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12 News
· 2024-07-08
Americans lost over $1 billion to romance scams last year, with many Arizona residents targeted. The three most prevalent romance scam tactics involve deepfake video calls using face-swapping technology (employed by Nigerian crime groups), cryptocurrency investment schemes that promise high returns once trust is established, and celebrity deepfakes using artificial intelligence. Victims can protect themselves by watching for unnatural video call indicators like inconsistent blinking, mismatched skin tones, and words not synchronizing with mouth movements.
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WCBD NEWS 2
· 2024-07-09
The City of Charleston is hosting educational workshops to protect seniors from phone and online scams, which generate $36 billion annually in the United States with older adults as primary targets. The initiative focuses on teaching seniors to recognize common scams—such as lottery/prize winnings requiring upfront payments—and know what steps to take if targeted, as demonstrated by one senior who avoided losing money to a fake lottery scheme promising half a million dollars.
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WCBD NEWS 2
· 2024-07-09
The City of Charleston is working to protect senior citizens from phone and online scams through educational workshops that teach seniors to recognize common fraud tactics and warning signs. Scams targeting elderly people cost the United States $36 billion annually, with seniors being particularly vulnerable due to their trusting nature; the city's initiative focuses on raising awareness about scam types and advising victims on appropriate responses.
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FOX23 News Tulsa
· 2024-07-10
A scam targeting seniors uses fake romantic relationships to manipulate victims into making fraudulent investments. According to cybersecurity experts, crimes against seniors increased 11% in the past year, resulting in $3.4 billion in losses, with victims averaging $34,000 lost each; scammers pose as wealthy individuals on dating sites, build trust over time, and eventually pressure victims to invest in fake schemes.
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News Channel 3-12
· 2024-07-11
Dozens of seniors attended an educational seminar hosted by the Galita Community Center in partnership with the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and Department of Justice to learn fraud prevention strategies. Senator Monique Leemon highlighted red flags including unsolicited calls and emails, and emphasized that seniors should verify callers by independently looking up official phone numbers rather than using contact information provided by the caller. The seminar advised victims or their advocates to report suspected scams to local police, the National Elder Fraud Hotline, or the Federal Trade Commission.
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NBC 7 San Diego
· 2024-07-11
San Diego seniors lost approximately $100 million to scams in the past year, with the District Attorney's office tracking nearly $98 million in elder-related fraud across the county—a figure that excludes unreported cases. Common scams target seniors' lifetime savings through tactics like fake tech support pop-ups on computers, and scammers exploit seniors' vulnerability and lack of technical knowledge. The San Diego County Elder Task Force reports a 70% increase in elder fraud cases and emphasizes that these scams devastate victims' ability to pay basic living expenses like rent, mortgage, and food.
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CBS4 Indy
· 2024-07-16
During Amazon Prime Day, scammers use over 1,200 fake Amazon copycat websites and fraudulent emails to steal login credentials and payment information from shoppers. To protect themselves, consumers should verify URLs carefully, use strong passwords, avoid sharing unnecessary personal information, and use credit cards instead of debit cards for online purchases due to stronger fraud protections.
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KRQE
· 2024-07-17
This New Mexico news podcast episode features an educational discussion on avoiding financial scams, hosted by Gabrielle Burkhart with guest Brian Watson, a former federal law enforcement officer who spent 28 years investigating financial crimes, including work as an IRS criminal investigator. The segment addresses how scams—particularly phishing and online fraud—affect people across demographics, including older adults, and aims to help listeners and their families recognize red flags and protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams.
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CTV News
· 2024-07-25
A victim in Canada was defrauded of $14,000 after a four-year romance scam involving a man she met in person twice on a dating site who posed as a wealthy hedge fund manager before soliciting her for a fake investment opportunity. Romance scams are the third most common fraud affecting Canadians, with victims losing $52 million in 2023 and another $23 million already lost in the current year.
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WGN News
· 2024-07-31
A Chicago widow lost over $100,000 in an online romance scam after meeting a man named "Gregory" on a dating site who gradually requested increasing amounts of money under various pretexts, eventually stopping contact once she ceased sending funds. The victim, living on a fixed income, cashed out an annuity to meet his escalating demands despite growing suspicions, driven by fear of losing the promised relationship and money. The case highlights how romance scams—which reported nearly 1.3 billion in losses nationally in 2022—use emotional manipulation and increasingly sophisticated AI-altered photos and videos to deceive victims, with arrests remaining rare and funds rarely recovered.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2024-07-31
Strongville United Methodist Church in Ohio became a target of phishing scams when cybercriminals impersonated Reverend Abby Almond in emails sent to congregation members, requesting money and gift cards. Phishing scams have nearly doubled to over 9,000 reports annually in the Better Business Bureau's Northeast Ohio region, ranking as the second-most common scam type locally.
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WHNT News 19
· 2024-08-02
The Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments is hosting a Senior Fraud and Scam Summit on Thursday, August 8th at the Bob Harrison Wellness Center in Huntsville to educate seniors about common scams and fraud prevention strategies. The event features speakers from the Alabama Securities Commission, Huntsville Police Department, the Better Business Bureau, and a local attorney, with limited seating for 150 participants available by calling 256-830-0818. This educational initiative addresses the rising prevalence of identity theft and scams targeting seniors in the Tennessee Valley region.
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NBC10 Boston
· 2024-08-05
Massachusetts residents lost $2.2 million to real estate scams last year, including rental fraud where scammers use sophisticated tactics to impersonate licensed agents. One victim, Caroline Newman, lost $500 when she submitted a security deposit to a fraudster posing as a realtor after seeing a listing posted on multiple platforms; she later learned the actual agent had no involvement in the transaction.
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Lawfare
· 2024-08-07
This is a podcast introduction featuring Arun Rao, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ's Consumer Protection Branch, discussing the growing sophistication of fraud schemes targeting consumers and elders. Rao explains how technological advances such as robocalls, text, email, and social media have enabled fraudsters to refine their tactics and target victims with greater precision. The discussion covers the DOJ's consumer protection work, cybercrime, elder fraud, and data privacy issues.
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CBS Colorado
· 2024-08-07
A Denver couple lost $30,000 in a business email compromise scam days before closing on their home, when scammers impersonated their lender and title company to redirect closing funds. The FBI reports this real estate fraud scheme is increasingly common, with Colorado experiencing over $57 million in losses to similar business email compromise scams last year. The scammers obtained legitimate emails, inserted themselves into the couple's email chain, and conducted real-time conversations to convince them to wire closing costs to a fraudulent account.
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WNEM TV5
· 2024-08-08
A Senior Fraud Alert Protection Workshop was held at the Community Action Center where dozens of seniors received educational training from Huntington Bank on recognizing and avoiding scams, along with guidance from the CAC on saving money on Medicare. The event, supported by the Sagen Housing Commission's Family Self-Sufficiency department, aimed to help seniors protect their finances and understand available resources to prevent scammers from exploiting their hard-earned money.
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WHNT News 19
· 2024-08-08
Elder fraud reports to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center rose 14% in 2023, with the trend continuing upward. The Alabama Securities Commission held a fraud and scam summit to educate community members about common scams targeting seniors in the state, including utility scams offering discounts before requesting financial information and phone scams that have compromised bank accounts at alarming rates. Experts and law enforcement emphasized the importance of seniors sharing their experiences to help prevent others from becoming victims.
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WHNT News 19
· 2024-08-08
The Alabama Securities Commission held a Fraud and Scam Summit in Huntsville to educate seniors about common scams targeting older adults, with elder fraud reports rising 14% in 2023. A local woman, Theresa Hazard, shared her experience of losing $700 after clicking on a fraudulent Netflix phishing email and providing her credit card information, though her bank recovered the funds. The summit covered topics including cybersecurity, consumer fraud definitions, and legal implications, emphasizing the importance of seniors reporting scams to law enforcement to help authorities track perpetrators.
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FOX54 News Huntsville
· 2024-08-09
Elderly individuals remain primary targets for scams delivered through digital means including emails, text messages, phone calls, and computer popups. Law enforcement officials recommend avoiding clicking suspicious links, refusing to share personal information over the phone, and reporting incidents to police without embarrassment or delay.
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FOX54 News Huntsville
· 2024-08-10
This educational piece advises seniors on protecting themselves from scams through awareness and caution. Key recommendations include: never share personal information (Social Security numbers, Medicare details, bank information) over the phone or via unsolicited contact; avoid clicking links in suspicious text messages; and recognize that offers that sound too good to be true usually are. The resource notes that seniors are frequently targeted through digital means like phone calls, emails, texts, and pop-ups, and encourages people to contact local authorities or organizations like TAROG for guidance on unfamiliar scams.
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This Morning
· 2024-08-14
Scam expert Nick Stapleton discusses the growing sophistication and prevalence of fraud in the UK, where scams account for over 40% of all crimes but result in conviction in only 1 in 1,000 cases. Stapleton, who has spent 11 years investigating fraud through undercover work and ethical hacking, emphasizes the importance of personal awareness and education in protecting oneself from increasingly organized scam operations.
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News10NBC
· 2024-08-21
An 83-year-old woman lost $400,000 in fraudulent bank withdrawals over four months when her account was hacked, with no alerts triggered by her bank despite the large suspicious transactions. AARP is advocating for legislation that would allow banks to place holds on withdrawals suspected of fraud and protect banks from liability when doing so, as over $28 billion is stolen annually from Americans over 60. The proposed protection measure was removed from the state budget during negotiations but advocates are pushing to have it reinstated in the next budget cycle.
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FOX Carolina News
· 2024-08-22
The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers are increasingly using QR codes to execute fraud schemes, particularly by placing them in public locations like parking meters or including them in official-looking mail (such as fraudulent IRS letters) to deceive victims into scanning them and visiting malicious websites. Consumers should be cautious of unsolicited QR codes in public places or suspicious correspondence, as these codes can be easily tampered with or designed to redirect users to fraudulent sites. Awareness and verification of QR code legitimacy before scanning are key to protecting oneself from QR code-based scams.
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ABC11
· 2024-08-23
Back-to-school shoppers should beware of counterfeit websites and social media ads offering popular clothing and shoes at steep discounts, and should verify websites are secure (look for https and lock symbols) before making purchases. Students should avoid fake scholarship applications requiring upfront payments or personal information like Social Security numbers, and should ignore unsolicited emails and voicemails claiming student loan eligibility—instead verify information directly through official sources like studentaid.gov.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2024-08-22
Bait-and-switch scams on social media exploit emotional posts about missing children or lost pets by using localized Facebook groups with minimal oversight. Scammers edit these posts to redirect users to sales listings, rental scams, job opportunities, or donation requests, then manipulate victims' social networks when they share the content. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to watch for red flags including urgent emotional language, disabled comments, missing contact information, and newly created profiles, and to report suspected scams to both the BBB Scam Tracker and Facebook directly.
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ABC7 News Bay Area
· 2024-08-24
The FBI launched a "Take a Beat" awareness campaign to educate the public about common fraud and scam tactics that exploit people's emotions through urgent phone calls, texts, and emails requesting money or passwords. The campaign highlights scams such as impersonation of bank fraud departments, with one victim losing $950 after a caller claiming to be from her bank convinced her to transfer funds and disclose banking information.
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News10NBC
· 2024-08-23
Advantage Federal Credit Union warned of a new phone scam targeting customers, particularly seniors over 60, that began in August. Scammers spoof the bank's legitimate phone number on caller ID and claim fraud has been detected on the victim's account, then trick customers into providing security codes that enable unauthorized transfers. The scam has proven effective, with one documented case involving a woman who lost $500,000 through 76 transfers over four months, illustrating a broader pattern in which approximately $28 billion is stolen annually from Americans over 60.
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Eyewitness News WEHT WTVW
· 2024-08-26
Crimes against senior citizens totaled over $3.4 billion in the past year, with family scams and identity theft being among the most common schemes. Family scams exploit seniors' emotions by impersonating relatives and requesting urgent money for car repairs, rent, tuition, or bail, while fishing scams use deceptive emails posing as legitimate vendors to steal personal information.
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NEWS CENTER Maine
· 2024-08-27
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is warning the public about emerging scam tactics including "smishing" (fraudulent text messages claiming to be from USPS requesting address confirmation through malicious links) and "vishing" (spoofed voicemails impersonating government employees with fake callback numbers). To protect themselves, recipients should avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages and instead call official government phone numbers directly rather than using numbers provided in suspicious communications.
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11Alive
· 2024-08-27
The US Postal Inspection Service warns of emerging scams including "smishing" (fraudulent text messages impersonating USPS requesting address confirmation via malicious links) and "vishing" (spoofed voicemails from fake government employees asking consumers to call back). These scams aim to steal personal information and financial data from victims who interact with the fraudulent messages or call back the scammers' numbers rather than official government lines.
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NBC Bay Area
· 2024-08-28
The Better Business Bureau has reported a significant uptick in text message scams where fraudsters impersonate legitimate companies like retailers, utilities, and the Postal Service to trick victims into providing personal information or making payments, with over 250 reported cases of financial losses. To protect yourself, do not respond to or click links in suspicious texts; instead, report the message using the Better Business Bureau's free scam tracker tool and delete it from your device.
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KXAN
· 2024-08-29
The Better Business Bureau reports that 18- to 24-year-old college students experienced the highest financial losses to scams of any age group for the second consecutive year. The most common scams targeting this demographic include online purchase frauds, fake employment schemes (particularly remote work with flexible hours and high pay), and cryptocurrency/investment scams, which can result in losses of thousands of dollars per victim.
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WGN News
· 2024-08-31
Federal Trade Commission data shows American consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with digital platforms making it easier for scammers to target victims. Common scams include romance/relationship scams on Facebook where perpetrators build trust before requesting money, "pig butchering" investment schemes promising fake returns, and grandparent scams, with reported losses ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Protection strategies include verifying urgent requests by hanging up and calling back the person directly, avoiding quick money transfers, researching websites and investment opportunities, and reporting scams to law enforcement and platforms to help track and recover stolen funds.
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WION
· 2024-09-02
Contrary to common assumptions, Gen Z (ages 18-24) loses the most money to online scams, averaging $155 per person in 2022, primarily through employment, online shopping, and investment/cryptocurrency scams. A Better Business Bureau report found that scammers are increasingly targeting even younger children (ages 7-18), with 16% of surveyed parents reporting their kids were targeted in the past year, up from 11% in 2022, while adults 55-64 lost the least at an average of $91.
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WFMJ
· 2024-09-03
U.S. seniors lost over $3 billion to scammers in the past year. Common scams targeting elderly individuals include relationship scams where fraudsters impersonate family members (grandchildren, nieces, nephews) claiming urgent financial needs such as bail, rent, or tuition, often using personal information gathered from social media to appear credible. Experts recommend awareness and education to help protect seniors from these emotionally manipulative schemes.
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FOX8 WGHP
· 2024-09-03
An elderly woman in Asheboro was defrauded of $25,000 after scammers used fear tactics and impersonation of law enforcement to manipulate her into withdrawing cash and purchasing gift cards. The suspect met the victim at a gas station to collect a large cash withdrawal before fleeing in a white van, and Detective Marcus Pierce is actively investigating the case while advocating for awareness of common red flags like requests for gift card payments.
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NEWS CENTER Maine
· 2024-09-05
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Maine announced the Maine RX Elder Fraud Program, an initiative to combat elder fraud by distributing informational brochures at 60 Hanford pharmacy locations across the state. The brochures, attached to prescription drug bags, educate seniors on recognizing common scams and reporting fraud, with the program beginning this month. According to the FBI, Maine residents filed 397 elder fraud complaints in the previous year, resulting in losses exceeding $7.1 million.
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NEWS CENTER Maine
· 2024-09-05
The US Attorney's office in Maine launched a new initiative to combat elder fraud, following FBI reports that 397 Maine residents aged 60 or older filed complaints reporting losses exceeding $7 million, with experts noting the actual number of victims is likely much higher due to underreporting. The program distributes informational brochures through pharmacy prescription bags statewide to educate older adults about common scam warning signs and how to report elder fraud, recognizing that sophisticated criminal networks conduct ongoing attacks against vulnerable populations.
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WYFF News 4
· 2024-09-09
This segment from WYFF News Four's "For the Record" series features Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride discussing the growing scam problem affecting community members of all ages, though elderly victims are particularly targeted. The sheriff highlights multiple prevalent scam types including Facebook Marketplace deposit schemes (where sellers request $250-$1,000 deposits for vehicles that don't exist), fake jury duty calls falsely claiming to be from law enforcement demanding payment or gift cards, and other phone and internet-based fraud tactics that exploit personal information obtained from legitimate people-search websites.
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Dare County
· 2024-09-09
The Dare County Sheriff's Office presented an educational overview of common scams affecting their community, including an explanation of "pig butchering" scams that operate through dating apps. In this scam type, perpetrators use VPNs to hide their location, create fake glamorous personas, and systematically contact potential victims through dating platforms with the goal of manipulating them into financial schemes. The presentation aims to help community members recognize and avoid falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics.
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WJZ
· 2024-09-12
Cryptocurrency scams cost Maryland residents nearly $94 million in 2023, according to an FBI report, with romance-based schemes being particularly prevalent. Though representing only 10% of financial fraud complaints to the FBI, cryptocurrency scams account for 50% of total money stolen, with approximately 1,400 Maryland complaints among nearly 58,000 nationwide. The scams exploit emotional manipulation and leverage the online nature of cryptocurrency to easily access victims' financial and personal information.
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KREM 2 News
· 2024-09-13
Job recruiting scams have surged 118% in 2023, with scammers posing as recruiters via text and social media to lure victims with lucrative work-from-home positions paying up to $1,000 daily. Red flags include requests to communicate on encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and fake job postings on legitimate employment sites, with artificial intelligence enabling scammers to refine their pitches and appear more credible. Victims are typically directed to complete applications or provide personal information that can be used for identity theft or further fraud.
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CBS Chicago
· 2024-09-13
Job scams targeting seekers have increased 118% in 2023, with fraudsters using text messages, encrypted apps like WhatsApp, and fake postings on legitimate employment sites to lure victims with promises of work-from-home positions paying up to $1,000 daily. Red flags include recruiters requesting communication through encrypted messaging apps rather than official channels, and scammers are using AI technology to make their pitches sound more legitimate. The identity theft resource center reports this is one of their biggest concerns as con artists continue to refine their tactics to deceive job seekers.
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LOCAL 12
· 2024-09-14
This educational piece warns renters about rental scams while clarifying a legitimate-seeming but valid payment process. When booking through Vrbo, renters may receive separate payment requests from property management companies after paying an initial fee to the platform, which is a legitimate procedure—unlike Airbnb, which processes all payments through its website and offers fraud protection. The key advice is to always verify payment requests directly with the booking platform before sending money to avoid scams.
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KVUE
· 2024-09-16
A new study shows investment scams are rising, with median losses increasing from $1,000 in 2021 to $6,000 currently, as scammers coerce victims into withdrawing funds from retirement and savings accounts. These scams typically begin on social media or instant messaging platforms, where perpetrators research victims' profiles, establish rapport (sometimes romantic), and pitch fraudulent investment opportunities promising high returns on small initial investments. The Better Business Bureau advises awareness of these tactics to help people avoid falling victim to such schemes.
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Which?
· 2024-09-15
I cannot provide an accurate summary of this article. The text appears to be a garbled or poorly OCR-scanned transcript of a consumer advice program introduction that repeatedly duplicates phrases and lacks coherent content about specific scams or fraud prevention tips. While it mentions that scams are becoming more sophisticated and references a discussion about ticket scams, the actual substantive advice or details about scams are not clearly present in the provided text. A proper summary would require a clearer, complete version of the source material.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-09-17
Senator Tim Scott discusses South Carolina's fraud prevention efforts with an expert, highlighting a partnership between the state and the Department of Aging that distributes scam prevention education materials alongside meal deliveries to seniors, a program that began in 2015. The initiative represents an innovative approach to reaching vulnerable populations, particularly homebound seniors, with financial literacy and scam awareness information during a time when they are most receptive to learning.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-09-17
Senator Katie Britt discusses the surge of financial scams targeting seniors, noting that nationwide elder fraud losses exceeded $1 billion last year, with Alabama experiencing $74 million in losses (up from $55 million the previous year). She highlights that elder fraud cases in Alabama have increased dramatically, from 23 cases in 2016 to over 250 cases in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, and emphasizes the need for better education about common scams including romance schemes, sweepstakes scams, and impersonation fraud.
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NBC10 Boston
· 2024-09-17
Bitcoin ATM scams are increasing at an alarming rate, with fraud losses exceeding $65 million in the first half of 2024 according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers use government impersonation, business impersonation, and tech support tactics to trick consumers into depositing cash into Bitcoin ATMs by claiming it will protect their money or resolve fake security problems, with one victim losing $34,000. Consumers should hang up suspicious calls, verify contacts independently, and be cautious of these sophisticated schemes.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-09-17
Senator Helmy discusses the urgent problem of elder fraud with committee experts, noting that New Jersey seniors reported over $1 million in losses to scams and fraud according to the FBI's IC3 Elder report. He raises concerns about a major data breach at background company National Public Data that exposed approximately 2.9 billion personal records containing names, addresses, and Social Security numbers, which he believes was underreported and could facilitate further fraud targeting vulnerable elderly populations.