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buckscounty.gov
· 2025-12-08
National Senior Fraud Awareness Day (May 15th) highlights the growing threat of scams targeting seniors in Bucks County and nationwide, including grandparent scams using AI technology, government impersonation schemes, tech support fraud, romance scams, and phishing attacks. The article emphasizes that seniors are vulnerable targets exploited through various channels, and recommends protective measures such as verifying information independently, resisting pressure tactics, protecting personal data, using strong passwords, and consulting trusted contacts before responding to suspicious requests.
news-shield.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam incidents are increasing dramatically—computer repair shops now report 1-2 victims daily compared to 1-2 per week previously—with AI technology making fraudulent emails, websites, and voice impersonations increasingly convincing and difficult to detect. Common scams include romance schemes (often the costliest), tech support pop-ups that trick users into granting remote access and transferring funds via untraceable payment methods, and "grandparents scams" using voice mimicry. Experts recommend verifying caller identities with family knowledge questions, avoiding rushed financial decisions, refusing unusual payment methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency, and immediately contacting banks or professionals rather than calling numbers on suspicious pop
liverpoolecho.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Nationwide building society has issued a warning about romance scams, where perpetrators build trust with victims through online dating platforms before requesting money through emotional manipulation. A UK Finance survey found that 29% of people who started online relationships in the past year were asked for money, with 51% of those agreeing to send it; once scammers receive funds, recovery is unlikely and victims are typically blocked. Nationwide advises customers to report suspected fraud immediately and recommends protective measures including meeting people in person before sending money, discussing relationships with trusted contacts, and avoiding scammers' requests to move conversations to unmonitored channels.
newskarnataka.com
· 2025-12-08
A married couple lost ₹37.79 lakh in a fraudulent blockchain investment scheme perpetrated by Bryan D'Souza, Deril, Flavy, and Sachin Carlos, who promised fixed monthly returns of $2,400 over 20 months through an investment in "US Business World Hydrus 7 Blockchain Technology." The couple made payments between February 2021 and November 2022 but received only a single ₹1.74 lakh payout in December 2022, with no subsequent returns or principal refund. This case highlights how scammers exploit blockchain terminology to deceive investors with false promises of high yields.
news3lv.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elder fraud losses reached $3.4 billion affecting over 101,000 seniors aged 60 and older, representing an 11% increase from the previous year with an average loss of $33,915 per victim. Financial institutions and experts are emphasizing the need for increased awareness and prevention strategies to protect vulnerable seniors from financial exploitation.
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Coinbase disclosed that overseas support staff were bribed by cybercriminals to steal customer data, resulting in a $20 million extortion demand that the company refused to pay. The breach affected less than 1 percent of monthly users and compromised personal information including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, partial Social Security numbers, and account balances, though customer funds remained inaccessible; attackers already used the stolen data in social engineering scams to defraud some customers. Coinbase terminated the involved employees, is reimbursing defrauded customers, and estimates remediation costs between $180-400 million while offering a $20 million reward for information leading to
news-shield.com
· 2025-12-08
**Title:** In this technological age there is no shortage of ways a scammer might try to defraud someone.
AI-powered scams are increasing dramatically, with one computer repair business reporting a spike from 1-2 scam victims per week to 1-2 daily, as scammers now use tools like ChatGPT to create convincing phishing emails, fake websites, and deepfake voice calls. Common scams include romance fraud (which starts with small requests but accumulate over time), fake tech-support pop-ups that trick users into granting remote access and stealing banking information, and grandparent scams where AI mimics a family member's voice
jsonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Lisa Schiller, senior director of investigations for the Better Business Bureau, emphasized that scam victims should not feel embarrassed about reporting fraud and provided guidance on common scams including identity theft, phishing, and government imposter schemes. She recommended victims document all details (contact information, descriptions, dates) and use the BBB's Scam Tracker platform to report incidents, noting that while resolutions can take months or years, reporting is essential to help prevent others from becoming victims.
buckscounty.gov
· 2025-12-08
National Senior Fraud Awareness Day (May 15th) highlights the escalating threat of fraud targeting seniors in Bucks County and nationwide, with criminals increasingly using AI-powered tactics like grandparent scams, government impersonation, tech support fraud, and romance scams to exploit seniors' trust and extract money. To protect themselves, seniors should verify unexpected contact through independent channels, resist pressure tactics, safeguard personal information, use strong passwords, and consult trusted contacts before responding to requests for money or sensitive data.
kswo.com
· 2025-12-08
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a National Senior Fraud Awareness Day advisory noting that seniors lose more than $3 billion annually to fraud, including technical support and romance scams. The AG's office provided guidance to protect against fraud, recommending seniors avoid sharing personal information unsolicited, be skeptical of urgent payment demands and email links, monitor bills for unauthorized charges, and report incidents to law enforcement.
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2025-12-08
National Senior Fraud Awareness Day, observed annually on May 15, highlights that older adults lose the most money to scams compared to other age groups according to FTC data. The article provides awareness and resources for seniors to detect red flags in common financial scams and protect themselves, including a text hotline (text "senior" to 470-777-WANF) for victims of elder financial exploitation seeking help.
oklahoma.gov
· 2025-12-08
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a warning on National Senior Fraud Awareness Day, noting that elder fraud causes seniors over $3 billion in annual losses nationally through schemes including fake lotteries, tech support scams, government impersonation, and romance scams. The advisory recommends protective measures such as never sharing personal information unsolicited, avoiding clicking suspicious links, rejecting high-pressure payment demands, and reporting suspicious activity to financial institutions and law enforcement.
collider.com
· 2025-12-08
ABC News Studios' documentary series "Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" (premiering May 20 on Hulu) follows three women—Annette, Roxy, and Gaby—who were defrauded by an online romance scammer operating under multiple aliases who manipulated them into sending their life savings by posing as a charming suitor. The series highlights the growing epidemic of romance scams, with online scammers stealing a record $16.6 billion in 2024 (a 33% increase from the previous year), and examines how victims are targeted while pursuing connection online.
context.news
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old Michigan woman was deceived in a romance scam involving deepfake technology, where a scammer posing as a French man named "Richard" used AI-generated video calls and fake photos to manipulate her into taking out loans totaling $26,000. The scam exemplifies a growing threat, with projections of 8 million deepfakes to be shared globally in 2025—approximately one-fifth of which will be used in romance scams—as scammers increasingly employ artificial intelligence to impersonate romantic interests.
dgepress.com
· 2025-12-08
ABC News Studios announced a new three-part docuseries titled "Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" premiering May 20, 2025, on Hulu, which follows three women (Annette, Roxy, and Gaby) who were defrauded by the same online romance scammer posing as a handsome man. The docuseries highlights how scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics, including AI and deepfake technology, to exploit vulnerable individuals seeking connection online, in the context of record online scam losses of $16.6 billion in 2024, a 33% increase year-over-year according to FBI data.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
An 81-year-old widow from West Sussex, Doreen Daniel, lost £27,000 to a romance scammer who targeted her vulnerability following her husband's death, posing as a financial advisor named "Adam" and convincing her to download remote access software to transfer funds for a fake raffle scheme. Her family recovered approximately £18,000 from the bank, but Doreen suffered two mini strokes and died in November 2023, with her family attributing her health decline to the stress and trauma of the scam. Romance fraud cases reported to Action Fraud increased 27% between 2020 and 2024, with victims losing £92 million to such sc
indiatodayne.in
· 2025-12-08
A German tourist in Sikkim was defrauded through a fake helicopter booking website impersonating the legitimate operator "Pawan Hans," losing Rs. 9,700 (approximately $116 USD) after being asked for multiple payments including a booking fee and "assurance fee" with no confirmation provided. The victim reported the scam to local police and warned other tourists to verify all bookings through official government portals and trusted travel agents rather than third-party websites.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Since 2020, Surrey has recorded nearly 1,000 romance fraud cases, with 183 reported in 2024 as part of a national total of 8,548 cases resulting in over £92 million in losses. Romance fraud scammers target vulnerable individuals—particularly those who are bereaved, divorced, or isolated—by building fake relationships over time before requesting money, with victims experiencing severe long-term financial and emotional damage beyond their monetary losses. Police advise the public to be suspicious of money requests from online-only contacts, verify profile photos through reverse image searches, and seek advice from trusted family members before sending funds.
en.cibercuba.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Florida's elderly adults lost over $180 million to increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, with scammers using phone calls, texts, emails, social engineering, artificial intelligence, and identity theft as primary tactics. The most common scams targeting seniors include romance scams, fake investment opportunities (particularly cryptocurrency), and the "grandparent scam" where victims are pressured to send money urgently based on false emergencies. Authorities recommend never answering unknown calls, never providing personal information or money over the phone, and contacting institutions directly through official channels to verify any suspicious requests.
truthout.org
· 2025-12-08
Internal Trump administration documents reveal that anti-fraud checks implemented at the Social Security Administration detected only 2 potentially improper claims out of over 110,000 phone-based benefit applications (a 0.0018% rate), contradicting claims by Trump and Elon Musk that Social Security is rife with fraud. The anti-fraud measures caused a three-day processing delay that slowed benefit payments to seniors despite finding no significant fraud, raising concerns that the initiative targets a nonexistent problem while making it harder for eligible beneficiaries to access their earned benefits.
raskin.house.gov
· 2025-12-08
Congressman Jamie Raskin led a bipartisan group in introducing the Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act, which would restore the Casualty and Theft Loss Deduction for taxpayers from 2018-2025 to prevent victims from facing additional tax liability on stolen or lost income. The legislation was prompted by a Maryland constituent who lost $655,000 in retirement savings to fraud and faced a $148,000 tax bill, and addresses a critical issue as elder fraud caused over $4.885 billion in losses in 2024 with an average victim loss of $83,000.
fox23.com
· 2025-12-08
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond highlighted precautions against elder fraud on National Senior Fraud Awareness Day, noting that seniors lose over $3 billion annually to scams including fake lotteries, technical support schemes, government impersonation, and romance fraud. The advisory provides ten key protective measures including: not sharing personal information unsolicited, verifying email sources before clicking links, being wary of upfront payment demands, monitoring bank statements, resisting high-pressure tactics, researching offers, and reporting suspected scams to the Attorney General's Office.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
Hackers have been operating since April 2024 using deepfake voice and text messages to impersonate senior US government officials in phishing campaigns targeting federal and state officials to steal sensitive data and compromise accounts. In separate incidents, deepfake scams also targeted cryptocurrency founders including Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal, with attackers using compromised Telegram accounts to lure victims into fake video calls where they requested installation of malicious software. The FBI and crypto industry leaders advise verifying identities, avoiding clicking unknown links, using multi-factor authentication, and never installing software during unsolicited online interactions.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Google launched an AI-powered scam detection update for its Messages app on Android phones to combat toll fee text message scams that have affected thousands of drivers since April 2024. The technology uses artificial intelligence to identify fraudulent messages based on content patterns suggesting money loss or requests for sensitive information, and alerts users with options to block and report senders. Users without Android phones can report suspicious texts by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM).
seattletimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 29-year-old New Jersey man, Zabi Ullah Mohammed, was arrested for wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and impersonating a federal agent in connection with a scam that defrauded a Missoula, Montana woman of nearly $1 million. The scam began with a fraudulent call claiming to be from Amazon, which escalated into impersonation of federal officials (Social Security Department and a U.S. Marshal named Carlos Silva) who convinced the victim to withdraw her money for "legalization" and safekeeping. Between April 2-18, over $900,000 in cash and gold were picked up from the victim's home
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Impersonation scams are increasingly sophisticated, exploiting digital banking and UPI apps through fraudulent calls and emails that mimic legitimate financial institutions and government agencies. Key warning signs include unsolicited requests for passwords or OTPs, pressure to act quickly, demands for secrecy, and slight variations in sender email addresses—legitimate organizations never request sensitive information via phone or email. Experts recommend never sharing private information, enabling multi-factor authentication, verifying requests by calling contacts directly, and remaining skeptical of offers promising unrealistic returns or urgent money transfers.
local3news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau reports an increase in scams targeting seniors, with online purchase scams and romance scams being particularly prevalent among adults 55 and older. The article outlines common warning signs of senior-targeted fraud, including phone scams impersonating government or bank officials, pressure to pay via unusual methods, unrealistic investment promises, and requests for personal financial information. Consumers are advised to verify caller identities, research purchases, protect personal data, and report suspicious activity to the BBB's Scam Tracker.
fox5atlanta.com
· 2025-12-08
**Job scams surged across the U.S. in 2025, with losses totaling $220 million in the first half of the previous year and accelerating further.** Fraudsters use social media to target financially vulnerable individuals, particularly those who have recently lost jobs, by posing as recruiters offering high-paying work-from-home positions and requesting sensitive information like Social Security numbers and bank account details for identity theft and financial fraud. Protection strategies include being skeptical of unrealistic job offers, verifying company legitimacy through official websites and the Better Business Bureau, and researching offers online before sharing personal information.
landline.media
· 2025-12-08
Multiple states including Kansas, New Mexico, Missouri, and Oregon have warned residents about widespread text and email scams falsely claiming unpaid toll debts and threatening license suspension or legal action to pressure victims into revealing personal and financial information. Scammers are targeting states with no toll roads, and in Indiana's case, fraudulent emails posing as the state DOT requesting payment for TxTag balances were traced to a contractor's hacked account. Authorities recommend reporting suspected scam texts and emails to the Federal Trade Commission and Internet Crime Complaint Center.
loveballymena.online
· 2025-12-08
A woman from Newtownards, Northern Ireland was defrauded of £15,000 in a romance scam after meeting a fraudster on a dating site who built trust over several months before requesting money on three separate occasions. Police warn that romance scammers typically create fake profiles, establish emotional connections, then move conversations to private messaging apps before requesting money under false pretenses such as investments or emergencies. The PSNI advises victims to keep communications on official dating platforms, verify identities independently, never send money to people they haven't met in person, and report suspicious activity immediately to authorities.
laughingplace.com
· 2025-12-08
ABC News Studios is releasing a three-part docuseries titled "Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" on Hulu, following three women—Annette, Roxy, and Gaby—who were each romantically scammed by the same man and lost money in an elaborate fraud scheme before joining forces to identify the perpetrator. The series highlights the growing threat of romance scams, as online scammers stole a record $16.6 billion in 2024, with increasingly sophisticated tactics using AI and deepfake technology to deceive vulnerable people seeking connection online.
thefutoncritic.com
· 2025-12-08
ABC News Studios announced a three-part docuseries titled "Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" premiering May 20 on Hulu, which follows three women—Annette, Roxy, and Gaby—who were defrauded by the same online romance scammer posing as a handsome man. The series documents their discovery of the elaborate scam, their efforts to uncover the scammer's true identity, and their pursuit of justice, highlighting how online scammers stole a record $16.6 billion in 2024 using increasingly sophisticated tactics including AI and deepfake technology to target vulnerable individuals seeking connection.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** Elder fraud has reached epidemic proportions – a geriatrician explains what older Americans need to know
Americans age 60 and older lost over $3 billion to scammers in 2023, with elder fraud complaints to the FBI increasing 14% year-over-year, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Older adults are targeted because they tend to be trusting, have financial savings and assets, and may be less comfortable with technology, making them vulnerable to tech-support scams, romance scams, investment fraud, and call-center schemes—with investment scams being the costliest category. Beyond financial losses, fraud victims often experience trauma
thesun.ie
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Newtownards, County Down, lost £15,000 to a romance scammer she met on a dating site who built a relationship with her over several months before convincing her to transfer money on three separate occasions. The PSNI issued a warning about romance scams, noting that fraudsters typically develop quick online relationships, move communication off the dating platform, fabricate stories and investment opportunities, then request money they never intend to repay. Police advised victims to keep communication on official dating platforms, verify profiles through reverse image searches, never send money to someone they haven't met in person, and seek independent financial advice before any investments.
scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses rising scams targeting young people in Hong Kong, including fake online shopping deals, gaming account fraud, and sextortion schemes on social media platforms. Notable cases include a University of Hong Kong student who lost HK$9.2 million in a phone scam and a teenager defrauded of HK$3,000 for fake concert tickets. Experts emphasize that cybersafety education starting in primary school is essential to prevent scams, and victims should report incidents to police, block scammers, change passwords, and preserve evidence.
local3news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns job seekers about employment scam texts that impersonate legitimate companies, offering unrealistic salaries ($250-$500/day) and benefits for minimal work with little or no vetting process. Common red flags include unsolicited job offers via text, pressure to provide personal/banking information, overpayment schemes, reshipping scams, and positions that seem too good to be true. Job seekers should verify recruiters and companies through official channels, research hiring processes and salary ranges, guard sensitive information, and be wary of jobs requiring upfront money transfers or fake check deposits.
desotocountynews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article, published during Older Americans Month in May, provides seniors with practical financial management strategies to help them live within fixed incomes and protect themselves from fraud. Key recommendations include creating monthly budgets, utilizing senior discounts, planning for healthcare costs, avoiding scams and identity theft, and establishing estate plans with professional guidance. The piece emphasizes that financial literacy and proactive money management are essential for older adults to achieve financial stability and security.
wusa9.com
· 2025-12-08
The Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office reported a surge in spoofed phone calls appearing to originate from the department's official number, with fraudsters impersonating sheriff's representatives and requesting monetary donations and gift cards. The office clarified that it never solicits donations or gift cards by phone and advised residents to hang up immediately and refrain from sharing personal or financial information if contacted by such scammers. Residents are encouraged to report fraudulent calls directly to the Sheriff's Office.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
Facebook Marketplace scams are increasing, with perpetrators using tactics such as requesting off-platform communication, offering inflated prices without viewing items, and using third-party payment apps like Zelle to conduct fraudulent transactions. Scammers employ psychological manipulation—including fake payment screenshots, overpayment refund requests, and accusations of dishonesty—to pressure victims into quick decisions that bypass critical thinking. Both buyers and sellers can be targeted, and victims risk losing money if they fail to recognize these warning signs.
english.news.cn
· 2025-12-08
Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram have become major conduits for internet fraud, accounting for nearly half of reported scams on JPMorgan Chase's Zelle payment platform between summer 2023 and 2024, with similar patterns documented by British and Australian regulators. An internal 2022 Meta analysis found that 70 percent of newly active advertisers were promoting scams, illicit goods, or low-quality products, driven by cryptocurrencies, AI, and overseas crime networks. The company has been reluctant to remove repeat scammers or add fraud prevention measures that might impact its $160 billion advertising business, despite repeated employee warnings.
womansworld.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
As the Real ID deadline approached in May 2025, the Better Business Bureau warned of a surge in scams exploiting public confusion about the application process, including fake DMV websites and phishing emails requesting personal information for identity theft or fraud. To stay safe, applicants should only use official state DMV websites ending in .gov, remember that Real ID applications cannot be completed entirely online, and be aware that legitimate DMV offices never request personal information via unsolicited contact. Anyone who falls victim should immediately freeze their credit with major bureaus and report the incident to the BBB and state Attorney General.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division announced updated white-collar enforcement policies on May 12, 2025, focusing on ten high-impact areas including health care fraud, securities fraud, Ponzi schemes, and money laundering. The revised Corporate Enforcement Policy offers greater incentives for companies that voluntarily self-report misconduct, fully cooperate, and remediate, while also expanding opportunities for corporate whistleblowers. The DOJ's renewed emphasis on corporate criminal enforcement prioritizes cases involving senior-level personnel, demonstrable financial losses, and obstruction of justice, indicating continued robust prosecution despite earlier speculation of reduced white-collar enforcement activity.
thegardenisland.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud is increasing on Kauai and beyond, with common scams including phishing emails, impersonation of law enforcement, cryptocurrency investment schemes, and AI-enabled fraud. AARP Elder Fraud Expert Paul Greenwood conducted a community education presentation warning of emerging threats such as deepfakes and cryptocurrency ATMs in supermarkets, where fraudsters convince victims to transfer funds. Greenwood emphasized that elderly victims often experience severe psychological harm and encouraged community members to report scams immediately and support an "Elder Justice Team" to coordinate law enforcement, social services, and financial institutions in combating fraud.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Elder fraud epidemic:** Americans age 60+ lost over $3 billion to scammers in 2023, with elder fraud complaints to the FBI rising 14% year-over-year. Older adults are targeted due to their financial assets, trust levels, and often limited familiarity with technology, and they experience not only financial losses but also trauma, shame, and mental health consequences from being victimized.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta allowed thousands of fraudulent ads to proliferate on Facebook and Instagram while reportedly deprioritizing enforcement to protect advertising revenue, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation. The platform accounted for nearly half of all Zelle-related scam complaints to JPMorgan Chase between mid-2023 and mid-2024, with documented schemes including fake bulk merchandise ads using legitimate businesses' addresses, counterfeit McCormick brand promotions charging victims hundreds of dollars, and nonexistent puppy sales operating from overseas. Internal documents and former Meta staffers revealed the company tolerated multiple fraud "strikes" before banning accounts and deliberately avoided stricter advertiser controls despite losses to victims potentially reaching
adirondackdailyenterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
A scam victim shares two personal experiences: falling for a gift card fraud when a hacker accessed a friend's email and impersonated her, resulting in financial loss, and nearly falling for an overpayment scam involving a fake certified check during an online canoe sale. The author emphasizes that gift card requests are a major red flag, verifying identity through alternative contact methods is essential, and certified checks can be fraudulent even if they appear to clear initially—requiring weeks to confirm legitimacy before returning funds.
floridapolitics.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Florida congressional members introduced the "Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams and Disasters Act," which would expand tax deductions for victims of fraud, cybercrime, theft, and natural disasters—particularly benefiting seniors who have suffered financial losses. The measure, supported by AARP and the Elder Justice Coalition, seeks to reinstate personal casualty loss deductions and extend filing deadlines for affected taxpayers to help them recover from their losses.
mondaq.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not an elder fraud news article. The document is a May 2025 Department of Justice policy memorandum outlining white-collar crime enforcement priorities for the Trump administration. While the memorandum lists "elder fraud" as one of several high-impact areas for prosecution alongside securities fraud, investment fraud, and Ponzi schemes, it provides no specific case information, victim details, or dollar amounts related to elder fraud incidents. This is a policy/enforcement guidance document rather than reporting on an actual fraud case or elder abuse event.
tamaractalk.com
· 2025-12-08
The Broward Sheriff's Office is hosting a free Senior Safety Summit on June 21 in Tamarac to educate seniors about prevalent scams targeting their community. The event will cover the latest scams, recognition and avoidance strategies, and resources for victims, with light refreshments provided.
cbs6albany.com
· 2025-12-08
A New York watchdog group issued an alert warning Medicare cardholders about medical identity theft, where scammers use personal health information or Medicare numbers to fraudulently bill for services. The alert emphasizes that Medicare, the IRS, and Social Security will never call requesting information, and advises victims to monitor statements, contact their doctor's office, call Medicare at 1-800-Medicare, or call the New York State Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-333-4374 for assistance.