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ftc.gov
· 2026-08-19
The FTC is seeking public comment on a new enforcement policy statement regarding personalized pricing—the practice of using consumers' personal data to set different prices based on what companies believe individuals are willing to pay. The FTC warns that businesses using personalized pricing without disclosing how personal data affects pricing may violate the FTC Act, as consumers generally expect to see the same advertised price regardless of their browsing habits or purchase history. The policy statement, which does not ban personalized pricing outright, puts businesses on notice that the FTC will enforce laws against undisclosed data collection and deceptive pricing practices.
ftc.gov
· 2026-08-19
Manchester City Nissan in Connecticut agreed to pay $4 million to settle FTC and state allegations that it deceptively charged consumers thousands in unauthorized fees, including double-charging for "certified pre-owned" vehicles and inserting charges like total loss protection into financing agreements without consent. The settlement requires the dealership to refund consumers, clearly disclose maximum vehicle prices, and obtain express written consent for all charges going forward.
usatoday.com
· 2026-08-18
Artificial intelligence is enabling scammers to target elderly people at scale, with fraudsters using AI to scour obituaries, research vulnerabilities, and create convincing deepfakes to impersonate trusted figures. The FBI reported over 200,000 cyber crime complaints from victims 60 and older in 2025, totaling nearly $8 billion in losses, with cases like a widow scammed out of $7,000 through false tax evasion claims and an elderly woman whose identity was stolen by her paid caregiver. Adult children are increasingly taking control of their aging parents' finances and communications to prevent fraud, adding emotional and financial strain to already-overwhelmed caregivers in the sandwich generation.
pbn.com
· 2026-08-18
Washington Trust Co. is launching the "Age With Wisdom" educational series to help older adults and their families in Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut prevent financial scams and fraud, covering topics such as impersonation, AI-enabled scams, and financial exploitation warning signs. The bank, which recently became a verified AARP BankSafe institution, will also address estate planning and coordination with financial professionals, drawing on employee experience working with customers affected by fraud and financial transitions.
einpresswire.com
· 2026-08-18
Georgia's White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit, working with the Oconee County Sheriff's Office and GBI, successfully seized and returned cryptocurrency to elderly fraud victims who were deceived by scammers impersonating the FTC. The perpetrators used fake computer pop-up alerts claiming bank account breaches to convince an elderly couple to withdraw funds and deposit them into crypto kiosks, instructing them to avoid detection by bank employees. Law enforcement traced the stolen cryptocurrency through multiple wallets and recovered the funds from a crypto exchange wallet, resulting in court-ordered return to the victims.
aol.com
· 2026-08-18
AI-powered scams targeting elderly Americans have surged, with scammers using artificial intelligence to research victims through obituaries, craft personalized fraud schemes, and create deepfakes to increase success rates. In 2025, seniors 60 and older reported over 200,000 cyber crime complaints totaling nearly $8 billion in losses, with one widow losing $7,000 after scammers claimed her late husband had hidden tax records. Adult children increasingly must act as financial gatekeepers for aging parents, screening communications and managing accounts, adding significant emotional and financial strain to the sandwich generation already caring for both children and aging parents.
kucoin.com
· 2026-08-18
An 80-year-old Hong Kong man lost over HK$5 million in a cryptocurrency investment scam after downloading a fake "Trust Wallet" app from a fraudulent pop-up ad in June 2024. Scammers posing as customer service representatives convinced him to exchange bank withdrawals for ETH cryptocurrency and transfer it to their wallets over 1.5 months, with the victim only discovering the fraud when he could no longer access funds or reach the fake service team.
straitstimes.com
· 2026-08-18
In 2025, Singapore saw a decline in scam cases and losses to $913.1 million from a record $1.1 billion in 2024, yet Senior Minister K. Shanmugam warned of emerging threats from internet-enabled scams and artificial intelligence, noting that deepfakes have enabled losses as high as $4.9 million. The article highlights concerns about AI-generated fraud while recognizing scholarship recipients entering the Home Team to combat these evolving security threats.
wtop.com
· 2026-08-18
A George Mason University student launched an educational initiative called Word by World to teach seniors in the DC region how to identify AI-generated deepfake scams after learning her neighbor lost $30,000 to a fake video of Elon Musk promoting a fraudulent investment. The student has delivered presentations over 30 times at senior centers, teaching older adults how to distinguish AI-generated content from authentic videos and providing tips on recognizing and responding to scams. The outreach aims to increase awareness among seniors about artificial intelligence and help prevent them from falling victim to AI-powered fraud schemes.
newbusiness.co.uk
· 2026-08-18
Research from cyber intelligence company OXIL reveals that situational factors—such as tiredness, financial stress, major life changes, and impulsivity—are more significant predictors of scam vulnerability than age, contradicting the common assumption that elderly people are most at risk. The study found that 29% of people with gambling problems, 26% of impulsive people, and 23% of those experiencing major life changes have experienced attempted scams, with scammers exploiting the gaps created by exhaustion, distraction, and dependency. Younger adults aged 18-29 were particularly affected, with 81% acknowledging that situational factors made them vulnerable to specific scam types tailored to their circumstances,
malwarebytes.com
· 2026-08-17
Facebook and other major platforms struggle to prevent scam ads from reaching users, with Meta's internal documents revealing it projected approximately $16 billion (10% of 2024 revenue) would come from ads promoting scams and banned goods. Ad blockers have become an important security tool by filtering out malicious and fraudulent advertisements alongside regular ads, but platforms like Facebook can circumvent blocking efforts by constantly changing how ads are delivered, giving them a structural advantage over open-source filter maintainers. The gap between when scammers launch campaigns and when platforms review ads allows fraudsters to exploit speed and scale, impersonating trusted brands and promoting fake investment schemes that lead users into scams.
wtop.com
· 2026-08-17
This article is an advice column about using AI tools to detect scams, not a report of a specific scam incident. It discusses how scammers increasingly use AI to create convincing fraudulent messages and recommends using free AI chatbots like ChatGPT to analyze suspicious communications rather than downloading dedicated scam detector apps. The piece notes that Americans lost nearly $16 billion to fraud in 2025 and provides guidance on how to prompt AI tools effectively to identify red flags in potentially fraudulent messages.
abc.net.au
· 2026-08-17
Scammers are using AI-generated deepfake videos featuring well-known Australians to promote fake investment schemes, with these scams costing Australians over $800 million in 2025. Australia's corporate watchdog (ASIC) reported nearly 20,000 scams taken offline in the last 12 months, a 182% increase from the previous year, with the deepfakes being difficult for people to detect as they mimic legitimate news interviews and endorsements. To protect themselves, consumers are advised to verify that investments have an Australian financial services licence through ASIC's MoneySmart website before investing.
sbs.com.au
· 2026-08-17
Australian financial regulator ASIC has warned of a surge in online investment scams using deepfake technology to impersonate celebrities and political figures, with over 19,000 scams removed in the past year—a 182% increase. The sophisticated AI-generated video and image scams targeting figures like Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, mining magnate Gina Rinehart, and Pauline Hanson are becoming increasingly difficult to detect, affecting people across all financial literacy levels.
wrdw.com
· 2026-08-17
Scammers are contacting family members and friends of arrested individuals in Richmond County, Georgia, by using publicly available booking information and demanding payment through digital payment platforms like Cash App, PayPal, and Zelle to secure bonds. The Richmond County Sheriff's Office warns that they never request electronic payments for bonds and urges victims to report such contact immediately at 706-821-1080.
scamwatch.gov.au
· 2026-08-17
The National Anti-Scam Centre contacted over 10,000 Australians whose personal information was compromised during a UK police investigation into organized crime targeting cryptocurrency users across multiple countries. While arrests were made, affected individuals remain at risk of further scam attempts as their data may still be circulating in criminal networks. The NASC also warned of scammers impersonating government agencies to solicit money and sensitive information under the guise of assisting with investigations.
yahoo.com
· 2026-08-17
A Virginia traffic stop of a stolen vehicle uncovered gold coins and a gold bar connected to an alleged $2 million elder fraud scheme targeting seniors to purchase precious metals. Two suspects face charges including larceny by trick, with investigators identifying at least one confirmed victim in James City County who made multiple fraudulent payments. The multi-state investigation involves Homeland Security Investigations, and authorities expect to return funds to victims.
prnewswire.com
· 2026-08-17
Washington Trust Company launched the Age With Wisdom™ education series to help older adults in Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut prevent financial fraud and exploitation through fraud prevention training, financial planning guidance, and AARP BankSafe® education. The initiative addresses the growing threat of financial scams targeting seniors in a region where approximately 31% of Rhode Island residents are age 55 and older. Washington Trust, the nation's oldest community bank, has previously intervened to protect customers from significant financial losses, as highlighted in a New York Times article about banks' growing role in preventing elder financial exploitation.
law.georgia.gov
· 2026-08-17
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's office seized and returned cryptocurrency to elderly fraud victims in Oconee County who were targeted by scammers impersonating the Federal Trade Commission. The perpetrators used fake bank breach alerts to convince an elderly couple to withdraw funds and deposit them into crypto kiosks, then instructed them on how to avoid detection while the funds were transferred through multiple wallets. Law enforcement traced the stolen cryptocurrency and secured a court order to return the funds to the victims.
aol.com
· 2026-08-17
Since August 1, scammers have stolen more than $1.2 million from 17 confirmed cases involving Ramsey County seniors aged 61-78, with individual losses ranging from $700 to $800,000. The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office is urging residents to protect their financial information, hang up on suspicious calls, and report fraudulent activity to law enforcement immediately. Local authorities are hosting an educational event with credit union representatives to help seniors identify and prevent fraud schemes.
cryptobriefing.com
· 2026-08-17
The White House has authorized vetted private companies to conduct offensive cyber operations against transnational criminal networks operating pig butchering scams, which cost American victims billions of dollars annually. Under federal DOJ and DHS supervision, these firms—which must post at least $1 million bonds—can now actively surveil and disrupt criminal infrastructure rather than passively monitor it, marking a shift from traditional defensive enforcement to preemptive disruption. Pig butchering scams typically originate from Southeast Asian criminal enterprises that use romance and fake investment schemes to defraud victims, often laundering proceeds through cryptocurrency platforms.
geraldtonguardian.com.au
· 2026-08-17
I appreciate you sharing this content, but this appears to be a subscription paywall page rather than an article about fraud or scams. The text contains only subscription pricing options and terms, not information about gift card scams or fraud prevention. I'm unable to provide a summary of fraud-related content since the actual article content isn't present.
verafiles.org
· 2026-08-17
The author, a veteran journalist, narrowly avoided a credit card scam when she recognized a suspicious request for her CVV after clicking a link about expiring credit card points. A 2025 study found that 77% of Filipinos encountered scams in the previous 12 months with an average of 239 scam encounters per person yearly, resulting in estimated losses of ₱280 billion, with investment scams and digital wallet theft being the most common methods primarily occurring on Facebook and Telegram.
investmentnews.com
· 2026-08-17
FINRA has proposed new Rule 2166 to allow brokerage firms to delay suspicious transactions or withdrawals for up to 10 business days to investigate potential fraud affecting customers of any age, responding to industry feedback that a previously proposed 5-day window was insufficient. The proposal also seeks to extend the existing Rule 2165 protections for seniors and vulnerable adults from a maximum 55-day hold to 145 business days, with additional extensions possible if firms continue coordinating with authorities. The regulatory push addresses accelerating fraud losses, with the FTC estimating approximately $81.5 billion in fraud losses to older Americans in 2024 and criminals increasingly using AI to impersonate family members and
bitdefender.com
· 2026-08-17
Australian authorities are warning of AI-driven investment scams impersonating high-profile public figures like politicians and business leaders, with reports to Scamwatch involving these impersonations associated with $7.4 million in losses during the 2026 financial year. Scammers use deepfake videos, fake websites, and fabricated news articles to create an entire "web of deception" that makes fraudulent investments appear legitimate, and victims are often contacted by scripted callers posing as brokers who may make small payments to build trust before victims lose their money to overseas criminals. ASIC warns that simple online searches are no longer sufficient to verify investment opportunities, as scammers now construct convincing fake
middevonadvertiser.co.uk
· 2026-08-17
Devon and Cornwall Police have warned residents about fraudsters creating fake social media profiles impersonating celebrities like Martin Lewis, Richard Branson, and Holly Willoughby to promote cryptocurrency scams, investment schemes, fake health products, and romance fraud. The scammers use copied photographs and AI-generated content to make fake accounts appear legitimate, with common warning signs including unsolicited messages requesting money or personal information and promises of guaranteed profits. Police advise residents to verify celebrity endorsements through official sources, report suspicious accounts to social media platforms, and use caution with unexpected messages asking for financial information or investments.
wrcbtv.com
· 2026-08-17
The Better Business Bureau reports that employment scams top the list for ages 18-34, while investment and cryptocurrency scams lead for those 35 and older, with romance and online shopping scams also prevalent among seniors. Social media and unsolicited text messages are common vectors for these scams, with cryptocurrency elements increasingly appearing in employment fraud schemes. Additionally, the BBB warns of test-prep material scams targeting families back-to-school shopping, with one local resident reporting being charged $250 upfront by a company that refused to cancel the unauthorized transaction.
wdrb.com
· 2026-08-17
Following severe storms and flooding that killed 7 people across Indiana, the state's attorney general warned of door-to-door contractor scams targeting affected homeowners. Fraudsters falsely claim FEMA will pay for storm damage repairs and pressure victims to sign contracts immediately, sometimes promising to waive insurance deductibles, which is illegal under Indiana law. Residents are urged to demand written contracts with specific details, verify contractor legitimacy, and report suspected scams to the Indiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
reformer.com
· 2026-08-17
During back-to-school season, con artists exploit students and parents through various scams including fraudulent online deals promoted on social media, fake scholarship and housing offers, and romance scams targeting college students. Victims risk losing money and personal information, particularly first-time college students who are emotionally vulnerable and unfamiliar with common scam tactics. The article advises verifying deals directly with retailers, being cautious with social media connections, checking landlord and employer legitimacy, and recognizing red flags in online relationships such as requests for money or inability to meet in person.
krdo.com
· 2026-08-17
In 2024, the FTC documented over 6 million fraud and consumer complaints across the United States, with Americans losing a record $15.9 billion to fraud in 2025—a 25% increase from the prior year. Florida, Georgia, and Delaware reported the highest fraud rates per capita, while South Dakota and North Dakota had the lowest, with imposter scams being the most commonly reported fraud type nationwide, accounting for over $3.5 billion in losses. Younger adults report more frequent fraud victimization, though older adults typically lose larger amounts per incident as scammers target their retirement savings.
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2026-08-17
Scammers are disguising phishing attacks as party invitations from platforms like Evite and Paperless Post, tricking recipients into entering passwords or verification codes by impersonating familiar hosts or compromised contacts. Once criminals obtain login credentials, they can take over email accounts, reset passwords for other services, and spread the same scam to the victim's entire contact list. The FTC warns that legitimate invitation platforms never require logins to view events and recommends verifying invitations directly with the host through trusted contact methods.
ftc.gov
· 2026-08-17
Doxo, an online bill payment firm, will pay $2.1 million to settle FTC allegations that it deceived consumers through misleading search ads impersonating legitimate billers and charged undisclosed delivery fees on bill payments. The company and co-founders Steve Shivers and Roger Parks also deceptively enrolled consumers in subscription programs without clear disclosure of terms and pricing. The settlement includes a federal court finding that Doxo violated the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act for failing to properly disclose subscription terms and obtain consumer consent.
vietnam.vn
· 2026-08-16
An expert from Vietnam's Anti-Fraud Project highlighted three key signs of online fraud detectable in 5 seconds—impersonating calls from authorities, suspicious links/QR codes, and AI-deepfake investment scams—noting that perpetrators increasingly use personalized AI scenarios including romance scams. From June to July, Vietnam's payment alert system recorded 460 million customer alerts and 105 million blocked transactions, with one highly educated victim losing over 7 billion Vietnamese dong. The expert recommends a "golden 15 minutes" response protocol when fraud is suspected: stop interaction, isolate the compromised account, contact the bank to block cards, change passwords, preserve evidence, and report the incident.
forbes.com
· 2026-08-16
Anthropic's introduction of watermarks in Claude AI-generated text has sparked a surge of fraudulent watermark removal apps that exploit users seeking to remove these digital signatures. Scammers are making false claims about these apps' capabilities and some contain malware, capitalizing on the high demand from people wanting to hide AI-generated content. The problem is expected to escalate as more AI providers adopt watermarking, creating additional opportunities for deceptive practices and scams targeting unsuspecting users.
kfiz.com
· 2026-08-16
Scammers are sending fraudulent letters posing as law firms claiming recipients have inherited millions in unclaimed life insurance policies, with the goal of extracting personal financial information or money from victims. One Wisconsin consumer received a letter claiming a $4.9 million "100% risk-free" inheritance and identified it as a scam through red flags including typos, a Georgia postmark despite claiming to be from a Canadian firm, and similar letters found online. Consumers are advised to verify such offers through legitimate channels like professional bar associations before providing any personal or financial information.
hernandosun.com
· 2026-08-16
Scammers are impersonating the Hernando County Sheriff's Office by calling victims with spoofed phone numbers, claiming they missed jury duty or a court date and demanding payment over the phone to resolve alleged warrants or obtain verification codes. The HCSO clarified that it never requires phone payments to settle warrants, resolve jury-duty issues, or obtain codes, and urges recipients to hang up on such calls.
theguardian.com
· 2026-08-16
Fraudsters are using AI to analyze travel photos posted on social media to identify locations and craft targeted phishing scams, such as fake bank alerts claiming suspicious activity in places where victims have recently traveled. Research by McAfee found that AI models can accurately identify locations in 87-91% of travel images by analyzing background details like landmarks, architecture, and signage, which criminals exploit to add credibility to their fraudulent texts and emails seeking financial information. The scam works because victims are more likely to trust messages that reference their actual travel locations, making them vulnerable even when they haven't disclosed trip details publicly.
salisburypost.com
· 2026-08-16
A veterans advocate in Rowan County, North Carolina is organizing an August 29 educational forum to help elderly residents recognize and avoid fraud scams, including phone, construction, and door-to-door schemes. The initiative was inspired by cases Hardin encountered, including an 80-year-old woman who lost over $100,000 after being pressured to sell her car and furniture. Local law enforcement and officials will participate in the forum to educate residents on fraud prevention tactics and provide resources.
thestar.com.my
· 2026-08-16
AI is increasingly enabling scammers to conduct sophisticated love scams by generating personalized, emotionally manipulative communications that create fake intimacy with victims, making them feel genuinely understood and cared for. Red flags include rapid relationship escalation, avoidance of in-person meetings, inconsistent stories, and eventual requests for money or sensitive information, typically following a pattern of love-bombing, emotional dependency, manufactured crises, and financial requests. Experts recommend verifying identities through multiple channels, avoiding oversharing on social media, and refusing to engage with suspicious communications rather than relying on video calls or visual confirmation as proof of authenticity.
berkshireeagle.com
· 2026-08-16
As back-to-school season approaches, scammers target students and parents through fraudulent deals on social media, fake scholarship and housing offers, and romance scams. The article warns against clicking suspicious links, sharing personal information without verification, and engaging with unknown contacts online, emphasizing that legitimate financial aid should be verified through FAFSA and official school channels. Students should exercise caution with off-campus housing arrangements, part-time job offers, and online relationships that display red flags such as requests for money or inability to meet in person.
osagenews.org
· 2026-08-16
Osage County and Osage Nation officials are warning residents about hundreds of electronic scams reported between 2021 and 2025, including government imposter scams, online shopping fraud, lottery scams, and romance schemes. Sheriff Bart Perrier reports frequent calls from residents impersonating deputies demanding payment for missed jury duty, while Police Chief Nicholas Williams documented a particularly devastating romance scam involving an Osage elder who lost all his financial resources before his death. Both agencies are conducting public outreach to educate residents that legitimate officials never request payments or personal information by phone, text, or email.
timesofsandiego.com
· 2026-08-16
Elder fraud accounts for approximately $130 million in annual losses in San Diego alone and is rising, while younger demographics are targeted most frequently overall despite receiving less publicity. The article outlines practical prevention strategies including avoiding suspicious emails and imposters, questioning unusual payment requests (especially cryptocurrency or gift cards), and utilizing mobile banking security features. Learning to identify and respond to digital fraud has become essential for financial security across all age groups.
dailykos.com
· 2026-08-16
A network of fraudulent Democratic PACs, orchestrated by consulting firm Mothership Strategies, extracted approximately $282 million from donors during the 2024 election cycle while delivering only $11 million to actual Democratic campaigns, with data showing that for every dollar donated—often by elderly and small-dollar donors—98 cents went to consultants and operational costs rather than campaigns. The scam involved high-pressure fundraising tactics through texts and emails from PACs with names like "Progressive Turnout" and "Stop Republicans," with one example, Retired Dems 2024 PAC, raising $10.6 million but keeping $6.5 million in profit while delivering minimal benefit to the
10news.com
· 2026-08-16
This article is a biography of Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter Austin Grabish and does not describe a specific scam or fraud case. The article highlights his journalistic career and various investigations he has conducted, including reporting on a phone hacking scam and a burial-at-sea business fraud, but provides no detailed information about specific victims, dollar amounts, or fraud schemes to summarize.
aol.com
· 2026-08-16
AARP Louisiana is hosting two free community events in Baton Rouge to help residents protect themselves from fraud and identity theft: a Community Shred Day on October 10 for securely destroying financial documents, and an "Unmasking Fraud" education event on October 21 featuring fraud expert Paul Greenwood, panel discussions, and resources. The events aim to educate residents about emerging scams, warning signs, and protective measures as scammers continue developing new ways to target consumers.
cnet.com
· 2026-08-16
Scammers are increasingly using AI-generated emails to target authors and other professionals with personalized phishing messages that impersonate legitimate book clubs, services, and authority figures, exploiting natural language processing to bypass spam filters by personalizing content and delaying suspicious requests until victims are invested. AI-powered scams have made fraud more efficient and convincing through deepfakes, multi-step attacks using legitimate platforms, and social engineering tactics that exploit trust and urgency, potentially leading to financial loss, identity theft, and extortion. Experts recommend pausing before clicking links or sharing information and confirming the legitimacy of senders, as these AI scams are harder to detect than traditional fraud attempts.
indianweekender.co.nz
· 2026-08-15
A 21-year-old Christchurch man was lured to a park in April through a fake Grindr profile and assaulted by two men who shouted homophobic slurs while punching and kicking him. The attack resulted in concussion, a chipped tooth, a fractured leg, and ongoing mental health trauma requiring hospitalization and counseling. Police have warned that criminals increasingly use dating apps to target vulnerable users through fake profiles, though the alleged offenders in this case were not located.
oxfordmail.co.uk
· 2026-08-15
Oxford Information Labs research challenges the assumption that older people are most vulnerable to scams, finding instead that younger people aged 18-29 are significantly targeted, with 81% reporting that situational factors like stress, financial pressure, exhaustion, and major life changes increased their susceptibility. Scammers exploit vulnerable moments rather than targeting specific age groups, with those experiencing divorce, moving homes, gambling problems, or financial difficulties being particularly vulnerable to tailored fraud schemes including urgency-based scams, romance scams, and get-rich-quick schemes. The study emphasizes that vulnerability to fraud is a human condition based on circumstances rather than age or character flaws, and calls for better organizational safeguarding rather than victim-
news.tvb.com
· 2026-08-15
Hong Kong's Commercial Crime Bureau reported over 20,000 fraud cases in the first half of 2026, resulting in total losses exceeding $3.5 billion, with investment fraud accounting for 2,151 cases and $1.66 billion in losses. Fraudsters primarily targeted victims through cryptocurrency and AI-related investment schemes using fake overseas-registered websites and applications, with one victim losing approximately $80 million after being romantically manipulated into downloading a fraudulent investment app. Police emphasized the importance of not downloading unknown applications and warned that social media influencers and celebrities promoting virtual assets could face charges for their involvement in these scams.