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golaurens.com
· 2025-12-08
**QR Code Fraud Schemes**
Scammers are increasingly exploiting QR codes through multiple fraud methods including fake parking meter payments (where victims pay via QR code but still receive tickets or towing), romance scams involving cryptocurrency wallet transfers (victims lose thousands after months of relationship-building), phishing schemes that direct users to malicious websites or malware, and impersonation scams mimicking utilities or government agencies to demand immediate payment. Most QR code fraud victims encounter the codes through unsolicited communications or in public locations, and the difficulty in verifying a code's destination before scanning makes it an effective tool for fraudsters.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
Pamela Moore, a Cincinnati woman, was sentenced to 24 months in prison in August 2024 for laundering over $8 million in proceeds from online romance scams between 2020 and 2023. Moore used personal and business bank accounts, including a fake jewelry business account, to receive and convert the stolen funds to Bitcoin at the scammers' direction, personally retaining approximately $1.7 million. As restitution, Moore was ordered to pay back the $1.7 million she directly received from the laundered funds.
securityboulevard.com
· 2025-12-08
Back-to-school season creates prime conditions for scammers targeting busy parents and students through phishing emails promoting fake school supply deals, fake giveaways collecting personal data for identity theft, and fraudulent scholarship offers. Consumers can protect themselves by verifying sources directly through official websites, checking email sender domains, researching giveaway legitimacy, and confirming clear terms and conditions before sharing personal information or making purchases.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
An Ohio woman lost $6,000 after a scammer impersonating a Huntington Bank employee convinced her to withdraw cash and deposit it into a scammer's Chase bank account via an ATM using Apple Wallet. Despite reporting the fraud, JPMorgan Chase denied responsibility, claiming the victim was liable for the loss. The incident is part of a broader Consumer Financial Protection Bureau investigation into whether major banks adequately vet customers and terminate fraudulent accounts.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Bitcoin ATM scammers defrauded seniors of $110 million in the past year, a nearly tenfold increase from 2020, with Americans over 60 being more than three times as likely to fall victim than younger adults. The typical scheme involves fraudsters posing as customer service representatives or officials contacting victims about identity theft or account breaches, then directing them to scan QR codes and deposit money into bitcoin ATMs that flows directly to the perpetrators. One victim, a 76-year-old Indiana resident, lost $31,500 after being targeted by scammers impersonating Apple support, bank representatives, and government officials.
odt.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in New Zealand are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to defraud residents, with a BNZ survey finding that 9 out of 10 New Zealanders were targeted by scams in 2023 (a 13% increase year-over-year), and research showing 62% encountered scams monthly. While scams affect people of all ages, older adults are particularly vulnerable to certain types like romance scams due to larger financial assets, with identity theft, shopping, and investment scams being the most common and emotionally damaging. Banks, police, and Netsafe recommend avoiding urgency-driven requests, verifying communications directly with companies, using
indeonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Disaster victims face document replacement scams where fraudsters impersonate government agencies or create lookalike websites to charge upfront fees for replacing vital documents like Social Security cards, driver's licenses, and birth certificates—services often available free through official channels. Scammers collect personal and financial information through fake websites and unsolicited calls/texts claiming victims need to replace Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security cards. The Better Business Bureau advises victims to verify website URLs (looking for "HTTPS://" and lock icons), avoid third-party services without BBB verification, use credit cards for disputes, and report scams to BBB.org or the Federal Trade Commission.
brainerddispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
Online financial scams resulted in losses exceeding $10 billion in 2024, a $1 billion increase from 2022, with artificial intelligence enabling scammers to exploit personal data and impersonate voices and images more effectively. The article identifies four common scam tactics—pretending to be trusted entities, creating artificial problems or prizes, applying pressure to act quickly, and demanding irreversible payments—and highlights frequent scam types including fake charities, phishing, romance scams, and business email compromise. Protection strategies include enabling multifactor authentication, maintaining updated software and operating systems, and recognizing warning signs across all types of online transactions.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Georgia drivers have been targeted by a scam involving fraudulent text messages claiming unpaid Express Lane fees, with links designed to steal personal and financial information. The messages create urgency to pressure recipients into immediate payments, potentially leading to identity theft and financial loss. Victims should contact their banks, reset passwords, report to the FTC, and remember that the State Road and Tollway Authority never requests personal information via text or email.
abc11.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting voters with unsolicited political texts and calls impersonating campaigns, requesting donations or asking people to confirm voting registration through malicious links designed to steal personal information for identity theft. The scams include fake donation requests, voice-cloning technology, and copycat websites with slightly altered URLs, with election fraud identified as one of the top scams of 2024. Consumers are advised to avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, donate directly through official candidate websites using credit cards, and verify voting information through official state election board websites.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns that scams involving phishing for personal information—including account numbers and Social Security numbers—have become increasingly common through phone calls, texts, and emails, contributing to the $10 billion in fraud losses reported by Americans in 2023. To protect themselves, consumers should avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from unknown sources, verify company legitimacy by Googling phone numbers, be cautious about accepting cookies online, and never respond to unsolicited delivery service texts, as legitimate companies do not contact customers this way. Reporting suspicious communications and blocking spam are key steps to reduce exposure to these scams.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in New Jersey received a phishing email impersonating the Social Security Administration claiming her Social Security number was compromised and requesting she open an attached document. The article explains that phishing scams use fake official emails with urgent language to trick victims into opening malware-laden attachments or divulging personal information, and provides guidance on recognizing these scams, steps to take if you receive one (flag as spam, don't open attachments, don't respond), and prevention measures such as verifying your Social Security account and using two-factor authentication.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating recruiters via text messages and emails to target job seekers in a competitive labor market, using "smishing" and phishing attacks to steal personal information or money. Americans receive an average of nearly 12 scam messages daily, with criminals using data breaches, AI personalization, and phone spoofing to make fraudulent job offers appear legitimate, often resulting in victims paying money to fake recruiters. Similar text-based scams also impersonate the U.S. Postal Service, highway toll authorities, and real companies like Idea Grove.
planadviser.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides guidance on cybersecurity best practices for retirement plan sponsors to defend against fraud, account takeovers, and emerging threats like AI-generated deepfakes. Key recommendations include implementing a comprehensive program covering people (employee training), processes (regular policy reviews and updates), and technology (data protection and incident response plans), along with adding IT representation to plan committees and conducting rigorous vendor due diligence. The article references the SPARK Institute's cybersecurity framework and Department of Labor guidelines as resources for establishing security controls and resilience measures.
morningstar.com
· 2025-12-08
Investment fraud targeting older adults is growing significantly, driven by emerging technologies like cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence that make scams increasingly sophisticated and convincing. According to Kathy Stokes, AARP's director of fraud prevention, Americans lost a record $10 billion to scams and fraud in 2023, with crypto-related schemes and AI-enabled fraud posing particular threats to financial security. Stokes emphasizes the importance of education and awareness as key protective measures for older adults vulnerable to these evolving fraud schemes.
morningstar.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational podcast features AARP's Kathy Stokes discussing how to protect oneself from investment fraud, with particular focus on growing threats from cryptocurrency-related scams and the use of artificial intelligence by fraudsters. The piece emphasizes identifying warning signs of investment fraud and provides resources including AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360) and guidance on recognizing common scam tactics targeting investors of all ages, though older adults face heightened risk.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Irene Fike, a 56-year-old Kentucky woman, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after defrauding a victim of over $363,000 between 2018 and 2022. While employed at an accounting firm and later hired as an independent contractor, Fike exploited her access to the victim's financial accounts to make unauthorized purchases and transfer funds to her personal credit card, falsifying financial records to conceal the scheme. She was ordered to pay $405,867.08 in restitution and will serve 85 percent of her sentence followed by three years of supervised release.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Communities First Initiative, Jewish Community Housing Corporation, and Valley National Bank held a 2-hour educational workshop in South Orange, New Jersey to teach senior citizens how to avoid scams, fraud, and identity theft, addressing a significant rise in financial crimes targeting older adults. According to the FBI and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, elder fraud complaints increased 14% in 2023 with victims losing an average of $33,915 each, totaling over $3.4 billion, with many seniors failing to report incidents due to embarrassment or fear of losing independence. The presentation aimed to provide seniors with tools and resources to recognize and protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams, including phone and internet fraud.
theprogressnews.com
· 2025-12-08
State Rep. Mike Armanini hosted two Senior Scam Jam educational events in Pennsylvania's 75th District in partnership with the Department of Banking and Securities to teach older adults how to recognize and avoid common scams leading to identity theft and financial fraud. The interactive seminars, held in DuBois and Ridgway in September, aimed to help seniors identify red flags, protect themselves and their families, and report suspected fraud cases.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-08
The "Hello pervert" sextortion scam has evolved to include new pressure tactics: threatening to use Pegasus spyware and including photos of victims' homes obtained from Google Maps and data breaches. Scammers use stolen passwords from previous data breaches and falsely claim to have compromising footage of victims viewing pornography, demanding payment within 24 hours or threatening to share the content with contacts and visit their physical addresses. These threats are entirely fraudulent—Pegasus is government-controlled spyware never used by common criminals, and scammers have no actual footage or surveillance capability.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
A recent data breach exposed 2.9 billion personal records including social security numbers and contact information, prompting discussion of workplace fraud risks. Employers face increasing sophisticated scams targeting payroll and sensitive employee data, such as fraudulent email requests to change direct deposit information or purchase gift cards. The article recommends employers verify suspicious requests by calling contacts directly, scrutinize unfamiliar email addresses and unusual language patterns, and implement data privacy training to protect employees and company information.
mwakilishi.com
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old widower from Suffolk, England, was defrauded of approximately £100,000+ (Sh14.35 million) in a romance scam involving a fake Kenyan woman named "Anita" introduced by a friend who orchestrated the scheme. After being convinced to send money for supposed home improvements and wedding preparations, Lodge discovered the deception upon traveling to Nairobi and subsequently became homeless, sleeping at Heathrow Airport and shelters. The case exemplifies a broader trend of online romance fraud with significant psychological impacts on victims, including shame and mental health issues, as reported by law enforcement agencies tracking rising cybercrime rates globally.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Gloria Mooney, a 73-year-old New Jersey widow, lost over $50,000 in a romance scam after being targeted by a scammer posing as "Henry," an oil rig worker on Facebook. The scammer, traced to Nigeria, used a stolen celebrity photo and exploited Mooney's loneliness and emotional vulnerability following a 2023 car accident, convincing her to send money via gift cards, Bitcoin, wire transfers, and by withdrawing her 401k and personal savings with promises of repayment. Despite efforts by her family and authorities including the FBI, the funds could not be recovered.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Three individuals—Chidi Olujie, Jennifer Chibueze, and Jessica Nortey—were charged with conspiring to launder over $1 million in proceeds from romance scams and other online frauds between 2016 and 2019, allegedly using shell companies and fraudulent bank accounts to move stolen money. The defendants face up to 20 years in prison on money laundering conspiracy charges plus an additional two years for aggravated identity theft. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office.
thecourierexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
State Rep. Mike Armanini hosted two Senior Scam Jam educational events in Pennsylvania's 75th District in September, partnering with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities to teach older adults how to recognize and avoid common scams related to identity theft and financial fraud. The interactive seminars, held in DuBois and Ridgway, covered red flags to spot fraud and how to report suspected cases, with support from local district attorneys' offices.
rcrwireless.com
· 2025-12-08
Gen Z is more than four times as likely to fall for online scams than Baby Boomers, making them prime targets for fraudsters who exploit their heavy reliance on mobile devices and the critical importance of digital identity to their social and professional lives. Scammers use tactics including fake profiles and impersonation, phishing, social engineering, and deceptive websites to steal personal information, financial details, and identities for unauthorized purchases, account takeovers, and blackmail. The consequences of identity compromise are particularly severe for Gen Z due to the interconnected nature of their digital and real-world identities.
bentonspiritnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines four emerging fraud schemes targeting seniors: check cooking (digitally altering stolen checks), voiceprinting (using deepfake voice technology to impersonate victims and access financial accounts), celebrity impersonation (scammers posing as celebrities or their agents on social media to solicit loans), and multistage grandparent scams (organized call centers with young operatives posing as grandchildren in distress). The article provides protective measures for each scam type, including using electronic bill payments, avoiding phone conversations with non-family members, being skeptical of celebrity direct messages, and verifying caller information through independent contact methods.
noozhawk.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article examines how financial fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated through advanced tools like AI, with seniors (ages 60+) being particularly vulnerable targets due to larger savings and lower tech awareness. The piece details common fraud methods including phishing scams, tech support/customer service impersonations, social media investment schemes, and romance scams, noting that the FTC reported $8.8 billion in fraud losses in 2022, with seniors accounting for over $3 billion despite filing fewer reports than younger victims. The article emphasizes that anyone—regardless of age or financial literacy—can fall victim to these schemes and advises vigilance against unsolicited communications, suspicious links, and impersonations of
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are operating fake websites and social media channels to sell counterfeit or unverified Ozempic to consumers, resulting in an estimated $6 million in losses from approximately 9,000 victims in just the first five months of 2024 on a single platform alone. Victims lose $700 per transaction on average for fraudulent one-month supplies, while exposing themselves to serious health risks from unregulated products that lack proper safety testing and medical oversight. Experts warn that losses could exceed $100 million annually across multiple platforms, with the scam targeting people seeking to circumvent drug shortages or reduce costs.
franklinobserver.town.news
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides guidance for older Americans to protect themselves from scams, which cost Americans $10 billion in 2023. Key protective strategies include slowing down before responding to emotional appeals, verifying contact information independently, carefully controlling access to sensitive documents and accounts, and seeking assistance from certified financial planners who can help monitor accounts and detect suspicious activity.
decripto.org
· 2025-12-08
A LinkedIn scam targeting marketing and communications agencies impersonates real Lancel employees using stolen identities to propose fake brand collaboration deals, sending convincing fake documents and requesting sensitive data or cryptocurrency investments. The perpetrators use social engineering and pretexting techniques, exploiting LinkedIn's lack of employment verification to appear credible, resulting in victims losing sensitive data and financial investments. Lancel has confirmed these contacts are unauthorized and reported the incidents to LinkedIn, highlighting the need for stronger platform verification systems and digital literacy among professionals.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2025-12-08
A new sextortion email scam variant targets spouses by falsely claiming to have evidence of infidelity, with links to alleged proof, demanding payment of $500 to $5,000. The scammers use personal information including full names, maiden names, and pet names—potentially sourced from wedding planning sites like The Knot—to increase credibility and distress. While most recipients recognized the emails as scams and deleted them, authorities stress that these emails are fraudulent and recipients should not click the links, which may lead to phishing pages or malware distribution.
ketv.com
· 2025-12-08
**Type:** Publishers Clearing House Scam / Elder Fraud
**Victim:** Monty Thompson, Iowa resident
**Outcome:** Monty lost over $8,000 in two months and died by suicide on July 24th after being scammed.
Monty Thompson was targeted by offshore scammers claiming he had won millions of dollars and a Ford F-150 from Publishers Clearing House, but was required to pay taxes and fees upfront before receiving his prize. After losing over $8,000 and facing continued contact from the scammers (who called over 20 times), Monty took his own life. The Iowa Attorney
flaglerlive.com
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old Maryland woman named Mae fell victim to tech support fraud when she clicked on a fake Safari warning, which led scammers to manipulate her into purchasing gift cards worth thousands of dollars over 10 hours. The case illustrates a broader problem: an estimated $8 billion is stolen annually from seniors age 60 and older through stranger fraud, with gift cards becoming an increasingly common payment method for criminals because they lack consumer protections similar to credit and debit cards. The article reveals systemic failures in federal regulation, inadequate retailer safeguards, and the profitable role that technology companies and retailers play in the gift card fraud ecosystem, where "everybody but the victim makes money."
nbcdfw.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC warns that Bitcoin ATM fraud is soaring, with scam incidents rising 1,000% since 2020 and losses exceeding $120 million in the U.S. in 2023. Bitcoin ATMs are vulnerable to both physical and cyber attacks—including malware installation, wallet address manipulation, and data interception—and lack the transaction reversal protections of traditional banking, making stolen funds irretrievable. The decentralized nature of Bitcoin and lack of regulatory oversight governing ATM operators compound these security risks.
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman lost over $278,000 between February and April to scammers posing as government agents who convinced her they were protecting her from fraud, including handing over nearly $80,000 in gold bars to a "runner." Her daughter repeatedly asked Schwab to permanently freeze her account, but Schwab temporarily blocked and then repeatedly unblocked it five separate times, allowing the fraudulent transactions to proceed; Schwab is now being sued for negligence and materially contributing to the scheme by failing to adequately investigate suspicious activity and refusing to permanently lock the account without the victim's own request.
gantnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Rep. Mike Armanini partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities to host two Senior Scam Jam educational events in the 75th District designed to teach older adults how to identify and avoid common scams that lead to identity theft and financial fraud. The interactive seminars took place on September 17-18 in DuBois and Ridgway, with support from local district attorneys' offices, and covered red flags for spotting scams and procedures for reporting suspected fraud.
thepaypers.com
· 2025-12-08
UK scammers defrauded numerous individuals through fake e-commerce websites displaying counterfeit products, netting approximately USD 8 million last year, with ecommerce fraud surging 211% over the past year. Fraudsters use social media to promote counterfeit sites with steep discounts, fake brand names, countdown timers, and suspicious domain extensions (.net, .org) to pressure buyers into purchasing items never delivered. Additionally, romance scams increased 22% in 2023, with victims losing an average of GBP 6,937 after fraudsters build trust through fake profiles on dating apps before requesting money for travel, medical, or family emergencies.
bankinfosecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, cryptocurrency scams surged dramatically in the United States, with victims reporting $5.6 billion in losses—a 45% increase from 2022—across more than 69,000 complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. While seniors over 60 were most frequently targeted, people aged 30-39 also experienced significant losses, with investment scams involving bitcoin and other virtual currencies accounting for nearly 71% of total losses; fraudsters typically built rapport with victims through social media and email before moving conversations to encrypted platforms. Cryptocurrency kiosks were increasingly exploited in fraud schemes, with over 5,500 complaints involving $189 million in losses
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Google Voice verification scam targets online sellers on platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace by posing as potential buyers and requesting Google Voice verification codes, which scammers then use to create a virtual number linked to the seller's phone number. Once obtained, scammers can intercept bank verification codes, commit identity theft, open fraudulent accounts in the victim's name, and conduct additional scams while appearing to use a legitimate U.S. number. Sellers should be wary of buyers requesting codes before discussing items and verify unusual requests, as one New York seller, Allen C., avoided falling victim by recognizing suspicious behavior such as spelling errors and pressure tactics.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
This IRS educational article outlines common tax scam warning signs and how to protect yourself, including scams involving inflated refund promises, impersonators making threats, and dishonest tax preparers charging excessive fees. Key red flags include pressure tactics, demands for upfront payments, suspicious websites, and misleading social media advice about tax credits like the Employee Retention Credit and Fuel Tax Credit. The IRS advises taxpayers to know how the agency legitimately contacts them, verify tax preparer credentials, and be especially cautious if targeted for personal or financial information, particularly seniors over age 65.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services notified nearly 947,000 Medicare beneficiaries that their personal information, including Social Security numbers and Medicare claim numbers, may have been compromised in a data breach affecting Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corp., a claims processor in six states. The breach occurred between May 27-31, 2023, through a vulnerability in MOVEit file-transfer software, but was only discovered during a May 2024 security review; CMS and the contractor reported no confirmed cases of identity fraud resulting from the exposure but are advising beneficiaries to monitor their accounts.
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
Security experts warn of an evolving sextortion scam that uses victims' home addresses and photos sourced from Google Maps to increase psychological pressure and extract Bitcoin payments of $2,000-$2,200. The emails falsely claim the sender has compromised the victim's computer and recorded them via webcam, threatening to release fabricated videos to their contacts within 24 hours unless ransom is paid. The FBI recommends victims not comply with demands, avoid sending compromising images, cover webcams, and report incidents to law enforcement at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.
fox4news.com
· 2025-12-08
"Sextortion" scams use fabricated claims of spyware and compromised webcams to extort victims, threatening to share alleged intimate videos or browsing history with contacts unless Bitcoin is paid. Scammers obtain victims' personal information—names, addresses, and photos—from public online sources and data breaches, then send targeted-seeming emails that are actually sent to numerous people in bulk. The FBI recommends reporting such extortion attempts to 1-800-CALL-FBI and advises victims to cover webcams and blur their homes on Google Maps, as these scams rely on easily accessible public information rather than actual spyware.
bankrate.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers employ multiple tactics to steal credit card information, particularly capitalizing on economic changes like potential Federal Reserve rate cuts. Common scams include interest rate reduction schemes, student loan forgiveness offers, grandparent emergencies, and fake charity websites—all designed to pressure victims into providing payment information. To protect yourself, contact your lender or issuer directly rather than responding to unsolicited offers, verify website URLs carefully, and be skeptical of guaranteed results and limited-time offers.
kolotv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Reno Police Department reports an increase in extortion email scams where fraudsters claim to have video footage of victims' online activity and threaten to share it with contacts unless payment is made via cryptocurrency, gift cards, or money orders. These emails typically originate from the victim's own email address or similar variants and include recognizable details like passwords from data breaches or photos of the victim's home to appear credible. Police advise recipients not to rush into payment decisions, avoid opening suspicious attachments, and update passwords if exposed in the scam emails.
miningjournal.net
· 2025-12-08
This article describes three common scams targeting elderly people: grandparent scams (where callers pose as distressed relatives or law enforcement to solicit wire transfers), IRS scams (where fraudsters impersonate tax agents to steal money or personal information), and sweepstakes scams (where victims are promised prizes to encourage purchases or payments). The article emphasizes that geographic location offers no protection against these schemes and advises seniors and their families to recognize warning signs such as urgent requests for wire transfers, threats of arrest, and demands for sensitive personal information.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
The New York StateWide Senior Action Council identified AI-driven healthcare scams as their Medicare Fraud of the Month for September 2024, highlighting how artificial intelligence enables fraudsters to generate fake medical claims, steal identities, and create deepfake audio/video to commit healthcare fraud. The organization recommends seniors verify caller identity through trusted numbers, limit personal information shared online, and exercise caution with financial data, noting that Medicare fraud costs taxpayers over $60 billion annually. Seniors can report suspected fraud by calling 800-333-4374 or visiting nysenior.org.
siliconvalley.com
· 2025-12-08
California experienced a slight 2 percent decline in elder fraud complaints from 2022 to 2023, dropping from 145 to 142 complaints per 100,000 adults aged 60 and older, according to FBI data analyzed by All About Cookies. However, California remains among the top 10 U.S. states for elder fraud complaints per capita, ranking tied for ninth place with Maryland at 142 complaints per 100,000 seniors, while the nationwide rate of elder fraud reports increased 14 percent in 2023 with associated losses rising 11 percent.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
Dr. Ruby Thomas, a doctor in Lucknow, fell victim to an elaborate digital arrest scam in which fraudsters impersonated Mumbai Police and CBI officials via WhatsApp and video calls, falsely accusing her of involvement in the Naresh Goyal scam and threatening execution if she didn't cooperate. After holding her in a five-hour digital hostage situation with fake arrest warrants and fabricated evidence, the scammers extracted Rs 90,000 from her before disconnecting. Similar cases targeting other high-profile professionals, including Dr. Satvika Rathore (Rs 50,000 extorted), reveal a growing trend of cyber extortion