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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
choice.com.au
Australia reported $2.74 billion in scam losses in 2023, a 13% decline from 2022, though people aged 65 and over bucked this trend with losses increasing 13.3% to $120 million, often involving social media-based investment scams targeting retirement savings. Investment scams led all fraud types at $1.3 billion in total losses, while job scams surged over 150%, disproportionately affecting culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The ACCC's coordinated multi-agency approach is credited with helping reduce overall losses, though advocates call for stronger consumer protections and greater accountability from tech platforms facilitating scam activity.
hellocare.com.au
In 2023, Australian seniors aged 65 and above lost more than $2.7 billion to scams across over 601,000 reported cases, representing a significant increase from 2022's 507,000 reports. Investment scams were the leading threat, accounting for $1.3 billion in losses, followed by remote access scams ($256 million), romance scams ($201.1 million), and phishing scams ($137.4 million), with tactics including deepfake videos and celebrity impersonations. The ACCC reports that the true scale is likely much larger, as an estimated one in three victims never report their fraud, and the government has launche
popsci.com
Online romance scams resulted in over $1.1 billion in losses during 2023, with victims losing an average of $2,000 each across all age groups and demographics, though experts believe actual scam incidents are significantly underreported due to victim embarrassment. Match Group, which operates popular dating platforms including Tinder, Match.com, and OkCupid, faces ongoing regulatory scrutiny for inadequate fraud prevention despite claims of $125 million invested in safety measures and removal of 96% of scam accounts daily. The FTC advises users to avoid sending money to online contacts they haven't met in person, conduct reverse image searches on photos, and report suspected scams to
foxnews.com
The "Yahoo Boys" scam is a sophisticated romance fraud scheme primarily conducted by Nigerian cybercriminals using deepfake technology to impersonate romantic interests via video calls. Scammers use face-swapping software on secondary devices to create realistic digital masks of fabricated identities, which they transmit to victims during video calls to build trust before manipulating them into transferring money. The FBI has reported over $650 million in losses to romance scams of this type, making deepfake-enabled catfishing significantly more dangerous than traditional romance fraud.
finance.yahoo.com
Renato Calalang, a 60-year-old Australian warehouse worker, lost nearly $150,000 in life savings to an inheritance scam after receiving an email from someone claiming to be a Philippine bank owner offering him a €3.8 million inheritance from a deceased cousin. The scammer, posing as "Steve Golds," provided forged documents including a death certificate and instructed Calalang to open a new bank account and deposit funds to facilitate the transfer, exploiting Calalang's family ties to the Philippines and his trust in his existing bank. After months of transfers and communication, Calalang realized he had been defrauded and lost his retirement
businessinsider.com
Romance scams on dating apps cost Americans over $650 million in 2022, with the FTC reporting even higher losses of $1.3 billion and alleging that 25-30% of daily Match.com sign-ups were scammers. These scams, which primarily target older adults, include phishing attacks and sextortion schemes, and victims rarely recover their stolen funds due to the difficulty of tracing money once it leaves the country. Match Group's CEO acknowledged empathy for victims but emphasized the company's focus on platform safety, though the FTC has filed a lawsuit against the company over inadequate fraud prevention measures.
cbc.ca
An Edmonton couple lost approximately $95,000 USD when they purchased a Mexican beachfront timeshare in Nuevo Vallarta that charged extensive additional fees, making vacations unaffordable; when they attempted to sell it in 2019, a broker's offer to buy it for $155,000 USD proved to be a scam involving requests for upfront payments. Additionally, Canadian police report that nearly one-third of stolen vehicles are now being resold domestically to unsuspecting buyers rather than exported, with criminals exploiting weak provincial registration systems by cloning Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) from comparable vehicles, as exemplified by a Toronto man who discovered his used Ford F-
ottawacitizen.com
Scam text messages claiming Ottawa residents were caught speeding in a school zone and demanding immediate payment via a link began circulating over the weekend. The City of Ottawa warned residents that it never solicits payments by text and that legitimate speed camera tickets are issued by mail with detailed infraction photos and information, allowing 15 days to pay or request a trial. Anyone who received the scam text and shared personal information was urged to contact Ottawa Police Service.
businessday.ng
Nigerian "Yahoo boys" are using sophisticated deepfake technology in romance scams to create fake video identities on platforms like Zoom, employing readily available software to realistically alter their appearance in real-time during video calls. Scammers build trust through social engineering before exploiting victims financially, with experts warning that rapidly improving deepfake quality makes these deceptions increasingly believable and poses risks for significant financial losses. Security experts caution that this technology's ease of use could expand beyond romance scams to other fraudulent schemes.
au.news.yahoo.com
Australians lost $2.7 billion to 601,000 reported scams in the past year, representing a 13.1% decrease in losses despite an 18.5% increase in reported incidents, according to the Australian Anti-Scam Centre. Investment scams caused the most harm ($1.3 billion), followed by remote access scams ($256 million) and romance scams ($201.1 million), with people over 65 being disproportionately affected—experiencing a 13.3% increase in losses to $120 million and being particularly vulnerable to investment and social media-initiated scams. Text messages were the most common contact method for scams
techtimes.com
A South Korean woman lost $50,000 to a scammer who used deepfake videos to impersonate Elon Musk on Instagram, convincing her to transfer funds through a fake investment opportunity. The scammer built credibility by sharing fabricated photos, identification documents, and intimate details about Musk's life, ultimately conducting a convincing video call using deepfake technology. The victim later appeared on South Korean television to warn others about the dangers of this sophisticated fraud technique.
recorder.com
This opinion piece describes the author's frustration with repeated scam phone calls, including grandparent scams, fake IRS calls requesting personal information, impersonations of police and political organizations, and fraudulent refund offers. Rather than providing fraud prevention advice, the author humorously proposes installing a lengthy, confusing voicemail recording designed to waste scammers' time as revenge for the disruption they cause.
livemint.com
The author, a business journalist, shares a personal experience of falling victim to an elaborate scam where fraudsters impersonated FedEx and Mumbai Cyber Crime officials, keeping him on the phone for over two hours and convincing him his Aadhar number was used to send drugs internationally; he lost personal documents in the process. The piece warns readers that sophisticated scams involving fake video calls with uniformed "officials," automated calls, multiple perpetrators, and forged documents are increasingly common, and advises maximum caution against unsolicited calls claiming to be from authorities like Trai or law enforcement.
e-know.ca
Grandparent scams, where perpetrators contact elderly individuals claiming to be distressed family members in need of immediate money, continue to affect victims across British Columbia, with scammers now using AI-assisted voice manipulation to increase authenticity. The fraud typically requests payment via wire transfers or cryptocurrency ATMs, making recovery nearly impossible, though anyone can become a target regardless of age. To protect against these scams, people should verify caller identities independently, avoid sending money immediately, and report suspected fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
shorenewsnetwork.com
This educational piece provides guidance for recognizing and protecting against scams and fraud. Key recommendations include ending communication with suspected scammers, verifying suspicious offers through online searches, resisting artificial urgency, avoiding unsolicited contact, never sharing personal information or money with unverified sources, maintaining updated security software, blocking pop-ups, exercising caution with email attachments, and monitoring financial accounts if compromised. The advice emphasizes prevention through vigilance and immediate reporting to authorities if safety is at risk.
mauinow.com
Following the August Maui wildfires, residents rebuilding their homes face increased risk from fraudulent contractors who exploit disaster survivors' vulnerability through high-pressure sales tactics, fake discounts, and promises of quick completion. A retired San Diego prosecutor warned that post-disaster scams are common and sophisticated, often involving organized crime rings using cryptocurrency payments, and advised victims to obtain multiple quotes, verify contractor licenses, avoid cash payments, and reject time-limited offers. Key warning signs include pressure tactics, unsolicited contact, and claims of special discounts or fake home inspections.
aarp.org
Criminologist David Maimon's research team at Georgia State University has documented extensive criminal activity on the dark web, where organized groups anonymously buy and sell stolen personal information, forged checks, and hacked financial accounts at minimal prices. The research reveals that stolen personal identification data is often more valuable to criminals than cash itself, as it enables them to open fraudulent bank accounts, obtain fake documents, and commit various financial crimes. Dark web criminals also engage in romance scams, mail theft using stolen postal keys, and bank fraud, operating through sophisticated networks that steal billions of dollars annually.
petapixel.com
A South Korean woman lost $50,000 to a romance scam involving a deepfake video call with someone impersonating Elon Musk on Instagram, who convinced her to transfer funds by promising investment returns. The scammer used AI-generated photos of fake ID cards and deepfake video technology to establish credibility, exemplifying the growing trend of AI-enabled romance fraud that cost victims $1.3 billion in 2022 according to FTC data.
cnet.com
Online dating scams have increased 72% since 2023, with 27% of dating app users targeted and 42% of those actually defrauded, as artificial intelligence tools make romance scams easier to execute and harder to detect. Scammers now use AI-generated images and chatbots to create convincing fake profiles, while legitimate daters also adopt AI for profile optimization and pickup lines. Protection strategies include requesting recent photos, avoiding delayed in-person meetings, refusing to click unknown links, and being alert for bot interactions that may lead to malware or blackmail schemes.
livemint.com
A South Korean woman lost 70 million won (approximately ₹41 lakh) in a romance scam after being deceived by a scammer impersonating Elon Musk using deepfake video technology. The scammer built trust over Instagram by sharing fabricated details about Musk's life, conducting a deepfake video call to appear authentic, and then convincing the victim to transfer money to a Korean bank account with promises of investment returns. This incident reflects a growing trend of scammers exploiting the identities of high-profile figures like Musk to defraud vulnerable targets.
fox5atlanta.com
A retired Duluth couple lost their entire life savings of $49,000 to phone scammers in February 2024 who impersonated Chase Bank employees by spoofing the bank's phone number and text short code. Despite not sharing passwords, Social Security numbers, or account details, the scammers kept Gloria Moss on the phone for approximately 20 minutes while they drained her account via wire transfer to a Wells Fargo account, from which only $700 was recovered. Chase Bank initially refused to reimburse the couple, claiming they had verified the wire transfer was valid, though Gloria Moss disputed this claim.
wlwt.com
The U.S. Marshals Service issued a warning about phone imposter scams in which callers falsely claim to be law enforcement officials and demand immediate payment of fines for alleged identity theft, missed jury duty, or other legal violations, using tactics like providing fake badge numbers and courthouse information to appear credible. The Marshals emphasized that legitimate law enforcement will never contact the public by phone to demand money, request credit card numbers, bank routing numbers, or wire transfers. Victims are urged to contact their local police department.
wkow.com
A 23-year-old Chicago man, Jiale Yang, was arrested in Verona after stealing $50,000 from a 71-year-old woman through a tech support scam that impersonated bank investigators and an IRS agent. Yang posed as a courier picking up funds the victim was told to withdraw for a fake investigation into compromised accounts allegedly used for illegal activities, and authorities recovered $30,000 when he was apprehended attempting one of two planned pickups. Experts advise seniors to verify unusual requests through trusted contacts, as scammers often target isolated seniors by creating false urgency and impersonating legitimate institutions.
justice.gov
Jorrel Tyler Jackson, a 31-year-old Florida man, was sentenced to 6.5 years in federal prison for his role in an international fraud conspiracy that targeted senior citizens across multiple states, causing $1,584,077 in losses to 22 victims. Jackson's role involved collecting cash packages from victims and recruiting others; the scam began with fake virus warning pop-ups that directed victims to call numbers where Indian-based scammers impersonated tech companies or federal agents, then convinced them to surrender money through various ruses including fake bank compromise claims, criminal investigation threats, and technical support fees. Authorities emphasize that victims should never click unsolicited pop-ups,
timesgazette.com
Highland County Community Action Agency and commissioners are offering free in-person digital literacy training for seniors to address growing online safety risks. The training covers key protective measures including identifying phishing scams, securing social media privacy settings, creating strong passwords, and enabling two-factor authentication to help older adults safely use technology for connecting with family and accessing services.
pensionsage.com
A study by the Money and Pensions Service found that 71% of people using its Pension Guidance helpline felt more confident spotting and managing financial scams, with 83% feeling greater control over their finances. Among 833 service users in 2023/24, approximately £13.6 million was lost to financial crimes and scams (averaging £16,297 per person), with identity theft, bank account scams, and investment fraud being the most common types.
psychologytoday.com
Between January 2021 and June 2023, Americans lost $2.7 billion to social media scams on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, with investment scams accounting for 53% of total losses despite representing fewer reported incidents than shopping scams. While younger adults and minors are heavily targeted, the article provides protective measures including verifying companies before purchase, using credit cards instead of debit cards, being cautious of unsolicited money requests and romance scams, and avoiding targeted advertising features that scammers exploit.
kdhlradio.com
A Facebook phishing scam using posts with messages like "It Won't Be The Same Without Him" is circulating in Minnesota and Wisconsin, tricking users into clicking malicious links by exploiting emotions and the assumption that a friend has died. When clicked, the scam compromises Facebook accounts, allowing scammers to steal personal information and spread the scam to the victim's friends through fraudulent posts and tags. Users who fall victim should immediately reset passwords, check privacy settings, remove suspicious friends, run antivirus software, and report the malicious links to Facebook.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A South Korean woman lost $50,000 to a romance scam in which a fraudster impersonated Elon Musk using deepfake technology in video calls, gradually building an emotional connection before convincing her to "invest" the money in a fake Tesla opportunity. The scammer used fabricated details about Musk's life, official-looking ID photos, and a convincing deepfake video declaring "I love you" to manipulate the victim into transferring funds to a bank account. This case reflects a broader pattern of romance scammers exploiting emotions and celebrity identities, with romance fraud alone costing victims $1.3 billion in the U.S. in 2022.
metro.co.uk
In the first half of 2023, British consumers lost £580 million and US consumers lost $10 billion to various scams including ID theft, bank fraud, police impersonation, and romance scams (which rose 29%). A darker dimension of this fraud involves "cyber slaves"—trafficking victims coerced into scamming others: hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people are tricked into traveling abroad for promised jobs, then imprisoned in compounds where they are forced to conduct scams daily or face starvation and beatings, with their passports and phones confiscated to prevent escape. One Pakistani victim, Ali, was trafficked to Cambodia, paid $5,475 in fees, and force
in.mashable.com
A South Korean woman lost approximately $50,000 (Rs 41.5 lakh) to a scam involving an impersonator posing as Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Instagram. The fraudster built trust by sharing fake identification documents, fabricating details about Musk meetings with South Korean officials, and conducting deepfake video calls before convincing the victim to transfer funds to a bank account allegedly belonging to a Musk employee. The victim initially suspected the impostor but was gradually deceived through increasingly sophisticated social engineering tactics.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A sophisticated multi-person scam operation targeted an X user in India through impersonation of TRAI and Mumbai Police officials, using an automated call claiming the victim's number would be blocked to initiate an hour-long elaborate scheme involving four different scammers who posed as telecom officials, police officers, and a head constable. The scammers falsely claimed the victim was involved in illegal advertising and a Rs 65-crore money laundering case, attempting to extract personal information including an Aadhaar number, though the victim eventually became suspicious and ended the call. The incident went viral on social media, with multiple users reporting similar scams and sharing fake police identity cards circulated by the
aol.com
An elderly Birmingham, Alabama woman with medical needs was defrauded of over $200,000 by five individuals employed to care for her, including two live-in caretakers, a house cleaner, and a hairdresser, who were charged with wire fraud and identity theft between December 2020 and February 2022. The perpetrators used the victim's credit card information and banking services to make unauthorized purchases and transfers, with the hairdresser alone charging over $130,000 to her Square account. The case reflects a broader trend of elder financial exploitation in the U.S., with the Treasury reporting approximately $27 billion in suspicious elder fraud activity in a single year.
liherald.com
A 27-year-old Brooklyn man was arrested in April 2023 for defrauding a 94-year-old victim of approximately $250,000 through a Publishers Clearing House prize scam, in which the perpetrator posed as a representative and convinced the victim to pay upfront taxes via cashier's checks. The victim reported the fraud to police after realizing he had been deceived, leading to a multi-agency investigation and the arrest of Jamario Smellie, who was charged with grand larceny.
ivpressonline.com
Congressman Raul Ruiz held a senior fraud awareness seminar in El Centro after his own mother nearly fell victim to a "grandparent scam" in which a scammer impersonated a relative in Mexico requesting $5,000 for bail. The event highlighted that fraud is a national epidemic affecting seniors, with Ruiz noting that 198 fraudulent cases were reported in the prior year (likely representing only a fraction of actual incidents due to underreporting caused by embarrassment and fear), and emphasized the importance of reporting scams to law enforcement and sharing fraud prevention information within communities.
wgal.com
A Lancaster County man lost $165,000 in a "pig butchering" romance scam after being contacted on Facebook by a woman claiming to be "Libby Collins," who persuaded him to invest in cryptocurrency. Despite warnings from his bank, Mark Heath sent three wire transfers; investigators have traced $80,000 of the funds to cryptocurrency, with recovery uncertain. The FBI reports romance scams increased 183% last year and often originate from Southeast Asia and China, typically targeting vulnerable individuals living alone.
duanemorris.com
The IRS released its 2024 "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams, warning that both simple and sophisticated schemes continue to target taxpayers year-round, with peaks during tax season. The most prevalent scams include phishing and smishing (fraudulent emails and text messages impersonating the IRS or financial organizations to steal personal information) and abusive employee retention credit claims that convince ineligible people to claim false credits. Taxpayers are advised to be cautious of unsolicited communications and verify the authenticity of official-looking emails and texts before providing sensitive information.
wfaa.com
Dallas County residents received scam calls from fraudsters impersonating law enforcement who demanded immediate payment via wire transfer or gift cards, claiming the victims had outstanding warrants for missing grand jury duty. The Dallas County Criminal District Attorney's Office warned that legitimate law enforcement never requests payment over the phone and advised residents to verify suspicious calls directly with law enforcement and avoid sharing personal information with callers.
lohud.com
A 70-year-old Bedford resident was scammed out of $28,000 after responding to a pop-up security alert on their computer and calling the number provided, believing they were contacting Microsoft support. The scammer, identified as Jinguan Li, 48, of Brooklyn, posed as a Microsoft employee and convinced the victim that a cash payment was necessary for computer repairs, which the victim then handed over in person; Li was arrested with over $100,000 in cash and charged with grand larceny. The incident highlights the vulnerability of older adults to pop-up scams and authorities recommend scrutinizing pop-ups before clicking and reporting suspicious activity to banks or police.
deseret.com
Generation Z Americans are falling victim to online scams at significantly higher rates than older generations, with a 2023 Deloitte survey showing Gen Z is three times more likely to be scammed than baby boomers and twice as likely to have social media accounts hacked; social media scams accounted for 38% of reported losses among people aged 20-29 in 2023. Scammers increasingly use text, email, and social media impersonation rather than phone calls, and exploit victims' familiarity with technology and inadequate cybersecurity education. To protect themselves, people should enable two-step authentication, avoid upfront payment job offers, be skeptical of guaranteed returns
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The Indian government is planning to establish a Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre under the Cybercrime Coordination Centre to combat the surge in online scams by coordinating real-time responses across banks, telecom providers, IT companies, and law enforcement. The centre will co-locate representatives from major banks, telecom service providers, and police departments to enable seamless cooperation and prevent financial losses, with the project targeted for completion within the government's first 100 days in office.
channelnewsasia.com
This commentary discusses "scambaiting"—intentionally engaging with scammers to waste their time—as an unconventional tactic some people use against fraud. While it can provide psychological satisfaction and prevent scammers from targeting vulnerable victims, scambaiting carries legal risks under harassment and stalking laws, and may provoke retaliation including doxxing or threats to the person's loved ones.
tribune.com.pk
A South Korean woman lost approximately £40,000 to a romance scam after being deceived by a scammer posing as Elon Musk via deepfake video calls on Instagram. The scammer built trust by sharing convincing photos and personal details, then persuaded her to invest money in a fraudulent opportunity through a Korean bank account. This case reflects a broader pattern of criminals exploiting Musk's image and reputation to commit investment and romance fraud against unsuspecting victims.
the-sun.com
A retired Chicago worker lost over $19,000 in a wire transfer scam after a fraudster impersonating a Chase Bank representative gained remote access to his computer through a phishing email about an unauthorized credit card. The scammer deposited $20,000 into his account, then manipulated Thomas into transferring back $19,450 of his own money by claiming it was an error and using emotional manipulation. Chase Bank denied his refund claim, stating he had compromised his account by sharing sensitive information, despite multiple similar cases affecting Chase customers.
pottsmerc.com
The Association of Health Care Journalists reported that elder scams have become increasingly sophisticated through artificial intelligence, making them harder to distinguish from legitimate interactions. The AARP Fraud Watch Network received nearly 100,000 calls in 2023, and the National Council on Aging documented 88,000 fraud victims age 60+ in 2022 alone, losing $3.1 billion collectively. Common schemes include the grandparent scam (impersonation requesting wire transfers), romance scams (nearly 70,000 reported in 2022 with $1.3 billion in losses), government impersonation, tech support fraud, and voice recording scams, with
cbsnews.com
Between 2013 and 2018, as many as 25-30 percent of new Match.com members were reportedly using the platform to perpetrate romance scams, according to an FTC lawsuit against parent company Match Group. American victims lost over $1 billion to romance scammers in 2023 alone, with dating apps serving as primary "hunting grounds" for scammers targeting vulnerable individuals, including a case where an Illinois widow lost her life savings of $1.5 million to a fake profile. Despite Match Group's reported $125 million annual investment in trust and safety measures, critics argue the company has not done enough to prevent scammers from accessing the platform
cbsnews.com
A former Nigerian romance scammer named Christopher, who operated fake dating profiles from 2016 to defraud women of large sums of money, was arrested and has since reformed by working for an anti-scam company and sharing his story to raise awareness. Romance scams are a widespread federal crime affecting tens of thousands of Americans annually, with cases often involving multiple victims and complex schemes that are difficult to prosecute; U.S. Attorney Erek Barron's office in Maryland has made scam and fraud cases a top priority through participation in the Justice Department's "Elder Justice Strike Force" and partnerships with organizations like AARP to prevent future victimization.
sandhillsexpress.com
Laura Kowal became a victim of a sophisticated romance scam in which a man posing as "Frank Borg" initially romanced her, then manipulated her into becoming a "money mule" by setting up fake companies and bank accounts to launder stolen money for overseas-based scammers. This emerging tactic leverages victims' emotional attachment and trust to coerce them into committing fraud themselves, creating a legal dilemma for prosecutors who must decide whether to charge victims as accomplices or treat them primarily as victims of manipulation. The FBI has identified this pattern as increasingly widespread, with scammers using victims' criminal complicity as additional leverage to maintain control and coerce continued cooperation.
12news.com
The FBI Phoenix detailed a sophisticated "Phantom Hacker" scam targeting elderly Arizonans that has resulted in multiple victims losing their life savings. The scam typically begins with a fake pop-up warning of computer compromise, followed by scammers posing as representatives from legitimate companies and banks who gain remote access to victims' computers, monitor their banking activity, and then direct them to transfer funds to cryptocurrency ATMs. FBI officials indicate the scammers, often operating from overseas locations like Russia and China, are successful in returning victims' funds approximately two-thirds to three-quarters of the time when reports are made within one to two days of the transaction.
states.aarp.org
**Summary:**
Government impostor scams, particularly those impersonating the Social Security Administration, cost victims nearly $617 million in 2023 according to the FTC. Scammers use emotional manipulation—fear about suspended benefits or excitement about higher payments—to bypass victims' logical thinking and steal money and sensitive information. To protect yourself, hang up on unsolicited Social Security calls and verify contact through official SSA channels; report suspected scams to local law enforcement or AARP's Fraud Watch Network.