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in Scam Awareness
nbcmontana.com
· 2025-12-08
Missoula Aging Services reported a surge in phone scams where callers impersonate Medicare, government agencies, banks, and tech support to extract victims' personal information including Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, and bank account details using high-pressure tactics. The organization urges consumers to be suspicious of unsolicited calls requesting personal information and recommends verifying caller identity by independently contacting the organization, then reporting suspicious calls to Montana Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-551-3191 or the Federal Trade Commission.
northwichguardian.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Age UK Cheshire is hosting free educational events in October titled "Scam Proof? Protect Yourself and Others from Fraud" to help elderly residents and community members recognize and prevent scams. Expert speakers from local authorities, police, and the Crown Prosecution Service, along with scam survivors sharing their stories, will cover warning signs and tactics used by fraudsters across phone, online, and doorstep scams. The sessions are designed to equip participants with practical strategies to protect their personal and financial information.
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission held a roundtable in Cleveland where community leaders shared personal scam experiences to raise awareness, with Ohioans reporting 30,000 fraud cases and nearly $100 million in losses so far that year. Discussed scams included gas station card skimming, targeting of refugee communities via fraudulent Zoom meetings, EBT card hacking, and imposter scams demanding payment through cryptocurrency, cash, wire transfers, or gift cards—none of which legitimate businesses or government agencies use for payment requests.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational language lesson, not a news article about an actual scam or fraud case. The material teaches intermediate English learners about online scams through vocabulary, grammar (passive voice), and a dialogue example involving a phishing email impersonating the Australian Taxation Office. The lesson provides practical phrases for discussing scams and emphasizes how to recognize suspicious messages, verify sender identity, and report incidents to authorities.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Moira Stuart, a 75-year-old veteran BBC broadcaster, nearly fell victim to an authorised push payment scam when a fraudster called claiming to be from her bank and instructed her to transfer money to intercept suspected fraud. A vigilant bank cashier intervened at the counter, questioning her activity and alerting the anti-fraud team, which confirmed the scam and prevented her loss. Stuart's experience highlights the sophistication of these scams—which totalled £459.7 million in losses across 232,429 cases in 2023—and inspired her to work with a charity promoting digital safety skills for older people.
wdtn.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warned of a "card declined" scam where fraudsters create fake retail websites that display false payment decline messages to trick shoppers into entering multiple credit card numbers, which the scammers then harvest for unauthorized charges. To protect yourself, verify website URLs and security features (https://), avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, research businesses before purchasing, use credit cards for extra fraud protection, and never retry payments with different cards on suspicious sites. The BBB recommends checking for legitimate business accreditation and monitoring your accounts for unauthorized charges.
bristolpost.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Journalist Moira Stuart fell victim to a sophisticated bank impersonation scam approximately three years ago in which a caller claimed to be from her bank, alleging fraudulent activity and instructing her to withdraw cash from an alternative branch while remaining on the phone. The scam was thwarted when a vigilant bank teller questioned her actions and advised her it "doesn't sound right," prompting her to report the incident to the bank's anti-fraud team. Stuart has since partnered with BT Group and AbilityNet to educate older adults about common scams including delivery fraud, family impersonation schemes, and bank/email fraud, emphasizing that scammers are sophisticated enough to target
moroccoworldnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Spanish police arrested five suspects who scammed two women out of €325,000 by impersonating actor Brad Pitt on social media and messaging apps, convincing them they were in romantic relationships and had investment opportunities. The perpetrators targeted vulnerable women experiencing depression, conducted psychological profiling through social networks, and maintained the deception through WhatsApp and email. Police recovered €85,000 of the stolen funds and seized evidence including phones, computers, and records of fraudulent phrases used in the scheme.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Isaiah Okere, a 42-year-old Nigerian citizen, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after being extradited from South Africa for his role in an international scam operation targeting at least 15 victims. From 2015 to 2019, Okere and co-conspirators orchestrated romance scams, lottery scams, and business email compromise schemes that resulted in over $1 million in losses, with vulnerable and elderly victims losing their entire retirement savings, and one victim reporting suicidal ideation. Okere used false identities and foreign bank accounts to facilitate the fraud and money laundering scheme, and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
The Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director warned the public to be cautious of love scams, citing a case where a 58-year-old female lawyer lost RM1.7 million to a scammer who posed as an American marine geologist and requested loans. The CCID also reported dismantling a Pantheon Ventures investment scam involving 17 suspects that defrauded 66 victims of RM32.9 million since January, using fake investment packages promising unrealistic returns of 6-400% daily through Facebook and WhatsApp advertisements.
uppermichiganssource.com
· 2025-12-08
Delta County retirees attended an AARP-sponsored fraud awareness workshop where law enforcement identified romance scams and IRS impersonation scams as the top threats targeting Upper Peninsula residents. Scammers use emotional manipulation—such as fake online dating profiles or threatening calls about back taxes—with artificial urgency to pressure victims into sending money, though the IRS does not initiate contact by phone. Authorities advised residents to hang up on suspicious callers, limit personal information on social media, avoid stranger friend requests, and contact local law enforcement if money is involved.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A senior Malaysian police official warned the public about love scams following a case where a 58-year-old female lawyer lost RM1.7 million to an online romance scam in September. The victim met a man posing as an American marine geologist on WhatsApp who claimed to need financial assistance due to stolen funds, then disappeared after receiving multiple transfers. Authorities advise online daters to be vigilant for red flags such as requests for money, verify identities through independent sources, and consult trusted friends and family before engaging financially or personally with online romantic interests.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering legislation that would require banks to flag suspicious transactions—such as overseas wire transfers—and freeze them for several days while alerting law enforcement and potentially trusted family members, targeting protection for residents age 60 and older. The bill addresses a growing wire fraud problem where scammers trick elderly victims into transferring hundreds of thousands of dollars through elaborate schemes like romance scams and fake investment offers, with nearly 60% of stolen money in financial fraud cases originating from wire transfers and most never being recovered. The measure passed the Pennsylvania House in July with bipartisan support and is currently under Senate consideration.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
West African "Yahoo boys" operating from Ghana conduct large-scale romance and computer repair scams, targeting vulnerable Americans (particularly widowers and elderly victims) and stealing billions in fraudulent wire transfers and gold purchase schemes. A 92-year-old retired nurse lost significant portions of her life savings to a gold scam despite repeated warnings, leading to lawsuits against banks like Charles Schwab for allegedly ignoring red flags on suspicious transactions. U.S. consumers reported over $10 billion in fraud losses in 2023—a 14% increase from 2022—as overseas-based scams exploit weak bank safeguards and psychological manipulation to drain American accounts.
montclairlocal.news
· 2025-12-08
Montclair Police warn residents of sextortion scams where fraudsters email victims claiming to have installed malware and threatening to release compromising videos unless payment is made in Bitcoin, using publicly available information like phone numbers and home addresses to appear credible. Police advise residents to never provide personal information, financial details, or payments via Bitcoin, wire transfer, or gift cards, and to be aware that caller ID can be spoofed; victims should contact Montclair Police at (973) 744-1234 if targeted.
therecordnorthshore.org
· 2025-12-08
Multiple residents across northern Chicago suburbs reported fraud incidents in mid-September, including check washing schemes in Winnetka where stolen mailed checks were altered and cashed for a combined total of over $9,000, and a digital scam in Glencoe where a resident lost more than $100,000 after responding to a pop-up message on their computer screen. The police reports also documented various property crimes including burglaries and thefts across Wilmette, Highland Park, and Northfield during the same period.
psychologytoday.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article examines how scammers use fear and psychological manipulation to exploit victims through sophisticated online extortion scams. The author explains that scammers deliberately trigger fight-or-flight responses to bypass critical thinking, and notes that the FTC reported $10 billion in fraud losses nationally in 2023, with success rates dependent on sending mass emails to hundreds of millions of people. The article advocates for corporate accountability while recommending awareness-building, FTC resources, and educational content from fraud educators as tools to counter these tactics.
nbcchicago.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warned of a surge in investment scams, particularly those involving cryptocurrency, with reports hitting an all-time high in 2023. Con artists typically use social media, dating apps, or hacked Facebook pages to pitch fraudulent investment opportunities, exploiting confusion around cryptocurrency to avoid detection. Average losses per victim rose from $1,000 in 2021 to nearly $6,000 in 2023, with consumers losing over $4.6 billion to investment scams across all categories in the prior year.
bradfordera.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.), chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, held a hearing titled "Fighting Fraud: How Scammers Are Stealing from Older" Americans to address scams targeting elderly citizens. The hearing examined fraud schemes affecting seniors, though specific details about the scams discussed and outcomes are not provided in the excerpt.
wkbw.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau reports a record surge in phishing scams in 2024, with scam reports doubling between 2022 and 2023, targeting people through text messages (such as fake toll payment demands), extortion emails involving threats to release compromising images unless Bitcoin payment is made, and stolen event tickets from major data breaches like the Ticketmaster hack affecting 500 million users. Experts recommend not engaging with scammers, using app-based authentication with two-factor verification, and reporting suspected scams, noting that cryptocurrency payments are nearly impossible to recover once sent.
candgnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office is holding educational events in October to help seniors recognize and prevent fraud, including scams involving impersonation of police officers, fake technical support invoices, and AI-generated voice calls from supposed relatives. Free presentations and "S.C.A.M.S." prevention booklets will be available at events on October 9 at Macomb Community College and October 17 at the Sterling Heights Fall Senior Expo, with the office advising seniors to avoid sharing personal information with unknown callers or emailers.
kelly.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
During a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly discussed the escalating threat of sophisticated fraud targeting seniors, including AI-generated voice cloning, cryptocurrency schemes, and "pig butchering" scams orchestrated by organized crime networks operating internationally, with reported losses totaling $100 billion. Law enforcement and consumer advocates emphasized the need for increased investigative resources, industry engagement, and a comprehensive national strategy to combat these crimes. Kelly highlighted his legislative efforts to protect seniors, including the Stop Senior Scams Act (2022) and the EdCOPS Act (2024), while discussing successful collaborative models like San Diego's Elder Justice Task Force.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania lawmakers are pushing for stricter banking regulations to combat wire fraud targeting seniors, in which scammers trick victims into transferring money from their accounts to overseas criminals. The investigation highlights a growing trend of elder fraud that presents challenges for banks whose customers are being victimized by these scams.
in.mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
A Mumbai woman lost Rs 3.37 lakh in a romance scam after meeting someone posing as "Advait" on Tinder; the scammer claimed the victim's supposed romantic interest had been detained at the airport with currency and needed bail money, which the woman paid via UPI. When a second payment of Rs 4.99 lakh was demanded, an alert bank official questioned the transaction and prevented further loss, prompting the victim to report the fraud to police. A case has been registered at Versova police station, and authorities are investigating the unidentified perpetrators.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Tourists visiting London have become victims of an increasingly common rickshaw scam where dishonest drivers manipulate credit card machines—often by shifting decimal points—to charge exorbitant fares for short journeys, with one victim charged $1,700 for a 1-kilometer ride between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Multiple complaints to Transport for London have documented cases involving overcharges ranging from 10 to 450+ pounds, with some drivers employing intimidation tactics. Until recently, pedicab regulations in London dated back to 1869, allowing nearly anyone to operate these vehicles without oversight; authorities including the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association and Metropolitan Police have called for stronger regulation to
thequint.com
· 2025-12-08
Indian youth from Haryana are falling victim to job scams involving recruitment agents who promise legitimate overseas employment but instead traffic them into dangerous situations. Six men from Kaithal district were recruited for jobs in Russia's transport sector but were forced into the Russian Army; one was killed in combat in Ukraine, one remains missing, and four returned traumatized after seven months of frontline fighting with minimal training. Similar scams have affected other regions, with victims' families spending substantial sums (one family spent ₹42.33 lakh) only to have relatives sent to conflict zones like Libya where some were killed, exploiting widespread unemployment and desperation among India's youth.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Moira Stuart, a 75-year-old BBC News presenter, fell victim to a sophisticated phone scam where fraudsters impersonated her bank and instructed her to transfer money to catch an alleged "inside job" at her branch. A vigilant bank cashier prevented her from losing thousands of pounds by questioning the transaction and alerting the bank's anti-fraud team. Stuart publicly shared her experience to combat the shame surrounding fraud victimization and to raise awareness, noting that nearly three million instances of bank fraud costing £1.2 billion were recorded the previous year, with authorized fraud victims losing an average of nearly £2,000.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bedford County resident received multiple calls claiming he had won a $2.5 million Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes and was asked to pay $4,850 upfront in taxes before receiving the prize. The victim's contact with the actual Publisher's Clearing House company confirmed he was not a winner, as the legitimate company never calls winners and instead delivers prizes in person. This scam is part of a broader fraud epidemic in Pennsylvania, where the FTC reported over 14,800 fraud complaints in the first half of 2024, with sweepstakes and lottery scams accounting for 618 of those reports.
milwaukeeindependent.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, a crisis-level problem projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology increase vulnerability and perpetrator access. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and underfunded, with relatively few scammers caught or convicted, stolen funds rarely recovered, and many victims reluctant to report crimes—illustrated by an Ohio case where an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer threatening to extract $12,000 in supposed bond money, while the actual perpetrator remained at large. Key challenges include difficulty investigating overseas fraud, rapid conversion of funds to cryptocurrency, some police dismiss
knoe.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau alerts consumers about payday loan scams, specifically highlighting that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is distributing refund checks to victims of the Hydra Group scam. Consumers who believe they were affected but haven't received a check can call (855) 411-2372 to inquire, and those who suspect they're victims of payday loan scams should contact the BBB at (318) 387-4600.
medicalnewstoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare scam calls are fraudulent attempts to steal seniors' Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, bank account information, and other personal data by impersonating government agencies or Medicare representatives. Scammers use pressure tactics such as threatening benefit cancellation, promising free services, or offering plan upgrades to manipulate victims into disclosing sensitive information. Medicare and Social Security never make unsolicited calls requesting personal information; recipients should hang up immediately and contact Medicare directly at 800-633-4227 to report suspicious calls.
6abc.com
· 2025-12-08
Fake job offer scams are among the fastest-growing frauds in the U.S., with reports jumping 118% in 2023, and scammers use these schemes to steal identities or money by requesting pre-payment for job expenses or using stolen identities to deceive employers. To protect themselves, job applicants should research positions directly through company websites, be cautious of requests for sensitive information like Social Security numbers, and verify job postings independently, while employers should conduct thorough background checks and conduct face-to-face interviews.
ellsworthamerican.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot summarize this content. This appears to be a list of country names and jurisdictions rather than an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. To provide a summary for the Elderus database, please provide an actual news article or transcript discussing a specific fraud case, scam scheme, or elder abuse incident.
milwaukeeindependent.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, with the problem projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology make fraud easier to perpetrate and harder to prosecute. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and under-resourced, with perpetrators rarely caught or convicted, and victims—particularly older adults—often unable to recover stolen funds from romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud. The article illustrates the crisis through cases including an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer, while the perpetrator remained at large, highlighting how inadequate law enforcement
gcsynod.org
· 2025-12-08
This article announces that the FBI has expanded resources and support to faith communities during election years when hate crimes typically increase. The FBI offers educational materials on hate crimes and civil rights violations, and encourages reporting through multiple channels (1-800-CALL-FBI, tips.fbi.gov, ic3.gov, or 911 for emergencies), while also making speakers available to community organizations on topics including elder fraud, internet crimes, and civil rights protection.
elderlawanswers.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article discusses the growing threat of data breaches and internet scams, citing FBI statistics showing global losses from internet scams increased from $3.5 billion in 2019 to $12.5 billion in 2023, with notable recent breaches at National Public Data and a CMS contractor affecting millions of consumers' personal information. The article provides cybersecurity awareness advice for Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October), recommending that internet users strengthen their passwords, consider using password managers, and monitor their financial accounts to reduce their vulnerability to fraud and identity theft.
duncanbanner.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023, up $1 billion from 2022, with elderly people frequently targeted due to their presumed savings. The article provides financial protection advice from CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals, including verifying suspicious requests with trusted contacts, being cautious with emails and calls, securing sensitive documents, using strong passwords, setting up automatic bill payments, and seeking help from a CFP® professional if victimized by identity theft or fraud.
macombgov.org
· 2025-12-08
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office conducted outreach at a Senior Expo to educate seniors about common scams including identity theft, telemarketing fraud, internet scams, home improvement fraud, and caregiver fraud. Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido distributed "S.C.A.M.S." (Stopping Crimes Against Macomb Seniors) booklets and offers presentations to community groups to help seniors protect themselves from fraud. The office has scheduled another free Senior Expo for October 17, 2024, in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
bernews.com
· 2025-12-08
Three senior citizens in Bermuda were defrauded of approximately $685,000 through a combination of social media impersonation and phone scams. One victim received a Facebook message appearing to be from someone they knew, instructing them to purchase Apple gift cards and share redemption codes, while two others received unsolicited calls from scammers posing as bank employees requesting account information or computer remote access. Police advised seniors to avoid responding to unsolicited requests for gift cards or personal information, verify caller identity by contacting their bank directly, and report suspected fraud immediately.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans received over 4.4 billion robocalls in April, with scam calls surging 73% to 710 million, primarily featuring fraudulent tax relief schemes promising to eliminate or make tax debt "non-collectible." These scams target people with tax obligations by requesting upfront fees and personal information while delivering nothing in return. The article recommends protecting oneself through data removal services, screening unknown calls, verifying caller identity, and reporting suspicious calls to authorities.
lawrencekstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister conducted a community presentation warning residents about common scams after a local family lost $90,000, noting that scammers typically operate outside U.S. jurisdiction making fund recovery nearly impossible. Scammers use emails, phone calls, social media, and mail to target victims by spoofing phone numbers, impersonating government agencies or financial institutions, and creating emotional urgency through threats or too-good-to-be-true offers. Armbrister recommends verifying suspicious calls by hanging up and calling trusted numbers, watching for red flags like immediate threats and AI-enhanced voice spoofing, and never providing personal or banking information to unsolicited callers
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam text message circulated in York, Pennsylvania, claiming recipients owed parking violation fees (ranging from $4.15 to $35) and directing them to click a malicious link. York City officials warned residents via Facebook that the text was fraudulent and advised anyone receiving suspicious parking-related communications to contact the York City Parking Bureau directly at 717-849-2230 rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages.
couriernews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Russellville Police Department warns that elderly individuals are increasingly targeted for financial crimes, with an estimated 37 percent of telemarketing fraud victims being seniors. The article attributes this trend to the growing aging population and seniors' accumulated resources, while advising elders to report crimes, remember that "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," and contact local police before committing to suspicious offers.
thestar.com
· 2025-12-08
Canadian seniors reported 17,000 fraud cases totaling $137.8 million in 2022, with financial abuse on the rise as the population ages. While seniors fall victim to various scams including romance and prize fraud, familial elder financial abuse—when family members or caregivers exploit a senior's finances—is among the most common yet underreported forms. Key protective measures include establishing powers of attorney, maintaining organized financial documents, having transparent family conversations about money, designating a trusted contact person with financial advisers, and working with professionals to monitor for suspicious spending or behavior changes.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A buyer lost £615 to a Facebook Marketplace scam when purchasing a second-hand bicycle; the seller requested payment via PayPal's friends and family option (which lacks buyer protection) and never delivered the item or responded to messages. After intervention, PayPal refunded the full amount, and the article warns that scammers increasingly exploit the friends and family payment method to avoid refunds, with Facebook scam losses rising 366% from £7 million in 2020 to £32.6 million in 2022. The advice recommends paying by cash in person when possible, or using protected payment methods like PayPal's standard goods and services option rather than bank
headtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
David Checkley, a romance fraudster, was jailed again after previously defrauding Sharon Shearer, 70, of over £200,000 during a three-year relationship that left her bankrupt and homeless. The article also reports a significant rise in various fraud schemes in the UK, including an 43% increase in banking complaints about denied refunds (8,700 cases between April-June), a 34% surge in purchase scams totaling £85.9 million in 2023, and a 31% increase in romance scam payments reaching £36.5 million—the highest ever recorded. Common scams highlighted include marketplace fraud, fake ticketing schemes,
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Tennessee man's wife fell victim to a sophisticated scam where thieves posed as bank representatives following a legitimate fraud alert text, tricking her into revealing the answer to her account's security question. Using this information, the scammers disabled notifications, transferred funds between accounts, and set up an ACH withdrawal—though the victim's daily account monitoring allowed her to catch the fraud quickly and recover most funds through her bank and IC3 reporting. The incident illustrates how scammers exploit trust and use security question answers to bypass account protections, and highlights the importance of verifying caller identity and being cautious about sharing personal information even when requests seem legitimate.
fox5atlanta.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity experts report a 25% increase in fake job offer scams from 2022 to 2023, with approximately 245,500 people victimized last year, as scammers increasingly use generative AI to create realistic-looking job listings and emails. Losses totaled $491 million in 2023, with scammers targeting vulnerable recently laid-off workers by requesting upfront equipment investments or stealing personal information for resale. Experts advise job seekers to research companies thoroughly, be suspicious of unusually high pay offers, and report suspected scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
abc7chicago.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau issued a warning about driveway repair and paving scams targeting homeowners, where fraudsters pose as contractors claiming to already be working in the area and offering discounted services before disappearing with payment or providing substandard work. The alert recommends homeowners decline unsolicited offers, research contractors through the BBB website, use written contracts, avoid paying in full upfront, and pay by credit card rather than cash to enable fraud disputes if needed.
pandasecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
As Amazon Prime Day approaches on October 8-9, scammers are preparing to exploit the shopping rush by targeting consumers through phishing emails, fake Amazon websites, and stolen credential misuse. Common tactics include fraudulent messages claiming Prime subscriptions have been canceled to steal login information, as well as package theft by "porch pirates" taking advantage of increased deliveries. Consumers can protect themselves by using antivirus software, verifying account information directly through Amazon, and using Amazon Lockers for package delivery to avoid theft.