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abc11.com
· 2025-12-23
# Holiday Travel Scam Prevention Summary
During the busy holiday travel season, travelers face several fraud risks including "juice jacking" at airport USB charging stations (where hackers steal personal data), unsafe public Wi-Fi networks, and fake customer service websites or messages about flight cancellations. To protect yourself, bring your own portable charger, avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions, and always contact airlines and rental companies directly through their official apps or websites rather than clicking links from emails or texts. Being cautious about where you charge your devices and how you seek help with travel disruptions can significantly reduce your risk of identity theft or scams while traveling.
khou.com
· 2025-12-23
An 85-year-old West University Place man fell victim to a "friendly knock" scam when a stranger posing as a tree trimmer gained entry to his home by asking for ice water, then stole over $300 in cash and credit cards while inside. Police warn that this type of holiday scam is common, with fraudsters using various pretexts to enter homes and steal from residents. Experts advise homeowners to keep doors locked, verify the identity of anyone claiming to work in the area, and be cautious of unsolicited offers—especially during the holiday season when these scams are most prevalent.
kxly.com
· 2025-12-23
# Holiday Scam Summary
During the busy holiday shopping season, scammers are targeting shoppers through two main schemes: tampering with gift cards in stores before purchase and sending fraudulent texts and emails impersonating banks and government agencies. Victims can lose significant money when criminals steal card details from tampered gift cards or trick people into revealing personal financial information through fake messages. To protect yourself, be cautious when purchasing gift cards (inspect packaging carefully), never respond to unsolicited texts or emails asking for personal information, and don't be embarrassed if you fall for a scam—even financial professionals have been victims.
castlegarnews.com
· 2025-12-23
# Fraud Alert Summary
Scammers impersonated the Trail Smoke Eaters hockey team by sending emails from fake AOL accounts to West Kootenay businesses, convincing them to pay $500 e-transfers for exclusive vending rights at games—at least three businesses in Trail, Grand Forks, and Nelson fell for the scheme. Business owners should be suspicious of vendor recruitment emails that don't come from official team domains and verify any requests directly with the organization before sending money. The Smoke Eaters and BCHL have issued public warnings about this ongoing fraud, with officials warning there may be additional victims still in communication with the scammers.
dlnews.com
· 2025-12-23
A South Korean man in his 30s had his prison sentence doubled to four years after appealing a lighter sentence for helping launder $68,000 stolen through voice phishing scams. The scam ring impersonated prosecutors, convincing victims their identities had been stolen, then tricked them into sending money to fake "safe" accounts that the criminals controlled. The appeals court rejected the man's appeal and his offer to compensate victims, noting he was a repeat offender with a history of involvement in similar scams—a cautionary reminder to be skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming to be from authorities and to independently verify requests for financial information.
bitdefender.com
· 2025-12-23
European financial regulators have issued a joint warning about a growing wave of cryptocurrency scams that use artificial intelligence tools like deepfakes and AI-generated content to make fraudulent schemes more convincing and harder to detect. These scams targeting everyday consumers often impersonate trusted figures, create fake investment platforms, and pressure victims into sending cryptocurrency or revealing sensitive information, with little hope of recovering lost funds since crypto transactions are typically irreversible. To protect yourself, regulators advise being skeptical of anything that feels urgent, secretive, or too good to be true, verifying links and content before clicking on them, and using cybersecurity tools to help identify fraudulent websites and communications.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-23
During the holiday season, scammers increasingly target shoppers through fraudulent emails, texts, and websites disguised as legitimate communications. Consumers can use AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini as free tools to verify suspicious messages by analyzing them for red flags such as urgent language, requests for secrecy, grammar errors, and illegitimate sender details. If you receive any questionable communication about purchases, donations, or tech insurance, simply copy and paste it into a chatbot to check its legitimacy before responding or providing any personal information.
independent.co.uk
· 2025-12-22
# Holiday Scam Alert
Australians lost over A$2 billion to scams in 2024, with losses expected to remain similar this year, particularly during the busy holiday shopping season when people's guards are down. Common scams include fake online stores and phishing messages posing as delivery services, investment schemes involving cryptocurrency, and romance scams targeting lonely individuals. To protect yourself and family, verify online retailers before purchasing, be suspicious of unsolicited investment offers, never send money to people you've only met online, and remain alert to messages creating artificial urgency to act quickly.
publicradioeast.org
· 2025-12-22
# Federal agents in North Carolina seized nearly $8.5 million in cryptocurrency that was stolen through "pig butchering schemes," elaborate scams where criminals pose as romantic interests or trusted advisors on social media to lure victims into fake cryptocurrency investments that promise unrealistic returns. Victims—some of whom lost their entire life savings—are typically contacted randomly via text or social media, build relationships with scammers, and are directed to fraudulent trading platforms where their money disappears when they attempt withdrawal. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited messages offering investment opportunities, verify investment platforms independently before sending money, and remember that legitimate investment firms will never demand additional payments to help you recover losses.
moneytalksnews.com
· 2025-12-22
Americans over 60 lost an estimated $2.4 billion to financial fraud in 2024 (with potential losses reaching as high as $81.5 billion when accounting for unreported cases), with scammers increasingly using social engineering and AI to target retirement accounts through sophisticated schemes like "pig butchering" scams on social media and dating apps. The three most common scams affecting seniors are investment fraud (including fake cryptocurrency and pre-IPO stock schemes), along with other emerging threats, where victims are lured through fake relationships before losing their savings to fake trading platforms or hidden "tax fees." To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities promising guaranteed returns on social media, verify any investment platform independently before transferring funds, and report suspected fraud to the FTC.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-22
Gift card scams have surged by approximately 25% over the past two years, with fraudsters stealing over £18.5 million from victims in 2023-24 by either draining money from cards in stores or tricking people into buying them to send untraceable funds. Shoppers across the UK are being affected, including families like Emma Johnson's who lost £120 when gift cards purchased as birthday presents were tampered with and emptied before use. To protect yourself, carefully inspect gift cards before purchasing, verify that the card number matches your receipt, and report any suspected fraud immediately to the retailer's customer service team.
wxyz.com
· 2025-12-22
# Scam Summary
A phishing scam targeting iPhone and Apple Pay users is spreading via text messages claiming unauthorized charges—a Southgate woman received a fake alert about a $443.74 charge and was nearly tricked into downloading remote-access software that would have given scammers control of her phone. To protect yourself, ignore these texts entirely: don't call the number provided, click links, or download any apps, as legitimate Apple support will never ask you to do these things. If you receive a suspicious message, check your account directly through Apple's official app or website rather than using contact information from the text.
whbc.com
· 2025-12-22
The Ohio Secretary of State's Office has identified five common scams currently circulating, particularly during the holiday season, and is urging people to protect themselves. If you receive a suspicious email or text message, experts recommend pausing before responding and asking someone you trust to verify it first. Being cautious and seeking a second opinion can help you avoid falling victim to these scams.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-22
Scammers are sending fake Netflix suspension emails that exploit holiday confusion about billing and subscriptions to trick people into clicking malicious links or revealing personal information. The fraudulent emails mimic Netflix's legitimate branding but contain telltale spelling errors like "valldate" instead of "validate" that reveal them as scams. To protect yourself, verify any account suspension alerts by calling the company directly rather than clicking links in emails, and stay alert to these phishing attempts especially during busy holiday seasons.
katc.com
· 2025-12-22
# Holiday Scam Summary
As holiday shopping rushes intensify, scammers are targeting shoppers—particularly seniors—with fake online storefronts that mimic legitimate brand websites and offer deals that seem too good to be true. Research shows 62% of people 65 and older have fallen victim to these schemes, with seniors losing an estimated $1.5 billion to fraud in just the first half of the year. To stay safe, shoppers should verify website addresses carefully, be skeptical of unusually steep discounts, and avoid clicking on ads or links from unfamiliar sources, especially during the holiday season.
mauinow.com
· 2025-12-22
Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is warning consumers about increasingly sophisticated holiday scams that use artificial intelligence and technology to exploit victims, including fake investment schemes, deepfake impersonations of celebrities, and fraudulent "AI trading bots" promising guaranteed returns. State securities regulators investigated over 8,800 cases in 2024, resulting in $259 million in fines and restitution, revealing that while scammers employ new tools, their core goal remains stealing money from unsuspecting victims. Consumers should be cautious of unsolicited investment pitches—especially those involving FOMO (fear of missing out), online relationships pushing financial commitments, and promises of guaranteed AI-driven returns—and verify the legitimacy of investment opportunities before sending money.
ksl.com
· 2025-12-22
Inheritance scams are resurging, with scammers contacting people via email, messages, and letters claiming they've inherited money from deceased relatives or unknown wealthy people. The scams typically ask victims to pay upfront fees or provide personal and financial information, promising they can claim nonexistent inheritances worth thousands or millions of dollars. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited messages about unexpected money, never pay fees upfront for inheritances, and verify claims through official channels rather than trusting the scammer directly.
laist.com
· 2025-12-21
During the holiday season, nearly 9 out of 10 U.S. adults have been targeted by scams, with common schemes including fake shipping notifications, stolen packages, and fraudulent charity requests. Scammers exploit the stress and distraction of holiday shopping by creating fake social media stores selling counterfeit branded items that disappear after purchase. To protect yourself, research unfamiliar vendors by searching for "scam" or "fraud" alongside their name, always pay with a credit card for better consumer protections, and be cautious when purchasing gift cards that scammers may have already compromised.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-21
The FBI is warning about virtual kidnapping scams where criminals steal photos from social media, digitally alter them, and use them as fake "proof of life" to demand ransom payments from victims. These scams rely on fear and urgency—scammers typically text claiming they've kidnapped a loved one and threaten violence if payment isn't made immediately, using timed messages to prevent victims from examining the fake images closely. To protect yourself, slow down and scrutinize any suspicious messages; look for warning signs like missing tattoos or scars, unusual body proportions, or details that don't match reality, and verify claims by contacting loved ones through a known phone number rather than responding to the message.
theitem.com
· 2025-12-21
Scammers are increasingly using AI technology to create sophisticated fraud schemes, including voice and video cloning that can impersonate loved ones, as well as automated email and text scams that operate at massive scale. These AI-powered scams are becoming more convincing and harder to detect, with criminals able to create personalized content that tricks victims into sending money or revealing personal information. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unexpected calls or messages requesting money or personal information—especially from family members—and verify requests through alternative contact methods before responding.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-21
An 86-year-old woman lost $700,000 to scammers who used fake security warnings to convince her to withdraw money from her banks, and she's now suing Merrill Lynch, UBS, and TD Bank for failing to stop the unusually large transactions despite her documented vulnerability to fraud. The scam is part of a broader pattern where criminals impersonate trusted institutions and law enforcement to trick people into transferring their savings. To protect yourself: never withdraw funds based on unsolicited warnings, remember that legitimate banks and government agencies will never ask you to transfer money for safekeeping, and if you're concerned about cognitive decline, consider designating a trusted family member to monitor your accounts as an early warning system.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-21
Criminals are using AI voice-cloning technology to create realistic voicemails impersonating loved ones in distress (claiming accidents, injuries, or robberies) to trick people into sending money quickly. The scammers only need a brief audio clip—as little as three seconds from social media videos or casual phone responses—to generate convincing synthetic voices that exploit emotional urgency and bypass skepticism. To protect yourself, verify unexpected money requests through a different communication channel (call the person back directly), be suspicious of emotional appeals for quick transfers, and never send money based solely on voice messages, even if they sound authentic.
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-21
# Scam Safety During the Holiday Season
Australians lost over A$2 billion to scams in 2024, with losses expected to remain similar this year, as scammers intensify their efforts during the busy Christmas period when people are distracted and stressed. Common holiday scams include fake online stores, phishing emails posing as delivery services, cryptocurrency investment schemes, and romance scams targeting lonely individuals. To protect yourself and family, be cautious of unsolicited offers, verify websites before shopping, avoid clicking links in unexpected messages, and never send money to people you've only met online—particularly if they request urgent payments.
aol.com
· 2025-12-21
A 74-year-old Tennessee retiree was tricked by romance scammers who posed as a celebrity and then impersonated FBI and government officials to extort $86,900 from him, ultimately leading to his suicide in October 2023. Three perpetrators—Stephen Anagor, Chinagorom Onwumere, and Salma Abdalkareem—who were working on behalf of a relative in Nigeria, have been convicted and sentenced to prison with orders to pay restitution. To protect yourself, be wary of online relationships with celebrities or people you haven't met in person, never send money to "resolve legal issues," and verify any official communications directly through official government channels rather than through email or unsolicited contacts.
aol.com
· 2025-12-21
# Social Security Scam Summary
Scammers posing as Social Security Administration employees have defrauded consumers, including an elderly Pennsylvania couple who lost over $1.3 million in a recent incident. Legitimate SSA representatives will never threaten you, demand immediate payment, or ask for personal information like your Social Security number or bank details over the phone. To protect yourself, verify any unexpected calls before acting, use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication on accounts, and stay skeptical of unsolicited contact from government agencies.
newslj.com
· 2025-12-21
A Laramie resident fell victim to a phishing email impersonating the University of Wyoming that used a realistic DocuSign request to trick them into clicking a malicious link, while a Sheridan resident received a phone call from a scammer posing as a police officer demanding $3,500 for a fake arrest warrant related to missed jury duty. Both scams targeted people during vulnerable moments—year-end business periods and work hours—and used convincing details like official logos, badge numbers, and confirmed personal information to appear legitimate. To protect yourself, verify unexpected document requests and financial demands by contacting the institution directly through official channels rather than using contact information from the suspicious message, and remember that legitimate law enforcement will never demand immediate payment over the phone.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-21
# Pig Butchering Scam Summary
A 51-year-old New Jersey father lost $280,000 in a "pig butchering" scam after a woman contacted him on Facebook claiming to be interested in his life, gradually building a romantic relationship with him through messaging apps, then convincing him to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. This type of scam targets vulnerable individuals emotionally, earning their trust over weeks or months before pivoting to investment opportunities that appear to show quick returns but are actually fake. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited romantic advances from strangers online, never share financial information or investment access with people you haven't met in person, and verify any investment opportunity through independent financial advisors rather than trusting links provided by new connections.
capitalethiopia.com
· 2025-12-21
The scam industry has evolved from petty crimes into a sophisticated, borderless operation that costs the global economy billions annually and now funds organized crime and destabilizes communities. Digital technology—including social media, cryptocurrency, AI deepfakes, and gig economy platforms—has made it easier for scammers to operate at scale, from forced labor operations running romance scams in Southeast Asia to boiler-room fraud targeting North Americans and pyramid schemes preying on economically vulnerable communities worldwide. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited messages and offers that seem too good to be true, verify contact information independently before sharing personal or financial information, and report suspected scams to local authorities.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-20
# Holiday Scam Summary
During the 2024 holiday season, scammers are targeting shoppers with five main schemes—including fake shipping alerts, non-delivery scams, and too-good-to-be-true deals on social media—that cost Americans hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. To protect yourself, experts recommend verifying links by going directly to retailer websites rather than clicking suspicious messages, being wary of urgent demands for payment, and checking URLs for signs of fraud. If a deal seems too good to be true or a message pressures you to act immediately, it's likely a scam designed to steal personal information or install malware on your device.
abc7.com
· 2025-12-20
During the holiday shopping season, cybercrimes surge as scammers target rushed shoppers through fake text messages, emails, and websites designed to steal money and personal information. Common scams include fake package delivery notices that redirect victims to fraudulent sites asking for credit card details, and fear-based scams that pressure victims into buying gift cards. To protect yourself, slow down before clicking links, verify sender information carefully, avoid urgent or too-good-to-be-true offers, and use a credit card rather than a debit card when shopping online.
ozarkradionews.com
· 2025-12-20
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is warning residents about holiday gift card scams, where criminals impersonate government officials, utilities companies, or loved ones to pressure victims into buying gift cards and sharing their codes—money that becomes impossible to recover once spent. These scams exploit urgency and fear during the busy holiday season, targeting popular retailers like Walmart, Target, Amazon, and Apple, with millions of dollars lost nationwide annually. Missourians should remember that no legitimate organization requests payment via gift card, and anyone who suspects they've been scammed should contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222 or report it online at ago.mo.gov.
wcpo.com
· 2025-12-20
# Fake Delivery Text Scams Surge During Holiday Season
During the holiday shopping rush, scammers are sending fake delivery notification texts to consumers claiming package problems and urging them to click suspicious links or pay fees—with victims in the Cincinnati area already losing hundreds of dollars, including one woman who lost $180 through Zelle. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in text messages and instead check your packages directly through official carrier websites or apps, remembering that legitimate delivery companies never request payment or personal information via text. If you receive a suspicious delivery text, report it to the Better Business Bureau's scam tracker, and always bring packages inside immediately after delivery to prevent theft.
womansworld.com
· 2025-12-20
Romance scammers are posing as celebrities on social media to build fake relationships with victims and steal money, as documented by Reddit users sharing stories of loved ones who lost thousands of dollars and damaged their financial accounts. Victims—often fans of the impersonated celebrities—are manipulated through daily contact, fake gifts, and fabricated meeting plans, leading them to send money for various excuses. To protect yourself, be skeptical of online relationships with celebrities, never send money to someone you haven't met in person, verify identities through official channels, and report suspicious accounts to social media platforms immediately.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-20
A 74-year-old retired teacher in Tennessee was victimized by an international romance scam in which con artists impersonated a celebrity and later FBI/government officials to extract $86,900 from him—money obtained through loans and savings—before he died by suicide in October 2023. Three perpetrators, including two U.S. residents working with accomplices in Nigeria, were convicted and sentenced to federal prison with orders to pay restitution. Seniors should be extremely cautious about unsolicited online romantic relationships, especially if requests for money follow, and should verify claims about legal matters by contacting official authorities directly rather than responding to suspicious emails or messages.
cp24.com
· 2025-12-20
# Holiday Fraud Alert Summary
During the holiday season, Canadians lose hundreds of millions of dollars to scammers who exploit busy, distracted shoppers through fake websites, tampered gift cards, and phishing emails that impersonate banks. Recent data breaches have given criminals access to personal information they use to impersonate financial institutions and conduct romance scams on social media. To protect yourself, never click suspicious links, enable two-factor authentication, change passwords regularly, and watch for red flags like urgent demands, requests for gift card payments, or calls asking for passwords—remembering that legitimate banks will never request sensitive information over the phone.
aol.com
· 2025-12-20
A 51-year-old New Jersey father lost $280,000 after being targeted by a "pig butchering" scam—a sophisticated fraud scheme that combines romance manipulation with fake investment opportunities. A scammer posing as a woman named Ailis befriended him on Facebook, built emotional trust through daily messages and affection, then convinced him to invest in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme that promised high returns. To protect yourself: be extremely skeptical of unsolicited romantic advances from strangers on social media, never invest based on recommendations from people you've only met online, and verify investment opportunities through independent sources before transferring any money.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-20
# Medicare Scam Summary
Medicare scam calls targeting seniors have surged 40% year-over-year, with fraudsters using personal information stolen from the dark web to impersonate healthcare providers and convince older Americans to verify or share their Medicare numbers. The calls come frequently throughout the day from seemingly local numbers, and scammers use convincing scripts claiming seniors need to confirm coverage, update information, or accept new benefits—though Medicare rarely initiates unsolicited calls. To protect yourself, hang up on unexpected Medicare-related calls, never share your Medicare or Social Security number with callers, and verify any legitimate requests by contacting Medicare directly through its official phone number or website.
aol.com
· 2025-12-20
# Medicare Scam Summary
Medicare scam calls have surged 40% year-over-year, with fraudsters using personal data stolen from the dark web to impersonate healthcare officials and pressure seniors into revealing their Medicare numbers or personal information. Scammers use deceptive tactics like claiming to offer new benefits, free equipment, or warning of coverage disruptions, often calling dozens of times daily with spoofed local numbers. To protect yourself: remember that Medicare rarely makes unsolicited calls, verify any requests through official channels by calling Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE, and never share your Medicare or Social Security number over the phone unless you initiated the call.
blockmanity.com
· 2025-12-20
An 80-year-old woman from St. Charles County lost her entire life savings of $35,000 to a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam that began with a fake PayPal phishing email and escalated through caller ID spoofing and false claims about illegal activity. Scammers manipulated her into withdrawing cash and depositing it into a Bitcoin ATM, after which the funds were transferred to overseas wallets and became irretrievable. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited emails and calls claiming account problems, never click links in suspicious emails, independently verify alerts by contacting your financial institution directly, and remember that legitimate banks will never pressure you to move money to cryptocurrency or ask you to withdraw cash.
therogersvillereview.com
· 2025-12-20
Tennessee's Department of Commerce & Insurance is warning residents about a surge in holiday scams using sophisticated technology like AI, which state regulators investigated over 8,800 cases of in 2024, resulting in $259 million in fines and restitution. Common scams include romance-based investment schemes ("pig butchering"), deepfake impersonations of celebrities or trusted contacts, and fake AI trading bots designed to steal money from victims. Investors should be skeptical of unsolicited investment pitches—especially those involving new technologies or celebrity endorsements—and verify the legitimacy of any investment opportunity before sending money.
ciso.economictimes.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-20
Scammers in India are increasingly exploiting Telegram's encrypted channels to run fake investment schemes, lottery scams, and job offer frauds, resulting in over ₹1,100 crore in losses during the first half of 2025. The fraudsters use pressure tactics, deepfake videos, and "pig butchering" schemes to build trust before stealing money through fake trading apps and QR code redirects. Users should be wary of unsolicited investment opportunities on Telegram, avoid scanning unfamiliar QR codes or downloading apps from private chats, and remember that private channels offer no guarantee of safety.
localnewsmatters.org
· 2025-12-19
Marin County authorities have launched a program where local banks alert customers—especially seniors—to potential fraud when they request unusual cash withdrawals or cashier's checks, handing them informational cards that encourage them to reconsider if someone else requested the money. The two-month pilot program involves three branches each of Bank of Marin and Westamerica Bank working with the District Attorney's Office and police to identify victims before scammers can steal their funds. If you're an older adult or helping one, be cautious of unsolicited requests for large sums of money and contact local police before transferring funds to unknown people, particularly around holidays when such scams increase.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-19
During the holiday shopping season, scammers are sending fake delivery tracking texts and QR codes that mimic legitimate retailers, tricking busy shoppers into clicking links that steal their personal information and login credentials. The scam works because people are overwhelmed with genuine package tracking during the holidays and may not notice when something looks slightly off. To protect yourself, be cautious about clicking tracking links in unsolicited texts, verify URLs before entering any information, and consider going directly to retailer websites rather than clicking links from messages.
kbzk.com
· 2025-12-19
During the holiday shopping season, cybercriminals use fake websites and phishing scams to steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting shoppers. Security expert Anthony Cochenour advises consumers to carefully verify that websites look legitimate before entering any information, and warns that scammers can pay search engines to make fake sites appear near the top of search results. If you suspect you've been scammed, contact your financial institution immediately to protect your accounts.
khou.com
· 2025-12-19
# AI-Powered Holiday Scams Surge
Artificial intelligence is enabling scammers to create highly personalized and convincing phishing emails, texts, and social media ads during the 2024 holiday season, with over 33,000 Christmas-themed phishing emails and 10,000 scam ads already identified targeting shoppers of all demographics. Online shoppers, package delivery trackers, and social media users are all vulnerable, as scammers use AI to analyze data and customize messages that appear legitimate, making them more likely to succeed than traditional mass-mailing scams. To protect yourself, remain cautious of urgent messaging designed to rush you into action, watch for subtle warning signs in communications, and be wary of offers that lack genuine customer support with only chatbots available instead of real contact information.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-19
# Holiday Shipping Scam Alert
Scammers are sending fake shipping notifications via text and email designed to look like official messages from carriers like Amazon and the U.S. Postal Service, particularly during the holiday season when people are rushing to receive gifts. The Sedgwick County District Attorney's office warns that these scams are the most frequently reported fraud during the holidays and can result in financial loss. To protect yourself, verify the source of any delivery notification before clicking links or providing information, rather than acting on urgent-sounding messages.
wnct.com
· 2025-12-19
Federal agents seized $8.5 million in cryptocurrency linked to "pig butchering" scams, where criminals pose as romantic interests or business contacts to trick victims into depositing money on fake trading platforms that freeze accounts and demand additional "taxes" to withdraw funds. The scammers immediately moved stolen money through multiple cryptocurrency wallets to hide its origins, but the FBI successfully traced and recovered the funds. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited messages from strangers offering investment opportunities, verify that cryptocurrency platforms are legitimate before investing, and never send money to someone you haven't met in person or pay fees to recover lost investments.
governor.hawaii.gov
· 2025-12-19
Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is warning consumers about sophisticated holiday scams, with state securities regulators handling over 8,800 investigations in 2024 that recovered $259 million in fines and restitution. Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence and new technologies to execute schemes like "pig butchering" (romance scams combined with fake investments) that exploit people's fear of missing out on trending investments. Consumers should be cautious of unsolicited investment pitches, especially those involving new technologies or platforms that build trust through online relationships, and verify any investment opportunities through official channels before committing money.
cryptorank.io
· 2025-12-19
# Crypto Scam Task Force Summary
Americans lost over $3.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in the first nine months of 2025, with losses driven primarily by access-control exploits (58%) and phishing attacks (21%), prompting US Senator Jerry Moran to introduce the SAFE Crypto Act to establish a federal task force dedicated to combating these crimes. The task force, which would coordinate efforts across the Treasury Department, Justice Department, and other agencies, operates with no dedicated budget or new investigative powers and serves mainly an advisory role rather than conducting independent operations. To protect yourself, be cautious of phishing attempts and unsolicited investment opportunities—especially romance and "pig-butchering" schemes—and only use reputable exchanges and custodians when dealing with cryptocurrencies.
abc7news.com
· 2025-12-18
# Holiday Scam Summary
During the peak holiday shopping season, when consumers are expected to spend over $1 trillion, scammers are exploiting distracted shoppers through 12 common schemes including fake social media ads, phishing emails offering free gift cards, fraudulent toll collection texts, and fake job postings. People have lost money to counterfeit items, unauthorized charges, identity theft through gift exchanges, and malware-infected holiday apps. To protect yourself, verify social media products before purchasing, avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails, never share personal information in gift exchanges with strangers, check app privacy policies, and confirm any fees directly with official agencies rather than through text links.