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CBS Pittsburgh
· 2025-03-17
U.S. Postal Inspectors warn of multiple text message scams, including fake delivery notifications requesting zip code updates and impostor messages claiming emergencies or offering deals. Postal inspectors note that elderly citizens and isolated individuals are particularly vulnerable targets, and advise consumers to never respond to unsolicited messages claiming to be from USPS or other entities.
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KVUE
· 2025-03-17
During tax season, the IRS warns of a spike in tax-related scams targeting Americans filing their returns. Common schemes include "ghost preparers" who pose as tax professionals, promise inflated refunds or unqualified credits, falsify documents, and pocket portions of refunds, as well as phishing scams using tax-specific language to steal identities. To protect themselves, people should verify tax preparers' credentials on the IRS website, never sign blank or partial returns, and avoid trusting unsolicited emails, texts, or calls claiming to be from tax authorities.
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CNBC
· 2025-03-15
Toll text scams are proliferating as scammers exploit the shift to electronic tolling systems and mobile phone usage, sending deceptive messages claiming unpaid tolls are due and threatening fines or license suspension. Clicking links in these texts can result in malware installation or credential theft, as legitimate toll operators never contact customers via text requesting payment through links. Federal agencies including the FTC and FBI have warned the public that these scams have become increasingly sophisticated and widespread across the country.
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ChannelOne TV
· 2025-03-07
Ghana's Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and the UK's National Crime Agency launched a whistleblowing campaign to combat rising romance fraud cases, revealing they have been investigating at least 107 cases since 2021 with approximately 2 million Ghana cedis recovered in 2024 alone. Romance scams remain a pervasive threat in Ghana, increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence to deceive victims. The campaign aims to leverage whistleblowing mechanisms to effectively address the growing problem of romance fraud.
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KATVchannel7
· 2025-03-05
A USAA bank customer fell victim to scammers impersonating the bank's fraud department who called claiming to warn about suspicious charges on her account. The scammers, who had obtained her personal information, manipulated her into granting them access to her account and stealing thousands of dollars. The incident is part of a growing trend of bank customers being targeted by fraudsters using spoofed caller IDs and social engineering tactics.
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WRSP/WCCU FOX 55/27 Illinois
· 2025-03-05
A USAA bank customer lost thousands of dollars to scammers who called impersonating the bank's fraud department. The scammers used legitimate personal information and caller ID spoofing to appear authentic, claiming to warn about fraudulent charges on the victim's debit card before tricking her into giving them access to her account. The incident is part of a growing trend of similar fraud cases targeting bank customers.
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The National Desk
· 2025-03-04
A Bankrate survey found that 34% of U.S. adults experienced financial fraud in the past year, with 37% of those losing money. Contrary to assumptions that only older generations are vulnerable, Gen Z and Millennials who fell victim to scams were actually more likely to lose money (53% and 45% respectively), compared to Gen X at 32%. Financial strain from inflation and elevated interest rates is making Americans more vulnerable to scams.
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National Geographic
· 2025-03-02
Investigative journalist Mariana Van Zeller explores cryptocurrency "rug pull" scams, where fraudsters create fake crypto tokens to steal investor money—a scheme that victimized people of nearly $3 billion in 2021 alone. The episode follows Van Zeller's investigation into young, wealthy scammers who exploit cryptocurrency's unregulated decentralized finance space, and features interviews with victims like Xavier, who lost money across multiple rug pull schemes with no recourse in the largely lawless crypto market.
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CTV News
· 2025-03-01
March marks Fraud Prevention Month across Canada, during which law enforcement and community groups collaborate to educate the public about fraud prevention. According to Edmonton police and the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association, current fraud trends include investment fraud, online employment scams, and romance fraud, with scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated in targeting both money and personal identity. Key prevention advice includes being skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true and verifying whether you initiated contact with the person or organization reaching out.
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News Channel 3-12
· 2025-02-28
Craig Case, a former private investigator and TV host, was found guilty on 63 of 64 charges in a Montecito elder fraud case, including conspiracy, theft from an elder, identity theft, and money laundering totaling over $690,000. The victim was Constance McCormick Fearing, an elderly Montecito resident, with accomplice Nancy Coger (who held power of attorney and had already pleaded guilty) facilitating the scheme. Case has been in custody since July 2023, and sentencing will be determined after the jury considers aggravating factors.
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NEWS CENTER Maine
· 2025-02-27
Maine State Police report a rising trend of scams targeting senior citizens, particularly courier impersonation schemes where fraudsters pose as delivery drivers to collect money directly from victims' homes, and grandparent scams involving fake relatives requesting funds via wire transfer or mail. Law enforcement and organizations like the Eastern Area Agency on Aging are urging seniors to stay vigilant and analyze suspicious situations carefully, as these evolving scams exploit seniors' perceived lack of technological knowledge.
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News 19 WLTX
· 2025-02-25
Two Lexon County men, 45-year-old Kenneth Brown and 46-year-old Nicholas Shepard, were sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving business email compromise and romance scams. The men coordinated with others to receive checks from scam victims at their business, Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange, then deposited and converted the funds into cryptocurrency. They must pay $415,000 in restitution and are ineligible for parole under the federal system.
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ABC News
· 2025-02-24
Las Vegas resident Aurora Phelps, 43, is charged with a sophisticated romance scam targeting older men she met through online dating services, in which she drugged victims and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars by accessing their bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and credit cards. One victim died after Phelps allegedly sedated and transported him across the US-Mexico border to a Mexico City hotel room, and another victim had approximately $3.3 million in Apple stock fraudulently sold; Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico, and the FBI is seeking additional victims to come forward.
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5NEWS
· 2025-02-24
The FBI is seeking additional victims of Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman arrested in Mexico and charged with a years-long romance scam targeting older men between 2021 and 2022. Using aliases on dating apps like Tinder and OkCupid, Phelps lured at least four elderly victims, accessed their bank accounts, and allegedly drugged one victim into a coma while three others died; she faces 21 counts including bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping, with one charge involving transporting a heavily sedated victim across the U.S.-Mexico border in a wheelchair.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-02-22
The FBI charged 43-year-old Aurora Phelps of Las Vegas with operating a "sinister" romance scam targeting older men aged 60-70 whom she met on dating sites. Phelps lured her victims, drugged them with dangerous amounts of sedatives, and stole from them by accessing their bank and brokerage accounts, using credit cards, and attempting to withdraw millions in one case; authorities believe she may have killed at least one victim and are seeking the public's help to identify additional victims.
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FOX 35 Orlando
· 2025-02-20
A suspect named Shanah Baptist was extradited to Florida after defrauding an 85-year-old woman of $32,000 in a fake sweepstakes scam in June. Baptist and accomplices, including Neelon Brooks, were part of a multi-state fraud ring targeting seniors in Volusia County, with the sheriff emphasizing this represents a growing problem in the community. Baptist denied wrongdoing upon her arrest at Daytona Beach Airport.
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NBC 7 San Diego
· 2025-02-15
A San Diego woman lost $32,000 in a romance scam after developing an online relationship over one year with a man posing as an architect working in Poland. The scammer slowly built trust and emotional intimacy before requesting money for various emergencies, exploiting the victim's affection to gain access to her finances. This case illustrates how romance scams differ from other fraud schemes by operating over extended periods to manipulate victims emotionally rather than through immediate pressure tactics.
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KSDK News
· 2025-02-14
Romance scams spike around Valentine's Day, with nearly 65,000 people reporting romance scams in 2023 and losses totaling $1.14 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission. These scams involve fraudsters creating fake profiles on dating apps to gain victims' trust and manipulate them into sending money. Key protective measures include using reverse image searches to verify profile photos and being cautious of requests for financial information.
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NBC Bay Area
· 2025-02-08
A Bay Area woman lost her entire life savings of $400,000 to a scam that began with a text message claiming someone was making fraudulent purchases on her accounts. The scammer, posing as a Federal Trade Commission agent, convinced her to withdraw money from her bank accounts over several transactions, exploiting her fear and trust in authority. The victim, who had recently sold her home and was debt-free for the first time, fell for the scheme despite her bank's initial warning about the suspicious withdrawal.
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Lakeland PBS
· 2025-02-05
Law enforcement in Grand Rapids arrested an out-of-state suspect accused of running bail scams targeting three residents, including an elderly couple who lost $17,000 after being told their grandson was arrested and needed immediate bail payment. The suspect was found with over $42,000 in cash during the investigation.
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WTNH News8
· 2025-02-04
The FBI and DEA are investigating a widespread impersonation scam targeting healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and veterinarians in Connecticut, with victims losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases. Scammers impersonate federal agents (DEA, FBI) and state/local police to steal money and personal information from licensed professionals by using partial information to build credibility and extract additional details. The agencies are raising public awareness as criminals operate from boiler rooms conducting research on specific targets to refine their fraudulent schemes.
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WHNT News 19
· 2025-02-04
The Huntsville Police Department warned of a dating app scam where criminals pose as government investigators and claim victims face arrest warrants, then pressure them to pay money to avoid prosecution. Police documented two cases of this scam and advise potential victims to hang up, independently verify any claims by calling local police directly, and never pay money to resolve alleged warrants.
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CBS Philadelphia
· 2025-02-03
A Pennsylvania widow lost her life savings, home, and possessions to a romance scam after being targeted on Facebook by someone posing as "Tony," a surgeon who built an emotional relationship with her over months of daily communication. The scammer exploited her vulnerability as a widow by showering her with attention and affection before manipulating her into sending money, ultimately leaving her financially devastated and emotionally heartbroken. The case highlights how romance scams use deep emotional manipulation to target victims, who often remain silent due to embarrassment, and warns that thousands of people—particularly older adults—are affected by this type of fraud annually.
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CBS19
· 2025-01-28
Tax scams involve fraudsters attempting to steal money or personal information through unsolicited calls, texts, emails, and fake websites requesting immediate payment or personal details. Red flags include threats, demands for quick payment, suspicious links, and AI-generated content that appears personalized; the IRS Criminal Investigation division identified over $31 billion in tax and financial crimes in fiscal year 2022. Key prevention strategies include ignoring "too good to be true" offers, verifying communications directly with the IRS, checking for misspelled websites, protecting personal information, and filing taxes early.
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CTV News
· 2025-01-28
A serial romance scammer operating across Ontario under multiple aliases (including "Johnny Meers") defrauded at least three women of significant sums—Nicki McFee lost $30,000 in a fake business investment, Amy Todd lost $60,000 for a nonexistent horse business, and another victim lost money from a motorcycle sale—before being identified as 39-year-old John Moulder. The scammer used charm and fake investment opportunities to gain victims' trust after meeting them through online dating services, with red flags only appearing once victims stopped providing money.
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WWLP-22News
· 2025-01-21
An elderly couple in Westfield was defrauded of $10,000 after receiving a call from someone posing as a lawyer who claimed a family member had been arrested and needed bail money. The victims withdrew cash and delivered it to a suspect at Worcester Fair shopping plaza. Westfield Police are seeking the public's help in identifying the suspect involved in this elder fraud scheme.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-01-17
A victim lost over $137,000 in life savings after receiving an email falsely claiming her social security number was used for drug trafficking, demonstrating how sophisticated social engineering scams exploit fear and panic rather than relying solely on cyber tactics. According to the FTC, Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023—the highest amount ever recorded—with scammers increasingly using organized crime networks, technology, and social manipulation to target victims through emails, texts, and social media.
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Irish Independent
· 2025-01-14
Romance scams (also called "pig butchering") are surging in Ireland, primarily targeting middle-aged women through dating apps where scammers build emotional relationships over time before requesting money for bills, fees, and expenses. Detective Superintendent Michael Crry of Ireland's National Economic Crime Bureau explains that these online fraud schemes rely on social engineering, manipulation, and exploitation, with recent arrests highlighting law enforcement efforts to combat the crime, which is particularly prevalent during vulnerable winter months when people seek connection.
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WGN News
· 2025-01-07
The Better Business Bureau released its top 10 local scams of 2024, with online purchases through fake websites ranking as the #1 threat, followed by phishing scams, employment scams, debt collection scams, and social media shopping scams involving counterfeit products. Consumers are advised to verify companies through the BBB before providing personal or financial information, avoid clicking suspicious links in emails or social media ads, be wary of unsolicited urgent requests, and recognize that legitimate debt collectors must notify in writing before taking action.
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ET Now
· 2025-01-06
Digital arrest scams are rapidly proliferating in India, with victims including influencer Ankush Bahuguna (held virtually for 40 hours), a 50-year-old businesswoman (lost 1.6 crore rupees), and a 65-year-old woman (lost 46 lakh rupees). In 2024 alone, Indians lost approximately 120 crore rupees across multiple states, with Karnataka reporting 109 crore rupees in losses from 641 cases. The scam operates through video calls where criminals impersonate authorities and coerce victims into believing they are under digital arrest, demanding payment to resolve fabricated legal issues.
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WGNO-TV / ABC26 / WNOL38
· 2024-12-27
A woman named Dana Klein is being sought for allegedly defrauding multiple Dollar General stores in Tangipahoa Parish by using unfamiliar cash cards and posing as a manager to trick cashiers into handling transactions improperly, resulting in the theft of thousands of dollars.
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CNN-News18
· 2024-12-26
Cyber crimes in India surged dramatically in 2024, with the tech-driven region of Hyderabad experiencing a 64% rise in overall crime and an 882% increase in digital arrest scams, reaching losses of 80 crores compared to 6.2 crores the previous year. Cyber fraud cases accounted for 11,900 incidents (23% of all crimes in the region), with citizens losing over 700 crores to fraudsters through job scams, trading frauds, and SMS phishing schemes. The segment emphasizes the importance of avoiding calls from unidentified numbers and highlights ongoing efforts to combat the escalating digital crime problem across the nation.
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WHNT News 19
· 2024-12-23
This educational segment from News 19 highlights increased scam risks during the holiday season when people shop online and donate to charities. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to verify website URLs carefully (scammers often alter one or two letters), use credit cards instead of debit cards for added protection, and research charities before donating to ensure legitimacy and proper fund disclosure. The BBB offers a free Scam Tracker tool with customized survival kits to help victims of identity theft and account compromise take appropriate next steps.
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WION
· 2024-12-17
Nigerian authorities arrested 792 suspects, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals, in a raid on a luxury office building in Lagos operating as a cryptocurrency romance scam hub. The operation targeted victims primarily from America and Europe through social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram, using fake romantic relationships to lure people into fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes. The EFCC seized computers, phones, and vehicles during the raid and is collaborating with international partners to investigate further links to organized crime.
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TV360 Nigeria
· 2024-12-17
In a major enforcement operation in Lagos, Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested 792 suspects involved in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams, including 148 Chinese nationals and citizens from the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Indonesia. The foreign perpetrators operated from a facility disguised as a corporate office, where they trained Nigerian accomplices using scripts to conduct romance and investment fraud schemes while using the Nigerians' identities to carry out the crimes.
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ABC13 Houston
· 2024-12-12
Pasadena police warned of an elaborate scam targeting Texas seniors in which scammers infect computers with malware that triggers fake federal warnings, then impersonate U.S. Department of Treasury agents claiming victims' money is unsafe due to market instability. Victims are coerced into withdrawing cash from their banks, which couriers then collect in person; one woman in her 80s lost $75,000 to this scheme.
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CBC News
· 2024-12-06
Vietnamese billionaire Truong My Lan was sentenced to death for orchestrating one of the world's largest bank fraud schemes, in which she siphoned approximately $17 billion CAD (12 billion dong) from the Saigon Commercial Bank. However, Vietnamese law allows her to commute her death sentence to life imprisonment if she can repay 75% of the stolen funds, giving her a financial pathway to avoid execution.
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WPLG Local 10
· 2024-12-04
The FBI Miami issued a holiday season warning about the rise of online scams, which increased 22% between 2022 and 2023, with South Florida's online investment fraud losses jumping from $12 million to $300 million. Elderly individuals are particularly targeted for romance fraud, tech support fraud, and impersonation schemes, with AI increasingly used to facilitate scams; charity fraud also peaks during the holidays. The agency advises consumers to be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true, as billions of dollars are lost annually to fraud schemes nationwide.
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moneycontrol
· 2024-11-16
**Cybercrime Risk During Diwali Shopping Season**
India's National Crime Record Bureau reported over 1.1 million cyber fraud cases last year, with incidents rising significantly during high-spending periods like Diwali, particularly targeting elderly individuals. Common scams include customer support fraud (using screen-sharing apps to hijack mobile devices), virtual arrest scams (impersonating law enforcement to extort payments), and Aadhaar-enabled payment system fraud. To protect oneself, stay vigilant during shopping seasons, verify legitimacy of support contacts independently, avoid sharing remote access to devices, and be skeptical of unsolicited law enforcement threats.
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WREG News Channel 3
· 2024-11-13
Three Nigerian men in their 40s were sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating romance and investment scams that targeted victims across America from 2017 to 2021, including a Western Tennessee resident who lost $400,000. The perpetrators used fake identities on social media and dating sites, posing as romantic partners and repeatedly requesting emergency financial assistance from victims. Law enforcement urges scam victims to report incidents to police, as victims of romance scams often face additional risks including identity theft when they unknowingly share personal information with fraudsters.
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WIRED
· 2024-11-05
This WIRED article features "Scammer Payback," a YouTube scam-baiting channel, answering audience questions about common fraud tactics and red flags. The content identifies three major warning signs of scams: scammers pressuring victims to make quick decisions (especially involving gift cards or Cash App transfers), requests for remote access to computers or phones, and demands for untraceable payment methods like Bitcoin or wire transfers. The educational piece emphasizes that time pressure is a deliberate tactic scammers use to prevent victims from consulting family members or others who might intervene.
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Inside Edition
· 2024-10-23
Suspected insurance scammers deliberately caused traffic accidents on highways by cutting in front of unsuspecting drivers and slamming on their brakes, then emerged claiming whiplash injuries to file fraudulent insurance claims. The NYPD is investigating a possible organized fraud ring after citizen sleuths located and identified an abandoned vehicle in Brooklyn used in at least two documented incidents. No specific dollar amounts were reported, but authorities impounded the vehicle as evidence.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-10-20
Senator Sherrod Brown questioned a witness about the human impact of financial scams, citing Ohio data showing 18,000 reported scams and $100 million in losses in the past year. The witness testified that scam victims—often vibrant, independent people—experience life-altering consequences including depleted retirement savings and family strain, with adult children forced to drain their own college funds and savings to support defrauded parents.
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NOLA.com
· 2024-10-17
AARP Louisiana hosted a fraud awareness townhall event featuring nationally recognized fraud expert and former prosecutor Paul Greenwood to educate seniors about scams targeting older adults. The event aimed to provide practical protection strategies and highlight how fraud impacts seniors beyond financial loss, including emotional and trust-related consequences. AARP encourages seniors to utilize resources like their FraudWatch Network to stay informed about emerging scams and safeguard personal information.
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NOLA.com
· 2024-10-17
AARP Louisiana hosted an educational presentation titled "Unmasking Fraud" featuring nationally recognized fraud expert and former prosecutor Paul Greenwood to address senior fraud targeting older adults in Louisiana. The event emphasized that fraud against seniors impacts not only financial security but also causes lasting emotional and psychological harm, and provided practical strategies for protection. AARP directs people to its Fraud Watch Network resource for current scam information and personal data protection guidance.
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This Morning
· 2024-10-16
This awareness segment identifies five increasingly sophisticated scams targeting consumers, with fraud cases rising 235% year-over-year. Two particularly predatory text message scams impersonate government agencies offering winter heating subsidies and living expense assistance, exploiting vulnerability and creating false urgency to trick victims into clicking malicious links or providing personal information.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-10-16
The IRS warned taxpayers against scams targeting hurricane relief seekers in the aftermath of Hurricanes Milton and Helen in the Southeast. Scammers are exploiting disaster victims seeking charitable assistance, with variations targeting both those affected by the storms and unaffected taxpayers attempting to claim fraudulent charitable deductions. Consumers should verify relief organizations' legitimacy and be cautious of unsolicited aid offers.
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WFSB 3
· 2024-10-13
Detective Matthew Hogan of the Connecticut State Police discusses internet scams and their increasing sophistication, with a particular focus on cryptocurrency fraud. While crypto is often perceived as untraceable, it is actually traceable through blockchain technology; scammers favor it because wallet ownership is pseudo-anonymous, transactions move quickly, and assets can be easily co-mingled. The discussion emphasizes recognizing red flags to help people avoid falling victim to these evolving online schemes.
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CBS Evening News
· 2024-10-11
A 92-year-old woman in Los Angeles lost her life savings to overseas scammers who impersonated IT experts and government officials, convincing her that her computer had been hacked and pressuring her to withdraw funds to purchase gold as a "safer investment." The scam involved large wire transfers from her Charles Schwab investment account, and the perpetrators instructed her to keep the scheme secret from her family. This case exemplifies a broader epidemic of multi-million-dollar fraud targeting Americans by overseas criminals operating tech support and investment scams.
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CFPBLive
· 2024-10-09
This is an introductory webinar hosted by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau on payments industry practices for combating elder financial exploitation. The session provides participants with access to slides, resources, and a discussion platform to explore strategies and tools for preventing elder financial abuse within the payments sector.