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fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
Connecticut police have warned consumers about "shimming," an evolved fraud technique where criminals insert paper-thin devices into chip card readers to steal payment information and PINs for fraudulent purchases. The Connecticut Better Business Bureau recommends protecting yourself by monitoring accounts regularly, using contactless payment methods like Apple Pay or tap-and-go features, being alert for card readers with unusual resistance, and using ATMs located inside banks rather than standalone machines.
masslive.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers posing as artists on social media target victims by claiming they will pay thousands of dollars for permission to paint their photo. The scheme involves sending a fake check that initially appears legitimate and shows funds in the victim's account; the victim then withdraws money to send to the "artist" for supplies, but when the bank discovers the check is fraudulent, the victim loses both their own money and owes the bank for withdrawn funds. The FTC advises depositing checks only from known and trusted sources.
wboi.org
· 2025-12-08
Indiana Michigan Power reported a significant surge in utility scams during the first half of 2024, receiving 240 reports by the end of June—125 more than all of 2023 combined. Scammers impersonated I&M using spoofed caller IDs and phone/text messages to demand immediate payment through various methods (prepaid cards, wire transfers, mobile apps) while threatening disconnection, requesting overpayment refunds, or claiming customers needed to pay for meter installations; some scammers also approached customers in person. The Better Business Bureau recommends verifying callers by hanging up and calling the official utility number on your actual bill, avoiding payment through prepaid cards or
moodyonthemarket.com
· 2025-12-08
Indiana Michigan Power reported 240 scam attempts targeting its customers through June of this year, an increase from the previous year, with scammers using spoofed caller IDs and claiming customers owe money requiring immediate payment. The company warns customers that legitimate I&M representatives will never demand payment via gift cards or third-party apps, will carry company ID and wear I&M logos, and the company always offers multiple payment notices and plan options before service disconnection. Customers should hang up on suspicious calls and report them to I&M or local police.
mugglehead.com
· 2025-12-08
Visa Inc. is using artificial intelligence and machine learning to combat fraud, preventing $40 billion in fraudulent activity from October 2022 to September 2023 by analyzing over 500 transaction attributes in real-time to detect enumeration attacks that cost the industry $1.1 billion annually. Simultaneously, cybercriminals are increasingly leveraging generative AI, voice cloning, and deepfakes to execute romance scams, investment scams, and pig butchering schemes that are more convincing than ever, with scammers able to clone voices from less than three seconds of audio to deceive victims and banking employees.
headtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
Eight major digital tech companies (Google, Meta, Yahoo, X, Snap, TikTok, Discord, and Twitch) have voluntarily adopted an Australian Online Scams Code to combat fraud while the government develops mandatory legislation, committing to verify advertisers, screen for suspicious content, and increase intelligence sharing with regulators. The code addresses growing scam losses, particularly social media scams which reached $95 million in reported losses in 2023—a 250% increase since 2020—with most fraud originating from WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and online dating platforms.
picketfencemedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Assemblymember Laurie Davies hosted two senior scam awareness seminars in Oceanside and Vista that drew over 300 participants, highlighting that seniors in San Diego County lost $97.3 million to scams in 2023. The article outlines six common elder fraud schemes—including tech support, romance, grandparent, government impersonation, sweepstakes, and home repair scams—and advises seniors to verify suspicious calls directly with institutions, never share financial information over the phone, and report scams to local police to increase recovery chances and help law enforcement stop fraudsters.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
An 86-year-old Winnipeg senior was charged $146,000 for a water bill through an automated payment system—approximately 1,237 times her typical $118 bill—after submitting an incorrect meter reading; her son successfully had the charge reversed but the city still plans to charge an NSF fee. The incident highlights the lack of fraud detection safeguards in automated billing systems and has prompted calls for consumer protection legislation requiring human oversight when charges significantly exceed historical usage patterns.
newstalkkzrg.com
· 2025-12-08
Utility impostor scams involve fraudsters posing as electric, water, or gas company representatives via phone, email, or in-person visits, claiming customers have overdue bills requiring immediate payment or claiming they need home access for "repairs" or "energy audits." These scams are particularly common during extreme weather when people rely on utilities and are especially dangerous because scammers pressure victims to pay via untraceable methods like prepaid cards or wire transfers, or gain entry to homes to steal valuables and personal information. The BBB advises verifying requests by calling the utility company directly using a number from an actual bill, refusing unsolicited entry to your home, and remembering that legitimate utilities request payment
fox5atlanta.com
· 2025-12-08
Kennesaw police warned the public about rental scams after a family lost $1,000 after paying to rent a home. The article provides guidance on how to identify and avoid falling victim to rental fraud schemes.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating Amazon through text messages, emails, and calls claiming account or payment issues to trick consumers into clicking malicious links or providing personal information. Criminals use AI-driven content creation and multi-channel attacks impersonating major brands like Amazon, Bank of America, and federal agencies, with over two-thirds of Amazon scams reported globally in 2023 involving fake billing or account access claims. To protect themselves, consumers should verify sender email addresses, avoid clicking links or attachments, and hover over URLs to confirm legitimacy before engaging.
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
From May to December, the FBI received over $55 million in complaints related to gold scams in which fraudsters impersonated government officials, falsely claimed victims' accounts were hacked, and sent couriers to collect cash or validate transactions. The agency warns that individual losses often exceed $500,000 and recommends protecting personal information, avoiding unsolicited pop-ups and unknown callers, and never allowing strangers computer access, with scam reports available at IC3.gov.
khak.com
· 2025-12-08
Amazon warned customers about membership scams involving impersonators who contact users via calls, texts, and emails claiming there are issues with Prime accounts, unauthorized charges, or expiration notices, then request personal or financial information or prompt clicking suspicious links. Amazon advises users to verify account status directly through the official Amazon app or website rather than calling provided numbers or clicking links, and to watch for spelling errors. Users who suspect they've been scammed should report it to Amazon at Amazon.com/ReportAScam.
thealpinesun.com
· 2025-12-08
Californians experience the highest losses nationally from online investment scams, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, with fraudsters often exploiting personal relationships and creating false legitimacy to gain victims' trust. The article provides guidance on protecting oneself from investment fraud, including verifying licenses through California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, requesting written prospectuses, consulting third-party financial professionals, and avoiding unsolicited offers promising guaranteed high returns or urgency to invest. Victims are encouraged to report scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center or local law enforcement without shame.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
Smishing scams use text messages to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or calling scammer-operated numbers, often impersonating legitimate delivery services or popular companies to steal login credentials and personal information. These scams are cheap and effective for criminals, potentially leading to identity theft, financial loss, and malware installation on victims' devices. To protect yourself, avoid clicking unknown links, enable two-factor authentication, contact companies directly using verified numbers, and report suspicious texts to the FTC by forwarding to 7726.
thewhistler.ng
· 2025-12-08
A Nigerian man, Obinna Ezenwa, accused an American woman, Kymberly Stalvey Ann Shepard, of deception after they met on a dating app in 2018 and married in Nigeria in 2019, only to discover she was already legally married to multiple men and had concealed this fact. After she returned to the US and refused to file immigration paperwork for him as promised, claiming she had reached her sponsorship limit, their relationship deteriorated, leading to a defamation lawsuit filed by Ezenwa in 2022 and his being declared wanted by Nigeria's EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) in April 2024
openaccessgovernment.org
· 2025-12-08
During the COVID-19 pandemic, cybercriminals exploited vulnerable populations through phishing emails (up 220%), fake vaccine offers, and impersonation scams, with older adults particularly targeted due to limited digital literacy and social isolation. Impersonation scam cases doubled to 39,394 in 2020, romance scams increased 38%, and investment scams rose 32%, resulting in £479 million in Authorized Push Payment fraud losses in the UK with victims recovering only £206.9 million. Financial services firms are urged to implement continuous fraud awareness campaigns and change communication practices to avoid inadvertently training customers to fall victim to scams.
nationthailand.com
· 2025-12-08
The #ThaisAware campaign is a collaborative effort between TikTok and Thai government agencies (including the Bank of Thailand, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Consumer Protection Board) to combat rising online fraud through educational content and user-generated awareness videos. Thailand reported approximately 700 scams daily, with 19,960 online complaints in the first half of the year, primarily involving e-commerce fraud (43.44%), illegal websites (31.27%), and investment scams. The initiative aims to enhance digital literacy among Thai consumers to reduce vulnerability to online deception and support government efforts against cybercriminals.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian internet fraudster Marcel, a 26-year-old "Yahoo boy" based in Abuja, destroyed evidence by hiding his phone in a toilet pipe when Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials raided his apartment building in May following a tip-off about suspected cybercriminals in the area. Though officers searched his room and discovered his phone charger, they did not locate the hidden device, and Marcel was not arrested during the raid, though he admitted to using the phone for "bombing and grinding" (finding and defrauding online victims) for over two years.
kivitv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Meridian, Idaho woman received a phone call from a scammer claiming her family member was in a car accident and demanding $2,000, threatening to hurt the victim if money wasn't sent. The victim grew suspicious when the caller couldn't answer specific questions about her family member, so she drove to verify the person's safety in person and discovered the threat was false. The scammer never obtained any money, and Meridian Police noted that attempted scams without financial loss typically don't result in formal reports, though residents should contact police if money is actually lost.
connecticut.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
An 18-year-old Deer Park entrepreneur fell victim to a car wrap scam after receiving a fraudulent email posing as NOS Energy drink offering him $750 weekly to wrap his car. When he deposited a fake $3,900 check, Bank of America closed his account and blacklisted him from all financial institutions for five years, mistakenly treating him as a perpetrator rather than a victim. After news investigation intervention, the bank reversed the blacklist decision and reinstated his account once they confirmed he was scammed.
cbs12.com
· 2025-12-08
The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office warned residents of a sophisticated remote access scam where victims contact what appears to be legitimate customer service for help with tech issues, only to be directed to download a VPN app that grants scammers full remote access to their phones and personal data. A local woman nearly fell victim to the scheme after being instructed by a fake customer service representative to download the malicious app, which exposed her personal information and photos to criminals.
smartphonemagazine.nl
· 2025-12-08
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inkl.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts based in Nigeria that were conducting sextortion scams, primarily targeting adult men in the US and some minors, with threats to expose private sexual content unless financial demands were met. The takedown included a network of 2,500 accounts managed by roughly 20 individuals, with most sextortion attempts being unsuccessful, though cases targeting minors were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Meta's crackdown follows multiple tragic incidents where sextortion victims died by suicide, and the company has since developed AI-powered protection tools and automated systems to identify and block sextortion accounts.
wlbt.com
· 2025-12-08
A 93-year-old Mississippi woman lost $1,600 after being called by a scammer impersonating a Publishers Clearing House representative who claimed she had won $2.5 million and demanded upfront fees, which the victim paid via gift cards. The scam depleted her bank account, put it in the negative, and the scammer continued harassing her via text messages; local law enforcement noted that most such scams originate overseas, making prosecution nearly impossible.
irontontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud costs the program an estimated $60 billion annually and can result in identity theft and financial loss for beneficiaries. Common scams include unsolicited contacts requesting personal information, fake websites, pressure to act quickly, and unauthorized billing for services never received. The article recommends protecting yourself by sharing Medicare and Social Security numbers only with trusted individuals, carrying your Medicare card selectively, reviewing statements carefully, and reporting suspected fraud to the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-488-6070 (extension 4 in Ohio).
disb.dc.gov
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource from DISB (District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking) provides information on common scam types to help consumers protect themselves during financial transactions. The tracker includes detailed examples of advance fee scams, affinity scams by licensed professionals, and credit card phishing scams, with specific case narratives and protective strategies such as verifying information directly with legitimate agencies and being cautious of unsolicited financial offers.
wbrc.com
· 2025-12-08
Amazon is warning consumers about imposter scams targeting Prime members, where scammers send fake emails, calls, or texts claiming unauthorized charges or membership expiration to trick victims into revealing personal and payment information. To protect yourself, verify communications through Amazon's Message Center or Your Account section on Amazon.com, and report suspicious messages at amazon.com/reportascam.
thehackernews.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts based in Nigeria engaged in financial sextortion scams, including a coordinated network of around 2,500 accounts linked to roughly 20 individuals who primarily targeted adult men in the U.S. using fake identities; the company also dismantled 7,200 additional assets used to recruit and train scammers. The cybercrime group "Yahoo Boys" was attributed to these operations, which have previously targeted teenagers in Australia, Canada, and the U.S. by posing as minors to solicit explicit images for blackmail purposes. These enforcement actions align with a broader law enforcement crackdown, including INTERPOL's Operation
bankinfosecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
During a Senate hearing, Senator Richard Blumenthal revealed that Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo reimbursed only 38% of unauthorized Zelle transaction claims from 2021-2023, leaving consumers responsible for approximately $100 million in fraud losses, though the banks disputed these findings and claimed 100% reimbursement rates. The three largest banks collectively rejected scam disputes worth $560 million during this period and facilitate 73% of all Zelle transactions on the platform, which now handles $806 billion annually across 2,100 financial institutions. Bank representatives defended their fraud prevention efforts through technology and consumer education, while experts noted that
wcnc.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers exploit the excitement surrounding major events like the Olympics by targeting consumers through fraudulent merchandise websites, unsolicited communications, fake job offers, and illegitimate streaming links. Consumers are advised to verify website legitimacy before purchasing Olympic merchandise, ignore unsolicited emails and texts, avoid clicking suspicious streaming links, and use official broadcast channels to watch the games safely.
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Toronto-area women lost a combined $76,000 to romance scams: one woman lost $62,000 to a fake cruise ship captain who claimed shipments of designer gifts were held at the Canadian border and required payment of fees, while another woman lost $14,000 to a man she had met in person four years earlier who later posed as a hedge fund manager with an investment opportunity. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, romance scams caused $52.5 million in losses to 1,190 victims in 2023, making it the third-ranked scam by dollar loss, with common warning signs including quick declarations of love, excuses to avoid in-person
haveagonews.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Edith Cowan University researcher Dr. Oliver Guidetti developed the Fake Date Game, an educational simulation that teaches users to identify romance scammers on dating apps by analyzing animated conversations and predicting outcomes. Romance scams cost victims $40 million collectively in 2023 with over 480 reports to Scamwatch, and the game addresses this by teaching users to recognize manipulative tactics, respect boundaries, and engage in genuine interactions. Dr. Guidetti plans to expand the game into a smartphone app with diverse age and LGBTQ+ scenarios for use in educational settings and dating platforms to promote safer online dating.
illawarramercury.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A former police officer turned private investigator in Australia estimates that romantic scams are significantly under-reported due to victims' shame and embarrassment, with her agency having contacted 25-30 victims who never reported losses through official channels. Her clients have lost between $100,000 and $500,000 each to romance scammers, with one 86-year-old man losing $200,000 in savings, while reported romance scam losses in Australia total approximately $200 million. She advises the public to watch for red flags including poor grammar, premature declarations of love, scripted conversations, and requests to keep the relationship secret—and to walk away if the person cannot meet in person
democratandchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
A scam targeting senior citizens nationwide has reached the Rochester area, with reported losses exceeding $55 million in the second half of 2023. Scammers pose as tech support, finance, or government officials to convince victims their accounts are at risk, then persuade them to liquidate assets into cash, gold, or other valuables before taking control of the converted assets, sometimes using couriers. The FBI advises seniors not to convert assets based on unsolicited calls, avoid meeting unknown couriers, prevent unauthorized computer access, and report suspicious contacts immediately to ic3.gov or the Elder Justice Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
**Scam Type:** Asset liquidation scam (posing as tech support, finance, or government officials)
**What Happened:** Scammers called senior citizens claiming their financial accounts were hacked or at risk, then convinced victims to convert assets into cash, gold, or silver, which the scammers then collected via courier or took control of remotely. The FBI reported over $55 million in losses nationwide from this scam in the second half of the previous year, with recent activity reported in the Rochester area.
**Key Prevention Tips:** Legitimate government agencies and businesses never ask you to convert assets to cash or valuables; avoid disclosing home addresses to unknown cal
today.rtl.lu
· 2025-12-08
A middle-aged Luxembourg resident lost €30,000 in a "spoofing" scam in which criminals using spoofed Luxembourgish phone numbers impersonated Luxtrust and Payconiq employees, manipulating him into surrendering his bank cards and security codes through a two-hour call. The scammers exploited the victim's compliance after a fake Payconiq message about an expired certificate, then convinced him fraudulent charges had been made and instructed him to enter credentials on a fake Luxtrust page. Despite filing a complaint, recovery is unlikely as the perpetrators operate from abroad and the transferred funds (€10,000 withdrawn from ATM, €
minotdailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Medora Musical in North Dakota has experienced a surge in fraudulent ticket reseller scams, with victims losing hundreds of dollars through fake tickets or drastically inflated prices (legitimate tickets range from $23.95–$74.95, while one victim paid $500). North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley warns consumers to purchase tickets only from authorized platforms and advises victims to file police reports and dispute charges with their credit card companies.
fairfaxhs.fcps.edu
· 2025-12-08
Four Fairfax High School students—Advik Atyam, David Nam, Nathan Kim, and Yousif al Atbi—created ScamCops, an award-winning educational website and AI chatbot designed to help seniors identify common scams, after each experienced personal scam losses. The project, which won first place in the 2024 Fairfax Area Student Shark Tank Technology Challenge, has expanded into a nonprofit with 2,000 website views and users across 36 countries, featuring a scam identification quiz, educational blog, and student volunteer "cops" who present at retirement homes. The initiative addresses a critical problem: according to the FTC, consumers lost over
colorado.edu
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides international students—particularly those seeking employment through OPT programs—with guidance on identifying and avoiding common scams including threatening calls impersonating government officials, employment scams, phishing, spoofing, and gift card payment requests. The article advises students to report any scams to local police and federal agencies such as the FTC and ICE, and to immediately contact their financial institutions if they've already sent money to attempt reversal of fraudulent transactions.
wilx.com
· 2025-12-08
Summer fraud incidents surge during peak travel season, with consumers losing over $10 billion to fraud annually, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Common scams include fake vacation rentals, phony hotel payment decline calls, counterfeit concert tickets, fraudulent cruise offers, and smishing texts about unpaid tolls—with the FBI reporting over 2,000 complaints related to toll collection scams. Experts advise using reputable booking sites, calling businesses directly to verify suspicious communications, purchasing tickets from official venues, and monitoring bank and credit accounts regularly for signs of identity theft.
sandiegouniontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
At a California senior scam awareness seminar, officials warned that seniors remain the primary target for financial fraud due to their assets, with losses exceeding $3.4 billion reported to the FBI in 2023 alone. Common scams targeting older adults include online romance fraud (median loss over $9,000 for those 70+), annuity schemes, imposter calls impersonating government agencies and companies, tech support scams, and home remodeling fraud. Experts advised seniors to verify caller information independently, recognize high-pressure sales tactics and false urgency, and remember that government agencies do not initiate contact by phone.
readthereporter.com
· 2025-12-08
American Senior Communities is hosting a free educational session in partnership with the Indiana Attorney General and U.S. Department of Justice to teach seniors how to recognize and avoid scams and fraud. The session covers common elder fraud tactics, including grandparent scams, romance scams, and fake investment schemes, which collectively cost seniors over $5.9 billion annually. The event takes place July 25 from 2-4 p.m. at Allisonville Meadows in Fishers, Indiana.
wxii12.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud investigators in Guilford County are warning senior citizens about a court-related scam in which callers falsely claim victims missed jury duty or failed to appear in court, demanding payment of fines to resolve the alleged offense. Detective Chris Malloy emphasized that law enforcement does not collect money over the phone and advised potential victims to recognize this as a fear-based scam; scammers accept payment through gift cards, cash, cryptocurrency, and gold, and are difficult to prosecute, especially when operating from overseas. The Guilford County Sheriff's Office offers a senior academy program to help residents protect themselves against fraud.
jcsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elder fraud reports to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center rose 14 percent, with over 101,000 victims aged 60 and older losing more than $3.4 billion—an average of $33,915 per victim. The most common scams included tech support fraud, investment schemes (costing $1.2 billion alone), government impersonation, romance scams, and cryptocurrency fraud, with scammers often using spoofed caller IDs and posing as agencies like the IRS and Social Security Administration. TARCOG hosted a Fraud & Scam Summit in Alabama to educate the community about these schemes and provide resources to
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
David Murar, a 73-year-old Missouri defense contractor, was sentenced to five years probation and fined $50,000 for fraudulently obtaining at least $333,465 in government contracts by sourcing restricted military parts from China and other foreign countries while concealing their origin and falsely claiming one of his companies was woman-owned. Murar violated export control laws by sharing protected military technical data with foreign entities and repackaged parts to hide their overseas origin, creating potential national security risks to U.S. Armed Forces weapon systems. He has already repaid $166,710 and was banned from future government contracting.
cosmopolitan.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a personal narrative about a young person with social anxiety who develops an emotional connection with someone on a dating app named Jiaming, bonding over shared interests in television shows like Fleabag and Killing Eve. While the narrator acknowledges suspicions that Jiaming might be a "catfish," the excerpt does not describe any fraudulent scheme, financial loss, or confirmed scam.
This content falls outside the scope of Elderus, which focuses on elder fraud and abuse documentation.
ca.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A socially anxious individual with a therapist-recommended online dating experiment connects deeply with a woman named Jiaming on a dating app, bonding over shared love of TV shows like *Fleabag* and *Killing Eve*, despite initial suspicions she might be a catfish or romance scammer based on red flags like delayed responses and distance. The person develops genuine romantic feelings despite never meeting Jiaming in person and struggling to imagine an offline relationship with her.
azfamily.com
· 2025-12-08
This article collection does not contain content relevant to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The articles cover education policy, traffic incidents, immigration enforcement, workplace accidents, and restaurant features—none of which relate to fraudulent schemes or elder victimization. No summary for the Elderus database is applicable.