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in Scam Awareness
channel3000.com
· 2025-12-08
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection raised awareness about senior-targeting scams on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, noting that consumers aged 70 and over lost more than $1,000 per scam in 2024—double the losses of younger age groups—with investment, romance, and government imposter scams becoming increasingly sophisticated. The department recommends five preventative measures: staying informed about common scams, planning ahead to identify impersonation attempts, pausing before sharing personal information, consulting trusted contacts before acting, and reporting suspected fraud to authorities or the Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128.
news.iu.edu
· 2025-12-08
This UITS News article is primarily an educational resource covering IT services and updates at Indiana University, with one fraud awareness component. The article includes tips for spotting scam emails and text messages that impersonate trusted sources and request personal information, alongside announcements about new Microsoft 365 AI tools, VPN upgrades, email domain changes, digital accessibility requirements, and various student and faculty programs.
6abc.com
· 2025-12-08
Employment scams have surged 118% in recent years, with criminals using fake job postings and AI technology to deceive job seekers into providing personal information, making advance payments, or wiring money under false pretenses. LinkedIn has partnered with the National Cybersecurity Alliance to launch verification features and protective measures, while experts advise job seekers to verify employers independently, avoid sharing sensitive information on unverified portals, and watch for red flags including pressure to decide quickly, vague job descriptions, and requests to move conversations off official platforms.
nbcwashington.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Prince George's County are using fake outstanding warrant claims and the real names of sheriff's office employees to defraud residents, with some victims being told to bring cash to the sheriff's headquarters parking lot to resolve the false warrants. The Prince George's County Sheriff's Office warns that they never demand money or financial information by phone and advises residents to verify any such claims by calling 911 or contacting the sheriff's office directly.
whio.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam text messages claiming recipients owe money to the "Ohio Department of Vehicles" (actually called the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles) are being sent nationwide, threatening suspension of car registration, driver's license loss, credit score damage, and legal charges to pressure victims into clicking malicious links. State Registrar Charlie Norman identified this as a phishing scam with a low cost-to-reward ratio for criminals, recommending that recipients verify claims directly with the BMV, avoid clicking links in unsolicited urgent messages, and report suspicious texts to the Federal Trade Commission.
freedom.press
· 2025-12-08
A Google and Morning Consult survey found that 60% or more of consumers across the U.S., U.K., and India reported experiencing increased scam exposure over the past year as of March 2025, with text messages and emails being the most common delivery methods. The report highlights that younger generations rely more on passkeys and social sign-ins for authentication, while the Freedom of the Press Foundation recommends using strong unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and verifying requests through trusted channels to protect against scams delivered via multiple platforms including phone, social media, and physical mail.
news.vumc.org
· 2025-12-08
Attackers are using Microsoft Teams to conduct caller ID spoofing scams by manipulating display names to impersonate trusted coworkers and supervisors, with the goal of tricking recipients into complying with malicious requests such as installing software, accessing files, or sending payments. The scam typically involves the display name changing or revealing a suspicious number after the call connects. To protect against this fraud, users should verify callers through separate channels, avoid clicking links or downloading software from unsolicited calls, and never disclose personal or financial information over the phone.
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
Seven law enforcement agencies across Asia, led by Singapore Police Force, conducted a month-long multinational operation in April and May that shut down dozens of scam centers, arrested over 1,800 people, and froze approximately 32,000 bank accounts linked to at least 9,200 scam cases (including investment fraud, dating app schemes, and government impersonation) that collectively stole approximately $225 million from victims. Singapore alone arrested 106 people responsible for 1,300 scams totaling about $30 million, and authorities seized $20 million globally as part of the coordinated "Operation Frontier+" effort, which officials plan to continue with real-time
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2025, text-based scams have become the most prevalent threat, with the E-ZPass scam leading the way—fraudsters send texts falsely claiming unpaid tolls and threatening license suspension to create urgency and trick recipients into clicking malicious links. Other major scams include DMV impersonation texts using similar tactics, fake job offer texts posing as employers or Indeed itself, and fraudulent Joann Fabric advertisements on Facebook and Pinterest directing users to counterfeit websites. The FTC recommends never clicking links or engaging with suspicious messages, contacting relevant agencies directly to verify claims, and reporting scams rather than responding to them.
quickcountry.com
· 2025-12-08
An Evanston, Illinois woman lost $62,000 over six months to a Kevin Costner impersonator on Telegram who claimed to be offering cryptocurrency investment returns through gift card payments. The scammer, part of an ongoing cryptocurrency fraud ring active since at least 2018, never returned any funds, and police indicated arrest is unlikely due to the crime's nature. The FTC advises potential victims to verify celebrity identities through Google searches, consult trusted contacts before sending money, and avoid gift cards, which offer minimal buyer protections and are largely irreversible.
e.vnexpress.net
· 2025-12-08
Thai police arrested 27 suspects operating a sophisticated romance scam call center targeting Vietnamese nationals on the messaging app Zalo, with scammers posing as wealthy entrepreneurs to build trust before requesting money transfers. Operating from upscale properties across 27 workstations since March 2024, the organized gang generated approximately $46,000 per month per station, stealing an estimated $1.38 million total before authorities seized their equipment and arrested them in November 2024.
newsmeter.in
· 2025-12-08
A 38-year-old businessman in Ranga Reddy, Hyderabad, lost nearly Rs 2 crore in a cryptocurrency investment scam after being lured through WhatsApp by a person claiming to be Satish Dubey who promised high returns. The scammer used fake profit screenshots and escalating investment requests (starting with Rs 9 lakh, then Rs 13.5 lakh, then Rs 1.35 crore for "VIP-1 status"), and later claimed the exchange platform was hacked; when the victim traveled to Delhi to meet the scammer in person, he was directed to another fraudster who convinced him to invest an additional Rs
digit.fyi
· 2025-12-08
Nearly half of mobile users (44%) encounter scams daily, with the highest rates in the US (51%) and UK (49%), yet 66% struggle to distinguish scams from legitimate communications. Over half of victims experience financial loss (52%), while Gen Z faces particularly high rates of extortion and sextortion scams (28% victimization rate), and 75% of all victims report serious emotional consequences including anxiety and depression. Despite widespread impact, only 17% of victims report scams to authorities, and the rise of AI-powered scams makes detection increasingly difficult.
cityam.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, over £1 billion was stolen through fraud in the UK, with 3.3 million confirmed fraud cases representing a 12 percent increase from 2023, though banks prevented £1.5 billion in unauthorized fraud. Investment fraud caused the largest losses at £144 million (up 34 percent), while purchase scams were the most common type, with 70 percent of authorized push payment fraud beginning on online platforms. To avoid scams, consumers should watch for red flags including unsolicited contact, pressure to decide quickly, requests for payment upfront, and promises that seem too good to be true; victims should report incidents to police, Action Fraud, and their
news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The NYPD warned New Yorkers about a lottery scam in which scammers convince strangers to cash winning lottery tickets in exchange for a share of the winnings. A 79-year-old woman lost approximately $27,500 in jewelry and cash after falling for the scheme, which escalated to threats and a home invasion. Authorities advise never cashing lottery tickets for unknown individuals and warn against paying fees to claim prizes or cashing checks from the lottery with processing fees listed.
financialpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial abuse is the most common form of elder abuse in Canada, with experts warning of rising vulnerability as the country's aging population holds over $1.1 trillion in assets. While digital scams targeting seniors are increasing, the greater threat comes from trusted individuals—family members, friends, and those with power of attorney—who exploit their positions, with approximately 81 percent of reported cases perpetrated by someone the victim knows. Seniors with cognitive decline, women, and those from marginalized communities face heightened risk, and many victims remain silent to avoid disrupting family relationships.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
The Alliance released educational resources, including an infographic and financial institution checklist, to combat elder financial exploitation ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. These tools aim to help banks and credit unions identify and prevent fraud targeting people aged 55 and older, particularly relevant as 101,068 seniors reported $3.4 billion in losses to elder fraud in 2023, with average individual losses of $33,915.
clickondetroit.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old Troy woman lost $8,400 in a grandparent scam where a caller impersonated her son and claimed he was in jail, then sent someone to her house to collect cash as a fake bail bond. The victim realized the scam when she was later asked for an additional $9,200, at which point she contacted police. This incident is part of a broader wave of scams targeting Metro Detroit residents.
wibqam.com
· 2025-12-08
Indiana's Secretary of State Diego Morales is warning elderly residents about financial scams and exploitation, particularly around World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15. The Indiana Securities Division recommends protective measures including naming trusted contacts on accounts, shredding personal documents, and recognizing red flags like threats of arrest or demands for payment via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. Residents seeking fraud prevention education can contact the Secretary of State's Office at 317-232-6681.
ksltv.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece highlights common scams targeting older adults, including phishing texts (such as fake toll fee notices), grandparent scams, and email fraud. Key protective measures include not clicking links from unknown senders, avoiding payment via gift cards or digital transfer apps, verifying suspicious requests with trusted contacts, and reporting scams to banks, local authorities, and the FTC. Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to social isolation and the scammers' use of urgent language and emotional manipulation to bypass critical thinking.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP Illinois is offering a free two-part virtual educational series called "Fraud Watch 101" scheduled for June 23rd and 27th to help older adults recognize and avoid scams. The program covers common fraud tactics, emerging threats like cryptocurrency scams, red flags in suspicious communications, and psychological manipulation techniques used by fraudsters. This is an awareness and educational initiative designed to equip seniors and their families with knowledge to protect themselves from fraud.
madriverunion.com
· 2025-12-08
**Title:** Online Fraud Protection for Seniors
Seniors face increasing risk from online fraud due to their trust and limited tech experience, with common scams including phishing, grandparent scams, and tech support fraud. The article recommends protective measures such as verifying sender identity, confirming requests through known contacts, never granting device access to unsolicited callers, using strong passwords with two-factor authentication, and reporting suspected scams to banks, the FTC, or local authorities. The McKinleyville Senior Center offers free computer assistance and is hosting a fraud prevention seminar with Coast Central Credit Union on June 27.
kgun9.com
· 2025-12-08
Arizona residents are receiving fraudulent text messages falsely claiming to be from ADOT, threatening suspended licenses and vehicle registration cancellations unless unpaid traffic tickets are paid immediately. This "smishing" scam uses fear-based tactics to pressure recipients into clicking malicious links; ADOT clarifies it does not collect tickets or send payment demands via text, and advises recipients to delete messages and avoid clicking links or replying.
statesmanjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
The Oregon DMV warned residents of a phishing scam involving unsolicited text and email messages falsely claiming outstanding traffic violations and threatening vehicle registration suspension or credit damage unless payment is made via a provided link. The DMV emphasized it never requests personal information or payment through unsolicited communications and advises recipients to delete suspicious messages, avoid clicking links, and report scams to the Federal Trade Commission.
ksl.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam text messages are increasingly prevalent, with the FTC reporting $470 billion stolen via text scams in the past year, up significantly from $372 million in 2023. Common scams include fake fraud alerts (like Apple Pay warnings), bogus toll notices, and phony job offers, which scammers distribute at scale using AI-powered automation and personal information harvested from the dark web. To protect yourself, avoid replying to or clicking links in unexpected texts, verify requests directly with companies using known contact information, and report spam texts by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM).
conduitstreet.mdcounties.org
· 2025-12-08
Government imposter scams resulted in over $400 million in losses last year, with reported victims jumping 50 percent from 2022 to 2024, according to FBI and FTC data. Scammers pose as DMVs, tax offices, and court systems via email, phone, and text, demanding payments for fake tolls, jury duty, or taxes, increasingly using generative AI and spoofed ".gov" addresses to appear legitimate. To combat these scams, state and local agencies are urged to implement public awareness campaigns, stronger email authentication, and secure digital portals to protect residents and maintain trust in government services.
thestar.co.za
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian national Gabriel Okori was arrested in Cape Town in October and charged with defrauding a woman of R3 million through a romance scam, where he posed as a white man named "Mark Hermanus" on Facebook and WhatsApp, repeatedly requesting money under the pretense of paying for his sick son's medical bills. Okori was released on R5,000 bail and his case was postponed to January 16, 2025. The arrest is part of a broader pattern of romance scams targeting South African women, often leaving victims financially devastated and emotionally traumatized.
wbrc.com
· 2025-12-08
In observance of World Elder Abuse Day, the IRS Criminal Investigation Field Office in Atlanta highlighted that millions of seniors are victimized annually by financial scammers who exploit their trust, with the FBI reporting that seniors lost $8.4 billion to scams in 2024. The IRS provided information on common schemes targeting older adults, including romance scams, lottery scams, government imposter scams, grandparent scams, and tech support scams, and encouraged oversight of seniors' finances by multiple trusted individuals. Resources for fraud prevention and reporting include the National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311), the FBI's Internet Crime Center, the Pass It On
kitchener.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Guelph fell victim to a driveway paving scam where work was left incomplete, with police also encountering a group of five men going door-to-door soliciting driveway work despite having no training or experience. The men, who claimed to be hired daily at a Toronto coffee shop for cash jobs, admitted they abandoned the incomplete work because they did not expect to be paid. Police warn homeowners to obtain multiple quotes from licensed contractors, verify credentials through online reviews and the Better Business Bureau, carefully review contracts before signing, and avoid high-pressure tactics from unsolicited door-to-door solicitors.
albertleatribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Thousands of Minnesotans received fraudulent text messages impersonating the Department of Motor Vehicles, threatening legal consequences and demanding payment for fictitious traffic violations. This scam, which has also affected residents in Georgia, New York, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Colorado, puts victims at financial risk and creates anxiety about message authenticity. Senator Tina Smith is urging the Trump Administration to take action against the widespread scheme.
am1100theflag.com
· 2025-12-08
Senator Tina Smith is urging the Trump Administration to address a widespread text message scam targeting Minnesotans, in which fake DMV messages claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets and threaten arrest to coerce online payments. The scam has been reported across multiple states including Georgia, New York, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Colorado, and Smith has requested intervention from the Department of Justice to combat the scheme's scale and sophistication.
ktiv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Northeast Nebraska woman was scammed out of $100 on Facebook Marketplace while attempting to purchase a Ford Mustang replacement part; she became suspicious when the seller refused PayPal and requested additional funds before revealing the listing was fraudulent. Online shopping scams rank as the second most common fraud type in Nebraska for 2024, and authorities recommend researching sellers, comparing prices, paying by credit card for dispute protection, and never sending cash or money transfers.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Arkansas seniors suffered $27.25 million in fraud losses during 2024, part of a national epidemic where those over 60 lost $4.885 billion to scams—a 46% increase from 2023. Common schemes targeting older adults include investment fraud, tech support scams, romance scams, and money mule schemes, which succeed because seniors tend to be trusting and may be unfamiliar with reporting mechanisms. The FBI recommends seniors verify unknown contacts through reputable sources, resist pressure to act quickly, avoid unsolicited contact, never share personal information with unverified parties, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or IC3.gov.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The FBI Pittsburgh warned that elder fraud complaints reached 147,127 in 2024, resulting in $4.885 billion in losses—a 46% increase in complaints and 43% surge in losses year-over-year, with West Virginia victims reporting $5.7 million in losses. Common schemes targeting seniors include romance scams, investment fraud, tech support scams, and money mule schemes, with fraudsters exploiting seniors' perceived trustworthiness, isolation, and financial stability. The FBI recommends verifying unknown contacts, avoiding pressure-based decisions, protecting personal information, and reporting suspected fraud through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) to help law enforcement
nwahomepage.com
· 2025-12-08
**Elder Fraud on Rise in Arkansas and Nationally**
The FBI reported that seniors over 60 lost $4.885 billion nationally in 2024 across 147,127 fraud complaints—a 46% increase from 2023—with Arkansas seniors alone losing $27.3 million to investment scams, technical support scams, money mule schemes, and romance fraud. Seniors are targeted because they tend to be trusting and may be unfamiliar with reporting channels like IC3.gov. The FBI recommends verifying unknown contacts through legitimate sources, resisting pressure to act quickly, avoiding unsolicited communications, never sharing personal information with unverified parties
paymentsjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Nacha has released new tools to help banks and financial institutions identify and support victims of elder financial abuse, coinciding with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Adults over 60 in the U.S. lose an estimated $38.5 billion annually to elder financial abuse, with an average loss of $83,000 per victim, often perpetrated by trusted individuals rather than strangers. The guidance emphasizes establishing clear escalation protocols and training staff to recognize fraud, as 92% of older adults want financial institution employees trained to prevent exploitation.
kunr.org
· 2025-12-08
Text message scams impersonating government agencies, particularly DMVs claiming unpaid traffic tickets or tolls, are surging across the Mountain West. Scammers use threatening language and urgency to pressure victims into clicking malicious links, with the FTC reporting $470 million in losses from these scams last year. Consumers are advised to recognize that government agencies don't typically communicate via text, to watch for suspicious website addresses and threatening language, and to avoid clicking links or providing payment information.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP's Fraud Watch Network developed a universal fraud prevention framework called "Pause. Reflect. Protect." to help consumers recognize scams across all types. The campaign identifies three common triggers present in most fraud attempts—unexpected contact, emotional surge, and sense of urgency—and teaches an "active pause" response where people step back to reflect on the situation before taking action, similar to how "Stop, Drop and Roll" reduced fire injuries.
landline.media
· 2025-12-08
Jefferson County, Tennessee authorities warned of two recent scams: truck drivers were targeted at a Love's Travel Stop on Interstate 40 on June 11, where suspects lured victims into betting games and stole money and jewelry; additionally, a phishing scam involving text messages falsely claiming to be from the Tennessee Department of Vehicles threatened recipients with fines and legal action for unpaid traffic tickets and included malicious links. The scam is part of a multi-state pattern targeting residents in at least 10 states with fraudulent DMV messages demanding payment for unpaid tolls or traffic violations.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman named Brittany received a spoofed call appearing to be from her sister, in which a man claimed to be holding her hostage and demanded $750 via digital payment apps, threatening violence while playing audio of screaming in the background. When Brittany attempted to send $200 through Cash App, the app's fraud detection flagged the transaction as a scam and automatically refunded it, prompting her to verify her sister's safety and confirm the call was fraudulent. Authorities recommend using code words with family members, avoiding clicking suspicious links that enable account hacking and call spoofing, and reporting such scams to law enforcement.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Investment scams cost Americans over $6.5 billion in 2024, with phishing emails and tech support scams adding another $4.1 billion in losses, according to FBI data. This article provides ten expert strategies for protecting investments, including verifying platform legitimacy, recognizing phishing and impersonation tactics, avoiding Ponzi schemes, being cautious of social media/romance scams, conducting thorough research, and identifying fake tech support and recovery scams. The advice emphasizes that as digital fraud becomes increasingly sophisticated, investors must stay vigilant by checking security certifications, verifying credentials directly, and remaining skeptical of unsolicited investment offers promising guaranteed high returns.
menafn.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old Michigan administrative assistant lost $26,000 to a romance scam involving a man posing as a French project manager named "Richard" who used deepfake videos during Skype calls to appear authentic. Over several months, the scammer emotionally manipulated the victim into taking out loans under the pretense of needing legal and translation help in Qatar, then disappeared when confronted. The case highlights the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes in romance scams, with projections estimating eight million deepfakes will be shared worldwide in 2025, approximately one-fifth of which involve romantic fraud schemes.
wndu.com
· 2025-12-08
Mishawaka Utilities warned residents of a phone scam in which callers impersonating utility company representatives threaten immediate service disconnection and direct victims to call a 1-800 number to make emergency payments. The utility company clarified that it does not conduct business through unsolicited calls demanding immediate payment via specific phone numbers to avoid service shutoff.
wsfa.com
· 2025-12-08
The Alabama Securities Commission reported a record 200 elder fraud cases since January, with women aged 71-90 being disproportionately affected, and identified social isolation as a key vulnerability factor that scammers exploit during periods of grief or health crises. Fraudsters use social media information and infiltrate senior groups to build trust, with exploitation ranging from online romance scams to financial abuse by family members and caregivers. The ASC recommends maintaining regular contact with seniors, adding "trusted contacts" to financial accounts, and sharing fraud awareness information to reduce vulnerability to these increasingly sophisticated schemes.
vancouver.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2025, authorities warned that while technology and AI have improved seniors' quality of life, these same advances are increasingly being used to defraud them—with financial abuse being the most common form of elder abuse in Canada. Seniors are targeted because they have accumulated wealth, and fraudsters exploit AI and online platforms to conduct scams largely outside regulatory jurisdiction. The BC Securities Commission created "Scamtones"—specialty ringtones in various musical genres—to remind seniors to be cautious of suspicious phone calls and spark conversations with family members about investment fraud prevention.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
CIRO issued a warning on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day noting that scams targeting seniors are rising, with approximately 30% of CIRO enforcement cases involving seniors and one in five Canadians approached with possible investment fraud, primarily through unsolicited emails, texts, calls, and social media messages. The organization provided protective measures including being cautious with unsolicited communications, safeguarding personal information, obtaining legal advice before signing major documents, establishing a Power of Attorney, and naming a trusted contact person with financial advisors, while emphasizing that victims should report suspected fraud immediately to avoid secondary "recovery scams."
deccanherald.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old Ohio surgeon lost $1 billion to a romance scam involving a fake Ukrainian model within one month of his wife's death, while in New Delhi, a woman lost Rs 5 lakh ($6,000) when scammers impersonated her phone service provider during a family medical crisis. Globally, seniors lost $4.8 billion to cyber fraud in 2024 (US), with India projected to lose Rs 1.2 lakh crore ($14.4 billion) in 2025, driven by psychological manipulation that exploits neurobiological changes in aging brains, cultural conditioning toward authority and politeness, and widesprea
actionnewsjax.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens in Baker County, Florida are being targeted by two related scams: one where fraudsters impersonate bank fraud department staff to convince victims to withdraw cash and deposit it into other accounts, and another where callers pose as sheriff's deputies claiming arrest warrants exist and demanding phone payment to avoid arrest. The Baker County Sheriff's Office warns that they never request payment over the phone and urges anyone affected to contact Detective Lieutenant David Mancini.
noozhawk.com
· 2025-12-08
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) by warning the community about the escalating threat of financial exploitation and scams targeting seniors locally and nationally. The office offers educational presentations to community groups, hosts a weekly "Scam Squad" podcast with practical fraud prevention tips, and encourages residents to report suspected scams to local law enforcement or their office's fraud hotline at 805-568-2442.
cbs19news.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens and vulnerable adults across the United States are being targeted at increasing rates by scammers using phone calls, emails, text messages, and artificial intelligence; in 2024, seniors lost nearly $4.9 billion across 147,000 complaints nationally, with Virginia seniors (age 60+) losing over $106.5 million in more than 3,800 reported incidents. Common scams targeting elders include the "Grandparent scam" using AI voice impersonation, text message schemes regarding undelivered packages and unpaid tolls, and cryptocurrency investment fraud. Officials recommend verifying contact information independently, resisting pressure to act quickly, and avoiding payment methods like gift cards