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villagelivingonline.com
The Better Business Bureau identified twelve holiday season scams consumers should avoid, including misleading social media ads, social media gift exchanges (pyramid schemes), fraudulent holiday apps, phishing emails offering free gift cards, fake job postings, and impostor scams. The BBB advises exercising caution with unsolicited messages and payment requests via wire transfer, third parties, or prepaid cards, and recommends verifying business legitimacy through BBB.org before making purchases or sharing personal information.
aarp.org
An AARP Fraud Watch Network survey of 1,869 U.S. consumers found that 82 percent experienced or were targeted by holiday-related scams in the past year, with similar rates among adults 65 and older (80 percent), including delivery fraud notifications (up to 56 percent from 29 percent in 2022), online shopping scams, fake charity requests, and gift cards with no balance (29 percent). Only 28 percent of survey respondents answered seven or more of ten fraud-prevention knowledge questions correctly, indicating that while fraud remains rampant, consumer awareness and protective knowledge are not improving.
consumer.ftc.gov
During Medicare's Open Enrollment Period (October 15 - December 7), scammers impersonate Medicare representatives to steal personal information and money by falsely claiming beneficiaries need to provide Medicare, Social Security, or bank account numbers for new cards or medical equipment claims. Medicare never unexpectedly contacts beneficiaries by phone, email, text, or social media to request personal information, sell coverage, or collect payment for cards. Beneficiaries should hang up on suspicious calls, verify directly with Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE, and report scams to the same number or their local Senior Medicare Patrol.
ksat.com
San Antonio police warn residents that holiday season scams spike during the giving season, with common schemes including fake package delivery texts with malware links, fraudulent social media ads and phishing websites, fake charities, "secret shopper" job scams involving bounced checks, and impersonation scams from criminals posing as banks or law enforcement. Authorities recommend shopping from reputable sources only, researching organizations before donating, verifying suspicious communications by calling companies directly, and remaining vigilant across all communication channels including texts, emails, and social media.
kold.com
This is a general awareness piece alerting readers to holiday season scams and fraud threats. The article identifies three specific fraud concerns: gift card draining scams, deed and probate court fraud affecting families, and scams targeting service members, while directing readers to detailed resources and InvestigateTV coverage for protection strategies.
kwch.com
The Better Business Bureau warns that young adults aged 18-44 are particularly vulnerable to holiday employment scams, with reshipping scams being especially prevalent during this season. The BBB recommends applying directly through company websites, conducting interviews (even virtual ones), and never paying upfront fees to apply for or set up a job, as victims of these scams typically lose out on promised paychecks.
cleveland19.com
During the holiday shopping season, scammers are sending text messages impersonating delivery services with urgent-sounding claims about package issues (invalid zip codes, delivery problems) to trick recipients into clicking malicious links that install spyware or malware. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to avoid clicking links in suspicious texts and instead verify package status directly with the retailer or carrier, noting that legitimate services like USPS do not send unsolicited texts with links.
thereflector.com
Seniors are increasingly targeted by phone scams, particularly those using artificial intelligence to mimic loved ones and request money or personal information. In 2023, the FBI reported over 101,000 elder fraud victims aged 60+ lost an average of $33,915 each, with Battle Ground police documenting an 85.3% surge in fraud cases between October 2023 and October 2024. Experts advise seniors to hang up on any unsolicited caller requesting money or sensitive data, verify requests independently through official phone numbers, and avoid untraceable payment methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency.
mariettatimes.com
The Washington County Sheriff's office warned senior citizens about a sweepstakes scam in which fraudsters contact victims claiming they won the "American Senior Citizen Association Sweepstakes" and demand payment via cashier's check to claim their prize. The sheriff's office urged seniors not to provide money or personal information to the scammers and provided resources for reporting the fraud to the Ohio Attorney General's Fraud Division or the sheriff's office directly.
gmtoday.com
Investment scams remain the highest risk for adults over 55, followed by online purchase scams and romance scams, according to the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker Risk Report. The article provides consumer protection guidance including: avoiding unsolicited calls (especially from spoofed numbers), recognizing red flags like pressure to act quickly or requests for unusual payment methods, hiring only licensed contractors after thorough vetting, being alert to emergency scams targeting grandchildren, and avoiding Medicare fraud schemes involving "free" medical equipment.
fox13memphis.com
An educational meeting was held in Memphis where the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs taught seniors about common scams targeting older adults. Key advice included being skeptical of unsolicited calls, never sharing personal or financial information with unknown callers, and hanging up on suspicious contacts. The top scams affecting seniors include government imposter calls (especially during Medicare enrollment), fake tech support, sweepstakes scams, and grandchild-in-distress schemes, with scammers exploiting emotional manipulation and targeting older adults for their typically greater assets.
states.aarp.org
Identity theft and fraud affect Americans at alarming rates, with the FTC estimating true losses at $137 billion in 2022 despite only $9 billion being officially reported, prompting AARP to urge stronger consumer protections before Capitol Hill lawmakers. Veterans face particular vulnerability, with one in three targeted by scammers who impersonated the VA or pitched fraudulent investments, resulting in $477 million in reported losses in 2023. The article provides practical prevention advice for common scams including holiday shopping fraud, solar panel schemes, and veteran-targeted impersonation scams, recommending consumers type website addresses directly, verify offers through trusted sources, and research companies before providing personal information or
nationalseniors.com.au
National Seniors Australia's "Keep Scam SAFE" campaign, in partnership with CommBank, provides educational resources and workshops to help older Australians protect themselves from rising scams and fraud online. The campaign highlights common scam tactics including fake emails with urgent language, parcel delivery text messages (affecting 75% of scam targets), and voice cloning calls, while recommending protective strategies such as the "Stop, Check, Reject" approach, using Confirmation of Payee technology, regularly changing passwords, and accessing free digital literacy training through the Be Connected initiative.
aol.com
The Louisiana Attorney General's Office hosted a free public seminar on fraud awareness in Natchitoches on November 20, led by North Louisiana Outreach Manager Laura Seabaugh. The educational event covered how to recognize different types of fraud, identify red flags in online scams, protect personal and financial information, and respond if victimized by fraud.
mosselbayadvertiser.com
Online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers using AI and fake social media giveaways to deceive victims who may lose thousands of dollars with little chance of recovery. The article outlines three key protective measures: avoiding unsolicited links and phishing attempts, recognizing "too good to be true" offers that exploit emotions, and strengthening online accounts through strong passwords and two-factor authentication. Keletso Mpisane, head of Blink by MiWay, emphasizes that pausing before responding to suspicious messages and contacting companies directly can help people avoid falling victim to these increasingly common scams.
aol.com
A 60-something UK woman lost approximately $25,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a US Army colonel on Tinder using AI-generated videos, images, and voice messages to build trust before requesting money for a supposed life insurance payout and briefcase delivery scheme. The scammer, claiming to be "Mike Murdy," sent hyperrealistic AI videos personalized with the victim's name and details from their conversations, along with physical gifts, to convince her of his legitimacy until she discovered a briefcase filled with blank paper. This case represents an increasingly sophisticated form of romance fraud that combines AI technology with traditional romance scam tactics to exploit vulnerable individuals.
fox23.com
A scammer impersonated a woman's real boss through email and text messages, claiming to need her to purchase gift cards (Apple, eBay, and Visa cards totaling hundreds of dollars) for a supposed business meeting, with instructions to send card images and receipts for "reimbursement." The victim's bank ultimately blocked the fraudulent transactions, but the Better Business Bureau warns this "boss scam" is increasingly common and advises employees to verify unusual money-related requests directly with their actual boss, especially if the request involves purchasing gift cards or if the sender's email address is not from a legitimate company domain.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A Panchkula resident named Kiran lost Rs 4.9 lakh to a fraudulent Amazon application scam after responding to a part-time job advertisement on Instagram, downloading a fake Amazon app, and sharing her banking details with scammers who then added her to a Telegram group for fake tasks. The article also documents similar scams affecting victims across India, including a woman in Karnataka who lost Rs 1.94 lakh to a fake Amazon job scheme and actress Karuna Pandey who transferred Rs 2.75 lakh after being targeted by impersonators posing as Mumbai Police officers.
belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Northern Ireland takeaway businesses lost over £200,000 since December 2022 to phishing scams targeting their Just Eat partner accounts, with 15 businesses reporting concerns to the platform by last month. Criminals impersonated Just Eat to trick restaurant owners into sharing banking information and manipulate account details, though Just Eat disputes the total loss amount and says its security systems were not breached. Ards and North Down Borough Council passed a motion calling on Just Eat to urgently engage with affected businesses to resolve the issue and prevent further incidents.
indiatoday.in
Dipika Maurya, a woman from Lucknow, lost Rs 1.75 lakh in a work-from-home scam that began in September when she received an unsolicited call offering easy money for liking and commenting on social media posts. After initially seeing returns, she was persuaded to invest Rs 1.75 lakh with promises of significant profits, but the scammers refused to allow withdrawals and demanded additional deposits. The case highlights common red flags: legitimate employers do not require upfront investments, offer jobs via cold calls, or promise high returns for minimal effort.
timesnownews.com
A 70-year-old retired engineer in Delhi lost over Rs 10.3 crore in a "digital arrest" scam that spanned 19 days, beginning in late September 2024. Scammers posing as courier company staff and a Mumbai Police officer manipulated him by claiming a banned substance parcel contained his Aadhaar details, then convinced him to transfer money to "safe accounts" under threat of arrest. Police managed to freeze Rs 60 lakh of the stolen funds, with recovery efforts ongoing.
entergynewsroom.com
This educational piece identifies ten common impostor utility scams, including disconnection threats demanding prepaid card payments, fake billing routing numbers, bogus equipment fees, overpayment refund requests, and post-disaster power restoration charges. The article notes that the Better Business Bureau reported a median loss of $463 per victim in 2023 and advises customers that legitimate utilities send written disconnection notices, offer multiple payment methods, handle equipment upgrades proactively, process refunds via mail or account credits, and do not charge for disaster-related power restoration.
25newsnow.com
Black Friday online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with 41% of all scams reported to the Better Business Bureau in 2023 originating from online purchases, affecting people of all ages through fake websites, deepfake influencer endorsements, and phishing tactics on social media. To protect themselves, consumers should verify website addresses, read reviews, avoid clicking suspicious links, never share private information via email or text, use credit cards instead of gift cards or cryptocurrency, enable multifactor authentication, and be cautious with peer-to-peer payment apps that lack consumer protections.
paymentsdive.com
As scammers increasingly use advanced technology to create realistic fraud schemes, authorized push payment scams—where criminals persuade consumers to voluntarily send money through instant payment networks like Zelle—pose a significant threat even to vigilant consumers. In 2023, Zelle customers disputed over $206 million in fraudulent transactions, with consumers bearing the costs of 80% of those disputes, and the paper notes that once payment is authorized, victims have little to no recourse since transactions are often irrevocable. The Federal Reserve recommends that financial institutions adopt artificial intelligence and machine learning to assess scam risk and alert customers before high-risk transactions are executed.
finance.yahoo.com
A Federal Reserve research paper warns that even vigilant consumers face increasing risk from authorized push payment (APP) scams, as criminals use advanced technology to create increasingly realistic fraud schemes on platforms like Zelle. In 2023, Zelle customers disputed over $206 million in fraudulent transactions, with consumers bearing 80% of the costs and having little recourse once payments are executed. The Fed recommends that instant payment networks adopt more sophisticated fraud-fighting strategies, while scammers continue to evolve their tactics through methods such as fake accounts, mule schemes, and potentially AI-generated personas.
kens5.com
Holiday and travel scams spike during the final quarter of the year, with travel scam losses reaching $43 million in Q4 2023—nearly double the previous year. Common scams include fraudulent travel deals, suspicious charities, QR code phishing schemes, and counterfeit gift cards; consumers should verify websites directly, avoid public Wi-Fi for transactions, purchase gift cards from authorized registers, and be cautious of unsolicited packages with QR codes that may direct them to phishing sites.
coned.com
Con Edison, joining over 150 energy and water companies for Fraud Awareness Week, warns customers to recognize and avoid utility scams that use pressure tactics and fake payment methods like prepaid cards, Cash App, Venmo, and Zelle. Scammers impersonate company employees, manipulate caller IDs, and use digital tactics including fake payment websites and QR codes to steal personal information and money, with some victims losing thousands of dollars after being told transactions failed and paying repeatedly.
welivesecurity.com
Phone scams exploiting voice calls remain highly effective because scammers leverage human psychology and social engineering techniques, with callers having less time to verify legitimacy compared to written communication. In 2023, approximately 28% of unknown calls globally were fraud or spam, affecting 16% of consumers who lost an average of $2,257—a 527% increase from the previous year—while scammers obtain phone numbers through data breaches, social media scraping, and data brokers. Common phone scams include impersonation of authorities (vishing), remote access/tech support fraud, investment schemes, and prize draw scams, with consumers advised to heed "scam likely" warnings from their
pandasecurity.com
Hong Kong police arrested nearly 30 members of a criminal organization that used AI-generated deepfake profiles of attractive women to defraud approximately 400 middle-aged men across Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India in a romance scam totaling $46 million. Victims were lured into fake romantic relationships, manipulated into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms, and unable to withdraw their funds. The article advises victims to watch for red flags such as investment solicitation from new online contacts and signs of manipulated media including unnatural body postures, flat-toned audio, and mismatched facial features.
nypost.com
A UK woman in her 60s lost approximately $25,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a US Army colonel named "Mike Murdy" on Tinder, using hyperrealistic AI-generated videos and messages to build trust before requesting money for a fake life insurance payout scheme. The scammer sent convincing video messages personalized with the victim's name and details from their conversations, along with physical gifts, before ultimately delivering an empty briefcase filled with blank paper. This case represents an emerging threat as fraudsters increasingly leverage sophisticated AI technology to create deepfakes that are difficult for victims—especially those unfamiliar with AI—to distinguish from authentic communications.
thesun.co.uk
A woman named Mary lost £10,000 to a romance scam involving a fake AI-generated US Army Colonel named "Mike Murdy" on Tinder who used deepfake videos and sent physical gifts to build trust. The scammer claimed to have a £607,000 life insurance payout and convinced Mary to pay £10,000 for an access code to unlock a briefcase allegedly containing the funds, but she received only blank papers. The case illustrates how modern scams use AI-generated images and videos to impersonate romantic interests and exploit victims who are often reluctant to report due to shame.
countryherald.com
Romance scams targeting online daters are increasing across Illinois, with scammers employing tactics such as rapid relationship escalation, requests for money via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and avoidance of in-person meetings. The Illinois State Police warned residents to watch for red flags including suspicious links, isolation from loved ones, and pressure to communicate on private apps like WhatsApp or Telegram. Victims are encouraged to report incidents to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and contact their financial institutions if they have suffered monetary losses.
everythingzoomer.com
Fraud is now the leading crime against seniors in Canada, with scammers increasingly using advanced technology like voice simulation, AI, and fake profiles to perpetrate sophisticated schemes. Common scams targeting seniors include grandparent fraud (2,494 Canadian victims lost $9.4 million), romance scams (Canadians lost $59 million in 2022), and phishing attacks (approximately $58 million in losses in 2022). Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to social isolation, limited digital literacy (only 26% feel very confident with technology despite 67% using the internet), and accessible savings, making protection strategies essential as emotional manipulation often overrides caution.
thesun.co.uk
An elderly carer lost £20,000 to an elaborate romance scam involving an AI-generated US Army colonel who contacted her on Tinder and promised her £607,000 in life insurance money. The scammer used hyperrealistic AI-generated videos, personalized messages claiming to love her, and physical gifts to build trust, eventually convincing her to pay nearly £10,000 for delivery and £10,000 to unlock a briefcase that contained only a blank sheet of paper. The National Fraud Helpline is assisting in recovery, with officials noting this as one of the most sophisticated scams they have encountered due to its combination of AI technology and physical misdirection.
firstpost.com
Virgin Media O2 developed Daisy, an AI chatbot designed to mimic an elderly British woman and engage scammers in lengthy conversations to waste their time and prevent them from targeting real victims. Created with input from YouTube scambaiter Jim Browning, Daisy can autonomously hold scammers on the phone for up to 40 minutes by engaging them with fictional stories about family and hobbies, and has already wasted hundreds of hours of scammers' time while collecting data for law enforcement.
dataconomy.com
O2 developed "dAIsy," an AI chatbot that mimics an elderly woman to engage scammers in lengthy conversations, wasting their time and preventing them from targeting real victims—sometimes keeping scammers occupied for up to 40 minutes. The tool uses advanced AI technologies including large language models, voice synthesis, and diffusion models to create lifelike interactions, addressing a critical fraud crisis where Americans over 60 lost nearly $3.4 billion to telephone scams in 2023 and 69% of Britons report being targeted by scammers. O2 encourages the public to report suspicious calls to 7726 and share their experiences to combat increasingly
energized.edison.com
This educational piece advises consumers to remain vigilant against evolving fraud tactics, particularly during International Fraud Awareness Week. Southern California Edison received 1,562 fraud complaints in 2023 totaling $251,000 in losses, with scammers increasingly targeting churches through fake past-due bill alerts and fraudulent barcodes; the article provides protective measures including verifying secure websites, safeguarding personal information, and using only authorized payment methods. The positive trend shows a 54% drop in fraudulent complaints between 2022-2023, attributed to improved customer awareness.
bankrate.com
A J.D. Power survey found that 29 percent of bank customers experienced fraud on their accounts in the past 12 months, with younger customers (under 40) experiencing higher rates at 42 percent. While 92 percent of customers remained loyal to their banks after fraud was resolved, the study revealed that only 20 percent or fewer customers actively use fraud prevention methods like two-factor authentication or biometric verification. Key recommendations include setting up account alerts, enabling two-factor authentication, using biometric authentication, regularly monitoring accounts, and locking debit cards when not in use.
dailystar.co.uk
A UK carer named Mary lost £20,000 to a sophisticated romance scam involving a fake AI-generated US Army colonel named "Mike Murdy" on Tinder who used deepfake videos, audio messages, and physical items to build trust over several months. The scammer convinced Mary to pay fees under the guise of unlocking a military briefcase allegedly containing £607,000, but she ultimately received only blank sheets of paper. Halifax bank is reviewing her case for reimbursement under Payment Systems Regulator fraud protection rules, as fraud experts warn of increasing AI-enabled romance scams.
mirror.co.uk
Former Love Island star Amy Hart lost £5,000 in a 2022 phone scam when criminals impersonating her bank used pressure tactics and personal information to trick her into authorizing fraudulent transactions. Hart recovered her money after her bank's investigation and has since partnered with O2 to raise awareness about phone scams, emphasizing that victims should not feel embarrassed as scammers use sophisticated methods and are professionals at exploitation.
mirror.co.uk
A woman in her sixties from England lost nearly £20,000 to an AI-generated romance scammer posing as a US Army colonel named "Mike Murdy" on Tinder. The scammer used deepfake videos, images, and AI-synthesized voice and text to build a convincing romantic relationship, eventually convincing the victim to pay money under the pretense of unlocking a briefcase containing £607,000 in cash and accessing a life insurance payout. Financial authorities have issued warnings about this emerging AI-powered romance scam trend targeting vulnerable individuals seeking romantic connections.
abc.net.au
An educational video game called "Dodgy or Not?" is teaching Australian primary school students to identify online scams and deepfake fraud by analyzing real-world messages and social media posts in real time. The game addresses the growing sophistication of cyber criminals using AI-generated deepfakes, with Australia losing $3-4 billion annually to reported online fraud, and educators warning that emerging threats like sextortion targeting young people are increasing globally.
echo-pilot.com
Black Friday scams are expected to proliferate, with five main types to watch for: counterfeit products from third-party sellers, fake delivery failure notifications that lead to phishing sites, impersonation of customer service representatives seeking personal information, false winning notifications, and email/text phishing schemes. Consumers should avoid unusually low prices from unknown sellers, only click delivery links from official retailers, never provide personal details to unsolicited contacts claiming to be from companies like Amazon, and remain skeptical of prize claims requiring upfront payments.
the-sun.com
A cybersecurity expert warns against scam-baiting and revenge pranks targeting fraudsters, cautioning that engaging with scammers can provoke retaliation including threats, identity theft, or cyberattacks, and increases exposure to malware and phishing attempts. Instead of interaction, victims are advised to ignore scammers entirely and report suspicious tactics to authorities. The article also provides guidance on identifying scam emails and protecting oneself from fraud.
pymnts.com
Greg Hancell, a fraud expert at Lynx Tech, warns that QR code scams are rapidly growing and now account for over 20% of online scams, making them harder to identify than traditional phishing because victims cannot see the destination link before scanning. Fraudsters typically replace legitimate QR codes with counterfeit ones in public spaces like parking lots and restaurants to trick people into sharing sensitive data and payment information. To protect themselves, consumers should look for physical tampering signs (like stickers or damage), verify QR code sources, check URLs before proceeding, and use verification tools, while banks can provide financial protection through AI-powered fraud detection systems.
bbc.com
Dr. Ruchika Tandon, a 44-year-old Indian neurologist, lost approximately 25 million rupees ($300,000) to an elaborate "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials coerced her through video calls into believing she was under federal investigation for money laundering and trafficking. Over a six-day period, the scammers maintained constant surveillance via video call, manipulating her into draining her family's savings from multiple accounts including banks, mutual funds, and insurance policies. According to official figures, Indians lost over 1.2 billion rupees to this type of scam between January and April 2024, with over
kfiz.com
**"Pig butchering" investment scams** involve fraudsters building trust with victims over weeks or months—posing as romantic interests or investment coaches—before convincing them to invest in fake opportunities and ultimately stealing their money. According to 2023 FTC data, investment scams represented only 4% of fraud reports but accounted for over 30% of total losses, with an average loss of $7,000 per victim. Red flags include unsolicited investment pitches from online contacts, pressure to use cryptocurrency or special apps, displays of fake profits, and reluctance to meet in person or speak by phone.
abc7chicago.com
A Wisconsin woman lost $433,279.53 in a gold bar investment scam after scammers impersonated Apple and FTC officials, falsely claiming her identity was stolen and bank account hacked. Across Wisconsin, 49 people reported similar scams to the FBI, losing approximately $13 million total, with couriers like Gourav Patel and Junjie Liang arrested for collecting the purchased gold bars from victims' homes. The scam operates by convincing victims their accounts are compromised and instructing them to buy gold bars supposedly for protection at the Federal Reserve, which couriers then collect and never return.
aol.com
Pennsylvania's Attorney General Michelle Henry warned residents of phishing scams in which fraudsters contact people claiming fraudulent activity on their bank accounts, then request sensitive information such as login credentials, account numbers, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth via phone, email, or text. The advisory emphasizes that legitimate financial institutions never solicit account information through these channels and advises victims to contact their bank directly using the number on their card or visit their local branch to verify contact, and to report scams to the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
fallriverreporter.com
A 30-year-old New York man, Xuejian Wu, was arrested after defrauding a North Reading, Massachusetts elderly resident of more than $10,000 through a sophisticated online scam involving remote computer access, threats, and Bitcoin transactions. Wu was apprehended when he appeared at the victim's home impersonating a federal agent to attempt collecting additional funds, and he was charged with multiple counts of larceny and conspiracy. The case highlights the targeting of seniors through technology-based fraud and the importance of reporting suspected scams to law enforcement promptly.