Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
6,239 results
in Phishing
indiatvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines major cybercrime threats targeting smart device users, including phishing, fake online stores, banking scams, impersonation scams, and romance scams. It provides guidance on recognizing red flags—such as unsolicited requests for personal information, suspicious payment methods, and poor grammar—and recommends preventative measures including verifying website legitimacy, avoiding unknown links and attachments, and monitoring financial accounts for unauthorized activity. The article advises reporting suspected scams to authorities like the FTC and contacting financial institutions immediately if fraud is suspected.
newstalkzb.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Police warned the public about phone and email scams in which fraudsters impersonate police officers and request victims' financial details by claiming they are fraud victims. New Zealand Police clarified they never contact people requesting banking information, card numbers, PINs, or passwords, and advised the public to verify any suspicious calls by hanging up and dialing 105 to confirm the officer's identity. The scams, primarily targeting landline users, are believed to be operated overseas.
cpr.org
· 2025-12-08
While younger adults are statistically more likely to fall for fraud, people over 70 lose significantly more money overall. An 80-year-old man in Aurora lost $20,000 after scammers posed as his bank's fraud department over several weeks, convincing him to withdraw cash and convert it to Bitcoin at a gas station ATM. Deputy Ryan Falkner of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office identifies the most prevalent current scams targeting older adults as popup virus warnings and jury duty/arrest warrant phone scams, recommending that victims turn off their computers and never pay via gift cards or cryptocurrency.
timeslive.co.za
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, nearly 70,000 people reported romance scams with combined losses totaling $1.3 billion. The article provides fraud prevention tips including recognizing spelling errors and urgency in messages, verifying sender identities and profiles, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and being cautious when requests are made for sensitive information such as passwords or financial details.
khou.com
· 2025-12-08
Darlington Akporugo, 46, and Jasmin Sood, 35, from Fulshear, Texas, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud for operating romance scams targeting elderly victims, particularly widows, through social media and online dating sites between 2015 and 2022. The pair used fake identities to build trust with over a dozen victims nationwide before requesting money, defrauding them of a total of $3.1 million; in at least one case, they approached a victim in person and gained control of her banking access devices. If convicted, both face up to 30 years in prison on wire fraud charges, with
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A business account holder lost £40,000 from their Revolut account in February after being deceived by a fraudster posing as Revolut's anti-fraud team; the scammer used verification codes to set up unauthorized payees and make 38 withdrawals within minutes. Revolut refused to reimburse the victim, did not disclose evidence of account access, and stopped recovery efforts after 10 days, citing the customer's alleged negligence despite Revolut not being signed up to the contingent reimbursement model code. The case highlights growing fraud complaints against Revolut (rising from 567 to 1,086 annually), and the article adv
f-secure.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational resource from F-Secure promoting their scam protection service. It highlights that U.S. citizens lost an estimated $12.5 billion to cybercrime in the previous year (a 12% increase), and provides prevention advice across common scam vectors including phishing emails, SMS "smishing," fake delivery alerts, contact spoofing, and fraudulent online shopping sites. The resource emphasizes that legitimate organizations do not request sensitive information via email or text, and recommends verification through separate trusted channels before responding to suspicious communications.
rnz.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Scammers posing as police officers have targeted at least a dozen people in phone and email scams attempting to obtain financial and personal information. Police warn that legitimate officers never solicit banking details, card numbers, PINs, or passwords, and advise recipients to hang up, verify the caller through the official police line (105), and avoid replying to unsolicited emails claiming to be from authorities.
phillyburbs.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Fraudsters targeted Pennsylvania Turnpike E-ZPass customers with phishing text messages and emails impersonating "PA Toll Services," claiming they had outstanding toll balances requiring immediate payment to avoid late fees. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission advised customers to delete suspicious messages, avoid clicking links, and instead check accounts through the official PA Turnpike website or PA Toll Pay app, with an option to report fraudulent texts to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
source.colostate.edu
· 2025-12-08
This article explains two common email and phone scams: spoofing (impersonating trusted sources by disguising email addresses, phone numbers, or URLs) and phishing (using spoofed communications to trick victims into revealing sensitive information like passwords or financial data). The FBI notes that phishing has evolved into variations including vishing (phone calls), smishing (text messages), and pharming (malicious code redirecting to fake websites). Protection strategies include verifying requests independently, examining sender details carefully, enabling multi-factor authentication, avoiding unsolicited attachments, and limiting personal information shared online.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Darlington Akporugo, 46, a Nigerian resident of Fulshear, Texas, was charged with conspiring with Jasmin Sood to defraud over a dozen elderly Americans in a romance scam that operated between 2015 and 2022, resulting in approximately $3.1 million in losses. The perpetrators created fictitious online personas on dating platforms to build trust with elderly, often widowed victims before convincing them to transfer money to fraudster-controlled accounts, and in at least one case, approached a victim in person to drive her to banks and gain control of her banking access devices. Both defendants face up to 30 years imprisonment on wire frau
leaderlive.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
North Wales residents have been targeted by ticket scammers attempting to sell fraudulent Taylor Swift concert tickets, with one woman losing £250 to a fake seller. In North Wales, there have been 59 ticketing fraud cases over the past 12 months totaling £17,500 in losses, with reports increasing 200% between February and March 2024. Police and safety experts are urging ticket buyers to only purchase through official vendors, use credit cards or PayPal for payment, and avoid bank transfers or suspicious social media offers.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Three men were charged with money laundering conspiracy and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business after laundering over $4.5 million in proceeds from business email compromise schemes and romance scams targeting elderly victims between 2020 and 2023. The defendants directed victims to wire funds into bank accounts they controlled, then depleted those accounts through multiple withdrawals and transfers, including to overseas accounts, while keeping a percentage of the fraudulent proceeds. One co-conspirator has already pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
vancouversun.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating police officers targeted a senior in New Westminster by visiting her home and convincing her to surrender her credit and debit cards, which were subsequently used for fraudulent purchases. Police are investigating the incident and conducting interviews while reviewing CCTV footage to identify the suspects. Authorities recommend residents verify the legitimacy of officers at their door by calling 911 and urge the public to warn vulnerable community members about this impersonation scheme.
ohioattorneygeneral.gov
· 2025-12-08
Deepfake videos featuring celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Swift, and Selena Gomez have been circulating on social media to scam consumers into revealing personal or financial information through fake endorsements for products like MacBooks and cookware. To identify these AI-generated scams, consumers should examine the video for unusual movements or facial expressions, distorted backgrounds, suspicious sources, and lack of context, and can use reverse image searches and hover over links before clicking. The general rule remains that if a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is, and suspicious activity should be reported to the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
**Gift Card Scams Overview**
Gift card scams are increasingly prevalent, with fraudsters posing as grandchildren, IRS agents, or bank employees to pressure victims into purchasing gift cards and sharing the numbers. Scammers prefer gift cards because they are difficult to track once the card number and PIN are compromised, making them an "easy depletion method" for accessing funds. Common variants include bank investigator scams, IRS impersonation scams, grandparent scams, and lottery scams, all of which exploit urgency, authority, or emotional appeals to manipulate victims into sending money via untraceable gift cards.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS is warning taxpayers about fraudulent letters mimicking official IRS letterhead that request personal information in exchange for unclaimed refunds, with scammers increasingly using sophisticated technologies like AI to deceive victims. The Federal Trade Commission reported a 14% increase in scam losses last year, affecting nearly 3 million people, and the IRS reminds the public that they never initiate contact via email, text, or social media regarding bills or refunds—recipients should verify any correspondence by checking phone numbers against the official IRS website.
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission identifies four trending online tax season scams: fake tax preparer ads that redirect to phishing websites to steal personal and payment information, fraudsters posing as accountants offering suspiciously high refunds at low prices, scammers spoofing IRS phone numbers to threaten taxpayers about supposed debt, and phishing emails/texts claiming unclaimed funds to harvest personal data or install malware. The FTC reported $1.1 billion in losses from impersonator scams in 2023 and recommends avoiding social media tax prep links, using word-of-mouth referrals for CPAs, and remembering that the IRS only contacts via mail—never by
pressdemocrat.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season sees a surge in fraud schemes targeting taxpayers, with common scams including phishing emails/texts impersonating the IRS, "Offer in Compromise" mills falsely claiming to resolve tax debt cheaply, "ghost preparers" who steal refunds or charge excessive fees, and "new client" scams targeting tax professionals. The IRS never initiates contact by email, text, or social media, never threatens legal action, and never requests personal information like Social Security numbers or credit card details; taxpayers can verify legitimate IRS communications and check their accounts directly at irs.gov. Protection strategies include filing early, enabling two-step authentication, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and using legitimate free
ottawacitizen.com
· 2025-12-08
An 81-year-old Ottawa woman lost $17,500 to a scammer who impersonated an RCMP investigator, claiming to investigate fraudulent iPhone purchases on her Amazon account and requesting she buy gift cards and Bitcoin as part of the investigation. Although a Canadian Tire manager and bank teller attempted to intervene and warn her of the scam, the victim proceeded with the fraudulent transactions after being instructed by the scammer not to disclose the situation to anyone. The victim is now sharing her story to warn other seniors and advocate for stronger protections against elder fraud.
channelnewsasia.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating local banks sent SMS messages to at least 12 victims offering fixed deposit promotions with high interest rates, resulting in losses of at least S$650,000 since January. The fraudsters posed as bank agents, collected personal information, and instructed victims to transfer money into fake accounts created under their names, with some victims receiving forged bank statements and facing delayed discovery through claimed "activation periods." Additional phishing scams targeting bank customers through spoofed SMSes resulted in 103 victims in December and 219 DBS customers losing about S$446,000 in the first two weeks of 2024.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old businessman in Mumbai lost Rs80,000 to an AI voice cloning scam where fraudsters impersonated the Indian Embassy in Dubai, falsely claiming his son was arrested and playing a cloned voice of his son pleading for bail. A second victim, a 58-year-old professor, lost Rs1 lakh in a similar scheme where a caller impersonated a police inspector claiming her son was detained; cybercriminals used AI to gather family details from social media. Experts warn that AI voice cloning scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and advise verifying distressed calls directly with the supposed victim or authorities before transferring money.
dailydot.com
· 2025-12-08
A Taco Bell worker and TikTok creator named Caleb Lennon shared a story about a customer named Jerry who exploited the restaurant's honor-based delivery pickup system by picking up his own DoorDash order, then allowing the actual DoorDash driver to pick up a duplicate order, effectively getting two meals for the price of one. The viral video, which accumulated over 530,000 views, inadvertently popularized the scam technique, with many commenters praising Jerry's scheme and expressing interest in replicating it, though some viewers debated whether the scam was Jerry's doing or a result of a DoorDash system error.
wcrz.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting Michigan residents with phishing text messages that impersonate banks and credit unions, directing victims to fake websites designed to steal usernames, passwords, and account access. The scam is particularly effective because legitimate banks send account alert texts, making fraudulent messages appear authentic; older adults and teens are especially vulnerable. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to watch for red flags including 10-digit sender numbers, links in texts (real banks request only yes/no replies), and URLs with extra characters.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Uwemedimo Umoren, a Georgia man, was sentenced to three years in prison for laundering over $8 million in proceeds from a Nigeria-based fraud enterprise that operated from 2016 to 2021. The criminal scheme primarily targeted vulnerable elderly Americans through investment, business email compromise, and romance scams, with at least 17 victims suffering significant financial and emotional harm, including one elderly man whose stress-induced stroke contributed to his death. Umoren was ordered to forfeit $8.23 million and pay $1.24 million in restitution for his role in receiving and laundering the fraud proceeds through shell company bank accounts he controlled.
bigfuture.collegeboard.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource advises students and families on recognizing and avoiding financial aid scams. Key recommendations include avoiding hiring consultants (since free advice is available from school counselors and aid officers, and consultants cannot increase aid amounts), protecting personal information from unsolicited phone or email contacts, and being wary of two common scams: fraudulent "grant offers" that request processing fees (which the federal government never charges) and identity theft schemes where scammers pose as government or financial representatives. The piece emphasizes that suspicious activity should be reported to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of the Inspector General.
money.com
· 2025-12-08
From 2019 to 2023, reported cases of employment fraud nearly tripled from 38,000 to 107,000, costing victims $490.7 million in 2023 alone. Scammers use fake job listings to steal personal information for identity theft or credit fraud, and increasingly request upfront payments via email and cryptocurrency for fake training, equipment, or background checks, with victims losing a median of $2,100. Job seekers should be cautious of suspiciously easy or highly-paid positions, research companies thoroughly, and verify job postings directly with employers to avoid these schemes.
da.sonomacounty.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating legitimate student loan debt relief representatives through emails and phone calls, using aggressive language, promises of forgiveness, requests for login credentials, and unofficial contact information to defraud borrowers. The Department of Education emphasizes that legitimate representatives will never request StudentAid.gov passwords and that borrowers can access loan modification services for free through their loan servicers. Victims should contact their loan servicer and bank, change their FSA ID password if compromised, and file complaints with the Department of Education, FTC, or CFPB.
northjersey.com
· 2025-12-08
Morris County authorities warned seniors that Americans lose over $10 billion annually to scams including fake bank notifications, phony job offers, and romance fraud, noting that many senior victims don't report losses due to embarrassment and fear of losing independence. The Prosecutor's Office Financial Crimes Unit provided protection tips including avoiding suspicious links and attachments, never sharing ID or passport information via webcam, and refusing requests for wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency payments. Authorities emphasized that victims should report fraud immediately to increase chances of financial recovery and aid law enforcement investigations.
fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season scams are prevalent, with identity theft being one of the most common, where fraudsters file tax returns in victims' names to claim refunds—the IRS received 294,138 identity theft complaints in 2023, and victims wait an average of 19 months for resolution. Scammers typically use tactics based on fear, urgency, and financial incentives to trick people into sharing personal information or money, often impersonating the IRS or tax professionals. Experts recommend verifying IRS contact through official channels (mail or their website), researching tax professionals through reputable directories, and avoiding unsolicited phone calls to protect against tax-related fraud.
click2houston.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams are a growing threat, with the Better Business Bureau reporting approximately 14 million people exposed to employment scams annually, including 371 reports in Houston last year. Scammers pose as legitimate companies on job sites like LinkedIn and Indeed, using fake HR representatives to conduct interviews and commonly offer work-from-home reshipping jobs or secret shopper positions that leave victims unpaid. Red flags include requests for upfront fees or bank account information, vague job descriptions, unusually high pay, and pressure to accept quickly—victims should verify company websites, conduct video interviews, and report suspected scams to the BBB.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Teqare, an Indigenous-owned tech company in Manitoba, created a scam prevention workshop for elders after co-founder Zachary Flett's grandmother nearly fell victim to a phone-based gift card scam. The workshop covers common scams including romance, phishing, and text-based fraud, and addresses the shame victims often experience; participants at the first workshop in March 2024 with Sagkeeng First Nation responded positively, with one elder even deciding to purchase a cellphone after gaining confidence in digital safety.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
John Kyle Muller of Boulder, Colorado pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for operating a prize notice scam from 2012 to February 2018 that defrauded thousands of consumers, predominantly elderly victims, of over $15 million. The scheme involved mailing millions of fraudulent notices claiming recipients had won cash prizes, then charging $20-$50 fees to claim non-existent rewards, while victims received only worthless reports or trinkets. Muller and his co-conspirators were shut down in February 2018 through U.S. Postal Inspection Service search warrants and a federal court order.
mix957gr.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending text messages that mimic legitimate bank alerts to Michigan residents, directing them to fake banking websites designed to steal login credentials and account access. The scam is particularly effective because banks do send genuine account alerts via text, making fraudulent messages appear authentic, and older adults and teens are especially vulnerable. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to watch for red flags including sender phone numbers, embedded links, and URLs with extra characters, as legitimate banks typically request only yes/no replies rather than directing users to click links.
bangkokpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 100 hotels across Japan fell victim to phishing scams between June and March that targeted Booking.com users and their customers' credit card information. Fraudsters sent deceptive emails to hotel staff, and once clicked, the links compromised hotel accounts and enabled criminals to send fake payment requests to guests, directing them to fraudulent websites to steal card details. The Japan Tourism Agency instructed Booking.com to investigate the widespread scheme, which mirrors similar phishing campaigns reported globally across Europe, the United States, and other regions.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Offshore scammers stole approximately $6.7 million from 25 New Zealand victims who shared their stories with the Herald, with only $700,000 recovered, representing part of hundreds of millions stolen annually from Kiwis. The scams involved sophisticated fraudsters posing as investment advisers from major banks (Citibank, HSBC, Macquarie) using fake prospectuses and call-routing software to appear legitimate, while directing victims to deposit money into local "holding accounts" controlled by money mules. Victims—including business owners, retirees, health workers, and a politician—experienced significant emotional trauma and shame, with most complaints to the Banking
heraldmailmedia.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old Maryland woman lost $86,000 in a tech support scam that began with a fake iPad security alert. After being directed to call a fake "Apple Support" number, scammers convinced her that her bank accounts were compromised and persuaded her to withdraw cash and purchase gift cards to "secure" her money. The scam was interrupted when a bank security officer at F&M Trust recognized the suspicious $62,500 withdrawal and alerted authorities, leading to the arrest of two New York men who arrived at her home to collect the cash.
noozhawk.com
· 2025-12-08
The city of Goleta partnered with the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office and the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club to hold a community scam-prevention presentation called "Name that Tune, Stop that Scam!" on April 15. The program educated seniors and caregivers about current local and nationwide scams, protection strategies, and victim resources, addressing the fact that one in five seniors becomes a victim of abuse or fraud, with nearly 90% of elder abuse cases involving family members.
wrexham.com
· 2025-12-08
A North Wales mother lost £250 after falling victim to a Taylor Swift ticket scam, prompting local police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to launch awareness campaigns about fraudulent ticket sales. In North Wales, there were 59 ticketing fraud cases over 12 months totaling approximately £17,500 in losses, with reports rising 200% between February and March 2024. Police advise purchasing tickets only through official sellers using credit cards or PayPal, avoiding bank transfers to unknown vendors, and being cautious of unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true.
marinij.com
· 2025-12-08
Thirty-one Marin County residents lost $33 million to online investment scams in 2023, according to an FBI report, with the broader San Francisco territory reporting nearly $400 million in losses across multiple counties. The typical scam involves criminals promising unrealistic returns on investments (often cryptocurrency-related) and either failing to invest victim funds or pocketing most of the money, exploiting victims' lack of knowledge about complex financial products. Nationwide, online investment fraud losses reached $4.5 billion in 2023, a 38% increase from the prior year, and the FBI recommends victims file complaints immediately through its Internet Crime Complaint Center, as some funds may be recoverable
kiro7.com
· 2025-12-08
The Seattle Aquarium warned patrons about a fraudulent ticket scam promoting four tickets for $9.95 under the guise of an anniversary sale. The scam is part of a nationwide scheme targeting Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited sites with fake discounted tickets, and the aquarium advises visitors to purchase tickets only through its official website or at the gate.
fox23.com
· 2025-12-08
The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office is warning the public about scammers impersonating the AG's Office and claiming victims have won money, then demanding fees to collect the supposed winnings. Callers have used 918 area codes, spoofed the official AG phone number, and displayed "unknown" caller IDs, though no financial losses have been reported yet. The AG advises Oklahomans to never wire money or share personal information with unsolicited callers claiming to be government officials, to verify caller identity independently, and to disregard caller ID information as it can be faked.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau identifies the top 10 scams targeting small businesses, which are attractive to scammers because business owners are often distracted and lack robust cybersecurity support. Common schemes include phony invoices for unordered supplies, stolen identity/brand hijacking through fake websites, directory listing scams, phishing emails, office supply fraud, and vanity award scams (which charge fees for worthless honors). Small business owners should be aware of these tactics to protect themselves from financial losses.
thaiexaminer.com
· 2025-12-08
Thai police disrupted a transnational call scam network operating across Asia that planned to use Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system to bypass traditional telecommunications networks and conduct fraud operations targeting Thai residents. The operation, believed to be Chinese-controlled and staffed by Burmese, Thai, Lao, and Chinese personnel, was based in the Golden Triangle region near Laos and Cambodia; authorities intercepted a shipment of high-tech communications equipment valued at approximately ฿5.4 million destined for the area. This discovery marks the first time Starlink technology was found being used for criminal purposes in Thailand and comes after reports indicating Thai people are highly susceptible to online
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity experts at Trend Micro have identified five prevalent Google Chat scams targeting users: romance scams involving emotional manipulation and requests for money, phishing attempts seeking personal information, fake tech support messages claiming account issues and requesting payment or remote access, fraudulent job offers, and investment scams promising high returns. Users are advised to be skeptical of unsolicited messages offering deals that seem too good to be true, avoid sending money to people known only online, never grant remote access to devices, and verify the identity of anyone requesting information or immediate action.
opb.org
· 2025-12-08
Kitboga, a Twitch streamer and "scam baiter," poses as vulnerable characters (like an elderly woman named Edna) to waste scammers' time and expose their tactics, preventing them from targeting real victims. With Americans losing a record $12.5 billion to internet crimes in the latest year—a 22% jump from the previous year—Kitboga uses his 1.2 million Twitch followers to educate viewers about common scams including tech support fraud, gift card scams, and "pig butchering" (romance-investment scams involving cryptocurrency). Inspired by his grandmother's vulnerability to scams and a chatbot
9news.com
· 2025-12-08
Colorado residents lost more than $187 million to cybercriminals in 2023, an increase of nearly $9 million from 2022, with investment fraud ($60 million), business email compromise ($57 million), and tech support scams ($23 million) being the top three fraud types reported in the state. Nationally, seniors were the most victimized age group with over 100,000 complaints totaling more than $3 billion in losses, while those over 60 accounted for more than half of tech support scam losses. The FBI received over 880,000 cybercrime complaints nationwide in 2023 with potential losses exceeding $12.5
au.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A NAB banker in Hobart prevented an 80-year-old customer from losing $10,000 to a phone scam after noticing red flags when he requested a cheque and gave inconsistent explanations for the withdrawal. The scammers had called the man, instructed him to drain his account and lie to bank staff, and made threats to prevent him from seeking help. The banker's intervention and questioning saved the customer's entire account balance and highlighted the importance of bank staff vigilance in protecting vulnerable elderly customers from increasingly sophisticated fraud.
wafb.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS warned that imposter scams were the top fraud category in 2023, with scammers increasingly posing as IRS agents via phone calls, emails, and social media to demand immediate payment for alleged tax debts and threaten arrest. The IRS clarified that it will never call demanding immediate payment or contact about taxes owed without first mailing a bill, and provided guidance for reporting such scams to the Treasury Inspector General, IRS, and Federal Trade Commission.
mercurynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Thirty-one Marin County residents lost $33 million to online investment scams in 2023, with the FBI's San Francisco territory reporting nearly $400 million in total losses across multiple counties, and nationwide losses reaching $4.5 billion (a 38% increase from the prior year). Scammers typically promise unrealistic returns on "innovative" investments or cryptocurrency schemes, either failing to invest victims' money or investing only a portion while pocketing the rest. The FBI advises victims to report schemes immediately to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, as those involving wire transfers may be recoverable with prompt reporting.