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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
kool1079.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article highlights five emerging scams targeting Colorado seniors and emphasizes the importance of awareness to prevent fraud. The piece stresses that as technology evolves, criminals develop increasingly sophisticated tactics that exploit older adults' unfamiliarity with digital schemes, and recommends that seniors and their families stay informed about these threats rather than avoiding technology altogether.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Michael O'Reilly, a Calgary senior, received a call from a scammer impersonating his nephew who claimed to be in jail and needed $6,000 for bail; O'Reilly grew suspicious and recorded the call, ultimately preventing any financial loss. According to Calgary Police Service, since January there have been approximately 32 reported incidents targeting seniors in the area, resulting in $180,250 in fraudulent losses across 21 cases, though 9 incidents were stopped before money was lost. Experts recommend verifying requests by calling the person back directly and asking specific questions that scammers cannot easily answer.
smartphonemagazine.nl
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary because the text provided is not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. The content is a generic "Account Suspended" hosting error message with no substantive information about a fraud case, scam, or elder abuse incident.
Please provide the actual article or transcript you'd like summarized.
wxyz.com
· 2025-12-08
Two elderly Troy, Michigan residents lost over $1 million combined to online scams between October 2023 and February 2024—an 81-year-old man lost $460,000 to a fake gold investment scheme, and another senior lost $700,000 to a Publishers Clearing House tax scam. Police are investigating both cases and note these scams are becoming more frequent, with scammers using convincing tactics, urgency, and increasingly AI-generated voices to pressure victims into sending money or personal information. Experts recommend seniors verify requests with family members, be cautious of rushed decisions, and trust their instincts when something feels suspicious.
krforadio.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2023 study by Incogni found that U.S. residents over age 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud—a 10.6% increase from 2022—with 101,068 reports filed, up 14.5% from the prior year. Minnesota elderly were among the hardest hit nationally, with victims over 60 losing an average of $44,623 each, ranking third-highest per-victim loss behind only DC and Hawaii. The article advises protecting against scams by scrutinizing emails for misspellings, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and verifying requests directly with companies' official websites or customer service.
kvnutalk.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scammers stole over $3.4 billion from older Americans through increasingly sophisticated schemes, with the FBI receiving more than 100,000 complaints from victims over 60, nearly 6,000 of whom lost over $100,000 each. Common tactics include tech support scams, romance fraud, investment schemes, and impersonation of officials who convince victims their accounts are compromised and direct them to move funds to secret accounts or arrange in-person courier pickups of cash or gold. The FBI warns that losses have risen sharply since the pandemic as organized criminal enterprises target vulnerable older adults, and recommends grown children conduct "tech check-ins" with aging parents to
wbay.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP declared a "fraud crisis in America," noting that while the Federal Trade Commission reported record losses exceeding $10 billion last year, actual losses may be ten times higher due to significant underreporting. Bank impersonation scams are currently the most concerning threat, where criminals pose as fraud investigators to convince victims to move money to fake "safe accounts." AARP emphasizes that fraud victims should not feel ashamed, encourages reporting to authorities and one's bank, and urges the public to discuss scams openly to reduce vulnerability.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A 37-year-old Illinois man, Ligneshkumar Patel, was charged with stealing $148,000 in gold Krugerrand coins from a 73-year-old Edwardsville woman in March 2024 after scammers posing as PayPal convinced her to purchase the coins with her retirement funds and hand them over to him. Patel, arrested in Wisconsin while attempting to scam another victim, served as the middleman in the scheme and faces two felony counts. Police Chief Michael Fillback warned that such scams targeting vulnerable individuals through fake identity fraud alerts and high-pressure tactics demanding immediate payment have become increasingly common, and advised victims
highlandcountypress.com
· 2025-12-08
The Highland County Health Department is offering free online safety and privacy training sessions for seniors throughout May and June, covering topics such as identifying scams, phishing attempts, and protecting personal information online. Each session includes hands-on technical support from experts who will provide one-on-one assistance to help seniors navigate the digital world safely. The program is funded through an Ohio Healthy Aging Grant and a partnership between Highland County Commissioners and the Community Action Organization.
cachevalleydaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers stole over $3.4 billion from Americans over 60 last year, with the FBI receiving more than 100,000 complaints and nearly 6,000 victims losing over $100,000 each. The most common schemes include tech support scams, romance fraud, investment fraud, and account-compromise scams where criminals impersonate officials and either pressure victims to transfer funds electronically or arrange in-person courier pickups of cash and precious metals. The FBI warns that families should conduct "tech check-ins" with elderly parents and implement preventive measures, as scammers increasingly use sophisticated and brazen tactics that can leave victims financially devastated.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are increasingly using AI chatbots to execute convincing scams against multiple victims simultaneously, but cybersecurity experts have identified detection methods. To identify an AI chatbot rather than a real person, victims should ask about recent events (since older chatbots lack current information), look for repetitive patterns, notice lack of humor and empathy, and watch for requests for financial help or favors that create emotional manipulation. Key warning signs include the scammer pushing for action, impeccable but wooden phrasing, and the claim that only the victim can help resolve a worsening situation.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are increasingly using AI technology to create audio deepfakes by cloning victims' voices from recorded phone calls and online sources, then using these replicas to impersonate the victims and extort money from their family members or conduct romance and investment scams. The sophistication of generative AI systems has made these voice cloning frauds difficult to distinguish from authentic communications, prompting warnings from major banks and government authorities. Experts advise people to be cautious when answering suspicious calls and sharing personal information online, as even brief voice samples can be used to train AI systems to replicate their voices convincingly.
boothbayregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Home improvement scams disproportionately target older adults and can cost homeowners thousands of dollars through shoddy workmanship, unfinished projects, or property damage. To protect against contractor fraud, homeowners should obtain multiple estimates and references, avoid paying full costs upfront, and proactively seek reputable contractors rather than responding to unsolicited solicitations. Those who suspect fraud can report it to local law enforcement or contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network at 877-908-3360.
wmur.com
· 2025-12-08
The "Say Yes" scam, where scammers allegedly record someone saying "yes" to authorize fraudulent purchases, is largely a myth with no documented financial losses reported to the Better Business Bureau. Cyber security experts explain that a recording of the word "yes" alone cannot authorize purchases, and the urban legend likely originated from telemarketers using automated systems to verify active phone numbers. Consumers should be aware of related scams where callers impersonate law enforcement claiming to have intercepted packages containing drugs, but the specific "Say Yes" recording scam is not a legitimate financial threat.
komu.com
· 2025-12-08
The Jefferson City Police Department reported an increase in scam calls where fraudsters impersonate business owners or law enforcement officials and threaten victims with arrest, fines, or deportation to coerce them into depositing money into cryptocurrency kiosks. Scammers use caller ID spoofing to make their calls appear legitimate, but legitimate law enforcement and federal agencies never demand immediate payment via cryptocurrency machines over the phone.
news4jax.com
· 2025-12-08
McAfee data predicts one in four people will fall victim to travel scams during summer 2024, with scammers increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes and realistic phishing emails to target travelers. Nearly 25% of victims lost $1,000 or more per scam, with common tactics including copycat websites, fake reviews, and requests for wire transfers or gift cards. Experts recommend booking through verified websites, exercising skepticism about online reviews, avoiding public Wi-Fi, and reporting suspected scams to the FTC.
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old male in Wilkes-Barre, PA was defrauded of $2,500 after receiving a call from someone impersonating a Luzerne County Sheriff's Office official who claimed an outstanding arrest warrant existed against him. The scammer convinced the victim to transfer money from his bank account to resolve the false warrant, and the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department is actively investigating the case.
wionews.com
· 2025-12-08
Indian citizens were lured abroad through social media job scams promising high salaries, only to be trafficked into online fraud operations in Cambodia and neighboring countries. A UN report documented over 100,000 people globally trafficked into these scam centers, with victims like a 41-year-old man who was promised $900/month as a data entry operator but was instead imprisoned, had his passport confiscated, and forced to perpetrate internet fraud. Experts attribute the vulnerability to India's lack of employment opportunities for youth, which scammers exploit by dangling lucrative overseas positions on social platforms.
news18.com
· 2025-12-08
Arup, a British multinational engineering firm, lost $25.6 million in January 2024 to a deepfake scam targeting a finance employee in Hong Kong. The victim was deceived by fake video calls impersonating the company's CFO and other officials and authorized 15 transfers totaling 200 million Hong Kong dollars before the fraud was discovered. The incident highlights the increasing sophistication of deepfake technology and cyber threats, with company leadership warning employees to remain vigilant against evolving scamming techniques.
news9live.com
· 2025-12-08
A 37-year-old woman from Navi Mumbai lost Rs 54 lakh in four days after being lured by a work-from-home scam promising payment for rating companies and restaurants; she transferred money to multiple accounts to secure the work before the fraudsters stopped responding. The article advises potential victims to research company credentials, avoid job offers on social media, never pay upfront fees for genuine job opportunities, and be skeptical of promises of high returns.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Deepfake Video Conference Fraud - Arup Engineering Company**
London-based engineering firm Arup lost HK$200 million (approximately $25 million) in January 2024 after an employee was deceived by AI-generated deepfake videos and audio of the company's CFO and other staff members during a video conference, who instructed the employee to execute 15 wire transfers to fraudulent Hong Kong bank accounts. The employee discovered the fraud only after following up with company headquarters, and Hong Kong police classified the case as "obtaining property by deception." Arup confirmed that no internal systems were compromised and business operations were not affected, though
vindy.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scams targeting American seniors increased 11% with reported losses reaching $3.4 billion, according to the FBI's Elder Fraud Report. Tech-support scams were the most common type, while investment scams resulted in the largest financial losses; Ohio ranked eighth nationally for senior scam complaints with residents losing over $64 million. The article advises seniors to educate themselves about scams, avoid high-pressure situations involving payments, and consult trusted family members before sending money.
michigansthumb.com
· 2025-12-08
McKhaela McNamara (Flint, Michigan) and Jmyla White (Florida) were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an international wire fraud conspiracy targeting senior citizens across multiple states, with McNamara receiving 51 months and ordered to pay $693,073 in restitution, while White received 97 months and was ordered to pay $3.2 million. The scam began with fake virus warnings on victims' computers, prompting them to call numbers where perpetrators impersonated tech company representatives or federal agents, then convinced victims to withdraw cash, make wire transfers, or purchase gift cards through various ruses involving compromised bank accounts, infected computers, or criminal
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two Florida and Michigan residents were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an international fraud conspiracy that defrauded senior citizens of millions of dollars. The scheme involved fake tech support warnings that led victims to surrender cash, wire transfers, and gift cards through various ruses, including impersonation of federal agents and false claims of compromised bank accounts; White was sentenced to 97 months and ordered to pay $3.2 million in restitution, while McNamara received 51 months and must pay $693,073 in restitution. One West Michigan victim lost $398,000 to the conspiracy, which operated with scammers based in India and used U.S.-based oper
kitv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Honolulu resident received a scam call from someone impersonating an HPD officer claiming she had a bench warrant for missing jury duty, using spoofed caller ID to appear legitimate. The Hawaii State Judiciary warned that scammers are posing as law enforcement and judiciary employees to threaten arrests and demand upfront fees, though courts never contact people about jury duty bench warrants by phone or email. The victim avoided becoming a victim by independently researching the scam, highlighting the importance of verification, especially for vulnerable older adults who may lack computer access or live alone.
insurancenewsnet.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (June 3-9) educates beneficiaries, caregivers, and families on how to prevent fraud that costs Medicare beneficiaries their medical identity, time, and stress. Common Medicare fraud schemes include charging for services not provided, misrepresenting diagnoses, and prescribing unnecessary tests, which can be prevented by opening and reading Medicare statements, reporting suspected fraud to the NY Senior Medicare Patrol (1-800-333-4374), and detecting unrecognized providers or services. The New York Senior Medicare Patrol provides free resources including My Health Care Trackers and certified counselors to help Medicare beneficiaries and their support networks protect against fraud, errors
tribtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scams targeting American seniors increased 11% with reported losses reaching $3.4 billion, according to the FBI's annual Elder Fraud Report. Tech-support scams were the most common type, while investment scams resulted in the largest financial losses; Ohio ranked eighth nationally in senior scam complaints with losses exceeding $64 million. The article recommends seniors educate themselves about common scams, verify suspicious requests with trusted contacts, and avoid high-pressure situations involving gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
secretservice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, in partnership with the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and FDIC Office of Inspector General, launched the Money Mule Initiative to identify and prosecute individuals who transfer stolen funds from fraud victims to international criminals. The initiative targets money mule networks that facilitate various scams affecting older Americans, including lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams, with some money mules unknowingly recruited as victims themselves or through fake work-at-home job offers. Law enforcement has brought criminal charges against multiple defendants, including cases involving multi-continent money laundering schemes and bank impersonation plots targeting small business owners.
berkshireeagle.com
· 2025-12-08
This article explains why fraud victims often experience greater shame and social stigma than victims of violent crimes, despite both being theft. Romance and relationship scams are particularly devastating because criminals invest time building emotional connections with vulnerable individuals (often those seeking companionship after loss) through fake profiles on social media, then repeatedly extract money by fabricating emergencies or personal crises. The article advises recognizing red flags such as requests to move communication off dating platforms, inability to meet in person, and repeated requests for money, while recommending early intervention through trusted intermediaries and resources like the AARP Consumer Hotline.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida announced a Money Mule Initiative in partnership with the FBI, Secret Service, and FDIC-OIG to identify, disrupt, and prosecute networks that facilitate fraud schemes targeting older Americans, including lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams. Money mules—individuals who receive and transfer stolen funds—are recruited either as unwitting victims of scams or through fake work-at-home job offers, and law enforcement is pursuing criminal prosecution against those knowingly assisting fraudsters, with recent cases involving defendants laundering between $1.5 million and $9.5 million in fraud proceeds.
el-observador.com
· 2025-12-08
A California man was sentenced to four years in prison for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded two elderly Arizona women of hundreds of thousands of dollars. AARP Arizona warns that romance scammers exploit victims' desire for companionship through dating apps and other platforms, escalating requests from gift cards to bank account access, with warning signs including early declarations of love, emergency money requests, and broken promises to meet in person. Resources like AARP's Fraud Watch Network (1-877-908-3360) provide free assistance, and experts advise never sending money via wire transfer or cryptocurrency to online contacts.
dvidshub.net
· 2025-12-08
Special Agent Johnny Guerrero and other U.S. Air Force cybersecurity experts warn that scammers exploit information shared on social media and dating sites to target military personnel and civilians through fake personas, romance scams, and AI-enabled voice cloning schemes. Social media fraud losses exceeded $2.7 billion in the first half of 2023, with online purchase scams accounting for 44% of losses, while romance scams on dating sites cost victims $1.3 billion in 2022 with a median loss of $4,400. Experts recommend applying a "never trust, always verify" approach: avoid sharing personal details online, verify suspicious requests with family directly, and use
countryherald.com
· 2025-12-08
The Tinley Park Police Department warns of an increase in phone and email scams targeting elderly residents, with common schemes including government impersonation, lottery scams, robocalls, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. The department recommends protecting personal information, monitoring financial statements, using multifactor authentication, avoiding wire transfers and gift card payments, and being skeptical of urgent demands or threats. Victims should contact local police immediately or report scams to the Federal Trade Commission to preserve evidence.
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Houston Field Office reported a concerning 400% increase in elder scams since 2021, with victims losing $1.2 billion in 2023, including cases where elderly people lose life savings, retirement funds, and homes. Five individuals were arrested for defrauding a 92-year-old World War II veteran out of $300,000 through Ternion Group International LLC, a fraudulent investment scheme that promised $13 million returns and involved establishing power of attorney and creating legal documents to control the victim's assets. The FBI emphasizes that elder fraud involves grooming victims to build trust relationships and advises victims to contact their financial institutions and law enforcement immediately.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Google announced it is testing a real-time phone call scanning feature using AI to detect financial scams and alert Android users, demonstrated at its I/O developer conference. While Google claims the processing stays on-device for privacy protection, privacy advocates express serious concerns that the technology could be exploited for surveillance of vulnerable populations, including political dissidents and those seeking sensitive services. The feature's implementation timeline and security controls remain unclear, though Google indicated more details would be shared in summer.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This AARP educational article outlines three major scams targeting homeowners and consumers, particularly older adults: contractor fraud involving upfront payment demands and shoddy work; digital package delivery scams using fake text messages from shipping companies to steal personal information and payment details (which cost Americans $330 million in 2022); and Medicare scams including false billing for unreceived services, fraudulent "free" product offers, and genetic testing schemes designed to obtain Medicare numbers. The article recommends getting multiple contractor estimates, avoiding upfront payments, ignoring unsolicited messages, verifying package issues directly with retailers, and carefully reviewing Medicare statements while protecting Medicare numbers from unauthorized parties.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Voice cloning scams are a growing threat, with scammers using AI-powered websites to impersonate loved ones and business contacts, resulting in over $752 million in losses last year. The technology is easily accessible—requiring only a 30-second audio clip (often sourced from social media) and taking just 2-4 minutes to create a convincing fake voice. Law enforcement recommends protecting yourself by establishing secret code words with family members, trusting your instincts when requests for money or sensitive information arise, and double-checking suspicious calls, while regulators work on legislation requiring digital watermarking of AI-generated content.
floridatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida opinion piece highlights the prevalence of elder fraud targeting Space Coast seniors, featuring the case of 80-year-old Judy Kirk who nearly fell victim to a tech support scam demanding $25,000. According to FBI data, seniors over 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, with Florida ranking second nationally; common scams affecting state residents include tech support, investment, romance, gift card, and roofing schemes. The article emphasizes that while Kirk avoided financial loss by sensing something wrong at the last moment, many of her peers were successfully scammed, underscoring the need for elder awareness and vigilance.
kroc.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FTC reported that Americans lost over $10 billion to scams, with Minnesota residents falling victim to various schemes including law enforcement impersonation, phishing emails, social media fraud, and fake streaming service emails. The article provides awareness of common scams while promoting a free document shredding event in Rochester, Minnesota on May 22, 2024, co-hosted by AARP and the Better Business Bureau to help residents safely dispose of sensitive documents and protect against identity theft.
tinleypark.org
· 2025-12-08
The Tinley Park Police Department reported an increase in phone and email scams targeting elderly residents, including government impersonation, sweepstakes, robocalls, tech support, and grandparent scams. The advisory recommends seniors protect themselves by avoiding sharing personal information over phone or email, monitoring financial statements, using multifactor authentication, refusing to send money to strangers, and being skeptical of callers claiming to be law enforcement or pressuring immediate action.
nerdwallet.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults are increasingly targeted by financial scams, with losses reaching $3.4 billion in the past year—an 11% increase from the previous year, with an average loss of $33,915 per victim. Scammers target this demographic because they typically have savings and assets, are more trusting, and less likely to report fraud, with tech support scams, personal data breaches, and romance scams being most common. Protective measures include adopting basic data hygiene practices (using secure websites, strong passwords, two-factor authentication), verifying unsolicited contacts directly with known sources, establishing multiple trusted contacts to monitor accounts, and reducing stigma around reporting scams.
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Losses from scams targeting adults age 60 and older reached $3.4 billion last year—an 11% increase from the prior year—with an average loss of $33,915 per victim, according to FBI data. Older adults are frequently targeted through tech support scams, personal data breaches, and romance scams because they often have substantial assets and may be more trusting and less likely to report fraud. Experts recommend protective measures including strong data hygiene practices, using credit cards for online purchases, verifying unsolicited communications directly with trusted sources, establishing account oversight with multiple trusted contacts, and fostering open conversations about scams to reduce shame and encourage reporting.
dailyinterlake.com
· 2025-12-08
The third annual Senior Fraud Protection Summit, held May 18 in Kalispell, Montana, brought together organizations including AARP, Glacier Bank, and Merrill Lynch to educate seniors on recognizing and protecting themselves from fraud scams. The event featured Financial Abuse Specialist Chris McConnell from the Montana Office of Securities as keynote speaker, along with presentations on common senior-targeted scams, prevention strategies, and available resources for victims.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elderly Americans lost over $3.4 billion to fraud, with the FBI reporting an 11% increase in elder fraud losses compared to 2022, and the DOJ charging 16 defendants in April 2024 connected to a scam defrauding hundreds of seniors. Common schemes include tech support fraud, government impersonation, and "grandparent scams" where perpetrators use spoofed phone numbers to impersonate distressed relatives or officials, convincing victims to wire money. To mitigate losses, experts recommend regular elder check-ins with financial account monitoring, restricting wire transfers by amount or location, and implementing verbal verification protocols before funds are transferre
lfpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams involve fraudsters posing as romantic interests online to manipulate victims into sending money, personal information, or cryptocurrency, often citing emergencies or investment opportunities. Recent cases in Ontario have resulted in significant losses, including one victim losing over $2 million and a Toronto woman losing $450,000; nationally, nearly 800 Canadians lost almost $42 million to romance scams in 2023, with one in four victims in their 60s. Protection strategies include avoiding sharing personal or banking information with online strangers, refusing to invest in unfamiliar platforms, and being wary of people who confess love quickly or consistently make excuses to avoid meeting in person.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP Illinois is hosting a monthly virtual fraud prevention series featuring expert speakers including the Better Business Bureau, with the first session on May 28 addressing general fraud protection strategies and upcoming sessions covering specific scam types such as travel fraud, mail fraud, internet fraud, romance scams, healthcare scams, and holiday scams. The program aims to educate participants on recognizing and avoiding common fraud schemes to protect their personal information and financial security.
money.com
· 2025-12-08
Young job seekers, particularly students seeking remote work, are being targeted in "money mule" scams where fraudsters trick them into transferring stolen money through their bank accounts, digital wallets, or cryptocurrency accounts. These scams often originate from lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams, and unwitting participants can face identity theft and potential criminal charges for money laundering. The Justice Department took action against over 3,000 money mules in the past year, with criminal charges brought against more than 20 serious offenders, including a case involving three people charged for recruiting college students to launder approximately $7 million from elderly tech fraud victims over three years.
collins.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are impersonating U.S. Marshals and federal officials by spoofing their phone numbers to target Maine residents, claiming they must pay fines to avoid arrest or promising payments that require upfront fees. The scammers use convincing tactics such as publicly available personal information, fake badges, and case numbers to appear credible. Victims are urged to report suspected scams to the FBI or FTC, and to avoid taking immediate action on unsolicited calls demanding payment or personal information.
iowastartingline.com
· 2025-12-08
A Central Iowa woman nearly fell for a sophisticated jury duty scam in which a caller impersonated a Polk County sheriff's sergeant, provided her correct personal information, and falsely claimed she had missed jury duty and had a warrant for her arrest. The scammer spoofed the sheriff's office phone number and used detailed personal data found online to appear credible, but the victim's husband identified red flags including incorrect county information and the demand for payment. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, these scams are increasingly common and difficult to investigate; legitimate fines for missed jury duty are only imposed by judges in court, never by law enforcement over the phone.
bgindependentmedia.org
· 2025-12-08
Bowling Green Police reported eight scams in a single week, increasingly targeting young people alongside traditional elderly victims. Common schemes included fake vehicle sales on Facebook Marketplace requiring deposit payments via gift cards or Bitcoin, impersonation of federal agents, sextortion involving nude photos, and fake bond payment requests. Police advise residents to trust their instincts, verify purchases in person, consult trusted contacts before acting, and resist pressure for immediate payment or photo sharing, noting that alert business employees have helped prevent some losses by identifying suspicious large purchases of gift cards and cryptocurrency.