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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
masslive.com
· 2025-12-07
The FBI warns of a significant surge in gold bar and bulk cash courier scams targeting older adults, where fraudsters use grandparent, government impersonation, or tech support schemes to convince victims to hand over valuables to in-person couriers. From 2023 to 2025, FBI Boston documented 103 instances resulting in over $26 million in losses (98% of victims over age 60), while nationwide figures reached 1,737 cases with approximately $186 million in losses. The FBI advises the public never to purchase precious metals at a government's request, avoid posting personal information online, and refrain from allowing unknown individuals access to computers or personal data.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-07
This article discusses the challenging U.S. job market in 2025, where highly qualified professionals are experiencing prolonged unemployment and receiving numerous scam calls despite extensive job applications. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 911,000 fewer jobs were added than initially estimated through March 2025, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.3%, long-term unemployment doubling since early 2023, and AI-driven hiring systems and tariff-related uncertainty exacerbating job losses across sectors. Job seekers describe a frustrating experience where advanced degrees and years of experience yield little success, with one applicant noting that scam contacts now outnumber legitimate interview opportunities.
bu.edu
· 2025-12-07
Boston University students lost $624,300 to scammers between January and September, with 90 percent of losses occurring in four cases involving impostors posing as Chinese police or officials. The BUPD reports 29 total larceny scams occurred through multiple channels, with job/employment scams being most common among students, while authorities also warned of nationwide fraud schemes involving fake apartment rentals, fraudulent identity theft reports, and immigration-related extortion targeting international students. Key prevention advice includes not answering calls from unknown numbers, verifying direct contact with authorities through official channels, and never providing payment or personal information before viewing rental properties in person.
attorneygeneral.gov
· 2025-12-07
Pennsylvania's Attorney General issued a warning that scammers may exploit donations intended for families of Northern York County Regional Police officers killed in a recent shooting incident. The advisory recommends potential donors verify fundraising legitimacy by checking official police department and sheriff's office social media pages, or confirming endorsement from police associations before contributing. Victims of donation scams can report fraud to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
kulr8.com
· 2025-12-07
Phone scams are rising in Montana, with scammers typically pressuring victims to pay immediately. AARP Montana advises people to stop and verify callers' identities by hanging up and contacting agencies directly, particularly for scams impersonating law enforcement that demand payment.
9news.com.au
· 2025-12-07
A 23-year-old aged care worker in Rothwell, Queensland was charged with 113 offences, including 110 counts of fraud, after allegedly stealing bank details from four elderly residents at her care facility and using them to make unauthorized personal purchases between October and June. The investigation revealed a pattern of online and in-person fraudulent transactions, and the suspect was scheduled to appear in Redcliffe Magistrates Court.
vice.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Sapporo, Japan, lost approximately 1 million yen ($6,750) to a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut in distress, claiming he needed money for oxygen while stranded in space. The scammer initiated contact via social media in July and gradually built trust before requesting funds, exploiting the victim's loneliness and the elderly population's particular vulnerability to fraud schemes. Japan's aging demographic makes it especially susceptible to various romance and impersonation scams, including fake celebrity suitors and fabricated emergency situations.
cantonrep.com
· 2025-12-07
Since 2020, the BBB has received over 4,000 reports of cryptocurrency investment scams, with increasingly sophisticated schemes now targeting users on TikTok through direct messages offering unrealistic returns. Scammers create fake investment opportunities, request initial deposits via digital wallets, then demand escalating "service fees" while promising multiplied returns that never materialize. To protect yourself, verify investment opportunities through the SEC and BBB, avoid guaranteed get-rich-quick schemes, resist pressure tactics, and only use digital wallet services with trusted contacts.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A national poll found that three in four adults ages 50-80 experienced scam attempts in the last two years, with approximately 30% losing money to fraud. The article identifies the most common scams targeting Western New York seniors, including romance scams, sweepstakes scams, imposter scams (government/business officials), grandparent scams, and tech phishing scams, and advises victims to disengage from suspicious contacts, verify requests independently, and report losses to the Federal Trade Commission, state Attorney General, or New York State Office of Victim Services.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
A Malwarebytes survey of 1,300 adults across five countries found that iPhone users are more susceptible to online scams than Android users, not due to device differences but rather behavioral choices—53% of iPhone users reported falling for scams compared to 48% of Android users, with iPhone owners less likely to use security software, set strong passwords, or avoid suspicious deals and sellers. The research demonstrates that overconfidence in Apple's security reputation leads many iPhone users to take riskier online behaviors, emphasizing that device safety depends on user habits rather than the phone's built-in protections.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A 78-year-old Rochester-area man lost $30,000 to a Publishers Clearing House prize scam that operated over six months, during which con artists repeatedly promised a $2.5 million prize while extracting fees under various pretenses. The article highlights that this case is representative of thousands of elder fraud crimes nationally, with federal authorities recently arresting eight people for defrauding 139 Western New York seniors of over $11 million through romance scams, imposter schemes, and identity theft. Common scams targeting seniors in the region include romance fraud, imposter scams impersonating government or businesses, and tech phishing, with scammers increasingly using AI and deep
civilbeat.org
· 2025-12-07
A Kailua woman received a voicemail from someone claiming to represent Hawaiian Electric Company, warning that her home utilities would be disconnected unless she called back immediately—a common scam tactic that exploited her vacation anxiety and inability to verify the claim. The article discusses how artificial intelligence and readily available personal information are making it increasingly easier for scammers to create sophisticated frauds, including voice-cloning technology that impersonates trusted contacts, with particular vulnerability among seniors and young people.
winknews.com
· 2025-12-07
An 89-year-old Lee County woman lost $12,587 from her savings account after receiving fraudulent phone calls impersonating Citibank representatives who confirmed her account details and authorized unauthorized transfers. The victim filed a claim with Citibank, but the bank denied her request for reimbursement and denied her appeal, prompting her to file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission and Lee County Sheriff's Office. The scammer used the name "Shamar Maragh" for the fraudulent account, and the bank blocked an additional $10,000 transfer attempt.
futurism.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are increasingly using "SMS blasters"—portable cell-tower devices that send massive volumes of phishing texts to phones in their vicinity (500-2,000 yards away)—to conduct large-scale fraud campaigns. These devices can send 100,000 texts per hour, impersonate any sender, and downgrade phones to less secure 2G connections in under 10 seconds, operating outside legitimate mobile networks where providers cannot monitor or stop them. The technology, first seen at scale in Asia-Pacific regions, has now spread to Western Europe and South America, with arrests reported in the UK and Thailand, though the actual scams still rely on victims clicking malicious
cowboystatedaily.com
· 2025-12-07
A 76-year-old man in Gillette, Wyoming was nearly victimized in a cryptocurrency ATM scam when he attempted to deposit $16,000 after being manipulated by a scammer who kept him on the phone; a bystander alerted police, preventing the loss. Cheyenne police have identified 50 BTM fraud cases totaling over $645,000 in unrecovered losses, part of a nationwide pattern where seniors lose retirement funds to overseas criminals who use emotional manipulation to direct victims to crypto kiosks. AARP is proposing new regulations for cryptocurrency machines as the FBI estimates $9.3 billion was stolen through various crypto frauds in
inkl.com
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
This educational article identifies nine common email scams targeting retirees, including fake account lockouts, Social Security verification requests, Medicare renewal threats, suspicious activity alerts, unpaid invoices, delivery notifications, payment updates, prize offers, and tax return warnings. The article explains that scammers use urgency, official-looking logos, and authority figures to manipulate victims into clicking malicious links or providing sensitive data. The key defense strategies are to recognize panic-inducing language, verify communications through official channels rather than email links, and remember that legitimate institutions rarely request sensitive information via unsolicited emails.
ksl.com
· 2025-12-07
Olamide Shanu, a 34-year-old Nigerian man, was extradited to the U.S. and charged with operating sextortion and romance scams that defrauded numerous victims across the country of at least $2 million. Shanu and his conspirators posed as women on social media to coerce victims into sending explicit images, then extorted money by threatening to share the images, while also running parallel romance scams using fake identities to manipulate victims into sending money through payment apps, gift cards, and cryptocurrency. If convicted on charges including wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and cyberstalking, Shanu faces up to 20 years in
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams cost British victims over £106 million in 2024, a 9% increase from the previous year, with an average loss of £11,222 per person across 9,449 reports. The scams involve criminals building trust through fake online dating profiles to manipulate victims into sending money, with tactics ranging from military deployment excuses to fabricated emergencies. Dating app Cherry Dating has called for cross-platform collaboration and data-sharing among apps to prevent serial scammers from simply moving to new platforms after being banned.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Dennis and Carole received a phishing email impersonating Sam's Club, offering a $100 reward for completing a survey; Carole clicked through and entered her email address but no credit card information. Although no immediate financial risk exists, scammers now have her active email address and may target her with more sophisticated phishing attempts or sell it to spam lists. The article recommends running antivirus scans, reporting the email as phishing, and considering data removal services to reduce future targeting.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-07
Actor-director Upendra and his wife Priyanka fell victim to a WhatsApp account takeover scam involving a fake delivery call from Dubai; when Priyanka clicked a malicious link and shared a WhatsApp linking code with the scammers, they gained access to her account and sent fraudulent money requests to her contacts using AI-cloned voice technology. Cybersecurity experts explain these scams exploit human behavior rather than technical vulnerabilities, with fraudsters posing as delivery agents, merging calls to capture WhatsApp codes, and impersonating victims to their networks. To protect against such fraud, users should never merge calls with strangers, avoid clicking unknown links, enable
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-07
Elderly individuals are increasingly targeted by sophisticated cryptocurrency scams, with Beaufort County, South Carolina reporting $3.1 million in crypto-related losses in 2024 and Minnesota experiencing over $189 million in losses from crypto kiosk fraud in 2023, using tactics such as voice cloning, fake websites, QR codes, and emotional manipulation. A prominent councilman was released without charge during an investigation into one such scam, highlighting authorities' challenges in tracing funds through irreversible cryptocurrency transactions. Experts recommend seniors protect themselves through education, using trusted platforms with two-factor authentication, discussing large transactions with family members, and promptly reporting incidents to law enforcement and the FTC
wtkr.com
· 2025-12-07
A coordinated fraud ring targeting Navy Federal customers throughout Hampton Roads has victimized hundreds of people and stolen over $2 million through a "parking lot scam." Ten suspects have been arrested and face wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering charges after approaching victims near Navy Federal branches, requesting to use their phones, and then making unauthorized loan applications, transfers, and withdrawals from victims' accounts using the Navy Federal mobile app. The scheme has affected at least 33 documented victims in the recent indictment, with one victim losing $7,000 in seconds.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are increasingly targeting Social Security recipients with cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) fraud schemes, contributing to the $12.5 billion in fraud losses reported by the FTC in 2024. The Social Security Administration warns recipients to watch for four red flags: being told they must apply for COLA (which is automatic), unsolicited calls/texts/emails claiming to be from SSA, requests for Social Security numbers or banking information, and threats or pressure tactics claiming benefits will be cut off. Recipients should remember that the SSA communicates primarily through mailed letters and will never demand personal information over the phone or threaten immediate action.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Two New York men, Didi Huang, 47, and Li Geng Lin, 58, were indicted on class A felony charges of attempted theft by deception for targeting a 76-year-old Seabrook woman in a PayPal overpayment scam on June 2. The scammers called the victim claiming to be PayPal employees and convinced her to prepare $20,000 for pickup, then arrived at her home to collect the money before being arrested by Seabrook Police. If convicted, each man faces 7½ to 15 years in prison and a $4,000 fine.
dearmedia.com
· 2025-12-07
This article recounts a romance scam case involving Christy's father in Sydney, Australia, who fell victim to a manipulative woman named Rose after becoming vulnerable following family upheaval and his parents' separation. Rose gradually isolated him from his support system, drained his finances by having him pay all household bills, and took over his time and energy while contributing nothing to the household. The piece advises adult children to recognize warning signs of elder romance scams—including sudden isolation, financial requests, emotional manipulation, and unexplained behavior changes—and suggests using non-accusatory conversations and awareness-building to help protect vulnerable parents.
9news.com
· 2025-12-07
Anthony Wright-Brown was arrested in Larimer County, Colorado, for using catfishing scams on dating apps to lure at least two victims into his vehicle, where he trapped them, threatened them, and in one case demanded sexual acts while threatening to call police. Both victims were transgender individuals, and investigators are examining whether they were deliberately targeted based on gender identity and seeking other potential victims. Wright-Brown faces multiple charges including criminal extortion, false imprisonment, assault, and theft.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams targeting students and recent graduates are increasing, with victims losing an average of £2,228 per scam, according to new Tinder research that found 44% of young adults share personal details with people they've never met in person. Love Island star Georgia Steel has joined a campaign with Tinder and Get Safe Online to raise awareness after she was defrauded by a man posing as a wealthy American, who was revealed to be convicted fraudster Medi Abalimba (jailed for four years in 2021 for £170,000+ in total deceptions). Experts emphasize that romance scams exploit emotional manipulation and are difficult to spot, with young
providencejournal.com
· 2025-12-07
Craig Clayton, a 75-year-old Rhode Island man, laundered $35 million from internet-romance and elderly-fraud scams between 2019 and 2021 through his fake "virtual CFO" business, Rochart Consulting, using shell companies and fraudulent bank accounts to send victim funds overseas to countries including China, Switzerland, and Thailand. Clayton pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and obstruction of justice, and was sentenced to four years in prison with $40,000 in restitution ordered. One of his shell companies, Providence Sanitizer, alone laundered at least $16.8 million from elderly victims and romance scam targets.
koco.com
· 2025-12-07
Approximately 700 families in Minco Public Schools received fraudulent text and phone messages claiming a $244 Best Buy charge needed to be processed through Bank of America, sent through the district's emergency alert system. The scam was quickly resolved by Apptegy, the district's software provider, and originated from a third-party company servicing the district's website; to the superintendent's knowledge, no parents were deceived by the messages.
english.mathrubhumi.com
· 2025-12-07
A Kochi resident was defrauded of ₹25 crore between March 2023 and 2025 through a fake online trading platform operated by an international cyber fraud syndicate with suspected Malayali masterminds. The scammers, who posed as legitimate traders and used a call center in Cyprus to contact victims, transferred stolen funds across multiple bank accounts to obscure the money trail, with one Malayali woman already arrested for receiving a share of the proceeds. Investigators believe the fraud operation was planned in California and involved purchasing bank accounts to facilitate transfers while evading detection.
wsls.com
· 2025-12-07
Virginia reported nearly 4,000 residents aged 60 and older lost over $106.6 million to fraud in 2024, ranking the state 11th nationally in elder fraud losses, though actual cases likely far exceed reported figures. Common scams targeting seniors exploit their fixed incomes and fears through impersonation schemes (like fake Microsoft or bank calls), with experts recommending victims never share personal information with unknown contacts and verify requests through official channels. Professionals emphasize that fraud can affect anyone regardless of experience, and encourage open communication and consultation with trusted individuals rather than hiding shame about becoming a victim.
mocoshow.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old Gaithersburg resident lost over $26,000 in a government impersonation scam where fraudsters falsely claimed to be U.S. Treasury Department agents demanding payment to avoid criminal charges. James Smith, 30, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, was arrested in Culpeper County when he arrived to collect an additional $10,000 that authorities had arranged as part of an undercover operation, and he was charged with money laundering, conspiracy to commit a felony, and obtaining money by false pretenses. Authorities indicate the scheme was part of a larger operation intended to send collected funds overseas and warn residents to report suspicious demands for money
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers in 2025 exploit AI, cryptocurrencies, and stolen data to target vulnerable individuals through deepfakes, emotional manipulation, and evolving traditional fraud methods. AI-generated audio and video impersonations caused over 105,000 deepfake attacks in the U.S. in 2024, costing more than $200 million in Q1 2025 alone, with elderly victims particularly vulnerable to fake emergency calls from supposed relatives. Cryptocurrency scams include pump-and-dump schemes and "pig butchering" (romance fraud leading to fake crypto investments), while phishing, tech support scams, and fake websites continue to exploit victims by impersonating legitimate
abc45.com
· 2025-12-07
Guilford County, North Carolina is experiencing a surge in "court scams" where criminals impersonate deputies, spoof official numbers, and demand immediate payment claiming victims have missed court or owe fines; residents have lost at least $100,000 to these schemes over the past two years. The Guilford County Sheriff's Office emphasizes that legitimate deputies will never demand immediate phone payment or request personal information via call or email, and is launching community education initiatives including a free senior fraud prevention academy starting September 25th to help residents recognize and avoid these scams.
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers in 2025 exploit AI, cryptocurrencies, and stolen data to target vulnerable individuals through deepfakes, impersonation, and emotional manipulation. AI-generated audio and video impersonations cost over $200 million in losses in early 2025, while cryptocurrency scams like "pig butchering" (romance fraud hybrid) and pump-and-dump schemes manipulate victims into investing in fake platforms. Traditional fraud methods—phishing, tech support scams, and fake job listings—have evolved with AI to become more convincing, with scammers leveraging emotions like duty, fear, and hope to exploit targets across all demographics, particularly elderly victims.
wired.com
· 2025-12-07
Cybercriminals are increasingly using portable "SMS blaster" devices—fake cell phone towers that can be transported in vehicles—to send millions of scam text messages while evading carrier security measures. These devices force nearby phones to connect to insecure 2G networks and can send up to 100,000 messages per hour across a 1,000-meter radius; the technology originated in Southeast Asia and has recently spread to Europe and South America, prompting warnings from cybersecurity agencies. SMS blasters operate outside traditional mobile networks, making the fraudulent messages immune to the filtering and detection systems that telecom providers have deployed to block scams.
wdbj7.com
· 2025-12-07
According to an AARP study, seniors lost $2.4 billion to scams in 2024—a 43% increase from 2023—with over 147,000 complaints filed to the FBI and $745 million lost in just the first quarter of 2025. Artificial intelligence and deepfakes have made scams significantly more convincing in 2025, with fraudsters using AI to impersonate trusted figures and create false urgency across multiple scam types targeting senior citizens' retirement funds.
startribune.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers posing as the Minnesota Department of Revenue sent fraudulent text messages to residents claiming tax refunds were approved and requesting bank information by September 17, 2025, with threats of permanent forfeiture. The Department of Revenue received approximately 500 calls about the scam starting September 15, though the total amount lost remains unknown, and officials confirmed taxpayer data was not compromised. The agency advised residents to verify official websites before sharing personal information and to report suspicious messages to their banks if any information was disclosed.
financialservices.house.gov
· 2025-12-07
Subcommittee Chairman Dan Meuser announced a House Financial Services Committee hearing focused on examining financial fraud affecting American consumers, noting that the FTC reported 2.6 million fraud cases in 2024 with over $12 billion in losses—a 25% increase from 2023. Meuser highlighted that seniors experience the most devastating financial losses from scams while young adults are especially vulnerable, and emphasized the need for coordinated efforts across government, financial institutions, technology platforms, and telecom companies to combat various fraud schemes including romance scams, identity theft, and check fraud. The hearing aimed to strengthen consumer education, promote best practices, and improve fraud prevention while the Trump Administration pursued related efforts
greenwichsentinel.com
· 2025-12-07
In August, the author and her community experienced a surge of email scams, including a fake Microsoft security alert, a spoofed "friend in crisis" requesting money, and church phishing using the pastor's name to solicit gift cards and cash from congregation members. Experts warn that scammers operating from Eastern Europe, Russia, and China are increasingly difficult to stop, and that AI-generated emails are making scams harder to detect, with elderly individuals who lack computer experience being particularly vulnerable to these schemes.
fedweek.com
· 2025-12-07
According to the Senate Aging Committee's latest report, scams targeting older adults are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and person-to-person payment transfers to defraud victims who are targeted for their accumulated assets and trusting nature. Reported losses to those age 60 and over surged by over 40% in 2024, with cryptocurrency-related losses jumping by two-thirds, while scammers employ AI-enabled tools like voice cloning and deepfake videos to make imposter scams more convincing and easier to deploy at scale. Common fraud types include imposter scams, online shopping fraud, lottery scams, and investment fraud, with cryptocurrency and P2
nbcmiami.com
· 2025-12-07
I appreciate you sharing this, but the content you've provided appears to be only the navigation menu and header structure of an NBC 6 News website, not an actual article about fraud or elder abuse.
To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the actual article text, which should include:
- The headline
- The body content describing the scam, fraud, or abuse incident
- Details about victims, amounts, and outcomes
Could you please share the full article content?
financialservices.house.gov
· 2025-12-07
A congressional Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing examined the escalating threat of financial fraud to American consumers, with particular concern for seniors and vulnerable populations. In 2024, there were 2.6 million reported fraud cases resulting in $12.5 billion in losses, involving schemes such as check fraud, romance scams, voice cloning, and AI-driven impersonation targeting grandparents. Federal lawmakers and banking industry representatives discussed the sophistication of criminal operations, many operating overseas, and called for improved federal agency coordination and consumer outreach to combat these growing threats.
kfvs12.com
· 2025-12-07
A 31-year-old Missouri man and 12 others were charged for operating a grandparent scam that defrauded over 300 elderly victims across five states of more than $5 million, with victims averaging 84 years old. The scheme involved callers posing as grandchildren or their lawyers claiming emergency situations, using rideshare drivers to collect cash from victims' homes or accompany them to banks. Law enforcement warns that scammers increasingly use AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate family members convincingly, making victims more likely to act urgently without verifying the caller's identity.
auroranewsregister.com
· 2025-12-07
Bank fraud prevention experts presented findings at a senior center on common scams targeting older adults, including tech support, phishing, vishing, and grandparent scams that use fear and emotional appeals to steal money. According to Federal Trade Commission statistics cited, consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023—a 14% increase from 2022—with tech support fraud being the leading crime type for those over 60, resulting in nearly $600 million in reported losses. The presentation advised seniors to recognize red flags in phishing emails, be skeptical of unsolicited tech support offers, and trust their instincts to avoid becoming victims.
thebeacon.net
· 2025-12-07
The Ottawa County Task Force on Aging held a 2025 summit to educate seniors about common scams including grandkid scams, tech support fraud, IRS impersonation, lottery/sweepstakes schemes, and identity theft. Financial experts from local credit unions and banks emphasized that victims should verify suspicious calls by hanging up and calling back on known numbers, never pay upfront fees for winnings, and report suspected fraud to their banks and local law enforcement without shame. The presentation highlighted that while scammers are persistent, seniors have access to community resources and protection through banks, nonprofits, and law enforcement agencies.
freep.com
· 2025-12-07
Michigan's Department of Treasury warned residents about smishing scams involving fraudulent text messages falsely claiming tax refunds are pending and requesting banking information to release them. The scam, which has circulated nationwide, exploits urgency and the threat of forfeited refunds; residents should recognize that the state only communicates via official mail, not unsolicited texts, and should immediately delete suspicious messages and report them to authorities.
fox29.com
· 2025-12-07
Job scams have surged 118% in recent years and now rank as the fourth most common fraud type in the U.S., with 75,364 cases reported to the FTC in the first half of 2025 alone, resulting in a median loss of $2,100 per victim. Nevada emerged as the most vulnerable state, with residents losing over $1.7 million to job scams in six months. To protect yourself, research opportunities thoroughly, verify website security, protect personal information, and be wary of unsolicited calls, fake accounts, and unrealistically lucrative job offers.
cbs8.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are sending fake court documents with forged judicial signatures through mail and phone calls, demanding immediate payment to resolve alleged unpaid fines, missed jury duty, or outstanding warrants. Red flags include out-of-state area codes, misspellings, formatting errors, and demands for immediate payment via cash, Venmo, or PayPal—legitimate courts never use these methods. The San Diego Superior Court advises verifying suspicious documents by calling the courthouse directly or checking case numbers online, as authentic court communications are sent only by mail or email, never by phone or text.
firstcoastnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Scams are increasing in frequency and complexity, with consumers losing over $12.5 billion to fraud last year—a 25% increase from the previous year. Common scams include fake investment opportunities promising unrealistic returns, government impersonation schemes (particularly jury duty scams), and toll violation text messages; victims should watch for red flags like requests for secrecy, pressure to act quickly, and payment through peer-to-peer apps. The Better Business Bureau recommends reporting suspected scams to BBB.org and law enforcement, researching businesses before hiring them, and verifying legitimacy through official channels rather than unsolicited contact.