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in Robocall / Phone Scam
candid.technology
· 2025-12-08
This educational article describes common Apple Pay scams and protection strategies. The scams detailed include: fake customer support calls seeking personal information, overpayment schemes using stolen cards, phishing texts claiming account compromise, gift card extortion via fake emergencies, and man-in-the-middle attacks through insecure WiFi networks. The article advises users to never share sensitive information with unsolicited callers, verify suspicious links directly with Apple, avoid refunding overpayments, and use secure internet connections when making transactions.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting vehicle owners with fraudulent e-challan (traffic fine) notifications via text messages, tricking them into downloading malicious APK files that compromise their phones and financial data. A businessman from Mumbai lost Rs 3 lakh through unauthorized credit card charges after installing a fake app called 'vahanpalivahann.apk' to pay counterfeit traffic fines. Experts recommend downloading apps only from official sources like Google Play Store, using reputable antivirus software, and verifying the authenticity of unsolicited messages before taking action.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between January 2020 and December 2023, investment fraud cost UK victims more than £2.6 billion across 98,525 cases, with an average loss of £26,773 per victim. Boiler Room fraud and Ponzi schemes were the most prevalent scams, stealing £553 million and £499 million respectively, with 2023 recording the highest number of victims (26,740) losing £527 million that year alone. The FCA recommends vigilance against red flags including unsolicited contact, pressure to act quickly, and promises of unusually high returns.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A businessman from Mumbai was defrauded of approximately Rs 3 lakhs after receiving a fake text message directing him to download a malicious app ("vahanpalivahann.apk") to pay pending e-challan traffic fines. The scam works by tricking drivers into installing fake e-challan apps via SMS or WhatsApp links, which grants scammers access to their bank account information and enables fraudulent transactions. Security experts advise against downloading APK files from third-party sources and recommend using apps from official app stores and paid antivirus software for protection.
news4sanantonio.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly homeowner in Luling, Texas received an unsolicited package of precious metals worth approximately $100,000 after being contacted by a scammer posing as customer support; police intervention prevented the fraudster from collecting the package and led to the arrest of California resident Shalin Amin on money laundering charges. The scam targeted the victim by creating urgency and manipulating them into accepting a shipment they never requested. Authorities recommend avoiding unsolicited precious metals purchases, safeguarding personal information, and reporting suspected fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center or the Elder Justice Hotline.
hamlethub.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
This educational piece outlines key strategies for protecting against hacking and scams. It advises securing internet-connected devices against malware, recognizing common scam tactics (phishing, romance scams, fake tech support, and demands for wire transfers or cryptocurrency), and reporting suspected fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
silicon.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Google filed a lawsuit against two alleged cryptocurrency scammers based in mainland China and Hong Kong who uploaded 87 fraudulent apps that were downloaded by over 100,000 people, defrauding victims of tens of thousands of dollars each through "pig-butchering" romance scams. The developers used fake cryptocurrency investment apps that promised high returns but prevented withdrawals and demanded additional fees of 10-30 percent, ultimately severing contact once victims' funds were exhausted. Google seeks to block the defendants from accessing its services and claims $75,000 in damages from the investigation.
azfamily.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational podcast series covering consumer protection topics rather than a specific fraud or elder abuse incident. Key episodes address red flags in standard contracts, risks associated with rewards credit cards that can lead to debt, vehicle recalls affecting safety, and credit denial trends affecting consumers. The podcast provides advice on identifying problematic contract clauses, understanding credit card pitfalls, and navigating consumer financial decisions.
mychesco.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP Pennsylvania is launching an educational campaign to combat Social Security fraud, which affected approximately 360,000 people through impersonation scams in 2021. The organization recommends protective measures including robocall-blocking applications, online account monitoring, and reporting suspicious activities to authorities, emphasizing that genuine unsolicited Social Security Administration contact is extremely rare. Victims of these scams face risks including identity theft, financial loss, and long-term challenges accessing credit and services.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
This article explains the emerging threat of AI-powered voice cloning scams, where fraudsters use artificial intelligence to impersonate family members or trusted contacts in urgent calls requesting money. The article provides expert advice on protection strategies, including hanging up and calling the person back using a verified number, establishing pre-agreed safe words with loved ones, and asking personal questions that only the real person would know to verify authenticity.
wisbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies common scams targeting small businesses, which are particularly vulnerable due to limited cybersecurity resources and accounting processes compared to larger organizations. Key scams include Business Email Compromise (BEC), phony invoices, directory fraud, identity theft, fraudulent charity solicitations, phishing attacks, and office supply scams. The article emphasizes that knowledge and awareness are the best defenses and recommends businesses stay informed about these threats and report incidents when targeted.
9news.com
· 2025-12-08
A Colorado woman lost $158,162 in Ethereum cryptocurrency in a 2022 scam after being deceived by a fake Instagram account impersonating Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin, which promised to double any cryptocurrency sent to it. Federal Secret Service agents, assisted by a private cryptocurrency forensics firm, were able to freeze an account containing approximately $17,000 of the stolen funds, though the suspected scammer is believed to be located in Kazakhstan and the case is not prosecutable locally. Experts note that such scams typically target people unfamiliar with cryptocurrency and that cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed once completed.
legalinsurrection.com
· 2025-12-08
Mexican drug cartel CJNG operates a sophisticated timeshare fraud scheme that defrauded Americans of approximately $40 million in 2022, with some estimates suggesting hundreds of millions annually, targeting elderly U.S. citizens and draining many of their life savings. The scam, which originated in Puerto Vallarta and expanded to tourist destinations like Cancun, involves fake escrow companies, shell corporations, and fraudulent sales pitches convincing victims to pay upfront fees under the guise of Mexican business practices, with documented cases of individual losses exceeding $1 million. The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned 40 Mexican companies and seven fugitives connected to the scheme
inews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Cyber crime expert Jake Moore discusses rising online fraud threats in the UK, where online fraud doubled in 2023 to cost £2.3 billion, with romance scams and identity theft among the fastest-growing categories affecting 1.4 million people. Moore advises individuals on essential security practices including using encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp or Signal instead of SMS texts, keeping software and apps updated automatically to patch vulnerabilities, and being cautious about downloading apps like TikTok that pose data privacy risks. He emphasizes that consistent application of basic cybersecurity habits is the most effective defense against increasingly sophisticated scams and hacking attempts.
ncwlife.com
· 2025-12-08
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office received multiple reports of scam phone calls impersonating deputies who claimed callers owed money for failing to respond to jury duty summons or court dates, attempting to extort payment. The agency warns the public not to give personal information or money to unknown callers over the phone. Cashmere Valley Bank is hosting a free "Scam Prevention" seminar on April 16 to educate the community on fraud prevention strategies.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Remote access scams initiated by phone, text, email, or social media cost Australians $15 million in 2023, with nearly half of 8,975 reported cases beginning via phone calls impersonating banks or service providers. Scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics—including spoofed numbers, fake social media profiles, and urgent requests for personal information or device access—to install malware, steal data, or make unauthorized purchases. Protection requires verification through official channels, refusing unsolicited requests, and immediately contacting your bank and reporting to Scamwatch if compromised.
grandrapidsmn.com
· 2025-12-08
The Senior LinkAge Line® offered two educational classes on May 8, 2024, teaching older adults how to detect, prevent, and report healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse. Participants learned to identify potential Medicare scams, protect their beneficiary numbers, and review suspicious Medicare paperwork through online instruction via Microsoft Teams.
newschannel20.com
· 2025-12-08
The Champaign County Sheriff's Office is launching a senior education initiative in partnership with Edward Jones to address rising fraud, reporting over 200 fraud cases annually in the county alone. The office warns of evolving scams including phone impersonation schemes claiming to be law enforcement demanding payment to avoid arrest, and advises seniors to hang up and independently verify caller identity. A free educational conference addressing phone scams, online fraud, and personal relationship-based scams is scheduled for April 23rd.
thetimesherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Marysville United Methodist Church is hosting Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on April 27 for a community presentation on senior scams, part of the church's "Lunch and Learn" series. According to a University of Michigan study cited in the event announcement, more than two-thirds of older Michigan residents have reported scam attempts in the past two years, with seniors particularly vulnerable to phone, mail, and online fraud. The free event will provide information on how seniors can avoid scams and reduce their victimization risk.
nevalleynews.org
· 2025-12-08
Scottsdale Community College hosted a cyber security awareness event featuring speakers from the U.S. Secret Service and Scottsdale Police Department who educated students and community members about online scams, including AI-voice impersonation schemes, cryptocurrency fraud, and romance scams targeting vulnerable populations. The presentation emphasized protective measures such as staying calm during suspicious calls, verifying caller identity through questions only loved ones would know, and strengthening passwords and security practices, noting that seniors and widows are particularly targeted by romance scammers who exploit loneliness and unfamiliarity with social media.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Brick Township police warn residents, particularly seniors, about active scams in their community, including gift card/cryptocurrency fraud, grandparent scams, email phishing, tech support fraud, and romance scams. The department urges residents to verify caller identities, avoid unsolicited payment requests, maintain strong cybersecurity practices, and report suspected fraud to local police immediately.
wareham.theweektoday.com
· 2025-12-08
District Attorney Timothy Cruz will present an educational program on April 18 at the Wareham Free Library addressing various types of scams, including telephone, romance, internet, and financial scams. The presentation is designed for adults seeking to learn protective measures against fraud, and will feature the Wareham Police Department's comfort dog Lexi.
rexburgstandardjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Madison County residents, particularly those 50 years old and older, have been targeted by a jury duty summons scam where callers impersonating sheriff's office deputies demand payment or attempt to arrange in-person meetings. The Madison County Sheriff's Office clarified that deputies never contact residents by phone regarding warrants, fines, or tickets, and do not accept payment via gift cards or digital payment methods. Other prevalent scams in the area include IRS impersonation, sweepstakes fraud, fake scholarships, and romance scams, all designed to extract money from victims.
wlox.com
· 2025-12-08
A Gulfport woman was targeted in a "warrant for arrest" phone scam where con artists impersonated the Harrison County Sheriff's Office and demanded up to $14,000 in bond payments, claiming she had missed a court hearing. The scam affected at least three victims in the area, with two others losing up to $28,000 total at the Biloxi Courthouse before the fraud was discovered. A 24-year-old suspect from Georgia was arrested on felony charges, and authorities are investigating additional suspects believed to be operating the scam across multiple states.
dailycardinal.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dane County Sheriff's Office is warning seniors about the "Grandparents Scam," where callers impersonate grandchildren claiming to be in legal or financial trouble and request cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers, sometimes using AI voice-cloning technology to enhance authenticity. Elderly Americans lose approximately $28.3 billion annually to such financial exploitation, with scammers deliberately targeting victims' emotions to prevent them from questioning the requests. Law enforcement emphasizes the importance of public education about these evolving scams as AI technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and accessible.
nbcnewyork.com
· 2025-12-08
Two individuals, Rong Chen and ZhenSheng Yu, were arrested for a tech support scam that defrauded an 83-year-old Long Island man of $31,000 in January. The scammers displayed a fake popup warning on the victim's computer, impersonated Microsoft support, and convinced him that his accounts were compromised and federal crimes were being committed, resulting in two cash withdrawals of $16,000 and $15,000 respectively that were collected in person. This case is part of a recent pattern of similar scams targeting Long Island residents, with multiple arrests made for variations of the same fraud scheme.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security number impersonation scams are among the most common government impostor fraud, with criminals stealing over $100 million annually by pretending to be government officials and requesting personal or banking information. Scammers employ sophisticated tactics such as fake documents, fraudulent letterhead, and threatening calls claiming account suspension or benefit loss to pressure victims into disclosing sensitive data. The Federal Trade Commission recommends never trusting caller ID, never verifying personal information to unsolicited callers, and remembering that the SSA will never demand upfront payment via wire transfer, cash, or gift cards.
wfsb.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting families of high school students preparing for the SAT by impersonating test preparation companies or the College Board itself, often using personal information about the student to appear legitimate and requesting deposits for prep materials that never arrive. Common tactics include claiming the student requested the service, knowing the child's name and test date, and requesting payment over the phone or email—methods the legitimate College Board never uses. Consumers are advised to verify requests directly with their children, pay only by credit card to enable dispute options, and question unsolicited calls about test preparation services.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
Employees at a fulfillment center received fraudulent calls from scammers impersonating Social Security Administration, IRS, and other government agencies demanding money or threatening arrest. According to the Social Security Administration, these sophisticated scams cost consumers over $126 million in 2023, and victims should remain calm, never send money or personal information via phone demands, and report incidents to the Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov or the SSA website.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old man from Saddle Rock, New York, was defrauded of $16,000 in a tech support scam in January after receiving a computer notification claiming his device was compromised; scammers impersonating Microsoft representatives told him suspicious activity was detected and instructed him to withdraw cash, which an unknown man collected. Two men, Rong Chen, 47, and ZhenSheng Yu, 46, were arrested and charged with grand larceny after the victim contacted police when a third call attempted to collect an additional $15,000.
macaudailytimes.com.mo
· 2025-12-08
The Judiciary Police in Macau launched a WeChat-based anti-fraud initiative in response to a sharp 70-120% surge in fraud cases from January to February, which resulted in 69 million patacas in losses across 265 reported incidents, including a concerning 44% increase in student-targeted scams. The interactive program offers fraud risk analysis, reporting channels, and educational resources to help residents identify fraudulent schemes. Two women were victimized by phone scams impersonating public prosecutors and immigration officials, with one losing 41,700 patacas after being coerced into transferring funds based on false money laundering allegations.
odt.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
At least a dozen people reported receiving scam calls impersonating police officers claiming they were victims of fraud and attempting to obtain financial information, with calls primarily targeting landline users. Police warned that they never contact people requesting banking details, card numbers, PINs, or passwords, and advised recipients to hang up and verify any caller's identity by contacting the police directly at 105. A similar email scam has also resurfaced using the same impersonation tactic, with police recommending extreme caution with unsolicited emails and advising recipients not to reply.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
A 63-year-old man in Mumbai lost Rs 3 lakh (approximately $3,600 USD) in a voice-cloning scam on March 2, when a fraudster impersonated his son's childhood friend Vikas Gupta over WhatsApp. The victim transferred Rs 2 lakh himself and convinced two friends to each contribute Rs 50,000 after the caller mimicked Gupta's familiar voice and claimed to need urgent financial help. Suspicion grew when the fraudster demanded additional money and refused video calls; the victim filed a police report on April 9, and authorities are investigating.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Ellen Hickton, a senior from Ontario, Canada, lost $16,542 CAD ($12,195.84 USD) to a sophisticated phone scam in which a fraudster impersonated a CIBC bank employee and convinced her she was helping investigate fraudulent activity on her account. The scammer instructed Hickton to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, and invest in Bitcoin under the false premise that the bank would reimburse her. CIBC clarified that legitimate banks never ask customers to help investigate fraud, make cryptocurrency transfers, or buy gift cards, and urged customers to verify callers by contacting their bank directly using official phone numbers.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
An elderly couple in Toronto was defrauded of $13,000 in January after a caller impersonated a police officer and convinced them their credit cards had been fraudulently used. The victims handed over their cards and PINs to a courier who arrived at their home, and the suspects subsequently charged $13,000 to the accounts. Toronto police are seeking two suspects and believe additional victims may exist.
newstalkzb.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Police warned the public about phone and email scams in which fraudsters impersonate police officers and request victims' financial details by claiming they are fraud victims. New Zealand Police clarified they never contact people requesting banking information, card numbers, PINs, or passwords, and advised the public to verify any suspicious calls by hanging up and dialing 105 to confirm the officer's identity. The scams, primarily targeting landline users, are believed to be operated overseas.
cpr.org
· 2025-12-08
While younger adults are statistically more likely to fall for fraud, people over 70 lose significantly more money overall. An 80-year-old man in Aurora lost $20,000 after scammers posed as his bank's fraud department over several weeks, convincing him to withdraw cash and convert it to Bitcoin at a gas station ATM. Deputy Ryan Falkner of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office identifies the most prevalent current scams targeting older adults as popup virus warnings and jury duty/arrest warrant phone scams, recommending that victims turn off their computers and never pay via gift cards or cryptocurrency.
timeslive.co.za
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, nearly 70,000 people reported romance scams with combined losses totaling $1.3 billion. The article provides fraud prevention tips including recognizing spelling errors and urgency in messages, verifying sender identities and profiles, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and being cautious when requests are made for sensitive information such as passwords or financial details.
khou.com
· 2025-12-08
Darlington Akporugo, 46, and Jasmin Sood, 35, from Fulshear, Texas, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud for operating romance scams targeting elderly victims, particularly widows, through social media and online dating sites between 2015 and 2022. The pair used fake identities to build trust with over a dozen victims nationwide before requesting money, defrauding them of a total of $3.1 million; in at least one case, they approached a victim in person and gained control of her banking access devices. If convicted, both face up to 30 years in prison on wire fraud charges, with
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A business account holder lost £40,000 from their Revolut account in February after being deceived by a fraudster posing as Revolut's anti-fraud team; the scammer used verification codes to set up unauthorized payees and make 38 withdrawals within minutes. Revolut refused to reimburse the victim, did not disclose evidence of account access, and stopped recovery efforts after 10 days, citing the customer's alleged negligence despite Revolut not being signed up to the contingent reimbursement model code. The case highlights growing fraud complaints against Revolut (rising from 567 to 1,086 annually), and the article adv
f-secure.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational resource from F-Secure promoting their scam protection service. It highlights that U.S. citizens lost an estimated $12.5 billion to cybercrime in the previous year (a 12% increase), and provides prevention advice across common scam vectors including phishing emails, SMS "smishing," fake delivery alerts, contact spoofing, and fraudulent online shopping sites. The resource emphasizes that legitimate organizations do not request sensitive information via email or text, and recommends verification through separate trusted channels before responding to suspicious communications.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
IRS impostor scams, which cost consumers $5.8 million in 2023, typically begin with robocalls using spoofed caller IDs and progress to demands for payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency under threats of arrest, or attempts to extract sensitive personal information by falsely claiming a refund is owed. The article advises that the IRS never initiates contact via unsolicited calls and recommends verifying any such claims by contacting the IRS directly using official contact information from trusted sources.
rnz.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Scammers posing as police officers have targeted at least a dozen people in phone and email scams attempting to obtain financial and personal information. Police warn that legitimate officers never solicit banking details, card numbers, PINs, or passwords, and advise recipients to hang up, verify the caller through the official police line (105), and avoid replying to unsolicited emails claiming to be from authorities.
source.colostate.edu
· 2025-12-08
This article explains two common email and phone scams: spoofing (impersonating trusted sources by disguising email addresses, phone numbers, or URLs) and phishing (using spoofed communications to trick victims into revealing sensitive information like passwords or financial data). The FBI notes that phishing has evolved into variations including vishing (phone calls), smishing (text messages), and pharming (malicious code redirecting to fake websites). Protection strategies include verifying requests independently, examining sender details carefully, enabling multi-factor authentication, avoiding unsolicited attachments, and limiting personal information shared online.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Darlington Akporugo, 46, a Nigerian resident of Fulshear, Texas, was charged with conspiring with Jasmin Sood to defraud over a dozen elderly Americans in a romance scam that operated between 2015 and 2022, resulting in approximately $3.1 million in losses. The perpetrators created fictitious online personas on dating platforms to build trust with elderly, often widowed victims before convincing them to transfer money to fraudster-controlled accounts, and in at least one case, approached a victim in person to drive her to banks and gain control of her banking access devices. Both defendants face up to 30 years imprisonment on wire frau
k923.fm
· 2025-12-08
Matthew David Keirans, a 58-year-old former University of Iowa hospital IT employee, pleaded guilty to federal identity theft charges after impersonating William Woods for three decades, earning over $140,000 annually while living in Milwaukee. The fraud was discovered when the real William Woods, whom Keirans had met in the 1980s, reported the identity theft to authorities; Woods had previously spent two years in prison and was institutionalized after being wrongly accused of the crime himself. Keirans faces several years in prison, and a hearing is scheduled to clear Woods' name.
12news.com
· 2025-12-08
Joan Salcido of Surprise, Arizona lost nearly $20,000 to an imposter scam in which a fraudster posing as Wells Fargo sent her a text fraud alert, then called using a spoofed bank number to convince her to wire money to a separate account for "protection." The scammer used smooth, convincing tactics and had ready answers for her concerns, eventually persuading her to complete the wire transfer despite her initial hesitation. Experts warn that requests to move money to protect it and pressure to act quickly are major red flags, and that banks typically cannot recover funds lost to imposter scammers.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams target vulnerable individuals, particularly older adults who are lonely, widowed, or divorced, with scammers posing as romantic interests and eventually requesting money through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers for fabricated emergencies like overseas travel or legal fees. A New Hampshire senior experienced this scheme firsthand, enduring months of emotional manipulation before the scammer attempted blackmail, highlighting how perpetrators exploit victims' emotions and are typically difficult to prosecute as they operate from overseas. Law enforcement emphasizes that victims should not blame themselves, as scammers deliberately prey on emotional vulnerability, and success in prevention often depends on family intervention to prevent further financial loss.
beaconjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
A Tallmadge police sergeant investigated a 2019 online dating scam that defrauded a local woman of $60,000 and uncovered a multi-state money-laundering operation involving victims across Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida, and Texas, including one couple who lost $375,000. The investigation led to the arrest of six people in Rhode Island who were processing fraudulent funds through compromised bank accounts and money orders. The FBI reported 19,000 romance scam complaints nationally in 2022 with losses exceeding $739 million, typically targeting women over 40.
vancouversun.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating police officers targeted a senior in New Westminster by visiting her home and convincing her to surrender her credit and debit cards, which were subsequently used for fraudulent purchases. Police are investigating the incident and conducting interviews while reviewing CCTV footage to identify the suspects. Authorities recommend residents verify the legitimacy of officers at their door by calling 911 and urge the public to warn vulnerable community members about this impersonation scheme.