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mirror.co.uk
· 2026-04-24
Investigative journalist Kaf Okpattah warns that scams targeting UK residents are increasingly common and sophisticated, with criminals using text messages impersonating banks and postal services, as well as fake social media messages from friends. Even Okpattah himself fell victim to a scam when he clicked on a malicious Instagram link claiming to be from a friend asking him to vote in a cycling tournament, which led to him losing access to his accounts after entering his login credentials. The key takeaway is to stay vigilant and think twice before clicking links or entering personal information, especially when distracted, as scammers are skilled at catching people at vulnerable moments.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-04-24
Scammers are impersonating Iranian authorities and sending fake messages to ship captains transiting the Strait of Hormuz, demanding cryptocurrency payments as "clearance fees" to safely pass through the region. At least one vessel reportedly paid the fake fee in Bitcoin or Tether but was still fired upon, confirming it was a scam. Ship owners and maritime companies should verify any payment demands through official Iranian channels and be extremely cautious about cryptocurrency payment requests, especially during geopolitical crises when communication confusion can be exploited.
shu.edu
· 2026-04-23
Cybercriminals are sending phishing emails that impersonate Amazon Prime renewal notices, using urgent language about payment issues to trick users into clicking malicious links that steal login credentials and financial information. Anyone with an Amazon account is potentially at risk, as these fake emails use official branding and sender names like "Prime Notification" to appear legitimate. To protect yourself, avoid clicking email links, navigate directly to Amazon.com instead, verify suspicious requests through trusted contact methods, and enable multi-factor authentication on your accounts.
daytondailynews.com
· 2026-04-23
Job scams have tripled since 2020, with losses jumping from $90 million to $501 million, as fraudsters increasingly use fake postings on job boards, social media, and email to trick job-seekers into giving up money or personal information. Scammers pose as recruiters or legitimate companies, sometimes offering unrealistic wages like $80-$100 per hour for simple tasks or remote work that doesn't actually exist on the company's career page. To protect yourself, be skeptical of job offers that seem too good to be true, verify positions directly on official company websites, and never provide personal information or upfront payments to unknown recruiters.
1440wrok.com
· 2026-04-23
During the first four months of 2026, the Rockford BBB reports that online purchase scams and identity theft are the top threats affecting residents across Northern Illinois and Chicago, with scammers using fake websites, suspicious text messages, and a "brushing" scheme (sending unsolicited packages to create fake verified buyer reviews) to compromise personal information. To protect yourself, avoid responding to vague text messages asking personal questions, be cautious of too-good-to-be-true online deals and social media ads, and monitor for suspicious packages arriving at your address that you didn't order.
crypto.news
· 2026-04-22
A House committee heard testimony Tuesday about how transnational criminal organizations are using cryptocurrency and online scams to defraud Americans, with the FBI recording 859,532 scam complaints in 2024 resulting in $16.6 billion in losses—particularly through "pig butchering" investment fraud schemes targeting older adults. Sophisticated criminal networks operating from Southeast Asia use fake romantic relationships and cryptocurrency to steal money while making their activities harder to trace, prompting Congress to examine ways to combat these operations. To protect yourself, be wary of online romance or investment opportunities, verify investment platforms independently, and never send money or share personal information with people you've only met online.
sbs.com.au
· 2026-04-22
Cybercriminals are forcing vulnerable women and girls—some as young as 11—into overseas scam centers through false job offers, where they're coerced into defrauding Australians while facing sexual assault, torture, and imprisonment. An Australian Institute of Criminology report revealed that victims like Eva are trafficked to countries like Laos under the pretense of legitimate work, then forced to surrender their passports and extorted into scamming to pay "debts." Australians are urged to be cautious about scams, as falling victim inadvertently funds these sophisticated human trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable people internationally.
foxnews.com
· 2026-04-21
Cryptocurrency scammers are using increasingly sophisticated scripts to trick victims into sending money through crypto transactions, which are fast, irreversible, and hard to trace. The scams typically use psychology, urgency, and emotional appeals delivered through social media, email, or text messages to pressure people—especially seniors—into making quick decisions to send money. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment offers promising quick returns, verify contacts through official channels, and remember that legitimate investments don't pressure you for immediate cryptocurrency payments.
vietnam.vn
· 2026-04-21
Criminals are exploiting security vulnerabilities in photobooth QR code systems to access and steal personal photos and sensitive data, which they then use for identity fraud, fake profiles, and scams. The attack doesn't require advanced technical skills—malicious actors can easily guess or alter the simple links behind QR codes to access other users' images, and with AI tools, they can collect massive amounts of data to facilitate fraud. To protect yourself, be cautious when using photobooths in public spaces, avoid sharing photobooth links on social media, and report any suspicious activity or unauthorized data access to local authorities.
capitalfm.co.ke
· 2026-04-20
Romance scams have surged dramatically, with Kirsty's case exemplifying how sophisticated modern fraudsters operate—she lost £80,000 after being deceived by a Nigerian scammer posing as a British businessman on a dating app, who used fake banking websites and voice disguisers to build trust before requesting money. Reports show romance scams rose 20% year-over-year between 2024-2025, with victims in the UK losing £106 million in 2024 alone, while global fraud losses now exceed half a trillion dollars annually. To protect yourself, be cautious of dating app matches who quickly request money, verify identities independently rather than trusting shared photos or banking screenshots, and never send money or expensive items to people you haven't met in person.
ahwatukee.com
· 2026-04-20
An Ahwatukee resident named Joyce Petrowski founded R.O.S.E. (Resources/Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly) in 2021 after a loved one fell victim to a romance scam, and now she runs a weekly YouTube radio show and nonprofit dedicated to educating people—especially seniors—about fraud prevention. While scammers target people of all ages, they often exploit emotional vulnerabilities to prey on the elderly, making awareness and education critical. Petrowski's key advice is to seek recurring scam prevention education, pause when contacted by unknown parties, consult trusted people before engaging, and verify legitimacy rather than responding immediately to potential scammers.
forbes.com
· 2026-04-20
Senator Maggie Hassan has pressured four AI voice-cloning companies—ElevenLabs, LOVO, Speechify, and VEED—to explain how they prevent scammers from impersonating people's voices, after the FBI reported $893 million in losses from AI-related scams in 2025. Consumer Reports testing found that four of six voice-cloning products had minimal safeguards against cloning voices without consent, raising serious concerns about identity theft and fraud. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unexpected calls asking for money or sensitive information, verify caller identity through independent contact methods, and report suspected voice-cloning scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
nypost.com
· 2026-04-19
Senior citizens are increasingly falling victim to sophisticated scams, including the "phantom hacker/courier scheme" that costs Americans over $500 million annually, exemplified by a 76-year-old New Jersey man who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars after calling a number in a fake Norton antivirus email. These scams take various forms—from Medicare fraud and "grandparent" schemes to romance and IRS impersonation scams—and often go unreported because victims are embarrassed, making the true financial impact likely far greater than estimated. Banks and businesses need to take responsibility for enabling these schemes, and seniors should be cautious about unsolicited emails and calls requesting personal information or urgent wire transfers.
bbc.com
· 2026-04-19
Romance scams have surged dramatically, with a woman named Kirsty losing £80,000 after being deceived by someone posing as a wealthy British businessman on a dating website who was actually a Nigerian scammer using sophisticated fake banking websites and voice disguisers. Romance scam reports rose 20% year-over-year in early 2025, with UK victims losing £106 million in 2024 alone, as scammers operate internationally across multiple countries and use money transfer services to hide stolen funds. To protect yourself, be cautious of online dating matches who quickly ask for money, verify financial claims independently, avoid sending money to people you haven't met in person, and report suspicious activity to local police and your bank immediately.
foxnews.com
· 2026-04-19
Scammers don't need to hack into secure systems—instead, they exploit publicly available personal information sold by data brokers, including your address, phone number, age, and income details gathered from public records and voter registrations. A major 2024 case involved a Montreal-based scam operation that defrauded elderly Americans of over $21 million using simple spreadsheets of victim information purchased from commercial databases to identify targets for grandparent scams. To protect yourself, you should take steps to remove your personal information from data broker websites and be cautious of unsolicited calls asking for money, especially ones claiming urgency or family emergencies.
foxbusiness.com
· 2026-04-18
# Summary
Tinder is partnering with World ID (backed by OpenAI's Sam Altman) to use eye-scanning technology to verify users are human and combat romance scams, which scammers netted over $300 million from in 2020. The biometric verification system, which uses a spherical device called "the Orb," will allow users to display a badge proving they're real, helping reduce AI-driven catfishing and romance fraud on dating platforms. Users who verify will receive incentives including free profile boosts to encourage adoption of the safety feature.
wisn.com
· 2026-04-18
Scammers are increasingly using AI technology to create fake videos, voices, and impersonations to trick people into sending money, with consumers losing over $5 billion to investment scams and $750 million to job scams in recent years. Common schemes include fake bank calls, IRS emails, cryptocurrency promotions using deepfake videos, and fraudulent job listings where scammers ask for upfront equipment payments. To protect yourself, avoid responding to unsolicited communications via email, text, or phone calls, and verify requests directly with the organization using official contact information.
foxnews.com
· 2026-04-18
Scammers are targeting vulnerable people—particularly older and recently widowed players—through casual online games like Words With Friends by building fake friendships that eventually turn into requests for money and gift cards. These romance scams cost victims billions annually and are among the most expensive fraud categories reported to the FTC. To protect yourself or loved ones, be cautious of new online game contacts who quickly become personal, avoid sharing personal details or sending money to game acquaintances, and report suspicious behavior to local police and the FTC.
ksltv.com
· 2026-04-18
Utahns lost over $2.5 million to scams in 2025, with romance scams, identity theft, and impostor business schemes being the most common threats targeting the community. Scammers typically build false trust by impersonating businesses, government agencies, or romantic interests, then use fear tactics to pressure victims into sending money. To protect yourself, experts recommend preparing a "rehearsal script" in advance and staying vigilant about verifying the identity of anyone requesting money or personal information before engaging further.
ksltv.com
· 2026-04-17
Utahns lost over $2.5 million to scams in 2025, with romance scams, identity theft, and impostor business schemes being the most common threats, particularly targeting older adults. Scammers use psychological manipulation—building trust, creating fear, or impersonating businesses and government agencies—to convince victims to send money or share personal information. To protect yourself, experts recommend preparing a "rehearsal script" in advance, verifying requests through official channels before responding, and being cautious of anyone pressuring you for immediate action or asking for personal financial information.
fox13news.com
· 2026-04-17
A new scam uses fake CAPTCHA screens to trick people into running hidden commands on their computers, giving hackers full access to personal information like passwords and banking details. Scammers exploit people's automatic behavior by asking them to press Windows Key + R followed by Ctrl + V, which pastes a malicious command into the computer. To protect yourself, experts recommend staying alert and questioning unexpected CAPTCHA requests, especially those that ask you to run keyboard commands rather than complete standard verification tasks.
governor.hawaii.gov
· 2026-04-17
Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has warned residents about investment scams spreading on Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp), where scammers use deceptive ads and deepfake technology to trick people into fraudulent schemes like pump-and-dump scams, confidence scams, and cryptocurrency fraud. Victims are losing their savings to these increasingly sophisticated schemes that promise guaranteed returns. Consumers should be skeptical of investment advice on social media, verify opportunities before investing, and report any suspected scams to consumercomplaint.hawaii.gov.
wesh.com
· 2026-04-17
Scammers are increasingly using AI technology to impersonate people through fake videos, voices, and photos in order to trick victims into sending money, with Americans losing a record $12.5 billion to fraud schemes in recent years. The most common scams involve investment fraud (costing over $5 billion), job scams ($750 million), and impersonation of banks and government agencies. To protect yourself, avoid responding to unsolicited communications, hang up and independently call companies/agencies to verify requests, and never send money or personal information to unknown contacts—especially when they pressure you to act immediately.
jdsupra.com
· 2026-04-17
Americans lost over $20 billion to cybercrime in 2025, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Report, with criminals increasingly using cryptocurrency for money laundering and generative AI tools to create sophisticated scams like deepfakes and voice cloning. Older adults were hit particularly hard, experiencing dramatic increases in romance scams (up 30%), phishing attacks (up over 100%), and government impersonation schemes (nearly doubled). To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contacts requesting money or personal information, verify requests through official channels before responding, and be especially wary of AI-generated audio or video that seems suspicious.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-04-16
Cyberscammers operating from money-laundering centers are using illicit hacking tools sold on Telegram to bypass banks' facial recognition security checks, allowing them to open fraudulent accounts and launder money by replacing live camera feeds with static images or deepfakes. Researchers identified dozens of Telegram channels selling these "bypass kits" and stolen biometric data designed to circumvent Know Your Customer (KYC) safeguards at major banks and crypto platforms worldwide. To protect yourself, use strong authentication beyond facial recognition where available, monitor your accounts for unauthorized activity, and be cautious about sharing identity documents online—report any suspicious account access attempts to your bank immediately.
forbes.com
· 2026-04-15
AI-generated scams are rapidly increasing, with the FBI receiving over 22,000 complaints in 2025 reporting AI fraud losses exceeding $893 million, though experts believe the actual number is much higher since many victims don't report due to shame. Common scams include romance/confidence schemes, banking fraud, sextortion targeting teenagers, and deepfake job interview scams, with vulnerable populations like seniors, isolated individuals, and young adults being particularly targeted. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contact from people you know, verify requests through alternative channels before sharing personal information or funds, and report any suspected AI scams to authorities rather than staying silent out of embarrassment.
lexingtonchronicle.com
· 2026-04-15
The Lexington Police Department formalized an updated partnership with the U.S. Secret Service to better combat electronic and cyberfraud crimes affecting residents. Under the agreement, a detective will receive specialized training and equipment to conduct forensic examinations of phones and computers, enabling the department to process evidence more quickly without sending devices to other agencies. This collaboration aims to prevent and investigate complex cyber-enabled financial crimes that impact the community.
intelligentciso.com
· 2026-04-14
Researchers have linked a widespread Android banking trojan to scam compounds in Cambodia, particularly the K99 Triumph City site, which has been used to commit fraud across at least 21 countries—with Indonesia, Thailand, Spain, and Türkiye hit hardest. The malware-as-a-service operation creates fake banking and government apps that, once installed, give scammers complete control of victims' phones, allowing them to steal facial recognition data, intercept security codes, and drain bank accounts. To protect yourself, avoid downloading banking or government apps from unknown sources, use official app stores only, enable additional security features beyond SMS codes (like biometric authentication from your bank's official app), and be suspicious of unexpected requests to download apps or provide personal information.
southfloridareporter.com
· 2026-04-14
The FBI reported record cybercrime losses of $20.9 billion in 2025, with cryptocurrency fraud alone reaching $11.4 billion—more than half of all reported losses and representing a 400-fold increase since 2017. Victims of crypto scams lose an average of $62,604 per incident, far exceeding losses from other types of cybercrime, with investment fraud schemes being the most destructive category. The FBI warns that criminals are increasingly using AI to bypass security measures and exploit victims, so people should be extremely cautious about unsolicited investment opportunities, verify the legitimacy of platforms independently, and avoid sending money or crypto to unknown parties.
bitget.com
· 2026-04-14
A woman in her fifties in Hong Kong lost over $2 million to a romance scammer who posed as a "cryptocurrency investment expert" on Instagram, building trust through fake romantic interest before pressuring her to make multiple cash transfers for supposed risk-free investments. The scammer initially requested an account opening fee of $40,000, then convinced the victim to visit currency exchange shops seven times to buy cryptocurrency and transfer it to his account before disappearing. Hong Kong police are urging the public to be suspicious of online acquaintances claiming investment expertise and to pause before transferring money for any investment opportunity.
nypost.com
· 2026-04-14
iPhone users worldwide are being targeted by a phishing scam disguised as iCloud storage alerts, which trick victims into clicking malicious links that steal banking information and personal data for illegal resale. The fraudulent emails mimic Apple's branding and create urgency by claiming storage is full or accounts will close within 48 hours, prompting users to "upgrade" their accounts. To protect yourself, avoid clicking any links in unsolicited storage alerts, check your account directly through your phone's settings instead, and report suspicious emails to Apple.
wishtv.com
· 2026-04-14
AI-powered scams cost Americans $12.5 billion in 2024, with criminals using deepfakes and impersonation technology to target people through fake investment schemes ($5 billion lost), job listings ($750 million lost), and fraudulent messages from banks and government agencies. Victims of all ages and backgrounds were affected, from social media users to job seekers. To protect yourself, ignore unsolicited urgent requests via email, text, or phone; hang up and call organizations directly using verified numbers; and never share passwords or personal information with unknown contacts.
news.ssbcrack.com
· 2026-04-12
A Utah resident lost over $200,000 in a "pig butchering scam" operated by APL Finance, where scammers posed as financial advisors and lured victims with promises of high returns before freezing their accounts and demanding additional payments to unlock funds. The FBI has documented over 30 victims of this scheme, with millions in total losses, and California authorities have flagged APL Finance as fraudulent after another victim lost $1.2 million. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited investment offers promising quick gains, verify any financial advisor's credentials through official channels, and never wire money to personal accounts or pay fees to "unlock" investment funds.
foxnews.com
· 2026-04-11
A woman named Rosette unknowingly called a scammer after searching for Allianz travel insurance on Google and clicking on a fake phone number in the search results, giving the fraudster her credit card number and birth date before realizing the deception. This "search result scam" is a rapidly growing fraud tactic where scammers create fake listings in Google results to impersonate legitimate companies, exploiting people's trust in search engines and their distracted state during time-sensitive situations like travel booking. To protect yourself, verify phone numbers directly from official company websites rather than clicking links from search results, stay alert even when callers sound professional, and monitor your credit card accounts closely for unauthorized charges.
clickondetroit.com
· 2026-04-11
Scammers are increasingly using AI technology to impersonate banks, the IRS, and employers, causing consumers to lose over $12.5 billion annually—with investment scams alone accounting for $5 billion and job scams costing $750 million. The scams use AI-generated deepfakes and personalized messages to trick people into sending money or sharing personal information. To protect yourself, ignore unsolicited calls, emails, or texts requesting urgent action; hang up and contact institutions directly using official numbers, and never send money or passwords to unknown callers.
theitem.com
· 2026-04-11
South Carolina residents lost $264 million to cybercrime in 2024, more than double the $146 million lost in 2023, with seniors aged 60 and older suffering the largest financial impact at $97.3 million. The most common scams were investment fraud, business email compromises, and tech support scams. The FBI recommends residents adopt strong cybersecurity practices, resist pressure to act quickly in online transactions, and report suspected fraud to help law enforcement track and stop these crimes.
kvoa.com
· 2026-04-11
A New York man has been convicted of money laundering after helping scammers steal nearly $1 million from elderly victims nationwide, including in Arizona, by funneling the stolen funds through cryptocurrency and offshore accounts. The scam operated by sending phishing emails, text messages, and fake pop-ups impersonating trusted companies like Apple, Microsoft, and PayPal, then tricking victims into believing their accounts were compromised or had received erroneous refunds so they would send their own money to the criminals. Elderly people should be cautious of unsolicited messages claiming account issues, never call numbers provided in suspicious communications, and verify directly with their bank or trusted companies through official channels before taking any action.
patch.com
· 2026-04-10
Pennsylvania ranked 6th nationally in internet crime complaints with over 31,000 reported cases resulting in $538 million in losses, according to a new FBI report. Seniors over 60 were hit hardest, losing $215.88 million across 7,088 complaints, though people of all ages fell victim to investment fraud, business email compromise, and tech support scams. The FBI advises residents to be cautious of phishing emails, verify investment opportunities carefully, and be skeptical of unsolicited tech support offers, with AI-generated content now being used increasingly in fraud schemes.
yahoo.com
· 2026-04-10
In 2025, Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cybercrime—a 26% increase from the previous year—affecting over 1 million victims, with investment scams being the largest category of fraud at $8.64 billion and cryptocurrency losses accounting for over half the total due to its difficulty to trace. Scammers increasingly used AI-generated deepfakes and voice cloning to deceive victims, while older Americans were particularly vulnerable to Bitcoin ATM scams. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities and requests for cryptocurrency transfers, verify contact information through official channels before responding to financial requests, and report suspected scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
foxnews.com
· 2026-04-09
A woman named Dorothy nearly lost $15,000 after receiving a fake Apple Pay text alert claiming an unauthorized $144 charge, which prompted her to call the number in the message and speak with a scammer who impersonated an FBI and FDIC official. The scammer used social engineering tactics—claiming to have personal information about her and creating a false sense of urgency—to pressure her into withdrawing a large sum of cash. To protect yourself, be suspicious of unexpected payment alerts and never call numbers provided in unsolicited texts; instead, contact companies directly using official contact information you find independently.
ktvu.com
· 2026-04-09
A Chinese national named Jiandong Chen pleaded guilty to defrauding elderly Americans out of over $27 million through a sophisticated scam operation that used fake tech support calls, bank impersonations, and fake refund schemes to target seniors in their 70s and 80s. The scammers would contact victims via unsolicited calls and emails, convince them they were owed a refund, then "accidentally" overpay them and pressure them to wire the excess money back—which was actually the scammers' goal all along. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unexpected refunds or tech support offers, never wire money to unknown sources, and hang up on unsolicited callers claiming to represent banks or retailers.
cnet.com
· 2026-04-09
In 2025, cyber fraud reached a record $21 billion in losses according to the FBI, with cryptocurrency investment scams and elder fraud being the biggest culprits—seniors over 60 lost $7.75 billion across 201,266 complaints, while crypto-related fraud totaled over $11 billion. Phishing and spoofing attacks were the most common crime type, and AI-powered scams made frauds increasingly convincing and harder to detect. To protect yourself, verify links before clicking, be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities (especially crypto), and if you're over 60 or helping an elderly relative, take extra precautions like confirming requests through known contact methods before sharing personal or financial information.
kolotv.com
· 2026-04-09
Nevada lost over $302 million to cybercrime in 2025, ranking third in the nation per capita, with investment fraud, business email compromise, and tech support scams being the most common schemes. Elderly residents and cryptocurrency investors were hit particularly hard, with seniors reporting $115 million in losses and crypto-related scams accounting for $205 million. The FBI advises anyone who suspects fraud to immediately contact their bank and file a report at ic3.gov.
azag.gov
· 2026-04-09
Arizona's Attorney General is warning residents about widespread investment scams on Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) that use fake advertisements and deepfake technology to trick people into fraudulent schemes like "pump and dump" scams, confidence scams, and cryptocurrency fraud. These scams target vulnerable communities with false promises and can result in significant financial losses. Arizonans should be cautious of investment advice on social media, remember that legitimate brokers rarely advertise specific investments on these platforms, and report any suspected fraud to www.azag.gov/consumer.
ibtimes.com.au
· 2026-04-09
Americans lost a record $11.4 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2025, with investment fraud schemes ("pig butchering") accounting for over $7 billion of that total, according to an FBI report. Scammers typically target victims through social media and dating apps, luring them into fake investment platforms with promises of quick profits and sometimes using AI-generated deepfakes to build trust before stealing their money. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities, verify platforms independently, never send cryptocurrency to unknown parties, and report suspicious activity to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
mexc.com
· 2026-04-09
According to the FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, Americans lost $20.9 billion to cybercrime last year, with cryptocurrency-related fraud accounting for over half of those losses—particularly through investment scams, fake exchanges, and "pig butchering" schemes. Seniors aged 60 and above were hit hardest, losing $6.4 billion collectively, while California, Texas, and Florida experienced the highest losses overall. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities, verify exchange legitimacy before trading, and be especially cautious of romantic or personal connections offering financial advice.
tradingview.com
· 2026-04-08
According to the FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, Americans lost $20.9 billion to cybercrime last year, with cryptocurrency fraud accounting for over half of those losses—particularly through investment scams, fake exchanges, and "pig butchering" schemes. Seniors aged 60 and older suffered the heaviest financial impact, losing $6.4 billion, while younger adults filed more complaints despite lower individual losses. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities and romantic advances from strangers online, verify cryptocurrency exchanges through official channels, and consider reporting suspicious activity to the FBI's IC3 reporting system.
time.com
· 2026-04-08
Scams have reached epidemic levels globally, with one in four adults losing money to fraud last year and over $1 trillion lost annually, often orchestrated from trafficking compounds in Southeast Asia where hundreds of thousands of people are forced to run romance, investment, and crypto schemes. Scammers are now using increasingly sophisticated malware and remote access trojans that give attackers complete control of victims' devices to steal personal data and monitor their activities, affecting at least 20 countries worldwide. To protect yourself, stay vigilant about unsolicited contact from romantic interests or investment opportunities, use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, and never grant remote access to unknown parties.
techlicious.com
· 2026-04-08
According to an FBI report released in 2026, Americans lost a record $20.9 billion to online scams in 2025—a 26% increase from the previous year—with investment fraud accounting for nearly half of those losses, particularly through "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams where fraudsters build trust via social media and dating apps before directing victims to fake investment platforms. The volume of complaints surged to over 1 million for the first time, averaging nearly 3,000 reports daily, indicating that scammers are using increasingly sophisticated techniques that are harder to detect. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment tips from online contacts, verify requests claiming to be from banks or government agencies by calling official numbers directly, and never transfer money to unfamiliar investment platforms or send funds to cover "taxes" on account withdrawals.
cyberscoop.com
· 2026-04-08
Cybercrime losses surged 26% to $20.9 billion in 2025, with the FBI receiving over 1 million complaints—nearly 3,000 per day—marking a 400% increase since 2020. Seniors over 60 were hit hardest, accounting for 37% of all losses despite representing a smaller share of complaints, with investment fraud, business email compromise, and tech support scams being the top three crime types. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities and tech support offers, verify business email requests through independent channels, and report suspected fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).