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in Scam Awareness
cnet.com
· 2026-08-13
Meta is rolling out a new AI-powered tool called Scam Alert on WhatsApp that uses on-device machine learning to flag potential scam messages from unknown senders by identifying common fraud patterns like urgent requests and romance-baiting tactics. The optional feature, currently in beta testing, analyzes communication patterns without accessing private conversations and alerts only the recipient, who can then block, report, or ignore the warning. In 2025 alone, Americans lost $425 million to WhatsApp scams, making this fraud detection tool part of Meta's effort to combat the growing threat on its platform with over 3 billion daily users.
aol.com
· 2026-08-13
A South Carolina man in Sun City Hilton Head lost over $800,000 in a romance scam that evolved into a cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme spanning approximately one year. The scammers built trust through an online romantic relationship before introducing fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities on fraudulent platforms designed to display fabricated account balances and profits. The scheme employed common tactics including permitting small early withdrawals to establish credibility, then encouraging larger deposits with promises of increasingly lucrative returns before preventing victims from accessing their funds.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-13
A York County man lost $47,000 to a romance scam where a 27-year-old Bronx resident posed as a grieving widow named "Lara Lafayette" on a dating app for widowed people, claiming she needed money to access an inheritance from her deceased father. The suspect, Abdul Rashid Ibraham, created fraudulent documents and bank certificates to convince the victim to send checks between March and April, before the scheme unraveled when a bank employee reported the suspicious activity. Ibraham faces felony charges including theft by deception and financial exploitation of an older adult, with investigators also discovering he used a stolen identity to open the bank account where the checks were deposited.
techbuzz.ai
· 2026-08-13
Meta is rolling out an optional AI-powered Scam Alert feature to WhatsApp's 2 billion users that uses on-device machine learning to detect and warn users about suspected fraud attempts in real-time without compromising end-to-end encryption. The system analyzes incoming messages for red flags like urgent money requests, fake delivery notifications, and romance scam tactics, then provides users options to block, report, or dismiss warnings. The feature is currently in limited beta with no disclosed timeline for global expansion or accuracy metrics, marking Meta's expanding use of on-device AI for fraud prevention across its messaging platforms.
newsbreak.com
· 2026-08-12
Grandparent scams exploit emotional urgency and family details mined from social media to manipulate retirees into sending tens of thousands of dollars via untraceable methods like wire transfers and gift cards. Scammers now use AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate grandchildren convincingly, and the FBI reported $352 million in AI-related scam losses to victims over 60 in a recent year, with grandparent scams alone accounting for over $5 million in 2025 losses. The most effective defense is to hang up and verify the emergency by contacting the family member directly through a saved phone number before sending any money.
manxradio.com
· 2026-08-12
Over 500 business professionals, regulators, and law enforcement officers gathered at a conference in Douglas to address financial crime, including discussions on "pig-butchering" (online investment fraud) and transnational criminal enterprises. U.S. Treasury officers presented insights into sanctions investigations, while the UK National Crime Agency discussed Operation Atlantic, an initiative targeting online investment fraud schemes.
thepaypers.com
· 2026-08-12
Cryptocurrency fraud has evolved from a niche problem into a mainstream threat affecting banks, payment providers, and ecommerce platforms, with organized operations running "pig butchering" romance and investment scams from industrial compounds in Southeast Asia targeting victims globally for an estimated USD 18–37 billion in losses in 2023 alone. Common crypto scam types include romance/investment schemes, phishing attacks that steal wallet credentials, fake investment platforms using Ponzi structures, and insider threats from employees with privileged access to digital assets. Financial institutions and regulators must understand how these professionally-run, script-based fraud operations work to identify them earlier in the transaction chain rather than after funds are lost.
haveagonews.com.au
· 2026-08-12
Scammers are increasingly targeting older Western Australians through gift card fraud, using tactics including romance scams where fraudsters build false relationships before requesting money, and impersonation scams where they pose as employers, government agencies, or business executives to pressure victims into purchasing gift cards. Notable cases include a woman who lost $17,000 to a fake CEO email, another who lost $77,000 to a romance scam, and a man in his 70s who lost $50,000 in similar schemes. Legitimate organizations never request payment via gift cards, and consumers should verify requests in person while retailers are encouraged to watch for unusual purchases and alert staff to coaching tactics scammers use to circumvent warnings
united24media.com
· 2026-08-12
Telegram's over one billion users and limited moderation make it an increasingly popular platform for scammers who create fake channels impersonating legitimate companies and public figures, send phishing messages designed to steal login credentials and personal information, and promote cryptocurrency investment scams promising guaranteed returns or orchestrating "pump-and-dump" schemes. The article outlines how fraudsters exploit the platform's accessibility and lack of account verification to target millions of potential victims globally, and provides guidance on recognizing these common scams to protect users from financial loss and account compromise.
bu.edu
· 2026-08-12
Boston University Police Department offers safety recommendations for students, including traveling in groups, using secure bike locks and storage, locking residence doors and windows, avoiding unattended property, and verifying rideshare vehicles before entering. The guidance emphasizes personal awareness, neighborhood vigilance, and utilizing campus resources like bike registration to prevent theft and protect against crime both on and off campus.
unionleader.com
· 2026-08-12
Scammers steal an estimated $7 billion annually from senior citizens, with those living with dementia facing heightened vulnerability due to cognitive decline affecting memory and judgment. The Alzheimer's Foundation of America recommends the S.A.F.E. approach—solidifying security practices, applying blocking tools, finding monitors for financial activity, and establishing stronger safeguards—to help caregivers protect loved ones with dementia from fraud and identity theft.
nbcsports.com
· 2026-08-12
Mohamed Coulibaly, a 23-24-year-old man connected to NFL coaches, executives, and players, allegedly ran a fraudulent investment scheme involving fake Shopify stores that resembled a Ponzi scheme, defrauding multiple victims including former Cardinals GM Steve Keim of substantial sums. On the day he was found dead in his swimming pool, Coulibaly was desperately seeking a $75,000 loan from a New York man to whom he already owed $1 million, offering fake collateral including counterfeit Rolex watches and an unauthenticated signed Messi cleat. His death is under investigation as authorities work to determine whether it was a
altoonamirror.com
· 2026-08-12
Pennsylvania Attorney General David Sunday is urging passage of Senate Bill 738, which would allow bank employees to place seven-day holds on transactions suspected of fraud, with possible 15-day extensions by officials. The push comes as older adults in Pennsylvania lost nearly $216 million to online scams in 2025, with investment scams accounting for over $98 million (up 75% from 2024), government impersonation scams at $10.66 million, and romance scams at $20.2 million. Similar fraud-prevention legislation has already been enacted in at least 33 states, including Georgia as of July 1.
asialink.unimelb.edu.au
· 2026-08-12
Online scam compounds operating across Cambodia and the broader Southeast Asian region generate an estimated $12.5 billion to $40 billion annually, with victims targeted globally from fortified facilities resembling prisons. The proliferation of these operations has been enabled by Cambodia's erosion of democratic checks and balances since 2013, with evidence suggesting high-level government officials and their relatives have financial stakes in or direct ties to cybercrime syndicates. In 2024 alone, Cambodians lost $40 million to online scams, while foreign workers trapped in these compounds have endured slave-like conditions including rape and torture.
azag.gov
· 2026-08-12
Since Arizona's Cryptocurrency Kiosk License Fraud Prevention law took effect in September 2025, the state Attorney General's office has helped 35 victims of cryptocurrency ATM scams recover full refunds totaling $171,332. Under the law, victims must report fraudulent transactions to the Attorney General's office or local law enforcement within 30 days to qualify for refunds that include all associated fees. The law also implemented additional protections including lowered daily transaction limits, mandatory on-screen warnings, and required transaction receipts.
azag.gov
· 2026-08-12
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued a consumer alert warning residents to beware of scammers and unlicensed contractors offering storm repair and cleanup services following monsoon damage. The scams typically target vulnerable people in need of immediate assistance after weather events by promising quick repairs. Consumers are advised to be cautious when hiring contractors and can report suspected fraud to the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-12
A 71-year-old Lorain woman lost $30,000 in a tech support scam where a fraudster posing as a Microsoft representative convinced her that federal investigators needed to move her money to a secure account to protect it from hackers and criminal activity. The scammer stayed on the phone while she withdrew the cash from her bank and instructed her to hand it over in a shoebox to a stranger in a Kohl's parking lot, where an Asian man in his early 20s collected the money and disappeared. The woman did not realize she was being robbed until after the exchange, as the scammer had coached her throughout the entire process to make her believe he was helping protect her accounts.
en.cibercuba.com
· 2026-08-12
Cuban journalist Alexis Boentes nearly fell victim to a phone scam when he called what appeared to be MSC Cruise customer service after finding the number through a Google search, but the scammers used his legitimate reservation details to pressure him into sharing credit card information for alleged unpaid charges. Boentes avoided losing money by hanging up and calling the cruise company directly through their official website the next day, discovering the initial number was fraudulent. He warned others to always verify phone numbers through official websites rather than Google searches, as similar scams target cruise lines, airlines, and utility companies.
ncoa.org
· 2026-08-12
Older Americans aged 60 and over filed over 201,000 fraud complaints in 2025 with losses exceeding $7.7 billion—a 37% increase from the previous year—as scammers increasingly target seniors through phone calls, texts, emails, and social media impersonating banks and government agencies. Sherman J., a 67-year-old, avoided losing money by trusting his instincts when a caller claiming to be from his bank requested sensitive information, and later found support through a community scam awareness workshop at his local senior center. Community-based prevention programs are helping older adults recognize common scams including romance fraud, fake lottery winnings, and contractor fraud, while newer AI
smh.com.au
· 2026-08-12
AI-generated scam emails impersonating prestigious publishers, editors, and media figures are targeting authors internationally with fake publishing deals and promotional opportunities. Scammers use AI to create convincing, detailed emails that reference authors' work and professional credentials before eventually requesting payment for services. The Australian Society of Authors has reported a significant surge in these "pig butchering" style scams, with some writers receiving multiple fraudulent emails daily.
money.com
· 2026-08-12
Fraudsters are impersonating FCC officials via calls and texts, claiming victims' phone numbers are under investigation and demanding money or personal financial information, with the FCC warning that it never contacts people this way. The article also highlights related scams including gold bar schemes targeting seniors (with losses exceeding $100 million in New York alone) and recovery scams that prey on previous fraud victims by promising to return lost money for an upfront fee.
aol.com
· 2026-08-12
A Southern California renter lost over $2,500 to a fake rental listing scam after a fraudster copied photos and video from a real property listing, posed as the landlord, and collected a deposit via Zelle before disappearing. Fake rental scams have surged significantly, with the FBI receiving 12,368 real estate fraud complaints in 2025 (up from 9,359 in 2024) resulting in losses exceeding $275 million, with scammers exploiting renters' urgency by stealing existing listings and using professional photos, videos, and AI-generated documents to appear legitimate.
ftc.gov
· 2026-08-12
The FTC is distributing more than $23.8 million in refunds to 640,038 consumers harmed by Grubhub's deceptive practices, including misleading earnings claims to drivers, blocking diners from their accounts, and listing restaurants without permission. Under the settlement, Grubhub must change its operations to honestly advertise driver pay, allow account dispute mechanisms, and list restaurants only with consent. Recipients should cash mailed checks within 90 days or redeem PayPal payments within 30 days, and can contact Analytics Consulting LLC at 1-888-446-4992 with questions.
yahoo.com
· 2026-08-11
An elderly Black homeowner in Brooklyn has been targeted by deed fraud for years, threatening her loss of the home she has lived in her entire life. Her caregiver and partner, Tangina Stone, launched a crowdfunding campaign seeking $70,000 after promised grant funding of unspecified amount fell through, raising nearly $53,000 from over 1,000 donors to help save the property. The family is now working with legal assistance to negotiate additional time while fighting the fraud scheme.
newsnationnow.com
· 2026-08-11
A jury duty scam is spreading nationwide where callers impersonate law enforcement and claim victims missed jury duty summons, demanding immediate payment of thousands of dollars to avoid arrest. The scammers use psychological tactics including empathetic tones, incremental compliance requests, and personal information obtained through spyware to pressure victims into paying via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or retail stores. Reported losses include $25,000 in Florida and $2,000 in Ohio, with police warning that legitimate courts never demand immediate payment by phone, text, email, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.
e.vnexpress.net
· 2026-08-11
In the first half of 2024, Thailand experienced $273 million in online scams, with Facebook accounting for over 61% of cases through fake pages, fraudulent investment schemes, and impersonation tactics affecting approximately 51 million users in the country. The Thailand Consumers Council has filed lawsuits against Meta and financial institutions seeking compensation for victims and establishing accountability for digital platforms' role in consumer protection. Authorities are implementing measures including real-time data sharing among banks to identify and suspend accounts connected to fraudulent activity, particularly "mule accounts" used to quickly transfer stolen funds.
news.tvb.com
· 2026-08-11
Police received over 100 investment scam reports involving total losses of 150 million dollars, with one case detailing a retired teacher who lost 3.6 million dollars after fraudsters posing as stock experts lured her through a fake social media advertisement to use a counterfeit investment app and make multiple transfers. The scammers manipulated the app to show fake profits while blocking withdrawals and demanding additional fees, exemplifying the police warning against investment advertisements promising high returns with zero risk.
thenationonlineng.net
· 2026-08-11
AI-enabled cybercrime across Africa doubled losses from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025, with Nigeria facing particular threats from ransomware (5,822 detections in 2025), business email compromise, and romance scams. According to INTERPOL's report, AI now facilitates 55% of reported African cybercrimes by automating attacks and making them harder to detect, while 72% of surveyed African countries reported the presence of scam centers. The report urges stronger legislation, law enforcement AI training, and international collaboration to combat the industrialized, borderless cybercrime ecosystem that exploits mobile money platforms and social media to defraud
suffolktimes.timesreview.com
· 2026-08-11
A Southold woman lost nearly $7,000 in a grandson scam where callers falsely claimed her grandson needed bail money for a DWI arrest, with a courier collecting the cash from her home. Jonathan Manuel, 37, of Paterson, New Jersey, was arrested and charged with third-degree grand larceny after police recovered the $6,720 from his vehicle. The same day, town officials also warned residents about fraudulent emails impersonating the Zoning Board of Appeals and requesting payment through suspicious links.
alachuachronicle.com
· 2026-08-11
Law enforcement from North Central Florida received specialized training on elder abuse and financial exploitation on August 4th, with trainers emphasizing increasingly sophisticated scam tactics including AI-generated voice cloning and spoofed law enforcement threats. The training follows an Alachua County Sheriff's Office alert projecting $8.6 million in local fraud losses for 2026, with residents aged 60 and older accounting for more than half of targeted victims. The multi-jurisdictional initiative brought together detectives, investigators, and prosecutors to develop skills for identifying warning signs, investigating cases, and holding offenders accountable.
fincrimecentral.com
· 2026-08-11
Babajide Adesayo, a 41-year-old Georgia resident, was convicted of laundering over $2.7 million stolen from elderly victims of romance fraud and other online schemes between April 2020 and September 2021. Adesayo received the criminal proceeds through business accounts controlled by co-defendant Efemena Igbe, disguised the transfers as vehicle sales, and rapidly moved the funds to overseas accounts in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and other jurisdictions. The victims, primarily elderly people deceived by fraudsters posing as romantic partners or business contacts, had been manipulated into sending retirement savings and substantial personal funds based on fabricated emergencies.
newsbreak.com
· 2026-08-11
Scammers are targeting retirees with an "overpayment" scheme where they deposit fake checks or funds that initially appear in victims' accounts, then request the "excess" be returned via untraceable methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. The fake deposits bounce days later after victims have already sent real money back, leaving them with depleted savings accounts. The Federal Trade Commission warns this scam is particularly effective because it disarms suspicion by framing the request as an honest mistake requiring a small favor rather than a threatening demand.
the420.in
· 2026-08-11
Researchers from Northeastern University and partner institutions found that AI chatbots are significantly more effective than human scammers at building emotional trust in "pig butchering" fraud schemes, persuading nearly 50% of test participants to comply with risky requests compared to 18% for human scammers. The study used a Claude AI model instructed to deny being artificial intelligence and create cover stories when questioned, demonstrating how AI can sustain prolonged conversations to gradually gain victims' confidence. Although participants could identify the AI chatbot after the experiment, many expressed surprise and disbelief, suggesting AI-powered scams pose a growing threat in long-term online investment fraud.
thenextweb.com
· 2026-08-11
Impersonation scams using AI technology surged over 1,400% in 2025, with AI-enabled operations generating 4.5 times more revenue than non-AI operations while reaching significantly more victims through deepfake identity verification that costs as little as $20 and defeats liveness checks 58% of the time. Crypto accounts for 88% of all detected deepfake fraud globally, with North American losses exceeding $410 million in the first half of 2025, though enforcement efforts have resulted in $4.4 billion in frozen assets and nearly 5,800 arrests across 97 countries.
cbs2iowa.com
· 2026-08-11
The Iowa Attorney General's Office is partnering with Meta to combat online scams, particularly romance, investment, and tech support fraud targeting Iowans through social media. Americans lost nearly $16 billion to online fraud last year, with romance scams involving fake identities to solicit money or cryptocurrency, investment scams promoting fraudulent financial opportunities, and tech support scams impersonating legitimate companies. The partnership includes educational materials at the Iowa State Fair and joint training for law enforcement to help identify and investigate cybercriminals.
scrippsnews.com
· 2026-08-11
Social media ad scams resulted in more than $90 million in losses in 2025, with Facebook being the most-used platform for fraud, followed by WhatsApp and Instagram. The scams took multiple forms including investment schemes, shopping fraud impersonating major brands, and romance scams, with shopping scams being the most commonly reported type. The FTC noted an eightfold increase in social media scam losses since 2020 and advised consumers to limit post visibility and avoid taking investment advice from people met only online.
cyberpeace.org
· 2026-08-11
A scam network in Hyderabad, India used AI-generated images and affordable "rent a boyfriend" service packages (₹499-₹4,499) advertised via social media to target lonely individuals, particularly young women, who paid via QR codes before the fraudsters disappeared. The scheme exploits loneliness and uses classic confidence-fraud tactics including love bombing and mirrored interests to lower victims' guard before requesting payment. Global romance and confidence fraud losses reached $929.3 million in 2025 according to the FBI, with AI-generated profiles increasingly used as an accelerant for such scams.
ottumwaradio.com
· 2026-08-11
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and Meta launched a joint public awareness campaign to combat romance, investment, and tech support scams that target Iowans on social media platforms, with educational materials distributed at the Iowa State Fair in August. Americans lost nearly $16 billion to online fraud last year, and Iowa's Attorney General's office receives thousands of complaints annually from scam victims, often targeted by international criminals. The partnership includes law enforcement training and Meta's commitment to identify and remove fraudulent accounts and content.
peninsuladailynews.com
· 2026-08-10
A financial scam prevention seminar in Sequim, Washington on July 27 educated seniors about fraud tactics used against them, with law enforcement officials warning that Clallam County residents have lost millions of dollars to scams involving impersonation of government agents, gold and Bitcoin conversion, and identity theft. The presenters emphasized that prevention is critical because victims are extremely difficult to recover losses for, citing cases where residents lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and one 83-year-old woman lost her house after being scammed. The officials recommended seniors use locking mailboxes, monitor bank statements monthly, and obtain free annual credit reports to protect themselves.
singjupost.com
· 2026-08-10
This transcript from an August 2026 FBI interview does not contain information about elder fraud, scams targeting seniors, or fraud cases suitable for an elder fraud research database. The content focuses on FBI Director Kash Patel discussing World Cup security operations, counter-drone systems, and mentions Operation Blackout only in passing without substantive details about scam victims or fraud amounts.
m.rediff.com
· 2026-08-10
Hyderabad police are warning women against a "rent a boyfriend" scam where cybercriminals pose as attractive male companions through social media, luring victims with discounted offers for dates and companionship. After collecting advance payments, security deposits, and personal photos, the fraudsters block accounts and use the collected information for blackmail and extortion. The scam uses AI-generated or stolen photos of men and targets young women through fake professional companionship services on social platforms.
koreapost.com
· 2026-08-10
South Korean financial authorities conducted an anti-phishing campaign at Busan Sea Festival warning the public about sophisticated voice-phishing scams that use deceptive text messages impersonating wedding invitations, parcel deliveries, and fine notices to trick victims into installing malicious apps. Voice-phishing losses in South Korea surged 56.1% year-over-year to 1.133 trillion won between January and November 2025, though recent government intervention measures have reduced cases and losses by 35.3% over seven consecutive months. Authorities express concern that criminals may be shifting tactics to newer scams on social media and messaging platforms rather than being deterred entirely.
stories.td.com
· 2026-08-10
Fraud losses reached $16 billion in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, with rising scams involving fake celebrity endorsements, cryptocurrency schemes, and QR code fraud. Criminals are increasingly using stolen celebrity images on social media to lure victims into bogus investment schemes and pressuring people, particularly seniors, to send money through cryptocurrency ATMs where funds are nearly impossible to recover. Experts recommend verifying information sources directly, remaining skeptical of social media claims, and openly discussing fraud experiences to help others recognize warning signs.
valawyersweekly.com
· 2026-08-10
A Waltham, Massachusetts attorney and at least 20 other lawyers were targeted in a scam where perpetrators posed as clients, requested legal services, then asked the attorneys to hold large sums of money in escrow before pressuring them to quickly disburse the funds to third parties. The scammers deposited fraudulent checks (averaging $100,000 payouts, with one victim losing over $500,000) that initially appeared to clear but were later reversed by the banks, leaving the attorneys responsible for replacing the missing funds from their personal accounts and client trust accounts.
crimereads.com
· 2026-08-10
This article examines the psychology of female con artists including Elizabeth Holmes (Theranos fraud), Anna Delvey (hotel bill and friend scams totaling millions), and Caroline Calloway (book deal worth over $330,000 and $165 workshop tickets), analyzing how scammers succeed by acting as mirrors that reflect victims' own aspirations and desires back to them. The author argues that con artists exploit fundamental human vulnerabilities—the desire to be altruistic, to achieve status, and to transform one's life—by presenting themselves as aspirational figures that victims can invest in psychologically and financially. The piece explores the narcissism, Machiavellianism, and lack of empathy that character
turnto23.com
· 2026-08-10
Bakersfield residents are experiencing multiple scams, with investment fraud being the costliest, involving scammers building trust via text or social media before directing victims to fake cryptocurrency or gold trading platforms. Online purchase scams featuring counterfeit products and home improvement upfront payment schemes are also prevalent and taking significant amounts of money. The Better Business Bureau advises checking businesses at bbb.org, avoiding urgent links, and being wary of high-pressure sales tactics demanding immediate payment.
nltimes.nl
· 2026-08-10
Vacation rental scams on Booking.com have surged dramatically, with phishing reports jumping from 162 in the second half of 2025 to 957 in the first half of 2026, and damages rising to over 82,000 euros. Fraudsters hack landlord accounts or create fake listings using copied photos and information, then direct victims to fraudulent payment websites or demand additional fees upon arrival. Victims like Hans Hooijer in Cape Town and multiple families in Portugal lost hundreds to thousands of euros before discovering their bookings were not legitimate.
community.triblive.com
· 2026-08-10
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday warned of a rising "government imposter scam" where callers use number spoofing to impersonate county sheriff's offices and demand immediate payment via phone for bail or bonds, claiming arrest warrants have been issued. Scammers pressure victims to pay through untraceable methods like gift cards, Bitcoin, or cash withdrawals, exploiting the urgency created by false legal threats. Legitimate law enforcement never demands immediate phone payments, and residents are urged to hang up, independently verify information, and report suspicious calls to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office.
gov.uk
· 2026-08-10
Ticket fraud cost UK gig-goers £150 million in the past year, with 14% of concert attendees having purchased fake tickets, primarily through online platforms and social media. Young people aged 18-24 faced the highest risk at 31%, compared to just 4% of those over 55. The government and O2 are urging the public to use only official ticketing websites and announced plans to make it illegal to resell tickets for more than their original cost.
techadvisor.com
· 2026-08-10
Modern scammers use AI technology to convincingly mimic voices and deepfake video calls, making traditional scams like the "grandparent scam" appear more credible than ever by requiring only seconds of audio or video to impersonate relatives or colleagues. However, AI systems have limitations in real-time processing, which can be exploited by asking callers to perform simple tasks like holding up three fingers (which often reveals visual glitches) or by asking unexpected personal questions that weren't shared publicly. The article provides defensive strategies including interrupting conversations to disrupt scammers' scripts and calling back on known numbers to regain control of the interaction.