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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
jdsupra.com
· 2026-08-03
In 2025, the FTC received over 3 million fraud reports totaling $15.9 billion in losses (likely $200 billion including unreported cases), with investment scams accounting for $7.9 billion and imposter scams for $3.5 billion. A House Financial Services Committee Republican report attributed the rise partly to fragmented federal complaint systems and lack of coordinated fraud-prevention efforts. The report recommended establishing interagency task forces, harmonizing data collection, strengthening information-sharing among financial institutions, and launching a unified national awareness campaign to combat fraud and scams.
cultofmac.com
· 2026-08-03
An 81-year-old woman with dementia lost thousands of dollars to romance scammers who contacted her via WhatsApp, Facebook, and Apple Messages over the course of a year, exploiting her loneliness following her husband's death. After family interventions and law enforcement proved ineffective, the author enrolled her in Incogni, a data-removal service that scrubbed her personal information from people-search websites and data brokers, which had been making it easy for scammers to target and manipulate her. The article highlights how scammers use publicly available personal data from online brokers to make their cons more convincing, with U.S. fraud losses exceeding $16 billion in
protos.com
· 2026-08-03
Over 4,585 Bitcoin wallet owners lost cryptocurrency due to a firmware vulnerability in Coinkite's Coldcard hardware wallets affecting devices from March 2021 through late 2024. The article provides guidance for victims to file reports with local police and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, consult licensed attorneys about civil claims against Coinkite, and seek tax advice regarding their losses. Victims are warned to independently verify the credentials of any attorneys or officials offering assistance and to avoid responding to unsolicited contact claiming to represent law enforcement.
military.com
· 2026-08-03
A former U.S. Postal Inspector, Scott Kelley, pleaded guilty to stealing over $340,000 in cash from elderly people and veterans between 2019 and 2023 by intercepting parcels containing money mailed by victims of lottery fraud scams. Kelley, who worked in the Boston division and was ironically tasked with investigating mail fraud targeting seniors, exploited his position by accessing a tracked list of suspicious parcels and stealing the cash inside them, then laundering the money and evading taxes. His victims included a 76-year-old retired Army veteran in Kansas from whom he stole $19,100, and he used the stolen funds for personal expenses including prostitutes
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2026-08-03
An 86-year-old woman with dementia in Cincinnati lost $10,000 in a grandparent scam after fraudsters posing as her grandson's lawyer convinced her he was in jail and arranged for a driver to take her to the bank to withdraw cash. The scam exploited her cognitive vulnerabilities and the bank's failure to question an unusually large withdrawal by an elderly customer with no history of large cash transactions. The case exemplifies a growing trend in elder fraud, with Americans aged 50+ losing $4.3 billion annually, and impersonation scams showing a four-fold increase since 2020 in victims reporting losses of $10,000 or more.
crypto.news
· 2026-08-03
Cryptocurrency kiosks located in convenience stores and gas stations have become the primary collection point for impersonation scams, with the FBI logging 13,460 complaints in 2025 resulting in approximately $389 million in losses, with roughly two-thirds of victims over age 60. While federal law treats kiosk operators as money services businesses subject to FinCEN registration and anti-money-laundering requirements, state regulation is highly fragmented, ranging from outright bans (Indiana, Tennessee, Minnesota) to licensing regimes with transaction caps and fraud protections to complete absence of oversight (such as in Texas, which leads the nation in reported losses). The regulatory inconsistency means operators face vastly
bollywoodshaadis.com
· 2026-08-03
"Job Trafficking" is an upcoming Amazon Prime Video series dramatizing the real crime of pig butchering, where scammers build fake relationships online over weeks or months before stealing victims' savings through fraudulent cryptocurrency and trading schemes. The show depicts both sides of this transnational criminal enterprise: online fraud victims who lose billions annually and trafficked workers in Southeast Asian compounds forced to run scams 10-14 hours daily under threat of violence, told through the story of an Indian youth deceived by a fake job offer.
crowdfundinsider.com
· 2026-08-03
The Solana Foundation's chief information security officer warns that artificial intelligence is making cryptocurrency scams increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect, particularly through deepfake-powered social engineering attacks like voice replication and romance scams. He emphasizes that most crypto fraud stems not from blockchain vulnerabilities but from offline weaknesses such as compromised credentials, and that the industry must implement multi-layered security controls including withdrawal delays, transaction limits, and recovery mechanisms to protect users even after they've been deceived. The official stresses that no amount of user education can prevent all fraud given the advancing sophistication of AI-enhanced cons, making secure-by-default system design essential.
newsbytesapp.com
· 2026-08-03
Amazon Prime Video's upcoming Hindi drama "Job Trafficking" explores pig butchering scams, where online scammers deceive victims with fake job offers and manipulate them for financial gain. The series also highlights how young people are trafficked across borders to operate these fraud schemes. Directed by Prashant Nair and starring Nimrat Kaur and others, the show follows three characters affected by these scams: a scammer, a defrauded housewife, and a CEO caught in the scheme.
ourquadcities.com
· 2026-08-03
Romance scams affect approximately 1 in 10 people age 50 and over, resulting in billions in losses worldwide annually, according to AARP. Scammers create fake online identities—often posing as celebrities or semi-professional athletes—to build emotional relationships over months before requesting money or financial favors. Key warning signs include requests for financial help, "love bombing" with excessive affection, and pressure from someone claiming to be a legitimate celebrity seeking a romantic connection with an average person.
accountingtoday.com
· 2026-08-03
A study found that AI bots are 2.5 times more effective than human scammers at building trust with romance scam victims, with an AI agent achieving 46% compliance in convincing test subjects to install a suspicious app compared to 18% for human scammers. Researchers recruited 22 educated participants across 12 countries and had them interact with both human and AI partners over seven days, discovering that participants engaged significantly more with the AI, sent more messages to it, and reported higher emotional trust despite some obvious AI mistakes. The findings highlight the automation potential of romance-baiting scams that exploit victims through text conversations before pressuring them into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.
martincid.com
· 2026-08-03
Prime Video's Indian arm is developing "Job Trafficking," an eight-episode Hindi-language drama series about the pig-butchering scam, a months-long international fraud that has drained billions from victims worldwide and is operated from fortified compounds using trafficked workers. The series follows three interconnected lives: an imprisoned scammer seeking escape, a defrauded housewife seeking answers, and a corporate CEO caught in the crossfire, treating industrial fraud as a systemic issue affecting people at all levels. Starring Nimrat Kaur, Pavan Malhotra, and Roshan Mathew, the series is created by director Prashant Nair and aims to shift Indian
theweek.in
· 2026-08-03
Prime Video has begun production on an eight-episode drama series titled "Job Trafficking," directed by Prashanth Nair, that explores the criminal networks behind "pig butchering" financial scams and human trafficking across India and Southeast Asia. The series follows both victims—including job seekers lured by fake overseas employment offers and trafficked across borders—and perpetrators involved in these industrialized online fraud schemes. Starring Roshan Mathew and Nimrat Kaur, the show aims to expose how scammers exploit unsuspecting people's ambitions and hopes.
channelnewsasia.com
· 2026-08-03
Singapore removed most public officers' contact details from its online Government Directory effective July 1, 2026, to combat rising government impersonation scams and phishing attacks. Government official impersonation scams more than doubled in 2025, with 3,363 cases resulting in S$242.9 million in losses, representing the second-highest loss category among all scam types. The directory now lists only senior officials and political appointees while directing the public to official agency feedback channels and quality service managers instead.
fox6now.com
· 2026-08-03
A Wisconsin woman lost $433,000 in an elaborate scam that began when she clicked a pop-up ad impersonating her financial company; scammers convinced her over three months that she was hacked and persuaded her to buy gold coins and liquidate assets to "protect" her money, which were then handed to couriers who never returned. The scammers impersonated government officials and the Better Business Bureau, sent forged documents, and used threats and non-disclosure agreements to silence the victim. Three victims reported similar gold-buying scams to the BBB with combined losses around $3 million.
crimewatch.net
· 2026-08-03
The East Lansdowne Police Department issued a warning alert about common scams targeting senior citizens, including phantom hacker scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation schemes, tech support fraud, lottery scams, and romance scams. The department emphasized that legitimate organizations never demand payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or payment apps, and advised seniors to hang up on suspicious callers, protect personal information, and report suspected scams to local law enforcement.
longreads.com
· 2026-08-03
A French woman named Anne lost her fortune to scammers who used AI deepfakes and photoshop to impersonate Brad Pitt in a "sentimental scam" designed to exploit her emotionally and psychologically. Though cyber-detective Marwan Ouarab traced the scammers within 48 hours, no charges have been filed and Anne remains unable to recover her money. The case illustrates how romance scams use psychological manipulation and convincing deception to ensnare victims, with little recourse for recovery even when perpetrators are identified.
kdsm17.com
· 2026-08-02
Young people aged 13-28 are targeted by scammers who exploit their heavy social media use through fake product ads at unrealistic prices, counterfeit giveaways, and personality quizzes designed to steal personal and financial information. Additional threats include fake online storefronts with poor quality photos and vague policies that trick users into sharing payment information. Parents should teach children to verify URLs, avoid clicking suspicious links, and only shop on trusted, verified websites.
yahoo.com
· 2026-08-02
A Thousand Oaks senior was defrauded of $14,000 after clicking a malicious link that triggered a pop-up warning, leading scammers posing as FTC and Treasury Department officials to convince her she was under investigation for money laundering and needed to withdraw cash. She withdrew $14,000 from multiple banks and handed it to a courier who provided a password at her home, with the scammer remaining on the phone throughout and falsely claiming two people were watching her residence. Yongan Ma, 44, faces three felony charges for allegedly providing transportation for the courier and benefiting from the scheme.
meridiansource.ca
· 2026-08-02
Saskatchewan RCMP warned of a text message scam targeting residents in the Carnduff and Indian Head regions that falsely claims to be from the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan, directing recipients to click a link to pay traffic tickets or face court appearance. The scam messages are phishing attempts designed to steal personal and financial information, and authorities advise recipients not to click links, send money, provide sensitive data, or respond to the messages. No specific dollar amounts were reported in connection with the scam circulation.
pickr.com.au
· 2026-08-02
As Australia prepares for its August 11, 2026 Census, scammers are targeting households with phishing emails and fraudulent websites designed to steal personal information including banking details, logins, and identification data. The Census itself does not require financial or social media information, but criminals are exploiting the event's urgency and widespread participation to deceive Australians into providing sensitive details on fake government sites. Authorities warn residents to verify sender addresses, avoid clicking suspicious links, and be cautious of messages claiming overdue forms or pending fines.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2026-08-02
Friends Against Scams has launched new protective tools including an updated website page with guidance on recognizing scams, safeguarding personal information, and reporting procedures, plus an enhanced mobile app featuring scam alerts, monthly quizzes, and AI-powered scam checking capabilities. These free resources are available to help the public and professionals identify common scam tactics and support victims, with access through their website, app stores, and helpline services.
m.riverbender.com
· 2026-08-02
The Madison County Clerk's Office is warning voters about rising election-related scams, including phishing texts and emails that attempt to trick recipients into clicking malicious links, sharing personal information, or verifying voter registration through unofficial channels. Scammers are using AI to make fraudulent messages more convincing, with the goal of stealing personal data, passwords, financial information, and undermining election confidence. Voters are advised to never click links in unsolicited election messages, verify information only through official government sources, and contact the Madison County Clerk's Office directly with questions or suspicious messages.
mcknightsseniorliving.com
· 2026-08-02
The Senate Special Committee on Aging sent letters to nine major AI companies requesting information about safeguards they have in place to protect older adults from AI-enabled scams, with responses due by August 31. The committee hearing revealed that AI has significantly increased financial fraud against seniors, with $893 million of the $21 billion in 2025 cybercrime losses attributed to AI-enabled scams, and older adults reported nearly $8 billion in internet fraud losses overall, up 59% from 2024. The senators are demanding accountability on how AI companion products are tested, how adverse events are tracked, and whether older adults are included in product development to help combat what they call an "alarming and highly complex
vladtv.com
· 2026-08-02
"Pig butchering" scams involve fraudsters building trust with victims online through romance or investment schemes, then using fake trading platforms to show small profits before draining their savings and retirement accounts. A Southern California victim lost approximately $2.3 million in three months through this scheme, with criminals from Nigeria, the Philippines, and Eastern Europe using deepfake videos and fake websites to manipulate targets. Recovery is typically impossible once cryptocurrency funds move through multiple transfers, making these scams particularly devastating for victims.
modernghana.com
· 2026-08-02
West African fraud networks operating primarily from Nigeria and Ghana have targeted millions of Americans, with the FBI reporting $16.6 billion in scam losses in 2024 alone, including over $1 billion from romance scams targeting American women. The "Yahoo Boys" and "Sakawa Boys" typically pose as White American men or military personnel on dating platforms and social media to defraud victims. While law enforcement operations like INTERPOL's Operation Red Card 2.0 resulted in over 650 arrests and $4.3 million recovered, the schemes persist due to high unemployment in West Africa, AI-enabled impersonation tools, and the transnational nature of the crime.
aol.com
· 2026-08-01
As Georgia's population grows by nearly 100,000 residents annually, law enforcement reports increasing cybercrime and scams, with the state ranking among the top 10 for reported cybercrime nationwide and experiencing a 24% increase in cyber-enabled crime. Older adults are disproportionately targeted through gift card scams, fake grandchild emergency calls, and impersonation schemes where scammers pose as law enforcement claiming victims owe money for arrest warrants or unpaid citations. State officials are expanding partnerships with the FBI and Georgia Attorney General's Office to combat these emerging threats through coordinated investigations and intelligence sharing.
finance.biggo.com
· 2026-08-01
According to Solana Foundation's CISO Michael Coates, AI-powered deepfake scams and social engineering attacks have become a greater security threat to cryptocurrency than smart contract vulnerabilities, with techniques like "pig butchering" romance scams becoming increasingly sophisticated. Coates warned that advances in AI and deepfakes—including fake voice calls and false identities—could enable fraud to proliferate at massive scale, making it realistic for anyone to be deceived. He advocated for multi-layered security frameworks as a solution, emphasizing that industry success depends on building systems that protect users by default rather than expecting them to become security experts.
aol.com
· 2026-08-01
Two men from Brooklyn, New York pleaded guilty to a $750,000 theft scam targeting a Jackson County, Tennessee resident who was duped by fake Treasury Department calls into liquidating investment certificates and purchasing gold. The victim was told a courier would secure the gold until his identity threat was resolved, but after three successful thefts totaling $750,000, he contacted authorities on a fourth attempt, leading to the suspects' arrest during a controlled operation in October 2024. Both defendants were sentenced to 20 years in prison with no parole eligibility until full restitution of $750,000 is paid to the victim.
sent-trib.com
· 2026-08-01
Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn and Prosecutor Paul Dobson conducted educational presentations at senior centers to warn older adults about scams, noting that seniors are targeted three to five times more often than other groups due to loneliness, trust, and limited technology knowledge. From 2020 to 2024, cases involving losses of $10,000 or more increased four-fold, while cases with losses exceeding $100,000 increased seven-fold in the county, though authorities believe actual numbers are higher due to underreporting. The officials advised seniors to never provide personal information to callers, avoid clicking suspicious links, be wary of urgency and fear tactics, and recognize red flags such as
cryptopolitan.com
· 2026-08-01
Hong Kong law enforcement received 25 reports of romance and cryptocurrency investment scams in late July, with victims losing approximately HK$70 million (US$9 million). The scams typically begin with romantic relationship-building on social media or dating apps, then convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency trading platforms that show false profits before blocking withdrawals. In 2025, online investment fraud cases in Hong Kong rose 30.7% to 5,135 cases with losses jumping 58.4% to HK$3.58 billion, representing 44.1% of all deception-related financial losses despite accounting for only 11.9% of deception cases.
hypefresh.com
· 2026-08-01
Researchers from four universities found that AI chatbots are significantly more effective than trained humans at conducting romance scams, with nearly 50% of test participants agreeing to download a malicious app when chatting with AI compared to only 18% with humans. The study, based on interviews with 145 scam compound insiders across Southeast Asia and a controlled laboratory trial, reveals that organized crime syndicates are increasingly using AI language models like ChatGPT and Claude for romance-baiting operations that have laundered over $75 billion in cryptocurrency. These findings demonstrate how AI is being weaponized to exploit victims at scale through enhanced emotional manipulation and trust-building in coordinated fraud networks operating from trafficking compounds in Southeast
wrbl.com
· 2026-08-01
Georgia is experiencing a surge in cybercrime and scams as its population grows, with the state ranking among the top 10 nationwide for reported cybercrime and experiencing a 24% increase in cyber-enabled crime. Older adults are being disproportionately targeted through gift card scams, fake grandchild emergency calls, and impersonation schemes where scammers pose as law enforcement demanding payment for arrest warrants or unpaid citations. State law enforcement agencies are expanding partnerships with the FBI and Georgia Attorney General's Office to combat these threats through coordinated investigations and intelligence sharing.
cryptobriefing.com
· 2026-08-01
Minnesota banned cryptocurrency kiosks after residents lost nearly $1 million to scams between 2023 and 2025, with over 100 complaints filed and an 80-year-old victim losing $80,000 in a single incident. Governor Tim Walz signed the prohibition into law on May 5, 2026, making Minnesota the third state to fully outlaw the machines following Tennessee and Indiana. The scams typically involved fake emergency calls and impersonation schemes that pressured victims to convert cash to cryptocurrency through the kiosks, with funds then disappearing into untraceable wallets.
independent.ng
· 2026-08-01
Nigerian criminal networks are increasingly using digital platforms and online scams to recruit and exploit human trafficking victims, luring them with fake job offers, scholarships, and business proposals shared through social media and messaging apps. Government officials and international agencies have acknowledged that existing laws and institutions are inadequate to combat this evolving threat and are calling for urgent legal reforms, stronger inter-agency collaboration, and technology-driven solutions to address the growing epidemic of digitally-enabled human trafficking.
nbcboston.com
· 2026-08-01
Massachusetts residents lost over $77 million to cryptocurrency kiosk scams in 2024, with scammers targeting victims by impersonating customer service representatives and convincing them to deposit cash into Bitcoin ATMs to transfer funds to criminal-controlled digital wallets. Lawmakers are considering a statewide ban on crypto ATMs to eliminate this key mechanism used by fraudsters, as law enforcement officials report that recovering stolen funds is extremely difficult once scammers move cryptocurrency through mixing services and foreign exchanges. One notable case involved a Middleton woman who lost over $11,000 after being deceived by someone posing as PayPal customer service, though police were able to recover some funds through a search warrant.
bitdefender.com
· 2026-08-01
The Better Business Bureau warns consumers about postcards claiming they qualify for free gas and grocery gift cards, which actually lead to unauthorized charges and personal information theft. Victims report paying small "processing fees" (around $5) that result in additional unauthorized charges totaling $50 or more, plus exposure to identity fraud and phishing attacks. Scammers use these tactics because physical mail appears legitimate, families seek ways to reduce expenses, and low upfront costs make victims less likely to question the offers before providing payment details.
tuberville.senate.gov
· 2026-08-01
Senator Tommy Tuberville held a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing discussing AI-enabled scams targeting seniors, featuring testimony from experts and an AI scam victim. Panelists emphasized education as a primary solution, recommending national awareness campaigns about AI deepfakes and fraud, particularly targeting Baby Boomers through trusted channels like banks, alongside technological filters to remove AI-generated media and prevent caller ID impersonation.
aarp.org
· 2026-08-01
I cannot provide a summary of this content because what you've provided is only the navigation menu structure of an AARP website, not an article about a specific scam or fraud incident. There is no actual article text describing what happened, who was affected, or any fraudulent activity.
Please provide the actual article content if you'd like me to summarize it.
cryptobriefing.com
· 2026-07-31
Texans lost approximately $57 million to cryptocurrency kiosk scams in 2025, primarily targeting elderly victims who are tricked into depositing cash into crypto ATMs to send funds to scammers' wallets. Texas lawmakers plan to ban crypto kiosks entirely, joining Indiana, Tennessee, and Minnesota in prohibiting the machines, as three states have already enacted or scheduled bans to take effect between March and August 2026. The scam typically involves fraudsters contacting victims with urgent stories about unpaid taxes or compromised accounts, directing them to withdraw cash and convert it to cryptocurrency that cannot be recovered once transferred.
latrobebulletinnews.com
· 2026-07-31
A jury duty scam targeting Westmoreland County residents for approximately two years has defrauded victims by posing as sheriff's office representatives and demanding payment via Bitcoin or gift cards to avoid arrest for missed jury duty. In one recent case, a 52-year-old Hempfield Township woman lost $11,250 in Bitcoin after receiving such a call. The scam is part of a broader trend of fraud in the county, including cases where a 69-year-old woman lost nearly $247,000 to romance and impersonation scams over three years.
newsbreak.com
· 2026-07-31
Scammers are increasingly using in-person couriers to collect cash and gold bars from elderly victims' homes after convincing them their accounts have been hacked or compromised. The scheme typically begins with fraudulent calls impersonating banks, tech companies, or government agencies, instructing victims to withdraw savings or purchase precious metals, which are then handed directly to a courier at the door. Between May and December 2023 alone, over $55 million in losses from this "Phantom Hacker" scam variant were reported to federal authorities, with the true total likely much higher due to underreporting among embarrassed victims.
herald-citizen.com
· 2026-07-31
Criminals are impersonating bank employees via phone calls, claiming fraudulent activity was detected and requesting account numbers and online banking credentials to gain access to victims' accounts. Americans lost an estimated $37 billion to telephone and internet fraud in 2025, though experts believe the actual figure is much higher due to underreporting, with only about 4.8% of victims reporting crimes to authorities. Bank officials warn customers to never provide account information over the phone and instead hang up and call their bank directly to verify any fraud alerts.
techtimes.com
· 2026-07-31
Researchers found that an AI chatbot built from commercial tools outperformed trained human romance scammers at building trust and extracting behavioral compliance from test subjects, achieving a 46% compliance rate versus 18% for human experts. When 250 simulated romance-baiting conversations were tested against safety filters from OpenAI, Google, and Meta, none of them were flagged or detected—revealing that major AI vendors' safety infrastructure fails to catch romance scam tactics despite their widespread threat. The study highlights a critical vulnerability where AI handles trust-building while human operators take over for financial extraction, making the criminal pipeline invisible to current AI safety systems.
latimes.com
· 2026-07-31
Immigration-related scams have surged dramatically in Orange County and nationwide, with con artists impersonating licensed attorneys using fake websites, AI-generated photos, and stolen identities to defraud vulnerable immigrants seeking legal help, with victims losing hundreds to thousands of dollars. The scams have become increasingly sophisticated, with some legitimate attorneys also participating in fraud by filing false asylum and visa applications without client knowledge, exploiting immigrants' desperation during a surge in deportation cases. Federal Trade Commission complaints about immigration service fraud increased from 623 in 2023 to 1,626 in 2025, and disciplinary actions against immigration lawyers nationwide have escalated significantly.
latimes.com
· 2026-07-31
A 53-year-old Southern California woman lost thousands of dollars to online fraudsters who posted a fake rental listing for an affordable bungalow near Fullerton on social media and real estate platforms. The scam is part of a growing trend where criminals use fake listings and AI-generated content on social media to exploit people desperate for affordable housing in California's tight rental market. Police report that perpetrators often operate through untraceable accounts and from outside the country, making it extremely difficult to hold them accountable.
sbs.com.au
· 2026-07-31
As Australia's 2026 Census approaches, scammers are impersonating the Australian Bureau of Statistics through cold calls, fake texts, and phishing emails to trick residents into sharing personal information. The ABS has clarified it will never request sensitive data, offer prizes, or contact people via social media, and legitimate Census communications come only from official @abs.gov.au email addresses and include an ABS logo or yellow field officer identification. Australians are urged to verify any Census-related contact through the official ABS website or Scamwatch before responding.
riograndeguardian.com
· 2026-07-31
Summer travel scams are on the rise, with a McAfee report finding that 38% of travelers encountered travel-related scams and 41% of those lost money, as scammers increasingly use AI to make fraudulent schemes appear more authentic. Common summer scams include fake travel deals, password theft, caller ID spoofing impersonating airlines and hotels, and impersonation of government agencies using scare tactics. Protection strategies include verifying travel deals through official channels, never sharing passwords or one-time codes, keeping vacation photos private, and hanging up on suspicious callers rather than using the number on caller ID.
kxii.com
· 2026-07-31
Used car scams target buyers with artificially low prices and fraudulent listings, with scammers using third-party payment apps and gift cards to make refunds nearly impossible. The Texas Department of Insurance recommends verifying vehicles through their VIN number on sites like VIN Check and purchasing in person to avoid these scams, which can cost thousands of dollars upfront plus increased insurance premiums.
sbs.com.au
· 2026-07-31
Ahead of Australia's 2026 Census on August 11, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's Scamwatch has received reports of scams where fraudsters impersonate the Australian Bureau of Statistics through fake emails, texts, and calls to trick people into sharing personal information. The ABS has warned that scammers may pose as Census officials requesting sensitive data, offering prizes, or using hyperlinks in emails—none of which legitimate Census communications will do. Australians are advised to verify any Census-related contact through the official ABS website or hotline (1300 100 557) and report suspicious messages to Scamwatch.