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in Robocall / Phone Scam
kdhlradio.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers posing as Wells Fargo contacted Minnesota residents and convinced three people in the Duluth area to overnight ship cash to Florida, resulting in $48,000 in combined losses before authorities recovered the funds. Police warn that legitimate financial institutions never request customers send money, gift cards, or wire funds, and advise victims to hang up and call their bank directly using a verified number rather than returning the scammer's call. Criminals are also increasingly using AI technology to mimic loved ones' voices in phone scams targeting seniors, making it critical for families to discuss these threats and verify unusual requests in person at bank branches.
gazettenet.com
· 2025-12-07
Multiple South Hadley residents lost thousands of dollars to cryptocurrency ATM scams, including one business employee who was tricked into depositing $11,000 and another resident who lost $48,000, with authorities unable to recover the funds due to the irreversible and untraceable nature of cryptocurrency transactions. The scams have surged nationally, with the FBI receiving approximately 11,000 complaints in 2024 involving crypto kiosks, resulting in $247 million in combined losses—a 99% increase in complaints from 2023. South Hadley Police Chief Jennifer Gundersen is proposing a town ordinance banning cryptocurrency ATMs, similar to measures in W
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
This 2025 awareness article outlines emerging identity theft tactics enhanced by generative AI, including AI-powered phishing emails, voice cloning scams (which affect 1 in 4 people according to McAfee), deepfake videos, and synthetic identity creation. The article describes how criminals use these technologies to make fraudulent communications and fake identities increasingly difficult to detect, and advises readers to watch for warning signs such as unfamiliar account charges, unexpected credit accounts, credit score drops, and suspicious mail patterns.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Internet scams have evolved from crude 1990s email cons like Nigerian prince schemes to sophisticated AI-powered deepfakes that can convincingly impersonate voices and faces, with phishing attacks emerging in the early 2000s as online banking adoption grew. Despite technological advances making fraud more convincing and difficult to detect, successful scams continue to rely on exploiting fundamental human emotions—greed, fear, compassion, and loneliness—through predictable psychological manipulation patterns that create urgency and isolate victims from support systems. Understanding how scam tactics have evolved reveals that technological complexity often masks simple psychological manipulation, and recognizing consistent underlying patterns can help potential victims identify manipulation attempts regardless of delivery method.
reddit.com
· 2025-12-07
Hugo Sanchez, a Toronto man in his 40s, lost $80,000 to a romance scam after meeting a woman named "Lina" on social media following his separation. The scammer convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency, falsely promising he would triple his money. Advocates from the Canadian Association of Retired Persons are calling for stricter criminal penalties and mandatory fraud prevention measures at banks and telecoms, noting that romance scams have cost 778 Canadians over $54.6 million so far this year.
gloucestershirelive.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Three elderly residents in Gloucestershire, including a 78-year-old, fell victim to a police impersonation scam where fraudsters claimed their bank accounts had been compromised and needed investigation, then instructed victims to purchase foreign currency and hand over their bank cards and cash to fake "police couriers" at their homes. Gloucestershire Police issued a warning about the telephone scam targeting residents in Stroud, Gloucester, and Tewkesbury, advising victims to report incidents to Action Fraud and urging community members to alert vulnerable relatives and neighbors.
themirror.com
· 2025-12-07
Social Security Administration officials warned of a scam targeting seniors that uses forged letters with fake U.S. Supreme Court letterhead claiming recipients are subjects of legal proceedings and have had their Social Security numbers compromised. The scam solicits personal information and money by falsely claiming the Supreme Court has frozen the recipient's assets and imposed limits on bank balances and investments. The OIG advised seniors to disregard such communications, verify information with others before responding, and report suspicious letters, texts, and calls to ssa.gov/scam.
townhall.com
· 2025-12-07
Tochuwku Albert Nnebocha, a 43-year-old Nigerian national extradited from Poland, faces federal charges for operating a transnational inheritance scam that defrauded American seniors over five years. The scheme involved sending personalized letters claiming victims were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased Spanish relatives, then requesting upfront fees for delivery and taxes; victims sent money through a network of U.S.-based accomplices but never received the promised funds. Nnebocha faces up to 20 years in prison, and two co-defendants have already been sentenced to approximately 8 years each.
townhall.com
· 2025-12-07
Tochuwku Albert Nnebocha, 43, a Nigerian national extradited from Poland, faces federal charges for operating a transnational romance/inheritance scam that defrauded American seniors over five years by falsely claiming they had won multimillion-dollar inheritances from Spain and requesting upfront fees. Victims were instructed to send money through a network of U.S.-based former victims who forwarded funds to the defendants, with none of the promised inheritances ever materialized. Nnebocha faces up to 20 years in prison; two co-conspirators have already been sentenced to 97 months each for their roles in the scheme.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-07
On October 16, 2025, AARP Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Elder Justice Coalition hosted a Scam Jam educational event at UW-Green Bay to inform attendees about current fraud schemes and connect them with anti-fraud professionals. The event featured a resource fair with multiple Wisconsin organizations dedicated to combating elder fraud, including AARP's Fraud Watch Network, the Better Business Bureau, state consumer protection agencies, and victim support services, all providing free educational materials, complaint filing assistance, and community presentations.
wifr.com
· 2025-12-07
The Better Business Bureau warns job seekers to avoid employment scams, which ranked as the third most reported scam type from May to September 2025. Scammers use tactics including AI-generated communications, fake video interviews requesting personal information, and text messages claiming job selection to target vulnerable applicants; text message scams alone caused over $420 million in losses nationwide in 2024. The BBB recommends verifying companies through official websites, ignoring unsolicited job communications, and reporting suspected scams to the BBB Scam Tracker.
13wham.com
· 2025-12-07
A Canandaigua woman fell victim to a Medicare card scam after receiving a call from someone posing as a University of Rochester Medical Center employee, to whom she disclosed her Medicare number, name, and benefit start date before hanging up when asked medical questions. The University of Rochester and Thompson Health are investigating the incident, which mirrors similar scams where callers offer to laminate Medicare cards, and authorities remind the public never to provide Medicare information unless they initiate the call to a medical provider.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are sending fake letters with forged U.S. Supreme Court letterhead to Social Security recipients, impersonating government officials and falsely claiming recipients are involved in criminal proceedings to coerce them into providing personal information and money. The letters, often followed by text messages and phone calls, threaten to freeze bank accounts and warn against holding more than $10,000 in savings. Seniors should disregard such communications, report them to authorities, and verify any Social Security-related claims through official channels or trusted contacts.
cnhi.com
· 2025-12-07
Older adults aged 60-plus lost $3.4 billion globally to financial scammers in 2023, with fraudsters targeting this population because they believe older adults have substantial savings and are less likely to report crimes. The article describes five common scams targeting seniors: grandparent scams (emotional manipulation using impersonation), financial services scams (impersonating banks or debt collectors), tech support scams (the most frequently reported type), government impersonation scams (IRS/Social Security threats), and romance scams, all of which exploit trust, fear, or emotion to extract money or personal information.
komonews.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are conducting robocall campaigns claiming to approve loans of $150,000-$180,000 from fake lenders to consumers who never applied, attempting to extract Social Security numbers and bank account information when victims call back. The Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau report consumers are receiving aggressive "bursts" of these calls from different numbers daily, with fraudsters using convincing, friendly scripts that suggest an established relationship. Victims should hang up without responding, never call back, and can report suspicious calls to the BBB Scam Tracker or FTC.
techcrunch.com
· 2025-12-07
ZoraSafe, a startup founded by sisters Catherine Karow and Ellie Karow King, is developing a mobile app designed to protect older adults from scams and fraud while teaching cybersecurity through gamified learning. The app, launching within a month at $12.99/month, will feature QR code scanning for malware, SMS/email verification, community threat sharing, and future AI-powered detection of scam and deepfake calls with educational follow-up explanations. The company prioritizes privacy with 85% on-device processing and plans to expand to children, schools, and multiple languages.
dailyinterlake.com
· 2025-12-07
A free two-hour educational seminar titled "Scam Smart: Protecting Seniors from the Newest Scams" is scheduled for October 21 in Kalispell, Montana, hosted by state officials and community organizations to help older adults recognize and prevent fraud. The program will cover emerging scams including AI-generated calls, text phishing, cryptocurrency schemes, and investment fraud, providing practical strategies to protect personal information and finances. Seniors, caregivers, and community members are invited to attend free of charge, with advance registration required due to limited space.
abc6onyourside.com
· 2025-12-07
An 82-year-old in Northern Virginia was nearly scammed out of over $20,000 by a fraudster posing as a lawyer claiming to represent their son in a criminal case, complete with a crying man in the background for authenticity. The victim's family intervened before money was lost, and law enforcement coordinated a fake cash pickup that led to the arrest of Yordanys Rodriguez, 33, of the Bronx, who was found to be impersonating a law enforcement officer and is now facing charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining money by false pretenses.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-07
A Mumbai man met a woman on the dating app Aisle and was lured to a bar near Upvan Lake in Thane, where she ordered expensive premium drinks totaling Rs 24,000, pressuring him to pay Rs 10,000 before disappearing and cutting contact. Social media users confirmed this is a common dating app scam targeting men at Thane bars, and experts recommend meeting in well-populated public places, informing friends of your location, and being cautious of requests for expensive purchases.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-07
A Mumbai man lost approximately ₹10,000 in a dating app scam after meeting a woman on Aisle who lured him to a bar in Thane, where she ordered expensive premium whisky without his knowledge before disappearing without paying. The victim was pressured into paying ₹24,000 (₹26,000 including service charges) at Paablo Baar and Lounch, with the woman abandoning him after the transaction and cutting off contact. Social media users confirmed this is a well-known recurring scam targeting dating app users in Thane bars over the past several years.
local12.com
· 2025-12-07
Valerie Williams, a 65-year-old Michigan resident, won a $1 million prize in the Michigan Lottery's Electric Giveaway after initially hesitating to answer what she thought was a scam call from the lottery. Williams had earned her spot in the live drawing at Comerica Park on September 19 by scanning non-winning lottery tickets on the Michigan Lottery mobile app, ultimately beating four other finalists. She plans to save the winnings and use them for a vacation with her husband.
earth.com
· 2025-12-07
Gabriel Aguilar, a University of Texas at Arlington professor, was nearly victimized by a fake job offer scam involving a fraudulent check years ago; this experience inspired his current research on how artificial intelligence tools like chatbots, deepfakes, and voice clones are making scams more convincing, particularly targeting Latino communities who face obstacles including limited digital access and financial stress. Aguilar's published study and teaching methods focus on educating students to recognize AI-powered manipulation tactics—including fake job listings, impersonated government websites, and voice cloning—by teaching them to identify tone, rhythm, and context in deceptive messages. He emphasizes that AI did not revolutionize
cantonrep.com
· 2025-12-07
Holiday decoration scams involve fraudulent online retailers advertising discounted decorations through social media and websites that deliver substandard miniature products or fail to deliver altogether, leaving consumers unable to contact the company or receive refunds. Reported losses range from $53 to $257 per victim. To avoid these scams, consumers should research unfamiliar vendors before purchasing, be skeptical of prices that seem too good to be true, avoid impulse buying on social media ads, and always use credit cards for online purchases to enable charge disputes.
wjla.com
· 2025-12-07
An 82-year-old in Northern Virginia nearly lost over $20,000 to a fake lawyer scam in October, where a caller claimed the victim's son needed legal representation and used emotional manipulation (including recorded crying) to pressure payment. Quick intervention by a family member and coordinated law enforcement stopped the fraud; investigators identified the scammer as Yordanys Rodriguez, 33, of New York, who used the name of a deceased attorney and was arrested in Pennsylvania on charges of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretenses, and was also found to be impersonating a law enforcement officer.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-07
Online and text message scams are increasing in frequency and sophistication, with seniors being disproportionately targeted. Common scams include pop-up warnings that trick users into downloading viruses and calling fake tech support numbers, as well as text messages falsely claiming users owe money, offering jobs, or demanding toll payments. Experts recommend avoiding clicking links, refusing to share personal information, and using strong, unique passwords to protect against these evolving threats.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are targeting New Yorkers with text messages impersonating the Department of Taxation and Finance, falsely claiming recipients are eligible for "inflation refunds" and requesting personal and financial information. While New York State is legitimately issuing one-time inflation refund checks ($150-$400) to eligible taxpayers, the state explicitly does not contact people via text and will not request additional information; victims should report these scam texts to the Tax Department rather than responding to them.
themanchestermirror.com
· 2025-12-07
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office warns of increased phone and email scams in the region where callers impersonate law enforcement and claim victims have warrants or that their relatives are in jail, demanding immediate payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. The sheriff's office emphasizes that legitimate law enforcement never demands payment over the phone and advises recipients to hang up, avoid providing personal information, resist pressure for immediate action, and verify claims by calling Metro Dispatch directly at 734-994-2911.
1380kcim.com
· 2025-12-07
The Iowa Insurance Division is warning Medicare beneficiaries about scams during the 2026 open enrollment period (October 15–December 7), which scammers exploit to steal personal information and fraudulently enroll individuals in new plans. Common schemes include unsolicited calls and texts requesting Medicare numbers or personal data, with Medicare fraud costing an estimated $100 billion annually. Free assistance is available through certified SHIIP counselors across Iowa to help beneficiaries safely navigate enrollment decisions.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-07
Qantas was among dozens of companies affected by a Salesforce cyberattack in October 2025, where hackers exposed passenger information on the dark web after a ransom was not paid. Affected customers are at risk of spear-phishing attacks, account fraud, and identity theft, with experts warning that criminals may use the exposed data months later to file fraudulent loans or impersonate banks and government agencies. Protection measures include enabling multi-factor authentication, updating passwords, monitoring financial statements, placing credit suspensions, and ignoring requests to download leaked files, which may contain malware.
crawfordcountynow.com
· 2025-12-07
First Federal Community Bank is promoting cybersecurity awareness during October, warning the public about the "I-shing family" of digital scams—phishing (fake emails), smishing (text messages), and vishing (phone calls)—which use artificial urgency to trick victims into sharing personal data. The bank emphasizes that legitimate companies do not pressure customers and is providing resources including printable guides and weekly online safety tips covering passwords, multi-factor authentication, device security, and protection for seniors and children.
longislandpress.com
· 2025-12-07
Two men were arrested in connection with an elder fraud scheme in East Rockaway on October 6, 2025, in which a 74-year-old woman was deceived by a fake computer warning message and withdrew $117,000 that she handed over to accomplices. Jinqin Jiang, 46, and Chengxiang Jiang, 40, were charged with grand larceny and related offenses; the latter was also linked to a prior August scam targeting a 78-year-old man for approximately $78,000. Both men were found to be in the country illegally and were transferred to ICE custody for removal proceedings.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are impersonating the New York State Tax Department via calls, texts, and emails to trick residents into providing personal information under the false premise that they need to submit payment details to receive legitimate inflation refund checks. The phishing campaigns use urgency tactics and fake websites to steal sensitive data like Social Security numbers and banking information for identity theft, though eligible residents are automatically sent refunds without needing to provide any information or take action.
detroitnews.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational article provides guidance on recovering emotionally and practically from financial scams. It advises victims to document what happened, immediately contact their financial institution to dispute charges and change passwords, file police reports with local and federal agencies (FBI, FTC, state attorney general), and consider credit monitoring or freezes to prevent further fraud. Experts emphasize that scam victims should not feel shame, as anyone can be targeted, and that sharing experiences with others can help prevent future scams in their community.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are targeting unsuspected individuals with unsolicited phone calls claiming they have been approved for loans worth tens of thousands of dollars, despite the recipients never applying for loans. The scam attempts to get victims to call back the provided numbers, which can lead to additional scam calls and potential theft of personal or banking information. Authorities advise recipients never to call back these numbers and to remain vigilant, as these scams have persisted throughout the year.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-07
A Busan District Court sentenced three Korean men to two years and four months in prison for operating a romance scam call center in Cambodia that defrauded 13 victims of over 580 million won ($450,000+ USD) through 119 fraudulent transactions between July 3-24, 2023. The criminal organization, run by a Chinese leader with offices in Cambodia and Laos, forced employees to work 12-hour shifts under intense surveillance with armed guards, held "hostages" (employees' friends) to prevent workers from leaving, and charged $10,000 fines to those who tried to withdraw from the operation. The romance scam scheme used fake female photos
mhnse.com
· 2025-12-07
A Busan court convicted three Korean nationals of operating an organized romance scam call center in Cambodia that defrauded 13 victims of approximately 580 million won (USD 437,000) through fake female profiles on social media between July 3-24. The defendants worked for a Chinese-led criminal syndicate running heavily armed call centers in Cambodia and Laos, where employees endured 12-hour shifts under strict surveillance, phone bans, and threats including hostage-taking and USD 10,000 penalties to prevent escapes. The court imposed prison sentences of 2 years 4 months to 3 years 2 months, noting the severe
irishtimes.com
· 2025-12-07
A woman in her 60s was victimized in a romance scam after joining a dating site in late 2023 and meeting a man claiming to be named Donald, who quickly professed feelings and moved their conversation to WhatsApp. The scammer, posing as a telecommunications executive working in Germany with a fabricated professional website, convinced her to make bank transfers on his behalf under the pretense of equipment payment issues, resulting in significant financial losses and debts. Despite her family's warnings and her own growing doubts, she continued the relationship until eventually recognizing the deception, but not before suffering major financial and legal consequences.
switzer.com.au
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, Australians lost over A$2.03 billion to scams across 494,732 reported cases, with most enabled by technology through online or phone contact. Scammers exploit universal psychological principles—including need, greed, authority, distraction, and social proof—that are similar to legitimate persuasion techniques used in advertising and marketing, making everyone vulnerable regardless of expertise or background. Understanding these manipulation tactics can help people recognize and resist scams by questioning whether they're being rushed, whether claims seem too good to be true, and whether the request matches legitimate practices.
jocoreport.com
· 2025-12-07
A 61-year-old woman in Johnston County lost $15,000 after receiving a phone call from someone impersonating a Wells Fargo employee who convinced her that fraudulent activity was occurring on her account. Following the scammer's instructions, she withdrew the cash and handed it to an unidentified man in a Toyota Prius in a Dollar General parking lot, believing she was assisting with a bank investigation. The sheriff's office is investigating the incident and reminds residents that legitimate financial institutions never request cash withdrawals or in-person handoffs for investigative purposes.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-07
Shruti Kaushik, a Senior Manager on TD Bank's cybercrime team, leads efforts to detect and shut down phishing, smishing, and vishing scams that fraudsters use to steal sensitive information from customers. The article highlights how cybercrimes are becoming increasingly automated and sophisticated, with particular concerns around fake text messages and spoofed calls, and emphasizes that customers should avoid acting on urgent requests and ignore suspicious communications rather than engaging with them.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-07
A 76-year-old man from Kolkata was defrauded of Rs 57.2 lakh by scammers who posed as senior government officials using fake social media profiles and specialized apps, employing a combination of investment and digital arrest scams with forged documents. The fraudsters threatened the victim when he discovered the deception, and police initiated an investigation with cyber cell assistance to trace the perpetrators and recover the funds. The incident highlights how elderly individuals' unfamiliarity with digital platforms, trust in authority figures, and emotional vulnerabilities make them particularly susceptible to such targeted fraud schemes.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-07
Crypto ATM machines at convenience stores across the U.S. have become primary tools for scammers targeting Americans, particularly seniors, who are tricked into depositing cash to resolve fabricated legal or financial emergencies. In one Arizona location alone, at least a dozen victims lost $118,000 in a year, including four people defrauded of a combined $54,000 in just four days. The crypto ATM companies profit significantly from these frauds through 20-30% markups on cryptocurrency transactions while largely failing to implement fraud-prevention measures, refusing victim refunds, and lobbying against protective legislation—with the FBI reporting Americans lost approximately $240 million to such scams in
patch.com
· 2025-12-07
The City of Temecula and Assemblymember Kate Sanchez are hosting a free "Senior Scam Symposium" on November 20 to educate older adults on identifying and preventing scams, including internet fraud, phishing, identity theft, and fraudulent phone calls. The event will feature keynote speakers from law enforcement, the FBI, and county officials who will discuss scam prevention strategies, legislative updates, and available resources to protect seniors and their families.
amac.us
· 2025-12-07
Inheritance scams deceive victims into believing a deceased relative left them money, then request payment for taxes or fees that never result in any funds being returned. A 41-year-old Nigerian man, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, pleaded guilty to defrauding over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans of more than $6 million through personalized letters falsely claiming to be a Spanish bank representative; he and eight co-defendants received prison sentences. To protect against these scams, seniors should recognize red flags like unsolicited claims, requests for personal information or unusual payment methods, and pressure tactics, and should report suspected fraud immediately to the FTC or law enforcement.
wglt.org
· 2025-12-07
The Better Business Bureau of Central Illinois reports a 70% increase in scam reports year-to-date (roughly 100,000 compared to 58,000 last year), with seniors age 65 and older being the hardest hit, experiencing median losses of over $6,000 from romance/friendship scams and sometimes losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. To address this rise, BBB leader Jessica Tharp is launching the Senior Scam Stop 2025 education series to combat the stigma around victimization and empower seniors with knowledge about common scams (including romance plots, grandparent scams, and Medicare fraud) and protective strategies.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
A US-UK joint operation seized 19 London properties worth over £100 million that were purchased by Southeast Asian crime networks using proceeds from industrial-scale scam centres based in Cambodia and Myanmar. The criminals, led by Chen Zhi, operated romance scams and fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes that victimized vulnerable people into handing over large sums, while also exploiting trafficked workers forced to conduct online fraud under threat of torture. The sanctions freeze the network's assets and businesses, blocking their access to the UK financial system.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-07
Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi was charged in the US for allegedly orchestrating a massive cryptocurrency scam through his Prince Group, which operated at least ten fraudulent compounds in Cambodia that used forced labor to conduct online romance and investment fraud schemes targeting thousands of victims worldwide. The US and UK seized approximately $14 billion in bitcoin and froze assets including 19 London properties valued at over £100 million, with prosecutors describing the operation as one of the largest financial takedowns in history involving human trafficking, forced labor camps, and the use of phone farms controlling thousands of fake social media accounts to deceive victims into transferring cryptocurrency.