fraud, kickback conspiracy, and identity theft for operating a multimillion-dollar scheme at an adult daycare in the Rio Grande Valley from 2016-2017, in which they ordered unnecessary lab tests and prescriptions for elderly patients, forged consent forms, and misappropriated medications while receiving tens of thousands in kickbacks from testing companies and bribing daycare facility owners. Both face up to 10 years in federal prison, with Pruneda facing an additional mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft, plus potential fines up to $250,000 each.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two suspects—a 26-year-old man from Montreal and a 24-year-old woman from Quebec City—were arrested at Vancouver International Airport in connection with a grandparent scam operation that defrauded Saanich, B.C. residents of more than $20,000. The scam involved fraudsters posing as relatives in distress to convince elderly victims to send money. Both suspects face two counts of fraud and are scheduled to appear in court, though police believe additional victims on Vancouver Island may not have reported the crimes.
ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
During National Consumer Protection Week (March 2-8, 2024), the Federal Trade Commission and partner organizations hosted multiple virtual and in-person events across the United States to educate consumers about avoiding scams, identity theft, and fraud. The events included webinars, podcasts, social media outreach, and community presentations targeting specific populations such as college students, older adults, small business owners, and multilingual communities, with free educational materials distributed at various locations.
dcsheriff.net
· 2025-12-08
Douglas County law enforcement agencies announced the arrest of 26-year-old Sagar Patel for scamming a 79-year-old Highlands Ranch resident out of over $120,000 in gold bars through a months-long investigation involving cell phone and credit card records. Multiple police departments partnered to launch a public awareness campaign promoting the SCAM acronym (Stop, Call, Ask, Make informed decisions) and provided education on common scam tactics, emphasizing that victims should watch for pressure to act quickly, requests for unusual payment methods, and demands for secrecy.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2020, scammers perpetrated a sweepstakes fraud against a Hennepin County couple in their 80s, stealing over $110,000 by convincing them to pay upfront taxes on a fake prize, with the perpetrators never identified and funds never recovered. AARP Minnesota is advocating for legislation to create a state-level restitution fund for fraud victims, funded by civil penalty payments from consumer fraud cases, as Americans reported 2.5 million fraud cases in 2022 totaling $9 billion in losses. The organization is also pushing to ban long-term real estate contracts (like those offered by MV Realty) that bind home
kcrg.com
· 2025-12-08
The University of Iowa police department warned Hawkeye fans about ticket and merchandise scams, which primarily occur through social media and instant messaging platforms. Police advised fans to purchase only from official sources like the university's ticket office and SeatGeek, avoid sharing sensitive information with strangers, and be skeptical of unusually low ticket prices. The warning encourages reporting any suspected scams to authorities.
colorado.edu
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide advises international students on recognizing and protecting themselves from five common scam types: threatening calls impersonating government officials, employment scams with suspicious job offers, requests for gift card payments, phishing emails/texts, and caller ID spoofing. The resource recommends reporting any scams to local police and federal agencies like the FTC or Colorado Attorney General, and directs victims who shared personal information to on-campus support services including victim assistance and counseling.
abc11.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are creating fake sports betting websites and apps that mimic legitimate services to target North Carolina consumers as legal sports betting launches in March 2024. Common scam tactics include copycat websites offering guaranteed winnings, too-good-to-be-true sign-up bonuses, and account lockouts that prevent withdrawal of deposited funds—one victim reported depositing $500 and being unable to recover their money. To avoid these scams, consumers should verify the company is state-licensed, check for secure website indicators (lock symbol and HTTPS), read fine print carefully, and be skeptical of any guarantees of winnings.
abc7news.com
· 2025-12-08
A San Francisco woman lost $3,500 through a Zelle imposter scam where fraudsters, using spoofed Wells Fargo caller ID and a real employee name, convinced her to make eight transfers under the guise of protecting her account from unauthorized charges. Zelle acknowledged that half a billion dollars in fraud occurred on its platform last year but has pledged only vague reimbursement for "certain imposter scams," with banks arguing victims technically authorized the transfers even though they were deceived.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
According to Chainalysis's 2024 Crypto Crime Report, cryptocurrency-based criminal activities declined in 2023, with illicit address funding dropping to $24.2 billion from $39.6 billion in 2022, though overall scam revenue fell 29.2%. Romance scams emerged as a significant concern, more than doubling in revenue year-over-year and growing 85-fold since 2020, causing the greatest per-victim financial damage despite being underreported due to their targeted, individual nature.