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ABC7 News Bay Area
· 2024-10-23
An East Bay woman's Facebook account was hacked, and the scammer used it to impersonate her, deceiving her friends into sending money for fake items and services for months. Meta refused to help recover the account through standard support channels, forcing the woman to pay Meta's premium verification service before the company would assist in removing the hacker and restoring access to her account and years of personal memories.
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NBC10 Boston
· 2024-11-01
During Medicare open enrollment season, scammers impersonate Medicare representatives and insurance agents to trick people into revealing personal information such as Social Security numbers, banking details, and Medicare ID numbers through unsolicited calls, texts, and phishing emails. The BBB has received frequent reports of these fraudulent schemes, which target millions of people seeking insurance plans and can result in identity theft or sale of personal data on the black market. Consumers should verify contacts by hanging up and calling official numbers directly, be wary of anyone offering limited-time enrollment offers, and avoid sharing personal information with unsolicited callers.
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SABC News
· 2024-11-03
Sophisticated attackers are using AI-powered deepfake technology and fake mobile applications to bypass facial recognition security systems and gain unauthorized access to victims' accounts and sensitive information. Cybersecurity experts recommend using multi-factor authentication (such as combining Face ID with passwords), keeping software and applications updated, and understanding the current limitations of facial recognition technology to protect against these evolving threats.
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WIRED
· 2024-11-05
This WIRED article features "Scammer Payback," a YouTube scam-baiting channel, answering audience questions about common fraud tactics and red flags. The content identifies three major warning signs of scams: scammers pressuring victims to make quick decisions (especially involving gift cards or Cash App transfers), requests for remote access to computers or phones, and demands for untraceable payment methods like Bitcoin or wire transfers. The educational piece emphasizes that time pressure is a deliberate tactic scammers use to prevent victims from consulting family members or others who might intervene.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2024-11-07
**Summary:**
Scammers target veterans by impersonating government representatives and fraudulently offering loan forgiveness, mortgage aid, or grants in exchange for upfront processing fees. Veterans and their spouses experience higher median losses to scams than average consumers, particularly through employment scams that exploit frequent military relocations. The BBB advises veterans to never pay upfront for loans or grants, never share personal information with unsolicited callers, and remember that the government communicates via mail only—never by phone, email, or social media.
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11Alive
· 2024-11-09
**Article:** Ways to protect veterans from scams
**Summary:** Veterans reported losing over $350 million to fraud in the past year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The article recommends veterans protect themselves by enrolling in free credit monitoring services to detect identity theft early, consulting official sources for current scam alerts, and utilizing the National Veterans Financial Resource Center for guidance on asset protection and financial stability.
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11Alive
· 2024-11-10
Veterans Day provides scammers an opportunity to target service members and veterans through financial fraud, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over $350 million in losses to veterans from fraud in the past year alone. To protect veterans, recommendations include enrolling in free credit monitoring services to detect identity theft early, using official sources for scam alerts, and consulting the National Veterans Financial Resource Center for financial guidance and protection strategies. Those suspecting scams should report them to the Federal Trade Commission.
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WREG News Channel 3
· 2024-11-13
Three Nigerian men in their 40s were sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating romance and investment scams that targeted victims across America from 2017 to 2021, including a Western Tennessee resident who lost $400,000. The perpetrators used fake identities on social media and dating sites, posing as romantic partners and repeatedly requesting emergency financial assistance from victims. Law enforcement urges scam victims to report incidents to police, as victims of romance scams often face additional risks including identity theft when they unknowingly share personal information with fraudsters.
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moneycontrol
· 2024-11-16
**Cybercrime Risk During Diwali Shopping Season**
India's National Crime Record Bureau reported over 1.1 million cyber fraud cases last year, with incidents rising significantly during high-spending periods like Diwali, particularly targeting elderly individuals. Common scams include customer support fraud (using screen-sharing apps to hijack mobile devices), virtual arrest scams (impersonating law enforcement to extort payments), and Aadhaar-enabled payment system fraud. To protect oneself, stay vigilant during shopping seasons, verify legitimacy of support contacts independently, avoid sharing remote access to devices, and be skeptical of unsolicited law enforcement threats.
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NBC 7 San Diego
· 2024-11-26
Holiday fraud increases significantly in December, with scammers targeting busy shoppers through identity theft, credit card fraud, package theft, and fake social media ads selling counterfeit goods. Law enforcement and the Better Business Bureau warn that common holiday scams have become more sophisticated and high-tech, including fake toll collection texts and counterfeit items sold online, and advise consumers to remain vigilant during the busy shopping season.
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Inside Edition
· 2024-12-11
A Miami doctor's photos were stolen and used in a "pig butchering" romance scam to fraudulently lure wealthy single men on dating sites, resulting in victims losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. The doctor discovered the identity theft when strangers began sending flowers to her workplace and showing up in person, prompting her to publicly warn others on social media about the sophisticated scheme.
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WHNT News 19
· 2024-12-23
This educational segment from News 19 highlights increased scam risks during the holiday season when people shop online and donate to charities. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to verify website URLs carefully (scammers often alter one or two letters), use credit cards instead of debit cards for added protection, and research charities before donating to ensure legitimacy and proper fund disclosure. The BBB offers a free Scam Tracker tool with customized survival kits to help victims of identity theft and account compromise take appropriate next steps.
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NBC4 Columbus
· 2025-01-02
The Better Business Bureau recommends several fraud prevention resolutions for 2025 to combat the significant money and personal information losses people experienced in 2024. Key precautions include: being cautious with emails and links from unknown senders, never sending money to strangers especially via untraceable payment methods like gift cards or money transfer apps, and researching retailers before making purchases.
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NBC 6 South Florida
· 2025-01-02
Scammers across the country, including South Florida, are sending sophisticated phishing text messages and emails claiming recipients owe unpaid tolls (often for amounts like $35) and directing them to click links to pay. Experts warn these messages are designed to look legitimate and, if clicked, can allow scammers to steal credit card details, passwords, and device access, with the FBI having received thousands of reports about these resurfacing toll road scams.
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IRSvideos
· 2025-01-06
This is an educational webinar presented by the IRS and FTC during National Tax Security Awareness Week that covers common identity theft and tax-related scams, methods for identifying and reporting fraud, the IRS Identity Protection PIN program, and resources for protecting against identity thieves. The 75-minute presentation includes technical guidance for participants and a live Q&A session to address audience questions about fraud prevention and recovery.
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Arizona’s Family (3TV / CBS 5)
· 2025-01-07
Robert Giuliano, a multi-state romance scammer wanted out of New York for forgery, grand larceny, and identity theft, was arrested in Scottsdale but released on parole supervision by a Bronx Supreme Court Judge after extradition to New York. His victims expressed disappointment at his release, feeling "victimized twice," though legal experts note that judges often release defendants facing nonviolent crimes without substantial criminal histories pending trial.
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KTVE
· 2025-01-16
The Federal Trade Commission warns consumers about "brushing scams," in which scammers send unsolicited packages containing fake luxury items like rings, beauty products, and Bluetooth speakers to obtain personal information. The scammers use victims' addresses and information to write fake online reviews under their names, potentially leading to identity theft that costs victims time and money to remediate. Victims are advised to change passwords, monitor credit scores, and report incidents to the FTC.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-01-17
A victim lost over $137,000 in life savings after receiving an email falsely claiming her social security number was used for drug trafficking, demonstrating how sophisticated social engineering scams exploit fear and panic rather than relying solely on cyber tactics. According to the FTC, Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023—the highest amount ever recorded—with scammers increasingly using organized crime networks, technology, and social manipulation to target victims through emails, texts, and social media.
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KETV NewsWatch 7
· 2025-01-23
Nebraska's Attorney General announced that the Consumer Affairs Response Team recovered $1.4 million for scam victims in 2024. The Better Business Bureau warns that modern scams increasingly use friendly, helpful messaging to target consumers aged 18-24, who experience more scams than other demographics but are least likely to report them, with experts recommending victims trust their instincts and consult trusted contacts before sharing money or personal information.
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13WMAZ
· 2025-01-26
This educational segment from the Better Business Bureau of Central Georgia provides fraud prevention advice for 2025, emphasizing identity theft as a persistent threat. The key recommendation is to monitor credit reports two to three times per year (utilizing the free weekly access available since COVID-era policy changes) to quickly detect unauthorized accounts and address identity theft before significant damage occurs.
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ABC11
· 2025-01-27
Filing taxes early helps prevent identity theft and tax scams, with experts recommending people gather documents and work with reputable, established CPAs or tax preparers who remain available year-round. Consumers should be wary of tax preparers promising unrealistically large refunds and verify credentials, as one Raleigh tax preparer was charged and pleaded guilty to multiple counts of tax fraud after illegally claiming thousands in deductions on clients' returns without their knowledge.
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WHO13
· 2025-01-29
During tax season, the IRS expects to process over 140 million returns while scammer activity increases significantly; the IRS received nearly 300,000 identity theft complaints in 2023. Experts recommend organizing tax documents as they arrive, being cautious of unsolicited IRS contacts, and verifying any IRS communication by calling the agency directly rather than responding to potentially fraudulent calls or messages.
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midday india
· 2025-02-06
A 78-year-old retired bank manager in Mumbai lost 2.3 lakh rupees (approximately $2,760 USD) to a digital arrest scam in which fraudsters impersonated police officers, falsely claiming he was involved in an illegal hawala case and under house arrest. The victim was instructed to transfer money via RTGS to "verify" his bank details; once the funds were sent, the scammers became unresponsive. Digital arrest scams have been increasing in India, with victims pressured to make immediate payments under the threat of legal action.
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ABC 7 Amarillo
· 2025-02-18
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is seeking access to Social Security Administration data, claiming significant fraud exists in the system, with White House adviser Elon Musk alleging potential savings of over $1 trillion over a 10-year period by addressing fraud and waste. Musk cited irregularities such as Social Security numbers assigned to individuals with ages ranging from 0 to 369 and claims of more eligible Social Security numbers than U.S. citizens, though previous SSA audits in 2023 had already identified substantial fraud cases. The push for access reportedly led to the exit of SSA acting commissioner Michelle King.
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KY3 News - Springfield, Mo.
· 2025-02-20
This educational piece warns about common tax season scams targeting filers. Key threats include: fake IRS agents calling to steal refunds or identities, scammers filing fraudulent returns to claim refunds (sometimes thousands of dollars), fraudulent tax settlement schemes on social media charging steep fees with false promises, and exploitation of the IRS Offer in Compromise program. The article advises filing early to prevent tax ID theft, obtaining an IRS identity protection PIN (a six-digit number) if you've experienced identity theft, and avoiding suspicious tax settlement offers.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-02-22
The FBI charged 43-year-old Aurora Phelps of Las Vegas with operating a "sinister" romance scam targeting older men aged 60-70 whom she met on dating sites. Phelps lured her victims, drugged them with dangerous amounts of sedatives, and stole from them by accessing their bank and brokerage accounts, using credit cards, and attempting to withdraw millions in one case; authorities believe she may have killed at least one victim and are seeking the public's help to identify additional victims.
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WHNT News 19
· 2025-02-22
Tax scammers are actively targeting taxpayers during the 2025 tax season by filing fraudulent returns using stolen Social Security numbers to claim refunds. The Better Business Bureau warns that identity theft through tax fraud is particularly prevalent during tax season, with one example involving a scammer filing a fraudulent return using a victim's SSN for thousands of dollars—though the IRS flagged the duplicate filing and sent notice. To protect against this scam, experts recommend using the IRS Identity Protection PIN (issued annually in December/January), filing taxes early once W-2s arrive, and remembering that the IRS never contacts taxpayers by phone, text, or email.
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5NEWS
· 2025-02-24
The FBI is seeking additional victims of Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman arrested in Mexico and charged with a years-long romance scam targeting older men between 2021 and 2022. Using aliases on dating apps like Tinder and OkCupid, Phelps lured at least four elderly victims, accessed their bank accounts, and allegedly drugged one victim into a coma while three others died; she faces 21 counts including bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping, with one charge involving transporting a heavily sedated victim across the U.S.-Mexico border in a wheelchair.
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ABC News
· 2025-02-24
Las Vegas resident Aurora Phelps, 43, is charged with a sophisticated romance scam targeting older men she met through online dating services, in which she drugged victims and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars by accessing their bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and credit cards. One victim died after Phelps allegedly sedated and transported him across the US-Mexico border to a Mexico City hotel room, and another victim had approximately $3.3 million in Apple stock fraudulently sold; Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico, and the FBI is seeking additional victims to come forward.
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THV11
· 2025-02-26
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old from Las Vegas, faces multiple federal charges including fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death for crimes committed between July 2021 and December 2022. Prior to these charges, Phelps was accused in a 2019 Arkansas case of drugging a woman and stealing her credit card, and has an additional case from 2017 related to filing a false police report. She is currently in custody in Mexico on murder charges and authorities are pursuing extradition while coordinating with local law enforcement on the Arkansas cases.
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5NEWS
· 2025-02-26
Aurora Phelps, 43, of Las Vegas is charged with federal crimes including fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death for romance scams conducted between July 2021 and December 2022, where she allegedly drugged victims and stole from them. Phelps has a prior 2019 Arkansas case where she was accused of drugging a woman and stealing her credit card, as well as a separate 2017 Benton County case involving a false police report; she is currently in custody in Mexico on murder charges and faces extradition proceedings.
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CTV News
· 2025-03-01
March marks Fraud Prevention Month across Canada, during which law enforcement and community groups collaborate to educate the public about fraud prevention. According to Edmonton police and the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association, current fraud trends include investment fraud, online employment scams, and romance fraud, with scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated in targeting both money and personal identity. Key prevention advice includes being skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true and verifying whether you initiated contact with the person or organization reaching out.
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National Geographic
· 2025-03-02
Investigative journalist Mariana Van Zeller explores cryptocurrency "rug pull" scams, where fraudsters create fake crypto tokens to steal investor money—a scheme that victimized people of nearly $3 billion in 2021 alone. The episode follows Van Zeller's investigation into young, wealthy scammers who exploit cryptocurrency's unregulated decentralized finance space, and features interviews with victims like Xavier, who lost money across multiple rug pull schemes with no recourse in the largely lawless crypto market.
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WFAA
· 2025-03-03
The IRS issued a warning about tax scams to watch for this year, with phishing scams topping the list where fraudsters impersonate legitimate tax and financial organizations through unexpected texts or emails to steal personal and financial information. The agency also cautions consumers against trusting tax information on social media and following bogus tax avoidance strategies, which can result in identity theft.
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WREG News Channel 3
· 2025-03-12
The IRS is warning consumers about multiple tax scams active this season, including fraudulent preparers who disappear after filing, phishing emails and texts impersonating the IRS or tax software companies that threaten account holds or offer fake refunds, and unreliable social media advice urging people to misuse W-2s. Consumers should only work with tax preparers who sign returns and never deposit refunds into preparers' accounts, and should verify tax information through official IRS channels rather than social media or unsolicited communications.
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CNBC
· 2025-03-15
Toll text scams are proliferating as scammers exploit the shift to electronic tolling systems and mobile phone usage, sending deceptive messages claiming unpaid tolls are due and threatening fines or license suspension. Clicking links in these texts can result in malware installation or credential theft, as legitimate toll operators never contact customers via text requesting payment through links. Federal agencies including the FTC and FBI have warned the public that these scams have become increasingly sophisticated and widespread across the country.
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KVUE
· 2025-03-17
During tax season, the IRS warns of a spike in tax-related scams targeting Americans filing their returns. Common schemes include "ghost preparers" who pose as tax professionals, promise inflated refunds or unqualified credits, falsify documents, and pocket portions of refunds, as well as phishing scams using tax-specific language to steal identities. To protect themselves, people should verify tax preparers' credentials on the IRS website, never sign blank or partial returns, and avoid trusting unsolicited emails, texts, or calls claiming to be from tax authorities.
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FOX59 News
· 2025-03-18
Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from $10 billion in 2023, according to the FTC's annual report. While the number of fraud reports remained stable at 3.7 million, the percentage of reports resulting in actual financial loss increased from 27% to 38%, and median losses per victim rose significantly since 2020. The rise in fraud losses is attributed partly to AI-enabled scams, with government imposter scams, online shopping fraud, and email-based schemes being particularly prevalent, though notably young people are now losing more money than senior citizens.
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WXYZ-TV Detroit | Channel 7
· 2025-03-19
A tax expert warns taxpayers to protect themselves against tax scams as the filing deadline approaches, recommending the IRS's Identity Protection PIN—a unique code issued annually that prevents fraudulent returns filed using someone's Social Security number without authorization. The expert also advises caution with "ghost tax preparers" who use tax software but don't officially sign returns with their tax identification number, which can make fraudulent filings appear legitimate.
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CBC News
· 2025-03-21
Three prominent online fraud fighters—Jim Browning, Kitboga, and Pleasant Green—collaborated to infiltrate and disrupt scammer call centers targeting North American victims. Through real-time interception, they successfully prevented multiple fraud attempts including one targeting a woman threatened with legal trouble, coordinating with banks and law enforcement to protect victims from losing thousands of dollars. The operation demonstrated tactics used by scammers and highlighted how these vigilantes have collectively disrupted hundreds of scam centers and prevented hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses over nearly a decade.
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60 Minutes
· 2025-03-23
This 60 Minutes segment examines why investment fraud and Ponzi schemes continue to thrive despite public awareness of high-profile cases like Bernie Madoff's multi-billion dollar fraud. The piece features expert Ricky Jay discussing how con artists exploit human psychology—including greed and excessive trust—and identifies key warning signs such as dealings with well-established figures who rely on exclusive affiliations to build credibility. The segment highlights that despite financial disasters and skepticism, investors remain vulnerable to sophisticated scams, a phenomenon regulators refer to as "ponzi-monium."
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CNBC Television
· 2025-03-25
Tax season is a prime time for fraud, with Americans losing $9.1 billion to tax fraud and financial crimes in 2024 according to the IRS. Scammers target individuals filing taxes to steal identities, usernames, passwords, and access to financial accounts and tax prep software. To protect yourself, the IRS recommends setting up an identity protection PIN, using strong unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly monitoring or freezing your credit.
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This Morning
· 2025-03-31
Ian Fin and his wife lost thousands of pounds from their bank account while on holiday in Australia when scammers performed a SIM swap fraud on their phone. A SIM swap scam occurs when fraudsters fraudulently transfer a victim's phone number to a SIM card under their control, intercepting texts and calls used for two-factor authentication to access bank accounts and steal funds. The segment explains this increasingly common scam affects nearly everyone and provides information on how the legitimate SIM card swap service can be exploited by criminals for financial theft.
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WTNH News8
· 2025-04-02
Connecticut residents are receiving fraudulent text messages claiming unpaid toll fees are owed to EZPass, with scammers spoofing the Connecticut Department of Transportation website to steal credit card and personal information. The Connecticut DOT warns that there are no tolls in Connecticut and advises recipients to delete suspicious messages, avoid clicking links, and report the scams rather than responding.
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ABC News (Australia)
· 2025-04-04
Cyber criminals targeted multiple Australian superannuation funds using stolen usernames and passwords obtained from the dark web, successfully stealing at least half a million dollars from four members of Australian Super after compromising 600 passwords. Other funds including Rest Host Plus, Insignia, and Australian Retirement say they stopped the attacks before funds were taken, though the incident highlighted security vulnerabilities in retirement savings systems protecting Australia's $4.2 trillion in superannuation assets.
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CTV News
· 2025-04-14
Identity theft is increasing due to advanced AI tools and dark web activities, with the Canadian Anti-fraud Task Force receiving over 40,000 reports of attempted identity theft over the past three years. Stolen personal information is being extracted using AI and screen-scraping technology, then sold on the dark web. Red flags include unsolicited emails and texts from unknown numbers requesting personal information or account access.
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Graham Cluley
· 2025-04-16
This is a transcript excerpt from the Smashing Security podcast (Episode 413) featuring hosts Graeme Cluey and Carol Tero discussing cybersecurity topics, including a mention of a Swiss cybersecurity company launching a "CIS initiative" and references to Nigerian fraud schemes (419 scams). The transcript appears to be a partial, auto-generated recording with significant repetition and unclear audio quality, making it unsuitable for detailed summarization of specific fraud cases or elder abuse incidents.
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CBS Chicago
· 2025-04-18
The Better Business Bureau warns of a surge in Real ID scams targeting consumers rushing to meet the May 7th federal deadline. Scammers impersonate government officials through fraudulent alerts and emails, claiming problems with applicants' Real IDs or warning about the deadline to steal personal information, a tactic previously seen during the 2021 deadline extension.
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WPDE ABC15
· 2025-04-25
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported over 850,000 suspected internet crime complaints nationally, with South Carolina experiencing $146 million in losses—a $27 million increase from the prior year. The top cybercrimes in South Carolina were extortion, phishing, spoofing, and personal data breaches, with cryptocurrency scams particularly targeting retirees through phishing schemes that use advanced AI monitoring techniques.
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10 Tampa Bay News
· 2025-05-02
**Summary:**
A 92-year-old Tampa Bay-area man was defrauded of $800,000 in an elaborate romance scam involving 37-year-old Otis Swinton Jr., who posed as a woman online to gain the victim's trust before manipulating him into transferring funds to accounts under the scammer's control. The stolen funds were accessed through forged checks, ATM withdrawals, credit cards, cryptocurrency, and identity theft. Swinton Jr., a career criminal recently released from prison in March after serving seven years for similar crimes targeting over 50 people, was arrested in Orlando and now faces fraud charges; authorities indicate there may be additional victims.